Xander was far more nervous at this point in time than he had been in quite a while. One would think that someone who had stood up to the demons and monsters that were the stuff of legend and nightmares and haunted people's dreams world over this particular moment wouldn't rate quite so high. He had, after all in his short career, faced of against a Hell-Goddess. Beyond that he had faced off against the First Evil. But for all that he had gone through; nothing had prepared him for this.
This was just his luck. Not even two weeks into being an Immortal, and he was already being challenged. 'This must be some kind of record' he thought sourly. And the night had started out so brilliantly as well. But none of that mattered at the moment. Nothing could get him out of this. He had been properly challenged. From the man's posture, and voice there was no getting out of this. Xander wasn't prepared to take this guy on. What's worse was that he knew it. And what was beyond worse was that he had the feeling that Vasquez knew it too.
Xander had wanted to keep his worlds apart. He wasn't going to mix his life with the 'things that go bump in the night,' things like magic, with his life as an Immortal. He didn't think that he could protect his friends from either. But he'd be dammed if he wasn't going to use every trick at his disposal to stop Vasquez from taking his head. Luckily for both of them, those worlds weren't going to collide tonight.
After watching Alexander and Amanda dance on the floor for a few minutes, Adam had gone to get some drinks for himself, Joe, and Duncan. When he got back to the table Duncan was no longer there.
He smiled and hid a chuckle as Duncan politely took Amanda from Xander so he could dance with her. He shook his head and took a seat. Looking at Joe he gave an enquiring expression and gestured to where Mac and Amanda were dancing.
Joe chuckled before responding, "I may have made a comment as to how great of a dancer she was, and that I wasn't the only one to notice." From Adam's amused expression he decided to elaborate. "Mac needs to relax a little. He's been kind of wound up lately. I figured I'd give him a head start." With a smirk he continued, "Besides…sometimes he just makes it too easy." Both Joe and Adam were laughing at that statement, both nodding their consent.
Adam searched for Xander and spotted him waiting in line for a drink. He became somewhat suspicious when Xander tensed slightly, but his demeanor didn't change too radically. Then, as Xander's body began to relax, he turned away and saw another man. The moment eye-contact was made Xander's body language got suddenly weary. This was what Adam feared in the first place, and without even realizing that he had done it, Adam made way down to the first floor while putting back on his coat that he had taken off only minutes before. His bottle of beer lay forgotten on the table behind him.
Joe watched Adam as he observed his friends below. Thinking how the 'Old Man' had come quite a way from the weary recluse of just a few years ago. He wondered how much of that was due to Mac, Amanda's, and his own influence. And he wondered what sort of changes taking on a student would bring. He was cut off from his musing as he watched Adam suddenly shift slightly onto high alert. It was only slight, but still notable. Looking Adam over entirely, the man looked relaxed, as though nothing was going on. Though he was paying close attention to those below him. He was about to ask what was wrong when Adam sprang from his seat in a fluid movement that went entirely against his appearance. Before Joe even had a chance to ask what was going on Adam was half way to the stairs, his coat being flung onto his body as he went.
Joe looked down below trying to see what Adam saw. It didn't take long to see what had gotten Adam so stirred. There was only one thought he could come up with. 'Oh crap.' Getting out of his chair, he prayed through the will of the Force that Duncan or Amanda would see what was going on. Perhaps through pure luck Duncan looked up in his direction. After making eye-contact he gestured towards Xander and took off. Adam had just gotten to the bottom of the stairs and he didn't want to miss this.
Duncan looked to where Joe was pointing and saw Xander. He could read the body language being given off by Xander and the unknown man and knew without a shadow of a doubt what was going on. He grabbed Amanda and they made their way towards the bar where Xander was. As they neared both he and Amanda could sense the presence of both Immortals and Duncan cursed himself for leaving his jacket on his chair up above.
As he began to resolve himself to this inevitable fight, Xander felt the buzz of other Immortals. Looking to his left, Duncan and Amanda were coming towards them. Duncan stopped just short of the two Immortals and put himself between them, while Amanda stopped short and behind Vasquez. While Vasquez made eye contact with the two newly arrived immortals, Xander turned around to glance behind himself. Adam was just a few feet away with Joe was still limping his way down the stairs.
Sighing in relief, and letting out a breath he never realized he was holding, he turned his attention back to Vasquez, who was still staring down Duncan. When their staring contest ended, with no apparent victor, he looked back towards Xander only to meet the eyes of another...and since the 'buzz' had finally gone away...the last immortal present.
Glancing at all four of the Immortals, Vasquez gave a sneer and pointed towards Xander. "I have challenged this one. None of you can interfere." His voice was arrogant and condescending.
Duncan took a step forward while replying, "I know the rules as do you. No challenge is accepted until blade meets blade, steel meets steel. Until then no challenge has been accepted." Duncan somehow managed to get that statement out in a voice that was both frighteningly calm and matter of fact at the same time.
Vasquez narrowed his eyes, and tried to affect an intimidating look. Something that had no affect on Duncan, even if it did have a slight affect on Xander. "And just who might you be?"
"My name is Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod."
With wide eyes Vasquez exclaimed, "The Highlander!"
With a smirk Duncan responded. "So they say."
With another sneer Vasquez replied testily, "Don't worry. Once I have his head, yours won't be far behind."
Adam looked around them. He was pleased, and somewhat amazed that they hadn't drawn attention to themselves. 'People have looked the other way since times immemorial. Why should it be any different now?' he ruefully thought to himself. Making his way past Xander he confronted the challenging Immortal.
In a quiet voice full of steel he spoke, "The young man is my student. And as his teacher it is my right to accept his challenges for him until such time as I see fit." Adam's eyes became both cold and emotionless. "If it is him you wish to fight you will have to go through me first." Where Adam's eyes were emotionless moments before, they were now tinged with an underlying sense of fury. "But that is all moot now, because I challenge you. Now!"
Vasquez seemed to ponder it for a moment before nodding his consent. He gestured towards the side door leading to the alley. The same one he and Xander were supposed to have gone through. He received acknowledgement from Adam, and made his way towards the door, preparing himself for another battle to the death in the world's ultimate bloodsport.
Adam made eye-contact with Joe, who was only a short distance away simply observing as he was supposed to. Though if you looked close, you could see how much will power was being exerted to keep him there. Adam gestured towards his wrist to Joe and tapped it. Joe took a quick glance around the active club and could only shrug his shoulders.
Adam was about to make his way there when he was stopped by Duncan.
"Adam you don't have to do this. I can fight him." Duncan's eyes almost seemed to be pleading. Adam had to hide a chuckle at this. 'Ah Duncan, ever the Boy Scout.'
"Duncan…this is something that I must do. For myself as much as for Alexander." A small grin formed on Adam's face. "Besides, you don't even have your sword." Duncan looked chagrined at this but couldn't argue the point.
Sighing in defeat, Duncan looked right into Adam's eyes. "Just make sure not to loose your head 'Old Man.'" Adam looked like he was going to comment on the pending outcome of this challenge, but knowing what was going to be asked, Duncan beat him to the punch. "No need to worry. If, god forbid, something should happen…I'll take Alexander in as my own and train him well."
At hearing this Xander's eyes went wide and gasped. He was about to protest all of this. Hearing the words, finally having the full affect sink in, he wasn't about to let anyone risk their lives like this for him. To hear it being done was one thing. But to hear what would happen if it came to pass was another. But before he could get a word in edgewise, Adam continued his conversation with Duncan, ignoring Xander's gasp.
"You are already one of his teachers. Official or otherwise. There is no rule that states an Immortal may have only one teacher." Looking over at Amanda, he smiled and received a like smile in return. Glancing over at Joe he did the same. He looked over at Xander and nodded his head before looking back to Duncan. Placing his hand on Duncan's shoulder he gave it a brotherly squeeze. "I just hope he realizes how fortunate he truly is." Duncan returned the gesture before Adam turned towards Xander who had just replied in a soft voice, "I'm beginning to."
With a soft smile he regarded his student. "I need you to know, that however this ends, none of this is your fault." Seeing that Xander is about to protest he continued. "This is no more your fault than you getting shot was the fault of that woman's. As you chose to step in there, this choice is mine." Placing his hand on Xander's shoulder, as he had done to Duncan, he stared into Xander's eyes. "This is my right, this is my choice. It is one that I make freely and one that I would make again." His face softened into that of a smirk before he finished. "I myself blame the boy scout over there." This got the desired chuckle from everyone. Resigning himself to the upcoming challenge he straightened his posture.
"No matter how this goes Alexander, you have to see this through. This is part of your life now. And a Quickening is something that you should not miss. No matter how many times I could describe it, it wouldn't compare to witnessing one, which won't compare to the first time you feel it for yourself."
After getting a quick peck on the cheek from Amanda, Adam exclaimed, "Come on now. Let's not keep our little ray of sunshine waiting out there any longer." With that the four Immortals made their way to the alley outside. Followed by a man with a cane, trying to look inconspicuous.