finally, things are moving quickly now. I'm probably within thirty pages of the end.
Xander didn't move from his spot on the pew when all the shouting broke out. From what he gathered, it was all finished, Glory beaten, everyone home, the good guys win again. Yippee. He might care some decade.
The nuns talked among themselves about clean-up and gravedigging and, oh yes, someone would need to go milk the cow and feed the chickens, because things do go on, despite the epic battles that take place. Xander approved, in a quiet corner of his mind that was still acknowledging that the world had relevance to his existence. No matter what, there were still jobs to do.
There was a job he didn't think he could stand to leave to anyone else. Damn, but it hurt to move. Regardless, he pushed against the pew and forced himself to his feet. Baynar, the baby Minoto, came over slowly, squeaking at him.
"Hey, little dude," Xander said wearily. "You OK?"
Baynar glanced towards his mother and the other Minoto, then bobbed a little in apparent reassurance.
"Good. You ought to stay in here a bit longer. It's a bit of a mess out there." He squared his shoulders. "Ought to go help clean it up."
Sister Agnes stopped him before he took more than a couple of steps. "You should rest," she said. "You've had a very long night."
"And long nights are followed by long days. I helped make that mess, I should help clean it up."
Baynar's mother and the other Minoto came forward. "No, you have done enough."
Xander winced, even though he knew it was very true.
The demon didn't seem to notice. "All night you have fought and bled to defend us and this place while we hid inside. It is time for you to rest and let us have a turn at being useful."
Xander blinked at her. "Uh, I'm sorry, but I really didn't do it for you."
"It does not matter. We were benefitted by your work, we owe you a service. Rest. Heal what you can. We shall see to the fallen."
He didn't know how to say what was mostly on his mind. He couldn't just leave them to someone else, those soldiers he'd wounded, the man he'd killed. It was too easy to brush away their existences, especially when the gruesome part was still to be done. A part of him insisted that he see up close the work he had done, the damage he'd inflicted. He owed it to them. Didn't he?
Baynar took his hand and tugged hm back towards the pews, chattering to him. Xander stared at him, then looked at Sister Agnes and his mother.
"He says you need to sit down before you harm yourself," his mother said. "He can be a little bossy."
Sister Agnes patted Xander's shoulder. "Rest, nino. There will still be work to do when you wake up."
He thought of the dormitory and the beds, then of the long walk over there and the probability of someone insisting on talking to him. then of Anya's things there in the room.
He wobbled, and Baynar tugged again, more insistently.
"I can't sleep in here," he said.
"You wouldn't be the first," Sister Agnes smiled. "The pews are surprisingly comfortable, and no one will mind."
Finally he gave in to superior forces and followed his tiny demon guide back to the front of the chapel. The world was fuzzing as he stretched out. The seat of the pew was almost wide enough for him to lay flat, but he curled up on his side, as close to fetal as he could manage. Baynar watched him for a moment, then bustled away. He returned dragging a rectangular embroidered pillow, one of the kneelers from under the pew. It was faded and old, but Baynar hoisted it up onto the pew seat. He wiggled his hand underneath Xander's head and tried to lift. Bemused, Xander raised his head and let Baynar shove the cushion underneath. When he dropped his head, he couldn't help sighing in relief, because the cushion was the perfect pillow height and smelled companionably of dust and incense and old cloth.
Baynar pointed at Xander, then at his own eyes. He closed his eyes tightly, then looked sternly at Xander. Smiling, Xander closed his eyes obediently. He opened one a moment later, to find Baynar still watching him. The demon scowled at him and pointed at the open eye.
So the resolve face transcended species. Xander blinked back tears and closed both eyes. The soft darkness rose around his mind. The last thing he felt was a small scaley hand patting his cheek while a tiny voice hissed at him.