EffieBlue - Hi to (I assume) a fellow Brit! Who else would say 'Blimey' and be watching the Clangers in the early hours? Can't beat that Soup Dragon! Glad it's a good read for you.
Tulipp - Welcome back! Hope it was a good trip. It looks like you're around just in time for Act 3.
As for your comments, what can I say but: Thanks!
Heh! You have no idea how much 'imagery' I would
love to pump into this story - but as it's the first one, and I'm having to establish these alternative (alternate?) characters, I thought I'd better hold back a bit. I'm sure the next one will be a lot naughtier!
And boy, do I ever wish I
were a 16 year old girl (preferably lesbian)! Thanks, that's a high compliment (one of the highest!)
And so to the penultimate part:
Title: WtVS: Pilot Episode: Hellmouth High
Author: Mike of the Nancy Tribe
Feedback: Yes please.
Rating: PG/PG 13 maybe.
Disclaimer: The characters belong to Joss Whedon and ME. I’ve taken liberties with them. So sue me.
Distribution: I don’t mind, but ask first, okay?
Pairings: Willow & Tara. Buffy & Cordelia.
Spoiler Warning: Not really since it’s AU, but I’ll be using bits from all seasons.
Summary: Willow & Tara realise they’re meant for each other; more is discovered about the Harvest; the birth of the Scoobies; oh, and a little cliff-hanger. This part is probably more Aah! than Ha! But I couldn’t help it. Things are getting serious, both with the situation, and between W & T. And there’s a first kiss (well actually there’s two first kisses, but the first first one….oh, go read it!)
WtVS: Pilot Episode: HELLMOUTH HIGH
ACT 3FADE IN
EXT. GRAVEYARD - NIGHT
Once out of the mausoleum, Tara took charge. Willow was depending on her to get the girls away safely, and she wasn’t going to let Willow down. Ever.
“W-W-We mustn’t head for the gates,” she hissed. “There’s definitely one following us and, and that’s the first place they’d go.”
“Okay T-Bone, you’re the boss,” said Buffy as they all crouched low and darted among the gravestones. “But I have to say – what in the name of NSync are we doing? Me and Cordy both have our cell phones. Why don’t we just call the cops so they’ll come and bust those freaks’ asses?”
“Shh!” said Tara. “Keep it down! And, and I don’t think the cops know how to deal with v-v-vampires.”
“Vampires huh? We’re talkin’ about vampires. We’re actually having a talk with vampires in it. See, now that’s where I gotta problem.”
“Er, me too,” said Cordelia. “But – “
“Listen!” Tara said suddenly, holding her hand up for them to stop running. They heard movement nearby, and voices that seemed to be speaking through a mouthful of oversized teeth. One female, one male. Another vampire had joined the chase. “Over there, quick!” Tara hissed.
A clump of tall bushes hid them as they jinked around headstones and statues, heading for the mouth of what looked like a sunken tomb thirty yards away. A deep stairwell led down into darkness.
“Come on,” said Tara, “gotta go down.”
“Well, we’ve done it in worse places,” said a grinning Cordelia.
“Hey, I’m game if you are, babe!” said Buffy, winking at her girlfriend. “I’m
always ready for action!”
“S-S-Stop it you two!” Tara ordered, though with a little smile. These lust bunnies were incorrigible.
They hid in the deep shadows at the entrance to the tomb, their backs to the door. “N-now stay still, and keep quiet,” said Tara. “I-I-I’m going back. Willow needs me.”
“Are you crazy?” said Cordelia, “you could die!”
“M-Maybe and, and maybe,” whispered Tara. “I don’t care. She’s, she’s my….I’ve gotta go.” Over their protests, she started back up the dark steps.
Hold on Will! her mind cried.
I’m coming for you!“Going somewhere?” said a child-like voice above her. “I don’t think so.” The silhouette of Darla stood there, flanked by a burly vampire. She kicked Tara full in the chest, sending her tumbling back down the steps to land in a heap next to Buffy and Cordelia. “We could hear your blood pounding, you know. Mmm, such
sweet music!” The huge door behind them was locked. They were trapped, between wood, stone and death, and death was descending towards them.
Tara gasped, her ribs sending shivers of pain with each breath. She tried desperately to think of some spell that might save them, but nothing would come. Fear and regret whirled in her mind.
I’m sorry Will. I’m sorry I couldn’t save you. Forgive me.Then a head bounced down the steps, and broke into dust at her feet.
“Okay,” said Cordelia. “That’s the second time a person has poofed in front of me today. We’re not just talking ugly people any more, are we?”
“Hey! Consider me convinced!” said Buffy. “That was definitely non-natural poofage!”
Darla spun round, to see the figure of Rupert Giles behind her, raising a fire axe for a second blow. “Tara! Get out!” he shouted, as the blow was brushed aside and he was backhanded across the face. Darla leapt on him, wrenched the axe from his hand, and flung it away. “Now you die,” she said.
“Perhaps not,” panted Giles, pulling a wooden cross from inside his jacket and brandishing it in her face. She hissed, and started circling him, looking for her chance.
While the Watcher and the demon danced around each other, Tara led the two girls out of the stairwell. “Help him,” she said, and took off as fast as she could back towards the mausoleum. Her legs pumped like pistons as she ran, fuelled by desperation, one word sounding in her head with every thump of her heart:
No. No. No. No. No.*
Willow slumped to the ground unconscious, the air choked out of her. Luke pondered for a minute whether to taste her, or to take her straight to the Master.
The blood of a Slayer should be very sweet, he thought.
Bad for the teeth, but yummy! He pondered again.
No, better not. This is all for him. Her strength will add to his, and make his rising even more glorious! He gathered up her limp form in his arms.
And boy would he be pissed if I damaged the goods. Probably take my eyeballs ….or something.*
Tara felt as if her lungs were bursting, as she leapt over the last gravestone and saw the mausoleum ahead. She threw herself through the doorway, and saw the vampire cradling Willow’s body. It turned to face her with a grin.
“Get your hands off my girl!” she cried.
“Make me,” said Luke, tucking Willow under one enormous arm.
Tara ran at him, but he swatted her aside like a fly. Dazed, she tried again, but he flung her to the ground. For a third time she launched herself at him, and he knocked her off her feet. One of her shoes came off. With blood trickling from her mouth, she rose shakily. “L-Let her go you bastard,” she said, but the vampire just laughed at her.
“Oh no, this is too much fun.”
Then, like a switch being thrown, an idea came to her. She bent to pick up her shoe, making as if to put it back on, but at the last second, flung it straight at Luke’s head. From that distance she couldn’t miss, and the heel caught him in the left eye. He howled, staggered, and dropped Willow. Tara leapt at him, knocking him back, and at the same time gestured in the air, crying out the word
“flagrere!” Fire erupted along his left arm, spreading rapidly across the back of his coat. He roared, flailing about, but couldn’t extinguish the flames that threatened to consume him. As Tara dropped to her knees beside Willow, her strength all but gone, he ran past her and out into the graveyard night.
“Willow? Willow! Please wake up Will, please wake up!” Tara drew Willow to her, laying her head on her lap and gently stroking her cheek. The redhead was barely breathing, and it was harsh and laboured, as if she couldn’t draw in enough air.
Oh god Will, I can’t lose you now, just when I’ve found you! Tears filled her eyes as she smoothed the Slayer’s hair back from her face, and rubbed her hands. There came the faintest of rasping groans from Willow’s throat.
Oh god! What do I do? Tara thought in panic.
Air. Gotta give her more air! Tara carefully tilted Willow’s head back, and saw raw red marks across the girl’s neck. She could only think of one thing to do.
Our first kiss, Will. But I didn’t want it to be like this. I wanted you to be kissing me as well. She closed the Slayer’s nose with her hand, lowered her face towards Willow’s, and their lips met. She felt bad that it felt so good, at a time like this. Gently she blew into her mouth, taking her head away after each breath, watching Willow’s chest slowly rise and fall.
Come on Will, she begged.
Don’t leave me, don’t leave me. Willow. Oh god, Willow!After just a minute that was agony to Tara, at last Willow gasped, and coughed, and her eyes fluttered painfully open. “Tara?” she croaked. “Tara, I-I think I had a funny dream. The, the frogs were all over me and, and I couldn’t breathe. But, but you scared them all away and, and I think you gave me something, to keep me safe.”
Tara laughed and cried at the same time.
My heart, Will. I gave you my heart. It’s all yours now.“But, but you’re hurt!” said Willow, seeing the blood on Tara’s face.
“I-I-It’s okay,” said Tara, “just a cut lip. And, and I feel a bit achy.”
Willow licked her thumb, reached up, and softly wiped the blood away from the corner of Tara’s mouth. “But I don’t want you hurt,” she whispered.
“Willow! Tara! Are you all right?” An out of breath Giles appeared in the doorway, still clutching his crucifix.
“We’re okay Mr. Giles,” said Tara. “Oh yes, w-we’re okay now.”
Willow got to her feet with their help, and they emerged into the night air. She tried to breathe deeply, coughing occasionally, and hanging on to Tara’s arm for support. After a few minutes, colour had returned to her face, and she was feeling more like herself.
“Oh boy,” she said, “that big vamp bully sure could squeeze tight. Thought my eyes were gonna pop right out of my head. Tara, how the heck did you do it? I, I’m pretty sure you saved me, but how?”
“M-M-My birthday cake,” she said.
“Huh?” said Willow. “What you, you smooshed his face with marzipan and yummy layers?”
“No, no I-I remembered the spell. Y’know, th-the one I lit my birthday candles with? I-I sorta flamed him….a bit. I’m still not sure I got it right. He, he m-m-might not go out either.”
“Good,” said Willow with a firm nod of the head. “He, he beat you up a bit first, didn’t he? Well, I hope he’s crispier than, than a, a, a really crispy thing right now! I don’t like monsters that beat on my, my friend.”
Oh she’s so much more than that Will, she told herself.
You know that now, don’t you?“Oh I’m okay,” said Tara. “N-Nothing that a hot bath won’t fix.”
And, and your arms around me.“You’re my hero,” Willow murmured to the witch. “You, you came back for me – which was
so dumb, but so brave. Thank you.” She lifted Tara’s hand to her lips, and kissed it gently. “Thank you.”
Giles was busy polishing his glasses, but watched the scene out of the corner of his eye. He knew something special was happening here, but whether it would be good or bad for his Slayer, he didn’t know. There was nothing in his books of prophecy about this.
He cleared his throat rather obviously, and began to walk ahead. “Come on ladies!” he called. “Let’s not invite any more trouble by, by lingering here. I’ll drive you home. My car’s parked at the Bronze and, and I seem to have an axe the owners might be missing about now.”
Willow and Tara followed him, their arms linked together. Tara felt the cool grass under one bare foot, but she didn’t want to go back in there for her shoe. And she didn’t want to let go of Willow.
“I-I guess tonight was pretty much of a bust, huh?” said Willow. “I’m sorry Giles, you must wish they’d landed you with a better Slayer than me. I’m a doof.”
“Nonsense,” he said unexpectedly, turning to face Willow. “You, you identified a vampire on sight, between us we disposed of at least three and, and I’m fairly sure we’ve disrupted whatever it was they had planned for tonight. The fact that you nearly got yourself killed in the process is, I’m afraid, a-a-a hazard of being the Slayer. You acquitted yourself well, Willow. And without even a day’s physical training from me. I-I-I’m really quite proud of you.”
And ashamed of myself for not being a better Watcher, he thought ruefully.
Willow and Tara grinned at each other, and tightened their grip on the other’s arm.
“Now, we really must go,” he said. “I’ve already sent Buffy and Cordelia home. From what they told me, I think we’ve
all had quite enough excitement for today.” They walked back out of the cemetery, Giles constantly on the alert for more trouble.
“But, but what h-happened with that vampire, Mr. Giles?” asked Tara. “The, the fair-haired girl? How did you get away from her? And, and are Buffy and Cordy okay?”
“Oh yes, they’re fine. It was, it was quite entertaining, actually.” Willow and Tara looked at each other, frowning, then at him. “W-W-Well, once they realised it was just one vampire to fight and, and that it was a girl, they became quite animated. I believe Cordelia’s exact words were ‘We’re gonna bitch-slap that ho back to hell.’”
Tara’s laugh was like music to Willow. “And did they?” she asked.
“Yes indeed,” said Giles. “Or, or least, they slapped and kicked and, and clawed her so much that she just ran away. I believe Buffy kept a chunk of hair as a um, trophy.”
“I
knew she’d be the hair-puller!” said Willow with delight.
“So, so are they okay with the idea of vampires now?” said Tara. “I-I mean, do they know it’s for real?”
“Oh, it was difficult for them to make the leap,” said Giles. “But I-I-I think they’re quite up to speed now. A-A person with fangs who, who turns to dust in front of your eyes, tends to change your um, view of the world quite remarkably, I find.”
“Tell me about it!” said Willow with feeling.
“Mm, yes,” said Giles. “But, since your friends have been drawn unwittingly into our um, not-so-secret little troop, I-I believe the best course of action would be for all of you to come see me in the library tomorrow. It’s only right that everyone understands the true nature of the peril that we face. But, we must do all in our power to, to keep them out of harm’s way. And, and that includes you, Tara.”
“Oh no,” Tara said firmly. “M-M-Mr. Giles, you’ll have to tie me up and, and lock me in a box to keep me away.”
From Willow. “I’m in this now, and I-I-I’m not going anywhere. So there! I-I-I’m sorry, was that too rude?”
Willow was gazing at her with eyes shining. Giles simply sighed, and beckoned them to follow.
*
Tara’s home was nearest, so she was dropped off first. It was just after ten o’clock, and a light was still on in the house. Giles waited in his old grey Citroen as Willow walked with Tara to the door.
“Hold still,” said Willow. She took a handkerchief from her pocket, wetted it with her tongue, and slowly and tenderly wiped smudges of dried blood and dirt from the blonde’s face. “There’s the gorgeous girl I know. Can’t have your dad thinkin’ you’ve been runnin’ wild.”
“I-I-I never had the chance to say, I-I like your top,” said Tara. “Green and gold it, it goes real well with your hair and, and your eyes.”
“It’s Buffy’s. She wanted me to look good for the guys. Of course, she didn’t know. Heck, I didn’t know about her and Cordy either. Guess we’re all just sly old dogs. Hey, you can keep it,” Willow said, refusing the handkerchief back.
“She, she didn’t know what?” said Tara.
“That there’s no guy.”
“Oh. Do you w-w-want there to be? A, a guy, I mean?”
“Oh no,” said Willow. “I, I don’t think I ever did, not really. I guess I just knew that something was missing. Not any more.”
“W-W-Willow, I – “
“Tara, when, when you saved me tonight and, and I was all dreamy with the frogs and, and the whole can’t hardly breathe thing? Just before I woke up I, I dreamed that you, that you….kissed me. Was I, was I wrong?”
Tara looked down at her feet, and fidgeted with her hands. “I-I-I was giving you air,” she said. “I-I-I thought you were going to, y’know,
die.” The last word was no more than a breath. Willow knew it was the truth, but not the whole truth.
She lifted Tara’s chin with her hand, and gazed into those astounding eyes. “Giles is my Watcher,” she whispered. “But you’re my angel. My beautiful, witchy, guardian angel.”
And she leaned forward and kissed Tara, just once, but oh so softly, and with passion.
“Now dream about
me,” she said, and walked to the car.
Tara watched her go, her heart singing.
I always do.-----------------------------------
“You two really are a severe disappointment to me, you know. Why is it that the undead always seem to recruit from the shallow end of the gene pool?”
The Master sat in a huge and intricately carved chair of dark wood, his clawed hands steepled in front of him.
“I ask you to bring me a snack, and you can’t even do that one little thing.”
Luke and Darla were kneeling before him, their heads hung low. Darla’s hair was frizzed and wild, her face, now in human form, a mass of scratches. Much of Luke’s jacket (and his hair) was charred away, his skin blackened and peeling. And he sported a mighty black eye.
“But,” he sighed, “you’re still the best I have. So I’m not going to kill you….just yet.”
The two battered vampires looked up at the unexpected mercy.
“Rise, my moronic minions,” the Master said wearily. “You make the place look untidy. And Luke? You smell like a roast. Stay out of the lower tunnels for a while. They aren’t fussy what they eat down there.”
“So tell me,” he went on, “this Slayer. What is she like?”
“Young,” said Luke. “New. Unskilled. Eatable.”
“And yet she lives, and you are barbecued.”
“It was the witch. She was like a tigress, defending her fallen mate,” said Luke. “She, she caught me unawares.”
“And they had friends,” added Darla, touching the deep wounds on her face. “The Watcher, and two bitches with sharp claws.”
“A Slayer with friends?” the Master mused. “Interesting. But ultimately of no consequence. The Watcher will be dealt with in due course. The friends…I’m sure that you can think up a diverting death for them, Darla.” She grinned, and shifted back into her vamp face. “It’s the tigress that interests me. I want her here. The perfect bait to snare the Slayer.”
The ancient vampire rose from his chair and approached them. “Take as many as you need, but find the witch and bring her below!” He laid one taloned hand on Luke’s scorched head. “Soon the Vessel shall be born, to herald the end of my imprisonment. I will feast as never before, and I want the Slayer’s head as the centrepiece of my table!”
“Well,” he added. “That, or your nuts in a jar.”
--------------------------------------
Willow stood at the library doors, looking in through the glass.
There she is, she thought.
The girl I kissed. Tara sat alone at the big table, nervously pulling the sleeves of her hooded top over her hands. Occasionally she looked up to smile shyly or nod at Giles, who was gathering books from the stacks. There was no sign yet of Buffy or Cordelia.
The sight of Tara made Willow’s heart ache all over. But she was scared.
What if I did it wrong? Oh god, what if I grossed her out? What if I got it all wrong, and she doesn’t want me? The urge to turn and run away ripped at her.
Oh but I want to be hers. Be brave Will. Sink or swim. Gulp.As she walked through the doors, Tara leapt up from the table. She wrapped her arms around herself, and looked for some sign on Willow’s face that it had all been a horrible mistake.
She looks as scared as I feel, thought Tara.
Is, is that good or bad? What if she was just being kind? What if I was just being stupid to, to hope for anything at all?“Tara, hi,” said Willow in a small voice.
“H-H-H-Hey.”
“Some night, huh?”
“Mm. S-Some night.” Tara looked at the floor, her long hair falling in front of her face. “I-I-I had a dream,” she said.
“Good dream?”
“The best.” She looked up, timidly smiling at the redhead.
Willow reached out hesitantly to the other girl’s hand. When they touched, it was as if all their fears melted away.
“Are, are you still my angel?”
“Y-Y-You mean - ?”
“I mean. Is that okay?”
“O-Oh yes!”
There were good tears in both girls’ eyes as they sat down together at the table. But at the same moment, they reached out and wiped them away, letting their hands linger on the other’s face.
“M-M-Mr. Giles hasn’t even noticed you’re here yet,” said Tara.
“Good,” said Willow. “I wish, I wish everyone would go away and just leave me here with my girl.”
No sooner were the words out of Willow’s mouth than the doors crashed open and Buffy Summers breezed in, followed swiftly by Cordelia.
Giles’ head popped out from behind the stacks, and he emerged carrying an armful of books. “Ah, Willow, Buffy, everyone’s here I see.”
“Better make it snappy Giles,” said Buffy. “I’m on the track in a half hour. The gym reopens in less than a month, and I gotta be ready for cheerleader tryouts. These buns don’t stay firm just by slapping them, y’know?”
“That helps though, doesn’t it?” said Cordelia from the corner of her mouth. “Or am I just wasting my time?”
Buffy grinned, but shut it down when she realised everyone except Giles was smirking at them.
Giles came down the stairs with his load of books, and deposited them on the table. “Right then,” he said. “Th-The edited version it is then for, for the sake of Buffy’s um, buns.”
“Giles said ‘buns!’” Willow blurted, clutching Tara’s hand beneath the table. “Oh, but that’s, that’s okay, ‘cos you can, you can put things….between buns….and, and eat them. Oh god. Stopping the talk right now.”
“Please do,” said Giles. His face became very serious. “Right then. Before man, this world belonged to the demons. It was, quite literally, hell on earth. But, but over time, they lost their hold on this reality, and the demons began to depart to, to forge new hells elsewhere. The way was made clear for mortals, for mankind, to emerge. But still vestiges of the old ones linger on, certain magics, certain creatures. Legend tells that – “
“Giles?” interrupted Cordelia. “Do you really need me for the exposition? Or can I come back when you get to the part where I might be in mortal danger?
“Cordy, play nice!” said Buffy, nudging her.
“It’s just that I have a latté and an adoring public waiting for me in the cafeteria. And I don’t want to sully my rep as hammer of the geeks.”
Cordelia rolled her eyes as Giles simply glared, and carried on. “Legend tells that the last purebred demon to leave this reality fed off a human and, and mixed their blood. He became a thing possessed, and his soul fled. He bit another, and another, and so the undead walk the earth. Vampires.”
“AKA creepy guys in need of serious dental work who go kaboom when you chop their heads off,” said Buffy.
“Or, or stake them in the heart with a w-wooden um, stake,” added Tara.
“Fire, direct sunlight, holy water,” said Giles. “Yes, these are all deadly to the vampire.”
“What would happen,” asked Buffy, “if you jammed a stick of dynamite down a vamp’s pants? Would he smooge back together, or would he stay Kibbled?”
Giles raised his eyebrows in thought. “W-W-Well actually, I-I don’t think I’ve ever, th-that is perhaps I should look into it….” He began casting his eye over the books, but stopped when Cordelia cleared her throat. “….at some point.”
“That guy Cliff sure didn’t write
your Notes, did he?” she said.
“Okay,” said Buffy. “I get the message. We’re not in a TV show. Those weren’t special effects and guys in Halloween masks last night. But one thing I gotta know. Willow.”
All eyes turned to the redhead, who slumped in her chair as if trying to hide.
“Who the hell
are you?” said Buffy. “I mean, you kick down doors like a one girl SWAT team. You Rambo’d those vamps, and you zoomed over their heads like David Copperfield on wires! Somehow, I never figured you for Xena in a sweater vest!” She paused to think for a moment. “Now,
there’s an image that’ll stay with me tonight.”
Giles took up one of the old volumes from the table, and displayed to them a chapter heading in antique script ‘The Mythology of the Slayer.’ “As long as there have been vampires,” he said, “there has been the Slayer.”
“O-O-One girl in all the world,” said Tara, stealing his favourite line. “A-A Chosen One.” Out of sight, she stroked Willow’s hand with her thumb.
My girl, she said to herself.
My chosen one.“Yes, thank you Tara,” said Giles. “One girl chosen by fate to battle the forces of evil. One girl in each generation who has the power and strength to stop the monsters. One girl – “
“Yawn,” said Cordelia, pointing a perfectly plucked and raised eyebrow at Giles, who was on a roll.
“Sigh,” said Giles, narrowing his eyes at the brunette. “All right. The, the Slayer kills vampires. Willow’s the Slayer. Don’t tell anyone.”
“Wow,” said Buffy. “Way to go, Will!”
“Yay me,” Willow said in the tiniest of voices, and gave a half-hearted smile.
“So, the dork in overalls hides a superhero, huh?” said Cordelia. “Clark Kent would be proud. Can I go now?”
“Hey!” said Willow. “Overalls are, are very practical, y’know. And, and they’ve got pockets for, for carrying….things.”
“Thank you, Miss OshKosh ’97.”
“I l-like the kitten,” said Tara quietly, touching a finger to the black and white cat on the front of Willow’s yellow overalls. Cordelia noticed the gesture, and nodded to herself.
“And Tara, you’re a witch then?” she said.
“Just, just a little one,” said Tara. “I-I mean, I can’t do much, but I-I’m learning.”
“Okay then! I’m sitting in a library with geeks who are also freaks. My cool creds are plummeting here. And we still haven’t got to the part with me in it.”
Giles closed the book loudly.
“Last night,” he said in a stern voice, “
you were taken by vampires loyal to an ancient being known as the Master. He has been trapped by, by a magical barrier somewhere below this town since the earthquake of ‘37. Tomorrow is the one night in a century when a, er ritual called the Harvest can occur which could free him. I believe
you were meant to be an offering to him. If he rises, and opens the Hellmouth this town is built upon, it means the end of
you, me, and, and the rest of this world as we know it. Was there enough of you in that to make it relevant?”
“Barely. Question one: can you stop it?”
“W-W-Well, possibly, if we can locate him and, and Willow can – “
“Two: how can
I help?”
“Um….”
Cordelia got up from the table and headed for the door. “Okay! I have an elsewhere to be. You go save the world and let me know how it turns out. Later, Buff.”
When she was gone, they all looked at each other. Buffy shrugged. “Oh don’t mind her,” she said. “She was just being Cordelia….only more so. If she can’t be in control, it sorta freaks her out. And she
loves being in control.” She winked at the girls.
Willow suppressed a little shudder, trying not to imagine leather collars and swishy whips – and failing.
Tara leaned over and whispered to her: “I-I think she’s just scared. But she, she can’t show it.”
“How about you? You scared?” Willow whispered back. “Butterflies in the tummy?”
“T-Terrified,” said Tara. “Butterflies, bats and, and big birds. But I-I-I know you’ll save us.”
“Tara, how can you possibly know that?
I sure as heck don’t know that. I, I mean I’m only a junior Slayer. I haven’t studied and, and the finals are tomorrow night. You can’t possibly be more terrified than I am right now. I just want to, to curl up in a ball till it all goes away.”
“Y-You’ll do it because you’re
you. And I trust you. And, and I’ll help you. W-Whatever it takes, I’ll be there.” Willow gazed at her in gratitude.
Buffy rose from the table. “Well,” she said, “you can count me in.” Giles started to object, but Buffy rode over him. “I’m not a Slayer, and I’m not a witch….and I’m not a librarian with no obvious skills except indexing – “
“A-A-And cross-referencing,” Giles interjected.
“ – but I can kick butt and scratch out eyes with the best.” She displayed the long chunk of platinum blonde hair hanging from her belt. “I gotta go now, but I’ll be your backup. You’ve got my cell number, so call me. I don’t think Cordy’ll come around any time soon, but I’ll work on her. I have my ways.” She looked at the other three around the table. “Hey, we got the makings of a regular Scooby Gang here! I guess I’d be Daphne….only she was lame. Call me!” she shouted as she went out the door.
“She’ll get herself killed,” said Giles.
“That could happen to any of us,” said Willow.
“Th-Then we’ll watch over each other,” said Tara, “and we’ll keep each other s-safe. But we still don’t know enough about what’s going to happen. We, we can’t wait until they start killing people.”
“Well,” said Giles, “I-I do have a little more information on the Vessel. Whichever minion is chosen, it will bear this symbol.” He looked around for something to write on, but ended up drawing a three-pointed star on his hand with a felt tip. “It-It’s not much, but every little helps.”
“So, so if I dust whoever has that symbol, then no Harvest,” said Willow.
“Simply put, yes.”
“But where do I look? Where are these guys holed up? Underground, yeah, but where?”
“The, the sewer system would be the obvious way of avoiding sunlight in order to travel about,” said Giles. “But I’ve already checked, there’s no access anywhere near the cemetery.”
“Wait!” said Tara. “I-I’ve just remembered. There’s an electrical tunnel that runs under the whole town. I-I’ve seen the plans. I can call them up on, on the computer if you want?”
“By all means,” said Giles. “Though I’m certain I don’t want to know how you found them. I’m fairly sure the town plans are
not generally open to the public. I’ll go make us some tea while you um, call them up.”
Willow followed Tara over to the library computer, and sat beside her as she pressed the keys. “Um, I sorta stumbled on the plans when, when I accidentally um, decrypted the city council’s s-s-security system.”
“You’re a bad girl,” said Willow mischievously, “who deserves to be spanked. But you’re a whiz.”
“Oh no, I-I’m no whiz,” said Tara, looking avidly into hazel-green eyes. “I’m just lucky.
So lucky…. but I
do deserve to be spanked.”
Willow laid her hand on the other girl’s thigh as she typed, and Tara felt warmth begin to spread though her lower body. Willow leaned in to murmur in her ear.
“You can have anything you want.”“I-I-I want
you,” said Tara.
“You’ve got me,” answered Willow.
Tara’s hands flew off the keyboard to cradle Willow’s face as she kissed her hungrily and deeply. Their mouths almost devoured one another, tongue lashing against tongue in the heat of the moment. It was rough and unskilled, but it was what they needed right then. They only broke apart, with difficulty, when they heard the rattle of teacups emerging from Giles’ office.
“So,” said Giles, walking through with cups, sugar and the teapot on a tray, “did you get what you needed?”
“Uh, oh, um, yes!” said Willow, sure that her voice shouldn’t be quite that high and squeaky. Both girls were flushed and panting, but Giles seemed oblivious.
“J-J-Just about there!” said Tara. She hurriedly hit the last few keystrokes that broke through into the planning files.
Giles put the tray down on the table, and stood looking at it for a second. “Damn,” he said, “forgot the milk.” The instant he walked away, Willow spun round to Tara.
“More,” she breathed.
And they lost themselves in each other’s lips again, if only for a few seconds. It felt like every nerve ending in Willow’s body was tingling, and from the look on Tara’s face when she pulled away, she felt exactly the same. The rest of their time in the library was an agony of wanting, but they kept their cool in front of the Watcher.
As he played mother with the tea, Tara narrowed her search. “Look,” she said, “th-there’s the electrical tunnel. And, and it looks like there are i-i-inspection tunnels running off it every so often.”
Giles came round to peer over her shoulder. “Mm, but I, I don’t see any access points in the cemetery. I-I’m sorry, Tara, but I don’t think this is going to be of much help to us. A, A good try, nevertheless.”
Then Willow, looking at the screen, turned pale. “Oh no,” she said, letting her face fall onto the table, where she proceeded to knock her head against it several times before Tara stopped her. “I’m an idiot! Last night! In that museum! I-I-I mean, mausoleum! After I staked that vampire, where did the big one come from? The, the one that nearly choked me to death? He snuck up behind me and, and I was facing the door! Don’t you see, the entrance to the tunnels must be – “
“Must be in that crypt!” Giles realised. “The, the very crypt that we were all in at one point!” Willow nodded her head vigorously.
“S-S-So,” said Tara, “w-what do we do?”
“I, I guess I load myself up with stakes,” said Willow uncertainly, “and, and I head underground. Right now. No sense in waiting.”
“We can’t just skip out of school in, in the middle of the day,” said Tara. “W-What if Principal Flutie sees us?”
“Tara. Please. I’ve got to do this alone. I, I don’t want you getting hurt….again.”
“I-I-I’ve already told you,” said Tara firmly. “W-Where you go,
I go. I-I’ll chain myself to you if, if I have to! Y-Y-You’re not getting away from me that easily, Willow Rosenberg. You might n-need me.”
Oh god, I do! thought Willow, and decided to give in gracefully.
Giles, however, had other ideas. “Neither of you are going anywhere. While, while daylight would be the best time, if only to allow a safe escape, there’s sadly no point in killing the Vessel today. After all, what’s to stop the Master from appointing another tomorrow?” He sipped his tea while theirs started to go cold, forgotten. “No, our assault must take place just before sunset tomorrow night, and we will go um, ‘loaded for bear’ I think is the expression.” He glanced towards the locked cabinet in the book cage. “Sword, bow, axe, stakes, and anything else we can carry.”
Both girls felt deflated. “Just go home,” he continued. “After school just, just go home and rest. We will all need our strength for tomorrow.” Willow looked at him, feeling so far below capable that her teeth hurt. “I’m sorry Willow,” he said sadly. “Th-There’s nothing I can teach you in one day that will help in this fight. This, this is truly a baptism of fire for you.”
“I-I-It’s unfair Mr. Giles,” said Tara.
He sighed. “I know. Truly, I do. But, but think of this, Willow. The Slayer was called here, now, just at the moment that she is needed the most. W-W-We have to believe this has happened for a reason. I
do believe it.”
“I, I guess so,” said Willow.
“I believe in
you,” said Tara, taking the redhead’s hand, not caring if Giles saw it.
Willow saw the strength in Tara’s eyes, and drew from it. She took a deep breath. “Okay then,” she said. “Tomorrow night, we kick some serious vampire ass! And, and curses and frogs on any monstery thing who stands in the way of the Slayer and her witch!”
“Um, and her Watcher,” said Giles.
“Darn tootin!” said Willow.
“Now go. Classes start again in about five minutes. I don’t want to get a reputation for making students late.”
Or getting them killed, he thought.
--------------------------------------
Willow paced in her bedroom. Occasionally she threw open the closet door and stared at the clothes hanging on the rack. Then she closed the door, looked at herself in the mirror, and went back to pacing.
Oh boy. Oh boy. Nearly eight. Can’t change again. Won’t change again. No. Won’t change.But for the zillionth time she did the closet and mirror routine, and paced. Tara was due at eight. Willow felt sweaty.
After the library, they had met up again just before sixth period, in the quad. Kids were all around them, so they couldn’t say much. But their eyes spoke volumes.
“I want more,” said Willow.
“Oh yes,” said Tara. “Much more.”
“I want to….”
“Oh, e-every inch of….”
“….with my hands….”
“….w-with my
tongue….”
“Oh god.”
“Oh goddess.”
“My house. Eight o’clock?”
“Mm. Your mom?”
“Out. Till late.”
“Good.”
“I want you.”
“Y-You’ve got me.”
Willow still had trouble believing what was happening to her. But she knew she wasn’t going to fight it anymore.
She wants me. I want her. And not just to kiss and hold and touch and and oh god. It’s her. All of her. I just want to be with her forever. It’s fate. Like being the Slayer. It’s part of me. She’s part of me. But oh dear god I really want to kiss and hold and touch and and….Now she was even sweatier. She thought of having another shower, but it was almost eight.
Oh boy. Should I change again? For the zillionth and one time she looked in the mirror. Simple. Clean. Accessible. Blue jeans and the fuzzy pink sweater with flowers on it. And nothing underneath.
Goin’ commando for my girl, she thought. Boy, who knew those words would ever be in my head!Two minutes to eight.
Jittery all over. Hands shaking. Sweaty palms. See, I knew it! Madness and sweaty palms! Good start Rosenberg. She’s, she’s gonna take your hand and go blecch! Probably run away. What if she doesn’t come at all? What if she’s got cold feet? Oh but I wanna warm them with my….now stop that!One minute to eight. She paced, and sweated, and didn’t know what to do with her hands. Well, she had a darn good idea, but that would have to wait till Tara arrived! She waited for the knock, her mouth dry.
It came. Three heavy knocks, the last one oddly loud.
She hurtled from her bedroom and ran down the stairs, pausing at the door to wet her lips and try not to drool. She threw open the door with the words
Kiss me now! on her lips, and looked into the night.
Her doorstep was empty. But embedded in the wood of the door was a black-handled knife, the blade old and stained. Impaled on it she saw a fine white square of cotton, edged with lace.
My handkerchief. Oh god, Tara! It still bore the smears of blood and dirt from her face. Willow’s heart sank to her shoes. Now her hands were shaking in terror as she reached out.
She gripped the handkerchief and tugged the knife from the door. With mounting dread she opened out the cloth, seeing words scrawled in what she thought at first was blood, then realised was actually red waxy crayon.
‘WE HAVE THE WITCH.’
Willow fell to her knees in the doorway.
Tara!FADE OUT
END OF ACT 3
--------------------------------
Always.........
Edited by: Mike of the Nancy Tribe at: 8/25/02 11:53:43 am
.
, that was unexpected!! 
