Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Shadowed Suspicion Chapter 20

[madimpossibledreamer]

Main Points:
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure/Buffy the Vampire Slayer AU
Chapter Summary: The fight finishes, and Fitz comes to his senses.
Word Count: 1078
Rating: K
Note: HERE THERE PROBABLY BE BUFFY/JJBA SPOILERS.  READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

 

            When he glances at Fitz, the man seems just as surprised as him.  "You're starting to really get hurt.  And you've shown you're no stranger to combat, but if we keep up the fisticuffs, you're going to get hurt.  Surrender now, and I can tend to your wounds."  If nothing else, this man has shown absolutely nothing but concern for him, and yet...

            If he'd shown this much reluctance to use anything to even seriously wound, let alone anything lethal, then he was possibly telling the truth.  The closest he came was that razor-sharp...tentacle-like appendage, and that had been a warning to get him to stop.

            "Sometimes, it'd be nice to be less stubborn."  The comment is only about half to the man, if that.  "You sound like you really admire my family.  Well, if you want to work with me, you need to learn some things.  I don't take orders well, even if they're important and from people who probably know better than me.  I don't just sit by idly, and I hate feeling useless.  I'm not about to surrender—at least, not yet.  This is just a little blood."  Years ago, it would've been a bluff, said with a smile that barely conceals the grimace of pain.  Compared to the pain of having an eye stabbed out with a thumb, though, this is nothing.

            Fitz's eyes are solemn, grim, but he nods without protest.  With the free hand Xander can't quite reach, he pulls out a water bottle and lets it fall to the floor.  Xander's grip is already slipping, and he hurriedly attempts to prevent whatever the other is planning by kicking at the other leg, but he loses his balance and half-falls into Fitz.  The two of them topple to the floor, but Fitz manages to kick the bottle toward where the half-submerged tentacled thing is waiting.  Whatever Fitz had been planning to do with that water, it works, as Xander hears a happy gurgle and then the sound of tearing plastic.

            There's a sound that reminds Xander somewhat of a fountain before his vision goes hazy.  He feels nauseous and dizzy and is somewhat glad he isn't standing, since his grip goes slack and he's pretty sure he would've fallen if he'd been standing.  That's the last thing he needs.

            can't lose won't lose

            but you better hurry it up 'cause I don't think I can do much more

            flashes of punches augmented by light and monsters practically melting

            only can't use it as is because he's not a vampire, I think, and I don't want to seriously hurt him.  Yet.  If they are dead, there's no mercy in this world that can save him

            "Golden Mercy Sunlit Strike!"  Again, the name just comes to him, and then he's placing his palm over his assailant's heart and lightly breathes, letting the energy flow out.  Fitz suddenly falls limp underneath him, which is somewhat worrisome, but the breathing doesn't disappear, so he hasn't killed the guy.  Good, because he has no idea of what he just did.

            Somehow, he manages to stagger upright, even though he's fairly certain he's going to throw up any minute, and glances over to where the other two had been fighting.  The water and tentacles have disappeared as if they were a mere dream; Pretender meets his gaze and nods wearily before fading as well.  Xander has two more seconds of consciousness to consider what exactly had happened before he topples face forward into the bed, out cold.

 

            When he wakes up, he can feel gentle hands wrapping his own with cloth.  Instantly his eye springs open, and he sees an apologetic Fitz.  It's a complete change from his earlier attitude, even if Xander can't quite put his finger on what's changed just yet.  "I healed you with Lotus Juice already, but I'm somewhat new to using him, so the gashes aren't completely gone.  So I'm wrapping the wounds.  You should be able to take it off in a few days."

            Xander nods, not feeling ready to speak just yet.  The nausea has left, but his stomach feels a little hollow, which isn't much of an improvement.  And he's still light-headed.  How long has it been since he ate or drank?

            "What I used on you with the water bottle was stronger than what I used on your friends.  It should have worn off.  That's faster than normal, but I used Lotus Juice to heal you, too, which makes a difference..."  Fitz tied off the binding as he spoke.  "I woke up a little while ago, and while you were out and I was healing you I had a little time to think.  I thought I had the entire situation scoped out, but obviously I didn't know everything."

            Xander smiles at that comment despite himself.

            "I...I can understand if you want nothing else to do with me.  But I want you to know, too, that I'm not lying."  He's holding out a phone, now, which Xander stares at quizzically.  He's still a little exhausted.

            "What's..."  His throat is parched, and it comes out more of a croak.  He pauses, clears his throat, and tries again.  "What's that for?"

            "I thought you'd like to call your friends, make sure they're fine.  I mean, I'm not going to force you to stay here, so you could go in person, but it's probably safer to call.  I'm not your boss, though, so..."

            Xander grins in delight, taking the phone in shaking hands.  His fingers auto-dial.  It's a good thing he had this number memorized, because he keeps yawning and isn't sure how long he can actually stay conscious.

            Soon enough, he hears a voice.  "Hello?"  It's Dawn.  She's tired, a little wary, but cheerful.  If there's anyone that would be a gibbering wreck if anything horrible—irreversible— had happened to any of them, it would be Dawn, so he can assume that they're all okay, if a little battered.  He smiles and is about to greet her with some goofy remark or quip when a foreboding slams into him with the weight of a speeding freight train.  The smile slips, and he nearly falls backwards in the bed.  If he says a word, they're in danger.  He's not sure where the certainty came from, what it means, but it's here and it's not going away.  "Hello?  Who's there?"  Dawn's suspicious now, and not without reason.

            Instantly he replaces the phone, breathing heavily.