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?
***
"We must have been too late," Wesley sighed sorrowfully.
"Damn it!" yelled a frustrated Gunn, violently throwing his sharp axe down onto the sidewalk.
Angel simply examined the supposed crime scene silently, walking back and forth around the area with fast and sure steps. "I don't think any kind of fight really happened here," the ensouled vampire then stated pointedly.
The former Watcher and the young demon hunter exchanged brief stares of confusion.
"Why'd ya think that?" Gunn demanded immediately.
Angel simply pointed to the other side of the street, where a considerable number of people were either just passing by or walking into some coffeehouse.
"Too many people. Three green demons, but no scared faces, general hysteria or police presence," Wesley suddenly realized.
"Would be a wise thing to hide our weapons, I think," Angel said dryly.
"So what are ya saying? That Cordy made a mistake?" Gunn questioned Angel carefully.
The ensouled vampire did a dramatic turn, and gazed intensely at the former Watcher and the young vampire hunter.
"We'll have to find out," he answered simply.
And with that, the centuries-old vampire cursed with a soul departed into the darkness of Los Angeles, followed by two completely confused men and a question to be answered by one Cordelia Chase - when they arrived back at the Hyperion.
***
Cordelia walked through the dusty doorway very carefully, trying futilely to avoid touching the graffiti-covered walls and trashed furniture of that utterly disgusting hotel room.
"God! Hasn't anyone here ever heard of the phrase 'sanitary conditions'? I mean yeesh, what if I'd been an asthmatic? Oh, great, now I think I'm gonna be sick," the young seer snorted in a low voice.
The brunette young woman advanced a few steps more into the dirty room watchfully, when an unexpected noise immediately caught her attention.
"Oh, crap!" sighed Cordelia. "Xander? Is that you?" the young woman then asked out loud, as a sudden fear quickly possessed her mind.
No answer was forthcoming.
"C'mon, Xan, don't you start trying to pull this sorta malarkey on me! I'm all alone here!" she called out, gazing intensely throughout the hotel room, but with all due caution.
The young woman then started moving around and explored the place fearfully, but suddenly bumped her back against another familiar back.
And then of course, she screamed loud enough to wake up half of L.A.
At the same time, Cordelia heard another equally loud scream. "Xander! You scared the hell out of me!" she cursed, fighting to recover her breath.
"Well, so did you! Of me!" the dark-haired boy yelled back at her.
The former odd couple of Sunnydale locked eyes for a long moment, and no words were spoken. Cordelia was the first to look away, her eyes traveling uncertainly around Xander's figure.
And then, she saw the gun in his hand.
The brunette seer gazed at his eyes questioningly; but this time, the fear yielded space for a shocked expression to occupy her features.
"Just what do you think you're doing, Xander?" Cordelia finally demanded.
"How'd you find me, Cordelia?" the young man replied dryly.
"Xander," the brunette girl began tentatively. "I know that something very wrong's happening to you, I saw it..."
The man gazed at her with a confused glance.
"Vision thing," she pointed out impatiently. "Now, neither Angel nor anybody else knows that I'm here, okay? I wanna help you; I want to understand you, Xander. I'm sure we all want that," the young seer offered gingerly.
Xander stared suspiciously at Cordelia's figure; it was as if he was cautiously analyzing the offer. Then he stepped back, and pointed the 9mm revolver at her chest.
"I don't know if I can trust you," the young man replied, not diverting his eyes from hers for one moment.
Suddenly, all of Cordelia Chase's fear was quickly substituted by a great anger and she finally exploded at her former boyfriend, her voice easily indicating her incredulous thoughts.
"If *you* can trust *me*? You're unbelievable, Xander Harris! Think! You're the reason I ever gave up my May Queen status in high school! You're the reason I ever got involved in fighting against evil! You were my boyfriend once, for God's sake! And you're the one who's gotten all crazy and tried to kill Angel tonight, remember?"
Cordelia snorted. "Now, I've just lied to my only friends and come over to this cheap, majorly disgusting hotel - and like, why? I'll tell you - to offer my help, 'cause I know that something really serious is happening with your lame ass! And - could I please remind you who's the one pointing the goddamn gun here? But noooo, you don't know if *you* can't trust *me*!"
Xander Harris stared at his former girlfriend with wide eyes, and a shocked expression. But then he quickly put on his patented poker face.
"You wouldn't understand," the dark-haired young man pointed out sadly. "And... I really don't want to drag you into the middle of this," he completed softly.
Cordelia's anger broke, as soon as the brunette seer stared at Xander's haunted look. The young woman felt a sudden sadness savagely invade her whole soul, and gazed once again at the darkness that had become her once- so-radiant former boyfriend's eyes.
"It's a bit too late for that," the brunette girl retorted softly.
Xander raised his head, to see Cordelia's gentle glance spearing him dead center. He then threw his revolver into her hands, which provoked a sudden start of fear on the girl's behalf.
"It's empty. No bullets," the dark-haired boy commented simply.
She raised an incredulous eyebrow, but quickly dropped the subject. "I faked it about a vision to the guys, Xander. I told them some lame story about an old woman in trouble, so I could meet you here. Look, I know you didn't have an evil identity crisis, 'cause like the Powers That Be don't send visions to help out the baddies here..."
Cordy sighed, as Xander looked away. "I was hoping that you could trust me, at least. Uh, if I brought Angel here, it wouldn't exactly be the smartest move, now, would it?"
Xander chuckled weakly.
The young seer continued, "Hey, I'm serious. What's up, Xan? What was all that about? Why would you try to kill Angel? I need to know if you want me to help you," Cordelia said forcefully.
Xander Harris slowly turned his head, and gazed intensely at Cordelia Chase.
"Would you be able to kill Angel? I mean, with his soul intact and all. Even if you don't think it's fair to him? Or you? Or everyone you had ever loved in your entire life?" the dark-haired young man challenged the brunette seer, with burning eyes of sadness and sorrow.
Cordelia stepped back, and did her best attempt at a determined face. "Of course I wouldn't! Why would I ever do such a thing? Why do you think *you* need to do such a thing? Look, enough's enough - what's the sitch here?" she replied violently.
"Once upon a time, there was this prophecy," Xander began slowly. "Big cosmic event that's due to take place in, oh, seven days. Prophecy goes something like, 'Woe unto all the people of the world, for a great power of darkness will be released. Let men fear, for the Scourge of Europe will rise once again, spreading fear and destruction in his wake along five continents'."
The man from Sunnydale continued to quote, "His fires will burn, and children will be the kindling. Evil will have no mercy, and the blood of the innocents will stain the scorched earth red.' Which kinda includes you, Cor," he finished, in a speech that seemed to be reluctantly and painfully told by Xander Harris.
"Angelus," she retorted absent-mindedly.
A single tear fell down Cordelia's beautiful face, and her hazel eyes seemed to be engaged in an inner and tormenting fight.
"No," the young brunette then simply stated.
"I'm sorry, Cordy, but-" Xander tried to begin.
"No," she interrupted him dryly. "You're lying."
Xander put his right hand on her left shoulder in a futile attempt to comfort his former girlfriend, but Cordelia Chase brutally pushed him away.
She shook her head in denial, "You don't know what you're talking about, Xander! It can't be true, it can't be!"
Xander gazed sadly at her. "I know, Cor. But you asked for this. And now, you know. I mean, I get that it's kinda hard to believe-"
"Don't call me Cor! And you don't know anything; you're a freaking lunatic, that's what you are!"
She started to pace. "Don't you get it? It's just not fair! To him! Angel's a good man, he doesn't deserve your lies!" the brunette girl exploded in a devastating wave of rage.
The seer was shaking violently and her hands were trembling, her eyes full of unshed tears. Xander then grabbed his former girlfriend's shoulders strongly but at the same time gently, and he looked deeply into her eyes, making sure she did the same.
"I'm sorry, Cordelia, God know how much I'm sorry about this! But it's the truth, and there's nothing you can do to change it," the young man announced softly.
"Well - h-how do you know? I mean, it's worth it to save Angel, we have to save him! He's my friend, Xander! I can't let him just become Angelus, just like that!" she cried in a weak voice.
"We tried, Cordy, I swear to you - but we couldn't find or do anything to stop it! And it cost us so many lives..." Xander's eyes were drowned by a sudden wave of deep grief.
"What the hell are you talking about? It hasn't happened yet, we still have a chance to stop this from ever taking place!" replied a suddenly confused Cordelia.
"No. We don't," Xander began, gazing intensely at her scared hazel eyes. "See, funny thing: I'm from the future, Cor. That's how I know exactly what'll happen, and that the only chance we got is to like dust Angel - before he starts up with the old leather pants routine."
The young man's next words were like the sound of a coffin lid, finally slamming shut. "'Cause even knowin' what's gonna go down, nobody'll be able to do squat to prevent Deadboy drowning this whole freaking planet in blood, when the time comes."
The brunette seer then said the only thing that her confused mind was capable of thinking, through she'd still make a great effort to manage it.
"Huh?"
***
Wazz up, folks? There it's, part of the secret. Like it? Hate it? Let me know! The next chapter will be posted today or tomorow, I swear.
Oh, for those who didn't notice yet, my entire chapter titles are ER chapter titles too. Just an odd tradition between me and my friends, Leo and Renan... long story, never mind.
Well, review me!
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?
***
"We must have been too late," Wesley sighed sorrowfully.
"Damn it!" yelled a frustrated Gunn, violently throwing his sharp axe down onto the sidewalk.
Angel simply examined the supposed crime scene silently, walking back and forth around the area with fast and sure steps. "I don't think any kind of fight really happened here," the ensouled vampire then stated pointedly.
The former Watcher and the young demon hunter exchanged brief stares of confusion.
"Why'd ya think that?" Gunn demanded immediately.
Angel simply pointed to the other side of the street, where a considerable number of people were either just passing by or walking into some coffeehouse.
"Too many people. Three green demons, but no scared faces, general hysteria or police presence," Wesley suddenly realized.
"Would be a wise thing to hide our weapons, I think," Angel said dryly.
"So what are ya saying? That Cordy made a mistake?" Gunn questioned Angel carefully.
The ensouled vampire did a dramatic turn, and gazed intensely at the former Watcher and the young vampire hunter.
"We'll have to find out," he answered simply.
And with that, the centuries-old vampire cursed with a soul departed into the darkness of Los Angeles, followed by two completely confused men and a question to be answered by one Cordelia Chase - when they arrived back at the Hyperion.
***
Cordelia walked through the dusty doorway very carefully, trying futilely to avoid touching the graffiti-covered walls and trashed furniture of that utterly disgusting hotel room.
"God! Hasn't anyone here ever heard of the phrase 'sanitary conditions'? I mean yeesh, what if I'd been an asthmatic? Oh, great, now I think I'm gonna be sick," the young seer snorted in a low voice.
The brunette young woman advanced a few steps more into the dirty room watchfully, when an unexpected noise immediately caught her attention.
"Oh, crap!" sighed Cordelia. "Xander? Is that you?" the young woman then asked out loud, as a sudden fear quickly possessed her mind.
No answer was forthcoming.
"C'mon, Xan, don't you start trying to pull this sorta malarkey on me! I'm all alone here!" she called out, gazing intensely throughout the hotel room, but with all due caution.
The young woman then started moving around and explored the place fearfully, but suddenly bumped her back against another familiar back.
And then of course, she screamed loud enough to wake up half of L.A.
At the same time, Cordelia heard another equally loud scream. "Xander! You scared the hell out of me!" she cursed, fighting to recover her breath.
"Well, so did you! Of me!" the dark-haired boy yelled back at her.
The former odd couple of Sunnydale locked eyes for a long moment, and no words were spoken. Cordelia was the first to look away, her eyes traveling uncertainly around Xander's figure.
And then, she saw the gun in his hand.
The brunette seer gazed at his eyes questioningly; but this time, the fear yielded space for a shocked expression to occupy her features.
"Just what do you think you're doing, Xander?" Cordelia finally demanded.
"How'd you find me, Cordelia?" the young man replied dryly.
"Xander," the brunette girl began tentatively. "I know that something very wrong's happening to you, I saw it..."
The man gazed at her with a confused glance.
"Vision thing," she pointed out impatiently. "Now, neither Angel nor anybody else knows that I'm here, okay? I wanna help you; I want to understand you, Xander. I'm sure we all want that," the young seer offered gingerly.
Xander stared suspiciously at Cordelia's figure; it was as if he was cautiously analyzing the offer. Then he stepped back, and pointed the 9mm revolver at her chest.
"I don't know if I can trust you," the young man replied, not diverting his eyes from hers for one moment.
Suddenly, all of Cordelia Chase's fear was quickly substituted by a great anger and she finally exploded at her former boyfriend, her voice easily indicating her incredulous thoughts.
"If *you* can trust *me*? You're unbelievable, Xander Harris! Think! You're the reason I ever gave up my May Queen status in high school! You're the reason I ever got involved in fighting against evil! You were my boyfriend once, for God's sake! And you're the one who's gotten all crazy and tried to kill Angel tonight, remember?"
Cordelia snorted. "Now, I've just lied to my only friends and come over to this cheap, majorly disgusting hotel - and like, why? I'll tell you - to offer my help, 'cause I know that something really serious is happening with your lame ass! And - could I please remind you who's the one pointing the goddamn gun here? But noooo, you don't know if *you* can't trust *me*!"
Xander Harris stared at his former girlfriend with wide eyes, and a shocked expression. But then he quickly put on his patented poker face.
"You wouldn't understand," the dark-haired young man pointed out sadly. "And... I really don't want to drag you into the middle of this," he completed softly.
Cordelia's anger broke, as soon as the brunette seer stared at Xander's haunted look. The young woman felt a sudden sadness savagely invade her whole soul, and gazed once again at the darkness that had become her once- so-radiant former boyfriend's eyes.
"It's a bit too late for that," the brunette girl retorted softly.
Xander raised his head, to see Cordelia's gentle glance spearing him dead center. He then threw his revolver into her hands, which provoked a sudden start of fear on the girl's behalf.
"It's empty. No bullets," the dark-haired boy commented simply.
She raised an incredulous eyebrow, but quickly dropped the subject. "I faked it about a vision to the guys, Xander. I told them some lame story about an old woman in trouble, so I could meet you here. Look, I know you didn't have an evil identity crisis, 'cause like the Powers That Be don't send visions to help out the baddies here..."
Cordy sighed, as Xander looked away. "I was hoping that you could trust me, at least. Uh, if I brought Angel here, it wouldn't exactly be the smartest move, now, would it?"
Xander chuckled weakly.
The young seer continued, "Hey, I'm serious. What's up, Xan? What was all that about? Why would you try to kill Angel? I need to know if you want me to help you," Cordelia said forcefully.
Xander Harris slowly turned his head, and gazed intensely at Cordelia Chase.
"Would you be able to kill Angel? I mean, with his soul intact and all. Even if you don't think it's fair to him? Or you? Or everyone you had ever loved in your entire life?" the dark-haired young man challenged the brunette seer, with burning eyes of sadness and sorrow.
Cordelia stepped back, and did her best attempt at a determined face. "Of course I wouldn't! Why would I ever do such a thing? Why do you think *you* need to do such a thing? Look, enough's enough - what's the sitch here?" she replied violently.
"Once upon a time, there was this prophecy," Xander began slowly. "Big cosmic event that's due to take place in, oh, seven days. Prophecy goes something like, 'Woe unto all the people of the world, for a great power of darkness will be released. Let men fear, for the Scourge of Europe will rise once again, spreading fear and destruction in his wake along five continents'."
The man from Sunnydale continued to quote, "His fires will burn, and children will be the kindling. Evil will have no mercy, and the blood of the innocents will stain the scorched earth red.' Which kinda includes you, Cor," he finished, in a speech that seemed to be reluctantly and painfully told by Xander Harris.
"Angelus," she retorted absent-mindedly.
A single tear fell down Cordelia's beautiful face, and her hazel eyes seemed to be engaged in an inner and tormenting fight.
"No," the young brunette then simply stated.
"I'm sorry, Cordy, but-" Xander tried to begin.
"No," she interrupted him dryly. "You're lying."
Xander put his right hand on her left shoulder in a futile attempt to comfort his former girlfriend, but Cordelia Chase brutally pushed him away.
She shook her head in denial, "You don't know what you're talking about, Xander! It can't be true, it can't be!"
Xander gazed sadly at her. "I know, Cor. But you asked for this. And now, you know. I mean, I get that it's kinda hard to believe-"
"Don't call me Cor! And you don't know anything; you're a freaking lunatic, that's what you are!"
She started to pace. "Don't you get it? It's just not fair! To him! Angel's a good man, he doesn't deserve your lies!" the brunette girl exploded in a devastating wave of rage.
The seer was shaking violently and her hands were trembling, her eyes full of unshed tears. Xander then grabbed his former girlfriend's shoulders strongly but at the same time gently, and he looked deeply into her eyes, making sure she did the same.
"I'm sorry, Cordelia, God know how much I'm sorry about this! But it's the truth, and there's nothing you can do to change it," the young man announced softly.
"Well - h-how do you know? I mean, it's worth it to save Angel, we have to save him! He's my friend, Xander! I can't let him just become Angelus, just like that!" she cried in a weak voice.
"We tried, Cordy, I swear to you - but we couldn't find or do anything to stop it! And it cost us so many lives..." Xander's eyes were drowned by a sudden wave of deep grief.
"What the hell are you talking about? It hasn't happened yet, we still have a chance to stop this from ever taking place!" replied a suddenly confused Cordelia.
"No. We don't," Xander began, gazing intensely at her scared hazel eyes. "See, funny thing: I'm from the future, Cor. That's how I know exactly what'll happen, and that the only chance we got is to like dust Angel - before he starts up with the old leather pants routine."
The young man's next words were like the sound of a coffin lid, finally slamming shut. "'Cause even knowin' what's gonna go down, nobody'll be able to do squat to prevent Deadboy drowning this whole freaking planet in blood, when the time comes."
The brunette seer then said the only thing that her confused mind was capable of thinking, through she'd still make a great effort to manage it.
"Huh?"
***
Wazz up, folks? There it's, part of the secret. Like it? Hate it? Let me know! The next chapter will be posted today or tomorow, I swear.
Oh, for those who didn't notice yet, my entire chapter titles are ER chapter titles too. Just an odd tradition between me and my friends, Leo and Renan... long story, never mind.
Well, review me!