Fic: Written Upon The Sands Of Time 4/8 Dune/Buffy
Written Upon the Sands of Time. By: Lopaka Tanu Fandom: Buffy: The Vampire Slayer/Dune. Pairing: Xander/Angel, mentions of Paul/Duncan - Paul/Otheym. Rating: Adult Slash. Archive: Yes, just tell me. Warnings: Violence, Language, Character Death, Sexual Content. Disclaimer: I do not own either Buffy: The Vampire Slayer or Dune. Summary: After Halloween, Xander feels like he is losing his mind. When deaths of mysterious origins happen, will he remember what is so familiar about them in time to save those close to him? "I'll teach you agony, remember that as you fight. You'll have agony such as will make, the gom jabbar a happy memory by, comparison. You will writhe..." - The Lady Jessica to Jaimis.
Chantarelle ran down the back alley, her tears clogging her eyes. It wasn't supposed to be this way. They were all supposed to be part of the undead, creatures of the night, gothic, poetic, dangerous. Now they were all gone, it was just her to tell the story, the tragedy of their ill fated group.
Clutching the walls, she shook her head to clear it. They had tried so hard, come so far to reach the one who could grant their wish for nothing. While sleeping under the stars one last time while she and Ford had scouted the town for a new lair, the camp had been attacked. When they got back, all Ford could rant about was how his plans were ruined. He didn't even care that their friends were gone.
After he had hit her across the face for accusing him of using them, she had run off. Now here it was a day later, and she was still looking for someone to help her. It had taken most of the day to walk to the town. She just had to get someone to help her.
Wiping her face clean with her puffy sleave, she headed towards the bright light of what she assumed was main street. Hopefully it wouldn't be just another back alley that lead to a dead street. There had to be someone awake even now.
Heading down the alley carefully, she stepped out in to the light. The street was empty like all the rest. Giving up, she slipped down the curb. Hanging her head, she fought down the urge to cry out.
"Well, well, well, look what we have here." Coming up the street from out of the shadows, a vampire in a black track suit smirked at Chantarelle. His slicked back hair shined in the street lamp. "Come on over here, sugar and let daddy take care of all your sorrows."
"No thanks, I'm thinking of converting to lesbianism." Strolling out from under a street lamp, Buffy played with her stake, twirling it like a small baton. Her face twisted in to a grimace at the sight of the vampire. "Oh gross, don't any of you people have a fashion sense?"
"Fuck off, ya little bitch." Cracking his knuckles, he pulled out a pair of brass knuckles. "Daddy is gonna teach you stupid little bitches about back talking your elders."
"And you wonder why so many kids these days are so disrespectful." Suddenly appearing under the street lamp behind Chantarelle, Angel lifted his head and smirked. "Then again, you kids are smart mouthed too."
The vampire hesitated at the sight of Angel and Buffy. "You're that disgusting traitor, ain't ya? Angelo, the twisted spawn of Daria."
"Oh, now he's done it." Crossing her arms, Buffy stopped and leaned back against the wall. Shaking her head, she blew out a breath slowly. "I woulda done you quickly, but you had to insult my boyfriend. He really doesn't like it when people make fun of his name."
"No, I don't." Stepping away from the lamp, Angel pulled out a short sword. Smiling as he twirled the blade, he tried not to appear too enthusiastic. "You should have just stayed in Vegas, Bruno. Spike doesn't need the help and you're all out of lady luck."
"Angel, baby, can't we come to a deal?" Backing away, Bruno glanced about for assistance. His boys shouldn't have been too far behind him.
"Looking for these?" Buffy reached in to her jacket and pulled out a hand full of gold rings with ruby stones. "They are all on their way to hell, which is a bitch considering here in SunnyDale there is such a long line to get in."
"Fucking whore!" All sense of bravado gone, Bruno turned to run. His actions didn't get him more than a step in the right direction before he fell to dust. As he died, a look of abject terror filled his eyes.
Angel, who had been ready to give chase, halted. Directly ahead of him was a figure swathed in brown robes with a green hooded cloak. Over the face was a mask of what appeared to be brown leather. A glass visor sat on the forehead of the figure's cloak above glowing blue eyes. He had no idea what to make of the figure until he caught the strong scent coming from the person. "Xander? Where have you been?"
"No." Bending over, the figure retrieved a large dagger from the ashes of where Bruno had died. When he stood again, the dagger was gone and in his hand was a pouch. He tossed the pouch to Angel. "For the girl. Tell her Shai-Hulud has cleansed the world of His enemies."
Catching the pouch, Angel glanced down at it. It was nothing out of the ordinary except for the intricate weavings and the scent of Cinnamon on it. When he looked up again, the figure was gone. "Where did he go?" Turning back to Buffy, he found her kneeling next to Chantarelle. "Buffy?"
"I didn't see who you are talking about." Meeting his gaze, she shrugged. "When Bruno took off, I had to catch her. She is a little dehydrated, but other wise fine. That is if you over look the big bruise on her cheek." Making Chantarelle look at her, Buffy frowned. "What happened to you?"
"You're Buffy?" Hope returned to her as she clutched at the Slayer. "You'll protect me, won't you? Ford said you would take care of us, but then he said a lot of things until the others were gone." Frowning, she touched her sore cheek and winced. "He did this to me when we got back to the camp and found the others gone."
"You were with the others? Do you know what happened? Where is Ford?" When Chantarelle only shook her head, Buffy let her go and turned to Angel. "He's still alive out there, Angel, and I have to find him before he is killed too!"
"You can't!" Holding on to Buffy, Chantarelle tried to make her stay. "He doesn't care about you or anyone else. He was going to use you, use us all to become a vampire. He told me that we ruined his plan by dying before he wanted us too." Laughing despite the tears, she snorted. "They inconvenienced him with their deaths."
Walking up to them, Angel handed Buffy the pouch. "He said to give this to you." At her confused look, he gestured over his shoulder with a thumb. "He killed Bruno, tossed me this pouch, said it was for you, then disappeared."
"Gee, I wonder why that sounds familiar." Snorting, she took the pouch. Pulling open the draw strings, she turned it over to dump the contents in her open palm. Out fell a large man's class ring. Glancing at it, she blinked at Angel. "Why would he give this to me? I don't recognize it."
"I do." Snickering hysterically, she took the ring with shaky fingers. Turning it over so Buffy could see the inscription around the gem stone, she nearly dropped it. "It was Ford's. It wouldn't come off his finger because he had pumped up. He once said," she giggled again, this time with tears, "they would have to cut it off to remove it. Guess he wasn't lying for once in his life."
(oooo)
Glancing around him, Xander tightened the green cloak about him. The hood hid his identity from the other patrons of Willy's Bar, while the strong smell of spice masked his scent. If ever there was a time when he was glad to be different, now was that. It wasn't like he couldn't defend himself against any of the other patrons, he just didn't want to get in to any unnecessary fights with demons. That would completely blow his cover.
For the past day he had been searching for a purpose to it all. His happy little life of being best male friend and side kick to the Slayer was gone. The war with evil had just gotten a whole lot shakier on his part. He knew he was a freak, he also knew that he was a dangerous freak.
His skills and knowledge made him a deadly weapon in the wrong hands. That same skills and knowledge was why he was here in the first place. He hated what he had become, he just wanted to be normal again. Xander figured that if Superman had that crystal chamber, there had to be a magical equivalent for him.
Stepping up to the bar, Xander set down a twenty dollar bill he had taken from a vampire who no longer had a need for earthly possessions. When Willy didn't automatically come over, he drew out the back up dagger and jammed it in to the bar. Nothing got the weasel moving faster than damage to his place.
Stepping over with a towel over one shoulder, Willy glared up at Xander. "Hey, watch the stuff, asshole... Hey, I was just kidding, let's all place nice." He held up his arms to placate Xander as he was dragged across the bar to come face to face with a pair of bluing eyes. "What's goin on, kid?"
"A week ago, a spell was cast." Twisting the demon snitch's lapels, Xander forgot to restrain his strength and the cloth began to tighten and rip. "I was caught up in the effects. Now I want to know what I can do to reverse it. You are going to find out or I am going to get very unpleasant."
"Whoa, hold on there. I may do some information brokering, but I ain't no dummy. You are talkin some high class chaos magics, that is out of my league." His shirt was tightened until he found it hard to breath.
"Blinking will soon be out of your league." Shifting off to his right made Xander draw the dagger out of the bar and sling it through the face of a near by demon. "Do not interfere!" His anger going off the scale, Xander began to strangle Willy. "I want to be normal again! Find out how or I will paint the sand with your blood! You have two days!" With a final twist of his collar, Xander tossed Willy back against the wall.
Just as Willy impacted, the door to his bar opened. A figure in a black duster stood in the entrance, a cigarette in his hand. Surveying the scene about him, he took a drag from the cigarette. "Well, what have we here?"
Walking towards the door, Xander jerked his dagger from the head of the dead demon and wiped it on the clothes of another.
Spike sniffed the air and snorted. "Bugger, who's the bloody poof with the pot pourri fetish?" As Xander came near and the other demons in the bar scattered out of his way, Spike only raised an eye brow. "You some sort of bad..." Then he was tossed across the alley towards another building.
"You're in my way." Xander replaced the dagger under his cloak. Checking the time on his watch, he sighed. He had an hour before his mother got home and he still had dishes to do. Squaring his shoulders, he stalked off down the street towards home.
Spike shook his jaw to make sure it was still completely attached. The bugger had hit him with an undercut that tossed him thirty feet. If it hadn't been for that nice wall, he probably would have gone even further. Not even those nasty little slayers could do that. Few demons he knew could do that. Eyeing where the figure had disappeared, he rubbed at his head and back. "Well, pet, what are we going to do with you?"
(oooo)
Chantarelle glanced down at the torn and stained clothes in her hands. It was hard to believe that these had been hers just hours ago. That felt like an entire life time to her now. Meeting a real vampire had opened her eyes to the hazards of letting the dream take over. Or may be it had just ended the fantasy of becoming something better by embracing the darkness, she wasn't really sure.
Letting the clothes fall in to the trash can, she smiled. It was a foolish dream, but a dream none the less. Bending down, she picked up the bag of clothes the nice girl Buffy had given her. It was almost time for her to get on the bus and head back to L.A. and a possible new life.
There were things she could do there that weren't possible in this small town. She was going to get a place and a job when she got there, one that paid enough for her to save a little. When she got enough money she planned on going to a night college or something. Smiling over the future, she headed for the bus for boarding.
On the outskirts of the bus depot, Buffy stood with her back to Angel's chest. Pain evident in her features, she shivered in her jacket. "Do you suppose that she will be all right, Angel?"
"Who knows. We've done all we can, the rest is up to her." Wrapping his arms around the Slayer, he rest his head on her shoulder. "How are you doing? After hearing his plans, it must have been a shock. I mean he was your friend, right?"
"Yeah, but I'm over it." Feeling her resolve harden, Buffy clenched her fists. "Next time I see him, he's getting a face full of fist. Watch out Ford, you better pray we don't meet again."
(oooo)
After following the scent of Cinnamon through the alley ways and down long streets, Spike lost the trail in a dead end alley. He wasn't stupid enough to go in without checking it over first. That was why he was on the roof over looking it now.
Movement in the alley drew his attention to a figure scuffling with a trash can lid. "Having a little trouble with our dinner, are we?"
The man kicked the can when he couldn't get the lid off. "God damn it, open up you piece of shit. I want my clothes!" Kicking the side of the trash can, Ford made a dent in the shiny, silver metal. When that failed to produce the desired results, he turned around and slammed his booted foot in to the side of the trash can. That time there was enough force and the lid popped off. "Yes!"
Spinning around, he reached down inside to draw out his gym bag, but winced when he used the right hand. Pulling out the bloody clothed hand, he shook off the pain. Having a finger cut off for a ring really sucked. Even worse was being left for dead in front of that god damned giant snake. He never did thank that guy on the motorcycle who had stopped to see why he was running. Then again, hard to thank someone who was eaten by a giant snake.
This time, using his left hand, he pulled out the gym bag. He set it down on the next can and unzipped it. Reaching in the bag, he pulled out a 9mm glock and cocked it. "Hello, sweet heart, I've missed you. Looks like you and me are going to get that bitch the old fashioned way."
"And which bitch would that happen to be? This being the vacation spot it is, there certainly are a lot of them." Coming up the alley, cigarette lit, Spike smirked at the young man. He blew smoke from his nostrils in an attempt to look meaner. "Well, precious, I'm waiting?"
Pointing his gun at Spike, Ford smirked. "Oh, am I supposed to be scared of you?"
"Oh please, like that little toy could even hurt me." Spike was about to toss his cigarette aside when Ford fired. Stopping all movement, he looked down at the bullet hole in his chest. "Ow. That hurt!"
"Well there are plenty more where that came from." Firing again, he shot Spike in the shoulder. Before he could get off a third shot, the gun was ripped from his hand and he was lifted off the ground.
Spike shifted to game face as he choked the life out of the boy. "Oh, you are going to regret that, meat!"
Above the alley, Xander turned his back on the screaming Ford and walked away.
(oooo)
Buffy lead Angel by the arm towards the library for a little post hit man slaying celebration. Smiling at him over her shoulder, she missed the vampires coming towards them until they actually ran into each other. "Whoa! Where's the fire?"
"Move it, it's the slayer bitch!" Taking the book from her downed companion, who was knocked over by the collision with Buffy, the female vampire ran for it. Her hair flew wildly in a way she knew would be a pain in the ass to fix later, but all that mattered was she get away with the book.
Buffy flipped herself to her feet as she saw the female vampire take off. "Angel, you handle klutzy, I'll go after his bimbo girl friend. Meet me back at my place."
Before Angel could respond, Buffy was already gone. Standing there, he pulled out a stake and stabbed the vampire in the chest as he climbed to his feet. As the dust settled, he waved it off. "Well that was disappointing."
(oooo)
Buffy silently tracked the blonde vampire through the alleys towards what she knew would be the lair of Spike. If anyone was stealing books from Giles' library, she knew it would be that bad dye job. After another bend in the alley, she was rewarded with the sight of the vampire bimbo heading in to an old warehouse. "How predictable."
"I completely agree."
Buffy spun, but not fast enough to avoid the punch that slammed her head first in to a wall.
Standing over the unconscious slayer, Drusilla shook her head while clicking her tongue. "Naughty Goldie Locks shouldn't be snooping around the three bears. It's not nice to stick your nose in their porridge. It'll get chopped off!" Tilting her head to the side, she glared at the minion. "Take her inside, my Spike will enjoy her."
(oooo)
"Oh, Drusilla, I'm home!" Closing the door to his ware house, Spike stopped to burp. Frowning, he pulled something from his teeth and flicked it aside. "Nasty little bugger." After torturing the impudent little mortal, he had eaten him, literally to an extent. Spike glanced about the furnished warehouse for his lover. "Dru? Are you here?"
"Spike!" Coming down the stairs, Drusilla trailed her hair back over her shoulder and lowered the brush. "Did my Spike have fun tonight?"
"Oh yeah, baby, lots of fun. Even got a bite to eat." Spike stepped over to meet her at the bottom of the stairs. Watching her take the last steps, he grinned up at her. "He wasn't much, got a bit stuck in my teeth even."
"Bad boy, you'll ruin your supper." Drusilla's hand slipped out, rubbing the back of her brush along his cheek. Posing seductively, chest thrust forward, she pouted at him. "I've got a present for you, my sweet. The mouse was squeaking about, didn't notice the cat until too late." She tapped him across the cheek. "But then you've already played this game twice before."
Taking her hand, he turned it over and kissed the palm. "Sweet Drusilla, my goddess, my everything, what would I do without you?" His voice contained nothing but reverence for her. Climbing the step to stand beside her, he pressed their foreheads together. "What... have you been up to, love?"
"Shhhh, it's a secret." Giggling, she pressed a finger to his lips. Slowly, she dragged it down his face, neck and over his shoulder to end up wrapping it around his hand. "The mouse struggles to get free, but the cat knows more knots than nots." Her eyes half lidded in amusement, she lead him up the stairs. "I hope you like it, I saw it and could only think of you."
"The suspense is killing me, pet." Goosing her, he jumped back to avoid her hair brush. "A little faster before I get the urge to have you here on the steps in front of the help."
"Perhaps the present can wait." Sighing in pleasure, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I've grown so tired of resting, Spike. Don't make me rest like beauty, I don't want to wait a hundred years for my prince to come."
"Patience, Dru, I have the minions out scouring for that Du Lac book as we speak." Kissing her, he pressed her back against the arm rails. Suddenly he let her mouth go and turned his head to smile prettily at the slayer. "So you're the mouse. Dru, is there something you wanted to tell me?"
Buffy back handed Drusilla over the arm rail with her left hand while drawing her stake with the right. "I let my guard down, don't worry, it won't happen again."
"That makes two of us!" Spike returned her gesture, bouncing her off the steps. When she jumped to avoid his next blow, he hit the metal steps and cried out in pain. "Hold still, you bitch!"
There were times in her life Buffy was glad she could tolerate a lot of pain, because dying at the hands of this peroxided villain's hands was just one embarrassment she would never recover from. Then again, dying was nothing to recover from either. Rolling over, she avoided Spike's lunge. When he landed, she kicked him through the arm rails to land on top of the standing Drusilla.
"Sorry, love, she pushed me." Standing, Spike dusted off Drusilla and helped her to her feet. "Gotta go kick some ass. Oh, by the way, love the present." With one last kiss, he rushed around the stairs to intercept Buffy as she ran down them. He braced to catch her. However a knife to the back made him scream in pain.
Drusilla, seeing a figure in a green cloak stabbing her Spike with a white dagger, launched herself at him with a scream. Finger nails like claws, she tried to slice the skin from his body, but his movements were too fast for her to land a blow he didn't block. Growing desperate, she feinted left, and drove her right knee up in to his groin. When he doubled over, she hit him with a right hook that sent him flying.
"Way to go, Dru!" Spike removed the white dagger from his back and most of the pain left him. Falling to his knees, he didn't see Buffy until she was kicking his head to an odd angle, breaking his neck.
Picking up the dagger, she admired the work on it. Stepping over the prone Spike, she headed for the inner heart of the warehouse. She still had to find the missing book. Glancing over her shoulder, she spared the man in the green cloak a passing thought before moving on.
Drusilla found herself flying back against the wall of the warehouse. She impacted with a pained grunt, crying out in pain as she slid to the ground.
Standing over her, the figure, now without his facial hood and mask which were still clutched in Drusilla's hand, he stared coldly down upon her. "What form of demon are you?" He produced a knife from his cloak and pressed it to her throat. "Do not lie to me, I will not hesitate to cut your throat."
"Help me, Spike!" Whimpering, Drusilla tried to lift her hand to defend herself only to find it wouldn't move. "Spike!"
Kneeling, he drew the blade slowly over her throat. "Answer me!"
"Get your hands off her!" Angel kicked the kneeling man in the ribs, sending him flying across the room. Kneeling in front of Drusilla to take his place, Angel ran a hand over her face. "Shhh, it's okay, calm down, Drusilla."
Blinking through the tears, Drusilla grinned at him. "My sweet Angel, you've come back to me."
"No, Dru. You're not safe yet." After stroking her face once more, he looked over to see where the man had landed. He was only partially surprised to see the man gone. "I want you to get Spike and leave town, don't return!"
"I can't move my arm, Daddy. The bad man, he hurt me, I think he broke my arm. Ms. Edith won't be pleased with this." She lifted her good arm over to move her broken arm. Shaking it, she frowned. "What a curious sensation. I don't like this feeling, not at all."
"That's fine, Drusilla, just do as I said! If you stay, it won't end well!" Standing, Angel spun on his heel and stalked over to where Spike was glaring up at him, head completely turned around on his shoulders. Smirking, he tapped him with the toe of his shoe. "I told you something bad would happen if you messed with the slayer, boy."
After having found the book room, Buffy quickly set to work locating Giles' missing book. She now knew it was written by a guy named Du Lac, or it was about this guy Du Lac from Spike's own words. Hearing a commotion on the other side of he room, Buffy spun to attack. As she moved, she knocked a candle off its pedestal in to the books. Within seconds the entire stack was on fire and it was spreading to the rest of the room.
"Oooops." Buffy rushed from the room in to Angel's waiting arms. "Angel! What are you doing here?"
"I was coming to help you. I heard fighting and busted in. Where are you going?" Sniffing the air, he glanced towards the way she came. "Let me guess, you didn't get the book?"
"Nope, but neither will anyone else. Let's go." Dragging the reluctant Angel by the arm, Buffy headed for the exit.
Angel glanced one last time towards where he had left Drusilla and Spike only to find them gone. He hoped she had gotten out, the blond he couldn't give a damn about.
(oooo)
Saturday morning dawned bright and early for Buffy. Unfortunately for the person she was wrapped around, that wasn't a good thing. Angel sat up as the rays came through her blinds and covered himself with her blanket with a curse. Throwing himself and Buffy off the bed, he ducked under it and pulled the covers along with him. He couldn't believe how foolish he had been to let himself get distracted and sleep here with her.
On the one hand, she had been vulnerable in her grief over Xander and Ford, on the other hand, she was becoming worked up over Xander and Ford and needed to be calmed down. Despite his better judgement, he had stayed the night. Now it was after dawn and he was stuck here for the day.
Buffy grumbled as she sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Angel. Why'd you...Oh." Noticing the sun, she frowned. "How did we get side tracked?"
"I believe it was between the time you were summoning curses of bodily harm upon Xander for making you worry and then called me shmoopy bear. By the way, I am not a shmoopy bear!" Peeking through the stuffed animals under her bed, his argument seemed to lack conviction. "As much an undignified position I am in, know that any rebuttal will be harshly dealt with, Buffy."
"Okay, Angel." Rolling her eyes, Buffy climbed up off the floor. With a heavy sigh, she dropped herself on her bed. Buffy grinned at Angel's pained grunt. "Ooops, forgot you were down there."
"This isn't funny, Buffy. What if you mother comes in and finds you talking to yourself? Are you willing to risk the possible mental check up?" Despite his voice being barely audible through the mattress, he knew he made his point.
Or at least thought he did.
Laying back, Buffy bounced a little until she found a comfortable position. "I think I am willing to risk it. Besides, I could do with a little vacation from slaying."
"Slaying what, honey?" Opening Buffy's door, Joyce poked her head in with a smile. "I'm glad to see you're up, I was just coming to wake you. Have you been up long?"
"Tests. So am I. No need, already up. And not really, just fell off the bed a moment ago." Smirking at her summary answers, Buffy folded her arms behind her head and bounced twice on the bed. Blinking innocently at her mother, she tried to appear like the good little girl she was supposed to be.
"All right. Well get ready, remember your aunt Eileen from Illinois is going to be here for lunch and I want this place spick and span before she even hits the city limits. Lord knows what she is doing touring the states in a car at her age." Sighing, she shook her head. "All righty, kiddo, hurry up. There's work to be done."
"Mom!" Groaning, Buffy sat up and bounced twice before climbing off the bed. Walking towards the closet, she ignored her mother's questioning look. "A little privacy, please?"
"Oh, right. Ten minutes, Buffy." Closing the door, Joyce wondered what her daughter was doing in her room. No girl her age was up that early without a reason.
Underneath Buffy's bed, Angel watched Buffy slowly undress. His eyes traced her body as she lifted the hem of her night shirt. Just as they were about to reach her bra, Buffy let it drop, much to his disappointment. Next thing he knew there was a large blanket being thrown over his viewing area and he cursed. "Damn."
"I heard that, Mister. Don't make me see just how bright and sunny it is out side." Satisfaction filled her as the toys under her bed shifted to block all sides.
(oooo)
High above the cliffs over looking the Pacific Ocean, Xander stood watching the waves reflect in the sun light. The morning air was shrouded in fog from the rising dew. Little droplets of moisture gathered on the edge of his green hood. Xander held still as they ran down the insides towards his face when they had sufficient mass.
So precious.
Feeling light from lack of sleep and too much energy expenditure, he marveled on the beauty of it all. The world was such a fragile thing, the ecosystems, the life, the water, even the very air they breathed held a balance. So much to know, to learn before one could even hope to master it all.
But he didn't want to learn it. He didn't want to master the world. Controlling the people was something he had been born to do, no quarter given to indifference, he would be their instrument. Life called for sacrifice, his was hopes and dreams, that which made him who he was. It would continue to take from him until nothing remained, not even the sorrow.
Man kind wanted a savior. Scratch that, man kind needed a savior, someone to rescue them from themselves. They would be coming for him soon, a tool as important as him would not go unused for long.
Sensing something behind him, Xander broke from his ruminations. Crysknife at the ready, he smiled in anticipation of battle. Battle was something he could do, it took all concentration to succeed, there was no time for morbid thoughts. Adrenalin surged through him and he subtlety shifted for an attack stance.
His efforts were in vain as the person behind him wrapped his arms around Xander, placing a dagger to his throat. "You are woefully out of practice, Paul."
"Think again, Duncan." Xander didn't question why he as having the vision of his dead lover and friend, just that he was there was more than enough for him. Crysknife out of use, his back up dagger was poking at the back of his robe held in his free hand. "Seems we die together, old friend."
"Old? Far from that, dukeling." Strong arms tightening around Xander's body, Duncan rubbed them together. His fingers slid down Xander's hips, holding him fast. "There is still life yet in these ancient fingers, enough spark to light a fire within you even, I bet."
"You probably haven't the strength, what with just walking here, you might need a short nap to recover." He giggled when Duncan's hand found a soft spot along his flank. Shrinking away from it, he struck the older man's hand. "Careful, wouldn't want you to tire too soon."
"I'll skin you just for that one!" Stuffing his hand inside Xander's cloak, he came up under his shirt to tickle him. Instead, he stopped to lay his fingers along Xander's ribs. "You've grown fast, Paul, you're much bigger than last time. Think you can handle me."
"Is that a challenge, Duncan?" Suddenly the hands were gone from his body and Xander was left standing in the breeze. "No!" The shock of loss was so quick that he gasped for breath. Falling to his knees, Xander's hands shook as he pulled out another piece of spice candy and stuffed it in his mouth. Chewing it, he tried to achieve the state of calm he had been in, but the depth of his emotions were too massive for him to master. By the time he had calmed down, the vision of Duncan was too far from his memory for him to summon.
Sitting in the sand, watching the waves helplessly, Xander felt his world slip from his grasp again as he was thrown head first once more in to life. The same drug that gave him clarity enough to summon phantoms from his mind also kept him flooded with visions enough to distract him. For now, Duncan was lost to him again and a morning's work of meditation was shot to hell.
Sighing in defeat, Xander climbed to his feet and walked back the way he had come.
(oooo)
It was not beyond him to understand the need for contact with a loved one. In his younger days he had been very affectionate with those he cared about, not that there had been many. Deeply troubled as he had been back then, he knew better now than to be so carefree with his attachments. Rupert Giles knew the value of keeping one's heart from a stranger's hands.
Which was why it was especially hard to give it away.
Staring at Jenny from across the room, Giles knew he should be searching for whatever was killing these people in the Watchers' Diaries. But what he should be doing and what his heart were telling him were two different things. At this very moment all he wanted to do was lean on the desk and watch Jenny as she continued on with her work.
She made him feel alive, unlike he had felt since becoming a Watcher. Her actions fascinated him, the very notion of her being made him feel a part of something grander. Jenny made him feel like Rupert, not just the Giles everyone knew and expected. He must of sighed at that thought because she looked up at him and smiled.
"Is there something the matter, Rupert?" At her words, a blush was the last thing she expected. But then again, he had been mooning after her for the past three hours, ten minutes, twenty-six seconds, so it was not unbelievable.
"Uh, no, nothing's the matter." Her attention diverted to him made him begin to blush again. He felt foolish and tongue tied despite his experience. "Well, there is something I have been meaning to ask."
Putting her book down, Jenny quashed the growing excitement. No need to get the almost icy Brit in an uproar of emotions. Then she might not get any response at all. "Yes?"
"Is there any chance you would considering going on a date with me?" Glancing up at her, he smiled hopefully.
"Yes!" Clearing her throat, she played with her necklace a little. "Um, I mean, let me check my birth control... I mean date control... Yes, for the love god, yes, I will go out, just name the time and place!" Face almost as red as the book in her hand, she stood up. "Um, just tell me when and I will, you know, meet you there. I have to go now before I stick a prick in my mouth." Not even realizing her choice of words, she gathered her stack of books and nearly ran from the library.
If she never made another mistake like that in her life, it would be too soon. Rushing down the hall, she ran a hand over her forehead to check for some demon parasite or something to explain the hormonal surge that drove her to step all over her tongue around Rupert. Finding nothing, she felt let down.
A few moments after she had left, Giles was still staring at the place she had been. "Well. That's good. I think." He was still staring when a throat cleared behind him. Jumping, he placed a hand to his chest and glared at Willow. "Yes?"
"I think I found something." Bringing in the laptop from his office, she set it down on the counter next to him. "On a hunch, I did some checking in the news groups for spice addiction, disappearances, and sand. Surprisingly, they contained some references to a series of books, but one in particular. The first in the series had the name 'Dune', which not so coincidentally, is also the name of the series. There are six books in total."
"Good work! What did they say?" A distraction was good for him mentally, or so he thought until he met her expression. "All right, tell me the rest."
"Okay, but you aren't going to like it." Pressing the command keys, Willow summoned up the information on the books. "I referenced them with the card catalog in both this library, the city library, and the county. None of them have it. We held a copy of the first book until the hellmouth incident last may. It was one of the casualties of the thing's appetite."
"Bloody hell." Sighing with disgust, Giles turned to his desk phone. Picking it up, he dialed a now familiar number. It was answered after the fifth ring. "Yes, Wynona please. Yes, I'll hold." Covering the mouth piece, he faced Willow again. "Is there anything else I need to order while I am on here?"
"Yes, that Du Lac book the vamps were after last night burned up. Buffy accidentally knocked a candle over on it before we could retrieve it from the vampires and poof, it was history. That is one phone call I never want to have again." She ignored his look in favor of summoning the list up on her computer. "I've taken the liberty of complying a list of books we need and back up copies we might need, you know, just in case."
"Oh dear. There goes the budget for repairs this year. Tell Buffy to keep all fights out of the library from now on, we can't afford to replace any more broken furniture. Yes, Wynona, this is your," Grimacing at Willow, he rolled his eyes, "sweet hunk of British man love. Yes, yes, I want you too."
Willow could only stare in horror as she watched her mentor sweet talk the woman on the other end in to getting a discount on the books.
(oooo)
There was a point to it all. There had to be. Things like this just didn't happen. It was evil, it was unjustifiable, it was a hideous hand made dress and her aunt wanted her to wear it. Forget that!
Dropping the pasteled monstrosity, Buffy kicked the box it came in far from her. There was no Earthly explanation for why her aunt thought she would look good in that sack. Debating whether breaking city ordinances about burning was worth ridding herself of the dress was worth it, she ignored Angel's throat clearing.
"I said, Ahem! Buffy, I'm getting tired of just laying down here. Throw a blanket over the window and let me out." When he still got no response, Angel grabbed the little stuffed pig. "Do it now or the pig gets it."
"Ew, gross! If you are that desperate to jack off, Angel, use the box of tissues by the head board. Now leave me be, I am on a dangerous mission." Picking up the box, Buffy headed down the hall for the stairs. She quickly glanced about for her aunt or mother. Finding neither, she ran down the stairs and to the front door.
Joyce led her sister from kitchen in to the dinning room, frowning as she felt the breeze of the front door shutting. "Buffy?" When she got no response, she heaved a sigh and half smiled at her sister. "Well it seems we are going to be eating lunch by ourselves. It's a real shame, too. There is someone I want you to meet. Buffy was supposed to get to know him last night but some guys from Las Vegas needed directions and we got side tracked talking with them while waiting for a table at the local version of Chez Rouge.
"It was the strangest thing. About halfway through our conversation, Buffy suddenly got up and went to the bathroom. One of them had to use the restroom shortly after that. Buffy came back, but the guy never did. She announced she had to go again, and again another of them went too. This happened with all six of those men. They never did come back, and by the time Buffy returned after her sixth and final bathroom break, our table was gone so we just had pizza and came home." Shrugging at her wide eyed sister, Joyce shook her head. "It's not what you are thinking, she came back less than two minutes after each time. I guess those men just really had to go to the bathroom. May be they had some bad fastfood on the way over from Vegas."