tamingthemuse | Fic: Slings and Arrows, Angel/Xander, Part of the Dark!World, Prompt

Title: Slings and Arrows
Series: The Dark World
Fandom: BtVS
Pairing: Angel/Xander
Prompt: In Absentia
Rating: Mature/Adults Only overall
Spoilers: AU after The Becoming, BtVS Season Two
Warnings: Bloodplay, D/s themes, dark!fic overall
Word Count: 617

This is part of my series The Dark World which is a sequel to The Dark'Verse. You should really read those before this or it won't make much sense.

Thanks to

mwrgana for the banner under the cut!

Crossposting with

tamingthemuse and

_xangel.

Slings and Arrows

Three weeks. Xander had spent three weeks working on this plan of attack. He'd used all his knowledge from the soldier possession to help piece together a plan of action. His advisors weren't happy with the plan, especially since it called for their Warrior to put himself directly in harm's way, but the boy wouldn't have it any other way.

Angel had argued with him, violently so, until Xander had finally won. The vampire didn't want the boy to be a part of the fray, wanted him to stay back and let others fight but Xander had resisted. Why had he spent all that time training, working with his sword until his hands were covered in calluses and learning how to defend himself if he wasn't going to fight?

No, he wasn't going to lead in absentia – and how weird was it that he was using phrases like in absentia? Giles and Willow would be so proud, assuming they wouldn't be disappointed that he was about to initiate a battle in a bloody civil war.

Besides, his presence was a major part of the plan. He had hoped that somehow the Others would know about him and want him either captured or eliminated. Their enemy was smart and cunning. They were well connected and willing to do whatever they needed to deliver a devastating blow to their rivals.

But they were cocky and believed the demons to be slow and stupid. Xander had decided to use that to their advantage.

As they moved to the field of battle, plodding heavily across the rough terrain, the boy looked over at his lover. The vampire was silent and grim. Xander studied him from the corner of his eyes and sighed under his breath. He was used to Angel's strong and silent demeanor, but this was different. This was a tranquil surface hiding a swirling torrent beneath.

This was Angelus.

Too many times, Xander had seen the soulless vampire, silently watching him or Spike or Drusilla, never moving or making a sound until finally he'd exploded in a frightening display of rage and violence. The calm before the storm. Death with the face of an angel.

Xander hated putting his lover in this position. The advantage he was hoping to exploit against their enemies was also the weakness that could kill Angel. Sure, they had taken precautions and had set up a fallback for the vampire to hide in for safety if the battle took longer than they were expecting, but Xander just knew there was no way the vampire would wait inside while the rest of them were still fighting the war.

But it was a risk they had to take.

They reached the hill that was the setting for their first campaign. It was nothing more than a rough rise in the ground with jagged rocks and large clumps of brown soil. All around them, they were surrounded by barren ground, land destroyed by this violent, centuries-long war.

In the distance, he saw them coming. He took a deep breath, ready to send out the battle cry, when he heard the vampire next to him groan loudly.

While Xander watched where the vampire was looking, he lifted his telescope to his eye. When he saw them, he swore softly below his breath.

"Snakes?" he complained out loud to no one in particular. "Who brings giant snakes to battle?"

Ali chuckled roughly before Angel whispered, "It's time."

"Yeah," Xander answered quietly. "See you on the other side."

Not waiting for an answer, the boy - now the warrior - raised the battle cry, lifting his sword high in the air above his head.

It had begun.

Tbc...