Feedback: Yes please but be very gentle. First fanfic and first slash.
Archive: If you want, but please let me know
Pairing: S/X
Rating: PG - NC 17 (maybe, I've never rated anything before)
Disclaimer: Most characters misrepresented in this tale belong to Joss Whedon,
Mutant Enemy and Neil Gaiman. I'm only taking them out to play, changing their
clothes and then putting them back. There may be some original characters floating
about. They are mine but usually don't admit to it.
Spoilers: Up to Buffy Season 6 sorta but definitely AU
Summary: Spike and Xander get to take a trip and go a bit further than intended.
Crossover eventually with Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere.
'' '' '' '' '' '' '' ''
"And that's only one o' the reasons you keep away from the Gap, got it?"
Panting Xander nodded his wholehearted agreement and pulled the vampire in
close.
"Uh huh, and so you put on this little display deliberately to reinforce
the lesson?" The
what-ever-it-it-was-and-do-I-really-want-to-know-what-was-on-the-end-of-that-tentacle
had been fast and strong and for a few moments he'd thought he was going to
loose the game of tug-o-vamp to it. Behind them, back on the abandoned
station platform where the Earls Court had left them, it screamed and
wailed like a denied child. He shuddered, nothing that insubstantial and
gossamer-like had any right to be able to grab a creature as strong as a
vampire and begin pulling it. He suspected it had let go for it's own
reasons, too, rather than because of anything he or Spike had done. Hadn't
it seemed to spasm around Spike's leg moments before unwinding to the
accompaniment of angry shrieks and moans?
"Bugger and bollocks." The vampire was golden-eyed and furious, "That
bloody well 'urt. An' look at me jeans!"
The familiar black was bleached white; drained of colour wherever the
tentacle had touched. Xander dropped to his knees and allowed the familiar
sound of Spike ranting to wash over him, knowing that no response was
really required and, frankly, more worried about possible injury anyway.
Spike had dropped his hand to Xander's head and was gently running his
fingers through the over-long brown locks. A comforting gesture, and
sometimes it surprised Xander how tactile the vampire was. Rolling up the
jeans revealed small purple puckers curving up over the pale muscled calf,
mirroring the pattern of bleaching on the jeans. Above him, the rant was
winding down. He tentatively ran a finger over the welts. "How's that feel?"
"Stings a little. Guess it didn't like the taste of un-dead flesh, eh
pet?"
A slight whine was in the vampire's voice now; he wanted comfort but wasn't
going to ask for it.
Xander cocked his head to one side and grinned up at the vampire, then
kissed his fingers and ran them lightly over the welts. "No blood. There,
is that better?"
The vampire looked down at the smiling, upturned face. The eyes were
relieved. Relieved! Relieved that he, Spike, undead bastard and all 'round
survivor was ok. A marvel, his boy was. The tanned fingers began to roll
the jeans back down, careful not to brush against the welts, and Spike
helped Xander to his feet and pulled him close, burying his face in the
warmth of the boys neck. With soft bites and nibbles he worked his way up
the curve and back down, enjoying the feel of Xander arching into the bites
and pushing against him. He mumbled into the tempting curve, "Ad ibee.
Ob
Ib ad otton oo.?"
"Huh?" Xander pulled the vampire, resisting, away from his current
favourite place.
"Glad it was me. What if it 'ad gotten you?"
Xander gave a self-depreciating grin, "I would have screamed like a girl
and relied on vampiric strength and speed to come save me." His smile
invited Spike to share a joke at his expense.
Spike frowned and gave Xander a just-short-of-zap-worthy shake. "Told
you
before, I don't like you talkin' bout yourself that way. You fight much
better since I took your training in hand. Won't mention the other things I
wanna take you in hand for either." Right on cue came a blush, creeping
up
and over his boy's face. Lovely. "With defence in mind though-" Spike
stalked over to the back wall where lengths of thin pipe ran down the wall
to a long-unused tap. He snapped a length off the wall and presented it to
Xander. "You can use this to defend yourself and murmergleeb."
"Huh?"
"Use it to defend yourself and me if game-face doesn't scare them off."
the
blond said in an embarrassed voice. He continued in a stronger tone,
"Remember what I showed you. Hit 'em hard and fast and make sure they stay
down. That Queensberry bloke has got a lot to answer for, in my opinion."
"Yes, sensei," replied Xander.
"I mean it. No fair fighting, all right. Don't want you 'urt or worse.
Don't want to be attemptin' an emergency turning while we're 'ere, either.
The women would have a hissy. Well, three o' them would. Red'd just look at
me as if I broke her heart. Not t' mention the chip headaches when I do
it." His tone was light, almost joking. He shouldered the pack and took
another look at the Earl's map.
"Would you?" Xander's tone was serious.
Gotta work on that impulse control, Spike, thinking before you speak, his
Gilsey inner voice remonstrated. Spike tried to keep his voice light.
"Dunno really, I like you. Turned, you'd be a demon who remembered being
Xander Harris. Not quite the same thing at all but-"
"But?"
"Dunno if I could let you go. Mine." He smiled wryly into concerned
chocolate eyes. "Turned, I'd still have something of you, just different.
Xander Harris with the brakes off. It has its appeal, but not as much as
you, as you are, but-" He shrugged, trying to brush of the importance of
the conversation, wishing to hell he'd never started it. "What's the point
in worrying? Fangless, remember, prob'ly wouldn't be capable, and any rate,
innit a little early in the relationship to be having this conversation?"
"You bought it up. I just wanted to know?...if ?...you really would."
Xander looked the vampire square in the eyes. He wasn't sure if he should
be wigged or complimented that Spike had thought about it at all. "What
if
I asked you never to turn me? No matter what."
Mine! Mine to keep. Mine to hold. There is no choice. Spike knew that
saying that out loud wouldn't earn him any cuddles but maybe something of
it showed in his eyes because Xander closed his own and swallowed.
He kept them closed for a few moments and Spike began to worry. Always
pushing that one step too far he growled angrily to himself.
When Xander opened them there was, to Spikes surprise, resolve and trust in
them. "Promise me no, Spike. At least for now, and I can't believe I added
that." Xander sighed. "Wait until this?...us?... has had a chance.
Hell, it
may not work out and you'll be stuck with me for eternity."
"Can't see as how eternity with you'd be a bad thing."
"Yeah, yeah, but I wouldn't be me, you said so. Not really. Would I know?
That I wasn't me. Look, seriously freaking here, so nada on the turning,
ok? Promise?"
The vampire ran a finger over Xander's lips, stroking back and forward
gently. "Wait on th' shaggin', no on th' turnin'." He blew out a puff
of
air. "I am *so* whipped." His tone was almost an exact imitation of
Xander-speak.
Xander ducked his head and looked at Spike from beneath lowered lashes. Not
pleading but asking. He caught the tip of the finger on his lips and gave
it a soft nip.
"Flirt," accused the vampire. He brightened, "'sides, I'm sure
if we really
go lookin' then there'll be ways to get you intact for eternity. Intact an'
on your back. Or front. Or me on mine, 'm not fussy. Standin'always good or
kne..."
"Spike!"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"Just be careful, eh."