Title: Divine Damnation
Author: DhampyrX2
Rating: PG-13 for language and supernatural violence
Summary: Yet another secret origins of Xander fic that my twisted little brain cooked up.
Timeframe: Post Season 7
Disclaimer: I own nothing. I do this for fun. Please don't sue me.
Cordelia sat there stunned, trying to cope with what she just heard. Apparently, she had been at it for quite a while, too, because Keiichi had gone to work on his personal motorcycle to calm his nerves some time ago. In fact he had left before Urd and Skuld, who were seated in front of the TV watching some soppy soap opera(that Skuld swore up and down was stupid, but pointedly did not stop watching) had arrived.
"Let me get this straight...Xander Harris. Alexander Lavelle Harris, from Sunnydale. As in the Xander I used to date...my adorable doofus I used to make out with in the utility closets in high school...is the demon lord that just went back to active status and has the whole Valkyrie corps on full alert?" she asked, a small note of panic in her voice.
Belldandy seemed oblivious to it, though, as she nodded happily and answered, "Why yes, he is. Isn't it nice? We're all looking forward to having Alex-oniichan back." It was to Bell's credit she ignored both Urd's comment of "Even Keiichi?" from behind her on the couch, and Skuld's evil little snicker that followed it, without seeming rude. Instead she asked, "Would you like some more tea, Cordelia-san?"
"You can call me Cordy." the former Queen C replied automatically as she help her cup out to be filled.
"If you'd prefer me to, Cordy." Bell replied with a happy smile that seemed to light up the room.
"Okay. So, Xander.../MY/ Xander is a demon. For Nifelheim and everything. And he wants to see me. Is that right?" Cordelia asked, still shell shocked. That shock allowed her to similarly ignore Urd and Skuld's running commentary from the sidelines as Urd called out, "Peorth might want to dispute that claim on him." followed by Skuld's "Venus, and Nike too. Oh, and Mara."
"Nah, Mara likes watching him in these situations. If she gets mad, she'll have to admit she's jealous." Urd replied.
It was a sign that Cordelia was coming out of her shock when she shot a glare in the direction of the Norns of the past and future, respectively, before she returned her attention to Belldandy.
"You can tell that secret hiding doofus that he can...no. You know what? I'll tell him myself, Belldandy-sama. Can you just tell him I'm free tonight, London time, if he wants to meet?" the valkyrie requested.
Everyone there could hear Urd's snicker as she commented, "His closet or yours?", still keeping her eyes glued to the screen, accompanied by Skuld's "At least she's not a mortal. Keiichi's okay, but still..."
"Hey, excuse you! Private conversation here! Do you mind?" Cordy snapped at the goddesses.
Bell quelled what could have started a major argument due to Urd's teasing as she commented, "I'll be happy to let him know, Cordy-san! Now, won't you please stay for dinner? We'd be delighted to have you join us."
It was then that Cordy discovered a power greater that her inner bitca, Urd's potions, and perhaps the Ultimate Force itself...a smiling dinner invitation from the new Mrs. Morisato. "I'd be happy to Belldandy-sama.", she said with very little hesitation.
"Are you certain you are alright in the face of all that's happened, Xander?" Giles finally asked after careful study of the boy that had been one of his charges for nearly eight years.
Xander was equally relieved and a bit disappointed that Giles had apparently not seen through him. He had always pegged the man for being more observant than that. "I'll deal, G-man. She's been mad at me before. Truthfully I expected this like five years ago." he said, as he went back to repairing the dummies.
"Yes, well, quite. And don't call me that." the Watcher replied in his oh so British way.
Xander smiled nostalgically as he crouched down to continue his work. "You don't know how much I missed hearing you say those words, Giles. Getting everyone back together for a time almost lakes this suck-fest worth it."
Giles smiled proudly as le looked at Xander's progress from over his shoulder as the former carpenter glued in and clamped a splint support for a crack in the body of one of the dummies.
That's what made the cold sensation of an enchanted dagger on the base of his neck surprise him so much, even though he had felt it, and more than half suspected Giles to pull it before the conversation started.
"So, Xander, care to tell my why you've got demon marks 'fore I run this little dagger through ya skull." Ripper asked in a far too cheery tone.
The demon sighed as he answered, "I'm a class one, category two, unlimited, Giles. Even Glory at her weakest would have laughed off the spells on that knife. I expected better than this from you."
"Bloody Hell." was Ripper's reply as he stepped back warily. The matter of fact tone, and truthfully bored timbre, in Xander's voice made it clear he was being truthful about his power level.
The son of Hild rolled his eyes heavenward as he said, "Quit backing off like Harmony from a serious thought, Giles. I was born this way. I'm still the same Xander you've known and been annoyed by since you came to the 'Dale. I'm just unsealed now."
The nature of the insult stopped Giles more than the annoyance in the White Knight's voice as Rupert responded, "That was a little uncalled for, wasn't it?"
The demon hybrid shrugged unrepentantly as he replied, "It was the first thing to pop into my head." After a pause to confirm that Giles wasn't going to bolt, he added, "Now, I was planning on this conversation, but I'm still a little flatfooted, here. What do you say we retire to someplace less likely to get eavesdropped on and I'll fill you in?"
"And how do I know I can trust you?" Ripper asked warily.
"'Cause I could have vaporized you or taken over your mind with less effort than I'm using to fix the training dummies? How about seven years of meritorious service. My charming wit, and manly persona?" Xander suggested.
"That list actually fills me with less confidence." Giles retorted dryly.
"I'll bring jelly doughnuts from that bakery two blocks from here?" Xander tried, with a hopeful look.
Giles raised his eyebrow at that, but said nothing.
"Okay, two boxes, with a spell I learned from my sister Belldandy to keep them fresh, and I won't tell Willow about them, even though she knows about /me/ already. That way you can keep them all to yourself." he tried.
"Deal" Ripper said with a smug grin. "Meet me in my room with them in one hour."
Xander nodded and headed out of the room after checking the repairs to the dummies one last time and hanging signs saying not to use them until tomorrow. He paused at the door as he made his exit to comment, "You know, Giles, sentences like that little request are how rumors about the British get started. You should really watch that."
Giles found it odd how much that stupid joke comforted him as he rolled his eyes and shook his head at Xander's antics.
Dawn Summers was listening o her favorite tunes on her Discman when she heard the buzzer for the front door intercom go off as she passed it. She looked around for someone else to pass door duty off on, and after finding nobody near her sighed before she shut off her Discman and hit the button to open the connection. "Yes?" she asked.
"Hello, is this where Alexander...um Harris is staying?" a somewhat haughty feminine voice asked from the other side.
"Yes, it is. But I'm not sure where he's at at the moment. Whom should I announce is here?" Dawn asked politely, even as a sensation of dread filled the pit of her stomach.
"Oh, could you tell him his old friend Peorth is here to see him?" the goddess on the other side of the door asked innocently, as she sniffed a rose from one of the well kept bushes on either side of the entryway door.
End part 8
