Chapter 9: Cassandra's Calling

Main Points:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Bleach (I Hope Tomorrow's a Better Day)
Chapter Summary: Tara has concerns.
Word Count: 295
Rating: Gen

          Tara’s been staring at him for a while.  Of course, they’d only recently been introduced, and then Willow presumably had her huge freak-out about the fact that he’d briefly been dead, but this was a little weird even for that.
          Eventually, she asks him, quietly, so that the others can’t hear, “D-do you kn-know what’s wrong w-with your aura?”  She has a stutter.  He’s not that intimidating, is he?  Maybe she’s just generally shy.
          He shakes his head.  He’s not sure what she’s talking about anyway.  “I don’t know what it usually looks like, just that demons tend to think I’m a nummy treat for whatever reason.”  He grins at her, trying to break the worried quiet.  “It’s probably my amazing personality.”
          She bites her lip.  “I don’t think so,” she disagrees.  Her hands tremble a little, but the stutter disappears the more she asserts herself.  “You’ve recently tapped into some sort of spirit power, and you can see more of the world than before.  D-demons might be attracted to that power, but your aura’s also clouded.  A-and there’s a dark, burning anger…” 
          “Faith and I had problems,” he confesses, cutting her off.  “Plus I was recently dead.  Don’t worry about it too much, okay?”
          She forces a smile.  “O-okay.”  She doesn’t believe him, obviously, but it’s fine.  It has to be.  Except, wait—
          “You think being able to see spirits will help with patrolling?” he asks, excitedly, and the smile gets a little fainter.
          “I-I don’t know.  I’m new at, um, patrolling.”  And, well, that’s fair, isn’t it?
          “Well, don’t worry, you’ll get uncomfortable familiar with patrolling soon.  Also with the town’s premium selection of graveyards.”  He smiles reassuringly at her.  She’s only partially reassured, judging by her expression, but, well, whatever.  He’d tried.