Alexander LaVelle Harris {BtVS}

musebysentence | 93.13 Marriage

2011-02-18T23:33:32Z

It was when Airlie showed those moments of vulnerability where she started to twist her red hair around her fingers uncertainly that had Xander thinking that maybe he really would make it down the aisle some day.

RP Log with lotterylucky, gr8muppetyodin & lyricalembrace

2010-09-20T10:30:47Z

[Follows THIS]

Riley was more than aware of the fact that there was no way to make his workplace any less intimidating. It was supposed to be that way. It was a military thing. At least not everyone was walking around in camos. Even now, he was only in a pair of dark jeans and a grey t-shirt. He had to change after he had sweated so much the clothes he arrived to base in were making him not very pleasant to be around. In fact, even Graham told him to take a shower, and that was saying something considering they all got more than sweaty and gross during operations. He hadn't just showered, he ended up going to the infirmary to get some meds to make him feel better and after a run of IV fluids to get his hydration back up, he was feeling a little better. He had stopped puking for the time being which was a plus as far as he was concerned. The fever was still there, and the upset stomach, but he could handle that if he didn't have to bolt to the bathroom all the time.

Now he was standing in his office, looking out the window at the Paris city centre way in the far distance. They were on the outskirts so they didn't attract a huge amount of attention to themselves. In fact, like the school back in Sunnydale concealing the Initiative, this place was commonly thought of as a testing facility of some sort. That worked. Not true, but it worked. Behind him, Buffy was sitting in one of the chairs in front of his desk. They were waiting for Xander to arrive with Rory's best mate. Airlie MacKenzie. A Kindred, according to Blaise. The thing was, neither Blaise nor Riley actually knew that Buffy was oblivious to that fact. Things could be about to get extremely messy.

Airlie was numb. She could hardly think straight. It had gotten to the point that Xander was basically just leading her to where she needed to go and she just had to make sure her feet worked. There was an elevator, and then there was a corridor, and an office door. Then an office. With Buffy. And a really tall guy. She couldn't cry. She kept telling herself she couldn't cry. If she cried, it would be a dead giveaway. Her hand was clenched extremely tightly around Xander's with almost inhuman strength. The sight of Buffy had her nearly wetting herself... if she could still wet herself, that was. She had no idea who the tall guy was. She just knew that Rory was here somewhere and he was hurt. Hurt and had nearly been Embraced. She couldn't wrap her head around it, no matter how much she tried. It couldn't be true. It just had to be some sort of horrible joke.

Xander could feel his bones get to near breaking point in Airlie's crushing grip, but he didn't complain. He was also selfish enough to be grateful that the call from Buffy had come well after coitus was had. They had been deep into the post-coital holding each other stage with Xander trying not to drop off to sleep and drool on Airlie's shoulder. This time there had been a little biting, but none that would have put Xander in any danger. He remembered each and every amazing moment of sex with Airlie, and he would continue to do so. No memory wipe, no shame. Only pure shock when the call came to tell them Rory was hurt. He glanced between Riley and Buffy, trying to gage if anything had changed in Rory's condition. Then he glanced over his shoulder at Airlie to see if she was alright. Buffy didn't know. Buffy couldn't know about Airlie. Only Xander now knew about Blaise and there was a lot he wanted to ask his best friend right at that moment. Still, Xander's job was always to lighten any situation, and he was hardly about to disappoint. "Okay, so it wasn't enough you had to be all cool secret agent man back in Sunnydale with your fancy Initiative, that now you have to be running some military base in Paris? Seriously, when do I get to have sex with this guy?"

Buffy cracked a small smile at Xander's joke before she rushed over to him to embrace him in a hug. "You made it." She pulled away to step in front of Airlie and gave the petite redhead a hug as well. "I'm so sorry, Airlie. I wasn't... He was alone. I never meant for him to get hurt on this trip. It was never supposed to happen."

Airlie didn't know who she wanted to be pissed off with more at first. Buffy for looking at her, or Xander for wanting to sleep with the tall guy. It wasn't like she could profess to rationality at that moment. Not hearing that Rory had nearly lost his life. In fact, for a long few moments, she just looked between all three of them blankly before she blinked out of the haze and pushed Buffy away. "You dinnae get to touch me. No one gets to touch me," she insisted, and even dropped Xander's hand to go and find a spot on the carpet where she had enough personal space to keep everyone safe. She wasn't sure who she wanted to blame for this yet. Herself for letting Rory go, probably.

Riley had been watching Buffy and Xander, trying not to let the discontent residual feelings from Sunnydale come back and bite him in the ass. He was thinking how Buffy had admitted to it being Xander who gave her the speech about not letting Riley go. All in the past. Then he caught Airlie's hostile response, and wasn't particularly surprised. He stepped over to her, keeping his distance, but still held his hand out to her. "Airlie. I'm Riley Finn. I'm head of the Nuit Noire Operation here. We exist to provide protection and safety to Kindred and other supernatural species that are of little direct threat. You'll be safe here. Indeed, Blaise Richelieu wishes a word with you when you are feeling up to it." Unfortunately, Riley didn't realise how quiet the room had become at his words, and now realised that Airlie had made no move to take his hand. In fact, she was just staring at him, almost like she was looking through him. Uh oh. This wasn't going how he expected at all.

Buffy stared from Xander, to Riley and then to Airlie. "What?" she asked finally. "Why would Blaise want a word with--oh." Her eyes widened a little before she backed up to sit in one of the chairs in Riley's office. Xander had fallen for Kindred. Buffy was falling for Kindred, and Rory had been maybe possibly at some point about to fall for Kindred. It wasn't like they couldn't be accused of not trying to bridge the gaps between the races. Buffy started to avert her gaze so she wasn't coming as cross as staring at Airlie, but now it all made sense. Rory's mysterious friend that had been Embraced against their will was Airlie.

Xander cleared his throat as he reached up to scratch the back of his neck and tried not to be hurt by the fact Airlie had pushed him away as well as Buffy. As much as he was a fan of the Iowa boy, there were times when Riley's good nature just seemed to send him bumbling right through the middle of a scenario that needed discretion. "Cat's out of your bag too," Xander said to Buffy with a pointed raise of his eyebrow. "Just so we don't need to start trying to remember who knows what all over again. I just think the most important thing right now is Rory, and how he's doing. How is he doing?"

Airlie's hair had fallen into her eyes and she was now hugging herself tightly. If she let anyone touch her, she would hurt them. Yet, she took a step closer to Xander so her shoulder was touching his arm. Anything to keep her grounded. She was looking between Riley and Buffy. Riley smelt like sickness, she couldn't miss that. She also couldn't miss that they had sex, and recently. Then, she could smell Rory on Buffy too. "My god, is there anyone in this room who hasnae slept together?" she asked, feeling like her skin was crawling with all the senses bombarding her. She put a hand up and scratched her fingers through her hair before she started to pace restlessly. "You're all crawling in it like you wouldnae believe."

Riley blinked at the way her voice had taken a soft growly edge to it. Her green eyes were tinged silver too and that never failed to unnerve him. It meant they were pissed off or heightened in emotion. He was about to apologise, but caught himself just in time and managed to look slightly sheepish, clearing his throat. How freaky was it that they could sense two people had sex together? No one had a freaking chance of infidelity with a Kindred around. "He's still unconscious. Our doctors are keeping him sedated. He was nearly Embraced, he was drained, so we're giving him a transfusion. Apparently, though, he got close enough and there might be a chance he's not himself when he wakes up. It was a Clan called Brujah that got to him. More vicious of their kind. They wanted to take him."

Buffy tried not to look guilty all over again. She hated the whole Kindred scent detector thing. She glanced at Xander, but his eye was on Airlie. "We still don't know why, but Embrace was definitely the end game. Blaise said he would probably wake up angry, taking on their traits. Guess it shouldn't really surprise us that a group of Kindred intent on Embracing someone didn't have the qualities of fluffy kittens."

Xander held up his hand. "Just for the record, I've never slept with Riley, or Buffy. Just so we're clear. I'm only swimming in Airlie," he added before he had a chance to stop and filter what came out of his mouth. "Just out of interest, how exactly is something like this dealt with? I mean, I'm getting the sense that anything would need to go through this Blaise guy with him being the Prince and all. Also not really sensing a whole lot of celebratory vibes so were the attackers caught, or still at large?"

"The Anarchists. They have the most violent tempers..." Airlie mumbled. She looked up at Xander, feeling the relief wash over her at hearing he hadn't slept with either of them. She was still territorial so soon after them sleeping together again. If anyone tried to touch him, she would probably pounce. It also made it easier to remain in Riley and Buffy's presence.

"Blaise will call the shots. It is not our job to punish the defectors of his people. That's his job, or that of his Primogens, probably under his direction. We're just here to protect Kindred. It's one of our jobs, anyway. We wouldn't have even been out there if we didn't get frequency over our radios that Blaise's estate had been compromised with a security breach. We thought there was a threat to them there. Turns out that security breach was just Rory trying to visit Juliette, but because of... extenuating circumstances, access to the estate by Rory or Buffy had been blocked earlier in the day. It was enough to dispatch our men, though. Rory must have stopped on the side of the road to call Juliette. She had a voicemail from him. That's when it happened. The attackers were taken out. Their bodies have been burned at Blaise's request. Embracing against will is punishable by death. If they had gotten away, Blaise would have had them pursued and killed anyway." Riley paused for a moment with a small frown. "It's my understanding that in a situation like this, the victim would only wake with the Clan's traits if it was innate in them. If these guys really are that vicious and violent, would Rory really be at risk? He doesn't seem the type."

"He has it in him," Airlie replied immediately, flatly. "It might be buried now, but it's in him. From when his family was taken. He went through a very dark time when he lost them. The Rory you see now, he isnae the Rory that existed before he lost his wife and bairn. Before, he was... placid. Softer. Perfect daddy, perfect husband. Hardly swore, nay tattoos. She was his high school sweetheart. He hadnae ever loved anyone else. He was six weeks off completing his nursing degree at university. He never finished it. Sometimes I wonder if his heart died with them. Just... it's in him."

Xander risked a small touch to Airlie's back before he dropped his hand again, just needing her to know that he was still there. And if she ever decided to let him touch her again he was good with the comfort. It wasn't easy knowing your best friend was hurt, let alone having to process a swarm of emotions that Airlie hadn't got the hang of yet. Xander had been with Buffy when she'd been shot by Warren. Just like he'd been with Willow as she grieved over the loss of Tara - and lost herself to the dark magic when she'd become hell bent on revenge. He could understand Rory's side of things just as much. "Alright, so the bodies have been burned, but we're still not with the yay. Is there more? Do we know if it was just these guys acting on their own, or are there more rebels?" Xander frowned a little. "Rebel just doesn't seem like the right word when talking about Kindred. No offence."

Buffy shook her head. "It could be anything. It could be my presence, it could be an attempt to get through to Blaise by going through Juliette. I don't think it'll be a secret anymore that she was taken with Rory... The fact that she denied him access to their house says a lot. So if they think she's already hurting, then maybe they were planning on digging into the wound a little deeper. What's worse than seeing someone you cared for Embraced against their will?" Her gaze slipped to Airlie briefly before she went back to looking between Riley and Xander. She didn't want the redheaded Kindred hating her, or thinking that Buffy really would go on the attack just because she knew about her true nature now. "If Rory does have those traits inside him, and their about to come to the forefront then someone needs to be with him. I think Juliette might be thinking she's that someone, but in all honesty... Airlie, I think it should be you. You're familiar to him, you haven't just hurt him. Juliette's caused him pain. We don't know where he's going to try and aim the anger when he's awake. I'll just... sit on the bench."

"Hey, no one can bench sit this thing out, alright? You're all involved, whether you like it or not. Just for different reasons. Reasons I'm pretty sure I don't know all about and really don't want to, but we're all involved. Blaise and Juliette are involved. For the moment, there seems to be no immediate other threat. It looks like Rory was their target, perhaps to get to Buffy, I don't know. I'm doubting it, seriously. Unless Blaise decided to publish the fact she was in Paris, then no one here would know she was the Slayer, and trust me, Blaise did not publish the fact. Far from it. I think it's just another mere infiltration attempt to throw Blaise off his throne, so to speak. They went for his weakest link, which is Juliette. Rory got caught in the crossfire. If Rory was Embraced by Brujah, he would, obviously, become Brujah, and they are basically the complete opposite to Toreador. It would have drawn Blaise out in revenge. I really think that is all it was a case of. We're not discounting other theories, but at the moment, that's the wisest route to take. Rory's going to have some issues dealing with the near Embrace when he wakes up, and really, the best place for him to likely be is at Blaise's estate. It is the most protected place from Kindred in France. In fact, I think it's the best place for you all to be, and Blaise has extended the invitation and asked me to pass it on to you," Riley admitted with a small shrug. "I think it would be for the best. Airlie, you're a Childer, and Juliette would like to spend some time with you helping you control your abilities."

Airlie had nearly lost herself in a daze as Riley spoke. It was like it was information overload and her brain was attempting to reject it all. She felt weak, like she needed to feed, but how the hell was she supposed to do that here in a place that would probably put a bullet in her if she tried? She reached over and grabbed Xander's arm and just clung to it, though she was looking at Riley uncertainly. Her Sire had taught her as much as he could before it just got to a point that she was too furious with him to want him in her presence ever again. That's when the job got passed to Rory to protect her, and he had, but he hadn't had the experience or knowledge to help her completely control her emotions and urges. "Aye... okay," she eventually agreed.

Xander had a strange urge to offer up himself as food for Airlie, already beginning to understand what some of her shifts in moods were. He just wasn't about to do it in front of Buffy and Riley. He didn't need them knowing just how willing he was to let Airlie draw a little energy from him. He made a mental note to maybe offer when they got up to this palace, or whatever the hell it was. Then he remembered what Airlie said about Blaise having people around just for the purpose of feeding and wondered if that extended to the guests, too. Or this Juliette woman. "Do you really trust them?" he asked Riley quietly. His own protectiveness over Airlie was coming in to play, and he wasn't about to ask Buffy's opinion when she would be all kinds of biased.

Buffy took the hint and stayed quiet as Xander questioned Riley, turning her gaze to the window that overlooked the city. She couldn't help the small flip in her heart that came with knowing she'd be staying with Blaise, and the fact that he had actually extended the invitation despite everything. She also knew that she had to make a call to Giles and Willow before she went there. There was something back in Edinburgh that she needed them to take care of. She still needed to fix the mess she'd made with the Slayerettes, even if her plan would probably backfire on her. Again. She wondered if Faith would actually agree with what she was thinking. Maybe it was time to consult with the only other Original Slayer...

"With my life," Riley replied without hesitation and shrugged as he leaned over to pick up his bottle of water from his desk. He uncapped it and took a long drink, really trying to follow doctor's orders of keeping hydrated, even if they still couldn't tell him exactly what was making him feel sick. "You probably couldn't get a better source of protection than Blaise. He the all-poweful dude in this situation. He knows what is going on. He sees and senses things the rest of us could only dream of. Airlie is Kindred, and if there is one thing I can say about the guy, he has all of his Kindred at the forefront of his mind. They are why he exists. He wants to keep the peace more than any of us, no matter how long we have all been fighting the evil of the world. You gotta remember, he's been around a hell of a lot longer than we have. Nearly five hundred years, to be exact. Plus, he's a good guy," he added with emphasis, looking at Buffy pointedly.

Buffy didn't miss the look, sensing Riley's gaze on her as she turned back from the window. She just gave a small nod. They hadn't yet talked about what had gone on in the interrogation room, but she was pretty sure Riley wouldn't want to know anyway. "He's right," she murmured. "As long as we don't pose a direct threat to Kindred, he'll protect us with everything he has. Plus he knows that we'll all want to make sure Rory's safe. Even if he's taking a chance in inviting me and Xander in, he won't go back on his word."

Xander just gave a nod and kissed the top of Airlie's head. "Sounds like we have a plan. Plus I'm always a big fan of any plan that means we get to sit around in luxury. I just feel bad for Rory. He's going to start thinking he's some sort of walking vampire bait considering this is the second time he's been drained lately. This whole exhibiting the traits of the Bruhaha clan... Is that a permanent thing? Or will it eventually wear off? Just so I can be prepared for a permanent increase in his cranky pants."

Airlie crossed her arms tightly around her chest in an attempt to stop the terrible restlessness creeping through her. She was more than worried how Rory would be when he woke up. She remembered how increasingly angry he got when he realised his search for his family was useless. He only calmed down and changed his course of action when an old Hunter in Edinburgh approached him, took him under his wing to put the angry energy to positive use. Luckily, Rory had other friends close by that were happy to take Wee Willy for as long as necessary. But even then, if Rory needed his dog when he woke up, she would damn well drive to Scotland and pick him up, if that was what it took. "And people ask why he doesnae like being fed from..." she commented quietly with a small snort.

Riley had to smirk a little at Airlie's comment. He hadn't known Rory didn't let her feed from him. He had assumed it would be something friends did. It probably meant Juliette hadn't too, which was pretty intense if there was a fling going on there of some sort. There were still so many gaps Riley wasn't privvy to, and Buffy's assumptions were correct... he really wasn't sure he wanted to know. In fact, as he looked around the room, he saw all these hooks up or potential hooks ups, and all he felt was lonely. "... ah... yeah... right, so, you all stay with Blaise at his estate. I can take you to see Rory soon. Blaise and Juliette are still with him for the moment. Once they leave, you can see him." Business as usual. It was easy to push emotions aside for business. "It will wear off. He wasn't Embraced. Still, from what Airlie says, chances are he might try to push everyone away."

Xander didn't miss the fact that Buffy was watching Riley closely again, and he really did have to wonder what she'd been playing up by sleeping with Rory, Riley and trying to win the heart of a Kindred Prince. But the interrogation could wait. He glanced down at Airlie. "Well, Scotsmen aren't the only stubborn ones around, so he won't get a chance to push us away easily."

Buffy gave a nod. "Exactly. Plus there's enough people around that can hold him in place if need be." She cleared her throat after a moment and stood up to move next to Riley as she touched his hand briefly. "You're not going to come and stay with us, are you?" she asked him quietly.

"He's more likely to hurt himself than hurt any of us," Airlie spoke up, even if she was looking down at her feet. "He'll yell, though. He'll always yell when he gets pissed off. And swear a lot. More than a lot. At least if he's staying at this place, he'll be stuck there. He'll just have to deal with it."

Riley glanced down at Buffy and then folded his arms across his chest to break the contact. "Why would I? I have a home, and I spend most of my time on the base anyway. Blaise comes here if there needs to be business meetings. He's just been unavailable recently. Things seems to be back to normal... mostly. And seriously? I really don't want to be a, uh, seventh wheel."

Buffy gave a nod. "I know, I just... We can keep in touch though, right? We're... We're friends. Aren't we?" she asked Riley as she swallowed back a sudden lump. Maybe the sex had been a goodbye to any sort of romantic relationship, but she still wasn't ready to give up Riley completely. To have him out of her life again now she'd found him.

Xander had been trying to listen to Buffy and Riley but he slipped his arm around Airlie's waist loosely and kissed the top of her head again. "He'll be okay," he murmured against her hair. "We'll make sure of it. He has you. You'll be able to help him."

Airlie nodded and then closed her eyes briefly. "I just hope he has the strength this time to get through it. Maybe this will just all scare him off anything to do with Kindred. It might. He might just want to go home and cut us all off to protect himself. There's just as much chance of that as anything else," she fretted, unable to think at all how she would face life without Rory. "Am I the only one here sensing those two over there are so not resolved? They're all talk. How is he single, too? Laddie's a cutie. Not as cute as you, though," she added to Xander quickly.

Riley gave a nod and offered Buffy a faint smile. "Yeah, I guess..." he replied and cleared his throat. "I don't know. I guess time will figure that one out. It's just weird. I pretty much work with Blaise, and you're gonna be dating him, you used to date me. It's kind of all giving me a headache."

Buffy held her hand up. "Hey, hey. There's no talk of dating just yet. I still need to win his trust. If I even can do that..." She glanced down at her hands as she played with the ring on her finger and sighed. "But time... Yay time. I guess I don't have a shortage of it right now."

Xander snorted with amusement and gave a shake of his head. "Because it's Buffy and Riley. Closure might mean the world will end. He was married, now he's divorced. Can't really blame the guy for wanting to protect his heart. Maybe it's just as well he won't be following us into the Prince's lair. That really would just be awkward as all hell. Too bad you don't have a hot sister to set him up with."

Airlie scrunched her nose up a little. "Poor laddie. Can you imagine if he did? She's been with Rory, she wants the Prince, and he's supposed to just hang around and pretend to be comfortable? I wouldnae be comfortable. I'd wanna to smack someone. He's gotta be lonely, aye? He looks lonely. He feels... I dinnae know, but he's nay happy." She was speaking quietly so Buffy and Riley couldn't hear, and she was suddenly wishing she had more friends that she could set him up with. "Nothing like feeling one hundred percent left out while we're all staying somewhere else getting loved up and comforted."

"Practically dating," Riley corrected with a small snort of his own. "He's gone from wanting you as well out of his presence as humanly possible to inviting you to stay at his place. Excuse me for the inaccurate deduction based on fact."

"The invite was a surprise to me," Buffy murmured as she started to feel her hackles come up. Maybe her and Riley really weren't as resolved as she thought. She didn't know what she was supposed to do, or say though. Time. It all came back down to time. "I need... I have to make a phone call." She pulled her cell from her pocket and made a quick exit from the office to find another room she could hide in. She'd maybe come back out when it was time to Rory.

Xander blinked at the sudden exit and let out a sigh. "Old habits, huh?" he asked Riley. "Look, man, I'm really sorry about this. About you having to get dragged back into the Sunnydale lifestyle. I'm sure you're just wishing we stayed away. Having said that, it really is nice to see you, Riley. I've missed my guy friend. Just wish it was a reunion under better circumstances."

Riley looked blankly at the door Buffy disappeared through and sighed. "Yeah... whatever," he commented, pushing it away. "It's fine, really. It's just been a confusing week. Even more confusing considering I've formed a bond with Blaise over the course of my job here. He makes Spike and Angel look like dog turds, seriously. No offense if you had a soft spot for either of them. This guy just has class, and he actually cares about his actions. It's quite the step up from what I experienced in Sunnydale. I guess that's something Buffy needs to learn for herself. Once I know you're all fine having seen Rory, I'm going home to my bed to hide for awhile."

Airlie stepped over to Riley and patted his arm. "Just for the record, if I hadnae met Xander, I'd want to do you," she told him, trying to make him feel a little better on some level. "And if you were gay, I'd let you borrow Xander." She turned around to give Xander a sheepish look. "What? You'd be hot together."

Xander's eyebrows were just up in surprise as he gaped at his girlfriend, lost with what he was actually supposed to say. "Um... No, no soft spots..."

Riley laughed nervously and raised his eyebrows at Xander. "I think we're all safe from anyone borrowing anyone else. I'd rather have someone all to myself that doesn't want to push me away or poison me, to be honest, but thank you. I do really appreciate the thought. I'm okay. I think I just look a lot more pathetic than I feel." That might have been a blatant lie, but it sounded good.

Xander scratched his hand against the back of his neck as he joined in the nervous laughter, wondering if he was about to be hypnotised by Airlie into seducing Riley just because she did think it was hot. "I can't really blame you. It's taken me a while to find that, and now I have it... Nothing like it. I can definitely recommend it, man. I just hope you find someone that can give you that."

Riley shifted awkwardly and nodded politely. He just didn't like where the conversation had ended up again. It made him feel like he was relationship-challenged. It would just be nice to have a date with some laughing, maybe sex afterwards with someone who enjoyed his company and vice versa. It sounded simple, but it felt like he was looking for the Holy Grail. "Yeah, you know, we should head down to see Rory. You're probably tired from your trip. I'll just go ahead and make sure Blaise is satisfied that things are okay for the moment. I'll give you two your privacy. I'm sure you could use a few moments to... freshen up." He didn't know why he was assuming Xander had jumped in feet first with Airlie, but good on him. He had fast learnt if a Kindred loved you, they loved you unconditionally.

Xander frowned a little at the comment before he just nodded. He hadn't wanted to make Riley feel uncomfortable, but apparently he had. "Sure, thanks." He looked at Airlie before he walked over to pull her into a hug. She seemed to have calmed and he rubbed her back as he kissed her temple. "Why do I feel like I'm about to be offered a red or blue pill? There's not a whole lot of going back once we get to this guy's place, is there?"

Airlie shook her head. "Dinnae. It'll be fine. It might feel intimidating, but... it's true. It's the safest place I could be, I guess. Plus, Rory will be comfortable when he gets out. The only thing that you willnae be able to go back on is... knowing. About me, about us. About our world. I guess that is a scary prospect."

Xander smiled at her as he kissed her again. "Not as scary as I thought it might be. I'm not going back on the knowing, or you, or us. Okay?"

musesandlyrics | 9.3. Oscar Wilde quote

2010-09-17T09:07:28Z

9.3. "The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it."
Oscar Wilde

Co-written with lyricalembrace

Airlie was sitting on Rory's bed in her duck pyjamas, red hair piled up in a messy ponytail on top of her head, and Wee Willy curled up in a ball in her lap as she watched reruns of Sex and the City on the crappy little TV at the end of the bed. She had been keenly interested in watching, until she realised that when she last watched it, she had been a normal human with normal feelings who could eat normal chocolate and have normal PMS that allowed her to commiserate and watch stupid TV shows like this. All it did was make her feel more depressed, and more hungry. She had shamefully resorted to feeding on the odd tourist in town to see the Palace, and only stuck to burly men who she could flirt with enough to get into her good graces and who looked like they could tolerate a bit of blood loss. She had been depressed before Rory even left for Paris, but had managed to fall into an even bigger funk without him around to commiserate. She damn well hoped the Slayer was in horrific and soul-ripping emotional distress, or Airlie would be even more pissed off at her for taking her best friend away from her.

She knew she wasn't really pissed off with Buffy, though. It was just projection because Buffy was Xander's friend, and Xander was... AWOL. MIA. All of those acronyms that meant buggered off into oblivion. She didn't know if she really had expected to hear from him after her revelation, but she had hoped she would. How could she really expect him to want to be with her, though? It was different for Buffy with Prince of Paris. Completely different. She was a Slayer, and she had frolicked romantically with vampires in the past. But Airlie had no right in asking Xander to be with her, no matter how attracted she had been to him. She should never have fed from him, either. Now she was just filled with bucketloads of guilt and regret. And she was lonely. Wee Willy was good company and he liked hugs, but he wasn't Rory and he wasn't anyone else. He was a puppy, who slept half the day away and farted on her when he got relaxed enough. Not all that unlike his owner, but at least Rory was a non-furry shoulder to cry on.

When Rory's doorbell rang, she seriously considered ignoring it. But then she got guilty that maybe it was a little granny with a flat tyre who might need help, or maybe the Salvation Army needing vital donations to save starving kids. Her conscience got the better of her, and she got up off the bed to go get the door, Wee Willy trotting behind her like the man of the house that he was. When she got to the door, though, he started barking loudly, running around in circles. "Ach, shut it, fur ball," she told him and held him back with her foot so he wouldn't launch himself at the visitor. But when she got the door open, she froze in shock, blinking. Xander. It was Xander, and she was in duck pyjamas. "I dinnae even like ducks much!" she blurted out.

"Really? Well, that's good since I was just standing here thinking that what I really needed to get you to express my feelings properly was a pet duck. It could have been really, really awkward though if you weren't into the whole idea of ducks though," Xander commented with a smile as he looked at Airlie. Personally he was finding the duck pyjamas cute and appealing. "I also just have to say that I meant to ring the bell a lot earlier. Like, maybe six hours earlier, but I couldn't get out of my car. See, I tend to suffer from foot in mouth and I didn't want to mess this up. I was going to show up with some amazing speech, or maybe just some suave Bond moves that would have you back in my arms without a second thought. But amazing speeches aren't me unless I'm having a supremely good day, or talking Willow out of destroying the world, and I'm not Bond. I'm me, and if you still want me... I definitely want you, Airlie. I like you a lot, and I'm sorry I'm late, but I just wanted to get this right."

Airlie gave a nervous laugh at his joking, but then she clamped her mouth shut, still fully aware she was standing there looking like a complete giant dork in duck pyjamas. She might be Kindred, but she hadn't quite been of their world long enough to get the cool, sexy mojo happening. When she was on stage and had her music, she could pull it off, but without it, when it was just her and nothing else, the sexy just seemed to want to bugger off. "I... I just... um..." she stammered and then reached up to try and comb her hair into a more attractive mess than it was with her fingers. It was more of a nervous gesture, though. She didn't want to believe what he was saying just to have him change his mind. "I just thought you'd been busy... showing lassies how to rid the world of evil... and all that. You probably dinnae even get a lunch break, like. Or annual leave. Maybe nay even superannuation..." She was rambling, and still sounding like a dork. "Or maybe went to Paris. Which is very far away from Scotland... Thought you came to your senses and realised I wasnae worth the hassle..." she finally admitted quietly.

Xander did actually manage to wait for her ramble to get to a finish. He couldn't deny he liked ramblers. A part of him was always going to be attracted to them, attracted to the talkers. He was also struggling to see Airlie as the scary vampire chick. Then again, he'd never thought of her as a scary vampire. He'd thought of her as beautiful and out of his reach. Even now he wasn't sure why she'd want him, but it could work. He was never going to be able to love a 'normal' girl. He was the demon magnet. He was Xander Harris. And he stepped across the threshold of Rory's front door to cup Airlie's face in his hands and kiss her. "I'm not good enough for Paris. For whatever Buffy's doing. But if I'm good enough for you, then I'm in this. I'm in this all the way... and god, you really are beautiful. Even covered in ducks."

"I-I-I... I only got the ducks because there were nay sheep left," Airlie offered, feeling a little dizzy in the wake of the kiss. She looked over his face and then at his lips, and found that this time she was managing to fight off the urge to take it further. She was just completely wrapped up in the fact he was even here and he didn't hate her. At least, it didn't sound like he hated her, and people didn't kiss people they hated like that, right? "Paris isnae good enough for you," she added and wet her lips as she continued to look up at him in awe. Then, after a moment, she couldn't resist pinching his upper arm to make sure he was actually real.

"Hey!" Xander protested as he had to pull back to rub his arm. "I'm still delicate, you know. I'm not a Slayer, or anything special. I just have normal muscles, and normal skin. I bruise easy." He cracked a smile though and brushed his lips against the corner of hers before he pulled her into an embrace. "I really am sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I know it wasn't ideal. I was just a little busy with the... ah, murderers. Buffy was rethinking things before she disappeared. I think she's having magic regret. Only reversing this isn't as easy as returning a pair of shoes that don't fit."

Airlie rested her tongue between her lips sheepishly and then buried her face into his shoulder, drawing in his familiar scent. She hadn't forgotten it. It had plagued her in his absence, made her feel like she was hurting from the inside out. She hadn't claimed him, or marked him, or anything like that. She had just fallen for him, plain and simple, in the plain and simple way. "I'm sorry I called them murderers. Okay, nay really, but I'm sorry I hurt you when I called them murderers. You cannae blame magic when hearts are involved, and you cannae just reverse how a heart feels using magic, either. You can try, but it'll always come back and bite you firmly on the arse. I havenae heard so much aboot how Rory's going in Paris. He just mentioned GI Joe and accidental drunk sex."

"GI Joe?" Xander frowned as he tried to work out what an action figure had to do with anything before the penny dropped and he made a noise. "Oh. Oh. Riley Finn. Yeah, I guess he's GI Joe. Only less with the stiff legs and abnormally muscular arms. And as far as I'm aware he's anatomically correct, but I've only ever had Buffy's word on that I swear. So there was some drunken sex with Rory and Riley? There's... wow. I guess Paris really does make you want to do things differently." He rubbed his hand against Airlie's back and just took comfort in the fact she was in his arms again. He really had missed her. "Well, Buffy's heart isn't in her decision to jump start every Potential into Slayerhood. She's been pretty quick to wash her hands of them... Of us. Guess I can't really blame her. Suddenly the Mom and Pop Slayer business went even more global."

"Who's Riley Finn? See, I didnae get details. I just assumed it was Rory having accidental sex, but I didnae think it was with Buffy. Wasnae she going there for Blaise? I dinnae get it, I really dinnae. You know more than I do, and I want details. Getting them oot of Rory is like getting a chicken to turn into a duck on command. What makes you think Buffy would be having sex with Rory and the soldier guy? He is a soldier, right?" Airlie pulled back a little so she could see Xander's face and blinked in surprise. "She's gone to Paris for good? Why... are you sure? Why would she wash her hands of her best friends?"

Xander shut the door as he shuffled the two of them further into the house. "Blaise is the mysterious French dude, right? See, that part I don't know so much about. I know she was all stuck on the mysterious and the accent. But then she liked Rory's accent too, and at one point even he was mysterious until she saved his ass. She hasn't gone for good, she just doesn't seem to want to have anything to do with the Slayerettes. Which is fair enough, I guess. I mean, who would want to be the leader of a bunch of murderers. And yeah, you did really hurt me with that one. Only I do understand your point. I don't want you to think I don't. I thought maybe Buffy was having sex with the Frenchman and Rory and Riley were doing each other. But then I was only half listening since my mind just went to you and me having sex," Xander revealed sheepishly. "Riley's Buffy's ex. He's a soldier, and he could have been a great love but she just didn't want to let herself fall for him."

Airlie was looking up at him, her mouth hanging open. "You dinnae know anything about Blaise? Anything at all?" she repeated and then put her fingers up to her lips, wondering if it was actually her place to say anything. Why hadn't Buffy told her friends? Maybe she was just ashamed to have been involved with Kindred in any way, and now Xander was here. Would Xander change his mind if Buffy disapproved? But she waved her hands. "No... no, no, no. Rory's straight as an arrow. Has been his whole life. Nay even any hint of bicuriousity ever. He's a boob laddie, through and through. Sex? You want us to have sex together after what I... after last time?" She took his hand and dragged him into the living room. "I think you need to sit doon. If Buffy's slept with Rory or her ex, and she has been, um, getting involved with Blaise along the lines, she could be over there getting herself into a lot of mess."

Xander frowned as he watched Airlie. "What kind of mess? Because usually when she gets into a mess the world's either about to end, or there's hearts involved. Sometimes both. And okay, there were always gonna be hearts involved because hey - Frenchman. Only I'm getting the feeling now that you know more than I do, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing, or not."

Airlie sat down on the sofa and pulled Xander down next to her. "Do you know anything aboot Kindred beyond the fact I'm one? Anything at all?" she asked, her green eyes holding his gaze intently. She glanced around, knowing Rory had been doing research. Even moreso lately with Blaise involved. There was Kindred information around here from when Airlie's Sire had been teaching Rory. She just wouldn't even know where to find it.

Xander gave a shake of his head as he continued to watch her with his one eye. "No, nothing. You're my first and only source. It was a wake up call and everything, but still completely clueless here. Am I supposed to know more?"

Airlie scratched her head roughly, scrunching her nose up a little. "Well, aye... it would be less painful for me to have to explain it all. Just... I cannae promise I willnae do it withoot bawling, and trust me, when I cry, it isnae pretty. I've ruined more of Rory's clothes than I care to admit." She got up off the sofa and started trawling through Rory's bookshelf. There had to be something here, some sort of of book she could give Xander to at least know more. Until she froze, turning back to him and held up her hands. "Wait. You cannae tell any Slayers or anyone linked to Slayers any of what I tell you. You cannae. It's The Masquerade. It's our very essence. Buffy already probably knows too much, but her source of information calls the shots, so to speak."

"Buffy knows? But I didn't even talk to her about you!" Xander squeaked as he held his hands up. "I promised you because you made me promise. So unless Rory's the one breaking your silence, I didn't breathe a word. It's why it's taken me so long to get my thoughts straight. I'm a talker, I always have been. I need to be able to talk and ramble and listen to the sound of my own voice sometimes before I can decide anything. Even what boxers to put on. I haven't said a word so far, I'm not about to start."

Airlie stood there ringing her hands, already close to tears. "I dinnae really know how to explain it all properly. I mean, I dinnae know so much myself, just what I've learnt to survive, but I know enough. Buffy knows because... because... Blaise. He's Kindred. But he's nay just any Kindred. He's the Prince of the City. Which is kind of a skewed titled, because he's actually the Prince of all of France. It's just a fancy way of saying he bases in Paris. Which is gonna sound fucked up to you just thrown at you like that. Um... Kindred, we're like a whole race of our own. We exist among humans, and masquerade like humans to survive, but we still live in our own world. We have Clans, just like the Scots here. Clans are different bloodlines. You have the whole of Kindred, and then within that, different bloodlines. Different types of Kindred with different traits. Like, I'm what they call Toreador. Sort of the arty snobs of the bunch, to be blunt. Fuck... Rory has information!" she cried and stooped down, reaching behind the back shelf of the booksheld to where she knew he kept his x-rated porn. After dragging out a few highly questionable DVDs, she pulled out a journal that had all of Rory's notes on Kindred. "Oh thank fuck!" She did a small happy dance and then brought it back over to Xander, trying to ignore the fact he was gaping stupidly at her. "Each large city and country has a Prince. It could be male or female, but it is a Kindred who is usually very old and very experienced, who have worked their way up to the position. They rule above all else within the country, and they control the Clans, keep peace in the country amongst the Kindred and ensure the Masquerade is respected. They're literally royalty."

Xander was still gaping at her, but after a moment he just gaped at the journal that was suddenly in his lap. "Buffy's boinking Kindred royalty? I don't... I don't even know how to begin to process that. As if two vampires wasn't enough. And I really didn't mean that because I know you're Kindred, and I'm not changing my mind and you're amazing, and I mentioned beautiful, right? I didn't mean it like that. I just meant... Okay, I don't know what I mean anymore. Maybe just that they really are Buffy's type, and for once I think maybe I get it." Xander wet his lips and resisted the urge to scratch at the scar tissue under his eye patch. "Now I get why she hasn't told me much about the guy. She would have been sworn to secrecy too, right? Only allowed to talk to the ones that already know. Like Rory." Xander snorted as he flicked the pages of the journal. "She's not coming back."

"No... I... I dinnae think it's as simple as bonking Kindred royalty. Blaise Richelieu is... well, he's almost like a myth. I mean, people know he exists, and he's so fecking old. But I dinnae think he is just going to let Buffy into his world, let alone his bed, without there being some sort of trust happening there. And trust doesnae happen overnight, like. It never does. There's also the fact he isnae just Kindred royalty. He's royalty royalty. Like, he was the son of a French King hundreds of years ago. That's when he was embraced. The history books just say he went missing on a hunt, thought to be taken by wolves. Ironic, really. Some Kindred have the ability to turn into wolves. White wolves. Some of the more stronger ones can even go oot in the sun in that form. I dinnae doubt she has been sworn to secrecy, especially from you guys, who are, you know... army of murderers. I'm sorry! But it's true. Only, you lot arenae exactly honing in the right skills to take us doon. That's all I'm gonna say on that matter. You can see why I'm confused aboot the GI Joe involvement. If she has gone to be with Blaise, why is she sleeping with her ex? Or with Rory? If she even is. I'm confused now." Airlie looked over Rory's neat writing, complete with diagrams of the Kindred Clan symbols. She pointed to the info about Ventrue. "That's what he is."

Xander flinched at the description of the Slayerettes again, his lips pressing together as he bit back an argument. He didn't want to argue with Airlie. It was another part of why it had taken him so long to come back to her. He didn't have the energy to argue over the purpose of the Slayerettes. Airlie was never going to see them as anything else but murderers and it hurt. He gripped the journal tightly for a moment as he stared down at Rory's handwriting, but nothing was being absorbed. Only Airlie's voice. "He's genuine royalty. Huh. That would definitely explain the diamonds. Buffy said he was a businessman. I'm sure she said he was a businessman. This Masquerade stuff is pretty full on, isn't it? It's like deep, deep undercover. Riley came here to see Buffy, but she was already in Paris. Me and Will told him where to find her. I can't deny I was a little overjoyed the big man was looking for Buffy. I've always been Team Riley. I don't know this French dude. But if he hurts Buffy I'll just have to write a really, really angry letter. I'm not stupid enough to try and attack Kindred royalty." Xander looked at the diagram and squinted with his good eye as he tried his best to focus. "Ventrue? So he's like... oh, okay. That explains the businessman thing. They only drink one kind of blood?"

"He is a businessman. He owns some huge company in France, which is a real company, but also operates as a mask. Like everything else. It's nay really undercover, it's just... concealed. Like, my Sire. He's a rockstar. Famous. No one listens to his music and thinks, hey bloodsucker. We do what we can to survive. We remain as normal as we can be, but not masquerade and no masks can remove the fact we need blood to survive. We're not immortal, we can still love and be loved. We just have secrets. I havenae even scratched the surface with what you could know about Kindred. You can read Rory's journal, but I cannae let you take it away. It cannae fall into the wrong hands. Apparently, so far, other than Buffy, Slayers or Slayer lore have no knowledge of Kindred. We want it to stay that way. So, you, um... you sent this soldier laddie to see Buffy, even though Buffy was over there chasing another laddie?" She pulled a face slightly and glanced at him. "Awkward. Someone's gonna really get hurt, aye. Ventrue are basically the most powerful clan. Businessmen, tycoons. The rich and powerful. Nay all of them can only drink one sort of blood, but a lot of the more refined ones do. I dinnae mind for sure, but Rory indicated Blaise was one of them. Can only drink from people who have experience real, true love apparently. If they havenae, he'll pretty much reject the blood straight away. But he's the Prince. He willnae be short of people wanting to let him feed on them. He probably has people just for that purpose."

Xander slumped back against the sofa cushions as he just tried to process everything that Airlie was telling him, but he was aware it suddenly seemed bigger than he could manage. He missed the days of getting Monsters of the Week, and Big Bads with humble aims like becoming a giant snake and eating all of senior class. "Well, I didn't send him there. We just told him where she was. She hasn't exactly been open with what's been going on since she got there. I've only had a message to say she got there and that's been it. Guess she's just been lost in the City of Love." He cleared his throat as he touched his finger to the crest for the Toreadors before he looked up at Airlie. "Do you... have... people just for that purpose?"

"Well, Rory hasnae said a lot, either, but that's Rory. He isnae a fan of text messaging. Hates voicemail, too. He'd rather write a letter." Airlie watched him looking at the crest of her clan, a perfect rose. She shook her head a little and then gave a nervous laugh. "Nay, of course not. Do I look like royalty? He's the Prince. He would have a hell of a lot of people wanting near him. Someone like me just has to... do what they can. It took me long enough to get used to feeding. It isnae like the movies. You dinnae just wake with a hunger for blood. Nay all Kindred like it, they just tolerate it until they get to a point that they know no else. We can eat, too. Food. Just have to get rid of it later. All for appearance purposes, you see. The older, more experienced would be able to keep it in their systems for hours. Someone like me, I dinnae even bother. A wee bit of alcohol I can cope with, but that's aboot it."

"Right, right... okay. Sure. Um, but... how does it work when you're involved with someone. How will the feeding work between us?" Xander asked as he tried to start wrapping his head around what it really meant to date a Kindred. He was also thinking about what it felt like to have Airlie feed on him. The first time he couldn't remember, but the second he did. He definitely did. It hadn't freaked him out as much as he thought it would, but then he figured it had a lot to do with the who, not the actual act. "I think Rory must be the only guy left that likes writing letters. Apart from, ah, well, royalty."

"Rory's an old school laddie. Traditional at heart. He's an artist, he does everything the long way. The right way, so to speak." Airlie cleared her throat, looking at him before she averted her eyes again. "Well, I... I dinnae really know. Not so much anyway. See, I was a Kindred's date, and look what happened. I'm not say saying that happens all the time. It doesnae. I guess it's just always one of those risks. Like unsafe sex. Some lovers dinnae mind being fed off, others dinnae like it and Kindred just find their sustenance elsewhere. You've got to know, that as easy as it seems to assume that feeding is the equivalent of sex, it isnae. It can make sex amazing, but it's really just the equivalent of eating a burger."

Xander scratched the back of his neck before he reached out for Airlie's hand and gave it a soft squeeze. "Well, this is the part where I'm honest and admit to liking it. I didn't think I would. I wasn't sure I would. But it's also part of who you are, a little more so than the vamps I'm used to dealing with. Like Angel. Buffy's ex. He was all with the pints of pig's blood. I guess that's like going vegetarian, right? So I'm okay with the risk."

Airlie bit down on her lower lip and a tiny frown appeared on her face. "I didnae mean to hurt you that night. I really didnae. It was the first time since... just, I got caught up," she said hastily, changing the route of her comment. "I cannae drink animal blood. I'm a Toredor. I'm nay confined to a single type of blood, but my tastes are refined. We view animals as a thing of nature, a thing of beauty. Nay to say that humans arenae, but as snobby as it sounds, I have a specific taste I prefer. I couldnae drink from a pig, even if I wanted to."

Xander smirked a little. "Well, at least that means I'm not a pig. Do I really fit your refined tastes?"

Airlie held his gaze intently and had to bite down a little more firmly on her lip. "More than you realise, laddie..." she told him. "Dinnae be selling yourself short so much."

Xander brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed the back of it as he smiled. "Modesty has always been one of my few virtues, believe it or not. And I still say there should be sex."

Airlie went to shake her head, but she stopped and pushed some of the red strands away that had flopped in her face. "Are you sure? How can you want that after what I did to you last time?"

Xander set the journal down before he tugged Airlie closer, or at least tried to. She might be all about looking human, but she was still strong and it only worked if she was willing. "Because you're still... young. That's the right word for it, isn't it? I know it's not your fault, Airlie. I just wish you'd let me remember, that you didn't have to feel so ashamed that you wiped my memory. And to be perfectly honest, and a complete guy about this - I just really want amazing sex with you that I can remember. And because I'm still human and this is how I express how much I like you. I won't pretend this won't freak me out a little bit sometimes, but I'm not giving you up."

"I dinnae want you to be scared," Airlie told him softly, still feeling ashamed over the whole thing. "And I cannae give back what I took. I wish I could. It was just that you were the first person I had any deep feelings for since this all happened, and I dinnae think I really knew how to control them. I didnae understand them. It felt a lot more intense an attraction than I ever felt before I was Kindred and the sensation threw me. It sparked the hunger in me, and that's what I couldnae control. I just panicked. It willnae happen again. Kindred all over the world make this work, so there has to be a way to learn how to work it."

"I'm not scared, I'm just trying to adjust. There's a small difference. And hey, how often do I get to offer myself up to some sexy Kindred chick covered in ducks as her personal learning aide?" Xander gave her a soft smile as he tucked some strands of red hair behind her ear and gave her a kiss. "If it makes you feel any better, it's been a long time since I've had deep feelings for someone. A really long time."

It was on the tip of Airlie's tongue to apologise for that, but she realised that she really wasn't sorry. She didn't want to be anyone's rebound. She didn't want Xander's heart to be pointing in any other direction. In fact, she probably couldn't bear being near him if it was. The jealousy would be too strong for her to overcome at this juncture of her Kindred life. She reached down to pick up one of the dog toys lying around and toss it up the hall. "Go get the ball, Willy," she told him, and then turned back to Xander with a smile before catching his lips in a kiss that she deepened in just moments of the connection.

Words: 5183

musebysentence | 89.8 Preparation

2010-09-13T23:51:09Z

Xander had been sitting out the front of Rory's place for hours with his hands on the steering wheel as he tried to psych himself up to go and talk to Airlie.

musesandlyrics | 8.5. The Tudors quote

2010-08-16T09:51:29Z

8.5. "You think you know a story, but you only know how it ends. To get to the heart of the story, you have to go back to the beginning."
The Tudors

Co-written with lyricalembrace

Xander Harris was not cool. He knew it, and he had embraced it years ago. He was comfortable with his geekiness. He was comfortable with the fact he had owned a Hawaiian shirt and not a red silk one. He was even comfortable that he had no idea who Edward Cullen was. As far as he was concerned, it was enough to know that even Buffy didn't feel particularly drawn to that vampire - fictional, or not. He had always preferred comics and comfort over attempting to squeeze himself into leather pants.

So when he decided to check out the club Airlie played at, he'd quizzed Buffy extensively over what it was like. Even if it meant digging her out a sudden malaise she was getting lost in. He got the fact that the Frenchman had left, but he couldn't see why Buffy was so down about it when she hadn't even gotten together with him. Xander had had foreplay with Airlie. There had been an intent to have sex on both sides. Then he'd gotten sick and had a fight with her. Xander had more right to brood than Buffy.

It had made his heart sink to find out the club was Gothic, and no doubt filled with cool Scots that Xander would stand out in. He'd dressed in the darkest clothes he'd had in his wardrobe which just made him look like Nick Fury from Iron Man only not Samuel L. Jackson cool. It also made him feel more like he was on a mission than trying to find a woman he was finding himself missing more and more as the days went. He could have kicked himself repeatedly for his stupid behaviour after their near night together. Even if he still struggled to know why the fight had even happened.

As soon as Xander was in the club he just felt like an intruder. Everyone was beautiful, and glam and Goth. He stayed up on the second level so he could stick to the cover of a pillar and watch Airlie from a vantage point he hoped she wouldn't see him. She was amazing. On stage she seemed even more alive than when he was talking to her, and if Xander hadn't fallen hard before, he was definitely faceplanting the ground now with the force of the growing crush.

It was a busy night, the bar having a reputation for the evening crowd to grow even more during the Festival season in Edinburgh. Tourists liked to stay out late, and Airlie always picked up more work during these times. It was fine with her, it was a good distraction from all the crap in her life... or non-life, rather. Music helped her forget what she was, and why she was what she was. More and more lately, she was cursing the ground the fucker who Embraced her walked on, even if she had loved him with her whole heart and soul. He slipped, and she more than knew how it felt to slip. It was probably why she was so conscious of it herself, and pulled back on Xander before anything could get out of hand. It didn't stop the lust, though. It didn't stop the hunger.

She sensed him as soon as he was there, drawing to the end of her set. But she didn't let on, not until she reached the end of her song and her eyes slipped from the piano keys in front of her to turn to the second level of the bar above. With the spotlights on her, though, it was hard to see much up there. She had been at it for a couple of hours now, so she was due a break, and after a brief conversation with her colleague who was taking the stage now, she disappeared from the spotlights during her applause. She came up behind Xander once she was upstairs, watching him looking down at the lower level. She was a vampire, afterall, she had speed and agility on her side, as well as the knack for being dead silent in approaching people. Her fingers touched the pendant around her neck as she debated whether she should even say anything, or just keep her distance. It was impossible to ignore him, though. "Dinnae stalkers carry binoculars?" she asked, leaning close to his ear from behind.

Xander reached out to grip the railing as he heard her voice, trying hard not to squeal or wet himself from fright. Even after years by Buffy's side, he could still get caught by surprise. He turned his head enough to be able to see that it was Airlie behind him before he let out a rush of air and held his other hand to his heart. "Are you some kind of sexy Scottish ninja? It's not nice to sneak up on someone, you know. Even if they are stalking you. And for the record, binoculars are kind of visionist. I've only got the one working eye, so I'd probably more need a small telescope and that just looks a little too suspicious."

Airlie had on a long emerald green raw silk strapless dress. It was her favourite colour, her parents dressing her in a lot of green ever since she was wee because it complimented her eyes. She looked down at herself and then met his eyes again. "Pretty sure ninjas dinnae opt for evening gowns on account of them being all... ninjaey," she replied with a small shrug of her slender shoulder. "Even Lara Croft didnae wear a skirt. I'm also nay the one hiding behind pillars, even if they are very fine pillars. I was quite convinced you would never step foot into this place..."

"Never underestimate a man with a patch," Xander said as he pointed to the eye-patch and turned to face her properly. His jaw slackened a little before he cleared his throat and waved his hand at her. "You look more gorgeous than any ninja ever could. Black's highly overrated anyway. Green is very much your colour. You should... You're wearing the pendant," he said as his gaze fixed on the thistle nestled against her throat. "Me and the pillar have an understanding. It's strictly a platonic relationship. I wasn't sure if you'd appreciate me just crashing your space."

Airlie's hand went back to her throat and her fingers closed around the pendant almost defensively, like she was expecting him to remember what happened that night and steal it back when he realised how much of a fraud she was. She was hit with an overwhelming urge to come clean, but with so many people around, the words faltered before they came out and she cleared her throat. "It's beautiful, why wouldnae I be wearing it?" she murmured. "I did invite you, I just thought... doesnae matter. I think too much."

Xander couldn't help but flash her a lopsided grin. "That makes too of us. Just sometimes the thoughts aren't always finished when they start spewing out of my mouth. And I wasn't sure if you'd wear it or not after... Well, the fight. I really am sorry about that morning, Airlie. You took care of me after I passed out on you, and then I just stick my foot in it. You didn't deserve it."

"Aye, I did. I did. I havenae been entirely honest with you..." Airlie admitted and wet her lips. She fought the urge to hug herself like some sort of protective shield and glanced around, still feeling like she was in the spotlights. "I just cannae tell you why here. There's too many people, tourists, Edinburgh's riddled with them at this time of year."

Xander nodded and reached out to take her hand. "Then let's get out of this place before someone thinks I'm a really bad undercover cop trying to do a drug bust. You were amazing, by the way. Your playing. I've never seen anything like it."

It was probably a good thing that Kindred didn't have the ability to get nauseous like a human, because right then she knew she would be if she could be, just out of anxiety about coming clean to him. In fact, she was suddenly terrified again, considering his Slayer link, and she balked. She couldn't help it. "I... I... thank you," she stammered, hating the dress choice for having no pockets that she could bury her hands in. "Where are we going?" she asked.

Xander blinked. "Um, I didn't actually get that far in the thinking. I assumed you had some place in mind," he admitted with a nervous chuckle. "That time my brain let me down thanks to underthinking. First time for everything, huh? Where do you want to go?"

Airlie just looked at him for a few lingering moments. She didn't want to take him back to her place. She was scared she couldn't completely trust him, despite the fact he had been there before. Before, when they had argued over vampire murderers and Airlie took it to heart. No matter how she tried to look at it, she knew she wouldn't have reacted any differently. She couldn't be tolerant of people who wanted to kill her. "Maybe a hotel," she suggested.

Xander gave a nod. "Sure, sure... okay. Hotel." He really shouldn't have expected her to invite him back to her place again. He probably wouldn't have wanted him in his house after the argument either. The hotel wasn't telling him anything, though. He didn't know what that meant. But she was still talking to him, and she hadn't pulled away from his hand yet. "I passed one a couple blocks away from here. It's not the flash one near the castle, but I think it at least has privacy."

Airlie gave a small laugh and shook her head. "I cannae afford the flash one near the Castle. Always wanted to stay there since I was wee because it looked so glamorous and beautiful, but that's the beauty aboot Edinburgh. You can get the same beauty in wee little places for probably an eighth of the price. Hidden Edinburgh is where the beauty really lies. Places tourists will never even touch, like. I miss--" She managed to cut herself off before she finished the thought. She was going to say she missed seeing it in the sunlight. "I miss having the time to really enjoy it," she finally added. "Just let me get my coat and my bag, and then we can head oot." She glanced at her watch, checking the time. There was still a few hours until the early Scottish summer sunrise. Scotland was a bitch for Kindred in the summer. It stayed light until nine or ten at night, and was light again around four am. It was lucky she had a good DVD player.

Xander arched an eyebrow. "You gotta be somewhere else? I can wait. This can wait if you have more important things to do." He watched her for a moment before he gave a slight tug on her hand. "Hey, let me pay, okay? I'll slurge on the 'flash one near the Castle' if it's something you've always wanted. I still want to make up for being such a douche. I don't often use the word, but I think it is totally valid right now. But if you just wanna go somewhere secluded, that's okay with me too." He bit his lip when he realised he was working up to a ramble. "I'll just meet you outside. Think about the hotel offer, okay?"

Airlie watched him go, heading down the stairs. She turned back to head to the staff area to collect her things, putting her hand up to her mouth and pressing her fingers to her lips when an urge to feed from him hit her again. This was really going to take a lot of inner strength and self-control. Or maybe she needed something to get her through the urges. She took a detour into the ladies room and hovered at the sink for a moment, watching a couple of women come and go. When a woman in a long blue dress came in alone, Airlie flashed her a hint of a smile. The woman didn't really have a chance to realise anything was going on before Airlie pounced on her and pulled her into the last cubicle of the row. She fed quickly, trying to take in as much as she could just to the point of the woman passing out. It was a struggle to pull back, but she managed it, licking her lips before tracing her tongue over the two puncture marks on the woman's throat. A glance in the mirror indicated Airlie had a renewed glow to her features and hopefully she could pass it off to make up if Xander noticed. She exited the club, stepping out onto the Edinburgh sidewalk and her heals clicking softly on the stone. "I cannae let you pay for that hotel," she admitted as she came up beside him. The urge to throw him against the wall was gone... for now. "It's really expensive. Sean Connery has even stayed there. James Bond himself."

"James Bond? I always did love Connery as Bond... Daniel Craig's not bad, but it's the buff blond thing. There's only room for one blonde Buffy in my life." He cringed even as her name escaped his mouth, realising all too late that mentioning a person they'd had a fight over wasn't a smart move. But then Buffy was his best friend. He couldn't not talk about her. He cleared his throat as he offered her his arm. She really was gorgeous, even more so out of the club. He could barely take his eye off her. The wait for her had been agony, Xander spending the time thinking about nothing but the foreplay they'd engaged in and then finishing what they'd started at some point. He wanted Airlie more than anything. "So scratch that hotel. Just lead me to something that isn't shaken, or stirred."

Airlie stopped walking on the street corner, both roads desserted. All the nightlife must be inside and she just couldn't take it anymore. She turned to him, and her green eyes locked on his intensely. "I have to tell you something," she told him, her voice coming out just a little like a purr when her emotions started to get short-circuited again. It happened. She could find herself crossing anger with passion, or nerves with lust. It was all part of trying to find her Kindred feet. You had to even learn how to feel a different way, not just learn how to walk in a difference physical body. She lifted her chin a little, looking over his features in the pool of light from the street lamp above. Taking his hand, she pulled him into the shadows by the wall of a little tartan shop and her fingertips traced over the contours of his cheek and jaw. It would be so easy to just lean in and claim him. She didn't, though. "It wasnae just foreplay that night."

Xander's mind was still creating a lot of wild fantasies, but where in his mind he was going to be the strong and forceful one getting her up against a wall, he found that Airlie was definitely the one in charge. Even with that little purr thing she did. "Are you Catwoman?" he found himself blurting out, and really did smack his hand against his forehead this time. "I'm sorry. I read a lot of comics as a kid. Sometimes still do. My mind goes weird places." He looked down at her and tried not to appear too confused as she continued. "I know, I got sick. So there was a whole looking after me scenario that shouldn't have happened."

Airlie quirked a cynical eyebrow at him. "Do I look like I like cats?" she asked with a hint of annoyance in her tone. She felt like banging her head against the wall in frustration. He wasn't going to make this easy for her at all. Rory would have probably been onto it right away, niggling away at her for more info. He had a weird knack for putting his finger on things that pissed her off sometimes. She hoped the French chick who wanted in his knickers was getting a taste of that and it wasn't just all Airlie. Instead, she had to work her way around Xander and she was starting to get more and more worried he would run off into the sunset screaming... or pull a stake on her. Which would be annoying, and lead to even more questions. She shook her head slowly. "Nay, laddie. That's nay what I meant. More than foreplay..." She held his gaze, wondering how blatant she was going to need to be. She had a feeling she might be needing to spell it all out for him.

Xander held her gaze as he listened. And then stared. He wasn't a complete idiot and when he stopped his mind from working overtime long enough to let her meaning sink in, his eye went wide and he pointed at her briefly before he pointed at himself and then back at her. "But I don't remember it! And that sucks. It really, really sucks. Was I bad? Drunk?" He frowned as he continued to look at her. "I'd remember if I had se--Thrall! You thralled me! You made with the thrall and now I can't remember... I can't believe I fell for that again. Why does everyone just assume they can manipulate my mind and not realise that I might actually care?!" He took a breath, but he didn't run away. Mostly because he still wasn't sure why she'd done the mind wipe. "Was it that bad?"

Airlie got a little pissy then and threw her hand up with a frown. "What the feck is a fecking thrall?!" she snapped, shooting him a glare. "Stop talking in Yank, you're going to give me a freaking headache! Whatever that is I obviously didnae make with it because I dinnae know what it fecking is! Was what bad? No. Why are you assuming it was bad? Did you have erectile issues in the past or something, because you're really annoying with the insecurity sometimes, you know. Make a lassie feel like she is all stupid for even trying!"

"I don't mean to make you feel stupid," Xander replied quietly as he sobered up. "I'm just not used to women like you wanting a guy like me. You're amazing. You're beautiful, you're talented. You're Scottish. It just takes some adjusting, Airlie. I'm sorry. No more Yank, I promise. Well, just a little Yank. I don't think you'll appreciate my Connery impression. Okay, so not thrall. But I don't remember what happened after the foreplay, so I'm just trying to understand here."

Airlie sobered too and she wet her lips, putting her hand up to tug on her lower one. "That's why I need to talk to you... tell you. But before I do, I just want to get oot of the way that I'm nay Catwoman, or Wonder Woman, or Batgirl, or any of the X-Men or even Lara Croft. Just so we're clear," she said with a nod, hoping that would at least halt anymore comic book references. It wasn't like she was old Kindred. She knew modern times because she came from modern times, and her ex was into comic books and the like. "I made you forget, but nay that thing you said. I had to make you forget. I panicked. I didnae want to, but I had to."

Xander reached out reflexively to rest his hand on her shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Hey, hey. It's okay. Whatever it is, I won't judge. I've seen a lot of things over my short time. You can just tell me, okay? I mean, it must have been serious for you to have just wanted to make me forget. But you panicked, and I guess I get that. What happened?"

"This happened..." Airlie murmured and glanced up at him as she grabbed his wrist. She held his gaze just for two beats before she put his wrist to her lips and bit down, piercing the flesh with her fangs, her green eyes falling closed as his blood filled her mouth and rushed over her tongue. He tasted so sweet. Nothing had compared in the wake of feeding from him. She couldn't help herself. She just needed a little bit more before he walked away from her and never looked back.

Xander watched transfixed, the panic inside him giving way to unabashed fascination. He had hung around with a few vampires in his time, but none of them had fed on him. And none of them had looked the way Airlie had looked. Then the feeling of euphoria started to slip over him, and he was sure he was dying. Nothing was supposed to feel this good, how could it? "Airlie..." he gasped out and reached for her with his other hand.

As much as she wanted to keep going, she didn't want him unconscious. She had slipped last time, she didn't want it to happen again. There was a strength inside her that she drew on to pull back... a want to never end up being like the man who did this to her. She never wanted to Embrace someone against their will and that is what had her so intent on trying to control herself. She lifted her head, swallowing as she licked her lips, her red hair tumbling down her back as she kept a firm grip on his wrist with both hands. Her eyes were still hungry when they met his, but her tongue darted out and she slowly swept it over the wounds on his wrist and they healed over immediately. She rose up and pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips and then her tongue trailed across his lips.

Xander initiated the kiss before his mind even caught up with what he was doing, so many emotions at play that he didn't even know which one he was supposed to process first. Buffy was the one always falling for vampires. Xander was the demon magnet. And for once he was actually glad of it. He'd never met anyone like the redhead in front of him, and he couldn't help but be a little proud that she seemed to want his blood above any others. But after a moment he pulled away, and just looked at her as his chest rose and fell with shallow breaths. "Wait... please... I just need a sec here."

Airlie took a step away from him so she was out of his personal space. She couldn't help still watching him like she wanted more, though. Her green eyes had changed with the hunger and she drew her lower lip in between her teeth while her fingers brushed restlessly back and forth across the silk of her dress at her sides. "I'm nay like others," she offered quietly. Rory had told her that Buffy and the Slayers knew nothing of Kindred, and it had placated her just a little in fleeing Scotland completely. He had assured her she would be safest here and he really would protect her. That didn't mean it made her any less nervous what Xander was caught up with, she just couldn't help her hunger and attraction for him. From the moment she had met him, she had a lust for him. She just never thought it was anything beyond a curiosity to play with something forbidden.

"I figured out that much," Xander murmured as he reached up to run his fingers through his hair as he stared down at the other wrist that should have been bloody and featuring tell tale fang marks. But there was nothing. "So, you... after we... I don't understand why you made me forget. Did I want it? Did I... like it?" He was looking at her again, and saw the change in her eyes. There was a silver tinge to them and he involuntarily shuddered. He couldn't help but just be a little intimidated. Vampires were still strong, beautiful, undead. And of course they had that hunger for blood, and Airlie really did seem to have a taste for his blood. "Because I'm not reacting how I thought I would," he admitted.

Airlie looked up at the sky to the moon and the stars, trying to guage how much longer it would be until the sun started to peak. Her watch told her a few hours, but she still got nervous about making it inside in time. "How did you think you would react?" she asked, looking back to him as she started to play with the ends of her long, red hair. She needed something to do with her hands to stop her reaching for him again when he needed the space. "You wanted it. You knew you wanted it when we started. But I lost control. I'm a... I'm young. I sometimes struggle to distinguish between hunger and passion when I get... emotional. I lost control and I drained you. That's when I panicked. I'm sorry I panicked... I'm nay sorry I fed from you."

Xander took a step towards her before he pulled her into a hug and just held her against his chest as he rest his chin on the top of her head. He couldn't stand her looking so restless, it was making him even more nervous. Of course he knew he risked the chance of probably getting bitten again. A strange part of him did like it. He didn't fully understand the why. He'd spent so long determined that no vampire would want his blood even if he'd always made jokes about being moist and delicious. "Why aren't you sorry you fed from me?"

He had avoided her question and she tried not to let that annoy her. But the way he was holding her, his throat was just inches away from her lips and she reached up to tease her fingers across his pulse point, feeling like there was almost an electricty of temptation there. "Because I wanted it..." she purred and licked her lips. "I needed to. It wasnae enough... I needed more, I had to have more," she said and then she had to pull away and hold her hands up when she nearly just did it, nearly breached that gap with her lips just to taste him again. "Please, just dinnae... I can control it, I just need to concentrate on it."

Xander gave a nod and tucked his hands in his pockets as he looked at her again. "Okay. I won't. Sorry. This is all new for me too, you know. I've been demon catnip before but never... How young are you? Vampire wise, I mean." Goosebumps had broken out across his skin after he'd felt her fingers on his pulse point and he gave another shudder before he pulled his mouth to the side. "Before, when you asked how I thought I'd react? I figured there might have been some screaming, maybe a little running away. But it's you, and I like you, Airlie. I do. I've loved a vengeance demon when she was both a former and a current. Vampires have never been high up on my list because of Buffy's exes. It's nothing to do with you. Really. You're... still amazing. Just insatiable," he added with a lopsided smile to show he meant it teasingly.

"Living with an army of vampire murderers, would you really have reason to be scared?" Airlie asked, raising her eyebrow a little in question. She started to pace slowly back and forth in front of him, her heels clicking softly on the cobblestones of the side street. "A wee bit over a year. So... the equivalent of, say, if someone shoved you in the pilot's seat of the concord and told you to fly it for ten years non-stop with nay training? That's a wee bit of how I feel right now. Compared to your lifespan, I've been like this maybe barely a few minutes. That is how my brain is trying to cope. Imagine waking up from a deep sleep thinking and feeling like you are someone and something completely different that you dinnae understand at all. Only everything you knew before? You cannae rely on. It doesnae work. It'll never work again."

"They scare the shit out of me. Never get between ten girls and one of the few bathrooms in a castle. It's just asking to be trampled." Xander was trying to joke about it, but he still knew that the Slayerettes were a touchy subject. "Buffy's... She's been rethinking what the plan is with them. Just so you know. It sounded like she'd been talking to you, but I guess it wasn't you since you hate her and all. She'd never hurt you, though. She's actually pretty good at discerning which vampires to murder. You also know that she's part of the package, right? And a redheaded witch. And a British guy. They're my friends. Buffy and Willow are my best friends. So you can't escape her completely. You're telling me about what you are, so I'm assuming you need it off your very, very nice chest so everything's out on the table, yeah? Because you... do you want me? Want an us? Because Buffy's my condition. I'm not going to stop being friends with her." He wanted to reach out and touch her again, but this time it was Xander respecting the fact that Airlie needed the space. "I can't even imagine what it's like for you. I was possessed by the spirit of a hyena demon thing before, but never been a vampire. I'm sure it's stupid of me, but I'm not going anywhere, okay? I've never been one to reject a girl because of her supernatural qualities."

Airlie growled softly and paused in her pacing to shoot him an intense glare. "Did I tell you to stop being friends with her?" she snapped. She held her hand up, really not wanting to hear right now about all the positives of Buffy. That was something she would need more time to get used to at her own pace. Rory was a Hunter, but he had never particularly been focused on vampires. Plus, she knew she could trust him and he would protect her. She didn't know that of Xander, and definitely didn't know that of Buffy. He could stand here and talk until he was blue in the face, but she needed proof she could trust him. Until then, she wouldn't be able to help being on her guard. "Right now, I want to slap you stupid for laying out conditions when I'm trying to explain things to you. Are you purposefully trying to piss me off? This is my issue, not Buffy's. She more than has an adequate source of Kindred information, and she would have to be a complete idiot to piss him off. You want to know what my condition is? Just quit talking about her for five minutes. Excuse me for being a fecking vampire who doesnae want to constantly hear about vampire Slayers! How would you like me to be belting on aboot a bunch of chicks who have taken it upon themselves to decide to kill everyone who wears eye patches, huh? It would piss you off too! Hallelujah for her having awesome vampire discerning new plans. Throw a party and get matching t-shirts! But just for tonight, can I please nay hear aboot her while I try and help you understand? I dinnae care if Buffy understands, all I care is if you do. But if you cannae do anything without her opinion or permission, then this ends right here, right now. I'll walk away and you'll never see me again, because seriously, it sounds like she well has you by the short and curlies. This isnae aboot needing bullshit off my chest, Xander! This is what I am. And I'm gonna keep being what I am for a lot longer than you will even walk this earth. Cold, harsh truth, but truth all the same."

"What's a Kindred?" Xander asked her, starting the clock on the five minutes. He hadn't realised he'd spoken about Buffy that much, but considering he'd spent so much time with her over the years maybe it was hard not to talk about her. He was also only trying to help Airlie understand that she wasn't in any danger from Buffy, or the Slayers. Or him. He'd let her feed from him and hadn't said a goddamn word. He hadn't told her not to, just told her he needed a moment after it had happened. He also wasn't about to ask her what she did want from him in case she growled at him again.

"I'm Kindred," Airlie replied quietly. A confused and scared frown had come to rest on her features again and she hugged herself, looking down at the cobbles at their feet. She was still feeling like this was a bad idea. She felt like a small kitten facing the big wide scary world of vultures out there and she had no idea how to shake it. Xander was the second person she had ever told about this. There were other Kindred who knew, those her Sire had introduced her to in the wake of her Embrace so she wasn't entirely alone in the city. Her boss at the club was Kindred, and it helped her find her feet in the world, but that didn't mean she wasn't still scared. "A race of vampire. We dinnae call ourselves that. Nay really, because we arenae like the others. We dinnae get turned, we get Embraced... drawn into a new bloodline. We live among humans, we exist with them to survive."

Xander was frowning as he followed along, realising now why he was caught off guard finding out she was a vampire. Kindred. He was also beginning to realise why they'd never heard of them before. Clearly they worked hard to keep themselves concealed. Airlie was revealing herself to Xander though, and that had to be huge for her. He placed his hand on her shoulder before moving it up to cup her face. "I'm still not going anywhere."

Airlie was still scared, but she was trying to shake it. She wanted more than anything to be able to trust Xander like she did Rory. She wanted him to protect her, she just had no way of knowing if he could. She looked up at him, her eyes shining in the light from the lamp. "I was Embraced against my will," she admitted in a whisper. "This shouldnae be me. I want to be me again."

Xander moved in closer again, and kept one hand cupped against her jaw as the slipped around her waist and he rubbed his hand against her back. "Is there any way to reverse it? To make you you again? So... I take it getting Embraced isn't something that gets done without consent. That's something. A lot of the other vampires... They're definitely made against their will."

Airlie gave a slight laugh, but her face fell again as she shook her head. "I'm dead. You should know that much," she reminded him, even if she appreciated the fact he was trying to help. "My heart doesnae beat, I dinnae breathe..." She pointed to her chest, indicating that she wasn't inhaling or exhaling. She still did, though. It was a ruse she was taught to keep up, if she could manage it. She shook her head. "No, no... it's the worst crime of our kind to Embrace against will. It is punishable with death. But I... I covered for my Sire. It was an accident, he lost control. I said I wanted it to save his life."

Xander pressed his lips together for a moment as something flared up inside him. He wasn't sure if it was anger, or possessiveness. It was an odd feeling. Part of him was definitely angry that Airlie had been Embraced against her will, even if they guy had 'lost control'. The other part of him wasn't sure what this Sire would mean to her. He knew only a little about the relationship between vampire and sire, but he had to wonder if it was different to Kindred. "Are you with him?"

"No. I was, when it happened. But after that, I just... I wanted to kill him. It was something I couldnae control, and even though I'll always love him, the passion and the romance were gone. He took away my innocence and that's something I couldnae ever forgive him for. We're still in contact, but it was better that I wasnae in his presence. He worked with Rory to teach him all about Kindred and help him understand, and then he left. Rory's all I've had ever since it happened," Airlie told him and found the emotion take her by surprise and a single tear of blood dripped down her cheek.

"Okay, good. Because I'm not sure I'm really supposed to be duelling it out with Kindred over your honour. Kinda defeats showing you that I'm not a murderer." Xander brushed away the tear with the backs of his fingers and held her gaze. He'd never seen blood tears before, but it made sense when a vampire's bodily fluid was blood. It was what they fed on. It made his mind go to a gross place with another thought, but he didn't bring it up to ruin the moment. "He's not all you have now."

As difficult as it was, Airlie knew she had to take a high ground here. She held his gaze for a long time and then gave her head a small shake. "You have to understand what you're saying with that. You have to go away and really think aboot what all this means because I need all or nothing. I'm still so young, I'm still learning myself... and there are sacrifices. You need to know, Xander, and dinnae tell me right now that you do. You havenae had time to really know for sure."

Xander held up a hand as he looked at her. "But what's the all? What are you actually asking of me? I need to know some of what I have to think about, don't I?" He wasn't going to be dumb enough to say that he knew. He didn't. He understood that she was Kindred. He understood there was going to be a lot of blood related activities. He also knew that even if she was a vampire, Airlie had already made a mark on him.

Airlie lifted her chin and held his gaze. "Ask Buffy. I guarantee, one hundred percent, that she knows... she gets it. Ask her," she prompted quietly.

He gave a slight nod before he dropped his gaze to his shoes, wondering if he really did want to ask Buffy. He also got the feeling that this was going to be it for the night. He was going to have to go away and think about everything before Airlie would let him near her again. Xander wasn't sure how long that would take, he wasn't even sure what exactly was going through his mind as he closed the gap completely and caught her lips in a kiss. He did know that he needed it. He needed something before he had to forego seeing her again.

Words: 6664

For lyricalembrace

2010-08-13T09:44:12Z

A package is delivered to Airlie's home with a Scottish Thistle Love Knot tucked inside a velvet box.

With it is a note:

I can't even begin to tell you how much I regret my foot ever entering my mouth. I saw this, and all I could think about was you. All I can think about at all is you...

If you can ever forgive me, I'd like to see you again.

Xander.

just_muse_me | 31.1 Lost

2010-08-10T10:42:36Z

Co-written with gr8muppetyodin
[Follows THIS and THIS]

“We’re doing it wrong.”

Xander glanced over his shoulder at Buffy approaching and gave her a tired smirk. “We’re not doing it at all, so how can we be getting it wrong?”

Buffy slipped her arm under her friend’s as they both leaned against the stone wall of one of the turrets in the castle and gazed down at the Slayerettes training below. “Ha, ha. I’m talking about this… Them.”

“Ah, okay. My mistake. Guess I just have messed up sex on the brain.” Xander bit his lip as he went back to frowning. “The night with Airlie didn’t exactly go as planned. Not only did I apparently flake out after foreplay, we then had an argument about this… Them. You.”

Buffy watched Xander’s face carefully, her lips forming a thin line. She’d picked him up from the redhead’s, but hadn’t asked anything about what had happened. She knew he’d looked like crap, but Xander had just pulled the silent act, and done a pretty good impression of Angel back in his broody days. And then Buffy had had her date with Blaise, so it wasn’t like they’d seen much of each other. Everything the Ventrue Prince had told her was still fresh in her mind, making her consider the future of her ‘army’. “That really sucks, Xan. I’m sorry. Funny how we seem to be arguing with Scots about what we’re doing lately… Even me and Rory got a little heated about This. Pretty sure it definitely constitutes a capital letter now.”

“Agreed,” Xander replied as he took Buffy’s hand in his. “So why do you think we’re doing it wrong, Fearless Leader?”

Buffy arched an eyebrow at the title, but let it slide. Lately she wasn’t exactly feeling like the Fearless Leader. In fact, she was feeling like the leader who wanted to retire, move away and start living a little more selfishly. She had things she now wanted to do on her own. She also had a pile of regrets that were catching up with her. “They shouldn’t be here. We made a mistake, and now we’re stuck with it. But I think the way we’re training them, it’s wrong. I just can’t seem to grasp onto a plan that works. Anything I come up with seems stupid. Like splitting them up into smaller groups and sending them around the world. Bl—People will just assume they really are out to murder and kill off any and all demon races.”

“Sure you haven’t been talking to Airlie? She called them murderers.”

Buffy shook her head. “No, I haven’t. But maybe she’s right. We need to fix what we’ve done, Xan. We need to do this properly. I need to know I’m not wasting my leadership. Because right now, all I want to do is get out. This isn’t what I wanted. I don’t want an army.”

Xander shifted to hug Buffy, and kissed the top of her head as they turned away from the girls training below them. Faith was leading them in weapons training, and Xander couldn’t help but picture Airlie and their fight all over again. He still didn’t understand why she’d been so riled up when Rory was a Hunter. The only difference between the Scotsman and Buffy was that Rory hadn’t been given mystical power to help him, nor did he have a little army of kilted Scots under his guidance. “I know, Buffster. Trust me. I’m just not any more cluey about how to stop this than you are. Maybe you do need to get away for a bit. No one will hold it against you. Me, Will and Giles can work out on the how. Maybe even Faith. There has to be some way to fix it.”

“He’s going to go back to France,” Buffy murmured, changing the subject dramatically. “And he gave me diamonds. He actually thinks I’m diamond worthy.”

“She’s never going to speak to me again,” Xander replied with a sad sigh.

Buffy glanced up at him. “You really flaked after the foreplay?”

Xander cleared his throat and pushed her back towards the edge of the turret. “Hey, this is about your regrets, not mine.”

Buffy gave him a small smile. “Hope the foreplay was at least memorable for her.”

Xander pointed a finger at her. “I really will pack you up in a crate and ship you to Paris myself if you don’t let up.”

Buffy held her hands up in surrender as she smiled. “Okay, okay. But at least I have follow through.”

Words: 757

just_muse_me | 32.4. Incapacitate

2010-08-08T00:57:13Z

Co-written with lyricalembrace
[Follows THIS]

Xander was fighting that moment where his brain was trying to wake up and the rest of him wanted to stay asleep. He even mumbled something in protest - or perhaps something more to do with the giant hot dog chasing him in his sleep - and would have rolled over if he didn't slowly realise he was very nicely tucked up behind a warm body. A warm, soft, female body. The night before was starting to come back to him, and this time Xander didn't fight waking up so he could crack open his eye and check to make sure there was flaming red hair right in front of him.

There was.

He could remember the foreplay vividly, but everything after that seemed to just... fade. Maybe he'd lost himself in a haze of lustiness and the sex had been so good, he'd already forgotten it? It could happen, right? But he was sure if he had sex with Airlie, he would have remembered. He would have taken mental images and wanted to memorise every second because she was amazing, and sexy, and Scottish, and she wanted him.

Xander frowned just a little as he tried to force himself to remember the rest of the night, but all he got was the before. There was coming to her apartment after meeting at the pub. There was the kissing, and the definite lusty feelings. There was a slight moment of hesitation because he wasn't so sure that sex was like riding a bike and he would automatically remember everything. But then there was more kissing, and her hand went--

Xander stopped himself before he finished that train of thought. He was tucked up behind a sexy redhead and he really wasn't sure she'd appreciate a boner poking her in the back. This time he did roll away, even if it was reluctantly. He straightened his eye patch and looked down at his mostly naked body. There was still one sock attached to his foot and he really did refuse to go without the eye patch. No one needed to look at the damage underneath. Healed or not, it was not a pretty sight. He turned his head to look over at Airlie again, surprised to see she'd rolled over without him noticing and her green eyes were looking at him. "Hey," he greeted her hoarsely.

Airlie didn't answer immediately. She held his gaze, her tongue trailing just briefly across her lower lip. Unlike Xander, the memories of the previous night were vivid in her mind, and it was taking all of her self control not to press him back against the bed and go immediately for his throat. Again. She couldn't help it. This was the hardest part for her. She was only a child, in the language of the Kindred. She had only been embraced about a year prior and she was still very much learning how to cope with her urges and the hunger. Sometimes, it got the better of her. In the midst of a deep passion, it was almost unbearable and impossible to fight. It was the very reason why Rory didn't let her sleep with him anymore. Sure, they had a friends with benefits thing once. Just the once. But when she was embraced and went to him for help, by the time he had done all the research and absorbed everything her Sire could tell a mortal about Kindred, Rory threw up a hands-off policy quicker than one could say 'Dracula'. She respected that and she respected the fact she couldn't feed off her closest friend. If she did, she would get a taste for him and want it all the time, but she had to learn to cope on her own without him because one day, he wouldn't be there.

This was different, though. Xander was fun, he intrigued her and amused her. It played right into her desires, and she just had to have him. Even before her Embrace, she was never shy. She loved to flirt with the best of them and he reacted in the most sweetly naive ways that it just had her even more hot. He was fun to play with, but it was more than that. Once they got going, it turned out he more than knew what he was doing. It got heated and intense quickly, especially once Airlie's arousal and desire kicked in, inevitably closely followed by her hunger. The sex was amazing, and she wouldn't deny the fact she used her power of presence and allure as a Toreador to maybe kick things up a few voltages. He was a tiger in bed once she indulged in that. The feed was better than any orgasm, especially considering the fact he didn't protest. Oh no, he didn't protest at all. In fact, once she bit down on his throat and tasted him, he had begged her for more and there was no turning back.

It really did take all her effort to pull back, though. She could have gone the whole way, but she knew the rules. She knew the consequences. He didn't know what she was, and she had no intentions of telling him. She stopped, breathless as she watched, mesmirized, at the trickle of blood from the two punctures on his throat as she had licked her lips in the wake of it. She really had no choice but to stop, to heal him and to make him forget. Kindred were furnished with the ability to wipe a mortal's mind of certain events that revealed their kind... for the purpose of the Masquerade. She lapped softly at the wounds, and they healed over in the blink of an eye and then had to take his memories of everything beyond the foreplay when she started to lose control. Now she was lying there looking at him and she reached over to put her hand over his forehead. "How are you feeling, laddie? You've been out for hours, like. Been worried about you."

"Been out?" Xander repeated, his frown turning to one of confusion. "I'm... sick?" He touched his hand to his stomach as he tried to work out what he was sick from. He hadn't felt sick before. It wasn't like he just engaged in foreplay and sexy times with women when he thought he would wind up barfing all over them. He gave her another look as he ran his tongue over his lips. "What's wrong with me? Did I... Did I pass out when we were... Oh my god..."

Airlie cleared her throat and nodded as she reached over him to get a glass of water from her nightstand, handing it to him. She had nearly drained him, so he would be feeling on the dodgy side anyway. It worked. This was actually the first person she had fed from other than her Sire that she stuck around for an encore with. "Aye, you sure did, darling. You dinnae mind? You were real sick, felt like crap you said. I offered to take you home, but you werenae feeling good enough. Best to just stay here. But the fever seems to have broken now, so it's all good. Promise you didnae talk in your sleep... much," she added with a cheeky smirk.

Xander sat up, still wondering why he was naked and in her bed when he'd been feeling like crap. He ran his fingers through his hair and took a sip of water before he cleared his throat. "And you didn't mind? You still wanted to... sleep with me? I'm so sorry for killing the mood. It must have been really sudden. It's not like I make a habit of this. It was a great night. It felt like it would have been a great night, I mean. Are you okay? Did I... I don't know, did I snot on you, or anything?" Xander tugged the sheets up a little, feeling very vulnerable all of a sudden. And embarrassed. Now that he was a little more conscious he was starting to realise that he did feel crap. "I should go."

Airlie rested her hand on his arm. "Ach, laddie. I cannae be letting you go. Nay yet. Just take it easy. What's the rush, anyway? You got a party to get to or something?" She swallowed, feeling a pang of guilt in her chest that she had made him forget it. She had all the memory of it, and he had none. She just had no choice, though. If she didn't zap his memory, it would have opened a whole can of worms, especially considering his BFF was a Slayer. Airlie was not ready to play with fire like that. She didn't know if she had enough strength as a vampire to fight off the threats they faced every day.

Xander gave a shake of his head. "Party? Me? Nope. No party. There's been a distinct lack of parties lately. At least of any that don't involve a bunch of screaming girls who have an unhealthy liking of anything Gaga. I just didn't want you to feel like you had to look after me, I mean, it's not like you're... We're not... It was meant to be fun, right? Just some fun and now it's all with the me being sick and that just makes things a bit more... um, serious."

"It makes it whatever you want to make it," Airlie pointed out. She was sitting beside him now, legs crossed and completely lacking in shyness about the fact she was naked. With the things they had done the night before, she had nothing to be bashful about... and neither did he. She reached over and brushed her hand over his chest, and then his bare stomach, her fingertips tickling over his skin. "It was fun. It was very fun. Then you just werenae well, and I dinnae mind about any other lassies you've been with in the past, but I dinnae turf my laddies out just because they're poorly. Far from it."

"Does this mean I get another run at it when I feel better?" Xander couldn't help but ask. "And I'm your laddie? I suddenly feel very special. And... not so crap." He watched her fingers trail over his body and bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from reacting too obviously. He always felt like his penis had the ability to ruin the sweet moments. He looked over her body as he smiled, more than appreciating the view. "Sure that you don't have anything better to be doing?"

Airlie shook her head slowly, her eyes still watching his face closely. "Call me a night owl. I prefer the nightlife better than the day. It's why I work in the evening. Rock star's life, and all that..." She leant in a little closer to him, her body language more than emphasising that she really didn't want him to go anywhere. "I have a completely free schedule. You shouldnae be alone when you arenae feeling well, anyway. Dinnae be thinking it's so out of the blue, either. Look at our Rory. He was practically snotting all over you two the other night."

Xander reached out to touch his hand against her arm, smoothing his palm over it before he rested it against her hip. "Rock star? Closest I ever got to knowing a rock star was Oz. He was a guitarist for a band back in Sunnydale. Cool as cool... My best friend's ex. He was one guy I could talk to, you know? It was nice having him around. A little testosterone to balance out all the chick stuff. Not like Giles was ever really a guy. He was always... British. And old. No offence to this fine country. I like Scotland a lot. And the Scottish people. Yeah, I didn't exactly miss Rory not looking so great. Sure you don't want to be looking after him?"

Airlie gave a dry laugh. "Ach, god no. Laddie. He doesnae even want to look after himself, he isnae going to let me do it for him. He's all infected and diseased, running aboot Edinburgh looking for scary monsters with his work pals. I cannae stop that. When he gets set on something, he follows it through, nay matter what. Then ends up in hospital on a blood transfusion because of it. Too head strong, that laddie. But I love him to bits." She touched his hand, linking her fingers with his. "I miss that life, but it got too intense. It's a whole other world on tour. Almost like nothing else exists."

Xander leaned forward to press his lips to the corner of his mouth before he sat back again. "In that case, I'll be grateful that you consider me worthy enough to be looked after. Or even more embarrassed that you think I'm not as tough as your friend. Granted, I don't wear kilts or look like I probably could take monsters in a brawl but I've done some things over my time... I can be tough. So you're not all out there and famous? No hordes of fans following you?"

"You're overly sensitive, you know that? I didnae mean he was a good tough. I mean he's a reckless tough. He's a stupid bugger sometimes. In fact, I didnae even say tough, I said head strong, and that isnae always a good thing. You know what I dinnae like? Pissing contests," Airlie told him with a pointed look. "If I wanted Rory, I would be in Rory's bed. I wasnae ever directly famous myself. Maybe could have been. I was just a back-up singer, and it was amazing... for awhile. Until it just wasnae. Home is where the heart is and all that."

"And you're... overly... overly. I can't help it. I always was the heart of the group. Buffy was the muscle, Willow was the magic, Giles was the brains. I'm just used to watching, being on the outside. I'm not trying to have a pissing contest. I'm just making observations that's all. I'm glad you're here with me. And thanks for still wanting me around after I flaked on the sex. I'm sure it would have been amazing. You're amazing, Airlie. But you still sing?"

Airlie laughed and pushed her hair out of her face. "An overly overly? Well, I havenae ever been called an overly before, so first time for everything," she teased and then nodded. "Oh aye, of course. Couldnae live withoot my music. It's in my blood and part of what I am. I play most nights at a wee piano bar in town. It's open all night, but most of the crowds hit between around nine and one, especially on a weekend. It's a wee bit trendy, nay everyone's cup of tea, but I love it. Right up my alley. My time in the rock star spotlight just came up and I needed a change."

Xander pulled Airlie a little closer as he chuckled, and ran his fingers through her hair. "I can't profess I'm the greatest of word smiths when greeted with a beautiful naked woman who I almost had sex with. Trendy bar? Guess I better think about dressing up a bit then, huh? Doesn't sound like they appreciate the nudist dress code. When are you playing again? I'd like to watch."

"Oh, I dinnae know... the owners have seen a lot of things, trust me," Airlie replied with a smirk. She tilted her head a little further into his hand, enjoying the way he was playing with her hair. "Tonight. I play tonight. But dinnae you be thinking you're going anywhere. You'll have to wait for another night. You need to rest. When you feel up to it, I'm going to call Buffy so she can come and get you. You dinnae need to be alone when you arenae well. I'll reluctantly hand you over into her hopefully capable hands when I need to go, but that isnae until around six tonight."

"Just what kind of piano bar is this again? Why haven't I heard of it before..." Xander bit back a grin as he met her gaze briefly, his fingers still combing through her hair. "But I still get you for another... six hours? Don't suppose you have a nurse outfit stashed anywhere, do you? I promise I'll rest. I'll be a good boy..." He raised an eyebrow at her comments about Buffy before cupping her cheek and bringing their faces close together. He could still taste her on his lips even after a brief kiss. There was no doubt this particular lassie was addictive. Xander was already in trouble and he knew it. He just didn't know it if it went both ways. "Do I detect the slightest hint of jealousy already?"

Airlie shrugged with a laugh. "I dinnae know, laddie. You arenae into piano music, maybe? It's a little deceiving a description, though. It's just a really trendy bar with awesome interior decorating. Someone is playing the piano all the time, but some of us sing too. It's in the Old Town, nay too far away from the Castle. Oh aye... jealously..." She flashed him a brief smile, but it didn't linger. If only jealousy was all she had to worry about. She just wasn't ready for the whole 'Well, you know your BFF? Aye, she'd be wanting to all roll with the stake in the heart thing and I'm sorry, but I just cannae let her do that, sweetness' conversation. "She'll have to drag herself away from the French laddie for a wee while and look after her pal."

Xander tugged on hair lightly before he kissed her softly and slowly, letting it linger. Seeing as how felt crap he could take it slow and he still wanted to indulge in the fact that he had a naked woman in bed with him. He was still a guy at heart. "Then it's a date for when I'm more up on my feet and out of my BFF's care. Out of your care..." He kissed her forehead before he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his lap. "Well, last I heard the French laddie wasn't anywhere near her, so maybe she's got enough time on her hands to put up with me needing a nursemaid. She doesn't know who he is besides a name. Although I do think she was Googling him, so there's a chance it's still a serious infatuation. I'll only worry if she starts rummaging through his garbage and stealing his laundry."

"What's his name?" Airlie asked, wondering why anyone would actually Google a person. But then, stalking people wasn't really much of a favourite past time of hers. She had been more than infatuated with her Sire, before and after the Embrace, but she already knew him and there had been no urges to rummage through his garbage. It could be because it was a totally reciprocated situation. "All that time spent chasing vampires. Are you sure she can fit you into her busy schedule?" She couldn't stop the bite to the edge of her tone, but she figured she was entitled to a little bitterness when the little blonde ex cheerleader was getting around trying to kill her kind.

"Blazer Croissant? No, no... Um, Blaze Richadoodle? Gimme a sec, it'll come to me... Oh, I know! Blaise Richesomething. It's definitely French. And just a little too gay sounding. I mean, really, who calls their kid Blaise these days?" Xander made a face at the idea of anyone naming their kid Blaise. He couldn't help it, there was just something about the sound of the guy's name that he didn't trust. It wasn't like he'd actually met the Frenchman. Xander blinked at the bite of Airlie's tone, his good eye studying her for a moment. "Hey, what's the deal? Do you just not like blondes, or is this an American thing? I thought you and Buff were talking okay back at Rory's?"

The thing was, Airlie's rock star had toured in France - and Paris - for sometime, therefore Airlie had been with him. In the wake of her Embrace, she learnt a lot of things in a very small space of time and right now, she just watched Xander, working forcefully not to show any reaction externally. What she did know, was that no one called a kid Blaise these days. Not really. She actually almost corrected the surname, but caught it on the tip of her tongue and bit down on her lower lip. If Buffy was pursuing Blaise Richelieu, Kindred Prince of Paris, things may well be about to get extremely messy... and Rory was involved in that. A flare of protectiveness flared up in Airlie and she nearly leapt off the bed to go directly to her best friend, but fought that urge, too. Instead, she heightened her presence, switching it on so Xander would be hit with a wave of allure and lust for her and she leant in close, trying to distract him but holding her gaze as her green eyes darkened just a little. "I dinnae know what you mean, sweetheart. We hit it off like Shrek and Donkey. Friendship made in heaven..." She locked his eye contact, making it impossible for him to look away.

Xander nodded, images of Shrek and Donkey not even deterring him from the surge of lust he felt for Airlie. He pushed his fingers into her hair and pulled her a little more into her lap as all the blood in his body seemed to rush south and his dick was definitely starting to show signs of arousal. He couldn't even bring himself to be embarrassed as his other hand travelled up her side before he brushed his thumb against the underside of her breast and his lips twitched in a smile as he cupped the perfect mound. "I really don't want to wake up and find out that you're just some dream induced by an overdose of chocolate and Slushies. Even if I am wondering how I got so lucky with you. I really wanna finish what we started last night, Airlie. Let me make it up to you."

Airlie switched the allure off by blinking her eyes and breaking the eye contact. She gave him a soft push to get him to flop back down on the pillows. "Maybe in a wee while, cutie. I dinnae want you passing oot on me again. I hate hospitals and I want to avoid them as much as I humanly can. Rest, I'll make you something to eat if you feel up to it. Then I might see what we can do..." Her breath hitched a little, however and she felt an empty sense of loss when his hand dropped from her breast and their embrace broke a little. She was feeling too connected to him. She just didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. All she knew was if they had sex again right now, she would want to be sinking her teeth into that neck all over again, and he didn't have the strength.

Xander sighed as he made himself comfortable again, not sure why he was feeling like there was something he was missing. Like he should actually know why he was feeling crap. He threaded his fingers through Airlie's and tugged her down next to him as he wrapped his other arm around her waist to hug her against him. "Mm, maybe food in a little while. I just want to cuddle for a minute. If you wanna make me wait for sex, you're just going to have to make do with this incredibly new age sensitive guy act instead. Just ignore the tent pole impression my body's doing with the sheets, okay?"

"What about without them?" Airlie asked mischievously and tugged the sheets from his body to curl them around herself. She rested her head on his shoulder, looking down his body and admiring the view. "Mmmmmmmm... Paris has nothing on your landmarks, laddie. Very impressive. Cannae have a clue right now how you seem so shy aroond lassies. Or tongue-tied. Just whip this puppy oot and you'll be home free every time."

"Probably because my Mom... No wait, it was Willow. Willow always taught me that flashing strange girls was an offence and could land me in jail. I don't think this puppy is really going to help me out in jail, do you?" Xander joked as he rubbed his hand against her hip. He licked his lips as he watched her gazing at his body and knew the erection wasn't going to go away any time soon. If he wound up with blue balls it was going to be a fair price to pay. "Personally I'm just glad you approve of my landmarks. And that is officially one of the weirdest things I have ever called my own penis."

Airlie smirked and shrugged against his shoulder. "I dinnae know. I think it's way more freaky when a laddie names his penis a man's name. Weird as all fuck that, and I never understood. I dinnae want my mouth wrapped aroond something he called Roger while his own name is, like, Bryce or something. It's too confusing. Fecks with a lassie's head, like. You talk a lot aboot all these people, yet you're only here with Buffy? Why's that?"

Xander scrunched up his nose. "I did go through a phase when I was a teenager where I thought naming it could be call, but nope. Definitely uncool. Especially when people assume you're not actually talking about your penis. No, we're here with the others. Just they don't exactly get out much. Too much work, not enough play... You know how it goes. Me and Buff just seem to be the two that are getting castle fever."

"Understandable. Castles are overrated anyway. See one, you see them all. Mind, Edinburgh Castle is amazing. Have you been? I remember going there when I was wee and thinking how much I wanted to be a princess when I grew up. Before I discovered the big canon there. The Mons Meg. Then I wanted to be a pirate," Airlie said and laughed, putting a hand up to her face in embarrassment at her naive younger self. It felt like another lifetime ago now, when she was so innocent. That was all gone now, taken from her without her permission. She felt a burst of anger inside that nearly had her growling. She would love her Sire endlessly forever, but there was still a tiny part of her that hated him for doing what he did to her, even if she had come to accept it and survive it. "Rory's my closest friend. Has been for many years. Got me oot of some messes over the years."

"And now you're just sleeping with a pirate, argh!" Xander offered in his best fake accent. He chuckled at himself before he kissed the top of her head and gave her an affectionate squeeze. "Always was a fan of pirates. Even dressed up as one for Halloween one year. We haven't exactly done much sightseeing, so no, never been. Guess that's another thing you could always show me. Willow's mine. We grew up together in Sunnydale. Always been there for each other. Buffy came to the town when we were in high school. Then it was three of us, you know? I can't imagine life without either of them, even if Buffy just changed everything for us. We've been through a lot, and it's made our friendship stronger. Will's just got a lot of her own stuff going on now. She's, ah... She's a witch. Gay witch. Not that the gay part really matters, but she's got a Slayer girlfriend that keeps her busy."

"Gay BFF, huh? Nay urges to mow the grass on the other side of the fence yourself? Do you know, some people actually think it's catching?" Airlie said with a snort of disgust. "Rory is as straight as those arrows he has a liking for. He has a gay pal, though. Funny bastard, he is. He's a Hunter too, just you wouldnae ever pick it. Gets aroond in leather pants and likes to give a running commentary on his latest bed partners. So, your BFF is here too? What do you do all day in that castle? Seriously, like. There is only so much training you can do. Cannae say the Scottish vampires are going to let you lot in on their secrets, either."

Xander cleared his throat and almost considered pushing Airlie out of the bed. "Please, enough with the gay. I'm not gay. Never been gay. Never had the urge. I may have made many a joke about it, but my mower is strictly staying on the womanly grass. Gay hunter? Well, sure, I can see that. Nothing wrong with a manly gay man. They can't all be stylists and snobby head waiters. Yeah, she is. Mostly we just try and keep an eye on the Big Bads. Train up the new Slayers, organise search teams to track down the ones we haven't got a hold of yet. When you're suddenly in possession of a lot of power for no apparent reason - it's disconcerting to say the least. We're just trying to give the girls the best starts we can. We're not really here for them. I think a castle just seemed to be the best place for a base of operations. Pretty sure it was a Giles idea."

"Good, more for me," Airlie replied smugly with a devious and possessive grin before she could stop herself. She couldn't help it that with her Embrace came a fierce jealousy towards who she set her sights on. She laughed and waved her hand. "Who said he was manly? I think he's more of a girl than me some days. He is a massive bitch, puts my snobby bitch act to shame. But man, does he rock the trendy kilts. Very tasty." She fell quiet again, listening closely to every word out of his mouth as her eyes narrowed slightly. "How many of these Slayers are there, just out of curiosity? How does it feel to be training a hoard of murderers?"

"Shame his tasty ass doesn't want you, huh?" Xander asked, his own jealousy flaring up even if it was over a gay man. His jaw dropped through at her second question, Xander just staring at her dumbly for a long moment. "What? They're not... They're not murderers. They don't just go around randomly stabbing things. Okay, there's this one chick from Greece that has a worse fetish than Faith ever did, but she's getting treatment for that. And lots of objects made out of foam to play with, nothing pointy. There's a couple hundred of them, and to be honest the training part is just weird. Sometimes I wonder what the hell it was we did, but it needed to happen to defeat the First, and to destroy the Hellmouth. Both of which probably mean nothing, but trust me... Apocalypse would have been an understatement."

Airlie didn't visit talk of the Hellmouth or Apocalypse. She didn't particularly have an interest in hearing about the end of the world or whatever the hell it was truly supposed to mean. All she wanted to know about was threats to her, her family, and her kind. "So, what exactly is a Slayer's job description, hm? I would think it involved, you know, slaying." The word felt like it should be spat out, but she kept a hold of her emotions. That was another thing she still struggled with in her new form. The anger could be there in the flick of a switch, a rage that could turn to blood lust without her control. It was something Rory had been training her to control after he worked directly with Alistair to better understand Kindred so he could help her. "A couple of hundred people slaying. That's a lot of slaying. Fancy name for murder if you ask me."

"She exists to stop the forces of darkness. Evil... Not that I'm saying everything fanged, horned, tailed, clawed, or gooey is evil. Just the stuff that is. You're making them sound like their Terminators when they're not." Xander struggled up into a sitting position as he rubbed the heel of his palm against his eye, his arousal well and truly lost. This conversation really did seem to be a mood killer, and he wasn't even sure why it was exactly. "Why do you hate her when Rory's a Hunter? I didn't come up with the title, okay? Some old men writing a prophecy did. Probably the same guys that meshed the demon blood with a young girl when the first Slayer was created. Maybe we did mess up with the spell and kickstarting all these girls into Slayerhood but it's done now. We're training them so there isn't a lot of murdering."

"Who decides what is evil and what isnae?" Airlie shook her head and got up out of the bed. She found her bathrobe and pulled it around her shoulders, tying the sash at her hip. As far as she was concered, training hundreds of chicks to stop the forces of 'darkness' sounded a lot worse than Arnie in a leather jacket. Especially in her home country, which wasn't very big to start with. "You should eat something. I'll make it for you."

Xander looked from the bed she'd vacated to where Airlie was now standing and shook his head. "No, I'll... I should go. I can probably get enough energy together for a cab. I didn't mean to... I still don't know why we're arguing. Your best friend hunts things, and you're asking me who decides what is evil, what isn't? It's the things hell bent on ending the world, sacrificing little kids, or murdering just for the fun of it. It's their actions that decide it, not us. Again, I didn't say we made the right choice with the girls, but it's done now..." Xander moved to sit on the edge of the bed, and stopped for a moment as he felt a head rush. "I don't want to intrude any longer."

"Lie doon, Xander," Airlie told him quietly. There was no missing the pallor of his face. There was no way she was letting him get into a cab. "I have heard of perfectly innocent people being murdered because people take it upon themselves to assume they are evil, or something makes them evil. My best friend is a Hunter. My eyes are open to the world too, aye? Eyes that dinnae have to be happy aboot an army of people being trained in something like this. Hopefully they dinnae come to use those skills in ways that you havenae trained them to. Cannae possible fathom something as odd as defecting in an army. That never happens," she said sarcastically and then went over to him give him a nudge back onto the bed. "I'm nay letting you go, laddie, so you better stop with that bullshit right now."

"You first," Xander found coming out of his mouth before he could stop it. He closed his eye as his head hung in shame and he reached up to rub the back of his neck. "I'm sorry, but I'm not an idiot. Of course I know there could be defecting Slayers. There could be more Faiths. More anything. But we're doing the best we can. This is the side of things I know, okay? I'm sorry I'm not your best friend the Hunter. I'm sorry I'm not Scottish and don't wear a kilt and clearly know the world better than an American ever could. For the record, Slayers have come from every country. And there's probably been more in England and in Europe than where we're from. But whatever..." Xander lay back down when he realised he really didn't have the energy for a storm out, but he didn't look at her as he tugged the sheets back over in his his direction.

It was the first time in his presence Airlie actually felt completely threatened. Like she couldn't trust him. She swallowed and tied the sash tighter around herself, hoping it could act as some sort of shield. "Maybe you should go. In fact, aye, I think you should go. Call Buffy to come and get you. This was stupid." It really was stupid, letting her guard down with someone so close to all these Slayers, no matter how much Rory said he would protect her. Suddenly she was terrified for her own life and she had to move away from him before she did anything she regretted. She didn't have the skills of older and more experienced Kindred to know how to protect herself.

Xander licked his lips as he battled to get up into a sitting position again, wondering why the hell he was still feeling so drained. He stumbled out of the bed, nearly losing footing as he stooped for his pants to find his cell in it. He had no idea when things had gone horribly wrong, but apparently a Slayer wasn't as noble as her little Hunter, and Xander just felt like there was no moving past it. His best friend wasn't good enough for Airlie, and neither was what he did. Which meant he wasn't. Now he knew why he never let himself believe a woman wanted him. Because somehow it always seemed to turned to shit. Xander mumbled out a message to Buffy when his friend picked up before he worked on getting dressed, ignoring Airlie as much as he could. Stupid didn't even begin to cover how he felt about what had happened, and it hurt him more than he could have imagined. He just needed to get out of her place as quickly as possible.

Words: 6372

RP Log with naysowee, lyricalembrace & gr8muppetyodin

2010-08-03T04:14:49Z

Paper cuts. They seemed to simple, yet hurt like a bitch, really. Only, once upon a time, they just simple meant they hurt like a bitch, and you whine about it a bit because they did hurt, if there was anyone around to listen. Only these days, Rory had come to learn that a paper cut could actually mean you were about to be someone's random snack. He was sitting on his front steps, sketch pads and oil pants strewn out all around him as he worked on a painting of Linlithgow Palace with the loch stretching behind it... the amazing view he had from his modest little cottage in the small village. On the step below, he also had a large artists book with his latest drawings in it for the next edition of Lachie the Scottish Leprechaun, a cute little children's book series a good friend of his wrote that was now a number one bestseller in Britain, Ireland, and Europe. Rory had been illustrating the little story books from the first one ever published and now it was basically the biggest source of his income. He kept his job at the hospital as a wardsman two days a week because he just enjoyed it and had a lot of friends there, but truth was, he didn't actually need a day job with how much he earned from his art with these books and sideline commission of painting Scottish features and landscapes for tourists.

He wasn't alone that evening, though, despite being wrapped up in his work. The sun just set, but Rory still remained out there, something feeling that the twilight gave you the best angles and special views of a place. He was reaching to change the colour on his brush, when he had sliced his finger up the side of the thick paper. He cursed, about to reach for a couple of tissues from the box sitting here him that he had no choice back to bring out with him earlier after waking up with the startings of a summer flu. He had been in a bit of a bad mood all day because of it, but Airlie paid no heed when he texted her and told her not to come. In fact, he was just about to wrap the tissues around the cut when his hand was suddenly seized in a loose grip of slender fingers, and before he could protest, soft lips were wrapped around his bleeding finger. "Ach, shit! Dinnae you be biting me, lassie, or I'll boot you up the arse, aye!" She didn't really pay heed, though, and a moment later, Rory felt that small puncture at the base of his finger rapidly followed by the rush that was not disimilar to that one felt right before an explosive orgasm.

It was only a pointed clear of his throat a few moments later that had Rory blink and try to force away the pleasured rush, opening his eyes that had squeezed shut reflexively to find Buffy and Xander standing there, both sporting the same curious, eyebrows raised, questioning look at the odd scene of a redhead sucking on Rory's finger. Bugger it. He hadn't been expecting them. "Oh, aye... erm... papercut," he offered and felt Airlie's tongue lap over the wound to heal it before she let his finger slide not-so-innocently from her full lips, her piercing green eyes locked on the two intruders.

Buffy held her hands up with her palms facing the two Scots - at least she assumed the redhead was a Scot - and just gave a small shake of her head. "Really not my business who sucks your papercuts. It's not like we're exclusive finger suckers or anything. Very much in the realm of just casual finger suckers." Her green eyes landed on the redhead again though, and she quietly analysed her. There was just something that was tugging at her. Like the fact the woman had looked more like she was about to devour Rory's finger rather than just give it a 'friendly' lick.

Xander just turned his head to try and look elsewhere the whole finger sucking sight making him a little uncomfortable now the shock had worn off. He glanced at Buffy and they shared a look. "Can you even have casual finger sucking? I mean, just between you and me, I think there's something very intimate about sucking fingers. Especially when there's paper cuts involved. That usually implies a sucking of blood, and swapping of fluids. Very personal. It's not like many besides vamp--umpires like blood. You know, because umpires of football seem to enjoy watching players get hurt..." He shoved his hands in his pockets to stop himself from reaching up to rub the back of his neck at his poorly worded cover up. Sometimes neither he or Buffy were the smoothest of liars.

If Rory had a free hand, he would have smacked himself in the head in lieu of being able to smack Xander. Seriously, the bloke was as unsmooth as one could get, and Rory really had no clue how one bloke could be so clumsy, and not just physically either. It had to take a lot of energy to be that thick sometimes, and for a moment, Rory just rolled his eyes and tugged his hand away from Airlie's grip that had tightened the minute Buffy and Xander appeared. "It's okay, love. They arenae here to kidnap me or anything. This is Buffy and Xander. I told you aboot them, mind," he added, glancing up at her pointedly. Of course he had fucking told her about them. Buffy was a vampire slayer, and there was no way in fucking hell Rory was going to let her anywhere near his best friend, no matter how awesome and kick-arse the blonde thought she was. "Buffy, Xander, this is Airlie, my best pal. Dinnae mind her. It isnae as kinky as it looks. I was eating a Caramel Log and she's a chocoholic," he explained, even if it was mostly a lie. Yet, he still tilted his head in the direction of the chocolate bar wrapper.

Airlie faintly smirked at the lie. You had one lad... the brunette... who clear failed in it, and you had Rory who could lie his way out of a modern day Battle of Culloden and still walk away without a scratch. It amused her extensively. She ran her tongue along the inside of her cheek, still tasty the coppery tang of Rory's blood there and more than needing more than a slight sip. But she sauntered over to him, still managing to look graceful in her floral summer dress and emerald green Doc Martin boots. She held her hand out right in the middle of both of them to test who would take it first. "Airlie MacKenzie, sweeties. Pleasure, aye," she introduced herself, her Scottish accent just as broad as Rory's, yet softer around the edges.

Buffy looked between Airlie, and Rory with an amused look. "Oh yeah, I bet she just loves sucking on your Caramel Log." She just tried to ignore Xander's less than perfect lie, and took Airlie's hand. She really was beautiful, and she couldn't blame Rory for letting his best friend suck on his finger, or his Caramel Log. It was any wonder he'd wanted a tumble with Buffy when he'd had Airlie apparently at his beck and call. "Buffy Summers, nice to meet you. Or at least pretty memorable." She also would have assumed Rory would have mentioned a best friend, but apparently not.

Xander just clenched his hands into fists in his pocket, not trusting himself to take Airlie's hand without his palms becoming sweaty or his mouth losing ability to speak. She was Rory's best friend, but Xander got the feeling they were a little less than purely platonic. No wonder the Scotsman was so on board with friends with benefits. Xander would be too with a friend like Airlie. Not that Willow, or Buffy weren't amazing. Willow was just gay now, and Buffy was into Frenchmen. "Xander Harris, nice to meet you, too. Just, ah, ignore my stupidity. It's a lifetime problem I've had. Tried everything..."

"Shame," Airlie returned with an amused smile, her green eyes shining as she swallowed down the hunger inside her. Shame he was BBF locked to a Slayer. He could be fun to play with... and taste. She gave Buffy's hand a firm shake and then took her hand back, not really wanting to linger in touch with someone who would want to shove something pointy into her heart and fry her in the sunlight. She was allowed to be a little bitter. 'Bitter' hadn't exactly cut it, though, the day Rory had revealed his new friends to her. In fact, she was furious and for the first time since her Embrace, Rory witnessed the rage she could get into with the right trigger. But she got over it when he resolved to protect her, and she did trust him with her life. He had been who had helped her through her change, even if it went against all his Hunter grain. She was the one exception to his rule. "Cannae say I know any umpires to tempt you with either, like. My loss," she murmured with a shrug, looking the man over with interest. He had a cuteness about him. A lot less rough around the edges than Rory was, but Rory wasn't always like this, either.

Rory blew his nose on some tissues now he had his hand back and shrugged. "Isnae like we have anyone to account for. If someone wants to suck your log, why nay?" he said and shot Xander an extremely pointed look. The dude really needed a good hard and heavy lay to shake some of that stupidity out of him.

Xander just swallowed down as he met Rory's gaze with a shrug. What was he actually supposed to do about it? Slayerettes were out of bounds, Buffy only seemed to want to help him out with a handjob and now there was a sexy redhead right in front of him that was probably out of bounds thanks to the Bro Code. Sometimes he really hated being a guy. "It's the wanting to suck the log that's mostly the hurdle. It's not exactly nice to just go shoving your log in someone's mouth. And it's okay, I'm not really into umpires anyway. It's the knee socks. Total buzz kill, you know?"

Buffy rolled her eyes slightly and moved away from her best friend to take a closer look at what Rory was actually doing besides having his log sucked. "Hey, wow... that's amazing. Like, seriously amazing. You got some kinda talent there, kid." She shot him an amused look before going back to looking at his painting in awe.

Rory snorted and shot her a look. "What, like it's such a dramatic surprise, aye? I dinnae need to look like an arty tosser to actually be one," he returned with a smirk and then pointed his thumb over his shoulder to Airlie. "She has a voice like an angel and used to back rocker, Alistair Lamont. Looks can be deceiving, like. Something's gotta pay my bills." He put the painting aside and rested his weight back onto his hands. He was sore all over, and now had a numb arse to top it off. Airlie had come over after admittedly struggling again with her hunger. Some days, it got too much and she needed the distraction, usually by way of a romp in the sack with Rory or some other random bloke she ended up feeding on anyway. It was safer for her to be with him, only by the way she was looking at Xander, he couldn't help but wonder if he had his work cut out for him. "Like redheads, Xan laddie? I promise, the curtains match the carpets, aye," he added with a devious wink.

Airlie tilted her head, still amused. That wasn't something she could deny. She was all natural, luckily. It meant she got to keep her looks forever now. The only thing was, that didn't always feel like all it cracked up to be. "Dinnae mind him. He never talks himself up. He isnae as second-rate a citizen as he believes. Our Rors here is actually a wee bit of a celeb himself," she said, ruffling his blond hair affectionately.

Xander's one good eye had drifted downwards at the mention of the carpet and he had to blink himself forcibly out of the stare so that he didn't look like a total pervery. He was sorely sex starved. For a while he hadn't felt like he'd been ready to move on from Anya, but more and more Xander was realising he really did want to pursue something new. Or at least get laid. God, how he wanted to get laid. He cleared his throat as he tried not to blush and kicked his toe at the sidewalk. "Sure, who doesn't like a redhead? Just, ah, you know... Not this redhead. No offence! But you're all with Rory and stuff, and I wouldn't want to get in the middle of that. It's different with him getting into the middle of Buffy, you know? She and I aren't exactly--Ow!" He rubbed at his chest in the wake of the whack from the Slayer and clenched his jaw to try and ignore the pain.

Buffy folded her arms under her chest as she shook her head at Xander. "The middle of me? Really? Also, I'm not sure Airlie needs to hear the not-so-intimates of our friendship right now. We've only just met her. Maybe save it until we at least get past a first name basis, huh? Please, Xan?"

Airlie started to laugh. In fact, she was soon laughing so hard, she had to tip her head back and lean against the door so she didn't trip down the stairs. "Ach, I couldnae be with a married man, laddie. I might bollock him, but his heart is elsewhere," she finally replied. "He's my stress relief and my shoulder to cry on, nothing more. Besides the best friend a lassie could ever ask for, but that goes withoot saying. Awesome in the sack, why wouldnae I want a piece of it if it's on offer? Sometimes you just have to go for it. Life's short..."

Rory visibly winced at the M word. It had been a fact he had so far managed to keep to himself with just about everyone he met recently. Only thing was, he didn't make a big deal out of keeping it a secret, either. He just simply didn't talk about it. "At least you arenae oot on the crack or the game for stress relief, lassie. Cannae believe how big a deal people make oot of sex. Sex is sex. You know when it's more than that."

Xander still started to look a little doubtful as he watched Airlie laugh, but it was hard to ignore how beautiful she was, and how melodic her laughter. He was even anywhere near being a poet, he was sure he could have written songs about her. But he was no poet, and instead he just bit on lip to stop his mind from going naughty places. "Well, sure. I think everyone knows life's short but there's still messing with someone else's stress relief, and that's never been me. I did it once when I was younger, not that there was sex, and Will was more kinda dating Oz than just best friends with considerable benefits. I just tend to feel guilty at the idea of anything like that now." He glanced at Rory though, a frown crossing his features. "Married?"

Buffy blinked. "Married? There's... marriage and stuff?" She looked down at Rory, confusion crossing her features. Surely something like being married was supposed to get mentioned before hot hospital sex, or lusty kilt feelings. She studied him for a quiet moment, trying to work out if he was the type of guy who would openly mess around on his wife, or not. "But you're not married anymore?"

"My wife's dead," Rory said blankly and stood up, brushing his well-worned jeans off and starting to collect his art things up into the box he kept them in. He was careful with the painting, placing it on top so his work didn't get messed up, and then went inside his cottage. He put it all on his dining table and then braced his hands on the back of one of the chairs, his head drooping forward a little for a few moments when that pain in his heart flickered a little. He glanced up at the photos on the mantel. He still missed his girls every day, but it had been so long now. So long, in fact, his wee girl would be five now, and he would never hear her talk, see her take her first steps. He couldn't be mad at Airlie. He wasn't ashamed to admit he was married, but it just hurt still. He wasn't naive enough to wait for her anymore, though. He could still grieve but want to move on... find a fresh start. He just hadn't succeeded on that front yet.

Airlie closed her eyes and rested her hand on her hip regretfully. She had made the error of assuming this Buffy and Xander knew. She glanced up at them apologetically. "I'm sorry. I thought you knew. Dinnae be all worried, mind. It's nay a recent thing. Just still hurts deep doon. That's all I meant... his heart is elsewhere. Hasnae ever been anyone enough to have him give it over again, like. Nay me. We're too close friends. My own love was the whole love and lost thing, too. We're just both... well, we understand the broken heart."

Xander scratched the side of his face as he looked past Airlie to where Rory had disappeared to, and after a glance back at Buffy, he went into the cottage as well. She wasn't going to be able to understand, and he really hoped that she got that this is the one time where Xander was definitely a sympathetic party and one better for the job. Buffy had loved and lost, but not like Xander. No matter how much she wanted to argue otherwise. He'd been ready to marry Anya. Again. He came up beside Rory and rest his hand on the other man's shoulder. "My fiancée's dead."

Outside Buffy stood with Airlie and offered the other woman a small smile. "I'd say a broken heart sucks, but it's pretty much an understatement. I'm just sorry he had to experience such a loss. I didn't even realise. Kinda makes me feel even more insensitive now. It's good he has you, though. Everyone needs a close friend that just gets it." She glanced to the door where the two men had gone, and wondered if maybe she and Xander should make themselves scarce. But it seemed weird going in to get her friend.

Airlie shook her head. "Nay, lassie. I dinnae really get it. I only get a wee bit of it. Isnae just a broken heart there... he lost part of him. Someone he created oot of that love. His wee girl is gone too. She was only a few months. So, our Rory in there is a daddy, too. Only nay anymore, and it's a lot of why he's so..." She waved her hand with a fond smirk, searching for the right word, "rough. He wasnae always like this. The sweetheart marshmallow is still there, but he's hardened. You couldnae nay after an ordeal like that."

Rory had no idea as to the conversation going on outside. He felt the hand on his shoulder and glanced at Xander with a small nod. "I'm sorry, laddie," he replied quietly, soberly. "I wouldnae be wishing an experience like that on anyone. Gotta get back into the saddle at some point, though. If you feel ready. If you dinnae, you just arenae ready to say goodbye yet. Takes a really long time that. Sometimes forever for some people."

Xander shrugged lightly and dropped his hand away. "She died saving someone. We were only just getting things worked out. We'd broken up. I'd stupidly left her at the alter when I got cold feet, but I still loved her. I still wanted to marry her. Just Anya was an ex-vengeance demon, so she didn't exactly react well to getting abandoned like that, you know? She specialised in women scorned..." Xander wet his lips as he thought about her, his eye looking over the photos on the mantle. "I'm ready. It's just I've never been good in picking up a saddle. Probably because I wind up using metaphors like that to refer to a woman."

"It's not stupid, dude. It's life. Marriage isnae something to just waltz into. Hell, people get nervous aboot whether to buy the expensive biscuits or stick to the two for one deal to save a wee bit of cash. And dude, seriously, if she was that much with the demon PMS, maybe you just had an inkling deep down that you needed more time to get used to the marriage thing. Dinnae beat yourself up, because how you deal with someone and get closure on it dictates how you view the rest of your life. Sure you arenae just trying to look for someone to fill her gap? Difference, you know. Being ready, or hoping to fill that empty space." Rory glanced at the photos again. "I wasnae ever sure I wanted the space filled, like. Didnae think anyone could ever match her. It wasnae fair to be comparing other lassies to her, but this was when I wasnae ready. I realised that, though."

"Are you so sure you're even ready now?" Xander gave a shake of his head. "No, it's not about replacing her. No one in a million years could replace Anya. I figure it's about living with the hole in your heart, but the hole just gets a little smaller. She's still there, she's still a part of me. She's still a part of my history. I'll always love her. I think I'm just ready for another person to be special to me. For something present... and future."

Rory nodded as he listened and then had to sit down when that heavy weight felt like it was back again. "The thing is... I dinnae know for sure if she has died. I wish I did, I would have the closure. I would know she wasnae coming back. There is always a tiny piece of me wondering if she might just come back through the door again. Only, I'm nay so naive. It's been years now. My head knows she isnae coming back, but my heart is more optimistic. I guess I'm ready, I just nay really going to know one hundred percent until I find someone who matches me. That's the downfall right there. I'm nay an easy person to be with anymore."

Xander sat across from Rory and tilted his head. "You don't want someone that compliments you? They have to be able to match? Isn't that a little... weird. Like dating yourself? I get that there are some things you gotta be on the same level for, but isn't it also about having those bits that click together because they're complimentary. Like two halves?"

Rory shot Xander a look but fought the urge to roll his eyes. "Stop taking things so literal. Nay wonder you cannae get a lay. You're coming across as hard work. You might want someone to compliment you, I want someone to match me. That doesnae mean I want them to be like a fecking fashionable set of pants to my jeans. Bloody hell, laddie. You are romantisicing it all. Life isnae like that, and life certainly isnae like that when you have lost someone you loved with your whole heart and soul. Once you have been through that, you need the next person to be a whole lot more than just complimentary."

Xander fell quiet as he looked down at the table and shrugged a shoulder. "Never realised I was hard work... Hope you find your match, man. You deserve it. Just sorry you had to lose your wife and kid. No one deserves that."

In front of the house Buffy was only just realising she'd gone completely quiet on Airlie. She hadn't been able to help it. There wasn't much she could say to finding out Rory was not only a widow, but a man who'd lost his little girl. It really did explain a lot about why Rory was a hunter. Buffy understood now why he had become a part of her world. Well, the supernatural world. It wasn't just hers anymore. Big picture thinking was something Buffy still needed training on. She blinked as she met Airlie's gaze and shook her head a little. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... Just a lot to take in. He hadn't said anything, but then why should he? Really not like I should have known. It's part of his personal life. Not my business." Buffy pointed her thumb over her shoulder at the door. "Think we should check the guys aren't getting themselves into any trouble?"

Airlie nodded quietly and then cleared her throat. "Dinnae take it personally, like. He doesnae talk about it much anymore. It's been five... six years, give or take. The wee bairn was only nine months when it happened, and... they were young. Rory married his sweetheart when he was only nineteen years old, bairn was born when he was twenty. Less than a year later, they were both gone. Just... vanished, nay trace. He looked for them. He didnae stop, and I dinnae think he ever really will. He just looks for other things now, tries to stop the same thing happening to someone else because he knows how much it hurts. I guess if you had asked him if he was married or had a family, he would have told you. If nothing else, he's painfully honest. But when you have our Rory as a friend... you have a friend for life. Loyal to the absolute core, nay matter what..."

Rory didn't have a chance to actually respond to Xander before Buffy and Airlie appeared. The thing was, despite the whole Slayer shit and the risks involved, he figured Airlie might actually be what could help Xander loosen up a little. If only she didn't want him for breakfast... literally. "Tea. Gonna make tea, who wants some? Dinnae know aboot anyone else, but I dinnae fancy asphyxiating on my own snot," he offered with a shrug.

Xander couldn't stop the way his leg was suddenly bouncing at the appearance of Airlie, and he tried to sit up straight to make himself not seem so much like a slobby American. Scots liked guys that sat straight, right? His eye was trailing over her body and he cleared his throat as he quickly looked elsewhere. "Um, tea would be very... tea like. Thanks."

Buffy ruffled her best friend's hair affectionately. She knew when he liked someone. It was hard not to. Maybe Airlie did like to enjoy Rory's Log from time to time, but that didn't mean Xander shouldn't get some action, too. She came up beside Rory and looked at him knowingly. "Need a hand? All that tea making can be hard work. Especially what with the whole trying not to choke on your snot. Charming image, by the way. Very sexy."

Airlie wasn't exactly shy. It was hard to be shy when you were a performer. As soon as Rory vacated his seat at the table, she dropped down into it, resting an elbow on the surface and flashing Xander a bright smile. She reached out and trailed the tip of her finger up his forearm. "Aye, well I can tell you arenae a local. Nice tan, cupcake," she offered.

Rory glanced back at Airlie and her forwardness with a small snort that just made him sneeze forcefully. He nodded to Buffy. "Aye, aye... snot can be sexy, in a whole comfort lovin' sort of way. It's nice beeing looked after when you feel like a piece of pish," he told her and went into the kitchen. He loved his home, and he loved his kitchen, even if he wasn't much of a cook. Some days he came in here to paint or draw, spreading his equipment all over the place and blasting some good classic rock on the stereo.

Xander almost jumped out of his seat at the touch. He really wasn't used to women just touching him like Airlie was touching him. She really was not of the shy camp. He bit the inside of his cheek to try and remind himself to play it cool. Only it was nice getting some attention. Even if he was still getting a feeling like she sucked more than just fingers. Still, if it was good enough for Buffy... "Really? It's the tan that gave me away? Not the accent?"

Buffy followed Rory into the kitchen and leaned against the side of the counter as she glanced back through the doorway at their two friends. "She seems alright. She'll, um... she'll treat Xander okay, right? There's nothing I need to worry about?"

"Ach, I learned long ago, laddie, to nay purely trust what comes oot of a man's mouth," Airlie told him with a wink. She took a banana from the fruit bowl on Rory's table and starting to turn it over in her hand, though her green eyes were locked on his face. "You're awfully skittish. You think I'm going to bite? You could be right there, sweetheart."

Rory filled the kettle and then switched it on. He took some paper towel from the dispenser to wipe his nose that was dripping like a leaky tap. He felt like shit, and an early bed was sounding like heaven right about now. The only thing was, he needed to be in Edinburgh for some sort of stakeout thing his fellow Hunters wanted him in on. He also was wondering if he should drop by that hotel in the shadows of the Castle, just out of curiosity sake. He quirked an eyebrow at her over the wad of paper. "Want me to tell you how to suck eggs, lassie? Thought you could take care of yourself."

Xander was watching her hands and the banana, his body predictably reacting under the table. It had been a while for him, and he was sadly like a teenage boy all over again. Anything was getting him hard. It didn't help that this woman really was something else. "You bite? I'm not sure I was ever really turned on by that. It's more Buffy's thing."

In the kitchen Buffy was giving Rory a look before she shook her head. "I can look after myself. Xander on the other hand has a habit of literally becoming some demon woman's meal. I'm just checking, that's all." She reached out to feel Rory's forehead with the back of her hand. "How long have you been leaking snot? You should be in bed, Rory. Or at least sitting down. I'll finish the tea."

"Yet, he is apparently a Watcher? Ohhhh-kay then," Rory replied skeptically and didn't actually argue about the sitting down thing. He lifted his butt up onto one of the stools and made himself comfortable. "Just today. I'm fine. Nay anything to worry aboot. Serves me right for gallavanting aroond Scotland after having my blood sucked nearly dry. But a lad's gotta do what a lad's gotta do. And just for the record? A's gonna do whatever the hell she likes anyway. Do you really think she looks like a lassie who likes being told what to do? I seem to be surrounded by those lately. If you dinnae want Xander's delicate constitution tainted, I suggest you step in now."

Airlie started to peel the banana slowly at the table. "Nay to your taste. Shame. Looks like it's my loss then, aye?" she threw back and wrapped her mouth around the tip of the banana watching him over the top of it as she hummed in appreciation. It didn't actually matter whether she liked the fruit or not, or the fact she wouldn't stomach it for very long. It was well worth it to see the look on his face.

Xander spluttered as he just gaped at what the redhead was doing to the banana. Truth was he wanted to yell for help, but all he could do was just stare helplessly and lick at his lips. He thought about reaching under the table to try and stop his pants from castrating him but he figured it would just look far too suspicious. "Um, are you... Would you like to... Sorry I don't like biting. Maybe I just didn't get bitten the right way? Or something... I don't know. Words... um, wow."

Buffy smirked at Rory. "Don't get me wrong, Xander knows what he's doing. Until he starts thinking with his other head. I just think he needs this. He needs a girl he doesn't have history with. And if she's a friend of yours, she's okay by me." Buffy found the mugs, and the teapot to put the leaves into and tried to remember everything Giles had taught her about brewing tea. "Well, you will ignore doctor's orders, won't you? Is there anything I can do to help you out? Assuming you could let a girl like me onto your turf. I'll even let you tell me what to do."

Rory smirked. "Airlie's an expert in the other head, so he should be in good hands." He rested his head down on his hand tiredly and yawned, already starting to talk again before it eased off. "Gotta meet with some colleagues. Your finger isnae enough on the pulse, lassie. There has been five unexplained cases of massive blood loss show up at the hospital in Edinburgh in the last week. Gotta pal who is a nurse there, see. Some piano player in the Gardens, a young redhead university student, a taxi driver, a waitress and a receptionist from a hotel. Nay other symptoms. Wee bit of a pattern, so instead of making love to the inside of my sheets tonight, I'll be at a seedy pub in Edinburgh trying to work oot what the next move should be."

Airlie cocked her head slightly, her eyes shining in amusement. She took the fruit from her mouth. "Darling, are you gay?" she asked. "Do I need to flash you my tits to get you to make a move?"

Xander shook his head emphatically. "No! Not gay. I just can't really move right now. And also, making a move in Rory's home? Are you kidding?" His eye was wide as he looked at her before he reached out across the table to take her hand. "I realise that you're very much not the type to be modest, but maybe you could just join me for a drink somewhere that isn't your best friend's and sometimes stress relief's cottage?" After a beat he smirked, some of his confidence returning. "Although if you do want to flash me, I wouldn't argue."

Buffy laughed softly as she nodded. "So I gather. But hey, she's beautiful and she does seem taken with Xander and I can't fault that." Buffy rest back against the counter again as she just waited for the kettle to boil. "So show me the pulse. Teach me the way of the Scottish shadows. You can't completely blame me for losing the pulse when I have girls to give me headaches. I'm wondering if I should just defect from my own army. Maybe this is just my time to be more of a hunter than a Slayer. Leave it to the next generation." She shrugged as she looked away thoughtfully. "A piano player? Do you know if he was one that played in a bar?"

"Aye, she has interesting tastes. If he wasnae to her liking, she wouldnae have given him a second glance. She can be quite the snobby cow when she wants to be. It's the artist in her, see. Banging rock stars will do that to you. It's, uh, in her blood." Rory cleared his throat and then rubbed it with his fingers to try and stop it hurting. He really hated being sick. "Ach, aye I can blame you. You're supposed to be teaching them and you're losing the pulse? God help us. Pass them all off onto this murder-loving Faith chick and stick to your own path, lassie. Because I'm nay telling you anything if I think you're going to end up using it against me, let alone pass it on to a bunch of lassies more worried aboot their bra sizes than the supernatural life. Isnae like I dinnae keep telling you that if you leave the undead alone, they willnae bother you. You piss them off, that's when they start getting all predatory and fangy. Dinnae you think walking aroond with a dirty great stake might just piss them off a wee bitty, aye? They're watching you, just like you're trying to watch them. I'll give you the demon thing, but I dinnae know... dinnae seem to cross their paths so much these days. They dinnae favour Scotland much. Too many historical beasties here marking their territory already."

Airlie wasn't sure if he was trying to call her bluff or not, but without even a moment of hesitation, she put the banana down and flicked the buttons of her dress undone and pulled it open, flashing her breasts at Xander and really smug that she had gone braless that day. She let him gawp just long enough to give him an eyeful before she cut off the view and blew him a kiss. "I'm holding you to that arguing thing, chickie," she threw in.

Xander struggled to get up to his feet, his eye still on where Airlie's breasts were. He pointed vaguely over his shoulder before he turned to hopefully find the bathroom quickly but instead he went smack into the edge of the doorway and cursed colourfully as he reached up to cover his nose. Thankfully he couldn't feel any blood, but he did feel the colour rise in his cheeks and ears as he nearly died of embarrassment. "Um, I need... toilet."

Buffy hadn't missed the sound of Xander smacking into the wall, and poked her head back into the dining room just before the jug boiled. She saw a retreating Xander, and met gazes with an all too satisfied looking redhead. She arched her eyebrow, but Airlie just smiled back at her. Buffy looked confused for a moment before she came back into the kitchen to finish making the tea. "You know, I think Airlie might be just the right girl for Xan. And also, for the record - I wouldn't use the knowledge you gave me against you. I do actually like and respect you, Elmo. I just need to work a little harder on getting your trust."

@ musebyrp

2010-07-27T07:29:48Z

One of these days it'll be me with the mysterious strangers following me around like catnip.

Only, you know, female strangers. And ones that don't want to eat me, or use my blood in a sacrifice. Not that I'd know anything about the supernatural, nope. There's nothing weird going on around here at all...

Go about your business and ignore the crazy man.

sixwordstories

2010-07-21T00:35:11Z

Definitely feeling an icy coldness now.