Hate This Town IV

– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –

The Bronze was crowded after sunset — like that was news. When there's only one decent club in town where kids under twenty-one can hear music, drink coffee, dance, and hang out, there was no doubt it was bound to draw a crowd.

It being on the 'wrong side of town' didn't even hurt it's appeal. If anything, that made high schoolers flock to it more, plenty sneaking out just to make their way to the club.

Buffy Summers and Willow Rosenberg turned away from the pastry counter, the blonde carrying a croissant and a soda while the redhead settled for a box of raisins, her gaze distant and unfocused as she glanced around.

She's preoccupied, Buffy thought. It didn't take a genius to figure out with what.

As far as Will was concerned, the sun rose and set with Xander.

The girl had felt that way since they were both five years old — a little young for serious romance, but maybe not for a first crush. Even at the time, though, Willow had thought it was true love, recognizing that the relationship was not the perfect romance she'd wished for only when Xander broke her Barbie.

Even that, I forgave him, Willow thought, with a rueful smile. Even that.

But in all the years since then, while they'd remained steadfast friends, that was just about as good as she got.

Xander, her best buddy.

Xander, her favorite friend.

Xander, the guy who would complain to her when he was having girl trouble. Which was often.

Never seeming to realize what he could have had.

"I thought Xander would be here by now," Willow said as they threaded their way toward an open table.

"That'd make him on time," Buffy replied wryly, the blonde quirking her lips slightly. "We couldn't have that."

The redhead turned to face her friend, a slightly worried expression clear on her face. "Did he say where he was going?

"No?" Buffy mused. "Just said he was gonna pick up some new clothes. So, the mall maybe?"

"I don't know," Willow said. "He never shops at the mall. Was he acting weird?"

Buffy slid onto a seat at one of the chest-high tables. "I didn't notice anything. But then again, I'm not as hyper-aware of him as, oh, say, for example, you."

"Hyper-aware?" Willow asked, taking the stool across from Buffy's.

"Well," Buffy said. "I'm not constantly monitoring his health, his moods, his blood pressure —"

Willow knew that one, even though it had been over a month since last check. "One-thirty over eighty."

Buffy laughed, the girl slapping the table lightly. "You got it bad, girl."

"He makes my head go tingly. You know what I mean?"

"I dimly recall," Buffy said, gaze cast toward the ceiling.

"Still don't feel the tingles lately?"

Buffy offered her redheaded friend a shrug, unsure why asking the same question a day later would change anything. "Not really."

"Not even for a dangerous and mysterious older man whose leather jacket you're wearing right now?"

Buffy glanced at the jacket Angel had given her. Angel, the tall, dark, mystery hunk whose life kept intersecting with hers in the oddest ways. He had told her that the jacket looked better on her — which wasn't, strictly speaking, even close to true. It was way out of place, for instance, with the pale green dress she was wearing tonight. And yet, she had barely taken it off since he'd given it to her.

"It goes with the shoes," she insisted, doing her very best to keep a blush off her face.

"Come on," Willow said, having none of it. "Angel pushes your buttons. You know he does."

"I suppose some girls might think he's good looking," Buffy relented. "If they … have eyes. All right, he's a honey." Understatement of the month club, she thought. She didn't want to let on to Willow, though. The poor girl thought the whole situation was terribly romantic, but there was still that Slayer thing to contend with. Makes dating a little complicated. "But he's never around, and when he is all he wants to do is talk about vampires, and I just can't have a relationship —"

Willow interrupted with an excited, "There he is!"

Buffy's head swiveled as Willow stood up straight. "Angel?"

"Xander!"

Then Buffy saw him too, eyebrows going up as she spotted him sauntering over, the teenage boy smiling, winking, and casting long looks at young women in his path that they returned.

Granted, that wasn't something different, but the clothes... the clothes definitely were. "That's a new look for him."

– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –

Xander strolled into The Bronze, rolling his shoulders as he tried to get used to the feeling of his brand new outfit.

The leather jacket hugged his frame just right, the dark denim jeans fitting like a second skin. Is this what it's like to get things tailored to fit? he wondered, glancing down at himself. He couldn't help the frown that tugged at his lips, a realization settling in. No wonder Cordy looks at me like a rube most of the time. Probably thinks I shop exclusively at the Sunnydale Salvation Army.

image [https://i.imgur.com/PjpQqs6.jpeg]

The clothes were brand-spanking-new, as in he had literally put them on half an hour ago, shortly after he bought them. Cordelia picking on him for his outfit earlier in the day, combined with losing so many clothes to demons and vampires lately, had left him in desperate need of a wardrobe update. Guess that's what I get for trying to fight the forces of darkness in flannel and baggy jeans,he mused, shaking his head. Not exactly the height of fashion or function.

It was on a whim that he had decided to stop by the Rosen Queen, hoping they could provide him with something a bit more fashionable.

Sturdy, too, but he was hoping to look cool more than practical.

Sam was once again out of town after school, his Devil boss taking almost as many trips out of town as his mom had been the last few weeks. One week, Los Angeles, the next, the guy was in Seattle. Always on business... I gotta ask more questions. Unfortunately, after the combat training and supernatural study sessions, Xander was often too physically or mentally drained to ask what was on his mind or do anything else, really.

Case in point, despite having been working there for weeks now, he hadn't taken a chance to look at what the Rosen Queen store had to offer, too busy dusting fresh vampires and hunting whatever demon was dumb enough to eat people in his vicinity.

But then when he finally did take a look today- "What the hell?"

His poor devil eyes nearly popped out of his head when he read through the catalog Tana, the seductive receptionist, had given him to browse through.

500 bucks? For a pair of shoes?And that was for one of the least expensive items in the catalog, the literal cheapest pair of kicks they sold.These prices are the most evil thing in this town, forget about the Hellmouth. Highway robbery, I tell ya!

Thankfully, the every helpful andsensuousTana had calmly let him know that not only was he looking at the devil-exclusive catalog — the stuff rated for his kind a good bit better than the average buyer— but also informed him about his employee discount, a whopping 50% off, but even still… Why does a freakin' notebook cost one hundred dollars? What's it made of, gold-plated paper?

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

It took him a few good minutes of sitting in silence, jaw clenched tight, to remember that he had at least ten grand saved up with the Rosen Queen. The office also functioned as something of a demon bank, apparently — at least forhim. Perks of being one of two Devils in good ol' Sunnyhell.

Being a Devil really was more awesome than he thought. Being able to lug around a V8 engine in each hand like they were heavy bags of groceries and run faster than school zone speed limits was just way more awesome than he thought it would be. And he didn't even have to be evil. Making mucho dinero was almost more of a perk than the powers honestly.

Almost. He wasn't crazy.

Even still, he had been very hesitant to actually buy anything, his frugal nature warring with his desire to not look like a total dweeb, until Tana told him that all the clothes Rosen Queen sold were both magically durable and came with magical pockets. Magical pockets? Like, bigger on the inside, 'let me just pull a rabbit out of my hat' pockets?

Granted, the pockets weren't that magical, but really, that was all the push he needed. Imagine the snacks I could smuggle into class with those babies.

Picking out the clothes and shoes he wanted had been a breeze after that, and he was ready to go home and change into what he already had in his closet before heading over to the Bronze.

That is, until Tana told him that his clothes were already ready.

As in, the ones he had just picked out and paid for minutes ago, suddenly tailored to his exact measurements and specifications.

The grin that had spread across his face then was almost evil, a mischievous glint sparking in his eyes. Damn, I love Devil magic.

The thumping beat of the music drew Xander out of his thoughts as he made his way further into the club, the flashing lights and bodies on the dance floor assaulting his enhanced senses. He winced slightly, the volume a bit too loud for his liking now that his hearing was kicked up to eleven. Probably should've brought earplugs, he thought, trying to tune out the worst of the noise. Or invested in a pair of those magic noise-canceling headphones. Wonder if Rosen Queen sells those too?

"Hey there," Xander called out as he made his way up to a slightly confused-looking Buffy and a wide-eyed Willow, both girls sitting at the counter. He draped an arm over Buffy's shoulder, the small blonde raising an eyebrow high at the sudden contact, and leaned over to give Wills a peck on the cheek—the redhead letting out a surprised squeak—before leaning back against the counter with a sigh. "How's my two favorite girls in the world doing on this fine Scarydale evening?"

Buffy glanced at Willow, his old friend looking somewhat dazed for some reason, her cheeks tinged pink, before glancing back at him. "Nothing much, just waiting for you to grace us with your presence, Xan-Man." Her tone was teasing, a small smirk playing on her lips.

Xan-Man, huh? That's new from the Buffster, Xander thought, grinning back at her. "Did I keep you two waiting?" he asked, putting on his best apologetic face. "I'm sorry, took a bit longer than I thought to get ready. You know how it is, gotta look my best for my best girls."

"No worries, we were just talking about... girl stuff," Buffy said with a shrug, her eyes darting to the dazed Willow for a moment.

Girl stuff? What's that supposed to mean? Xander wondered, but decided not to pry.

Buffy gave him a once-over, her gaze lingering on his new threads. "Nice clothes, by the way. Very hip."

Xander let out a chuckle, brushing his nose with his thumb as he tried not to look too smug over his clothes while also fighting back tears over the fact that his entire outfit cost him two thousand of his hard-earned demon-killing dollarydoos. "Oh, these old things? They were in the back of my closet," he said with a smarmy look, going for nonchalant. "Just something I threw on, you know how it is."

"Old?" Willow finally snapped out of her odd daze to blink at Xander, her brow furrowed. "I've never seen you wear that before." She leaned in closer, as if trying to get a better look at the material.

Xander turned the puppy-dog eyes on Willow, bottom lip out in a fake-pout. "You're telling me you hate my outfit, Wills? And here I thought you were my best bud, my partner in crime, my-"

"N-no. Not at all, n-no," Willow stammered, waving her hands in front of her, eyes wide in actual panic. "I love it actually! It's, it's just really new. And different. Good different, not bad different. Like, 'who are you and what have you done with Xander' different."

"And really good quality too," Buffy chimed in, reaching out to feel the sleeve of his leather jacket. "It looks expensive. What'd you do, rob a bank?" She raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in her eye.

"Something like that," Xander joked, winking. I really should be mugging more vamps before I dust them. Just break their necks or stake them with something thin and not-wood to paralyze them for a bit. He nodded to himself at the thought. More money that way.

At Buffy's unamused look, he chuckled nervously. "Kidding, kidding. I just know a guy, that's all. We're pretty cool so he gives me a half off discount at his shop. Perks of being a valued customer and all that jazz."

Buffy's eyes lit up, the small Slayer visibly energetic at Xander's last few words. "Did you say discount?" She leaned forward, eager. "Think you could hook a girl up? I'm always down for a good shopping deal."

"A discount?" Willow piped up, looking just as interested. "What kind of shop is it?"

Xander's mind raced, trying to come up with a way to steer the conversation away from the shop. I can't exactly tell them I'm getting my threads from a demonic boutique, he thought, fighting back a grimace. Time for a little classic Xander deflection.

"He wouldn't have anything you like," he said quickly, waving a dismissive hand. "It's all leather and chains and stuff. Very niche. Not really your style, Buff."

Buffy pouted, looking put out. "I could totally rock leather and chains," she muttered, crossing her arms.

Xander cast a glance at her jacket, one eyebrow raised. "You're already half there. Kinda big for you, though,no?"

The five foot blonde's face visibly reddened, Xander's enhanced eyes picking it up even in the dim lighting, as she turtled slightly into her large leather jacket. "I mean... uh, y-yeah, I guess, I like it though..."

Willow, however, wasn't ready to let the point go. "But what's the name of the shop? Maybe we could just go browse, see if there's anything-"

"Hey, you know what? Enough about my clothes," Xander interrupted, pushing off the counter and clapping his hands together. "We're here to have fun, right? And what's more fun than dancing with your two best friends?" He grinned, doing a little shimmy.

Buffy and Willow exchanged a look, both seeming unconvinced. Uh oh, losing them. Time to bring out the big guns. Xander grabbed their hands, pulling them off their stools and towards the dance floor. "Come on, girls! Let's show these people how it's done!"

"Xander, wait-" Willow protested, stumbling a bit as he tugged her along.

"I don't really feel like dancing right now," Buffy added, though she allowed herself to be pulled into the crowd.

"Nonsense! There's always time for dancing," Xander declared, spinning Willow around with one hand, making the girl giggle happily as Xander pulled her close and stared at Buffy over her shoulder, his chin resting in the nape of Willow's neck. Xander raised a single eyebrow at Buffy, wiggling his eyebrows. "Unless the Buff Buffster is afraid she can't keep up with my sick moves?"

Buffy rolled her eyes, but a smile was tugging at her lips despite her attempt to look serious. "Oh, you are so on, Harris. Prepare to be out-danced."

As the three of them fell into a rhythm, laughing and moving to the beat, Xander felt himself relax. Crisis averted, he thought, twirling Willow and making her squeak. Hopefully, this will take their minds off the whole shop thing.

The last thing he needed was his friends poking around in his new devil business. What they don't know won't hurt them. Or me.

– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –

An Hour and A Half Later

Xander lounged at a table, his body still thrumming with energy from dancing with Buffy and Willow. Man, who knew Willow could cut a rug like that? he thought, grinning to himself.G irl's got moves.

Speaking of Willow, the redhead was currently resting on his arm, eyes closed even though Xander could tell she wasn't actually asleep. Her breathing was too quick, her body too tense. But he wasn't going to disturb her for no reason. Poor Will, she works herself to the bone with all that studying. Girl deserves a little shut-eye, even if it means my arm goes numb.

Buffy, on the other hand, had wandered off to get drinks, leaving Xander alone with his thoughts. And what thoughts they were.

Tonight's been great,he mused, his free hand tapping out the beat of the music on the table. Just me and the girls, dancing the night away. No demons, no vamps, no craziness. Just fun.

As if the universe was responding to his challenge, the teenage devil felt something, a familiar warmth coming from his pants. Huh?

His eyes widened and his free hand reached into his back pocket almost on instinct, only to freeze as said hand touched something. One of those wide eyes twitched in frustration as he felt the slight heat emanating from his personal card as he cupped the small rectangle, the Demonic Energy tingling familiarly in his palm. Oh, you've got to be kidding me.

Unbidden, Xander felt a growl slip from his throat as he quickly jerked up in his seat, the sudden action startling Willow and making the girl open her eyes a little. A summoning? Now? He shook his head, sliding the card back in. Maybe I can ignore it.

But of course, because the universe apparently had it out for him, that peace couldn't last.

Suddenly, Xander felt what he could only describe as a buzzing in the center of his gut, like a swarm of bees had taken up residence in his stomach. What the hell? His eyes went wide and he tensed in his seat, the movement jostling Willow again.They're paying in advance for a summoning... fuck me.

Xander felt another growl slip from his throat as he quickly rose to his feet, the sudden action startling Willow fully awake. She stared up at him, confusion and concern clear on her face, as her friend cracked his knuckles on each finger individually; a tight, almost frustrated look on his face as he glared with narrowed eyes at the exit to the Bronze, looking almost violent.

A pre-paid summoning? Now? On my night off? Xander thought, his left eye twitching in frustration. Someone out there has a death wish, and I'm more than happy to grant it.

"Xander, what's wrong?" Willow asked, her voice tinged with worry.

"Sorry, guys, forgot about something. Real important, at home," Xander rambled quickly to Willow, gaze flicking over to the approaching Buffy, the words spilling out of him in a rush as he tried to come up with an excuse. "Gotta go take care of it."

Buffy, who had just returned with their drinks, frowned as she put them on the table. "What? But we were having fun! Can't it wait?"

Oh, Buff, if only you knew, Xander thought, already moving towards the exit. "Sorry, Buffster, no can do. This is... uh... family stuff. You know how it is."

He didn't wait for a response, already rushing his way through the Bronze, gently shoving other patrons out of the way as he did his best to leave as soon as possible. What dickhead is summoning me on my off day? he wondered, his jaw clenched tight. It better not be Willy again, or I swear to Satan... He promised vengeance on the sleazy bar owner, who kept summoning him to use as security.

Finally bursting out into the cool night air, Xander ducked into a side alley, glancing side to side to make sure no one was there to see him.

With a firm expression, the young Fiend allowed the summoning to begin, a frustrated glint in his eyes as the black-tinted scarlet light surrounded his body, his Demonic Energy draining slightly from his already small pool as a small teleportation runic circle formed beneath his feet in blood-red coloring.

This better be worth my time, he thought as the world began to fade away, or someone's gonna learn why you don't mess with a devil's night off.