Turning and Burning: Chapter 10

[tigerstriped86.livejournal.com]

Title: Turning and Burning, Chapter 10
Author: tigerstriped86 (thinks the new layout is kinda groovy)
Fandom/Pairing: BtVS, Xander/Jonathan (and possibly others)
Rating: M (for Mature: Vampirism, slash, and hot chocolate with Wheetabix)

Prompt 108: Dead at the wheel
Disc.: I am not Joss Whedon or anyone associated with the show.  Now you may put me out of my misery.
Thus far: Xander left Anya at the alter and fell into Angel's arms.  AU with a Vamp Xan-man, now head of the Order while Angel is "away".

This week: After the Trio announces itself, Xander takes some initiative.  After all, Buffy's underestimated enemies before.

Full story: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4237605/1/Turning_and_Burning

It was all for the best that they had slashed his tires. Sunrise was only a couple hours off, but it was only a light jog. He knew he'd have fun antagonizing the Trio. Or as he liked to call them, “the Marshmallow Peeps of Prey.” It was amusing having that much vast amount of pop culture trivia at his disposal.

He kicked the back tire on the right side and then glowered at it. Xander followed this with a guttural sort of laugh, remembering Clem's little speech about this particular “Spike Special” that he had salvaged. Xander had gratefully taken it off his hands for the cool factor, but he wasn't so keen on being dead at the wheel. Truth be told, he trusted his feet more than machines. Which was an Achilles heel for the boys currently meeting in this house.

It was part of Xander's duties to check out the underbelly society of Sunnydale, which was the only society of Sunnydale as well. At least, Xander supposed it. It was natural in the course of the week to hear about dumb college kids experimenting with spells to cure their lives or angst. It was natural for a mortal to stumble into a demon bar and either fit right in or be torn to shreds. Not that Buffy liked that part much. But if they were stupid enough to not try and fit in, which was easier to do than most anticipated, then Xander thought they deserved what they got. After all, demons were just like bikers with built in defense mechanisms.

It was with slight trepidation that he had come tonight. He had vague recollections, thanks to the soldier spirit, of Jonathan's little spell casting and then of what had happened between Buffy and him in the bell tower. Riley had been useful then, not recognizing Xander in the darkness of the bar. One of his late uncle's friends had run the place and gave Xander a spot job whenever either needed something of that nature. He had a lot of fun there. Especially now.

The house itself seemed unremarkable, but the contents inside more than made up for it. Buffy had been wrong about them. And distracted yet again. The unusually perceptive Willow was also so much at war with herself over Tara's declaration that it was “her or the magic!” that she had failed to notice anything in the arcade that clued Xander into what he saw tonight. He cataloged the information for relay to Charlie at a later date. He was beginning to enjoy research and filing things away. It proved so useful later on.

Xander replayed the night's events as he set out on a light jog, intent on not looking too dangerous in case he came across Buffy. This was not yet the time to explain his newfound position in life.

“All three of them were at the arcade? I thought Jonathan had left town.”

“Well apparently the dwarf of a nerd has got a lot more going for him than we thought.”

“Could you be down-playing the danger factor, Buff?” Xander chewed at his pen, scratching that spot behind his left fang that he loved so much in times of stress.

“That was a very Giles thing to say, Xander. Some thing's different.”

Oh great, Xander thought, now she notices that I'm changing. “So not! G-man, help me out here!”

Giles began to wipe his glasses, bemused at the young man's transformation and the fact that he was so adept at both hiding it and giving himself a way. It would have been easy to blame the remnants of the soldier spirit laying with the hyena, and now demon, residing within him. “He seems to just be maturing a bit, Willow. I see no reason to worry if Alexander is using more caution as of recent. He's out enough at night.”

“Thanks G-man.”

“You've been going out? On patrol?! Without me and with an ex-lover vengeance demon we have yet to track down?!”

Xander winced. “Geez, Buffy. When you say it like that it makes it sounds as if I'm doing something stupid and dangerous.”

“It's not exactly Reese's Peanut Butter cups and Scooby Doo marathon level, Xan.”

Xander mumbled something under his breath, trying very hard not to rely on Giles' as an ally and worm his foot out of his mouth in one fell swoop. “Well, I mean, just take Angel for instance.” He flinched again when Buffy stared. “I mean, or Owen. Come on. Your guard can be a little fuzzy at moments.”

“Don't bring Angel into this. He might have been dangerous, but not through his own stupidity. These guys are dangerous because they get in the way, they want me out of the way...”

“They're just the way blockage.”

“Thank you Willow. I'm glad you see my point of view.”

“Buffy, I hate to break it to you, but you miscalculate one too many times and we'll all regret it.” Xander rushed up from his chair with vampire speed and out into the night, trying not to fake hyperventilate. Something didn't add up to him. He would have to go see this Trio for himself. They were more of a danger than Buffy was giving them credit for.

Clem was easy enough to find, residing in Spike's old crypt. And he was happy to rid himself of the black Nova that needed “a little love.” Xander wasn't sure about that. He just knew he needed to make an impression. Rumors that the boys were checking into vampire nests abounded. And he didn't need them searching around his bed of lies. It would turn complicated very fast if his Order began to disappear because of them and if Buffy was told by an enemy that a close ally was keeping secrets. Big secrets. Like Dr. Doom shaped secrets.

The house itself was unremarkable but easy enough to find. Most of the houses in Sunnydale screamed inhabited by evil, insanity, or blissful ignorance. It just helped that theirs was dilapidated a bit more. Apparently, they hadn't gotten the memo to stop plotting evil just long enough to buy a coat of paint. Furthermore, where were they getting their money from anyways?

Xander adjusted his invisible tie as if he were about to go on a first date. He knocked politely and then called out.

“Hello? Jonathan? It's Xander Harris! We went to high school together.” There was a shadow or two that moved in the background of the tinted glass and no response either than the sound of something being pushed closer. Jonathan's voice returned the call with hints of trepidation, which sounded normal.

“And what do you want?”

“Can't a fella just talk nerd to nerd?”

Jonathan's voice grew a little stronger. “We know you're with the Slayer.”

“Well, Buffy's not here. But it's not like I'm going to wait for you to break the door down. You alone or are Warren and Andrew there as well?”

“How do you know about them?!”

“I'm with the Slayer, remember? Now are you going to open the door and let me in or will I be breaking it down?”

Andrew reached the door first and opened it. “No! I'm still making payments on the tinted glass. It's a borrowed replica of Darth Vader's second eyepiece from Return of the Jedi.”

“Can I come in?” Xander asked again, hiding the impatience in his voice.

“Live long and prosper.” Warren's gazed from behind Jonathan, leaning on the back of a chair.

“Nice mix of nerd genre.”

“So what brings you to us tonight, Xander?”

“A little of this and a little of that.”

“You come to make a deal for the Slayer?”

Xander didn't respond the first couple of seconds. He was rather intrigued by a scent he was picking up and by the figure of Vampirella casually lying about. “I don't speak for Buffy. And she's not the type of girl to make deals.”

“Life's going to be a big hassle for her.”

“Like she's not used to that. I was the guy that had to compete with an evil vampire master. I think I speak for all of the Scoobies when I say hassle will be a nice breathe of fresh air. Do you mind, Andrew?” Xander had removed his coat swiftly and had slung it over his arm, revealing pale biceps under a plain white shirt.

“I'm not your...”

“Andrew. That's just not polite. Being evil doesn't mean we're not civilized.”

Andrew sighed. “Okay Warren.” He turned back to Xander. “But don't think this is an everyday occurrence.” There was something of vague defiance, a spark Xander smiled inwardly at. He foggily wondered what it would be like to dominate someone like Andrew. But then he'd probably only have to ask Warren.

“Of course not, Andrew. You were just closest. Shall we get down to business?”

“And what is that business? Why are you here?”

“Jonathan, man, it's not good to be that suspicious. There is something unhealthy about it.”

“Living in this god-forsaken town so many years can do that to a person.”

“Xander.”

“Warren?”

“You sure you want to put all your eggs in the Slayer basket?”

“Hey! I know what's it like. Believe me. It's not easy being the one with with encyclopedic knowledge of Moltar's favorite early nineties hip hop bands. It's not fun being one of the few who can appreciate the beauty of the arc that created Spectre. And knowing that Green Lantern has successfully won against yellow twenty-two times on the early versions of the Superfriends? I take pride in this, but only to an extent. What I'm more curious about it what you boys are up to.”

“Do we necessarily have to be up to something?”

“Making world take over proclamations can do it. And it's not like any of you are adept at magic.” Xander blinked at Jonathan from the corner of his eye and noticed the young man's Adam apple bobbing up and down. “It's great you can tinker with all of this technology though I am wondering where you would get the money to pay from it and who would be well organized enough to think it all through.”

Warren's clapping wasn't nearly as harsh as his laugh. “I applaud you Harris. The Slayer takes you for granted.”

“She wouldn't be the only one. I'm just here to see what kind of wisdom you're little band has.”

“Enough.” Jonathan's voice still held defiance tailored with a bit of second-guessed annoyance. His pauses were filled with questions more than with answers.

“I'd like to thank you for your time gentlemen. I will be in touch.” Xander gave a quick bow and then went to leave.

“Your jacket.”

“I'll be back for it.” Xander smiled at Andrew, who's face drew down into a tiny blush.