Torchwood Aftershock: Halloween 18 and 19

[madimpossibledreamer]

well our roommates are going on vacation at some point in the next few months and while they'll be taking precautions that does not actually translate to me feeling safe, so.  My anxiety is through the roof right now, but I talked it over with my sane roommate and we've figured out some precautions we're going to try to take, so it's...something.

Main Points:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Torchwood crossover
Summary: Would you look at that, more stuff from 2012. This one is a follow-up to a Choose Your Own Adventure Halloween adventure I may or may not finish eventually where Xander ends up with Captain Xan in his head. Episode tag to the Angel episode In the Dark and an original one mentioned in the notes as Confrontation.  Still contains some of that Xander vs Scoobies vibes I still don't know how they ended up in anything I wrote.  To be fair, I do think Buffy would have issues understanding why Xander would make possibly ill-considered decisions to hold onto power (again he needs to stop trusting strange swords, because Captain Xan is not nearly the worst of my versions of Xander at this) and be able to help out because she really wants a normal life and doesn't understand why anyone would choose differently. Destiny is Buffy's counterpart from Torchwood Aftershock, and Emily is Willow's counterpart.
Word Count: 2503
Rating: Teen
Pairing: Spike/Xander
 

In the Dark
        Xander picked up the phone, feeling good.  Of course, the whole trying to kill Spike thing wasn’t so great, and he still had to talk to his crazy vampire boyfriend about crazy plans without him, but...
        He hadn’t died, and he’d talked a pretty young waitress into buying out a storefront and sitting in the office managing the website for Torchwood.  Strangely enough, the Torchwood fund was still there, and he did have access to it.  Surprise surprise.
        “Xander.”  ...Not the hot vampire he’d been wanting to hear from.  What was he doing?
        He didn’t want to act surprised.  Majorly surprised.  “Tall, dark and broody.  How’d you get this number anyway?”
        “I smelled you all over Spike.  What are you doing with my grandchilde?”  He was practically growling into the phone.  He could hear someone else trying to call on the other line, but Angel was completely ignoring that.
        No arguing with a vampire’s nose.  “Is this the ‘what are your intentions for my grandchilde’ conversation?” he asked, letting a little of his amused and flirtatious manner trickle through.
        He could practically hear the eye roll.  “Xander.  Or should I say, Captain Xan?”
        “You remembered me!”  He leaned closer to the phone, so Angel could hear him breathing.  “What are you wearing, handsome?”
        “Xander!” Angel barked into the phone.  “Captain.  Answer me or I’ll let Cordy interrogate you.”
        He laughed, a little, but couldn’t help the shiver running down his back.  That actually was a decent threat.  “Okay, Xander’s in the house now.”
        “Spike.”  The vampire detective was practically talking through a clenched jaw by this point.  His game was maybe a little too effective.
        “Captain Xan never went away.”  Silence.  “At first, I tried to ignore him, shove him away.  But then I accepted that was only making me miserable.  Will was the same.  I mean, Spike.  He’s still got the other William in there, and it was driving him crazy.”  More silence.  “Besides, it kind of drove a wedge between him and Drusilla.  Who oddly enough gave her blessing, but I’m sure it’s only part of a master game that only she understands.”  Yet more silence.  “I’m actually kind of surprised he didn’t kill me for separating him from Dru.  We’ve been dating for a while now.”
        The silence continued.  Well, Angel had never been the most communicative of guys.
        Eventually, he stated quietly, “I’m kind of worried about how much you understand...all of this.  Has he tried to kill Buffy?”
        Xan hesitated, then answered truthfully, “He’s fought with her, but only when she’s picked a fight.  He’s never legitimately tried to kill her, no.  I mean, since we...yeah.”
        Eventually, a sigh.  “You two are annoying.”
        Xander snorted.  “Right back atcha, Deadboy.  And, thanks.”

        “Where are you going?” Doyle asked, watching Angel head past them.
        “Right, sorry, daytime.”  He turned around.
        “No, what he’s asking is why are you leaving?  We just finished something.” Cordy looked up from painting her nails, smiling tightly.
        “Meeting an old friend.  Don’t wait up.”
        The two stared at each other, and Cordy shrugged.

        Angel didn’t have to go far.  Spike was still in the abandoned warehouse.
        He walked out, the confident stride suddenly gone.  In fact, he looked a bit of the shy Will now.
        “Angel.”  He inclined his head.
        The darker vampire smiled.  “The torture, Spike?”
        “You hurt my Xan.  We weren’t lovers then, but you know that doesn’t matter.”
        He understood.  If it had been Darla...  “The ring’s not just for you, is it?”
        Will actually looked at his feet, shuffled a little.  “It was supposed to be a surprise.  But then everything got out of hand.”  He looked disappointed and adorable.  “Ah well.  Too late, I suppose.  I’m sorry for the trouble I caused.”  He paused.  “No, actually, I’m not.”
        There was the Spike Angel knew.  “But you haven’t gone after Buffy...”
        A snort.  “Why would I bother?  ‘ve got Xan.”
        “Promise me, as your grandsire.”
        “I’ll do you one better.  I promise on Xan’s life.”  Spike looked at him with dark, honest eyes.  “‘e’s a git, but ‘e’s strong, an’ loyal, an’ got a beautiful sense of humor.”
        Angel rolled his eyes.  “Spare me.”  He held out the ring.
        Eyes grew wide.  “B-but you destroyed it.  I saw you!”
        Angel grinned, a dangerous grin.  “I’m older than you and can still trick you.  I wouldn’t have kept it for myself, but...if you’re there, helping out Xander, and occasionally Buffy by extension...”
        “Relax.  I’ve got it covered.”  Spike’s easy smile, the one that promised he was up to no good.  He put the ring on his middle finger, admiring it.
        “You’re not helping,” Angel admitted, turning to leave.
        “Don’t worry about it!” Spike yelled.  Angel did his best to ignore him.  Hopefully he hadn’t just done something incredibly stupid.

        Xan barely turned the corner when something large and heavy pounced on him.
        “Xan!  Let’s go for a walk!  I want to get an ice cream and hold your hand.”
        He blinked a few times, then hugged the thing on top of him close.  “Don’t do that, Spike.  I...your plans are always not very planny, and you didn’t tell me and I was worried sick.”
        “I had an actual plan.  Didn’t have the patience for it, but I had an actual plan.”

Confrontation
        “Stop hurting my boyfriend!” Xan roared, exploding into life and placing himself firmly between Buffy and Will.  “Rupert!” he yelled, hoping that Giles would come down sooner rather than later.  He might be the Captain, but he wasn’t sure if even he could hold off an angry Slayer forever.  He needed backup.  Like, right away would be nice.
        “Promised Peaches I wouldn’t ‘urt you.  But if you end up killin’ Xan again, I might just break that promise.  ‘e makes enough of a bad ‘abit dyin’ without your ‘elp,” Spike mentioned, quiet and dark.
        Just then, Giles hurried down the stairs, still in a dressing robe.  Hopefully, Xander thought, looking away, with some kind of pyjamas underneath.  He didn’t need Xan getting distracted.  “Buffy, stop.  Does it tell you nothing that Spike was able to enter my house?”
        If anything, she looked even more murderous.  “So, Xander invited him in?  I’m sorry, Xander, but this is for your own good.”  Willow looked shocked and stopped where she was.  So at least she was getting it.
        “And who are you to decide that?” he muttered, furious.  “You don’t know me at all, Buff.”
        Willow spoke up then, quiet and still shocked, “Buffy...he can’t have.  Only someone who lives there can invite a vampire inside.  Which means...Giles.”
        Rupert smiled slightly and nodded at Xan, who was currently controlling his breathing and trying very hard not to lose his temper.  “Captain.”
        “What does she mean, Giles?” Buffy asked, voice hard.
        “She means that Rupert himself was the one to invite Spike in.  And hasn’t had the de-invite spell done.  With good reason, because Spike isn’t your enemy anymore.”  Xan met her eyes and didn’t make any sudden moves.  He was quite familiar with Buffy and Destiny’s tempers and didn’t particularly want to meet either’s.
        “Captain?” Willow asked in an even smaller voice, and Xan looked up and met her eyes.  She knew.  She knew and was a bit freaked out by it, but she managed a small smile regardless.
        “Halloween,” he confirmed, letting his gaze sweep back to Buffy, who was currently probably trying to figure out how to get past him and kill Spike.  “Let’s do introductions again.  That’s Will, John, Spike.  My boyfriend.  Captain Alexander...Harris.  That’s weird.  Does anyone else think that’s weird?”
        A burst of laughter quickly smothered came from behind him, and even he had to grin at that one.  It sounded a little ridiculous, once he’d actually said it out loud.
        “I do!  The costume was burnt!” Buffy actually sounded kind of put out.
        “I told you the costume was burnt.”  He waited a moment for it to sink in.
        Now she just was having trouble comprehending.  “Why?  You flirted with everything, you...I mean, you’d want a normal life!”
        He smiled sadly.  “You’d want a normal life.  If I ever wanted a normal life, that wish would be kind of doomed.  I mean, I’m a demon magnet.  And as crazy as it is, I...I can’t.  Okay, yeah, sometimes I want to walk away.  Sometimes it’s not a lot of fun collecting bruises for the side of good.  I hate seeing what it does to people, what it did to you and Angel.  So many losses, so much darkness and hate and pain.”  He moved forward, a fierce look in his eyes.  “But you know what?  I will Never. Ever.  Walk away.  I couldn’t, even if I’d wanted to.  Because I’m going to help with everything I have.  I will continue to help you and Willow and I will do anything for my girls.”  A pause, then a smirk.  “That includes Will and Rupert, in case you were wondering.”
        Giles actually rolled his eyes, smiling.  “Thank you, Xander.”
        Buffy grabbed him and threw him against a wall, walking over to him again.  Luckily away from Will.  “But you...we all gave up our...why couldn’t you?”
        A slight smile.  “Listen to yourself, Buffy.  You didn’t want to be Lady Buffy.  Willow didn’t want to be a scantily clad ghost.  I wanted to be the Captain.”
        That was actually the thing she couldn’t get past.  Once she understood that, his loving Will would follow.  “Why?”
        “Look at yourselves.  You’re the Slayer.  Willow’s one of the most powerful witches ever.”  She opened her mouth to protest, and he pointed his finger at her.  “Don’t argue with me, missy.  Even if you only have half of Emily’s power, you’re still one of the most powerful modern witches ever.  You’d impress Merlin.  Trust me on this one.  I met him.  Well, other me met him.  You don’t know yet; you’re only beginning to discover your power.  But trust me, you’re powerful.”  He paused, looking at himself in disgust.  “Look at me.  Donut boy.  Powerless.  I fight alongside you guys and I must have serious luck because I haven’t died yet.  But I needed more.  I needed to be able to help besides fetching food and being comic relief.  You’re still more powerful than me.  The only thing I’ve really got going for me now is I know how to fight a little more and I can’t die for long.”
        “You’re not inadequate.  We care about you.”  Buffy was trying to make him feel better.
        His first reaction was a skeptical look, but he had to deal with this one carefully.  He didn’t want his frustrations to mess this up, and if he just reacted he’d say some things he’d really regret.  “Okay, for one thing, I made my decision.  I literally can’t go back now.  The two are so entwined it’s like...it’s like I have different facets to my personality, but I’m not schizophrenic or anything.  Just different parts of myself, all harmonious, all part of me.  You can’t separate them now.”  He took a deep breath, meeting her eyes with an unwavering gaze.  “For another, do you really?  When you see me anymore it’s all talking about yourself.  When I get the courage to say something about my life, you listen, but you don’t hear.  It’s like me in math class.  In one ear, out the other.  You count on me to be a parody of a human being, a constant thing that never changes.  Well, here’s a news flash.  I do change.  All humans do, all the time.  But you can count on me being there for you, every single time.  You can count on me to watch your back and suffer through movies and eat gallons of popcorn and ice cream with you guys because that’s what friends do.  But as for conforming to your expectations, forgetting about my own life to satisfy your requirements of me, I don’t think so.  I’ve had enough of that.”
        She opened her mouth and closed it.  Weakly, Willow offered, “I’m sorry.”
        He rushed to her side and hugged her, a hearty, reassuring hug that completely enveloped her, but there was no electricity there, just the feeling of something slotting into place.  Right and good.  He’d missed the best friends feeling, though Will had helped make up for that.  It’d been the first time he’d been truthful with her in a while, and he’d missed her.  Now she was back and seeing him as if for the first time.
        When he pulled back, she was smiling through her tears.  “So I guess that’s Will.”  A pause, then a small giggle.  “I liked him.”
        “We got along well,” Will answered in just as small a voice.  He’d been terrified that he’d be run through any minute, then.
        He turned back to Buffy, who was eyeing him with the warrior’s standards.  Finally, he crossed to her and held out a hand to shake.  A sort of truce.  A beat, and then she was rolling her eyes and pulling him into a hug.  “Any more secrets you’re hiding?” she asked, mischievous smile telling him all had been forgiven.  He let out a sigh of relief and motioned Will over.
        “A few,” he admitted.  “I have to tell you about Angelus.  I know you don’t want to hear it, and I’m sorry for being a jerk, but I figured you wouldn’t be happy to learn that I’d died.  Oh, and me and Will...yeah.  You probably don’t want to hear about that part.”  Willow giggled again.  Despite what he’d said, from the way she was now eyeing the two of them she wouldn’t actually have minded hearing about that.  Emily all over.  Oddly enough, because Willow actually had a crush on him, unlike Emily.  Go figure.  “And there’s something about Faith.  And the Ring of Amara.  Spike was actually being sort of a romantic there, in the Vampire Stalkerish way.”  Buffy knew all about that sort of thing, and figured it out before he elaborated.  Probably came from having a vampire stalker of her own.  But she was in full ‘I want to hear the secrets of my friends’ love lives’ girl moment, so he’d probably have to elaborate anyway.  “And my new flat-sorry, apartment.  The one you guys know about is a cover.  I didn’t want you wandering into Will and staking him.  Oh, and you’re right about Rasputin.  Vampire, some kind of wacko magic thing.  I’m kinda thinking he was a fae vampire, but I didn’t get to meet him for very long.  And then...”
        They pulled up chairs and ordered out for pizza, and Will made everyone tea, as he talked until he was hoarse.  There was laughter and more serious moments, and Buffy got really angry once or twice.  By the end, they felt like a family again, even Spike/Will.  His throat was sore, but he kept being given more honey/lemon tea from his teaboy, and he felt at peace for the first time in a long while.