Damned With You -- Spike/Xander Rated NC17 7/20
Title: Damned With You Author: amejisuto Fandom: BTVS Summary: An accident at Xander's construction site changes his life forever. Pairing: Spike/Xander Written for darkhaven's birthday in March of 2005. Rating: NC17 Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be. No harm, no foul, no money made. Warnings: Character death, bloodplay Beta'd by kitty_poker1, thank you! suki_blue cheerleaded on this fic too.
Notes: Yet another older fic. Enjoy.
Part Seven
“So, how’s the kid doing?”
The man who spoke to Spike was older, fiftyish maybe, with gray hair and a face lined with wrinkles thanks to age and working in the sun. The funeral had been for the benefit of Xander’s co-workers, mainly; with the exception of Tara none of the Scoobies had shown up and Spike couldn’t help but be glad. Xander’s friends didn’t need to deal with a pissy slayer while grieving.
Of course, none of them knew he was still walking around, and currently sitting in Spike’s old crypt so he could hear everything but not be seen. None of them but this old codger.
Spike narrowed his eyes and the old man spread his hands out in a placating gesture. “Don’t mean no harm, but I’ve lived here all my life and you get to know things. Was worried a bit when Xander showed up with that giant hickey of yours a couple months ago but, well, he’s been happy. Is he…dealing with the change okay, is all I’m asking.”
The other mourners had left and it was only him, Tara and this man whose name he didn’t know but who actually had known Xander, if just a bit. He looked over towards where his crypt was and saw that Xander had come out of hiding and was grinning at him. Spike turned to the man and nodded.
“He’s okay. Got him fixed right up, woke up the other night. He’s over there.” Spike pointed with his chin. “Don’t worry, mate, can’t say he don’t bite no more but he’s not…”
The old man laughed. “Not one of the morons that don’t know when to come out of the sun. Good. I’m…well, can’t say I’m glad but at least the kid’s happy and still around, you know?”
Spike just shook his head as he watched the man walk away. Tara came up behind him and laughed. “Xander always did lie badly.”
He shook his head. “Boy was always too goody-goody for his own good. That’s what got him into half of the messes he’d land in.” Spike walked over to headstone of the grave. Alexander Harris, 1980-2001. Friend and White Knight. It had seemed…fitting, at the time, but now Spike realized that his Childe hadn’t left his White Knight tendencies behind with his heartbeat.
He’d almost been late to his own funeral. They were walking through the tunnels and found that some minions in Sunnydale Below had caught some git of a maintenance worker. Of course, before Spike could even blink Xander was in there, throwing punches and kicks that two weeks ago would have left him tripping over his own feet. It was beautiful, seeing this graceful, deadly demon that still had the soul of his lover.
But did the worker thank them for their trouble? Fuck, no. He ran away screaming.
He looked over to where Xander was talking to his former co-worker. He could hear their conversation; the old codger was telling his boy to make the most of his second chance.
And that’s what it was, Spike realized. A second chance.
He looked at Tara and she was smiling too, but there were dark circles under her eyes. “What’s the matter, Glinda? The others still giving you a hard time?”
She sighed and looked down so that her hair hid her face. Her way of protecting herself, Spike knew, but he sure as hell wished she didn’t need it. “I—it’s just…well, they think I shouldn’t have agreed, or stopped you. They don’t think that all this...” her arm waved in a vague gesture, “that this is what Xander wanted. That you made it up, or persuaded him.”
Spike growled and clenched his hands. “Goddamned stupid fucks. If I was going to do something like that, I’d admit it. What do I care? They’re just going to end up pushing Xander away.” He caught a look at her face and stopped. “Fuck, Glinda, they’re pissed off at you. M’sorry ducks. It’s not fair; I shouldn’t have dragged you into this.”
“N—no. I’m glad. I did what Xander wanted.”
Spike could hear Xander walking up to them, his footsteps quieter than they had been as a human. He turned to really look at his Childe, but other than the extra grace and confidence, he was pretty much the same Xander. Oh, there were differences, sure. It was almost as if his Childe was…concentrated Xander. Everything that had made him special as a human was extra.
He grinned and held out his hand to Xander. “Glad you did, Tara, we both are.”
Xander bounced on his toes. “I’m very thankful, Tara. I’m sorry if I caused you…problems. But, I really did want this. Well, not the whole building falling on me and getting squished part. I would have liked to go on as normal for a few more years and give the guys a chance to get used to the Spike and Xander show, but hey, I’m here and, while I may not be breathing, I’m still kicking.”
Xander gave Tara another one of those rib-cracking hugs and Spike knew he was grinning like a bloody idiot but he just couldn’t help it. A week before his lover had been human, then Xander had been hurt and now he was a vampire but through it all Xander was Xander, thanks to this shy woman with wisdom beyond her years.
“Right, enough of this soppy shit. We’ll just have to go and visit the Slayer and company and prove to them that this is what Xan wanted and if they don’t like it they can take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut.”
Tara giggled and Xander grinned. His Childe bounced again and Spike found himself wondering if Tara had used jumping beans in the spell to secure his soul. “You know, there were a few times when they sent me on a doughnut run that I wanted to say just that. Well, maybe not that exact phrase, but hey, that’s a good one! I’ll have to remember that.”
They turned and started walking to the Magic Box, the two vampires keeping the witch in between them.
They walked through the streets of Sunnydale, and most of the shops and human places were closed up. It was May and getting dark later and later. Usually Spike hated summer, simply because he got bored out of his mind staying inside for hours at a time. Looking at Xander, he realized that he probably wouldn’t be getting bored for at least five hundred years or so.
He couldn't help but worry, though, about what would happen once they reached the Magic Box and about seeing Angelus the next night. Hopefully, after that things would settle down and Spike would have the chance to really spend some time with Xander, helping his lover adjust. Xander had already asked about hunting, but Spike was putting him off. For one thing, he didn’t want Angel getting his knickers in a twist over hunting scum bags, since Xander’s soul was definitely different from Angel’s.
For another, the feeling of having his Childe feed from him was so erotic that just the thought of it had him adjusting his pants.
Xander laughed and Tara looked confused but before either of them could say anything they had come out of the alley across from the Magic Box.
Xander stopped and looked at the shop. Spike knew what he was doing; he was using his new found senses to see who was there, cataloging scents and how many heartbeats were in the room. The sign said Closed and the shutters were down but there was light inside and Spike could tell that everyone with the exception of Dawn was there, even Xander’s ex. He growled and Xander looked at him worriedly.
“Sire? Do you want to do this?” And Spike hated that his beautiful Childe sounded so uncertain, so afraid. Xander was a demon now, he shouldn’t be afraid of anything, but Spike knew he was still the same person who still had the same fears.
And more than Angelus or any other monster Xander had faced down, he was afraid of losing his friends the most.
“Hell no, I’d rather be doing a half a million other things. Problem is, pet, we’ll have to face them some time and the longer we wait the worse it’ll get. Don’t want you to be the first vampire in history with panic attacks.”
Tara giggled and then ducked her head. “I—I don’t think that would be good. I mean, it’s not like breathing into a paper bag will help him now, is it?”
Spike chuckled and walked up behind Xander to give him a hug. “I can just see it now: Xander trying to breathe deep and forgetting he doesn’t need to and passing out anyway.”
“Haha, very funny. Come on. Let’s do this and afterwards Spike and I will take whoever is still talking to us for dinner at Mick’s.”
Spike grinned. “Onion rings might just make up for listening to the Slayer screech for a bit.”
Despite their laughter, though, Spike couldn’t help but wonder if the bell above the door as they entered the shop had a threatening tone to it.