Stripped: Things are Never Perfect, New York City/Brussels
by Willes
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Kennedy woke up tangled in the sheets beside one very naked redhead. Smiling to herself, and thinking about what had made them so very tired, she kissed Willow lightly on the shoulder. Willow rolled over mumbling about frogs and opera singing. “Shh, sweetie, go back to sleep,” Kennedy whispered, removing herself from under her girl and grabbing a set of clothes.
Perfect time to call Giles, she thought. Ok, maybe a little late in Britain, but I’m sure he will understand, she added. Picking up the phone, she dialed his number.
“Hello?” One very groggy Giles picked up the phone.
“Hey, it’s Kennedy.’
“Kennedy, do you have any idea what time it is here?!” Giles scolded.
“No,” Kennedy answered truthfully. “But this is important. I spoke with Dawn on the phone this morning.”
“Really? How is she?” Giles asked, concerned.
“She seems a little down, but doing okay. She found a book that might help Willow. It’s called the Dalgin Ki?mse. She found it in Brussels.”
“Interesting, I have not heard of that text before. I will look into it and let you know what I find.”
“Thank you, Giles. I knew I could count on you.”
“Kennedy, you are not alone. We all care about Willow’s safety.”
“I know. Well I have to run. I have to meet the troops soon.”
“Be careful,” Giles said.
“I will, don’t worry. ‘Bye Giles.”
“Goodbye, Kennedy.”
Kennedy hung up the phone and turned to see a very sleepy Willow standing in the doorway.
“Who was that?” she asked, rubbing her eyes and yawning.
“Giles. He wanted to know how you were doing, but I didn’t want to wake you, so he said he would call back later.”
“Why was her calling now? Isn’t it 4 a.m. there?” Willow asked.
“Um, well he was…concerned about you,” Kennedy answered truthfully.
“Why would he be concerned?” Willow asked, annoyance in her voice.
“Well, I sorta, you know, told him about last night,” Kennedy said rather sheepishly.
“Kennedy, why? It was just one time! We don’t even know anything yet. You shouldn’t have worried him.”
“I was worried. I thought if we caught it early we could do something,” Kennedy shot back.
“Now, all everyone is going to think is ‘oh poor Willow’ and whisper about the attacks. I thought we were getting a new start here,” Willow said angrily. “You didn’t even ask me!”
“Willow, I was concerned about you and no one knows more than Giles about this. I know you don’t like being treated like you’re sick, but the fact is you are, and we have to deal with this!”
“Well it was none of your business to go talking all about it behind my back to my friends!” Willow was about as angry as she could get.
“None of my business? The last time I checked we were in this together and now it’s none of my business? I was only trying to do what was best for you!” Kennedy spat back. Her temper was flaring. She had to get out of there before she said something she regretted. “Listen, I have to meet the other slayers. It’ll be nightfall soon,” she added, trying to stay calm.
“So you’re just leaving, now?” Willow asked, hurt and angry. Not so much at Kennedy, but at herself for blowing up. She knew she was lucky to have Kennedy but she was frustrated. She needed to take it out on someone and Kennedy was there.
“Yes, I’m leaving,” Kennedy said as she walked past Willow and out the door.
Willow just stared ahead of her, afraid that if she moved her world would come tumbling down around her.
**********************
Buffy walked the streets of Brussels. It was nightfall and she was thankful. She hated the day, it was entirely too bright and she could see everything entirely too clearly. In the dark she could disappear, and that is what she wanted most of all, to disappear. She had said she wanted to be normal, but what she really wanted was to disappear and not to have to deal with anything, ever. She had never been great at dealing and she was tired of trying. She should be happy. She was not the only one anymore, she could be normal. Do normal things and not have the fate of the world on her shoulders alone. But she had never really been alone, had she? She had always had Willow, Xander, and Giles. But now Xander was gone, she didn’t even know where to look for him, and Willow was too sick to really be there anymore. Giles had been busy when they first moved to Cleveland and left for England soon after.
She had to leave that place. The change was too great. She had been Buffy, The Vampire Slayer, for so long she couldn’t even remember a time when she wasn’t. Now she was just Buffy, one of many Vampire Slayers. All her life she had wanted to just be Buffy and now that she was, she didn’t know who just Buffy was. So she went to try and find out. She traveled everywhere, dragging Dawn with her, searching for herself, hoping she would find something to fill the void. All she ever found was more emptiness.
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