Office hours [all day]

[sith_happened]

Anakin had thought he'd hit "post entry" three hours ago was in his office today, rereading "What to Expect When You're Expecting."

He remembered the last few weeks of Rory's pregnancy being, well, more filled with kidnappings the last time.

Weirdly, that wasn't in the book!

The door was open.

Comments

[brat_inslayage]

"This is me totally not surprised you have," Kennedy replied without missing a beat. "I get why now, though. Leading people into something you know they might not come back out of is the opposite of fun."

[sith_happened]

"It really is," Anakin agreed, looking slightly haunted, "and I'm sorry you know that."

[brat_inslayage]

"Buffy was gone and Faith was out cold. Someone had to do it," she answered, looking down at her hands. "And I'm not sorry I did. I mean, as a job description goes, 'Slayer' is pretty obviously not hugs and puppies."

Willow was a bad influence on her word choice.

"It's just a little rough."

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded. "How many did you lose?"

[brat_inslayage]

"Five that day. Another twelve in the final battle, not that I was in charge of that one." Kennedy's mouth twitched into something that wasn't quite a sardonic smile. "Still wish I could take back yelling at Chloe, though. The First used that to convince her it was all a hopeless cause."

Okay, the First had said nothing of the sort, just implied it. The implication had stuck.

[sith_happened]

"Those regrets will stick with you," Anakin said softly. "My last words to Luke and Leia's mother were ones I wish I could take back."

[brat_inslayage]

Kennedy nodded silently, then offered, "That not really being a possible thing, the best we can do is make up for it, right?"

[sith_happened]

He smiled a little wryly. "Why do you think I teach Ethics?"

[brat_inslayage]

...huh.

"Damn. Guess I didn't come up with an original idea after all," Kennedy said with a faint laugh.

[sith_happened]

"It didn't have to be original," Anakin said, smiling. "Welcome back."

[brat_inslayage]

"Good to be back," Kennedy said, and there was no sarcasm there. "I kinda owe this place a hell of a lot for basically saving my ass back in Sunnydale. Glad I get to pay up on that. It was kinda dicey for a while."

[sith_happened]

"You should tell Zoe that some time," Anakin replied. "I know she worries if we've prepared you all."

[brat_inslayage]

Kennedy grinned. "Think I will, yeah. Since I can now speak from experience when I say that trying to prep a bunch of scared teenagers for something big and scary is actually really tough."

Aw, look at that. She unwittingly referenced her own canon's metaphorical premise.

[sith_happened]

Anakin grinned. "It's amazing how stupid they get in the time you're gone, huh?"

[brat_inslayage]

"I meant back there," Kennedy amended quickly, "but that applies now, too... and can I just say thank god none of my friends are actually taking my class? Because wow, too weird."

[sith_happened]

"It's really weird," Anakin agreed. "Rory was my TA the first summer after I graduation."

[brat_inslayage]

"I've got Bobby and Squall doing that," Kennedy answered. "And I still have no idea when the students got to be so tiny."

That was rich, given her own lack of stature.

[sith_happened]

"You kind of want to pat them on the head, huh?" he teased.

[brat_inslayage]

Kennedy pretended to look innocent for a moment. "I'm thinking of it as an exercise in self-restraint. Because hi, weird."

[sith_happened]

"A little," Anakin said. "It's so funny to watch the new kids during their first invasion, too."

[brat_inslayage]

"To see all the different ways they react?" Kennedy laughed. "I couldn't wait for the first one, and when it turned out to be killer vegetables I felt kinda ripped off."

More seriously she added, "I feel bad for the ones who freak out. Hopefully the ones who can deal have their back, still." Or she'd be seriously tempted to yell at them.

[sith_happened]

"I hope so too," Anakin said. "If you hear otherwise, let me know?"

[brat_inslayage]

Kennedy had always had a protective complex when it came to her friends, and now with this whole new level of responsibility added onto it...

"Damn right I will."

That wasn't even something she had to wonder about.

[sith_happened]

"We'll give them a detention that'll make them cry."

Anakin, don't sound so satisfied by that.

[brat_inslayage]

Anakin, don't encourage her.

"You know, I always thought you were cool."