Fic: What’s in a name?
Author: norgco
Spoilers: post season 7 and the angel episode where it
mentions Xander went to Africa.
Rating:PG
Pairings: Xander/Faith friendship
Summary: A man (?) named arrives at Wolfram and Heart,
who is he and why are the demons afraid?
Disclaimer: I am not making any money off this, Joss owns all.
Feedback: My muse needs it badly.
Authors Note:Placed after the story.
He walked into the offices of Wolfram and Heart with
calm assurance, ‘like He owned the place’ as the
saying goes. No-one attempted to stop Him, or ask
what He was doing there, and when the elevator opened
on the floor where the executive offices were His
measured stride took Him past Harmony at the reception
desk who simply stared open-mouthed at him. Lorne was
talking a mile a minute into a mobile phone about some
movie deal when he saw the tall blonde man in the
suit.
“Lightbringer.” Was all he said as he stood totally
still and stared, conversation forgotten. The look on
his face was similar to that on anyone demonic or
simply sensitive to mystical energy that was present.
The individual in the immaculate suit simply walked on
after a slight turn of the head and smile to
acknowledge the demon that had recognized Him.
Xander Harris and Faith Wilkins were sitting in
Angel’s office negotiating access to the evil law
firm’s extensive library and database when He walked
in. Or rather Xander was doing the talking due to his
previous experience first in construction and then in
Kenya and Mozambique. Faith was present as guide and
security mainly; his years in Africa had left the
Zeppo surprisingly out of touch with American life.
“…I’m just saying Xander that the Scrolls of Mencotur
are too dangerous to let a basically amateur
organization like the New Watchers Coun…Morningstar?”
The sudden change of topic was only one of the things
that happened as He entered the office. Faith leapt
into a fighting stance as the slayer senses that had
been registering something HUGE had a specific
individual to focus on. The dark haired souled
vampire sat rigidly upright in his chair, and the
human male was wondering who He was and why the name
was setting off alarm bells in his head.
“Good morning Angel, so good to see you again.” He
said. “Rather an improvement on your accommodations
when last we met …for reasons to do with my business.”
It was cool in the office but there was sweat pouring
off the vampire. The former Scourge of Europe had a
major ambition to NEVER take lodgings with The
Lightbringer again. For good reason, all things
considered. His failure to answer immediately was not
rudeness or anything of the sort but because of the
state of blind gibbering panic being caused by this
encounter.
“And what business would that be, Mr Morningstar?”
Xander asked. Dealing with government officials over
the years had taught the White Knight some diplomatic
skills, such as how to ask what right they have to
interrupt without creating an incident.
“Oh, well you might say I provide motivation and long
term accommodation.” The slight smile was there
again. “And good morning to you Mr Harris, I was
curious about you.”
“Why?” Angel squeaked out before pushing himself
further back into his well-padded chair, terror on his
face.
“Oh, my brother Michael is apparently looking forward
to meeting him.” Was His reply, then He added. “And
Father, of course.”
“A family business, have I heard of it, ‘cause W & H
don’t seem to get many motivational speakers and
resort owners in the clientele, ya know?” Was the
slayer’s response.
“Actually I have opposing interests to the rest of the
family, due to a little quarrel a long time ago. But
you have heard of us, everyone has.”
Alexander Lavelle Harris was trying to connect the
dots, who was this guy? Instead of wondering why not
just ask?
“What is your name?”
“People call me different things, Samael used to be
common, I prefer Lightbringer or Morningstar.”
“Not Sat…” Angel started and was cut off immediately.
“I HATE THAT NAME!” The words were spoken in a tone
as cold and hard as metallic Hydrogen. There was
silence for a several minutes as the Irish vampire
went to the executive washroom and changed his
underwear and pants.
Eventually they got down to business, to discover it
was basically just a courtesy call. Samael was in the
area to ‘discipline the middle management’, a phrase
that nearly caused the broody vampire to need to
change his underwear again. ‘… let your attention
wander for a few decades and the drones start thinking
for themselves, never mind MY long term plans…’ was
how He explained himself.
“You have, as individuals and collectively, repeatedly
prevented the end of the world and therefore saved my
overall plan from those imbeciles, so I thought a
personal visit was not excessive.” The blonde man was
getting up out of His chair as he spoke. Wesley was
just entering the office with his ‘apocalyptic
prophecy’ look on. “Oh, and as a token of my favour,
I have cancelled all your bookings with my
organization. Goodbye.”
Ill Traviata Italian restaurant, later that night.
“So Xman who was that majorly strange guy this
morning anyway?” Faith had noticed that the one eyed
man had become very quiet after the morning meeting,
and surprisingly the weird dude seemed to be at the
heart of it. Never mind that ‘The Senior Partners’,
superbeings to a one, had been found tortured to death
and splashed across the top floor.
No, as Wesley was delivering that bit of news she
went to the ladies room, and when she returned the
three men had been sitting in stunned silence. And
that silence seemed to be centred around blondie’s
identity.
“He doesn’t like Latin.” Xander mumbled. “I never
thought I’d have His personal favour.”
“Huh?”
“He’s known mostly by the Latin version of his name
but he doesn’t like it so demons don’t ever use it.”
“Boytoy your getting spookier by the second, just
tell me who he is.”
“Lightbringer and Morningstar have the same
translation in Latin.”
“Which is?” The dark slayer was controlling her
temper with difficulty.
“Lucifer.”
~Authors afterward: Lucifer was, according to tradition, the first and most perfect of the Angels. The Archangel Michael, who cast him out, is therefore his brother, in a sense. Please don’t flame me over this, I have enough trouble getting my muse to co-operate as it is.~