“Enemies” 12/14

[sroni]

He and Faith had broken into the store together. There was a dangerous guy. Human. But he had a list of Slayers, and locations, some of which the Council knew about, and some of which they didn’t. And he was going to sell it to the highest bidder. Of which the Council definitely was not. They weren’t poor, but they weren’t rich, either. They had enough funds for the basic things, but not for the list of Slayers that multiple people/things/corporations were trying to buy.

The list also had some of the “baby Slayers”, as they’d started calling the younger ones. The ones that were too young to let fight.

Faith snuck through the window first. They couldn’t send in more than one Slayer; something about the magical guards that had been set up. With the right shielding, one could get in without triggering them, but not two. And they couldn’t send a witch in, because that level of magic would definitely set them off. So Xander was voted to go in, and help watch Faith’s back.

A decision that had not gone over so well with Willow.

He had to shove back the annoyance directed at his redheaded friend. She still thought that everyone could protect themselves except for him, and he was getting tired of it.

Faith’s head popped out of the window. Coast is clear, she mouthed at him, and the words popped into his brain. Giles had asked the Coven to cast a spell on them so they could understand each other without speaking out loud; all they had to do was sub-vocalize, and it would sound to each other like they’d spoken out loud. It had already come in handy once that night. Come on up.

He grabbed the window sill and boosted himself up, using his feet to climb the stonework like a ladder. They couldn’t turn on a light, so he let Faith search for the list, while he kept an ear out for people coming.

After about fifteen minutes, she tapped him on the shoulder, and held the list up. Got it, she mouthed.

He nodded. Let’s go.

And of course, the door had to open, and someone came in the room. “If you think you’re leaving the building with that list, you have a nasty surprise coming at you.”

Faith didn’t waste time with words, something that Xander was deeply grateful for. Side-effect of the spell: if they had even whispered, it would have sounded as though they were yelling. The thought of Faith talking at regular volume made him cringe. She passed the list off to Xander, and then threw herself at the man. He knew what he had to do. He had to keep the list safe.

So he did the hardest thing he’d ever had to do.

He left her in the room.

He dove out the window, hit the ground rolling, and then ran. Ran as fast as he could, praying that nothing was chasing him. He ran for three blocks before he was able to hand the list to Buffy. She took off for downtown, so that if anyone were following them, they’d have a better chance of losing them.

And he ran back to the store, praying that Faith was still okay.

He hurdled the fence again, and a voice startled him. Cyclops, you’re going the wrong way. He spun around and hurdled the fence again.

Of course. The spell. Why hadn’t he thought to use it?

Faith, where are you?

About three feet away from you and up. He looked in the tree that was in front of him, and saw her. She jumped down from the tree and landed lightly beside him. Let’s go. I’m okay. Got away no problem. I think they were more concerned about the list than about taking care of me.

They went.

They were safe.

The list was safe.

They could track down other girls, and not worry more than usual about their safety.

It had been a good day.

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