Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel/Batman

The Slayers’ Knight

Chapter 4: Cinderella Story pt 2: The Grave

I always saw you in you my light, my strength

And I want to thank you now for all the ways

You were right there for me

You were right there for me

In my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky

In my heart there'll always be a place for you for all my life

I'll keep a part of you with me

And everywhere I am there you'll be

And everywhere I am there you'll be

-There you'll be - Faith Hill

(-V-)

Commissioner James Gordon lit his pipe as he and Officer Oliver Pike watch over the CSI team examining the crime scene at the Gotham City Botany Center’s green house.

“Do we have an ID on the victim?” Gordon asked, puffing on his pipe.

“Dr. Jason Woodrue,” Pike said as they looked at the body.

“Cause of death?” Gordon asked, “As if I couldn’t tell.” Looking up at the body suspended in the air.

“Hard to tell… it was either the multiple vines forced through the body, or the decapitation,” Pike scratched his head, “Depending which came first.”

“Poison Ivy,” Batman growled directly behind Gordon. Pike jumped in surprise, but Gordon just took another puff of his pipe.

“Pamela Isley… had a feeling this was coming,” Gordon said as Batman stepped up beside him. “Arkham can’t keep these freaks in for shit.”

“You could have given Woodrue a heads up that his ‘accident’s victim was loose and coming this way,” Batman stated, running a gloved hand along the broken glass wall where the large vines had pushed through.

“I thought about it,” Gordon said, shaking his head. “But after he released Bane on the town last month, I thought anything Isley could do to him would be deserved.” The Commissioner glanced to the Dark Knight. “How’s your back by the way?”

“Better than Bane’s.” Batman growled, picking up a small leaf and placing it in his belt.

“Um … Mr. Batman, Sir?” Pike spoke up. “You know, you’ve got a warrant out on you, and it’s my job to arrest you, right?”

“Yes.” Batman turned to the Police Officer.

“Just wanted to make sure you were aware, Sir.” Pike gave a tight, fearful smile.

“Any idea where she’s hiding?” Gordon asked looking again up at the dead body, drawing Pike’s attention as well. “Granted she has what she wants for now, revenge for the so called accident but … Batman?” Pike and Gordon both looked around to find themselves alone. “Damn it, I’m going to get him a bell for that suit one of these days.”

(-V-)

“Hmm,” Xander scratched his cheek as he studied the evidence from Dr. Woodrue’s crime scene.

“Ms. Isley returned to Gotham so soon?” Alfred asked walking into the Cave.

“Yup, looks like a hit and run case here, but I’m going to keep my ears to the ground on this. She’s dangerous on the loose, but impossible to track till she starts her plans.” Xander explained.

Xander head jerked to the monitor when it started beeping. “What’s that?” Alfred asked curiously as he began typing.

“There have been two murders in Sunnydale,” Xander said getting up. “Call the airport and have my private jet prepped for a flight to California.”

“But sir, the Ball is tonight and …” Alfred started.

“Call this girl and cancel for me,” Xander said reaching for his cowl.

“You will not stand this girl up,” Alfred said, and Xander glanced to see the old butler issuing a Bat glare of his own.

“Fine, I’ll be back in time for us to make a fashionable entrance,” Xander shrugged.

“Good and why are these murders so important?” Alfred asked as he began packing the armor into a suit case. “From what you told me death and that town are close bedfellows.”

“Both are connected to Willow Rosenberg,” Xander growled stomping up the steps.

“Oh dear…” Alfred gulped.

(-V-)

Faith yelped when the light came on suddenly in the master bedroom. “What the f-”

“Tut-tut-tut, such language must never come out of a lady’s mouth,” a feminine male voice spoke from the door way, making her raise up to see Alfred standing there with a small crowd of men and women. “Is this our subject, Alfie?”

“What’s going on?” Faith asked, glaring at the group.

“Yes indeed, Michaél,” Alfred said stepping up to stand beside the bed. “This is Faith Lehane. Your mission: you have until eight PM tonight to make her into Lady Francis Lehane.”

“Alfie!” Michaél flailed out his arms, “You must give me more to work with! This is too great a challenge! There’s no way! Her skin is too pale and blemished! Her hair looks a tattered mess! And … *gasp* is that a … TATTOO?!”

“Screw you, pal!” Faith snapped before a woman grabbed her jaw and tilted her head at an uncomfortable angle while examining her closely.

“She has a velty mouth, Mr. Pennyverth,” the woman said with a crisp French accent. “Vut I believe she MAY ve salvageable…”

“Yes … she may become worthy to leave the house,” Michaél scratched his chin before clapping his hands, “We must bath and groom her! Then we must take measurements for the tailor and begin her moisturizer treatment!”

“What?” Faith asked before the group threw off the covers and lifted her by her arms and legs “WHAT ARE YOU DOING? LET GO!!”

Faith struggled, and the twelve-person team holding her was very surprised by her strength but refused to release their hold. “Don’t fight, dear, it’ll be over before you know it. And it won’t hurt …” Alfred took a thoughtful look for a moment. “Much at least… I’ll call for the Wayne jewels to be delivered.”

(-V-)

Sunnydale City Morgue

“Shift almost over, Mike?” a security guard asked leaning against the desk.

“Just about, Bill,” his companion replied, not noticing the movement in the shadows.

“Think it’ll be Zombies or those vampire things that’ll knock us out five minutes before we’re supposed to go home tonight?” Bill asked.

“Haven’t seen any zombies in a while so pizza tomorrow night’s riding on Vamps, you in pal? Mike?” He asked turning to find him in the floor unconscious. “Mike?” he gasped turning to see Batman moving in to put him in a strangle hold. “Called it …” he breathed before he passed out from the hold.

With both security guards unconscious the Dark Knight went to the computer and began a search on the system. He narrowed his eyes and made his way into the morgue. “Personal case file 2722,” Batman whispered into a recorder as he opened a cooler and pulled out the body bag. He unzipped the bag to see a blond headed girl’s body. “Assassination attempt on Buffy failed with the murder of Tara Maclay. Tara Maclay was in a romantic relationship with Willow Rosenberg, who proceeded …” Batman pulled out another body bag, opening it to reveal a body with its skin completely removed. “Attack and murder the killer, Warren Mears. Two more suspects at large, logic suggests Willow will go after them as well.” he looked back to Tara’s body. “I refuse to allow her to become a Rogue. It will not happen. Mears will not win, I won’t let him. I will not fail her again.”

He silently zipped the body bags back up before pushing them back into the coolers. He silently made his way back out of the morgue, grabbing a large trench coat from the coat hanger on the way out.

(-V-)

Buffy gasped as she was knocked back, slashing another of Willow’s elemental demons’ arm off with her sword. “We knock one down two get back up,” Dawn grunted as she pushed her sword through one’s chest. “They keep coming!”

“Try to climb out, Dawn, I can handle this,” Buffy said doing a spin kick before slashing her blade. Even with her Slayer abilities, she was starting to sweat and pant.

Another group of demons rose from the ground but suddenly hit the ground again. Buffy and Dawn blinked as a man in a long trench coat systematically moved among the demons, punching and kicking them till they finally went down and stayed down. “Who …” Buffy started to ask but drifted off as the man turned and smiled at her.

“I hope you don’t mind me dropping in, Buff,” Xander said pushing some of his unkept, shaggy black hair from his forehead.

Buffy and Dawn stared with wide eyes as he stood to his full height. “Xan … Xander?” Buffy stammered.

“I came as quick as I could,” Xander said, “But I need to know what the hell’s going on…” He was cut off as he was glomped by both Summers girls.

“You came!” Dawn exclaimed, “I knew you’d come back! I knew it!”

“Have you been working out …” Buffy said touching his arm through the trench coat. “Are you wearing body armor?”

“Buffy, I need to know where Willow is,” Xander pressed.

“She’s raised an altar of an ancient satanic temple on the bluff overlooking Sunnydale,” Buffy said stepping away from her old friend. “She’s going to try to end the world.”

“She won’t,” Xander said with a slight growl in his voice as more demons rose from the ground.

Buffy and Dawn turned to the demons and raised their swords. “We just got two swords, but you seemed … Xander?” Buffy asked as she and her sister looked around to find themselves alone with the demons.

“Where’d he go?” Dawn asked, and Buffy shrugged.

“More important things to worry about right now …” She said ducking a strike from a demon.

(-V-)

The sky darkened as Willow stood before the large satanic altar. Her unnaturally dark hair waving behind her as she pumped energy into it. She narrowed her jet black eyes before five batterangs froze in air before her. “Hm,” Willow tilted her head as the Dark Knight crouched on top of the satanic tower. “The legendary Batman… you’re a long way from Gotham City, big guy, shouldn’t you be back there chasing a psycho clown or something?”

“You don’t want to do this,” Batman growled leaping to the ground a few feet away from the witch. “This isn’t in your nature.”

“You’re wrong, this is in everyone’s nature,” Willow shook her head, a sad smile growing on her dark vain covered face. “People just don’t like to admit it; they wear masks to hide it. You should know all about that.”

“I can’t let you do this, Willow,” Batman reached for his belt.

“You gonna stop me,” Willow narrowed her eyes before firing a blast striking Batman in the chest, sending him flying back across the ground. “TRY IT!”

Batman coughed and pushed himself back to his feet, looking down at his damaged armor. “I know what it feels like to loose someone you love,” Batman reasoned, taking a step toward her. “I know you, Willow, you’re stronger than this.”

“You don’t know me, Batman.” Willow fired another blast, which the Dark Knight just barely managed to dodge.

“Yes Willow …” Batman said softly, reaching up to unsnap his cowl and slid it off. “I know you.”

“Xan… Xander?” Willow took a step back in shock, before pushing the shock from her face. “The little runaway coward come crawling back? And why are you dressed up like Batman?”

“I don’t want to fight you, Will,” Xander whispered holding eye contact with the witch. “When I think of the good, any good at all left in this world, it’s your face that comes to mind. Revenge isn’t the answer, you’re better than this, Will. You’re better than me…”

“Shut up …” Willow snarled, shaking her head. “I’m not doing this for revenge! I’m doing this to stop people from hurting!”

“I’m putting it in your hands, Will,” Xander said, taking another stride toward her. “You can stand down or you can finish it. Either way, I’m staying by your side.”

“I SAID SHUT UP!” Willow screamed blasting Xander in the chest again.

“You still can help people deal with pain,” Xander said pushing himself back up. “You can finish this; go the easy way. Ending it all like putting a bunch of sick dogs out of their misery,” He started toward her again. “Or you can go the narrow way. You can face your troubles head on and fight. It’s not who you are underneath, but what you do that defines you, Will… How will you be defined?”

“What’s it matter to you?” She asked trembling, “I can feel you, Xander. There’s so much pain there … why don’t you let me end it. Why?”

“Because I love you, Willow,” Xander said, taking another step. “When we were kids, I promised I would always be there for you when you needed me,” he took another step. “I’m here.”

She fired a much weaker blast that Xander side stepped as he drew closer. “I’m here.” He repeated as he stood directly before the trembling witch. “I love you.” He said again as she started hitting him repeatedly on the chest as tears began to flow down her cheeks. “I’m here…” He said again as he placed his arms around her. He held her as she grew weak and lowered her to the ground still in his arms. He pulled a small, wet pad from his utility belt and smiled softly into her once again crimson locks.

“Go to sleep, Will…” he whispered as he placed his palm with the pad against her cheek and mouth. “The nightmare’s over…” he whispered as her eyes grew heavy and she went limp in his arms.

(-V-)

Buffy and Dawn stumbled into the remains of the Magic Box, smiling when they saw Buffy’s former Watcher Giles sitting up while being supported by the former Vengeance Demon Anya. “You ok?” Buffy asked going to her old Watcher’s side, giving him a tight hug.

“He’s still got some pain,” Anya answered for him, as he flinched and grunted from Buffy’s death grip.

“Did Xander come here? He must have stopped Willow …” Dawn piped in.

“Xander?” Giles blinked, but any further inquiry was stopped by the sound of weak moans coming from the training room in the back. The group moved through the destroyed store and found Willow lying peacefully on a training mat.

“Willow?” Buffy asked, a smile forming when she saw her friend with her natural red hair and pale skin.

“I don’t feel so good …” Willow groaned as her eyes slowly fluttered open. “Xander?” She slowly sat up. “Oh … head rush …” she started to fall back down but was caught by Buffy.

“What happened?” Giles asked, still on guard.

“I remember everything up till I sucked you dry, Giles … sorry about that by the way …” she smiled weakly. “After that it’s all fuzzy … like when I tried that stuff with Oz and his band that made me all funky monkey …”

“Did you see Xander?” Buffy pressed.

“Xander … yeah … but … all fuzzy … he … I was actually going to do it …” She shook her head as tears sprang to her eyes. “He talked me down … I feel like I should remember something big … but … ouchie…” she shook her head. “Something really surprised me … but … I can’t remember … I do remember … it’s not who you are underneath that defines you … it’s what you do … I don’t wanna be defined as somebody who blows up the planet…”

“That’s a good thing, Will…” Buffy smiled, hugging her friend. “Where’d he go?”

“I don’t know … Xander?” She lifted her head and looked around the room.

“He’s not here, Willow,” Giles said sitting down beside her. “I know some people in England … a Coven. You know a lot, but you still have to learn control. They can help you. Are you willing to come with me and learn, Dear?”

“Yeah … I’ll go … and besides … I know he’ll be here when I need him …” Willow said with a comforted smile as she laid her head on Buffy’s shoulder. “Just wish I could remember that important thing …” she whispered, as in a private airport on the far side of Sunnydale the Dark Knight’s Batpod roared up the ramp into the back of his private jet.

(-V-)

Several Hours later, the Batpod slowly rolled into the Cave below Wayne Manor. “Did you have a good trip, sir?” Alfred asked as Batman dismounted the bike.

“Touch and go,” He said motioning toward the damaged armor. “Going to have to patch this up before the next patrol,” He shook his head as he began to remove the Bat suit.

“Awe dang it…” He sighed when he saw the tux hanging next to the suit vault. “I really don’t want to spend the night entertaining an airhead.”

“I don’t think that will be the case tonight, sir,” Alfred gave a knowing smile as he began to put on the tux. “This is actually her first time attending anything like this so I would suggest you being gentle with her.”

Xander blinked before turning to his butler as he tied his tie. “Are you fixing me up with a niece, Alfred?”

“My brother only has sons, Master Wayne, and would that not stir the tabloids should you go with one of my nephews,” Alfred smiled, “I will say this young lady has grown to be like a daughter to me though.”

“Then let’s go get this over with …” Xander said as he and Alfred started up the stairs to the Manor.

They went to the main entrance and Alfred turn Xander toward the master stairway. “May I present to you, Master Wayne,” Alfred motioned to the stop of the stairs, and what Xander saw made his jaw go slack. “Lady Francis Lehane.”

To Be Continued…