JtAH 10
Title: Journey to Another Hell
Author: Feygan
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Anita Blake
Narcissus raised a sculpted brow, but refrained from saying anything. Xander was almost disappointed and sat on the desk, carelessly pushing Narcissus' paperwork out of the way.
"Is this what you do with your time?" Xander asked. "I was expecting there to be more orgies."
"Perhaps in another hour or two," Narcissus joked.
Xander wagged a finger at him. "Don't you set me up for disappointment, now. You wouldn't like me when I'm disappointed."
"I'll try to remember that," Narcissus said. He lifted his pen, but seemed hesitant to start working. He'd seen enough to know that Xander hated being ignored and wouldn't hesitate to ruin all of Narcissus' hard work.
Xander rolled his eyes. "What am I, a child? I'm not going to ruin your paperwork." Not when it's something you're expecting. I'll have to find some other bit of fun to indulge in. He gave Narcissus a sweet smile to prove his sincerity. Narcissus looked doubtful, but went back to his work.
After a few minutes, a bored Xander slid off the desk and slunk over to the couch against one wall. Narcissus was polite enough to offer comfortable seating to the entourages of his guests. That or he enjoyed having sex in his office and liked a pleasant place to do it. Either way, the couch was comfortable, and once he'd pulled Nathaniel down next to him, Xander had no problem closing his eyes and curling on his side, Nathaniel cradled against his chest like a living teddy bear.
He drifted to the scritching sound of Narcissus' pen against the paper. He brushed his hand down Nathaniel's hip, stroking the wereleopard as if Nathaniel had his fur on.
Xander had always had a skill for finding his own entertainment and for not letting much of anything get to him. A good hunter was a patient hunter, and Xander had taught himself to be one of the best.
Narcissus was always at the center of exciting things. All Xander had to do was wait a little while, and the fun would come to him.
Xander smiled sleepily and let Nathaniel nuzzle close against him.
He was confident that when he next woke, there would be all kinds of exciting games to play. He trusted Narcissus to find him some fun playmates.
*
Lazing on the couch in Narcissus' office while things happened around them, it was oddly soothing. Xander was reminded of the best part of being the Master's favorite--always being in the thick of things and being the first to know the juiciest gossip.
He grinned to himself, pressing his face against Nathaniel's auburn hair. The wereleopard was deeply asleep, his trust in Xander endearingly foolish. It would be easy to snap that slender neck. Nathaniel wouldn't even wake up to know what had happened.
There was a light rap against the office door, then the voice that Xander now recognized as Ganymede, one of Narcissus' wereleopards. "Sir, there's a bounty hunter, Ted Forrester, to see you. He says he has an appointment."
Narcissus sounded amused. "Well, well. I didn't think he would really come. By all means, bring the bounty hunter to my office."
Xander was intrigued. What did Edward want with Narcissus?
He shifted closer to Nathaniel and oh-so casually slung his arm over the other man, his hand incidentally shading Nathaniel's face from view. Then he let his body go limp as if asleep and waited for the fun to start.
In his few dealings with Edward--which mostly comprised of him messing with the man and being an asshole--he'd realized that whenever Edward showed up, the fun quotient went up as well. Especially when Edward had non-Xander related business, which this appeared to be (otherwise Edward would be firebombing the Circus, not making easily traceable appointments with Narcissus. The "Ted" persona was only brought out for serious business).
There had been a time in Xander's life where he'd daydreamed of being a manhunter. The fantasy had somewhat come true in unexpected ways, but he'd wanted to be more like Lorenzo Lamas in "Renegade," not a literal manhunter. Though he didn't have any complaints about his current life. Souls were overrated anyway. Just look at what had happened to Angelus, that sad wreck of a vampire.
Xander swallowed down a giggle. There were times where he missed playing with the Puppy. He had screamed so pretty.
There was the sound of the door opening and the shuffle of footsteps. Xander recognized the scent of Edward--gun oil and what might be napalm--but there was also the alluring scent of young hunter. Edward had brought his little apprentice, how fun.
"To what do I owe the dubious pleasure of your company?" Narcissus purred.
"We're hunting a bail jumper," Edward said, using his Ted-voice. The vowels were thick and the consonants rolling, giving him an "aw shucks, let's be friends" charm that was completely at odds with the usual Edward. Hearing that accent made Xander want to chew the man's face off just because he could.
"None of my people have been arrested, so I don't see what business you have with me," Narcissus said.
"It's not one of yours. He's a vampire from New Mexico that's hiding out in a room at the Havenshire," Edward said. "We don't want to cause too much damage, so I thought we might see about coming to some sort of agreement with you. Maybe get some muscle on our side for when we face him."
"Some of my muscle," Narcissus said.
"Yes."
"Hm. As I know you don't have much fondness for the 'monsters,' as you call us, I have to wonder why you would think I would help you. Why would I risk my people to help you deal with someone that's completely helpless during the daytime? That is your favorite time to strike your victims, isn't it? While they are sleeping and helpless."
"The Havenshire has excellent daytime security, as you well know," Edward said. "Otherwise we would be happy to handle things alone."
TBC...
Author: Feygan
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Anita Blake
Narcissus raised a sculpted brow, but refrained from saying anything. Xander was almost disappointed and sat on the desk, carelessly pushing Narcissus' paperwork out of the way.
"Is this what you do with your time?" Xander asked. "I was expecting there to be more orgies."
"Perhaps in another hour or two," Narcissus joked.
Xander wagged a finger at him. "Don't you set me up for disappointment, now. You wouldn't like me when I'm disappointed."
"I'll try to remember that," Narcissus said. He lifted his pen, but seemed hesitant to start working. He'd seen enough to know that Xander hated being ignored and wouldn't hesitate to ruin all of Narcissus' hard work.
Xander rolled his eyes. "What am I, a child? I'm not going to ruin your paperwork." Not when it's something you're expecting. I'll have to find some other bit of fun to indulge in. He gave Narcissus a sweet smile to prove his sincerity. Narcissus looked doubtful, but went back to his work.
After a few minutes, a bored Xander slid off the desk and slunk over to the couch against one wall. Narcissus was polite enough to offer comfortable seating to the entourages of his guests. That or he enjoyed having sex in his office and liked a pleasant place to do it. Either way, the couch was comfortable, and once he'd pulled Nathaniel down next to him, Xander had no problem closing his eyes and curling on his side, Nathaniel cradled against his chest like a living teddy bear.
He drifted to the scritching sound of Narcissus' pen against the paper. He brushed his hand down Nathaniel's hip, stroking the wereleopard as if Nathaniel had his fur on.
Xander had always had a skill for finding his own entertainment and for not letting much of anything get to him. A good hunter was a patient hunter, and Xander had taught himself to be one of the best.
Narcissus was always at the center of exciting things. All Xander had to do was wait a little while, and the fun would come to him.
Xander smiled sleepily and let Nathaniel nuzzle close against him.
He was confident that when he next woke, there would be all kinds of exciting games to play. He trusted Narcissus to find him some fun playmates.
*
Lazing on the couch in Narcissus' office while things happened around them, it was oddly soothing. Xander was reminded of the best part of being the Master's favorite--always being in the thick of things and being the first to know the juiciest gossip.
He grinned to himself, pressing his face against Nathaniel's auburn hair. The wereleopard was deeply asleep, his trust in Xander endearingly foolish. It would be easy to snap that slender neck. Nathaniel wouldn't even wake up to know what had happened.
There was a light rap against the office door, then the voice that Xander now recognized as Ganymede, one of Narcissus' wereleopards. "Sir, there's a bounty hunter, Ted Forrester, to see you. He says he has an appointment."
Narcissus sounded amused. "Well, well. I didn't think he would really come. By all means, bring the bounty hunter to my office."
Xander was intrigued. What did Edward want with Narcissus?
He shifted closer to Nathaniel and oh-so casually slung his arm over the other man, his hand incidentally shading Nathaniel's face from view. Then he let his body go limp as if asleep and waited for the fun to start.
In his few dealings with Edward--which mostly comprised of him messing with the man and being an asshole--he'd realized that whenever Edward showed up, the fun quotient went up as well. Especially when Edward had non-Xander related business, which this appeared to be (otherwise Edward would be firebombing the Circus, not making easily traceable appointments with Narcissus. The "Ted" persona was only brought out for serious business).
There had been a time in Xander's life where he'd daydreamed of being a manhunter. The fantasy had somewhat come true in unexpected ways, but he'd wanted to be more like Lorenzo Lamas in "Renegade," not a literal manhunter. Though he didn't have any complaints about his current life. Souls were overrated anyway. Just look at what had happened to Angelus, that sad wreck of a vampire.
Xander swallowed down a giggle. There were times where he missed playing with the Puppy. He had screamed so pretty.
There was the sound of the door opening and the shuffle of footsteps. Xander recognized the scent of Edward--gun oil and what might be napalm--but there was also the alluring scent of young hunter. Edward had brought his little apprentice, how fun.
"To what do I owe the dubious pleasure of your company?" Narcissus purred.
"We're hunting a bail jumper," Edward said, using his Ted-voice. The vowels were thick and the consonants rolling, giving him an "aw shucks, let's be friends" charm that was completely at odds with the usual Edward. Hearing that accent made Xander want to chew the man's face off just because he could.
"None of my people have been arrested, so I don't see what business you have with me," Narcissus said.
"It's not one of yours. He's a vampire from New Mexico that's hiding out in a room at the Havenshire," Edward said. "We don't want to cause too much damage, so I thought we might see about coming to some sort of agreement with you. Maybe get some muscle on our side for when we face him."
"Some of my muscle," Narcissus said.
"Yes."
"Hm. As I know you don't have much fondness for the 'monsters,' as you call us, I have to wonder why you would think I would help you. Why would I risk my people to help you deal with someone that's completely helpless during the daytime? That is your favorite time to strike your victims, isn't it? While they are sleeping and helpless."
"The Havenshire has excellent daytime security, as you well know," Edward said. "Otherwise we would be happy to handle things alone."
TBC...