Roomies

Disclaimer: The characters of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel: the Series Universes (Angel, Cordelia, Spike, Xander, Doyle, etc…) are the creation of Joss Whedon and are, therefore, the property of him, Mutant Enemy (Grr, Arg), and 20th Century Fox (and all other affiliated parties). No money is gained from this work as it is created purely for the enjoyment of others. Please do not sue.

AN: Constructive criticism and friendly fedback are always appreciated. Flames will be used to warm my toes.


~Part 25: My Hero Without Any Armor~


Xander dry washed his face and sighed deeply. "This is a lot to take in," he finally said. The restaurant was supposed to have been closed at least an hour ago. Thanks to Mac’s superior ability to bribe the best of people, they hadn’t been kicked out on their asses. With every other table empty, the only server in sight was the bartender who had been eyeing Xander all night, having sent over several "it’s on me" drinks that had gone untouched. "Damn, for once I wish I drank."

Mac chuckled and swallowed a mouthful of his coke. His wavy, almost black hair fell into his eyes and he pushed it back without thought. "It is a lot, but it’s what’s going to be happening. I really wish you had done this a hell of a lot sooner. I always told you that I could get you out; all you had to do was call. You haven’t called me since I first told you that."

Xander grimaced. "Yah, well, you know where I would be right now if I had. You weren’t legally able to become my guardian until last month." He swirled his straw in his drink, rattling his ice before sitting back in his chair, taking on a sprawling position. "By the way, you got drunk and hired a stripper right?"

"Yah, gave the guy from the Ladies’ Night… Daniel? a call." Mac grinned wolfishly. His eyes glazed over as he slipped into the past for a moment before he shook his head and his thoughts on his birthday party aside. "Me an’ a few friends got together for some beers and afterwards, Daniel showed up."

Xander couldn’t contain the laughter that bubbled up. "Danny is one of a kind that’s for sure."

"Ever get him to dance for you?" Mac asked.

Xander shook his head. "When I was asked to fill in for Bryan, he showed me a few moves, but other than that… he was completely infatuated with a guy in this picture I showed him. It was of me and this cute brunet who - "

"I get it Xan." Mac leaned forward, putting his elbows on the edge of the table. "You sure that you’re willing to settle?"

Xander breathed in deeply and nodded quickly. He lost the look of languid peacefulness as all the muscles in his shoulders tightened. "This isn’t about the money, Mac. How they raised me can’t be undone. The way I figure it: I came out okay. With all the abuse that I’ve been put through… it’s pretty cool that I am the person that I am. I only did this because, even with you to fall back on from time to time, I know that I can take care of myself now and to prove that what they did wasn’t right. You may be my legal guardian, but I can still make it on my own."

"I still expect you over for each and every regular holiday, long weekends, and spring break," Mac stated in a mockingly firm voice. "That includes: whenever Angel’s being a pain in your ass; Cordelia too demanding; or when you're in need of relationship advice."

Xander did his best to appear meek. "I’ll be sure to inform my boss that I will not be available on evenings and weekends. Oh, wait! Those are the majority of hours that evil keeps. Sorry Dad, but unless you want me to lose this job, you’re going to have to live with major holidays."

Mac sighed in disappointment. "Well, maybe it would be best if you… quit, move in with me and let me support you and spoil you rotten, giving you back the childhood you never had, but deserve."

"Nope," Xander stated seriously as he could, "I belong – amazingly enough – at Angel’s side: fighting the forces of darkness that are sworn to never stop until the human race is destroyed."

"You’ve got your work cut out for you."

"If my parents heard me now," Xander shook his head, "they would say I was mentally unstable, demand all money back and have me placed in a psych ward."

"Probably," Mac stated, taking a sip of his drink.

"Glad you’re on my side," Xander sighed dramatically.

~~~

Xander grinned over at Mac and undid his seat belt as the car slowed to a stop. He leaned back into his seat and sighed. "I had a good time, Mac. We should make this a regular thing."

Mac grinned right back at him. "I’m glad you had so much fun, even if the majority of the evening was boring legal stuff."

"Well, it got things between us all cleared up, so that’s good," Xander said.

"And if you can learn to dress like you did tonight on a more regular basis, than I might be able to stomach taking you out to some of the nicer places that I know," Mac teased. "If you were such a hotty magnet tonight, imagine what it’ll be like when we hit the bar scene. I’ll use you shamelessly."

Xander laughed and opened the car door. "I’ll keep that in mind so I’ll have an excuse for using you sometime."

Mac grinned rakishly before frowning as Xander stepped onto the curb. "Are you sure you don’t want me to take you back to your place?"

Xander nodded. "I wanna check in with Angel; see what that whole protective act was about earlier."

Mac nodded and called out a goodnight before pulling away from the curb. Xander watched him go as he backed towards the building and right into the arms of the waiting vampire. He let out a not so manly shriek as the vampire grabbed him around the neck.

"Let go of me, you creep!" Xander grated out. He struggled ruthlessly and just as the vamp leaned in, Xander bit into the fleshy part of his arm.

The vampire snarled as he pushed Xander away from him.

Before Xander could get far, the vampire grabbed a hold of Xander’s shaggy hair. Xander couldn’t contain the yelp that the sharp pain of his hair nearly being wrenched out of his head caused.

"Hey!" Doyle called as he stepped out of the shadows brandishing a crossbow, aimed at the vampire’s head. "I’m th’one yah followed ‘ere. It’s me yah want."

Still struggling with Xander, the vampire grinned wolfishly, slurring out, "Stay close. You’ll get your turn."

He grunted and pulled Xander so that his back was flush up against the vampire’s. He pulled tightly on Xander’s hair and used his other arm to pin Xander’s arms against his chest.

His wide stance gave Doyle the opening that he needed and he let a bolt fly. The shot missed the vampire’s shin, like Doyle had been aiming at, and planted itself in the vampire’s foot instead.

The vampire roared and threw Xander from him and the teen went sprawling. The vampire pulled the bolt from his foot and started towards Doyle as Xander went rolling down the sidewalk.

"Uh oh," Doyle whispered and braced for impact. He was ready for the vampire to hit him, but not for the vampire throwing the both of them into the cement wall behind them. He used what momentum he could to push the vampire back and down to the ground. The two of them went rolling down the stairs.

The vampire got in a few good hits before pinning Doyle to the ground. The two of them fought for purchase as Doyle scrambled to get to the bolt lying on the sidewalk. Fed up, Doyle elbowed the vampire in the temple and grabbed hold of the bolt. After that, he easily dusted the vampire.

Xander slowly managed to pull himself into a sitting position. As he put some weight onto his left ankle he couldn’t suppress a painful gasp.

Panting in pain, Doyle looked over at him. He ran his eyes over Xander’s body before asking, "Are yah okay?"

"I’ll live," Xander commented. He paused and took in Doyle’s state. "That was – you were so… you fought really well."

"Do yah think yah cou’ say tha’ wi’h a little more confidence in yer voice?" Doyle asked, grimacing. "Yer steppin’ on my moment of manliness 'ere."

Xander shook his head. "Sorry. It’s… I’m just –"

"Surprised?" Doyle asked.

"Thankful," Xander stated, "for the fact that you just saved my life."