07
Time and Again - Part 1: In The Beginning
Restfield Cemetery Sunnydale – Monday, 8th September 1997
Buffy whirled to face the red haired stranger who was stepping through the, now three metre wide, portal, and dropped into a fighting stance. His accent sounded foreign, and although Buffy could not quite decide from where, it did seem vaguely familiar.
Cordelia just sighed. "But that's what I've got YOU for." She paused and visibly collected herself before turning to look at him with her hands planted firmly on her hips. "What took you so long?" she asked, a hint of annoyance creeping into her voice. "We've been fighting for our lives here."
"I think you must have destabilised the gateway jumping through it while it was so small," he replied shrugging nonchalantly. "It wouldn't let me pass until just now. You really should think before diving into the unknown."
Smiling slightly at the withering stare Cordelia sent in his direction, he dropped the two bundles he was carrying at her feet and stuck out his hand towards the still uncertain blonde. "Hi Buffy. Nice to meet you."
"H-how do you know my name?" the Slayer stuttered in surprise.
"Oh, you get used to that," Cordelia said with a dismissive wave. "He's no one."
"Huh?" Buffy looked back and forward between the two feeling none the wiser.
"Cordelia," he said wearily, giving Buffy an apologetic smile. "She means my name is Nevyn (9). Which means 'no one' in ancient Celtic." Buffy still looked confused, but shook the offered hand. "Don't worry Buffy. There's a perfectly simple explanation for all of this."
"Hah!" Cordelia scoffed. "Nothing about this whole situation is simple. Now can we save it for the morning please? I'm suddenly feeling very tired and I think I'll skip the party and just go home and take a nice long, hot, shower."
"And how do you plan to get into the house?" Nevyn asked her over his shoulder.
"What do you mean, how do I plan to get in. It's my house."
"Well there's the little matter of your parents being away on vacation and you not carrying any keys," he said patiently.
"You know I hate it when you do that!" Cordelia snapped waspishly.
"Do what?" Nevyn asked innocently.
"Remind me of the something I've overlooked and leave me feeling foolish."
"Like I've told you many times before Cordy. When you pay attention of the little things in life, the big problems tend to sort themselves out."
"Oh please! Spare me the homilies. Since you're so smart, how do you suggest I get in?"
"Well that's easy," Nevyn replied grinning mischievously. "You just need to ask Giles to pick the lock for you."
"What?" both girls exclaimed in complete surprise.
"Did you say Giles?" Buffy asked in a tone that suggested she would have been less surprised if he'd told her the Pope was secretly a woman. "We are talking about the same person here? English librarian, a bit stuffy, wears a lot of Tweed suits."
"There's a lot about Giles you don't know," Nevyn continued unruffled. "He wasn't born wearing Tweed you know."
"Well no I guess not," admitted Buffy. "But lock picking?"
Nevyn just smiled.
"Fine!" Cordelia said after a moment. "I know better than to argue with you when you get like this, but have I told you how aggravating it can be?"
"Only about a million times Cordy."
Scowling Cordelia scooped up one of the bundles Nevyn had brought through the portal before turned the full intensity of her glare on him. "Well! What are we waiting for? Let's go to Giles'. I need my beauty sleep."
"Sure Cordy," Nevyn said soothingly, picking up the other bundle. "Lead the way." At her surprised look he said gently, "I don't know where Oakpark Street is.(10) I've never been to Sunnydale before. Remember?"
"Arggh!" she growled and stormed off towards the street, but after barely half a dozen paces she suddenly stopped, shaking her head ruefully. "What am I thinking? There's no need to involve Giles. All my stuff'll still be in the locker room right where I left it." She shot Nevyn a huge grin, "See sometimes I do remember the little things. I guess we're going to the school instead."
"Err, guys!" Buffy called after them. "What are we going to do about this portal thingy?"
"Umm," Nevyn stopped a slightly puzzled frown creasing his forehead. "You know I haven't the least idea. In the past, portals have opened, I've stepped through and then they've closed again. It's always been a little annoying that I don't know why or how they open, but I've never really thought too much about it." His frown deepened as he stared at the deep purple boundary that marked the portal. "That's odd in itself. You'd think I would be more concerned about who or what was controlling them. But it's rarely crossed my mind."
"Not quite the answer I was looking for," Buffy said. "I guess we'll just have to guard it until…" She trailed off abruptly as the portal suddenly flared brightly before contracting once more to a glowing slit and disappearing. "Well, that takes care of that I guess," she continued after they shared a moment of stunned silence.
"Good," Cordelia said. "Can we get going now? This bag isn't getting any lighter you know."
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