An Ordinary Night in the Graveyard

Main Points:
Buffy/Devil May Cry Crossover, Buffy AU
Chapter Summary: Xander should learn to stop trusting strange swords.
Word Count: 350
Rating: Gen

          There’s only a few places to go for fun in this town, so of course they’re all hanging out in the nearest cemetery.
          It’s kind of quiet for once.  Jesse’s sulking from being made fun of by Cordy again, Xander looks in pain again, and Willow is, as usual, shy. 
          “Do you know what happened to Dave?” Willow asks quietly.
          “Ran away from home, like everyone else in this hellhole town,” Jesse mutters.
          “Hey, do you guys see that?” Xander asks, squinting.
          “What are you talking about?” Jesse’s just as dismissive.
          “I’m going to go check it out.”  He stands, slowly, looking sore, and walks toward the mausoleum.
          It’s…it’s a sword, but not just any sword.  It’s not a katana or your typical crusader’s sword or anything.
          It’s beautiful.  Terrifying, but beautiful.  It kind of reminds him of some of the pictures of the Balrog from the Lord of the Rings he’s seen.  There are horns curling around the hilt, which has something that reminds him of a blood-red eye, and there are what might be fangs and wings near the top of the design, too.  The channel in the middle is blood-red, too.  The eye feels like it’s staring into his soul, and he wants to reach out, touch it, feel it. 
          “It’s a sword,” he yells back, even if he half wants to keep it to himself.
          “Dude,” Jesse states in shock, and he gets to his feet and scrambles over.  Willow follows more reluctantly.
          “I kinda want to take it home,” Xander confesses.
          Jesse shakes his head.  “That’s not a good idea.  Your dad would just sell it or beat you or both.”  As much as he hates to admit it, Jesse’s right. 
          “Is that still happening?” Willow stutters, and he shoots Jesse a look.
          “Nah, it was just a joke in bad taste.”  Lying to Willow to make her feel better is one of the places where it’s totally acceptable.
          “You can store it at my house.  You saw it first, so it counts as finders keepers,” Jesse reasons.
          “Thanks, bud.”  His friends are the best.