Interludes: Forgotten Pasts
Chapter One
Sunnydale 2000
"I can't believe he left," Willow told her best friend as both idly walked to class. "Oz was doing so well, why would he leave?"
"Wills," Xander said calmly tapping his cane on the pavement. "You know Oz has been having problems containing his inner wolf even when the moon wasn't full. He'll come back when he's ready."
"But what if he doesn't!" Willow complained, "What if he never comes back."
"I don't know," Xander admitted, "But I know you'll over come it."
***
2029
Xan glanced at the grave stone and sent a small prayer that his friend wasn't here to see what life had become. Quietly he said goodbye to her for the thousandth time and turned his attention back to the man in the strange uniform.
He was human there was no doubt about that, if his English hadn't proven that his scent certainly did. Humans had a particular smell to them, one that Xander had learned to identify over the years. At least since the disaster that made humans a precious commodity.
He was also not from here- this time period or even this Realm- that much was evident from the surprise and strange uniform. Well and the fact that no human or demon had entered or left Sunnydale in Twenty-nine years.
"And who might you be Traveler?" Xan asked good humouredly giving the man a good once over.
"Lieutenant Malcolm Reed of the Starship Enterprise NX-01" the young man said in a near salute.
"Year?" Xander asked offhandedly.
"2152."
Xander whistled, "Well let me be the first to say, this ain't it."
"Obviously," Malcolm said, "But Ummm.. Sunnydale? California?"
"Oh yeah good old Sunnyhell, land of the free reign demons and very few humans." He shrugged a little, "Not that many humans are left at all."
"What do you mean not very many humans left?" Malcolm asked. "Your human aren't you?"
"Err. no." Xander said, "Very much of the not human, actually I know very few humans, they aren't aloud to mingle with the.uh.non-human people."
"What are you might I ask?" Malcolm said.
"Vampire.just not." Xander said looking around, "Speaking of the dead, umm I'm sure a grave yard is not the place to discuss this stuff."
"I suppose not." Malcolm agreed.
Xander smiled, "Common outside isn't all that safe day or night, but it tends to be worse during the day. And I'm sure you have a ton of questions, I know I do."
"Yes I do," Malcolm agreed, "Starting with how did this happen?"
Xander sighed. "Common, sun rise is in an hour."
With that he turned and walked away without watching if the 'Space man' was following. The young man of course followed, Xander didn't blame him, he would have followed too.
"I tell you now, Lieutenant." Xander started walking threw the ruin city. "All that you see you've probably never heard of in your history, because I'm betting this never happened, or at least wasn't supposed to happen."
"I'd have to agree with you there," Malcolm said, "Although history says there was a war about this time, according to what I know it was just starting, and wouldn't progress for another twenty years."
Xander nodded, "So the Seers tell us." He turned to face the other man, "Ok but there is still something you need to know."
"What would that be?"
"Err.'The Demons Pecking Order'.Ummm see as a human, your like a house cat in the best of times and dinner at the worst. So don't go anywhere alone and don't stare at the demons and, and umm. well you get the picture don't you?"
"Yes I think I do," Malcolm said, "Basically I'm your prisoner."
"Would you rather be dinner?" Xander asked, "'Cause that can be arranged too."
Malcolm shook his head, "That's quite alright; I've had worse prison experiences."
Xander grinned, "Get in trouble a lot or just plan piss off new cultures?"
"Both," Malcolm replied. "Misunderstandings are common things when dealing with those you've never seen."
"You remind me a lot of my dad," Xander said, then frowned. "They all died you know, my friends, my family. The only one I have left is technically dead. They've been gone a long time and the only reason I can't join them is because I'm too important to die."
"That must be hard." Malcolm said.
Xander shrugged, "Yeah well I've had twenty-nine years to get used to it." He snorted, "I guess I'm as much a prisoner as you."
"Well that takes most of the resentment away." Malcolm commented.
"Ha, bloody, ha" Xander said dryly, "You so make my day with the Brit humor."
Malcolm looked at him in confusion. "That was humor?"
"It's the only British humor I know," Xander said with a shrug, "Unless you count my dad, but his was more on the morbid side."
"Oh," Malcolm said, "How did this all happen?"
Xander frowned, "Here we are," he said ignoring the question for the second time, "Just stick close and don't say or look at anyone not human and you should get through just fine."
Malcolm frowned at the door but nodded, "I understand."
Xander nodded and opened the door ushering Malcolm inside before entering himself closing the door with a loud bang.
***
2000
"I got the last box right here, G-man, where do you want it?" Xander asked caring a large box into the Magic Box, Giles' new store.
"Must I insist you not call me that?" Giles asked from his place stacking boxes.
Xander smiled brightly. "Would you rather I use on of Dads nicknames for you?"
Giles visibly winced and turned to the annoying child. "It's bad enough I can't do anything about Spike being your father, but do you have to be so happy about it?"
Xander smiled wider, "Uh-huh"
Giles groaned and muttered something in another language.
Xander mocked shock, "Mr. Rupert Giles you don't really think that do you?"
Giles glared, "I most certainly do, now off with you. You can put the box down on the counter. Go bother Angel or something."
Xander smiled happily and set the box marked 'danger' gently on the counter and skipped out of the shop right into Riley. Seconds later they were gone.
Giles just shook his head and went back to re-shelving books.
***
"By the way my names Xander," the brunette said as they walked down a long tunnel of stairs, "You can call me Xan if you want, everyone else does."
Malcolm noted the sorrow in the boy's voice, "You don't sound like you wish I called you Xan."
Xander shrugged, "old memories." He said sadly, "my dad always called me Xan, so everyone else does. It's really no big deal."
Malcolm smiled a little, "Well I must say, for one who is not human, you certainly act like one, Xander"
Xander glanced back with a smile, "Why thank you Mr. Reed. I happen to be half human."
"Half-human and half-vampire," Malcolm murmured, "that would make you a Diamphire?"
Xander nodded, "Only I don't have the demon or the bloodlust, so I'm human with vampire perks.or vampire with human perks?"
"Right," Malcolm comments and they keep walking.
Silence descends and Malcolm takes in his surroundings noting that even though the halls seem devoid of any life, it was apparent they weren't. Shadows moved when he wasn't directly looking at them and whispering could be heard all around. The little he could hear of it that was English was always the same 'it's a new one' and 'it's a human'.
Every once in a while Xander would look at the shadows and all would go silent until he turned his attention back to his walking.
Malcolm sighed, what ever all of this was he was sure this was not his past. An alternate reality was not out of the consideration of what this was, but if this was as his past was he sure as hell wanted to know what happened.
Or something like that. His head hurt every time he tried to think.
They stopped abruptly at what seemed to be two boyish looking heavily armed guards. Xander regarded them with a mild glare.
"Wot's ta password." One of the guards said in an equally boyish voice.
"Does your master know you're out here?" the boy asked in a condescending tone.
"'Course," the guard answered smoothly.
"Ooo, Zang looky Xan has an 'uman" the other guard said poking his mate. "Ooo Xanny can we keep 'em? We'll take care of 'em this time promise!"
"Yeah!" Zang exclaimed, "Me an' Zong will take good care of 'em!"
Zang and Zong turned sad eye on Xander, "Pweeze?"
The hazel eyed brunette smiled sweetly and Malcolm's head lifted in alarm as it seemed he was going to be given away to lord knew what.
"My pet," Xan said happily grabbing Zong and moved him out of the way.
"Aww," the two wined.
"None of that," Xander chide, "Come pet."
"Yes master," Malcolm said softly and obediently followed.
Once out of sight Xander turned and gave him an apologetic smile, Mal was hesitant to return one of his own.
They traveled down two move levels then abruptly came to a halt at a door seemingly made of stone. Xander drew an interesting symbol on the doors surface and watched it open of its own accord. Malcolm was ushered in quickly and Xan closed the door behind them with a loud hollow sound.
The dimly lit room reminded him vaguely of some old houses he had seen out in the grasslands of North America. There was a stairwell to the left and a hall to the right. The room they stood in was like a small waiting room, not meant for much more than waiting for the Master of the House to come greet his guest.
Although Malcolm figured Xander was the master and he was anything but the guest. He had been called a pet and humans had been referenced as pets.
How bad it had to be if the dominate species of a planet almost over night becomes another species 'house cat'"
"The 'yes master' thing was a little much." Xander commented from his position against the door, "I mean I don't even call Riley 'master'"
"Better safe then sorry," Malcolm commented. "Who's Riley?"
Xander smiled innocently, "My master?"
Malcolm raised an eyebrow.
Xander let out a big puff of breath. "Ok, he's not really my master. He was my friend before he was turned. We do the 'pretend to be submissive' to make the Big and Bad happy."
Mal blinked. Blinked again, blinked a third time and went cross-eyed. "Could you possibly say that in English?"
The boy groaned. "Riley was human, he was made into a vampire, he pretends to be my master so the bigger demons will leave me alone." He said as if talking to a child.
"That's what I thought you said."
With a growl the hazel eyed boy shot to his feet pushing the armory officer toward the stairs. Malcolm complied with him only because the sudden malice in the boys eyes reminded him of a few people he remembered never to tick off.
Mayweather when he was piloting the shuttle pod for one.
He was lead up a flight of stairs and down another long hall before Xander stopped at a large wooden door- how one got wooden doors and carpeted halls underground was anyone's guess. The door opened under the boys hand to reveal the most lavish bedroom Malcolm had ever seen.
"This will be your room," Xander said calmly, "There is a bathroom to the left, closet with cloths to the right. I don't suggest you wander out of it for now."
"Thank you," Malcolm said sincerely walking into his prison.
Xander smiled ever so slightly. "You best get some sleep. We will talk more when dusk comes."
Malcolm nodded watching as the boy shut the door. On the other side he could hear the boy turn to leave without locking the door. It showed great trust and put Malcolm's mind at ease. This wasn't really a prison, but it still might be wise to stay put. At least until he was more familiar with this place.
He might not be a prisoner, but that didn't mean everything out there was friendly.
***
Riley shut the large concrete door gently absently reading some file the new magistrate had made up. It was all very interesting and informative out lining the need for human breeding grounds to make more 'cattle' for the vamp and demons population.
Riley snorted. This one wasn't going to last long. Saceros would never allow the breeding of humans, to much was at stake. And obviously Magistrate Kalic was a young demon if he didn't remember what happened the last time a breeding program had been made. Good thing he and Xander had figured being officially mated was the best way to keep both of them alive. Especially since Xander had only been twenty-one when the majority of the humans had been.sent to a better place.
Now breeding of humans and the making of Child and Minions was strictly monitored.
Riley stopped abruptly outside one of the bedrooms not in use. He tilted his head to the side listening to the distinct sound of even breathing and a slow steady heartbeat. If he wasn't mistaken there was someone asleep in there. That someone wasn't Xander.
Slowly he pushed open the unlocked door and peered inside taking a second to adjust to the darkness. In the center of the bed lay a human male, a young one at that. He was older then Xander looked, but then again everyone looked older then the Diamphire so that didn't tell him much.
Riley carefully shut the door without rousing their guest and made his way down the hall to Xander's bedroom. As expected the boy was asleep cocooned in heavy blankets on top of the large bed. How Xander didn't smother himself Riley had yet to figure out. Carefully he made his way to the bed, stared at the peacefully sleeping face, then smiled evilly as he bent down and sharply smacked the boys rear-end.
It got the desired affect in a startled yelp and a massive struggle to extract from bedclothes. Mixed in was a tempting selection of curses and threats with just a dab of interesting phrases. Riley was tempted to find out who exactly was teaching the boy things.
"What do you want blood breath!" the boy spat out once he was able to move without much hindrance.
"Oh you know the usual," Riley said conversationally. "World dominance, better food, who the human sleeping down the hall is."
Xander groaned and hid his face under his pillow. "Can we talk about this tomorrow?"
"No," Riley said, "Get up."
"Oh common." Xander complained, "I spent all night hunt-"
"You what!" Riley yelled his demons visage coming to the surface.
Xander squirmed away as the vampire made a grab for him. "I spent the night humming. yeah humming, no hunting here, nuh-uh no way."
"Come here." Riley growled.
"Ummm no?" Xander asked innocently making a dash for the door.
"Xander!" Riley yelled running after the boy. Xander knew that hunting, vampires and demons was forbidden. Even just to save a humans life, or even his life. Hunting was illegal by punishment of death.
"I didn't do anything wrong." Said over his shoulder shutting the door to another bedroom in Riley's face. "He's not one of us, he's alone."
Riley stopped his attempt to break down the door. "What did you say?"
"He's not from our time Ri," Xander said just in the vampires hearing level, "I saw it, he just appeared. I just couldn't."
"Xander, open the door." Riley said firmly but calmly shifting back into his human guise. Slowly the door opened and Xander looked at him wearily. Riley was sure the boy had hunted a lot over the last few years, but this was the first time he had admitted to it, the vampire didn't fault him, but the law was the law and if the boy was ever caught he would have no chose but to end his life.
Laws sucked under demons rule.
"Are you going to turn me in?" Xander asked in a small voice.
Riley shook his head and brought the boy into a tight embrace. "You have to be careful Xander." His said into his mates hair, "I don't agree with the laws either, but it wont do us any good to see you dead. We'll figure out how to correct all of this and I'd like to have you there when we do."
Xander pulled away a little and smiled slightly, "We will find away, the others would be proud of us."
"That's right," Riley agreed, "Now go back to bed, we will go through the books tomorrow."
Xander nodded and walked down the hall vanishing into his own room. Riley watched him and sighed slightly. Behind him he could here a slight shuffling behind another bed room door. He figured their guest had heard everything, but there was little Riley could do about that now.
There was little he could do now.
***
2000
Buffy and Spike were bickering again.
They never bickered about anything worth anything, but it had become so much of a habit they were hard pressed to change it. It gave them a sense of familiarity that spoke volumes about their friendship. It also showed just how much alike they really were, but would never admit to. At least not in public.
Xander figured today it was about who did what on patrol, or who went where. No one was ever too sure.
"Do they know what they are arguing about?" Sam asked watching the Slayer and the vampire fighting.
"Do we ever know?" Riley asked in return.
"Willow?" Spike suddenly asked catching a glimpse of the red head reading something from a suspicious book, "Are you casting a spell?"
Willow looked up from the corner and looked guilty for a split second before her resolve face settled over her features and she closed the book.
"Uh-huh," Spike said then turned to leave, "Xander, home by midnight."
"Cool," Xander said.
Spike rolled his eyes and walked out the door.
With a grin Xander hopped on the counter just in time for Giles to walk in. "Xander do get off of the counter."
The boy stuck his tongue out at the Ex-Watcher and jumped off the counter. "Gee G-man lighten up."
"I will not as you say 'lighten up'" Giles said snidely, "Now unless any of you have something to do here. Off with you."
Buffy scrunched up her face in disgust at some of the things around her to sell, retrieved Willow and left without a word. Sam smiled shyly and made his way behind the counter to wait the long boring hours for a customer. Xander didn't envy him in the least.
"So Ri?" Xander said leading the blond out the door "Bronze tonight?"
"How bout a movie?" Riley suggested, "We'll throw popcorn at the people that talk during the movie."
"But don't we talk during the movie?" Xander ask innocently as they moved out the door.
Giles shook his head picking up one of the boxes he hadn't seen to open before. Putting the box on a table he opened it carefully. A look of confusion set in as he lifted a small glowing ball in his hands.
"What's that?" Sam asked from behind the counter.
"I don't know," Giles said. Suddenly the ball flashed brightly, blinding the Ex-Watcher. He flinched back moving his arm to shield his eyes.
He never noticed the ball fall toward the ground.
Chapter One
Sunnydale 2000
"I can't believe he left," Willow told her best friend as both idly walked to class. "Oz was doing so well, why would he leave?"
"Wills," Xander said calmly tapping his cane on the pavement. "You know Oz has been having problems containing his inner wolf even when the moon wasn't full. He'll come back when he's ready."
"But what if he doesn't!" Willow complained, "What if he never comes back."
"I don't know," Xander admitted, "But I know you'll over come it."
***
2029
Xan glanced at the grave stone and sent a small prayer that his friend wasn't here to see what life had become. Quietly he said goodbye to her for the thousandth time and turned his attention back to the man in the strange uniform.
He was human there was no doubt about that, if his English hadn't proven that his scent certainly did. Humans had a particular smell to them, one that Xander had learned to identify over the years. At least since the disaster that made humans a precious commodity.
He was also not from here- this time period or even this Realm- that much was evident from the surprise and strange uniform. Well and the fact that no human or demon had entered or left Sunnydale in Twenty-nine years.
"And who might you be Traveler?" Xan asked good humouredly giving the man a good once over.
"Lieutenant Malcolm Reed of the Starship Enterprise NX-01" the young man said in a near salute.
"Year?" Xander asked offhandedly.
"2152."
Xander whistled, "Well let me be the first to say, this ain't it."
"Obviously," Malcolm said, "But Ummm.. Sunnydale? California?"
"Oh yeah good old Sunnyhell, land of the free reign demons and very few humans." He shrugged a little, "Not that many humans are left at all."
"What do you mean not very many humans left?" Malcolm asked. "Your human aren't you?"
"Err. no." Xander said, "Very much of the not human, actually I know very few humans, they aren't aloud to mingle with the.uh.non-human people."
"What are you might I ask?" Malcolm said.
"Vampire.just not." Xander said looking around, "Speaking of the dead, umm I'm sure a grave yard is not the place to discuss this stuff."
"I suppose not." Malcolm agreed.
Xander smiled, "Common outside isn't all that safe day or night, but it tends to be worse during the day. And I'm sure you have a ton of questions, I know I do."
"Yes I do," Malcolm agreed, "Starting with how did this happen?"
Xander sighed. "Common, sun rise is in an hour."
With that he turned and walked away without watching if the 'Space man' was following. The young man of course followed, Xander didn't blame him, he would have followed too.
"I tell you now, Lieutenant." Xander started walking threw the ruin city. "All that you see you've probably never heard of in your history, because I'm betting this never happened, or at least wasn't supposed to happen."
"I'd have to agree with you there," Malcolm said, "Although history says there was a war about this time, according to what I know it was just starting, and wouldn't progress for another twenty years."
Xander nodded, "So the Seers tell us." He turned to face the other man, "Ok but there is still something you need to know."
"What would that be?"
"Err.'The Demons Pecking Order'.Ummm see as a human, your like a house cat in the best of times and dinner at the worst. So don't go anywhere alone and don't stare at the demons and, and umm. well you get the picture don't you?"
"Yes I think I do," Malcolm said, "Basically I'm your prisoner."
"Would you rather be dinner?" Xander asked, "'Cause that can be arranged too."
Malcolm shook his head, "That's quite alright; I've had worse prison experiences."
Xander grinned, "Get in trouble a lot or just plan piss off new cultures?"
"Both," Malcolm replied. "Misunderstandings are common things when dealing with those you've never seen."
"You remind me a lot of my dad," Xander said, then frowned. "They all died you know, my friends, my family. The only one I have left is technically dead. They've been gone a long time and the only reason I can't join them is because I'm too important to die."
"That must be hard." Malcolm said.
Xander shrugged, "Yeah well I've had twenty-nine years to get used to it." He snorted, "I guess I'm as much a prisoner as you."
"Well that takes most of the resentment away." Malcolm commented.
"Ha, bloody, ha" Xander said dryly, "You so make my day with the Brit humor."
Malcolm looked at him in confusion. "That was humor?"
"It's the only British humor I know," Xander said with a shrug, "Unless you count my dad, but his was more on the morbid side."
"Oh," Malcolm said, "How did this all happen?"
Xander frowned, "Here we are," he said ignoring the question for the second time, "Just stick close and don't say or look at anyone not human and you should get through just fine."
Malcolm frowned at the door but nodded, "I understand."
Xander nodded and opened the door ushering Malcolm inside before entering himself closing the door with a loud bang.
***
2000
"I got the last box right here, G-man, where do you want it?" Xander asked caring a large box into the Magic Box, Giles' new store.
"Must I insist you not call me that?" Giles asked from his place stacking boxes.
Xander smiled brightly. "Would you rather I use on of Dads nicknames for you?"
Giles visibly winced and turned to the annoying child. "It's bad enough I can't do anything about Spike being your father, but do you have to be so happy about it?"
Xander smiled wider, "Uh-huh"
Giles groaned and muttered something in another language.
Xander mocked shock, "Mr. Rupert Giles you don't really think that do you?"
Giles glared, "I most certainly do, now off with you. You can put the box down on the counter. Go bother Angel or something."
Xander smiled happily and set the box marked 'danger' gently on the counter and skipped out of the shop right into Riley. Seconds later they were gone.
Giles just shook his head and went back to re-shelving books.
***
"By the way my names Xander," the brunette said as they walked down a long tunnel of stairs, "You can call me Xan if you want, everyone else does."
Malcolm noted the sorrow in the boy's voice, "You don't sound like you wish I called you Xan."
Xander shrugged, "old memories." He said sadly, "my dad always called me Xan, so everyone else does. It's really no big deal."
Malcolm smiled a little, "Well I must say, for one who is not human, you certainly act like one, Xander"
Xander glanced back with a smile, "Why thank you Mr. Reed. I happen to be half human."
"Half-human and half-vampire," Malcolm murmured, "that would make you a Diamphire?"
Xander nodded, "Only I don't have the demon or the bloodlust, so I'm human with vampire perks.or vampire with human perks?"
"Right," Malcolm comments and they keep walking.
Silence descends and Malcolm takes in his surroundings noting that even though the halls seem devoid of any life, it was apparent they weren't. Shadows moved when he wasn't directly looking at them and whispering could be heard all around. The little he could hear of it that was English was always the same 'it's a new one' and 'it's a human'.
Every once in a while Xander would look at the shadows and all would go silent until he turned his attention back to his walking.
Malcolm sighed, what ever all of this was he was sure this was not his past. An alternate reality was not out of the consideration of what this was, but if this was as his past was he sure as hell wanted to know what happened.
Or something like that. His head hurt every time he tried to think.
They stopped abruptly at what seemed to be two boyish looking heavily armed guards. Xander regarded them with a mild glare.
"Wot's ta password." One of the guards said in an equally boyish voice.
"Does your master know you're out here?" the boy asked in a condescending tone.
"'Course," the guard answered smoothly.
"Ooo, Zang looky Xan has an 'uman" the other guard said poking his mate. "Ooo Xanny can we keep 'em? We'll take care of 'em this time promise!"
"Yeah!" Zang exclaimed, "Me an' Zong will take good care of 'em!"
Zang and Zong turned sad eye on Xander, "Pweeze?"
The hazel eyed brunette smiled sweetly and Malcolm's head lifted in alarm as it seemed he was going to be given away to lord knew what.
"My pet," Xan said happily grabbing Zong and moved him out of the way.
"Aww," the two wined.
"None of that," Xander chide, "Come pet."
"Yes master," Malcolm said softly and obediently followed.
Once out of sight Xander turned and gave him an apologetic smile, Mal was hesitant to return one of his own.
They traveled down two move levels then abruptly came to a halt at a door seemingly made of stone. Xander drew an interesting symbol on the doors surface and watched it open of its own accord. Malcolm was ushered in quickly and Xan closed the door behind them with a loud hollow sound.
The dimly lit room reminded him vaguely of some old houses he had seen out in the grasslands of North America. There was a stairwell to the left and a hall to the right. The room they stood in was like a small waiting room, not meant for much more than waiting for the Master of the House to come greet his guest.
Although Malcolm figured Xander was the master and he was anything but the guest. He had been called a pet and humans had been referenced as pets.
How bad it had to be if the dominate species of a planet almost over night becomes another species 'house cat'"
"The 'yes master' thing was a little much." Xander commented from his position against the door, "I mean I don't even call Riley 'master'"
"Better safe then sorry," Malcolm commented. "Who's Riley?"
Xander smiled innocently, "My master?"
Malcolm raised an eyebrow.
Xander let out a big puff of breath. "Ok, he's not really my master. He was my friend before he was turned. We do the 'pretend to be submissive' to make the Big and Bad happy."
Mal blinked. Blinked again, blinked a third time and went cross-eyed. "Could you possibly say that in English?"
The boy groaned. "Riley was human, he was made into a vampire, he pretends to be my master so the bigger demons will leave me alone." He said as if talking to a child.
"That's what I thought you said."
With a growl the hazel eyed boy shot to his feet pushing the armory officer toward the stairs. Malcolm complied with him only because the sudden malice in the boys eyes reminded him of a few people he remembered never to tick off.
Mayweather when he was piloting the shuttle pod for one.
He was lead up a flight of stairs and down another long hall before Xander stopped at a large wooden door- how one got wooden doors and carpeted halls underground was anyone's guess. The door opened under the boys hand to reveal the most lavish bedroom Malcolm had ever seen.
"This will be your room," Xander said calmly, "There is a bathroom to the left, closet with cloths to the right. I don't suggest you wander out of it for now."
"Thank you," Malcolm said sincerely walking into his prison.
Xander smiled ever so slightly. "You best get some sleep. We will talk more when dusk comes."
Malcolm nodded watching as the boy shut the door. On the other side he could hear the boy turn to leave without locking the door. It showed great trust and put Malcolm's mind at ease. This wasn't really a prison, but it still might be wise to stay put. At least until he was more familiar with this place.
He might not be a prisoner, but that didn't mean everything out there was friendly.
***
Riley shut the large concrete door gently absently reading some file the new magistrate had made up. It was all very interesting and informative out lining the need for human breeding grounds to make more 'cattle' for the vamp and demons population.
Riley snorted. This one wasn't going to last long. Saceros would never allow the breeding of humans, to much was at stake. And obviously Magistrate Kalic was a young demon if he didn't remember what happened the last time a breeding program had been made. Good thing he and Xander had figured being officially mated was the best way to keep both of them alive. Especially since Xander had only been twenty-one when the majority of the humans had been.sent to a better place.
Now breeding of humans and the making of Child and Minions was strictly monitored.
Riley stopped abruptly outside one of the bedrooms not in use. He tilted his head to the side listening to the distinct sound of even breathing and a slow steady heartbeat. If he wasn't mistaken there was someone asleep in there. That someone wasn't Xander.
Slowly he pushed open the unlocked door and peered inside taking a second to adjust to the darkness. In the center of the bed lay a human male, a young one at that. He was older then Xander looked, but then again everyone looked older then the Diamphire so that didn't tell him much.
Riley carefully shut the door without rousing their guest and made his way down the hall to Xander's bedroom. As expected the boy was asleep cocooned in heavy blankets on top of the large bed. How Xander didn't smother himself Riley had yet to figure out. Carefully he made his way to the bed, stared at the peacefully sleeping face, then smiled evilly as he bent down and sharply smacked the boys rear-end.
It got the desired affect in a startled yelp and a massive struggle to extract from bedclothes. Mixed in was a tempting selection of curses and threats with just a dab of interesting phrases. Riley was tempted to find out who exactly was teaching the boy things.
"What do you want blood breath!" the boy spat out once he was able to move without much hindrance.
"Oh you know the usual," Riley said conversationally. "World dominance, better food, who the human sleeping down the hall is."
Xander groaned and hid his face under his pillow. "Can we talk about this tomorrow?"
"No," Riley said, "Get up."
"Oh common." Xander complained, "I spent all night hunt-"
"You what!" Riley yelled his demons visage coming to the surface.
Xander squirmed away as the vampire made a grab for him. "I spent the night humming. yeah humming, no hunting here, nuh-uh no way."
"Come here." Riley growled.
"Ummm no?" Xander asked innocently making a dash for the door.
"Xander!" Riley yelled running after the boy. Xander knew that hunting, vampires and demons was forbidden. Even just to save a humans life, or even his life. Hunting was illegal by punishment of death.
"I didn't do anything wrong." Said over his shoulder shutting the door to another bedroom in Riley's face. "He's not one of us, he's alone."
Riley stopped his attempt to break down the door. "What did you say?"
"He's not from our time Ri," Xander said just in the vampires hearing level, "I saw it, he just appeared. I just couldn't."
"Xander, open the door." Riley said firmly but calmly shifting back into his human guise. Slowly the door opened and Xander looked at him wearily. Riley was sure the boy had hunted a lot over the last few years, but this was the first time he had admitted to it, the vampire didn't fault him, but the law was the law and if the boy was ever caught he would have no chose but to end his life.
Laws sucked under demons rule.
"Are you going to turn me in?" Xander asked in a small voice.
Riley shook his head and brought the boy into a tight embrace. "You have to be careful Xander." His said into his mates hair, "I don't agree with the laws either, but it wont do us any good to see you dead. We'll figure out how to correct all of this and I'd like to have you there when we do."
Xander pulled away a little and smiled slightly, "We will find away, the others would be proud of us."
"That's right," Riley agreed, "Now go back to bed, we will go through the books tomorrow."
Xander nodded and walked down the hall vanishing into his own room. Riley watched him and sighed slightly. Behind him he could here a slight shuffling behind another bed room door. He figured their guest had heard everything, but there was little Riley could do about that now.
There was little he could do now.
***
2000
Buffy and Spike were bickering again.
They never bickered about anything worth anything, but it had become so much of a habit they were hard pressed to change it. It gave them a sense of familiarity that spoke volumes about their friendship. It also showed just how much alike they really were, but would never admit to. At least not in public.
Xander figured today it was about who did what on patrol, or who went where. No one was ever too sure.
"Do they know what they are arguing about?" Sam asked watching the Slayer and the vampire fighting.
"Do we ever know?" Riley asked in return.
"Willow?" Spike suddenly asked catching a glimpse of the red head reading something from a suspicious book, "Are you casting a spell?"
Willow looked up from the corner and looked guilty for a split second before her resolve face settled over her features and she closed the book.
"Uh-huh," Spike said then turned to leave, "Xander, home by midnight."
"Cool," Xander said.
Spike rolled his eyes and walked out the door.
With a grin Xander hopped on the counter just in time for Giles to walk in. "Xander do get off of the counter."
The boy stuck his tongue out at the Ex-Watcher and jumped off the counter. "Gee G-man lighten up."
"I will not as you say 'lighten up'" Giles said snidely, "Now unless any of you have something to do here. Off with you."
Buffy scrunched up her face in disgust at some of the things around her to sell, retrieved Willow and left without a word. Sam smiled shyly and made his way behind the counter to wait the long boring hours for a customer. Xander didn't envy him in the least.
"So Ri?" Xander said leading the blond out the door "Bronze tonight?"
"How bout a movie?" Riley suggested, "We'll throw popcorn at the people that talk during the movie."
"But don't we talk during the movie?" Xander ask innocently as they moved out the door.
Giles shook his head picking up one of the boxes he hadn't seen to open before. Putting the box on a table he opened it carefully. A look of confusion set in as he lifted a small glowing ball in his hands.
"What's that?" Sam asked from behind the counter.
"I don't know," Giles said. Suddenly the ball flashed brightly, blinding the Ex-Watcher. He flinched back moving his arm to shield his eyes.
He never noticed the ball fall toward the ground.