New Order

Xander finished his conversation with Giles just as Angel and Spike came downstairs. They both moved to him and pulled him tightly between them. Angel watched Willow and Faith warily, still doubting their acceptance.

Both women looked upset to see Xander held by them. Angel didn’t really care. Xander was his and he wasn’t going to let anyone get in the way. He was interrupted by the Kor’Chuk demons.

“Master. There is a problem downtown that our clan needs your assistance with. There are some vampires there who are making problems. Our leader does not want to create more problems with you and wishes for you and your second to help him with these vampires.”

Angel and Spike were not happy with the interruption. But this was part of the new deal after all. They were responsible for the vampires in the area whether they wanted to be or not.

Xander smiled up at him. “Angel, go. I’ll be fine here with Willow and Faith. It’ll give us some time to spend together before they go.” He pressed a gentle kiss to Angel’s lips before turning and doing the same to Spike.

“Go take care of them and then come back.” Both vampires moved to the weapons cabinet and made their selections before heading for the door. They were joined by one of the Kor’Chuk demons, who would lead the way.

Xander held it together until the door closed behind them, then he broke down. Willow and Faith held him close, feeling his pain and knowing that there was nothing they could do to stop it.

He calmed after a while and then the minion returned. Xander went upstairs to pack. There was no way he was going to stay here and be rejected by Angel and Spike once they were back to themselves. It was too painful to even imagine.

He gathered up his belongings and carefully folded the new clothes Angel and Spike bought for him. He pressed them into a bag and sat down to write a note for his lovers. As much as he wanted to just leave, he couldn’t leave without some explanation. They deserved at least that much from him.

When he was finished writing, he headed downstairs and saw Willow finishing up her preparations. She verified with the Kor’Chuk demons that Angel and Spike were in a safe place and after a moment, he nodded. “The master is with our clan now. They know to expect some magic and will keep them safe while the ritual is performed.”

Willow held up a dagger and Xander held out his hand. They would end the spell on Angel and Spike using his blood. Although he would still be claimed by them, Willow hoped that by ending the spell they would return to normal.
Xander wasn’t sure about the binding ritual. He hoped that it would still be in effect, keeping his demon magnet status on permanent hiatus. But if he were back to the old Xander, it was worth the price to free Angel and Spike.

It didn’t take long for Willow to clear the spell. She was so powerful that magic seemed to rush to obey her wishes. Faith knew that Xander would want to leave and was prepared to help him. But the remaining Kor’Chuk demons spoke up.

“It is our duty to protect the claimed one. We will go with him and keep him safe as the master wished.” Although she didn’t really want to let Xander leave without her and Willow, she knew that they needed to be here when Angel and Spike returned.

Xander hugged them both before grabbing his bag and heading out the door. Although the minions protested, the Kor’Chuck demon simply stepped up and growled. The minion assumed that the claimed one’s guards knew what was allowed of him and stepped aside.

They went with Xander to the airport and stood by while he bought a ticket on the first flight out. He wouldn’t let them come with him.

“You need to stay here and keep them safe. I don’t know how they are going to react to all of this but I can’t be here to see it. You are bound to Angel, not to me. Make sure they are okay.” Xander turned and walked towards security and joined the crowd waiting there.

The Kor’Chuk demons stayed until he was through the line and into the terminal before leaving. They sent a message to their brother telepathically that it was okay to release Angel and Spike.

They returned to the hotel and prepared to wait with the witch and the slayer. They didn’t have to wait long. Angel and Spike burst through the door and glanced around, searching for Xander.

Willow and Faith moved out of the office. The vampires turned their focus to them. “What the hell is going on?” Angel was furious and the words flew out of his mouth. He and Spike went to the Kor’Chuk clan where they were apparently placed under a spell. When they awoke, they were told to return to the hotel.

Although the instinct was to fight, they were both terrified for Xander and rushed to find him. Willow spoke first. “Angel, Xander called me and asked me to come here. He figured out that something was wrong with you and Spike and suspected that it was magic.”

“Faith and I came to check it out and I found that he was right. You two were under a spell. It wasn’t malicious; it simply caused you to be whatever Xander needed from you. I broke the spell just a little while ago. The Kor’Chuk demons agreed to keep you and Spike safe while I performed the counterspell. You should be back to normal now.”

Angel was confused. “Where is Xander?”

Faith answered. “He’s gone. He didn’t think he should be here when you got back.”

Spike moved to the wall and punched a hole through it. Angel simply stood frozen.

Xander was gone and none of it had been real.