deird_lj: (Default)
deird_lj ([personal profile] deird_lj) wrote2010-09-15 09:29 am
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History, Repeating

Here's a ficlet about two minor characters, for [livejournal.com profile] still_grrr's "history" prompt.



History, Repeating

It’s over eight years before he sees anything like it again.

He’s leaving work one night when suddenly there are three of them – ridged foreheads, yellow eyes – vampires, coming out of the alley opposite. And he’s instantly back in junior year, with killer quarterbacks, and danger, death, and burning school buildings, and one kickass chick.
Then the memories flash off, fade back to nothing, and it’s just him and three vampires… and, weirdly, the kickass chick.

She’s got red hair, though – not the same one. (Obviously not the same, idiot.) But she fights the same.

Kicks, flips, and punches, and then she’s elbowing one in the face while staking the other – but as he explodes into dust the third one grabs her stake, and suddenly it’s two on one and she’s out of weapons.

It might be eight years away, but it’s still automatic: he runs in to help, doesn’t even think. Pure muscle memory, or something.
And he’s ducking punches, blocking what he can, doesn’t really do damage, obviously – but he’s a distraction, and after a few moments he gets the chance to pass her, well, not much, it’s a pencil, but it’s all he’s got and at least it’s wood.

They end up standing there, out of breath, with dust slowly settling to the ground.

He grins and says, “Hi.”

“That was actually helpful,” the red-head says, like that’s unusual.

“What, that surprises you?”

“Yeah, kinda.” She shrugs, and retrieves her stake from the gutter. “Usually it’s a big handsome guy being chivalrous, and rescuing the helpless little girl from the bad guys. Then I just end up with extra people to keep safe.”

Apparently he’s not handsome. Good to know. “You’re the Slayer, right?”

A Slayer.” She raises an eyebrow, speculatively. “Do you know one of the others?”

And she’s using present tense. Weird. “Yeah, I knew a Slayer when I was in high school.”

“But you don’t look…” She frowns. “Huh.”

Suddenly she’s looking at him like he’s from another planet, and he’s not sure why him having met the Slayer is stranger than whatever else she must be used to, but if someone doesn’t break the silence soon it’s going to get awkward.

He sticks out a hand. “I’m Pike. I’m a mechanic, and I suck at vampire hunting.”

She smiles uncertainly. “Vi.”

“Want to get a coffee, Vi?”

“Actually, I should probably…”

“Mocha? I promise not to be chivalrous. In fact, if we’re attacked, I’ll probably shriek like a girl and you can save me.”

Another smile – this one maybe a bit less uncertain. “Coffee. Sure.”

And that’s how the night begins.



snickfic: Buffy looking over her shoulder (Default)

[personal profile] snickfic 2010-09-15 12:02 am (UTC)(link)
You know, this fic makes so much more sense if I read that first line as "eight" rather than "eighty."

I suppose I should watch the movie one of these days...
deird1: Fred looking pretty and thoughful (Default)

[personal profile] deird1 2010-09-15 12:05 am (UTC)(link)
You know, this fic makes so much more sense if I read that first line as "eight" rather than "eighty."

Oh dear. :)


The movie kinda sucks, but I'm rather a fan of crappy B movies (if they're aware they're crappy), so I enjoyed it...

[identity profile] ceciliaj.livejournal.com 2010-09-15 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
Omg creative! I love it!
deird1: Fred looking pretty and thoughful (Default)

[personal profile] deird1 2010-09-15 12:23 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks!

[identity profile] velvetwhip.livejournal.com 2010-09-15 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
I have a secret fondness for Pike (in fact I even put him in one of my fics), so I am so glad to see him here! This was swell!


Gabrielle
deird1: Fred looking pretty and thoughful (Default)

[personal profile] deird1 2010-09-15 12:51 am (UTC)(link)
Glad you liked it!

Pike is fun. He should be in more fic...

[identity profile] slaymesoftly.livejournal.com 2010-09-15 12:43 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, I love this! Awesome use of minor characters. :)
deird1: Fred looking pretty and thoughful (Default)

[personal profile] deird1 2010-09-15 12:51 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks!

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2010-09-15 01:14 am (UTC)(link)
Too fun! Even without knowing anything about one of the characters! But I do love me some Vi!
deird1: Fred looking pretty and thoughful (Default)

[personal profile] deird1 2010-09-15 01:19 am (UTC)(link)
Glad you liked it!


(I realised while writing this: Pike is basically the proto-Spike-and-Xander. He's a snarky teenage boy, he wears a leather jacket and rides a motorbike, he's the Zeppo, he helps Buffy even when she doesn't want him to, and he tells her uncomfortable truths...)
gillo: (Default)

[personal profile] gillo 2010-09-15 09:47 am (UTC)(link)
I like it! Nice to see a character from the film integrated into the real Buffyverse!

I enjoyed the fighting description particularly - and the pencil!
deird1: Fred looking pretty and thoughful (Default)

[personal profile] deird1 2010-09-15 08:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks!