After That - 22 Important Conversations (Patreon)

"The Mayor made a deal with a demon to become a god?" Giles said at the end of Harry's explanation.

"He purposely built Sunnydale on top of the Hellmouth," He nodded. "His aide, the guy that died, was trying to show initiative and check on how the Slayers were progressing with the cult." Faith muttered something in her sleep. "It was unfortunate, but the guy wasn't some innocent bystander. He attacked Buffy and Faith went to her defense. He knew who they were and chose to be there of his own accord. It wasn't her fault."

"She killed a man," Buffy said as though that explained everything.

Harry looked at her with a flat stare, "I've killed people. Quite a few."

"You have?" Her face went pale.

Harry nodded, "My first kill was when I was eleven. We were fighting, I won. He died."

"Eleven?" Giles stared at him in a mixture of wonder and concern.

Harry nodded again, "I've had an interesting life. That's not the point. Faith needs support right now, not judgement. The guy knowingly worked with a man that is planning to turn the high school graduation into a mass murder. Honestly, it was lucky."

"Lucky?!" Buffy gasped. "She killed a man."

Harry sighed, "She's not a bear. She won't develop a taste for it. The best outcome on that end will push her away and she leaves town." He paused. "Worst case, she becomes a problem you'll have to deal with later. I don't think you want to encounter a hostile Slayer."

Giles nodded, "This isn't the first case of a human being caught up in things."

"He wasn't there at random," Harry repeated. "He worked for the bad guys. He was a bad guy."

Buffy didn't look convinced. Thankfully, Giles seemed to understand.

"If we reported this to the council they would send a team to take her for trial," Giles took off his glasses and cleaned them. "They mean well, but they are out of touch." He shared a look with Harry. "Such as that test I told you about."

"Test?" Buffy asked. "When I lost my powers."

Giles nodded, "It's test for Slayer when they reach eighteen. I couldn't interfere without losing my position as your Watched. Harry isn't connected to the situation. Going to him for help is a viable strategy as it's a slayer using all of the resources at hand."

"You told me to talk to Harry," Buffy said softly.

"Strange that," Giles said smoothly.

Buffy narrowed her eyes at her Watcher as she thought, "What would have happened if Harry hadn't been here? Would you have gone through with the test? You would have let me face that crazy vampire without my powers?"

"You can discuss that later," Harry spoke before Giles could answer. "We're talking about the information we have due to Faith."

"I don't like this," Buffy grumbled.

Harry pinched the bridge of his nose, "Buffy, have I given you a reason to not trust me?"

"No," She shook her head.

Harry softened his voice, "Why would I start now?"

"Because you're sleeping with Faith," She replied fast.

Harry shook his head, "Do you think that would make me less worried if I thought she was some sort of unrepentant murderer?"

"You say the nicest things," Faith said as she stretched. "What are we talking about?"

"You," Harry answered.
"Nothing," Buffy replied at the same time.

Harry shook his head, "I'm telling them about what we discovered."

"Makes sense," Faith stood then went through a full round of stretches to get the kinks out. "Damn, I should sleep with you more often. I haven't slept that good ever."

Harry smiled, "That was probably the Calming Draught and the adrenaline crash."

"You just don't want to share your bed," Faith teased him looking over her shoulder.

Giles cleared his throat, "I have some news that is important as well."

"You called the five-oh and they're waiting to storm the building?" Faith guessed.

Giles sighed, "Nothing so pleasant. The Council has deemed it necessary that Faith needs a new Watcher. They will be arriving in the next few days."

"Are you sure you didn't call the police?" Faith asked.

Harry chuckled, "What should we expect?"

"They are sending Welsey Wyndam-Pryce," Giles replied. "Son of the Watchers Council member Roger Wyndam-Pryce."

Harry winced, "I don't have a good history with the 'upper-class' from across the sea."

"Merlin, aren't you part of the upper-class?" Faith scrunched her brow in question.

Harry nodded, "The point still stands."

"Are we just going to ignore the fact that Faith killed a man?!" Buffy interrupted.

Harry swapped his attention to the blonde slayer, "We're not ignoring it. We've discussed it and have moved on. Regrettable, but he was one of the bad guys. He was there to spy on your progress dealing with the cult."

"Maybe he was trying to find us to give us information," Buffy suggested.

Harry took a steady breath, "Maybe the Hellmouth just wants to whisper sweet nothings."

"This isn't a joke," Buffy snapped.

Harry stood. He kept his movements casual as he crossed the room to stand before her.

"Buffy," He looked her in the eyes. "Think about it. Really think. Put yourself in her position. You're fighting for your life, someone grabs Faith, what do you do?"

Buffy tensed, "I would have helped her without hurting him."

"Really?" Harry asked. "In the heat of the fight, you would have noticed he was a human and decided not to hurt him even though he was attacking Faith? You said it yourself, you didn't know until it was too late."

"He wasn't attacking me," Buffy argued.

Harry raised an eyebrow, "Then what was he doing? He grabbed you then tried to manhandle you against a wall. Was he aggressively trying to protect you from stepping in a puddle?"

"This isn't a joke," Buffy snapped.

Harry nodded, "No, it's not. What do you suggest we do? Turn her over to the police. You know, the people funded by the local government who just happens to be run by a man who sold countless lives through the years to fuel his ascension to godhood? I'm sure she would get a fair trial. Maybe only a year or two in prison if she held to good behavior. They wouldn't arrange for a few dozen demons to attack her when she was trapped. For Merlins' sake, they wouldn't need demons. They could pay a few prisoners to shank her in the showers."

Buffy stared defiantly at him, "The Watchers, they should have something to say about this."

"Now you trust the Watchers Council?" Harry cocked his head to the side. "The ones that blocked your abilities for some test they didn't tell you about? Did our reaction a moment ago about the new Watcher fill you with confidence?"

Buffy tried to search for a reply to further her argument.

"Like I said, regrettable, but he was one of the bad guys," Harry repeated.

Faith came up to stand beside him.

"This time it worked out," She put her arm around his shoulder. "I'm not going to do that again unless I have to. Ask Merlin, I was freaking out hard."

"You would kill another person?" Buffy crossed her arms.

Faith shrugged, "Never say never, B. Some monsters aren't monsters."

Giles smiled, "Well said."

"If that is all," Harry said. "We should go home. I need some breakfast."

Faith squeezed him with the arm she had over her shoulder, "You always say the sweetest things."

"You just want me to make bacon," Harry chuckled.

Buffy watched in stunned silence as they two joked as they left. She turned toward Giles.

"Can you believe them?" She spoke just a touch softer than yelling. "She killed someone!"

Giles took off his glasses and cleaned them, "I understand your concerns, but we don't have the option to handle this effectively right now. Harry's argument was sound. We can't trust the local authorities. My confidence in the Watchers Council is shaky at best."

Buffy plopped into a nearby chair and put her face in her hands, "Can we go back to worrying about Angel being back?"

Giles gave her a flat stare. He went into his office, closing the door behind him.

"Rude," Buffy muttered.

~

The two walked home as the sun rose. Harry could feel the warmth spread along his body as the light increased. A small smile settled on his face. He never imagined that he would ever set foot in America, let alone California. Before he found out he was a wizard his dreams were focused on living a normal life away from the Dursleys. He would have been perfectly happy to work in a shop for the rest of his life. Once he entered the magical world he just wanted to not die. After killing Voldemort, he thought he wanted to be an Auror. Harry rapidly realized that it was not the right choice for him. Unfortunately, his record was enough to prove he was capable, and his name made him ranked number one in the field. His hopes of a normal life moved further away with each successful assignment. All of that led him here, walking back to a house he bought half-a-world away watching the sunrise.

"Merlin," Faith said.

There was something in her tone that made him instantly on edge. He scanned the area to find they were about two blocks from the house. More importantly, there was a car parked in front of it. The thing wasn't quite a limo, but it was bigger than the average vehicle. Even more concerning was the fact that all of the windows were black-out tinted. No one could see in, but they could see out just fine.

Harry narrowed his eyes as he silently cast Homenum Revulio. He focused on the car to only find a driver present. Either there wasn't anyone in the back, or they weren't human. It was one of the limitation of the spell, but it was subtle enough for most magical folk to overlook.

He closed his eyes for a moment tapping into his magical aura, solidifying it into a powerful shield that he could move in. The idea came from a fantasy game he had seen someone play. He hadn't had the chance to play any sort of videogames, but he did come across people he did in his travels. Harry had named this spell Mage Armor after the source.

"Faith," He spoke softly. "Get inside the house. Make sure there isn't anyone inside."

She nodded, "What are you going to do?"

"Something stupid," He replied.

She nodded again, "I'll get started on breakfast."

Harry walked over to the car. He approached the side on the street, coming to a stop by the rear window. It only took a moment before it lowered to show a pleasant looking man wearing a plain but nicely cut gray suit. The man had light brown hair, and a jolly smile on his face.

"Mister Potter, I presume?" The man asked in a pleasant tone.

Harry inclined his head, "And you are?"

"It's always nice to meet someone with manners," The man said. "Richard Wilkins, Mayor. I would offer to shake your hand, but it's a bit awkward through the window. Would you like to join me?"

Harry didn't pause to think too deeply. Doing something stupid did not work well with extra consideration. He took a step back then motioned for the man to open the door. The driver's door opened and a man dressed as a standard chauffeur stepped out. There wasn't anything magical about the man, but it was hard to pay attention to him. He just faded into the background. Harry could have walked by the man a few times in a day without knowing. The man opened the door for him. It was a coach-door, so he didn't need to go around to get inside, and the mayor didn't need to move. He slid into the seat now sitting across from the man himself.

They both waited until the door closed again to speak.

"My apologies for not introducing myself sooner," Wilkins actually sounded sorry. "It's not everyday we get the Head of two noble houses here in Sunnydale. Boy did I have egg on my face. Harry Potter himself in Sunnydale. What are the odds?"

In his younger days, Harry would have reacted on emotion rather than logic. He had spent enough time around politicians to know how to play the game. Purebloods loved to make polite conversation into vague threats.

Harry returned the kind smile with one of his own, "No apologies needed. I didn't want to make it a big deal."

"Humility," Wilkins said. "That's not something you see in the youth these days."

Harry smiled, "Maybe it's just the American youth?"

"American Youth," He chuckled, then let out a sigh. "You've been causing quite the stir around town."

Harry kept the smile on his face, "Sunnydale is an interesting place."

"Thank you," Wilkins said. "It's always good to see your efforts recognized."

They settled into silence.

"What would it take for you to sit out on future local flavor?" Wilkins asked.

Harry nodded, "I don't know if your people told you, but I'm here on vacation. Anything that I may have encountered is mostly by chance."

"And for being close friends with the slayers," Wilkins added.

Harry chuckled, "It's good to have friends."

"I have been working on this project for years," Mayor Wilkins said. "It would be disappointing for an outside influence to interfere with things.

"Mister Wilkins. Mayor, may I be frank with you?" Harry asked.

Wilkins smiled, "I thought you were Harry."

Harry chuckled despite the situation. Stupid jokes were a weakness of his.

"I walked into that one, didn't I?" Harry asked.

Wilkins nodded, "Please, continue."

"You are more polite than the people I usually encounter," Harry said. "I can appreciate that. By now we're usually at the shouting and monologuing portion. I came here for a vacation, truly. It's just that it is impossible for me watch while people are hurt. If I have the ability, and even when I don't, I do what I can to help. Your plan requires the death of a lot of people, some of which are my friends. I can't let that happen."

The mayor sighed, "I had a feeling you would say something like that."

They both sat in silence for a moment.

Mayor Wilkins shook his head as he let out a sigh, "It was nice to meet you, Mister Potter."

"It was nice to meet you as well, Mayor Wilkins," Harry said as he opened the door.

Harry stepped out of the car to find the chauffer already waiting. He nodded at the forgettable man then went inside. Faith stood by the door geared for war. She had a bandoleer of stakes across her chest, her belt had two knives on each hip, and she was holding an extendable baton at the ready.

"Now I know what you keep in your room," Harry flashed a charming smile at her.

Faith scanned him a couple of times before speaking, "Who's out there? Did they whammy you? Should we go kill them?"

"It's the Mayor," Harry replied.

Faith pushed passed him and locked the door, "What did he want?"

"He wanted to let me know he knows who I am and where I come from," He replied. "He also asked that I stop getting involved in local issues."

Faith glared at the car as it pulled away, "Fucker."

"He's a nice guy," Harry continued. "He'll smile at your face as his staff try to stab you in the back."

He took off his shirt and showed her the professional placing of a stab wound. It would have slid under his ribs into his lungs if not for his Mage Armor.

"That fucker," Faith cursed at the car even as it was out of sight.

"I did learn something about him," Harry added. "He's not human anymore."

Faith smiled, "Sweet, I can kill him without the guilt trip."

He smiled at her, "You know you're free to stay here if he would have killed me. I can put your name on the deed."

"You'd do that?" Faith froze.

He shrugged, "Why not? You've lived here almost as long as I have."

"You're something else, Merlin," She shook her head.

"Breakfast?" He asked.

"Breakfast," She replied.

~

Harry lay on his staring at the ceiling. He couldn't fool himself anymore, a slow life would drive him mad. This was his version of a vacation. Fighting evil and slaying monsters as in a supporting role rather than leading the charge. He had been planning on continuing his trip across America, but there was no way he could leave now that he knew something big was on the horizon.

Bad things happened in Sunnydale almost every week. The longest he had experienced a stretch of peace was three weeks. He was pretty sure that it would have been a lot shorter if he counted the spirits haunting Angel and the weird demon from the playground. His life was weird, but that was something new for him.

Those brief moments of peace were nice. They were short enough for him to enjoy them without going stir crazy. He needed something to do. Maybe that was why he had held out so long working with Tonks. If he was honest with himself, the real reason he was tired of working with her was the lack of concern. She didn't care as long as the assignment was done. Harry had thought they were friends, he couldn't remember if she ever asked how he was afterward. She would just hand him another mission.

That was one of the reason Sunnydale was nice. No one expected him to save the world. No one treated it like there was any other choice. He helped because he wanted, not because it was required.

He really needed to get some sleep.