MCA #0, Monday night

[needsaparrot]

This? Would be the sound of Xander's head rhythmically beating against the wall of his living room. Just in case anybody wondered. It was a real wall, at least; good craftsmanship. No sign of a dent.

Comments

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

And *this* would be Xander's phone ringing.

[needsaparrot]

You'd better believe that would be Xander recognising a certain Simon and Garfunkel song playing, and not bothering to check the ID before answering his cell. "Are you okay?"

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"I'm in one piece," Bridge says.

[needsaparrot]

Xander had way too much experience with questions not directly answered, from both ends of the question. "One piece is good. It's not necessarily the same thing as okay, though."

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"No," Bridge admits. "They vanquished the Source," he says. "But... there wasn't any way to save Bel."

[needsaparrot]

Xander hadn't been close friends with him, but it still made him wince and close his eye. Sunnydale High lost students like flies at the end of summer. Fandom... this would only be the second ever, as far as he knew. "Damn. How's Phoebe?"

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"She's- well, devastated probably comes close," Bridge says.

[needsaparrot]

The circumstances weren't the same, but it still made Xander want to grab the boy he'd been at seventeen when Buffy came back from LA the summer after she'd killed Angel, and shake him until his teeth rattled.

"I...yeah, I can imagine." He didn't have to imagine, actually. Which didn't stop him from thinking of what state he'd be in right now, too, if this were somebody else calling him.

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"Anders... isn't much better," Bridge admits.

[needsaparrot]

And selfishly, Xander still wanted to keep Bridge on the phone, reminding Xander with the sound of his voice that he was in one piece. But he shoved that thought down where it belonged, out of the light, and said, "You should be with him, yeah?"

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"I think so," Bridge says. "Really don't think him being alone is a good idea right now."

There's a pause, and then he adds. "By the way? I looked, and there wasn't a gift shop down there."

[needsaparrot]

Xander gave a short, subdued laugh. "That's okay; the new gray hairs are all the souvenir I need."

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"Sorry?" Bridge offers sheepishly. It's not like he *means* to make Xander worry or anything.

[needsaparrot]

"I'm just glad you're back," Xander said, and wished he didn't have to say it quite so often.