Reptile Boy

Cordelia smiled brainlessly at Richard's comments, wanting nothing more than to tear her hair out in frustrated rage. She didn't know why she'd let her mother talk her into going out with him. Oh, yeah. He was a friend of the family.

A wealthy friend.

She glanced at his shy friend and wondered why she couldn't have gotten stuck with him. He'd have been easier to ditch. When Buffy appeared on the school steps beside her, she gave an inaudible sigh of relief.

"Thanks for inviting yourself along, Buffy," Cordelia said. Buffy suppressed an eyroll at the cheer-leader's version of graditude.

"No prob. Besides, I need fun time. I deserve fun time."

Cordelia snorted. "And this has nothing to do with making Angel jealous?"

Willow's arrival saved the Slayer from having to answer as they hurried inside.

Spike slung his duster on, closing the bedroom door behind him quietly. He made his way down various hallways until he reached the main room. "Dalton," snapped the blond, coming down the stairs. The bookish vampire hurried to his side. "I'm going out. Put guards on Xander's door. He doesn't leave the lair." Dalton nodded eagerly. "Anything happens to him..." snarled the vampire over his shoulder, as he exited.

The threat of unimaginable violence hung in the air unvoiced as he vanished into the night.

Spike grimaced as he stepped into the dingy bar. He hadn't expected much, but this was only half a step up from the cemetery. If that. Still it was reportedly the most frequented demon bar in Sunnydale. Everyone knew about it. If he wanted to establish himself as the new Master of the Hellmouth, Willy's was the place to do it. The blonde cracked his neck, rolled his shoulders and stepped into the bar. Two fledges seeing the grin on the blonde's face, filled with malicious glee, as he entered made a run for it the moment he'd stepped past them. Making it a total of half a dozen to survive the new Masters coming out.

Willy slowly crawled from beneath the bar. He tried to ignore the Fyral head staring sightlessly at him from the counter. The blond vampire, that had strolled into the bar an hour earlier, stood in the center of an explosion of blood and bile. Willy had thought the vampire was dead deader, when he'd leaped onto the table were the weekly poker game was held and challenged the patrons to a fight. It had been a massacre. By the time the blond slowed down, most of the bar had been slaughtered. Those he'd spared fled in terror. Willy eyed the demon nervously as he started forward.

"What can I do for you M-m-master," came the low stutter. The blond's grin was at once amused and terrifying.

"Well, mate. Just thought I'd introduce myself to the neighbors. Being the new Master in town. Name's Spike, or William 'The Bloody'. Whichever gets you off. Remember it." With that Spike stalked from the bar, pausing only long enough to dust a vampire hiding beneath an overturned table.

He knew Spike wouldn't be happy. But he was bored. And he so wanted to see the Willow-tree.

Willow walked home, eyes alert and cross at the ready. As she tried to keep an ear out for danger, she wished desperately that she'd taken the ride Giles had offered. But she'd seen the looks he and Ms. Callendar had been giving each other. She didn't want to cut into their fun time. She'd been certain she could get home without trouble. Most of the vampires having learned lurking on the blocks surrounding the Slayer's friends homes was hazardous. She wasn't so sure now. She sensed someone or something shadowing her.

She hurried her steps, trying not to panic. She was almost home.

The first vampire took her by surprise, despite being on alert. It appeared like magic. The demon popping up right in front of her. She jumped back startled, and shrieked as clawed hands gripped her from behind. Willow struggled uselessly in the tight hold as the creature in front of her leered.

"Looks like we got us a pretty little morsel."

She cried out in rage and fear as the one holding her spun her around. The ridged face stared down at her hungrily, and she began praying for Buffy or anyone to help her. Caught up in her terror she missed the sound of a vampire dusting. But not the vampire holding her, it dropped its meal turning on the one who'd dusted its buddy.

Willow found herself tossed to the ground as the vampire launched itself at something behind her. She scrambled out of the way of the fight, and darted behind a parked car. She didn't want to be in the way of whoever was rescuing her. When she heard the familiar 'poof' of a vampire being dusted she stood to thank her saviour.

Her rescuer had almost vanished by the time she'd made it to her feet. She noted that he was nearly a block away by the time she'd made it around the car. He moved fast, and seemed to fade into the darkness. She could just make out his features hidden in the shadows of the street. He was tall, broad of shoulder with dark hair.

"Angel," she called. She thought she heard a low growl. Why would Angel growl at her? He stopped, and half-turned. Her heart felt like it was frozen in her chest, and she couldn't breath.

"Xander," she screamed, racing toward the figure in the shadows. He smiled, slipping away into the night.

"Xander. Wait," she yelled. The figure vanished, leaving her alone on the street. Willow stumbled to a halt; head snapping around wildly. Had she really seen Xander? If it was Xander why had he left?

When it became obvious her saviour wasn't coming back, she turned toward home. And immeadiately felt the prescene shadowing her again. "Xander," she called hesitantly as she continued up the block. Her call went unanswered. Maybe she'd been mistaken. If it was Xander surely he'd have come when I called, thought the red-head as she finally made it home. Unlocking the door she ignored the feeling of being watched. One thing she did know, was that she' d been rescued. Someone other than Buffy or Angel was watching over her.

Xander waited until the door closed behind the red-head. He debated going to her, but he didn't. His angel wouldn't like what he'd done already. But he'd so wanted to see the Willow-tree. He'd missed her so much. Maybe Spike would give him a baby sister. Smiling at the thought the young vampire, vanished into the night.

Spike glared at the demon. It wasn't intimidated. Much.

"Master Spike, if you wish this to be done well...this is the price you must pay," said the creature.

Spike studied the Traken demon. Traders, magick workers, and opportunists by nature. He had no objection to cost. Nothing was too much for his Pet. He didn't want to be scammed either. The Traken met his gaze squarely.

"All right. Do it. I want it all." The demon nodded. It's tentacles waving in the non-existent breeze.

"As you will," it hissed before sulking away.

Spike gathered up the items he'd 'acquired' during the course of his night's work. He' d done enough for the time being. It was time to get home to his mate.

The vampires inside the Master' s lair were freaking out. No one had seen the brunette vampire leave.

His sudden reappearance, as mysterious as his leaving, was met with immense relief. Especially when the Master appeared only moments later. No one thought it neccessary or wise to mention the brunette's vanishing act to their volatile new Master.

Cordelia groaned as she dropped into the seat beside her girlfriend. "I'm glad this week is nearly over. One more date with College boy Friday and my daughterly obligations are finished." She frowned at the red-head's obvious inattention. "Hello. Talking here. Actually complaining," she snapped. "About the lack of see-age. All though it seems kinda one-sided at the moment."

Preoccupied Willow only nodded vaguely. Growling Cordelia turned to her lunch. Buffy wandered into the lunch room, spotting the couple she headed to their table and collapsed onto a chair beside Willow. A pleased little smile quirked at the corners of her mouth. "So we on tomorrow night?" she asked, snagging a carrot off of the red-head's tray.

Cordelia stabbed at her salad peevishly. "Whatever."

Buffy eyed the shreded greens warily. "Hey, Wills. You ready to take on Giles again?"

Willow stood, picking up her tray. She walked away and dumped her lunch, leaving the cafeteria without a word.

"Wills," called Buffy puzzled.

Cordelia muttered angrily under her breath. Buffy wondered briefly whether the girls were fighting, before her thoughts returned to Tom and fun.

Willow had only vaguely been aware of her girlfriend and friend. Her thoughts were all focused on her mystery hero. It had looked like Xander. Sorta. He'd been taller. Heavier, and paler. Familiar short, messy curls were gone. The stranger's hair had brushed his collar. Thick, mink-colored strands.

Xander. But Not-Xander.

Cordelia's and Buffy's words hovered at the edge of her conscious but didn't quite sink in. As she sat there thinking she came to an abrupt decision. She was going to visit the Harris house.

She'd all ready been there twice since he'd gone missing. But if her hero really was Xander...he'd have gone back at some point. Which meant there'd be some clue. Something to let her know what had happened to her best friend. She ignored the little voice that insisted she knew.

Knew all to well.

Xander lay staring up at the ceiling. It told him such naughty things. Turning over he nuzzled into his sire's neck. "Going out?"

Spike growled leaning in to bite at a pale shoulder. "Don't want to Pet. Things I have to take care of." Xander pouted and he caught the full bottom lip between sharp teeth.

Willow tried not to shudder. She'd sensed the prescene almost since she'd left the Bronze. Once or twice she thought she'd caught a glimpse of him. Walking fast she headed purposefully to her destination. Her steps slowed as she approached the walk. Glancing up at the worn down house, she tried not to cry. It was a visible, painful reminder that Xander was gone. She knew. The others though she didn't. But she knew. She was 'net girl. She'd found the police report. The slaughter of the Harris' had made the front page in New Orleans. She'd hoped that maybe, just maybe, his parents had been their typically neglectful selves and had left Xander behind somewhere else. Far away. But it had been months. And in her heart she'd felt him go.

Though something remained.

The porch creaked and she gasped, spinning around. Only to find nothing. At least nothing human. On the steps behind her lay a package. A tiny box wrapped in silver paper, tied with a purple bow. Stooping to pick it up, a wave of uneasiness hit her and she snatched up the box, taking off at a dead run.

The brunette vampire followed at a leisurely pace.

Safely inside her bedroom, Willow fell onto her bed. She slowly examined the gift-wrapped package. The silver paper sparkled with an odd sigil and the purple bow was tied in an intricate celtic knot. Curious she ripped into the paper, and tore open the box. She reached inside, pulling out the treasure.

Her heart climbed into her throat, and she couldn't breathe. Strangled sobs tried to escape as tears welled up in her eyes. She held it up to the light, then clutched the tiny Matchbox fire truck to her chest.

Outside on the balcony the brunette vampire hummed softly to himself.

Angel leaned across the bar invading the human's space. "Are you sure you don't know, Willy," growled Angel. Voice low, soothing and yet somehow oddly threatening.

Willy cringed back. He'd known sooner or later one of the Slayer's gang would come in wanting to know about the newest Bad. Generally he preferred Angel's visits. The soul usually making him too squeamish to really hurt a human. This time he'd wished it was anybody but. It hadn't taken him long to discover whose childe the blond was; he wasn't known as a snitch for nothing. He'd known this visit was going to be different. Business was going to be bad until the current situation was resolved.

Still Spike terrified the snitch more than Angel, at least in his current incarnation. "Hey. My buddy, Angel. You know I'd tell you, but he didn't say anything about his lair. Just announced he was the new Master, trashed the opposition and left. If I knew I'd tell you."

Angel snatched Willy close, pinning the rodent like human to the bar and growled into his ear. "You hear anything about my boy, Willy, you let me know."

Willy nodded eagerly, the vampire dropped him. "Of course, Angel. Ol' buddy. Anything for you."

Dalton squeeked beneath the boot that pinned him to the factory floor. "How long?"

Spike's voice was little more than a gutteral snarl. The bookish vampire gurgled, and the boot lifted up a bit. "Not long, Master," croaked Dalton. "We'd just checked on him not an hour ago."

Spike glared down at the toady. He debated dusting him on principal but Dalton was the only minion with any real brains he had. He let the vampire scramble to his feet. Instead turning his rage on his Pet's guards. The two minions were staked before they even knew they were in danger. Tossing the stake at Dalton who barely dodged it, Spike stormed from the lair in search of Xander.

It didn't take Spike long to find his childe. He'd had a pretty good idea where Xander would be already. Pulling himself up onto the balcony, Spike sat beside the still figure of his childe. He hadn't the heart to scold the brunette who sat gazing through the French doors so sadly. "Xan-pet," he started to say. Xander turned burying his face in the curve of Spike's neck, sucking at the still jugular like a puppy nuzzling at it's mother's teat. "Oh, luv. I know but not now, Pet."

Xander remained silent, scooting closer until he'd mostly climbed into Spike's lap. They sat that way, silently watching the red-head for several long minutes until Xander calmed. When the sucking became nuzzling Spike spoke. "Love. Did she see you?"

Xander shook his head tiredly. "Only ghosts of the past."

Spike took that as a no. "Ready to go home now?"

Xander nodded and Spike stood. Easily swinging the younger vampire into his arms. Xander giggled. "Home, James." Spike stole a kiss and did exactly that.

Willow glared at Giles and Angel. Both men looked sheepish as the red-head finished berating them. She snorted and grabbed a cross bow. Snapping out of their shock, the watcher and vampire loaded up. The three headed out for the Frat house to rescue the Slayer and Cordelia.

Cordelia leaned against Willow. "My heroine," she purred. Willow blushed.

"Actually Buffy did the rescuing."

Cordelia grimaced. She supposed the blond had been rather instrumental in their not being consumed by a giant snake demon. "Yeah, well. It's like her job. "

Willow grined at the typical Chase attittude. Not feeling like driving Cordelia tossed her car keys to Willow when they reached the car. For awhile they sat in silence as Willow drove.

"What's been your deal this week?"

Willow started, but didn't look away from the road. "Deal?"

Cordelia would have glared but that required movement. "Don't deal? me. What's with the non-verbal, lights on but no one's partying act?"

Willow sighed, and debated. What should she tell her girlfriend? There really wasn't much to tell. She thought she'd seen Xander. Somebody had rescued her from vamps. And she'd found a toy fire truck. All coincidental and nothing conclusive or proveable. "Just thinking about Xander."

Cordelia fell silent. She didn't know how to comfort the girl. She'd never really paid attention to the boy, and once he'd gone she'd had Willow to herself. Still he'd been important to her girl. "He'd be glad your happy," she offered.

Willow shot a look at her girlfriend, seeing the genuine sympathy in her eyes. "Thanks. He would." Cordelia slipped her hand into Willow's, and closed her eyes.

Reluctantly Spike left Xander sleeping. He still had unfinished business.

"It is done, Master Spike." The Traken stared proudly at it's masterpiece.

"Everything?"

The demon nodded. It's work an unparalled mix of magicks and science. Perfectly blended into the world's tapestry, as unremarkable as all the others of its kind until opened. "Down to the last enchantment."

"Good."

"My payment, Master Spike?"

Spike stepped back from his examination of his newest acquisition.

Blue blood splattered the pavement as the demon's head bounced down the street.

"Sorry, mate" muttered Spike, dropping the enchanted dagger onto the demon's still body. Pulling out a lighter from a hidden pocket, he flicked it before releasing it. Noxious flames rose from the swiftly burning body as Spike backed up.

"No one else can know about this."

The vampire waited until the flames died, leaving nothing but ashes, before striding into the night.

fin

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