Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all characters are copyright and trademarks of WB, David Greenwalt, Joss Whedon, 20th Century Fox, and others.
Chapter 3: The First...s
I had given up on not being the "headcase" of Rome and decided that I needed to see the First Slayer and figure out what is going on. Now that Faith and Robin were back, things were very different. She was more on my level than Buffy. Not that either one was below me, but Faith never pulled her punches. She had no qualms about hitting me and I liked that. I loved Buffy to death, but she wouldn't hit me unless the world depended on it. Hopefully the First Slayer didn't say anything like, " Death is your gift". If she did, I would flip out. I eventually made my way to my room and searched my bags for my iPod.
" whatcha lookin for?" a voice came from the door.
I stopped and smiled up at Faith, " My iPod. Have you seen it?" I asked.
She entered the room and stood by my bed, " You accusin me of stealin?" she smiled, " Not the worst thing I've been accused of."
I chuckled, " No, but I do slightly remember the words, see, want, have." I said quickly.
" Things change, Jr. That was the old me," she smiled, " The new me...hell, here." she chuckled, tossing me the iPod, " Cool list. Needs some tuning, but all in all, rock-worthy."
" Mostly R&B. Hip-Hop...Rock. I'm well rounded." I said, " Have you ever met Senaya?"
Faith shook her head, " Naw, heard she's a sight." she said, sitting on the bed, " So, what's with you and Angel Jr.?"
" Are you going to keep saying Jr.? It's a bit annoying." I said, stuffing clothes back in my bag.
" You're the new generation, it fits, so, what's with Angel Jr." Faith asked, eyeing a black sweater and a pair of tight leather pants.
I smiled, " What about him?" I asked.
" Look at you! You're smiling and everything. So, you two got rough yet?" she asked.
" No! I just got here." I said in shock.
" You made an impression on him. He's all, 'Austin this' and 'Austin that'. Be honest, don't you wanna." Faith started.
" Ride him until he buckles and asks for more? Yeah." I said, shocking myself.
Faith's face showed the same shock and she smiled, " Finally someone around here like me." she said quickly.
" What about Robin? Is it me or am I glad that I'm not the only black guy around here?" I laughed.
" Yeah. He's different, finally a guy I can res...pect." she said, stopping and looking at the door. I was about to speak when she pressed her finger to her mouth and yanked the door open in time for Connor to fall through the door.
I stood up quickly, " How long have you been standing there?" I asked.
Dawn stepped inside, " Since around the part where Faith brought up Connor's name, but we weren't eavesdropping." she said quickly, " We were just listening to a private conversation that...nevermind. I wasn't listening that much, I was pretty much watching him listen and I was trying to stop him until you said something about a buckle." and she folded her arms.
Connor shrugged and talked for the first time, " I just heard my name and..." he started.
" You wanted to know what was going on in my mind? Ask me. Connor, that's not how it works. I mean, eavesdropping...wait, why were you standing outside my door in the first place? Plus, you're the son of a vampire, don't you have super hearing?" I asked furiously.
" I was coming to see you when I heard my name and...other than just leaving, I listened. Are you telling me you wouldn't do the same?" he asked.
I looked at Faith, " Faith, Dawn can you leave, please." I asked, watching them walk away. They quickly left and shut the door behind them.
I waited a minute, then snatched at the door, causing Faith and Dawn to catch their balance. They chuckled and scattered and I shut the door and turned to Connor, who looked as if he was about to say something when I kissed him passionately, " Wow, that's not what I expected." he smiled, leaning in to kiss me again, but I moved.
" I give that a resounding duh." I smiled.
" So, um, we never did get that date." he smirked.
" Yes we did. That's why I kissed you, I kiss on the first date." he smiled, " But I'm not easy." I stopped and smiled at him. He just smiled at me for a minute. He was even cuter when he smiled. I had found that like Angel, even when Connor brooded, it was sexy. Genetics are a kick, and I thought about kissing him again, but as we were about to, there was a knock on the door.
Buffy poked her head in, " Austin, you ready? We sat up the caster thingy and Giles said there may be cookies." she smiled.
I looked from Connor to Buffy and nodded, " As ready as I'll ever be." I said, glancing back at Connor," That's my cue." I said, walking past him. I walked into Giles' living room to see the spell caster-storyteller thing in the middle of the room. They filled me in on the story, apparently We'd go in and something would pop out.
" You ready?" Giles asked.
" Don't you mean we?" I asked nervously.
" I'm not going." Buffy said quickly, " You know that when you go in, something comes out. I wanna be here to help with...things. Just trust me, You'll be okay." she said hugging me. I looked around at Angel, Giles, Robin, Faith, Dawn, and Xander standing along the wall, where Connor joined them. Giles sat the doo-hickey in motion and the lights shimmered out. On the wall, a scene played out and Giles began to speak some ancient sounding words, but I couldn't concentrate on the words. I felt a gust of wind, then I looked back at Dawn and Connor, who smiled. I whirled around at the gust of wind and crackling of the portal. I breathed in air and jumped into the portal. As I jumped into the portal, a gigantic demon jumped out and Buffy and the gang immediately began fighting it.
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I was thrusted into the desert. I looked around and my eyes centered in on a fire. The fire was surrounded by boulders and before I knew it, I was walking to the boulders, " What in the hell!" I said loudly, as I sat on the boulder, " Can someone tell me what happened?" I asked the fire.
" It was I." a voice said from behind the fire. I looked closer and saw something move. I watched carefully as whatever it was moved closer, " I know why you're here." the raspy voice said.
" Enlighten me. Fill me with the light that is knowledge. Why am I here? Why am I a slayer? And who killed Anna Nicole?" I asked.
The figure emerged from behind the flame, causing me to nod. I knew her. She was so familiar and the way they described her was so spot on. The wild hair, the face paint...the primal nature, and you can't forget the skin. She was dark, but I got the impression it wasn't all the sun. It was all beautiful in a very primal way, " I know you." I said, tilting my head to meet her gaze.
" I am the first slayer." she said quickly,and her head darted downward, " You question if you are truly meant to be a slayer." she said confidently. She bent like a crab and scuttled to me.
" And you don't?" I asked, " It's like being in a superhero clique and still not being one. It's like a chick clique, but not, because I'm not a chick, so we don't exactly click." I said, without a breath to seperate my rant, " Am I meant to be a slayer?" I asked blatantly.
Senaya tilted her head, " yes. The next slayer, in fact. The only male to ever feel what it's like to be a slayer." she said openly.
" Why me? Why not Connor or Xander, or even Dawn?" I asked, " Why me?"
" The reasons are there." she said," It is meant to be! You were meant for great things?"
" Where are the reasons? And can I see a transcript, Giles and Buffy are gonna want to hear this." I asked.
" It is supposed to be this way. Buffy was meant to set the slayers free." the first slayer said, " You and Buffy share a gift." she said, " Death?" I asked quickly, but she ignored me, " You are both unique and are meant to do things no other would think of." she said fiercely.
I smiled, " Yay us. Destined to give our lives for a world that doesn't appreciate us anyways." I said, causing the first slayer to sneer and growl.
" It is your destiny. It's who you are." she said, reaching out to touch my face.
" You keep sayin that, but why am I here?" I asked angrily.
" I was hoping you'd ask." the first slayer smirked.
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Buffy and the gang had disposed of the demon quickly and now lounged around, waiting for Austin to return. Angel, Buffy, Faith, Robin, Xander, Giles talked about a new threat they had encountered before Austin came and Connor and Dawn sat in the dining room, talking.
" So, how long have you known Austin?" Connor asked. It threw Dawn off because before, they had been talking about how long they'd been in Rome. Since they'd left the Watcher's Council after the Hellmouth was shut down. That was her answer, vague,but to the point.
" Eight years. Since I moved to Sunnydale." Dawn replied, " Never though in a million years he could be a slayer." Connor glanced at her, " Him being a guy and all."
Connor nodded, " It is strange, but I think he fits the description." he smirked.
Dawn frowned, " You have a thing for slayers?" she asked.
" Maybe." he paused, " But this is different." Connor said proudly, " I've only met a few slayers. Faith...the crazy one, and...well, your sister."
Dawn nodded, " Yeah, must run in your family." she said, causing him to chuckle, " The other slayers are out somewhere 'recruiting' more slayers because some other skanky bitch is building an army." she said with disgust.
" Another one?" Connor asked.
" Yeah, here we go again. You'd like the other slayers, Rona, Caridad, Vi, and...Kennedy. I hope they get back soon. Last time Buffy went to talk to the first slayer, the monster nearly killed us." she looked over at the monster in the next room, dead on the floor, " Not gonna be a problem this time."
Connor was about to speak again when there was a knock on the door. Giles looked at the others and headed to open the door. When he opened the door, his face lit up as Willow stood with Kennedy, " WILLOW!" he said, hugging her.
" Am I non-existant?" Kennedy asked, gaining a hug.
" WILL!" Buffy said, hugging her. Xander joined and made it a group hug while Robin and Faith stood to the back. Faith wasn't the huggy-feely type before and jail hadn't changed it.
Willow hugged almost everyone and settled down on the couch, "Whys the spellcaster out?" she asked, not waiting for Giles' response, "Well, I've got news! Word in the magical world is that there is a male slayer and..." Willow noticed their faces, "...you already know? Darn, I wanted to surprise you." she pouted.
" Everyone knows?" Buffy asked.
" That's what I'm trying to tell you, silly girl, the male slayer is Austin Young." Giles said impatiently.
" Will! I missed ya, buddy." Xander said, hugging her.
Willow ignored Xander, " Austin from Sunnydale? Wow...that's...he knows, right?" she asked.
" Knows what?" Buffy asked.
" That he's meant to be a slayer." Willow noted their faces, " Oh...OH! The spellcaster and the...dead demon...He's the next slayer. Sorry for being Queen of the obvious." she smiled
" Maybe we should see what the Immortal has to say." Faith said.
" No. We can figure this out." Buffy said quickly, causing them to stare at her.
" Maybe Faith's right. Maybe the Immortal can help us." Xander said quickly, " He also has that spell to regrow an eye, which could come in handy for the eye-less." he said nervously.
" I'm still shocked by the whole 'Male' slayer, I mean is this just some cruel trick by the first slayer?" Robin asked, shifting on the couch.
" Looks like the Scoobys are back in business." Xander said slowly, " Just not sure if that's a good or a bad." he said pensievely.
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" Ok." I said, " From the top. I'm the male slayer...go it. Why, again? I mean out of billons of guys, why me?" I asked.
" Because, like everyone else, you have a special purpose and a gift to help with your purpose." the first slayer said impatiently, " Destiny put you in a special places ions ago."
I sighed, trying to see if this is a riddle. I had been here for what seems like hours and I was ready to go 'Punisher' on someone if I got more riddles. She told me that I was a slayer just because and that wasn't enough. I mean, the only male history in the past, present, and future! I was one of a kind for all time and there wasn't a reason why? Unlikely, " What's my gift?" I asked, finally.
" Sight." she said simply.
" Everyone has that, it can't be my gift!" I said angrily," Buffy is gonna be so mad." I smirked.
" That is all I can share." she moaned.
" Wait!" I shouted, " I have more questions...and you never told me about Anna Nicole!" But it was too late and the desert went dark as the fire went out and I looked around, seeing light shimmering in a cave and a bunch of screams, harsh, shrill screams, but screams. I got up and ran to the cave and found myself staring at Senaya chained to the ground as something dark rose from the ground and entered her. Three men with sticks watched on and I found myself disgusted. In the blink of an eye, I was chained instead of her, " Stop! I have questions." I shouted.
" One question." One of the guys said.
" What's my purpose?" I asked.
" To defeat the forces of evil. The rest, you cannot know, not until it is time." One of them smiled, " Now it is time. We assume you've come for power."
" I come for knowledge." I said, chuckling, " I'm here for knowledge."
" Then that is what you shall have, slayer." he said almost mocking me. The shadow crept up into me and screamed for it to let me go and get out until it ended and I felt anew.
I looked at the 'Shadow Men' and snapped the chains, " You guys are always watching and you never get to have the fun." I said, walking over to them. I stopped when I felt someone watching, the primitive. The First Slayer. Senaya. Whatever you wanted to call her stared at me. I nodded to her and she to me and I grabbed the first man's stick and snapped it in two, hitting him quickly with both sticks and turning in time to see the other coming at me! He tried to hit me, but I put up one half of the stick and guarded myself, jumping over the other man's stick. I clocked him with the other half of my stick and kicked the other one, sending him to the ground, " You can have some fun now." I said, seeing the portal open and Senaya walked past me as I walked to the portal and jumped in.
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Willow was sharing info when the portal opened and I jumped out. Buffy hurriedly threw the dead demon into the portal and the group surrounded me. I got to my feet and looked around and my gaze stopped at Willow and another girl who wasn't there before.
" Willow!" I said, hugging her, " I missed you!"
She seemed surprised to see me, " Where've you been? I haven't seen you since before the Hellmouth!" she said, squeezing tighter.
" Here, there...getting kicked out by my parents." I said sadly.
" Sorry." Willow said, patting my back.
" It's ok, they're dead now." I joked, " Guess what, I'm genuine!"
" We know." Buffy said, " Will enlightened us with the knowledge."
I dusted myself off, " I just got these jeans!" I said carefully looking around, " I say we should go and party."
" I second that." Dawn said, raising her hand.
" I second that second." Xander said instantly. Everyone agreed, even Giles and we all went to get ready. I stood in front of my mirror and tried on many outfits before finally deciding on a t-shirt, jeans, tennis shoes, and my patent leather jacket. I smiled to myself and turned to walk away but I felt someone staring. I looked back at the window and no one was there, so I turned around and walked out, still watching my back.
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Angel sat on the terrace, looking out onto Rome. He was captivated by it's splendor and relieved that he'd made it through the fights to get where he was now. It was a good place. He was happy to be back with Buffy and Connor and the gang. God was he happy to have Connor so close and for him to have found someone that makes him as happy as Buffy made him. He was shocked that it was Austin, but Angel didn't mind and he'd...it was a long time ago and he and Spike had been drunk...and he was Angelus. He sighed and took in the sounds and the smells of the night as he heard footsteps and knew immediately it was Buffy.
" Enjoying the night?" Buffy asked, staring at him.
Angel turned to her, leaning against the terrace, " Yeah. Me being a creature of the night." he smiled.
" So, are you having fun?" Buffy asked sarcastically, " Sorry that we haven't had much time with us, but a male slayer. I mean, 'Let's shut down the hellmouth and make everyone slayers. Then we can live life how we wanted. I won't have to do this anymore'. Talk about delusional, huh." Buffy chuckled.
Angel laughed, " It's better than a dragon." he smiled.
Buffy stared at him fixatedly, " Look at you, making with the smiles." she smirked.
" Yeah, I figure I just have to be me...went to see the gypsy who cursed me, or a descendent that might know about the Shanshu and she was a vampire. I had to dust her." Angel said with a glint of sadness.
I'm sorry, Angel. I really am." Buffy said, truly hurt at the thought that maybe they'd never be able to have what she wanted them to have.
" There are other ways to keep my soul and have happiness." he smirked, " While I was at Wolfram & Hart, I researched and got spells and potions to keep my soul after that one moment of happiness. Plus the Gem of Amara and I've hear of another gem that can cure vampire...ness as long as you wear it...just in case I ever wanted to..." he trailed off.
Buffy smiled and nodded, " Really? Sounds like you have it all planned out." she smiled.
" Cookie dough." he said quickly, " I did come to see you, but you were with the Immortal." Angel confessed.
" What?" Buffy asked.
" Me and...Spike, we came to see you, but you were with the Immortal." Angel said nervously.
Buffy burst into laughter, " That wasn't me. That was another slayer that looked like me." Angel looked at her in disbelief, " Every evil force is after us, I have to put them off their game somehow." she laughed, then stopped, " what about Spike?"
Angel chuckled and sighed in relief, " Nothing." he said, putting his arm around her neck and looking out onto the city.
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Connor and I left before everyone else and took the good ole' shortcut through the cemetary. I glanced over at him and he glanced at me and we smiled at each other and quickly put our heads down. We walked on, trying to get as much info out of each other as we could.
I walked beside Connor, " Yeah, there was this time when Xander dated the teacher. Too bad for him she was an insect." I said, causing him to laugh.
" An insect?" he laughed.
" Big bug lady. Freadk Buffy out because she could spin her neck all the way around." I chuckled, " What about the thing with you and Cordy?" I asked
He stopped laughing and looked at me, " It was raining fire and Cordy decided she'd be my first. We had sex and she got pregnant. Turns out it was pre-planned."
I stopped, " You have a kid?" I asked.
He shook his head, " No. This demon name 'Jasmine' needed a body and took control of Cordy in order for Cordy to have sex with me. It was all set up, step-by-step." he said darkly.
I reached out and touched his cheek, " It's the past now." I said softly, looking into his eyes.
" I guess we should...look into the future." he said quietly, leaning in to kiss me, but a voice came from nowhere and stopped us.
" You won't have a future in a minute!" A vampire wearing a mask and some major spy-ware said, wielding a crossbow. The vampire snatched off it's mask to reveal itself as...
" Harmony Kendall?" I said, breaking into a hysterical laughter, as did Connor. Apparently Connor and she had met before. She had worked for Wolfram & Hart and was very bad at not selling out the good side in a war against evil.
" Everboy always laughs at me." She said, struggling with the crossbow.
" Maybe it's the hair...or the face...or the makeup." I joked, causing both, Connor and I, to laugh even harder.
" This is your end!" she said, firing the crossbow! The arrow hit me with a resounding "THUMP!" and I yelped. My legs gave out, but Connor caught me and Harmony had already reloaded and pointed the crossbow at us. She pulled back the trigger and...
TBC