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laniew1About once a week someone sends me an e-mail asking me about my Buffy stories; specifically about my William-verse stories. All of them went down when Geocities went the way of the dinosaurs. Since I get so many requests for them to be reposted somewhere where they can once more be accessible I’m going to begin posting them (about one chapter every other day or so) to my LJ and Dreamwidth accounts. There are four stories that I wrote in William-verse (William as the Slayer, Buffy is Elizabeth the Bloody). I’ll start with Warrior of Dark; Warrior of Light since that is the one that I get the most requests for.
Eventually Beginning Anew, By The Light of The Dark Moon & With Friends Like These will also go up.
TITLE: Warrior of Light; Warrior of Dark
AUTHOR: Melanie
PAIRINGS: William/Buffy, William/Dru, Buffy/Angelus
RATING: R, for language, violence and sexual situations.
SUMMARY: Prophecies are tricky beasts.
SPOILERS: Pretty much if you’ve seen up through Buffy Season 6 you’re good, just replace Buffy with William.
Warrior of Light; Warrior of Dark – Chapter 1
Unto each generation one is born with the strength and skill to hunt the vampires
One boy in all the world
February 2002 – Summer Residence
William Summers was agitated as he tossed and turned in his bed.
Agitated, slightly angry and aroused as hell.
It was all Buffy’s fault really. If she hadn’t cornered him in the cemetery during his patrol after his disastrous birthday party none of this would have happened. He would have been safely done with killing several more of the undead that continued to rise in Sunnydale and firmly ensconced in his bed. But she had cornered him seething with jealousy over the date that Xander and Anya had attempted to set him up on.
He at one point thought he had almost seen the sparks of jealousy that rose off of her in waves. She had come out of nowhere, flinging herself at him as he rounded one crypt, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist she had assaulted him.
And he had done what any other red-blooded American male would have done, he had assaulted her back. Turning so her back was pressed against the cold brick walls of the crypt he had gripped her tightly. Pulling her legs from his waist he planted her feet firmly on the ground, insinuating one leg between hers as he worked at the button of the black jeans that encased her body like a second skin. She already had his pants unbuttoned, although she had made no move to push them down his hips, she had been roughly caressing him through the fabric. Her mouth nipping and biting his in a display of dominance.
It had taken hearing her moan his name and the ever present declaration of love to bring him to his senses. It had been like having a bucket of cold water splashed down on him. He had ceased his movements actually throwing her away from him. She of course had nimbly jumped back to her feet and advanced on him. The fact that they could now fight without the chip in her head sending bolts of electricity through her brain should have worried him.
But it didn’t.
Because he knew exactly how to get to her. How to hurt her.
He remembered their conversation, the words echoing through his troubled mind. He didn’t know why it bothered him what had been said. He had said worse to her before. But something about tonight had seemed different, seemed off and he couldn’t help the trickles of unease that he felt crawling down his spine as he relived that conversation.
“Why are you doing this William?” she purred seductively at him. Her green eyes flashing as she slowly slinked her way to him. “I know you want me, I can smell it,” she smirked sniffing the air. “I can taste it. Don’t fight it luv…” she ran her hand down his chest and he flinched unconsciously back from her. His eyes dark and cold he stared down as she cupped him intimately, fondling him.
She lined her body with his, nuzzling his neck with her nose she inhaled deeply even though she didn’t need to breathe and licked her lips before running her tongue down the center of his throat nipping gently at his racing pulse.
Will raised his hands to her hips, clenching her denim encased body tightly as she purred against him her tongue still laving his neck, he closed his eyes as he felt his body begin reacting again to her nearness. He hated this. He hated desiring her more than he had ever hated anything in his life.
He could feel Buffy’s lips curl into a grin against his neck and that gave him the strength to push her away. This had to stop now; he wouldn’t be weak and allow her to draw him into this sick game that she was playing. She couldn’t love him, a vampire with no soul falling in love with the Slayer? Not possible. And he wouldn’t allow himself to feel anything but disgust for the way she made him feel. This attraction between them was unnatural. It was sick.
“Let yourself go,” she whispered staring up at him from where she had fallen on the ground. Making no move to rise. “Give us what we both want pet.”
“I don’t want you,” he hissed glaring down at her. “I’ll never want you.”
“I beg to differ,” she smirked at the obvious erection straining against the tan slacks that he was wearing.
“I’ll never want you,” he hissed again. “You’re nothing more than a replacement, you’re a convenience. You were willing, end of story.”
“Really,” Buffy snorted in disbelief as she pushed herself to her feet. Dusting herself off she stood there staring at him impassively, hands on her hips the ever present black duster she wore swaying around her body with the breeze. “A replacement for whom, luv? Harmony? The bitch who betrayed you? The bitch who let vampires, like me suck on her…” she asked with raised eyebrows.
“For Dru,” Will said stiffly. Better to strike while the iron was hot. No one knew what had happened between Dru and him when he had returned from the dead. No one knew that they had both decided that it was over, that what ever they had once shared was finished. “One vampire’s as good as another… right?” He refused to let himself be drawn into the anger and anguish on her face. He better than anybody knew how much she hated Dru.
They had formed their first alliance years ago when Dru had lost her soul. He and Buffy had worked together to stop Dru and Angelus from ending the world. He because he was tired of the fight and the pain and wanted it over, Buffy because she wanted Dru gone from her and Angelus’ lives. It had worked. He had sent Dru to hell even though she had her soul back and Buffy had fled with Angelus only to return months later. Alone.
“I’m a replacement for nobody,” she snarled her eyes flashing as she stalked over to him. It always amazed him how much thicker her English accent became when she was angry. And she was most certainly angry now. “Especially not Dru.”
“That’s all you’ll ever be Buffy,” Will said snidely. Ignoring the angry vampire in front of him he straightened his shoulders. “You’ll never be nothing more than a replacement for her to me… ever.”
“I don’t believe you,” she spat at him. “Moonin’ over that little bitch when it’s obvious she doesn’t feel the same about you.”
“How do you know that?” Will smirked at her. “The only reason she’s not here is because she’s got responsibilities in LA… once they’re done…” he smiled leadingly.
Buffy crossed her arms over her chest, schooling her features in what appeared to be a mask of indifference as she studied him with narrowed eyes. She didn’t believe him.
“I’ll fuck you, but I’ll never love you,” he stated coldly. “Ever.”
“You’re lyin’,” she said quietly her eyes boring into him. Desperately trying to see some hint of emotion for her. All she saw there was hatred and disgust and she felt her heart crumble as she realized that he wasn’t lying. At this moment that was all he felt for her.
“I will never love you…ever,” he said harshly, he watched the hope dim from her eyes. Watched the arms that had been crossed over her chest fall limply to her side and then she suddenly turned from him without a word. Walking slowly away he watched her move, her head held high as she walked through the cemetery. Everything was quiet and still and as he watched her finally disappear from site he sagged against the building.
Will sighed as he turned over onto his side, staring resolutely at the clock he grimaced. 5:00 am he was never sleeping at this rate. The memory of the final expression on her face haunted him. The loss of hope, the sadness, he had never seen her look like that. Not even when they’d had her chained in Giles’ bathtub as they tried to determine what the Initiative had done to her.
Laying a hand over his eyes he tapped his foot against the end of the bed.
No matter how he might feel about Buffy they did need her. Besides him she was the strongest fighter and with the growing number of vampires and other nasties in town he and the others needed all the help they could get.
He would have to go talk to her, make her understand why there couldn’t be anything besides a working relationship between them.
Turning his head he glanced at the clock again.
He would do it much, much later though.
**********************************************************
Tapping his fingers against the worn circular table Will and Xander waited for the others to join them.
The atmosphere had been strained at the Magic Shoppe since he had arrived. Everyone knew that he and Buffy had been sleeping together. The truth had come out after his party but before his confrontation with Buffy in the cemetery.
He knew the others were angry and disappointed in him. Nothing like finding out that their best friend and the Slayer had been screwing one of the enemy to dampen a friendship.
“So…” Xander started, wincing as he realized that he had no idea of what he was supposed to say.
“Yeah,” Will muttered. Where were the girls already?
Looking around he could see Anya at the register counting out bills. Closing the store. Willow had wandered up into the book area a little earlier and hadn’t come back down.
Willow had left the house that morning before he had even managed to drag himself from bed. She seemed to be doing better. Giving up her magic, something that had been an identifying feature of hers in the Scooby gang had been hard. Plus her relationship with Dawn and himself had been strained since she had abused her powers and almost gotten Dawn and herself killed in the process.
Tara had called and said she would be here although she had also said that she would be late.
The meeting was a standard one. After sunset they gathered to discuss any news that might have been heard on the demon grapevine. Buffy normally contributed that information. And then they planned their methods of attack.
But the female vampire was also late. Glancing at his watch he frowned and then shook his wrist pressing the face of the watch to his ear. Almost 30 minutes late… and Buffy was never late. Not when it was a group meeting that meant that she would get a chance to sit in his presence.
“You’re not still sleeping with her… are you?” Xander muttered not looking over at him.
“Who?”
“Undead girl number two. Unless there’s some other vampire you’ve been fucking on the side,” Xander said sarcastically.
“No,” Will said quietly. “No I’m not.”
“Good,” Xander said with a small measure of relief.
“Alright I’m ready where is everyone? Xander promised to play games with me this evening,” Anya stated as she sat as close to her fiancé as she could manage without actually climbing into his lap.
“I’m here,” Willow said quietly as she climbed down the stairs. Holding a thin book in her hand she sat down across from Anya and Xander her eyes studiously avoiding everyone’s.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” Tara said breathlessly as she rushed through the door. Taking a look at the table she saw one member missing so she didn’t turn and lock it as she would normally have done. “Where’s Buffy?”
“She’s probably just running late,” Xander muttered. “Probably doesn’t want to face all of us now that we all know that she and Will here have been getting it on.”
“Xander,” Willow hissed as she glanced apologetically at Will.
“I still don’t see what the problem is,” Anya said glancing back and forth between the other silent four members of the group. “I mean she’s one of us now… right? What’s the big deal?”
“Other than the fact that she’s an undead, murdering vampire who has tried to kill us all more than once and is now only stopped by the fact that she has a piece of plastic in her brain to keep her from doing so….” Xander glared at his fiancé.
“Well yes… other than that.”
“Nothing other than the fact that she’s an undead, murdering vampire who’s tried to kill us all more than once,” Xander shrugged.
“Leave it alone Xander,” Will muttered as his eyes finally met those of his best friend.
“I just want to know one thing… Why her? If you were going to screw a vampire why not at least pick one that hasn’t tried to kill us numerous times.”
“Leave it alone Xander,” Will snarled his ice blue eyes shooting daggers at those brown ones of his best friend. Xander flinched when he saw the barely concealed anger in them looking away first.
“We’ll just have to start without her and someone can bring her up to speed after we’re done,” Willow said quietly attempting to diffuse the hostility in the air by starting the meeting.
She opened the notebook that she had left on the table earlier and consulted the notes she had written in there. Giles had taken to e-mailing her with prophecies or words of warning. The others normally took the news better from her and it was better then having him call long distance for a conference call, especially if the information was as vague as it normally was.
“What dire warning does the council have for us this time?” Xander leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the table.
“He’s not sure, he mentioned that he had some information for us in his e-mail but he wanted to run the translation by Druscilla and Wesley before he worried us for nothing.”
“He wants to run a translation by Dru and Wesley? Doesn’t that seem a little odd?” Will asked with a frown.
“I don’t know, the e-mail in general was all pretty vague I should know more soon,” Willow shrugged seemingly unconcerned.
“He-he couldn’t even give us a hint on what it was?” Tara stumbled softly. Willow glanced over at her ex-girlfriend and shook her head.
“He said he’d let us know as soon as he knew anything concrete… It sounded big though. His e-mail stressed that he didn’t think it would be wise idea for Will or Buffy to patrol by themselves, either separately or together. He wants us to team up during nightly patrols.”
“We already sort of do that,” Will ran his fingers through his light brown hair. “I guess when Buffy finally decides to get here we can make up an official schedule,” Will sighed resolutely.
He didn’t know how he was going to get her to agree to let someone patrol with her. Normally she only went with him or by herself. Preferring lately to distance herself from the rest of the group. Of course with the waves of hostility rolling of Xander he could see why. He would have to make sure that Xander wasn’t assigned Buffy. They would probably try to kill each other. Or Buffy would get a massive headache and Xander would ‘accidentally’ stake her.
Maybe one of the girls would be willing to go with her.
Everyone looked up in anticipation as the bell over the door rang, Will shooting to his feet when he saw Dawn barreling towards him.
“Dawn what’s wrong?” he moved to her worriedly. Hugging her to him tightly he stared down at her bent head before drawing away. When she remained silent, just breathing heavily trying to catch her breath he kneeled before her. Surprised to see the tears falling unheeded from her eyes, the anguish lining her face. The others moving up behind him as they all stared at the silent crying girl.
“Dawnie…” Willow moved forward setting her hand on Dawn’s shoulder. Dawn jerked away, Willow’s face dropping as she fisted her hands at her side.
“She’s gone Will,” Dawn whispered brokenly.
“She’s gone? What are you talking about Dawn?” Will glanced over his shoulder at the others; they looked as confused as he felt. “Are you talking about mom? Because she’s been gone for a couple of months.”
“No not mom,” Dawn wiped frantically at her eyes. “I know you said I couldn’t hang out with her anymore, but I just wanted to see her, because she looked so sad after your party and all. But when I got there…”
Will looked at her, her sad eyes and slowly pushed himself to his feet. “Buffy… you’re talking about Buffy?” he asked in disbelief. She wouldn’t leave him. She wouldn’t. She had been the one person that he could continually push away and never have leave him. The one that would always fight for him no matter what he said or did to her.
“I went to her crypt. I wanted to see her before she came for the meeting but when I got there, all her clothes are gone and I couldn’t find the car anywhere… She wouldn’t leave right Will? She promised that she would never leave,” Dawn stared at him with teary eyes. Her expression pleading as she begged him to tell her she was wrong.
“Dawn…” he started, he stopped suddenly. He had no idea what to say to his baby sister. He had no idea how to make her understand that it looked like he had finally drove away Buffy away.
“She’s coming back right Will? I mean she’s not leaving forever… not like mom. Right Will?”
“I don’t know,” Will whispered pulling his sister against him. “I don’t know.”
**********************************************************
“Well…” Xander stared at the mess surrounding them, hand against his mouth. Will and the others had opted to follow Dawn back to Buffy’s crypt to see if they could figure out what was going on. “I didn’t think a girl, dead or alive could pack this fast.”
“Hmm,” Will knelt on the floor. There were papers strewn along the top level of the crypt. Smoke curled in tendrils in the air indicating that there had been a fire at one point somewhere within the building.
Everything was gone except for the papers on the floor.
She’d had a couple of chairs up here at one point. A table. Some lamps. She’d made the crypt into a home and now there was nothing on the top level.
Nothing indicated that anyone had ever resided there except for the papers.
There was a chance that she had just moved everything down to the bottom level though. He knew that she still caught a lot of flak for working with him. Even unwillingly.
Maybe a demon or some vampires had trashed the place and she had moved her stuff underground where she could protect it better.
He knew from the times that he had been here that she kept the majority of her stuff underground anyway. Maybe she had decided to consolidate her assets.
“Dawn did you check underground?” he asked swinging his head towards his sister. Tara stood with her by the entranceway, one arm over his sister’s shoulder comfortingly.
Tears still streamed down her face and she brushed them away as she glared at her brother. She knew that this was his fault. She hadn’t left after Will had died, she had stayed and helped them. Even putting up with the snide comments by Xander and the attitudes of the others.
Why would she leave now when she wouldn’t before?
No Will had done something and he was going to have to fix it.
Anya wandered aimlessly around the top level. Not really looking at anything or for anything.
Willow had opted to not come, instead waiting to see if she could get a hold of Giles or Dru to find out what was going on with them.
“I peeked down there, but it was dark and smoky… like there had been a fire or something.”
“Maybe she fell asleep with a cigarette in her mouth and dusted herself,” Xander said with a hopeful expression.
“No… if she had flamed herself last night all her stuff would still be here,” Will headed towards the hole in the crypt that led to the underground room. “I think she skipped town.”
“Why would she do that now? I mean she never left after any of your other fights,” Xander muttered as he followed Will down the ladder. “What made this one different?”
Will flinched as he thought back to the words that he had spoken to her just last night.
I’ll fuck you, but I’ll never love you.
Even to his mind now those words sounded cold and cruel. He flicked on the flashlight in his hands, banishing the words from his mind. Although he was expecting to see nothing, when he looked around he was still shocked to see the emptiness. He was also shocked to feel just a little bit of sadness at her absence.
He had done this. He had finally driven her away.
The sheets had been stripped from the bed.
The stuffed animals that had filled it were gone.
The wooden armoire that stood in the corner was open and empty.
“Hey I found the fire,” Xander called from the opposite corner of the room. Will cautiously made his way over to him, his flashlight trained on the ground as he walked. “Guess Buffy’s decided you’re a lost cause,” Xander murmured as he shook the photo he held in his hand.
“What do you…?” Will’s eyes widened as he realized what had been burning in the fire, what had caused the hazy fog that drenched the room. “Oh my god.”
He had called her psychotic once when he’d discovered the shrine she had built around him. All the pictures that had made up that shrine were now burnt to ashes.
“Shit,” he muttered as he leaned over the barrel. His trained his flashlight above it, peering into the barrel that she had used to contain the fire.
“Looks like she burned everything,” Xander mused. “Your pictures, looks like some sheets, clothes,” with a smirk he eyed Will. “Hope you didn’t leave anything here that you wanted back eventually.”
**********************************************************
“Well?” Willow asked as she watched the group trudge back into the Magic Shop.
The only person who looked even remotely happy about the fact that Buffy was gone was Xander. And even he looked dejected.
“She’s gone,” Will sat across from her burying his face in his hands.
“Well we have to get her back,” Willow said quietly as she stood.
“What are you talking about? She finally skipped town of her own volition why on earth would we try to get her back?” Xander muttered as he began tapping his fingers against the tabletop.
“Willow?” Will eyed her as she avoided eye contact with them.
“I couldn’t get a hold of Giles… I think he’s on his way here. But I did get a hold of Druscilla… she told me what Giles called her for…”
“And?”
“There’s a prophecy that the council found,” Willow looked down at the stack of papers in her hand, pacing in front of them she winced as she reread the words that she had written down.
“The council found a prophecy,” Xander snorted. “Color me un-surprised,” he muttered sarcastically.
“What does a council prophecy have to do with Buffy?” Will asked with narrowed eyes even as his brain told him he should know this already.
“The prophecy is about Buffy, or so it appears. There’s a track in one of the new books that they’ve been going through that talks about the warriors that will be called to fight the final battle…”
“And?”
“Most of it was pretty straight forward. Stuff that’s been seen in other books, manuscripts, the like. It talks about the warriors of the light, the good guys. The slayer, vampires and demons with souls, warriors that have fought the battle before and will be raised to fight it again. And then they found a new text that talks about those warriors that have yet to choose sides, those that are straddling the fence so to speak.”
“And-and Buffy is mentioned in this?” Tara asked in confusion.
“Not by name but…” Willow sighed as she stared at Will who was looking at her with a guarded face. “One of the warriors is identified by this: a vampire, untainted by soul, torn between demon and love will fight with warriors of the light and will know the love of the slayer… It doesn’t say what side the vampire will fight on but…”
“It could be anybody Willow. Besides I don’t love Buffy.”
“No but she loves, or loved you. How many vampires have professed to love you in recently Will? Two. Buffy and Druscilla. Dru has her soul and is already identified as a warrior of the light, there’s only one other vampire that fits that description.”
“Maybe Franklin has been getting it on with some vampire in prison and it doesn’t even pertain to you,” Xander supplied helpfully.
“Franklin tends to lean more towards the ‘stake vampires now ask intent of said vampire later’ way of life,” Will stared hard at Willow who was fidgeting in front of him. “So why the big secrecy? Why the warning on the patrols and all that?”
“Dru said that text says before the final battle warriors of the light will be targeted for assassination by warriors of the dark. As well as any warriors still sitting on the fence not having chosen a side yet that look like they may choose the side of light. There’s some worry amongst the council members that deciphered the original text that Buffy, because she hasn’t really chosen a side yet, will be marked and taken out leaving our side short a warrior,” Willow said softly taking a seat once more at the table.
“You didn’t tell them… you know… that she left?”
“No I figured I’d leave that fun news to you,” Willow smirked, her smile fading from her face as she studied him. “We need to get her back here… and it needs to be before Giles and Druscilla get here and find out she’s gone.”
“Wait a minute they’re both coming?”
“Yeah, Dru, Cordy and Wesley will be here sometime tomorrow evening and Giles must be already on his way because I couldn’t get in touch with him.”
“Damn,” Will muttered under his breath as he pushed himself to his feet, pacing he ran his fingers through his hair before he stopped. Crossing his arms over his chest he eyes his friends and sister. “Well she can’t be that hard to find… I mean she’s one vampire, with no money and nowhere to go. And she just left so she can’t have gotten very far. This’ll be a piece of cake,” he said unconvincingly.
“Sure,” Xander snorted. “It’ll be as easy as finding a needle in a haystack.”
“Xander if you don’t have anything helpful to say…”
“Look, she left, she left without telling anyone that she was leaving which pretty much indicates that she doesn’t want to be found and that means she’s not going to leave us a trail to follow to her doorstep.”
“We have to do something Xander,” Willow sighed.
“I think you should just leave her alone,” Anya said deliberately. Ignoring the scowls that Willow and Dawn shot at her she pressed on. “She can take care of herself. She has amazing survival skills, she lasted this long right? Plus if she needs help, what with all of you being so judgmental lately she’s probably not going to come to any of you if she needs it.”
“I’ll do a search on the net and see if I can come up with somewhere for us to start searching… She only used Buffy and Elizabeth as alias’ right? I guess I can wait until Dru gets here to find out if she had any others,” Willow mused quietly tapping her pen against the table she ignored Anya’s statement.
“Serena,” Dawn said softly.
“What?” Will stared down at her bent head.
“Serena… Serena Cosgrove I think… that used to be one of the other names that she used. She said that Angelus used to call her ‘Rena.”
“How do you…?”
“Because I talked to her, I asked questions and displayed an interest in her. She told me things.”
Will walked over to where she was sitting on the steps and sat next to her, patting her knee gently he watched her from the corner of his eyes.
“She’s all alone out there,” Dawn whispered as he put his arm around her shoulder and she leaned against him. “What if something bad happens to her before you find her?”
“Nothing bad is going to happen. Unless she brings it on herself. Which she has an unfortunate history of doing,” Will murmured against her hair, he grinned when she elbowed him in the stomach. “We’ll find her and everything will be fine.”
“So what happens if they manage to kill off the warriors?” Tara asked idly.
“The end of the world,” Willow shrugged. “As usual.”
“You know it would be nice if we could make it through one year without have to avert an apocalypse,” Xander sighed.
**********************************************************
Eventually Beginning Anew, By The Light of The Dark Moon & With Friends Like These will also go up.
TITLE: Warrior of Light; Warrior of Dark
AUTHOR: Melanie
PAIRINGS: William/Buffy, William/Dru, Buffy/Angelus
RATING: R, for language, violence and sexual situations.
SUMMARY: Prophecies are tricky beasts.
SPOILERS: Pretty much if you’ve seen up through Buffy Season 6 you’re good, just replace Buffy with William.
Warrior of Light; Warrior of Dark – Chapter 1
Unto each generation one is born with the strength and skill to hunt the vampires
One boy in all the world
February 2002 – Summer Residence
William Summers was agitated as he tossed and turned in his bed.
Agitated, slightly angry and aroused as hell.
It was all Buffy’s fault really. If she hadn’t cornered him in the cemetery during his patrol after his disastrous birthday party none of this would have happened. He would have been safely done with killing several more of the undead that continued to rise in Sunnydale and firmly ensconced in his bed. But she had cornered him seething with jealousy over the date that Xander and Anya had attempted to set him up on.
He at one point thought he had almost seen the sparks of jealousy that rose off of her in waves. She had come out of nowhere, flinging herself at him as he rounded one crypt, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist she had assaulted him.
And he had done what any other red-blooded American male would have done, he had assaulted her back. Turning so her back was pressed against the cold brick walls of the crypt he had gripped her tightly. Pulling her legs from his waist he planted her feet firmly on the ground, insinuating one leg between hers as he worked at the button of the black jeans that encased her body like a second skin. She already had his pants unbuttoned, although she had made no move to push them down his hips, she had been roughly caressing him through the fabric. Her mouth nipping and biting his in a display of dominance.
It had taken hearing her moan his name and the ever present declaration of love to bring him to his senses. It had been like having a bucket of cold water splashed down on him. He had ceased his movements actually throwing her away from him. She of course had nimbly jumped back to her feet and advanced on him. The fact that they could now fight without the chip in her head sending bolts of electricity through her brain should have worried him.
But it didn’t.
Because he knew exactly how to get to her. How to hurt her.
He remembered their conversation, the words echoing through his troubled mind. He didn’t know why it bothered him what had been said. He had said worse to her before. But something about tonight had seemed different, seemed off and he couldn’t help the trickles of unease that he felt crawling down his spine as he relived that conversation.
“Why are you doing this William?” she purred seductively at him. Her green eyes flashing as she slowly slinked her way to him. “I know you want me, I can smell it,” she smirked sniffing the air. “I can taste it. Don’t fight it luv…” she ran her hand down his chest and he flinched unconsciously back from her. His eyes dark and cold he stared down as she cupped him intimately, fondling him.
She lined her body with his, nuzzling his neck with her nose she inhaled deeply even though she didn’t need to breathe and licked her lips before running her tongue down the center of his throat nipping gently at his racing pulse.
Will raised his hands to her hips, clenching her denim encased body tightly as she purred against him her tongue still laving his neck, he closed his eyes as he felt his body begin reacting again to her nearness. He hated this. He hated desiring her more than he had ever hated anything in his life.
He could feel Buffy’s lips curl into a grin against his neck and that gave him the strength to push her away. This had to stop now; he wouldn’t be weak and allow her to draw him into this sick game that she was playing. She couldn’t love him, a vampire with no soul falling in love with the Slayer? Not possible. And he wouldn’t allow himself to feel anything but disgust for the way she made him feel. This attraction between them was unnatural. It was sick.
“Let yourself go,” she whispered staring up at him from where she had fallen on the ground. Making no move to rise. “Give us what we both want pet.”
“I don’t want you,” he hissed glaring down at her. “I’ll never want you.”
“I beg to differ,” she smirked at the obvious erection straining against the tan slacks that he was wearing.
“I’ll never want you,” he hissed again. “You’re nothing more than a replacement, you’re a convenience. You were willing, end of story.”
“Really,” Buffy snorted in disbelief as she pushed herself to her feet. Dusting herself off she stood there staring at him impassively, hands on her hips the ever present black duster she wore swaying around her body with the breeze. “A replacement for whom, luv? Harmony? The bitch who betrayed you? The bitch who let vampires, like me suck on her…” she asked with raised eyebrows.
“For Dru,” Will said stiffly. Better to strike while the iron was hot. No one knew what had happened between Dru and him when he had returned from the dead. No one knew that they had both decided that it was over, that what ever they had once shared was finished. “One vampire’s as good as another… right?” He refused to let himself be drawn into the anger and anguish on her face. He better than anybody knew how much she hated Dru.
They had formed their first alliance years ago when Dru had lost her soul. He and Buffy had worked together to stop Dru and Angelus from ending the world. He because he was tired of the fight and the pain and wanted it over, Buffy because she wanted Dru gone from her and Angelus’ lives. It had worked. He had sent Dru to hell even though she had her soul back and Buffy had fled with Angelus only to return months later. Alone.
“I’m a replacement for nobody,” she snarled her eyes flashing as she stalked over to him. It always amazed him how much thicker her English accent became when she was angry. And she was most certainly angry now. “Especially not Dru.”
“That’s all you’ll ever be Buffy,” Will said snidely. Ignoring the angry vampire in front of him he straightened his shoulders. “You’ll never be nothing more than a replacement for her to me… ever.”
“I don’t believe you,” she spat at him. “Moonin’ over that little bitch when it’s obvious she doesn’t feel the same about you.”
“How do you know that?” Will smirked at her. “The only reason she’s not here is because she’s got responsibilities in LA… once they’re done…” he smiled leadingly.
Buffy crossed her arms over her chest, schooling her features in what appeared to be a mask of indifference as she studied him with narrowed eyes. She didn’t believe him.
“I’ll fuck you, but I’ll never love you,” he stated coldly. “Ever.”
“You’re lyin’,” she said quietly her eyes boring into him. Desperately trying to see some hint of emotion for her. All she saw there was hatred and disgust and she felt her heart crumble as she realized that he wasn’t lying. At this moment that was all he felt for her.
“I will never love you…ever,” he said harshly, he watched the hope dim from her eyes. Watched the arms that had been crossed over her chest fall limply to her side and then she suddenly turned from him without a word. Walking slowly away he watched her move, her head held high as she walked through the cemetery. Everything was quiet and still and as he watched her finally disappear from site he sagged against the building.
Will sighed as he turned over onto his side, staring resolutely at the clock he grimaced. 5:00 am he was never sleeping at this rate. The memory of the final expression on her face haunted him. The loss of hope, the sadness, he had never seen her look like that. Not even when they’d had her chained in Giles’ bathtub as they tried to determine what the Initiative had done to her.
Laying a hand over his eyes he tapped his foot against the end of the bed.
No matter how he might feel about Buffy they did need her. Besides him she was the strongest fighter and with the growing number of vampires and other nasties in town he and the others needed all the help they could get.
He would have to go talk to her, make her understand why there couldn’t be anything besides a working relationship between them.
Turning his head he glanced at the clock again.
He would do it much, much later though.
Tapping his fingers against the worn circular table Will and Xander waited for the others to join them.
The atmosphere had been strained at the Magic Shoppe since he had arrived. Everyone knew that he and Buffy had been sleeping together. The truth had come out after his party but before his confrontation with Buffy in the cemetery.
He knew the others were angry and disappointed in him. Nothing like finding out that their best friend and the Slayer had been screwing one of the enemy to dampen a friendship.
“So…” Xander started, wincing as he realized that he had no idea of what he was supposed to say.
“Yeah,” Will muttered. Where were the girls already?
Looking around he could see Anya at the register counting out bills. Closing the store. Willow had wandered up into the book area a little earlier and hadn’t come back down.
Willow had left the house that morning before he had even managed to drag himself from bed. She seemed to be doing better. Giving up her magic, something that had been an identifying feature of hers in the Scooby gang had been hard. Plus her relationship with Dawn and himself had been strained since she had abused her powers and almost gotten Dawn and herself killed in the process.
Tara had called and said she would be here although she had also said that she would be late.
The meeting was a standard one. After sunset they gathered to discuss any news that might have been heard on the demon grapevine. Buffy normally contributed that information. And then they planned their methods of attack.
But the female vampire was also late. Glancing at his watch he frowned and then shook his wrist pressing the face of the watch to his ear. Almost 30 minutes late… and Buffy was never late. Not when it was a group meeting that meant that she would get a chance to sit in his presence.
“You’re not still sleeping with her… are you?” Xander muttered not looking over at him.
“Who?”
“Undead girl number two. Unless there’s some other vampire you’ve been fucking on the side,” Xander said sarcastically.
“No,” Will said quietly. “No I’m not.”
“Good,” Xander said with a small measure of relief.
“Alright I’m ready where is everyone? Xander promised to play games with me this evening,” Anya stated as she sat as close to her fiancé as she could manage without actually climbing into his lap.
“I’m here,” Willow said quietly as she climbed down the stairs. Holding a thin book in her hand she sat down across from Anya and Xander her eyes studiously avoiding everyone’s.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” Tara said breathlessly as she rushed through the door. Taking a look at the table she saw one member missing so she didn’t turn and lock it as she would normally have done. “Where’s Buffy?”
“She’s probably just running late,” Xander muttered. “Probably doesn’t want to face all of us now that we all know that she and Will here have been getting it on.”
“Xander,” Willow hissed as she glanced apologetically at Will.
“I still don’t see what the problem is,” Anya said glancing back and forth between the other silent four members of the group. “I mean she’s one of us now… right? What’s the big deal?”
“Other than the fact that she’s an undead, murdering vampire who has tried to kill us all more than once and is now only stopped by the fact that she has a piece of plastic in her brain to keep her from doing so….” Xander glared at his fiancé.
“Well yes… other than that.”
“Nothing other than the fact that she’s an undead, murdering vampire who’s tried to kill us all more than once,” Xander shrugged.
“Leave it alone Xander,” Will muttered as his eyes finally met those of his best friend.
“I just want to know one thing… Why her? If you were going to screw a vampire why not at least pick one that hasn’t tried to kill us numerous times.”
“Leave it alone Xander,” Will snarled his ice blue eyes shooting daggers at those brown ones of his best friend. Xander flinched when he saw the barely concealed anger in them looking away first.
“We’ll just have to start without her and someone can bring her up to speed after we’re done,” Willow said quietly attempting to diffuse the hostility in the air by starting the meeting.
She opened the notebook that she had left on the table earlier and consulted the notes she had written in there. Giles had taken to e-mailing her with prophecies or words of warning. The others normally took the news better from her and it was better then having him call long distance for a conference call, especially if the information was as vague as it normally was.
“What dire warning does the council have for us this time?” Xander leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the table.
“He’s not sure, he mentioned that he had some information for us in his e-mail but he wanted to run the translation by Druscilla and Wesley before he worried us for nothing.”
“He wants to run a translation by Dru and Wesley? Doesn’t that seem a little odd?” Will asked with a frown.
“I don’t know, the e-mail in general was all pretty vague I should know more soon,” Willow shrugged seemingly unconcerned.
“He-he couldn’t even give us a hint on what it was?” Tara stumbled softly. Willow glanced over at her ex-girlfriend and shook her head.
“He said he’d let us know as soon as he knew anything concrete… It sounded big though. His e-mail stressed that he didn’t think it would be wise idea for Will or Buffy to patrol by themselves, either separately or together. He wants us to team up during nightly patrols.”
“We already sort of do that,” Will ran his fingers through his light brown hair. “I guess when Buffy finally decides to get here we can make up an official schedule,” Will sighed resolutely.
He didn’t know how he was going to get her to agree to let someone patrol with her. Normally she only went with him or by herself. Preferring lately to distance herself from the rest of the group. Of course with the waves of hostility rolling of Xander he could see why. He would have to make sure that Xander wasn’t assigned Buffy. They would probably try to kill each other. Or Buffy would get a massive headache and Xander would ‘accidentally’ stake her.
Maybe one of the girls would be willing to go with her.
Everyone looked up in anticipation as the bell over the door rang, Will shooting to his feet when he saw Dawn barreling towards him.
“Dawn what’s wrong?” he moved to her worriedly. Hugging her to him tightly he stared down at her bent head before drawing away. When she remained silent, just breathing heavily trying to catch her breath he kneeled before her. Surprised to see the tears falling unheeded from her eyes, the anguish lining her face. The others moving up behind him as they all stared at the silent crying girl.
“Dawnie…” Willow moved forward setting her hand on Dawn’s shoulder. Dawn jerked away, Willow’s face dropping as she fisted her hands at her side.
“She’s gone Will,” Dawn whispered brokenly.
“She’s gone? What are you talking about Dawn?” Will glanced over his shoulder at the others; they looked as confused as he felt. “Are you talking about mom? Because she’s been gone for a couple of months.”
“No not mom,” Dawn wiped frantically at her eyes. “I know you said I couldn’t hang out with her anymore, but I just wanted to see her, because she looked so sad after your party and all. But when I got there…”
Will looked at her, her sad eyes and slowly pushed himself to his feet. “Buffy… you’re talking about Buffy?” he asked in disbelief. She wouldn’t leave him. She wouldn’t. She had been the one person that he could continually push away and never have leave him. The one that would always fight for him no matter what he said or did to her.
“I went to her crypt. I wanted to see her before she came for the meeting but when I got there, all her clothes are gone and I couldn’t find the car anywhere… She wouldn’t leave right Will? She promised that she would never leave,” Dawn stared at him with teary eyes. Her expression pleading as she begged him to tell her she was wrong.
“Dawn…” he started, he stopped suddenly. He had no idea what to say to his baby sister. He had no idea how to make her understand that it looked like he had finally drove away Buffy away.
“She’s coming back right Will? I mean she’s not leaving forever… not like mom. Right Will?”
“I don’t know,” Will whispered pulling his sister against him. “I don’t know.”
“Well…” Xander stared at the mess surrounding them, hand against his mouth. Will and the others had opted to follow Dawn back to Buffy’s crypt to see if they could figure out what was going on. “I didn’t think a girl, dead or alive could pack this fast.”
“Hmm,” Will knelt on the floor. There were papers strewn along the top level of the crypt. Smoke curled in tendrils in the air indicating that there had been a fire at one point somewhere within the building.
Everything was gone except for the papers on the floor.
She’d had a couple of chairs up here at one point. A table. Some lamps. She’d made the crypt into a home and now there was nothing on the top level.
Nothing indicated that anyone had ever resided there except for the papers.
There was a chance that she had just moved everything down to the bottom level though. He knew that she still caught a lot of flak for working with him. Even unwillingly.
Maybe a demon or some vampires had trashed the place and she had moved her stuff underground where she could protect it better.
He knew from the times that he had been here that she kept the majority of her stuff underground anyway. Maybe she had decided to consolidate her assets.
“Dawn did you check underground?” he asked swinging his head towards his sister. Tara stood with her by the entranceway, one arm over his sister’s shoulder comfortingly.
Tears still streamed down her face and she brushed them away as she glared at her brother. She knew that this was his fault. She hadn’t left after Will had died, she had stayed and helped them. Even putting up with the snide comments by Xander and the attitudes of the others.
Why would she leave now when she wouldn’t before?
No Will had done something and he was going to have to fix it.
Anya wandered aimlessly around the top level. Not really looking at anything or for anything.
Willow had opted to not come, instead waiting to see if she could get a hold of Giles or Dru to find out what was going on with them.
“I peeked down there, but it was dark and smoky… like there had been a fire or something.”
“Maybe she fell asleep with a cigarette in her mouth and dusted herself,” Xander said with a hopeful expression.
“No… if she had flamed herself last night all her stuff would still be here,” Will headed towards the hole in the crypt that led to the underground room. “I think she skipped town.”
“Why would she do that now? I mean she never left after any of your other fights,” Xander muttered as he followed Will down the ladder. “What made this one different?”
Will flinched as he thought back to the words that he had spoken to her just last night.
I’ll fuck you, but I’ll never love you.
Even to his mind now those words sounded cold and cruel. He flicked on the flashlight in his hands, banishing the words from his mind. Although he was expecting to see nothing, when he looked around he was still shocked to see the emptiness. He was also shocked to feel just a little bit of sadness at her absence.
He had done this. He had finally driven her away.
The sheets had been stripped from the bed.
The stuffed animals that had filled it were gone.
The wooden armoire that stood in the corner was open and empty.
“Hey I found the fire,” Xander called from the opposite corner of the room. Will cautiously made his way over to him, his flashlight trained on the ground as he walked. “Guess Buffy’s decided you’re a lost cause,” Xander murmured as he shook the photo he held in his hand.
“What do you…?” Will’s eyes widened as he realized what had been burning in the fire, what had caused the hazy fog that drenched the room. “Oh my god.”
He had called her psychotic once when he’d discovered the shrine she had built around him. All the pictures that had made up that shrine were now burnt to ashes.
“Shit,” he muttered as he leaned over the barrel. His trained his flashlight above it, peering into the barrel that she had used to contain the fire.
“Looks like she burned everything,” Xander mused. “Your pictures, looks like some sheets, clothes,” with a smirk he eyed Will. “Hope you didn’t leave anything here that you wanted back eventually.”
“Well?” Willow asked as she watched the group trudge back into the Magic Shop.
The only person who looked even remotely happy about the fact that Buffy was gone was Xander. And even he looked dejected.
“She’s gone,” Will sat across from her burying his face in his hands.
“Well we have to get her back,” Willow said quietly as she stood.
“What are you talking about? She finally skipped town of her own volition why on earth would we try to get her back?” Xander muttered as he began tapping his fingers against the tabletop.
“Willow?” Will eyed her as she avoided eye contact with them.
“I couldn’t get a hold of Giles… I think he’s on his way here. But I did get a hold of Druscilla… she told me what Giles called her for…”
“And?”
“There’s a prophecy that the council found,” Willow looked down at the stack of papers in her hand, pacing in front of them she winced as she reread the words that she had written down.
“The council found a prophecy,” Xander snorted. “Color me un-surprised,” he muttered sarcastically.
“What does a council prophecy have to do with Buffy?” Will asked with narrowed eyes even as his brain told him he should know this already.
“The prophecy is about Buffy, or so it appears. There’s a track in one of the new books that they’ve been going through that talks about the warriors that will be called to fight the final battle…”
“And?”
“Most of it was pretty straight forward. Stuff that’s been seen in other books, manuscripts, the like. It talks about the warriors of the light, the good guys. The slayer, vampires and demons with souls, warriors that have fought the battle before and will be raised to fight it again. And then they found a new text that talks about those warriors that have yet to choose sides, those that are straddling the fence so to speak.”
“And-and Buffy is mentioned in this?” Tara asked in confusion.
“Not by name but…” Willow sighed as she stared at Will who was looking at her with a guarded face. “One of the warriors is identified by this: a vampire, untainted by soul, torn between demon and love will fight with warriors of the light and will know the love of the slayer… It doesn’t say what side the vampire will fight on but…”
“It could be anybody Willow. Besides I don’t love Buffy.”
“No but she loves, or loved you. How many vampires have professed to love you in recently Will? Two. Buffy and Druscilla. Dru has her soul and is already identified as a warrior of the light, there’s only one other vampire that fits that description.”
“Maybe Franklin has been getting it on with some vampire in prison and it doesn’t even pertain to you,” Xander supplied helpfully.
“Franklin tends to lean more towards the ‘stake vampires now ask intent of said vampire later’ way of life,” Will stared hard at Willow who was fidgeting in front of him. “So why the big secrecy? Why the warning on the patrols and all that?”
“Dru said that text says before the final battle warriors of the light will be targeted for assassination by warriors of the dark. As well as any warriors still sitting on the fence not having chosen a side yet that look like they may choose the side of light. There’s some worry amongst the council members that deciphered the original text that Buffy, because she hasn’t really chosen a side yet, will be marked and taken out leaving our side short a warrior,” Willow said softly taking a seat once more at the table.
“You didn’t tell them… you know… that she left?”
“No I figured I’d leave that fun news to you,” Willow smirked, her smile fading from her face as she studied him. “We need to get her back here… and it needs to be before Giles and Druscilla get here and find out she’s gone.”
“Wait a minute they’re both coming?”
“Yeah, Dru, Cordy and Wesley will be here sometime tomorrow evening and Giles must be already on his way because I couldn’t get in touch with him.”
“Damn,” Will muttered under his breath as he pushed himself to his feet, pacing he ran his fingers through his hair before he stopped. Crossing his arms over his chest he eyes his friends and sister. “Well she can’t be that hard to find… I mean she’s one vampire, with no money and nowhere to go. And she just left so she can’t have gotten very far. This’ll be a piece of cake,” he said unconvincingly.
“Sure,” Xander snorted. “It’ll be as easy as finding a needle in a haystack.”
“Xander if you don’t have anything helpful to say…”
“Look, she left, she left without telling anyone that she was leaving which pretty much indicates that she doesn’t want to be found and that means she’s not going to leave us a trail to follow to her doorstep.”
“We have to do something Xander,” Willow sighed.
“I think you should just leave her alone,” Anya said deliberately. Ignoring the scowls that Willow and Dawn shot at her she pressed on. “She can take care of herself. She has amazing survival skills, she lasted this long right? Plus if she needs help, what with all of you being so judgmental lately she’s probably not going to come to any of you if she needs it.”
“I’ll do a search on the net and see if I can come up with somewhere for us to start searching… She only used Buffy and Elizabeth as alias’ right? I guess I can wait until Dru gets here to find out if she had any others,” Willow mused quietly tapping her pen against the table she ignored Anya’s statement.
“Serena,” Dawn said softly.
“What?” Will stared down at her bent head.
“Serena… Serena Cosgrove I think… that used to be one of the other names that she used. She said that Angelus used to call her ‘Rena.”
“How do you…?”
“Because I talked to her, I asked questions and displayed an interest in her. She told me things.”
Will walked over to where she was sitting on the steps and sat next to her, patting her knee gently he watched her from the corner of his eyes.
“She’s all alone out there,” Dawn whispered as he put his arm around her shoulder and she leaned against him. “What if something bad happens to her before you find her?”
“Nothing bad is going to happen. Unless she brings it on herself. Which she has an unfortunate history of doing,” Will murmured against her hair, he grinned when she elbowed him in the stomach. “We’ll find her and everything will be fine.”
“So what happens if they manage to kill off the warriors?” Tara asked idly.
“The end of the world,” Willow shrugged. “As usual.”
“You know it would be nice if we could make it through one year without have to avert an apocalypse,” Xander sighed.
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Date: 2010-05-08 04:18 am (UTC)Would love to read more of your stories.
Wow! more, please.
Date: 2010-05-18 09:53 pm (UTC)Fic Posting
Date: 2012-02-29 06:22 am (UTC)BrokenMimir
Re: Fic Posting
Date: 2012-02-29 12:14 pm (UTC)