*****
Part 3:
Dawn was rising as Spike entered his crypt. Another night of venting his frustrations on his fellow vampires. Of course, it was also another night of smelling the residue of Xander on Buffy. Spike snorted. < Can't bleedin' believe the Slayer thinks I don't know. Always was short a few. > Apparently the girl had conveniently forgotten that vampires had a much more acute sense of smell than humans. Spike would have noticed the pair regardless, though. The appraising glances, furtive touching and flimsy excuses for this and that made the relationship so very obvious. < Christ, how many times does hapless Xander need help buying coffee and doughnuts? > Privately, Spike thought that the others would have caught on long before now. Buffy had been treating Xander like shit for years; why stop now? The vampire shook his head, settling into his battered easy chair. No sense brooding over it, < That's the ponce's job. >
The morning passed quickly for the sleeping vampire. His contented slumber was interrupted by the sound of his crypt's door being pounded upon. He shook his head to clear the fog. Extending his hearing even as he reached for a weapon, he tried to discern this disturbance.
"Damn! Is this one supposed to be locked? Where's the latch? We ain't got time for this." Spike inched toward the door. He could sense three humans outside his crypt. They were trying to open the door, but were unsuccessful. The bar Spike had installed on the inside of it prevented them. He continued to listen to the mortals; normally this area of the cemetery was avoided by people unless they had business with a resident, so other than the Slayer and her friends and the Initiative, no one visited his crypt.
"Hey, Mike. Don't bother with the door. The whole thing is going down this afternoon. Just mark for the wrecking crew that we couldn't get in." The humans retreated from the crypt's entrance.
Spike stood behind the door, stunned. Someone was destroying his home. < Bugger all! This is not happening! > He looked around. No, the crypt was nothing to brag about, but it was his. The ancient television, worn out recliner, the collection of blades and stakes.
The vampire shook himself out of his trance. He had to get moving. There was no telling just how quickly the wrecking crew would be back to start and the sun was still well in the sky. < No need to burn on principle, mate. > Spike quickly began gathering his possessions. Soon he had a neatly organized stack of compact discs, clothes and weaponry on one of the coffins. Rummaging in one corner, the vampire retrieved a large duffle.
A churning growl interrupted his efforts. Spike stopped, looking up toward the door. The noise grew closer. The blonde recognized it as coming from heavy machinery. The realization spurred the vampire back into action. He grabbed his possessions from the coffin, stuffing them quickly into the bag. Pulling on his duster, he slung the duffle on one shoulder.
Taking one last look through the crypt, Spike went over to the small grate that was his sewer tunnel access. His crypt was one of the few with such an entrance; he counted his blessings. As the vampire pulled the grate back over the entrance, he heard the first sounds heralding the destruction of his crypt.
.......
Once in the safety of the sewers, Spike dropped the duffle and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Lighting one, he leaned back on the dank walls of the tunnel. < Bugger all. Where the flamin' hell am I supposed to go? > Rationally, Spike knew where he could go.
Unbeknownst to the Slayer and her little clan, the vampire had money. A master vampire did not survive for more than a hundred years without an investment plan. It was yet another facet of vampire culture the Slayer and her Watcher seemed to forget, if they had ever known. Spike was reluctant to get his own place, for a number of reasons. For one, he simply preferred stealing things. Why do things on the table when under it was so much more fun?
More importantly, however, was the group of mortals into which he had incorporated himself. They had reluctantly taken him in when he had escaped the Initiative and was unable to feed or defend himself. They assumed he had no means of support. He figured that they would react poorly if they ever found out that he was well heeled and that their charity was unnecessary.
Over time, he had become an erstwhile member of the Slayer's gang. Although he would never admit it, he liked the children. Spike was a social demon; he needed to be around people. Moreover, he needed to be needed. Dru had filled that need when she had been around.
Now, he had the Slayer's friends. Yes, it irked his demon that he had found companionship with the one person in the world most determined to kill his kind. The demon did not mind the killing; it had no real loyalty to other vampires, with the exception of his sire. Even that loyalty was pretty much gone; Dru was off with some Chaos demon and Angel was not his sire. If Angelus were around, he would be compelled to obey him to some extent, but that bastard was locked safely away inside the broody poof.
Spike crushed out the cigarette. The ruminating was not finding him a place to stay, and besides, he tried to avoid dwelling on melancholy subjects. He did not want to find out that brooding was a family trait. Picking up the duffle, Spike headed down the tunnel.
< Red's place is out; she did that uninvite spell a few months back. The Slayer's place is open, but I doubt she'd appreciate an undead houseguest right now. > Spike grinned at the thought of the Slayer's face when she realized that her mother had invited Spike into her house. < Yeah, Slayer, Joyce an' I've been sharing a cuppa for months now. Y'r mum's a grand dame; too bad you don't take after her. > The scene was too much.
The vampire brought his mind back to the task at hand. He did not want to stay at the Watcher's house again; weeks spent chained in the guest bathroom had ruined that place for the vampire. < Guess that leaves the whelp's flat. > Spike was in luck there; the boiler room of Xander's flat had sewer access. < Not what the builders were thinking when they put in that grate. > The vampire headed off toward said apartment.
A short time later Spike let himself into the second floor flat. The lock had been no problem, and he'd been invited in long ago. Closing the door, the vampire dropped his belongings in a corner and took a deep breath, immediately grimacing in distaste. < Git's never heard of air freshener? > The place reeked of sex. It covered every possible surface: the bar in the kitchen, the furniture, the floors, and of course the entire bedroom. The dwelling had obviously not been aired in some time; although the sex odors were fresh, he could detect staler remnants underneath. < Can still smell the demon bint. Boy's a pig. >
Spike inched along the wall and closed the curtains. He then reached for the window, using the drapes to protect his hands as he opened them. After repeating the process with the window in the bedroom, a slight draft began to flow. Soon the overwhelming stench dissipated. < Better than nothing. >
Having made the place less unpleasant for his nose and skin, Spike looked around. The plain white walls were bare. A large, worse-for-wear couch dominated the living room, along with a pair of end tables and two equally dismal armchairs. A few pictures of the Scooby gang sat on the low tables. Across from the sofa sat a huge television, balanced on a small shelving unit. A VCR sat below it. < One improvement over the crypt: cable! >
The vampire returned to the bedroom. It was empty except for a king-sized bed and two nightstands. The bed frame was one of those frame models found in cheap motels, but upon flopping down on the bed, Spike found that the mattresses were top-notch. < Figures. As much as he was getting from demon girl, he'd need a good set. >
Getting back up, Spike returned to the living room and lay on the couch, only to find a spring poking into his ass. He moved around a bit, and after about five minutes had found the one comfortable position-reclining on his side along the length of the sofa. Sighing at the horrid furniture, he reached for the remote control. < Can't wait for the whelp to get off work. He's gonna shit bricks! > The vampire turned on the television and began looking for his favorite soap opera.
.......
"Athra v'gada neimo cosh'dai ish mal'pk/ Maif vok weimnuipsti gr'zuof sai," Xander sang, off-key, as he pulled into his parking space. Turning off the car, he ejected the Ryv'riv cd. It was a popular music group on the west coast whose members happened to be Sh'dth demons. Giles had gotten him the album a few weeks ago, and he'd been listening to it ever since. Now that he was seeing Buffy, Xander was relegated to listening in his car to and from work. She was neither interest in nor impressed by music from nonhuman artists. < I wonder how Oz would think about that? > The young man pocketed the disc and headed for his apartment.
< Ah, Friday! Another week gone by, another weekend with my dream blonde ahead of me, > he thought as he let himself into the apartment. Xander went into the bedroom and sat on the bed, unlacing his work boots. As he removed them, he reached for the telephone, dialing Buffy's number by memory.
"Hey there, Joyce-lady! How's life at the chateau de Summers?" Xander flirted with the older lady as he stripped off his soiled work clothes. "Aw, you know I love you!" After a few more minutes of friendly banter, Buffy wrested the phone from her mother.
"Hey Buff. I just got off work." Xander shoved the dirty clothes into a hamper. "What? Um, yeah, that sounds fine. The Bronze, sevenish. And no, I won't wear the nauseating orange shirt. I'll be in the tasteful orange shirt that makes me look sexy." Xander snorted at her reply. "See you there, bye."
Xander replaced the phone and went into the bathroom to take a shower. Ten minutes later, he came out of the bathroom, a towel around his waist, water dripping from his hair. He walked into the kitchen and grabbed a beer out of the refrigerator. Twisting off the top, he took a long swallow of the cold brew, heading back towards the bedroom.
As he reached the doorway, he stopped dead and then turned around. There was a person on his couch. A blonde person wearing solid black clothing. Xander blinked. The person was still there, lying motionless on his sofa.
"Spike?" Xander whispered.
"Oi, mate. Was wondering when you'd notice little old me." Spike replied, twisting around to look at the boy.
Xander finally closed his mouth, and then walked over to the couch. "What the fuck are you doing in my apartment?" He shouted. This was so not good.
"What? I thought you liked my company, my charming personality!" Spike said, fluttering his eyelashes at Xander.
"Get real, junior. I know I didn't invite you here." Actually, that wasn't entirely true. He had invited Spike in back when the Scoobies were passing the blonde vampire around out of safety concerns. Xander had not, however, invited the vampire to stop by today.
"Hey, I wouldn't be here if I didn't absolutely have to be. Got no place else to go."
"Somehow I doubt that, fangless. You've got a deluxe crypt down at Restfield, one I recommend you return to before I get out my handy dust buster." Xander said, waving the beer bottle threateningly.
"Had a crypt. Buggers came by today and knocked it down." Spike sat up, turning on the television. Xander reached over to the set and turned it back off.
"Oi, mate! Football game on!" The vampire turned the television back on. Xander reached behind the unit and unplugged it.
"Spike, start talking. What to you mean, the crypt was knocked down?" Xander demanded of the vampire.
"Like I said, some blokes with heavy machinery came by today about noon and tore the place to the ground. I barely got out with my skin! The witches' dorm was out, and I'm never going back to the Watcher's place. That leaves your little nest here. Unless, of course, you want me to shack up with your hot little bit?" Spike leered at Xander.
"Hot little bit? I don't have a hot little bit!" Xander cried indignantly at Spike.
"Oh, I'm sure yours isn't little, not one bit little. Otherwise, what would the demon chit and the Slayer see in it?" Spike stared pointedly at Xander's towel covered crotch.
"What?" Xander squeaked. "What do you mean, Slayer? She's not.we're not.how do." Xander sputtered, backing up until he hit the wall. "Cut the shit, Spike. Get out of my apartment." Xander finally found his voice.
"I don't think so, pet. See, I need a place to stay. You've got room. And, as you said, nothing going on for me to interfere with." Spike smirked at the mortal. < There. Try to deny it. >
"I don't care. Get out."
"Nope, this place works for me, for now. You should redecorate though. It's ugly as all hells." Spike scowled at the furniture.
"Spike-"
The vampire cut him off with a sigh. "Look, mate, I know you're shagging the Slayer. I've known since Sunday. From what I can see, you haven't exactly announced your engagement to Red and Rupert. So, I figure that you let me stay here and I keep my trap shut about you and the ditz playing hide-the-tent-pole."
"You stinking shit! I oughta stake you-" Xander screamed at Spike, looking around for a weapon. Spike had anticipated such a reaction and had carefully found and hidden the apartment's various weapons.
"Take it easy, pup. You're looking at it all wrong. If you want to keep the Slayer under covers, I'm your best bet. No one will suspect your shagging her lights out if I'm living with you."
Xander slumped in one chair, having failed to find a single stake. If he wanted to kill the vampire, he'd have to break a leg off of one of his end tables. < Probably wouldn't work. With my luck, there wouldn't be enough wood in the particle board to do the job. >
"Yeah, and what? You'll toddle off at night and all weekend so Buffy doesn't stake you on sight?"
"Oh, I'll be out of here when she's around, count on that. Nothing I'd rather miss than that bint naked and dripping." Spike spat in distaste.
"What happened to 'Buffy, I love you,' and 'Buffy, I need you,'" Xander sang in a high, feminine voice.
"Red and Rupert, that's what happened, remember? I told them all along it was residue from that soddin' spell of Red's that made us fall in love that one time. The two of 'em got together on a purification ritual and bam! I'm back to me old self, no bleedin' Slayer fixation."
"Oh. Well, then. Good for you. I forgot." Xander sighed. At least he didn't have to worry about Spike asking to join in. Without his misplaced lust for the blonde Slayer, Spike's natural disgust would keep him from pulling his usual sexual antics.
More than once the vampire had offered to play with Xander and Anya. It took all of Xander's not inconsiderable puppy dog-eye stunts to convince Anya that he didn't want the blonde vampire in bed with them. Anya never really believed him, she just got tired of arguing about it. It was not something Xander ever discussed with Spike. He just didn't want the vampire to know that he'd ever been a part of Xander and Anya's occasional conversations.
"Fine, Spike. As long as you're on Buffy's good side, and only until you find a place-which had better be soon!" Xander relented. "Also, a few rules."
Spike was a bit surprised the boy had relented so quickly. "'K, pet. What rules?"
"First, no blood on the dishes-if you use a mug, wash and dry it.
"Second, stay away from my cereal. You want Wheetabix, you get it yourself.
"Third, don't ever answer the phone. Let the answering machine pick it up.
"Fourth, never answer the door without checking out who's there-and don't open the door for anyone but the Scoobies.
"Fifth, don't leave your stuff lying around.
"Sixth, when Buffy's here, you aren't.
"Seventh, no, you can't borrow anything, including and especially my clothes, my car, or my money. If I find any of those things missing, I will stake you.
"Eighth, you've got the couch. If I find you in my bed, or think you've been in my bed, I will stake you, slowly." Xander stopped talking.
"That it, whelp? Lemme see if I've got this straight. I can't touch anything, use anything, or talk to or see anyone. If I do, I'm dead." Spike summarized boredly.
"And the blood thing." Xander repeated.
"Fine. Wash out the bloody mugs." Spike said. "Got it. Anything else? You're due at the Bronze in twenty."
"Shit! I've gotta get dressed!" Xander ran into the bedroom and slammed the door. A few minutes later he emerged, dressed in a signature bright orange shirt and baggy khaki pants.
"The sun will be down in half an hour. We're coming back here tonight, so beat it. You can put your stuff in the utility closet." Xander headed for the door. "Oh, yeah. You can come back in the apartment after about noon tomorrow." With that, he headed out the door.
Once he was gone, Spike got up off the couch. The boy's "rules" had irritated the vampire. < Dodgy little.Who does he think he is? I'm the Big Bad. I don't do dishes! >
Spike went into the kitchen and pulled open a drawer. Digging through the mess inside, he found a spare key. < Ah-hah! > The vampire headed out the door. He did not bother to lock it. The key was for getting back in. Picking the lock would get old eventually. The vampire exited the apartment building and went down the street toward the center of town. He needed to feed, even if all he could get was animal blood.
.......
"Come on, I wanna dance!" Xander said, pulling Buffy onto the dance floor. He wanted to make the most of the evening-the first where Buffy was willing to be seen with him in public. Granted, Willow wasn't around to see, but still.it was their classic after-slaying-hours hangout, and Buffy was with him. Him.
Buffy grinned, wrapping herself around Xander. They boy could dance, and well. < Stripping taught him a few things. > Who'd have thought the Zeppo had it in him? She didn't mind being seen with Xander at the Bronze; after all, she was here with him and Willow all the time and no one would actually think they were doing anything together. No one would be that stupid.
Several songs later, Buffy whispered in Xander's ear. He turned red, then picked up their jackets and took Buffy back to his car. "Home it is then, milady." He said, anticipation lowering his voice.
Buffy caught him with a kiss as they stumbled into the apartment. She released him long enough for him to lock the door, and then resumed the kiss. "God, Xander, you are a maniac on the dance floor. Oxnard should start charging tuition."
Xander flinched. He didn't like being reminded of his brief stint as a stripper. It wasn't his most glamorous job. Ok, it was his most glamorous one, but also the most humiliating. He'd rather make a tenth the money flipping hamburgers. "Um, yeah."
"So dance for me." Buffy said, sliding down onto the couch. "A lap dance." She leered, licking her lips. Xander shook his head vigorously.
"Noooooo, I don't think so." Buffy pouted at him, deciding if it was worth it to go into a tantrum. If she did, there'd be no nookie. Xander hated it when she went into snits.
"Fine then. Be that way." She said harshly, softening the words by pulling him down on the couch. "But we can play, right?"
Xander nodded, thoroughly distracted by Buffy's tongue in his ear. < Play is good. > "Sure thing, Buff. Whatever."
Buffy crowed her delight. "Let's go!" She stood, pulling Xander to the bedroom. He looked at her in confusion; the couch was one of her favorite places in the apartment. The boy watched as Buffy reached under the bed, and then paled at what she extracted. "Hmm.restraints, gags, cockrings, and a fine selection of dildos." Buffy said rather suggestively. "You and Anya must have had a lot of fun." She tossed a few items on the bed, cocking an eye at Xander. "You're overdressed, babe."
"Um, Buffy?" Xander said, automatically stripping off his clothes. "Have you ever used those before?" He couldn't recall her having that kind of experience.
"A dildo? Come on, Xander, it's the twenty-first century; I own several. But these, they're fancy, all ridged and bumpy. I bet Anya just loved them." Xander winced as Buffy brought up his ex again. He didn't have the guts to tell her that the dildos and vibrators hadn't been used on Anya, but rather on him. He didn't think that Buffy would understand or appreciate that at all.
"Show me what you've got, stud." Buffy ordered, splaying out on the bed. Xander looked at her like she was triple layer chocolate cake. < Any way I can get her is fine with me. >
.......
Spike yawned, stretching. It was a little past noon; late enough that he could safely enter the apartment again. He stood up and retrieved his food. The plastic bag was bulging with containers of blood and partially melted ice. Spike grimaced at it in distaste. No matter how often he consumed the stuff, he would never get used to the flavor of pig's blood.
The apartment was dark when he entered it. The vampire carefully placed the blood on a shelf in the refrigerator and dumped the ice into the sink to melt. He then ventured to the bedroom doorway. The boy lay sprawled across the bed, partially covered by the sheet. He was obviously naked. Spike took a few steps forward, which put him at the foot of the bed. The vampire surveyed the flesh displayed in front of him.
The boy's body was considerably more muscular than his clothes revealed; it was obvious that slaying and construction work agreed with him. There was considerable definition to the muscles of his arms and chest and Spike could see defined abs peeking out from the edge of the white cotton sheets. Xander's face was softened by sleep, erasing the faint lines that usually crept around his eyes and mouth. Living on the Hellmouth was enough to prematurely age even the most youthful of people.
That face was, to Spike, a study in sensuality. Dark, sooty lashes framed eyes that, when opened, resembled swirling pools of the finest whiskey. He'd watched those eyes dilate in both fear and desire and found both emotions intoxicating when reflected in them. Xander's nose was straight; if it had been broken it had been set well enough that no crookedness remained. Just below his nose was one of the fullest, poutiest sets of lips Spike had ever seen on a man. Xander's mouth surpassed even Angel's in terms of lushness. The vampire found himself wanting to run a finger along those lips, separating them and finding the wet warmth they concealed. The thought shocked the vampire, and he turned and quickly left the room.
Spike sat down on the couch. He did not like the idea of him being attracted to the Slayer's whelp. It was not that Xander was male; Spike, like any vampire, had no preferences in that area. It also did not matter that the boy was human. Hell, they may be fragile, but humans were also warm, very warm. To a vampire, that heat was intoxicating.
Spike was bothered because the boy belonged to the Slayer. At the moment, Buffy put up with him because he helped out with her little crusade of light, providing what information he could about various demons and generally beating the hell out of whatever they came across. Spike had no doubt, however, that if he started sniffing around one of the Slayer's minions, particularly one she was currently shagging, that the girl would not hesitate to stake him. The boy was, as he often said, a nummy treat, but he would have to remain one untasted. The vampire valued his unlife.
.......
Spike stood outside the apartment door, listening to the sounds of box springs squeaking. "Fuck." The two were still at it, and it was nearly dawn. At that moment, Spike wanted nothing more than to run to Joyce, or even Giles or Willow, and tell them just what Xander and Buffy were doing, so that he could actually sleep somewhere besides the boiler room.
Stomping loudly, the vampire went to the basement, giving up on the idea of actually sleeping somewhere comfortable. It wasn't the first time he'd been unable to go in the apartment, so there was a collection of pillows and blankets in a corner, along with a stack of magazines. He'd just have to stay here until Slutty had to go home and tell mommy more lies about where she'd been.
Hell, she didn't even have to lie. She could tell them she'd been sleeping at Xander's all week and no one would suspect a thing. If the place didn't reek of their shagging, he wouldn't believe it either. That and the fact that Xander was dead on his feet-from his count Buffy was putting him through his paces even more than the demon bint had. The whelp had the same glassy-eyed look he got whenever Anya'd been frisky. Maybe he should recommend vitamins for the boy.
.......
"Hey Buffy! How did you do on your test?" Willow ran up to her friend. The two girls were in the psychology building. Classes had just gotten out, and the pair had to dodge and weave between students.
"Aced it, Wills!" Buffy proudly brandished a paper. Willow took it up, smiling at the B+.
"Congratulations, Buffy." The witch caught her friend in a brief hug. Returning the paper, she asked, "You know, there's a party at the Rec tonight. Why don't you come with? Tara and I were going to check it out. You know, celebrate braininess and all." Willow smiled hopefully at her friend. She had not seen as much of Buffy as usual for the past couple of weeks and hoped that Buffy would take her up on the offer. She thought her friend was spending too much time alone, and besides she wanted some fun Buffy -time.
"That sounds like fun! We should ask Xander if he wants to go too." Buffy said.
"Um.We can, but he probably won't come. He's really uncomfortable at university stuff-he thinks people look down on him for not being a student." Willow replied, her face falling a little.
"Well, I'll ask him, but you're right. He probably won't come. It doesn't matter-we'll have fun and he can entertain Spike!" The two girls laughed at that. They weren't sure what to think of Xander letting Spike live with him. It did let the Scoobies keep and eye on the vampire, and left the usually hapless Xander with a protective escort home after meetings.
"Maybe they can play Twister?" Willow said, giggling at the mental image.
Buffy cracked up, picturing Xander trying to stake Spike while spread over a Twister mat. "Or maybe Scruples."
"Scruples? Come on-Spike doesn't have any. They'd never get anywhere."
"Yeah, well they'd both get off reading the cards." Willow nodded her agreement.
"Well, I've got to get to class. I'll meet you at eight?" Buffy backed up, turning toward her next class.
"Yeah, see you then. Bye!" Willow left her friend and returned to her dorm room.
.......
Xander was just getting out of the shower when the phone rang. He hurried out of the bathroom and grabbed the handset before the answering machine could pick up. "Hey, Xanman here!"
"Hey, Xander. It's me. I was wondering, Willow, Tara and I are going to this party tonight at the Rec. Wanna come? Music, dancing, food, you know."
"At the Rec? Um, well, Buff.I uh, I'm kind of tired from work. I think I'll take a rain check. Maybe the Bronze tomorrow?"
"I kind of promised Mom and Dawn I'd spend a day doing 'girl things'."
"Well, I'll see you at the meeting on Sunday, then, right?"
"Yeah, on Sunday. Gotta run, Mom needs the phone. Bye!"
Xander hung up the phone. So much for the weekend. A three minute phone call had managed to put the damper on his almost perpetual good mood of the past week. Buffy knew that he wasn't comfortable at university parties and that he avoided them whenever he could. He guessed that it had been considerate of her to ask, though. Mentally pulling up his bootstraps, Xander dried off and put on clean clothes. < It's not like I can't have any fun this weekend, just no Buffy-fun. > Dressed, Xander went off in search of his roommate.
"Spike man. Whatcha got going on this fine evening?"
"Same as every evening, Whelp. Going to take over the world."7 Spike droned, never looking up from his half-slumber on the couch. He had been waiting for the signal to beat it when he overheard the boy's phone conversation. When it became obvious that Spike was not going to be asked to leave for the nightly shagging, he relaxed back on the couch.
"Wanna rent a movie? Blood, guts, violence? You know, goes great with garbage pizza?" Xander really did not want to spend the evening alone. Just because he wasn't with Buffy didn't mean he couldn't enjoy himself. Even if that meant he spent the evening with Spike.
Spike grunted. "Sure. Lemme get my boots on." Although outwardly impassive, inwardly Spike was jumping with excitement. He had quickly begun to relish the little time he spent alone with Xander. The boy's often morbid sense of humor appealed to him, and it was no torture to just watch the whelp.
While Spike put his shoes and requisite duster on, Xander called in a pizza order. The pair went down to the parking lot and drove off toward the video store. During the drive, Spike shot furtive glances at Xander. The mortal looked unhappy. Spike could smell the sorrow rolling off of him. This would not do-Spike was not going to spend what little time he had admiring the whelp watching him mope and whine. The vampire figured a bit of Dru-like behavior might just do the trick; that or get him staked. < What the hell, why not? >
At the video store, the vampire bolted out of the car and into the shop like he was on fire. Xander followed more slowly, confused by Spike's behavior. Inside the store, Spike paced up and down the aisles, pulling down and putting back video after video.
"Spike, was your last pint laced with something?" Xander asked. It certainly appeared as if the blonde had taken something. He was practically bouncing off the walls.
"Blood, guts, gore, violence. I want to kill. I want to kill. I mean I want to kill, I want veins stuck in my teeth, I mean kill! Kill! Kill!"8 The vampire began shouting 'Kill!' as he paced the aisles. Xander's eyes widened and he stepped back, more than a little frightened at Spike's erratic behavior.
Suddenly, Spike stopped. He pulled down a video, and then moved on, once again muttering 'Kill!' under his breath. Again he paused and selected a video. After a moment, he walked to the far side of the store and chose a third tape. The vampire then returned to where Xander stood. The human had not moved since the blonde had gone on his brief tirade.
"That's that, then. Let's go. Pizza'll get cold an' all." Spike walked up to the counter, brandishing a rental card. He looked over at Xander expectantly. After a moment, Xander came to and took out his wallet, paying for the videos.
Still in a slight daze, Xander drove Spike to the pizza parlor and retrieved their dinner. The drive home was in complete silence. Xander was really afraid that anything might cause Spike to behave as he had in the video store, and that was not something Xander wanted to experience while driving.
.......
"Hey Buffy! I told you you'd love it, didn't I?" Willow said, grinning at her friend. The blonde Slayer was tapping her foot in time to the popular dance music, scoping out the crowd.
"Oh yeah! This is great, better than I thought it would be." She wanted to dance.
Willow pulled Tara up from the chair she'd found. "We're gonna dance, coming?" Buffy nodded, following them to the dance floor. She stood several feet away, unconsciously distancing herself from the only same-gender couple at the party. Buffy loved dancing, but would prefer a partner, so she continued working through the partiers, trying to find someone.
The witches stumbled over to a refreshment table, thirsty after dancing for nearly an hour. "Water. Soda. I don't care." Willow gasped as Tara handed her a cup.
"Hi!" A deep voice caught their attention. "You're new here?" The couple turned to face a tall, well built student standing near them at the table.
"Not exactly. We're sophomores." Tara gave Willow an odd look. The blonde witch was sure that it was obvious they were together. She shrugged; the guy wasn't Willow's type anyway.
Buffy saw Willow and Tara talking to a 'tall, dark, and handsome' so she made her way over to them, seeing definite possibilities.
Ironically, that was the same thing Willow was thinking. Austin was a junior history major from Maryland, and seemed to be just the sort of nice, respectful guy Buffy needed: a big football player with gentle hands. "Buffy, there you are." She turned to see her friend standing next to her. "Do you know Austin?" She gestured toward the male student.
< No, but I'd like to! > "I don't think we've met. I'm Buffy." She smiled at him, her eyes wide. It worked; Austin was instantly focused completely on her.
"Austin. Do you like to dance?"
"Oh yeah." She held out a hand and they went back to the dance floor, leaving two relieved witches behind.
"Was he hitting on you?" Tara asked her girlfriend.
Willow giggled. "I doubt it. He's just friendly. Besides, you saw how he looked at Buffy-that was interest. He probably thought I'm from campus police and was checking for alcohol or something."
"They seemed to hit it off really well." The witches watched as Austin and Buffy talked and danced across the room from them. Indeed, Buffy seemed very taken with the tall, dark-haired student.
.......
Back at the apartment, Spike situated himself on the couch while Xander got out a couple of beers and carried the pizza box to the living room.
"So, my crazy vampire friend, what is on this evening's entertainment agenda?" Xander popped off the top of his beer and took a sip.
"Well, we have your choice of Delicatessen, a fine movie of the French persuasion; Tales from the Crypt: Bordello of Blood, some sublimely fine faux-vampire trash; and Snow White, a tale of a misunderstood witch betrayed by a round-heeled slut who can't keep her paws off the vertically challenged." Spike snagged a steaming piece of pizza.
"Um, we've got a foreign movie, a bad horror spoof, and Disney?" Xander looked at Spike worriedly. This was what came of vampires having seizures in the video store. He was going to have a talk with Giles tomorrow. Maybe sooner than that.
"Oi, I'll have you know Delicatessen is a classic! Goes after me heart, it does. Besides, who can resist those dwarves."
"You have got to be kidding, right? You like Disney?" Xander shook his head. Spike played mind games so often he'd come to expect that everything the vampire said had an ulterior motive.
"Nah. I just like watching the stupid bint eat the apple."
"Oh. Well, Let's start with that foreign one. I've seen Tales from the Crypt. Besides, after a few beers I won't be able to read the subtitles."
Spike inserted the tape and began the movie. After the opening scene, Xander turned to Spike. "Spike, exactly what is this movie about?"
"Cannibalism."
Xander looked down at his pizza, then over at the vampire. The blonde was contentedly slurping up melted cheese. < At least he isn't dipping it in blood tonight. > Shrugging, he bit into his pizza and returned to watching the movie. Knowing that it was seriously weird, and it was obviously going to be warped, instead of some artsy relationship flick, comforted Xander. Maybe Spike wasn't going any further off the deep end than he already was.
After several more beers, Xander, who had joined Spike on the couch, was rolling in laughter. "The revolutionaries..sewers.vegetarians." The boy wheezed in between chortles. Spike grinned, and then joined him. Xander seemed to be much relaxed compared to earlier, which made Spike happy. The mortal was beautiful like this, not worried about his friends or looking browbeaten for just existing. Snorting, Spike straightened and returned to watching the movie. < Quit mooning over 'im. Gonna get yourself staked. >
Soon after, the movie ended. Spike got up, stretching, and fetched some blood from the refrigerator. He poured it into a mug, heating his real dinner in the microwave. Meanwhile, Xander rewound the tape, or tried to. He was not quite drunk yet, but he had had enough to make the process a bit more complicated than usual.
Spike sat back and enjoyed the show, watching the boy bent over the VCR. The microwave dinged, and Spike quickly downed the blood, refusing to taste it. There was nothing to savor about the foul stuff. As he watched, Xander fumbled a bit and finally inserted another tape. The vampire rinsed out the empty mug, setting it on the drain board. He then retrieved beer and returned to the living room. < Nothing like getting comfortably wasted to fairy tales. >
Spike looked over at Xander several times during the movie. Each time, the human had slipped a bit further down in the chair, his eyes a bit more closed. By the end of the story, Xander had fallen deeply asleep.
Spike quietly turned off the television and VCR. The vampire reached down into the chair, gently picking up the boy. He carried him into the bedroom, laying him out carefully. Spike stared down at him a moment, then reached down and pulled off his shoes. He then laid the covers back over the boy and returned to the living room. The vampire silently tidied up the remnants of the night's activities, then lay down on the couch. Sleep would not come for hours for the blonde.
.......
"Tired." Willow yawned. It was nearly midnight and they'd been dancing on and off for almost four hours. "Have you seen Buffy?"
Tara leaned against her girlfriend. "She's by the door, talking to Austin." They walked over to where their friend was, seeing that the couple was still flirting outrageously.
"Hey Buff. We're gonna call it a night. Will you be ok?" Willow said.
Buffy grinned at the witch. "Yeah, Austin's going to give me a ride home." The witches looked at each other, then at Buffy. The Slayer leaned over to whisper in Willow's ear. "This is the Slayer you're talking to. Nothing happens that I don't want to happen."
Willow smiled and nodded. It was true; for all Austin's size, he couldn't hold a candle to Buffy in terms of strength. "Good night then. It was nice to meet you, Austin." Tara nodded as well, and the witches left party hand in hand.
"They're.together?" Austin asked, confused. Buffy nodded, laughing.
"I don't get it either. I mean, Willow's so pretty. She used to have a boyfriend too. I think it's one of those college things."
"Oh, ok. So, do you still want that ride home?"
Buffy shot him a suggestive smile. "Yup."
*****