Of Birds and Slayers

(Splender – Yeah, whatever (acoustic version))

It was seven and everyone was already awake and mounting an onslaught on the kitchen. Cereal was flying everywhere and you could hear cries of anger coming from the potentials who didn’t have pancakes. Kennedy went out of the kitchen to take a breath and passed by the basement’s door. She stopped when she heard music coming from it. The basement was Spike’s place, why would there be music? She cautiously opened the door and went down the stairs.

“And you’re paranoid
As you look me up and down” she heard a male voice sing, it was obviously Spike’s. And there was a guitar accompanying him. She was now down the stairs and saw Spike and Shannah singing together, sitting on the vampire’s bed.

“We don’t have to stay friends
Let’s pretend to be enemies
Yeah whatever makes you happy
Yeah whatever makes it beautiful
Yeah whatever leaves you satisfied
‘Cause I’m out of time for now” they both sang. Quickly the music came to the others’ ears and they joined the three of them in the basement. The two musicians didn’t seem to notice them because they started another song.

(Nirvana – Pennyroyal tea (mtv unplugged version))

“I’m on bad time with everyone
I have very bad posture

I’ll sit and drink pennyroyal tea
Distill the life that’s inside of me
I’ll sit and drink pennyroyal tea
I’m anemic, royalty”

‘Damn, she’s beautiful when she sings’ Kennedy thought.

“I have seen many horrible things in my life, but Spike singing... Guys I have nothing to do with this, no Lord of the Dance!” Xander said, and Buffy shut him up with her hand. One of the potential tripped against a step and fell on the floor. Spike and Shannah stopped playing, both surprised to notice they had an audience. They blushed, Spike’s cheeks were even more red than the girl’s. Weird for a vampire!

“Um, I guess I need to go to...go” The blond vampire babbled, which wasn’t usual to hear, and he went away. Shannah swallowed hard, and looked at the crowd in front oh her.

“So this is one of the thing you’re attached to?” Buffy asked.

“Yeah, she’s my best friend.” She looked at her electric guitar. It was a black Cort, with stickers and drawings on it.

“Think you’re in the mood for a little fight?” She looked at Buffy, confused, and followed the group into the backyard.

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The potentials sat on the grass and watched. Willow and Dawn were on the steps, observing the two warriors warming up on each side of the garden. Shannah had taken off her shoes and was wearing a sports bra and her baggy. Buffy was in a jogging outfit and was holding two short swords.

“You’re ready?” she asked the Phoenix.

“I’m good” the other replied, coming closer. They both took a defensive position.

“Potentials, look carefully, you might learn interesting things. Shannah, don’t hold back your blows, okay?” the young girl nodded.

“Fifty bucks on Buffy” Rona whispered to Kennedy.

“I told you, this girl is very strong, you shouldn’t bet this time.” The Latino girl replied.

(Tricky –Moody)

Shannah showed her claws and attacked. Buffy dodged several blows with her swords and tried to hit her on the side. The collision between the two metals threw off sparks. They both back off and turned around each other, trying to find a breach in the other’s guard. The Phoenix jumped once again to attack and when Buffy tried to block her, the sword broke.

“Fuck, I forgot to tell you! The metal of my claws is the strongest on Earth, there’s some magic in it. I guess we’re gonna have to fight barehanded.” She draw in her claws and Buffy threw away her other sword. The Slayer punched her two times until the girl blocked her and dragged Buffy by the arm. The blond girl fell and soon Shannah was on top of her, pinning her two wrists against the ground.

“Nice one” Buffy gritted between her teeth.

“How do we define the winner?” The Phoenix asked, frowning.

“If you can hold your grip ten more seconds you win, alright?” The young girl grinned in response. She tighten her grip on Buffy’s wrists. Suddenly, Buffy slightly sat up and licked Shannah’s cheek. The dark teenager was taken aback and released the Slayer’s hands which quickly grabbed her waist. It was Shannah who was topped now. Amongst the potentials, some girls were laughing, others were shocked. A smile formed at the corner of Kennedy’s lips.

‘Well done Buffy...Next time you touch my girl I could get really pissed off...Ow chill out Ken, you didn’t even talk one second with this beauty and already think she’s YOUR girl?’ Kennedy shook her head in despite. Rona turned to look at her.

“What’s the deal?”

“Nothin’, I was just enjoying the show” Rona stared at her friend suspiciously, shrugged and stood up like the rest of the girls. A few meters away, Buffy was helping Shannah standing up.

“Never forget that an enemy can do anything to disturb you. Kill fast, once you’re sure of the target.”

“Okay, thanks.” Shannah smiled and went into the kitchen to drink some water, while the potential were beginning their training. During those three hours of sweating, Kennedy couldn’t think of anything but the gorgeous brunette named Shannah. She had to do something to get her close to her. And she will.

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It was the end of the afternoon and Shannah was still training outside. It had been six hours that she had started, right after the slayer wannabies left to have lunch. It was also six hours that Kennedy was staring at her through the window, wondering whether she could bother the girl or not. Finally she mustered all her courage and went out to the backyards. Shannah was doing pull-ups on a tree’s branch. The Latino girl was drooling on her muscular arms and shoulders, her skin covered in sweat.

‘I would do anything just to taste it...okay calm down Kennedy, hormonal much!’

“Ninety-eight...ninety-nine...one hundred!” Shannah let herself fall to the ground. Kennedy took a step closer and opened her mouth to speak but the other girl showed one of her metal claws, jumped to reach the branch and stuck the blades into it. The potential’s eyes opened wide when she saw the young girl starting pull-ups with one arm, and her mouth dropped out watching at the speed of her performance. Kennedy sat there in silence, staring at the Phoenix, amazed by this so mysterious girl.

Shannah was well aware of a presence behind her. He or she had an aura quite young and strong. It was obviously one of the potential, but the Phoenix didn’t know which one.

‘Looks like I have a fan...’ she thought to herself. She couldn’t help but smile when lyrics came to her mind.

‘Do you wanna touch? Do you wanna touch? Do you wanna touch me there? Where?’ It was a Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ song. She had played it once or twice when she was in L.A. She started humming the song, unconsciously, and soon the humming became lyrics.

“Do you wanna touch...”

Kennedy blinked several times. Was she talking to her? The potential’s palms were wet, and that made her confused. She never used to be all girly and hysterical around a girl before. In fact it was she who caused those effects on chicks. She quickly lost herself in her thoughts and didn’t notice Shannah going back to the house. When The Phoenix entered the kitchen, a very enthusiastic Giles was already there to welcome her.

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Willow, Dawn, Shannah, Kennedy and a few other slayer-in-trainings were at the mall, looking for some more sleeping bags and weapons. While the others were in a sports shop, the elder potential took the opportunity to get close to the Phoenix.

“Hey!”

“Hi...” Shannah replied in a casual tone. She was curious to know how the girl would act around her.

“We didn’t met yet, I mean, officially so...Hi, I’m Kennedy!” the Latino girl smiled brightfully.

“Glad we finally meet, voyeur girl!” she chuckled. Kennedy’s cheeks turned red in a sec.

“Just kidding!” the brunette grinned “Anyway...you think they’re gonna take a century or two to get out of this shop?”

“Dunno...you know girls and shopping...” Kennedy shrugged.

“Why aren’t you with them?”

“Why aren’t you?” the potential replied in the same teasing tone.

“I’m not a normal girl...” Shannah answered. In her smile, Kennedy was surprised to see more sadness than teasing. Suddenly, the brunette looked tensed. She was glancing all around the large hall, obviously looking for something. She turned to stare at Kennedy.

“Go away. Find the others, there’s something going on.” The dark girl declared in a deadly serious tone. The SIT hesitated for a sec. “Go!” Shannah shouted a little too harshly. Kennedy rushed into the shop. Shannah watched her to check she was okay, when she turned round, she bumped against a gigantic mass of muscles. She moved back and noticed five others demons surrounding her. They looked like knights with their armors and long swords. Their faces were deep blue with red symbols carved in the flesh, and they had long silver hair. Mohora demons...

“Find the Slayer’s descendants and kill them!” the leader ordered, then laid his eyes on Shannah. She couldn’t fight them all, they were not Bringers or vampires. Though they weren’t fearsome, they could be hard to beat, and Shannah had to protect the girls. It wasn’t her mission, but as a member of the Scooby gang, she had to watch over them. She ran as fast as she could into the sports shop where the girls were already trying to find weapons. Most of them had bats and hockey crosses. Willow had chosen fireballs to fight. Shannah locked the door behind her, and tried to fight against the pressure of the enemies on the other side of it.

“Girls, come here, you have to keep that door locked while I’m changing. Willow, in case they enters before I’m done, throw your balls and try to gain some time.” she urged.

“Don’t you think we should just run away?” Willow asked. By the look she got from Shannah, she knew there was no hope that the girl would accept to retreat. She nodded and focused on her magic. Shannah placed herself several meters away from the door and knelt on the floor. Her claws rushed out of her fists, and she put her arms in a cross on her chest. She needed precisely eighty-two seconds to change, and she hoped the potentials would resist at least during that time. But the sound of shattering glass soon came to her ears.

“They’re in! Willow, come on!” she heard Dawn screaming.

“Follow me, we have to get out! We’re trapped in this room! Everyone, in the hall!” the redhead yelled back. Shannah approved her. In the shop they were trapped, and she couldn’t help them as much as she would. She listened carefully to each sound around, because she couldn’t see anything, her eyes had to be closed during the change. Several girls were screaming, and in the background she heard cries of fear, probably the customers.

‘Ten more seconds, please, hold on.’ Shannah thought to herself. If anyone of them was killed, she would never forgive herself, and Buffy either.

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