Compatible

Part Three: What we thought we knew

Xander woke in the hours before dawn he tried to turn over and go back to sleep, but couldn’t there was hum in his veins. He felt like he did after he did when had two double shot white chocolate mochas. There was no choice Xander got up and decided he might as well get an early start on his chores which meant he need to clean the upstairs part of the house.

The Scooby meeting was at noon so the sooner done the sooner he could leave. Putting on the jeans from yesterday and a pinky and the brain tee-shirt he started out his relaxing Saturday. Removing the wedges from under the door Xander walked into the kitchen and looking around at the mess he wondered why the concept of a trash can was so hard. He looked at the clock on the wall, it read a little after four am, with the soft sound of snoring Xander decided to start on the second floor in the bedrooms.

Xander has no idea when this became his job, but it is. At first he cleaned up the house because it made it easier on his mom which made it easier on him. He remembers coming home from school and finding his mother passed out among sea of beer cans. The first few time he remembers going to his room and later hearing the fight that came after. His father shouting: “Why can’t you clean the fucking house? Why is there nothing to eat?” It didn’t’ take Xander that long to understand that if the house was clean there was less for is father to complain about. He couldn’t do anything about the lack of food but cleaning he could do.

Xander walked up the steps picking up cloths beer cans and the odd food container. He started with room at the end of the hall the master bedroom. It was quick work since his parents hardly ever slept in here, due to the fact of them passing out on the couch before ever making it up the steps most nights. Gather the dirty cloths in hall he moved to the room that had been his.

As Xander opened the door he started to smile, it gave him a little trill to clean this room every time. His father had come in one day and told he had till 10am the next day to get all his stuff to the basement, because he was getting his own brand new big screen TV. Two weeks later while Harris Sr. was watching the super bowl he gets angry for one reason or other and throws a almost full Jamison bottle at the screen. Now since the warranty does not cover broken screens due to liquor bottles, no one ever uses this room. Xander just likes to come in to remind himself that his father is above all other thing not the smartest man there is.

Taking the trash and dirty cloths with him, he goes back down stairs. Still too early, to do any thing on the main floor he decided to go back to his basement hide away taking the cloths with him. He separated the, cloths checking the pockets for any loose change, sometimes he got lucky. He doesn’t find much. Xander puts it all in a jar above the washer he used to hide the money in a little box on his bookshelf, but after he come home to a ransacked room and his missing box he stopped trying to save money it was just easier to leave it out in plan sight. That was much better than cleaning up the mess that came after.

Looking at the clock again, its still too early to do anything else thats when Xander’s eye catchs the sight of the bag of books he reaches his hand in and pulls out The First Man by Albert Camus, he turns it over to read the back. It’s about a son without a father. He takes the book goes out into the back yard to read while the sun comes up.

Hours later and a fifth of the way through the book Xander goes in and hears the TV lulling his parents into a state of stillness. He makes a trip into the basement and just like always the change jar was now empty he starts the laundry while he cleans his area changing the bed and picking here and there. With the cloths almost done Xander goes back up the steps, to clean kitchen and living room and then he’s done. He can go just another hour at most.

He weaves around the living room wiping down the surfaces with a damp rag making sure not to stand in front of the TV too long. Picking up the floor last because the vacuum cleaner disappeared two years ago and was never was replaced. Xander’s stops cold when hears “How you been son? Your needing a hair cut don’t ya think?” Two questions that means Xander has to answer and there was no way to win with his father if he gave in and did what the man wanted he was weak, if he fought back he got beat worse.

Xander picked up the last of the trash and moved towards the kitchen space between them was good. “I’m fine Sir and yeah I need a hair cut I just haven’t had the m…time to get it done.” Xander wanted to leave pick up his jacket and go, but he can’t, not yet. He all but runs down the step puts in the another load of cloths and comes back upstairs picks up the kitchen, wipes down the counter then starts on the dishes.

All he had to do was the floor that’s it and he was done. He got the mop, filled the bucket and started at the entrance working his way back to the basement. “Why don’t you get that little girl of yours to cut it for ya?” Harris Sr. was standing in the doorway watching his son.

This was not of the good. “That’s a good idea. I’ll ask her today when I see her.” For some reason this hurt Xander more than if his father had hit him. He must have noticed that Willow does not call and never comes over to pick him up anymore. He was happy that she had Oz, he just wished she still had room for him too. He understood though, like he always did.

“Maybe you could ask that man to take you to get it cut.” Harris Sr. was smiling now, defiantly not of the good.

“What guy?” Please don’t know about Angel, please let me have this one thing. I need this one thing. Those words kept running around in Xander’s head.

“The guy who buys you pretty things. Don’t lie to me boy.”

“He’s just a friend that all. He’s Buffy’s boyfriend.” There was no way out he had no idea what he’d done but he knew he would not get out of this without a beating he just hoped it wouldn’t be too bad.

“Is that why she called here looking for you last night, cause you were making puppy eyes at her boyfriend on main street?”

Xander said nothing. Anything he said would net him trouble, he would just wait for it to be over and hope his father didn’t hit him in the face. Then the command came “Empty your pockets.”

Xander did it immediately he understood why he had been ordered to. He put it all on the counter a dollar seventy-eight in change, two names of books he thought he might get from the library on the back of a napkin and a mint from restaurant he and Angel had eaten at last night.

“You think I’m stupid?” the hit was instant and too hard for whatever transgression he father thought he had committed. The hit to his jaw took him down to his hands and knees. Xander tried to suck in some air, but all he was getting was the taste of his own blood, his lip was slip or worse. Now he had no choice but to cough the blood out and all he could think was I just cleaned this floor. The Kick that came next hit his ribs. The pain in his right side was unbelievable, he was sure he must have at least one cracked rib. Then what he felt next made his level of fear surpass anything he had ever felt before. His father was behind him on knees, Xander was still on his knees too with his right arm cradling his ribs. His father’s hands moved over the small of his back then to his hips pulling him back. Xander wanted to scream, but couldn’t find his voice.

Through design or accident his mother’s voice rang out instead, “Tony let him finish cleaning up, I’m not cleaning that floor again and for God’s sakes send him to the grocery store.”

He father moved away from him standing up. “Look at me.” Xander had no choice he turned his face toward his father and forced himself to look him in the eyes. “I don’t care how you earn your money, cutting grass or peddling your ass it all belongs to me as long as you are under my roof understood.” There was no use in denying it so Xander just nodded his head. Harris sr. reached down and pulled at his sons back pocket tearing it open, he then picked up the money that fell on the floor a hundred dollar bill and two fifties.

Angel must have given it to him the words singing through his brain “I’m not mad at you, I’m just…I should have known what you needed. I should be taking better care of you than this.” He should have known that Angel would make sure he had enough money this time around he had all but berated himself for Xander not being able to afford lunch.

Harris Sr. shoves thirty dollars at is son and said “Here take this and do what your mama told you. I want a receipt.” With that he leaves Xander to wipe his blood off the kitchen cabinets and remop the floor.

When he stood up he didn’t feel as bad as he thought he would. Xander finished cleaning the kitchen put in the last load of cloths, changed his shirt, and then went to the store. Standing in the check out line he started to wonder why the hell he hadn’t run screaming from the hellmouth yet. How much more did he need to have happen to him before he wouldn’t be able to see a way back to a time or a place where being alive is worth it?

Coming home was like it almost always was anticlimactic his parents where ensconced on the couch watching TV, they didn’t even acknowledge him as he came in even though it had taken him way longer that normal to get the shopping done. Xander put the food and cleaning stuff away that he had bought. He didn’t stop long enough to eat himself he just went to his room grabbed another book and the book he had started and his book bag. Standing at the front door he told his father the receipt and the change were on the counter in the kitchen and that he was going to the library to meet up with the guys. No one even turned to say goodbye to him.

The walk to school was way to short he was trying to come up with a reason for the slip lip and labored breathing. Then again it’s not like any of them had ever noticed, maybe they wouldn’t notice this time either. He could see the entrance to the library when the hand grabbed him and pulled him into a classroom three doors away from his destination.

Angel had been pacing the school hallway for over two hours now the first to show up was Giles of course. Next Willow who was loaded down with books she was talking to Buffy who was looking just a bit too interested in her explaining why she was going to England this summer. Fifth-teen minutes after noon he could smell Xander enter the school building. He could smell the shame and the depression stench of it all over him and not only that he also smelled of blood not allot but too much for it to be an accident.

/Someone hurt what is ours. We will have to kill them, you understand./ It wasn’t a question it was a statement Angel found himself going along with the demon growling in his head, they were in agreement again that seemed to be happening more and more lately. There was no way on all the plains of hell that a demon had done this to Xander the boy reeked of him, even if it was not a claim. No demon would dare cross him after what happened at the restaurant just weeks ago. By the time Xander walked past the door the anger they felt was tangible.

Angel’s hands wrapped around Xander’s upper arms and pulled him into the deserted classroom, the vampire was beyond anger. “Tell me who did this.”

Xander was pushed back against the chalk board and the hold Angel had on him was unrelenting and it hurt. Xander’s eye locked on yellow ones. Angel wasn’t in game face but he was close. Xander was going over all the ways Angel could have known what had happened and he came up with none. Then a split second later his eyes went wide in recognition the link the blood tie made, he belonged to Angel now. Oh God he should have thought about this a little more.

Angel had a prime view of the split lip and bruising that surrounded it. He could also hear the labored breathing. /We’re hurting him./

//We will let him go when he tells us what we want to know.// Xander was dragged over to the teachers desk that was now empty. Xander heard stuff hitting the floor he just didn’t register it, he was to busy thinking of what to say. Time he needed time.

“I take it Deadboy that you’ll know if I lie, and on a side note you hurting me.”

Angle loosened his grip, but did not remove his hands “Tell me.” Angel said so quietly so calmly that it scared Xander more than yelling would have. Angel could smell the fear and he nor did his demon wanted their boy afraid of them.

“Ple…please Angel its okay. It’s not even that bad. Promise just some bruises and maybe a cracked rib or two I’ve had a lot worse.” Xander regretted those words as soon as he let them loose.

Angel started to growl. Angel’s hand pushed him down flat on the desk and pulled him up to the edge. Angel started to sniff him when he got to Xander’s waist he pulled up his shirt and examined the blue and purple marks. The grawl tuned into a low rumble a purr almost. Xander couldn’t help it his giggled “Does Buffy know you can purr?”

“Vampires never purr.” Xander was turned over on his belly and it hurt he could not stop the whimper that slipped out of his mouth when his chest hit the desktop. Angel hand found the small of his back to keep him still and that is when the smell of fear and shame doubled more than doubled. Angels eyes narrowed /No, not my boy, we have to find out who. I don’t smell anything on him, in him but…/ Angel was swaying under the assault of anger and rage, for the first time in all these years he was afraid that the cage Angelus was in would not hold and what scared him more was that he was not sure he wanted it to.

Angel turned him back over and was now hovering over his face. “I don’t smell anything but I need you to tell me…” Angel was cut off by a hand coming up to his face. That same hand started to trace over his brow ridges and down his nose, over his jaw line and then finally down to his neck finding that spot that would have been his pulse point and started to stroke. This actions seemed to calm him and he should worry but he couldn’t bring himself to the boy should not have this much control over us, but it was too late now to change that.

There was only one thing he could to do. Angel was acting like a wild animal so Xander treated him like one. He started to pet him after a little while Angel started to calm down and that’s when Xander tilted his head away breaking eye contact and exposing his neck to Angel in a clear sign of submission. Angel started to purr again and Xander started to talk, “My Father he saw us, saw you give me the money I…I didn’t know you gave it to me, so when he asked for it I had no idea what he was talking about. He got mad and when he gets mad he hits. I’m okay, promise.” Xander repeated his earlier vow.

“Do you understand that without my blood you could have a collapsed lung or worse? Xander for him to have cracked a rib so soon after you drank from me means…”

“Don’t please, just don’t Angel.”

“I will. Tell me little one did he do anything else beside hit you?” /His father dies, but if he touched my boy that way. I will keep him alive months before I grant the peace of death./ Angel did not chastise his demon this time he just waited for the boy to answer.

Xander still had his head turned away he couldn’t bring himself to look at Angel he was so ashamed that his father would hit him, that the man was even his father, that he could have done worse to him. “No. I was scared that he might but I just think he wanted the money.”

Angel could smell the lie and the shame. /Don’t. Just don’t push him anymore. I don’t want him to break. So strong for everyone else, but for us I want him to…trust us./

Xander was maneuvered until Angel was sitting on the desk with Xander curled in his lap. “Shhh its okay. I just needed to know.” Angel is rocking him. //Still boy not quite a man yet. He’s so young maybe we should…//

/Should what leave him for those parents of his? Leave him for your slayer? How about for the cheerleader or the watcher? He needs someone he doesn’t have to be strong for, someone to be strong for him./

//We can’t…we will hurt him.//

/Give us the summer, give your word…it’s been so long without a childe without another to need us. I know you want it too. Give us this time. It is not like we have a choice, we can’t leave him were he is…You bought that house to keep our boy happy. There is no shame in it. Even the master spoiled his pets. The only shame is that you will not admit it. That you leave the boy in limbo, wanting him but molding yourself to the slayer./

//Stop, the summer and then we choose redemption or…//


The demon finished for him. /…or love. Why do you make it so hard on yourself there is a possibility of both./

Angel repeated his same thoughts from earlier that ‘this world was not that kind to him’. Still rocking and all the while using the hand that supported Xander to move the length of his spin in a comforting motion, he bit into his wrist and offered it to Xander

Xander was confused sure there would be a punishment after, sure Angel would smell the lie, but instead he was offering Xander a way to heal, away not to have to explain to the other Scooby’s what happened. Xander leaned forward and started to suck on the gash Angel had made. He was lost just like last time swimming in a swirl of emotion he tried to concentrate separate them get a clear picture of one or two but he couldn’t, he just got an overall since that he was cared for.

Xander couldn’t help it everything got fuzzy, Angel wrist slipped out of his hands and he leaned into all that hard muscles holding him up. He would just rest his eyes for a little while, just rest his eyes.

/Let me out, let me hold him…please./

Angel did not answer just stepped and back released his hold on the cage bars, and just like that Angelus was holding Xander. The vampire’s hand came up to stroke the curls at the back of the boy’s neck, he couldn’t help it not that he wanted to, he started to rock, to purr.

Xander started waking up and he didn’t understand why he was in such a strange position back bowed over one of Angle’s thighs and his legs bowed over the other. Angel had moved further back onto the desk crossing his legs Indian style, leaving Xander in the well between his thighs. Xander blinked taking in the smell of leather beneath him, remembering all that had taken place in the last 24 hours. He looked at the vampire holding him, Angel regularly brown eyes were rimmed in gold, all that power Angel tried to hide, to make the Scooby’s more at ease with having a master vampire among them was on display.

“Hey” Xander was trying to decide if he should be concerned that Angelus was clearly out and holding him. Holding him, he was suddenly aware of the hand running from his hip to his knee and back again. Xander tried to move but that same hand wouldn’t allow it, it pulls him closer in puts him in contact with an unmistakable hardness. “Angelus…” he meant it to sound firm, but it came out a whimper.

“Shh beagán éileamh, be still. I don’t get to enjoy my freedom often…” with that Angelus’ other hand came up to the bottom of Xander’s shirt and pushed it up, letting his cool fingers mover along the boys skin. “…and I plan to enjoy it a little.”

Xander’s heart rate increased and he stared to shake slightly “Don’t worry beagán éileamh, I wont hurt ya more than ya can bare and you seem more than a little breakable to me now.”

“Th…thank you.” If Xander’s life had taught him anything it taught him when to give in, fighting Angel would be beyond stupid and he knew it and he trusted both of these vampires to keep their word and not hurt him more than he could take.

A cool hand moved down the center of his chest, starting just under his neck Angelus’ hand was inside his tee that had been racked up to expose so much of him. “You do know I will have to deal with your father. What he has done can not go unpunished.”

Xander understood by all rights he was Angelus’ to do with as the vampire pleased and that by all vampire code his father had violated Angelus’ property. That meant he had also by code challenged the master vampires ownership of him and that he knew Angelus would not let slide.

He knew that soul or no soul that this was who he belonged to and all the games aside he should treat him as such now. “Master Angelus please don’t it will bring more trouble than it’s worth. I know he’s not a great father, but he is the only one I have. I have to believe that one day I can get what I need from him just once.” Xander was all but begging and the vampire did not like it.

“Stop and hear me now…your father does not have what you need he never will and if you wait for him to grant you his approval to break away for him it will end badly beagán éileamh.” He wanted the boy to understand that what he was looking for he could never find in the place he was looking for it.

Xander was trying to hold back the tears a subject change was in order. “Thank you for healing me. I had no idea what I was going to tell the gang about the bruises.”

The gold rimmed eyes were looking down at him when the vampire spoke again, “I should have let you explain to them what happened but you would have made up some excuse, side stepped the problem like you’ve done before am I right.”

What was there for Xander to say, that hand that had been holding him still set itself on his stomach. Angelus’ thumb went to rest dipped in his belly button with the vampires fingers splayed out over his side. Wanted and cared for by a demon that is what he had signed up for, and that is what he was getting.

“Such a pretty little thing you are.”

“Not pretty, not little either.”

“Yes you are little one so young and needy. Don’t be in such a rush to face the world. I’m here to keep you safe beagán éileamh from the world a little longer, just let me.” All the while Angelus talked his hand moved over Xander’s stomach.

Xander couldn’t help it no one else had ever touched him like this, with so much care, how else could he not react he started to moan and wiggle to get more contact. Xander was trying to rally, get his head straight, come up with a come back. He came up with “Thanks Daddy” he meant it to be funny, but the vampire reactions was anything but.

Angelus pulled him closer “Aye little one don’t forget what I am, do not play with me.”

Xander’s eyes had been closed, all the better to enjoy the petting he was receiving, at Angelus’ first word they snapped open, it was a tone he was familiar, his heart rate increased and the smell of arousal was replacing the smell of fear.

//Be careful with him, remember no one has ever touched him like this before.//

“Quiet little one…it’s just that when you said that, those words I wanted them to be true. It is not fair for you to tease me.” Angelus was stroking him again, moving the center line of his chest letting his hand travel further up and further down with each sweep.

“You want to be my Daddy?” Xander was way confused Angelus wanted him to be his kid, that’s not what he thought the vampire wanted from him.

Angelus started to laugh and the hurt Xander felt was like no other, he would have rather been hit than to hear Angelus laugh at him. Xander tried to sit up, to pull away, but the vampire held him in place. “No beagán éileamh…well not the way you think. I want you to trust me like that. In your world I want to be unquestioned and obeyed without hesitation.”

“I already do that, don’t I?”

“No little one, you do not. Have you ever seen a child who truly trusts their father? A little one of four or five, they will climb up and allow themselves to be thrown in the air they have complete trust that whatever happens no harm will truly come to them. I want you to trust me like that, I want…”

Just then the sounds of Buffy and Willow walking down the hall are unmistakable. They were giggling to each other something about a sale and the newest movie hunk.

The vampires hold on him was released and he was push and pulled till he was standing on his feet again. Confusion set in till he looked in Angelus’ eyes and saw they were no longer rimmed in gold. “Angel?”

“Yes?”

“Well that was surreal, so there are basically two of you in there huh?”

Angel looked away he did not want to discuses this, didn’t want it to be cannon fodder for jokes and ridicule even by his boy. He’d simply try to explain maybe Xander wouldn’t think he was too insane “Yes, I …”

Before he could finish Xander chimed in “Cool so like one of you is all lets kill and eat all the walking goodies we can find and the other ones like before we kill all the walking goodies lets get all broody first. Which one of you do I talk to about getting felt up on the calc teachers desk?“ Angel was trying to catch up, but he wasn’t quick enough “Don’t answer that Deadboy I know which one. Any chance this blood bondy type thing we did makes me attracted to people of the same sex, cause I’m not feeling real good about the fact that I was all okay with laying across your lap like I was on the cover of one of those bad romance novels my mom used to read. I am so gay right or at least bi maybe. I could be bi right? I still think breasts are nice. Actually I think they’re really nice.”

By this point Xander was staring at his hands as if to ask them why he hadn’t had a chance to grope some poor unsuspecting girl yet. Angel had only one choice he started to laugh, not just a small laugh either, he threw back his head and laughed. Taking full advantage of the fact he didn’t need to breath. Xander was just looking at him wide eyed, “What’s so funny? You seem to be laughing a lot lately I thought you were all broody vampire guy. What happened to that guy?”

Angel sucked in some air so he could talk and calm himself just a little. “Here I was worried that you’d be worried that you tied yourself to someone with two distinctive personalities running around in their head when all you seem to care about is that you haven’t copped a feel off a decent set of tits yet.”

“Hey I…I never mind. I should get to the library. Are you coming?”

“Don’t be mad little one I didn’t mean it like that.” Angel’s voice was smooth the vampire had moved until his chest was pressed against Xander shoulder. When Xander looked up he smiled down at him, and ran his hand down Xander’s spine and back up again. “I’ll see you tonight maybe there are some things I need to do.”

Xander had no idea what to say so he went with “Okay.”

Angel was still smiling as he left in a swirl of leather. The boy who he left behind wondered why everyone hadn’t figured out Sunnydale was full on vampires and other beasties, what else could wear all that leather in summer.

***
When Xander got to the library he found out that girls had talked Giles into letting them go to the mall due to some once in a life time sale, and with their up coming summer of separation they needed time to bond and buy shoes. Now it was just Xander and Giles in the library. “Well, G-man you got something for me to do or can I go enjoy a monsterless Saturday?”

“Please can you not call me that? I would like to talk to you though, if that’s okay with you.”

“Yeah, what ever you want G…I mean Giles”

“I have noticed that you and Angel have become quite close as of late and I was wondering if you understood what you were getting yourself into. Not that I feel you are unable to handle yourself or decide what is best for you and your life.”

Xander was torn between being angry and touched that someone was actually worrying about him. Xander knew his face was burning when he looked up. Giles was waiting for and answer, waiting to listen to him. “It’s kind of weird I know but Angle and I, we just sort of…”

“Excuse me Rupert I was wondering if I might have a word with you?” Mrs. Calendar was standing in the doorway of the library, looking like somebody just kicked her kitten.

“I was just having a conversation with Mr. Harris I’m sure he could excuse me for a moment.” Giles was already standing before he finished his sentence.

“Sure, Mr. Giles I’ll just wait for you here, no problem.” Xander wanted to laugh as he spoke, it seemed you never grew out of the ‘gee look it’s a pretty girl’ stage.

“Yes that would be good Mrs. Calendar and I will just go into my office, when I get back we can continue this conversation.”

With that the two adults walked away. Xander waited twenty minutes before he picked up his book bag and took out his copy of First Man to find two fifties tucked in along side the scrap of paper he was using as a place holder. There was a note to ‘why don’t you leave some of this money at school, so you can eat lunch’. He couldn’t help but smile. Xander walked out into the hall and stopped at his locker opened the door and was like what the fuck. He removed everything that wasn’t his, put the money under his used gym cloths and locked his locker for once. He took all the rest of the stuff that wasn’t his back to the library but not before leaving a note on where any lost items could be found. He had planned on making nice little piles but in the end he just dumped it all on the table closest to the door and left.

Xander debated on what to do he could go to the movies, but the movies meant the mall and he really didn’t want to run into the girls. He could go back to the bookstore, but without Angle it just wouldn’t be the same. Xander settled on a café not to far from home but not close enough to cause him any trouble. He ordered lunch and set himself up facing the door, but not in plan sight of everyone who walked in. Today would be a good day.

***
One bus ride away at Sunnydale County Mall Buffy and Willow walked out the overstock shoe store leaving a very happy sales girl. Buffy turned to Willow and said “You want to get lunch Wills, I’ll even pay.”

“Yeah sure that would be good, shoe hunting always makes me more than a little ravenous. Where do you want to eat?”

“How about that Chinese place Xan likes we used to go there all the time? I kind of miss us all being together you know.”

They made small talk on the way over, how was Oz’s band doing, how did Buffy do on the last French test, just stuff like that. By the time they had been seated and their orders taken Buffy felt she had spent more than enough time on small talk and it was time to get down to why she really came to the mall. Well the second most important reason she came to the mall, that really had been a great sale and with the new credit card her dad had sent her it had been a good Saturday. Now it was time to make it better even.

Buffy had practiced this most of the morning she wanted to sound worried and to make it clear she wasn’t concerned with the closeness between Xander and her vampire. She had to make sure it sounded like this was all for Xander benefit. Everyone thought she was stupid, she wasn’t. She just didn’t care enough to change their minds and when people thought you were stupid they expected so little from you that any effort from you netted you a passing grade or a “well done Buffy’, because you tried and when in hell was a blonde going to need to find the value of x. “I’m a little worried about Xan.”

Willow was not sure where this was going but she had to take the bait. “Why?”

“Cause we’re all leaving him on the hellmouth for the summer and sure he’s got Angel, but that’s only at night during the day he’ll be all alone. I know that Angel will do his best to look out for him, after I had that little talk with him, he’s been much nicer to Xan.” Buffy was all but patting herself on the back.

“You had a talk with Angel about Xander?” Willow was biting her lip and when she tasted her own blood she added “What about…ah I mean what did you say?”

Buffy just waved her hand as if to say nothing important. “Just you know please watch out for him and make sure he doesn’t end up demon snackies. Oh yeah I asked if he could maybe do some guy type stuff with him since Oz…you know doesn’t want to. No big really.”

“Oh…you’re not worried about that whole demon candy thing?” Willow was a little confused if she was Buffy she wouldn’t want Angel within ten feet of Xander alone and lately they were spending a lot of time together.

“No, I asked Angel if you know Xan smelled different from anyone else he said no not really.” Buffy looked down at the plate that had just been delivered and put on her I’m just a little embarrassed face “I kind of let it slip, you know about what Oz said he said that Xan does smell slightly of what did he say?” Buffy looked like she was trying to concentrate. Willow wanted to reach over the table and smack her and see if that would help her remember.

“Oh yeah he said the Xan smelled of arousal when he was around Oz and that’s probably what Oz is picking up on. Angel said Xan most likely doesn’t even know he’s doing it or maybe it something in his make up that Oz is attracted to.”

Willow didn’t feel so good, “Why are you worried, then?” Willow just wanted to go home maybe go see Oz.

Buffy gave her a look of well duh, “There’s more than one werewolf on the hellmouth, and I’m just afraid that something will think Xan is all magically delicious during daytime hours when we’re gone and Angel wont be able to help him. I had this idea I was going to ask Giles about, but it’s stupid and now I don’t know what to do. Angel can only do so much. Even if Angel hung out with him every night that still leave the daytime hours.”

“Oh” that was all Willow could say.

“I hate to ask but, you trust Oz right? Even with the whole demon candy thing, maybe he could keep Xan company during the daytime hours cause my other idea is dumb.” Buffy was all but begging Willow to help find a way to keep Xander safe. There was no way out for Willow she only had two choices give Xander to Oz for daytime watch, which would put the playing feild at fifty fifty for Xander chosing OZ over her vampire or fix it another way and the only other things Willow is good at are books and magic.

Willow’s brain was racing, why was she saying his name like that ‘Xan’ like it was her who known him all her life, like it was her who brought him his homework and made excuses when he skipped school. Willow tried to exude calm as she spoke “What’s your other idea, cause you know Oz won’t even be here most of the summer. Besides there are no stupid ideas just ones that are workable and ones that are not, we might be able to make it work.”

Buffy had her just where she wanted her “Don’t laugh okay. I was thinking that maybe we could use a little magic to make him not smell so good to other demoney types. We could even try a little love charm to help him find a nice human girlfriend. Do you even think that would work? I mean maybe magic can’t solve this, what do you think?”

“I’m not sure if there is a spell that can do that. I mean what would I be looking for? Maybe there is a way to specify what we need to do or maybe we could change his dna just a little you know make him less… yummy. I’ll have to try and look in some of Giles books and see what I can find.”

“Cool and even if you can’t find anything you can still ask Oz to watch out for Xan while he’s here right? I just don’t want him unprotected he’s is our Xander shaped friend after all.”

Willow was trying not to hate Buffy she really was “Sure I’ll talk to him after I have a look in the library tomorrow.” Inside Willow was sure she could find something that could help her, help Xan that is.

“Okay, I feel much better just talking to you. I’m gonna go home and change you wanna meet up at the Bronze?” Buffy was already on her feet she was done, now she wanted to check out her hall. Picking up her bags she tossed them over her shoulder, “See you tonight I’ll do a tour around town and see you around ten.”

***
Later that night Angel walked past the café Xander had set up shop in, he wondered if the boy knew it was owned by a half demon. That was the only reason that it stayed open past dark. The vampire walked around the back and knocked on the door and said “Hi” turning on his best trust me smile.

“Um, how can I help you?” the young half demon, half woman stepped back when she smelled what she was talking to. It might help a little to put some distance between them, she thought not if he really wanted her though.

“The boy sitting in the corner, how long has he been here?”

“Pretty much all day, he doesn’t look like he’s leaving either, at least he brought lunch and has been paying up steady for refills.” She sounded a little miffed, but in truth she wasn’t really. The boy was neat, quiet and he smelled good.

Holding out a folded currency “Good can you make sure he doesn’t leave before I send someone for him?” The woman looked more than a little concerned, and did not reach out to take the money. Angle added “Take a deep breath.”

She doesn’t know why, she did just as she was asked and took a deep breath, the realization hit her head on she smelled the boy all over the vampire. She had heard about kept humans before but had never seen one that was more than a fledge in the making. The boy however seemed smart and this wasn’t just any vampire it was Angelus or Angel it made no difference, he was one of the Scourges of Europe, the killer of his sire and a souled vampire that hunted and played with the slayer.

“I just want to make sure he gets home okay.” Angel leaned against the doorframe pushing the hand holding the cash over the threshold letting her know he understood this was a public place and he could come in any time he wanted. If he had meant to cause her trouble it would have already been done. “Can you also try and make sure he eats some actual dinner and not just candy and sweets?”

“I’ll do my best.” She reached out and took the gift offered to her and went back inside. When she got to the counter she looked over at the boy still reading. She walked over “Hi, hon you want some dinner I make a mean chicken sandwich, even comes with salad.”

Xander just looked up at her, he had been trying to stay out of her way. He couldn’t help but smile “Yeah that be great, can I get some chocolate cake too.

She walked away to fix the boys dinner and she knows she was told no candy and sweets but he asked so nicely. So when she cut the cake she knows she shouldn’t but she makes it just a extra bit bigger than usual.

***
Angel walked into a building that looked abandoned to anyone who couldn’t hear the voices coming from deep within, as he walked in he stepped over discarded food containers and trash left about. To anyone else it would look like a vagrants lived here but all the piles where left to show that this space was owned and off limits to squatters. That and every pile smelled of blood not a lot but enough.

He walked down the steps to the lower level he had been told Nicolas was here, now though he was having second thoughts, Nicolas might not be the person for this job. He walked past his third fledge and was about to give up when the smell of blood pushed into him, Angel had to fight to keep from vamping out immediately. There was a man on his hands and knees looking at him begging with his eyes but afraid to speak. Angel walked over, he would rather not do this but if he had to.

A fledge bowed to him, “You are welcome to use him as you wish Master, I ask that you do not drain him. Nicolas will not be pleased if his favorite toy is damaged beyond healing.”

Angel took a good look, the man was covered in bruises and a bit marks, the man was also staring at him with naked hope. The man takes a chance the word “Please” is said very quietly by him.

The vampire standing next to Angel reaches out to strike him but Angel stops him. “Why is this man here?”

A voice he knows comes from behind him “He is here because I brought him here. Hello Master Angelus what can I do for you.”

“Why is he here?” Angel was standing now he was in no mood for this and as he spoke the man was inching closer to him seeking protection.

Nicolas bowed to him “If you would like to know master,” and starts to walk in ever deceasing circles around the two. ”Four nights ago I followed him from a bar he smelled of liquor and lust, and I was bored. When he went into his home I made to leave that is when the yelling started and the smell of blood was so strong I didn’t want to leave. I walked over to the window to see a woman lying on the floor bleeding from the head and boy cowering in the corner. Then this little girl no more than eleven twelve maybe…its had to tell with the small humans for me, came out of no where to stand in front of the boy offering herself in his place. The man grabbed her saying ‘You’ll do” and drags her away. At the window I can see the boy start to cry, so I tap on the window, he is startled at first and then comes over. He asks what I want, I tell I want to help but he has to let me in. At first he can’t decide then his sister’s scream makes up his mind, he invites me in. The smell is unmistakable so I know what I’ll find when I open the door. The girl is to calm it’s not the first time this has happened to her. I pull him off and bite down the girl just stares at me when I tell her I want her to call the police and tell them to come to the house because her daddy hurt her and she says to me ‘he didn’t hurt me he like me to be pretty for him’. It takes all I have not to snap his neck and leave him on the floor. I walk over and slap her splitting her lip turning her face red she thanks me. As I’m leaving she asks me for a promise how can I resist, and you know what that promise was?”

Nicolas is now standing next to the man that no longer has any hope that Angel will help him. Nicolas is all dark beauty black wavy hair cut just so and luminous green eyes he stood and inch or two shorter that Angel. Now though he was leaning over and stroking the mans hair, “Tell Master what she made me promise.”

The man started to shake, this was one of the rules if he cried too much or screamed he would have to repeat the promise over and over until he lost his voice or until the darkness came to let him rest. Tears started to fall as he begins to speak “Promise me mister that before he dies he cries and begs not to be hurt and when he finally get used to the pain make it worse, make him hurt like he made us hurt.”

The man was sobbing now it was always so much worse when they were nice to him first. Angelus had been growling ever since Nicolas’ story plot line became clear, all he could think of was the fear he had smelled all over the his boy earlier.

The black haired vampire spoke “You see Master I promised that is why I brought him here.”

Angel knew at the very least he should kill this man, but who was he to break a promise that Nicolas had made. Angel settled for binding down taking one of the man’s bite covered arms and biting down hard ripping through skin muscle and finally bone. The man screamed and the sank to the floor motionless Angel pulled back and bit into his thumb poring a few drops of powerful blood over the exposed bone. Enough to heal the break and make sure infection didn’t set in, but not enough to heal the other damage he’d done. Angel should have been appalled at his actions but again he wasn’t.

“Can I talk to you?” Angel was standing now, he was aware of the three other vampires in the shadows this would kill to birds with one stone.

“Of course Master.” Nicolas bowed again and led Angel to a large chair in the center of the room.

There were only two choices he would sit there or Nicolas would. The older one readied himself for the fight to follow, but Nicolas simply stepped aside taking the seat to the right of the center chair and just like Angelus became head of this clan. He sat down and called forth the other three vampires he wanted to see what belonged to him now.

After meeting each he just laid down the rules “You all know me so I won’t waist you time. The rules will be simple: make no others, a vampire not clan is an enemy, do not hunt the innocent, kill no peaceful demon, stay away from the slayer and in my absence follow Nicolas as you have done thus far.” /You wanted to fight for good, first you will need an army./ Angel wanted to disagree but how could he Angelus was a master of plans and obtaining the unobtainable. Angel was starting to wonder if he was falling ass backward into situations or if he was being nudged this way and that without him actively knowing it.

When he was done he and Nicolas left. “I came here to ask that you watch the boy for the next week and I end up with a clan can you explain that to me?”

Observing protocol Nicolas walked to the right and just a step behind Angel. There was a smile on the younger vampires face when he spoke, “I have never been one to lead, and all of those vampires would have died if I hadn’t found them, they seem to still have bits of themselves left over from the turning. We need a leader that will show how to live without destroying what is left of our souls.”

Angel started to breathe something he did now only when he was under stress or surprised and surprises were quick in coming lately. What was left of their souls, that’s what the young vampire had said. How could he dismiss this when his own child was one of these few? How many years had he tried to beat the last of Spike’s humanity out of him? “You could have asked.”

“We are still vampires Master Angelus. You would accept or kill us. We took a chance.” As Nicolas spoke he reminded him so much of his favorite lost boy childe.

“You took a chance”, Angel saw the poetry in that. This summer was shaping up to be an interesting one indeed.

The two vampires continued to walk one unsure one hopeful that he had found a place in the order of things. A block away from the café Angel gave Nicolas his instructions; “I have some thing to take care of in the next week, I ask that you make sure my boy gets to his home or to me in one piece.”

Nicolas understood the importance of his task he was being trusted with his master’s future mate. The boy may just be a pet now, though one only needs to look to see that Master loves him. He wondered if the pet or Master knew how plain it was to see. With a smile on his face Nicolas said “Consider it done Master Angelus. If you believe me worthy of this task, I shall not fail you.”

“I do, but do not be misled disappoint me and harm comes to my boy…” Angel did not finish he did not need to. Angel knew that Xander could take care of himself but something told him, now was not the time to leave the boy on the hellmouth unprotected. “Stay close, but do not get seen by him or the slayer. If he meets up with the slayer leave understand.” Nicolas nodded, Angel just turned and walked away, no goodbyes no second guesses. Just like a contender for master of the hellmouth should.

In truth Angel had plans and obligations he need to fulfill before Thursday morning, when the first of the Scooby’s would be leaving town. The first thing on his list was a talk with the Harris ‘family’. He had all but promised not to kill Xander’s father no one said anything about not damaging him a little. He couldn’t just leave it.

/Let me have him, that way you can keep your soul all shiny and like new./

Angel actual laughed out loud //I have a feeling that my soul is in more danger than it has ever been in, and besides I want a piece of Harris for myself.//

At the Harris house as usual both adults had gotten an early start on tonight’s events and were well on the way to being sloshed. When there came a knock on the door. Who the hell could that be was what Harries Sr. thought. He got up to open the door because his wife sure as hell wasn’t going to do it. Before he even saw who was there he unhooked the latch turned around going back to lounge chair, he shouted “Come in and tell me what you want. If it has anything to do with that queer son of mine he ain’t here.” He was sure it would be the red headed little girl that always came for Xander, no one else ever came by the Harris house. By the time he’d sat down the dark haired man from last night was standing right in front of the television.

Harris Sr. was unimpressed “Like I said the boy ain’t here, but I suspect you know that.”

Angel’s eyes were flaked with gold his head tilted unconsciously mocking his boys stance of confused innocence. “Thank you for inviting us in. We’ve been looking forward to talking to you all day.”


**Just a little note: Anyone who gives feedback here thank you so very much it means allot to me. Anyone who has a question or a suggestion feel free to drop me a line at my live journal at http://yessire.livejournal.com/ and I will answer as soon as I can. Thanks for reading this little trip into my imagination.