Title: Loose Ends
Author: Jane McCartney
Disclaimer: All the characters you recognize belong to Joss & co. (all hail the crackhead). I'm just fooling around with his universe, with no intention of making money or anything.
Classification: Buffy-Angel crossover
Rating: PG13
Feedback: Yes, please! Doesn't everyone want it?
Email: janemccartney@bol.com.br
Distribution: Anywhere, I don't mind, just credit me and inform me where it's at.
Acknowledgements: Thanks to Theo, who actually made this project a viable one with his amazing and wonderful work - I'm truly grateful for your help with the English grammar and all the necessary adaptations. You're my savior.
Note: This is my very first attempt at fan fiction, and English is definitely not my native language, so I'd be happy if you guys didn't go too hard on me - please. I'm just doing the best I can here.
Summary: [Buffy-Angel Crossover] Xander shows up in Los Angeles, and brings with him a secret that'll lead him into dangerous territory. Can he cope with that? And his friends, will they be there for him?
***
"You look so beautiful!" said an agitated Dawn.
"Beautiful? Ha! Try perfect! I'm so gonna turn Xander on with this!" retorted a smiling Anya.
"I mean, I don't really need anything other than the naked me to do that, but I look so hot with this on!" said the former vengeance demon, once again running to the mirror and staring at her reflection.
"This is the first time I've seen a prospective bride in leather, I'll give you that," said Buffy, in keeping with the spirit that had already overtaken everyone else in the bridal shop.
In the middle of the room, Anya was standing with a white leather dress, that came down to about one foot above her knees. Anya's wedding outfit also had no sleeves and a deep low neckline, and was joined with a pair of white gloves and shoes. A delicate veil covered her radiant face, and in Anya's hands was a generous bouquet of red roses.
"Wow! You look amazing, Anya!" exclaimed Willow, who had just arrived in the room.
"Thanks, Willow! Wait - you're not talking in a lesbian way, right?" a suddenly confused Anya questioned the Wicca.
Willow rolled her eyes and met Tara's, the smile never leaving her face.
"Sorry - me and Xander really are working on that thing about what I should, y'know, never say in public. And I think that's the 28th one on the list, but I'd have to look it up to be sure. Oh! Wait, I think Number 28 is actually the one about inappropriate comments regarding masturbation, to the male's friends. Anyway, thanks! In the lesbian way or not, I'm flattered," the new owner of the Magic Box finished apologetically.
"I guess that's the 29th thing on the list, then," Dawn murmured sarcastically, for only Buffy to hear. The Slayer simply returned the comment with an evil grin.
"No, no, no," began Anya, who had listened to the sisters' private conversation, making Dawn automatically blush and avoid the bride-to-be's glance at her. "I remember now, it's the 30th!" she said euphorically, overtaken by the natural happiness of the day.
"I'm sorry you guys, it's just that I'm so anxious about getting married to Xander! My stomach is all full with giant butterflies right now, and my hands are sweating...but, how lucky am I? I mean, I know that none of you can get what I'm talking about - for one thing, Buffy is the ultimate disaster in terms of serious relationships-"
"Hey! I am not!" protested Buffy.
Anya continued, ignoring the Slayer's words. "And Willow and Tara, you're both gay and can't really get married - oh, wait. Twenty-first century, I forgot. Well, nevermind. And Dawn is way too young to get hitched, unless she does something stupid - like get herself pregnant and become a teenage mother, so I..."
Anya was about to continue with her speech, but four furious gazes made her stop immediately. Self-preservation instinct kicked in - no way was the ex- demoness gonna mess with the Slayer, or her sister, or the two powerful witches right now.
After all, she couldn't really get married if they put her in the hospital, right? Or worse - Willow and Tara could send her to another dimension commanded by giant bunnies, without shrimp and with no Xander sex to ever be had again.
Check, no messing up the wedding day.
"Damn it!" snorted Anya, at the other four girls' glances. "I guess that makes Number 48 on the 'Things You Should Never Say' list, huh?"
"Forty-eight? I thought you were in the 50's already," offered Buffy, breaking the strange silence that had taken over the room for a short moment.
"Nah, but I'm sure I'll get there soon," Anya commented absent-mindedly. "Isn't Giles here yet?" her voice seemed suddenly worried.
"Relax, his flight arrives at eight o'clock. We still have half an hour, and the wedding's at nine. He'll make it," Willow replied softly, easily seeing the worry in Anya's gaze. She knew that the former demon cared about Giles a lot, and the invitation for him to walk her down the aisle was perfect proof of such.
OK, maybe the fact that he was also the oldest male person Anya knew had counted a little as well.
"He better, or I...I'll see his English butt staked out on an anthill!" exploded the soon-to-be Anya Harris, as she began to pace around.
"Ewww," Dawn chimed in, winning the curiosity of the four other girls. "Sorry. My bad, but the visual..."
Willow offered an empathetic look to the younger girl, and Tara and Buffy just exchanged mocking glances.
At the same time, Anya stopped in the corner of the room and whispered absent-mindedly, "Gee, I wonder what Xander's doing right now..."
***
Angel couldn't understand what the hell was happening to him, at that very moment.
Quickly, he grabbed the flying wooden crossbow bolt from less than five centimeters away from his heart and, feeling completely lost in the chaotic scenario, instinctively looked up.
That was when he saw the figure of a dark-haired young man, a few steps away in the darkness of the room, as he threw the shaft aside.
Xander?! What the hell is Xander do-
Like something was reading his mind and giving him the answer for his half- formed question, another arrow painfully bruised the vampire's flesh, managing to make a superficial hole in his chest.
It provoked a menacing growl from Angel, at the sudden sensation of fire burning his skin.
Oh, great. He's trying to kill me.
Xander automatically stepped back, as Angel looked at him with what seemed to be great confusion. The dark-haired boy nervously started to once again adjust his crossbow, to try for another shot.
Angel gazed at the young man in puzzlement, as the vampire made an effort to get up - then he decided that anything he'd need to wonder about regarding these unreal seconds, really had to wait for a later time.
After all, Xander was trying to kill him. No, hold on - why didn't those words seem to fit together into a believable sentence?
Oh, right - the whole 'Xander' plus 'killing him' part. Pretty much obvious, actually.
Yes, Angel would've instantly laughed at this particular statement a few seconds ago, but - what the hell - if this wasn't some kind of weird hallucination as a result of yesterday's demon attack, and a very crazy one at that, he'd more than likely end up being a pile of dust in the very next second.
OK, so the boy was here. With a crossbow. Killing him. Well, trying to.
Xander seemed slightly lost at Angel's sudden awareness. Moving to another spot of Angel's room, he re-pointed the crossbow at the confused vampire - but Angel was faster and managed to take it out of his hands, tossing the weapon across the room before the dark-haired young man could actually shoot him.
"You - you don't understand, this has to be done! It has to, Angel! I've got to do this, even if I don't want to!"
Xander's words were spoken in such a desperate but firm tone that Angel had the distinct impression of a violent shiver passing through the boy's hole body - from the highest gel-soaked lock of hair to the toes of both feet, yep, all of it.
It wasn't a very pleasant sensation, at all. But damn it, the kid's mind seemed to Angel to be pretty much utterly screwed up at the moment, anyway.
"What the hell are you talking about, Xander? Have you completely lost every shred of sanity in that pint of grey mush you call a brain? Damn it! Can't I have even one single normal day in my life?"
Oh, like an urge for normality coming from a vampire with a soul isn't a little ironic? Just a bit, maybe? That's unlife for ya, Deadboy, Xander shivered again at an almost unconscious level.
But Alexander Lavelle Harris was not about to make any ironic comments or smart comebacks at this moment. The young man simply didn't feel in the mood for any of that right now.
The attempt of the ensouled vampire to look for any trace of an acceptable explanation was quickly stopped by Xander's gaze at himself, by the sight of the most darkened and scared eyes Angel had ever seen in his entire life - and unlife, too.
The vampire with more than two centuries worth of emotional baggage felt it was safe to assume that some heavy shit was about to go down. And when using the word 'heavy', the former Scourge of Europe really meant it.
Angel could tell somehow, it was as simple as that. Xander's eyes couldn't hide it.
They were so full of despair, and at the same time peace - peace with this mission of some sort that the boy had reluctantly accepted. Or something like that, anyway.
Angel just knew it; he could even feel it.
In the space of a heartbeat - not that he had one, but it didn't really matter then - Angel took his first real look at the dark-haired boy, since this whole crazy thing had started. And with it the bizarre events, that hadn't allowed him to produce any sane thoughts till then.
If the man who was now standing in front of him with those wide-open and scared eyes was the same boy who'd had the unique capacity of annoying him as no one had ever previously managed to do - well, apart from Spike, who wasn't exactly someone to put into the human category and so didn't really count - well, if this Xander was that boy, the wicked and annoying kid who used to stand up for Buffy, then he was Carmen Miranda.
Well, perhaps someone without so much fruits above his head. Whatever.
But he could simply see it so easily; there was no way in hell that things were currently kosher in Xander Harris' mind.
Damn it, he didn't even call me Deadboy! Not a good omen, not at all. For God's sake, not even a funny comment about my hair or my clothes or... Well, anything about him, that was a target for Xander's sarcasm.
Any other time, it would have happened. Just not now.
But there were two things that would truly lead Angel into Xander's torn private universe. Apart from the fact that the boy had shot at him with that crossbow, naturally.
His haunted eyes. The eyes of someone that have seeing too much, even if in such short time. So full of sadness, weariness, shame...
And yet, there was also rage. Purely and deeply settled into Xander's slightly lost look, it lay there waiting.
Such disturbed sorrow, that was so strong it made Angel's insides suddenly shiver. And the rage - it seemed like an indefatigable predator, slowly devouring every part of Xander's being in its unstoppable torture.
Angel knew that rage. Too much so for his own good, certainly. He was, somehow, that rage.
For the souled vampire, it was named Angelus; his inner demon that lived buried inside him, fighting with every inch of its dark strength, in every weak spot of Angel's being, to return and eradicate the humanity of his soul.
And Angel recognized that same rage, that same confused pain and tumultuous feeling settled deep in Xander's fearful eyes.
And there was also the blood on him, the second and most terrifying clue.
The unmistakable aroma of its sweetness, its stink of death and softness known closely by all of his kind. Xander had been hurt recently, even if it was a bearable wound; Angel could smell it.
This doesn't make any sense. What the hell is Xander's problem, damn it?
Angel almost felt sorry for him.
But another flying crossbow bolt didn't really allow him any more time for that, through.
***
Um, guys, I'd really, really love your reviews. Pleeease? In the next part, I'll probably give more clues about Xander's behavior, OK? Wait for some few surprises too...
Author: Jane McCartney
Disclaimer: All the characters you recognize belong to Joss & co. (all hail the crackhead). I'm just fooling around with his universe, with no intention of making money or anything.
Classification: Buffy-Angel crossover
Rating: PG13
Feedback: Yes, please! Doesn't everyone want it?
Email: janemccartney@bol.com.br
Distribution: Anywhere, I don't mind, just credit me and inform me where it's at.
Acknowledgements: Thanks to Theo, who actually made this project a viable one with his amazing and wonderful work - I'm truly grateful for your help with the English grammar and all the necessary adaptations. You're my savior.
Note: This is my very first attempt at fan fiction, and English is definitely not my native language, so I'd be happy if you guys didn't go too hard on me - please. I'm just doing the best I can here.
Summary: [Buffy-Angel Crossover] Xander shows up in Los Angeles, and brings with him a secret that'll lead him into dangerous territory. Can he cope with that? And his friends, will they be there for him?
***
"You look so beautiful!" said an agitated Dawn.
"Beautiful? Ha! Try perfect! I'm so gonna turn Xander on with this!" retorted a smiling Anya.
"I mean, I don't really need anything other than the naked me to do that, but I look so hot with this on!" said the former vengeance demon, once again running to the mirror and staring at her reflection.
"This is the first time I've seen a prospective bride in leather, I'll give you that," said Buffy, in keeping with the spirit that had already overtaken everyone else in the bridal shop.
In the middle of the room, Anya was standing with a white leather dress, that came down to about one foot above her knees. Anya's wedding outfit also had no sleeves and a deep low neckline, and was joined with a pair of white gloves and shoes. A delicate veil covered her radiant face, and in Anya's hands was a generous bouquet of red roses.
"Wow! You look amazing, Anya!" exclaimed Willow, who had just arrived in the room.
"Thanks, Willow! Wait - you're not talking in a lesbian way, right?" a suddenly confused Anya questioned the Wicca.
Willow rolled her eyes and met Tara's, the smile never leaving her face.
"Sorry - me and Xander really are working on that thing about what I should, y'know, never say in public. And I think that's the 28th one on the list, but I'd have to look it up to be sure. Oh! Wait, I think Number 28 is actually the one about inappropriate comments regarding masturbation, to the male's friends. Anyway, thanks! In the lesbian way or not, I'm flattered," the new owner of the Magic Box finished apologetically.
"I guess that's the 29th thing on the list, then," Dawn murmured sarcastically, for only Buffy to hear. The Slayer simply returned the comment with an evil grin.
"No, no, no," began Anya, who had listened to the sisters' private conversation, making Dawn automatically blush and avoid the bride-to-be's glance at her. "I remember now, it's the 30th!" she said euphorically, overtaken by the natural happiness of the day.
"I'm sorry you guys, it's just that I'm so anxious about getting married to Xander! My stomach is all full with giant butterflies right now, and my hands are sweating...but, how lucky am I? I mean, I know that none of you can get what I'm talking about - for one thing, Buffy is the ultimate disaster in terms of serious relationships-"
"Hey! I am not!" protested Buffy.
Anya continued, ignoring the Slayer's words. "And Willow and Tara, you're both gay and can't really get married - oh, wait. Twenty-first century, I forgot. Well, nevermind. And Dawn is way too young to get hitched, unless she does something stupid - like get herself pregnant and become a teenage mother, so I..."
Anya was about to continue with her speech, but four furious gazes made her stop immediately. Self-preservation instinct kicked in - no way was the ex- demoness gonna mess with the Slayer, or her sister, or the two powerful witches right now.
After all, she couldn't really get married if they put her in the hospital, right? Or worse - Willow and Tara could send her to another dimension commanded by giant bunnies, without shrimp and with no Xander sex to ever be had again.
Check, no messing up the wedding day.
"Damn it!" snorted Anya, at the other four girls' glances. "I guess that makes Number 48 on the 'Things You Should Never Say' list, huh?"
"Forty-eight? I thought you were in the 50's already," offered Buffy, breaking the strange silence that had taken over the room for a short moment.
"Nah, but I'm sure I'll get there soon," Anya commented absent-mindedly. "Isn't Giles here yet?" her voice seemed suddenly worried.
"Relax, his flight arrives at eight o'clock. We still have half an hour, and the wedding's at nine. He'll make it," Willow replied softly, easily seeing the worry in Anya's gaze. She knew that the former demon cared about Giles a lot, and the invitation for him to walk her down the aisle was perfect proof of such.
OK, maybe the fact that he was also the oldest male person Anya knew had counted a little as well.
"He better, or I...I'll see his English butt staked out on an anthill!" exploded the soon-to-be Anya Harris, as she began to pace around.
"Ewww," Dawn chimed in, winning the curiosity of the four other girls. "Sorry. My bad, but the visual..."
Willow offered an empathetic look to the younger girl, and Tara and Buffy just exchanged mocking glances.
At the same time, Anya stopped in the corner of the room and whispered absent-mindedly, "Gee, I wonder what Xander's doing right now..."
***
Angel couldn't understand what the hell was happening to him, at that very moment.
Quickly, he grabbed the flying wooden crossbow bolt from less than five centimeters away from his heart and, feeling completely lost in the chaotic scenario, instinctively looked up.
That was when he saw the figure of a dark-haired young man, a few steps away in the darkness of the room, as he threw the shaft aside.
Xander?! What the hell is Xander do-
Like something was reading his mind and giving him the answer for his half- formed question, another arrow painfully bruised the vampire's flesh, managing to make a superficial hole in his chest.
It provoked a menacing growl from Angel, at the sudden sensation of fire burning his skin.
Oh, great. He's trying to kill me.
Xander automatically stepped back, as Angel looked at him with what seemed to be great confusion. The dark-haired boy nervously started to once again adjust his crossbow, to try for another shot.
Angel gazed at the young man in puzzlement, as the vampire made an effort to get up - then he decided that anything he'd need to wonder about regarding these unreal seconds, really had to wait for a later time.
After all, Xander was trying to kill him. No, hold on - why didn't those words seem to fit together into a believable sentence?
Oh, right - the whole 'Xander' plus 'killing him' part. Pretty much obvious, actually.
Yes, Angel would've instantly laughed at this particular statement a few seconds ago, but - what the hell - if this wasn't some kind of weird hallucination as a result of yesterday's demon attack, and a very crazy one at that, he'd more than likely end up being a pile of dust in the very next second.
OK, so the boy was here. With a crossbow. Killing him. Well, trying to.
Xander seemed slightly lost at Angel's sudden awareness. Moving to another spot of Angel's room, he re-pointed the crossbow at the confused vampire - but Angel was faster and managed to take it out of his hands, tossing the weapon across the room before the dark-haired young man could actually shoot him.
"You - you don't understand, this has to be done! It has to, Angel! I've got to do this, even if I don't want to!"
Xander's words were spoken in such a desperate but firm tone that Angel had the distinct impression of a violent shiver passing through the boy's hole body - from the highest gel-soaked lock of hair to the toes of both feet, yep, all of it.
It wasn't a very pleasant sensation, at all. But damn it, the kid's mind seemed to Angel to be pretty much utterly screwed up at the moment, anyway.
"What the hell are you talking about, Xander? Have you completely lost every shred of sanity in that pint of grey mush you call a brain? Damn it! Can't I have even one single normal day in my life?"
Oh, like an urge for normality coming from a vampire with a soul isn't a little ironic? Just a bit, maybe? That's unlife for ya, Deadboy, Xander shivered again at an almost unconscious level.
But Alexander Lavelle Harris was not about to make any ironic comments or smart comebacks at this moment. The young man simply didn't feel in the mood for any of that right now.
The attempt of the ensouled vampire to look for any trace of an acceptable explanation was quickly stopped by Xander's gaze at himself, by the sight of the most darkened and scared eyes Angel had ever seen in his entire life - and unlife, too.
The vampire with more than two centuries worth of emotional baggage felt it was safe to assume that some heavy shit was about to go down. And when using the word 'heavy', the former Scourge of Europe really meant it.
Angel could tell somehow, it was as simple as that. Xander's eyes couldn't hide it.
They were so full of despair, and at the same time peace - peace with this mission of some sort that the boy had reluctantly accepted. Or something like that, anyway.
Angel just knew it; he could even feel it.
In the space of a heartbeat - not that he had one, but it didn't really matter then - Angel took his first real look at the dark-haired boy, since this whole crazy thing had started. And with it the bizarre events, that hadn't allowed him to produce any sane thoughts till then.
If the man who was now standing in front of him with those wide-open and scared eyes was the same boy who'd had the unique capacity of annoying him as no one had ever previously managed to do - well, apart from Spike, who wasn't exactly someone to put into the human category and so didn't really count - well, if this Xander was that boy, the wicked and annoying kid who used to stand up for Buffy, then he was Carmen Miranda.
Well, perhaps someone without so much fruits above his head. Whatever.
But he could simply see it so easily; there was no way in hell that things were currently kosher in Xander Harris' mind.
Damn it, he didn't even call me Deadboy! Not a good omen, not at all. For God's sake, not even a funny comment about my hair or my clothes or... Well, anything about him, that was a target for Xander's sarcasm.
Any other time, it would have happened. Just not now.
But there were two things that would truly lead Angel into Xander's torn private universe. Apart from the fact that the boy had shot at him with that crossbow, naturally.
His haunted eyes. The eyes of someone that have seeing too much, even if in such short time. So full of sadness, weariness, shame...
And yet, there was also rage. Purely and deeply settled into Xander's slightly lost look, it lay there waiting.
Such disturbed sorrow, that was so strong it made Angel's insides suddenly shiver. And the rage - it seemed like an indefatigable predator, slowly devouring every part of Xander's being in its unstoppable torture.
Angel knew that rage. Too much so for his own good, certainly. He was, somehow, that rage.
For the souled vampire, it was named Angelus; his inner demon that lived buried inside him, fighting with every inch of its dark strength, in every weak spot of Angel's being, to return and eradicate the humanity of his soul.
And Angel recognized that same rage, that same confused pain and tumultuous feeling settled deep in Xander's fearful eyes.
And there was also the blood on him, the second and most terrifying clue.
The unmistakable aroma of its sweetness, its stink of death and softness known closely by all of his kind. Xander had been hurt recently, even if it was a bearable wound; Angel could smell it.
This doesn't make any sense. What the hell is Xander's problem, damn it?
Angel almost felt sorry for him.
But another flying crossbow bolt didn't really allow him any more time for that, through.
***
Um, guys, I'd really, really love your reviews. Pleeease? In the next part, I'll probably give more clues about Xander's behavior, OK? Wait for some few surprises too...