Death Moves to Sunnydale 5
Author:
Tohonomike
Disclaimer: All characters belong to their rightful owners... Joss/ME characters and others. I do not and cannot make money off of this, but for feedback I try to churn out a quality product.
And all of you thought I'd forgotten you… Well, here's more…
Saturday,
November 1st, 1997 – 4:00 PM
Cordelia Chase had never seen her grandfather look so 'wrung out' as when he and an only-slightly-mussed Alexander Harris entered the dining room for an early dinner.
"Grandpa?" she asked with honest concern, "are you alright?" She didn't fail to notice the look he gave Alexander.
"I am, Cordelia," the man assured her with only a slight sigh. "I know that as long as I have Alexander with me, I don't have to worry about my mortality." He glanced again at the young man who now with a small smile sat at the table as they did. "And after the way he's … well, I don't have to fear for my legacy to you being a small one."
"How do you mean?"
"I, I really can't say. I promised Alexander I'd keep our specific arrangement between the two of us. But let us just say he has a 'sense' for how others … are. It creates an insight for investment."
Alexander smiled, "Cordelia. I'm not doing anything to hurt your grandfather. I'm here to learn from him, and he'll be around for me to do that."
"Oh. Okay," she smiled with a little more confidence, interpreting his words positively. "I had the cook put together standard manly fare—but not caveman manly."
Xander smiled, a little more light return to his eyes, something Mr. Chase now also noticed—a humanity where sometimes there wasn't. It was confusing and he wondered if the young deity (?) even realized it. Cordelia turned to small talk aimed at getting at least some information out of them.
"So…without breaking this deal of yours, what're you two doing?"
"Eating," Xander replied with a smile in his eyes. She rolled hers and smiled. He relented, "I sit in the chair; William sits next to me. He explains various aspects and factors of business, and I … determine … companies with possible management weaknesses. Then he shows how to electronically direct his people to respond after we've discussed the economic viabilities of the various choices."
"On the job training?"
"Exactly," both males responded, Alexander nodding at William to continue if he desired.
"He's going through the motions as we discuss what we are doing and why." The man looked into space remembering something. "He catches on quite quickly once he … knows what to look for."
"So how much did you make me?" she joked, but looked at Xander, who actually replied in all seriousness.
"I believe William netted around a quarter-million for five hours of effort." Cordelia froze, not knowing how to respond as her grandfather nodded.
"You're kidding, right?"
Xander smiled as he set down his fork and started to pick up his water glass, "No. Though I'm guessing from your reaction that's a better-than-usual performance?"
William chuckled, and not uncomfortably. Cordelia imitated a fish for a moment then turned attention to her iced tea.
"So," she began again a moment later as they finished their small salad course and the main 'meat and potatoes' dishes were set on the table for self-service. "What now? More investing after dinner? You heading home? What?"
William Chase cleared his throat. "Alexander will be staying with us for … a while. It will make things easier. I want him to take the time to learn everything possible."
"Oh? How long?" Cordelia asked, "Because he didn't bring a change of clothes for him."
Alexander looked over to her grandfather. "I believe William can help me with that also. Perhaps you could take me somewhere if the stores are still open and find me something?"
"You? Shopping?!" she smiled, then looked at her grandfather. "I'm so charging up your credit cards! Xander Harris in proper attire and accessories… And he's in my power."
William looked torn between concern for whom she would be with, and curiosity in that Alexander looked … human … right then with a half-blush and a smile of amused embarrassment.
"Well… I suppose learning to dress for success in business is a good idea. Alexander? Would you mind?"
"Um. If you believe it necessary William, I don't mind letting Cordelia spend your money on what's best. But only what you would consider proper attire."
Cordelia looked in thought, nodded, "I can still make you up-to-date as well as acceptable to grandpa… at least clothing-wise." Xander actually shared her small smirk. William felt relief that the word-play most definitely did not seem to offend Death.
About half an hour later Xander was waiting for Cordelia to finish dressing in attire appropriate before setting out on a shopping expedition. The doorbell rang and two twenty-somethings in business attire, a man and a woman, were shown in to the entry.
The butler turned to Alexander, "Mr. Harris? There is a pair of attorneys from Wolfram and Hart asking to see you. They described you rather than named you."
Alexander lost his 'Xanderness' and nodded as William Chase joined him, "Show them in."
They watched as the two from Los Angeles confidently strode in, the woman speaking first.
"Good evening, Mr. Harris. I'm Lilah Morgan and this is my associate Lindsey McDonald, from Wolfram and Hart. We recently understand you underwent a change of condition and the Senior Partners of our firm were hoping to arrange an accommodation."
Alexander stared at the two of them, looking through them. When his eyes did focus on them, neither attorney enjoyed the experience as dread enveloped every cell of their bodies.
"It is best to simply let matters happen. When one gets too close, things change. And when involving themselves in my business it becomes ill-advised. Tell your demons that they should put their plans on hold for at least a lifetime, and keep their minions away from the Hellmouth. The less-distracted I am, the less likely I am to 'take notice' of those responsible for bothering me."
The younger attorney, the male identified as Lindsey, responded respectfully.
"So if Wolfram and Hart doesn't bother you, you won't bother Wolfram and Hart?"
"More if Wolf, Ram and Hart don't draw my attention, I won't be moved to concentrate my focus upon them and theirs," Death very softly replied without any expression at all. "I can sense them, even beyond the White Room, when I focus."
Lindsey was backing away as though he were facing a man-sized cobra, and Lilah swayed and was verging on tears as a second later she raced for the door, losing her shoes in the process. Cordelia came down after the butler closed the door, picked up the footwear and vanished as butlers do.
"So?" Cordelia asked, "I heard the door. Was it anything important?"
Alexander smiled, William almost frozen so Cordelia couldn't really see the no-slight distress in the man's look.
"Just a couple of Saturday door-to-doors," the young man replied in a very Xander manner and grin, "William and I weren't buying. You ready to dress me?"
"As if," she smirked, "But I am going to get you into some real clothes."
"Alright then," he smiled, and seemed to feel almost 'himself' again. "I'm all yours."
"Of course you are. I'm the Shopping Queen."
William Chase just watched them go; only really recovering from the Death appearance as the door closed.
"I, I just don't know…" he whispered aloud as he returned to his office in the Chase Mansion.
