Brand New Story

[madimpossibledreamer]

Buffy isn’t acknowledging that it was Kindaichi here, partly because of how it was different for her.  She also doesn’t remember Giles was breaking the spell.

Main Points:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/The Case Files of Young Kindaichi
Summary: The rescue party gets a rescue party.
Word Count: 1091
Rating: Teen

        Logically, Buffy knows that Xander and Willow tried to make sure neither she nor Angel felt guilty about letting them go off on their own.  It’s just like them, and it’s very sweet, and also it didn’t work.
        They don’t see any sign of the two on the straightest road to Ethan’s, and Buffy’s more than happy to take out her growing worry on the vampires that are certainly not taking Halloween as a night in.  “Anything?” she half growls at Angel—she shouldn’t be taking out her anger on him; it’s not like any of this is his fault.  Fortunately, he doesn’t seem to be taking any of it personally, despite the frown.  She’s pretty sure that’s because he’s trying to concentrate, or because, despite his dislike of Xander, he feels responsible.  That’s like him, really.
        “I think I hear a commotion that way,” he points, and they both turn with no hesitation, detouring toward the warehouses.  It doesn’t take long before Buffy’s hearing the same—a bunch of loudmouths yelling about finding ‘the brat’.  She sees the remains of a bike outside one, which seems to be where the crashing and banging of what are probably vampires tearing apart a warehouse sounds are coming from, anyway.  Shame.  She liked that one, but then, it matters less than finding her friends intact.
        “Nice find,” Buffy acknowledges with a smile, taking the stake Angel hands her grateful and twirling it like a cheerleader’s baton.  She waits until he picks up a metal pipe before kicking in the door.  “I get really grumpy when there’s a neat party and I’m not invited.  What were you thinking?”  The fear on their faces and the hisses of ‘Slayer’ feel pretty good.
        Maybe Xander had a good point about her taking a break, because she’s refreshed and ready for a fight again, especially as it’s fun fighting alongside Angel.  If he died because he was being considerate, though, she’ll figure out some way he feels that in the afterlife, because that’s unforgiveable.  One of them yells about going to get Spike, but Angel smacks the vampire messenger into the wall and then stakes it with the remains of a box he broke when it’s dazed.  Figures.  He probably took off as soon as the spell wore off.  She keeps waiting for him to be as reckless as some of the others, but what probably makes it worse is that he’s cunning, too, and has nothing against a retreat to fight another day, even if it’s likely to make him more vicious in the long run.
        Sadly, after the dust settles, no sign of Xander can be seen.  Buffy’s brain settles quickly on the worst-case scenario (Spike took him hostage, again) before she reminds herself to calm down, breathe, and think rationally.  He’s good at survival, hence the remains of a barricade in front of the door.  She would’ve seen more of a struggle, however little a mortal guy like him could do strength-wise.
        If she knows him, which she’d like to think she does, he probably found someplace to hide.  Now, where—
        A creak on the roof.  And she can see the slightest hint of what might be the outlines of a door in the ceiling, just above one of the racks.  Clever, though she’s honestly kind of impressed he managed to climb up there.  Her friend’s not in the best of shape, really.
        It’s a lot faster for her and Angel to climb up, she assumes, though she has to laugh and shake her head as he tries to outpace her and then hold out a hand to help her climb up.
        “My lady,” he states solemnly, although she suspects it’s a bit of a joke.
        “Very funny,” she informs him, and the grin informs her she was correct.  It’s rare he’s silly like this, but it seems maybe the break was good for him, too.
        “Harris was lucky.  Any sound he made from the sudden transition was covered up by the change of any transformed demons down here, so they didn’t find him.”  At her questioning glance, he looks pointedly at the floor, and—huh, yeah, there’s slime from something she didn’t fight, fortunately enough for her shoes.
        “The rescue is here; please don’t bonk us on the head,” Buffy calls before lifting herself easily onto the roof.  Or—wait.  This isn’t a roof.  It’s a tiny room.
        Her friend looks worse for the wear, in contrast, rubbing at his head and wincing.  “I’m not actually that prepared, but thanks.”  He blinks awkwardly in the dim light at Angel, visibly surprised.  “Uh.  You too, I guess.  Nice job breaking the smuggler warehouse.”  …Okay, having a secret room accessible only by weird means is…weird, but that’s kind of jumping to conclusions, isn’t it?  And why can’t he get over being mad at Angel already?
        “You’re welcome,” Angel mutters dryly.
        And then suddenly he’s on his feet, swaying because he’s stood too fast.  Buffy reaches out a hand to steady him, concerned, but he refuses to sit back down.  She recognizes that look well.
        “The kids!” he exclaims, and—oh yeah, they were supposed to be escorting trick-or-treaters.  “Come on, let’s get down there.”
        “Xander—”  the Slayer falters, because she doesn’t think she’s ever seen that fierce look in his eyes.
        “Let’s at least get down,” Angel suggests, and despite his rush and complaining, she’s pretty sure Xander’s aching arms and legs appreciate Slayer and vampire helping him down the way they came.
        Once they’re down, Buffy opens her mouth to insist she takes him home and the search party consist of people who are actually rested, but he shuts her up with a glare.  “I was responsible for them, Buffy.  I have to make sure they’re okay.”  Never mind the fact that he’s not.
        “They’re probably fine,” she tries to reassure him, and wordlessly he gestures at a crumpled body lying in the warehouse, abandoned by his allies.  If they’re lucky, he’s just unconscious.
        “I’ll find Willow while I’m at it.  Make sure she’s still corporeal.  Ja ne!”  He’s off with a wave before Buffy can say anything else.  She frowns.  As tired as she is, Xander had a pretty good point, and she doesn’t need any more reason for the Troll to come after her.  But why does he think Willow might not have changed back?  Obviously everyone else had—
        Wait.
        That’s why he ran away as fast as his sneakers could carry him.  That’s fine.  He can’t outrun an interrogation forever.