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.
"So, you go by /Xander/ now, eh, Alex?" Peorth asked with a smile as they walked back to the manor, the two boxes of doughnuts hidden within Xander's dimensional pocket.
The First Class Demon shrugged as he answered, "Willow, the mortal that was a childhood friend for me here on Midgard, had trouble saying Alexander when we met when she was five. The name stuck. Now that's what most of the mortals I know call me."
They walked in companionable silence for a while then, with Peorth's arm intertwined with Xander's. Eventually she asked, "So why did you accept being taped so easily? It could have really put your assignment in danger."
"I should have known better. Spying is standard operating procedure in Nifelheim anywhere outside of Mom's office. And that's only safe because they know better than to risk ticking her off. Even demons don't forget things like Atlantis easily." he replied, smirking at the small shiver Peorth tried to suppress at the reminder of Hild's temper. "I should have cast anti-spying wards around myself at the very least the second Urd unsealed me. I screwed up. There was no sense in attacking willow over my mistakes."
"Besides, that Dawn girl will do your attacking for you." Peorth added with a knowing grin.
Xander smiled somewhat sadly as he said, "I take it you noticed she has a slight crush on me then?"
"Peorth had to bite her cheek a bit as she replied, "I recognized the signs. Kami-sama knows we see them enough in certain circles in Asgard. You do have a reputation as a heartbreaker."
"Not my fault everyone else gets worked up, or that Urd and Mara think its funny to watch me duck and hide from a half dozen succubae at the time." he retorted indignantly. He sighed a bit as he added, "I feel kind of bad for Dawn though. She needs to find someone, instead of stressing over me. I mean, when I look at her, I see family. She kind of reminds me of a saner, less petulant Skuld. I just don't see her like that."
"The fact she's mortal won't help her cause either, I suppose." Peorth added knowingly.
"That didn't stop Bell. Or you from trying to claim her boyfriend, from what I hear." he added with a wry grin.
Peorth stopped short and blushed a bit as she replied, "That was...something I don't know how to explain. Keiichi is...the most pure soul I've ever encountered among mortals. And his love for Belldandy to so strong and good...I guess I just wanted to feel like that. To know what it meant to be loved that purely."
Xander nodded knowingly from beside her at her admission. "He does sound great, from what I've heard. Even if Mara was bitching about how sickeningly sweet he was as she praised him. That doesn't mean he won't get the Talk, however." he said with an evil smirk.
Peorth let just a bit of her noblewoman's laugh go at his words, making Xander cringe a bit. Her laugh wasn't as bad as Urd's, but then again, Urd was family, and his tolerance to her cackles was higher. "Still scaring off suitors even after they've won, Alex?" she asked, not noticing his discomfort.
"It's my right and duty as their brother, Rosie." he sniffed indignantly. His gaze grew angry as he added, "I already let one too many slip through with that ass Troubadour. When I get my hands on that idiot tree spirit, I'll show him what real power is."
"Nice to see mortality hasn't mellowed you, Alex." Peorth said with a genuine grin. Her gaze grew seductive as she asked, "Are you still as...passionate in other areas?"
Xander looked a little taken aback and nervous for a second, before his face gained a confident smirk, and he replied, "I haven't had any complaints." After a moments consideration, he added, "Unfortunately, we don't have any time to test that theory. I promised to speak with Giles in like five minutes." with an apologetic voice.
Peorth pouted slightly as she replied, "You're right, that isn't nearly enough time. Oh well, then perhaps I could ask when your free? I seem to recall you owing me a dinner I never got to collect on account of conflicting wish assignments."
Xander knew this was opening up a world of trouble, but he just couldn't say no to one of his girls, and Peorth had known him for a very long time. "How about dinner the day after tomorrow?"
"Barring an assignment, that sounds divine. Maybe we can even discuss the future, for a change?" she said with a wink.
"I don't know about that, but it will be nice to catch up properly. How about you teleport in say seven thirty-ish near the park, and I'll meet you there at around eight?" he suggested.
"It's a date, Alex." Peorth replied with a wide grin, before she attacked his lips in a kiss that no mortal had ever managed to match, and actually left him breathless for a second.
"Just so you don't forget." she said with a seductive smile, before sauntering off, making certain to sway her hips as provocatively as possible.
Xander stood there dumbfounded for a moment, before he said, "No, my life isn't complicated." and walked into the Manor to find Giles.
Buffy stood awkwardly as she got up from Dawn's slap. "Okay, butt-pain, /why/ did you just slap me off my feet, and when did you develop Slayer-strength?" Buffy asked, hoping to defuse Dawn's ire a bit with some humor.
"Stow it, Buffy. I'm not in the mood." the younger Summers growled, her arms crossed in front of her chest.
"Dawn what is this about?" Buffy asked confused, and a bit unnerved by the steel in her sister's gaze.
Dawn opened and closed her mouth three or four times, as if about to speak, then stopping as she reevaluated what she wanted to say. Finally, after a few seconds to think, her face grew red as she bellowed, "Just where the /HELL/ do you get off spying on people in this house!?! And to make /Willow/ help you? My GOD Buffy, didn't the shit the Trio put us through teach you anything? Did it ever occur to you that making her spy on her best friend the way /Warren/ spied on us might just be a bit insensitive?"
Buffy was going to interject several times, only to be cowed by further points Dawn made. She cringed visibly at the way her sister spat the name 'Warren'. She had never considered just how much she was behaving like him when she asked Willow to record Xander.
"Dawnie I...it was just...I mean." she whispered lamely, her eyes brimming with tears.
"BUFFY! You can't even defend this, so don't even try to talk yourself out of it. I don't care what you think of Xander, or what he did, you crossed a line." Dawn spat at her.
"But he lied to me! He betrayed my trust and I sent Angel to Hell for it." Buffy protested almost on auto-pilot.
"I don't care if he's secretly some uber powerful demon from a hell dimension, Buffy, he still did the right thing! Angelus had kicked you scrawny blonde ass three times in as many weeks, was torturing Giles, and was damned close to destroying the world. You needed to stay sharp, or we /all/ died." Dawn retorted angrily. "And on top of that, it was /five/ year ago, Buffy. Hasn't Xander more than proved his loyalty after that. Let's review, He saved Faith's life from the Sisterhood of Jhe, saved us all from that bomb he thinks we don't know about under the school, basically planned and executed the entire plan to destroy the Mayor, came up with the idea for the spell that destroyed Adam, and that's just some of the major points. Let's not forget the number of times he talked you out of near suicidal depression, starting off when the First was trying to get Angel to kill himself. That man has saved and sacrificed for each and every one of us multiple times over the years, and you're treating him like a convict. It sucks, Buffy. And you suck for doing it!" Dawn responded hotly.
Buffy, who by now was actually crying a bit, emotionally replied, "I know that, Dawnie. I screwed up, and I can't change that, alright?"
Dawn was mildly surprised, and greatly satisfied that she seemed to be getting through to her sister as she said. "Then do something about it. Talk to him like a person, apologize, and then start over, if you can."
"I can't!" Buffy shouted almost hysterically. She tried to calm herself as she added, "I just can't, Dawn. Not yet, anyway. I...I just can't bring myself to face him. Every time I do, I just get so angry, I'm afraid I might hurt him. I'm not ready to deal with this, yet. I...I need more time to process everything. Please try to understand that."
Dawn nodded un comprehension to her sister's pleas. "Fine, you're not ready yet. I'll accept that for now. But if I hear about any more crap like this, I swear I'll find a way to make you regret it. You have issues? Deal with them. But do it like an adult, and a human being, and quit the Queen fuehrer routine. If you ever do anything like this again to anyone...we're no longer sisters." she replied coldly.
"Dawnie!" Buffy exclaimed in shock.
"No Buffy. I won't stay here and watch you slowly slip further into evil and become like the bastard that murdered Tara trying to kill /you/ for no sensible reason. You will clean up your act, or I'm gone, and I will convince everyone I possibly can to come with me. Wrap you little head around that, and think about what you really want to do, Buffy. Because this is your last chance." Dawn said in a dead tone, before she turned and walked out of the rink.
And so it was, that Dawn managed another blow that sent the mighty Slayer to her knees, this time in a weeping heap, and without ever lifting a finger.
Xander was almost to Giles' door when his cell phone rang. He picked it up out of his pocket and activated it , holding it up to his ear. "Hi, Bell!" he said after hearing the greeting on the other end. "Tonight? Tell her that's perfect. I'll meet her at the Hard Rock Cafe' in London. That way we can both have some of her native food. laughs okay. Tell you husband I'm looking forward to meeting him. I know that tone, squirt, you don't have to worry. I'll be nice...mostly. Okay. I'll see you tomorrow. Give the others my love, 'Dandy-chan. Bye."
Xander now had a wide grin across his face as he knocked on Giles' door.
The Englishman was uncertain if he would like whatever Xander had to say as he saw the smile on the demon's face, when he had opened the door. Still, he wanted some answers. "Ah, Xander please come in..." he bade to his visitor.
End Part 10
