A Road Covered With Blood
Jun. 18th, 2007 02:01 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sevendeadlyfunPairing: Xander/?
Rating: NC-17 overall
A/N: This was written in response to the Just Rewards/Fang Fetish Round 7 Alternate Dimensions/Universes Challenge. Hopefully, this will make more sense now thatall some is revealed. The song Xander sings in this chapter is "You Never Even Called Me By My Name" by David Allan Coe. It just seemed to fit him...::shrugs:: As always, I'm a feedback whore.
Summary: What if everything you thought was true was a lie?
Xander made his way through the fashionable gloom of the dance club. The crowd he had expected was noticeably absent. The place was so empty it echoed. The only people in evidence were a muscle bound bartender slowly wiping the shining counter and a shadowy figure sitting in the far corner.
“Hey,” Xander called out hesitantly, hand straying to his back pocket.
He couldn’t put his finger on why he felt so jumpy. Nothing in the room screamed out imminent doom. But he was a true child of the Hellmouth. If something got you wigged, best to have something pointy on hand to de-wig.
“Clem sent me in,” Xander continued casually. “Said you might be able to help me with my, uh, wavery-ness.”
“Sing.” The hoarse voice sounded tired and unfriendly.
“Sing?” Xander asked in disbelief.
“Aww, you can repeat one syllable words,” the voice mocked. “That’s great, pumpkin. Now, sing or go away.”
“Sing, right,” Xander returned. “What?”
“I thought we’d established. You sing,” the voice barked. “I’ll tell your not-so-glorious future and we can all move on with our lives.”
“Yeah, we did establish that,” Xander snapped. “What we didn’t establish is what you want me to sing. A Spice Girls medley? Row Row Your Boat? What?”
“Whatever,” the voice returned, sounding slightly mollified. “Just sing. I’ve got a killer headache and there aren’t enough Sea Breezes on the planet to put me in a good mood. Now, sing.”
Xander thought for a moment. With the exception of the All-Singing All-Dancing All-Burning extravaganza he’d called up, and hadn’t that worked out well, he’d never been much of a singer. Well, when in doubt, go with what you know. Xander closed his eyes and began to sing.
“And I’ll hang around as long as you will let me.
And I never minded standin’ in the rain.
But you don’t have to call me darlin’, darlin’.
You never even called me by my name.”
As Xander let the last words trail away, he opened his eyes. The sarcastic comment he’d been planning to make died on his lips as found himself face to face with flaming red eyes.
“Who the hell are you,” Red Eyes asked, “and where the hell have you been for the last several years?”
“Uh, Xander Harris, Sunnydale and Africa and any chance you could back your demon ass up,” Xander shot back. “Nothing against demons, well okay nothing against some demons, but you are way inside my bubble.”
The red-eyed demon nodded sharply and back away. Now that he wasn’t standing so close, Xander could see bright emerald skin and red horns. Not a species of demon he was familiar with, but the guy hadn’t tried to eat him or sacrifice him yet, so Xander was willing to let this whole situation ride.
“I’m Lorne and you are quite the troublemaker,” the demon told him.
“Me? Trouble? Nope,” Xander shook his head. “I am distinctly non-trouble.”
“Oh, really? Then explain to me how we all ended up in the wrong reality thanks to you,” Lorne demanded.
“We huh what? What are you talking about?” Xander stammered.
“It’s not supposed to be like this,” Lorne yelled.
“Whoa, slow down there Kermit,” Xander said soothingly. “What’s not supposed to be like this and how is any of it my fault?”
“Sweetie,” Lorne smiled charmingly. “If you call me Kermit again, I’ll sing a note that will turn your lovely head to pulp.”
“And I’m backing away from the slightly crazy demon,” Xander said quietly, raising his hands.
“I’m not crazy,” Lorne sighed. “Oh that it were so. Sadly, this is all wrong and even more sadly, it’s your fault. You know about alternate dimensions, right?”
“Sure,” Xander nodded. “There’s the world of perpetual Wednesday and the world without shrimp and a bunch of others that I’m not really sure about. But, alternate dimensions, sure, I know.”
“Well, in addition to alternate dimensions, there are alternate realities,” Lorne continued. “Theoretically, there are millions of them. Choices made or unmade can veer a reality off in different directions. That’s where you come in.”
“Me,” Xander stated flatly. “I made or unmade a choice that led to an alternate reality.”
“Yeah and whatever you did or didn’t do was a doozy,” Lorne told him. “None of this was supposed to happen. After the whole big showdown with the Senior Partners, I went looking for a little solace, you know? You lose all your friends and your murder virginity in one night, you’re bound to need a little pick me up, right?”
Xander could only nod dumbly. Senior Partners meant Angel. Angel who was dead, dust in an alleyway, right next Spike who had died after coming back. Spike, twice dead in defense of the world, who hadn’t told them he was back. Spike who Xander wanted to see again, to apologize and acknowledge the vampire’s heroism. Spike and Angel, dead because of him, apparently.
“Guess what I get? Instead of The Powers erasing my memories, they give me a mission,” Lorne laughed hollowly. “Find out who screwed up and make them fix it. You’d think all-powerful entities could tidy this up, but no. Human actions made it and human actions have to unmake it.”
“And this means what? I have to go back in time and figure out what I did or didn’t do and…no. Oh no,” Xander protested. “I do, don’t I? You seriously want me to go fix whatever it is.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” Lorne told him sadly. “Freddles was never supposed to die, Angel had a whole lot of destiny left to fulfill…everything got screwed up.”
“How do you know it’s me,” Xander wanted to know. “Maybe it’s somebody else.”
“The pipes never lie, Chocolate Drop,” Lorne grimaced. “Your demon honey? She’s not supposed to be dead either. She had a redemption to earn, and her very own mission coming her way.”
“Redemption? Anya? You mean she’s…”Xander suddenly couldn’t speak, his throat closing around words he couldn’t bear to utter.
“In hell, yeah,” Lorne sighed. “Along with Spike and Angel. Fiery torments of the damned and all that.”
“They died saving the world.” Xander could barely choke the words out.
“And for their trouble they got bupkiss, “ Lorne stated baldly. “If everything hadn’t shifted, they’d still be alive. Alive and on their way to being redeemed. Happiness, shiny lights and a heavenly dimension at the end of the tunnel.”
“What do I have to do,” Xander demanded fiercely.
“So glad you asked. Come sit over here,” Lorne beckoned him forward.
This was so wrong on so many levels. He wasn’t spotlight guy. No way anything he did or didn’t do could affect entire realities. But, he wasn’t willing to risk Anya or Spike or Angel’s eternal torment on the off chance the green guy was right. If that meant traveling through time to find the right reality, well suit him up. Xander Harris didn’t abandon his friends.
Rating: NC-17 overall
A/N: This was written in response to the Just Rewards/Fang Fetish Round 7 Alternate Dimensions/Universes Challenge. Hopefully, this will make more sense now that
Summary: What if everything you thought was true was a lie?
Xander made his way through the fashionable gloom of the dance club. The crowd he had expected was noticeably absent. The place was so empty it echoed. The only people in evidence were a muscle bound bartender slowly wiping the shining counter and a shadowy figure sitting in the far corner.
“Hey,” Xander called out hesitantly, hand straying to his back pocket.
He couldn’t put his finger on why he felt so jumpy. Nothing in the room screamed out imminent doom. But he was a true child of the Hellmouth. If something got you wigged, best to have something pointy on hand to de-wig.
“Clem sent me in,” Xander continued casually. “Said you might be able to help me with my, uh, wavery-ness.”
“Sing.” The hoarse voice sounded tired and unfriendly.
“Sing?” Xander asked in disbelief.
“Aww, you can repeat one syllable words,” the voice mocked. “That’s great, pumpkin. Now, sing or go away.”
“Sing, right,” Xander returned. “What?”
“I thought we’d established. You sing,” the voice barked. “I’ll tell your not-so-glorious future and we can all move on with our lives.”
“Yeah, we did establish that,” Xander snapped. “What we didn’t establish is what you want me to sing. A Spice Girls medley? Row Row Your Boat? What?”
“Whatever,” the voice returned, sounding slightly mollified. “Just sing. I’ve got a killer headache and there aren’t enough Sea Breezes on the planet to put me in a good mood. Now, sing.”
Xander thought for a moment. With the exception of the All-Singing All-Dancing All-Burning extravaganza he’d called up, and hadn’t that worked out well, he’d never been much of a singer. Well, when in doubt, go with what you know. Xander closed his eyes and began to sing.
“And I’ll hang around as long as you will let me.
And I never minded standin’ in the rain.
But you don’t have to call me darlin’, darlin’.
You never even called me by my name.”
As Xander let the last words trail away, he opened his eyes. The sarcastic comment he’d been planning to make died on his lips as found himself face to face with flaming red eyes.
“Who the hell are you,” Red Eyes asked, “and where the hell have you been for the last several years?”
“Uh, Xander Harris, Sunnydale and Africa and any chance you could back your demon ass up,” Xander shot back. “Nothing against demons, well okay nothing against some demons, but you are way inside my bubble.”
The red-eyed demon nodded sharply and back away. Now that he wasn’t standing so close, Xander could see bright emerald skin and red horns. Not a species of demon he was familiar with, but the guy hadn’t tried to eat him or sacrifice him yet, so Xander was willing to let this whole situation ride.
“I’m Lorne and you are quite the troublemaker,” the demon told him.
“Me? Trouble? Nope,” Xander shook his head. “I am distinctly non-trouble.”
“Oh, really? Then explain to me how we all ended up in the wrong reality thanks to you,” Lorne demanded.
“We huh what? What are you talking about?” Xander stammered.
“It’s not supposed to be like this,” Lorne yelled.
“Whoa, slow down there Kermit,” Xander said soothingly. “What’s not supposed to be like this and how is any of it my fault?”
“Sweetie,” Lorne smiled charmingly. “If you call me Kermit again, I’ll sing a note that will turn your lovely head to pulp.”
“And I’m backing away from the slightly crazy demon,” Xander said quietly, raising his hands.
“I’m not crazy,” Lorne sighed. “Oh that it were so. Sadly, this is all wrong and even more sadly, it’s your fault. You know about alternate dimensions, right?”
“Sure,” Xander nodded. “There’s the world of perpetual Wednesday and the world without shrimp and a bunch of others that I’m not really sure about. But, alternate dimensions, sure, I know.”
“Well, in addition to alternate dimensions, there are alternate realities,” Lorne continued. “Theoretically, there are millions of them. Choices made or unmade can veer a reality off in different directions. That’s where you come in.”
“Me,” Xander stated flatly. “I made or unmade a choice that led to an alternate reality.”
“Yeah and whatever you did or didn’t do was a doozy,” Lorne told him. “None of this was supposed to happen. After the whole big showdown with the Senior Partners, I went looking for a little solace, you know? You lose all your friends and your murder virginity in one night, you’re bound to need a little pick me up, right?”
Xander could only nod dumbly. Senior Partners meant Angel. Angel who was dead, dust in an alleyway, right next Spike who had died after coming back. Spike, twice dead in defense of the world, who hadn’t told them he was back. Spike who Xander wanted to see again, to apologize and acknowledge the vampire’s heroism. Spike and Angel, dead because of him, apparently.
“Guess what I get? Instead of The Powers erasing my memories, they give me a mission,” Lorne laughed hollowly. “Find out who screwed up and make them fix it. You’d think all-powerful entities could tidy this up, but no. Human actions made it and human actions have to unmake it.”
“And this means what? I have to go back in time and figure out what I did or didn’t do and…no. Oh no,” Xander protested. “I do, don’t I? You seriously want me to go fix whatever it is.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” Lorne told him sadly. “Freddles was never supposed to die, Angel had a whole lot of destiny left to fulfill…everything got screwed up.”
“How do you know it’s me,” Xander wanted to know. “Maybe it’s somebody else.”
“The pipes never lie, Chocolate Drop,” Lorne grimaced. “Your demon honey? She’s not supposed to be dead either. She had a redemption to earn, and her very own mission coming her way.”
“Redemption? Anya? You mean she’s…”Xander suddenly couldn’t speak, his throat closing around words he couldn’t bear to utter.
“In hell, yeah,” Lorne sighed. “Along with Spike and Angel. Fiery torments of the damned and all that.”
“They died saving the world.” Xander could barely choke the words out.
“And for their trouble they got bupkiss, “ Lorne stated baldly. “If everything hadn’t shifted, they’d still be alive. Alive and on their way to being redeemed. Happiness, shiny lights and a heavenly dimension at the end of the tunnel.”
“What do I have to do,” Xander demanded fiercely.
“So glad you asked. Come sit over here,” Lorne beckoned him forward.
This was so wrong on so many levels. He wasn’t spotlight guy. No way anything he did or didn’t do could affect entire realities. But, he wasn’t willing to risk Anya or Spike or Angel’s eternal torment on the off chance the green guy was right. If that meant traveling through time to find the right reality, well suit him up. Xander Harris didn’t abandon his friends.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
on 2007-06-18 06:17 am (UTC)no subject
on 2007-06-19 04:29 am (UTC)no subject
on 2007-06-18 08:54 am (UTC)can't wait to see where the shift happened.
no subject
on 2007-06-19 04:30 am (UTC)::plants a sloppy wet one on you::
no subject
on 2007-06-18 09:57 am (UTC)no subject
on 2007-06-19 04:31 am (UTC)::snuggles::
no subject
on 2007-06-18 02:20 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2007-06-19 04:33 am (UTC)And, in fairness, I'll admit that I've had the first chapter written for a month. So really I only did one chapter...but still! Go me! :P
no subject
on 2007-08-16 10:30 am (UTC)no subject
on 2007-08-20 10:33 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2007-09-10 03:05 am (UTC)no subject
on 2007-10-31 07:01 pm (UTC)And of course, Anya gaining redemption and Fred not dying and all are major wish-fullfillments for me so I'm eager to read more!
no subject
on 2008-01-08 05:25 am (UTC)It's very upsetting that Anya is in hell. As well as Spike and Angel, of course. But hey, chance to fix all of that!
But why do I feel like Xander's going to have a really hard time figuring out the one thing he did that changed reality?
At least Lorne's torturous quest is over. He's found the person he was supposed to find. And hey, all the awful things will be fixed. Yay!... But at what cost? Can't wait to find out.
no subject
on 2008-01-08 06:14 am (UTC)