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baaa.
omfg. Meyer is evil, and came up with this idea (and thus, you lucky lucky people are about to be subjected to the first fic I started writing, which, sadly, doesn't exist in its original form complete with sobbing scene
A modest meme proposal
I think there should be a meme where you post the piece of fic you are most horrified by/ambivalent about.
And, so, gentle people, I give to you, the original cut of Chapter One of The Slayer, the Cat, and Some Wisdom (which eventually be overhauled, just so I can post it and feel happy).
ETA: omfg. I'd forgotten my obsession with 'vamps' instead of 'vampires'... Oh, the PAIN.
Part 1
July 28th, 8:30 p.m. San Francisco, CA.
Kitty Pryde wandered the streets of San Francisco. She thought she might be lost. The sun was setting in a blaze of glory off to her left, and she didn't care. ~Take a vacation he says. Get away for a bit. Damn you Kurt! I'm bloody bored! And it doesn't help when all I think of is--NO. I don't even want to remember his name.~
She kicked a bottle out of her way, and looked around in mild surprise. ~Definitely not the best part of town.~ she observed, noting the rundown buildings, garbage littering the street and decayed atmosphere. She glanced up, the sun had set, golden-red streaks lighting the bluey-purple velvet of the sky, while underneath little stars twinkled.
As the stars got stronger, she continued on, thinking--or rather, attempting not to.
Later
Moonlight from the full moon poured down on her, then was obscured by the clouds rolling over the moon slowly. The wind picked up, swirling around her. ~Starlight. Starlight can be nice.~
They came out of nowhere, seemingly, she noted there were four, before automatically lashing out, hitting one in the jaw and another swung at her. She ducked, and came up fighting.
Kitty felt something--snap--deep inside. They dared?! Bother her while she was sulking?!?! ~That's it!~ She decided to be charitable--she let them regroup before attacking them, as a blind fury took over and she began to beat on them. Dimly, she was aware that something was odd about her attackers--they seemed to take her punches and kicks without any discernable pain, and they seemed stronger? But she didn't care. They'd picked a fight, just as she was looking for one. They deserved what they were getting.
She spun, kicking out and re-arranging the face of one. Another grabbed her arm, she let her momentum carry her body into his, slamming a knee into his groin. He went down, yelping. Another was grappling with her as the moon came out from behind the clouds and she saw the faces of her attackers for the first time. ~A mask?? No. Vamp. What are vamps doing here??~ Her head jerked back as he latch onto her head and pulled it to the side.
He abruptly disappeared in a cloud of dust. A young woman was standing there, the stake she'd just used on the creature poised for the next one. "They're vampires. Use this, get 'em in the heart." She tossed a stake at Kitty, and turned to fight the one attempting to jump her.
Kitty whirled, stake in hand and took out the vamp behind her in mid-grab. He dissolved into dust as the fourth one jumped up, bleated in terror and took off into the night.
"Shall we chase him d'you think?" Kitty asked conversationally, dusting herself off, as the vamp skidded round the corner and disappeared from sight. ~I could use a good chase.~
The other didn't answer as she kicked her opponent in the chest, following through by slamming her stake into its heart. "WE?" the other replied as she dusted her hands off, "This is my job. I suggest you go back to your home, and stay out of this. It's rather dangerous."
A bitter chuckle escaped Kitty, "Home? I don't have a home right now. I'm supposedly on vacation."
"Hotel then?"
Kitty studied the other for a moment. In the moonlight her shoulder length blonde hair was nearly silver. She was thin, but lithe, like a fighter. Black shorts , tshirt and boots made her seem odder looking than she was. And her eyes. It was the eyes that got to you. They should have been light, silver. Instead they were shadowed by pain, sadness, grief, and something else, something Kitty thought she recognised, it made them dark. She looked very young, but Kitty'd seen her in action. She was good, very good. And the vamps--
"Actually, I'd like an explanation of this." She grinned, "And an escort back to my hotel? Oh, and can I keep this?" She held up the stake.
The other was shaking her head, "I'm sorry, but the less you know, the safer you'll be. C'mon, I'll walk you back," she waved her hand, "keep the stake."
"Can we at least exchange names? I mean, I keep thinking of you as 'the girl'."
"I'd rather not." she said shaking her head.
"I'll be very tenacious 'till you tell me your name." Kitty said, grinning, "I'll dog your footsteps, follow you everywhere--."
"You don't give up do you? God." She grinned. "ok, I'm Buffy."
"What, no last name?"
She sighed, "Summers. Buffy Summers."
~Summers?? Oh, my...~ "Summers? Your dad wouldn't be named Scott, would he?"
Buffy looked at her, "Uhm. No. My dad's name is Hank."
"Ok. I'm Kitty Pryde." Kitty held out her hand. ~What? Nee McCoy, possibly??~ They shook.
"So tell me Buffy, is this a normal thing--you slaying vamps?"
"Oh no. I just do this occasionally, when the mood strikes me."
Kitty laughed, she didn't know why--it hadn't even been that funny. But it felt good. ~Gods. It's been how long since I felt like laughing? Oh yeah ever since--~ She shied away from that thought.
Buffy smiled as Kitty laughed. The laughter had an odd edge to it--almost as if she hadn't laughed in a long while, "So, what hotel are you in?"
"Um, well it's the Westin, downtown." She replied.
"Downtown!? Wait. You do know that you are, like, 6 miles out of downtown. How long did you say you'd been walking?"
Buffy felt like hitting something. ~Dammit! I am NOT walking her to her hotel. And, I can't let her walk it alone...~ She stopped thinking about that and took a good look at Kitty. She didn't look much older than she herself was, they were of a height, though Kitty was slightly taller. She was wearing shorts and a dark tshirt that had 'Cat's Laughing' printed on it in silver. Brown hair brushed her shoulders, graying in the moonlight. Brown? eyes, that mirrored emotions Buffy herself felt--sadness, and pain. Her voice held a slight accent, unrecognisable, but there. She glanced down at her watch, ~and, this late at night. hmm, BART'll still be running, I can take her to a station, drop her off there.~ Buffy had been living in San Francisco for three months. She'd been riding BART for nearly that long.
Kitty shrugged. "Well, I just got here this afternoon, and I didn't go to the hotel--my luggage was already on it's way there, and I felt like walking. I took a bus, and then got off at the end of the line, and walked. And ended up here." She waved her hand around.
Buffy sighed, ~damn. I might as well. What the hell...~ She jumped, slightly, ~What was that? Hm. Never mind.~ She sighed again, "Fine. Look, I'll walk you to the BART station, you can take it downtown and get off near the hotels. Why were you walking so late now, anyway?"
Kitty looked at her for a moment. "I'd make some comment about you not being my mother, but. Why the hell should I need to explain myself to you? I can bloody well take care of myself!"
~She's right. She *was* holding her own there.~ "Sorry. I keep forgettting that there are a few who *can* take care of themselves against vampires. It's not like everyone faces demons, daily." ~Demons? Why do demons and Pryde sound vaguely familiar?~ She shook her head, mentally, and dismissed it as unimportant.
"Right. Look, walk me to the station, and I'll let it go." Kitty looked at her, still not completely trusting Buffy. "Shall we?"
Buffy started to nod, when--"What the hell?" she turned to the end of the street, senses straining. ~somewhere, I thought--there it is again!~ "Damn. That vampire that got away? It's up there attacking someone." She looked at Kitty and sighed. "Duty calls." Buffy took off running, glancing back she noted Kitty matching her step for step.
"I heard it too," Kitty snapped, "And I *am* the one who let him go."
Buffy didn't argue, just nodded.
They rounded the corner in step and the screaming abruptly cut off. "There!" They spotted them at the same time.
"Bloody hell!" The accent Buffy had noticed earlier was a little more pronounced. Three vampires surounded the body of a girl--she couldn't have been more than ten. Her eyes stared up, sightlessly.
"Bags me the sod on the left." Kitty muttered.
"I get the rest, then?" Buffy guessed as Kitty was already moving, going after the vampire on the left. It was their playmate from earlier. Buffy watched as Kitty used her own momentum to slide up to and *through* the vampire. She left the stake behind in his chest. ~Neat. Gotta ask her how she does that.~ And he disappeared in a puff of dust.
"Slayer." One of the remaining vampires hissed.
She pulled the stake out again. "Slayee."
"You have been expected," she hissed, "to--"
"Really? But I didn't RSVP!" Buffy laughed, "I guess you dust piles are mind-readers now, huh?"
The vampire growled and lunged at her as Kitty engaged her companion. Buffy dodged, kicking out at her left leg. It crumpled, the vampire went down howling in pain. "So sorry." Buffy dropped down on top of her, the stake finding her heart.
"Melea! You killed Melea, you bitch!" the 'dead' girl jumped up and threw herself on Buffy. She rolled to the left barely avoiding her, the wind of her passing touched her. Power surged along her bones, old power, power that sucked the marrow out of life. Buffy shook her head, dispelling the feeling, and hopped to her feet.
She shivered waiting for the vampire girl to charge again. ~What the hell was that?!?~ The vampire was turning, she spotted Buffy and charged her again. Buffy met her halfway, sliding in and punching her. Again power surged along her bones, almost knocking her to the ground. ~What?~ She fought against it as she slammed her hand on the vampire-girl's chest, grabbing the shirt, desperately holding herself up. ~Stake.~ Time was moving slowly as she followed her left hand with her right and the stake. It plunged into the vampire's chest in slow motion as Buffy's bones sang.
"Auuuuughiiiiieeeeee" The vampire's head went back as she shrilled to the heavens and shattered into a pile of dust.
Time returned to normal and Buffy felt her knees give as energy poured over her bones. ~It's cold, so cold--~
Kitty staked her opponent and turned to check on Buffy. "What the--" she jumped towards her as she fell.
Kitty stared down at the unconscious girl. ~Good grief. I turn from zapping that vamp and she's fainting on me. Hmm..~ She glanced around, ~where'd that body go? Oh, wait.~ She replayed the scene on her peripheral vision. ~Hmm. They were..lying in wait for us? Maybe?~ She frowned, ~Well, Buffy, actually, they knew her. One of them called her something, too. Slither? Sleer? No. Slayer. She called Buffy 'Slayer'. What the bloody hell is a Slayer? Guess I'll find out when she wakes up.~ She glanced around. ~Oh, bollucks. We're quite, quite exposed, right here.~ She looked around trying to find a place to hide.
Kitty half-dragged, half-carried Buffy back around the corner, and towards the little depression in a wall across the street. It was a door recess, almost a porch. Grunting softly, she dragged Buffy into the shadows.
~There. This should work, I don't think I could cart her in this state to her home--aside from the fact that I have no idea where it is.~ Kitty sighed softly, ~At least I've stopped obsessing on Pete.~ There. She'd said it. ~Pete his name was--is--Pete.~ She shook her head, ~And--~ Buffy moaned.
"It's plunge and move on now, Giles. You should be happy." Buffy muttered as she opened her eyes. They focussed on Kitty, "Mhoouch.. Did you get the number of the flying saucer that hit me?"
Kitty grinned, shaking her head. "We need to get out of sight--as in, undercover? Where's your house?"
"Ommf.. It's an apartment. Why?" Buffy looked at her in confusion.
"I don't want to be out when more vamps decide to join the party, and you aren't in any shape to deal with them." Kitty said, as Buffy struggled into a sitting position holding her head.
"Ouch. You'd be right on that last one. My head feels like my brain has been hit with a slice of lemon wrapped around a very large, gold brick." She moved, getting to her feet. Kitty stood with her stabilising her as she wobbled. "We'll have to go slow, c'mon."
They walked out of the doorway in silence, Buffy leaning slightly on Kitty.
11:11 p.m., Buffy's apartment, S.F.
They'd made it without a mishap to Buffy's apartment, feeling safer. Though, Buffy was still somewhat groggy and out of sorts. Kitty looked around. "Nice." It was a two room flat, the kitchen was part of the 'living room' and the bedroom led off of that. Between the kitchen and the main room, a couch sat, it's back to the kitchen. Catacorner to the couch was an immense overstuffed chair. There was stereo equipment in the opposite corner, and a really nice, thick, black rug on the floor. And then there were the walls. They were adorned with crosses and other odd things. Herb bundles, strange weavings, and unidentifiable objects.
Buffy dragged her back straighter and gestured towards the bathroom as she walked into the kitchen, "Thanks. I'm feeling better, I'll make some coffee. Go ahead and clean up if you'd like."
Kitty glanced down at the vamp dust coating her arms and legs and nodded, "Peachy. Thanks."
As she came out of the bathroom, Buffy looked at her, "So, you want to tell me just why you were out walking a strange city at night?" She held up a hand. "Even if you *can* take care of yourself, it was a stupid thing to do."
Kitty studied her, then shrugged, ~What the hell.~ "Like I said: I'm on vacation. I'm-I'm trying to forget something. I thought walking aimlessly might do it." And it had--for all of an hour. Then the thoughts and memories had come crowding back in. That last day--~*STOP*, I WILL NOT THINK ABOUT IT OVER AND OVER! NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE!~ She snapped at herself. ~Ok. So I haven't completely stopped obsessing..~
She looked at Buffy, "So, are you going to tell me what all this is about?" She gestured at the crosses adorning the walls, and the stake on the table.
Buffy grimaced, "I'd rather not. I invited you here out of necessity. Not to share my secrets."
Kitty nodded, wondering what imp of the perverse had a hold of her, "Yeah, but I know your name and as the goddess of computing, I could now find all sorts of neat and unfactual stuff about you."
Buffy glared, "This is blackmail."
"Ain't it though? Look, being distracted from my own life would be a good thing right now. Ok?"
"I thought you were on vacation?"
"Oh, I am. I'm supposed to be using it to forget things, and not having anything to occupy myself with isn't helping." Kitty stated, flopping into a chair.
"No, it wouldn't." Buffy said softly.
Kitty glanced at her, the look on Buffy's face kept her mouth closed.
"So, it could be anyone you met off the street whose story you'd want to hear?"
"Nope. Only those who get called 'Slayer' by vamps." Kitty grinned as Buffy looked at her in surprise.
"OK, you know a little too much, now. I'll tell you. Then, I'll have to kill you. But let me finish the coffee and get cleaned up first."
"Sure. In fact," She said, standing up, "*I'll* finish the coffee, you go clean up. And only then will we talk about that 'kill' thing."
Buffy nodded, turning to leave the kitchen. " The mugs are in that cupboard and I like my coffee with sugar and cream, please." she tossed over her shoulder.
11:35 p.m.
They sat in Buffy's living room. Kitty'd claimed the couch, she was now sprawled across its length, languidly sipping the mint cream coffee.
Buffy sat curled in the chair. "Ok. I guess I should start." she took a deep breath, "in every generation, there is one girl a 'chosen one' who has the abilities and strength to fight the vampires. She is the Slayer. I'm her."
Kitty blinked, "So, you're Buffy the--"
"Don't say it!" Buffy warned.
~Vampire Slayer.~ Kitty finished silently. "So, you go out and hunt the vamps huh?"
"Yep. Your turn."
~My turn?~ She tried to look innocent.
"Yeah," Buffy nodded, eyes narrowing, "Like, that walk through the vampire thing you did?"
"Oh. Um, you saw that, did you?" ~oops.~ "Ok. I'm not just Kitty Pryde, I'm Shadowcat of Excalibur, the British mutant team."
"Oh." Buffy paused, looking thoughtful, "ok. You're a mutant with the British X-Men. And you can walk through things?"
"Yeah." Kitty drained her mug and sighed, "Look, I'm exhausted, do you mind if I get some sleep? You can walk me to the BART station in the morning."
Buffy shook her head as Kitty carefully curled up on her couch. Walking into the kitchen, she set her mug on the table. Glancing back at Kitty, it occured to her that she might need a blanket, so she went into her bedroom and got one off the end of the bed.
"Here." She draped it over Kitty.
"Mm.. Thanks." Kitty reached out and pulled it up and around herself.
"You're welcome." Buffy tiredly went back into her room, closing the door. As she settled into her bed, she tried no to think of home. Of her mother. It didn't work.
A modest meme proposal
I think there should be a meme where you post the piece of fic you are most horrified by/ambivalent about.
And, so, gentle people, I give to you, the original cut of Chapter One of The Slayer, the Cat, and Some Wisdom (which eventually be overhauled, just so I can post it and feel happy).
ETA: omfg. I'd forgotten my obsession with 'vamps' instead of 'vampires'... Oh, the PAIN.
Part 1
July 28th, 8:30 p.m. San Francisco, CA.
Kitty Pryde wandered the streets of San Francisco. She thought she might be lost. The sun was setting in a blaze of glory off to her left, and she didn't care. ~Take a vacation he says. Get away for a bit. Damn you Kurt! I'm bloody bored! And it doesn't help when all I think of is--NO. I don't even want to remember his name.~
She kicked a bottle out of her way, and looked around in mild surprise. ~Definitely not the best part of town.~ she observed, noting the rundown buildings, garbage littering the street and decayed atmosphere. She glanced up, the sun had set, golden-red streaks lighting the bluey-purple velvet of the sky, while underneath little stars twinkled.
As the stars got stronger, she continued on, thinking--or rather, attempting not to.
Later
Moonlight from the full moon poured down on her, then was obscured by the clouds rolling over the moon slowly. The wind picked up, swirling around her. ~Starlight. Starlight can be nice.~
They came out of nowhere, seemingly, she noted there were four, before automatically lashing out, hitting one in the jaw and another swung at her. She ducked, and came up fighting.
Kitty felt something--snap--deep inside. They dared?! Bother her while she was sulking?!?! ~That's it!~ She decided to be charitable--she let them regroup before attacking them, as a blind fury took over and she began to beat on them. Dimly, she was aware that something was odd about her attackers--they seemed to take her punches and kicks without any discernable pain, and they seemed stronger? But she didn't care. They'd picked a fight, just as she was looking for one. They deserved what they were getting.
She spun, kicking out and re-arranging the face of one. Another grabbed her arm, she let her momentum carry her body into his, slamming a knee into his groin. He went down, yelping. Another was grappling with her as the moon came out from behind the clouds and she saw the faces of her attackers for the first time. ~A mask?? No. Vamp. What are vamps doing here??~ Her head jerked back as he latch onto her head and pulled it to the side.
He abruptly disappeared in a cloud of dust. A young woman was standing there, the stake she'd just used on the creature poised for the next one. "They're vampires. Use this, get 'em in the heart." She tossed a stake at Kitty, and turned to fight the one attempting to jump her.
Kitty whirled, stake in hand and took out the vamp behind her in mid-grab. He dissolved into dust as the fourth one jumped up, bleated in terror and took off into the night.
"Shall we chase him d'you think?" Kitty asked conversationally, dusting herself off, as the vamp skidded round the corner and disappeared from sight. ~I could use a good chase.~
The other didn't answer as she kicked her opponent in the chest, following through by slamming her stake into its heart. "WE?" the other replied as she dusted her hands off, "This is my job. I suggest you go back to your home, and stay out of this. It's rather dangerous."
A bitter chuckle escaped Kitty, "Home? I don't have a home right now. I'm supposedly on vacation."
"Hotel then?"
Kitty studied the other for a moment. In the moonlight her shoulder length blonde hair was nearly silver. She was thin, but lithe, like a fighter. Black shorts , tshirt and boots made her seem odder looking than she was. And her eyes. It was the eyes that got to you. They should have been light, silver. Instead they were shadowed by pain, sadness, grief, and something else, something Kitty thought she recognised, it made them dark. She looked very young, but Kitty'd seen her in action. She was good, very good. And the vamps--
"Actually, I'd like an explanation of this." She grinned, "And an escort back to my hotel? Oh, and can I keep this?" She held up the stake.
The other was shaking her head, "I'm sorry, but the less you know, the safer you'll be. C'mon, I'll walk you back," she waved her hand, "keep the stake."
"Can we at least exchange names? I mean, I keep thinking of you as 'the girl'."
"I'd rather not." she said shaking her head.
"I'll be very tenacious 'till you tell me your name." Kitty said, grinning, "I'll dog your footsteps, follow you everywhere--."
"You don't give up do you? God." She grinned. "ok, I'm Buffy."
"What, no last name?"
She sighed, "Summers. Buffy Summers."
~Summers?? Oh, my...~ "Summers? Your dad wouldn't be named Scott, would he?"
Buffy looked at her, "Uhm. No. My dad's name is Hank."
"Ok. I'm Kitty Pryde." Kitty held out her hand. ~What? Nee McCoy, possibly??~ They shook.
"So tell me Buffy, is this a normal thing--you slaying vamps?"
"Oh no. I just do this occasionally, when the mood strikes me."
Kitty laughed, she didn't know why--it hadn't even been that funny. But it felt good. ~Gods. It's been how long since I felt like laughing? Oh yeah ever since--~ She shied away from that thought.
Buffy smiled as Kitty laughed. The laughter had an odd edge to it--almost as if she hadn't laughed in a long while, "So, what hotel are you in?"
"Um, well it's the Westin, downtown." She replied.
"Downtown!? Wait. You do know that you are, like, 6 miles out of downtown. How long did you say you'd been walking?"
Buffy felt like hitting something. ~Dammit! I am NOT walking her to her hotel. And, I can't let her walk it alone...~ She stopped thinking about that and took a good look at Kitty. She didn't look much older than she herself was, they were of a height, though Kitty was slightly taller. She was wearing shorts and a dark tshirt that had 'Cat's Laughing' printed on it in silver. Brown hair brushed her shoulders, graying in the moonlight. Brown? eyes, that mirrored emotions Buffy herself felt--sadness, and pain. Her voice held a slight accent, unrecognisable, but there. She glanced down at her watch, ~and, this late at night. hmm, BART'll still be running, I can take her to a station, drop her off there.~ Buffy had been living in San Francisco for three months. She'd been riding BART for nearly that long.
Kitty shrugged. "Well, I just got here this afternoon, and I didn't go to the hotel--my luggage was already on it's way there, and I felt like walking. I took a bus, and then got off at the end of the line, and walked. And ended up here." She waved her hand around.
Buffy sighed, ~damn. I might as well. What the hell...~ She jumped, slightly, ~What was that? Hm. Never mind.~ She sighed again, "Fine. Look, I'll walk you to the BART station, you can take it downtown and get off near the hotels. Why were you walking so late now, anyway?"
Kitty looked at her for a moment. "I'd make some comment about you not being my mother, but. Why the hell should I need to explain myself to you? I can bloody well take care of myself!"
~She's right. She *was* holding her own there.~ "Sorry. I keep forgettting that there are a few who *can* take care of themselves against vampires. It's not like everyone faces demons, daily." ~Demons? Why do demons and Pryde sound vaguely familiar?~ She shook her head, mentally, and dismissed it as unimportant.
"Right. Look, walk me to the station, and I'll let it go." Kitty looked at her, still not completely trusting Buffy. "Shall we?"
Buffy started to nod, when--"What the hell?" she turned to the end of the street, senses straining. ~somewhere, I thought--there it is again!~ "Damn. That vampire that got away? It's up there attacking someone." She looked at Kitty and sighed. "Duty calls." Buffy took off running, glancing back she noted Kitty matching her step for step.
"I heard it too," Kitty snapped, "And I *am* the one who let him go."
Buffy didn't argue, just nodded.
They rounded the corner in step and the screaming abruptly cut off. "There!" They spotted them at the same time.
"Bloody hell!" The accent Buffy had noticed earlier was a little more pronounced. Three vampires surounded the body of a girl--she couldn't have been more than ten. Her eyes stared up, sightlessly.
"Bags me the sod on the left." Kitty muttered.
"I get the rest, then?" Buffy guessed as Kitty was already moving, going after the vampire on the left. It was their playmate from earlier. Buffy watched as Kitty used her own momentum to slide up to and *through* the vampire. She left the stake behind in his chest. ~Neat. Gotta ask her how she does that.~ And he disappeared in a puff of dust.
"Slayer." One of the remaining vampires hissed.
She pulled the stake out again. "Slayee."
"You have been expected," she hissed, "to--"
"Really? But I didn't RSVP!" Buffy laughed, "I guess you dust piles are mind-readers now, huh?"
The vampire growled and lunged at her as Kitty engaged her companion. Buffy dodged, kicking out at her left leg. It crumpled, the vampire went down howling in pain. "So sorry." Buffy dropped down on top of her, the stake finding her heart.
"Melea! You killed Melea, you bitch!" the 'dead' girl jumped up and threw herself on Buffy. She rolled to the left barely avoiding her, the wind of her passing touched her. Power surged along her bones, old power, power that sucked the marrow out of life. Buffy shook her head, dispelling the feeling, and hopped to her feet.
She shivered waiting for the vampire girl to charge again. ~What the hell was that?!?~ The vampire was turning, she spotted Buffy and charged her again. Buffy met her halfway, sliding in and punching her. Again power surged along her bones, almost knocking her to the ground. ~What?~ She fought against it as she slammed her hand on the vampire-girl's chest, grabbing the shirt, desperately holding herself up. ~Stake.~ Time was moving slowly as she followed her left hand with her right and the stake. It plunged into the vampire's chest in slow motion as Buffy's bones sang.
"Auuuuughiiiiieeeeee" The vampire's head went back as she shrilled to the heavens and shattered into a pile of dust.
Time returned to normal and Buffy felt her knees give as energy poured over her bones. ~It's cold, so cold--~
Kitty staked her opponent and turned to check on Buffy. "What the--" she jumped towards her as she fell.
Kitty stared down at the unconscious girl. ~Good grief. I turn from zapping that vamp and she's fainting on me. Hmm..~ She glanced around, ~where'd that body go? Oh, wait.~ She replayed the scene on her peripheral vision. ~Hmm. They were..lying in wait for us? Maybe?~ She frowned, ~Well, Buffy, actually, they knew her. One of them called her something, too. Slither? Sleer? No. Slayer. She called Buffy 'Slayer'. What the bloody hell is a Slayer? Guess I'll find out when she wakes up.~ She glanced around. ~Oh, bollucks. We're quite, quite exposed, right here.~ She looked around trying to find a place to hide.
Kitty half-dragged, half-carried Buffy back around the corner, and towards the little depression in a wall across the street. It was a door recess, almost a porch. Grunting softly, she dragged Buffy into the shadows.
~There. This should work, I don't think I could cart her in this state to her home--aside from the fact that I have no idea where it is.~ Kitty sighed softly, ~At least I've stopped obsessing on Pete.~ There. She'd said it. ~Pete his name was--is--Pete.~ She shook her head, ~And--~ Buffy moaned.
"It's plunge and move on now, Giles. You should be happy." Buffy muttered as she opened her eyes. They focussed on Kitty, "Mhoouch.. Did you get the number of the flying saucer that hit me?"
Kitty grinned, shaking her head. "We need to get out of sight--as in, undercover? Where's your house?"
"Ommf.. It's an apartment. Why?" Buffy looked at her in confusion.
"I don't want to be out when more vamps decide to join the party, and you aren't in any shape to deal with them." Kitty said, as Buffy struggled into a sitting position holding her head.
"Ouch. You'd be right on that last one. My head feels like my brain has been hit with a slice of lemon wrapped around a very large, gold brick." She moved, getting to her feet. Kitty stood with her stabilising her as she wobbled. "We'll have to go slow, c'mon."
They walked out of the doorway in silence, Buffy leaning slightly on Kitty.
11:11 p.m., Buffy's apartment, S.F.
They'd made it without a mishap to Buffy's apartment, feeling safer. Though, Buffy was still somewhat groggy and out of sorts. Kitty looked around. "Nice." It was a two room flat, the kitchen was part of the 'living room' and the bedroom led off of that. Between the kitchen and the main room, a couch sat, it's back to the kitchen. Catacorner to the couch was an immense overstuffed chair. There was stereo equipment in the opposite corner, and a really nice, thick, black rug on the floor. And then there were the walls. They were adorned with crosses and other odd things. Herb bundles, strange weavings, and unidentifiable objects.
Buffy dragged her back straighter and gestured towards the bathroom as she walked into the kitchen, "Thanks. I'm feeling better, I'll make some coffee. Go ahead and clean up if you'd like."
Kitty glanced down at the vamp dust coating her arms and legs and nodded, "Peachy. Thanks."
As she came out of the bathroom, Buffy looked at her, "So, you want to tell me just why you were out walking a strange city at night?" She held up a hand. "Even if you *can* take care of yourself, it was a stupid thing to do."
Kitty studied her, then shrugged, ~What the hell.~ "Like I said: I'm on vacation. I'm-I'm trying to forget something. I thought walking aimlessly might do it." And it had--for all of an hour. Then the thoughts and memories had come crowding back in. That last day--~*STOP*, I WILL NOT THINK ABOUT IT OVER AND OVER! NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE!~ She snapped at herself. ~Ok. So I haven't completely stopped obsessing..~
She looked at Buffy, "So, are you going to tell me what all this is about?" She gestured at the crosses adorning the walls, and the stake on the table.
Buffy grimaced, "I'd rather not. I invited you here out of necessity. Not to share my secrets."
Kitty nodded, wondering what imp of the perverse had a hold of her, "Yeah, but I know your name and as the goddess of computing, I could now find all sorts of neat and unfactual stuff about you."
Buffy glared, "This is blackmail."
"Ain't it though? Look, being distracted from my own life would be a good thing right now. Ok?"
"I thought you were on vacation?"
"Oh, I am. I'm supposed to be using it to forget things, and not having anything to occupy myself with isn't helping." Kitty stated, flopping into a chair.
"No, it wouldn't." Buffy said softly.
Kitty glanced at her, the look on Buffy's face kept her mouth closed.
"So, it could be anyone you met off the street whose story you'd want to hear?"
"Nope. Only those who get called 'Slayer' by vamps." Kitty grinned as Buffy looked at her in surprise.
"OK, you know a little too much, now. I'll tell you. Then, I'll have to kill you. But let me finish the coffee and get cleaned up first."
"Sure. In fact," She said, standing up, "*I'll* finish the coffee, you go clean up. And only then will we talk about that 'kill' thing."
Buffy nodded, turning to leave the kitchen. " The mugs are in that cupboard and I like my coffee with sugar and cream, please." she tossed over her shoulder.
11:35 p.m.
They sat in Buffy's living room. Kitty'd claimed the couch, she was now sprawled across its length, languidly sipping the mint cream coffee.
Buffy sat curled in the chair. "Ok. I guess I should start." she took a deep breath, "in every generation, there is one girl a 'chosen one' who has the abilities and strength to fight the vampires. She is the Slayer. I'm her."
Kitty blinked, "So, you're Buffy the--"
"Don't say it!" Buffy warned.
~Vampire Slayer.~ Kitty finished silently. "So, you go out and hunt the vamps huh?"
"Yep. Your turn."
~My turn?~ She tried to look innocent.
"Yeah," Buffy nodded, eyes narrowing, "Like, that walk through the vampire thing you did?"
"Oh. Um, you saw that, did you?" ~oops.~ "Ok. I'm not just Kitty Pryde, I'm Shadowcat of Excalibur, the British mutant team."
"Oh." Buffy paused, looking thoughtful, "ok. You're a mutant with the British X-Men. And you can walk through things?"
"Yeah." Kitty drained her mug and sighed, "Look, I'm exhausted, do you mind if I get some sleep? You can walk me to the BART station in the morning."
Buffy shook her head as Kitty carefully curled up on her couch. Walking into the kitchen, she set her mug on the table. Glancing back at Kitty, it occured to her that she might need a blanket, so she went into her bedroom and got one off the end of the bed.
"Here." She draped it over Kitty.
"Mm.. Thanks." Kitty reached out and pulled it up and around herself.
"You're welcome." Buffy tiredly went back into her room, closing the door. As she settled into her bed, she tried no to think of home. Of her mother. It didn't work.