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?
Cole yawned as he entered his 'new' home. He plopped down on black leather couch of his 'living room'. It had been a fairly long day, getting up before 7:00 am and then roaming the sewers, cemeteries and other places where things of the dark hid by day. Still, hunting by daylight had been a practice he adopted long ago. One reinforced by spending time with Riley and hearing the mantra of 'the enemy attacks on two occasions when he's ready and you're not' again. His eyes traced the layout and appearance of his current abode as he rested.
The price had been just right and the former owners had been very easy to negotiate with. Of course the fact that the former owners were a wannabe demon crime lord and his vampire underlings, all of whom were dead, didn't hurt either. The hardest part had been the clean up afterward, cleaning the blood, sweeping away the piles of ash. The bullet holes he didn't bother with. Disposing of the bodies had been as simple as throwing them into a nearby furnace after dismembering them.
No, the real tricky part had been settling on a 'look' for the place. Then procuring the furniture and equipment quietly followed by moving in. That it had to be done with out alerting the slayer and her companions had been the real stretch.
Running a hand through his hair, he took a deep breath and then frowned as a familiar and unwelcome scent assaulted his nose. The other man seeing no point in concealing himself further stepped into view and addressed him.
"Hey kid."
"Well if it isn't the bane of my refrigerator, hello Whistler. I take it this isn't a social call."
"No it isn't."
"Okay, what's on the docket then? Apocalypse? Rampaging demon hordes? Crazed nuns armed with bleach filled water pistols?"
The balance demon sighed, "No Apocalypse. No out of control demon hordes. Just you."
"Me?"
"Yeah, you. Or rather a promise you made."
Cole's face darkened. "I've kept my word. I do my job and I don't complain about it."
"Have you? You were brought here with a specific purpose."
"Which was rendered moot BEFORE I even got here."
"True the original mission was different. Nonetheless, you sworn an oath to see it done."
"And I am. Nothing has happened to them. I killed the only serious threat to them, remember."
"No you didn't kill it. You replaced it."
Cole sat back, a surprised look on his face. "Say WHAT?"
"Look junior, you saved their lives all well and good. But since the moment that demon died, you've turned into a first rate asshole, beaten the shit out of two of them, intimidated the vamps and generally wreaked havoc with how the younger slayers view them."
"And?"
"And what? Don't you get it? You're acting more like an outcast then a hero."
"IamNOTaHero. I'm not even the best man in my own BODY."
Whistler remained silent as the young man got up and began pacing. "So I beat the shit out of two slayers and scared a couple of leeches. Did it ever occur to the PTB that MAYBE, they deserved it?"
The balance demon looked at him curiously as he continued. "I mean the Southie, the psycho bitch from Boston. Me beating the crap out of those things turned her on. And the other one, She's even sicker. Did you know she got aroused by me hitting her? I mean Christ. "
He turned around and looked at Whistler. "I was expecting a lot of reactions by not to have them TURNED ON for God's sake. Do you have any idea how disturbing it was to learn that two chosen champions were THAT screwed up?"
"And you're sure about this?"
"Yes I'm sure, I smelled it on both of them. The Southie would have done me right in front of them if I had tried."
"So you assaulted both of them but why?"
"To try and jar them back into reality. Of Course little did I realize that little miss blonde gets off on that sort of thing. She was a necrophiliac and now she's just plain sick. It's no wonder that her sister idolizes a dead girl that she barely knew for more then two years. Anything would have preferable to that."
Whistler was silent as he looked at the young man in front of him. He pondered several courses of action before speaking.
"Cole, no is asking that you be a savior here. All they're asking is you be you."
The young man didn't look convinced at Whistler's words. With a sigh, the balance demon reached into his pocket and removed something. He tossed it to the human. "Here."
Cole easily caught the object and casually glanced down at it. He stiffened as he recognized it immediately and looked up to see the balance demon headed towards the door. Whistler paused before he left, "Remember what we talked about and think on it okay?"
Cole nodded.
Later as he examined himself in the mirror after his shower, he replayed the conversation over in his head. His eyes lingered on the markings on his chest, the scars of his life and symbols of the man he once was.
'Fuu Rin Ka Zan.' Words to live by.
The hard driving sound of guitars playing filled the room as he picked up the object Whistler had left behind. It was a smooth; stone layered with shades of blue and white, no larger then a tennis ball. Silently he remembered the first time he had seen the stone.
Flashback
"I am SO dead."
Quickly he ditched his bike and made his way around to the back of the older manor house. Cole found who he was looking for waiting patiently on the back porch. Gulping he spoke nervously. "Hi, I'm here."
"I can see that. I take it you enjoyed your little Friday night trip to see that Jedi movie?"
"Yeah, it was great. It's the last one you know, the last part of the trilogy."
"I see. And was this one longer then the others?"
"A little longer ma'am."
"I see. And that is the reason that you proved unable to keep your promise to be here promptly at dawn. Instead here it is nearly ten o'clock and you are just now arriving." She spoke sharply towards him.
Cole fidgeted as he stared down at his feet briefly before he apologized. "I'm sorry ma'am. I was selfish and I didn't think or act responsibly last night."
The woman waited for a few minutes, reading her charge's face as shame and disappointment washed over it.
"Did they kill the emperor?"
He looked up at her confused.
"The Emperor? Did they kill him?"
"Yes. Yes ma'am they did. They killed and the galaxy was saved."
"Good I am glad to that the good guys did indeed win in the end." She smiled warmly at him as she continued. "I am not without a sense of humor, Cole. I was once your age and I understand a little some of what you are experiencing. But you must not abandon your responsibilities. You have chosen a different path then the others around you. A path that is not easily traveled especially when you are late for appointments."
"Yes ma'am." He breathed a sigh of relief.
"Good now climb the pole."
"What?" He looked around before spotting a tall wooden pole close by the house. Blinking he started looking around for something to use.
"Don't waste time looking for the ladder. Just climb the pole."
"Yes ma'am."
He jumped and clasped his hands around the pole only to slide back down. Near the bottom he jerked his hand away from the pole and yelped in pain.
"Ow. Splinter."
Determined he jumped higher and firmly grasped the pole. He managed to brace himself by placing one foot against the pole and one against the house. Cole managed to work his way to the top of the pole. He stopped as he reached the top and looked down at her confused.
"Well what are you waiting for. Get on the pole."
Nodding he clambered to the top of the pole, only to find there was only enough room for him to stand on one foot. Balancing uncertainly, he looked down only to find her missing. Cole wondered what was going on for a few minutes before he heard someone in the room across from him. He noted for the first time, a window was level with the pole. As he watched the window opened and his instructor smiled at him.
"Comfortable?"
"Um. No."
She nodded before handing him two books. Somewhat awkwardly he took them, trying not to fall down as he did so. With some trepidation he opened one of them only to discover it wasn't in English.
"What the?"
"It's Latin."
Confused he opened the other book and was surprised to see it was a Latin to English dictionary. He looked at her expectedly.
"Your task this day is to translate and read the story I have marked."
"But it's not in English."
"And I have given you a dictionary to help you translate it."
He looked down at the ground with some unease. "I could fall."
"Then I guess you'll just have to be careful."
Smiling she shut the door as Cole looked downcast.
Sometime later, She heard Cole calling out her name. The woman composed herself as to not appear to eager before approaching the window. She found him looking a little sad still standing on the pole with the books under his right arm.
"Finished?"
He nodded.
"Then come inside."
He tensed and then jumped managing to dive through the open window. Cole rolled as he landed and then popped up, turned around and handed the books to her. She placed the books on a nearby table.
"Come with me Cole, I'll fix us something to drink."
Downstairs she observed the young teenager over her cup of tea. He appeared somewhat sad and confused at the same time.
"Is there something bothering you Cole?"
He reluctantly answered. "Yeah, Why did you make me read that story? It was very um... sad."
"Is that how you felt reading that story? Sad?"
"Yeah."
"Tell me Cole, How is it that when I left you, you knew not a single word of Latin and were worried about falling yet when I returned you are sad because of a story written in a language that is older then you?"
"I don't know, Ms Post."
She sipped her tea letting him think before responding. "You are an extraordinary young man, Cole Rayne and you have been placed in an extraordinary situation."
"I don't feel extraordinary, I mean, aside from the obvious."
"Cole, today you managed to translate a language you did not while in a situation where carelessness could have very easily led to self injury. And yet the most important thing you remember is feeling sad from the story. Do you know what that tells me?"
"No."
"It says that for all your strength, the two most gifted things about you are your ability to find compassion and to focus on a task."
Cole nodded dumbly then felt an odd sense of pride surge through him. He beamed at her words.
"Here," She passed him smooth blue stone. "Do you know what this is?"
He looked down at it. "A rock?"
The woman laughed at him. "Yes it's a rock but not just any rock. It's a rock taken from the bed of the Grand Canyon. For millions of years, the waters of what is now called the Colorado River cut through the land. Through mountains, rocks, sand and clay, the river flowed, eroding away whatever it encountered. Though the river cared not, its actions affected things beyond what it immediately touched as well as things touched by its waters. For all their impressive size and majestic beauty, those mountains were reduced to stones by that river. And despite your power, you are still just a man like your friends, your father and even the man who works at the cinema."
"How did you get to be so smart?" He blurted out?
She laughed at him; "I am your Keeper, Cole. I am only here to guide you. I am not as smart as you believe me to be. There will be a time when you must stand on your own."
"But."
"But nothing. Time waits for no man or woman. I will not be here forever and when that time comes you must be ready."
He nodded.
"Now then you'd best hurry home before your father gets upset. We shall continue your training at the quarry on Monday after school. Is that clear?"
"Yes mom."
There was an awkward silence after that as Cole silently cursed himself for saying that.
"M-Monday then." He managed to stutter out and raced out the front door.
She watched him retrieve his bike and pedal for home. 'He is a good young man, and he will grow to be an even better man I think.'
Smiling, Gwendolyn Post gathered her tea as well as his glass placed them in the sink and retired to her study to enter the day's events into her journal.
End Flashback
"I'm no better then she is. No better then they are. Thanks Whistler for the reminder. And you too Ms. Post for the rock."
His thoughts were cut off as the cell phone rang. "Hit pay-dirt with K-dirt."
"Very tacky Cole."
"Hi Sam."
"I need to speak with Alex." There was a pause as Alex took control and spoke into the phone. "Here."
"Hey Alex, I'm sorry to bother you but it's Amy."
"Is something bothering her?"
"She's not doing real well. Can you come and talk to her?"
"I'll be on the next bus."
"Thanks."
Later as Alex sat by Amy's bedside in the Finn's home, he watched her toss and turn, muttering and saying strange things in her sleep. Eventually she flung her arm out as she cried out her mother's name. Alex touched her arm lightly, stroking it gently as he spoke to her.
"It's okay Amy, It's Xander. Your mom isn't here, you're safe, she can't hurt you anymore."
Amy reacted to his voice, calming down and her face became less troubled. Alex held onto her arm throughout the night, reassuring her that she was safe with his presence. Even when he grew tired, he didn't let go and shifted to find as a comfortable position in which to pass the night.
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?
Cole yawned as he entered his 'new' home. He plopped down on black leather couch of his 'living room'. It had been a fairly long day, getting up before 7:00 am and then roaming the sewers, cemeteries and other places where things of the dark hid by day. Still, hunting by daylight had been a practice he adopted long ago. One reinforced by spending time with Riley and hearing the mantra of 'the enemy attacks on two occasions when he's ready and you're not' again. His eyes traced the layout and appearance of his current abode as he rested.
The price had been just right and the former owners had been very easy to negotiate with. Of course the fact that the former owners were a wannabe demon crime lord and his vampire underlings, all of whom were dead, didn't hurt either. The hardest part had been the clean up afterward, cleaning the blood, sweeping away the piles of ash. The bullet holes he didn't bother with. Disposing of the bodies had been as simple as throwing them into a nearby furnace after dismembering them.
No, the real tricky part had been settling on a 'look' for the place. Then procuring the furniture and equipment quietly followed by moving in. That it had to be done with out alerting the slayer and her companions had been the real stretch.
Running a hand through his hair, he took a deep breath and then frowned as a familiar and unwelcome scent assaulted his nose. The other man seeing no point in concealing himself further stepped into view and addressed him.
"Hey kid."
"Well if it isn't the bane of my refrigerator, hello Whistler. I take it this isn't a social call."
"No it isn't."
"Okay, what's on the docket then? Apocalypse? Rampaging demon hordes? Crazed nuns armed with bleach filled water pistols?"
The balance demon sighed, "No Apocalypse. No out of control demon hordes. Just you."
"Me?"
"Yeah, you. Or rather a promise you made."
Cole's face darkened. "I've kept my word. I do my job and I don't complain about it."
"Have you? You were brought here with a specific purpose."
"Which was rendered moot BEFORE I even got here."
"True the original mission was different. Nonetheless, you sworn an oath to see it done."
"And I am. Nothing has happened to them. I killed the only serious threat to them, remember."
"No you didn't kill it. You replaced it."
Cole sat back, a surprised look on his face. "Say WHAT?"
"Look junior, you saved their lives all well and good. But since the moment that demon died, you've turned into a first rate asshole, beaten the shit out of two of them, intimidated the vamps and generally wreaked havoc with how the younger slayers view them."
"And?"
"And what? Don't you get it? You're acting more like an outcast then a hero."
"IamNOTaHero. I'm not even the best man in my own BODY."
Whistler remained silent as the young man got up and began pacing. "So I beat the shit out of two slayers and scared a couple of leeches. Did it ever occur to the PTB that MAYBE, they deserved it?"
The balance demon looked at him curiously as he continued. "I mean the Southie, the psycho bitch from Boston. Me beating the crap out of those things turned her on. And the other one, She's even sicker. Did you know she got aroused by me hitting her? I mean Christ. "
He turned around and looked at Whistler. "I was expecting a lot of reactions by not to have them TURNED ON for God's sake. Do you have any idea how disturbing it was to learn that two chosen champions were THAT screwed up?"
"And you're sure about this?"
"Yes I'm sure, I smelled it on both of them. The Southie would have done me right in front of them if I had tried."
"So you assaulted both of them but why?"
"To try and jar them back into reality. Of Course little did I realize that little miss blonde gets off on that sort of thing. She was a necrophiliac and now she's just plain sick. It's no wonder that her sister idolizes a dead girl that she barely knew for more then two years. Anything would have preferable to that."
Whistler was silent as he looked at the young man in front of him. He pondered several courses of action before speaking.
"Cole, no is asking that you be a savior here. All they're asking is you be you."
The young man didn't look convinced at Whistler's words. With a sigh, the balance demon reached into his pocket and removed something. He tossed it to the human. "Here."
Cole easily caught the object and casually glanced down at it. He stiffened as he recognized it immediately and looked up to see the balance demon headed towards the door. Whistler paused before he left, "Remember what we talked about and think on it okay?"
Cole nodded.
Later as he examined himself in the mirror after his shower, he replayed the conversation over in his head. His eyes lingered on the markings on his chest, the scars of his life and symbols of the man he once was.
'Fuu Rin Ka Zan.' Words to live by.
The hard driving sound of guitars playing filled the room as he picked up the object Whistler had left behind. It was a smooth; stone layered with shades of blue and white, no larger then a tennis ball. Silently he remembered the first time he had seen the stone.
Flashback
"I am SO dead."
Quickly he ditched his bike and made his way around to the back of the older manor house. Cole found who he was looking for waiting patiently on the back porch. Gulping he spoke nervously. "Hi, I'm here."
"I can see that. I take it you enjoyed your little Friday night trip to see that Jedi movie?"
"Yeah, it was great. It's the last one you know, the last part of the trilogy."
"I see. And was this one longer then the others?"
"A little longer ma'am."
"I see. And that is the reason that you proved unable to keep your promise to be here promptly at dawn. Instead here it is nearly ten o'clock and you are just now arriving." She spoke sharply towards him.
Cole fidgeted as he stared down at his feet briefly before he apologized. "I'm sorry ma'am. I was selfish and I didn't think or act responsibly last night."
The woman waited for a few minutes, reading her charge's face as shame and disappointment washed over it.
"Did they kill the emperor?"
He looked up at her confused.
"The Emperor? Did they kill him?"
"Yes. Yes ma'am they did. They killed and the galaxy was saved."
"Good I am glad to that the good guys did indeed win in the end." She smiled warmly at him as she continued. "I am not without a sense of humor, Cole. I was once your age and I understand a little some of what you are experiencing. But you must not abandon your responsibilities. You have chosen a different path then the others around you. A path that is not easily traveled especially when you are late for appointments."
"Yes ma'am." He breathed a sigh of relief.
"Good now climb the pole."
"What?" He looked around before spotting a tall wooden pole close by the house. Blinking he started looking around for something to use.
"Don't waste time looking for the ladder. Just climb the pole."
"Yes ma'am."
He jumped and clasped his hands around the pole only to slide back down. Near the bottom he jerked his hand away from the pole and yelped in pain.
"Ow. Splinter."
Determined he jumped higher and firmly grasped the pole. He managed to brace himself by placing one foot against the pole and one against the house. Cole managed to work his way to the top of the pole. He stopped as he reached the top and looked down at her confused.
"Well what are you waiting for. Get on the pole."
Nodding he clambered to the top of the pole, only to find there was only enough room for him to stand on one foot. Balancing uncertainly, he looked down only to find her missing. Cole wondered what was going on for a few minutes before he heard someone in the room across from him. He noted for the first time, a window was level with the pole. As he watched the window opened and his instructor smiled at him.
"Comfortable?"
"Um. No."
She nodded before handing him two books. Somewhat awkwardly he took them, trying not to fall down as he did so. With some trepidation he opened one of them only to discover it wasn't in English.
"What the?"
"It's Latin."
Confused he opened the other book and was surprised to see it was a Latin to English dictionary. He looked at her expectedly.
"Your task this day is to translate and read the story I have marked."
"But it's not in English."
"And I have given you a dictionary to help you translate it."
He looked down at the ground with some unease. "I could fall."
"Then I guess you'll just have to be careful."
Smiling she shut the door as Cole looked downcast.
Sometime later, She heard Cole calling out her name. The woman composed herself as to not appear to eager before approaching the window. She found him looking a little sad still standing on the pole with the books under his right arm.
"Finished?"
He nodded.
"Then come inside."
He tensed and then jumped managing to dive through the open window. Cole rolled as he landed and then popped up, turned around and handed the books to her. She placed the books on a nearby table.
"Come with me Cole, I'll fix us something to drink."
Downstairs she observed the young teenager over her cup of tea. He appeared somewhat sad and confused at the same time.
"Is there something bothering you Cole?"
He reluctantly answered. "Yeah, Why did you make me read that story? It was very um... sad."
"Is that how you felt reading that story? Sad?"
"Yeah."
"Tell me Cole, How is it that when I left you, you knew not a single word of Latin and were worried about falling yet when I returned you are sad because of a story written in a language that is older then you?"
"I don't know, Ms Post."
She sipped her tea letting him think before responding. "You are an extraordinary young man, Cole Rayne and you have been placed in an extraordinary situation."
"I don't feel extraordinary, I mean, aside from the obvious."
"Cole, today you managed to translate a language you did not while in a situation where carelessness could have very easily led to self injury. And yet the most important thing you remember is feeling sad from the story. Do you know what that tells me?"
"No."
"It says that for all your strength, the two most gifted things about you are your ability to find compassion and to focus on a task."
Cole nodded dumbly then felt an odd sense of pride surge through him. He beamed at her words.
"Here," She passed him smooth blue stone. "Do you know what this is?"
He looked down at it. "A rock?"
The woman laughed at him. "Yes it's a rock but not just any rock. It's a rock taken from the bed of the Grand Canyon. For millions of years, the waters of what is now called the Colorado River cut through the land. Through mountains, rocks, sand and clay, the river flowed, eroding away whatever it encountered. Though the river cared not, its actions affected things beyond what it immediately touched as well as things touched by its waters. For all their impressive size and majestic beauty, those mountains were reduced to stones by that river. And despite your power, you are still just a man like your friends, your father and even the man who works at the cinema."
"How did you get to be so smart?" He blurted out?
She laughed at him; "I am your Keeper, Cole. I am only here to guide you. I am not as smart as you believe me to be. There will be a time when you must stand on your own."
"But."
"But nothing. Time waits for no man or woman. I will not be here forever and when that time comes you must be ready."
He nodded.
"Now then you'd best hurry home before your father gets upset. We shall continue your training at the quarry on Monday after school. Is that clear?"
"Yes mom."
There was an awkward silence after that as Cole silently cursed himself for saying that.
"M-Monday then." He managed to stutter out and raced out the front door.
She watched him retrieve his bike and pedal for home. 'He is a good young man, and he will grow to be an even better man I think.'
Smiling, Gwendolyn Post gathered her tea as well as his glass placed them in the sink and retired to her study to enter the day's events into her journal.
End Flashback
"I'm no better then she is. No better then they are. Thanks Whistler for the reminder. And you too Ms. Post for the rock."
His thoughts were cut off as the cell phone rang. "Hit pay-dirt with K-dirt."
"Very tacky Cole."
"Hi Sam."
"I need to speak with Alex." There was a pause as Alex took control and spoke into the phone. "Here."
"Hey Alex, I'm sorry to bother you but it's Amy."
"Is something bothering her?"
"She's not doing real well. Can you come and talk to her?"
"I'll be on the next bus."
"Thanks."
Later as Alex sat by Amy's bedside in the Finn's home, he watched her toss and turn, muttering and saying strange things in her sleep. Eventually she flung her arm out as she cried out her mother's name. Alex touched her arm lightly, stroking it gently as he spoke to her.
"It's okay Amy, It's Xander. Your mom isn't here, you're safe, she can't hurt you anymore."
Amy reacted to his voice, calming down and her face became less troubled. Alex held onto her arm throughout the night, reassuring her that she was safe with his presence. Even when he grew tired, he didn't let go and shifted to find as a comfortable position in which to pass the night.