canon au } { post-617: werewolves in london

[kiss_evilgoodbye]

Buffy: [so Peter runs them out of Eichen and while Malia goes in for Round 2, Buffy is leaning against a wall nearby and crosses his arms in front of her chest] He's not wrong, you know.

Scott: About their blind loyalty? Yeah, I get that.

Buffy: And about how they're not going to stop unless you stop them.

Scott: Yeah, I get that. [he doesn't like it. He doesn't want to admit this is going to end in people dying. Humans dying.]

Buffy: [she nods] I didn't like it either, when I was your age.

Scott: Yeah, but you kill vampires.

Buffy: Not always. [she pause for a moment, before gesturing over to one of the picnic table so they can sit because this is a story] When I was twenty, we were fighting Glory. And a bunch of monks turned the Key she was looking for into a flesh and blood human sister for me to protect. They backdated memories of her into my and my mom's brains, and it was just like she was always there, even if she hadn't been.

Scott: Yeah, Stiles told me about Dawn's origin story. He found it fascinating

Buffy: Yeah, well, there was this other group - the Knights of Byzantium, all human. And they were also anti-Glory, so you think we would be on the same side. But their way of beating her was destroying the Key. And the Key also happened to be my sister. [the sister she swore to protect, even though she knew she wasn't real] Their dedication was just like these hunters are going to be. Singularly focused with their solution and unwilling to be swayed any other way. So I had to make a choice. It was their lives or my sister's life. I wrestled with it for a long time, but I knew I had to be as singularly focused as they were. And my focus was protecting Dawn, this fourteen year-old girl who had my blood, and yeah, maybe she wasn't a real sister, but she was real enough to me, and that's what mattered. [she pauses for a moment] And in the end, I saved them anyway. I died to do it which, by the way, would not recommend, but ... in the end, the moral high ground isn't who you kill or don't kill. It's whether or not you were able to accomplish the greater good.

Scott: I already did the dying thing. Not planning on doing it again. [he looks at his hands] Do you remember when Theo was trying to rip our pack apart and Stiles and I fought?

Buffy: [she nods] With all the chimeras and Dread Doctors, right?

Scott: Yeah. Stiles and I fought about getting blood on our hands. I always thought it was going to be me who went there - not him. But I've watched everyone in my pack take a life at least once. Except Liam. Sometimes I think they do it to keep me from crossing that line. [looks up at Buffy] That's why I'm a true alpha. Because it's a line I can't cross. If I do... what happens? What if it takes away my alpha powers - what happens to my pack if I can't have that strength for them?

Buffy: Scott, from what Derek tells me, you were an alpha long before you had that power. And there's a difference between being a killer and needing to kill. [she pauses for a moment] True alphas rise by the power of the own will without killing to steal. They're not murderers. But there's nothing in that description that says they can't defend themselves.

Scott: But we don't know that. And I keep trying to be the one who finds the better way. That's what I do. These people are becoming a mob because of fear and the Anukite and Gerard. I think if we stop the Anukite, we can end this. We just need to survive until then.

Buffy: Then do that. Survive. But just be aware that that survival might come at a cost. [she pauses for a moment] If you need people there who are willing when push comes to shove then you have me and Derek and Laura. Peter will come around. But you need to be aware that right now you need soldiers, not friends.

Scott: [nods] I know. I just don't want us to turn into murderers. We have to live in this town when this is all over.

Buffy: There's a line. It's a fine one, but I think you can do it. You're a good person, Scott. Just trust those good instincts.

Scott: I'll try. It just seems to be getting harder to know if it's a line I can maintain.

Buffy: As long as you don't start hunting anyone down, I don't think they'll blame you.

Scott: [when he thinks of his parents in the hospital, he needs to take that deep breath because that was something he really wanted to do.] I hope not.

Buffy: If you ever need someone to keep you in check, Malia's getting pretty good at it, it seems.

Scott: Yeah, which I have to admit, is comforting and weird at the same time. [because Malia being the voice of reason is still shocking]

Buffy: Think of it as you've taught her well enough to learn the difference between a you move and a her move. [and as she says that, Peter is walking away from the bench looking very disoriented and upset] Speaking of, what kind of Malia move do you think she just pulled on her father?

Scott: [looks over and chuckles] I don't know, but I'm sure Stiles would be proud of her for that.

Buffy: Probably. [and she'll shift to get up] Look, I've got your back. So if you need the numbers, all you have to do is call.

Scott: I will. And I'm sure there's going to be a Winchester army appearing any day now with the same offer.

Buffy: Pretty much. [she gives his shoulder a squeeze before heading over to collect her fiancé] You okay?

Peter: [nods, flipping his car keys over and over in his hand] Yeah.

Buffy: [her head tips to the side a bit, before resting her hand over his and the keys] You sure?

Peter: [chuckles] Yeah, I just forget sometimes how obstinate she can be.

Buffy: Yeah, well where do you think she gets it from?

Peter: Hanging around with Stiles of course. [nope, never admitting it]

Buffy: I don't know. I hear those kinds of things are genetic.

Peter: [the look of betrayal, Buffy]

Buffy: [her head tips to the side] Oh, come on. You are the most stubborn person I know. Not including me.

Peter: I'm insulted. Really, I am.

Buffy: It's not a bad thing.

Peter: [huffs]

Buffy: Come on. We should clear out of here before someone sees you.

Peter: Yeah, probably a good idea.

Buffy: [and they will head back to their place in town and timey wimey time skip they decide to go out for something and head down to the cars]

Peter: [yes because this happening during a dinner date would be the worst timing ever]

Buffy: [yep, and they'll head to the garage and Buffy won't hear a thing because Slayers have a lot of things but super hearing is not one of them]

Peter: [and it won't be until they are about to get into the car that he stops, turning his head] Shit.

Buffy: [frowns and glances back to him] What?

Peter: Heartbeats. Five, coming fast.

Buffy: [and she turns to scan the entrances, already squaring herself off for a fight] Which way?

Peter: [and the answer will come in the form of a grenade launcher whistling towards the car as Peter grabs Buffy and pulls her aside, using himself as a human shield]

Buffy: [and she will also use him as a shield, sorry Peter. She can hear the heat and explosion of the car nearby, but she doesn't stay down long. She turns in the direction that the rocket came, before she grits her teeth in response] Big mistake.

Peter: [growls, full wolf face looking at the group] That was my new car.

Buffy: [and now, there will be violence. Since Gerard isn't stupid, he likely sent real hunters after Peter and Buffy, so Buffy isn't going to feel bad about kicking all of their asses]

Peter: [the one with the grenade launcher is dead though. Not sorry at all, especially when he blows up the one he got Malia for her summer school graduation present]

Buffy: [Yeah, Buffy won't judge him for that. The rest of them, though, just wind up unconscious and ziptied on the pavement] I'm going to call the Sheriff. [and she'll make her way over to the body and studies the grenade launcher] Think he'll let me keep the bazooka?

Peter: [wiping the blood off his claws] I won't tell if you don't.

Buffy: [she shrugs and puts her phone to her ear, ring ring ring Sheriff Stilinski phone]

Sheriff: [and guess who's walked out of his job but he has his badge and gun still damnit] If this is bad news, I'm not in the mood for it.

Buffy: [there's a bit of a pause as she weighs that because that doesn't sound good at all] Where does a few exploded cars and unconscious hunters rate on the bad scale? Because if it's a sufficient level of badness, I can call Jody.

Sheriff: If you're calling in to expect help, I can't promise that from my department at the moment from either of us.

Buffy: [and then she straightens a bit and steps away from Peter, even though she knows he can hear anyway, but she can at least make a show of not letting him eavesdrop] What happened?

Sheriff: She's gotten to the deputies. I tried to make her see she was being manipulated by Gerard and instead all she sees was that I was trying to protect the supernatural more than my citizens, which is not in the least bit true. She tried to get me to turn in my badge - and the deputies were on her side. I'm going to fire all of them when this is over. [seething angry Stilinski]

Buffy: Okay. Then we'll take care of this mess. [there's a beat] And I'll make a phone call. We don't want this place to go completely OK Corral.

Sheriff: I think we're way past that at this point. Monroe has put herself completely in charge of this town. I'm surprised the mayor hasn't been run out of town.

Buffy: Then maybe we need someone to help get law and order back together. I have some high level contacts. If you want me to call up the food chain I will. [but it's his town, in the end]

Sheriff: After what happened to Agent McCall, I don't want to put anyone else in the crosshairs. As it is, I'm waiting for the FBI to descend on this town looking for answers.

Buffy: I was thinking military, but if it's a certain branch of the FBI, it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. [Fringe Division is pretty chill and knows about the supernatural] But yeah, I know a military guy who dealt with his fair share of lawlessness when he was living in Sunnydale. He has a whole unit we could call for back up.

Sheriff: [thinking] If he's available for a consult, I'd love advise from his perspective.

Buffy: [she nods] I'll give him a call. It may take him a bit to get back to me if he's in the field, but he's usually pretty speedy in terms of turnaround time.

Sheriff: Thanks. Hopefully we have the time before this blows up. Or the town does.

Buffy: Well, if Peter's cars are anything to go by, blowing up is a pretty accurate description. [and she's totally keeping the bazooka]

Sheriff: [closes his eyes] Please tell me you're not hiding a pile of bodies.

Buffy: I am not hiding a pile of bodies. [and that is true, there is only one body they're going to have to hide, probably] I am, however, close enough to the county line that I can call the LA county sheriff to have these still breathing but slightly battered hunters arrested for assault, battery and possibly maybe even attempted murder if we get lucky. [which means that it will take a little more finagling for Monroe to get them out of jail]

Sheriff: [thinks] if you can get LA to handle it and this web hasn't gone out that far. We know she or Gerard have people in the LA office of the FBI. [and he freezes] Stiles.

Buffy: I'll take care of Stiles. I know a division that can take him and keep him busy and out of harm's way.

Sheriff: And hopefully without him know about what's going on up here or getting involved. [the last thing he needs to be is worried about his son]

Buffy: You know he's going to hear about this eventually.

Sheriff: Yeah, and then he's going to bitch that no one told him sooner. But I'm going to point my finger at Scott and Lydia when that day gets here.

Buffy: Solid scapegoat plan. I like it. [she smirks, before her voice sobers a bit] We'll get you your town back, Sheriff. I promise.

Sheriff: I'm just hoping there's a town left, and that they trust me, when we get there.

Buffy: [yeah, that's always the tricky part] I'll talk to you soon. [and with that she'll hang up and count off the list of the phone calls to make] If there's anything you don't want the LA County police to find, now would be the time to get rid of it.

Peter: [looks down at the dead body] We have any bleach upstairs?

Buffy: Under the sink. I'll call the cops last. [and she'll start with calling Riley first, since he'll likely take the longest to get back to her]

Peter: [and he will not listen in to the phone call with her ex at all. nope. nada]

Buffy: [she just leaves a message, something short and sweet, before she ends the call and calls Olivia next, and we jump into the Stiles log!]