A/N: Wow, so it's been almost a year since I updated. I know I suck but this part was mostly written 3 times before and puter problems caused it to be lost. Then R/L got in the way and I lost the writing bug for a while. I should be back now, but now I have the problem of lots of different story ideas popping up so I may start a couple more stories as well. Either way I should be posting more often regardless so on with the show.
A/N 2: I know Xander didn't meet Clem until long after this but I fudged a little since I am God here.
Thanks for all the reviews thus far.
Chapter 5
Plaza Hotel
The next morning was fairly agonizing for Alfred. He straightened up a bit but, the hotel staff was very efficient, especially since this was the owner's suite. His previous pleasure about their good work had gone right out the window. For the life of him he just really needed to clean something. Cleaning helped him soothe his mind but there was nothing to clean and he was also somewhat lacking in the area of cleaning appliances. It seems that housekeeping wouldn't let so much as a feather duster out of their sight, so they could be sure that the boss knew that they were doing a good job. He was up early enough to see Bruce on his way in that morning. They ended up staying up till late morning talking about the family and the current family image. After that part of the conversation he really did feel much better about the situation. What he was told next was what really was driving him to try and clean. If anyone one else had told him about the true dangers of the night and existence of monsters, he would have had them committed, but the fact that Bruce was completely serious about the situation really shook his sense of reality.
Not only that, but the people that fight these things allow a 15 year old boy to fight with them. Well at least allowed a 15 year old boy who is now an 18 year old man, to fight with them. And what is probably the worst thing of all, at no point did they bother to actually train him. At this point the obligation was falling to Bruce/Batman, and they need to figure out how this could be accomplished. Bruce had already told him that he would need help to not only figure out how to begin the training, but also in the training its self.
Now Alfred was sure that he would help and really was all for helping this man learn skills that would allow him to better survive, but Bruce's parting crack that he should wear a mask during the training was just absurd. 'Oh yes just wearing a mask is going to make sure this apparently bright young man doesn't realize that the older british gentleman in a mask, couldn't be the same older British man that follows Master Wayne around in the mansion that he is helping to rebuild.
"God I need something to clean" was his last conscious thought as he looked around the immaculate suite and decided to take a nap.
Rachel's Apartment
Xander woke up slowly as usual that Wednesday morning. He got up and did his stretches and was pleased to find that he was feeling a lot better. He was finding that he was healing noticeably quickly. It wasn't even a week since the fight and he was already moving around with almost no pain. In fact, at the moment he only felt pain if he made any sudden movements, otherwise he could move around normally.
Happy at how quickly he was recovering he began his daily routine stretches and light exercises that he remembered from his soldier memories. Then he began cleaning the apartment. If his friends could see him now they would be in shock at what he was doing but he refused to be a mooch no matter what Rachel said about it. He was determined to earn his keep. Being that neither he nor Rachel were particularly messy, it didn't take a lot to keep the place clean, especially since he was doing it every day. He also made it a point to have dinner ready by the time she made it home from work every night.
It was a little known fact that Xander was actually an accomplished cook. He really had to be in order to survive in the house where he grew up. If he didn't cook for himself he probably would have starved to death before he hit 10. His specialty was actually being able to throw anything together on hand and make it taste good. Tonight though, he wanted to make something special since he was actually feeling well enough to walk to a store and pick up some supplies.
Rachel would probably object since she was annoyed that he was cleaning and cooking when he was supposed to be resting. Him going out was going to drive her up a wall. Though he was happy that no matter how annoyed she was she still didn't bring up his home life… Yet. That still wasn't a prospect he was happy about.
He decided to put all that out of his mind and just focus on the fact that he could go out for a bit today.
He was just planning to go to the small market down the street, but once he got outside it felt so nice he decided to go for a walk as well. The parks in the city were pretty run down but he managed to find one near the water that separated the downtown section from the narrows that was still kept up. He never really considered himself a nature boy, but he found being in a large city like Gotham, he really missed grass and trees. He wasn't there for long before he started getting a nagging sensation at the back of his head. He was sitting on a bench right near the water and found himself staring at an empty lot just across the bridge in the narrows. Something about it was setting off his hellmouth alarms. It finally got to the point that he had to go check it out. Whatever it was didn't feel dangerous, but it wouldn't leave him alone till he checked it out.
Xander quickly crossed the bridge and made his way to the lot when he began to feel a tickling along his skin. Figuring better safe than sorry, he reached into his pockets and held onto his stake and holy water as he continued. Two more steps and he felt as though he stepped through a waterfall as a building seemed to materialize in front of him. It looked to be a fairly extravagant club with the name Knossos in big letters above the door.
'Huh, imagine that, I figured it would take me days to find a demon bar in this town, but lo and behold.'
The fact that everything he needed seemed to be falling into his lap lately was starting to make him worry. 'Luck this good doesn't happen unless there is a really big shoe about to drop directly on my head.
Looking up to make sure that he wasn't standing underneath an anvil or piano after that last thought, he shrugged and decided to just peek in and see what he could before he left. He was in no shape to deal with trouble but since it was still mid afternoon he figured he could chance a peak.
Slowly cracking open the door he was pleased to find that the place was empty save for one person cleaning up behind the bar. He was about to back out and go home when the bartender turns around and he gets a serious shock.
"Clem! What are you doing here?"
Behind the bar 'Clem' turned around with a sigh and looked at the newcomer, "Look I don't know who put you up to this but we're not even open yet so I don't feel like dealing with it. Yes Clem still says he's on the hellmouth, no no one knows for sure, yes I think he's just in Cali pretending, and now I need to finish opening my bar."
Xander just looked on confused, this guy was the spitting image of Clem, but then he noticed that his eyes were a luminescent blue instead of Clem's luminescent yellow.
"Sorry man, didn't mean to offend you but I really do know Clem. Not very well, really since I just met him a few months ago but he is in Sunnydale. Why, what's the big deal?"
The demon stopped, turned around and looked him up and down.
"Who are you, and how do you know Clem's on the hellmouth?"
Xander just smiled and started walking over to the bar. He remembered Giles saying that Clem's type of demon was fairly harmless and didn't cause trouble so he let his guard down a bit.
"Sorry, I'm Xander. Like I said I met Clem a few months ago at a kitten poker game when we were looking for info on some new big bad that was coming around." He held out his hand and the demon formerly thought of as Clem hesitantly shook it.
"I'm Bart, I'm Clem's cousin… So your sayin' he's really on the hellmouth?"
"Yep last I heard, but then again I've been on the road for the past couple of months. Been touring the country and all that. So why is it so impressive that Clem's in Sunnydale?"
At this point a huge smile split Bart's face, "Imagine that! I got a cousin on the hellmouth! Course that's impressive! Only the really powerful demons go there, from what I hear even the fledgling vamps start out stronger if they get turned on the hellmouth. There's a lot of powerful violent types there, and I heard that even the Slayer set up shop there too! Just living there Clem's proven he's something special."
Xander's eye's got a little bigger at that. "Really, well that explains why I've been doing so good on the trip. I was hoping it was getting easier to dust vamps cause I was getting better. Ah well, as long as I have a better survival rate on my own I guess it's cool. By the way there is a slayer back in Sunny D, I was with her when we met Clem."
Bart's jaw dropped open stunned at that. "My cousin met the slayer and lived to tell about it? I heard she was one of the best in the past few centuries."
Xander smiled at that. "Well she is, but we heard that you all are just normal types that don't do the violence and world endage, so we have a policy of live and let live."
"Well that's a relief, I didn't realize you was a hunter that worked with the slayer. Just so you know there's a no violence spell in this place. I like to think of it as neutral ground, so please don't start any trouble. I'd also appreciate it if you could not tell anyone the slayer don't kill non violent types. I'd like to brag a bit if that's alright."
"Hey knock yourself out. Besides I'm not really a hunter. I just had the bad luck to be born in Sunnydale. Pretty much had to get involved when my bestest bud got turned and I had to stake him. Figured I would take as many out as I could along the way to try and make it up to him. Besides, if your in the know, your pretty much in over your head, or your prey."
Bart seemed surprised and impressed before he got a solemn look on his face and nodded, which looked kind of menacing with all the wrinkles. "Sorry to hear about your friend. But it's nice to see someone involved that makes the distinction between the bad guys and us neutral parties. Feel free to come around anytime, I'll give you your first drink on the house for givin me the heads up about Clem." His smile came back full force after that. "Stop by anytime between sunset and sunrise and we'll be open."
"Thanks, I probably will. By the way, I have a couple of newbies that I helped out a few nights ago, is it ok to bring them along?"
"Sure, we get a few humans around every night anyways. There a few smalltime practitioners that come around, light and dark, plus the local Wolfram & Heart branch come here for meetings sometimes, or just to get a drink. Most everyone that knows the score tend to like to stop by just to prove they aren't nuts or to remind them of the truth."
Xander thought about that for a bit, "Yea I can see how that would help, but who's Wolfram & Heart."
Bart looked surprised for a second before he seemed to come to a realization, "That's right, they avoid the hellmouth too. Well, they are this seriously evil law firm that handles any rich demon's legal cases. A couple f really old rich vampires too. Basically they protect the powerful and not human, and are run by the 'Senior Partners' that were ousted with the rest of the old ones. The bosses can't come here anymore, but supposedly they got branches keeping their fingers in lots of stuff on multiple planes of existence."
"Whoa, and I thought regular lawyers were bad. That sounds like some pretty heavy stuff."
"Yep, with the corruption and problems in this city it's become a hub in the smuggling of magical and dark artifacts and magic's. Pretty big stuff, but only a couple of big wizard and demon types stick around. They don't really come here though, they just stay in the city to keep an eye on things and the money."
"Anyone ever try and get rid of them?"
"Not sure anyone want's to. Magic is big business nowadays, even the light stuff has to be smuggled in recently with the trouble in New York, and since this is the biggest port left open on the east coast, this is it. Besides, the big name's don't start problems here since it's so important to keep the money and merchandise flowing."
Xander frowned a bit at that. "Well I guess I can understand that. If even the good stuff is illegal I guess it makes it impossible to regulate the bad stuff." Xander then notice the clock on the wall and that it was approaching 5:30. "Damn, I gotta get out of here. I have shopping to do and dinner to cook. Hey thanks for talking to me, I'll see you later."
"No problem, come back anytime. And remember your first round's on me."
Xander jumped up and was moving to the door as Bart was talking and shouted a quick 'thanks I will' over his shoulder as he ran out of the building. As he noticed the slight pain in his ribs and chest he slowed to a light jog heading to the corner store. He noticed a butchers shop along the way and decided to go all out and picked up some fillet minion on the way home. He was just about to the apartment building when he spotted someone coming his way looking suspicious and staring at him. He tried to stay as far from him as he could on the sidewalk not wanting to start trouble but as they passed each other the guy reached out and pulled him into an alley.
The guy pulled a knife and knocked the grocery bags out of his hand.
"Gimmie all your money!"
Xander tried to stay calm holding his hands up and standing in as non threatening a way as possible.
"Look man, I only have a few bucks on me but you can have it. I spend almost all my money on the groceries there"
He slowly pulled out a five and some one's which was all he had on him and held it out to the guy keeping his other hand in the air.
"Bullshit man! Anyone living in this place is loaded! Now you better get some more money quick or I'll slice you man!"
At this point Xander knew this wouldn't end well. He started thinking of any way he could get out of this without anyone getting hurt but was coming up blank.
"Look, I'm just staying with a friend, that's all I've got…"
He was going to continue but the guy lunged at him. He was fairly big, but he looked like he hadn't eaten in a while and was moving really slow as far as Xander could tell. the guy had made a horizontal slash with the knife, but Xander had no problem stepping to the side and back to avoid it. He was kinda curious as to what was wrong with this guy and if he was hurt. He didn't want to hurt him any more that he had to. Then the guy pretty much dove at him leading with his knife and Xander just sidestepped grabbed his right hand around the knife handle pulling back on the arm and pushed him head first into the wall.
The guys head made a sick 'Thunk' sound before he fell unconscious to the ground in the alley.
Xander kept the knife and checked the guy to make sure he was still alive. The guy had a big lump coming up on his forhead with a little cut that wasn't really bleeding much so he figured he was ok for now. Luckily he was able to salvage the groceries and he went to the doorman of the apartment building.
"Uh, excuse me?"
"Yes Mr. Harris, Ms. Dawes informend us you were staying here. Please go right in." the doorman said as the held the door open for him.
"Uh, actually I need you to call the police please. Some uh, guy just tried to jump me in the alley there and kinda knocked himself out. He lunged at me with this."
Xander held out the knife handle first to the doorman who stood still in shock for a moment. He quickly gathered his wits and called over another doorman and asked him to get someone to carry Xander's bags up to Ms. Dawes apartment and keep an eye on the door. Then he took the knife and asked Xander to show him where his attacker was.
Xander led him back to the alley while he phoned the police on a cell phone. The attacker was still unconscious amidst the debris and trash of the alley.
"Well there he is. Just how I left him."
The doorman was again shocked. "Sir, I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say. This is generally a very safe part of town. Are you alright? I was told you were still recovering from a hospital stay?"
"Well yea still am, but I didn't so much fight him as step out of the way and let him run into a wall." He checked his injuries over and though he did remember a stinging pain as he had to move very quickly but all the bandages and everything seemed fine. "It wasn't that bad, I think he was moving a little slow and unsteadily from malnutrition. I was tempted to leave him here but he may need medical attention, and could be a danger to himself or others."
"You really are too kind sir. Why don't you go on up to Ms. Dawes apartments and I will inform the police. They should be here soon and will probably be up to ask you some questions. I'll inform them as to where you are."
"Thanks, …" He checked for the name on his uniform. "Mr. Dawson, I really appreciate it."
With that he went up and started getting dinner ready without further incident. As he was cooking he went over the brief confrontation again in his head. His attacker may have been malnourished, but he was still muscular and a good bit bigger than him. What could have made him move so slow?
He was still thinking about this when the police came up and questioned him about the incident. He answered honestly and repeated the events as accurately as he could. They seemed mildly suspicious of him during the questioning but didn't ask him much more other than if he was staying here for a while if they had to contact him, which he was. All told he was able to finish cooking while talking to them and offered them drinks as they seemed suspicious of him. He completed cooking and setting the table just as they were finished questioning him and as he let them out a frantic Rachel was rushing to the door.
"Oh my god! Are you OK! Dawes told me what happened, are you hurt? Are your ribs and chest ok! What…"
"Hey, hey, it's ok. I'm fine." He turned to the police officers, "Thanks officers, I'll be here for the next week or two, then I'll call you to let you know where I'm staying."
The police officers just nodded with small smiles as they left and Rachel thanked them as well as she ushered Xander back into the apartment and told him to sit on the couch and took a seat opposite him in a large overstuffed chair with a serious look on her face.
"Alright, now tell me what happened."
With a sigh, Xander explained the whole story again, "Well, I was walking back from the corner store and was almost here when some guy grabbed me and tried to mug me. When I gave him the like eight buck I had on me he got pissed and attacked me. I sidestepped the knife and when he charged me I grabbed his arm and kinda helped him into the wall. That's it, I took two quick steps and it was over. I'm fine and I barely moved enough to even feel it."
She looked at him a little suspiciously, "Are you sure your ok?"
"Yes I'm fine. I'm sure, cross my heart and hope to die… well not really die, but you get what I mean."
Xander just sat there with his goofy lopsided grin hoping she would be satisfied.
"Alright, fine. Now lets talk about why you even left the apartment while your still recovering."
He could tell by the small smile that she wasn't upset but he decided to answer anyways.
"Well if you'll follow me madam, I will show you."
With that he led her to the table and uncovered the food. She was surprised to see all the food. There was salad, potatoes, some vegetables, and veal on a bed of pasta.
"May I present a meal fit for a queen as thanks for your hospitality, and to celebrate the fact that the bruising and swelling is mostly gone, and I have almost no pain when I move."
"Wow, Xander… this is too much. You really didn't have to do this."
"I know but I was feeling so good when I got up that I wanted to. Besides this cost less than a week at that crappy motel I was staying at so I figured it was worth it."
"Well thank you."
Both of them were smiling as they sat and enjoyed a good meal together. Not much was said while they ate but Xander's mind was already planning the next celebratory meal they would have at Knossos when he was fully recovered.
--Plaza Hotel –
Bruce Wayne was sitting in the living room of the suite he was using with a few notes on the repairs to the manor scattered on the table in front of him. However he seemed more focused on the notepad in his lap where he was writing out a training schedule.
"Can I get you anything for dinner master Wayne?" Alfred asked as he came out of the small kitchen area.
Bruce looked up from his work as Alfred approached. "Sure Alfred, why don't you order us both something from room service."
Alfred noticed the papers on the table and asked, "Ah, and how are the repairs to the manor coming along?"
"Oh, they're fine Alfred. I even had Fox get in touch with some non local contractors to come in and make all the additions to the south west foundation like you recommended since we have all the gear in the sub basement here. They were told that we're refurbishing the Underground Railroad area as a possible historical monument or something. That pretty much explains the need for electricity and communications wiring. Installing the vault didn't raise too many eyebrows either since it makes sense having it in an out of the way location, but I think I'll have to install the hydrolics and see if I can get the crew to conviently forget about the small crane they are using to get large equipment in and out. It's also being done in stages by a couple different crews so no one group knows exactly what's going on down there."
Bruce barely looked up from the notepad as he explained everything and seemed to be thinking rather hard about what he was doing. So Alfred took a seat across from him.
"It seems everything is well in hand so what is it that you are concerned about?"
Bruce handed over the notepad with a small smile, "Oh, this? This is the training schedule I'm making up for Xander. I think I am going to have to tell him about batman eventually but this is just the initial stuff that I can start him on as myself. I figure I can just tell him Rachel told me the truth, and I want to help him out. I may even have him move into the manor with us once he knows the truth and I get a better feel for what he's really like."
Alfred looked shocked, "Do you really think that's wise? You were very concerned about your identity a few days ago. You barely know this young man, and though I agree that he is doing something as important as Batman and we should help him somehow, how much do you really know about him?"
Bruce got up to pour himself a drink and raised the bottle in offering to Alfred who shook his head 'no', "Those are very good points, but I really don't think we have too much to worry about. He has his own secrets to worry about so I doubt he would betray ours. Still I do plan to get to know him better before making a final decision on telling him. As to how well I know him, I have a feeling even his close friends don't know as much as they think about him. I think his carefree persona is as much of a mask as my costume."
"All the more reason to be extra cautious."
"Normally I'd agree with you on that, but I have a gut feeling about this kid. I think we have more in common than anyone would believe. Besides I could use his help renovating the Batcave."
Alfred stood with a grimace, "Please don't tell me you'll be referring to the cave like that indefinitely. I could have sworn you were an adult, not some comic book twit."
Bruce just smiled, "Come on Alfred, it just has a nice ring to it don't you think?"
Alfred just responded with a sigh, "Well be that as it may, I will trust your judgment about the young man, your maturity may take some more deliberation." He stood and made his way to the phone to call room service. "I do admit a bit of curiosity about him though, I think I'd like to meet him to be sure."
"I was hoping you'd say that. I'd like to take him and Rachel out to dinner this Saturday and was hoping you'd come along."
He sat back down with his drink and waited patiently for Alfred to finish ordering their dinner.
After he hung up the phone he responded, "I would have much preferred to cook a meal ourselves but as the staff won't allow me near a decent kitchen I suppose that will have to do."
"Excellent, besides I'd like your opinion of him as well. I've found you're more insightful than I had previously given you credit for in the past, and I already had a high opinion of you."
"Thank you sir, and I will endeavor not to get a swelled head about it."
Bruce just smiled in response as he went back to the training notes and they waited for their dinner to arrive.
