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Summary: Xander has a hard time believing that anyone fighting monsters for a living doesn't think that vampires are real but then again, seeing is believing.
Disclaimer: Buffy verse belongs to Joss and I have no idea who own SU2 but it sure ain't me.
Notes: This is a response to the challenge given by Faery and will be Xander centered. It is slash, though the pairing isn't clear to me yet. It is leaning toward being Spander. This is my first Buffy fic and is starting to turn into a really sick violence/comedy fic so I may bring the rating up higher.Finally before I leave you to read in peace, all comments are greatly appreciated.
Undeniably Real
Prologue
*Chicago*
A young woman walked quickly down the street, stopping only long enough to look over her shoulder. It has been blocks but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched.
She picked up her pace, only to have to stop when her purse slipped off her shoulder; landing on the sidewalk with a resounding thud. Cursing she stooped to pick it up when she heard scraping coming from the alley beside her.
Peering in as she slung her purse over her shoulder she couldn’t see anything but black. Flinging her long, blonde hair over one shoulder she slowly made her way into the alley, stopping at the edge of the pale, yellow light left by the nearest street lamp.
“Hello?” She called out, though it was barely above a whisper.
“Anyone there?” The only response she got was another bout of scraping coming from the darkness.
She made to take another step in to dark when the hair on the back of her neck rose again; the feeling of eyes watching was back. Turning quickly she started to walk out of the alleyway.
She only made it to the edge when something shot out from the dark and grabbed her arm; yanking her into the black.
There was a muffled scream as a hand came up to cover her mouth and she began struggling. The woman managed to drag her captor into the light and twist enough to see who it was. What she saw spurred her to fight harder.
A creature with glowing eyes and a ridged face was starring back at her, with a grisly smile of sharp teeth on its face.
With a tug the creature spun her around, recovered her mouth and sunk its teeth into her neck. Everything happened so fast, she didn’t have time to scream again.
The world started to gray moments later, as she felt her life’s blood drip down her neck, colouring her white blouse red. As things faded to white she felt her heart stop and an overwhelming feeling of falling came over her.
The creature dropped the body to the ground as its face shifted to leave a human looking man. Wiping the blood off his chin the man walked out of the alley and calmly down the street, disappearing into the night.
Chapter One: Time for a Break
*Sunnydale*
Xander Harris pulled the collar of his jacket up in a futile attempt to keep the rain out. Breaking out into a jog he headed up the stairs to his house and all but ran in the front door.
Shaking his head Xander wondered if his parents would ever learn and start locking the door. Cautiously, as to avoid said parents he made his way to the basement door.
Stumbling down a couple of steps he made his way into his apart…no that wasn’t right…room; it was definitely a room. Apartment implied it had things like a kitchen.
Stripping off his soaked coat Xander sighed and tossed it on the couch. Tonight had not been a very good night. There was a new clan of demons in town and with only the BuffyBot out of commission things seemed to fall on him. It was amazing how that seemed to happen. One second he was the Zeppo, good for getting the snackage and the next everyone expected him to be the soldier, taking over the fight.
It had been a little over a month since Buffy had died and Xander’s patience was starting to wear thin. He wasn’t sure how much more crap he could take before he snapped out. Giles had taken to ordering him out on patrol almost every night and Will had turned him into her research mule – carrying, getting and returning all the books she needed.
Although he’d never admit it aloud Xander was almost wished everything would go back to how it used to be and he could be the invisible Zeppo again. Before he could delve deeper into the depressing thoughts a hand landed on his shoulder.
Xander jumped and spun around, throwing a punch at the intruder’s face all in one motion.
Spike deflected the punch and backed away. “Whoa, calm down, pet, ‘tis just me.”
“Spike? What are you doing here?” Xander asked as he sat down in the chair.
Spike’s eyebrow rose as he looked at Xander, “I live here.”
Xander blinked, “Right, sorry. Just ignore me; I think that last demon rattled something loose in my head.”
“Wouldn’t there have to be something to rattle in the first place?” Spike asked, struggling to keep a straight face. When Xander failed to react Spike walked over to the chair and crouched down in front of him.
“Are you okay, pet?”
“I’m fine,” Xander said without looking at Spike.
Spike sighed and got up from the crouch he was in. Going over to the couch Spike put Xander’s wet coat on a hook in the corner before pulling Xander onto the couch with him. Once he was settled with Xander in his arms Spike spoke again.
“You wanna try telling me the truth this time, Xan?”
Xander shifted in Spike’s arms but made no move to leave. “I’m just so fucking tired.”
Spike was about to ask what he meant when Xander continued. “I mean everyone spent months telling me to stay out of the way, that I would only get them and myself hurt and now that Buffy’s gone they’ve pushed me into the middle of everything. They suddenly need me for everything.”
“I think you need a vacation,” Spike said, rubbing circles on Xander’s back in an attempt to relax the younger man.
Xander blinked wearily, “I can’t go on vacation right now. I mean without Buffy here we’re already having to work three times as hard to get things done.”
Spike shook his head, “You need to take time to relax or you’re going to burn out, pet.”
Xander opened his mouth to reply but was cut off when Spike covered his mouth, “No more arguments. I’m sure Red and Giles could do with a break too and if there are no pressing apocalyptical events I don’t see why you shouldn’t seize the moment.”
Xander began to reply when there was a particularly violent flash of lightening and the power flickered twice before going out completely. Xander closed his eyes and moved closer to Spike.
“Where did you have in mind?”
“How about Chicago?”
Groping around for the phone Xander pulled away from Spike, “I’ll call Willow and tell her I’m leaving.”
“I’ll do the packing; I think you’d probably end up breaking something.”
Xander gave a weak laugh as he dialed Willow’s number, “You’d probably be right. If you find me the flashlight I can help.”
Chapter Two: Getting to the Scene of the Crime
Captain Richard Paige, director of Chicago’s Special Unit 2 branch, looked over his two top detectives and favourite (though nothing you could do would make him admit that) geek and frowned.
“What do you mean you don’t know the cause of the girl’s death?”
Jonathon (the geek) shook his head, “Exactly that. I haven’t been able to identify anything that would suggest link activity.”
Detective Kate Benson let out a huff of breath, “You mean the two holes in her neck and the fact that all of her blood has been drained isn’t enough?”
Jonathon gave a conspiratorial glance over to Nick O’Malley. “Sounds like vampires to me.”
Paige shook his head, “Vampires don’t exist. They’re a myth.”
“But…”
Paige cut Kate off, “But nothing, they have no spot in the chain and are purely mythological. Not everything you read or see is based on fact.”
Kate closed her mouth and tried not to look like she was pouting.
“Now I want you two to go back to the crime scene; see if you can find anything more concrete. Jonathon…” Paige paused, he wasn’t entirely sure was Jonathon did, “just keep doing whatever it is you do.” Orders distributed Paige walked into his office and shut the door.
Nick sighed, “Let’s go.”
“What’s the rush?” Kate asked as she walked quickly to match his long strides.
“Nothing, I just want to get this over with and get out of here.”
They’d just about reached the exit when a voice called out from behind them, “Wait for me, I’m going too.”
A strangled noise escaped from Nick’s throat before he began hitting his head odd the door… over and over and over again.
“You know, you’re going to destroy what little brain cells you had if you keep that up.”
Nick rested his head against the door, “Fuck off, Carl.”
“I told you I’m going with you. You may need my expertise.” Carl (the gnome) felt that because he was a link he deserved oh so much and he dearly enjoyed driving Nick mad every chance he got.
“I highly doubt that,” Nick said as he walked out the door and over to his car.
Kate pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed, “I’m diving; Carl get in the back…stay down and for the love of all that is holy stay quiet.” She doubted it would last long but you couldn’t blame her for trying.
Sure enough, five minutes in, Carl and Nick were bickering over god knows what. The punching began as Kate pulled up to the alley. Turning off the car she all but ran into it.
Behind her, she could hear Nick and Carl following her, bringing assorted scuffling noises with them. As she stopped, Kate heard a loud thud, one she assumed was someone’s foot connecting with a body part of another.
“Motherfucker…Carl get back here!” Nick screamed hobbling over to Kate.
Kate shook her head, “Can we just get this done?”
Nick and Carl (who was at the other end of the alley by now) shrugged and said together, “Sure.”
AN: Because I planned this out poorly the next couple of chapter will be set in tandem to chapters 2 and 3.
Chapter 2.2: Getting Out of Dodge
“Hello?” Willow answered breathlessly. She’d had to run to make, having just gotten into the house to hear it already ringing.
“Hey Wills.”
“Oh hey Xander, something the matter?” Willow began thinking of all the things that could have happened since they’d parted company only a couple of hours ago.
Xander sounded vaguely angry when he answered her, “No nothing’s wrong Willow. I just wanted to tell you that I was going out of town tonight for a couple of days.”
“But Xander we need you here. What if something big happens?”
“If something big was going to happen I think it would have already. I got to get out of here for a while. Don’t worry if something happens I’ll be back as quick as I can.”
Willow nodded even though Xander couldn’t see her, “You’re right. Where are you going? I know some places that are virtually demon free. I mean…”
Xander let out a weak laugh, “I think I can manage to go on a vacation without getting into trouble; beside Spike’ll be there.”
“Ok, just be safe and call if you run into anything.”
“Will do Wills.”
“Bye,” They both hung up the phone.
Xander put the phone back in the cradle and looked towards Spike – at least he tried to. It was still pitch black in the basement. “Spike?”
Something plopped down on the couch beside him, “Right here. Everything’s ready when you are.”
Xander sighed, “Alright, let’s go?”
Grabbing their coats and the few bags of luggage the two scurried out of the house and down the street to where Spike had stashed his Desoto. Xander figured they’d have a better chance of getting there in one piece if they took Spike car; besides Spike’s car was already mostly sun-proof.
With Spike driving they speed out of town. Xander held onto the dashboard suddenly afraid for his life. “Spike! Slow down.”
Spike chuckled but slow down anyway. “You are far too tense.”
Xander gave a weak chuckle, turning to face Spike, “Well excuse me if I want to make it there in one piece. I mean it’s kind of hard to enjoy a vacation if I’m in traction! And did you really have to run over the sign?”
“Hell, yeah I did. It’s something of a tradition. Every time I come into or go out of town I got to demo the sign. Alright, if I promise to drive carefully will you try to get some sleep?”
Xander watched Spike warily for a second before nodding and relaxing into the seat, “Wake me when you want me to drive.”
“Alright love.”
TBC