JtAH 09
Title: Journey to Another Hell IV
Author: Feygan
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Anita Blake
Characters: Xander/Jean-Claude/Asher, Xander/Nathaniel
He prowled close to Narcissus' desk, raking his eyes over the werehyena. Narcissus was careful not to meet his gaze in any way that could be construed as a challenge. Not that Narcissus was cowed -- Xander wouldn't have liked him as much if he were that easily subdued. There was a sly slant to his lips.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Narcissus asked.
Xander leaned his hip against the edge of the desk. He examined Narcissus closely, liking what he saw. "You haven't slept yet?"
"I've got a bit more work to do." Narcissus pointedly looked at the red curtained window, the light glowing around the edges. "Isn't it a bit early for you? The sun's up."
Xander shrugged. "Surprise. Any vampire hunter that comes after me won't like what they find. Though the challenge will be fun."
Narcissus pursed his lips, but didn't say what he was thinking. Instead, he took a sip from the glass of water in front of him and signed a few more pages. "What brings you to me, dear Alexander?"
"Curiosity," Xander said. "Boredom. A few questions that wouldn't mind some answers. You can take your pick."
"Questions, then," Narcissus said, laying his ballpoint pen down with a faint click. He rested his hands together and looked up at Xander. "Is there something you would for me to do for you?"
"Oh, lots of things." Xander leaned closer, nostrils flaring as he scented the air around Narcissus. He blinked and drew back in surprise. "You're pregnant."
"Yes."
"How did that happen?" Xander asked. He knew Narcissus had some extra bits, but he'd figured the guy would be a stickler for birth control. Shifter pregnancies weren't exactly the safest thing around, mostly for the baby, though there was some risk to the mother.
Narcissus gave an elegant shrug of his shoulders. "I felt that it was time. My position is well settled in the city. The number of my hyenas means that things are secure enough. So when my biological clock started ticking ... I took it as an opportunity to answer."
"Hm." Xander took a big sniff of that ripening scent. It made his mouth water and there was an urge to bite, but a deeper instinct spoke to him of pack and strength. Cubs were a hassle to deal with in the moment, but they represented strength and prosperity in the long run. Plus, he'd never met a born werehyena yet. He was a bit curious.
"Well, good on you, then," Xander said, "breeding the next generation of werehyena royalty."
It had been impossible to see how tense Narcissus had gotten until he suddenly relaxed. The man would make a devastating poker player.
"When are you due?" Xander asked.
Narcissus stroked his stomach once before settling his hands back on the desk. "Six months. I will need to get my affairs in order beforehand, as I would like to spend the first few weeks after birth bonding with the baby."
"Let me know if you need any heads cracked." Xander grinned, a sharply unpleasant expression. "You know how I love a bit of violence."
"Thank you for the offer. I will keep you in mind if I need someone's head cracked." Narcissus glanced at Nathaniel. "I see you brought a pet with you. And from the scent on him, I can tell that you've been enjoying him. Doesn't he belong to Anita Blake?"
Xander shrugged. "Not anymore. Nathaniel belongs to me now."
TBC...
Author: Feygan
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Anita Blake
Characters: Xander/Jean-Claude/Asher, Xander/Nathaniel
He prowled close to Narcissus' desk, raking his eyes over the werehyena. Narcissus was careful not to meet his gaze in any way that could be construed as a challenge. Not that Narcissus was cowed -- Xander wouldn't have liked him as much if he were that easily subdued. There was a sly slant to his lips.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Narcissus asked.
Xander leaned his hip against the edge of the desk. He examined Narcissus closely, liking what he saw. "You haven't slept yet?"
"I've got a bit more work to do." Narcissus pointedly looked at the red curtained window, the light glowing around the edges. "Isn't it a bit early for you? The sun's up."
Xander shrugged. "Surprise. Any vampire hunter that comes after me won't like what they find. Though the challenge will be fun."
Narcissus pursed his lips, but didn't say what he was thinking. Instead, he took a sip from the glass of water in front of him and signed a few more pages. "What brings you to me, dear Alexander?"
"Curiosity," Xander said. "Boredom. A few questions that wouldn't mind some answers. You can take your pick."
"Questions, then," Narcissus said, laying his ballpoint pen down with a faint click. He rested his hands together and looked up at Xander. "Is there something you would for me to do for you?"
"Oh, lots of things." Xander leaned closer, nostrils flaring as he scented the air around Narcissus. He blinked and drew back in surprise. "You're pregnant."
"Yes."
"How did that happen?" Xander asked. He knew Narcissus had some extra bits, but he'd figured the guy would be a stickler for birth control. Shifter pregnancies weren't exactly the safest thing around, mostly for the baby, though there was some risk to the mother.
Narcissus gave an elegant shrug of his shoulders. "I felt that it was time. My position is well settled in the city. The number of my hyenas means that things are secure enough. So when my biological clock started ticking ... I took it as an opportunity to answer."
"Hm." Xander took a big sniff of that ripening scent. It made his mouth water and there was an urge to bite, but a deeper instinct spoke to him of pack and strength. Cubs were a hassle to deal with in the moment, but they represented strength and prosperity in the long run. Plus, he'd never met a born werehyena yet. He was a bit curious.
"Well, good on you, then," Xander said, "breeding the next generation of werehyena royalty."
It had been impossible to see how tense Narcissus had gotten until he suddenly relaxed. The man would make a devastating poker player.
"When are you due?" Xander asked.
Narcissus stroked his stomach once before settling his hands back on the desk. "Six months. I will need to get my affairs in order beforehand, as I would like to spend the first few weeks after birth bonding with the baby."
"Let me know if you need any heads cracked." Xander grinned, a sharply unpleasant expression. "You know how I love a bit of violence."
"Thank you for the offer. I will keep you in mind if I need someone's head cracked." Narcissus glanced at Nathaniel. "I see you brought a pet with you. And from the scent on him, I can tell that you've been enjoying him. Doesn't he belong to Anita Blake?"
Xander shrugged. "Not anymore. Nathaniel belongs to me now."
TBC...