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Cicirossi
Joss Whedon is God and owns all. It's still his world, although we like to sneak in the side door and cover Xander with chocolate sauce and whipped cream when no one's looking.
"The Magic Box?" Xander tried for incredulous. Winced when it came out flat and unsurprised. Why not? Why the Hell not? It just figured that Anya was involved somehow, wittingly or unwittingly. He hoped for the unwitting, but wasn't too confident about it.
"So the little demon wench is in on it?" Spike asked. "Good on her!" Incredulous was something he could manage after all. Xander turned to Spike and stared. Hard. Spike's look was more surprise shading toward defensive. "What? She needs to get her feet back under her on the path of evil, doesn't she?"
"You continually amaze me, Spike." Buffy shook her head. "So anyway, Xand, we didn't charge right in, because if it is Anya you need to be there. And if it's not, she's going to be supremely pissed at us for suspecting her."
Nodding, Xander tried to get up off the floor. And couldn't. He thought he might just cry. "Help me up here, Buff?" When Spike moved to lever him up, Xander waved him away. "No, Spike. At this point you touching me, or vicey versy, is of the bad." Touching Buffy wasn't bad though, and that told him how far gone he was. Once upon a time just the thought of Buffy touches made him hard. Now it was the shape of Spike's cheekbones, or the way his nailpolish made his fingers look. Argh. So of course, he had to snark. "Besides, I'm mad at you right now."
Deeply affronted, Spike snorted inelegantly. "Why? Because I have to cheer for the demon doing what comes naturally?"
"There's nothing natural about demons."
"Oh yeah? Most demon types were around dlong before you lot even came down out of the trees. So, who do you think we find unnatural?"
No way was Xander going to admit Spike had a point, so he just shook his head and tried to stay on his feet. "I guess we go see Anya, huh?"
Sympathy woman face firmly in place, Willow nodded. "I guess we do. It's dark out now, too, so Spike can come along, because, you know, he's infected too and if we can get the antidote that would be good, so he won't have to eat you anymore. Eat from you! I mean."
Stifling a laugh, Buffy nudged Willow in the ribs. "Stop while you're ahead Will." She gave Spike a hard look. "Behave. I'll help Xander stay upright until we get there, but once we go in I'd better give him to you so my hands are free. Keep your hands above the waist. Got it?"
Spike sneered, but he obviously got the point, because he trailed along meekly behind them as they shuffled out the door. They must have been an odd sight, Willow bounding along making encouraging noises and Buffy holding Xander up so he could walk. And him with baby head, thinking if he could just stop and take another short nap. Tara walked beside Willow, making calming sounds. And then Spike, slouching along behind them with his hands in the pockets of his coat, cigarette dangling from his mouth. Of course, in Sunnydale no one would notice them, seeing as how none of them had horns, or three eyes or something.
By the time they got to the Magic Box, Xander was ready to collapse. The prospect of seeing Anya again was daunting enough. Add to it the idea that maybe they were going to have to confront her about something unpleasant and, well, he could just go back home now thanks. If he could walk on his own, which he couldn't. Buffy handed him off to Spike with a heavy warning glance, and Xander sagged back into him, no longer playing manly man for Buffy's sake.
"You going to live?" It was a whisper against his ear, low and worried, and Xander nodded.
"I think so. Just so tired. I'm sorry I snapped at you."
That surprised a chuckle out of Spike, and got him a tiny biting kiss right where his neck met his shoulder. "Wouldn't know what to do with you if you didn't. Don't worry about it."
"Do you think. I mean, Anya wouldn't do this deliberately, would she?"
"Well, we'll just have to see, won't we? Buck up, pet. Soon be over now."
One last check to make sure they were all ready, and Buffy headed inside, looking as normal as possible. Willow followed, less able to look normal, and Tara went in too, just looking worried. With one last almost hug, which was kinda nice, Spike hauled Xander inside as well, and he tried to brace himself for whatever sort of confrontation followed.
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