Fic: Friends in Low Places (Angel the Series/Firefly crossover, PG)
Title: Friends in Low Places
Author: sheryden
Fandoms: Angel the Series/Firefly
Rating: PG
Characters: Lindsey McDonald, Badger
Spoilers: Not Fade Away (AtS 5x22)
Word Count: 1052
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Neither belong to me. Which is actually kind of sad.
Summary: When Lindsey finds himself pitched into a distant future, he befriends a local criminal.
Notes: I wrote this for the April Mini-Challenge at hc_bingo. My prompt was "muscle strains and spasms. The title is from a Garth Brooks song.
Clearly, The Powers That Be had a sense of humor. Lindsey had been certain of that from the moment he’d opened his eyes and had realized he wasn’t in the holding dimension-or worse-that he’d been expecting after Lorne had put two slugs into his chest. In fact, his body bore no signs that bullets had ever pierced his skin in the first place.
It had taken Lindsey two days to work out exactly where- and when he’d been sent. As it turned out, he’d been pitched onto a craphole of a planet in some distant future. Maybe The Powers That Be had taken mercy on him and had given him a second chance at redemption. Or maybe they had just shunted him off somewhere so he couldn’t do any harm.
Either way, this was his world now, and Lindsey figured he should make the best of it. In the eight months since he’d awakened on Persephone, he’d started to forge something resembling a life. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. He’d worked his way up from nothing before. He could do it again, and this time, he’d do it without Wolfram and Hart.
Most of Lindsey’s time these days was spent roaming the streets, trying to learn as much as he could about the power structure of this world and the Alliance that controlled such a big chunk of it. One of his guides through the process was a “businessman” called Badger who kept a base of operation near the docks. He and Lindsey had clicked from the moment they’d met seven months ago.
Lindsey knew Badger was a bit of a lowlife, but he also saw that the guy was pragmatic, direct, and in his own way, honest. He knew the ins and outs of life on Persephone, and he recognized the value of having a man with Lindsey’s considerable skills as a friend. Especially when a cluster of vampires was threatening to cut into his profits.
Leaning back in his chair, Badger took a sip of something that passed as wine and said, “Sure I can’t get you another drink?”
“I’ll pass,” Lindsey said through clenched teeth. He was currently reclining on a table in Badger’s quasi-office, his leg and head propped up by balled-up jackets. When Lindsey had limped-dragged, really-through the door a couple of hours ago, Badger had ordered his men to throw some blankets onto the table to form a makeshift bed. It wasn’t exactly comfortable but at least Lindsey could stretch out and take the pressure off his leg.
He’d taken on four vamps earlier than night, and he’d dusted every one of them. In the process, though, he’d managed to strain the muscles in one leg badly enough that arrows of pain shot through him every time he tried to put pressure on it. Even lying still on the table, his leg was throbbing like crazy.
Placing his glass down beside him, Badger stretched a little and asked, “How about more ice then? Can’t have you lyin’ there in pain come mornin’. Might hurt business.”
“That I could use,” Lindsey winced. “And for the record, those vamps I dusted would’ve hurt your business a lot more than me and my injured leg.”
“Right,” Badger said with a grin. “And I’m grateful.” He gestured to a couple of his lackeys to retrieve some ice for Lindsey’s leg. “I’m thinkin’ we might need to get you some doctorin’ though. That leg don't look pretty.”
“I’m fine. I just need to let the swelling go down.”
“Suit yourself.”
Two of Badger’s men appeared from the other room, each carrying a bag of ice wrapped in an off-white towel. Lindsey closed his eyes as the cold cloth connected with his leg. “Any progress on that little fact-finding mission I talked to you about?”
Folding his arms across his chest, Badger shook his head. “No word yet, but it’s a big ‘verse. If your man Angel’s out there, he’ll turn up.”
Lindsey scowled. “He’s not my man.”
“And yet you’re searching to the ends of the ‘verse to find him.”
Clenching his jaw, Lindsey glanced up at the ceiling. “I have a score to settle with him. It’s a serious matter.”
“Well, then,” Badger said with nod. “I’ll keep puttin’ out feelers. Can’t have a serious matter goin’ unsettled now can we?”
“I’d appreciate it.” The rational part of Lindsey’s brain told him he should let go of his animosity toward Angel. He had a new chance at life now, and he should concentrate on living it rather than on chasing past enemies. Angel might be dust by now anyway. Still, a tiny part of Lindsey needed to look Mr. Vampire with a Soul in the eye and show him that he hadn’t won.
Lindsey shifted his position in a vain attempt to try and get comfortable. The pain in his leg was getting worse-bad enough that he was almost willing to risk some of Badger’s liquor, just to see if it would knock him out for a while. Letting out a breath, he turned to Badger and asked, “So you know a doctor?”
“I know a few,” Badger said. “Least they tell me they’re doctors.”
Lindsey narrowed his eyes. “That’s comforting.”
Badger smirked. “Well, if you’re fussy, some business associates of mine are meetin’ me in the mornin’. I’ll tell them to bring along their doctor. I hear he’s Alliance-educated.”
“Wow, a real doctor. You’re good to me, Badger.”
“I’m a regular prince. You want some alcohol while you wait?”
“Yeah,” Lindsey said. “Might as well. Might take my mind off my leg.”
After he poured them both a drink, Badger handed Lindsey a glass, then lowered himself into a chair. “It’s gonna be a couple of hours,” he said. “How about you tell me about this Angel of yours. Like to know who I’m huntin’ and all.”
“Why not,” Lindsey said with a hoarse laugh. “It’s a good story anyway.” Taking a swig of liquor, Lindsey closed his eyes as the warmth from the alcohol flowed through his body. He had a feeling that come morning, his leg would still hurt like crazy, but he’d be too drunk to care. “So Angel. Yeah. It all started in a place called LA…”
Author: sheryden
Fandoms: Angel the Series/Firefly
Rating: PG
Characters: Lindsey McDonald, Badger
Spoilers: Not Fade Away (AtS 5x22)
Word Count: 1052
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Neither belong to me. Which is actually kind of sad.
Summary: When Lindsey finds himself pitched into a distant future, he befriends a local criminal.
Notes: I wrote this for the April Mini-Challenge at hc_bingo. My prompt was "muscle strains and spasms. The title is from a Garth Brooks song.
Clearly, The Powers That Be had a sense of humor. Lindsey had been certain of that from the moment he’d opened his eyes and had realized he wasn’t in the holding dimension-or worse-that he’d been expecting after Lorne had put two slugs into his chest. In fact, his body bore no signs that bullets had ever pierced his skin in the first place.
It had taken Lindsey two days to work out exactly where- and when he’d been sent. As it turned out, he’d been pitched onto a craphole of a planet in some distant future. Maybe The Powers That Be had taken mercy on him and had given him a second chance at redemption. Or maybe they had just shunted him off somewhere so he couldn’t do any harm.
Either way, this was his world now, and Lindsey figured he should make the best of it. In the eight months since he’d awakened on Persephone, he’d started to forge something resembling a life. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. He’d worked his way up from nothing before. He could do it again, and this time, he’d do it without Wolfram and Hart.
Most of Lindsey’s time these days was spent roaming the streets, trying to learn as much as he could about the power structure of this world and the Alliance that controlled such a big chunk of it. One of his guides through the process was a “businessman” called Badger who kept a base of operation near the docks. He and Lindsey had clicked from the moment they’d met seven months ago.
Lindsey knew Badger was a bit of a lowlife, but he also saw that the guy was pragmatic, direct, and in his own way, honest. He knew the ins and outs of life on Persephone, and he recognized the value of having a man with Lindsey’s considerable skills as a friend. Especially when a cluster of vampires was threatening to cut into his profits.
Leaning back in his chair, Badger took a sip of something that passed as wine and said, “Sure I can’t get you another drink?”
“I’ll pass,” Lindsey said through clenched teeth. He was currently reclining on a table in Badger’s quasi-office, his leg and head propped up by balled-up jackets. When Lindsey had limped-dragged, really-through the door a couple of hours ago, Badger had ordered his men to throw some blankets onto the table to form a makeshift bed. It wasn’t exactly comfortable but at least Lindsey could stretch out and take the pressure off his leg.
He’d taken on four vamps earlier than night, and he’d dusted every one of them. In the process, though, he’d managed to strain the muscles in one leg badly enough that arrows of pain shot through him every time he tried to put pressure on it. Even lying still on the table, his leg was throbbing like crazy.
Placing his glass down beside him, Badger stretched a little and asked, “How about more ice then? Can’t have you lyin’ there in pain come mornin’. Might hurt business.”
“That I could use,” Lindsey winced. “And for the record, those vamps I dusted would’ve hurt your business a lot more than me and my injured leg.”
“Right,” Badger said with a grin. “And I’m grateful.” He gestured to a couple of his lackeys to retrieve some ice for Lindsey’s leg. “I’m thinkin’ we might need to get you some doctorin’ though. That leg don't look pretty.”
“I’m fine. I just need to let the swelling go down.”
“Suit yourself.”
Two of Badger’s men appeared from the other room, each carrying a bag of ice wrapped in an off-white towel. Lindsey closed his eyes as the cold cloth connected with his leg. “Any progress on that little fact-finding mission I talked to you about?”
Folding his arms across his chest, Badger shook his head. “No word yet, but it’s a big ‘verse. If your man Angel’s out there, he’ll turn up.”
Lindsey scowled. “He’s not my man.”
“And yet you’re searching to the ends of the ‘verse to find him.”
Clenching his jaw, Lindsey glanced up at the ceiling. “I have a score to settle with him. It’s a serious matter.”
“Well, then,” Badger said with nod. “I’ll keep puttin’ out feelers. Can’t have a serious matter goin’ unsettled now can we?”
“I’d appreciate it.” The rational part of Lindsey’s brain told him he should let go of his animosity toward Angel. He had a new chance at life now, and he should concentrate on living it rather than on chasing past enemies. Angel might be dust by now anyway. Still, a tiny part of Lindsey needed to look Mr. Vampire with a Soul in the eye and show him that he hadn’t won.
Lindsey shifted his position in a vain attempt to try and get comfortable. The pain in his leg was getting worse-bad enough that he was almost willing to risk some of Badger’s liquor, just to see if it would knock him out for a while. Letting out a breath, he turned to Badger and asked, “So you know a doctor?”
“I know a few,” Badger said. “Least they tell me they’re doctors.”
Lindsey narrowed his eyes. “That’s comforting.”
Badger smirked. “Well, if you’re fussy, some business associates of mine are meetin’ me in the mornin’. I’ll tell them to bring along their doctor. I hear he’s Alliance-educated.”
“Wow, a real doctor. You’re good to me, Badger.”
“I’m a regular prince. You want some alcohol while you wait?”
“Yeah,” Lindsey said. “Might as well. Might take my mind off my leg.”
After he poured them both a drink, Badger handed Lindsey a glass, then lowered himself into a chair. “It’s gonna be a couple of hours,” he said. “How about you tell me about this Angel of yours. Like to know who I’m huntin’ and all.”
“Why not,” Lindsey said with a hoarse laugh. “It’s a good story anyway.” Taking a swig of liquor, Lindsey closed his eyes as the warmth from the alcohol flowed through his body. He had a feeling that come morning, his leg would still hurt like crazy, but he’d be too drunk to care. “So Angel. Yeah. It all started in a place called LA…”