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| Carefully Everywhere Descending - Not in Kansas Anymore by Dark Eyed Seer (14 Reviews) | | abc + + + |  | | | Will kept swaying on his feet and Spike felt his anger rising. They'd been traveling for more than two days. The flight from Australia had taken twenty-five hours and had three stopovers. They had sat in the cramped seats of this shit airport for three hours.
His brother was exhausted, if he were being honest with himself, so was he. But Spike was always convinced his brother's discomfort was more significant than his. Spike did not feel hunger as sharply as Will felt it. Spike did not get as tired as Will did. It was complete and utter bollocks according to Will himself but he accepted the coddling all the same.
“That's great, love. I'm happy for you.” Spike bent down and hefted his duffle bag onto one shoulder, adjusted his backpack and picked up his guitar case.
Next to him, Will did the same, only it was several drum cases that made their way into his hands.
“Can we please get to wherever we're sleeping?” Spike asked of the Watcher.
Giles seemed to have been shaken out of a trance, “Yes, of course. I apologize for our tardiness. Buffy's responsibilities side-tracked us considerably.”
Buffy herself had been about to snark back at the punk boy for his sarcasm, but she noticed his drooping eyelids and the hippie boy's tired swaying and remembered they were pretty late. She swallowed the comment and shot the hippie boy a smile.
He flushed and looked away. Ooooo kay. Buffy felt like asking him if he could talk at all as they made their way to Giles small car. Maybe their moods would improve with some sleep.
She climbed into the front seat with Giles and left the back to the twins.
As they turned out of the airport parking lot, Giles spoke up, “I understand you prefer Jamie to James-“
“It's Spike now, Rupert. Your info is a good three years out of date.” The punk boy was still doing all the talking. Buffy looked through the rearview mirror and saw the hippie boy had passed out with his head on his brother's shoulder.
Buffy suppressed a loud 'Awwwww', thinking that it might not improve their first impression.
“What kind of name is 'Spike'?” Buffy asked, without thinking.
“What kind of name is 'Buffy'?” Spike shot back.
“Are you always this hostile?” Buffy asked, stating to lose her cool.
“Does it always take you three hours to deal with your slaying duties?” Spike smirked at her in the mirror.
Buffy's mouth flapped and she turned around, “And you think you and your freaky mute brother can do better?”
Buffy's mouth snapped shut. She had just crossed a very clear line without even noticing it.
Spike face darkened with a particularly frightening speed. Up until now his remarks had been casual and flippant. That changed quickly.
“You keep your mouth shut about my brother.” Spike leaned forward and hissed.
The boy in question had been awakened by the argument and looked from his Spike to Buffy with an expression of bewildered hurt that tugged at Buffy's heartstrings.
Spike sat back and pulled his Discman out and cranked up the volume so loudly that both people in the front seat out make out the lyrics to the song.
I'm sorry, Buffy thought. But she turned around to face the front feeling awful.
Giles gave her a look that clearly said 'How exactly did you manage to alienate them so quickly?'
I don't know, Buffy thought.
In the back Spike barely noticed 'You Know Your Right' by Nirvana playing even though it was one of his favourite songs. Bloody bitch. He thought. He regretting his sarcasm of earlier but she had insulted his brother. That was it. He was just waiting for her to die now and they could move on to the next one.
Will tugged at his arm, “Stop being such a bastard.” Will's whisper was so low only those with superior sense to humans could pick it up. Fortunately both boys were well equipped.
“I'm being a bastard? Did you hear what she said?” Spike hissed back.
“I know, but I know what you're thinking and stop it! She was just angry. Let's just try again tomorrow.”
Spike cocked his scarred eyebrow, the only thing on his entire body that wasn't identical to his brother's, “Are you going to try talking this time?”
Will flushed and pressed subconsciously closer, “I don't know. I can't seem to get anything out. I tried to say hello. The words just wouldn't come out.”
“She doesn't bite, you know. And if she says anything I'll lay into her. No one beats me in an insult contest. I'm the best with words, that's why I write the lyrics.” Spike grinned, teasing.
Will smiled back but he still looked worried, “Promise you'll try again and I'll say something tomorrow.”
Spike rolled his eyes, “Alright. It's a deal.”
Will sat back and tried to study the Slayer from his position. She looked… sad. And a little lonely. She didn't have a twin.
Will tired to picture going through all this alone and couldn't do so. Fighting monsters by yourself couldn't be easy; he'd always had his brother to watch his back.
Well, she wasn't alone anymore, that's why they were there. If he could just convince his brother to get along with her and vice versa.
* * *
Buffy was dropped off at Revello Drive and didn't say a word as she left the car.
Once they were on the road again Giles cleared his voice, “I've enrolled you two at Sunnydale High School. I work in the library there. I've placed you in all of Buffy, Willow and Xander's classes.” He sounded as though he might be regretting that last action but still didn't bring out the tiff of earlier.
“Who are Willow and Xander?” Spike asked finally, taking off his headphones.
“Friends of Buffy's. They are aware of her title and look forward to meeting you both.”
“What does the council have to say about that?” Spike asked, he was used to being the council rebel and loved to her about anything that got them all in a dither.
“Er, well, they don't really know. And I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention them if you happen to be speaking to any council representatives.”
“We aren't exactly pen pals.” Spike shifted in his seat, careful not to wake his twin, “I can't stand half of those wankers and neither can Will.”
A grin tugged at the edges of Giles' mouth, “You shouldn't speak so of your elders.”
His only response was a snort from the backseat.
* * *
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