This week’s featured article brings you Highlander, the franchise about immortals living among humans. The franchise first started with the 1986 film Highlander and later got expanded into a TV series. Due to its multi-media tie-ins such as an animated series, comics, and books, the canon is highly varied depending on the creators and countries of production.
The series centers around the life of 400-year-old Duncan 'Mac' MacLeod and his struggles to have a "normal" life while still confronting the dangers of being an Immortal. Duncan’s companions are his long-time human girlfriend Tessa Noël and the teenage thief Richie Ryan, who Duncan took in after the later accidentally learned about the existence of Immortals.
Aside from the canon ship Duncan/Tessa, a major slash pairing in the fandom is Duncan/Methos. As both Duncan and Methos are immortals, fans like to speculate about their life throughout the different historical eras.
Crossover is a common trope in HL fanfics and often involve inserting Highlander characters or Highlander-style immortals into another fandom such as Buffy or Stargate SG-1.
Wants to learn more about the Highlander fandom? Give the Fanlore page a visit!
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Duncan barrelled around the corner when he heard the first horrifying cry, Methos at his heels, weapon drawn.
Joe was lying on his back, his head cradled in Ritchie's lap as the young man shook his back and forth in stricken disbelief. Duncan almost gagged when he saw the jagged wound across Joe's chest and stomach, but he pulled himself together for Ritchie's sake.
'Oh, Joseph' Methos knelt beside the body, sheathing his sword. He swallowed, looking pained, then reached out a tentative hand and closed Joe's eyes.
'Let's get him inside' Duncan croaked. Ritchie nodded, and took up the weight of Joe's shoulders while Duncan supported his lower back and Methos opened the front door of the bar.
Everything was as it always was after closing; spotlessly clean tables with chairs stacked upon them, and a tidy bar. The floor had been mopped. Joe must have been about to lock up for the night when-
'Put him down over here' Methos pulled a few chairs out of the way and they set Joe down on the table. Duncan opened his mouth to apologise for making a mess, then stopped.
'He.. he must have been mugged after closing' said Ritchie, as he wiped his eyes on the back of his sleeve.
'By someone with a sword' Methos said quietly.
The implication hung in the air.
Duncan swallowed and looked up at the ceiling. Death, he could handle. Even the violent death of a close friend. He would mourn and grieve, and carry them forever in his heart, but eventually he would move past it.
But knowing that one of his best friends had been ripped from the earth because of him? That stung.
'So what now?' asked Ritchie. 'How do we find whoever did this?'
'Joe had cameras installed last week' said Duncan, 'We can check out the tapes, and see if anyone shows up on them'
'Right' Ritchie threw himself towards the back room. Methos squeezed Duncan’s shoulder gently, then followed after.
For the sake of something to do with his hands, Duncan silently buttoned and straightened Joe’s clothes a little, blinking back tears.
My friend. My best friend.
****
They watched the black and white people on the television screen move inch by jilting inch around until only one remained. Ritchie kept his thumb on the fast-forward button as Joe, with comic quickness, sped through the final stages of cleaning up.
‘Stop!’ Duncan forced himself not to lean forward as Ritchie let the footage run naturally; Joe lurched forward towards the front door, rummaging in one pocket for the key.
Ritchie pressed a button and the angle of the footage abruptly changed to the camera hidden above the street. Joe slipped the key in the lock and paused, looking at someone approaching him from the side.
'Do either of you know that guy?'
Methos and Duncan shook their heads. The man was tall, easily six foot, with shaggy, unkempt hair that curtained his face. He was clearly talking to Joe but whatever was being discussed was lost on them.
Suddenly, the man drew a sword from the hidden sheath beneath his coat and drove it hilt-deep through Joe's chest. He staggered backworks, but the man held him firmly by the collar and murmured something in his ear before letting him crumble to the ground.
Ritchie threw up quietly in the waste paper bin.
Something wet slid down Duncan's face. He touched his cheek. Tears. He was crying.
When did that start?
Methos swallowed, and opened his mouth to say something-
...a buzzing crackle of lightning beneath the skin tugging the senses in the direction of the closest immortal as it insistently pins you in place...
...danger...and family...
...they're right outside...
'That son of a bitch!'
'Ritchie wait!' Duncan threw himself after his student as the young man dashed out the door, nearly bowling them both over when Ritchie froze in shock.
Joe was sitting upright on the table where they had left him, inspecting his now healed-over wound. He glanced at the others, and let out a shaky, overwhelmed burst of laughter.
Restarted the Highlander TV Series, I laughed at the opening narration, found Sland ridiculous, still think Ritchie's Green Jacket is terrible, and absolutely in love with Duncan's car.
