The Sleepers Will Rise

[madimpossibledreamer]

Main Points:
Buffy/Devil May Cry
Chapter Summary: Draconian Xander gets in trouble with Buffy, and leaves a cryptic warning.  (I vaguely remember this idea coming from Torchwood but it's been a while.)
Word Count: 607
Rating: Teen

          "Are you here to kill me?"  The kid didn't look particularly concerned about the idea, just curious.
          "First you talk, then I'll kill you."
          He snorted, an element of amusement entering his eyes.  "Trying somethin' new, huh?"
          "Huh?"
          "Well, most people say, 'You'll talk, or I'll kill you'.  Too mainstream for you?"
          Buffy rolled her eyes.  "Fighting girl, here."
          The smile grew.  "Point taken.  Just a note, for next time.  Most people don't find the idea of death appealing.  Next time, maybe offer chocolate or something.  You'll get people to cooperate better that way."
          "You implying you like the idea of dying?" She raised her axe menacingly, and he took a step back, right on the edge next time.  He still didn't seem all that concerned about the drop behind him.
          He laughed, which was not the reaction she'd been going for.  "Nah.  Just like being on the edge."  He gestured at the very literal placement of his feet.  "And it really won't be any fun if you're not clued in a little, so I'll leave a little present for your librarian.  See you later, sugar."  He saluted her, then took another step backward, and the only thing left was the whoosh of the duster as he fell.
          She rushed to the edge, only to see him wink and pass beyond her line of sight.  And she really didn't want to lean out any further.
          When she stepped back, she heard a crackling sound and looked down.  There was a piece of paper at her feet, but other than the 'For the Librarian' on the front, she couldn't make out any of the words.

(turns out to be in Draconian)
For the Librarian
Pity you're not looking for a magic spear.  Still, I think I've found something you'll find interesting.  Take a look at 'sleeper'.  I guarantee you'll find it to be entertaining, albeit gruesome, reading.
Take care.  Knowing who to trust is always a pain, but I think dear old Albie's got a few tips on that.  (They work, unlike his 'sunscreen' cure.)
~XOXOX The Death-Defying Blade

          "If you're going ta talk and keep me up, I c'n talk too.  't's a free democracy, innit?"
          "Spike, I rather think that the Founding Fathers didn't particularly fight for the free speech of vampires."

Sleepers

          "Sleepers?!"  Spike sounded, well...panicked.  They exchanged glances.
          "I vote that whatever can make Spike freaked out is our friend," Xander stated easily, relaxing.
          Somehow, the vampire's voice managed to get higher.  "Are you completely an' utterly thick, whelp?  Got a particularly dark an' terrible unbeatin' 'eart, 'ere, an' if I 'eard Sleepers were in town, I'd warn my worst enemies.  An' then we'd go somewhere else, an' then I could tear their throats out."
          Giles was at least taking it seriously.  "Are they worse than an apocalypse?"
          The snort sounded half hysterical.  "Mate, they're some of the most dangerous things ta....they're humans, for most of their lives, and then they're demons.  Most dangerous thing about 'em is you can't sense 'em, even after they Wake.  They could literally have had apocalypses in the works f'r years an' you'd never know.  Your best friend could be one, and you wouldn't know...'ell, she wouldn't know, not until she Woke up."

          "Dragons are one of the only species that c'n sense 'em.  Not even consciously, but they still were pretty big.  Wanna know the real reason dragons were wiped out in the Middle Ages, wasn't 'cos dragons were vicious and attacked whatever they could get their claws on.  It was the bad rap the Sleepers gave 'em, getting rid of one of their worst enemies, y'see."