Mathais: *smiles* Hi!
Chibi Anzu: Welcome again.
Shinkaa: FFX-2 is very easy to get into.
Mathais: Disclaimers are in the previous chapter.
Chibi Anzu: Slash becomes very prominent in this chapter, along with maybe one unconventional fling.
Shinkaa: Please, read on.
Mathais: Oh! This is AU post-Season 3. This is all the in-depth knowledge we have of Buffy because it was lost track of after Graduation. Nothing in Season 4 onwards happens. No Dawn, Initiative, Riley, Spike (good at least), Faith (still in coma), Tara, etc. Willow is still semi-witchy, Buffy isn't really bitchy, maybe a little bit of Ripper on Giles's part, but not much, Oz's still here, but Angel is also happening.
Chibi Anzu: I think that pretty much covers it. Please, continue.
* * * * * * *
Xander continued onward in Mountain Blaster, the scenery billowing past him. He was going just at the speed limit, something that his old car wouldn't allow. Oh, how he wished he could just Shift into Turbo and fly by, but he couldn't. The police would catch him since he was sure that the police force out here was a lot better than the Sunnydale police squad that was paid to be ignorant of its night life.
He had traveled all through the day and night, hoping that the signal for Adam and Tanya would appear soon. Kat had teleported to him the Turbo Navigator, which he changed the setting to look for latent Powers. So far, he got maybe a faint signal, too far to even distinguish what color it was. Resigning as the adrenaline from finding out his past and having his latent Power flare wore off, Xander pulled into the next decent roadside motel he found.
Xander picked through his cash and was surprised when he found an envelope of money stashed in his jacket pocket. Damn, have to work on my noticing skills again. Inside was a note from Tommy, explaining that he needed this more than those behind did. Thank you Tommy and your leader foresight. It comes in handy.
Paying the person at the desk, Xander obtained his key and headed into his room. Already having eaten, Xander took a nice shower and dressed in a pair of blue night shorts. With that, he fell into the bed and the toll of being awake so long fell upon him. His last thought before he drifted off asleep was this. I really need to work on my sleep schedule.
* * * * * * *
The first thing that Justin knew when he opened his eyes was that he was staring into the eyes of someone other than him.
"Who are you?" Xander hissed.
Justin Stewart blinked in shock as he touched his face. His face, not the one of Alexander Harris.
"Who are you?" He growled again, brown hair waving from the force that he shook his head.
Thirteen-year-old Justin stared up at the much taller male. "The name's Justin, Xander.
"Why did you suddenly take over my body?" On the spirit plain, Xander was dressed in a white shirt with a brown overcoat and some jeans. The man liked it that way. Justin was in a button-up blue shirt, left unbuttoned, and some brown pants. The two were on a simple field, but Xander focused and the two were suddenly sitting on chairs in the Sunnydale library - before it blew up.
Feeling slightly uncomfortable in the chair of the library, Justin peered over the stacks of books as Xander sat, leveling a stare at him. "Why did you take over my body?"
"I think our body is more appropriate." Justin replied mildly.
"Our body?" Xander screamed, anger being the primary emotion. "It's my body."
Chuckling his tongue softly, Justin smiled with the childishness of a thirteen-year-old, but with the razor-sharp edge only a Ranger could produce. "C'mon Xander, I know that you are a lot better than that."
Resigning, Xander sat down with a thump after he had gotten up to yell at Justin. "Then what is happening?"
"I was... err... reborn," Justin replied, phrasing carefully, "into a new body. You were there to keep me from awakening." The child genius knew that he should have been more vague - Xander had caught on already.
"So I'm some kind of pseudo-spirit? I shouldn't even exist?" The man's voice bordered on hysterical and Justin raised his right hand to make him stop, but then Xander jerked to the left as if slapped. With wide eyes, the Blue Ranger stared down at his hands.
"What the fuck was that?" Justin whispered.
Xander waggled a finger and in a mock-teasing tone answered. "Don't swear, you're still a kid."
"I'm 31 technically." Justin shot back, the shock of the power fading away slightly. "I think it might have to do with the Hellmouth's effects on my latent Powers."
"So you're going all witchy-like like Will?" Xander paused. "Or is it warlocky-like? Either way, cool."
"You're supposed to be mad at me, remember?" Justin reminded the other male, half-amused.
"That slap was more than enough to make me remember something." The man gave a small sigh. "I can't blame you... Cause I just got a flash of your memories."
Justin sat straighter, alarmed.
"I know all about Tempus." Xander's eyes darkened. "Damn, sent a lot of people running for a trip."
"As you know, I'm looking for two more people. Adam and Tanya." Justin sighed again, something that shouldn't be done by a thirteen-year-old. "Maybe once all this shit is over, you can go back to being Xander with none the wiser." A small smirk came upon his face. "You also can keep the muscles and fighting knowledge."
The teen's eyes brightened. "Cool. But what about the magic thing?"
Justin shrugged. "We listened to all of Willow's lessons. I'm sure that I could manage. Besides, they're only slightly mutated." Almost unperceivably, he whispered, "I hope."
Apparently, Xander's senses were a bit more acute than Justin thought. "Don't hope, do."
With a slight smile, Justin nodded. "Yeah."
"So, can you create flame?" The boy opened his hands and a small fire appeared. "Cool!"
"I guess Willow pleading for us to watch her in magic lessons helped." Justin smiled wryly.
"Yeah." Xander paused. "It's time to wake up. It's almost morning."
Justin blinked just as everything faded.
* * * * * * *
Xander woke up, just as the sunlight finally broke through the measly curtains. He rubbed his head. Why does it feel like I have a hangover?
[The mental plain does that to you.] A voice said in his head, amused.
Startled, Xander looked around for the voice, but he couldn't find it.
[That's because I'm Xander. Call me Alex; it's easier when we refer to the body as Xander.]
[Okay, major weirdness.] Justin grumbled after he made Xander close his eyes.
[I guess me can both control Xander, since we are separate people.] Alex answered, amused to no end.
[Fine, but I'm taking control right now.] Justin returned to the outside world.
Xander opened his eyes and packed his things. He left then, heading for his car.
[Mountain Blaster is a cool car.] Alex remarked.
[I always thought so too.] Justin answered. Xander started the car and pulled it out of the parking lot. He cruised along, humming a song under his breath.
[That machine thingy is beeping.] Alex spoke up after about an hour.
Surprised, Xander turned to the Turbo Navigator.
[It is! There's a Power nearby! A green one!]
[How near?] Alex asked suspiciously, the symbols on the machine unknown to him.
Xander's mouth formed a pout. [A while away.] Justin sent back.
[Will we get there soon?]
[At this rate, if we push the pedal all day.]
[Geez.] Alex grumbled.
[We'll just eat a lot at dinner, that's all.]
Sighing, Alex reluctantly agreed.
Xander continued along the road, just going 1MPH below the limit. He hummed a silly tune as he drove, one that was comforting and out-of-the-world - literally.
[Are we there yet?] Alex asked childishly.
Justin would have shot the man a glare if he could. [No.]
Five minutes passed.
[Are we there yet?]
[No.]
Fast forward six minutes later.
[Are we-]
[If you dare ask me one more time, I'm taking us into the nearest gay club at sundown and getting laid.]
That shut Alex up.
[We're gay?]
[Bi - I think. I'm gay, I'm sure of it.] Justin replied.
[I think I'm straight, though I do realize I've been ogling some people. If you grew up a bit, you'd be delicious.] Justin could hear Alex practically licking his lips.
[Okay then.]
Silence. Seven minutes passed before anything happened.
[Are we there yet?]
Xander nearly crashed Mountain Blaster. The only thing that saved them was Mountain Blaster's protection systems and Alex shoving Justin out of Xander's hypothetical driver's seat and taking control.
[Justin!] He screamed.
[I told you I was annoyed.] Justin replied irritably.
[At least drive and I won't bother you again. I don't know Mountain Blaster's controls!]
Grudgingly, Justin did so.
Justin drove all day and Xander kept adjusting the Turbo Navigator, obtaining more detailed maps each time.
At last, they stopped at one of the big cities.
"Las Vegas." Xander grinned.
[Where are we going?] Alex asked.
[Nearest gay club. I need to unwind.] Justin replied.
[WHAT?] Alex yelled.
[Really.] Justin pleaded. [Just this once? I wasn't joking earlier.]
Alex sighed briefly. [As long as you stay in control the whole time.]
Justin smirked. [Just sit back and feel.]
Xander got the location of the nearest club from a couple going there. As he followed them, the two men stirred up a nice chat. Their names were Greg and Nick and apparently they were regulars. Xander sighed. Too bad they're taken.
Xander drifted past the bouncer easily with Greg and Nick's help. Inside, the music pounded hard - just the way Justin liked it. [Are you sure you don't want to come out?]
[Sure.] Alex sent back.
The teen waded into the mass of men and woman dancing, not doubting that all the people groping him were men and maybe a few bi women.
He finally made it to a seat, collapsing in it. He breathed in the scent of alcohol for a moment before he opened his eyes. Another man was standing over him, somewhat familiar, though Xander couldn't place it. "Need a drink?"
Xander shook his head. "Underage."
"No one has to know." Glancing dubiously at the glass, Xander held it in two fingers before throwing his head back and downing the tequila in one shot.
The man whistled. "You sure you're not underage?"
"Sure." Xander smiled a smile that made the man feel like melting in a puddle of goo. "Name's Xander. Thanks for the drink."
"Name's Robert." He took a sip of his drink, clearly nursing it. "Never seen a first timer down one of those so quick."
"First time for everything." Xander smirked. In truth, it was the Power helping him. It kept the stuff down and helped fight the intoxication. With Rangers, it's very clear that one would probably fill their bladder before becoming any more than a little drunk.
Robert quickly downed his drink. "Want to dance?"
"Yeah." Xander stood as the other man led him through the crowd, moving to the music. The sounds flowed into his blood as the tight press shoved the two together. Hips grinding as the two weaved in and out; Xander felt the heat kick up a notch when he brushed against the tight shirt that Robert wore, peaking a nipple there. Robert groaned, pressing his lips to Xander's neck. The almost adult smiled as he lightly licked Robert's earlobe, grinding their hips together even harder.
"You'd better deliver on that." Robert gasped.
"I plan on it." Xander flashed a smile as Robert dragged the younger man toward the door for the stairs where rooms for the night were rented out.
* * * * * * *
With bleary eyes, Xander woke up.
[What the fuck happened last night?] Justin asked.
[We had sex.] Alex said bluntly, though there was a kind of relief in it.
Justin managed to get his bearings straight. [So we're not virgins?]
[Nope.] Alex replied semi-cheerfully.
Xander sighed as he stood, putting on his clothing. He could take a shower at the nearest hotel if he wanted to. Halfway to putting on a blue sweatshirt, Xander froze. This wasn't the exact same man that he slept with before. No, he looked more familiar. When he placed a memory to the face, there was only one word he could say. "Shit."
Robert breathed softly as he slept; unaware of what was going on.
[What's going on?] Alex asked, feeling a flash of surprise from Justin.
Justin didn't answer as he made Xander shake Robert. "Wake up. Wake up, it's morning."
"Five more minutes Justin." Robert muttered as he turned over. Not a second later, he bolted upright. "Justin?"
"Hey Adam." Xander smiled softly.
Robert/Adam shook his head. "But I'm Robert... and Adam... Fuck." The man placed his hand to his head. "Tempus really messed with me." He looked up and blushed lightly. "Does that mean?"
"I knew what I was doing." Xander confirmed.
"Oh god." Robert/Adam shook his head.
Alex reminded Justin of something. "Adam? Is Robert still in there?"
Adam merely cocked his head to the side, the blanket falling away. "No, we're one. Is there a problem?"
"Not really." Xander shook his head. "But maybe you want to get some clothing on."
Blushing brightly, Adam turned as Xander tapped his communicator. "Xander here."
"What's your status?" Tommy's voice came over the communicator.
"I found Adam." He glanced sideways at the still dressing man. "I'll go looking for Tanya soon."
"Please hurry." Tommy almost pleaded. "Divatox just stepped up the attacks. They're happening every three days now."
Xander swore, which caught the attention of Adam.
"Tommy?" Adam tentatively asked.
"Adam!" Tommy shouted, surprised.
"We'll get back as soon as we find Tanya, break Tempus's spell, and return to our lives." Adam promised.
"Okay. Call me back in a day." Tommy turned away and the communication clicked close.
The two smiled briefly to each other, though their eyes didn't touch.
"Give me a day to cut all my ties and I'll be with you." Adam spoke, pain lacing his voice.
"A day." Xander agreed, slightly horrified that he hadn't done that.
The two parted, Xander for Mountain Blaster and Adam for his home.
The man closed his eyes and sighed when he reached his car. Please let this be over soon.
* * * * * * *
Mathais: *sighs* Done!
Chibi Anzu: Now we get to work on other stuff!
Shinkaa: The author isn't working on any crossovers just yet.
Chibi Anzu: *pouts* His beta is pressuring him for his orig, ya know.
Mathais: Okay!
Shinkaa: *brushes the other two off* The next chapter will be a bit short also, but eventful.
Chibi Anzu: *smirks a smirk that shouldn't be worn by a chibi* You'll be very surprised at who Tanya is.
Mathais: If you can guess, you get a cookie.
Shinkaa: We'll also try to develop the Xander-Justin/Adam relationship also.
Mathais: But for now, bye!
