[personal profile] lit_gal
In this universe, Xander challenged Angel right up front--called him a pedophile to his face. And from there, everything's changed.

Previous parts:
Part one: Bumbling to a Save
Part two: Family Ties
Part three: Devil in the Details
Part Four: Bad Karma
Part Five: Rust Upon Iron
Part Six: Mending Fences... or tearing them down
Part Seven: Quiet Waters Mirroring Undistorted
Part Eight: Bait, Swindle and Self-destruct
Part Nine: Deaf, Dumb, and Destiny-blind


On their road trip to get rid of Acathla, Angel and Xander discover something disturbing about Angel's future and the curse that gave him a soul.

The Road Not Taken

"Pop quiz time," Blair announced happily as he shifted the truck and slowed around a slight curve. Xander squinted as the light from the sunset caught him.

"You are running the risk of no longer being my favoritest truck driver with words like that," Xander warned.

Blair rolled his eyes and then checked his mirrors before changing lanes. "The byproduct of anaerobic respiration?"

"That's when you're running fast because a demon is about to munch on your legs, right?" Xander checked. The science stuff actually made a lot more sense now that Blair put it in terms of demons and things that went bump in the night. Even Angel was getting most of it, and Angel and science were big with the non-mixy. The only reason he studied so much around Angel was the sheer enjoyment of watching Angel get that flummoxed expression when Xander asked for help. Yep, Xander was mean spirited, but then he figured Angel already knew that and freaking bought him anyway. Not that Xander was thinking about that because he was on the not-thinking-about-that plan.

"Man, stop stalling," Blair huffed.

Xander focused on the question and not all the little weirdnesses in his own psyche. "Fine, but it's not like we don't we have enough time out here to waste," Xander pointed out as he waved a hand at the highway. They were near some town called Appleton right now, but whether they were looking at house after house or tree after tree, this wasn't the most exciting trip in the history of tripping. "And the byproduct is lactic acid, which is taken up by the mitochondrial somethings in order to get more energy, unless you overdo it, and then you just cramp. Or unless a Ryk demon catches you because they like to kill humans at the point of maximum lactic acid build-up for the yum, and I have to say, I don't think that last part will be on the test."

"The last part is the only part that really matters if you're going to hunt demons," Angel added from behind the sun-proof curtains that protected the living area.

"Ah, the grumpy-guts awakens," Blair teased. Angel didn't answer, but Xander thought he heard a growl. But then, Angel trapped in a small space was not a happy thing. He'd even insisted on riding in back with the rock guy for one leg of the trip just because he needed to pace. "We're getting ready to stop for gas, and I thought I would kick you two out and get three or four hours of sleep before we do the next leg," Blair suggested, his voice clearly a question.

"That'd be fine," Angel answered immediately, and Blair got an impish grin.

"Someone so does not appreciate my living accommodations," he said softly.

"Angel's a little touchy on the subject of creature comforts," Xander nodded. "Big with the interior decorating. I caught him watching design shows one day."

"Oh, man, I don't doubt it. I can totally see him going into interior design."

"And when I get a little Cheetos dust on the couch, he gets that look on his face like he's trying really hard to not vamp out."

"He probably has fantasies about putting you over his knee," Blair said in a conspiratorial voice with a wink added on. That time, Xander *knew* he heard the growl.

"Dream on, Bloodbreath," Xander called back to Angel. "If you're anally retenting with the couch, I am not responsible for that."

Blair nearly choked to death as he pulled into a gas station. "It's anal retentive, and I don't think there's an 'if' in there, Angel just is," Blair offered.

"As long as that means 'prissy', oh he really, really is." Aside from the having to study part, this trip was turning out a lot more fun than he'd ever expected. Pissing Angel off was always a joy, and Blair tended to tell him about demons and nasties that Angel had somehow managed to completely skip over when teaching him. On top of that, Blair had a knack of explaining school stuff in a way that almost wasn't boring... usually by adding demons and nasties to the lessons.

"Xander, do keep in mind that the sun is going down in about five minutes," Angel warned from the other side of the curtain.

"Yeah, whatever, threaten away, but you paid good money for me, and you're not going to break me now," Xander pointed out, and he was fairly sure his voice was a little more pissy than he meant because Angel fell silent.

"Oh man, you are not good at letting things go, are you?" Blair asked as he brought the truck to an idle behind another truck already fueling.

Xander cringed. "I meant that to be more in the teasing end of the pool than it actually came out," he admitted.

"Buddy," Blair said with a shake of his head, "if that was teasing, I so do not want to be around when you're actually trying to inflict emotional damage."

"When he gets going, it's really something. Spike has stood back and watched with appreciation when he gets up to full speed," Angel said as he stuck his head out from the back. The cab was in shadow and only a few streaks of light were left streaking across the parking lot.

"Hey, I am not sadistic enough for Spike-appreciation."

"Oh yes you are."

"Whoa, Spike likes him? Man, you must have some seriously freaky shit going on if both Angel and Spike like you," Blair said with an amused shake of his head.

"Spike just thinks he's going to get to have sex with me, and that's a big old never-happening. Besides, who did Spike ever see me get emotionally damaging with?" Xander demanded.

Angel turned to Blair, totally ignoring Xander. "He and this girl at school would rip into each other to the point that I kept waiting for one of them to bring a gun to their little tête à têtes."

"No way," Blair said as he looked back at Angel with wide eyes. "No fucking way. Do not tell me that he..."

"Yep," Angel interrupted. "He is now officially dating her, and Spike has announced that when I turn them, he will be taking a decade-long vacation on another continent until I teach them some manners." Angel chuckled for a second before his face lost all expression. "Not that I would turn them. I don't—I wouldn't—"

"Chill!" Blair held up his hand. "Man, I talk about killing my family all the time, and that so does not mean I'm going to do it."

"Besides, I wouldn't let you. I would be all 'not going there' boy if you pulled out even one fang," Xander warned. Both men gave him an odd look.

"Blair," Angel nearly whispered, his voice carrying that edge that made Xander's hand slip to his cinquedea.

"I see him," Blair said.

"Who are you with the seeing?" Xander asked in a rough whisper. Angel's hand came out and rested on Xander's shoulder.

"It's okay, it's just cousin Whistler the Hustler," Blair said with a sigh.

"I'll deal with him, you two stay here," Angel ordered as he started reaching over Xander. Xander grabbed Angel's arm.

"That a big old 10 on the not happening scale. Angel, you're good at the killing of random baddies, but this is the guy who convinced you to develop the hots for a 15 year old slayer, and I'm thinking he's probably more dangerous to you than random baddies—especially if Blair is right about his habit of obfuscating."

"Oh, I'm right. I'm totally right," Blair added.

"I'll be fine, just stay here," Angel growled. Right, like that expression worked on him, Xander turned to get out of the truck, and he found himself pinned to the seat by a hand too strong for him to move. "Stay here."

"Not happening," Xander said as he struggled without getting anywhere eventually, he gave up and just glared. "I'm following you the minute you get out of this truck."

"I can make you stay."

"Oh, you so cannot," Xander said as he poked Angel in the chest with a finger. "Look, if Whistler pulls a sword, you can go all grrrr on his ass, but if he's just going to try and talk you around a corner, you're so out of your depth. That's why I'll be there to verbally poke him back if he starts in with the stupid."

"Blair," Angel said, turning hopeful eyes toward him.

"Hey, leave me out of it. But if you're going to pull me in, I am so on Xander's side with this one."

"Ha!" Xander poked Angel's chest again, and the vampire got that stone-faced look he sometimes got right before he'd slam Spike into the nearest immovable surface, but no way was Xander backing off on this one. It'd taken him long enough to talk Angel out of the last bit of stupid he'd fallen for.

"You stay at my side, and you do not touch him," Angel finally relented as he let go of Xander's shoulder.

"Bully," Xander whispered as he pushed the truck door open and awkwardly scrambled out. Angel just landed next to him in one leap and immediately put a hand on Xander's shoulder, fisting the fabric and pulling Xander close. Xander might have repeated the whole bully comment, but he spotted Whistler for himself. The man looked like a used car salesman, although Xander really liked his shirt. Angel walked over, half escorting and half dragging Xander who couldn't quite keep pace.

"Angel," the man said as they neared him, and he really was going for the used car salesman vibe with that accent.

"Whistler."

"You've made a few changes since I saw you last. Gave up the rats then, have you?" Whistler's words made Angel go stiff, and Xander could feel his own temper rise. Yeah, Angel had been pretty stupid thinking that doing nothing made up for doing bad, but it wasn't like he had a whole lot of help in the figure it out department back then.

"Is there a problem with Acathla?" Angel asked, his voice calm even if his body was stiff.

"Not now, no," Whistler shrugged. "Denver? Are you sure you want to bury that thing on cursed ground?"

Xander frowned. "Wait, Denver's cursed? They built a city on cursed land? Okay, that's stupid like building a town on a hellmouth level of stupid,"

"Not Denver, just the place we're going," Angel said, and the fist holding Xander's shirt moved so that Angel had an arm flung over Xander's shoulders. "The Northglenn Mall in Denver is on land that is cursed so that people can't find what they're looking for. The Native People have a powerful artifact buried there, but no one knows what because they can't find it."

"Um, can I say that's a pretty dumb place to build a mall?"

"That's humanity for you," Whistler shrugged. "I sometimes wonder what cousin Malachi sees in them," he said as he looked toward the truck. Blair was finally pulling up for his turn at the pumps.

"Um, human here," Xander objected.

"You don't have to be you know," Whistler said, and Xander hadn't even totally deciphered those words before he was thrust behind a growling and vamped Angel who had both hands around Whistler's throat.

"Hey, whoa there. I wasn't doing anything to your little friend!" he argued as Angel slammed him into the side of the gas station. A couple of truckers glanced over before walking quickly in the other direction. There were way too many lights around here for Angel to do his dark crusader act, but obviously he was not big with the thinking right now.

"You try to hurt Xander, and I will rip your guts out," Angel snarled, his fangs making the words hiss like a demented something not really in full control of the dement. Xander made a mental note to look that word up when he got home.

"Hey, I wouldn't dream of touching him. But you need a seer."

Angel pulled Whistler away from the wall and slammed him back against the brick. "Leave. Him. Alone." Each word came with another slam into the wall. Whistler's hands scuttled over Angel's arms.

"Angel," Xander said as he grabbed one arm. "You're big with the freakiness here. Let's not kill Blair's cousin, please. People are watching." Angel slammed Whistler into the wall one more time before he dropped the D'fatum demon and backed off several steps, shoving Xander back with him.

"I'm just making the offer. If he wants to be a seer, it's his choice," Whistler said as he rubbed his throat. "No need for violence."

"Hey, if it's a choice between demony or non-demony, I’m choosing non-demony, no offense to the demons in the audience." Xander tried to stand at Angel's side, only to have Angel grab him by the neck and pull him close. Okay, a few demon genes might not be bad if it meant a little less man-handling.

"Leave him alone."

"It's his choice, and I respect that," Whistler said, but it was a little hard for Xander to really judge the honesty of that since he had a nice view of Angel's armpit as the stupid vampire held him embarrassingly close. "But that's not the only issue here."

"What do you want?"

"To tell you the truth," Whistler said in a smug voice.

Xander punched Angel as hard as he could. The idiot vampire didn't even react, but a second later, he did loosen his grip so that he held Xander close without forcing Xander's face into Angel's body. Xander rolled his eyes as Angel's arm caught him around the chest and held him. Big, over-protective boob. Only not so much with the boob because there were no boobies. Now that Xander was turned around, he could see the amused way Whistler was looking at him. Humiliating much?

"As I was saying," Whistler started again, "there's something you need to know about that soul of yours. The curse... it has a little catch on it."

"What?!" Angel demanded, his eyes still yellow even if the bumps had retreated. The silence was deafening as Whistler looked thoughtfully around the parking lot, and if he didn't stop with the over-acting, Xander was so going to kick the demon in the shin.

"It has a little happiness clause attached," Whistler shrugged, and Xander narrowed his eyes at the manipulation. Oh yeah, this guy was dribbling and drabbling information out to get Angel worked up, and from the way Angel's arm tightened, pulling Xander tight against his chest, he was guessing that it was working.

"What clause?" Angel demanded when the silence continued too long.

"If you have a moment of perfect happiness, that soul is going to come popping off and 'poof,' the old Angel is back in business. Only now, you'll have a hundred years of repression and self-denial to make up for."

Xander stopped breathing, panic racing through him on cold little feet as he thought about that. He knew all about Angelus. Back in the early days when Xander was trying to keep Angel away from Buffy and Angel was trying to just keep Xander away, he'd heard all sorts of Angelus stories from Angel himself, and that wasn't even counting the stories Giles managed to slip in at every possible opportunity. Part of Xander voted for disbelief and repression, but even Blair said that Whistler couldn't out and out lie. Oh, he could obfuscate and garble and manipulate, but not lie.

Angel was freakily still, not even bothering to breathe as his hands clutched Xander for long, long minutes. People walked past them having perfectly normal lives, and Xander couldn't even wrap his brain around just how bad this was. This was hugely bad. This was... this was worse than Xander could even imagine, and he couldn't even figure out what must be going through Angel's brain because the vamp was not all with the emotionally healthy when it came to his vampy past.

Angel had gone emotionless, which wasn't a good sign. "Is there a spell, something to stop that from happening?"

Whistler was already shaking his head. "Nothing can stop the clause from kicking in the minute you have perfect happiness. The curse will end and you will be left without a soul."

Something in Whistler's words made Xander stop and pay attention.

"I can't stay, then. I'm dangerous," Angel whispered.

"You are more dangerous than you know," Whistler agreed, and Xander could feel Angel's grip loosen. If Xander had to guess, he would say that Angel was about two seconds away from doing a runner. He grabbed Angel's arm to keep that from happening.

"Wait," Xander said. "So, the whole happiness clause... it's not for kinda happy or having a really good day and coming home and finding out the friend vacuumed the Cheetos dust off the couch... it's just for perfect happiness?"

"Yep, that's the deal. And then his soul goes 'poof' and you're front and center for the grand reappearance of the old Angel, the scourge of Europe, the vampire who wiped out entire villages, and the bane of nuns everywhere. You could be ground zero for a spectacular disaster, kid."

"Xander, you should—" Angel started to say. Xander interrupted him by laughing. Not just chuckling or chortling but out and out laughing. And then Whistler got this pained expression, and Xander laughed even harder. God, Angel was a goober to fall for this guy's line, and clearly, he was so ready to fall for it again.

"Fuck, you're good," Xander said as he finally got himself under control. "You overact a bit, and the whole winding Angel up... that could use a little work with the lack of subtlety, but the gloom and doom and nuns thing... you're good."

"Xander?" Angel asked in a voice that made it pretty clear that he thought Xander had just pretty much lost his mind.

"Listen to what he's saying," Xander said.

"He hears me. He's risking destroying everything he loves... again," Whistler said with confidence.

"And the chance of that risk is what? Point-zero-zero-zero-one percent?" Xander demanded. "Angel, he said you have to have perfect happiness. Perfect as in not a bit of worry in there with the happy, and that is just not in you."

"It might be," Angel said, but Xander could hear the uncertainly.

"Trust me, it is not in you. Unless you lost your freaking mind and went all delusional, there's no way for you to be perfectly happy. Let's say I lost all my powers of annoyingness, and Spike and Drusilla came back and they were suddenly soul-having and Buffy forgave them and thanked you for being the back-up she'd always needed and my parents dropped dead of heart attacks and Giles got called back to England and the new watcher didn't have that English stick up his ass. I mean, that's pretty much perfect, but I know you. You'd still be worried about the next slimy thing trying to kill Buffy or Spike being Spike, soul or not, or me blaming you for my parents' deaths or the return of my annoyingness. You worry about whether the sun will come up tomorrow. You worry about your hair, and as a vampire, can I just say that's a little freaky. But the point is, you worry. It's your defining trait, so you being perfectly happy would only happen if you went perfectly, temporarily, blindingly delusional with the lying to yourself."

Xander could tell he was making some progress when Angel pulled him close and turned to glare at Whistler. "Is he right? Is the chance that small?"

"There's no calculating the future. I just know that it's a very real possibility."

"So is me getting hit by lightening. But trust me, we are all in way more danger if you drive Angel away, so what is up with that?" Xander asked.

Whistler sighed and crossed his arms. "Kid, you are just screwing everything up here, aren't you?"

"It's my extra-special talent," he agreed without taking too much offense.

"He's right, then? My soul isn't in immediate danger?" Angel asked.

Whistler sighed again. "You had a nice clear destiny ahead of you... not a pretty one, but a clear one. Now, now I can't see that much," he shrugged. "You're tying yourself to a human, and humans... well, they don't have any sort of clear future. They just bang around from one point to another. But separate yourself from him, and you'll be in on the big, final battles."

"On the side of good or evil?" Blair asked as he wandered up to them. "Cuz," he greeted Whistler.

"Blair," Whistler said as his mouth got a nasty twist.

"Demons shouldn't give up their destinies for humans. They shouldn't tie themselves to humans," Whistler said, completely ignoring Blair's question, and Xander didn't think that Angel missed that.

"Oh yeah, because that would be way too human of them, except Angel was human once, and he didn't exactly sign up for the demon upgrade plan," Xander pointed out.

"Keep telling yourself that, kid. If you say it often enough, you just might believe it, but Angel is exactly where he put himself."

Blair shook his head. "Maybe. Only now he's putting himself out of your game, man. He has that right, too."

"The Powers that Be aren't going to be amused. And you," Whistler poked a finger in Blair's direction, "are on their shit list."

"Yeah, yeah, what's new? So, how's Aunt Petunia? Is her garden doing any better? Did she try the coffee grounds?"

For a second, Whistler just stared at Blair. Then he got a crooked grin on his face, but Xander was still not liking any expression on this guy. "You're headed for disaster, Cuz, but she thinks you’re a genius with azalea."

"I told her!" Blair said triumphantly. "She just didn't have the soil acidic enough for them. So, are you through trying to make your little prophesies of gloom and doom or do you have something more to add?"

"The danger's there," Whistler said as he looked over at Angel meaningfully. Xander could feel himself prickle up with a need to say something really biting and sarcastic, only he couldn't think of anything to say.

"Man, danger is everywhere," Blair countered. "You come in with all this destiny crap and you completely ignore the fact that we all have choices."

"And you ignore that some of us have destinies," Whistler countered. "And hiding from it does not make it go away." He looked at Angel with more than a little disgust.

"Jackass," Xander whispered, and Angel's arm tightened in warning.

"If it's really his destiny, he'll find it on his own with Xander at his side. He so totally does not need you with your gloom and doom act," Blair said as he crossed his arms. Whistler looked from Angel to Blair several times before he shook his head and just walked away.

"Xander," Angel said softly.

"Don't even think it," Xander warned. "If you're about to get all happy, I'll do something to torture you, like ask you to explain dominant and recessive traits in corn or something."

"If I have a destiny out there that isn't pretty, I shouldn't drag you into it." Angel said the words, but his arms just tightened around Xander, so it was pretty much clear what Angel really wanted. It was weird. Xander knew that Buffy and Willow loved him, but he never felt like they needed him. And now, here was Angel with his buff shoulders and his scary fighting skills and his way out of control bossiness, and Xander still felt like Angel needed him more than everyone else in his life put together.

"Man, don't go trying to make his choices for him," Blair warned as he reached over and shoved at Angel's arm. "It's bad karma. Besides, as a human, he has the right to choose."

"And if I don't like the choice?" Angel asked.

Xander answered for himself. "Suck it up and live with it. You bought me, and all purchases are final." This time, Xander actually managed to make that sound teasing without the sharp edge of earlier. "And don't worry about the happy because after that stunt, I will make sure you are never happy again," he said, smiling as he caught Blair's expression. He was trying hard not to laugh, and the expression on Blair's face nearly pushed him over into laughing himself.

Angel gave a pained sigh. "I don't suppose there really is much chance of you ever letting me have any peace and quiet, much less happiness."

"Oh man, happiness is not even necessarily happy," Blair said, which was not really making sense to Xander, but Blair kept right on going anyway. "This one human actually wrote about how humans invented happiness as an excuse to give up on striving to become something better or more real. He says happiness only exists as some pathetic attempt to justify mediocrity."

"Okay, that's sounding a little slightly totally depressing," Xander pointed out as Blair started walking toward the café, and Angel urged him to follow.

"That's Nietzsche for you," Blair shrugged.

"Hey, Willow talks about him. He wrote books, right?"

"Yep, and he was crazy as a bedbug, probably with a meningioma in a right side of his brain, but who knows. Personally, I say that it's all about the choices you make," Blair said as he pulled the door to the café open.

"You do know I have no idea what that word means, right?" Xander checked. Angel actually managed to let him go long enough for Xander to walk in the café on his own before Angel's hand landed on his shoulder again.

"Brain tumor," Blair clarified. "So, do you two have any plans while I catch a couple of hours sleep out back?" Blair winked at the waitress as he took the photocopied menu and slipped into a booth. Xander followed, not at all surprised when Angel slid in next to him. The big vamp might never admit it, but Xander was guessing that he was quietly freaking out. Xander let his hand rest on Angel's knee and really, really wished that Spike was still around. A good round of Spike-beating always put both vampires into a much, much better mood.

"I'm clueless. I don't even know what state we're in," Xander admitted.

"Colorado," Angel offered. "And I don't think there's much to do around here, but we could find a private spot and do a little sparring."

"Otherwise known as kicking my ass over and over while offering not encouraging words of untruthful encouragement like 'you can do it' when I clearly can't," Xander said ruefully to Blair. Blair laughed.

"Or you could work on your homework," Angel added darkly.

"Hey, sparring sounds good, we should so spar," Xander said brightly. Angel reached over and popped him on the shoulder hard enough to make Xander glare at him. "Nice, beat up on the guy who's dedicated his life to keeping you from the happy." Angel didn't answer as he studied his menu looking for something with enough crunch to be satisfying for a vampire who didn't actually need to eat. This was as close to happiness as either of them needed to get. And seriously, how crazy was Whistler to expect anyone to find perfect happiness? But Xander was relieved that the odds of perfect happiness were so crazy-stupid impossible because he kinda liked Angel with the soul still attached.


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Date: 2008-07-06 02:02 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] burningchaos.livejournal.com
I love you. Xander mouthing off to Whistler, and his Perfect Happiness tirade is PERFECT! Seriously I must once again used the word addicted.

Oh and I loved this bit too...
"Angel's a little touchy on the subject of creature comforts," Xander nodded. "Big with the interior decorating. I caught him watching design shows one day."

"Oh, man, I don't doubt it. I can totally see him going into interior design."

"And when I get a little Cheetos dust on the couch, he gets that look on his face like he's trying really hard to not vamp out."


Date: 2008-07-07 04:06 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lit-gal.livejournal.com
Thank you so much. Xander ripped into Angel in chapter one, so I really didn't think he would be overly impressed with Whistler here. I'm just so glad that you're enjoying this.

Date: 2008-07-06 04:29 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sablerose2.livejournal.com
Hello I love this more soon please!!

Date: 2008-07-07 04:08 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lit-gal.livejournal.com
I'll try to work on that. I really want to get Faith in here, so I hope I'll have something soon.

Date: 2008-07-06 02:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] darkmoon711.livejournal.com
This is fantastic. [livejournal.com profile] burningchaos showed me this fic last night, and I've spent all night reading it. This is sooo much love!!! I love the relationships between all the characters.

And the add on Blair demon is just a delight!!

Thank you for writing such a fantastic and addictive series!!

*eagerly awaits next chapter*

Date: 2008-07-07 04:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lit-gal.livejournal.com
Yea! It's always so exciting when people like something well enough to recommend it. When I started this, I really wasn't sure that people were ready for this much build up to the slash, so it's doubly exciting.

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] darkmoon711.livejournal.com - Date: 2008-07-07 04:13 am (UTC) - Expand

Date: 2008-07-07 01:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] djinanna.livejournal.com
I reorganized my bookmarks and haven't been visiting the actual flist, and somehow the reorganizing just ... doesn't work but I can't figure out (yet) how to fix it, which is all just an overlong explanation of why I keep being late on the read-and-comment stuff here. Anyway...

Lovely bits with teacher!Blair and Xander. I especially liked the comments (here and in previous chapters) about how Angel isn't very up on modern technology and science. I've seen too much fic (wherein the value of "too much" could be as little as "one") where Angel is the perfect embodiment of the modern educated techno-sophisticate, and your take here is just so much more reasonable. Especially considering all the canon business (on AtS) about Angel and his much-ignored cell phone. And ... was it Angel or Giles who had that great line about "when did I get an email address" - I think it was Angel, anyway.

Ack! Whistler. I have such ... mixed feelings about Whistler. On the one hand, he *is* a manipulative little shit working for the *big* manipulative shits otherwise known as the PTB. On the other hand, the otherworldly adviser and/or seer whose message is easily misinterpreted, leading to the events happening that his/her prophecy was trying to prevent is a strong and familiar archetype. I generally tend to think that canon!Whistler was trying to do his best with PTB-imposed handicaps and less than ideal circumstances, but he's still a perfect choice to mix things up here with indirect deceit and manipulation.

And I loved Xander laughing at him. So. Much!!! How the other Scoobies would stare and gasp and not believe their senses if they witnessed Xander being all Voice of Reason Guy with Angel. Let alone seeing how much influence Xander has over Angel. It's an interesting variation on the general concept of Alpha/Beta relationships - they're not always perfectly synonymous with Dom/sub or even leader/follower, sometimes they are more about leader/loyal opposition. Xander, especially at this age, is more of a truth-speaker, a fool or jester in the classic sense ... hmmm, I think I just had a tiny perspective shift ... and that whole truth-speaker idea fits in well with both his "Heart of the group" and "One Who Sees" designations. Huhre

This chapter - this whole fic - makes me very happy. Even though last chapter revived my Xander/Cordelia shipper's heart, in conflict with the eventual Xander/Angel that's been promised.

Of course, even though Xander makes great good sense in his reaction to Whistler's big news, he's also a bit too ready to dismiss the possibility of the curse breaker being activated. Though, on the other hand, I've always thought the occasionally presented position that "now that Angel knows about the happiness clause, the possibility of loosing his soul and going evil again, how can he ever experience a moment of *perfect* happiness". Except, of course, human (and formerly human) psyches can be tricky things....

Date: 2008-07-13 02:56 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lit-gal.livejournal.com
I'm sorry you're having technical difficulties. That really is a pain in the ass.

Blair here is a great teacher for Xander... he's smart and confident, but not so much older than Xander that there's a big gap, which is why I've used him as a teacher for Xander in a couple of crossovers. No way could Angel have taught him anything about the modern world, and I'm not sure that Xander really wants to *learn* from Angel because Angel is too much like family here. And no, my Angel is just learning how to deal with the world, so he will not be a techno-sophisticate any time soon.

Whistler isn't necessarily a bad guy here... just a messenger for people who have an agenda. And from canon, we know that agenda rips Angel's life apart many times. So this time around, he's going to follow Xander's lead a bit even if he is the alpha in this relationship. And here, Xander is going to lead away from any path that turns Angel into a pawn. Xander may see himself as a pawn, but in canon, Xander always saw all the others as larger than life. Face it, he had unrealistic expectations of everyone even when he saw himself as a screw up. So, he's going to transfer that utter faith into Angel and expect him to make his own destiny, not trip along after Whistler.

And yes, Xander is quick on the dismissal of the curse, although I do have a trick or two planned on that front, too.

Date: 2008-07-07 05:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] windandsummer.livejournal.com
Happy sigh. I hate Whistler, such a ass. But love that Xander has devoted himself to Angel. Hugs~Bee

Date: 2008-07-13 02:58 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lit-gal.livejournal.com
Whistler is not going to have an easy sell with Angel this time around, that's for sure.

Date: 2008-07-07 06:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jasonsnene.livejournal.com
Another brilliant chapter! Love to hate Whistler and i could just imagine Xander having words with him over the lameness that was the "curse". I mean really, perfect happiness? Xander was right to scoff. I am a bit worried about the Seer thing though. Foreshadowing perhaps?

Date: 2008-07-13 02:58 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lit-gal.livejournal.com
Thank you so much. Xander really isn't prepared to take someone like Whistler seriously. He's still young and immature enough to take appearance a little more seriously than he should, and Whistler looks a little ridiculous.

Date: 2008-07-07 07:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ariss-tenoh.livejournal.com
You write very hot sex scenes but I must confess I prefer your fics where there is less sex. Mainly because you're good at drawing out the suspense and building a real relationship between the two male characters.

Looking forward to more^_^

Date: 2008-07-13 02:59 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lit-gal.livejournal.com
I really am tired of the sex scenes, so whatever I work on next, don't expect a whole lot of sex. I prefer the relationship/ adventure thing.

Date: 2008-07-07 10:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] vinniebatman.livejournal.com
Ooh boy, I just love this story and I'm enjoying seeing Blair in this!

~Alice~

Date: 2008-07-13 03:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lit-gal.livejournal.com
Thank you so much, and I"m glad you're enjoying Blair's stopover.

Date: 2008-07-08 12:45 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] margaret-53.livejournal.com
This 'verse is the best! I just caught up with all the chapters and I really like the relationship between Angel and Xander, love that he's helping Xander with school and fighting skills. It's like discovering the story all over again Thanks so much

Date: 2008-07-13 03:01 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lit-gal.livejournal.com
I'm so glad you're enjoying this. The relationship here is building so slowly that I was afraid of losing people, so I'm glad you're sticking with it.

Date: 2008-07-11 05:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] humanoidmegg.livejournal.com
::waves:: haven't popped by in ages (got sucked into the supernatural fandom but i reckon i've read it all now!) but i'm so glad i did! What an awesome series rewrite!! A rather different take on Angel but rather engaging and, in conjunction with xander and all the minor characters, just totally awesome! Also appearance by blair was a really cute touch :)
This is one verse i could just read and read and read (i'm subtle i know ;)

But honestly it is a lovely fic and totally gives me warm snuggly feelings - which is just perfect for a cold winters night so thank you!!
::hugs:: megg

Date: 2008-07-13 03:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lit-gal.livejournal.com
Hey, I totally understand getting caught up in other things, so I'm just glad to see you back again! And yeah, you aren't much for the subtle, but it's good to know you'd vote for more of this.

Date: 2008-07-14 12:40 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] realpestilence.livejournal.com
One of Xander's traits that I always loved, which was really developed when they hit the "construction worker/more confident/Xander-as-Heart" part of the series, was how clearly he saw things; how deep he could feel; and how he'd tell you your head was up your ass and still love you entirely. That scene where he told Buffy to either commit to Riley wholeheartedly or let him go, cleanly, and then went home and told Anya why he loved her is a great demonstration.

Here, Xander's still young and iffy on the maturity, but you can see he's getting there. :)

Interesting, how the changes you made with Whistler have Angel and co. be informed of the curse; keep him from having a seer; and still have Whistler be that vaguely non-helpful/claiming to be helping greasy sort of character. I don't think Angel needs a seer, actually. Not only does it damage another person's humanity, willing or not; but it's very deus ex machina as regard plot problems; and...well, most people make it through life without knowing what's coming. Look at all the Slayer prophecies-most of those aren't helpful and are better translated in hindsight. I'd think being a seer and/or *having* one dancing attendence on you might make for a little hubris, too. *shrugs*

I love the interaction between Angel and Xander,here. We can see the future coming (and we're not seers! *laughs*) but for now, we'll let them have their delusions of protective friendship and/or "brotherhood". *snorts*

Blair makes for a very good crossover character.

Date: 2008-07-15 01:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lit-gal.livejournal.com
I really am trying to give Xander more chance to grow up here. Angel certainly does teach Xander a lot about manhood... fighting and even sharing memories of his own youth. However, Angel also needs him. Xander gets to be the teacher when it comes to the modern world, and I think that helps him with his confidence.

And if Angel is unwilling to be TPTB's lapdog, I'm not sure he's going to get a seer at all. Xander and Angel will have to muddle through life like everyone else by just trying to do the right thing. And yeah, there is more coming, but they're a little more oblivious than Blair and the rest of us.

Date: 2008-07-16 02:06 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] slayerboy2009.livejournal.com
I started reading this a couple of days ago and really liked it. I mean I am sort of hoping this isnt going where I think its going but it does look like it is. With the Angel losing his soul and poor xander angst. I dont know. I will wait patiently for the next update thou. Your doing a amazing job keep going!.

Date: 2008-07-26 08:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lit-gal.livejournal.com
I'm glad you're enjoying it, and I'm really not sure where you think it's going. This story will remain gen, with no set pairings, but a lot of backstory for Xander/Angel. I do plan to go straight into a sequel after graduation that is more explicit Angel/Xander.

Date: 2008-07-16 06:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] brunettepet.livejournal.com
After Blair's reveal of Whistler's less than trustworthy destiny spouting, it was wonderful to hook up with him again. Angel fell right into the trap Whistler laid, but Xander believably (and hilariously) defused the situation. I still think Angel could find true happiness, but this knowledge should help Xander remember to sprinkle Cheeto dust in the bed for their first time together...

I love how tactile Angel is with Xander. They're so comfortable reaching for one another, offering supportive and calming pets. It's like Xander anchors Angel with his friendship. It's lovel to read.

This made me laugh: The man looked like a used car salesman, although Xander really liked his shirt. I'm guessing a used car salesman's shirt must be truly hideous.

Date: 2008-07-26 08:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lit-gal.livejournal.com
Angel has a certain reverence for the powers that never seems to change... not even when the powers clearly screw him over. But Xander doesn't really have reverence for anyone, which is why he has a clearly view of what's going on.

And yeah, the boys are definitely tactile. And then they wonder why everyone thinks they're having sex. Silly boys.

Date: 2008-07-17 09:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chaoskir.livejournal.com
I know I'm slowly with reading but I want to read all your stories and I don't have the time to do all what I want to read. But well, it will happens. Just I need time. This fic is great. I'm still reading it and just want to say thanks you for sharing this great fic.

Date: 2008-07-26 08:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lit-gal.livejournal.com
I'm just glad to know that you're enjoying them. I do love writing, and I love knowing that other people like to read them.

Date: 2008-07-26 07:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] orchidluv.livejournal.com
I got way behind on this and am just now catching up. Love the interjection of Blair in his trucker days in this. The relationship between Angel and Xander continues to delight as they grow and learn from each other. Your take on Whistler cracks me up, he comes across as quite a bit more sinister than in canon. Xander's getting a life lesson about prejudice that will stick with him. This is just so great. I'm hoping to catch up to you before the end of the weekend.

Date: 2008-07-26 08:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lit-gal.livejournal.com
I totally understand. With school starting in two weeks and meetings, I am so behind and I am not where I wanted to be on this story by the time summer was over. I think time speeds up when I'm not looking! And yeah, Xander's learning a lot of lessons that will hopefully help him grow up a little faster/better.

Date: 2008-09-06 11:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lil-coyote.livejournal.com
Blair's showing his future talent as a teacher =]

Good that Xander was around to keep Whistler from screwing with Angel's head again. Also wonder what difference it'll make that he knows about the happiness clause now.

Date: 2009-03-05 03:32 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] doingsoso.livejournal.com
Heeee, I'm sooo glad to see Whistler get trounced. I never did like that little grease ball.

And Xander is the one that sees, heh. He saw right through Whistler's
bullshit.

And poor Blair being kin to the used car salesman type!

And Xander telling Angel he and bought him and no refunds, LOL.

Yep, nothing brewing there! Heeeee.
And telling Xander he doesn't have to be human. Hmmmmm. What are you cooking up in that fertile brain of yours?

Another great chapter:)
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