Nothing Ventured
Sep. 24th, 2024 01:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
madimpossibledreamerMain Points:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Assassin's Creed (Beginning's End)
Summary: Rebecca has an unexpected conversation.
Word Count: 1364
Rating: Teen
pre-Shaun/Xander
Oz is consulting with one of the Witches that didn’t go, and while she’d love to listen in and offer whatever suggestions she can, she needs to go and wash her face and properly freak out, because while fluffy wolf-Shaun is adorable, if this goes wrong she might lose her best friend. Gone is that calm, relaxed feeling; everyone’s rushing around, frantic. If she wanted, she might even be able to sneak into one of the locked rooms, but she’s not too motivated, at this point.
So she doesn’t react, at first, as footsteps approach the door. What startles her is the voice. “Where is he?”
“Jesus, Shaun, you scared me.” And it starts dawning on her, as she turns around and sees that yes, it is in fact Shaun, without his glasses and in clothes that don’t quite fit because he probably just grabbed whatever was nearby. Including Xander’s hoodie. With his human hands, that he has, because he’s human-shaped again. “Shaun! Congrats on being bipedal!” He growls a little (that’s new) and pushes her attempt at a bone-crushing hug away, though.
“I am not in fact asking just to hear the latest gossip, Rebecca Crane. Where. Is. He?” And those—he’s been crying. Again, God, she’d hoped this would help and maybe it had for a while, but he’s still scared, even if he’s trying to hide it behind anger.
It’s hard to tell how much he remembers, so she might as well assume he didn’t catch most of that last part. “He and a bunch of Witches and Slayers and stuff took off—the werewolf mercenaries attacked again, and…”
Shaun’s started to pace again. A caged wolf. “I don’t—remember everything fully, but there was something about a key, wasn’t there?”
“Shaun, they’re really good at what they do. They’ve been doing this for probably longer than we have.” What she’s saying is perfectly logical, so why does it suddenly not feel as persuasive as it had in her head?
And Shaun sighs. “I’m...aware. I’m not a Field Assassin, and all I have accomplished thus far is to get wounded and possibly become a liability—”
Okay, that’s too far even for his extended pity party. “Shaun, no.”
He continues as if she hadn’t even spoken. “...but I…” His desperate breath in is an attempt to prevent himself from starting to cry again. “I’m not even monitoring the situation from afar. I’d be helping; I wouldn’t be entirely helpless, even though I know there’s only so much I can do from behind a screen. I can’t just sit here and...” Shaun, of all people, can’t even finish his sentence. “I can’t,” he repeats. “Losing Xander too will break me, Rebecca.”
And if they’re fighting werewolves, then him biting them isn’t a problem, so they don’t have to worry about his lack of training fighting as a werewolf. Assuming he even changes. If not, he’s a crack shot, and she did happen to notice where they keep the firearms and silver bullets, and she’d be absolutely heartless not to go along with this.
“I think Xander’s been keeping your glasses by his bed, though he hasn’t been sleeping here every night. You know how he’s related to Desmond, right?”
“Something about his consciousness, yeah? Awkwardly, I know there’s a similarity in the way they smell.” Well, he definitely retained some of his memories, because he trots into Xander’s room like he’s memorized his way there. Honestly, he probably has. Which means he’d probably been sneaking in at nights. He hadn’t made it too obvious or anything.
“Yeah. Long story short, the Isu’s version of the Animus was used to back up their memories and personalities, and one we hadn’t heard of, Janus, made sure Xander got the download.” She has to raise her voice a little for him to hear her down the hall, which would probably get someone’s attention, but so what? It’s not like either of them are in the mood for someone to stop them.
“That explains so much about why the technology existed in the first place. I’d seen the original recordings of Abstergo finding it, but until now we’d been just as in the dark as they were.” It’s good to hear that his stint as a wolf hadn’t damaged his personality or intelligence too badly. He returns. He’s wearing the glasses awkwardly, but then, there’s a crack that says Xander hadn’t managed to get them off him quite in time to prevent the breakage. “Now, what’s this about the key?”
Yep. She agrees with Xander. He really should’ve been the one to explain this. “It’s magic. Insert it into any lock, and you have a free portal to wherever Xander is. Guess you skipped the normal ‘here are the keys to my apartment’ step, Shaun.”
He coughs and looks away, unable to meet her teasing gaze, but that’s definitely the trace of a shy smile. “Y-yes, well. That—just happens to be exactly what we need. A bit of foresight, I suppose.” He holds out a hand. Still not looking at her. “Give it here, Rebecca.”
“Only once you declare me the most awesomeist wingwoman to ever exist.” She’s not going to tease him for long, because she’s not sure Shaun’s nerves can stand it, but she also can’t resist a little.
And then he absolutely floors her, because he meets her gaze again, expression softer than she’s ever seen it. “Given that I probably wouldn’t have made a move without your encouragement, you do deserve my thanks and gratitude, and I will compensate you accordingly in the future, but for now, pretty please with a cherry on top, may I have that key?”
After an unexpected show like that, how could she possibly say no? “Key and gun, complete with ammo, as requested,” she replies cheerfully, passing them over, and he doesn’t bother moving somewhere less obvious, just turns around and pulls the door behind him shut, before inserting the key and turning it. The flash of light in response probably says it worked.
“Going after him?” Oz asks, standing nonchalantly by a doorway, and Shaun definitely growls again, low and threatening.
“Think you’re going to be able to stop me, do you?” He’s also showing his teeth a little, like they’re fangs. Well, maybe they are a little pointier since she’s seen them last—it’s not like he makes a habit of smiling toothily or that she stares at his mouth.
And then his fellow werewolf smiles. “No. Just...glad. Xander deserves something better.”
As a friend, Rebecca effortlessly interprets, but it seems Shaun’s still feeling a little possessive and jealous, insecure after spending days as a wolf, because he spits, “So why aren’t you out there watching his back, eh? Why aren’t you making sure he comes back in one piece?”
“You’re more in control than I am. Pretty sure that’s your type of werewolf, though. I’m at a delicate balance, but tip it and that might just spill.” Oz shrugs, and yeah, okay, she’s believing he’s a werewolf, too, beyond Shaun’s reactions to the guy, because he’s actually showing the same slight menace behind the calm demeanor.
They stand for a moment longer, still staring at each other, and then the tension breaks, the fight draining out of Shaun all at once. “We’ll be leaving now, ta.” Apparently a non-sarcastic thank you would be once too many in one day, even if he does mean it. Oz smiles and waves as they leave, and manages to make that seem not-sarcastic even if it would be from literally anyone else.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Assassin's Creed (Beginning's End)
Summary: Rebecca has an unexpected conversation.
Word Count: 1364
Rating: Teen
pre-Shaun/Xander
Rebecca had been thinking maybe it’d been a bit of an overreaction, Xander just running like he was the only thing keeping Shaun furry, but when Shaun just kind of follows, whining, and then keeps watching the door mournfully like an overly anxious dog, ignoring all her attempts to talk to him and get some kind of human reaction from him, she gets the feeling that it hadn’t been. That her best friend actually is starting to lose his human side, and while it’s all understandable, they can’t let it go on like this.
Oz is consulting with one of the Witches that didn’t go, and while she’d love to listen in and offer whatever suggestions she can, she needs to go and wash her face and properly freak out, because while fluffy wolf-Shaun is adorable, if this goes wrong she might lose her best friend. Gone is that calm, relaxed feeling; everyone’s rushing around, frantic. If she wanted, she might even be able to sneak into one of the locked rooms, but she’s not too motivated, at this point.
So she doesn’t react, at first, as footsteps approach the door. What startles her is the voice. “Where is he?”
“Jesus, Shaun, you scared me.” And it starts dawning on her, as she turns around and sees that yes, it is in fact Shaun, without his glasses and in clothes that don’t quite fit because he probably just grabbed whatever was nearby. Including Xander’s hoodie. With his human hands, that he has, because he’s human-shaped again. “Shaun! Congrats on being bipedal!” He growls a little (that’s new) and pushes her attempt at a bone-crushing hug away, though.
“I am not in fact asking just to hear the latest gossip, Rebecca Crane. Where. Is. He?” And those—he’s been crying. Again, God, she’d hoped this would help and maybe it had for a while, but he’s still scared, even if he’s trying to hide it behind anger.
It’s hard to tell how much he remembers, so she might as well assume he didn’t catch most of that last part. “He and a bunch of Witches and Slayers and stuff took off—the werewolf mercenaries attacked again, and…”
Shaun’s started to pace again. A caged wolf. “I don’t—remember everything fully, but there was something about a key, wasn’t there?”
“Shaun, they’re really good at what they do. They’ve been doing this for probably longer than we have.” What she’s saying is perfectly logical, so why does it suddenly not feel as persuasive as it had in her head?
And Shaun sighs. “I’m...aware. I’m not a Field Assassin, and all I have accomplished thus far is to get wounded and possibly become a liability—”
Okay, that’s too far even for his extended pity party. “Shaun, no.”
He continues as if she hadn’t even spoken. “...but I…” His desperate breath in is an attempt to prevent himself from starting to cry again. “I’m not even monitoring the situation from afar. I’d be helping; I wouldn’t be entirely helpless, even though I know there’s only so much I can do from behind a screen. I can’t just sit here and...” Shaun, of all people, can’t even finish his sentence. “I can’t,” he repeats. “Losing Xander too will break me, Rebecca.”
And if they’re fighting werewolves, then him biting them isn’t a problem, so they don’t have to worry about his lack of training fighting as a werewolf. Assuming he even changes. If not, he’s a crack shot, and she did happen to notice where they keep the firearms and silver bullets, and she’d be absolutely heartless not to go along with this.
“I think Xander’s been keeping your glasses by his bed, though he hasn’t been sleeping here every night. You know how he’s related to Desmond, right?”
“Something about his consciousness, yeah? Awkwardly, I know there’s a similarity in the way they smell.” Well, he definitely retained some of his memories, because he trots into Xander’s room like he’s memorized his way there. Honestly, he probably has. Which means he’d probably been sneaking in at nights. He hadn’t made it too obvious or anything.
“Yeah. Long story short, the Isu’s version of the Animus was used to back up their memories and personalities, and one we hadn’t heard of, Janus, made sure Xander got the download.” She has to raise her voice a little for him to hear her down the hall, which would probably get someone’s attention, but so what? It’s not like either of them are in the mood for someone to stop them.
“That explains so much about why the technology existed in the first place. I’d seen the original recordings of Abstergo finding it, but until now we’d been just as in the dark as they were.” It’s good to hear that his stint as a wolf hadn’t damaged his personality or intelligence too badly. He returns. He’s wearing the glasses awkwardly, but then, there’s a crack that says Xander hadn’t managed to get them off him quite in time to prevent the breakage. “Now, what’s this about the key?”
Yep. She agrees with Xander. He really should’ve been the one to explain this. “It’s magic. Insert it into any lock, and you have a free portal to wherever Xander is. Guess you skipped the normal ‘here are the keys to my apartment’ step, Shaun.”
He coughs and looks away, unable to meet her teasing gaze, but that’s definitely the trace of a shy smile. “Y-yes, well. That—just happens to be exactly what we need. A bit of foresight, I suppose.” He holds out a hand. Still not looking at her. “Give it here, Rebecca.”
“Only once you declare me the most awesomeist wingwoman to ever exist.” She’s not going to tease him for long, because she’s not sure Shaun’s nerves can stand it, but she also can’t resist a little.
And then he absolutely floors her, because he meets her gaze again, expression softer than she’s ever seen it. “Given that I probably wouldn’t have made a move without your encouragement, you do deserve my thanks and gratitude, and I will compensate you accordingly in the future, but for now, pretty please with a cherry on top, may I have that key?”
After an unexpected show like that, how could she possibly say no? “Key and gun, complete with ammo, as requested,” she replies cheerfully, passing them over, and he doesn’t bother moving somewhere less obvious, just turns around and pulls the door behind him shut, before inserting the key and turning it. The flash of light in response probably says it worked.
“Going after him?” Oz asks, standing nonchalantly by a doorway, and Shaun definitely growls again, low and threatening.
“Think you’re going to be able to stop me, do you?” He’s also showing his teeth a little, like they’re fangs. Well, maybe they are a little pointier since she’s seen them last—it’s not like he makes a habit of smiling toothily or that she stares at his mouth.
And then his fellow werewolf smiles. “No. Just...glad. Xander deserves something better.”
As a friend, Rebecca effortlessly interprets, but it seems Shaun’s still feeling a little possessive and jealous, insecure after spending days as a wolf, because he spits, “So why aren’t you out there watching his back, eh? Why aren’t you making sure he comes back in one piece?”
“You’re more in control than I am. Pretty sure that’s your type of werewolf, though. I’m at a delicate balance, but tip it and that might just spill.” Oz shrugs, and yeah, okay, she’s believing he’s a werewolf, too, beyond Shaun’s reactions to the guy, because he’s actually showing the same slight menace behind the calm demeanor.
They stand for a moment longer, still staring at each other, and then the tension breaks, the fight draining out of Shaun all at once. “We’ll be leaving now, ta.” Apparently a non-sarcastic thank you would be once too many in one day, even if he does mean it. Oz smiles and waves as they leave, and manages to make that seem not-sarcastic even if it would be from literally anyone else.
