Reunification
Part 5
Xander shifted his feet in an attempt to give Dawn more room. He was wedged
in a corner of the back seat, his long legs spilling across the limited
space. Dawn was in the other corner, too engrossed with IM-ing her friends
on the phone the Scoobies insisted she carry at all times. Spike was between
them, or more accurately, on top of Xander. The blonde was sprawled over
Xander’s chest and his Docs were wedged out Dawn’s window. She was using the
vampire’s legs like a desk to steady her hands as she typed text messages,
but otherwise seemed oblivious to them.
The noise of the wind drowned out Tara and Willow’s conversation from the
front seat. The witches had pulled their seats up as far as they would go.
Spike had complained that this was taking girl power too far when the wee
ones had relegated the men to the back seat. Xander had laughed and pushed
Spike into the car. He was too tired to drive, given last night’s and
today’s activities, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to let Spike drive with
Dawn in the car. Having safe-driver Willow behind the wheel was well worth
any discomfort on the ride. Besides as he had pointed out to his mate, it
was only for a couple hours.
Spike was in gameface, his eyes half open but showing only the whites as
Xander stoked his now-darker hair. He seemed dead to the world, but Xander
could feel the tension in his body. Spike was not as blase as he tried to
project about the visit to LA. Xander was a little nervous, but then Angel
wasn’t his Sire - his Yoda. Xander smiled at that memory. He really didn’t
give a damn what Deadboy thought.
They had spoken a couple times. Angel talked about souls and the danger of
vampires, as if Xander wasn’t Hellmouth born and bred. Xander had done his
best to control his sarcasm. He hadn’t blurted out that it had been too late
to worry about Xander binding himself to Spike, even before Angel had
visited Sunnydale and voiced his disapproval. Xander figured he owed Angel
the same courtesy that the brooding one had give him regarding Xander’s take
on the Angel and Buffy affair, which was none. Spike seemed to feel that
Angel’s blessing mattered to Xander; thus the human had spent the better
part of the day trying to shag that illusion out of his lover’s now chipless
brain.
Of course he could be wrong, Xander thought. Spike’s reluctance to see his
Sire could have less to do with Angel’s reaction to their blood-bond and
more to do with taking shit for the new hair color. Xander loved it. Not
that he gave a damn what color Spike’s hair was, but it had given him a
taste of power to know that the big bad had changed his look just because
Xander had brought home the wrong color. Until Spike had come out of the
bathroom and asked how it looked in that insecure voice, Xander had never
been able to figure out why Spike did his best to distract him whenever he
started to go for a haircut. Now that he knew that feeling, that he could
influence this fierce, obstinate man, it was a huge rush.
Just a week ago, Xander had come home early, rain having closed the site,
loaded down with groceries. Spike had padded out to the kitchen, naked and
adorable with his hair standing up every which way. He had made a small
noise of joy and rewarded Xander with a kiss upon finding a carton of his
smokes, a bottle of JD, and a new tube of hair gel. But after the food had
been put away and Xander had sorted out the lube and other bed and bath
products, Spike had just stood there holding the box of hair coloring and
scratching his head.
“What’s this, Pet?” Nothing was as cute as a naked vampire looking scared of
a small box of bleach, Xander thought.
“It’s haircolor; you said you wanted to do your roots before we head to LA.”
Xander had slipped around behind Spike and wrapped his arms around him to
read the box over his shoulder. He knew when he bought it Spike would have
problems with the name.
“Yeah, it is, isn’t it?” Xander could almost hear the wheels turning in his
lover’s head. He pressed his ear to Spike’s waiting, for the ‘click, click,
ping!’ of an idea to herald the vampire somehow getting out of using that
color. “It was the whitest shade they had,” he said, and then waited and
just when he felt Spike take a breath to reply added in a soft whisper,
“Don’t you like it? It reminded me of you.”
Xander laughed at the memory, causing Dawn to look over questioningly. He
shook his head and she went back to her messages. He stroked Spike’s hair
and whispered, knowing the vampire would hear even over the sound of the
air, “Moonbeam.”
Spike growled, but his eyes remained rolled back in his head and he still
feigned sleep.
~~~~~~~~
Lindsey skirted the edge of the Hyperion's lobby. The settees had been
moved and a long dining table had been centered under the glowing art deco
chandelier. Vast assortments of dishes were being fussed over by the
catering workers. Cordelia Chase stood amid the chaos like a drill sergeant
inspecting her troops. Graham and Riley were hiding out in the office behind
the reception desk with Fred, as they tried to avoid Cordelia’s critical
eye. Just as she focused on Lindsey, obviously unhappy he was there at all,
Angel came in from the back of the hotel carrying a two-headed helm ax and
covered in blue ichor.
Lindsey stood back and enjoyed the show as Cordelia chewed Angel out. His
years of honing his instinct for self-preservation at the firm aided him in
hiding his smirk as the tall, powerful vampire hung his head at the Seer’s
tirade and mumbled an apology. Lindsey wondered if Angel had any idea just
how tightly he was wrapped around the young woman’s finger. After she
admonished him for showing up looking a mess with company coming she segued
into a diatribe over Lindsey’s presence at the ‘family’ dinner.
Angel staged a strategic retreat and went to clean up as Gunn and Wesley
came in the front doors. “Cordelia, this is impressive,” the Englishman
said. Their arrival caused Fred and the young men to venture out of the
safety of the office.
“Hey, I do good work with the right budget.” She beamed at Wesley and then
turned her blinding smile on Graham, causing Riley to poke him in the ribs
eliciting a slight smile from the quiet man.
Lindsey knew he was an unwelcome addition to this celebration, but it wasn’t
as if he wanted to be here. As the detective agency’s staff began bantering
and socializing, Lindsey backed away from the group. He continued meandering
around the outer edges of the lobby hoping to sneak up to his room before
the guests arrived. He was almost to the stairs when a familiar voice said,
“Hey, cowboy, I thought you got the hell out of Dodge?”
He turned to see Lorne striding in from the same back entrance Angel had
come through, resplendent in a gold-toned Dior suit that complemented his
green skin and red eyes. Lindsey couldn’t help returning his friend’s wide
smile. He shook his head ruefully and said, “So did I. Bat-vamp stumbled
over some prophesy or vision that caused him to send his boy wonders after
me.”
The caterers had been staring openly at the demon and Lindsey’s remark
silenced everyone else. Lorne continued, ignoring the silence or perhaps
reveling in being the center of attention, “You’ll have to treat me to a
sample of those golden pipes. I’ll see what comes up.” The showman crossed
to Cordelia, gesturing dramatically, “So where is tall, dark and broodingly
handsome? Love the spread, but isn’t it a bit too Thanksgiving for a
vampire?”
“Lorne.” Cordelia fake-kissed his cheeks and said, “So glad you could make
it. Please keep Lindsey from skulking around, plotting mayhem. This is my
party and it is going smoothly if I have to behead everyone involved. Out.”
She directed the last to the gaping staff who had frozen in the process of
packing up the crates in which they had delivered dinner. They scampered out
with the packing crates, muttering something about special effects and
pretentious actresses.
“I wouldn’t miss a chance to see Angelkins bond with his favorite Childe.”
Lorne nudged Gunn with an elbow, inviting him to join in the teasing. “I
heard from a Traxorian that Junior has quite a set of pipes himself.”
“Yeah, if you like Sex Pistols,” Cordelia said with a roll of her eyes.
Before anyone else could join in the conversation, Lorne nodded to the
elaborate spread and gushed, “This is a big event for you, hum? This the
first time Junior and company have come home to meet Daddy’s minions?”
“Minions?” Cordelia hissed and glared at Lorne.
Lorne continued, heedless of the outrage in his audience as he gestured
dramatically while circling the banquet table. “Gotta admit, the idea of all
this family together brings a tear to my eye. Almost makes me miss my family
- may magic and the portals keep them far away.”
Lorne circled around and started to chat up Angel’s new boys, while Wesley
calmed the Seer. Since he was no longer the focus of anyone’s attention
Lindsey stopped fighting the desire to smirk - with Lorne here to bait Angel
the evening was looking up.
Before he had a chance to think of more than five ways he could use this to
his advantage his train of thought was derailed by the entrance of an
arrogant young man. The blonde strutted in, opening both doors, palms flat
and arms stretched wide. He stopped to survey the room, or perhaps to give
its occupants a chance to admire his lean frame. Mouth-watering in tight
black jeans and a tee shirt over his whipcord muscles, he was riveting. The
blonde sneered and stalked forward. His hair was bleached a pale, delicate
blonde and was quite striking when paired with his clear blue eyes and
porcelain-like complexion. The combination should have made him look fragile
or waiflike; instead he was every inch a predator - dangerous and hard.
Lindsey hadn’t survived at the firm as long as he had without being able to
spot a vampire in a room full of humans. The vampire’s thin-lipped sneer
changed to contemptuous smirk as he purred out seductively, “So kiddies, did
everyone miss me?”
So this was Angel’s Childe? Wolfram and Hart had a file on him but had
contacted Drusilla when looking to turn Darla, thinking she would be more
malleable. A prudent move, since William the Bloody had been known to hunt
Slayers for sport. That and the fact the in the demon community Drusilla had
been much easier to locate. William, or rather Spike as he went by now, had
dropped out of sight about two years ago. Since it had happened shortly
after rumor had had the Childe torturing his Sire, many had thought he was
dead, perhaps one more blood kin sacrificed to Angel’s need for redemption.
Well, he obviously was dead, but the Slayer of Slayers was still walking
around dead and still apparently primed to annoy his Sire.
The ‘minions’ Lorne had mentioned were now entering behind him, two young
women and a girl hardly into her teens by the look of her, followed by a
tall, broad-shouldered brunette with dark, laughing eyes. Cordelia greeted
them all enthusiastically. Well, she pretty much ignored the vampire, but
the rest seemed human and they all appeared to know and like the Seer.
“Hey, food! Real food.” The young man’s attention was absorbed by the buffet
of chaffing dishes and deserts. He bounded toward the table but was detoured
by Cordelia who grabbed his arm and used this momentum and centrifugal force
to propel him with her over to meet Lorne.
“Hi, Wesley,” the redhead said with a wave. Her blond shadow gave the Brit a
tiny smile and a shy nod.
The only other member of the vampire’s entourage was the young girl. She
stayed close to the vampire, appearing a bit ill at ease in the crowd.
Lindsey followed her wide-eyed gaze, expecting her to be thrown by Lorne’s
appearance ,even if she had arrived with a master vampire. He was surprised
to find that instead of the demon she was watching the two most recent
additions to the detective agency staff. When Lindsey looked back to see if
he could determine why these men made her ill at ease he was shocked again
to find the vampire soothing her worries with softly-whispered words while
stroking her long brown hair.
Cordelia briefly demanded everyone’s attention as she introduced he and
Lorne. Apparently, everyone else had been previously acquainted. He quickly
put faces to names and tried to think if he had heard of any of them from
the firm’s files.
~~~~~~
Angel stopped at the top of the stairs. Cordelia was wearing a red
sleeveless, wrap dress. Her sun-kissed skin and gleaming hair radiated life
and health. He warred briefly with the side of him that would either
consider this a dinner invitation or long to make that beauty eternal. He
watched as she worked the room, making sure the two groups mingled while
keeping an eye on their reluctant guest.
Angel knew he should go down and play host; if he didn’t she would surely
make him pay. He smiled at the thought of those flashing brown eyes. He
hadn’t meant to be late or come back smelling of Ithor demon ichor, but he
had to work off the nervous tension the impending visit had caused. If the
recent updates from Willow were anything to go by it was probably too late
to stop Xander from becoming fully blood-bonded to Spike. Angel understood
the selfishness that would drive a demon to grab what he wanted regardless
of the consequences; he had felt it himself when claiming each of his
Childer. What he couldn’t fathom was how Xander, who had the best sense of
self-preservation of the lot of them, could throw all his years of
experience aside and willingly embrace hellspawn in the name of love.
It was love. Angel couldn’t deny that. He had seen them together, the way
they moved, unconsciously shadowing each other, protecting each other. He
remembered Xander’s eyes before the battle, when he had asked what he should
do about Spike if Xander died. Already there had been a level of intimacy
that spoke of a bond deeper than even Angelus’ had been with Darla. But, he
knew first hand the dangers of such a bond. Surely, Xander realized that
Spike would never willingly be parted from him. That alone almost guarantied
that the boy would be turned eventually. Even if Spike could fight his
desire to hold on to his ephemeral lover, what would such darkness do to
Xander’s soul? Did he truly understand what bonding like this to a demon
could do to his soul?
He watched now as Spike’s eyes tracked Xander’s movement around the room.
Typically, Xander was making more of a circuit of the trays of hors d’oeuvre
than attempting to socialize, yet he seemed to be the one person who
effortlessly laughed and talked with each person. Wes was carefully easing
Fred into a conversation as she matched Xander in scarfing the chilled
shrimp. Spike stayed close to Dawn. This was the first Angel had seen her
since she had been giving him baleful glares for roughing up his obnoxious
Childe. Angel thought, judging by the look she was giving Riley, that Dawn
had inherited Buffy’s ability to hold a grudge.
Rather than get called on for lurking by Cordelia, Angel reluctantly
descended the stairs. After greeting the new arrivals, Angel was rescued
from the awkward cocktail party-like setting by Xander, of all people. It
had seemed like just small talk at first but Angel found himself opening up
to the young man when he asked about the hotel and the renovations that were
possible.
Finally, it was time for dinner. Cordelia had agonized over the seating each
time she had added a member to the party. She had wanted to keep Riley away
from the Scoobies and Spike away from the LA people and in the end everyone
away from Lindsey. Unfortunately all her planning went to hell, due to
Xander and Gunn being engrossed in a conversation. The two men took
adjoining seats, thus prompting Spike to sit on Xander’s right and of course
keep Dawn on his right. The shuffling planted Riley right next to Willow and
somehow ended up with Lindsey between Tara and Fred.
Sitting at the end of the long table, as massive amounts of roast vegetables
and rare meat were being consumed, Angel noticed Cordelia’s forced grin and
raised eyebrow frequently drawing his attention to the ex-lawyer who was
bent on charming their more innocent guests. He assumed she wanted him to
keep a close eye on Fred who was seated on his right. He preferred to let
Wesley, who was across from her, engage her in conversation, since at least
Wes had a chance of understanding some of what she said.
Angel didn’t think it was the crisis Cordelia was making it out to be. Dawn
seemed perfectly at ease next to Lorne and after an initial glare Willow
promptly ignored Riley. Although each spoke privately with their dining
partners, the bulk of the table’s attention was on the two young men
swapping tales of slaying. Gunn briefed Xander on the recent and
not-so-recent events. Using colorful language, he abbreviated the events
surrounding Wolfram and Hart, Darla’s resurrection and turning, Angel firing
them all and Wesley now being in charge. Xander showed no surprise at the
mention of Darla and confirmed that Dru had made a brief and bloody visit to
the Dale before vanishing again. Dawn elbowed Spike and giggled during that
tale and Angel watched his Childe duck his head as if he were still able to
blush.
~~~~~~~~
After dinner, they separated into smaller groups. Lindsey bid a reluctant
goodnight to Fred, whose quirky babble he found charming, as the painfully
shy young woman offered to show Dawn to her room. The girl was going out
with friends first thing in the morning, or so Lindsey had overheard her
confide in Lorne at dinner.
The two young women, witches if rumor were to be believed, were over on the
settee with Cordelia. She and the redhead seemed to know many of the same
people and the young woman was updating her at an amazing rate of speech.
The blonde woman sat silently at her side, radiating a tranquility
unobtainable by the magic users the firm had contracted. Obviously, Cordelia
and this Willow had known each other for quite some time. Lindsey wondered
if the Sire had given the witch to the Childe or if the Seer had been gifted
to the Sire by the Childe. As of Lindsey’s departure from the firm over six
months ago it had been assumed that Angel had met Cordelia when he saved her
life from the unfortunate Russell Winters.
Xander, the human male who had accompanied Angel’s Childe’s group, was
standing at the serving table with Gunn, Finn, and Miller, trading stories
while picking at the leftover prime rib. Spike and Wesley had gone into some
kind of a library or study off the lobby where they were examining a scroll.
Lorne and Angel were at the bar that had been set up at the reception desk.
Lindsey had taken a seat out of the way and with a view of all the groups.
Lorne looked bored to tears and Angel looked like he would prefer to be
working on a case. Lindsey was just considering going to rescue his friend
when the dark-eyed human from Sunnydale left his companions guarding the
food and crossed the lobby to take a seat near him. “Hi, I’m Xander.”
“Yeah, Cordelia introduced you.” Lindsey was instantly on his guard.
“True, but there are only two of you for us to remember. But, I guess being
an evil lawyer, that you’d have to keep all the names and faces straight or
risk pissing of the wrong demon, huh?” Guileless brown eyes blinked and an
open, friendly grin replaced the slightly pensive look which had accompanied
that speech.
Reluctantly, Lindsey found himself returning that easy smile. “Know a lot of
demons, do you?”
“You’d be surprised,” the young man quipped. Given his choice of companions
Lindsey supposed he should have expected that. It was odd that of the people
Spike had chosen to come with him to visit his Sire, they were all still
human. Xander didn’t have the acquiescent attitude of a pet or slave. Human
consorts were rare and would still be expected to show a certain deference
to the vampire which this man lacked. He could see the vampire keeping the
witches for their power and the girl perhaps as a pure offering to some
higher demon, but the young man had him stumped. Not only did he appear too
average for this master vampire to notice but his whole attitude was far too
alpha for someone who dealt with a being that could squash him like a bug.
His unbroken spirit along with his easy banter with both Angel and his
Childe completely threw Lindsey in regard to his status in the vampire’s
entourage.
Lindsey considered and discarded a variety of small talk. If he ask how
Xander knew Angel, the young man would just point out that they were family.
The young man would never volunteer the real reason for their visit. It was
unlikely that, after all this time, the vampires had suddenly had a yen for
family togetherness. Something was up, that much was obvious. This evening
had a formal feel to it. The catering of food for the humans. The Childe
arriving and filling his Sire’s refrigerator with units of human blood. How
had the firm missed this connection? They had written off this dangerous
opponent. No, worse than written him off, they assumed, seemingly
incorrectly, that the Slayer of Slayers was an enemy of Angel’s. Yet they
had been in contact for quite some time, if the level of intimacy between
their humans was any way to judge. This information could be invaluable,
Lindsey thought.
Lindsey nodded in the direction of the gossiping women and said, “They seem
to be enjoying themselves.” It seemed a safe comment and just might elicit
more information on how close the two circles were, depending on how savvy
the human was at withholding information.
“Yeah, hard to believe there was a time when I was about all those two had
in common.” The brunette smiled inwardly and shook his head at some memory.
“So, how does one decide to be an evil lawyer? Do you do an internship or do
they recruit you by your LSAT scores?”
Lindsey couldn’t help smiling at Xander. The man projected an air of ‘I’m
too dumb to come out of the rain’ but a flash in those dark eyes told him
that this rube had no intention of telling him anything he didn’t already
know.
Lindsey leaned in, preparing to charm the man with a well-tested ice breaker
about his first year as a clerk when he heard a low growl and looked up into
yellow eyes. The vampire must have crossed the lobby in a flash. He had been
a good forty feet away only a moment ago. Gone was the smooth, controlled
predator, this was a salivating beast looking at Lindsey as if he were
dessert and the entertainment rolled into one. As Lindsey’s life flashed
before his eyes, in one fluid movement Xander pulled the vampire down on to
his lap and bit into the heavy muscle where Spike’s neck joined his
shoulder. Xander lapped gently at the blood he had drawn and whispered an
amused, “As if,” into the vampire's ear.
Angel was there in an instant, but whether he intended to protect Lindsey or
assist his Childe in rending him limb from limb the ex-lawyer wasn’t sure.
Lorne had followed and put a restraining hand on the hulking vampire’s arm.
Lindsey turned back to the pair in the chair just in time to see Xander lick
the blood from his lips. “Use your words. We talked about this. You agreed
to use words when something was bothering you and not just pounce,” Xander
said softly, and while speaking, brought his gaze eye to eye with Spike.
Without breaking that gaze he said in a more forceful voice, “Lighten up,
Deadboy, it’s under control.” Spike broke their impromptu staring match and
seemed no less murderous but at least now his glare was for his Sire and not
for Lindsey.
Thankfully, Lorne stepped in and said, “How about you play for me now? I
think we could all stand a change of pace.”
********
Across town in a gleaming office building, the lawyers had finally left.
Glory stretched out on the fluffy towel. It seemed coarse against her
gleaming skin and was an inadequate cushion against the dry wood of the
bench on which she reclined. The sauna’s dry air coaxed jewel-like beads of
sweat from her most magnificent form. Already her golden curls were wild and
damp from the combination of sweat and dry heat. A scowl marred her perfect
features as she considered the minions ~~ guards? not likely ~~ who stood at
attention by the door. The towering figures looked carved out of highly
polished onyx and were naked but for elaborately embroidered loincloths. The
obsequious lawyers had offered to provide for her every need and craving.
The two well-muscled beings, each with the head of a jackal, could either
have been sent as a meal or an amusement.
Stretching again, she bit her lip trying to discern what had brought on the
itchy feeling of restlessness that throbbed through her body. It almost felt
as if Ben... “Get out!” she hissed and didn’t even take the time to enjoy
the minions scuttling out the door, their now-visible tails tucked between
their legs. “No, no, no, no...” Glory chanted and jumped up holding her
hands up - willing the delicate manicured fingers to remain. The lawyers had
sworn Ben was gone, she would vivisect the lot of them. Angry blue eyes were
replaced by confused hazel and Buffy Summers slowly lowered her hands and
tried to figure out where she was and how she had gotten there.
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