Crossover: HL/BtVS (before “Prodigal Son” HL!verse, between series 6 and 7 Buffy!verse)

Characters: Xander, RR, Buffy, Dawn

For prompt: 047 Heart

Summary: A little exploratory…

“Look out!”

A jarring sensation went down Richie’s arms as he caught the blade that was jutted out of the demon’s arm with his sword.

The thing had jumped them as they walked back from this small town’s only club that would let Dawn in the doors. Buffy had been knocked aside and before she could get up again the thing had turned on Dawn. Ritchie had never seen anything like it – a great hulking creature that was covered in growths that almost looked like stone, a perfectly sharp blade jutting out from each arm over the hands to extend a least ten inches past the limits of its clenched fists. Ritchie really wasn’t sure what to do with the thing now that he had its undivided attention and, while he had tried it out once or twice sparring with Mac, he didn’t really have any experience fighting a guy with two weapons: all he could do was frantically parry and hope for a break.

“What the hell…” He heard Buffy groan as she woke up, distracting him long enough miss one in a long flurry of blows; long enough to take ten inches of blade directly through his chest. His sword fell from his hand as he stumbled backwards, clattering noisily only to the ground only to be swooped up by a fast-moving Buffy, swung round in an arc that cut off the demon’s head in a move that Mac would have been proud of. As the demon’s body fell to the ground Buffy turned in the same fluid movement, discarding his sword and crouching down beside him.

Xander and Dawn were already there, Xander pressing firmly on the hole in his chest. “Oh God, we’ve gotta get you to a hospital…”

Ritchie coughed, blood rising in the back of his throat. “Don’t worry about it – ah shit! That hurts! Just give me…a minute…”

Ritchie’s body went limp. Xander heard a sob from Dawn and absent-mindedly put an arm around her shoulder. Giles had told them all about Immortals - that they could only die by having their heads cut off - but Ritchie looked pretty dead to him. The minutes stretched longer and longer…

Ritchie’s sudden indrawn breath made everybody jump. While he coughed and tried to sit up his new friends sat frozen around him.

“First time I’ve been killed like that. Better than a gunshot,” Ritchie croaked half to himself, “but not by much.” He winced.

“Shit,” Xander said, rousing himself. “Do you need a hand?” Xander gave him one anyway, helping him slowly to his feet.

“You’re ok.” Buffy said wonderingly, a question hovering at the edge of her voice.

“Yep, advantage of Immortality – about the only advantage.”

He yelped as he suddenly gained a Dawn wrapped around him. “I thought you were dead.” She sniffed.

Xander gently pulled her away. “Hey Dawnie, careful…”

Ritchie grinned and patted her back comfortingly. “Nah it’s ok, I’m pretty much healed already.”

Slowly, Dawn pulled herself away and they started walking again, Ritchie collecting his bike from where he had let it drop when the demon approached and bemoaning the state of his shirt, while the others returned his conversation only feebly. Soon enough it was time for the boys and girls to part ways, the girls heading back to the Summers’ home while the boys wandered on to Xander’s apartment.

The silence stretched uncomfortably…

“So…” Xander began, “Immortal eh? Seems to be working for you…”

Ritchie chuckled. “Yeah it’s not too shabby. It’s hard to believe it’s been less than two years since I found out about Immortals. I remember the first time I saw an Immortal come back: it was Mac’s cousin Connor. He fell off a bridge with a knife in his chest…that was one of the weirdest days ever…”

“So you’ve not always been Immortal?”

Ritchie shook his head. “No way man, only a few months: I’m still trying to get used to it myself. Before this I was always like the little kid running to catch up while Mac ran around battling evil Immortals and protecting the innocent, you know?”

Xander crooked a smile, but seemed solemn. “Yeah I know. With the Slayer and the world’s most powerful witch for friends you get used to being a sidekick.”

“Hey side-kicking’s tougher than it looks. I know what it’s like – you get to be the one trying to hold things together while they’re off crusading right? You get to feel useless and helpless while they’re off ‘doing the right thing’ regardless of everyone else.” Xander looked at him, surprised, but he just shrugged, trying to soften some of the vitriol. “Hey I’ve been there. I bet you have to be strong for Dawn too while her sister’s out saving the world huh?”

“Yeah, but now you get to be one of the ones ‘doing the right thing’ right?”

Ritchie shook his head. “Not me, for now I just want to stay alive. The Game isn’t too gentle on us newbies.”

“Still, Immortality has gotta be pretty cool.”

“Are you kidding? If I live to be a thousand I’m still gonna get carded every time I want to buy a drink!”

Xander laughed and Ritchie paused, kicking out the stand to get on the bike. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”