Title: Best Laid Plans.
Author: Charlie
Timeline: Post BtVS S7 (initially), later on Post AtS S5.
Summary: Xander begins a new chapter of his life.
Author Notes: Round and round, the ship goes. Where it lands, the
author doesn't know. Will it (B)uffy, (C)ordelia, (D)awn, (F)aith,
(F)red, (H)armony, (K)enndy or (W)illow that wins the Xandman?
"WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?"
Buffy flinches at the insult. She is not surprised at the tone or the wording used. She is only surprised at who her accuser is.
"I mean it, what the fuck is wrong with you?"
"Kennedy, I did some bad things before."
"Don't give me that crap. I want to know what the hell is the matter with you?"
The elder slayer was silent as Kennedy's shock turned to anger. "You used that THING to train us, you had SEX with him when we were there. You told EVERYONE that HE was the only one watching your back and he tried to RAPE YOU?"
"That was before. He has his soul now."
Kennedy's hands balled into fist, she gritted her teeth. Only a firm hand on her shoulder prevented her from jumping out the chair and hitting the other girl. Travis lightly and warmly tapped the brunette as Willow tried to reassure her.
"Buffy's had a lot of problems."
Kennedy gave her girlfriend an incredulous look.
"Buffy's had? Buffy's HAD! Excuse me, we had a RAPIST VAMPIRE living in the house with us for several months and the only defense was HE HAD HIS SOUL?"
Willow winced at her tone. She opened her mouth to speak but Angel cut off her.
"Souls aren't a guarantee against sin if the past is any indication." He said as he turned around to face the group. "I should know."
Robin had gotten on his hands and knees and was holding Faith's head in his hands. Dawn returned from the office and handed him an ice pack, which he held on Faith's forehead.
"Yeah it looks like we all managed to misjudge people in the past". He spoke while glaring at Giles. "I really don't know if I can blame Buffy for her poor judgement. It looks like she had even poorer role models."
The Englishman looked away rather then meet his gaze.
"Oh don't blame this entirely on Giles. She was a total screw up long before this. She wouldn't even TRY to stake Angelus. Buffy always put herself first." Cordelia Chase interrupted. The others looked at her, some with raised eyebrows.
"Coming from you Cordy, that's a real funny. The reigning bitch queen of Sunnydale high." Buffy shot back.
"I may have been queen of SunnyD but you were always head bitch in charge."
"You don't know what I went through Cordy. So just leave at that."
Cordelia's face grew dark. "Well here's a newsflash for you Slayer. Everyone has a rough life."
"I'm so not in the mood for this Cordy. I have to go find Xander."
The former cheerleader didn't move. "Why now? Why is finding Xander important NOW Buffy? What's so different that finding him is something YOU want to do? You didn't want to do it YESTERDAY"
The smaller blonde didn't answer.
Cordelia pressed forward "Is it because he's not 'normal' anymore, is that it?" Buffy couldn't look her friend in the face. "God you're shallow. Always fawning over guys because of their looks or because they're special." She finished with disdain in her voice.
"Isn't that what attracted you to Angel?" Fred asked.
Cordelia faltered and sadness spread across her face as she looked at other woman. Fred had recovered from the earlier admission. Now she faced down the ex-seer with a look of determination on her face.
Her lover looked on from his knees as Fred continued.
"You told me you loved Angel and wanted to be with him forever."
Cordelia's voice dropped to barely above a whisper as she replied. "Things change Fred. I changed. Angel changed. I did love Angel. I still care about him. But it's different now." She crossed her arms in front of her stomach and stared down. Fred followed her gaze; instantly regretting it as she realized what Cordelia was referring to.
After some degree of difficultly Cordelia spoke again, "I just can't keep doing this." She looked up at Fred and the others; "I made a mistake with Xander by not keeping in touch with him. I'm not going to let you go out and hurt him again."
Dawn cautiously gave the older woman a sympathetic squeeze. Wordlessly Cordelia drew Dawn into a hug that both needed. Buffy stood nearby, forearms crossed as she rubbed for warmth, watching them.
-Cleveland-
This bar was vastly different from the last one he had been in. It was decorated in more of a traditional 'bar' theme. There were a few scattered pool tables in use, lit by soft lighting and a few tables took up the remaining space. The music was a mix of country and rock tunes that seemed to alternate between melancholy, remorse and anger.
"You know this song seems to fit this particular situation in a sad sort of way."
Riley looked at his companion with his eyebrow raised.
"Well the singer you see. She's singing about being brought BACK to life that she was dead or something. It's like she's FINALLY realized that something was missing in her life."
Finn thought about that for a few seconds. "Okay that covers Buffy but what about the others?"
"It works for them too you, just step back think about it."
The former farm boy wasn't buying it, "shut up and drink your vodka. You need to get to level four of drinking. Right now you're all philosophical and crap."
Cole grinned at him. "Shows what you know. I'm not even the SLIGHTEST bit drunk right now."
Riley wasn't buying it, "You've had like 10 shots of Jack and you've drank three quarters of that bottle of vodka in front of you."
The other man waved his hand, dismissing Riley's words. "When I hung out with Lemmy, James and the rest of the boys, THIS was merely the start of a Friday. I haven't even BEGUN to get tanked, believe me. Besides, my metabolism burns this stuff off in about half an hour at most."
"Shit and here I thought all that talk about 'emptying a bar' was crap."
"No, no, I did that a few times, mostly in Boston. Great way to get a Technicolor yawn. Seriously I can eat like four large pizzas in one setting and burn it off in one day. Makes dieting and watching what I eat, a NON-issue."
"Lucky bastard."
"That's right."
"Are you sure about what you're doing? I mean this is kind of a big decision to make."
Cole's voice took on a more serious tone, "I know it is. Believe me, I'd rather not have to make it. If it were just them, I'd say hell with it and leave. But, the Hellmouth, it's the wild card in this whole thing. I don't have clue one about it."
"And what's Xander got to say about it?"
Cole lowered his head, hiding it from view with his arms and shoulders. When it came back up, it was the face of Alex Riley was staring at.
"How are you doing?"
"Fine."
"I guess he explained everything."
"Yea he did."
"You don't have to do it, you know. He would understand if you didn't."
Alex was silent for a long moment. "Do you really think he would stop trying if I said no?"
"No."
"Neither do I. If the roles were reversed, I wouldn't either. He's got a job to do and I respect that."
An uncomfortable silence followed as Alex poured himself a drink.
"So, what's the play?"
Alex didn't respond as his face changed back to the other man's. Cole frowned for a bit as he downed the glass in front of him.
"I guess that's a yes." Riley ventured.
"Yeah, look. I'm gonna need your help on this one, Cornbread."
Riley's interest peaked, "Oh really? Doing what may I ask?"
Cole looked at him with an air of amusement and regret, "doing stuff only you can do, Finn-man."
"Such as?"
His answer was a grim smile.
-Crestview faculty apartments. -
Faith paced back and forth in the gym. She was supposed to be taking things easily in the wake of her injury. However, Faith was not the type to take ANYTHING easily. The bump on her head and the manner in which she had acquired served only to piss her off further. At length she kicked the punching bag with enough force to send it swinging wildly from its chain.
"Calm down Faith."
She whirled and yelled at Wood. "Calm down? CALM DOWN! That son of a bitch dropped me on my head and all you can think of is 'calm down'?"
"It could have been worse. He could have broken your neck." Wood spoke smoothly not fazed in the least by her outburst.
"His mistake."
"Maybe. Or maybe he just doesn't think too highly of you."
"We'll see about that."
"Why did you never apologize?"
"Huh?" Faith was caught off guard.
"Why did you never apologize to Alexander for trying to kill him?"
"What is wrong with you? I got dropped on friggin head by a guy we don't know jack shit about, that's somehow 'merged bodies' with Xander and you're asking why I didn't say I was sorry?"
"Faith please. I'm trying to figure out this guy's motives and why he acts the way he does. If he did merge bodies with Xander, it stands to reason Xander's view of us may have influenced Cole's opinion of you as well. And explain why he picked you out as a target."
Faith thought about that for a bit before speaking. "It just didn't make any sense to."
"Pardon?"
"It didn't make any sense to say I'm sorry. Hell B and Red never did for all the crap they put him through."
"All the crap they put him through?" Wood was interested.
"Yeah, back in high school, when he and the queen bitch broke up over him and red smooching, B didn't seem to give a damn about him. And after they found out I tried to kill him they really didn't seem to care, even let me back into the group and everything."
"And you didn't apologize because they didn't."
Faith shrugged a 'yes'.
"Well that is interesting-" Wood's thoughts were cut off as the sound of heavy metal blasted through the school's PA speakers.
"What the hell?" He demanded.
Faith looked up at the speakers, a little surprised. "I know this song. I never knew Harmony loved Metallica."
Wood turned and looked at her before speaking, "I don't think this is Harmony doing this." Quickly they hurried to the office. They arrived the same time as Angel, Buffy, Travis and Spike reached the office. Angel opened the door and led the others inside; his eyes focused on the black office chair facing away from them. With a hint of anger in his voice Angel spoke as he approached the chair, "Harmony if this about you being not having your needs met again, this absolute worst way to get attention."
As soon as the words left his mouth Angel was hit by a familiar scent as the chair turned around and faced the group. Cole sat staring at them, unconcerned in the slightest by their presence as he spoke.
"On the contrary, I find this is the perfect way to get your attention. Play a song about puppets on strings and their puppet master and you come running like a well heeled dog."
His voice carried a hint of amusement. "I especially like this part 'Come crawling faster/Obey your Master Your life burns faster/Obey your Master'. Seems kind of fitting where you two are concerned."
Spike growled as he stepped closer to him, "Listen mate, I ain't nobody's little doll to be toyed with."
In a flash, Cole was out of the chair and had snatched Angel and Spike around the throats. Effortlessly he lifted the two vampires until each was about a foot off the ground. He spoke with a calm, malevolent voice that shook both vampires.
"No, you're wrong, leech. As of this moment, your lives are MINE. Your continued existence is dependent on NOT pissing me off. I am content to let you exist for now, If you so much as spit in my direction, you will both be dust in the wind. Is that clear?" He tightened his grip around their throats; somehow Spike and Angel managed to nod.
"Good." He released both of them and walked past them and the others. He was headed off campus when Buffy finally caught up with him. After a half dozen fruitless attempts at calling his name, she finally grabbed his arm in the midst of a wide-open yard between buildings. Several dozen young slayers had come outside to see what was going on.
"Listen you, what the hell is your problem?"
"My problem? My problems are YOUR problems slayer."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Why don't you try using that head of yours and THINK about it."
"I'd rather just kick your ass and make you tell me."
"Oh is that right. You need a lesson like the one I taught the Southie?"
"Kick his ass B."
Buffy said nothing and took up a stance.
He shook his head, "very well I shall teach you too a lesson in the art of fighting."
Buffy set her feet and dashed in, throwing a barrage of punches and kicks. Cole managed to block most of them but a few got through including one that grazed his jaw
"Not bad. Not very good but not bad at all".
The blonde slayer grew angrier and snap kicked him in the knee, dropping him down a bit. She spun and delivered a roundhouse kick to his chin and was rewarded with a satisfying 'pop' and a thin trail of blood from his mouth. But his eyes told a different story as he stood up again and looked down on her.
"Nice kick little girl. Too bad that's all you got."
Buffy moved to attack him again only to be front kicked in the stomach. All the air left her lungs as she collapsed. Cole moved in, grabbed her hair and lifted her to face him. She was still trying to regain her breath when he head-butted her and knocked her to the ground again. With a businesslike attitude, he helped her to her feet and put her head between his legs. Then he reached down and grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her up until his head was between legs Smiling he slammed her into the ground. Buffy folded up on impact as her shoulders and back absorbed most of the blow but she was still stunned.
Cole knelt down next to her, an unreadable look on his face as he spoke. "Now you see the difference between us. I am as far beyond you as you are beyond the vampires. Do not challenge me a second time Slayer, you will lose and this time it will be you in the coma."
Having said his peace, Cole turned and looked at the congregated students. Smiling he addressed them, "Move along, nothing to see here, back to your classes children."
He walked away leaving a very confused, and angry Slayer lying stunned along with several of her companions.
Author: Charlie
Timeline: Post BtVS S7 (initially), later on Post AtS S5.
Summary: Xander begins a new chapter of his life.
Author Notes: Round and round, the ship goes. Where it lands, the
author doesn't know. Will it (B)uffy, (C)ordelia, (D)awn, (F)aith,
(F)red, (H)armony, (K)enndy or (W)illow that wins the Xandman?
"WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?"
Buffy flinches at the insult. She is not surprised at the tone or the wording used. She is only surprised at who her accuser is.
"I mean it, what the fuck is wrong with you?"
"Kennedy, I did some bad things before."
"Don't give me that crap. I want to know what the hell is the matter with you?"
The elder slayer was silent as Kennedy's shock turned to anger. "You used that THING to train us, you had SEX with him when we were there. You told EVERYONE that HE was the only one watching your back and he tried to RAPE YOU?"
"That was before. He has his soul now."
Kennedy's hands balled into fist, she gritted her teeth. Only a firm hand on her shoulder prevented her from jumping out the chair and hitting the other girl. Travis lightly and warmly tapped the brunette as Willow tried to reassure her.
"Buffy's had a lot of problems."
Kennedy gave her girlfriend an incredulous look.
"Buffy's had? Buffy's HAD! Excuse me, we had a RAPIST VAMPIRE living in the house with us for several months and the only defense was HE HAD HIS SOUL?"
Willow winced at her tone. She opened her mouth to speak but Angel cut off her.
"Souls aren't a guarantee against sin if the past is any indication." He said as he turned around to face the group. "I should know."
Robin had gotten on his hands and knees and was holding Faith's head in his hands. Dawn returned from the office and handed him an ice pack, which he held on Faith's forehead.
"Yeah it looks like we all managed to misjudge people in the past". He spoke while glaring at Giles. "I really don't know if I can blame Buffy for her poor judgement. It looks like she had even poorer role models."
The Englishman looked away rather then meet his gaze.
"Oh don't blame this entirely on Giles. She was a total screw up long before this. She wouldn't even TRY to stake Angelus. Buffy always put herself first." Cordelia Chase interrupted. The others looked at her, some with raised eyebrows.
"Coming from you Cordy, that's a real funny. The reigning bitch queen of Sunnydale high." Buffy shot back.
"I may have been queen of SunnyD but you were always head bitch in charge."
"You don't know what I went through Cordy. So just leave at that."
Cordelia's face grew dark. "Well here's a newsflash for you Slayer. Everyone has a rough life."
"I'm so not in the mood for this Cordy. I have to go find Xander."
The former cheerleader didn't move. "Why now? Why is finding Xander important NOW Buffy? What's so different that finding him is something YOU want to do? You didn't want to do it YESTERDAY"
The smaller blonde didn't answer.
Cordelia pressed forward "Is it because he's not 'normal' anymore, is that it?" Buffy couldn't look her friend in the face. "God you're shallow. Always fawning over guys because of their looks or because they're special." She finished with disdain in her voice.
"Isn't that what attracted you to Angel?" Fred asked.
Cordelia faltered and sadness spread across her face as she looked at other woman. Fred had recovered from the earlier admission. Now she faced down the ex-seer with a look of determination on her face.
Her lover looked on from his knees as Fred continued.
"You told me you loved Angel and wanted to be with him forever."
Cordelia's voice dropped to barely above a whisper as she replied. "Things change Fred. I changed. Angel changed. I did love Angel. I still care about him. But it's different now." She crossed her arms in front of her stomach and stared down. Fred followed her gaze; instantly regretting it as she realized what Cordelia was referring to.
After some degree of difficultly Cordelia spoke again, "I just can't keep doing this." She looked up at Fred and the others; "I made a mistake with Xander by not keeping in touch with him. I'm not going to let you go out and hurt him again."
Dawn cautiously gave the older woman a sympathetic squeeze. Wordlessly Cordelia drew Dawn into a hug that both needed. Buffy stood nearby, forearms crossed as she rubbed for warmth, watching them.
-Cleveland-
This bar was vastly different from the last one he had been in. It was decorated in more of a traditional 'bar' theme. There were a few scattered pool tables in use, lit by soft lighting and a few tables took up the remaining space. The music was a mix of country and rock tunes that seemed to alternate between melancholy, remorse and anger.
"You know this song seems to fit this particular situation in a sad sort of way."
Riley looked at his companion with his eyebrow raised.
"Well the singer you see. She's singing about being brought BACK to life that she was dead or something. It's like she's FINALLY realized that something was missing in her life."
Finn thought about that for a few seconds. "Okay that covers Buffy but what about the others?"
"It works for them too you, just step back think about it."
The former farm boy wasn't buying it, "shut up and drink your vodka. You need to get to level four of drinking. Right now you're all philosophical and crap."
Cole grinned at him. "Shows what you know. I'm not even the SLIGHTEST bit drunk right now."
Riley wasn't buying it, "You've had like 10 shots of Jack and you've drank three quarters of that bottle of vodka in front of you."
The other man waved his hand, dismissing Riley's words. "When I hung out with Lemmy, James and the rest of the boys, THIS was merely the start of a Friday. I haven't even BEGUN to get tanked, believe me. Besides, my metabolism burns this stuff off in about half an hour at most."
"Shit and here I thought all that talk about 'emptying a bar' was crap."
"No, no, I did that a few times, mostly in Boston. Great way to get a Technicolor yawn. Seriously I can eat like four large pizzas in one setting and burn it off in one day. Makes dieting and watching what I eat, a NON-issue."
"Lucky bastard."
"That's right."
"Are you sure about what you're doing? I mean this is kind of a big decision to make."
Cole's voice took on a more serious tone, "I know it is. Believe me, I'd rather not have to make it. If it were just them, I'd say hell with it and leave. But, the Hellmouth, it's the wild card in this whole thing. I don't have clue one about it."
"And what's Xander got to say about it?"
Cole lowered his head, hiding it from view with his arms and shoulders. When it came back up, it was the face of Alex Riley was staring at.
"How are you doing?"
"Fine."
"I guess he explained everything."
"Yea he did."
"You don't have to do it, you know. He would understand if you didn't."
Alex was silent for a long moment. "Do you really think he would stop trying if I said no?"
"No."
"Neither do I. If the roles were reversed, I wouldn't either. He's got a job to do and I respect that."
An uncomfortable silence followed as Alex poured himself a drink.
"So, what's the play?"
Alex didn't respond as his face changed back to the other man's. Cole frowned for a bit as he downed the glass in front of him.
"I guess that's a yes." Riley ventured.
"Yeah, look. I'm gonna need your help on this one, Cornbread."
Riley's interest peaked, "Oh really? Doing what may I ask?"
Cole looked at him with an air of amusement and regret, "doing stuff only you can do, Finn-man."
"Such as?"
His answer was a grim smile.
-Crestview faculty apartments. -
Faith paced back and forth in the gym. She was supposed to be taking things easily in the wake of her injury. However, Faith was not the type to take ANYTHING easily. The bump on her head and the manner in which she had acquired served only to piss her off further. At length she kicked the punching bag with enough force to send it swinging wildly from its chain.
"Calm down Faith."
She whirled and yelled at Wood. "Calm down? CALM DOWN! That son of a bitch dropped me on my head and all you can think of is 'calm down'?"
"It could have been worse. He could have broken your neck." Wood spoke smoothly not fazed in the least by her outburst.
"His mistake."
"Maybe. Or maybe he just doesn't think too highly of you."
"We'll see about that."
"Why did you never apologize?"
"Huh?" Faith was caught off guard.
"Why did you never apologize to Alexander for trying to kill him?"
"What is wrong with you? I got dropped on friggin head by a guy we don't know jack shit about, that's somehow 'merged bodies' with Xander and you're asking why I didn't say I was sorry?"
"Faith please. I'm trying to figure out this guy's motives and why he acts the way he does. If he did merge bodies with Xander, it stands to reason Xander's view of us may have influenced Cole's opinion of you as well. And explain why he picked you out as a target."
Faith thought about that for a bit before speaking. "It just didn't make any sense to."
"Pardon?"
"It didn't make any sense to say I'm sorry. Hell B and Red never did for all the crap they put him through."
"All the crap they put him through?" Wood was interested.
"Yeah, back in high school, when he and the queen bitch broke up over him and red smooching, B didn't seem to give a damn about him. And after they found out I tried to kill him they really didn't seem to care, even let me back into the group and everything."
"And you didn't apologize because they didn't."
Faith shrugged a 'yes'.
"Well that is interesting-" Wood's thoughts were cut off as the sound of heavy metal blasted through the school's PA speakers.
"What the hell?" He demanded.
Faith looked up at the speakers, a little surprised. "I know this song. I never knew Harmony loved Metallica."
Wood turned and looked at her before speaking, "I don't think this is Harmony doing this." Quickly they hurried to the office. They arrived the same time as Angel, Buffy, Travis and Spike reached the office. Angel opened the door and led the others inside; his eyes focused on the black office chair facing away from them. With a hint of anger in his voice Angel spoke as he approached the chair, "Harmony if this about you being not having your needs met again, this absolute worst way to get attention."
As soon as the words left his mouth Angel was hit by a familiar scent as the chair turned around and faced the group. Cole sat staring at them, unconcerned in the slightest by their presence as he spoke.
"On the contrary, I find this is the perfect way to get your attention. Play a song about puppets on strings and their puppet master and you come running like a well heeled dog."
His voice carried a hint of amusement. "I especially like this part 'Come crawling faster/Obey your Master Your life burns faster/Obey your Master'. Seems kind of fitting where you two are concerned."
Spike growled as he stepped closer to him, "Listen mate, I ain't nobody's little doll to be toyed with."
In a flash, Cole was out of the chair and had snatched Angel and Spike around the throats. Effortlessly he lifted the two vampires until each was about a foot off the ground. He spoke with a calm, malevolent voice that shook both vampires.
"No, you're wrong, leech. As of this moment, your lives are MINE. Your continued existence is dependent on NOT pissing me off. I am content to let you exist for now, If you so much as spit in my direction, you will both be dust in the wind. Is that clear?" He tightened his grip around their throats; somehow Spike and Angel managed to nod.
"Good." He released both of them and walked past them and the others. He was headed off campus when Buffy finally caught up with him. After a half dozen fruitless attempts at calling his name, she finally grabbed his arm in the midst of a wide-open yard between buildings. Several dozen young slayers had come outside to see what was going on.
"Listen you, what the hell is your problem?"
"My problem? My problems are YOUR problems slayer."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Why don't you try using that head of yours and THINK about it."
"I'd rather just kick your ass and make you tell me."
"Oh is that right. You need a lesson like the one I taught the Southie?"
"Kick his ass B."
Buffy said nothing and took up a stance.
He shook his head, "very well I shall teach you too a lesson in the art of fighting."
Buffy set her feet and dashed in, throwing a barrage of punches and kicks. Cole managed to block most of them but a few got through including one that grazed his jaw
"Not bad. Not very good but not bad at all".
The blonde slayer grew angrier and snap kicked him in the knee, dropping him down a bit. She spun and delivered a roundhouse kick to his chin and was rewarded with a satisfying 'pop' and a thin trail of blood from his mouth. But his eyes told a different story as he stood up again and looked down on her.
"Nice kick little girl. Too bad that's all you got."
Buffy moved to attack him again only to be front kicked in the stomach. All the air left her lungs as she collapsed. Cole moved in, grabbed her hair and lifted her to face him. She was still trying to regain her breath when he head-butted her and knocked her to the ground again. With a businesslike attitude, he helped her to her feet and put her head between his legs. Then he reached down and grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her up until his head was between legs Smiling he slammed her into the ground. Buffy folded up on impact as her shoulders and back absorbed most of the blow but she was still stunned.
Cole knelt down next to her, an unreadable look on his face as he spoke. "Now you see the difference between us. I am as far beyond you as you are beyond the vampires. Do not challenge me a second time Slayer, you will lose and this time it will be you in the coma."
Having said his peace, Cole turned and looked at the congregated students. Smiling he addressed them, "Move along, nothing to see here, back to your classes children."
He walked away leaving a very confused, and angry Slayer lying stunned along with several of her companions.