Xander

Title: Xander

Characters: Xander, Dawn, and Buffy were created by Joss Whedon.  They do not belong to me. 

Setting: A year or two after BtVS season 7

Word Count: approx. 980 (about 2 pages)

Rating: G

Beta(s): none

Author’s Notes: It came together very quickly and ended up being more of a short blurb than a decent-sized fic, but hopefully it comes together well.  I didn’t have anyone beta this one, so if you have comments or suggestions as you’re reading, let me know.

A man never gets to sleep in these days, he thought as the sound of glass breaking roused him from his dream.  And we were just getting to the good part.  Of course, “these days” had turned into years and he had grown accustomed to the unusual hours that came with the life he’d chosen.  Wake up well before the crack of dawn, fight some monsters, do some research, fight more monsters, try to control the damage, go to sleep long after you should already be awake, and repeat until dead.  Dead.  That was something he tried not to think about too much.

He was only halfway up the stairs when he could hear the girls trying to hurriedly clean the mess.  Dawn’ll probably get on them good this time, he thought with a weak smile.  Of course, Dawn’s opinion doesn’t count for much with them, but at least I have someone batting on my team.

“And a swing and a miss!” he cried when he reached the main level, startling the half dozen girls who had done what he could only assume was their best effort in sweeping the broken glass under the coffee table.

“What are we ever going to do with these girls?” he sighed to himself after they had made a hurried exit.  “They can barely fight and,” he paused to take a look around the living room, “they have no future in the maid service industry.”

“Ah, take it easy on them, Xan,” Buffy said, leaning against the wall, an old familiar playful look in her eye.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen that look.  Caring for these girls must be good for her.

“They’ve hardly seen any action in weeks.  They’re just getting a little stir crazy, is all.”

“And this stir crazy epidemic affects one’s ability to properly use a broom?” he said with a playful smile.

“Well, next year we can start offering Housekeeping 101.”

“And put me out of a job?  No way, thank you very much.”

“Um, excuse me, Miss Buffy?”  A shy young Slayer had made her way into the room unnoticed.  “I’m sorry to bother you, but Willow says she thinks she has a lead on that demonic activity she felt last week.  She said you’d probably want to be in the loop.”

“Thank you, Sie,” Buffy replied as she started to follow the young girl.  “Maybe we’ll see some action after all.”  She turned to take one more look at Xander and the mess around him.

“Miss Buffy?” Xander asked, eyebrow raised, the corners of his lips creeping into a smile.

“She’s young.  She’ll learn,” Buffy said, the tone of her voice betraying her full thoughts.  “They all will,” she added softly before heading toward the library.

Poor girls, Xander thought as Buffy left.  If they see half of what Buff’s seen in their lifetimes it’ll be too much for most of them.  Heck, it was almost too much for us.

He had just swept up the broken glass and had started measuring the window when a troop of young Slayers stormed through the room, most not bothering to use the door but choosing to jump over the couch and through the empty window instead.

“Um, excuse me,” Xander said in his most commanding voice.  “The door is over there.”  Of course, it was no use.  The girls were intent solely on what they were about to do, nothing more. 

Xander wouldn’t have noticed Buffy leave if she hadn’t been one of the few who chose to use the door.  At least it was left intact this time, he couldn’t help thinking.  “Buffy!” he called after her.  “Don’t forget your…”  But it was too late.  She was already out of earshot.  “Phone?  Walkie-talkie?  Right hand man?”  His voice grew weaker with each suggestion, the realization that he was left talking to himself coming as no surprise.  It always upset him that the one thing she was prone to leaving behind was her only form of communication when out in the field. 

“I should be out there with them,” he sighed to himself.  He had never been able to shake that feeling.  It was rooted in years of fighting by Buffy’s side.  Of course, he couldn’t blame her for thinking otherwise.  He had no powers, no real fighting ability.  He had been a hindrance to her on more than one occasion.  Still, it didn’t seem fair that he was always the one picked to be left behind.

“Don’t worry, big guy,” Dawn said cheerfully, watching as Xander went through the motions of fixing the window.  “I’ll help you finish this and then,” she paused, trying to think of the most teenage-sounding idea she could, “we can have a sleep over and do makeovers.  Won’t it be fun?”

Xander couldn’t help but laugh.  Dawn had grown so much in the past few years, but Xander still found it hard to see her as anything but Buffy’s kid sister.  She knows it, too, he thought.  But I guess she’s happy with that now, making other people happy however she can.  Even if it means being relegated to the role of typical teenage girl.  We hearts of the operation sure do put up with an awful lot just to keep the ship above water.  If I weren’t so handy with a hammer…

“Sure, Dawnie, whatever you say,” he said, interrupting his own thoughts and trying to look as cheerful as possible.  “We might as well settle in for a long night, because the next time that door opens this room’ll become ER central and it’ll be all hands on deck.” 

And then I’ll have to fix it up all over again, he thought as Dawn flung a sofa cushion at him.  He quickly grabbed a throw pillow from the arm chair and swung back.  Well, might as well enjoy the ride.