Stripped: The Tire Yard, Brussels
by Willes
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Xander woke up with a pounding headache. Okay, he was used to waking up with a pounding headache, but he was not used to waking up with a pounding headache and tied to a mountain of tires. This is new, he thought, struggling against the ropes that bound him to the tall heap of tires that were flung over a large pole making it near impossible for him to move. This is just great, he thought, annoyed. I just wanted to have a drink and then rest comfortably in my very own bed.
He tried to focus on the world around him. Okay, he thought. How can I get out of this mess? Wait, why am I in this mess? Just then he saw two figures in large trench coats coming over to him.
“Hey guys,” he said nervously. “What are you up to? Any chance you can get me down from here?”
The two figures looked at each other; they were not amused.
“I see, the strong and silent type. Well, since you can’t untie me I guess I’ll just stay here then, on my lovely pile of tires.”
The men looked at each other again and then walked off to the other end of the yard.
Xander craned his neck to try and catch a glimpse of where they were going. “Nice talking to you too,” he shouted. “If you need me, you know where I am!” Stupid ropes, stupid large men or things or whatever they were! He thought, irritated.
Just then, something moving in the shadows caught his eye. It moved quickly and stealthily, staying hidden amongst the tires. Great, another goon. He thought. But when he looked closer he noticed it wasn’t a goon. It was a girl, with blonde hair, and an oh so perfect body, and oh god, it was Buffy, Buffy! Oh, thank god! He thought. “Buffy!” He yelled out loud before he knew what he was doing.
Immediately the tire yard was filled with large men in trench coats. A short demon wearing a stylish Zoot Suit came walking out from behind two trench-coated bodyguards. He had the head of shark. “Slayer!” he yelled. “I knew you’d come for your friend. Come out!” he commanded.
Buffy came out. “Thanks Xand! I was trying to be Miss Stealthy and get you out with no one getting hurt, but now I guess I’m just going to have to kill all these nice demon kidnappers instead.” She smiled sweetly.
“I’m sorry Buff,” Xander said excitedly, smiling broadly. “I was just so happy to see you! I couldn’t contain myself!”
“That’s okay,” Buffy said, smiling at her friend. “I was only trying to save these poor guys the humiliation of being defeated by a girl.”
“Okay!” the fish headed demon said authoritatively. “Enough with the banter, I need to talk to you, Slayer.”
“Okay, big and scaly. Actually it’s more like short, squat, scaly, and awfully familiar looking. Do I know you?”
“Yes, we have met once before,” he said, trying to sound mysterious and walking out from behind one of his bodyguards. “That is why I’m here.”
Buffy stood, hands on her hips, looking at him with a glint in her eye. She was ready for a fight! It’d been a while. “Okay, you have three seconds to tell me exactly why you dragged me and my friend here or I am going to kill YOU horribly!” she said, quoting the abduction note she had received in the park.
There was a distinct shift in the air. Everyone’s body tensed, ready for the fight.
“Now, now. No need to get testy,” the shark-demon said, holing up his fin like hands. “I am just looking for the repayment of some very late debts.”
“Debts? Why would I owe you anything?”
“Not you, Spike,” he said, smiling.
“Spike! But he’s dead and, well, if you have a debt with Spike why are looking for me? I am obviously not Spike. So, again, I ask you, why shouldn’t I kill you?”
“I understand he’s dead and that’s exactly why I need you. In the event of his death, Spike had said that I could come to you for any unpaid debts. You were his ‘insurance’. That is why I have worked so hard to find you; he owes me a very large number of tabby kittens. I have come to you for payment.”
Buffy stood there a look of shock and disgust on her face. “SPIKE!” she spat, grinding her teeth. “I remember you now, Teeth! What is it with you people and CATS! First, it’s a stupid form a currency. You never hear of anyone trading kittens on the stock market. Second, what do you think I do, carry them in my wallet? And third, I am so going to kill you and I would kill Spike, like a million times, if he weren’t already dead. HE SHOULD BE THANKFUL HE’S ALREADY DEAD!” she finished, fury showing through every feature.
That was enough. Buffy sprung into action. She went for the leader but was interrupted by the two bodyguards. She let her fists fly but all she did was run into something hard, something very hard. The two bodyguards just stood there, unfazed. What the hell are these guys? she thought. She tried her best to make a dent in their rock hard frames but was completely unsuccessful. Upon realizing she really couldn’t do much damage to these guys with her bare hands, she stopped.
Looking at the shark-demon and panting slightly, she stepped back to think. “Well, it seems you have upgraded your bodyguards. What, vampires not good enough for you anymore?” she said, looking at the men Thinking her options over for a moment, she finally asked, “Fine, how many does he owe you?”
“100 tabbies.”
Looking frustrated and stuck between a “rock” bodyguard and many, many fuzzy kittens, she gave in. “I will see what I can do, but you have to give me a little time. Again, it’s not just like I keep cats lying around.”
“Fine, you can have one week, but we keep your friend.”
“No way, I’m taking Xander with me!”
“Then what insurance do we have that we will get paid?”
“You have my attention now. You know where I am, you will get your stupid, stupid cats!” Buffy said, highly annoyed. This was absolutely ridiculous! Stupid cats. Stupid Spike!
Teeth pondered this. “Fine, you may take your friend. But remember this, we will find you if you run. We did before, and will again. So I would recommend you pay on time.” With that, he motioned for Xander to be untied.
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