it's like a buddy movie (only without the buddy part)
Chapter Five: A New Coat Rack
Xander rolled the whole situation around his brain as he trudged back to the car. He knew what he saw. No question. There was flame-age and chanting and a whole bunch of no-good going on in that clearing. He had no clue where it all went, but it was there, plain as day. Or, in this case, night. And if these chaos guys were as bad as Spike and Giles both said, then there's no way he could walk away from this. Not a chance.
He turned back towards Spike, who'd already stopped and was staring back at the now-empty space. "Y'know, disappearing act or whatever this is, forgetting about this antler guy is not an option."
"Was thinking along those same lines m'self." Spike gestured to the car, where Giles, Willow, and Anya were already looking impatient waiting for them. "But I don't think your mates are too keen on that idea. "
"Yeah, and that's part of what's bothering me." Xander looks over at his friends. "They shrugged this off a little too easily. You'd think they'd at least want to check out the scene. It doesn't make sense. I'm thinking there's something going on here, and I'm putting it in the bad column."
"And here I thought they were just getting lazy."
"Funny. No, they're way less than interested in this site. Willow will try a spell at the drop of a really small hat these days if she sees a reason. Even if it's not the best reason. But she didn't even mention magic. In fact, they all couldn't wander away fast enough. They didn't ask questions, they didn't have any theories - I didn't even get an 'extraordinary' out of Giles. That? Is weird."
"No, the weird part of all this is the simple fact that the Chaos demon is NOT HERE."
Xander nodded. "Getting to that. I'm thinking connected weirdness here. And I'm not throwing in the towel on this. All is not peachy right now."
"Hate to say it, but your brain came up with a decent point there." Spike crossed his arms. "And I'm not fancying calling it a night either. Rather chop off the demon's head and have myself a new coat rack."
"Must be an apocalypse coming up, 'cause we're actually agreeing on this. Except for the coat rack part. But we've got nothing to go on. No clues, no bonfire, no bits of magic supplies, no signs of the guy even existing, zip. He went all David Copperfield on us."
Spike blinked. "What does this have to do with a Dickens book?"
Xander blinked back. "He writes? I thought he just did the television specials. Make the Statue of Liberty disappear and all that cool stuff."
"What? What television specia-- Wait. No, you idiot. Book. Magician. Two different... just never mind. Forget it. But speaking of, this whole sodding mess sounds more like a bookish job to get it started. Research."
"Yeah, usually, the plan would totally be massive research to see what your buddy--"
"NOT my 'buddy'. Don't know the guy."
"Whatever. Okay, to see what your non-buddy might be brewing, but the research part of the gang's not exactly interested. At all."
"I noticed that bit. Right, then. I don't know about you, but I'm lookin' to gut this fellow since he's in the neighborhood. And I can't gut him if I can't find him."
"Well, he's a big guy. Plus antlers and slime? Can't be too insanely hard to track down."
"Except for the lack of tracks. Not even a scent. There's nothin' here, Harris."
"Was noticing that. I mean, we can look around more, but... I think books might be the only way to go right now. And don't think I'm at all happy to say that."
"So, where then? Magic Box?"
"Got a better idea?"
"Other than my new coat rack?"
"And that helps us right now how?"
"Only joking." Spike considered. "Wish I did, but nothing else sounds promising. So to the mojo shop it is."
"Looks like. Hold on, let me get the keys from An. I'll swap out for mine so they can drive home.
"I could just break in the place."
"No."
"Had plenty of practice."
"Not happening. Believe me, I know you've had way too much practice. Because me having to fix the door for the thousandth time? No thanks. We're going the actually-legal key route."
"And here I thought I might get to squeeze some fun out of this utter disaster of a night." Spike lit another cigarette. "Fine, then. Go do your little key exchange with the Superfriends. I'll wander a bit, see if there's anything to see around here that we might've missed."
Xander walked back over to his waiting friends at his car and tossed his keys to Giles. "Uh, wouldja take the girls home? We're gonna keep up the patrol."
"More patrol?" Giles looked puzzled. "If you see the need, then of course I shall. I'll make certain that they both make it home safely."
Xander gave his girlfriend a quick kiss goodbye before he asked, "An, now that I'm all key-less, can I borrow your keys to get into the apartment later?" Okay, Anya was actually his unofficial fiancée, but he wasn't really up for the official-ness of that kind of title. Not yet, anyway. And not sure when. That wasn't something to think about tonight. Again, not sure exactly when.
Anya pouted back at him. "Why? I think your patrol has been more than sufficient for one night, even if you are having hallucinations. Besides, there are much more interesting things that we could be doing tonight. We just got that..."
"That thing that Giles and Willow REALLY don't want to hear anything about."
"Yes, Anya, do stop there." Giles took the keys from Xander, while Xander pocketed Anya's set. "However, Xander, I do agree that a continuance of patrolling will not be likely to yield any fruit. Are you quite certain that you wish to remain?"
"If you're asking if I'm thrilled at the concept of more of this weekly Fun with the Bleached Undead, I'm not, but we... we've still got some ground we haven't covered. Making the streets of Sunnydale safe or whatever it is we do. I'll see you guys later."
"Be careful, Xander." Willow grinned at him. "And don't kill each other before you kill a bad guy, 'k?"
"Try my best."
"Deal." With that, the three got into Xander's car and drove off.
Xander walked back to Spike. "Don't s'pose you've still got a car around, do you?
"I might." Spike shrugged. "Yeah, my DeSoto's parked down the block. And you're not driving it."
"Cool with me. But we need the wheels, so... "
"Fine. But you're paying for the gas. And supplies."
"What?"
"Well, that, or I ask your girl about your new purchase..."
Xander groaned. Could this night get any more fun? "Fine. Gas, snacks, and then we get researchy."