madimpossibledreamer

( Chapter 380: Beginning of a Crimson Story )

        “You know, this situation feels familiar.”
        “Now we’re even.”
        “Buff, that’s not how friendship works.”

        “I have a weird feeling about your new neighbor,” Xander announces loudly, glancing over at where the man is barely visible, hammering again. Ignoring, as per usual, Buffy’s frantic ‘keep it down’ motions.
        “You’re lucky he’s so loud he didn’t hear you,” she stage whispers as close to his ear as she can manage and still be audible.
        “If good fences make good neighbors, what do bad fences make?” It’s...a kind of dark riddle, honestly.

( Chapter 379: Prince of Ashes )

        “Throwing yourself in harm’s way is something for the Slayers, mister.”
        “Aww, come on, aren’t you at least going to tell me you’re proud of me?”
        “...Okay, I am happy you saved that civilian, but I don’t want there to be one less Xander in the world!”
        “We don’t know that I saved his life yet. He’s in worse shape than I am. At least he’s here so I can listen to what they’re doing. To know for sure we’d have to be in something like a video game and have restarted the level because he died the first time.”

        “Cordy and Lucy need to never meet and swap bullying ideas. I don’t think I’d survive the continual inspired humiliation.”

        Buffy nearly attacks when someone silently joins her, only for her instincts to pull her punch at the last second, and it’s a good thing she listens, because it’s Xander. “You know, you don’t have to be here.”
        He grins goofily and shrugs. “Just because you have this great destiny doesn’t mean you have to be alone all the time.”

        “Anya’s been sending me postcards.”
        “From her travels?”
        “At first, yeah. Over the past year they’ve all been coming from the same place. I don’t think she realizes postcards are more of a vacation buying item like souvenirs, but it’s sweet and I don’t have the heart to tell her.”