Thank you to all reviewers, here's hoping you continue to like the series. As ever, despite several requests on my part, I do not own the characters portrayed within this work of fiction. If only…
Just outside the Summers House
Thump.
"Ow! OK, perhaps now is not the best time to experiment with the 'rooftop-to-rooftop' thing, given that the rooftops are further apart and I have a broken arm!" Dawn muttered to herself.
Having been granted the skills and talents of Keelia Drake, the fourth Robin to bear the name, she was naturally impatient to test them out. The stealthiness was there, she'd got in and out of the High School Library easily enough. On the physical side, well, she felt stronger and more aware of herself and felt she could compensate for the arm. Events, it would appear, have proven otherwise. Headed around the corner to the door, Dawn comes face-to-face with…
A while later, Sunnydale Cemetery. Well, one of them…
"Darn it! Where the devil is Xander? And I have so got to start spending less time with Giles…" this muttering is what led a member of Sunnydale's population of the decidedly supernatural persuasion to appear.
"I'm gonna drain you dry!" he yelled as he charged her.
"And I'm gonna bust your dust!" she retorted as she side-stepped his charge and neatly staked him. "heh heh, 'bust your dust', why is no-one around when I do my best quippage?" she wondered aloud.
"I thought it was good." came a voice on the wind.
"Who's there?" barked Buffy. Manners, schmanners, at night in Sunnydale, identification came first.
"It's me." was the reply, as Angel melted from the shadows.
"Angel!" Buffy exclaimed with a smile.
"Buffy." Angel inclined his head. "Why are you out patrolling tonight? I thought you had to baby-sit Dawn while your mother is in Hospital."
Buffy tilted her head quizzically. How did Angel know this? Mom hadn't asked her to baby-sit till after sunrise…
"I lurk." was his response to the unspoken question, she nodded, satisfied.
"Oh, Xander's possessed again. Something about last night sticking around or something, so he thinks he can patrol by himself." Buffy explained, as they instinctively fell into patrol, Buffy slightly behind Angel. He started almost imperceptibly at her words. Buffy noticed.
"Ah, who did he dress as again?" asked Angel, hoping his memory was incorrect.
"Oh, some Shade or Shadow guy…"
"Oh shit!"
"Angel!"
"Buffy, the Shadow was real! He could disappear and reappear and read human minds. He had a network of agents all over the world. He hated violent demons and vampires. Christ, he may still be around for all I know! But the thing is, his powers stemmed from the darkness inside himself. That's how he got his name, when he becomes invisible his shadow can still be seen, it's the one thing he cannot hide! If Harris still has the powers…"
Angel paused, and Buffy turned to him, contemplating his words.
"Then, he has this guy's, darkness, as well. My god, we've gotta find him!"
"Agreed."
"Find who?" asked Xander, as he illustrated what it really means to melt from the shadows.
Earlier, Summers House
Dawn comes face-to-face with…
"Xander!" exclaimed Dawn, and it was. Xander stood there in dark clothes and a jacket under which were a variety of weapons suitable for Sunnydale's night life. He turned to face her.
"Dawnie? What're you doing out here at this time of night? Where's Buffy?" He notices her attire. "Oh Dawn…" He sighs.
"What!" she exclaims.
"Let's do this inside, shall we?"
"OK."
"After you madam" he grins mockingly and gestures her inside.
"Ha ha. Now what?"
Entering the house, they make their way to the sitting room and slouch on a sofa.
"Dawnie, what were you thinking? Or were you not thinking? Going out, dressed up as Robin…"
"I am Robin! Or at least as close as there is!"
"…with a broken arm! And you are not Robin, none of the Robin's would've tried to go out with a bum wing, now would they?"
"Well…"
"With Alfred or Bruce there? Or Dick later?"
"The mere thought is terrifying. Though Alfred wasn't around by the time Keelia started training."
Xander looked inordinately pleased.
"That's right. You may remember being Robin, but you're not her. You were in the Library today, right?"
"Um, yeah."
"Then you overheard me and G-Man talking. We are not who the costumes were, no matter what we remember."
"But we do remember."
"I'm still trying to figure that one out. Now, where's Buffy?"
"She tore out of here when I mentioned you taking over patrolling tonight. She took my sudden acceptance of the supernatural almost in her stride, but completely wigged out when I mentioned you, patrolling and being possessed…?"
Xander looked embarrassed.
"Um, I was possessed by a Hyena spirit last year, it kinda, um, er, sorta, ah…"
"Tried to do the horizontal mambo with big sis?"
"Yes! Uh, no, ah…" Xander hung his head. "Buffy's gonna kill me." He looked up in horror. "Mrs S. will eviscerate me!"
"No she won't, she might invite you to dinner for a while…"
Xander looked anguished "That's worse. Much, Much worse!"
"…but she'll get over it. Besides, she's tried to, um, suggest that Buffy into date you for months."
"She WHAT!"
"Hey, don't shoot the messenger." Dawn grinned "Besides, she didn't seem anti the idea, exactly. More, uh, wary."
"That's probably because, um…" Xander was looking deeply uncomfortable.
"What Xander? You said you were possessed, you wanted to have sex with my sister, what could make it worse?"
Xander erupted "Because the Hyena wouldn't take no for an answer!" he shouted "and I remember every second of it trying to get what it wanted as me…" he spat.
Dawn recoiled from his shouting, defensively curling up on the couch, a hint of fear in her eyes. Xander tried to… she began to think.
"…and I, he, it, enjoyed it." Xander finished sadly. He glance at Dawn, and pulled back, horrified at the fear in the youngest Summers eyes.
"I, I'm sorry Dawnie, so sorry. I better go. Stay inside, please."
Xander stood and made his way to the door. Dawn watched him. Not Xander. He looks sick just having scared me. The possession would be bad enough, but to remember doing things you find abhorrent in the first person…
Xander had got to the end of the path, shoulders slumped and eyes downcast as he trudged away. God, I scared Dawnie so much she recoiled. Well, who wouldn't recoil from someone who'd just admitted to having tried to rape their sister...
"Xander!" Dawn stood in the doorway "Get back here, or so help me, I'll stand in a cemetery shouting 'Eat Me'!"
"Don't you dare!" He exclaimed in response as he spun to face her.
"Then get in here." she smirked as he walked back up the pathway. Leading him back to the couch, she sat next to him and looked him in the eye.
"You just told me that we are not the people who possessed us. That I'm not Robin, that you're not the Shadow." she began.
"Well, yes…"
"Then you're not the Hyena either."
"But, it's different…"
"How?"
"It was me." Xander looked desperate, "Last night wasn't me, it was La… The Shadow. Now, I've got his memories, but it's still not me. But the Hyena, it took my desires and acted on them, not it's own. It was my fault."
"Bull."
"But…"
"The boy who you are, the one who was disgusted with himself just for giving me a scare, would not have tried to force my sister to do that. We all have impulses which we don't act on, and they're nothing to be ashamed of. The fact is, you were not in your right mind and are therefore not guilty of anything. Understood?"
"But…"
"UNDERSTOOD." Dawn's volume was impressive, even to someone with the Shadow's penchant for cackling and projecting his voice.
"Yes Dawn." Xander looked up "When did you get so wise?"
"Most of it was Keelia stuff."
"Oh."
"Except the part which was about you. That I knew myself."
Xander felt a weak grin tug at his lips. "Cool."
"Nice evasion with Giles by the way."
"Huh?"
"You answered the grade stuff but distracted him from the home-life stuff. I, however, am not so easily side-tracked." Said Dawn seriously.
"Dawn, it's not important…"
"Bull. But at this point, I'm not gonna push or pry…"
"Thanks Dawnie…"
"as so long as you promise that if it gets too bad, you come here."
"What?"
"My Robin 'memories' cover a whole range of subjects and patterns. Applying them to your pre-Halloween behaviour is why I'm not prying, because I know."
"Dawn…"
"However, I am aware that making unsubstantiated accusations won't help, especially as my proof is equal to 'my-Robin-senses-are-tingling'. Just, if it gets too much, or you're in danger, come here. Mom'll give you the couch no-questions-asked, that night anyway."
"Thanks Dawn, but you're forgetting something."
"What?"
Xander looked away, "While I'd like to prove you wrong, I can't…"
"Xand…"
"and I'd like nothing better than to replace my parents with your mom, but I'm different now. I'm effectively the Shadow. Got the powers and the memories and a few things I'm gonna check out… But I can look after myself much better now."
"Yeah, ok. But the offer stands. Understood?"
"Yes master"
"Good. Now, get out there and look out for my sister."
"Uh…"
"You promised to cover patrol, and I promise to stay in and behave 'til Buffy gets home."
Xander grinned. "And after she gets back?"
Dawn had a matching grin. "Hey, with supervision, legally it'll be her fault."
"I'm so proud, my little Dawnie's all grown up and making others culpable for her actions." He wiped away a fake tear.
"Go on, the monsters are waiting."
"See ya Dawn-Patrol. You might want to change before the Buffster gets home…" and with that, Xander disappeared.
Phew, that's gonna be hard to get used to.
Later, Sunnydale Cemetery. Well, one of them. Buffy and Angel's location
"Find who?" asked Xander, as he illustrated what it really means to melt from the shadows.
"You! You doofus! What do you think you're doing, patrolling by yourself? And being possessed! We're going to Giles and getting you de-possessed right now!" exclaimed Buffy.
"I don't think so Buff."
"Xander!"
"What?"
"I'm the Slayer, you're the normal guy. In matters supernatural I rule supreme! You can't handle this, last time you were possessed I had to club you with a desk!"
"Different form of possession Buffster. And I beg to differ."
Buffy looked perplexed, "Huh!"
Xander sighed. "I now appeal to the really-not-neutral-at-all third party. Angel, out of me and Buffy, who knows more about the supernatural?"
"Buffy." answered the ensouled vampire.
"Personally I disagree, but ok. Now, who knows more about the supernatural, Buffy, or Giles?"
Angel started. "Giles of course."
"Exactamundo Overbite." Angel winced at the hated nickname Honestly, even 'Deadboy' is better than that…
Xander turned back to Buffy "Giles knows about this, and is watching me very carefully I can assure you. As is, I can patrol better and strike without warning. By the way, why is Dawn home alone?"
"What!" Buffy was confused by the non-sequitur.
"Giles gave you the night off, your mom's in Hospital, your sister is alone at home with a broken arm, and your out here with the not-quite-evil undead. What's wrong with this picture?"
"Xan, I'm out here looking for you!"
"You found me. Well done. Now go home and look after your sister."
"But…"
"Buff… Angel, how many demons can enter a residence without permission?"
The vampire looked uncomfortable. "A fair few." he muttered
"Go home Buff, I'll be fine. If you insist, Deadboy here can stick around and help out."
"If you're sure…"
"I am."
"Angel, would you mind…?"
Angel sighed, heavily. "It's workable."
"Cool."
With that, the one girl in all the world headed home, leaving two uneasy allies in her wake. Looking at each other warily, they started to patrol. Angel decided to make an overture.
"So, uh, how's, um, stuff?" it was, needless to say, not the most eloquent of attempts, but it was an attempt…
Xander actually grinned at the vampire. "That was actually painful to behold." his grin widened "You actually managed to make me look suave and sophisticated!"
"It took great effort." was the dry reply.
"Thanks."
"Your welcome. It's not as if we have much in common."
"True. There's a couple of vamps at three o'clock, 200, 250 feet."
"Me left, you right?" Angel suggested
"You front, me behind." was the reply, as Xander shimmered into invisibility…
Wolfram and Hart offices, LA - Special Projects division
Holland Manners perused the file in front of him, then looked up over his desk at his two top attorneys, both seated across from him and as far apart as was physically possible. Lindsey McDonald and Lilah Morgan. They were fiercely competitive, each capable of levels of cold-bloodedness that approached absolute zero. Lilah was the more openly ambitious, while Lindsey, well, Lindsey was exhibiting worrying signs of rediscovering his conscience. Everyone did, at some point, still, best to keep him close to hand… He looked up from the file.
"Lilah, as you know, our seers have reported massive amounts of chaos energy in Sunnydale. It seems someone invoked Janus, and the after-effects are more permanent than usual. They have also reported that Yincho has arisen there, in the guise of one Alexander Harris and the Shadow. While there was some discussion regarding the termination of young Mr Harris and preventing the resurrection of the 'Shadow Network' which plagued us until Cranston's death a decade ago, the thought of recruiting him is too tempting. As such, I would like you to go to Sunnydale and, corrupt, the lad. Your means are your own, but I strongly advise you to avoid direct untruths. The anti-telepathy wards will prevent direct mind reading, but he may be able to gauge truthfulness."
"Yes sir. Is there a time limit?"
"A nebulous one. You need to prevent him from stopping Wilkins Ascension, so you have a little under two years. The earlier the better though, understood?"
"Yes sir. He'll be eating out of the palm of my hand by the end of the year."
Holland grinned. "Excellent. The Senior Partners will be most pleased. You can go prepare."
Lilah rose, smoothing her skirt. "Thank you sir." she said, then turned and left, a smirk firmly in place on her face as she considered the implications of landing this assignment.
Holland turned his attention to the other lawyer. "Now Lindsey, this doesn't badly reflect on you at all. You're an excellent lawyer and my preference for taking my place when I'm promoted. However, the Senior Partners feel that Lilah is more capable of corrupting Mr Harris, given her nature and the fact that he is a 17-year-old adolescent, regardless of the memories he's received."
"Of course sir. Is there anything else?"
"Well, the Nixon account is looking wobbly, but I would like to direct your attention to a recent lawsuit against 'Kevin Sorbo', while the Senior Partners would like nothing better than to strip the do-gooder of his assets, they feel it is against the best interests of the firm to attract his relatives ire. Deal with the claimants please. Also…"
While Holland continued to brief Lindsay on upcoming projects for his attention, Lindsey's hand was in his pocket, fingering the silver fire opal ring he kept there. At last I can repay my debt…
So, what do you think? I'm considering a less antagonistic relationship between Angel and the 'Xandman', based on the assumption that his feelings for Buffy became non-romantic due to the events of 'When she was Bad'. Go on now, review! You know you want to…
