Chapter 1: Welcome to the Hellmouth/ The Harvest
Chapter Text
“No but I have family here,” Jesse Mcnally doesn't know much. In his sixteen years of life he's done pretty much nothing besides watch TV with his friends, workout with his Dad and babysit his kid brother. He doesn't have a lot going for him and he knows that. So when this gorgeous blonde is paying attention to his rambling He's thrilled, and flattered but he's also sceptical.
“Have I met them?”
“You probably will.”
Because he doesn't know much, but he's lived in Sunnydale almost his whole life. He knows when something is off, and the blonde. Darla, is off. He's almost thankful when his phone goes off. The ugly fluorescent green brick is his father's first attempt at earning his forgiveness. Jesse recognises the number as Xanders Uncle's and politely excuses himself to the bathroom.
“Go for Jesse,”
“Hey Man, can I get A ride to the bronze?” He isn't surprised. Jesse's had his Dad's old car for two weeks and Xander has tried to get him to drive him basically everywhere.
“I'm already here, wasn't your uncle dropping you off?” The one who's cell phone Xander's using.
“He found my Mom's secret vodka and passed out on the table. Please, I don't wanna be so late Buffy goes home before I get there,” Jesse can hear Mrs Harris yelling in the background, it's not uncommon. Before the divorce Jesse's parents were just as loud.
“You know you don't have a shot right?”
“Cordelia Chase.”
“I'll be there in ten but I want your new X men comic.” Jesse hangs up and turns back to the blonde he was talking to. A part of him wants to stay, make Xander walk like he usually does. When's a girl like that ever going to look at him again. The other part of him, the part that weirdly misses his dads summer boot camps, knows there's something wrong there.
Jessie drives to Xander's house. Xander who doesn't say thank you before he launches into a rant about the new girl. Conveniently missing any X-men.
So Buffy is weird. Which given her name is ‘Buffy’ makes sense. Who even comes up with that? Still Xander goes Into what he overheard waiting for Willow in the library. Xander thinks she's crazy, or in a cult with the English librarian and its code. Slayer's and vampire's, Jesse though.
“Never invite someone into this house after dark. Even If you know them, even if you have to. Offer them a drink of water, or ask if they would like to wait in the living room. Am I understood?” He'd never really questioned it, his dad is weird. Years in the military left him a little off his rocker, it's why he lost visitation rights. Except, wouldn't it make sense? Vampire's need permission to enter a house.
This is Sunnydale, he has four funeral suits while he and Xander keep a deadpool in the Harris basement. Harmony Kendall has already lasted longer than either of them expected Jesse's still going over the pieces when they find the new girl. She looks cute, all tiny and blonde like a fairy. He kind of loves the blue jacket she has on and Is about to say so when he sees her face.
“Have you seen Willow? She left with a guy.” Xanders happy for her, excited to not have to worry about her doe eyes for him. Jesse though, he kinda has a theory about Willow and her leaving with some guy. Doesn't make sense. Buffy says she needs to find them and Xander asks if he's a vampire and she needs to slay him. The way she reacts. The drop of her shoulders, the dread in her eyes. Xander keeps talking but Jesse doesn't listen.
“If I don't find her, there's going to be one more dead body in the morning. Where would she go?” Xander's struck silent, so Jesse has to answer.
“Ice cream, there's a cart that’s open till midnight that she loves. It's this way.” Buffy the new girl starts running in the direction he pointed. Xander follows not even a second after, Jesse hesitates. This Buffy chick is almost as weird as the Darla chick and unless a lot of people have a specific brand of crazy happening, Vampires are real. But it's Willow and he catches up with Xander pretty quick. It takes longer to get to Buffy and he only can because she slows down for him.
“They went that way.” She points into Darling Street cemetery. Of course she does, “You should get out of here. It's not safe.”
Xander caught up to them, more than a little out of breath. He may not have had his Dad's usual summer boot camp, but with everything happening this summer Jesse enjoyed the familiarity of the exercises. Xander was less inclined. Jesse tried to take him on his morning run once. It wasn't pretty, kinda like now. Still, Xander always gets points for bravery and nothing makes him brave like Willow.
“Not a chance.” Xander manages to puff out and Jesse can't exactly back out now. Not if Xander's going to be in danger.
“Stay behind me.” Buffy orders in the same tone Jesse's dad uses when he's stressed. His General Mcnally tone. Jesse knows to step in line and pulls Xander to follow.
Buffy leads them to a mausoleum, one of many in this town; inside is Willow with Some guy and the creepy blonde from earlier with a fucked up face.
“Well this is nice, A little bare but a dash of paint, a few throw pillows, call it home.” Buffy walks in without a care in the world brushing dust off a sarcophagus.
“Who the hell are you?” Darla asks, not looking at Xander or Jesse.
“you mean there's actually someone in this town who doesn't know already? Phew, that's a relief. I'm telling you having a secret identity in this town is a job of work.”
“Buffy we bail now right?” Xander asks. More than A little terrified.
“Not yet!” The guy vampire crowding Willow answers and Jesse realises this is going to be a fight. Okay, what was it his dad said? Go after his weak spots, Neck, chest, groin If It's a guy, gut If it's a girl. Still they're stalking Buffy, keeping between her and Willow.
“Okay first of all what's with the outfit? Live in the now. You look like Debarge.” Buffy turns from the guy back to Darla. “Okay, we can do this the hard way or, well there's just the hard way.
“That's fine with me.” She has a lisp around her fangs, if he weren't so terrified Jesse might laugh.
“Are you sure? Cause this is not gonna be pretty. I'm talking violence, strong language, adult content.” The guy lunges while Buffy talks and she stabs him from behind without even looking. He grunts in pain and falls to the floor before exploding into dust. What the fuck?
“See what happens when you roughhouse?” Dust, dead Vampires turn to dust. What the fuck!
“He was young and Stupid!” Darla the Vampire looks scared. Scared of Buffy, the tiny weird girl from LA. The Slayer.
“Jesse, Xander, get Willow and go!”
“Don't go far.” The blonde's fight as Jesse runs for Willow, scared and confused she follows easily. They run through the cemetery and Willow suggests the police as they're surrounded by more of them. Vampires.
“Get behind me!” Jessie shouts just as Darla comes out with a grin on her messed up face. “This is your family I'd guess. Can't say I'm all that pleased to meet them.” He stammers out as someone grabs Willow and she screams. Jesse throws a punch at the Vampire but he barely feels it. Instead grabbing Jesse by his sweater and throwing him into a gravestone. Ow!
Buffy, she killed one by stabbing it. With Wood, Like the one Xander gave back to her at lunch. He limps up and tears a branch off the tree trying his best to ignore the pain in his back and the splintering wood cutting into his hand. He goes after the guy with Willow stabbing through his back into his heart with all his strength. When the guy dissolves he barely manages not to stab Willow as he falls on top of her. Another vampire pulls him up only to turn to dust, revealing Buffy, wood In hand.
“Are you Okay? Where's Xander.”
“They surrounded us, that girl took him.” Willow answers and Jesse looks around for her. The rest of the Vampires ran off, maybe turning into bats to disappear into the dark.
“Xander!” He shouts and runs back the way they came. Buffy catches him and pulls him to a stop with more strength than a girl her size should have.
“We need to get Willow home. I'll go after Xander when we have the sun on our side but she needs to be safe first.” A part of Jesse wants to pull away and keep searching. Except there were so many, and they were so strong.
“My car's back at The Bronze, I'll drive you both home.” Buffy keeps an eye out the entire way to his car.
They take Willow first, mostly because he doesn't need directions. After she's safely in her house the silence is more than a little awkward.
“You handled yourself well back there. It's not easy to kill a vampire.” She says eventually. Surprised apparently.
“My Dad's ex-military, and this town. Well I'm starting to think a lot of his crazy rules aren't all that crazy.” Buffy is looking at him most of the way to her place, Revello drive, just around the corner from Jesse's place. He stops outside, the lights are still on. Buffy's family is waiting for her to come home.
“Is Xander dead?” He knows the answer, knows it the same way everyone in sunnydale knows missing always means dead. Every time.
“I hope not, but I can't promise it.” Jesse takes a notebook and pen from the glove compartment in front of Buffy.
“These are my cell and home phone numbers. I get the feeling you don't need much help, but if you ever want backup.”
“How do you have a cell phone?”
“My dad lost custody last year, supervised visits only, so he's trying to buy my love. Cell Phone, his old car. My little brother got a computer, kid’s eleven.” Buffy takes the number and gets out of the car. She leans back into the open window.
“Bring Willow to the library before class starts tomorrow. I’ll explain everything.” Jesse nods and drives the short distance home.
He barely sleeps that night, instead sneaking past Blake's room down to the basement. Gavin Mcnally moved out two years ago, still boxes of army gear are in their basement gathering dust. It's a hunch more than anything. Jesse gets through three boxes before he finds what he's looking for.
There's a large cross carved into a locked box inside a storage container. Which would be an issue if the car keys his dad left for him didn't have the match to this lock as well.
Delicately carved wooden stakes, a half a dozent army flasks labbeled holy water, a cross, a taser and a journal.
HST Is combative, even restrained and weakened. Pain does little to stop it and seems to cause a sort of pleasure.
HST Has regained their human features and much of their personality. There's a distinct lack of morality but the subject speaks of their human life easily. Animalistic tendencies have lessened.
HST seems to be attempting a negotiation.
HST claims the blood-lust and animalism is at its strongest when HST first wakes. The intentions of the maker also factor depending on if they wanted a minion or a companion.
HST Neutralised. Self inflicted, last conversation with Subject Included the promise that HST's aren't meant to be caged.
Jesse doesn't know what HST stands for in shady government speak, but given the night he's had. Vampire. His dad experiments On vampire's, holding at least one captive long enough that it killed itself.
“Jesse,” Blake’s sleepy voice makes him sound even Younger than he is. Jesse throws the papers back into the chest and closes it before his little brother makes it down the stairs.
“Hey kid, did I wake you?”
“Why are you going through Dad's stuff?”
“Was looking for something. Go back to bed, i'll be up soon. We both have school tomorrow.” Jesse takes a stake, a taser and a flask of holy water to put in his school bag. The journal he puts in his bedside drawer.
Jesse doesn't get much sleep before he's making the morning run. His Mom is still at work and will be again once he gets home. If he gets home.
“Kid, we're gonna make a pitstop before I drop you off so hurry up!” Jesse calls from the kitchen. Blake complains but makes it down the stairs before Jesse finishes his Coffee.
Revello Drive is technically the opposite direction of both their schools, but by exactly three streets. The Mcnally's live on Key Street, which turns into Barden Place which turns into Revello Drive.
With a promise from Blake to be cool that he will definitely break Jesse knocks on the door. Buffy's Mom is kinda hot. Which makes sense since Buffy is hot.
“Can I help you?”
“My name is Jesse Mcnally, I live over on Key Street. I met Buffy yesterday, she and my friend Willow hit it off so when I drove Willow home I dropped off Buffy.”
“Oh, thank you. Jesse and Willow and there was another boy, Alexander?” Jesse gives his best smile. Despite the pain that shoots through him at the reminder that he doesn't know where his best friend is.
“Just Xander, yeah. That’s the trio, I was the jock of the group but I think Buffy's about to steal my spot.” Mrs, huh, Jesse doesn't know Buffy's last name. Buffy's mom smiles at that. “My mom is a nurse at Sunnydale memorial and keeps odd hours. So I drive my little brother to school most days and was wondering If Buffy would like a ride. I have my license here if you want. I've never been in any accidents and my brother says I drive like an old lady who forgot to put her teeth back in. The last part is apparently most important.”
The smile turns into a laugh and Buffy bounds down the stairs. She's wearing blue Jeans and a loose black blouse with sensible shoes. Ass kicking outfit.
“Jesse?”
“Oh Buffy, your friend offered to drive you to school, isn't that nice of him?” The older woman turns to the stairs and Jesse gives an awkward smile to the tiny blonde.
“I thought you might want to come pick up Willow and Xander.” Understanding dawns on Buffy's face and she nods.
“Let me get my bag.” she runs back up the stairs and Mrs buffy's mom turns back to him
“It was nice to meet you Mrs?”
“Summers, Joyce. Buffy didn't tell you her last name?”
“didn't come up, she’s more of a, Hi, I'm Buffy type. Mrs Summers smiles again and her daughter bounds down the stairs with a tiny black leather backpack that probably doesn't hold a single book.
“Let's go, bye Mom.” Buffy closes the door before her mother can respond. She's still looking at him as she gets into the passenger seat.
“Blake, this is my new friend Buffy. Buffy, that's my kid brother Blake.” Jesse says as he starts the car back down the familiar streets to the elementary school.
“Buffy doesn't sound like a name.” Blake says matter of factly. He's right, but he shouldn't say it.
“My mom had a favourite Aunt Elisabeth, but when she was little she had these big teeth and couldn't say her name. Turned it into, ‘Lissabuff’ Eventually everyone called her Aunty Buffy, so my mom named me Buffy after her.” Buffy explains calmly and Blake looks at her carefully.
“You know you're too pretty to hang out with my brother right? He's a loser everyone says so.”
“Hey, I could be cool if I wanted to. You've never had to bear a conversation with Harmony Kendall. I'll take being a loser any day. Now get out of my car.” The best and worst part of Sunnydale is that nothing is all that far away. You could walk Pretty much anywhere, you might die or go missing, but it's Sunnydale. That's always a risk. As such Playing chauffeur to his baby brother was the easiest of the responsibilities that Jesse got in the dirlvorce.
Blake waves goodbye and runs over to his little blonde friend, Carrie? Or Cassie. Whatever, she was weird but so was Blake.
“Sorry about him, kids you know? I'm gonna pick up Willow next, then we'll skip first period to talk monsters?”
“You're very calm about all of this.” Buffy accuses and Jesse grabs his bag the journal isn't in there but the weapons paint a picture worth A thousand words. He starts the car in Willows direction before he says anything.
“My dad was in the Army, Special Forces. When I was ten he was honourably discharged and got a job as the head of security down at the university. when We moved here My Dad started putting me through these army boot camps.” Buffy pulls the taser out with a dirty look on her face. Like it personally offended her.
“Sunnydale is a weird town. You learn that pretty quick, I think. The special part of my Dad's special forces are monsters. I think he's been propping me without me realising it.” They're at Willow's and she's waiting outside.
“What do you have first period and can we skip it.” Jesse asks as soon as she's closed the door.
“Health class, please can I? I don't wanna think about birds and bee's while Xander's… He has to be so scared.” They're still early. Only the teachers and jocks with early practice are at school.
“We have to see Giles, the Librarian. He's, I guess he's the Obiwan to my Luke. Old and stuffy with all the books. He's called a Watcher, I had another in LA, Merrick but he died. So I burned down a gym full of Vampires that attacked my school dance and that's me.” Willow's eyes keep getting wider as Buffy speaks Jesse's thankful for how early it is because she's not quiet in talking about her Arson.
They walk through the Library doors as a trio with Buffy at the centre. Mr Giles in all his tweed glory takes a look at them all and sighs. Taking off his glasses to clean them in annoyance. Why does Jesse kinda like this guy?
“Did you at least try to think of another explanation?” He asks all British and annoyed so Jesse takes a seat. Willow looks scared to be scolded and Jesse stands again only to pull out a seat for her. Buffy has her arms crossed in a standoffish with the Librarian.
“What did you want me to say? No, No those weren't Vampires they were just guys in thundering need of a facial. Or maybe they had rabies, they could have had rabies. And that guy turning to dust, just a trick of the light.” She goes so hard into her Valley girl persona Jesse almost laughs.
“Are you quite finished?”
“Do you want to give them the rundown or listen to me butcher it?” Buffy goes into his office as he collects himself, coming back With and icepack. She stands protectively over Willow, a move Jesse's used himself a few times.
“This world is older than any of you know.
Contrary to popular mythology, it did not begin as a paradise. For untold eons demons walked the Earth. They made it their home, their... their Hell. But in time they lost their purchase on this reality. The way was made for mortal animals, for, for man. All that remains of the old ones are vestiges, certain magicks, certain creatures.”
“Like Vampires,” Buffy finishes before he keeps going.
“Oh I, I need to sit down.” Willow says all woozy from her chair.
“You are sitting down.” Buffy answers softly, touching her shoulder in comfort.
“Oh, good for me.” Xander meant everything to Willow. They'd been friends for years before Jesse even moved to Sunnydale and it's not like they were besties when he first arrived.
“So vampires are demons?” Jesse clarifies. His Dad's journal. The Vampires talk about the demon in them as something else. As if it's a part of them but separate from the human they were.
“The books tell the last demon to leave this reality fed off a human, mixed their blood. He was a human form possessed, infected by the demon's soul. He bit another, and another, and so they walk the Earth, feeding... Killing some, mixing their blood with others to make more of their kind. Waiting for the animals to die out, and the old ones to return.” Giles handed Jessie an old book open to the origins of Vampires. Written In calligraphy Jesse can barely understand.
“You really like doing that. Is it a British thing or are you just dramatic?”
“I think it's a bit of both. Merrick was like that as well, only more with the vague.” Buffy agrees with A smile at Jesse. Giles clears his throat.
“So I figured last night you were supergirl, and you have fancy British butlers like batman So what's the deal. Were you bitten by A radioactive Vampire?”Giles does his tired sigh again and Jesse is looking forward to being a pain in this man's ass.
“For as long as there have been vampires, there's been the Slayer. One girl in all the world, a Chosen One.”
“He loves doing this part.” Buffy interrupts to continue ragging on Giles
“Alright. The Slayer hunts vampires, Buffy is a Slayer, don't tell anyone. Well, I think that's all the vampire information you need.”
“Except how to find them,” Jesse adds and Buffy gives him a look.
“You don't, I do.”
“Hey, you might be the superhero but Xander's my,”
“Xander is my responsibility. I let him get taken.” Her voice is hard, don't fuck with me face firmly in place.
“That's not true, he never would have left Willow behind.” the redhead who was staring terrified into the middle distance looks up at the sound of her name.
“If you hadn't shown up they would have taken us, too. Does anybody mind if I pass out?”
“Breathe.” Buffy reminds her.
“Breathe,” Willow doesn't look convinced but takes a breath anyway. Jesse offers his hand which she gladly takes.
“This big guy, Luke. He talked about an offering to the Master. Now, I don't know what or who, but if they weren't just feeding then Xander may still be alive. Either way, I'm gonna find him.”
“Uh, this may be the dumb question, but shouldn't we call the police?” Willow pipes up and Jesse gives her fingers A squeeze.
“And they'd believe us, of course.” Giles reminds her, which is honestly rude. She's clearly not handling this well and Mr Tweed could be a bit more understanding.
“Well, we don't have to say vampires. We could just say that there's a bad man.” Oh Willow.
“They couldn't handle it even if they did show up. They'd only come with guns.” Buffy says guns with derision and Jesse decides he's not gonna invite her over to his Dad's apartment any time soon. He's very proud of his gun collection.
“You have no idea where they took Xander?”
“Wouldn't the underground make sense? I mean, that's where Buffy's fashion victim was taking Willow. Oh and Darla ,not a schoolgirl, was talking about a party near there as well.” Jesse suggests and Buffy nods in agreement.
“Vampires really jam on sewer systems. You can get anywhere in the entire town without catching any rays. But I didn't see any access around there.”
“Well, there's an electrical tunnel that runs under the whole town, Blake wrote a paper on it last semester.” Jesse answers Willow's ‘how do you know that’ look. So little faith.
“If we had a diagnostic of the tunnel system it might indicate a, a meeting place, it would, uh... I suppose we could go to the building commission.” Because there's nothing that'll save Xander's life faster than red tape.
“We, so, don't have time.” Buffy agrees with the thought and Willow squeezes his hand.
“Uh, guys? There may be another way.” There's Only one computer in the library. Gathering dust under a few of Giles’ books.
Willow clears it off carefully. It takes a good while for the thing to start up and even longer for Willow to get to the schematics.
“So, all the city plans are just, uh, open to the public?” Giles sounds so adorably genuine in his question.
“Um, well, i-in a way. I sort of stumbled onto them when I accidentally decrypted the city council's security system.”
“You terrify me.” Jess tells the redhead with a kiss to the back of her head.
“I don't see any access. There's nothing here, this is useless!”
“I think you're being a bit hard on yourself.” Giles tells her, all wise mentor like.
“And Willow, who did awesome!” Jesse adds because he knows his friend and she's sensitive.
“You're right I'm sorry Will, I just. I thought I was on top of everything, and then that monster, Luke, came out of nowhere…” She stops for a moment going back over the fight in her head. “He didn't come out of nowhere. He came from behind me. I was facing the entrance, he came from behind me, and he didn't follow me out. The access to the tunnels is in the mausoleum! The girl must have doubled back with Jesse after I got out! God! I am so mentally challenged!”
“Okay, to the batmobile. I'm the getaway driver.” Jesse swings his bag over his back and starts for the door. Buffy stops him, her tiny frame not equal to the unstoppable force that is her strength.
“Jesse, you can't come with me okay? I'm the Slayer, and you're not.”
“Yeah, superpowers or no, you aren't going into a vampire lair without backup. I'm no Slayer but I dusted one of them last night, I can handle myself and I fully understand I'm Robin to your Batman. Please, you aren't the only one that failed to protect him.” Her eye falters and Giles stifles.
“You can't honestly be considering,” neither of them listen. Buffy's hand is still on his shoulder, and she's looking at him. No, assessing him.
“Do you know how to use that stuff?” Jesse nods, She drops her hand. Giles is calling her name as they walk out to the parking lot but they ignore him. Buffy goes via the front gate but Jesse grabs her wrist lightly to stop her.
“Flutie has eye's on the exits, people tend to die in Sunnydale and he has kids to protect. I know a way out.” he lets go as soon as she's stopped trying to get detention he pulls her into computer science class.
“Jesse, you don't have my class today. I told you that was a one time thing.” Jenny Calendar is the best teacher in this school. She's been doing the detention watch since she started last year, Jesse spends enough time in detention that they've gotten rather close.
“Please Miss Calendar. Xander hasn't shown up today, we're worried.”
“Then why is the new girl here instead of Willow?” It was a good question that Jesse didn't have an answer for.
“Hi, Miss Calendar was it? I'm Buffy Summers. We were at the bronze last night, I saw Xander talking to this girl. There’s this street drug back in LA that leaves a pretty signature tell, she had it. If I'm right I'll be able to find where they've holed up for the day to ride out the high. My friend Pike's buddy got in with them, it was way bad. I don't know if you've seen my file but I would not have been in that situation if not for, anyway I can help.” Buffy's inflections are so bubbly and sweet. Looking to all the world like an overeager Valley Girl. Jesse has to respect it.
“If you aren't back by the end of lunch I'm calling the police.” Miss Calender walks to her desk and gets the key to a back exit she only has because she printed it a week after she got here.
They get to Jesse's car with no issue. Darling Street cemetery is ten minutes away on foot, but only about three on the roads. The Mausoleum doesn't look nearly as intimidating during the day. Buffy makes him wait in the sun while she checks they're Alone. Apparently they aren't.
“I don't suppose you've got a key on you?” Jesse hears Buffy ask someone. She doesn't sound worried, but she was judging their interior decoration last night so it's hard to tell.
“They really don't like me dropping in.” A guy, of course. He sounds older, his Accent that of someone who's spent a lot of time in America but not from here.
“Why not?”
“They really don't like me.” some kind of Scottish or Irish maybe. It's long since faded but Jesse can hear a slight lilt in his I's.
“How could that possibly be?”
“I knew you'd figure out this entryway sooner or later. Actually, I thought it was gonna be a little sooner.”
“Sorry you had to wait. Okay. Look, if you're gonna be popping up with this Cryptic Wise Man act on a regular basis, can you at least tell me your name?” so she's met him before but doesn't know his name. Weird.
“Angel.”
“Angel. It's a pretty name. Jesse, if you're coming it's time to go.” Jesse opens the door to see a handsome man in his mid twenties.
“Don't go down there. Especially not with the boy.” Angel doesn't even look at Jesse which is rude but also kinda cool.
“Deal with my going.”
“I’m her backup, unless you're offering.” Jesse tells him earning a glare from his gorgeous brown eyes.
“You shouldn't be putting yourself at risk. Tonight is the Harvest. Unless you can prevent it, the Master walks.” Again, rude. Jesse's right here. Buffy seems to know what he's talking about.
“Well, if this Harvest thing is such a suckfest, why don't you stop it?” She really is a Valley girl at heart isn't she?
“Cause I'm afraid,” We love a man who's in touch with his emotions. Except he's also like twenty six and would rather have two teenagers go into a vampire den than do it himself. “They'll be expecting you.”
A trap then. With Xander as bait, He'll love that.
“Look, we've got a friend down there. Or at least a potential friend. Do you know what it's like to have a friend?” he looks honestly depressed at the admittedly bitchy question. Dude.
“That wasn't supposed to be a stumper.” he looks deep in thought for a moment before making a decision.
“When you hit the tunnels head east towards the school. That's where you're likely to find them.” Buffy nods, turns around and breaks down the chained metal gate with a single kick. Holy shit she's strong.
“You gonna wish us luck?” Jesse asks with a grin. Angel still doesn't address him and they walk further into the shadows.
Once Jesse determines they're far enough away he nudges Buffy lightly on the shoulder. “So who was Mr tall, dark and mysteriously sexy?
“Not a clue. He followed me into an alley last night, gave me a vague warning about a Harvest and a cross necklace then disappeared again." How creepy, Slayer or not, a sixteen year old girl being followed by a twenty something man down a dark alley? Ew.
“Well, that's… honestly weird and creepy but that seems to come with the Slayer gig. How long have you been doing this?”
“Not long, six months or so? It was the last week of freshman year, I was invited to the prom by my junior boyfriend. It was exciting, I was the only freshman going and I made cheerleader. Then my old Watcher Merrick showed up all You have a destiny and all of a sudden I have superpowers. This Master Vampire Lothos tried to kill me, Merrick sacrificed himself, my friend Pike and I burned down the gym. I killed Lothos and ran off to Vegas with Pike for the summer. Eventually I went home to find my parents divorced, I'd been expelled and they thought I had a mental break and locked me in a psych ward.” She's ranting clutching the stake in her hand so tight the wood is starting to splinter.
“Dude, that's. I can't imagine. I'm sorry that happened to you. What happened to Pike?”
“Oh, he was a senior. I think he's still in Vegas, we kinda had a falling out. What about you, Xander and Willow?”
“What about us?”
“Well it's an unlikely trio isn't it? Brainy Willow layabout skater Xander and the army brat.”
“Willow and Xander have been best friends since daycare. She's convinced she's In love with him, I think she's confusing love and loyalty but that's not really my business. I came later and joined the cool squad, as much as there was one when we were ten. Fell for Cordelia hard when I found out how smart she was, and funny. Mean funny but I always liked that.” the further into the tunnels they get the more Jesse finds himself lowering his voice and reaching for his own weapons.
“We were about to start high school when all my friends just kept getting meaner and it stopped being funny. There was an incident at the high school tour we went on, Willow was locked in the basement by Harmony and Larry. Xander tried to fight me because he thought I'd had something to do with it and I went with him to find her. After we did and Willow told us what happened I actually got in a fight with Larry. Who you haven't met yet but he's huge and already was at fourteen. Except I actually know how to fight because of my dad so I kicked his ass and got suspended. So did Larry and Harmony for what they did to Willow. After i got back I kinda decided I’d prefer to spend time with Willow and Xander instead of a bunch of Shallow assholes.” Jesse finishes his story in time to be scared shitless by a couple of dead rats.
“Yeah, you're a badass.” She says with an amused smile.
“I don't like rodents,” especially not gory ripped in half rodent corpses.
“No rats, no bullies. anything else on the Jesse dislikes list?”
“I'm starting to think Vampires should be making their way to the top.” Jesse laughs softly trying to be less freaked out. It's not working very well.
“What is that?” Buffy points out a shape in the dark. They get closer and it jumps up with a pipe, ready to hit them.
“Jesse?” Xander's voice says in the dark and Jesse pulls his friend into a hug.
“Xander! Are you okay man?” Jesse expects to feel his heart racing in fear. He doesn’t, then again his own is pretty loud and probably drowning anything else out.
“I am not okay on an epic scale! We need to get out of here.”
“It's cool Buffy's a superhero,” he's shackled to the pipes by his leg. Buffy leans down to break them and Jesse has a thought.
“Won't that be loud? I mean. Why leave him here unguarded if they aren't expecting us to come for him and are waiting for the go noise, like a huge chain echoing down the tunnels.” Jesse says quickly in a quiet whisper and Buffy nods. Trying to delicately unlatch the metal cuff.
“Xander man, you must be starving. I've got water and a few of my Dad's weird army Granola bars.” Jesse hands the military Flask to his cool hands. Xander's skulling the water before Jesse's even finished talking. Until he starts coughing and choking. The metal flask drops to the floor and Xander's face changes seconds before he's dust. The metal anklet buffy was working on clatters to the ground no longer attached to anyone with a loud crash. Jesse hears growling not so far away.
“Time to go.” Buffy has to pull Jesse away from the dust that was once his best friend. Xander's dead, he killed him. Or at least what was left of him.
HST remains Adament while possessed by a ‘demon’, the man he was before remains. He’s retained all the same memories and skills. Even feelings while twisted follow the same patterns they had while HST was alive.
It was still Xander, evil maybe but did he even know that yet. What if he'd just woken up? Thinking he's being rescued and instead… Jesse thinks he's gonna throw up. Except can't because they're surrounded by even more Vampires.
“Jesse, tell me there's another way out.” Buffy's voice pulls him out of his panic.
“Uh, this way, I hope.” the power plant should be around here, that was the direction they were headed. They just need to follow to where wires converge and… Yes! Door. They barely make it before the Vampires catch up, Jesse pulls the taser from his bag and clicks the safety hitting the closest vampire. A tiny dark haired girl. Buffy picks her up when she drops from the shock throwing her at the other vamps, knocking them down like bowling pins. They need both of them to close the door, there's a latch keeping it open Buffy can't reach and the second he lifts it Buffy slams the concrete and metal door closed like it's nothing.
“Holy shit, will that hold them?” There's an awful banging sound at the door and it makes less than comforting noises of protest.
“No. This doesn't look like an exit.” Jesse points above her. It's at least her height again but in the centre of the roof is a manhole cover.
“Thank you Blake,” Jesse mumbles and Buffy jumps the massive distance like it's nothing, punching the metal manhole cover to let in beautiful sunlight. Oh thank God. Buffy offers him a boost to get up and he's thankful for it. He may be more fit than he looks but he's can’t jump five feet in the air. Buffy, the superstrong cheerleader can definitely launch him that high though.
It feels kinda weird letting such A tiny girl take his whole bodyweight in her tiny hands but she tosses him like he's nothing and he lands on his already bruised to hell back. Fucking ow. He hears Buffy jump while he recovers only for her to cry out his name. He manages to catch her arm before the Vampire can pull her back under. He won't win the tug of war so he grabs the taser from his pocket and jams it into the soft side of it's wrist. He pulls Buffy up and they collapse onto the ground. Saved by the late morning sun.
Jesse doesn't say anything on the drive back to school. He makes sure they pass Miss Calenders class on their way back in. He catches her eye as students file out for lunch and shakes his head.
Willow is waiting for them in the library, working at the computer. Giles has a very old book in front of him. They both look up when the doors open. Willow is hopeful, Giles, Giles pales as soon as he see's their faces.
“Xander?” Willow asks softly. Jesse reaches into his pocket again and pulls out a handful of dust. Letting it fall to the ground in answer Jesse takes off the offending vest. One of his dads army things and lets it drop to the ground as well while he walks into the stacks, to not have an audience to his coming breakdown. He wasn't to Scream, cry maybe hit something. He wants to run until he can remember the look in Xanders eyes when he realised what Jesse did. Willow finds him, crying in earnest and his protect Willow instincts take over and he wraps his arms around her. Letting tears take them both together while Slayer and Watcher discuss Business.
It wasn't Enough that the Vampires got to Xander. No, they want to end the world now. Jesse drives Buffy back to his house, between the two of them Jesse's Mom Is less likely to be home. He also has a basement full of weapons and has to drop his kid brother at home. Shit Blake.
Jesse sends Buffy to the basement while he sets up dinner for his brother. “Look, Xander didn't show up to school Today and we're going out to look for him, I need you To be okay here on your own. I'll be back before Mom is I swear, I just. I can't not look for him” Jesse feels sick to his stomach lying to his brother but he has to say something.
Blake gets this older than he ought to be capable of look In his eyes. He nods and sits on his computer. “You know the rules. Lock all the doors, don't invite anyone in and don't go outside. I'll be back as soon as I can.”
Buffy is waiting by the car with a new outfit and her own duffel bag.
“My weapons weren't good enough?” It's almost a joke, not really. Jesse doesn't have the energy for that.
“Vampire’s are attracted to bright colours, it's some sick association to innocence and life. They think the girl in blue or white is tastier than one in black or red. Also, yeah. Your Dad's stuff has a decidedly government feel that gives me the Wiggins” She answers as they get back into his car.
They made an executive decision that Given it was Friday night, no cover cost at the bronze means a high volume of bodies for the Harvest. This Master Vampire wants to be free of some underground prison and open something called a Hellmouth. The thing that makes Sunnydale like it Is and the cause of the high mortality rates. Which is while it's closed, so opening it. Bad news.
They make it to the bronze After Giles and Willow. The door is locked and screams are coming from within.
Jessie gives the taser to Willow along with a cross around her neck and one of Buffy's glass bottles of holy water. Broken glass in a burning wound sounds like a great defence for Willow.
Jesse is sent with Willow and Giles to the back entrance, which is as locked as the front. Just not nearly as well, he finds A metal bar and hits the lock until it breaks. Buffy could have done it with her bare hands.
She's on the stage, because of course she is. With the big guy Luke and a magic symbol on his forehead. Jesse Spots Darla the blonde with Cordelia. Giles Is already herding out the others so Jesse runs for Cordy.
“You know I really think you should let her go,” Jesse says with more confidence than he feels.
“Shouldn't you be dead already?” Darla asks, letting go of Cordelia to face him. The brunette runs towards the back door without a second look at Jesse.
“You know the whole monster face makes you have this lisp when you talk. It's really hard to be scared of you when you'd probably Say my name like Jethy.” Darla lunges at him, ignoring the burning of the cross around his neck to take a bite. Fucking ow.
Her fangs are ripped from his neck when Darla's body jerks and pulls away. Willow has The taser and hits the blonde again so she can smash a glass jar into her face. Darla runs out the door, her face smoking and the smell on top of the blood loss is just too much. Jesse throws up onto the dance floor.
There's a crash on the stage and Jesse and Willow look up. They watch Buffy put a stake through Luke's back as he cowers from a streetlamp. Buffy, tiny girl Buffy looks at the rest of the Vampires and they all run.
“I take it, it's over.” Giles is out of breath. His stuffy British guy persona hardly matches a club brawl.
“Did we win?” Willow is latching on to Jesse like he might collapse. Which is actually fair. Vampire bites hurt man.
“Well, we averted the Apocalypse. I give us points for that. You good Jesse?”
“Oh, I'll be fine. My Willow saved me.” He says squeezing her tighter. Or he tries to, based on the concerned look on her face it's not very successful. “Do you think Cordelia will thank me for saving her?”
She doesn't. In fact Monday rolls Cordelia and the rest of her Cordette's are acting like it was just another night at the bronze. “Well, I heard it was rival gangs. You know, fighting for turf? But all I can tell you is they were an ugly way of looking. And Buffy, like, knew them! Which is just too weird. I mean, I don't even remember that much, but I'm telling you, it was a freak show!”
Cordelia goes right on ignoring Jesse and he sighs. Making his way over to Buffy Willow and Giles.
“What exactly were you expecting?” the tiny blonde asks with a smile.
“I don't know, something. I mean, the dead rose. We should at least have an assembly.”
“People have a tendency to rationalize what they can and forget what they can't.” Jesse guesses he's not surprised. This is Sunnydale, the town of if you saw something strange, not you didn't.
“Believe me, I've seen it happen.”
“Well, I'll never forget it, none of it.” Willow's wearing one of Xanders Flannels. They spent the weekend with the Harris’ and the police explaining Xander went missing, that they hadn't seen him since the bronze Thursday and last with a blonde dressed as a schoolgirl. Their Friday search party excuse got Buffy and Jesse out of trouble for skipping classes.
“Good! Next time you'll be prepared.” Giles answers with a sigh and Willow stops dead.
“Next time, why?”
“We've prevented the Master from freeing himself and opening the Mouth of Hell. That's not to say he's going to stop trying. I'd say the fun is just beginning.” Giles looks far too excited. As though someone didn't die, multiple someone's probably.
“More vampires?” Willow's gone pale again.
“Not just vampires. The next threat we face may be something quite different.” right, because there's more monsters than just Vampires. Of course.
“I can hardly wait!” Buffy says all peppy and Jesse looks at her like she's crazy.
“We're at the center of a mystical convergence here. We may, in fact, stand between the Earth and its total destruction.” Oh great, Thanks Mr Tweed, no pressure.
“Well, I gotta look on the bright side. Maybe I can still get kicked out of school!” Buffy walks ahead to class. Willow and Jesse share a look before following her, leaving Giles to head back to his library.
“I guess most schools aren't on Hellmouths. I wonder what a normal town's average mortality rate even is?”
“Maybe you could blow something up. They're really strict about that.” Willow suggests, it's a thought. He can't say English class doesn’t tempt him into Arson.
“I was thinking of a more subtle approach, y'know, like excessive not studying.”
“If Harmony hasn't been kicked out yet I don't think that'll work.” Jesse says and hears another of Giles’ put upon sighs.
“The Earth is doomed.”
Chapter 2: Witch
Summary:
Buffy and Jesse try out for the cheerleading squad and the gang investigate the attacks against their fellow hopefuls.
Meanwhile Jesse is being stalked by another dangerous blonde who's taken an interest in him.
Notes:
Updates will be slow. I m talking glacier pace. Xander is a difficult character to write out for being as useless as he tends to be.
Chapter Text
If his Dad found out about this he'd never let Jesse live it down. Hell if Xander were around to see this he'd never stop laughing. Except, Xander's dead and Jesse's dad is a mad scientist, so do their opinions really matter?
Jesse walks into the gym to find Willow and Buffy already waiting. Buffy in a white and red cheerleading Outfit.
“Jesse! You made it!” Buffy calls. “ And you're wearing gym clothes?”
“Well yeah, you can't exactly try out for cheerleading in baggy jeans.” he responds and they both stop dead.
“You're trying out? For cheerleading? You Know you're a boy right?” Willow says and then frowns. “Not that boys can't, they just don't usually want to because other guys might think they're you know. Unless you are, which is okay too, I'll love you no matter what. I’d just be surprised.” Oh sweet Willow.
“There were a few boy cheerleaders back at Hemery. Ryan was gay but Keith and Jackson just wanted to get in with the cheerleaders and were too small to play football.” Buffy continues slightly less panicked but still shocked. They haven't started laughing which was more than he would have gotten from Xander.
“Buffy's got it in one. My Mom was a cheerleader back in highschool as well, taught me the dances to try and burn through my energy. While I'm glad to know you'd be okay with my being gay I definitely like girls.” He's a little distracted watching Cordelia warm up, which just proves his point. “Besides, with all the monster fighting, staying in shape is probably a good idea and summer boot camps wear off surprisingly quickly.”
Willow and Buffy share a look. One of the secret girl telepathy looks Jesse, remembers Cordelia and Harmony exchanging throughout middle school.
“Who does Amber think she is a Laker girl?” Corderlia asks, scoffing at the senior cheerleader. The Cordette squad isn't around so she's lowering herself to speak to them. Being a cheerleader wasn't a popularity necessity since as far as clubs with death rates go, the Cheer squad has always been pretty high on the list. According to Buffy that's because pretty girls in short skirts and bright colours is a vampire buffet.
“I heard she turned them down,” Willow answers, then sees her weird chubby friend from middle school. Only decidedly less chubby. “Amy hi! I didn't know you wanted to be a cheerleader. You lost a lot of weight.” Is that not rude to say? Maybe for girls it's okay.
“Had to, hi Jesse.” oh right, Amy had a crush on Jesse when he was still in the cool squad. Out of the corner of his eye Jesse spots Cordelia rolling hers. She had some not great things to say about the girl back then, the sort of things she says about him now. Pathetic, Delusional. Jesse smiles as genuinely as he can at Amy and then shoots Cordelia a reprimanding glare.
“Hi Amy, Have you met Buffy?” The girls exchange hello’s and Amy looks decidedly like she doesn't want to be here. Senior Amber is First to audition, everyone but the Captain has to try out again every year, But the returning girls always go first.
She's good, Jesse hates the song she picked but she's clearly had training and is going for A cheerleading scholarship. Jesse's looking at that as well. Sure his dad could pull some strings at USC Sunnydale but he's not exactly excited to take his Dad's gifts after reading his journal. Feels too much like blood money.
He's distracted by his own thoughts and doesn't notice anything is wrong until Amber Bradley's hands catch fire.
Holy shit. Super Buffy has a school flag and is beating the flames down before anyone else moves.
[Intro music.]
“I've been slaying vampires for more than half a year now, and I have seen some pretty cringeworthy things, but... nobody's hands ever got toasted before.”
“I imagine not.”
“So, this isn't a vampire problem, but it is funky, right? Not of the norm?”
“Quite. Spontaneous human combustion is, is rare, and, and scientifically unexplainable, but there have been cases for hundreds of years. Usually all that's left is a pile of ashes.” Oh great, Mr Tweed could at least try to sound more concerned than fascinated.
“That's all that would have been left if it hadn't been for Buffy.” Willow has a reasonable level of concern.
“Could it still be demonic? Like a fire demon targeting cute girls?” if Vampires prefer victims in bright colours maybe this monster likes its victims dancing.
“It's entirely possible, that's the thrill of living on the Hellmouth. There's a veritable cornucopia of, of fiends and devils and, and ghouls to engage.”
“You got really bored in England didn't you.” Jesse asks, leaning forward in his chair. The girls' faces must match because Giles stifles.
“Pardon me for finding the glass half full.”
“Any common denominators in cases of spontaneous combustion?” Buffy’s got her mission face on. The responsibility this girl thinks she has to protect, seemingly everyone is going to wear her down before long. Jesse's not unhappy to add another to his list of people to look after at all costs. However, how to look after a superhero is a question Jessie never thought he'd be faced with.
“Uh, rage. In most cases the person who combusted was terribly angry or upset.”
“or excited? If it's an elevated heart rate thing it could be an attack on specific people, jocks, cheerleaders, anyone getting laid. I'm thinking Revenge of the nerds. Anyone know what Jonathan was doing during tryouts?” as far as Jesse knows this year Jonathan got his first friend in the form of a tiny blonde freshman.
“I need to get the skinny on Amber. Find out if she's had any colorful episodes before. If this is specific to her or the start of an outbreak.”
“That means hacking illegally into the school's computer system. At last, something I can do!” Jesse has to smile at the tiny ball of joy wrapped in fuzzy clothes and colourful tights.
“I think I have enough residual cool to get the info from the seniors about what won't be in her files.” Jesse adds getting up to follow Willow out.
“You guys don't have to get involved.” Buffy says, as if they didn't help save the world last week.
“We don't have to, but what's Batman without his Robins?”
“Yeah! You're the Slayer, and we're, like, the Slayerettes!” Buffy looks at them for a moment, a sad smile flashes across her face for a moment before she nods.
“I just don't like putting you guys in danger.”
“You haven't lived in Sunnydale as long as we have, trust when I say danger is part of our daily commute. Xander and I kept a deadpool in his basement.” Willow turns to him at Xanders name, tears welling in her eyes but she blinks them away.
“Where was I on it?” She asks softly and Buffy gives them both a strange look.
“Halfway through senior year. You'd disappear for two years and come back crazy.”
“I'm okay with that, Cordelia?” They must seem insane to the non Sunnydale natives. Not that Jesse technically is, but before Sunnydale he didn't exactly have a hometown. He was still ten and reading the obituary pages of the newspaper because they start just after the comics. It became more normal than moving base to base ever felt.
“Murdered on prom night, Xander and I planned on dying to protect you at the end of junior year beginning your descent Into madness.” Neither of them expected to make it to getting their diploma. Still, joking about going out like heroes and instead what Jesse did to Xander… The casual morbidity is less funny all of a sudden.
“You both terrify me but okay, just walk softly. At least until we know a little more. I mean, if Amber isn't causing these problems herself?”
“Well, then we have to determine who or what did, and, uh, deal with it accordingly.” Well duh, Giles really likes stating the obvious, all fancy and British doesn't he? The bell rings for next period, computer class, oh joy.
“Later Alfred.”
Jesse starts with Cordelia, he waits by her locker after class and she ignores him completely. It's honestly impressive, Jesse just hit six feet, and while he wasn't Larry buff he's not some scrawny dork. If he were anyone else she would be at least half heartedly flirting with him. There was a reason he made it into their inner circle in the first place, even if they like to pretend there wasn't.
“I do have a purpose in talking to you this time you know. An important one.”
“I doubt it.” She's fixing her hair in the mirror of her locker door. Still not looking at him.
“Do you want to do our routine at tryouts tomorrow?” She slams the locker closed and looks at him like he's insane. “We didn't spend months perfecting the lifts for nothing, I promise you can go back to ignoring me after.” Having said his piece Jesse goes to walk away, knowing Cordelia would never allow him to go with the last word.
“It's been over a year, are you sure you can still do it?” that's more open than he was expecting.
“It's not like I got any better at sitting still, I've gotten better at tumbling. Haven't given myself a concussion in ages. Blake lets me lift him so I can practice. I didn't stop being me when you dropped me.” Cordelia looks at him for the longest stretch of time since middle school.
“Come by my place after school, don't think this is anything more than you ensuring I make head Cheerleader Senior Year.”
“I have to drive Blake home, and find someone to watch him. I will be there though.” Jesse barely suppresses a fist pump as he finds Willow.
“Weren't you supposed to be asking about Amber?”
“Don't need to, Cordy rants while she works out. I'll get everything the Hype squad knows this afternoon. Can you watch Blake?”
“I need my computer, and to do illegal things on that computer you probably don't want me teaching your ten year old brother. Doesn't Buffy live down the road, maybe she could watch him.” Jesse stares at Willow for a long minute. They've known Buffy for a week now, and she is the last person in the world Jesse would trust with the care of a kid. Willow makes a face. “Or Buffy's Mom?”
Joyce Summers Is very much a Mom in a way that Jesse, Willow and Xander's just aren't. Casey and Gabriel went through basic training together, she did one tour as a medic then had Jesse and got a job as a nurse. They were cut from the same cloth and would rather work than nurture, Jesse always thought if they never had kids they'd still be married.
“It's worth a try. I doubt Cordy's ‘kid friendly’ See you in Bio?”
“We have American history next.” Willow reminds him even as he's walking away.
“See you in bio.”
Buffy has Gym class, except she finishes the course in under a minute and is sat on the bleachers as she waits for the rest of her class to struggle to do the rope climb.
“Hey Buffster, Can I ask you something?”
“Shouldn't you be in class?
“Eh, I hate American history, a side effect of being a military kid. You learn To hate the United States and everything they stand for. Anyway, does your mom have a cellphone?” Buffy gives him a look or judgement which he takes a second to suss out.
“What, no? Dude, I'm going to Cordelia's after school, to get the skinny on Amber and anything else strange amongst the beautiful and popular. Technically I'm going to rehearse a cheer routine we came up with years ago but I'll be able to get the info. I just need someone to watch Blake, ergo your mom.” She sighs and heads Towards the girls locker room. Jesse waits outside, Coach Foster is giving him a dirty look but he's not trying to get in so she lets it go.
Buffy returns with a little address book and holds out a hand for his cell. He hands it over no question.
“Hey Mom, No it's your other daughter. Yes it's Buffy, this Is Jesse’s number. He wanted to ask you a favour, I'm handing him the phone.” Buffy tosses him the phone and goes back to get rid of her address book.
“Hi Mrs Summers, how are you?” If he sounds half as awkward as he feels this is gonna be a long phone call.
“I'm alright, thank you. We're still setting things up at the Gallery but I think it'll come together nicely.” Huh, Jesse knew there was a new art gallery opening soon. He didn't know that's what Buffy's Mom did. “Buffy mentioned a favour?”
“Yes, I'm trying out for cheerleading and my old Friend Cordelia asked me to help her practice after school. Demanded, really, you don't say no to Cordelia. I usually have my brother Blake after school while my mother is at work. Would it be a terrible imposition to ask if he could go home with Buffy?” Jesse's always been good with parents. The General's son is a role he knows well. The first role he knew how to play, tiny suits and impeccable manners. It doesn't work as well in the real world, but mother's tend to find it adorable.
“As long as your mother's alright with it. I'd be happy to watch over Blake.”
“I gave Buffy my home phone, Mom should still be home at the moment if you want to call her to clear it. He's a good kid. Quiet, he can get some of his books on the way over to keep himself entertained. Thank you Mrs Summers.”
“It's no problem Jesse, can I speak to Buffy again?” Jesse hands the phone back and offers his blonde friend a thumbs up. When she hands back the phone he looks back at the class, they've moved past the rope climb, except Jonathan.
“Wanna ditch the rest of class and beat me up in the library?” She does.
Even with extensive padding Jesse feels like he got beat up by Supergirl. He's rethinking it on the way out of Cordelia's. As suspected she'd ranted about Amber's misfortune being the best thing to happen to her all week. The line up of girls trying out and their deepest secrets, at least according to Cordelia. Most of it’s useless, except a few snippets about who’s holding grudges.
Cordy only has a few harsh criticisms of his form and moves but eventually deems him acceptable. He's sent out without a goodbye, the sun set while he was in her Home gym, he'd parked down the road so as to not embarrass her. A decision he regrets more with every step.
“Hi Jesse, I like your outfit.” Jesus fucking Christ! Darla The Vampire is leaning against the hood of his car. Oh shit, oh fuck.
“I keep Holy water in my water bottle, if you try anything.” He feels naked. The singlet he wore to impress Cordelia was low and left little to the imagination. He's not big but he's fit and Cordelia knows that. They weren't dating yet when he was booted from the group but everyone was waiting for it.
“I'm here to talk handsome, Not that you weren't delicious.”
“What do you want?”
“Tell the Slayer to be careful who she lets in. Not everyone is as pure as you are sweetness.” She steps forward, away from his car with her hands up in peace. The smile on her face is predatory. “You're not what I thought, I hope you don't die too quickly” Then she’s gone, disappearing into the dark.
Jesse's never driven so fast before. He makes it to Revello drive in minutes. Blake is playing cards with Mrs Summers in the living room.
“How mean was she?” Blake asks him before even looking up from his cards.
“Not as mean as she wanted to be. She hates when I'm competent. Were you good for Mrs Summers?”
“Oh he's an Angel. It was my pleasure. Buffy's in her room doing homework if you wanted to say goodnight." There's something Jesse can't place in Mrs Summers' smile but he thanks her again before heading upstairs. Buffy's room is the one blaring aggressively peppy music and he knocks loudly.
She opens the door in a little white singlet with bows on the straps, and sleeping shorts with little flowers on them and for a moment Jesse forgets his manners. It's just, come on. The top is almost see through and her legs. He's only human.
He's not exactly subtle In checking her out and when his eyes finally meet hers again he has a heart attack. “Shit sorry, guy moment. Please don't kick my ass. I'm here for a reason." He very pointedly looks over her head into her room so he doesn't keep getting distracted. Jesus christ; Vampires, Rats, Vampires eating rats, the look of betrayal in Xanders eyes before Jesse, Okay he's back.
“Just when I was thinking you were too sweet to be real. What's the sitch?” She sounds amused instead of creeped, which is at least a win. She invites him in and takes a seat on her bed. Jesse sits on what's probably a weapons chest.
“As far as Amber. There are at least three other girls that would be out to get her, Cordelia included but the most likely candidates according to Cordy Are Lishanne Davis and Amy. Both In our grade. Last summer there was a cheer camp where Amber was the councillor of their Cabin. She humiliated both of them in a pretty horrible way. Separate occasions but both reason enough for some hardcore vengeance.” Cordy went into vicious detail. He doesn't know Lishanne, but the racist shit Amber pulled is enough for Jesse to lose sympathy. Amy has been ridiculed because of her weight for years, it was more of the same really just turned up to a thousand.
“Okay, thanks.” Buffy's slayer brain seems to file away the information for later and she grabs a brush from her bedside table. “How was practice?” oh god. She's brushing her hair and the tiny shirt is moving over her, nope. There's a stuffed pig on the dresser. It's a very nice pig.
“There was more, just not about Amber. Darla was waiting for me when I got out.”
“Darla? The Vampire?” She sounds a lot more alert than the Amber thing. Vampire Slayer is the title though.
“She told me to pass on a message. Be careful who you let in, not everyone is as pure as I am.” He knows from research that vampire's prefer virgin blood for a purity reason. Which is way creepy. The scabbing on his neck got an odd look from Blake but he's managed to hide it from his mom. It'll scar and Darla kept looking at the bandage covering it like she wanted to see her handy work. “It was not okay on so many levels. She was looking at me like she wanted to eat me, and not just in the Vampire way.”
“What does that mean?” Jesse risks a glance back at Buffy who's done with her hair and looking at him pointedly.
“Well she was checking me out like she wanted to fu,”
“The warning dumbass.”
“I had a thought downstairs. Your mom said Blake was an Angel. Darla was very particular in her wording. The whole pure thing can't just be a virgin joke and who else would you let in? Giles is already your Watcher and me and Willow are below a Vampires radar except for food; and maybe as a sex toy. I was seriously not okay with how she was looking at me. Is this how girls feel cause I'm really sorry.” He really is, it's not like he's a supercreep. Some of his comments to Cordelia may say otherwise but they were best friends for three and a half years. Even if it's over now there's still that familiarity. The rest of the time he tries to be as respectful as possible.
“There's a difference between a cute guy making an idiot of himself checking me out and a leering predator. You're fine.” She's blushing lightly and Jesse metally fistpumps at the knowledge that she thinks he's cute. He doesn't like her that way, but a stamp of approval from a hot girl is always a win. “You think she means Angel. Why would she warn me about anything?”
“Why would Angel warn you about the Harvest? That's my theory at least, I defer to you as always Batman.” He stands up again heading for the still open door. Joyce was downstairs but he was a boy in a teenage girl's room, he has some manners and no closed doors is the least he can do to comfort Mrs Summers.
“I need to get the kid fed and in bed. I'll pick you up in the morning? Sorry again,”
“For being a guy? You're fine. Nice to know I still got it. I'll see you tomorrow Jesse,”
Tryouts are even more packed today, As though the possibility of spontaneous combustion was more interesting than watching hot girls dance. What is the world coming to?
“Despite the terrible thing that happened yesterday we still have to pick new cheerleaders. If you make the team you'll find your names posted in the quad after lunch. Let's begin with group performance.”
Jesse's at the back it's the basic warm up routine, it's easy enough, just the one cartwheel at the end. Amy doesn't stick the landing and hit's Cordelia on her way down, oh no. He can't help but roll his eyes at Cordy's desperate defence that it wasn't her fault. He loves her but he's not blind to her flaws.
Solo auditions go better. Cordelia demands an extra spot to do their routine and Jesse doesn't drop her once. In fact he's rather pleased with himself. Cordelia's familiar movements and her weight in his hands is A comfort he didn't realise how much he needed.
He meets Buffy and Willow after he changes to find them all hushed and suspicious. Ah, the familiar joy of being a straight guy in the girl group. Certain conversations he's not allowed to be part of.
“Girl stuff?” He asks and they both blush a little.
“Technically boy stuff. You're a traitor to the cause.” Willow answers and Buffy lightly hits her with her English book. Except Buffy has superpowers and her version of light still means Jesse has to subtly take Willow to the nurse for an ice pack when Buffy heads back to the library.
They meet back up at lunch to find out the results. There's a crowd of girls, squealing and giggling at the posting. Jesse finds Buffy, Willow and Amy just before it.
“Have you seen it?” Jesse can't hide the excitement in his tone even though he's trying very hard. This isn't just about Cordelia, he wants this. He didn't think he was going to be able to try out, not when Xander was his best friend. He loves Xander but there were side effects of growing up with Anthony and Jessica Harris. Side effects that include being a judgemental ass at times.
“Not yet, Cordelia just left all smug and haughty,” Willow answers with a small frown. “I support you guys wanting to be cheerleaders, but I don't think being one is a reason to be a b-i-t-c-h.”
Amy giggles quietly as the crowds start to dissipate. Disappointed girls overwhelming the triumphant. Jesse gestures the hopeful ladies forward with an Exaggerated bow. He expects them to roll their eyes, Willow would have but they share a smile and a look that definitely goes hand in hand with the ‘girl stuff’ from before.
Amy stiffens when she looks at the posting, whereas Buffy's shoulders fall. Oh. Buffy turns and plasters a smile over her disappointment. It isn't fake though, she's too kind for that. “Congrats Jesse, you made the Cheerleading Squad.”
He knows they didn't, he should be conscious of that but he can't help the joy building inside him. He needs to let it out and pulls Buffy into a hug, lifting and spinning her tiny body with more effort than it would take her to do the same. When he puts her down he kisses her hair with an exaggerated movement and does the same to Amy without really thinking about it and turns to kiss Willow's head as well. Amy storms away while Jesse's girls are laughing at him. Buffy follows to comfort her and Jesse turns back to Willow again.
“Bronze tonight?”
“You're not going to try and practice with Cordelia again?” She's mocking him still, but she's also been putting on a brave face the last week. She's struggling with Xander. Willow didn't see Xanders flaws, they were bordering on codependent, even after a year and a half Jesse felt like an outsider.
“A scary blonde vampire came looking for me specifically last night? I'm not going anywhere after dark without Slayer supervision until Darla's dust.” Willow frowns and the little crease in her brow deepens.
“The fact that you're on a first name basis with the scary blonde vampire is weird. You know that right?”
“I think she wants to fuck me before she kills me, or maybe during. Either way, It's not like I can call her Miss scary blonde Vampire to her face.” Willow’s face goes all pinched like it always does when Jesse curses. It's part of why he does it, Willow who spells out her curses and Jesse who learnt to curse from the military.
Mrs Summers is a responsible enough parent that allowing her sixteen year old daughter to go to a club on a weeknight is a no go. Given how very serious Jesse was about the Slayer escort Jesse spends his mother's night off having an awkward family dinner instead of going out one of the three nights a week he isn't on Blake duty.
He's not actually upset, Blake and their mom aren't exactly close so staying home is a point in Jesse's favour on both the Mom and little brother column. Still being grounded by a scary vampire sucks. Especially when it's proven necessary as said vampire is standing on his back porch staring at his bedroom window.
The others are asleep, almost midnight as it is and so he only partially panics. Instead he tiptoes back downstairs to the back door. He doesn't pass the threshold and she can't. So why is she here? He opens the door to Darla sitting on the fence of his back porch.
“I get the whole ‘creature of the night’ thing means different rules. I however am human and for a human, Stalking is creepy. Especially given I'm a minor and you're god knows how old.” he whispers and Darla smiles at him, not quite the predatory smile from before but it certainly isn't sweet.
“Did you make the team?” She asks him and ugh. This is so not okay.
“What are you trying to do here? I don't know what wires were crossed when I ran away from you after one conversation but I’m not interested. Plus, I have this friend. Tiny, blonde, literally called by a higher power to Kick your pale geriatric ass.” He's more than a little comforted by the magic seal between them because she looks pissed.
“Vampires are social creatures, no one wants to spend eternity alone. I used to have a family. My former Companion made a mad Childe and she needed a companion who would care for her when she couldn't do it herself. You remind me of him.”
“Great, I'm not looking to replace him. Even if being a vampire appealed to me, which it doesn't, sixteen is not an age I would like to be for eternity. Hell if I could skip ahead to twenty five I would. I'm not playing this game with you. Stay away from me or I'm calling the Slayer to go hunting.” Jesse reaches for the landline, the Summers home number is written on the whiteboard on the fridge. Mrs Summers wouldn't appreciate the wakeup call but desperate times.
“You're no fun, you're right about the young part though. That was always his thing, loves the purity of it all. I'll see you soon, Jesse.” Then she's gone and Jesse closes the door to collapse against it. He
has his head in his hands and misses the footsteps on the stairs.
“You're being weird.” Blake says easily. His voice barely above a whisper. “Who was that?”
“A vampire.” Jess says with a blank face still sitting on the cold floor. Blake rolls his eyes.
“Fine, don't tell me.”
The library is silent as they stare at him like he's lost his mind. Which is mildly offensive. Is it so hard to believe a hot scary Vampire is stalking him?
“Why would she want you?” Willow asks and then her eyes widen when she realises how that sounds. “Not that your’re ugly or anything. Everyone knows you're really cute and even after the whole thing with Harmony and Larry people thought you were too charming and charismatic to be friends with… I mean I don't see you like that but I don't think you're undateable. I just, Is sweet and cute an evil Vampires type?”
They all look at Mr Giles who’s cleaning his glasses, his entire face pinched in a funny sort of grimace.
“Vampires tend to turn humans for three reasons. A minion, to do their bidding that they either kill when the job is done or otherwise abandon. The average fledgling is a minion, their previous self almost entirely taken over by the demon so what's left is little more than an animal. A childe is a human a vampire takes a liking to. They see potential of a sort and will sire, train and then leave their Childe to, well from their perspective flourish. Master Vampires are turned as either a Childe or a Companion. Both of which retain all their previous memory and personality only without a soul it's twisted into something monstrous.”
“Build a monster boyfriend in three easy steps.” Buffy adds, her face sombre even as she quipps.
“Well what does she want you to be? Her Childe or companion.” Willow asks, voice gone all high and freaked. She reaches across the stable for Jesse's hand which he squeezes encouragingly.
“Uh, I think that she wants a companion, but she mentioned her ex, and his Childe. A mad Childe, I thought she meant like a literal kid so thanks for clearing that up Alfred.” Giles makes some very english sputtering noises at the comparison but Jesse powers through them. “There were four of them because the Mad one couldn't look after herself so she made herself a companion that was like her live, well not ‘live’ in carer. The way she talked about the two of them, was like almost fond whereas her ex is clearly A sore spot. Maybe she thinks Crazy pants had the right idea? A Caretaker personality would make a better companion than the creep she chose before.”
Giles stands abruptly, seconds before the bell for first period rings. He disappears into his office and shuts the door. Good chat Mr Tweed, See you later.
“You really think she's not just trying to kill you?” Willow asks as they head to their respective classes. Jesse and Buffy have Calculus while Willow has computer class, her smart people Math class is when Jesse has Computer. The math class Cordelia was in much to Willows' chagrin.
“I mean, she definitely wants to kill me, but she wants to keep me after. I think I got myself an extension on life cause I kept annoying her about my age, but she had that crazy look in her eyes.”
“Like Harmony crazy?” Buffy asks, apparently Buffy got in the way of Harmony and a diet coke.
“No, like. You remember when we were eleven and that basketball coach was keeping the team's families hostage and cutting pieces off for every penalty or point loss in a game. Like him, but also horny.”
Willow pauses outside Miss Calendar's Class and frowns one of her sweet soft frowns that makes Jesse wanna wrap her in blankets and bubble wrap.“We don't live in a normal town do we?”
“Not even slightly.” Jesse promises with a kiss to her forehead and he heads off to his own class Buffy trailing behind him to share a whispered word with Cordelia of all people. So Jesse takes a pause, he's not fond of Calculus anyway.
“Hey Cordy, you haven't been mean to me all day. Was it something I said?” she walks by them both with a vacant look in her eyes.
“Coincidence?” Jesse asks his super friend and she gives him a look.
“Unlikely,” math class forgotten, they follow Cordelia as she wanders to Drivers ED.
“I don't wanna drive today, Mr. Pole.” She doesn't even sound like herself and Jesse rushes forward as the teacher's arguing with her.
“Oh my God Cordy I'm so sorry,” Mr Pole Is startled by Jesse running in.
“Mr McNally, I'm certain you passed this class last semester.” Jesse looks at her eyes, they're glazed over and getting worse by the second.
“Sorry Mr P. Cordelia can't drive today, she's high.” Buffy arrives and stifles A laugh.
“My friend Xander Harris, he went missing last week and we always Promised if that happened we'd clear each other's rooms of contraband. Porn and the like. Xander got some gummies from his uncle for his birthday, uh special gummies. I was practising with Corderlia for cheer tryouts and they must have fallen out of my bag. I haven't taken any, just moving them so he won't get in trouble when he's back.” The deal was very much a thing, Jesse went by as soon as he could bear it under the guise of getting a borrowed comic book.
Mr Pole looks dubious but then pitiful, a probably dead friend is a get out of jail free card at this school. He takes another look at Cordelia and nods. Ordering him to take her to the nurse. They get half way when Cordelia screams.
“I can't see! I Can't see anything.”
“Witchcraft. Blinding Your enemies to disorient and incapacite them is, it's classic.”
“You're way too excited about this. I hope you know that.” Jesse tells him deadpan and the watcher ignores him.
“the question of course is why would anyone want to harm Cordelia?”
“Maybe because they met her,” Willow says with a Venom Jesse didn't know she was capable of. Only for her eyes to widen like she didn't either. “Did I say that?”
“And setting Amber ablaze?”
“We're back to the cheerleaders.” Buffy says, crossing her arms.
“Someone doesn't like Cheerleading?” Giles Is the last to get it.
“Or likes it too much.”
“Amy.”
“She does have reason to target them both specifically, she was the third alternate. That's two more girls to ‘incapacite’ before she makes the squad.” Jesse agrees and Buffy's nodding. They have a who and how but what do you do with a witch? She's just a human still, Buffy can't kill her. She needs help.
“Uh, let me make sure I have this right. This witch is casting horrible and disfiguring spells so that she can become a cheerleader?” Okay, real judgey for a man that gets his kicks from the violent chaos of this town.
“I think you're underestimating the amount of pressure a parent can lay on you. If you're not a picture perfect carbon copy they tend to wig.” Jesse notices the tone of her voice and looks to Willow. She's nodding in agreement but he knows the little crease in her brow means she picked up on it too.
“Cheerleading was kind of her mom's last hurrah.” Willow adds to a still perplexed Giles.
“What's the go now, I mean Buffy can't slay Amy. So do we talk to her?” Buffy nods emphatically on the not slaying Amy part as they both turn to Giles.
He takes off his glasses to clean them and rubs his eyes. “I think we should be sure she's the witch before we arouse her suspicions. She's capable of some fairly unpleasant things.” Like fire and blinding. Yeah, God that doesn’t feel like Amy even When the chubby girl was mean back to the popular group she was subtle about it. Putting Harmony into a situation where her own stupidity embarrasses her or Cordelia's mouth gets her in trouble. Fire and brimstone is so tacky for her.
“Okay, alright, so, you're in high school, you are desperate to make the team and please your mom, so you turn to witchcraft. What's the first thing you're gonna do?”
“Check out the books on witchcraft!” Why would a public school even have books on witchcraft? The P.T.A can't have approved that. Then again, This town is weird. As it happens the last person checking out said books was. “Witches, Historic roots to Modern practice.Checked out by Alexander Harris.”
Buffy leans over Willow's shoulder. “The Pagan Rites, checked out by Alexander Harris.”
“That's so Xander, being a perv from beyond the grave.” Jesse laughs but it's a harsh kind of laugh. He loved Xander, but he loved Xander for what he could have been one day. Because of Jesse he'll never get a chance to grow out of the jerk he died as.
“Have you all quite finished? We have to find a conclusive test. There may be something in here.” Or maybe the strange British man brought the books on witchcraft. “Yes, this should do it. You'll need some of her hair, a little quicksilver and some aqua fortis.”
“Well, that's just mercury and nitric acid. You can get that in the science lab.” magic and science mixing is more than a little uncomfortable for Jesse. Seeing as he's terrible at science and Willow's scary good.
“Heat ingredients and apply to the witch, and if a spell has been cast in the previous 48 hours, the witch's skin turns blue.' Hmm. Oh, and you'll need some Eye of Newt.”
Biology is the one class they all have together, and only because Sunnydale has one science teacher. Dr Gregory is a chill guy, kind of a loser but very smart. Willow is putting the potion together with a precision usually dedicated to homework.
“We never really discussed what we do once we know it's her.” Jesse says again.
“Try to talk to her, I guess. I’m not okay being on the cheerleading team because Cordelia can't. I know she’s a bitch but she doesn't deserve that. I saw your routine. She's better than me, I accept that. I just need Amy to as well.”
“Now we just need the hair, any ideas?” Willow asks, joining back into the conversation now that she doesn't have to focus.
“I got it, she doesn't seem to have a crush on me anymore but I can still be charming.” Jesse says with a grin and walks over to the would-be Witch.
“Hey Amy, how are you doing?” She doesn't blush, not like she used to. Yeah middle school was a while ago, but the crushes don't die easy. He needs something to work with.
“Fine, are you ready for your first Practice?”
“I hope so, I was actually wondering If you want to practice with me tonight? Go over the moves we're covering.” He leans over her desk, steering clear of the bunsen burner. He reaches to brush some of her behind her ear in what hopefully looks like a flirty move. He catches a few strands and pulls back like it was an accident. She's still not blushing, she's just staring at him like he's beneath her notice.
“I can't. Homework.” With such a quick and to the point dismissal Jesse doesn't need to come up with a cover to leave and passes off the hair to Willow.
“Smooth,” Buffy tells him, a smirk on her face matching the one Willow's at least attempting to hide.
“It Worked didn't it? Let's see you do it then.” Willow hands her the potion and Buffy walks down to test her.
“Maybe she thought you were making fun of her. That's what boys used to do.
“I never have. Come on Will, I know I let things slide back then but not when it mattered and I didn't participate.”
“Never? Didn't laugh at Johnathan with Cordelia, or pretend that shy girl was invisible?” Jesse is saved from answering by Buffy's gasp and then a muffled scream.
Lishanne Davis losing her entire mouth meant class was dismissed early. Which given it was their last period means schools are out. Buffy has to meet Giles for Slayer training so Jesse takes Willow home before he has to pick up Blake. Who's waiting outside for him with his little blonde girlfriend.
“You're early, can Cassie come home with us?”
“Uh kidnapping is illegal so I'm going with no.” They're both already climbing into his back-seat.
“Her Mom said it was okay and she's picking Cassie up at five. Where's Willow, or Buffy?”
“Buffy does tutoring with the Librarian after school to catch up, and there was an incident In my last period so we got out early. How was school, do I need to feed you Cassie?” he does, apparently her folks are fighting so much she's mostly been fending for herself. Jesse knows the feeling.
So he makes pasta with broccoli and tuna to make sure she eats at least a vegetable this week and they disappear to play on his computer for a few hours. Five turns to six and to seven before Cassie's Mom shows up, she's been crying and doesn't say much to Jesse. Doesn't even ask where his mother is, just takes Cassie and gets in the car. Jesse's about to shut the door when he spots her.
Darla, watching the car disappear with hunger in her eyes. Fuck, no this is a bad idea but Blake is in his room and Jesse's not letting him lose his best friend as well.
“Darla, if I sit on the porch with you are you going to kill me?” He asks. Not calling too loudly in case Blake comes to check. She's a vampire, her hearing has to be awesome as well right?
“Probably not, I kinda like you alive for now.” She steps onto the porch and makes a b-line for the swinging loveseat. Jesse takes a deep breath and walks out of his house. He knows she can probably hear his heart racing as he sits down and hopes it doesn't make him smell better.
“Do you wanna hear about the witch mutilating Cheerleaders to get on the team?” She laughs and Jesse tells the tale as far as he knows it so far.
“I've never liked witches. Even the evil ones think they're better than everyone else.” Darla says when he finishes.
“You've seen your share I guess, how old Are you anyway?”
“It's rude to ask a lady her age Jesse.”
“You're hardly a Lady, Darla.”
“I was about to turn twenty five in sixteen-o-nine, but I hadn't yet.” the numbers take a second to go together in his head but they do.
“four hundred and twelve, or thirteen depending when you were turned. That's a long time. Do you not get sick of it? Existing.” She looks about to answer when her head snaps up.
“Slayer, back from your witch hunt?” Darla asks, Buffy has a stake in her hand and is wearing her blue ‘look at me’ jacket. Patrolling yes, for the witch. No.
“Something like that, Jesse, are you okay?”
“I'm okay, my brother's friend didn't get picked up till after dark,” he hopes the ‘I didn't want Darla following them’ goes unspoken but understood. Buffy nods her general Buffy face and Jesse risks standing. Darla doesn't move to stop him.
“This was fun, and terrifying. Buffy, I'll see you in the morning. Darla, please stop stalking me. Goodnight ladies.” he practically runs back into his house and checks on Blake. He's passed out on his bed with his book. Jesse puts in his book mark and turns out the light. He goes to bed wondering if the scary blonde's outside are fighting.
Jesse sleeps through his alarm. He must do, because he wakes up to Blake shaking him. He says sorry, but nothing comes out.
“Sorry, sorry sorry,” not a sound. Blake covers his ears and his mouth starts moving but there's still no sound. Or Blake can't hear it. Fuck, Amy. He points to his ears and tries to speak, hopefully not shouting.
“I can't hear anything.” Mom hasn't left for work yet. Her only day to sleep in is Today, but Jesse's shouting apparently wakes her.
She's saying something, ordering Blake downstairs probably, it's pretty much the only way she talks to him.
For the first time in a year Jesse's mother drops Blake at school. Even before he could drive Jesse was getting up early to walk him. He doesn't need to be able to hear to know she's pissed.
The drive to the hospital is as long as any drive in Sunnydale ever is. Only made worse by the supernaturally inflicted silence. There's not even a ringing in his ears. Nothing but silence, he doesn't like it one bit. In fact he thinks he might be having nightmares about this for a while.
She's so angry, and ranting even if there's no one to hear it anymore. Blake though, he's always had Jesse a buffer between him and their Mom. What did he hear this morning?
Another Nurse checks him over when she gets there. She knows he's not faking but can't find a single medical reason as to why he can't hear anything. So there he sits all day, watching the emergency room without hearing it.
Willow finds Jesse at what would be lunchtime, with a bag of kosher snacks from her pantry. She doesn't say anything, instead she brought a notebook and pen with what's happening already written out.
Buffy's sick as well. She was acting completely manic and then crashed, Giles and Buffy are going to Amy's house to find her spell book. She has to go back to the Pep rally and keep Amy away from them to do the reversal. Jesse takes the pen and writes back.
I'm coming with you. Willow tries to take the pen to argue but Jesse just underlines it again. She nods and Jesse slips out of the waiting room behind her. Thankful for the crackers since he forgot his wallet and hasn't seen his Mom since they arrived. He doesn't bother saying bye.
Willow's dad was writing, or reviewing for some paper the last few weeks and hasn't gone into the office. So he's waiting in the carpark to take Willow back to school, of course she got permission. He doesn't question them and drops them both at the school without a word. Or at least Jesse assumes so, he doesn't think he'd heard the man speak before a Witch stole his hearing.
They're on their way to the Science lab, where Giles and Buffy will be doing the reversal spell. Amy comes out in her Cheerleading uniform looking pissed and Willow jumps in front of her to ramble. Jesse can imagine it, and given Willow is well, Willow he puts himself between them.
“I want my hearing back,” Jesse can't hear himself, can't tell if he's shouting or making noise at all. Amy waves a hand and sends them flying into the wall. Fucking ow!
Willow's in worse shape. Seemingly knocked out on impact. Jesse checks her over. No bleeding and she's still breathing smoothly. Probably hit her head. He's about to pick her up when his ears start to ring. it's too loud all of a sudden, He can hear, specifically screaming in the direction of the science room. Oh thank God. By the time They get to the science room it's over and Amy is innocent?
Jesse arrives at school early after actually managing to sleep the entire night. Insomnia be damned, hopefully Darla wasn't too bored just standing outside.
“So it wasn't even Amy, it was her crazy Mom?” Willow asks, still confused. Jesse's right there with her.
“Her Mom pulled a freaky Friday. All Her spells have been reversed so all is right In Sunnydale just in time for the weekend.” Buffy explains again and Jesse has to laugh.
“What do we think it'll be next week? I'm keeping my money on Jonathan,” Willow frowns at him as the bell for class rings, smart people's math class is on the other side of school so whatever she's about to say is lost in her mad scramble. She barely has time to say hi to real Amy on the other side of the library door.
Jesse spots Amber and Joy discussing her perfectly healed hands and runs over to them. “Hey, I heard you were better, how'd that happen?” Apparently being on the team does Not give Jesse the right to talk to seniors and they walk away without acknowledging him. Great, or course they go over to Cordelia. Who's bullying Buffy and Amy.
“Well, I know that I'll miss the intellectual thrill of spelling out words with my arms,” Jesse has to laugh at the comeback, standing behind the girls as Amy blushes like she did in middle school.
“Ooo, these grapes are sour!” Cordy doesn't even look at him as she walks away.
“Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot that you wanted to be on the squad.” This makes so much more sense. The sweet girl far more reminiscent of Willows middle school bestie that she's been all week.
“Oh, hey, that's okay. Cheerleading Is just a little too hairy for me these days” Buffy answers easily.
“It's probably the safest bet not to join any extracurriculars at this school.” Jesse adds as they look at the cheerleading Trophy case. Over half the girls named are dead according to Willow. As is the Sunnydale way.
“Are you gonna quit the team?” Buffy asks which is probably the smart choice.
“My grades aren't high enough to get into college without an athletics Scholarship. The Swim coach gives me the creeps, I'm not big enough for football and I suck at Basketball.“ he really does. Coach Foster tried to recruit him last year he ended up with a concussion three practices in a row.
“Don't act like you don't love I watched you and Cordelia rehearse In middle school. That passion can't be taught.” Amy argues and it's Jesse's turn to be bashful. Even as she blushes and shares a girl look with Buffy.
“Not so loud, they'll take away my man card.” he jokes as they walk into their computer science class.
randomness7689 on Chapter 1 Tue 11 Mar 2025 02:16PM UTC
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