The Devil Went Down to Sunnydale XXIII (Patreon)

Beginning of the End VI– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –Xander scowled in annoyance as he and Angel walked through the industrial tunnels beneath Sunnydale and behind the school, no longer feeling any of the fear he had that first night three months ago when he'd followed Buffy down here to save Jesse. The damp walls and musty air felt almost familiar now, a twisted reminder of how much had changed since then. Who'd have thought I'd be back here, playing hero with a vampire? he mused, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.His fist tightened slightly by his side at the thought of Jesse. My best friend, turned into a monster, he thought, the memory still a raw wound in his heart. And I had to stake him. My first real kill. The irony wasn't lost on him, that he was now working with a vampire to save the girl who'd saved him that night. Life's funny that way, I guess.Not just annoyance, a good bit of anger too. Anger at the Master, at the vampires, at the whole damn world for being so messed up. And at myself, he admitted silently, for not being able to save Jesse. For not being strong enough."Why does Sunnydale even have tunnels anyway?" He scowled to himself, his voice echoing slightly in the narrow space. "Who thought that was a good idea?"Angel glanced over at him, his expression unreadable in the dim light. "Maintenance, I suppose. Pipes and water, and all that," he said with a shrug, his tone casual.Xander rolled his eyes, a smirk tugging at his lips despite himself. "Of course, it all started with indoor plumbing," he quipped, shaking his head. With a roll of his eyes, Angel looked in both directions, trying to remember the way. He seemed to remember and walked past Xander, his movements swift and silent. "This way," Angel said quietly, glancing back at Xander with a raised eyebrow. "What?"Xander narrowed his eyes, a suspicious frown tugging at his lips. "You were looking at my neck," he accused, his hand instinctively going to his throat.Angel blinked, confusion flickering across his face. "What?""You were checking out my neck! I saw that!" Xander insisted, starting to follow the vampire down the tunnel.Angel shook his head, a hint of exasperation in his voice. "No, I wasn't!"Xander scoffed, his fingers tightening around the staff in his hand. "Just keep your distance, pal."Angel sighed, rolling his eyes. "I wasn't looking at your neck!" he repeated, his voice rising slightly.Xander smirked at Angel’s annoyance. "I told you to eat before we left.”Probably should have brought a snack for the road, he thought, imagining Angel sipping from a blood bag like a juice box. Wonder if they make those in fun flavors. AB positive punch, maybe?The thought was interrupted by a flicker of light coming from an adjoining tunnel, catching both their attention. Xander tensed, his grip tightening on the staff. "What was that?" he asked, his voice low and wary.Angel's face darkened, his eyes narrowing. "It's too late. He's gone up," he said grimly, the words heavy with dread.They broke into a run for the Master's lair, their footsteps echoing loudly in the tunnels. Xander's heart pounded in his chest, fear and adrenaline coursing through his veins as they raced towards the light, darting through tunnel after tunnel. Please don't let us be too late, he thought desperately, images of Buffy broken and bleeding flashing through his mind. Please let her be okay.Xander reached the lair's entrance first, his eyes widening as he took in the scene before him. The area changed from the industrial, modern tunnels to a gothic, ritualistic cave, the walls rough-hewn and ancient. Candles littered every surface, their warm glow casting flickering shadows on the walls, the air thick with the scent of melted wax and old old blood. This is wrong, he thought, a chill running down his spine. This whole place feels wrong.And then he saw her. Buffy, lying unconscious on the floor, her blonde hair fanned out around her head like a halo. Xander froze, his breath catching in his throat as Angel rushed to her side, the vampire's movements a blur of speed. No, no, no, he thought, his mind reeling as he stared at Buffy's still form. This can't be happening. She can't be..."Buffy," he whispered, the word barely audible over the pounding of his heart.Angel reached her and quickly pulled her out of the water, his face a mask of worry as he cradled her sopping wet body in his arms. The vampire held her close, trying to listen for breathing, for any sign of life. But there was nothing. Just silence, broken only by the sound of water dripping from Buffy's soaked clothes.Angel looked up at Xander, his eyes wide with fear. "She's dead!" he said, his voice cracking on the last word.Xander looked down at them, his mind reeling as he tried to process what he was seeing. Dead. Buffy's dead. I failed her. I failed everyone. The thoughts swirled in his head, a storm of guilt and grief and rage and hate an—. And then something snapped. A roar tore from his throat, a sound of pure, primal anger that had Angel's eyes widening in surprise.Xander came down to Angel and Buffy, his movements sharp and jerky, like a puppet with its strings cut. "No. She's not dead. Not yet.”Angel frowned, confusion and frustration warring on his face. "Well, she's not a vampire and she's not breathing," he snapped, his patience clearly wearing thin.Xander grinned, the expression more a baring of teeth than anything else. "Good," he said, a flicker of red flashing in his eyes.Angel's brow furrowed, annoyance clear in his voice. "Good?""Yeah, good. I can't fix vampire but I can fix that." Xander held up a hand, his fingers splayed wide as he concentrated, his brow furrowing with effort. Come on, come on, he thought, trying to summon the power he knew lay dormant within him. Work with me here.Angel's eyes narrowed, suspicion and curiosity warring in his gaze. "What are you doing?" he asked, his voice low and wary.Xander didn't look at him, his focus entirely on his outstretched hand. "...my best," he said through gritted teeth, sweat beading on his brow as he poured all his concentration into the task at hand. Come on, come on!But nothing happened. No flicker of power, no surge of energy. Just the sound of his own labored breathing and the drip, drip, drip of water from Buffy's clothes. Why isn't it working? he thought desperately, panic rising in his throat. Why can't I do this? I have to save her. I have to!Angel watched him, a mix of confusion and growing impatience on his face. "...what am I supposed to b-""Shut. Up," Xander snapped, his gaze never leaving his palm. Focus. I have to focus. He closed his eyes, trying to remember what Sam had told him, the lessons he'd tried to drill into his head. You're a Devil. Don't think like a human. Nether is as much a part of you as your own blood and as functional as your own arm. Using it requires only three things...Xander took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he tried to clear his mind. Imagination, he thought, picturing the power flowing through him, a river of red energy coursing through his veins. Focus, he added, narrowing his thoughts to a single point, a single purpose. Talent, he finished, a smirk tugging at his lips as he felt the power start to build, a hum of energy that filled the air around him.He opened his eyes, the hazel replaced by a solid, glowing red as a soft crimson light began to emanate from his raised palm. I can do this, he thought, a fierce determination filling him. I will do this.Xander shot a smug look at Angel, the vampire's eyes wide with shock and a hint of fear. "Ever play Dungeons & Dragons?" he asked, his tone casual, as if he wasn't about to perform a literal miracle.Angel blinked, confusion clear on his face. "...No? Am I supposed to know what that is?" he asked, his brow furrowing.Xander shook his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. Makes sense. He's older than sliced bread, he thought, amused despite the gravity of the situation. "Anyway... they call this Shocking Grasp," he said, tilting his head as he raised his palm higher.Small arcs of red and black electricity formed in Xander's palm, dancing beneath his fingers like a living thing. Angel's eyes widened further, his mouth dropping open in a rare display of surprise as he watched the power crackle and spark.Xander placed his hand on Buffy's chest, the stored electricity discharging in a sudden burst. A bright flash of red light flared, illuminating the cavern with an eerie glow, the sound of a sharp crack echoing off the walls like a gunshot.Buffy spasmed, her back arching off the ground as she gasped, water spilling from her lips as she coughed and sputtered. It worked, Xander thought, a wave of relief crashing over him. Thank Satan, it worked."Buffy!" he cried, his voice raw with emotion as he watched her turn her head to the side, coughing up more water.Xander and Angel looked at each other, smiles spreading across their faces, though Angel's was tinged with a newfound wariness, his eyes darting between Xander and the revived Slayer.  Xander put his hand on her forehead, stroking it gently as she looked up at him, surprise and confusion clear in her eyes."Xander?" she whispered, her voice surprisingly strong.Xander grinned down at Buffy, relief and joy fighting for a place on his face as he helped her sit up. "Welcome back to the land of the living," he quipped, his voice still a little shaky from the adrenaline rush. Glancing down at the slight scorch mark on the front of her dress, he chuckled nervously and lied, "Sorry I had to tase you."Buffy blinked up at him, confusion clear in her hazel eyes. "Tase me?" she asked, her voice only a little hoarse and raspy from all that water.Thinking quick on my feet had already come pretty easy to me, he thought to himself, but ever since becoming a Devil, it’s only been easier. Although, it only made simple sense that the more you had to lie, the better you got at it naturally. "Yeah, you were a little 'of the dead'," he said with a shrug, trying to play it off as no big deal.Buffy glanced down at the scorch mark, frowning as she patted at it with one hand. "Oh no, my dress," she lamented, her bottom lip jutting out in a slight pout. She looked back up at Xander, her brow furrowing. "Is that why my chest hurts?"Xander shot Angel a quick glance, the vampire's expression unreadable as he watched the exchange. Play it cool, Harris, he thought, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Yes. That is why," he answered, his voice only slightly robotic.Buffy's eyes narrowed, her gaze roaming over Xander's outfit with a mix of confusion and suspicion. "Wait," she said slowly, "Xander, what are you wearing?"Crap, Xander thought, his heart skipping a beat. Not the time, Buff. "Can we not?" he pleaded, his tone a little desperate as he helped her to her feet.Xander and Angel each took one of Buffy's arms, supporting her as she stood on shaky legs. "Easy. Easy," Xander murmured, his grip gentle but firm.Buffy's eyes widened, her expression shifting to one of urgency. "The Master?" she asked, her voice tight with worry.Angel's face was grim, his jaw clenched. "He's gone up," he said simply, the words heavy with dread.Buffy started to go, heading after the ancient vampire with a determined stride, but Xander grabbed her arm, stopping her. "No, Buff, you just died," he said, his voice cracking slightly on the last word.Buffy stopped, turning to face him with a fierce look in her eyes. "No. No, this isn't like Witchy Woman," she said, shaking her head. "I feel..." She clenched her fists at her sides, flexing as she looked down at herself. "I feel strong. I feel different." She looked back at both of them, her expression firm. "Let's go!"That's my girl, Xander thought, a surge of pride and admiration rushing through him as he watched Buffy rush determinedly through the tunnels and toward the school, her steps sure and purposeful. Nothing keeps the Buffster down for long. He and Angel followed close behind, their own steps quick and urgent as they kept pace with the Slayer."So, how do you know where the Master's going?" Xander asked, adding a little breathlessness to his voice as he pretended to be winded from their fast pace.Buffy glanced back at him, her expression grim. "I just know," she said simply, her tone leaving no room for argument.Xander grinned. "Mmm, ominous," he quipped, waggling his eyebrows. "I like it."As they approached the entrance to Sunnydale High, a vampire tried to block their way, his face twisted into a snarl. Buffy barely spared him a glance, her expression almost bored. "Oh, look, a bad guy," she drawled, her voice dripping with sarcasm.Without breaking stride, she punched the vampire as she walked by, the force of the blow sending him flying back, landing flat on his back with a grunt of pain.They made their way inside, rushing through the halls until they reached the stairs leading to the roof access. Buffy rounded the corner, her expression fierce and determined. "Okay, you two wait here, keep the rest of the vampires off me," she ordered.Xander’s eyes widened, the teenager stepping forward. “Buffy, you need backup. You just died,” he hissed the last word. “You can’t face the Master alone again.”Buffy stared back at him, heat in her eyes. “I can, and I will. I wasn’t ready befor-”“But you are now?!” Xander interjected. The blonde smirked. “Yes, I am.”Xander nodded, his grip tightening on his bo staff. "Right," he said, fighting to keep the anxiety out of his voice as he thought of Buffy fighting alone again. You already died once, you dumb girl!Buffy turned to Angel, her eyes narrowing. "Angel, better put on your game face," she said, her tone almost challenging.Angel's face shifted, his brow furrowing and his teeth elongating into sharp fangs. "I'm ready," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.Buffy gave them both a final look, her expression softening for just a moment. "One way or another, this won't take long," she said, her voice almost gentle. Then she turned and headed up to the roof, her steps quick and light.As soon as Buffy was out of sight, ten vampires swarmed them, their faces twisted into snarls of hunger and rage. Angel rushed forward to meet them, his movements a blur of speed and strength as he took on half of the group.The other half rushed at Xander, their eyes gleaming with malice. But Xander didn't flinch, a grin spreading across his face as he twirled his bo staff in his hands. "Alright, let's get to work," he quipped.With a quick motion, he hurled his staff at one of the vampires, the wooden weapon piercing through its chest and out its back before it vanished into dust with a scream. One down, Xander thought, a thrill of satisfaction rushing through him.The second vampire barely had a moment to blink before Xander slammed a fist into its face, the crack of bone against bone echoing in the hallway as the bloodsucker's jaw hit the linoleum. Two down, he counted, spinning in place to dodge a clawed slash from a third.Reaching into his bandolier, Xander pulled out a glass vial, a laugh bubbling up in his throat as he threw it at the vampire. The glass shattered against her forehead, the liquid inside sizzling and burning as it made contact with her skin. The vampire screamed, running in panicked circles as her face and chest began to blister and smoke."St Pete's Brand Holy Water, bitch!" Xander crowed, spinning again to block a punch aimed at his chest. He delivered three quick body blows to the stunned vampire, a fourth backfist sending it spinning to the ground. Without a moment’s hesitation, he dropped a strong stomp onto its neck, severing head from body with a yell worthy of Bruce Lee.Three down.Darting backwards, Xander dropped into a slide as two more vampires leaped for him, their claws outstretched. He grabbed his bo staff from where it had fallen, jumping back to his feet just as the two vampires regained their bearings."Not gonna lie," Xander said, holding up his staff with a grin, "I have no training with this thing." He tossed it to one of the vampires, a man with a badly done mohawk, who caught it with a confused expression. "Catch."The vampire looked down at the staff in his hands, then back up at Xander, his brow furrowed as he opened his mouth. But before he could react, the teenager’s fist smashed into his throat with devastating force, caving it in and sending the bloodsucker to the ground in a heap."And down goes Frasier," Xander quipped, a triumphant grin spreading across his face as he watched the vampire lay paralyzed with a broken neck.The last vampire growled, staring at Xander with an angry grin on its monstrous face. "I told them idiots not to take you like a joke," it snarled, its voice rough and guttural.Xander blinked, studying the vampire with a sudden spark of recognition. The all-leather outfit, the long hair tied back in a ponytail, the spitting rage on its bearded face - it all clicked into place. "Oh, you were the other one with the chain," he said, snapping his fingers as the memory came rushing back.The vampire growled, its yellow eyes flashing with fury. Xander's mind raced, trying to place the specifics of the encounter. "At the hospital," he continued, his brow furrowing in thought. "When I killed seven of your friends." He paused, a flicker of mock sympathy crossing his face. "I'm sorry about that, by the way.""No, you're not," the vampire snarled, its clawed hands clenching into fists at its sides.Xander grinned, a sharp, dangerous thing. "No, I'm not," he agreed, his tone almost cheerful.The vampire rushed in with a swift uppercut, aiming for Xander's chin. Xander leaned back, barely dodging the blow, feeling the rush of air as the fist passed inches from his face. Close one, he thought, his heart pounding in his chest. Gotta be faster.Xander threw a series of jabs, his fists a blur of motion as he aimed for the vampire's face. One connected, grazing the bloodsucker's cheek, but the vampire absorbed the hit with minimal reaction, its skin like cold, dead leather. Damn, Xander thought, blinking in surprise. "Jeez, man, how old are you?" he asked, a hint of genuine curiosity in his voice.The vampire retaliated with two quick jabs to Xander's torso, its fists slamming into his ribs with bruising force. Xander managed to block the first, but the second landed, knocking the wind out of him slightly. He grunted, the pain sharp and sudden, but he pushed through it, his mind already calculating his next move."99 this November," the vampire replied, a twisted sort of pride in its voice.Xander, recovering quickly, launched a right cross, putting all his strength behind the punch. The vampire dodged, stepping to the side with a speed that belied its age. "And still riding motorcycles, good for you," Xander quipped, trying to hide his frustration behind a mask of humor.The vampire used the opening to throw a left hook, its fist whistling through the air. Xander raised his arm just in time, the blow thudding against his forearm with a force that made his bones ache. Shit, that hurts, he thought, gritting his teeth against the pain.They circled each other briefly, both gauging the other's moves, looking for an opening. Xander feinted left, then threw a heavy right, putting all his weight behind the punch. The vampire partially blocked it, but the force still pushed it back, its boots skidding on the linoleum.The vampire came back aggressively, throwing a combination of two hooks, left and right, both aimed at Xander's head. Xander blocked them with his arms, feeling the impacts resonate up his limbs, the pain sharp and biting. "You dusted my boys!" the vampire roared, its face a mask of fury."If it's any consolation..." Xander used his speed to deliver a quick one-two punch, a left jab followed by a right cross, both slamming into the vampire's face, making it stagger slightly. "You guys started it!" he finished, a grim sort of satisfaction in his voice.The vampire shook off the daze, its eyes refocusing on Xander with a new intensity. It aimed a powerful right hook at Xander's head, the motion a blur of speed. Xander ducked, feeling the air shift above him as the fist passed overhead, ruffling his hair. Still ducked, Xander threw a body shot, his fist slamming into the vampire's midsection. But the blow was absorbed without much effect, the vampire's durability shrugging it off like it was nothing. "I'm gonna take that as a no," Xander muttered, a flicker of frustration crossing his face.The vampire tried to capitalize on Xander's lower position, throwing a downward right hook, its fist whistling through the air. Xander rolled to the side, evading the punch by a hair's breadth, and sprang to his feet, his breath coming in sharp gasps.With little space between them, Xander delivered three quick backfists to the vampire's face, his knuckles slamming into its nose and cheeks with a series of sickening crunches. The vampire staggered, its balance and focus disrupted by the rapid-fire blows.Seizing the moment, Xander put all his strength and speed into a devastating right punch, his fist, encased in brass knuckles, piercing straight through the vampire's chest. He felt the resistance of skin and bone, then the sickening give as his hand plunged into the cold, dead flesh, his fingers closing around the vampire's shriveled heart.The vampire looked shocked, its eyes widening in disbelief as its body began to disintegrate, turning to dust around Xander's hand. It collapsed into a pile of ashes on the asphalt, a final, choked gasp escaping its lips before it crumbled completely.“Yeah, that’s what you get,” Xander shook his head, wincing at the pain that radiated through his body, a dull throb that seemed to come from every muscle and bone. Strong fuckin’ leech, son of a bitch. He glanced over at Angel, who was still grappling with his last two vampires. "Need some help?" he called out, his voice strained."No." With movements that seemed to blur, Angel finished off the remaining vampires with quick, efficient stakes to the heart. He bent down, driving a stake into the two vampires Xander had left insensate, including the one still squirming painfully on the ground, holy water sizzling on her skin.Angel straightened, turning to face Xander with a raised eyebrow. "So you weren't joking about the remove my heart thing," he said, his tone almost conversational.Xander met his gaze, his expression serious. "No," he said simply."Noted." Angel gestured at the pile of ashes at Xander's feet. "That was the leader of the Death Riders."Xander looked down, his nose wrinkling slightly at the acrid smell of vampire dust. "Was that their name?" he asked, a hint of derision in his voice."Yes," Angel confirmed, his expression unreadable.Xander rolled his eyes, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Lame," he said, shaking his head. "Let's go help Buffy."– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –The night air was thick with the stench of fear and vampire dust as Xander and Angel burst through the rooftop door. The discordant symphony of screams and demonic roars from the streets below only made everything worse. Xander's heart pounded in his chest, the adrenaline coursing through his veins making everything seem hyper-real.His eyes locked onto Buffy, suspended in the air by the Master's grip. The vampire lord was a sight straight out of Xander's worst nightmares - ghoulish and ugly, with skin as pale as death itself. Makes sense, Xander thought, he is their boss. Probably gets employee of the millennium every year.The Master's voice, deep and resonant, cut through the chaos. "Where are your jibes now, girl? Your trite little mockeries as weak as you are." He paused, a hint of amusement creeping into his tone. "Though, not the worst I've heard.""Buffy!" Xander's voice cracked, betraying his fear despite his best efforts to sound tough.Buffy's face was turning an alarming shade of purple, her hands clawing desperately at the Master's iron grip. "I... run!" she managed to choke out.The Master turned, his movement unnaturally fluid for someone so ancient. His red eyes gleamed with malice as they landed on Angel. "Angelus, my sweet little grandchilde? Do mine eyes deceive me? Come to see your dear sweet papa again? It has been ever so long since you graced my court."Angel's face was a mask of terror, his usual brooding demeanor shattered. "I...""Even after you killed my dearest Darla, you little feckless troglodyte!" the Master spat.Xander, desperately trying to buy time and distract the Master, blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "Why do you talk like that?"The Master's brow furrowed, confusion momentarily replacing his murderous intent. "What?""Yeah, why do you do that weird thing with-" Xander's words morphed into a battle cry mid-sentence. "BANZAI!"In one fluid motion, Xander pulled two glass vials from his bandolier and hurled them at the Master. They shattered across the vampire's face and chest, the holy water sizzling on contact. The Master screamed, his grip on Buffy loosening just enough for her to slip free."HOLY WATER?" the Master roared, his voice a mixture of pain and indignation. "You believe holy water is enough to wound me? I'd be ash a thousand times over I-""Oh, shut up!" Xander cut him off, already reaching for his utility belt. His fingers closed around two familiar objects. "Buff, catch!"Buffy's Slayer reflexes kicked in, her hands snatching the items out of the air even as she gasped for breath. "Wha-""Garlic Spray and a lighter!" Xander explained, a manic grin spreading across his face.The Master's eyes widened, genuine fear flashing across his bat-like features. "Garlic what?"Seizing the moment of confusion, Xander channeled all his strength into a devastating kick. His foot connected with the small of the Master's back, sending the ancient vampire stumbling towards Buffy.Time seemed to slow as Buffy raised the zippo lighter, her thumb flicking the wheel. The spark ignited the stream of garlic-infused aerosol, transforming it into a makeshift flamethrower. The Master's scream of agony was drowned out by the whoosh of flames, the fire engulfing him in seconds.Buffy kept the pressure on, advancing with grim determination. The Master, for all his power and age, found himself driven back by the onslaught. With a final, powerful kick to the chest, Buffy sent him careening towards the broken skylight.Xander and Angel rushed to the edge, peering down into the library below. The Master lay impaled on an upturned table leg, his body slowly - far slower than any vampire Xander had ever seen - turning to dust."Huh," Xander remarked, eyebrow raised in a mix of surprise and morbid fascination. "Skeleton still there. Weird."The silence that followed was almost deafening, everything around them going quiet as well for some reason. Xander blinked, glancing around. Did we just... win? He turned to Buffy, a joke about her fiery performance on the tip of his tongue, but the words died in his throat. The Slayer looked shell-shocked, her eyes fixed on the Master's remains.Angel stood frozen, his expression unreadable.Right, Xander reminded himself. Near-death experiences. Not exactly prime joke material. Instead, he placed a hand on Buffy's shoulder, the gesture both comforting and grounding. "You okay, Buff?"She nodded silently, her gaze finally tearing away from the scene below to meet Xander's eyes. Xander blinked back, a lopsided grin on his face. What now?– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –Xander Harris stumbled through the library doors, his legs feeling like jelly and his brain buzzing with the kind of exhaustion that only comes from nearly dying multiple times in one night. The smell of dust and old books mingled with the acrid stench of smoke and... was that burnt demon? Eau de Hellmouth… now on sale at Rosen Queen.The library looked like a tornado had decided to redecorate. Bookshelves lay toppled, their contents strewn across the floor in a paper blizzard. The large table where they usually researched was split clean in half, probably from the weight of the car that had somehow ended up parked halfway through the wall. And let's not forget the gaping hole in the floor where the Hellmouth had decided to throw an impromptu party."Geez, who invited the Tasmanian Devil?" Xander quipped, eyeing the destruction. "I mean, I know we're not big on the whole 'quiet in the library' thing, but this is ridiculous."Buffy and Angel flanked him, both looking equally worse for wear. Buffy's hair, which had started the night looking like something out of a shampoo commercial, now resembled a bird's nest that had survived a hurricane. Angel, for his part, managed to make "brooding and battered" look like the latest fashion trend.Giles, Cordelia, Willow, and Ms. Calendar approached them, forming a ragtag semicircle of survivors. Xander couldn't help but notice how Cordelia's usually impeccable outfit was now accessorized with vampire dust and a healthy dose of "I just survived the apocalypse" chic."The vampires?" Giles asked, his glasses slightly askew and his tweed jacket looking decidedly un-tweedy.Cordelia, somehow still managing to look like she'd just stepped off a runway despite the chaos, answered, "Gone. Ran like scared rabbits.""More like rats from a sinking ship," Xander added. "If the ship was on fire. And also exploding."Angel, ever the conversationalist, got right to the point. "The Master?"Giles glanced back at what looked like a prop from a B-grade horror movie, the skeleton already bleached and fully together. "Dead. To the best of my knowledge, dead." He turned back to the group, his expression a mix of relief and disbelief. "The Hellmouth is closed. Buffy... Buffy?"Buffy blinked, coming out of what seemed like a thousand-yard stare. She was still clutching a can of garlic spray and a zippo lighter like they were lifelines. "Oh, uh, sorry. It's just been a really weird day."Understatement of the century, Buff, Xander thought. "Yeah!" he chimed in, unable to keep the manic energy from his voice. "Buffy died. I tased her back to life. It was wild." He paused, realizing how insane that sounded. “...Huh.”Willow's eyes went wide, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "Wow! Harsh," she finally managed.Giles turned to Buffy, his voice softer than Xander had ever heard it. "I should have known that death is nowhere as stubborn as you, Buffy."Ms. Calendar, looking like she'd aged ten years in one night, asked the million-dollar question. "Well, what do we do now?"Giles ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'd like to get out of this place. I don't like the library very much anymore."Join the club, G-man, Xander thought. But outwardly, he plastered on his best "everything's cool" grin. "Hey! I hear there's a dance at the Bronze tonight. Could be fun.""Yeah!" Cordelia agreed, sounding far too enthusiastic for someone who'd just battled the forces of darkness.Xander blinked, suddenly realizing the oddity of Cordelia's presence. He jabbed a thumb in her direction. "Wait, she with us now? That a thing that's happening?"Cordelia shot him a look that could have curdled milk. "I fought vampires. Is that not like the entry requirement?"Great, now we're handing out membership cards to anyone who can stake a vamp, Xander thought. Next thing you know, we'll be setting up a booth at the school fair."Buffy?" Willow prompted, her voice tentative.Buffy seemed to shake off the last of her daze. "Sure! We saved the world. I say we party!" She glanced down at her dress, which somehow still looked amazing despite being covered in dust and god-knows-what. "I mean, I got all pretty."Cordelia's gaze swept over Xander, her nose wrinkling slightly. "On that note, what are you wearing?"Xander looked down at his outfit, his still-intact red-and-black Master hunting outfit and gear that had cost him almost twenty thousand dollars. "We've already been over this," he said, feeling a twinge of defensiveness.Angel, Mr. Helpful as always, chimed in. "We really haven't."Xander shot him a dirty look. Thanks for the support, Deadboy.Angel, infuriatingly, just smirked back.Ms. Calendar, ever the voice of reason, gestured towards the skeletal remains of the Master. "And what about him?"Buffy glanced at the bones, her expression hardening. "He's not going anywhere. Loser."Xander couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. "Buffster took down the Master of the Clan Nosferat. No Slayers killed a Master in over a thousand years. How's it feel to be a Slayer breaking prophecies and records?""Feels good," Buffy replied, a small smile finally breaking through her exhaustion.Giles' head snapped towards Xander, his eyebrows nearly disappearing into his hairline. "Xander, how do you know about the Clans?"Xander affected his best British accent, which he had to admit sounded more like a drunk Australian than anything else. "Unlike some people, I actually read."Giles opened his mouth, closed it, then let out a good-natured grunt. "I... fair enough."As they all started to leave, the chatter picking up, Xander couldn't help but notice how crazy this all was. They'd just saved the world, and now they were just casually talking about going dancing. Only in Sunnydale."I'm not dancing, though," Giles insisted to Ms. Calendar."We'll see," she replied, a mischievous glint in her eye.Willow turned to Angel. "You can come with us, Angel."Buffy's stomach chose that moment to let out an audible growl. "I'm hungry," she announced, too tired to be embarrassed in the slightest.Yeah, dying probably works up an appetite, Xander thought, suppressing a shudder at the memory of Buffy's lifeless body. He shook his head, trying to focus on something - anything - else. "So what's the story with the car?" he asked, jerking a thumb towards the vehicular intruder in the library.Cordelia's face lit up like a Christmas tree as she puffed out her chest. "Oh, that was me, saving the day!" Xander couldn't help but smirk. "With property damage? I respect it," he said, nodding appreciatively. Who knew Queen C had it in her?"As you should," Cordelia preened.Willow shot Cordelia a look before she turned back to Angel. "Get something to drink," she suggested, her voice hopeful.Buffy's stomach growled again, louder this time. "Is anybody else hungry?" she asked, looking around desperately.Willow's eyes widened as she suddenly remembered Angel's unique diet. "Well, no, don't do that," she backpedaled quickly, her face flushing. "Just hang."Smooth, Will, Xander thought, biting back a chuckle. Nothing says 'party' like telling a vampire to just... hang."I'm really, really hungry," Buffy repeated, her voice taking on a whine.Angel, picking up on Buffy's distress, hung back with her. His brooding expression softened slightly as he looked at the Slayer. "By the way, I really like your dress," he said, his voice low and intense.Buffy glanced down at her outfit, now more apocalypse chic than prom queen. "Yeah, yeah. Big hit with everyone," she replied.Cordelia, never one to miss an opportunity to comment on fashion, looked Xander up and down. Her nose wrinkled slightly, but there was a hint of...  something else in her eyes? "At least some people know what to wear.”Xander rolled his eyes. "Don't worry. I like your costume, Xander," she said, her smile warm and genuine.Cordelia rolled her eyes so hard Xander was surprised they didn't fall out of her head. "Uh, no," she said to Willow, before turning back to Xander. "Superhero chic is never in, by the way."As they walked off, Xander couldn't help but smirk. "Yeah, yeah," he said, his tone light. Face it, Cordy, we're all superheroes tonight.– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –Meanwhile, a few miles away, in an office decked out entirely in red and black, a teenage boy in a three-piece suit rose from his seat. His eyes glowed with an otherworldly blue  light as he stood in front of his open window, gazing down at the fleeing vampires scurrying back to the sewers of Sunnydale like rats abandoning a sinking ship.Sammael Lucifer Ash-Shaitan VI allowed himself a smile, his white teeth gleaming in the moonlight. "That's my Pawn.”