January 1998
"…and bring forth Armageddon."
'Armageddon, huh,' Xander thought, then turned to the others, "Hey guys, where's Spike's warehouse, in case I want to avoid it?" They told him hurriedly, moving on to other things. Only Cordelia and Oz seemed to catch on to a second meaning.
"I'll drive you," Cordelia offered, getting out her keys.
They drove to his house in silence, both contemplating their coming close to dating or at least professing open interest the last two and a half months. The girl had been saved by him enough times, and wanted something more, and it wasn't like he was even a loser anymore, his post-Halloween physique retaining great strength and capability, which seemed to grow as his long hair luxuriated back, tied by a ribbon that changed color with the Church seasons.
He knew she wasn't the superficial snob he'd believed, and her wit had always been on par with his own, only scooting to victory if it turned nasty as his soft spot was his home situation. He didn't know what future they could have, but maybe soon he'd muster enough bravery to ask her out. Right now, only his incredible physique and the ability to have the supernatural powers against him negated seemed to be in his future. Plus what Michael had conveniently 'forgotten' to take with him when he left, leaving a note, 'Only for use in True Demon, Fallen Angel and Armageddon /Apocalypse situations.'
They reached the area, and Xander had her stop at the corner up the street.
"Thanks, Cor," he told her affectionately, and on impulse gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, causing her to beam a smile at him, drive around and circle back every five or ten minutes, I don't want you to provide a target for the vampires."
"You going to be okay, Xander?" she asked him with actual concern showing, grabbing him by the wrist.
"I hope so," he smiled back, "I've been having Giles secretly teaching me swordsmanship when Buffy and the others weren't around."
"Why the secret?"
"In case something like this came up, and we needed a real surprise."
"Be careful."
"I'll try," he told her, spreading his arms out and suddenly becoming encase in almost blinding Angelic Armor front head to feet, wavy sword almost dripping white fire, "Show time."
Five minutes later, Spike, lounging in just a wife beater, watched as four minions raced from the doorway screaming, pushing past him and making for the back door. Drusilla smiled and then assumed demonic form, nails becoming claws, spitting in anticipation.
"The man with the Sword comes, William, to cleanse us from the Earth,' the crazy demoness hissed, a white light starting to radiate from outside as it approached the door.
"Well, let's get out of here, then, right?"
"But my presents and party…" she whined and resumed human form as he put her on his lap and began to wheel away for the back.
Xander entered the building, feeling the reek of the Judge in the crates as he saw Spike and Drusilla depart. Sighing, he moved swiftly, stabbing into the crates and allowing the sword to burn away the parts of the blue demon, something that should have been done the last time. Looking around, he decided to look for humans, but didn't find any, but did find a steam trunk full of money, heavily decorative crosses of gold and silver, dripping jewels, and a well-kept leather jacket. He grabbed all of them and traded back the Armor and Sword back to his closet for his 'Michael Clothes.'
"Everything go okay?" Cordelia asked as she picked him up in front of the place, being waved over.
"Oh yeah, Cor," he smiled at her, putting the trunk in back, "The only part of The Judge is whatever Angel is taking to Nepal. Let's swing by St. Mike's on the way back to the library and then check in with the gang."
"Sounds like a plan, then what?"
"Then I work up the nerve to ask you out on a real date for next Friday, you take pity on me and say 'yes' and we call it a night."
"Okay, and why next week?"
"I have to get a suit, then buy a car that doesn't look too bad, make reservations, arrange to have flowers to be delivered to you just before lunch on Friday, after somehow hoping you'll drop the appropriate hints so I know what you like, have a tasteful box of Godivas and maybe a single red rose for when I pick you up, perhaps one in reserve for your mother if she's hovering before we leave, so you see, saying, 'Hey Cordelia, wanna head for the Happy Burger?' just isn't the plan for the important good impression of the first date. Though I reserve one postponement in the event of another demon-thing coming up and ruining 'the plan.'"
Cordelia laughed and grabbed him around both ears and gave him a good solid two-minute kiss, smiling as they stopped.
"So you're not hopeless," she smiled.
"Nope, just slow."
The disappearance of Angelus after St. Valentine's Day had everyone particularly worried as he'd left four dead couples out in the street in front of the school, in the shape of a heart, with a note, "Slayer, I'll be back with my family to do in your family.
Xander and Cordelia were openly dating, and she'd found him a lawyer that had quickly gotten him emancipated from the Harrises. He allowed her to furnish his apartment, in Giles' complex, and pick out his wardrobe for him. For the first time in a while he was happy, though it was a bit tense with Willow. Giles was the only one who knew that Xander had 'borrowed something not forged by man' to take care of the Judge situation, and had even helped him identify many of the extremely valuable holy relics of Drusilla's that Spike used to keep other vampires out of his money. Fourteen of seventeen pieces had been taken from cathedrals at holy sites during the times the Scourge of Europe murdered their way through the world. Considering the material value, Giles contacting a friend of his with the Vatican, and another at Canterbury, had resulted in finder's fee compensation in the millions being offered.
The other three proved to have been taken from the Romany, and when Jenny had seen them in the aftermath of the gypsy revelation, had nearly fainted.
"Where did you get these?" she asked, breathless, "We've missed these for a century."
"I took them from Spike and Drusilla before they left town," he'd told her truthfully, "So how much are they worth to the Romany?"
"They're priceless."
"Then I'll keep them for myself if they're not worth anything," he deadpanned, "They'll look good on the mantle."
"I'll check with my Uncle, he just came into town two days ago, when…"
"I understand, and I expect the soul curse to be recast as a sign of good faith."
"It's lost to us…"
"So are these…until the curse and the compensation for bravery not shown by the Romany bear fruit…"
Jana of the Calderash stared at the unmoving young man who jibed at her people for the secrecy that had led to Angelus' unleashing, nodded, and left, arriving at Xander's apartment with her Uncle an hour later. Giles had in the meantime showed up, as had Cordelia.
The old man looked at the pieces, and moved toward them until Xander cleared his throat.
"These are ours…" the old man stated.
"And no court of law exists for you to press a claim in," Xander stated, "The Romany are not a State, the Hapsburgs no longer hold sway, the Hohenzollern monarchy in Romania ceased fifty years ago, the Communists disintegrated. So where and with whom would you file while I melted these down and sold them."
"Xander!" Jenny admonished, "How can you be so hard-hearted."
"Jana! How could the cursers have been so stupid!" he countered, "They pulled a soul from Purgatory and tortured it to make a demon unhappy! They should have just dusted the bastard. Or yanked out the fangs and cut off the legs below the knees and left him in the sun. And so, their sins bit them in the ass. So, since no Romany retrieved them, what am I offered?"
"Three million Euros," Enjos stated, "It's almost all we have in our coffers." Xander looked at Cordelia.
"It's real money, two-thirds what you've collected from the others," she told him, "But make sure they somehow make it a form of compensation for personal trauma or such, to cut back on taxes. Or," she added quietly, "You should have all these guys make it life insurance pay-outs on your parents, but put it into off-shore accounts as a backup." Xander sighed quietly, then nodded, it made sense since his parents had managed to get drunk and drive off a pier in Atlantic City and get themselves killed two days before. He still didn't know how he felt, though Uncle Rory said they'd be back for the funeral in Sunnydale next Saturday.
"And the curse," he added, still quiet, "Liam's stupidity in ignoring Michael's warning means his soul might be in seriously bad condition, but as much as I…hate…the guy, if it's in my power to prevent his damnation…"
"The curse is lost…" both Romany said.
"Well, research it, and when the money goes through, I'll turn over two, and when the curse is successfully cast, you get the third, and if you can get it done in a week, I'll kick back half a million."
"What!" Cordelia asked, "Why?"
"Because it will save lives, Cor, so if we can get them to move on it and save lives, I will feel better."
"We will try," the Elder responded, "My word." They shook on it.
A month later, Angel arrived back in town like a dog with his tail between his legs, and met the group at the Library, where Xander had called a meeting. In front of them all, he'd destroyed the soul curse and research materials, the only ones known to the Romany, so it could never be cast again. Buffy stared at him in horror.
"How could you, Xander?"
"Michael kinda told Liam here that if he screwed up his soul probably would be heading for an unhappy place, Buffy. If I let it happen again by saying, 'it's okay, we can recast,' whose souls do you think are heading for Hell then? Hmm, mine, yours obviously, Liam's also obviously, and the caster's, obviously. That doesn't include anyone Angelus murders in the meantime. So what this means is, 'Liam, you need to keep Mr. Perfect Happiness' in your pants so your soul can go to Heaven someday. I'm saving his soul, Buff, how 'bout you?"
"Thanks, Xander," Liam Angel said, nodding now that Xander had explained himself, "Though next time you do something like this, please explain first, less stress and bad feeling that way."
"Sorry, you're right, Liam, and all things considered, it's good to have you back, you're the only one who catches my occasional Catholic-based humor."
"That would be the years of having catechism beaten into my head by my father," he half joked, "And a lot of reading time for the last century."
"That first reason, after some research, is what tipped it all in favor of just casting, not following up with a dusting to make sure Angelus stayed away. As to the second…I dumped off a bunch of Monty Python and Benny Hill tapes and a video player at your apartment, you really need to lighten up, and English was as close to Irish as I could understand."
"Thanks, I think."
"Oh," Cordelia piped up, and handed Angel five hangers with covers over the attire underneath, "A welcome back present, Xander decided you needed color in your wardrobe," Angel and others winced, "But he let me implement his plan, so it'll look good, though I kept it darker shades." Everybody sighed with relief.
"I'm speechless…"
"Which is better than cryptic…or lurking," Xander deadpanned, but raised an eyebrow. The group eased as it began to come together stronger than before.
Why is Xander less hostile to Angel? Because this is a C/X fic, there is no B/X angst or pining here.