[FIC] BtVS/AtS: Communication (Poetic Justice verse)
Title: Communication
Verse: Poetic Justice
Pairing: Spike/Xander
Rating: PG (yes, I'm being lame today)
Spoilers: This verse takes place post-Chosen (everything in Buffy really happened), and is selectively canon to AtS season 5 (meaning some things will happen canonically, some things won't. And they might happen out of order.) This particular episode takes place during 'You're Welcome.' Some dialogue was ruthlessly lifted from it (only smatters, not much).
Notes: This story is set in the same verse as Poetic Justice, Tirer La Couture, Take You Away, and Circuit. They can also be found in my memories. You might wanna read those first. I'm not posting this as a WIP because the fics are more like snapshots of the verse.
Thanks: altyronsmaker and laazikaat, because they did the hard work of beta'ing AND make me feel like a million bucks while they're doing it. (Consider yourselves lucky I haven't started calling my stories 'turds' yet... it'll happen.)
"I don't like this."
"I know, pet."
Xander closed his eye and leaned on the wall of the elevator, letting the faint hum of the motor wash over him. He tried to relax, but the thought of what they were about to do kept coming back to him.
Well, what Spike was about to do. Xander wanted no part of killing his ex-girlfriend, no matter what Doyle said.
"Pet?"
Xander opened his eye to see Spike studying him, a hint of worry in his expression. "I'll make sure she really is evil before I kill her. Not killing a girl on someone's word alone, especially since you keep saying we shouldn't trust Doyle."
"He just... gives me the creeps." Xander shook his head, knowing he was repeating himself. "And Cordelia's not a girl."
"Last time I saw her she was." Spike shrugged and glanced up at the lighted display on the wall, watching the number rise as the elevator took them higher.
"You're gonna be completely sure she's evil before you hurt her, right? No half-guesses?"
Spike looked back at Xander and saw the fear and concern in his eye getting deeper. He stepped forward and grasped Xander's hand, raising it to his lips. "No worries, luv. I've been evil, remember? Know what to look for." He brushed his lips over Xander's knuckles.
Xander smiled for the first time since Doyle told them the bad news. "I trust you, Spike." Spike looked pleasantly surprised for a moment before grinning widely and yanking Xander towards him. He wrapped an arm around Xander's waist and kissed him deeply. He ran his tongue over Xander's lips once before pulling away just as the elevator dinged at them. He felt Xander stiffen in his arms as the door opened.
"Ready for this, Xan?"
Xander shook his head. "No, but... if Cordelia really is evil, I have to see it for myself."
Spike nodded and gave Xander one more quick kiss before releasing him and stepping off the elevator.
"Spike!" Xander froze as he heard Cordelia's familiar voice, followed by a short laugh. "Well, well. I heard you weren't evil anymore, which kind of makes the hair silly."
Xander's eye flicked up to Spike's platinum hair and mentally disagreed. Sounds like Cordelia. He bit his lip as Spike's face morphed into the demon and began striding towards Cordelia, quickly leaving Xander's line of sight.
"Or nice?" Cordelia's voice wasn't as confident now.
The elevator door began to close on Xander, and he shoved his arm out to stop it. He poked his head around the corner just in time to see Cordelia scream as Spike shoved her up against the wall and sank his fangs into her neck.
"Spike!" Xander hissed. He said he wouldn't hurt her, wouldn't kill her!
Spike withdrew his fangs and glanced over at Xander, only to have Angel tackle him from behind, tearing him away from Cordelia. Oops. Xander winced and watched as Spike and Angel tussled a moment before they rose again, Spike holding Angel in a firm headlock. "You took me on and lost. Remember, old man?" Spike said in a smug voice.
"Touch Cordelia again..." Angel snarled and broke free from Spike's hold, twisting so he could lift Spike into the air. "... get ready for our very last rematch." Angel's expression was one usually reserved for when he protected Buffy. Xander looked back and forth between the two of them. Angel and Cordy? No way. Angel threw Spike to the ground, and the demon inside Xander screamed at him to do something. Xander growled at the sound of Spike's head hitting the floor, fighting with his demon for control.
"She's evil, you gourmless tit." Spike growled, quickly getting back on his feet.
Cordelia stood with her back to Xander, who was quietly inching towards the fight. She held her hand over her neck where Spike had bit her. "Excuse me? Who bit whom?"
"Did you call me a tit?" Angel asked in disbelief, glowering at Spike.
"I thought he had a soul," Cordelia said.
"I thought she didn't!" Spike shot at Angel, pointing at Cordelia.
"I do!" Cordelia protested.
"So do I."
"Well, clearly, mine's better."
Spike's expression rippled with anger, and he took a menacing step towards Cordelia. "Look-"
Angel slammed Spike back into the wall, and he fell to the ground. "I see fangs, I'm gonna play dentist."
The threat in his voice unleashed the rage within Xander, and he took two swift steps forward and punched Angel in the jaw. He didn't put all of his strength into it, but it was enough to make Angel stagger back. Angel put a hand to his chin as he spun around to see his attacker. "Xander..." he growled.
"You are such an ass, Angel." Xander hissed. He pulled Spike to his feet, shooting him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I know you like fighting Angel and all, but-"
Spike grinned. "Defending my honor, pet?"
Spike and Xander's scents hit Angel almost instantly, and his nostrils flared as he looked back and forth between the two of them. "Oh, this is just perfect. This is exactly what I needed - you two, teaming up-"
"Xander?!" Cordelia nearly screeched. "What are you doing here?"
Xander winced at the pitch of Cordelia voice. "Um... hopefully not killing you." He glanced hopefully at Spike, who opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by a flurry of questions from Cordelia.
"What? Why are you killing me? Why aren't you in Sunnydale? Why are you wearing an eye patch? And what are you doing with him?" She gestured wildly at Spike.
Xander blinked, and then looked back towards Angel. "I see your communication skills are still top-notch, Deadboy." His words dripped with sarcasm.
Angel smirked. "I don't think you have the right to call me 'Deadboy' anymore, Xander."
"I'll call you whatever the hell I wanna call you, Mr. Avoidy."
"You're more of a boy than I am-"
"But you've been dead a lot longer than me."
"Hey!" Cordelia shouted to bring everyone's attention back towards her. Xander smiled faintly. Still the same ol' Queen C. "Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on here?" Cordelia stared at Xander, and he shifted on his feet, his gaze floating towards the ceiling. She narrowed her eyes in in suspicion. "Xander, have you been getting enough sun?"
Spike started chuckling, but stopped when Xander elbowed him in the gut. Xander put his hand on his neck and shrugged. "Well... about as much as I can handle..." he replied slowly.
Cordelia turned towards Angel with a frown. "Why didn't you tell me that my ex-boyfriend was a vampire?" she demanded.
Xander blinked. He couldn't remember Cordelia being so intuitive. L.A. had obviously been good to her. "Probably for the same reason he didn't tell me you were in a coma." He shot an angry glance at Angel, who had the grace to look sheepish. "He probably didn't tell you what happened to Sunnydale, either."
Cordelia turned back to Xander with a look of alarm on her face. "What are you talking about? What happened in Sunnydale?"
Her question was met with silence.
"Guys?"
* * *
After several explantions, things quickly rolled into a snowball of trouble. They discovered that Angel's liason, Eve, was in cahoots with Doyle, who was actually called Lindsey. Lindsey was in the belly of Wolfram & Hart trying to activate something that had specific programming to kill Angel. Lindsey's plan had failed, but not without causing them quite a bit of trouble.
Xander walked back to the upper levels with the others, and he realized he'd just had his first official mission with the Angel Investigations/Wolfram & Hart merger. It had felt good to be back in the good fight, and he was impressed with their teamwork and communication, but he still agreed with Spike - he wanted no part of Wolfram & Hart.
Spike avoided Xander's complacent look, which seemed to be permanently stuck on his face. "You don't have to say it, Xan."
"I'm going to, anyway," Xander said in a smug tone. "I told you so."
"You knew Lindsay was lying about who he said he was?" Angel asked with a raised eyebrow.
Xander shooked his head. "I knew he was lying about something. He has... shifty eyes."
"I can't believe his nerve, using Doyle's name... no, wait. That's a lie," Cordelia said. "That's exactly the kind of thing Lindsey would do."
"I'm really sorry, Cordy," Xander said as they turned a corner. "I remember now that Willow mentioned someone named Doyle back in the day. We really should have had more communication between our respective crews."
"Yeah, well... too late for that now," Cordelia said with a shrug. "And you have no right to be all remorseful about the lack of communication, Mr. I'm-not-going-to-tell-Buffy-I'm-a-vampire."
"Hey!" Xander protested. "I'll tell her eventually! It's just kinda hard to tell someone something like that over the phone..."
"Xander, they are probably worried sick about you!" Cordelia's voice rang out strong as they entered the lobby of Wolfram & Hart, and Angel's crew glanced over at them.
Xander shrugged, suddenly conscious of eight sets of eyes on him, and he wrapped his arms around himself as he leaned up against the wall. "They'll be fine."
"No, they won't," Spike said, shaking his head. "They completely fall apart without you." Xander rolled his eyes, but Spike cut off any protests he had. "Seen it happen, pet. Made it happen."
"Yeah, and that was not fair at all, considering I didn't even know Willow and Tara were-"
"Xander, they care about you. You need to tell them." Cordelia stopped and stood with her arms crossed, and Xander quickly decided that Cordelia's 'resolve face' was much more intimidating than Willow's. He avoided her stare and looked to the floor, staying silent.
A welcome distraction came in the form of Eve being hustled onto the elevator. "It's a new game, Eve," Angel said. "If I were you, I'd start thinking strategy."
Eve stared indignantly at Angel. "And here I am thinking revenge."
"And what do you imagine the senior partners are thinking?" Angel said as the elevator doors closed on Eve, and a chill ran down Xander's spine at the hint of glee in Angel's voice.
"Well, I'm thinking seabreeze, compadres," Lorne said, clapping his green hands together. "I gave up a lot of blood."
"And I didn't get any," Harmony pouted. "I kept begging Eve to run, but..."
Xander tuned them out as he reflected on what Cordelia and Spike had told them. He was starting to feel guilty about not having called his friends, and it made him feel even more guilty that he hadn't truly started regretting that until Cordelia pointed it out to him. No matter how much he'd felt ignored over the course of the years, he knew they would be worried about him. That's what friends - what family were there for.
"A drink sounds good. I'll go get my coat," Angel was saying, and Xander snapped out of his silent reflection. He realized everyone was piling onto the elevator to go drinking, including Spike. Xander moved to follow, but Cordelia put a hand on his shoulder to stop him.
"You guys go on ahead," she said. "We'll catch up." She smiled at Angel as he walked past her into his office.
The elevator door shut and Angel's door closed, and they were alone. Cordelia turned to Xander with a stern look on her face. "Xander-"
"I'm calling them," Xander interrupted. "Tonight. You're right."
Cordelia's eyes brightened in surprise. "Good. It's not like you to avoid something just because it's hard. You've always been a go-getter." She grinned playfully at him. "I think that was why we broke up, actually..."
Xander laughed, and drew Cordelia in for a hug. "Why couldn't you have been this cool in high school?"
"Hey, I was way cooler in high school than I am now!" Cordelia exclaimed, giving Xander a quick squeeze. "I think the real question is why weren't you this cool in high school? I actually really like the eye patch, and the whole vampire thing is just as sexy on you as it is on Angel."
Xander shook with laughter as he pulled away. "Really?"
"Definitely," Cordelia said, her eyes dancing. "We might've actually worked out back then if we were us as we are now."
Xander blinked in bewilderment. "Huh?"
"But you've got other obligations, don't you?" Cordelia ignored Xander's confusion, leaned forward and whispered conspirationally, "You and Spike, huh?"
Xander smiled wryly. "Is it that obvious?"
"Those dopey looks you keep sending his way? Same ones you used to send me." Cordelia smirked, and she continued in a smug tone. "Plus is was kinda obvious, what with him grabbing your ass in the stairwell."
"Oh." Xander nodded, and he once again thanked the stars that vampires couldn't blush. "Yeah... Spike's not much for hiding his feelings. He had enough of that with Buffy."
"Spike and... Buffy?" Cordelia's eyes widened in shock. "Never mind - don't wanna know." She shook her head, and her smile brightened again. "You guys are good for each other. I can tell."
Xander smiled wistfully, glancing towards the elevator that Spike had disappeared into. "I like him. I don't know where it's going, but I really think this could last."
"It will," Cordelia said, still smiling, but completely serious. "You're going to be around for a long time now, Xander, and you two are going to take care of each other."
Xander felt a chill at the thought of outliving his friends, but it was followed by a warmth he hadn't felt since he died. He and Spike were both basically immortal. If they worked out in the end, they had all the time in the world to be together...
"And you'll both have Angel to keep you steady."
Xander blinked. "What?"
"All three of you need to look out for each other. No matter what differences you guys have, you're wrapped up in something huge," Cordelia continued. "Even though you all got there in different ways, you've all ended up as the same thing - vampires with souls. There's only three of you in the entire world, and the world needs you."
"Yeah, we're an endangered species," Xander muttered. "Cordy, Spike and Angel are the champions. I'm just a mistake. The Shanshu prophecy thing is their game, not mine... as much as I'd like it to be. I'm just along for the ride."
"And you're incredibly wrong," Cordelia insisted. "Xander, I don't have time to argue with you about this. Just know that I'm right."
Xander gave Cordelia a faint smile. "Because Cordelia Chase is always right?"
"Damn straight," Cordelia agreed. "Can you do me a favor?"
"Depends on what it is."
"You're an anchor - always were with the Scoobies, and I can tell you already are to Spike." Cordelia paused and took a deep breath. "Keep an eye on Angel for me."
Xander tilted his head to the side and narrowed his eye at Cordelia. "You're leaving?"
Cordelia gestured to the building around her. "I can't stay here. It's... too much."
Xander nodded in agreement. "Wolfram & Hart definitely seems like bad news. I can't understand why Angel actually wants to work here."
"Me, neither." Cordelia bit her lip and put a hand on Xander's shoulder. "This place will change Angel if he's not careful. That's why I need you to watch out for him."
"I don't think he'd appreciate me, of all people-"
"I won't tell him if you won't. Just please, Xander... promise me?" Cordelia's eyes pleaded with Xander to agree, and he finally nodded.
"I promise."
Cordelia smiled sadly and pulled him in for another hug. "I need to go talk to Angel... but tell the others I said goodbye."
"I will." Xander buried his head in Cordelia's shoulder. "I'll miss you."
"Miss you, too. I wish we'd kept in touch." She drew away and placed an affectionate hand on Xander's cheek. "Take care of yourself." Xander nodded, and Cordelia turned around and walked into Angel's office.
Xander stood in the empty lobby, mulling over what Cordelia had said. It was strange that Cordelia had expressed regret about not keeping in touch, but didn't give him her number or address. Xander shrugged, thinking he could get Cordelia's number from Angel, and he began fishing around in his pockets. He pulled out the calling card Wesley had given him after refusing to call Giles for him. Xander stared at it for a moment before moving to the elevator and pushing the down button.
It was time to face the hard stuff.
* * *
"You've reached the voice mail of Rupert Giles. I'm unavailable at the moment, but please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I possibly can. Thank you."
"Oh, come on... Giles, are you there? It's Xander. Where are you guys? I've already tried calling Buffy and Willow, and I got their machines, too. If you're there, G-man, pick up. Hello?
"Look, I'm just calling to... to let you know I'm okay. You might've been worried - I know I haven't talked to anyone in a while, but I'm okay. I've... I've got some... things to tell you, and I don't want to tell them to a machine. Giles, seriously - pick up the phone. I need to talk to someone.
"Huh. I guess you really aren't there. Hope everything's okay over there. Well... I guess I'll just... try back later. I'm calling from a pay phone, so I don't have a number to give you or anything... I know this is gonna strike you as majorly weird, but Angel knows how to get a hold of me if you feel like calling back. I'll explain that juicy bit of info when I talk to you.
"I guess... that's it. I miss you guys.
"And Giles... I... oh, never mind. Bye."
Verse: Poetic Justice
Pairing: Spike/Xander
Rating: PG (yes, I'm being lame today)
Spoilers: This verse takes place post-Chosen (everything in Buffy really happened), and is selectively canon to AtS season 5 (meaning some things will happen canonically, some things won't. And they might happen out of order.) This particular episode takes place during 'You're Welcome.' Some dialogue was ruthlessly lifted from it (only smatters, not much).
Notes: This story is set in the same verse as Poetic Justice, Tirer La Couture, Take You Away, and Circuit. They can also be found in my memories. You might wanna read those first. I'm not posting this as a WIP because the fics are more like snapshots of the verse.
Thanks: altyronsmaker and laazikaat, because they did the hard work of beta'ing AND make me feel like a million bucks while they're doing it. (Consider yourselves lucky I haven't started calling my stories 'turds' yet... it'll happen.)
"I don't like this."
"I know, pet."
Xander closed his eye and leaned on the wall of the elevator, letting the faint hum of the motor wash over him. He tried to relax, but the thought of what they were about to do kept coming back to him.
Well, what Spike was about to do. Xander wanted no part of killing his ex-girlfriend, no matter what Doyle said.
"Pet?"
Xander opened his eye to see Spike studying him, a hint of worry in his expression. "I'll make sure she really is evil before I kill her. Not killing a girl on someone's word alone, especially since you keep saying we shouldn't trust Doyle."
"He just... gives me the creeps." Xander shook his head, knowing he was repeating himself. "And Cordelia's not a girl."
"Last time I saw her she was." Spike shrugged and glanced up at the lighted display on the wall, watching the number rise as the elevator took them higher.
"You're gonna be completely sure she's evil before you hurt her, right? No half-guesses?"
Spike looked back at Xander and saw the fear and concern in his eye getting deeper. He stepped forward and grasped Xander's hand, raising it to his lips. "No worries, luv. I've been evil, remember? Know what to look for." He brushed his lips over Xander's knuckles.
Xander smiled for the first time since Doyle told them the bad news. "I trust you, Spike." Spike looked pleasantly surprised for a moment before grinning widely and yanking Xander towards him. He wrapped an arm around Xander's waist and kissed him deeply. He ran his tongue over Xander's lips once before pulling away just as the elevator dinged at them. He felt Xander stiffen in his arms as the door opened.
"Ready for this, Xan?"
Xander shook his head. "No, but... if Cordelia really is evil, I have to see it for myself."
Spike nodded and gave Xander one more quick kiss before releasing him and stepping off the elevator.
"Spike!" Xander froze as he heard Cordelia's familiar voice, followed by a short laugh. "Well, well. I heard you weren't evil anymore, which kind of makes the hair silly."
Xander's eye flicked up to Spike's platinum hair and mentally disagreed. Sounds like Cordelia. He bit his lip as Spike's face morphed into the demon and began striding towards Cordelia, quickly leaving Xander's line of sight.
"Or nice?" Cordelia's voice wasn't as confident now.
The elevator door began to close on Xander, and he shoved his arm out to stop it. He poked his head around the corner just in time to see Cordelia scream as Spike shoved her up against the wall and sank his fangs into her neck.
"Spike!" Xander hissed. He said he wouldn't hurt her, wouldn't kill her!
Spike withdrew his fangs and glanced over at Xander, only to have Angel tackle him from behind, tearing him away from Cordelia. Oops. Xander winced and watched as Spike and Angel tussled a moment before they rose again, Spike holding Angel in a firm headlock. "You took me on and lost. Remember, old man?" Spike said in a smug voice.
"Touch Cordelia again..." Angel snarled and broke free from Spike's hold, twisting so he could lift Spike into the air. "... get ready for our very last rematch." Angel's expression was one usually reserved for when he protected Buffy. Xander looked back and forth between the two of them. Angel and Cordy? No way. Angel threw Spike to the ground, and the demon inside Xander screamed at him to do something. Xander growled at the sound of Spike's head hitting the floor, fighting with his demon for control.
"She's evil, you gourmless tit." Spike growled, quickly getting back on his feet.
Cordelia stood with her back to Xander, who was quietly inching towards the fight. She held her hand over her neck where Spike had bit her. "Excuse me? Who bit whom?"
"Did you call me a tit?" Angel asked in disbelief, glowering at Spike.
"I thought he had a soul," Cordelia said.
"I thought she didn't!" Spike shot at Angel, pointing at Cordelia.
"I do!" Cordelia protested.
"So do I."
"Well, clearly, mine's better."
Spike's expression rippled with anger, and he took a menacing step towards Cordelia. "Look-"
Angel slammed Spike back into the wall, and he fell to the ground. "I see fangs, I'm gonna play dentist."
The threat in his voice unleashed the rage within Xander, and he took two swift steps forward and punched Angel in the jaw. He didn't put all of his strength into it, but it was enough to make Angel stagger back. Angel put a hand to his chin as he spun around to see his attacker. "Xander..." he growled.
"You are such an ass, Angel." Xander hissed. He pulled Spike to his feet, shooting him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I know you like fighting Angel and all, but-"
Spike grinned. "Defending my honor, pet?"
Spike and Xander's scents hit Angel almost instantly, and his nostrils flared as he looked back and forth between the two of them. "Oh, this is just perfect. This is exactly what I needed - you two, teaming up-"
"Xander?!" Cordelia nearly screeched. "What are you doing here?"
Xander winced at the pitch of Cordelia voice. "Um... hopefully not killing you." He glanced hopefully at Spike, who opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by a flurry of questions from Cordelia.
"What? Why are you killing me? Why aren't you in Sunnydale? Why are you wearing an eye patch? And what are you doing with him?" She gestured wildly at Spike.
Xander blinked, and then looked back towards Angel. "I see your communication skills are still top-notch, Deadboy." His words dripped with sarcasm.
Angel smirked. "I don't think you have the right to call me 'Deadboy' anymore, Xander."
"I'll call you whatever the hell I wanna call you, Mr. Avoidy."
"You're more of a boy than I am-"
"But you've been dead a lot longer than me."
"Hey!" Cordelia shouted to bring everyone's attention back towards her. Xander smiled faintly. Still the same ol' Queen C. "Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on here?" Cordelia stared at Xander, and he shifted on his feet, his gaze floating towards the ceiling. She narrowed her eyes in in suspicion. "Xander, have you been getting enough sun?"
Spike started chuckling, but stopped when Xander elbowed him in the gut. Xander put his hand on his neck and shrugged. "Well... about as much as I can handle..." he replied slowly.
Cordelia turned towards Angel with a frown. "Why didn't you tell me that my ex-boyfriend was a vampire?" she demanded.
Xander blinked. He couldn't remember Cordelia being so intuitive. L.A. had obviously been good to her. "Probably for the same reason he didn't tell me you were in a coma." He shot an angry glance at Angel, who had the grace to look sheepish. "He probably didn't tell you what happened to Sunnydale, either."
Cordelia turned back to Xander with a look of alarm on her face. "What are you talking about? What happened in Sunnydale?"
Her question was met with silence.
"Guys?"
* * *
After several explantions, things quickly rolled into a snowball of trouble. They discovered that Angel's liason, Eve, was in cahoots with Doyle, who was actually called Lindsey. Lindsey was in the belly of Wolfram & Hart trying to activate something that had specific programming to kill Angel. Lindsey's plan had failed, but not without causing them quite a bit of trouble.
Xander walked back to the upper levels with the others, and he realized he'd just had his first official mission with the Angel Investigations/Wolfram & Hart merger. It had felt good to be back in the good fight, and he was impressed with their teamwork and communication, but he still agreed with Spike - he wanted no part of Wolfram & Hart.
Spike avoided Xander's complacent look, which seemed to be permanently stuck on his face. "You don't have to say it, Xan."
"I'm going to, anyway," Xander said in a smug tone. "I told you so."
"You knew Lindsay was lying about who he said he was?" Angel asked with a raised eyebrow.
Xander shooked his head. "I knew he was lying about something. He has... shifty eyes."
"I can't believe his nerve, using Doyle's name... no, wait. That's a lie," Cordelia said. "That's exactly the kind of thing Lindsey would do."
"I'm really sorry, Cordy," Xander said as they turned a corner. "I remember now that Willow mentioned someone named Doyle back in the day. We really should have had more communication between our respective crews."
"Yeah, well... too late for that now," Cordelia said with a shrug. "And you have no right to be all remorseful about the lack of communication, Mr. I'm-not-going-to-tell-Buffy-I'm-a-vampire."
"Hey!" Xander protested. "I'll tell her eventually! It's just kinda hard to tell someone something like that over the phone..."
"Xander, they are probably worried sick about you!" Cordelia's voice rang out strong as they entered the lobby of Wolfram & Hart, and Angel's crew glanced over at them.
Xander shrugged, suddenly conscious of eight sets of eyes on him, and he wrapped his arms around himself as he leaned up against the wall. "They'll be fine."
"No, they won't," Spike said, shaking his head. "They completely fall apart without you." Xander rolled his eyes, but Spike cut off any protests he had. "Seen it happen, pet. Made it happen."
"Yeah, and that was not fair at all, considering I didn't even know Willow and Tara were-"
"Xander, they care about you. You need to tell them." Cordelia stopped and stood with her arms crossed, and Xander quickly decided that Cordelia's 'resolve face' was much more intimidating than Willow's. He avoided her stare and looked to the floor, staying silent.
A welcome distraction came in the form of Eve being hustled onto the elevator. "It's a new game, Eve," Angel said. "If I were you, I'd start thinking strategy."
Eve stared indignantly at Angel. "And here I am thinking revenge."
"And what do you imagine the senior partners are thinking?" Angel said as the elevator doors closed on Eve, and a chill ran down Xander's spine at the hint of glee in Angel's voice.
"Well, I'm thinking seabreeze, compadres," Lorne said, clapping his green hands together. "I gave up a lot of blood."
"And I didn't get any," Harmony pouted. "I kept begging Eve to run, but..."
Xander tuned them out as he reflected on what Cordelia and Spike had told them. He was starting to feel guilty about not having called his friends, and it made him feel even more guilty that he hadn't truly started regretting that until Cordelia pointed it out to him. No matter how much he'd felt ignored over the course of the years, he knew they would be worried about him. That's what friends - what family were there for.
"A drink sounds good. I'll go get my coat," Angel was saying, and Xander snapped out of his silent reflection. He realized everyone was piling onto the elevator to go drinking, including Spike. Xander moved to follow, but Cordelia put a hand on his shoulder to stop him.
"You guys go on ahead," she said. "We'll catch up." She smiled at Angel as he walked past her into his office.
The elevator door shut and Angel's door closed, and they were alone. Cordelia turned to Xander with a stern look on her face. "Xander-"
"I'm calling them," Xander interrupted. "Tonight. You're right."
Cordelia's eyes brightened in surprise. "Good. It's not like you to avoid something just because it's hard. You've always been a go-getter." She grinned playfully at him. "I think that was why we broke up, actually..."
Xander laughed, and drew Cordelia in for a hug. "Why couldn't you have been this cool in high school?"
"Hey, I was way cooler in high school than I am now!" Cordelia exclaimed, giving Xander a quick squeeze. "I think the real question is why weren't you this cool in high school? I actually really like the eye patch, and the whole vampire thing is just as sexy on you as it is on Angel."
Xander shook with laughter as he pulled away. "Really?"
"Definitely," Cordelia said, her eyes dancing. "We might've actually worked out back then if we were us as we are now."
Xander blinked in bewilderment. "Huh?"
"But you've got other obligations, don't you?" Cordelia ignored Xander's confusion, leaned forward and whispered conspirationally, "You and Spike, huh?"
Xander smiled wryly. "Is it that obvious?"
"Those dopey looks you keep sending his way? Same ones you used to send me." Cordelia smirked, and she continued in a smug tone. "Plus is was kinda obvious, what with him grabbing your ass in the stairwell."
"Oh." Xander nodded, and he once again thanked the stars that vampires couldn't blush. "Yeah... Spike's not much for hiding his feelings. He had enough of that with Buffy."
"Spike and... Buffy?" Cordelia's eyes widened in shock. "Never mind - don't wanna know." She shook her head, and her smile brightened again. "You guys are good for each other. I can tell."
Xander smiled wistfully, glancing towards the elevator that Spike had disappeared into. "I like him. I don't know where it's going, but I really think this could last."
"It will," Cordelia said, still smiling, but completely serious. "You're going to be around for a long time now, Xander, and you two are going to take care of each other."
Xander felt a chill at the thought of outliving his friends, but it was followed by a warmth he hadn't felt since he died. He and Spike were both basically immortal. If they worked out in the end, they had all the time in the world to be together...
"And you'll both have Angel to keep you steady."
Xander blinked. "What?"
"All three of you need to look out for each other. No matter what differences you guys have, you're wrapped up in something huge," Cordelia continued. "Even though you all got there in different ways, you've all ended up as the same thing - vampires with souls. There's only three of you in the entire world, and the world needs you."
"Yeah, we're an endangered species," Xander muttered. "Cordy, Spike and Angel are the champions. I'm just a mistake. The Shanshu prophecy thing is their game, not mine... as much as I'd like it to be. I'm just along for the ride."
"And you're incredibly wrong," Cordelia insisted. "Xander, I don't have time to argue with you about this. Just know that I'm right."
Xander gave Cordelia a faint smile. "Because Cordelia Chase is always right?"
"Damn straight," Cordelia agreed. "Can you do me a favor?"
"Depends on what it is."
"You're an anchor - always were with the Scoobies, and I can tell you already are to Spike." Cordelia paused and took a deep breath. "Keep an eye on Angel for me."
Xander tilted his head to the side and narrowed his eye at Cordelia. "You're leaving?"
Cordelia gestured to the building around her. "I can't stay here. It's... too much."
Xander nodded in agreement. "Wolfram & Hart definitely seems like bad news. I can't understand why Angel actually wants to work here."
"Me, neither." Cordelia bit her lip and put a hand on Xander's shoulder. "This place will change Angel if he's not careful. That's why I need you to watch out for him."
"I don't think he'd appreciate me, of all people-"
"I won't tell him if you won't. Just please, Xander... promise me?" Cordelia's eyes pleaded with Xander to agree, and he finally nodded.
"I promise."
Cordelia smiled sadly and pulled him in for another hug. "I need to go talk to Angel... but tell the others I said goodbye."
"I will." Xander buried his head in Cordelia's shoulder. "I'll miss you."
"Miss you, too. I wish we'd kept in touch." She drew away and placed an affectionate hand on Xander's cheek. "Take care of yourself." Xander nodded, and Cordelia turned around and walked into Angel's office.
Xander stood in the empty lobby, mulling over what Cordelia had said. It was strange that Cordelia had expressed regret about not keeping in touch, but didn't give him her number or address. Xander shrugged, thinking he could get Cordelia's number from Angel, and he began fishing around in his pockets. He pulled out the calling card Wesley had given him after refusing to call Giles for him. Xander stared at it for a moment before moving to the elevator and pushing the down button.
It was time to face the hard stuff.
* * *
"You've reached the voice mail of Rupert Giles. I'm unavailable at the moment, but please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I possibly can. Thank you."
"Oh, come on... Giles, are you there? It's Xander. Where are you guys? I've already tried calling Buffy and Willow, and I got their machines, too. If you're there, G-man, pick up. Hello?
"Look, I'm just calling to... to let you know I'm okay. You might've been worried - I know I haven't talked to anyone in a while, but I'm okay. I've... I've got some... things to tell you, and I don't want to tell them to a machine. Giles, seriously - pick up the phone. I need to talk to someone.
"Huh. I guess you really aren't there. Hope everything's okay over there. Well... I guess I'll just... try back later. I'm calling from a pay phone, so I don't have a number to give you or anything... I know this is gonna strike you as majorly weird, but Angel knows how to get a hold of me if you feel like calling back. I'll explain that juicy bit of info when I talk to you.
"I guess... that's it. I miss you guys.
"And Giles... I... oh, never mind. Bye."