Compatible

Title: Compatible
Author: yessire
Rating: 16+ eventually
Fandom: Angel/Buffy
Pairing: Angel/Xander.
Disclaimer: I don’t own the pretty boys, in fact I own nothing except my dog, and she never does what she’s told.
Summary: When Angel and Xander begin to see each then view changes.
Setting: AU the time line is not right since most of what I know about Buffy I learned from slash.
Feedback: Please or you could always send candy…lots of candy.
Thanks: sureasdawn best beta ever.

Compatible
/Angelus thoughts/
//Angels thoughts//

Part One: Someone for me

I love her. In the back of his brain Angel can hear the Angelus like always. /Why do you want her? She can never love you, can never love us. She kills what we are. She will kill us. Is that what you want? To suffer and then to die by the hands that claim to love you? Because I know she does not love me and I hate to break it to you, I’m not going anywhere. All this time trapped, I’m still here. They think they know me, but they don’t. I doubt they would even listen to you if you tried to tell them about us./

As always the demon raged at his choices. The soul wanted to atone and the demon wanted the soul to get over it. Angel was good at tuning the Angelus out, though Angel was tired and he was lonely. He has been good, better than any vampire has a reason to be. So long without someone. He needs someone to love, to care for, someone who needs him, someone to need him.

“Deadboy, you awake? Lets go. I know you would rather be teamed up with the Buffy, but all you’ve got is the Xan-man, so let’s do this.”

Angel just blinked. “What?”

“We go kill some evil stuff then you can go back to your tortured love affair, and I can get back before the end of Star Trek. Again I say, let’s go.”

“Lay off. Angel, you okay? Maybe I should go instead and leave the magic up to Giles and Willow.” Buffy was always ready to slay the new big bad.

“You can’t. Willow and I will need your blood to close the gateway at the moment the demon is struck, which means Angel needs to be the one to make the strike to open the portal.”

“So why am I here? God, don’t say I’m bait.” With that Xander flung himself into the chair nearest him. Everyone looked at him, but no one wanted to say what everyone knew. Why should it surprise him, he was bait even in his own home his mother had him to distract his father there was no way she could have had him to love or to care for.

How could he say this? “Your part is very integral. You will bring the demons to us instead of us having to chase them all over town. Since we cannot use a locator spell, this is really the quickest way to rid ourselves of this problem.” Giles was already polishing his glasses as he spoke, while everyone but Angel tried not to look at Xander.

Angel didn’t understand why his demon took this moment to show some compassion /Just take the boy and go and feed him. I can hear his fuckin’ stomach from here./ For the first time in he didn’t know how long, he and Angelus agreed. “Let’s go. I need to eat and we can pick you up something. I’ll pay. I take it you need us to make a tour around town and then end up where?”

“You can end up near the playground at 5th and Taylor. That would be of the good.” Willow tried to smile at Xander as she said this but there was something about his shoes he found very interesting. She didn’t have the heart to pretend not to be sorry. Cookies, she would make lots of cookies tomorrow.

Oz took this moment to speak up. “I’ll go. I’ve been told I’m pretty tasty.” Willow blushed and slapped his shoulder, but did‘t deny it.

Xander looked up and smiled. “No need. Deadboy promised food, and I have to be a useful member of the Scoobies.” With that Xander got up and gave Oz a nod, while not looking at anyone else and walked out of the double doors.

Angel was on his feet when he saw Xander move to get out of his chair, but didn’t speak till the doors were closed. “How long do we have to walk the town?”

“An hour should be enough,” Buffy said. “And then we can go to the Bronze.”

“Give us ninety minutes.” Angel gave a nod at Oz and he was gone as well.

“What’s the big deal? Why all the attitude?” Buffy said as she started to gather weapons just in case, even though it had been explained that magic is what they would need this time around.

“You do realize that sending Xander as bait is at best…the shittiest idea any of you has ever had.” Oz removed himself from the couch and went over to the window to watch two the figures slide into the darkness. It could have been his imagination but they seemed to be walking really close together.

It took a little time but Willow got her voice back. “Oz we just ….”

A slayer, a witch and a watcher looked on in trepidation as Oz turned to them with black eyes. “You don’t understand,” he said. He needed to explain this, so that all these plans with Xander as bait would stop. If what he saw, what he been smelling was true, they were begging for trouble. Xander would be the one to pay the price for their stupidity.

Turning his back on them Oz spoke up. “Listen, because I’m about to use more words than I have ever used at one time. You called Xander a demon magnet and you’re not far off…”

Before he finished, Buffy broke in, never being one to live down the dumb blond image “You don’t even like Xan. Why go all growlly? He fell asleep on wolf watch and you never speak to him, and I’ve heard you turn him down to do boy type stuff more than once. So what’s the deal if we ask him to be bait, so we can have an early night for once? It might not even work.”

Not bothering to turn around, Oz just continued to watch the space where the figures had slid into the night. “I was about to explain, before you gave me a piece of your mind.” This was not their mild Oz, this was the wolf speaking just above a rumble which was heading toward a growl with every word. “ I never was angry at him for falling asleep. You’ve all fallen asleep on wolf watch. It’s just that night with Xander there the wolf was going insane. I didn’t think the cage would break so I let the wolf rage. When the doors opened it took all I had to keep the wolf from claiming Xander as it’s mate.”

That was met with open mouths all around. He could see them in the window and couldn’t come up with much sympathy even for his little Willow. “That’s why I asked that he not have wolf watch again. As far as not doing any boy-bonding with Xander, trust me when I say I should not and will not be temping my wolf by dangling Xander in front of it and ending up with that smell… his smell… all over me. I am an animal after all.”

In the window his eyes met Willow’s there were unleashed tears waiting to fall. Maybe they just didn’t understand, maybe things would change after this. “You want to leave me and be with Xander? You love him?”

“It’s not that simple,” he said. With a sigh in for a penny he thought. “ Don’t get me wrong. Xander is a great guy and all and we could be good friends but…”

“But what, you don’t like guys or you just want him to be… how did Xander put it…your butt monkey?” Buffy said, as she moved a little closer to the liquid silver in the weapons case. Oz estimated in his mind that if he wolfed out, he could make the drop from the second floor easy and possibly talk to Willow and Giles without her blondness around later.

Giles did not like this turn in their conversation or the fact that Xander was now with one of the most feared and possessive demons even if he had a soul at the moment. Angel was not to be underestimated. “No one speak who is not Oz. Please continue.”

“Xander tempts my demon. I don’t know how to explain.” Oz’s head went down. He was failing Xander and God only knew someone needed not to fail him. Just once someone needed to put him first. He had tried once or twice to ask about the dried blood he smelled and the bruises that had gotten him nowhere and gave him an even deeper need for the boy, a need to protect. Pulling back up to his full height Oz took a deep breath, and decided to tell the whole truth.

“That’s wrong. I do know how. Xander is like candy to my demon and most likely to other demons too. Let me make it clear when I say he's not the cheap candy either. I’m talking about the kind that comes in the shiny gold box with expensive ribbons. The boy smells and tastes like both sex and submission all at once.” Oz took another deep breath. Here comes the pound he owes he knew he would eventual have to pay “He’s been hurt and he expects to be hurt again. His acceptance of that only leads my demon to want him. Because I am what I am, pain is something that is very appealing to either give or receive and it’s almost like Xander is built for it. I’ve seen him walk off pain that would have a slayer crying, and well, that’s just hot. To know that you don’t have to be so careful, so restrained with him. I’m sure it’s the same with all of us. Now add to that the fact there is this undercurrent of darkness in the boy like something wild and it’s a combination that any demon with a choice won’t pass up. I have no idea how he’s survived this long. So be happy. Your plan will work and you’ll get your early night, but you keep dangling him like this and one day he won’t make it back.”

“His parents…they hurt him. Hyena must still be there too. Do you want him?” Big eyes met his. Willow really didn’t want the answer to be yes to her question.

Oz turned and kneeled in front of Willow. “The wolf would be happy to make the boy a pet, maybe even mate, but We love you, We want you, that’s another reason I ran that night.” Willow folded around him and he pulled her into his lap. “I don’t need to say that Xander does not hear any of this.” Pulling back, his black eyes beheld three nodding humans. His humans, whether they knew it or not, the wolf would kill for them die for them. He could share the boy with the vampire. It would be much better if he was claimed, the wolf would respect a claim from one of his own pack.

***
Outside in the dark, a large leather clad-figure converged with his charge. They were walking so closely together their hands brushed back to back from time to time. After all they had given him someone to protect.

“I have to go to Willie's and then we can get some human food on the way back to the park.”

“'Kay.” One word, said so quietly that he hardly heard it. Xander wasn’t here with him. He was just walking along trusting Angel to keep him safe. /He doesn’t even smell of fear./

“You're not afraid to be doing this are you?” Angel chanced a look at him. The boy wasn’t even looking in his direction, he was paying attention to a poster advertising some sort of science fiction movie.

“Uh no, I’m just…well you’re the strongest person…no not person. Thing. No, thing doesn’t sound right either. How about entity…no too Sci-fi. What about being? Is beings good? Unless you don’t like that one Deadboy.” Now Xander stood in place, clearly expecting an answer.

Angel’s lip twitched and Angelus uncurled in the back of his mind /What the hell was that?/ Angel smirked at his demon //That was what the Scoobies call ”Xander babble” and trust me, we got off easy.// “Person is fine. It’s better than Deadboy. Besides, just because I don’t breathe and I live off blood does not mean I don’t feel and think like a person does.” He didn’t know why but it was very important that Xander knew that. That he could feel just like any human. Well, not just like any human, more like any demon, but the boy was not ready for that. “Well, not like any human.” he added, while he turned to walk toward their destination.

“This whole idea of demons bad, humans good is kind of shit isn’t it?” Wide eyes, trusting eyes looked at him.

“Why do you call me Deadboy? Do you really hate me because of Buffy?” Angel needed to know even if he didn’t know why he need to know yet.

“Cause I want to remember what you are. I think that this ‘I have a soul’ crap does not guarantee goodness, just like I’m beginning to think not having one doesn’t make you evil. I think too that Buffy and Willow want you to be all warm and fuzzy, tortured soulboy. I’ve read the watcher journals. There are a lot of holes and the journals have accounts of things that took place decades before they were even written down. I’m not as stupid as everybody thinks. History goes to the winner and those who have the money and the time, to write up an account of what they think or want to have happened.” Xander took a breath and then continued. “As far as Buffy goes, at first I thought I loved her, now I stay for Willow, for my grandmother, for my fifth grade teacher who wouldn’t give up on me when everyone else including Willow thought I’d never learn to read. I choose to fight, because I can’t let the people I love die at the hands of monsters they never even knew existed.”

Angel opened the door to Willie’s Xander staying behind him as he walked up to the bar. He listened to Xander’s heartbeat above all others. He spoke. “I'll have three bags of human.” The bartender handed over the bags as Angel handed over the money. Xander's heartbeat sped up a little but not much.

//That’s a good boy. He has no illusions about what I am. // Two of the bags were still warm. He downed the first one in no time. The second he drank as they walked back to the human side of town.

“As for your question, you're right, it’s not all black and white. Every person, entity, whatever you want to call it, has a choice to make. To sink or rise to the destiny they alone choose. And besides I think humans forget that evil…it looks different from different viewpoints.”

/Now you’re talking soulboy, even the boy knows not to love the slayer./ Angelus all but purred.

“You with me?” asked Xander.

“Sorry, where do you want to eat? We're making good time.”

“You just handed over 250 bucks for human blood, and I’m thinking you don’t want me to tell Buffy you still drink human blood. So I’m thinking steak and with those big potato fries.”

Angel looked over at him and he could swear that the boy looked hopeful, pleading almost, that he would give into the threat. Confusion reigned and then the oddest thing happened. /Give the boy his steak if that’s what he wants, or he’ll tell you precious slayer you still enjoy your blood at body temperature from time to time./

Angel handed over two twenties when they got close to the restaurant. “Get what whatever you want and take your time coming out okay.”

Xander just looked at him, then walked in, not catching the reflections, that wouldn’t have been seen anyway of the three vampires walking up behind his escort.

“He’s mine,” Angel said. He turned around, calm and unfazed by the fact they seemed to have no fear of him, that would make things easier.

Vamp number one spoke, “You’re the souled vamp that plays with the slayer. Give us the boy and we won’t eat you, to. You can’t be strong enough to take us all.”

Vamp number two moved to the side and got ready to attack when his friend did. Vamp number three was not so sure he took a step back, still close enough to help but far enough to run.

Angel said nothing.

Vamp number one was dust in mere seconds and vamp two was stunned and dusted soon after. He moved forward to vamp number three. /Let this one live. The boy needs us, this one can spread the word that he’s under our protection and that we are not so weak. We should drink human blood more often./

Angel vamped out and snarled “What’s mine is mine.”


“I understand Master. I told them not to. They were so sure you were weak, but I could smell the blood from 50 feet away and it did not belong to your human.”

“Don’t let me see you again without cause. Before you leave tell me your name and the name of your sire.”

“My name is Nicolas and I don’t know who my sire is. He was staked by the slayer before I woke up, I was told.”

“How have you survived with no sire? You are obviously a Childe.”

“They tell me I was his first attempt to make a Childe. As for how I survived, it’s not hard to understand that the slayer doesn’t in hunt the poor side of town where crime is really bad and no one misses a criminal or three a week.”

/Now even fledges are smarter than you. Why can’t we hunt a few criminals of our own?/ “Fine. I will remember you, cross me, and I will kill you slowly.” Angel moved in close, too close for Nicolas’ liking and whispered low. “You can smell the boy?”

“Yes.” Nicolas nodded, not wanting to add that any demon who couldn’t smell that the boy was either dead or had no nose.

“You’ve seen him?”

“Yes Master, your pet is very beautiful.” This was said with downcast eyes, Nicolas wanting to make sure it was taken only as complement and not a challenge.

“Thank you. Go.”

Just like that Angel had claimed the boy as his. It would not be long till the rest of Sunnydale knew what happened here tonight. What the hell had he done?

Xander is standing behind him outside the restaurant when he starts to speaks “Hey Deadboy, use that fancy watch and tell me how much time I have to eat?” Xander was eating while trying to balance his drink at the same time. His entire posture was screaming mine, as if Xander expected someone to take his food away. Angel did not like the meaning behind Xander’s body langue at all.

“We have enough time for you eat that. Sit.” Angel was drowning in his own thoughts. //Maybe they won’t figure it out. Maybe vamp number three will get dusted before it goes too far. I could always say it was misunderstanding.//

“Oh brooding one, you want your change?”

/He gives back our gift!/

//No he has no idea we gave it to him. I don’t think too many people give him things. He just thinks we don’t want him to tell Buffy about the blood.//

“Keep it, and we’ll call it even.” He could hear something in the background, smell something. It was time to get over to the park fast.

“No way, captain hair gel. I don’t take what I don’t earn.” He thrust the money back at Angel and was surprised at the growl he got.

/This one has pride. Unlike your slayer, this one wants to earn his keep not have it handed to him./

Angel took the money back, not wanting to do this here and now. “It’s time we got to the park.”

Xander handed what was left of his dinner to a man digging in a near by trashcan and started toward the park without a backwards glance. /He trusts us./ The demon in the back of his mind was all smiles. Which was scary because the last time the demon praised a human for trusting it, they turned their first Childe and stood in a river of blood that was of their own making. He could still smell the blood, feel it on his skin, taste it. Bloodshed born of vengeance was always the best. Some might like the blood of innocents better but for Angelus it had always been best when his dinner begged for absolution while he sank into them whichever it be, teeth or cock.

Walking along Angel tried to make small talk, “You know that man you gave you food to wasn’t human?”

Xander just shrugged his shoulders, “Hungry is hungry and I know what that’s like. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone or anything. “Angel and Xander walked the rest of the way in silence.

It didn’t take long to reach their objective. It took much less time for him to hear the footsteps gaining. He spun around to have two five-foot demons snarl in his face and drop even lower to the ground. He thought this would not be so hard, until the first attacked while the second went for the boy. He only needed to hit one. Shed its blood on the ground and then plunge the knife into the earth.

Easier said than done. They were strong and so low to the ground now that it was hard to reach any section that was not covered in blue scales. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Oz attack the other one that was trying to drag Xander away.

Instead of running though, Xander looked around and then took out a knife of his own.

Angel grabbed the beast by the head, ignoring the slice of its claws into his left side and bared its neck to the boy. He did not slice all the way through its neck like he expected him to instead, he cut barely into its side, until blood drained out and hit the ground.

Angel felt the blood drip down his own side while the creature struggled to get free. Xander was on his knees looking for the blood stain, glancing over his shoulder at the witch, the watcher and the slayer. /Doesn’t trust them like he trust us./ Angelus thought. Then Xander plunged the knife into the ground.

The ground opened up in a swirl of light and just like that they were gone. He stood up as straight as he was able, all the paid for blood leaving him through the wound in his side.

“See early night. I’ll even catch the first round of drinks.” Buffy was smiling as she spoke at him for some reason smiling nicely. That didn’t happen often. It was always more of shy smile they that said I know what you want from me but you can never have it.

Xander was the first to speak. “I'm done for tonight. I'm just a regular human here.” Giles was gathering up the weapons which were unneeded like he said they would be, but he would now have to carry home anyway. Willow was standing next to a panting Oz. That was when Oz noticed the vampire was favoring the left side and his shirt on that side was a deeper shade of red than the rest of it. “Deadboy can walk me home and the rest of you can go on ahead. “ Giles and Oz just looked at each other, while Willow decided that now would be a good time to pick up the used spell ingredients.

Buffy however, was not happy. “Giles can drop you off if you want to go home,” she said. Giles nodded and Buffy shifted from foot to foot.

“No big Buff you’ll have your vampire back as soon as I get home. 'Kay” Xander was turning to leave. He missed the smile on Willow's face.

If Xander was going to pick a demon hopefully it wouldn’t be hers. She felt sorry for Buffy but it wasn't like she really cared for Angel. Miss Calendar had told them that Angel’s soul had a clause about perfect happiness. Willow and the gypsy thought they could alter the curse. Willow had offered once to try and make the soul permanent for him. Buffy’s response was to say that it was up to Angel to earn his own redemption, not to have the Scooby’s hand it to him. Then she had ended with a nice little slight ‘Who knows if you can even do it? Then we’ll have Angelus. I so do not want to have to stake my boyfriend before junior prom.”

Angel turned to follow the boy, letting his demon take the lead. //Just follow the boy.// Angelus was fine with taking that order.

“Angel we’ll be in our regular spot.” Angel did not even turn to answer Buffy.

The slayer watched as Xander then Angel rounded the corner and fell from the protection of the street lamp. “I don’t think he will join us tonight, I can smell the blood coming off him from here.” Oz said and turned to help Willow.

“He shouldn’t be walking Xander home if he’s hurt. Why didn't he tell me?”

“Do you think he’s bad off? Maybe we should go and check on him.” Willow was still feeling guilt over sending Xander out as bait, so they get to the Bronze in time to see the visiting band. She was more than ready to make up for it in any way that she could.

“He should be fine. Besides, are any of you going to open a vein for him? Blood’s the only thing that will help him now. He’ll get Xander home and then get something to eat.“ Oz just didn’t mention that the two had headed off in the wrong direction to be taking Xander home.

***
Leaning against a building Xander waited for Angel to round the corner to speak “Come on Deadboy how do we get to this mansion of yours?”

“What?”

“Let’s try this again. All kids over five know how to get home. Where. Do. You. Live?” Xander punctuated each word by moving his fingers as well.

“This way, and would you please stop calling me that. I have a name, you of all people won’t forget what I am.”

Xander didn’t answer, but he did walk up to Angel, and lift the arm from the vampires uninjured side and took some of his weight.

When they entered the courtyard Xander could see things growing wild. The house wasn’t that far off the street, a big concrete block with boarded-up windows. When they got inside, the interior was sparse. A chair here, a table there and a wall of books were all that cluttered the great room. There was nothing of softness here, nothing that said home. How could someone live here with so little comfort? Why would they? Before Angel could tell the boy to go Xander’s voice echoed through the empty great room.

“Where’s your room, the bathroom and a first-aid kit?” asked Xander.

Angel found himself laid out on his own bed with a towel under him, and no shirt on while Xander used packing tape to hold his wound together, since he didn’t have a first-aid kit. “I'll take it you’re not healing so quick cause you don’t drink human blood all that often. Right?”

“I only get it when there will be more than a fledge or two to stake on patrol.”

“And them asking you to protect me, you knew I would attract something nasty didn’t you. I have the worst luck.” This was said while Xander rifled through Angel's coat pockets and came up with a cool bag of A+ blood stamped Red Cross reject, the reason checked was ‘alcohol level unacceptable’. Xander got up, taking the blood with him. Angel closed his eyes. When he opened them again his nose flared, his eyes bled from brown to yellow. “Hold on, let me get a chair.”

The first bag of human blood went down easy. The pig’s blood Xander found in the frig not so much.

“Is it that much worse than human blood?” Xander didn’t know why he cared if Angel was happy with his dinner but he did. They had basically sent Xander off with Angel to protect him and Angel had accepted, even getting hurt because of him. The vampire wasn’t even at full strength and he had still fought the keep Xander safe.

“You have no idea. It’s the difference it would be the difference between sloppy joes and prime rib for you. Besides, human blood is so much stronger. It overpowers everything else with its taste. Animal blood is so…so weak in comparison, I think that’s why I hate it so much.”

“Hey, I like sloppy joes.” An idea formed in Xander's head. While Angel watched he took out the knife he had used before flicked it open and cut a shallow line along his forefinger. Angel watched with awe. Angelus on the other hand was screaming /Yes. Yes he is going to feed us. Freely given blood, not since Drusilla. He has no idea that this will make him ours./

Eyes never leaving the trail of blood, “You can’t feed me. It means something to a vampire. Even more to a Master Vampire. Freely given blood, it will tie you to me. My demon will feel some ownership of you.”

“You want me, I thought you loved Buffy? No thanks. Beside the Xan-man is not a butt-monkey. Let’s put it like this, you have your demon keep other demons from eating me and we’ll call this even. I’m really not going to bleed enough to feed you. I just have this idea.” With that Xander moved to the two glasses of animal blood and dropped some of his blood in each, just a tablespoon or so in each one.

It was too much to resist, and when Xander gave him the glass he drank. The boy’s idea had worked. The bland vile-tasting animal blood now tasted like wine to him and he just wanted more. Third glass went down easy too even if it was a little cold. What happened next should have never happened. Angel fell asleep with a human boy standing over him. Fullness and the need to heal added to his drowsiness. His demon was all but purring /Fed us if only a little. Your slayer never would have. He could be the one./ Angel retaliated as he slipped into sleep //He would never stay with us. He’s a human boy.//

For the first time in a century he felt for Angelus in way he had never done so before. He felt…sympathy, remorse that his demon had been shackled with a soul and denied everything he wanted, everything he was. There had to be a way to be less at odds with the world, with himself.