Overtime

[madimpossibledreamer]

National exam tomorrow, terrified, wish me luck.
~Dreamer~

Main Points:
Buffy/Yakuza AU
Chapter Summary: Angel makes a mistake.
Word Count: 405
Rating: Gen (Knives are used to threaten but no one's actually stabbed.)

            Cordy is…displeased is one word for it, having to come in on a day off because Gunn’s complaining about a ‘maniac in a ridiculous Hawaiian shirt’ trying to stab their boss.  She’d heard the complaints about ‘insanity’ and that was a load of bull.  Sure, he had his mental issues and didn’t deserve what had happened to him, and quite frankly wasn’t exactly what she wanted to deal with which was why she’d broken up with him, but he was also pretty purposeful in all the weird stunts he pulled.
            That’s why when she walks into the room to find Xander’s single eye glaring clearly, no hint of the mania or over-the-top, she sighs.  He’s across the room, but is still holding a knife straight at Angel and hasn’t, probably, moved since…whatever happened.
            “What happened?” she asks, annoyed, and actually gets a straightforward answer for once.
            “Bastard dared to apologize.”  No-nonsense.  Cold, even.  “I’m not broken.  It’s ironic, but taking my eye is what let me see clearly for the first time in my life.  I just kept imitating people and things I’d seen because I had no clue who I was.  I’m genderfluid and don’t care about who I date and I might never have dared to be honest with myself if not for…” he gestures at his eyepatch, “….because suddenly all those things that you think are life and death suddenly get put in context when you’re actually dealing with life and death, and not just in a Sunnydale way.  I would’ve kept pushing down the supportive me for probably at least another ten years.  I’m not scared of death anymore.  I lived once, my own little miracle, when I shouldn’t have.  I’m not just a helpless little puppy.  I’ve got teeth, and claws.  I can protect my family.”  There’s a slight snarl to his lips now.  “Sure, I got trauma, but it was worth it.”
            “That’s fair, but could you at least only slash my boss a little if you have to?  I kind of need him to keep earning money so I can get paid.”  Gunn shoots her a betrayed look, but he doesn’t know the history, that it’s kinda justified.
            Xander levels a considering gaze at her for a few moments, then abruptly sheathes his knife.  “Will ya forgive me if I buy ya ice cream?”
            “I suppose,” she responds, but she can’t hide the smile, and he smiles back.