I know, I'm late with the posting!! So sorry, the week has been hectic, exhausting and kind of depressing (spent the week unpacking winter boots. Can anyone say Eww??? I don't want to risk promising an update next friday and miss it again so I will shoot for saturday...I will do my best to stick to this one! Thanks also for everyone who takes the time to comment and leave feedback, I really, really appreciate it and it helps motivating the heck out of me, lol.
Warning: NC-17 (yes, for real!) Goes back to PG-13 after
I hope, for more love, more joy and laughter; I hope, we’ll have more than we’ll ever need; I hope, we’ll have more happy ever after; I hope, we can all live more fearlessly; And we can lose all the pain and misery; I hope, I hope – I hope, Dixie Chicks
************
Music blasting from headphones was impregnating the air as Buffy walked in the kitchen, bag of the last and most needed herb in hand. The sight that welcomed her sent her into an incontrollable fit of giggles, momentarily forgetting about their hostage downstairs. Callie was grinding various herbs and seeds in a set of small bowls and she was moving her body along to the music, humming the melody off key.
Getting her laugh under control but unable to restrain an amused smirk, Buffy came forward and dropped the small pouch straight in front of Callie’s face. The witch jumped and tugged on the earphones, smiling shyly at the slayer while she fumbled with the iPod to turn it off.
Buffy helpfully pressed the right button and her smile got wider when she peeked at what the woman have been listening to. “Really, Callie?”
Callie scolded the small blonde and shrugged. “What, it is great music! Your sister loves it!”
“Of course. I didn’t know Dawn listened to the B boy. She will so never hear the end of it for this.” Buffy smirked as she leaned on the counter to watch Callie work. “How is it going?”
“Pretty well,” the witch announced, genuinely pleased with the progress she’s made, “The herbs are almost done, and I will prepare the seeds tonight. Is that...?”
“Yeah. Is it potent enough? Can you use it?” Buffy asked somewhat dreadfully, observing Callie’s cautious handling of the henbane. The witch took a small leaf and brought it to her nose and grimaced. “This is fresh. Do I want to know what kind of girl this Amy must be if she can afford fresh henbane? This bag alone must have cost a fortune.”
Buffy tensed at Callie’s words and at its implications. “I don’t know and frankly, I kind of don’t care. We have it, you do whatever you have to do with it and dispose of the rest once you’re done. I don’t want that stuff in my house.”
Callie smiled comfortingly and nodded. “Will do, don’t worry. Is Tara still around? I need to ask her something.”
“Yeah I-um, you know what, I think she’s busy. Willow was tired and they went to take a nap, better not disturb them. Will still seemed upset about the whole Amy thing.” Buffy rapidly babbled as she blushed.
“Oh, very well then. I will ask her later when- Are you alright, my dear? You seem flushed.” The witch wondered with concern as she watched the blonde glancing briefly at the ceiling before eyeing the rest of the kitchen to avoid meeting Callie’s questioning eyes.
“I’m fine, I’m more than fine. Or, as Will would say, I’m Finey McFine fine! I’m going to go back in the basement now and beat the crap out of our hostage.” The slayer giggled nervously although Callie could have sworn there was the hint of a smile on the girl’s lips.
“Taking a nap, my as...never mind.” Buffy smirked and muttered to herself, glad that, for once, her slayer hearing had helped in keeping her friends from getting interrupted and not the other way around.
Callie watched Buffy go, bewildered. She put the henbane back in its pouch and closed her eyes to listen attentively at her surroundings but, except for birds chirping outside and a creaking sound or two coming from upstairs, nothing stood out. She shrugged and resumed the herb grinding, a fond smile on her face. “Americans.”
**************
“Mmm sweetie, that was...umm...-ahh!” Tara bit her fist and turned her face in a pillow when Willow wrapped her lips around her clit and sucked hard on it. Her fingers were still buried deep between Tara’s legs and were rapidly bringing the blonde to her third orgasm. Tara screamed in the pillow as her girlfriend grazed her teeth over her oversensitive nub and added a fourth finger, stretching them to reach her G-spot.
As she became aware of her surroundings again Tara felt softer licks lapping up her juices and gently cleaning her, helping her body going back to a more relaxed state. Hands were felt on her thighs, stroking her lovingly as Willow placed a last kiss on Tara’s nether lips before she slowly crawled up her lover’s body, kissing and licking Tara’s sweaty yet sweet skin. Tara giggled as Willow hit a particularly sensitive spot near her hip and, when she unsuccessfully tried to shy away, she retaliated by poking the redhead in the ribs, knowing it was her girl’s weak spot.
The blonde was rewarded with a high pitched squeal as Willow jumped backwards to get away but Tara was quicker and she grabbed her girlfriend’s arm, using her momentum to reverse roles and straddle Willow. She brought her lover’s arms up, effectively restraining her and took advantage of her new position to kiss the redhead with passion. She could still taste herself on her girlfriend’s lips, arousing Tara anew.
Smiling when Willow granted her access to her mouth, Tara pushed her tongue in and duelled the redhead’s for dominance. They shared hungry kisses for several minutes before Tara’s hand ventured down the body underneath her while pushing Willow’s legs apart with her knee. The throaty moan that escaped Willow’s mouth was music to Tara’s ears but she wanted more; she needed more.
It was only when Willow’s breathing became erratic against her lips that she begin teasing her girlfriend by pushing her knee up her girl’s center, slowly initiating a rhythm. “Tara, please.”
“Please what?”
“Ugh...Tara, come on!” Willow panted as she grounded her pelvis hard on Tara’s knee, trying to get some release. Tara smirked and sensually brushed her fingers over her lover’s skin, the touch of her finger tip as light as a feather. She thoroughly enjoyed making her lover squirm and, even after being apart for so long, the blonde still knew Willow’s body better than her own. That was why she took her time rediscovering the redhead’s porcelain skin, even if it was driving both of them crazy.
Her hands finally settled on the slender witch’s breasts, Tara smiling widely at the reaction she was getting from her lover. Willow gasped sharply as the blonde alternated between caressing and pinching her nipples and, with agonizing leisured movements, kneaded the small but firm flesh before dropping small kisses down her chest and stomach.
“Tara, please.” Willow begged with more urgency before sighing and forcing her body to relax. Tara loved teasing her and no begging would work until the blonde was ready to give her what she wanted. She bucked her hips and chest forward in a desperate attempt to speed things along but the disappointment she felt as her lover’s knee disappeared was short lived when two fingers were suddenly filling her, stretching her and pumping away, no longer teasing.
Tara felt it when Willow was close to climax. The way her whole body would become tight under the blonde’s ministrations, her breasts softly jiggling under her heavy breathing and her legs spreading as wide as she could were always the first signs of a major orgasm. Tara waited until the last second before adding a third finger and drawing them almost completely out before pushing them harder back inside her partner, Willow’s hips bucking widely as she met the blonde’s thrusts.
With one last thrust and her thumb now rubbing the redhead’s clit, almost grinding it into the girl’s pelvis, Willow came with a powerful moan that was quickly followed by Tara’s strangled name. Tara was unable to muffle the scream since her mouth was still glued to Willow’s breast, sucking and licking so hard the redhead almost came again.
She didn’t let time for Willow to recover as she pushed herself back on her lover’s stomach, lying down in top of her, her hand slowing her movement but never stopping. The girls’ breasts were pressed tight together and rubbed against each other as Tara released Willow’s hand and brought it to her lover’s face, kissing it soundly. The never ending stimulation of Willow’s hot and wet core, combined with the constant pressure on her clit and her girlfriend’s ample breasts brushing against hers sent her climaxing again, but this time Tara was ready. She locked lips with Willow and swallowed her scream as she gently stilled her hand without removing it, bringing her lover back to the present with her. “So?”
“So what?” Willow whispered roughly, still trying to get her breathing under control. She moaned as Tara wiggled her fingers inside of her, her pupils instantly dilating again.
Tara giggled and locked eyes with bright green eyes, a smug smile on her lips. “Care for another round?” Willow smirked and leaned in for a soft kiss. “Always. But-”
“We won’t get interrupted. Not with a slayer with exceptional hearing in the house.” Tara laughed, loving the heavy blush that suddenly covered her lover’s delicate features as they barely looked so alive before. “So?” She dared the redhead with a quirked eyebrow.
Willow pushed her uninjured leg up to spread the blonde’s leg wide and swiftly moved them so they were side by side. “Turn around.”
*************
“Did I hear something?” Giles glanced at Buffy with inquiring eyes, frowning when the blonde shrugged and flashed him her famous ‘I am innocent’ face. “Nope, didn’t hear anything.”
“Really? Huh, I could have sworn I heard Willow’s voice. Maybe I-”
“Nuh-uh, no one is going anywhere. Will and Tara are busy...napping so let’s not disturb them.” Buffy warned him with a pointed look.
Giles stared back, confused by the slayer’s obstinate mind. It took him several seconds and Buffy raising her eyebrows suggestively before he caught on and cleared his throat awkwardly. “Erm, yes, very well. Let’s resumed then.”
Xander glanced between the two of them curiously. He had no clue what they were talking about until Giles coughed and blushed. “Oh. Oh! Okay... yeah why don’t we go back to torture our guest here.” He mumbled as he stared into space. He never saw Buffy pick up a dirty sock in the laundry basket and throw it at him. It hit him right in the face and unfrozen him from his momentary trance, Buffy’s smirk and deadly eyes jerked him back to reality for good.
Andrew babbled but his voice was muffled by the tape covering his mouth. His eyes were wide and watched warily as Buffy walked up to him and he let out a squeak when she brought her hand up and, without a warning, removed his gag with one swift move. “Owww, that hurt!”
“You thought that hurt? You wouldn’t know hurt if it hit you in the face.” Buffy towered over him, far from impressed at the glaring Andrew was trying to pull off.
“I’ve already told you, I have nothing to tell. Besides, I don’t speak with the enemy. I would never betray my best friend, even if it was to join the slayer’s ranks.”
Buffy laughed at Andrew’s attempts to look intimidating. “Okay first, you have no idea who your enemy is. Second, if Warren really is your best friend, then I’m really sorry for you but you’ve never known what a true friend is and third,” the slayer pushed Andrew backwards until the chair’s legs were off the floor and the only thing keeping him from falling was Buffy’s grip on his shirt, “I would never want you in my ranks. We’re a closed group and besides, I don’t need cowards like you.”
“You can laugh all you want, slayer, but you don’t have anything against us. No proof, no weapon, anything.”
“True,” Buffy agreed, surprising Andrew but Giles and Xander as well, “the police has nothing on you or Warren, but it seems as if you’re forgetting something... Oh for God’s sake, we have all of your books and stuff! Seriously, you really call yourself an evil guy?” She scoffed with a frustrating groan and allowed the chair to fall back on its legs when Andrew stared at her with a flustered expression.
Andrew smiled wickedly and shook his head. “You may have our books, Slayer of the Vampyres, but only very few of us can decrypt them and even fewer of us can cast a spell contained in any of these books.”
Giles cleared his throat and came closer to Andrew, his expression uncertain and nervous. “Really? I must admit I found some of the writing quite hard to understand.”
“Of course, it was before we discovered the spell you had planned to incapacitate Buffy had been translated wrong with the use of an archaic grimoire, and written in the wrong dialect. Then we found out you used Willow’s blood, a powerful witch’s blood to cast a spell meant on a slayer with ingredients that weren’t meant to be used together in the first place. Giles enumerated with a straight face, secretly enjoying the way Andrew rapidly lost his superior smile and squirmed on his seat.
“I didn’t know it was witch’s blood when I collected it. I really thought it was slay- yours, I mean.” Andrew rambled as he realized for the first time what Jonathan had been trying to warn him about. The slayer and her civilians were smarter than he had first thought, but his faith in Warren still made him believe nothing could hurt him. “You can’t do anything to me, I’m human! A-and I only did it for Warren. I wanted to save him some time but Jonat- my friend didn’t give me the right index, I’m not the only one to blame!”
“If you don’t even bother double or triple check your sources when you play with forces you can’t even begin to understand, you are the one to blame. You acted like a fool and an arrogant amateur, and look where it has leaded you, Andrew. Believe me when I tell you you don’t want to be on the slayer’s wrong side.” Xander threatened the shorter blonde guy, his hands in his pockets to look nonchalant in front of Andrew as to hide his own nervousness.
“You don’t understand, I was doing it for-”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. You were trying to please your ‘friend’,” Buffy air quoted the last part as she took a seat on the last step, “but by doing so you’ve put my best friend through misery and pain for the last month, and I can’t just let you go without making you pay for it.”
Buffy was getting tired of their hostage’s futile attempts at bravery and she had noticed how it was bothering her friend and watcher as well. She has observed Andrew closely ever since he had stepped inside her house and, as relieving as it would be to beat the crap out of him, physical violence was not the answer to get him to talk. Andrew loved the attention he was currently getting, she could see how he was craving it.
Part of Buffy felt bad for him, the man must have had a pretty crappy childhood to, once older, have affiliated with an individual such as Warren Mears. As the blonde watched Giles failed to make him talk, an idea popped into her head. A beating was out of the question, but it existed many other kind of tortures as well, she decided. Ignoring the eager set of eyes that followed her everywhere she went, Buffy casually walked over to the big sink near the washing machine and turned the faucet on.
Picking up a few glasses and filling them with cold water, and careful to not spill anything, Buffy locked eyes with her hostage as she came back towards him. “You know, Andrew, hostage or not I’m sure you must be really thirsty, huh?”
She nodded for Xander to untie one of Andrew’s hands and she handed him the tallest of the icy water filled glass. The blonde man gulped it down in a matter of seconds and eagerly took a second glass that Buffy had ready for him.
Xander was staring at Buffy as if she had grown a second head but she ignored him, keeping her eyes on their hostage. “I bet that was good, huh? Your throat must have been scratchy from all that not talking you didn’t do.”
Andrew, as expected, scowled and pouted, or at least he was until he noted that the faucet was still leaking a small stream of water. “Um, your didn’t turn the faucet off.”
“I know.” Buffy answered curtly. “It’s pretty, isn’t it? The sound of water, like the rain that hits the window or the sound of a waterfall...it just never stops. I couldn’t go to the beach for too long when I was younger because hearing the waves as they crashed on the shore or the rocks always made me want to pee so bad, you know?”
The water running hadn’t been bothering Andrew right up until the moment where Buffy made him thought about it. He frowned and his face contorted instantly, suddenly fighting the urge of having to use the restroom. “Can I use your bathroom?”
“Um...nope. Sorry but I want my bathroom to remain a hostage-free zone.” Buffy commented sadly although there was the hint of a smirk on her face. She had tricked Andrew into the only kind of attention he would never want. The slayer’s smile grew wider when Xander burst out laughing and gave her a not so subtle thumbs-up.
“But I really have to go!” Andrew whined audibly, suddenly not caring who was hearing him or not.
Buffy’s smirk appeared fully on her lips and she shook her head regretfully. “Sorry, the bathroom is for friends, family and cooperative hostages only.”
“But-”
“No buts. No talking, no peeing.”
Xander glanced at his best friend, amusement obvious on his face. “That is an interesting new rule. I vote for it. Giles?”
“What? Oh, right, it is quite the new rule and I shall agree to it as well.” Giles gave his accord while he cleaned his glasses, turning sideways to hide a smile.
“Great, how about we go see how Callie is doing upstairs and come back here some time during the night.” Buffy proposed and smiled when the two other men lead the way back upstairs.
Andrew groaned and fidgeted frantically on the chair, his free hand and legs tugging at the remaining restraints. “Okay, okay, I’ll talk just, just let me go to the bathroom, okay?”
Giles shot his slayer a surprised but pleased look as Xander moved to release Andrew from his bindings. “Wait!”
“Let’s get him to sing some before he gets a reward, if it’s worthy or not.”
Xander tightened the rope covering Andrew’s limbs again and pulled back to take a seat on the floor.
Andrew sighed and closed his eyes as he did his best to forget about his immediate need. “What do you want to know?”
Giles was next to take a seat on an old chair he dug from underneath the stairs. “Why don’t you start with Warren’s obsession over Buffy?”
The short man was clearly unhappy about the question but, remembering what was at stake here, opened his eyes to look at his audience before settling his attention on Buffy. “Warren hated you ever since the time you interfered with Katrina...”
*************
“You awake?”
“Hmph.”
“Is that a yes hmph, or a no hmph?” Willow whispered as she enjoyed the view of her girlfriend’s body. The blonde was sprawled on her back and putting her nakedness in full display for the other girl to see. Still getting no reaction from her lover, Willow sighed and cuddled the blonde closer until not even a piece of paper could pass between them, gently fondling the girl’s ample chest.
Tara woke up to the feeling of something warm and smooth nuzzling her breast. The warmth continued to spread as she woke up more fully and recognized the touch of a hand on her belly, rubbing it gently. “Yes.”
“Huh?”
“It was a yes hmph, sweetie.” Tara talked in a low voice, rejoicing in their room and floor’s quietness. “Hey.”
“Hey back.” Willow smiled as she kissed her girlfriend’s breast one last time before moving up to press her lips sweetly against Tara’s. “How are you?”
“Perfect.” The blonde smiled as she turned over to her side to wrap her arms around Willow. “I love you so much.” She breathed in her girlfriend’s ear, her hands roaming down the redhead’s back and sides and loving the goose bumps that spread like fire under Tara’s hands.
They remained quiet for the next minutes, relishing the peace of the room and knowing it could end at any moment by one of their friends. “Tara?”
“Yes, love?”
Willow drank in her partner’s beauty as she struggled to find the right words, wishing she could shut her fears and concern down without having to worry her girlfriend, but also knowing that Tara would want to know whatever inner turmoil Willow was going through. “If...if the spell doesn’t work or something else happened and if-if I was to remain a werewolf, would it be it for us?”
Tara’s eyes snapped open and gaped at the redhead, shock clear on her face. “What? Willow! Why w-would you even think t-that? Did Callie s-said something you haven’t told me?”
“Hey, no stutter okay? I didn’t mean to upset you baby, I just...Callie hasn’t said anything or I would have told you, I promise.” Willow was quick to reassure the blonde, cursing herself for not approaching the subject with more tact. “I was only thinking...the spell is a dangerous one and if it’s going to put people in danger to cast it, maybe we- I shouldn’t let you guys get along with it.”
The emotions flickering in her lover’s eyes were mirrored in Tara’s. She was tortured as well by the different ways the spell could go and, if she was honest with herself, Tara would admit she wasn’t as confident as she seemed in reality. She may have not talked to the redhead about it, but she had spent most nights thinking of the possibility that she spell could not be successful. It had scared Tara the first time she had seriously considered the lycanthropy as a permanent thing, flashbacks of her dramatic encounter with Oz and witnessing Willow’s shifting being painful reminders for the blonde.
After a while she had taken on herself to consider Willow’s affliction on a more logical level; all things considered, lycanthropy was not much to be worried about comparing to what could have happened if either of them had been turned. Willow wouldn’t be changed much by her new life as long as precautions were made and she’d agree on working on her issues. Neither of them, Scooby gang included, knew what could be the extent of having to deal with a werewolf that was also a powerful witch, but there was one thing Tara was absolutely certain of.
“Sweetheart, I know there is no way I can begin to understand what’s going on in that big brain of yours, but there’s only one thing you need to be sure of. I would never, ever let this get between us if it were to be true. You’re it for me, there’s no one else and never will be...that won’t change whether you’re happy Willow, quirky Willow, vixen Willow,” Tara smirked as she peeked at the redhead’s wandering hands as they were now nested between the blonde’s breasts, “or wolfie Willow. This is just another part of who you are and my love for you won’t ever change that.”
Willow grinned tearfully at Tara’s heartfelt declaration. Sometimes she still had trouble understanding how someone could love her as much as the blonde did but, as she lost herself in the pair of heavenly blue eyes that meant the world to her, Willow had the feeling that figuring out was not that important. If Tara loved her about half of how she loved her, then nothing more needed to be thought out. “Thanks. I am too, you know.”
Tara pulled Willow closer to her and let her girlfriend’s warmth soothe her, their bodies fitting perfectly and melting into one another. “You are what?”
Willow put her head on the blonde’s shoulder and sighed as she closed her eyes. “Yours.”
************
“Hey, if it isn’t the sleeping witchy beauties! We saved you some pizza if you’re hungry.” Xander welcomed the girls as they finally joined the others in the dining room two hours later.
“You mean that we hid the pizza from you so they would have something to eat.” Buffy rolled her eyes and got up to get the rest of the food. “It’s okay Buffy, we’ll get-” Tara started but she was unceremoniously interrupted by the slayer’s retreating back and waving hands.
“So, good nap? Oww!”
Xander rubbed his head where Buffy had slapped him and shot the witches a sheepish smile. Willow and Tara exchanged a startled look, the redhead blushing brightly. “Oh come on guys, we haven’t been able to tease you for months, you’ve got to give us this one.” Buffy grinned smugly, laughing when Willow stuck her tongue at her.
“Okay, fun was had so let’s change the subject now. How’s it going with A-Andrew?” Tara stared at Xander with a mock-offended look before surprising Willow by kissing her sweetly on the cheek. Both smiled their thanks as the slayer put several slices of pizza and bottles of water in front of them and promptly started to eat.
Buffy glanced at Giles and sighed. “He’s talked some but not about anything relevant. Apparently Warren’s have been holding a grudge against me ever since the robot thing.”
“April? You haven’t done anything wrong to him back then, why would he want to kill you?” Willow wondered with a frown, highly disliking the idea that Warren may have been plotting against her best friend for over a year already. “What did he have planned?”
“We don’t know yet. Andrew admitted the spell that was meant for Buffy was destined to make it easier for them to kidnap her, but he says he doesn’t know anything else.” Giles answered as he helped himself to another slice of pizza.
“I don’t normally do such a thing, but I could easily be persuaded into casting a truth spell on the boy. Is it just me or does he appears to be quite enjoying being your hostage?” Callie asked curiously as she pushed her plate away. “I couldn’t eat anymore of this, delicious as it is. I truly am going to miss America when this will all be over.” She added with a sigh, oblivious to the way the others all smirked. They had gone through this with Giles on more than one occasion over the years, so this was mostly funny to them.
“Andrew lives for the show,” Xander remarked from his place, “I knew guys like him in high school. They take everything life throws at them and they distance themselves as if they were in a play or a movie. Nothing is real to him, he lives in a fantasy world.”
“Yes, Xander but even if you were right, if Andrew doesn’t want to take responsibility for his actions as well as for Warren’s, there isn’t much we can do. Right now we should be more concerned about Warren’s imminent payback. We have no idea how long it could be before he retaliates and takes revenge again.” Giles argued sternly as he removed his glasses and dropped them on the table.
Buffy was watching the exchange absently, the argument having been talked over on several occasions in the last twenty-four hours. She also noticed how her best friend had pulled back and quiet from the others since the moment they began talking about Andrew. The slayer knew the frown clouding her friend’s face meant she had something in mind, and chances were she wasn’t going to like it. “What’s up, Will?”
Willow eyes snapped up and she glanced at her friend, startled. “What?”
“You have something in mind, I can tell. What is it?”
All eyes turned to the redhead and she gulped audibly, irritated with herself that someone had noticed. ”It’s nothing, I was just rambling in my head.” She joked and studied her pizza intently before randomly picking the olives from it and tossing them away.
Tara’s interest was piqued as well about what was bothering her girlfriend, whatever it was. “You okay sweetie, what were you thinking about?”
Willow pursed her lips and looked at her friends thoughtfully, a plan already formed in her head. She doubted it would be welcomed well but, as far as their history went, she knew they would at least let her talk before things went to hell. “I think I know what could convince Andrew to talk.”
************
An hour later Buffy was guiding her friend down to the basement, where their hostage was dozing in a chair. She shot another look at Willow as they reached the floor and she realized she must have been scolding because Willow took her hand to pull her back where Andrew could see them and wrapped her arms loosely around the blonde.
As expected, tempers had exploded when Willow revealedher plan, stupefaction and anger rising to object. Buffy had been the first one to begrudgingly agree, before eventually be followed by Xander, Callie and Giles. Tara was still on the fence on the matter so the others had kept her upstairs to discuss and try to come up with another solution. “Is he looking?” Willow hushed in her friend’s neck, Buffy squeezing her tighter indicating that Andrew was watching them with wide eyes.
Willow dug her nails in her friend’s back when Buffy tried to turn away as they heard Andrew mumble a soft but excited “so dramatic”. He was undoubtedly taking pleasure in seeing another side of the slayer’s life, and didn’t seem to care to intrude in the moment. Buffy sighed and strengthened her hold on the redhead, not ready to let her go yet. “It’ll be okay, I promise.”
“You better, or I’m kicking your ass.” Buffy shot back with a ‘you better know what you’re doing’ kind of voice. They were not playing games anymore, they were a long time passed that. “Yeah, I know.” Willow nodded as she released the slayer from her embrace.
Buffy glared for good measure and took a step back, taking a deep breath before facing their hostage. “Andrew, you must remember Willow, after all that’s her life you’ve been screwing with.” Buffy introduced them, ignoring the roll of eyes the witch sent her way.
Andrew’s demeanor changed and he narrowed his eyes at the newcomer. “How many times do I have to tell you it’s not my fault! I didn’t know it wasn’t your blood! You will try to weaken me by take me by the sentiments but it won’t work, I am a warlock, a hardcore dark magic practitioner. You cannot break me.”
“Whatever. Enjoy Will, he’s a real treat to talk to.” Buffy shrugged and squeezed her friend’s arm as she went back upstairs, the temptation of punching the boy becoming harder and harder to resist to stay with Willow.
Andrew shifted her gaze to Willow once Buffy was gone and, for the first time since becoming the household’s hostage, showed signs of nervousness. Willow took it as a good sign and she took her time walking closer, glancing around the room a few moments before settling on a cardboard box halfway between Andrew and the stairs. “So, Andrew,” she asked him out of the blue, biting back a smirk when he jumped, “you’re a warlock, huh? Have you been practicing long?”
“Um. A few years I guess, why?”
“Just wondering, the spell you did required lots of power so I was curious to know if you have been the only caster.” Willow baited him and was rewarded when Andrew sat straighter in his seat, insulted by the redhead’s words even though Jonathan had been the spell’s main caster. “It wasn’t an easy spell to perform but we-I was more than capable to handle it. I am no newbie at this but I suppose it is understandable for you to disagree to that, with having gone through magic addiction and all.”
There was a glint in Willow’s eyes as she held Andrew’s gaze but she smiled and shrugged, seemingly unbothered by the comment. “We have so much to talk about, Andrew.”
*************
“And she was really nice, I never thought she could be like that, you know? But of course, being both powerful casters, it was only a matter of time before we met.” Andrew gushed at Xander as the man escorted the blonde back to the basement the next day. Ever since meeting Willow Andrew had become fascinated by the witch and never talked about anything else, at the gang’s highest displeasure.
“Will is super, I already know that. She was even better before you messed her up so you know, thanks a lot for that.” Xander replied dryly as he pushed Andrew back in his chair and secured the cuffs. Ropes had been on their way to break his skin so Giles had decided that metal cuffs would be the best alternative and, he had precised, wouldn’t leave permanent marks on the boy in case he’d remain held against his will for several more days.
Andrew scoffed and shook his manacled wrists to test their strength, something he had always wanted to do. For real, not like when he used to play with his brother and pretend he was a double agent being interrogated by Mulder and Scully. “She’s not mad at me, she knows it’s not my fault. The spell turned out good anyway, werewolves are cool. Way better than vampires. She told me that she could help Buffy more that way.”
Xander slapped Andrew hard, not even caring about the plan anymore. He had held everything in in the fear of getting into another fight with his best friends, but enough was enough. He couldn’t take Andrew’s denial speech anymore, he couldn’t just be fine with everything. He felt as if his world had been shattered so many times in the last year that he didn’t think he could take much now. Buffy and Joyce’s deaths, Buffy’s dramatic resurrection and Willow’s downfall into magics, leaving Anya at the altar...There was only so much he could take. Xander left without turning back or apologizing, leaving a shell-shocked Andrew alone in the basement.
Buffy and Callie were chatting and drinking coffee in the kitchen when Xander slammed the basement door closed, surprising the both of them. “I slapped Andrew.”
“What?”
“He was getting on my nerves and I lost it. I could’ve punched him but I settled on slapping him.” Xander repeated more forcefully as he grabbed his jacket on one of the chairs. “Where’s Will?”
“She’s upstairs with Tara, they needed some time alone.” Buffy told him as she got up, concern written on her face. “Are you okay?”
“No, but I’ll be, I just need to get some air before I go back down there and beat the hell out of him. Did you do your job?” He asked almost harshly, eyeing Callie with an unreadable expression.
Callie tensed but she didn’t let it show. She had faced worse than frightened and worried friends so even if Xander’s concern touched her, she wasn’t put off by it. “Yes, everything is safe and ready.”
Xander nodded and let himself out the kitchen door, leaving Buffy and Callie to stare at each other. “I should go after him.” Buffy whispered just as footsteps were being heard coming down the stairs, distracting the slayer and making her frown.
“He needs time, Buffy. Everything has been sprung on him lately and he isn’t dealing well. I know, you’re all in the same boat but you’ve had more experienced in the matter, don’t forget that.”
“Boat? That’s the word you’re going with?” Buffy grinned at the witch, grateful for the diversion. Her head shot up when she heard Willow and Tara coming in, the taller witch hovering protectively next to her lover. “Is it time already?” The slayer asked darkly, sighing at her friend’s nod. She hadn’t realized it was that late already.
“As soon as Giles comes back,” Willow took Tara’s hand and intertwined their fingers together, and she shared a look with her before turning back to her best friend, resolve face on, “it’s showtime.”
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