This Music Has No Melody

[spiceblueeyes]

This is for the Anguish prompt at tamingthemuse, it called for angst, methinks. I wasn't actually feeling very angsty when I wrote it, so I'm not sure I pulled it off. I like it though.

Title: This Music Has No Melody
Warnings: angst, character death
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Everyone heard it.
Word count: 664
Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine.
Yeah, I know the summary is vague, just go with it.
                                               

                                                   

                                                    This Music Has No Melody

 

An anguished wail was heard throughout the town. Everyone heard it.

The school bus driver heard it as he sat on the couch in front of his television, watching a *M*A*S*H* rerun. Hawkeye was taunting Hot Lips Hoolihan and suddenly he couldn’t hear the TV anymore. He set his beer down on the coffee table in front of him and listened.

The college professor heard it, she was grading papers. Her students were idiots; they never studied and expected her to overlook the poor spelling and punctuation. Well, she would show them. Red F’s appeared on page after page, the scratch of her pen on the paper the only sound in the small office, until she heard it. She put the pen down and cocked her head to the side, listening.

The janitor heard it, the mop he used swished across the floor.  He moved quickly, not really caring if he actually cleaned anything. He had plans for tonight; he was going to go home and romance his wife, treat her right. They didn’t get enough time for just them these days and he was gonna fix that. The kids were at their Grandparents house and they’d be by themselves. Humming a happy tune in anticipation, he paused as he heard it. Then he hummed louder, trying to drown it out.

The working girl heard it. She slinked toward the car that had slowed to a stop in front of her, showing off how her short skirt and tight top hugged her body. The slight electric hum as he rolled down his power window and looked at her, then she heard it. She saw that he heard it too. Shrugging her shoulders, it had nothing to do with her, she got in the car.

The Scoobies heard it.

Giles heard it as he was reading one of his books, the binding so ancient it looked like it might crumble to dust any second. The soft rasp of paper as he turned the page was interrupted by it. He went still for a moment, then began polishing his glasses, tears welling up in his eyes.

Willow heard it, she was typing on her computer. The tapping of the keys was frantic as she searched for something. Her eyes were tired and strained from looking at the screen. As she heard it, she stopped typing, stopped searching, it was too late.

Buffy heard it when she walked into the main part of the magic box from the training room. The door swung shut behind her with a quiet thud. She heard it and froze, her hands balling up into tight fists, knuckles turning white. Then they relaxed as her shoulders slumped, and she let out a small choked off sob.

Xander heard it. How could he not? He was right next to the source of the pained scream. Blood gurgled in the back of his throat as he tried to say goodbye. He wondered, as he heard it, if he’d gotten the words out, but he couldn’t hear anything but his lover so he wasn’t sure if he’d said them aloud.

Spike didn’t hear it. He didn’t even notice it; the wound in Xander’s body took up all of his attention. He kneeled beside him, putting pressure on it, but he knew. He was a vampire, he knew exactly what it took to kill a human, and this was more than enough. They’d said it was safe, that he wouldn’t get hurt, but they must have known, they must have lied.

It was only after the light in Xander’s eyes dimmed that he realized what he’d heard.

“Goodbye Spike.”

It occurred to him that Xander must have known too; known that the only way to defeat this demon was with a willing sacrifice. But why did it have to be Xander, why couldn’t it have been him?

The wail went on, the grief-stricken howl a lament for the unsung hero.

After a while, people stopped listening.

Comments

[devo79.livejournal.com]

Ow...that was really sad.

*Hugs*

And I was listening to this when I read it...damn.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjywoElfISI

Go listen.

[spiceblueeyes.livejournal.com]

*hugs you back*

I listened to it, parts of it are really appropriate. That first part could practically be labeled "Theme song for Xander's death."

I like it :)

[davinci-1985.livejournal.com]

It was emotive and sad, but still beautiful. I need a hug right now.

Thank you for sharing.

[spiceblueeyes.livejournal.com]

Thank you!
*hugs*

[sablerose2.livejournal.com]

Oh you broke my heart with this one!! Thank you was sooo sad. Loved it!

[spiceblueeyes.livejournal.com]

It is a bit on the sad side, isn't it?

Thanks for commenting!

[mez-l.livejournal.com]

That was beautiful, and painful, and heartbreaking, and now I'm crying.

Wonderfully angsty :) Thank-you

[spiceblueeyes.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[beccers4469.livejournal.com]

OMG devo79 recced me this along with the song, I read it and cried, the song is appropriate, and soo sad.

Great work my dear:)

[spiceblueeyes.livejournal.com]

Yeah, devo has good taste, *preens*
lol ;)
The song fits it well, though really you could use it for most Xander death scenes that people write.
Thanks for commenting!

Bloody hell

[jasbrico.livejournal.com]

That was so intense! I took Devo's advice and popped over to read it but now I'm reduced to pulling a Giles and wiping clean my glasses from my tears!
It's always amazing by how short a time people are affected by each other's pain and by how little they care in the end...
Beautifully crafted; the imagery is very much like a that of a filmmaker.

Re: Bloody hell

[spiceblueeyes.livejournal.com]

Thank you!
A filmmaker? I never thought of it like that, but I can see it now.
And yes, people in general can be amazingly unappreciative of other people's pain. It's sad.

[xandercordy1.livejournal.com]

Very sad story but you captured Xander...doing whatever it takes to keep the ones he loves safe. And I also loved the way you told how everyone heard Spike's sorrow and how they reacted, even the non-scoobies. Great job. Sniffle.

[spiceblueeyes.livejournal.com]

Thank you!
I never cared about Xander when I watched the show, I only came to like and appreciate him as a character when I started reading fanfic. Glad to hear you think I captured him!

[xandercordy1.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow. Xander was my favorite character from the first time I watched the show which was the musical in Season 6. I know most people always went for Spike, but I love dark hair and eyes and Nick caught my eye and that was it. Not to say I don't love James too cause I do. Anyway, for someone whose watched these episodes over and over and over and can practically recite and recall everything Xander did, for you to get it right just by reading fanfiction, my hats off to you. Of course the wonderful people who write Spander usually know both characters and do them well, so maybe that's why you did great.

[spiceblueeyes.livejournal.com]

Thank you!
Yes, the people who write fanfic know the characters pretty well. It was through them that Xander became a well-rounded character in my mind. People are pretty amazing that way. I'm thrilled to know that you think I get him right, because now he's one of my favorite characters.

[spiceblueeyes.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[darthsindel1981.livejournal.com]

awwwww

[spiceblueeyes.livejournal.com]

:)
*hugs*

[joyleaf41.livejournal.com]

Thank goodness the box of tissues was close by. But now I have to thank you through blurry eyes. That was beautiful.

[spiceblueeyes.livejournal.com]

Aw, *hands you tissues*
Thanks for reading and commenting!