Fic: Teamwork is Magic Pt 1

Title: Teamwork is Magic
Author: Torrilin
Pairings: Buffy/Riley (Willow/Tara, Xander/Anya)
Rating: PG-13
Length: ~700 words
Timeline: S4, Where The Wild Things Are, with a twist AU during the episode
Warnings: Canon typical violence and gore, Buffy and Riley romance, script format
Notes: This was supposed to be a comic, and I have chunks of the art done, so it may yet become a comic. But it’s my posting day, so I’m posting what I have. The Spike/Buffy is mostly friendship not romance-y, given where I’m going off canon. And this is unbetad. Please tell me if you catch errors or are confused.

 

EXT. LOWELL HOUSE
Xander, Willow, Tara, Spike and Anya stagger out of the house, together. A few terrified stragglers turn off in several directions. The FRONT DOOR slams behind them.

WILLOW
Wait! We have to go back!

ANYA
Why?

XANDER
Because Buffy and Riley are trapped.

ANYA
So? She’s the slayer, he’s a big soldier boy. What do they need you for?

XANDER
Look around, Anya. There’s ghosts and shaking and people going all Felicity with their hair… We’re fresh out of super-people and somebody’s got to go back in there. Now who’s with me?

SPIKE
I am.

SPIKE grinds out his cigarette and steps boldly forward.

SPIKE (cont’d)
I know I’m not first choice for heroics – and Buffy’s tried to kill me more than once – and I don’t fancy a single one of you all – but: I like not getting burnt in my sleep, and Joyce knows where I sleep.

— he lines up for a roundhouse to the door —

SPIKE
Besides, more smashing.

— BOOM — Spike flies back about 10 feet, THROWN by an INVISIBLE FORCE.

ANYA
Xander, let’s get out of here.

XANDER
It could be Watcher-Time.

— Spike gets up, dusts himself off and —

SPIKE
Yeh, it’s Watcher time. That hurt.

— he heads off towards town, Xander right with him —

XANDER
We’re agreeing on something. This CAN’T be good.

EXT. A STREET CORNER
Spike heads for Giles’ apartment, Xander yoinks him back.

XANDER
No, he said he’d be at the Espresso Pump. Some grown up thing.

SPIKE
He left his flat? Voluntarily? Not for Buffy?

TARA
He told us not to bother him.

WILLOW
He may have wanted some grown up time, but this is for Buffy. His book club can deal.

INT. ESPRESSO PUMP
In the Espresso Pump, Giles doing his God of Acoustic Rock thing

***

XANDER
Um, could we go back to the haunted house? Cause this is creeping me out.

SPIKE
Why? It’s not the worst cover I’ve heard here.

TARA
Does he do this often?

XANDER
Only when the earth rotates backwards and the sky is orange.

*simultaneously*

SPIKE
Yeah, he must, you don’t sound like that without practice.

— Xander and Spike glare at each other as Giles finishes his set and comes up to them. —

GILES
I told you not to bother me here.

WILLOW
It’s Buffy!

SPIKE
That frat house tried to eat me!

ANYA
I told you we should leave it alone!

XANDER
And where does that leave Buffy?

GILES
I need to pack my things. Can you please wait to argue until later?

— He pinches the bridge of his nose and massages it. —

TARA
Yes. I’ll herd them outside.

GILES
THANK you.

— He turns to fetch his guitar.–

***

INT. GILES’ APARTMENT
Willow has her laptop at the table. Giles is putting away his guitar upstairs. The rest of the group is plopped on couches and chairs, intermittently arguing.

XANDER
Well if it’s ghosts, can’t we just ghost bust them? It worked last time.

ANYA
That’s not a good idea. A lot of ghosts are vengeful, and vengeance is powerful.

SPIKE
Yeah and I want some! No one tries to eat the Big Bad and gets away with it.

— Giles comes back downstairs —

GILES
Research would be more useful than speculation and bickering.

— He shoos everyone towards the bookshelves. —

GILES
Anya, what languages do you read? Besides English.

ANYA
A lot. Do you want Earthly languages, demonic ones, ones I’m bad at or ones where I’m fluent?

— Spike looks uncomfortable and sidles closer to a bookshelf. He examines it studiously —

GILES
Let’s make this easier. I have at least five books on ghosts in Latin and Greek, can anyone besides me read them?

ANYA
Yes, but they’re both pretty rusty.

TARA
I might be able to manage the Latin.

SPIKE attempts to become one with the bookshelf and whispers
I can read both.

GILES
And I know Xander and Willow can’t read either.

— He pulls books off shelves and rapidly hands them off to designated pack mules —

GILES
Anya, try this one. Tara, this one is in Latin. Spike, take this one.

— He walks over to the table and sets down some more books —

GILES
Dictionaries and the leftover book.

— He takes a spot at the table —

 

Originally posted at http://seasonal-spuffy.livejournal.com/547009.html