Wash It All Away

[madimpossibledreamer]

Somewhere between ‘dork like Xander’ and ‘swashbuckler’ I figured out where I was going with this bit.
(also is he taking a page from lisa’s book and has a scarf-weapon? Because I feel like that’s a scarf-weapon…)

Main Points:
Buffy/Devil May Cry
Chapter Summary: Xander and Buffy meet someone important.
Word Count: 805
Rating: Teen

         “Xander?” Buffy instantly catches on to the tension in the air, glancing at him and then at the devil in human form standing at the end of the hallway.
         The guy looks human enough, even harmless. He’s got the ‘don’t pay attention to me’ slouch, which is Xander’s thing. He’s probably about average height but feels shorter, something that’s not all the slouch—it’s something about his features, too, the kind of almost mousy face you wouldn’t give a second glance, even if he is rocking a slight swashbuckler appearance. Dark, long hair is held back by a hairtie, escaping it slightly—the cut doesn’t let the hairtie fulfill its purpose in life. He’s even got the little cape in blue. He’s got a scarf, a grey one wrapped around his neck and then tossed artfully (or haphazardly, one of the two) that seems to shimmer with a blue sheen. He’s got good taste in boots, too, complete with buckles, and just hints of armor such as bracers. He’s even got one of those goofy looking fencing sabers and a gun that looks like it’s been lifted straight from the Wild West, plated, and handed to him. Mostly, he looks like the shy accountant that secretly does Renaissance Fair on his days off, but one whose skin is darker naturally, not because he spends most of his time outside. He’s shifty; can hardly sit still. And he feels, even when he’s obviously concealing the true depths of his powers, like the worst thing they’ve ever fought.
         “I’m fine.” He says that, but his demonic power is roiling like a storm and he’s on the verge of turning spiky.
         “I thought we agreed you weren’t supposed to have fun without me.” She puts her hands on her hips, pouting, and that startles a quick bark of laughter out of the half-devil.
         “This isn’t going to turn into a fight. At least, I don’t think so.” Xander aims a quick glance in the guy’s direction, but he’s having trouble actually keeping an eye on the guy. There’s something more going on here that she doesn’t get.
         “If possible, I’d like to return him in better condition than I found him,” the devil promises, and—huh. There’s a kind of lyrical accent to his voice Buffy can’t quite place. It’s pretty, but then, so are incubi.
         “I promise I’m fine, Buffy.” He’s going to the extra length to make the darkness disappear from his voice, which conversely only makes her worry more. He’s only that concerned about reassuring them when there is something to worry about.
         She still hesitates, and the devil glances at Xander. He’s making no effort to try to conceal the worry playing over his own face, either, unless it’s all a fake of course. “Should I tell—”
         “No!” her friend snarls and then does his best to reel in his power, even if it is still on edge. Interestingly, the devil’s strength reacted in a defensive way, despite the fact that, if he tried just a little, he could quite possibly swat them all like bugs. “I’ll—I’ll tell her. Later. After I know there is something to tell.”
         The devil seems to actually physically shrink away from that, but he nods his acquiescence all the same. And there’s just enough similarity to the way Giles reacts when she pushes him away, coupled with the familiarity of the demonic aura, that tells her everything she needs to know. Xander must’ve inherited his humanform looks from his mom and the demonform from his dad. She places her hands on her hips, facing the two of them. “Okay, I know you’re supposed to be Shadow Devils, but really, the both of you are overdramatic and have no sense of subtlety when you’re not phasing through shadows or using your wings to hide.” They both shuffle a bit. It’s kind of hilarious. “And you.” She points at the devil who just looks kind of bewildered. “Legend or no legend, you hurt Xander more than he already is and I will hunt you down and eliminate you. Are we clear?”
         “Crystal, ma’am,” he gulps, and she can almost feel what would be a nervous wing-flap if he was in his devil form.
         Xander she claps on the shoulder. “I’ll tell you a mix of what everyone would say if they’re here. Keep being your awesome self, remember that even if your dad is a poopyhead Willow will still make you cookies, give this the best shot you can, and even if everything goes wrong you’ve still got family and as-good-as.”
         She’s nearly out the door when she hears, with Slayer hearing, Syuvai approach and whisper, “Your friend is a fearsome warrior.” That makes her grin.
         “You have no idea,” Xander responds fondly.
         Good. She did something right.