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Title: Human
Layers (Chapter 12 - Part 1) Author: Pat Kelly Rating: PG-13 Summary: Buffy and Cordelia get closer during junior year, discovering a few things along the way. Spoilers: Season 2. Disclaimer: All hail Joss and his army of Mutant Enemies. I don't own BTVS. I make no money. Long live UPN! Burn the WB! Note: This is the beginning of the end! It's been fun for me, and I hope it's been fun for you guys too. Thanks for hanging in. :-) Twelve --------- Two-thirty a.m. People were sleeping, demons were sleeping, lots of things slept now, and that was how it should be. Imagine if nobody got any sleep. Why, cops would doze off in their coffees, pedestrians would zone out looking at the little crosswalk-sign guy, and the puppies - who would walk the puppies? Those were all the arguments for returning to bed, that Buffy was considering presenting to her mother, who was waiting downstairs. Life would be simpler if the three of them could just agree to pretend that what happened, didn't happen. "That wasn't how I wanted her to know." She said to Cordelia, pacing. "I wanted it to be a nice, calm talk, where there would be numerous escape routes available...but no, it had to be a big, heart attack causing moment. With the suddenness, and-and the seeing. My god, the seeing." There was terror, and then sarcasm to ease the pain. "Guess we'll just have to wait and find out what develops in the emotional scarring department, won't we?" They were clothed, and rather uncomfortable. Even lovemaking had an aftermath, which was undoubtedly perspiration. Adding layers to nakedness so soon, was a bad idea. In a rushto eliminate the awkwardness, however, they selected the first apparel - from the appropriate shirt, pants and undergarment drawers - that their hands came into contact with, and put on the combinations they'd selected (mismatching or not), probably setting a speed-dressing record in the process. Cordelia wouldn't normally be caught dead in a 'Power Rangers' t-shirt and purple shorts with an elastic waistband, but this was an extreme circumstance; sacrificeshad to be made. The brunette was sitting at the foot of the bed quietly, but she was just as freaked, continuing to allow Buffy's rant to run amuck. "And what're we about to go do? Come out? Come out halfway? One foot totally free while the other foot stays inside holding the closet door open, just in case its buddy wants back in? What?" She took a deep breath or three. "They've gotta invent new terms. Like gayishly straight. Or straightishly gay. Or Les-boys are cute sometimes-ianism." She quickly regretted saying that. "Not that I wanna label us; it's just that she's gonna ask, and we're...kinda un-labelable." "Buffy?" An interjection was necessary at this point. She did babble in her own unique way, but was she was trying to challenge Willow's monopoly in the market? "Yeah? Yes?" The gears were having trouble slowing, but she produced a smile. "Oh, so I *was* talking to another person. Cordelia...hi." "Hi." Cordelia smiled back."I need you to do two things. First, take a Valium. Second, get a dictionary and look up 'bisexual.' It's stupid, but if we have to, then we tell her that'swhat we are, okay? It's common knowledge, and way more simplified than your suggestions. Maybe she'll take it better if she knows we're not gender-exclusive and only checking out biker chicks now, or something." "But you're exclusive to me, right?" Buffy sat on her lap. "Well, I'm not gonna wear a button that announces it, cause it'd definitely clash, but yeah, you're the only one who gets to admire the whole me." Her arm ensnared the blonde's waist. "Must make me somebody special then, huh?" "I think so." She received a small kiss. "And you know I'm all yours." Getting contemplative about their predicament again, she frowned. "What if...?" Cordelia sighed, squeezing her girlfriend's hand. "We'll explain things on a question-by-question basis, hope she doesn't explode, and it'll be over." That was all they could do. "You're so damn logical. Helps that at least one of us is, though." Buffy was very glad for that. "Good. Because if we both agree that I'm the logical one, and seeing as how impossible it is to arguewith that, then you should have no problems with me showering. I really feel like it's the thing to do. So go ahead down and start, fill me in when I'm done." The slayer shook her head, smirking. "Nice try." Her forehead scrunched in thought. "My mom probably does think I'm gonna turn 'Biker Chick' on her, doesn't she?" "It's a typical stereotype." The cheerleader shrugged, disappointed that her attempt to stall had bombed. And that's why they had to talk to Joyce. To show her that they were still Buffy and Cordelia, individuals that hadn't somehow become faceless stereotypes. Basically, with the exception of a few changes that they wouldn't dare throw away, they were the same people they'd always been. After that got settled, they had to make the woman see that their feelings for each other weren't part of a phase, or else she'd never completely take in and accept what they were going to tell her. Buffy looked at her door. Beyond it, her relationship with her mother hung in the balance. She'd already decided that she wasn't giving up Cordelia, so getting her to understand was a goalthey couldn't afford not to reach. The consequences would no doubt be costly if the reaction was negative, and she hadn't exactly mapped out what her 'Plan B' was. Mainly because she had great respect for her mother, thinking her to be fairly open-minded. It was time now, to test that high opinion. "Let's do this." *** Buffy and Cordelia didn't find it amusing; their morning had begun with an interrogation, only without the 'good cop-bad cop' routine. A domineering mother figure was all that was necessary to putthe fear of God into them. Willow, Oz and Amy, however, were just confused by the miniature show. Two fish sticks were being held upright on a cafeteria tray, and being moved and intertwined in various ways, as Xander provided the appropriate commentary for his audience at the table. "Oh, Buffy, kiss me!" The processed nutrition was mashed together. "Take my nude, supple bod and never stop...ahhh!" He dropped them, and picked up a straw, 'walking' it over. "Mother, I can explain! She was bitten by a snake and I was just sucking out the poison!" He moved the bendy part of the straw up and down. "My first-born has been defiled! Whatever shall I do?" "Is that it?" Cordelia asked. "Yeah, that's it." He chuckled, grinning. "Scene!" "Good." She gave him the shoulder punch to end all shoulder punches, from her seat beside him. "Moron." "Somebody's hostile." He rubbed his aching flesh, gingerly. "It was just a joke; you said she was cool about it." "I said she *seemed* cool about it." Buffy corrected him from her spot on the brunette's lap. All the girls had used their partners as seats, as a matter of fact. "All she did was ask questions and nod. It was creepy." "But you said she didn't yell." Willow added, thinking that would help. "Yeah, she could still wanna disown me, though." "You can always stay at my house," Cordelia offered sympathetically, "cause I know what my mother would say. 'A girl? Really? How brave of you, dear. I don't know where all those horrible films get the idea that those people want to be men. My stylist is gay, and the most adorably feminine woman. Do you see her at your meetings?'" She shook her head, sighing. "And *that's* why I avoid talking to her." "At least she's just clueless." The slayer's eyes were sad. "Trust me, Buffy, as long as your mom doesn't try to kill you or switch your bodies, everything'll be okay." Amy contributed, grinning slightly. "Yeah, let's not forget whose mom won the 'Worst, Most Psychotic Parent Ever Award,' around here." Xander supported his very powerful girlfriend, and they smiled at one another. "Puts things in perspective." Oz commented. "I guess it kinda does." Buffy smiled. "But thanks to 'Mom issues,' there's no way I'm passing the history test today." "Don't say that!" Willow exclaimed. "You're gonna passit if I have to sweat blood." "Do you think you're likely to?" Xander wondered. "Cause I'd like to be elsewhere." "It was only metaphor blood." "I think you'd sweat cute blood." Her boyfriend said. She gave him a smile, and then spoke to Buffy. "Next period after my computer class, we'll cram like two, committed, insane women." "Ready to be insane." Buffy responded with a smirk. "Boy, Willow, you've really got the teaching bug; taking over computer class while Miss Calendar's out, tutoring..." The cheerleader realized. The redhead smiled broadly. "I love it, I really do." "Speaking of love," Xander started, "if you weren't satisfied with my portrayal of your night of hot and steamy...uh, steaminess, then how's about a demo so I can get it right the next time?" "How about not?" Cordelia fired back, sternly. "Fine, fine...if you want inaccurate food theater, then go ahead and reject me." He reached for the blonde witch. "I'll just have to turn to my very own black magic woman, for some comfort and lovin'." Amy tried to dodge his fingers, laughing. "No, stop! Ah! You have fish hands!" "Let me caress you..." He requested witha French accent. Snyder interrupted him, coming over. "That's enough of that." He looked at them all. "Are we having a chair shortage?" "I didn't read anything about...oh." Willow said, and they all found separate seats. "We get it." "These public displays of affection are not acceptable in my school. This isn't an orgy, people, it's a classroom." "Yeah." Buffy sarcastically agreed, glancing around. "Where they teach lunch." The principal glared at her. "Just give me a reason to kick you out, Summers. Just give me a reason." When he was gone, Cordelia snorted. "How about because you're a tiny, impotent Nazi with a bug up his butt the size of an emu?" "Sums it up." Her girlfriend nodded, finding a hand to hold under the table. "Don't you think?" *** - How long has this been going on? - - When did you realize...? - - Was that...your first time? - - Do your parents know? - - You're teenagers; it's natural to be curious. - - You what? Oh. - - I don't know what else there is to...no, I'm...it's okay. - - You both should...sleep. Just sleep. - That was all Joyce could remember saying as she sat in the employee lounge of the gallery, drinking her coffee. She hadn't said anything she regretted, nothing irrational that she would end up having to take back. She had handled things fairly well, especially given how she'd found out; of course, that didn't mean she understood or was comfortable with it. Fiddling with the straps of her purse that was sitting on the table in front of her, she asked herself one question. Did she think it was wrong? Well, she'd never figured that her daughter might be...they said 'bisexual,' but if she was with a girl now, that made her gay, didn't it? No, not wrong, just...a little weird. There were certain things in life you couldn't really grasp unless you experienced them yourself, and she hadn't been attracted to a woman before. She'd noticed that they were attractive, but all women noticed that. They had to have a standard to reach. It was like they needed to be jealous of one another. Her parents had been religious people, so she'd grown up around the values and the psalms, though as she became an adult, most of it got thrown out. You either rebelled or conformed. She rebelled, promising herself that she wouldn't be as strict or demanding. She did hold onto one value - to live the best life possible, and be respectful of others. Still, was God against gays, against her daughter? That couldn't be true. If He created every human being and loved all his creations, then He had to want some people tolove in different ways, right? This led her to two probable conclusions: either He was a hypocrite, or the ones responsible for conveying his message twisted it to fit with their own prejudices. She settled for the latter, not wanting to believe that a supreme, omnipotent being would be as discriminating as mortals. Going into her purse, she pulled out a pair of objects, which she allowed to rest in her hand. A bracelet and a locket, that were supposed to be evidence of how serious Cordelia and Buffy considered themselves to be. They were given to her temporarily, the girls hoping that she'd become swayed to their way of thinking. In other words, breaking it off wasn't in the cards any time soon. The bracelet had been a birthday gift, the locket a Valentine's gift. At least they had enjoyed that night; her date had gone nowhere. She wasn't exactly drawn to men who talked about their work for hours - she wasn't looking for another Hank Summers. The girlswere apparently in love, and she couldn't deny that she saw it. Opening the golden heart, the picture inside wouldn't let her. Their smiling faces were genuine and contagious. When Buffy came home after spending the summer away, she was distant. Her demeanor had completely changed since then; she was bright, happy...there were times that wasn't always the case, but generally, Cordelia appeared to be a good influence. Should she fight that, even though she wouldn't know why she was? How come she thought it was expected of herto make a big deal out it and scream? Was it residuals from her parents' teachings? She had picked up on something when Cordelia brought her sick daughter home, just about a week ago. Granted, she probably wasn't themost observant person in the world, but at least she'd had an inkling before walking in on them. Because her flight was cancelled, Buffy was traumatized. It was embarrassing for both of them; if there wasn't any sex going on, though, it could've been avoided. That was one thing she had to put her foot down about. The cheerleader was a nice girl (albeit somewhat tactless), and the way she'd been hovering protectively over Buffy during their chat, it was clear that she cared. She guessed that everyone had a few surprising layers inside of them somewhere. From what was said, they were caught off-guard, too. Joyce clicked the locket shut at that thought, as Carol came in. Her friendand employee saw the jewelry, and whistled. "Yow...they look expensive, Joycey. Didn't steal 'em, did you?" "Yeah, that's just the kind of change I want in my life. Who would suspect that a forty-two-year old jewel thief would run her own art gallery?" "Not me." Carol smirked.She was three years younger, rather liberal, too. "You gonna dish, or what?" "They're my daughter's." Joyce smirked, and then hesitated. "And...her girlfriend's." "No kidding." The woman had the briefest of reactions. "Who's the lucky girl?" "Cordelia Chase." That did get a reaction - an impressed one. "A Chase, huh? Buffy must have something special to be able to snag one of them. Good for her." Carol looked at her employer carefully. "You're all right with it, aren't you?" Special? Yeah, Buffy was special. Joyce laughed lightly. "I'm still deciding. I...I caught them." "Ohhh..." The dark-haired woman understood, grinning. "Sometimes I forget that that's the *one* thing you didn't try in college."Her friend rolled her eyes. "But I know my jewelry, and you don't spend what they probably cost, on a fling. Love's love, sweetie." Carol was happily married, but Joyce had known her opinion on the subject for twenty years now. That was great and all, but when it came to Buffy, she had to know where she fell, not someone else's stance. Her main concern was making the rift between them larger, so she had to be smart about this. She loved her daughter; she'd use all of her parental muscles to try to not screw things up. *** Buffy's eyes scanned the classroom, looking for anything out of the ordinary; she would've welcomed it. She saw her friends sitting in their various places, but nothing that would justify her stopping and not taking this test. She compared it to getting her teeth pulled - she wasn't having a good time. Cramming didn't solve all her problems, because she still dreaded talking to her mother after school. Little did she know, Angelus had been kind of cranky himself. Not being able to pull one lousy sword out of an ancient, stone-encased demon that was going to the suck the world into hell, would do that to a guy. He wanted to wipe everything out in one, fell swoop. She had pissed him off; the holes in his neck weren't pleasant. Oh, they'd healed, but that wasn't the point. It was time to be ruthless and unforgiving. No more playing around. He'd see that look of defeat on her face just before the heat flayed her skin - he swore it. Except first he had to figure out how to make that happen, which was why one of his children was walking into Buffy's classroom, shawl covering her head, and carrying the sword the slayer had used to cause him...discomfort. From tip to hilt, it was covered in his blood, and there was a paper attached, sitting in the middle of the blade. Buffy noticed the vampire before the rest, as the sword was being directly pointed at her. The thing then removed its shawl, revealing its warped face. "Tonight...Sundown..." The class looked up. "At the graveyard..." "Excuse me..." Their teacher tried to take charge. Now that it was fully exposed to daylight, its body began to smoke. "You will come to him. You will come to him ormore will die." It ignited and started to burn. "Tonight!" While students leapt from their chairs, she remained calm, and not all that shocked. "His hour is at hand!" As it combusted, going up in flames, Buffy watched the sword hit the floor. *** Giles was back in the library. He wished it could've been for happier reasons, but the end of the world didn't exactly qualify as a happy reason. Books were here that he didn't have at home, so he'd called Buffy's house (knowing that it would be pointless to believe the cheerleader was anywhere else), and had asked Cordelia if she would give he and Jenny a ride to school this morning. He wasn't going to leave her alone, so she had to maneuver with the aid of a wheelchair. Kendra had arrived while the kids were in class, and once again, it was because her watcher believed that a very dark power was about to rise in Sunnydale. That pretty much confirmed what he'd been afraid of -that the object the paper said was unearthed, was something that should've remained buried. He had spoken to the museum curator yesterday from his home, getting a description of the markings on the obelisk; today, the curator was dead, and the stone prison gone. Looking up from their readings, he, Jenny and Kendra saw a very uneasy group coming to join them. Buffy was holding what appeared to be a sword and a piece of paper, which she placed on the table while the others sat down. He wordlessly began to examine the bloodied sword, soon realizing that it was part of his collection. He picked up what appeared tobe a pencil drawing, next. It was an amazingly well done portrait of Buffy and Cordelia kissing, but thanks to being on the sword, there was a hole in the middle, outlined in red. It didn't take him long to gasp. "Yeah, that's what I thought." Cordelia said, scowling. "The sicko was watching us!" "And you weren't aware...?" He coughed, seeing their faces. "Oh." "The window was closed; I would've definitely heard that open. Plus, the blinds were blocking any good view." Buffy said, anger in her voice. "Which means he got in somewhere else - probably the back door. He must've left before my mom came back...and I guess since nothing is supposed to be private in my life, yes, she did catch us." "Your intimacy habits aside, Buffy," Her watcher's face was blushing, "you're lucky that he didn't choose to do anything more than...observe." "Yuck, Giles!" The brunette screamed. "What'd you have to say that for?" It didn't sound that way in his head. She turned away so she could lean into her girlfriend and receive consolation. "You think we can do it over?" "Not over, but definitely again." The slayer grinned. "Then again after that...there's a whole 'again' pattern." "I'm liking how you think." Cordelia was already feeling better. "Ah...sorry." The librarian apologized for what he'd said before they had distracted themselves. "I meant he could've killed you, however -" "He didn't." Miss Calendar interrupted. "So let's focus on something else." "Good idea." The slayer said. "Angel just got those to me through an immolation-o-gram during class." "It was pretty scary, b-but there is good news." Willow entered into the conversation. "You said it was better if we had Angel's blood for the spell, right? Well, we have lotsof it now." "It makes things easier." The teacher smiled. "That reminds me; I need to talk to you and Amy about something." The girls looked at each other questioningly, and then followed Miss Calendar back into the office. "What'd'ya think Angelus would do if he foundout that he helped us to get rid of him?" Xander wondered as he watched them disappear. "Am I the only one who'd pay good money to see the look on his face?" Buffy smirked, and with the break in the discussion, finally noticed Kendra. She rushed over, deciding to ignore her hugging rule. "Hey,long time no see." "Hello, Buffy." Kendra smiled. "When did you get here?" "A half an hour ago, I believe. I see dat you and Cordelia are...dat you have..." Kendra got embarrassed. "I am happy for you." "Hope my mom is, too." She smiled back. "How ya been?" "Okay." The other slayer shrugged. "Me home is boring compared to dis place." "Don't tell me. You're here cause of this Alfalfa guy." "Dat's about it." "It's Acathla," Giles corrected her, "and yes, the information provided by Kendra's watcher seems conclusive." He took off his glasses. "I've been on the phone to the museum. The demon is missing, and the curator has been murdered. Vampires." "Then Angelus has it?" Cordelia asked, coming to stand by the blonde as he nodded. "This sucks." "He called you out, Buff." Xander reminded her. "I know." She responded, thinking."We have to do the spell tonight, before he gets the chance to wake the thing up. Can we?" "Yep." The redhead came back out looking nervous, trailed by Amy and Miss Calendar. "Amy and me. It's cause I'm a...what am I?" "An untainted soul." Amy supplied. "I sorta do darker stuff, and this needs purity. I'll be giving her protection." "But I don't have power like you." "Sure about that?" Willow nodded. "Uh huh, totally super sure. So *not* a witch...and-and what if I blow it?" "You won't." Jenny assured her. "Whether you know it or not, you have the ability to, but we'll still guide you through it." Oz came to put his arm around her. "You can do anything, Will. I'll be right there with you." "No, no I seriously can't. I can't tap dance, I can't juggle...I can't even play the maracas right, and if you can't play them, then you're basically just a big dufus." Her shoulders slumped. "I don't wanna let you down, Buffy." Her friend joined the circle of support. "Ifit doesn't work, then I'll do what I gotta do, but it will. Because if they say you can, I believe 'em. I know you'll do it." The hacker bit her lip. "Okay, but somebody explain the whole 'he will suck the world into Hell' thing. Just so I know how much pressure to put on myself." "Well, the, uh," Giles put his glasses back on, "the Demon Universe exists in a dimension separate from our own. With one breath, Acathla will create a vortex, a-a kind of, um...whirlpool that will pull everything on Earth into that dimension, where any non-demon life will suffer horrible and...eternal torment." "Imagine what the postcards'll look like." Xander deadpanned. "Hey, here's an upside - maybe we'll get out of that history test." "Or maybe we'll just be doomed to take it in hell forever." Cordelia offered the flipside of the coin. "You think Satan's good with dates?" "We've got work to do." Buffy announced. "Main plans, backup plans...we need to move, and we need to move fast." She looked at her girlfriend, then. "And no, I bet you he isn't. Wouldn't you feel kinda spoiled if you lived in a place where time has no meaning?" *** It was night. After the vampire scare in history, the rest of the day had been devoted to coming up with a well thought out way to win, which would keep everyone alive. No matter how many scenarios got considered, however, there were always unforeseen factors, so nobody made any guarantees. Still, they were all working hard to pull it off, doing thebest that they could. Hopefully, it'd be enough. "Hicce verbis consensus rescissus est." Amy said the final words of the de-invitation spell they had discovered earlier, as Buffy rummaged through the supply trunk in her room, taking stakes, bottles of holy water, and crosses. "That's it, right?" The place was now a 'No Angel' zone. "Giles', Willow's, and mine...yeah, that should cover it." Buffy said. "I don't think he'll try anything, what with him busy attempting to end the world and all..." The witch closed the book. "But you don't wanna take any chances." "Chances bad." She stuffed the pockets of her jacketwith the supplies. "K, everyone knows what they're doing at the library, so now we just have to -" "Buffy, they're here!" Cordelia called up. "With um...some company." "Company?" The two girls echoed, and then clambered quickly back downstairs. Reaching the bottom, they found the brunette looking out the open front door, as Kendra and Spike destroyedwhat seemed to be a random vampire on her porch. Her enemy then turned to grin, while her fellow slayer had an apologetic _expression_. But before she could utter a word, her mother came walking up between them, whose face was white with surprised fear. Her daughter knew she should've expected the day to get continually worse. |