5 Days More
by
BmblBee
Part Thirty-One
3:00 am Friday morning. Xander Harris has 20 hours left to live.
Spike dropped from the dimensional shift and landed, like a cat, on both feet in the cemetery at the edge of town. The second his bare feet hit the cold, dew dampened grass, the feeling hit him. Fear, depression, rejection, Xander. Something bad had happened to Xander.
He took off at a run just short of flying. His dead, still, heart lurched in his chest and he vowed to kill whatever was causing
such devastating emotions to his boy. His brain calculating the time and protesting, 'not yet. It isn't time yet. Please, no.'
The power of the new bond shocked him. After only one exchange of blood he could sense Xander as if he were standing
next to him and he ran faster.
Within minutes he reached his home street and down the steps to the small flat. Charging through the doorway, his eyes immediately searched the darkened room for his mate.
Off in a far corner, curled up and rocking was his boy. Naked, incoherent, keening and nearly comatose, Spike lurched to him
and fell to his knees, scooping the trembling boy into his arms.
"Christ, Xan, what happened? What is it?"
Turning his face in the direction of the voice, recognition finally snapped and cleared the glazed look from his eyes. Immediately Xander threw his arms around his vampire's neck and he clutched, frantically, as though he were trying to climb into Spike's skin.
"I woke up and you were gone. Not just gone, but GONE. I couldn't find you. I couldn't feel you. I thought you had broken the bond. I thought you left me. I thought maybe Buffy......"
Spike held him tightly, rocking and cooing in his ear. He cursed himself for not thinking that this might happen.
"No, Love, no. Everything is all right. Buffy can't hurt me. I told you the bond is still new. Sometimes it just doesn't connect.
Kinda like a cell phone, Pet, you just dropped the call is all. I should have left you a note, Love. I just needed to go out for
a bit, but I'm home now. Everything is all right, Pet."
Spike pulled back and kissed the wet, puffy face. "Listen to me, Xan, cause I not the kind of guy that will say this often but I love you. We are bonded and that's the way I want it. For good and all so if you are thinking of kicking me to the curb you can just forget it. You're stuck with me, understand?"
Xander pressed tighter, although reassured, certain thoughts still bothered him. The long hours alone had given him way too
much time to think.
"Spike, don't you think all of this is odd. I mean just a few days ago we hated each other, now we're married. How did that happen? Isn't it strange? Do you think Willow did a spell, or maybe somebody was stupid enough to make a hellmouth wish?"
Spike flinched. He hoped it wasn't the bond that had Xander's curiosity so accurate and on target.
"Come on now, Xan, no one is that stupid. Even the oblivious day residents of the happy city of Sunnydale are smart enough not to make a wish. And as for the witch, I haven't seen her. Besides she wouldn't cast a spell against her friend would she?"
Xander scowled. He recalled all the spells she had cast that put them all at risk more times than he could count. Still, he had to agree with Spike. There would be no purpose in putting a spell on them making them......what? Fall in love? Have sex. Commit to each other through a blood bond? No that was definitely nothing Willow would want for him.
"Yeah, I see what you mean. Still, it's so unexpected."
Spike's face lit up. "That's what makes it so wonderful. Just when you think life has nothing good planned for you, something pops up that makes you say "WOW!" Well, this is one of those wow moments. Innit? Besides, one of the things you learn living on the hellmouth is that when something brilliant happens, don't question it. After all, if it looks like a dog and it barks
like a dog, I say pet the hell out of it."
Xander threw himself on top of the vampire, causing them both to tumble onto the floor, Xander on top. He rained down a shower of kisses all over Spike's smiling face and ended with a hot passionate one on his lips.
"It is! And the best wow is that you said you love me. I love you too. I want to be with you forever. I just got so scared, but
you're here now and that's all that matters. Gee, I feel so silly for getting all psycho. This bond kinda made me hormonal. Hope that doesn't mean I hafta always be the girl in this relationship."
Xander grinned and waggled his eyebrows. Spike slid his hand down between them and pressed on the substantial piece of nongirlyness hanging between Xander's legs and leered.
"Very not the girl. Maybe later I'll let you show me just how much you are NOT a girl. What do you think?"
Xander's cock expanded as quickly as his pupils and te breath that puffed against Spike's cheek came in hot gasps.
"Yeah, well I suppose if my Master is giving me an order......" The rest of Xander's response was cut off by a yawn and a chuckle.
"Sorry, I guess I didn't get much sleep. You want to go back to bed for a while?"
Spike jumped to his feet and tugged Xander up with him.
"NOPE. We are going to spend the whole day together and I don't want to waste one minute sleeping. We have years to snooze, today we live."
Xander let himself be pulled up and considered what an odd remark that was. One more odd in an uber-odd week. Before he had a chance to speak, Spike swatted him on the naked ass and, taking him by the shoulders, turned him in the direction of the bedroom.
"Now, you, go. Get cleaned up and dressed while I fix you breakfast. Eggs, fried potatoes and toast. Sound good?"
Xander's stomach rumbled and he rubbed his hand over it in circles.
"Sounds great! I'll hurry. Hey, don't forget the coffee." Turning to dash off to the bathroom, Xander stopped and looked
back at Spike.
"Spike, did you actually go out hunting in nothing but my jammy pants?"
Spike looked down. He had forgotten he was wearing the oversized flannels that rode almost obscenely low on his slim hips.
"Oh, yeah, I didn't want to wake you up by scrounging around looking for my britches. Gave my victims a right good last laugh, I did."
Xander frowned and scratched his head, staring at Spike's bare feet and the boots that stood proudly by the front door.
"Yeah, but.........."
"Tut, tut, Pet. This puppy needs petting, now off with you."
Xander laughed and hurried to wash up.
Part Thirty-Two
5:40 am Saturday morning. Xander Harris has been dead for 6 hours and 40 minutes.
Willow knew it was almost over. In 20 minutes the sun would break over the horizon in a blaze of red tinted glory and spell the end in trails of blazing streaked clouds.
With her hands on the small of her back, she flexed and stretched. Every inch of her body ached for sleep. Her tired eyes burned and watered as she tried to massage her legs and work out the kinks that had formed from sitting in the damp corner so long.
She wondered what the protocol was in dealing with a dead body. A dead human body. Since it was usually a demon who died, it didn't matter. They seemed to have an inbred mechanism to deal with the unwanted corpse.
They either exploded in a gooey green or purple slime or they melted away into a puddle, much like the wicked witch on the Wizard of Oz. Of course the vampires were the easiest, they just turned to a puff of dust and floated away in the breeze.
Ashes to ashes.
Dust to dust.
Willow had, hours ago, convinced herself that Xander hadn't been turned. He just couldn't be. She had known and loved him all their lives. If something that drastic had occurred, she was sure she would know.
Now it was just wait. Spend the last few minutes that she could with what was left. When Spike returned she wanted to hear it all. Everything Xander said and did. All the stupid jokes he told, what t-shirt he wore, what he ate for breakfast.
Her heart wanted to remember everything.
Then, when there was no more to tell, only then would she wake Buffy and Giles and let the outside world in on their tragic loss. Giles would call his parents, if they cared, and then the nameless, faceless authoritative humans who would come and remove the best of what the world had to offer.
She knew the police wouldn't ask too many questions. Xander's death was just one more confirmation of the hazards of living on the hellmouth. He would be mourned, briefly missed and then forgotten by those relieved that it wasn't them or theirs, this time.
Slowly, she raised up off the little wooden crate that she had sat on for so long her butt had slat shaped indentations. Tip toeing in the deep silence of the dark room, she crept over to where Xander's body lay.
She had avoided looking at him for hours, but now wanted to take it all in. She wanted to lock into her memory every single hair on his head, each callous on his fingers, the feel of the stubble that he hadn't shaved in days.
It surprised her how much comfort she had gained from knowing how he had spent his last five days and that he had been happy. Maybe happier than he had been in years. She fought off the jealousy that it hadn't been her that could make his last time special.
She silently approached the sturdy wooden table as if trying not to wake him. The only illumination in the small wine cellar was two small bulbed night lights plugged in low to the floor. Enough light to see where you were going but not for fine detail or clear sight.
Stepping up next to the table, Willow stared down at the foreign object that held so little resemblance to the vitally alive young man she had grown up with.
As children he was her everything. He was her best friend, her only friend. He protected her and accepted her unconditionally.
As a teenager she wanted him to want only her. To be with her in the way that would have been the worst thing they could have done. She knew that the risk to their friendship was too great.
As a young woman she had somehow gone down a different path than him and not even realized she had left him behind.
Her small brow wrinkled in confusion. Apparently he was on a different path too. One she never would have suspected.
Spike was wearing Xander's sleep pants. Spike said they were 'together'. Spike was a vampire, a demon, a liar, yet Willow could see in his eyes that this was not a lie.
She wondered why he hadn't told her. It was something else they could have shared. Laughed about, talked about. She knew she wouldn't have judged him badly, but she didn't know if Xander knew that.
And then there was the issue of Spike? 'Wow' Willow thought. 'I never would have seen that coming.'
Cautiously, she reached out, touching his hair and sighed at the soft, thick feel of it. She tipped her head to the side, she hadn't realized it had gotten so long. Sadly, she knew why.
Willow had always been the one to cut Xander's hair. Starting from the time he was young and his only choices was his drunken mother wielding a treacherous pair of shears, or Willow with some clippers and a steady hand.
Over the years, she knew his head of hair as well as her own and had actually gotten quite good. Now she couldn't recall the last time she had cut it for him. One more thing he had needed from her and she had turned her back on him.
Willow knew if she lived to be a hundred, she would never pay penance for all the sins she had thoughtlessly committed.
Immediately she went about fussing over him. She tugged down his shirt and smoothed out the wrinkles on the front. She did the same for his pants, even trying to straighten out his legs despite their stiff cold resistance.
She wondered how the funeral director would pose him. Hands over his chest or arms at his sides? Neither seemed just right.
Maybe Giles would know. Unfortunately, it would soon be time to find out. It was nearly morning.
Willow went back to her corner to retrieve her small inverted crate which she then set beside Xander's body. Settling in, she laid her head on his chest to wait.
~*~*~*~*~
It was suffocating. Stifling and terrifying. Xander wanted to scream but couldn't. The quicksand that filled his eyes, nose and mouth also held him fast in its weighted sludge.
He had no knowledge of who or what he was. It was irrelevant information. His body responded only to the immediate base animal emotions. Terror, hunger, anger, and need. An undefined aching urge that grew stronger by the moment.
All reasoning and intelligent thought eluded him and he operated strictly on a basic animal instinct. An instinct that right now was shrieking at him to escape the touch of the vile creature that was pawing and clutching at him.
He had no idea what she was but the claustrophobic nearness of her made him crazy. She smelled of blood and food, two things that were quickly becoming his driving force. Each touch of her hot fleshy hands caused the venom to boil and churn in his guts.
Every nerve ending in his body was on fire. The sound of her breathing, the pounding of her heart resounded through
the small cave they were in, causing him a splitting headache.
He squirmed inside. But he knew he could wait. He knew sooner or later he would be released from whatever was holding him immobile and when he was...........
Part Thirty-Three
7:00 am Friday morning. Xander Harris has 16 hours left to live.
Xander sat, silently, intently staring across the small wooden kitchen table at the evil vampire. Spike hadn't said a word
in a good two minutes. An eternity when you were waiting on something this important.
His stoic, poker face gave away no indication of what move he was about to make. What he was thinking. What he would say.
It was maddening.
Xander had sought out the information through the bond but it hadn't helped. Like a air conditioning unit on a blistering
summer day, the bond hummed quietly in the background. It brought comfort, relief that blanketed his whole being, but
very little specific fact.
"Well? Come on, Spike. Human here. What's it gonna be?"
Spike took another glance at the item in his hand and one more peek over Xander's shoulder. The boy obviously had no idea how shiny and reflective the front of his microwave was or he wouldn't be sitting in the position he had chosen.
Spike squirmed his naked ass on the hard wooden chair and rested his bare foot over top the one still wearing the sock. THE sock. The last item of clothing he had left while that brat of a human sat across from him all snuggled up in t-shirt and BOTH feet nicely covered.
This was it. The tense anticipation hung heavy in the air. No one breathed. Well, o.k., only one needed to anyway, however
Xander didn't want to risk missing what Spike said by expending the noisy air from his lungs.
Carefully holding his hand near his body, Spike's left eye twitched.
"Do you have any eights?"
"AHA!" Xander leaped to his feet. He slapped his hand down on the table, face up, clearly revealing a lovely array of two's, a five, a jack and an
ace.
"GO FISH!"
Spike's eyes lit up in delight as his boy danced around, wiggling his equally bare arse, and shimming to a rousing unheard dance tune. His half hard cock swayed in time. It was a well played game that Xander had no idea Spike had just won.
With a solemn humility, Spike slowly rose from his chair. With grace and agility he lifted his foot and slapped it on the table top where he slowly peeled off the last remaining item of clothing. The look of exuberance in his boy's eyes made the cheating loss more than worth it.
"Well, well, if you aren't just the little card shark. Right then, you've won me. What do you propose to do. How would you have me?"
Xander stood slack jawed. He had actually won. He really never considered the possibility. He was certain he would lose. An end result he had no problem with, but this.........this was Twinkies on a sliver platter.
He tapped his forefingers together thoughtfully then smiled as all ten sprang out rigidly. Spike grinned as he watched the idea start at the top of Xander's head and slide southward in a wave of responsive happiness.
His big brown eyes lit up and wrinkled at the corners. The grin on his lips spread to a white toothy smile. His chin tipped upward. His cock did the same. His toes flexed and released in the triumphant argyle socks.
Xander immediately went serious. He clasped his hands behind his back and walked slow, deliberate circles around the defeated demon.
"Well, Mr. Can't Play Fish For Shit, I believe there was something said earlier about my proving who is the girl in this bondy relationship. Now since I came out on top in cards.........well, I'm sure you get where this is going."
Spike flinched. He had thought it would be a blow job, possibly in the shower. Maybe a massage with extra oil. A rimming.
He really didn't think the boy was ready for the big banana, so to speak.
He hadn't been topped since he and Angelus were together. Not a pretty memory. It wasn't that he didn't get off. Angelus
always made sure he got off, when it suited the big oaf. There was just so much humiliation and pain involved.
Not to mention the array of foreign objects, some including human body parts. Other than his Sire and that Flexsteel demon in the Kuntalot dimension he had never been topped. And that time had involved considerable drink and strange drugs.
The thought of allowing a human access to his arse was unheard of. Unthinkable. Impossible. It was just too undignified.
Yet, here he was. Not only considering it, he was actually resolved to it.
He was going to give his boy a free ticket to the tunnel of happiness. A chance to pop into the cave of hidden treasures.
A ride on the subway to paradise.
Xander stood patiently by with the bright, trusting beam on his face never wavering. He felt like a hundred night crawlers had been set loose inside him. They squiggled and squirmed uncomfortably, making him twitch and itch. It was wonderful. It thrilled him to be able to sense so explicitly exactly what Spike was feeling.
He also knew Spike could feel him, the trust, the honesty and the love. He would never hurt Spike and he wanted Spike to know that. Besides if Spike hurt, he hurt. Not really a good thing considering all the stupid fracas' Spike could throw himself into. Xander resolved to sit down with the vampire and discuss the use of safety helmets and seat belts. Later.
"Well, Master of mine, are you a vampire of his word? Do I get to collect my spoils and plant the flagpole of Xanderland in the full moon of your ass?"
Spike's whole body relaxed as he realized there was nothing to fear. He threw his arms out at his sides and his head back, eyes closed, appearing, for all the world, like a lamb being led to slaughter. Only the big grin on his face gave it away.
What happened next was not what he expected. He felt the whoosh of air as Xander sped past him. Confused, he opened his eyes and went in search of the human pet who had not grabbed, dragged, or even touched his winnings.
"Pet?"
When he went to the bedroom, he found Xander whistling a tune that sounded suspiciously like "Whistle While You Work" as he hustled around the room.
Leaning against the doorway, he watched the boy straighten out the covers, then neatly fold them to the foot of the bed. He rummaged through the night stand till he found a large bottle of oil which he set within easy reach.
Along with the lube he extracted a multi pack of condoms which, after glancing back at Spike, he tossed back in and slammed the drawer shut. Rushing to the bathroom, he returned within two seconds with an armful of fresh towels which he dropped to the floor by the side of the bed.
He jerked off the shirt, pitching it to land where it wanted, and he began the check list. "Lots of lube, check. Clean up towels, check. Hard cock, check." He turned to face Spike, the smile threatening to split his face. "My own personal vampire, check."
He then spun around and the smile turned to a leer. Xander crouched low and extended his arms. His fingers clenched, clawlike, and he slunk toward his intended prey.
Spike gave his best impression of a terrified victim as he turned to run. "No! Help! Help!"
Xander pounced.
Part Thirty-Four
7:30 am Friday morning. Xander Harris has 15 1/2 hours left to live.
The two men laid together in the small bed, facing each other. Their hands touched, caressed and explored the body of their bonded mate.
The cool hands craved the heat of the living while the warm, overheated skin of the human sought out the feel of the fingers that brought comfort to his burning need.
Xander was sandwiched. His back flattened up against the rough plaster of the cracked wall and his front pressed to the body of the man he had vowed to love. Till death do them part.
Literally.
Probably his.
"I've never done this with a man before. I want it...." Xander glanced down at his hard, ready cock that had just bumped
heads with Spike's and left a string of precum between them. "........REALLY want it, but I want it to feel good to you too.
Spike ran his hand down Xander's stomach and felt the tiny hairs on his body raise up and prickle under his touch. He then swiped his fingers over the sticky mess that was bubbling between them. Bringing his hand back up he slowly licked one finger clean before offering the other to his boy.
"It will, Love, it will."
Xander's tongue darted out to capture the white early spend. He immediately recognized the taste. What man hasn't sampled their own ejaculate, still warm from their body as it drips from their hands?
But there was more. A sharp, coppery undertaste that had to be pure Spike. Body fluid converted from stolen blood, to pool in his balls and magically change to a false release.
Xander moaned and sucked the finger into his mouth greedily, not wanting to lose a single drop. The smell, the flavor of it shot a wave of hot want and need through his body, kicking his urgency four more points up the scale.
Spike groaned too. The sight of the soft, kiss puffed lips sucking and manipulating his finger made his hips jerk forward roughly.
"Fuck, Xan, I can't wait to see you on your knees, sucking my cock. Gonna do it right out where everyone can see us. On a bus, in a park, me with my legs apart and you lickin' me bollicks, maybe finger fuckin' me arse while you just suck away. Then when I can't hold back no more, I'm gonna grab your ears and fuck your face till you choke down a flood of cum. Beautiful."
"Jesus, fuck, Spike." Xander's voice was soft, breathless. The vivid mental picture Spike painted shot through his body. It slithered down his spine and settled in his stomach. Flopping over on his back, Xander gripped his cock and slowly ran his fist up and down the shaft, spreading his legs wide and closing his eyes.
Spike knew two things. Neither of them would last long and Xander had just offered up the perfect position. Clamping a steel grip on his pet's wrist, Spike growled warningly. "What did I tell you about that?'
Xander reluctantly let go of himself. It was probably the single hardest thing he had ever forced himself to do. His cock twitched, angrily protesting. It had no knowledge of the future. It had never met Spike's ass. Introductions were on the table.
Spike sat back on his heels and chuckled at his boy's suffering while his own cock was being tugged, pulled and stroked.
Spike was an evil bastard.
Finally when he felt the tide of Xander's urgency retreat, Spike reached for the lube. He ran one hand up the crease of Xander's groin feeling the moist heat as it warmed his cold fingertips. The other hand tipped the bottle and both men watched as the first few drops of slick hit the purple bulging head of Xander's cock.
The shock of cold liquid burned like an icy fire. His cock screamed for friction, his balls grew hard in anticipation and his sore hole twitched with glee.
"Look how beautiful." Spike's voice was low, guttural, suggestive. "All hard and shiny, wantin'....what? What does this lovely bit of meat want, Xander? Do you want to be stroked till your balls ache so bad you think you'll die if I don't let you cum? Oh, wait, I remember. You want me to sit on this. Line it up to my hole and push it in. You want to fuck
my arse, don't you, Love?"
Xander choked. That was a question, wasn't it? Was he supposed to answer? He thought maybe this was a perfect definition of rhetorical. He assumed Mr. Webster would agree.
Spike leaned down to the stuttering man and softly kissed his lips. When he felt him relax, he slipped his tongue in Xander's mouth and licked every inch, relishing the remnants of their combined flavors that still lingered on his tongue.
His cock bumped and rubbed against Xander's sharing the smooth oil that coated it. Spike nibbled the side of Xander's neck and ear with teeth that felt suspiciously sharp.
"Please, Spike, please bite me."
"Not yet. When you're deep inside me and we both ache to cum, that's when. That's when I'll sink by fangs into this sweet flesh and swallow your blood."
Xander's whole body jerked upward, willing him to hurry. He understood Spike's warning of addiction. He couldn't imagine ever living without his vampire's bite.
Spike sat up, straddling Xander with his boy's cock nestled in the crack of Spike's ass.
"Slick up your fingers, Pet. When I lift up I want you to slide them in me. You ever finger fucked one of your little dates that wouldn't let you screw her pussy? That's what you're going to do to me. Get me all loose and ready. I like being fingered. Maybe some night when we're sittin' about just wachin' the telly, I'll let you finger my arse. You like that?"
Xander's eyes got huge. He was suddenly very grateful for that ugly plaid sofa and didn't minding adding few new stains to it. "Yes?"
Tipping the bottle again, he let more of the cool liquid drizzle into the palm of Xander's trembling hand.
Xander looked up in to the sex hazed, hooded eyes and gained confidence from knowing Spike was just as far gone as he was.
Emboldened, he rubbed his hands together then wrapped one firmly around the vampire's shaft and tipped his head, indicating he raise up. Spike braced his hands on Xander's chest for leverage, brushing his thumbs over the boy's nipples causing them to harden like two tiny clits. Xander paused and grunted.
Leaning forward, Spike hiked his ass enough to allow Xander to slip one hand between his legs as he continued stripping the smooth, uncut cock. His finger briefly rubbed and teased the hole before slipping in.
Spike's forearms went stiff and his eyes fluttered closed. Xander pushed his finger in further and rubbed the inner walls till he bumped a small nub. Immediately Spike jumped, his eyes wide open.
"Right there. That's it, do it again."
Xander repeated the action, staring intently on the erotic strain in Spike's face. Spike would have very happily allowed Xander to continue stroking and fingering him till he shot his wad over both of them, but he couldn't be that selfish. Not this time. Maybe next.
Gradually he became aware of Xander's cock, rocking and humping in time with his hand. It slipped slickly up and down the crack of Spike's ass, waiting impatiently for permission to enter. Reluctantly, Spike stopped moving.
"Grab your cock, Love. Hold it firm just under the head and push it against my hole. It might be a bit tight but we can get it in. You ready?"
Xander puffed and laughed nervously. "Fuck yeah, I'm ready. Still wearin' my winning socks aren't I?"
Spike chuckled and pushed off Xander's chest again, tipping his ass higher. Xander did as he was told and after the second try, The fat, mushroom head breached Spike's tight wrinkled hole. Without pausing, Spike dropped back down slamming Xander's cock deep inside. Spike's demon mewed at the wonderful pain and splitting burn.
Both men were instantly swamped with the flush of craving need that shot from their cocks throughout their bodies. It was the physical pleasure of intense sex fed and fueled by the blood bond that joined them.
"Jesus Fucking Christ, Spike! Fuck, it's so tight, so perfect. It feels so good it damn near hurts."
"Best fuckin' pain in the world, Pet. Feels like my arse is splitting open from your fat cock. S' good. So good."
Spike knew neither of them could hold on long so he took over. Leaning forward he began slowly humping his ass up and down. He rocked and rode. When he felt the tingle and pooling in his balls, his firm round butt bounced.
Xander held firmly onto Spike's hips, guiding him, while the vampire rode his boy's thick dick. Finally the buzzing in Xander's ears cleared enough that he could hear the small whimpers of need coming from deep in Spike's throat and he wrapped his fist snuggly around the cock that flopped freely between them.
As soon as his hot hands stroked the cool cock, Spike stiffened and froze. He pumped spurt after spurt over Xander's hand and stomach. As he did his hole clenched and rippled around his boy's rigid erection.
Xander's knees bent and his feet planted at Spike's sides. Digging his fingertips painfully into Spike's hips he held the vampire down as he lifted his hips as high and his cock as deep as he could manage.
The instant the hot cum filled his bowels, Spike dropped his face and snapped, sinking his teeth deeply into the vein in his pet's neck. Xander jerked as his cock again tried to ejaculate and his eyes rolled back in overwhelming erotic pleasure. Holding Spike's head in place, he never wanted him to stop.
Two big swallows, and Spike reluctantly withdrew his fangs, laving his cool tongue over the hot, angry wounds. It was so tempting.
It would be so easy.
Spike tried not to think what he was thinking.
Part Thirty-Five
9:00 am Friday morning. Xander Harris has 14 hours left to live.
The small cramped basement bedroom was dim and dark. The two small windows were, on the outside, street level high which, on the inside, translated to just a foot from the ceiling.
When he first moved in, Xander had covered them both with shades that drew down, blocking out the curious stares of people walking by and tempted to crouch down and peek in on his privacy. Not that, up until today, they would have seen anything scandalous or even interesting.
Now they served a duel purpose. They protected the lovers against the outside world's prejudices and the sun's burning rays. The only thing disturbing the illusion that they were the last two people on earth was the quiet voices and accompanying laugh track of the television they had forgotten to turn off.
Neither man had shown any interest in getting up, showering or dressing after the bone rattling orgasm they had shared.
Lying in the small bed together, they contented themselves to talk, touch and snuggle as the morning rolled on.
Xander had encouraged Spike to tell him about his childhood. He asked about his Mother, his life, London. Xander wanted to know everything.
Spike was thrilled. No one had ever taken an interest in him like this, not before or after his death, and there was nothing he liked to talk about more than himself.
Once he had started, little details flooded from his memory. Details like the color of the flowers on the sitting room wallpaper. The things that hung in the shop windows as he walked to market with his Mum.
He smiled as he described the cold winter nights sitting in front of the fire listening to her read to him and a tear escaped his eye when he spoke of his Father passing.
He told how hard life had gotten after that. His Mother had taken employment in a milliner's shop but it never paid enough. Family friends turned their backs on them and his Mother had often wept long into the night when she thought William was fast asleep.
Xander lay quietly, his hand never stopped caressing the vampire as he listened. Maybe, he decided, he was enthralled after all because he hung on every word. It was a world so different than what he knew, what he would ever see that he was captivated. Spike's descriptions of all the sights, the sounds, even the smell of coal fires and choking smog from the stove pipe chimneys was so engrossing, he could clearly see it in his mind.
When the words slowly ran out, each man slipped quietly into their own thoughts, lapsing into a companionable silence.
Just when Spike was beginning to think his boy had dozed off, Xander had another question.
"Spike, have you ever bonded with anyone else? I mean, I know you're like a thousand years old, or something, so I'm sure there must have been other........"
Spike smacked his pet lightly on the butt. "Oi! I'll have you know I'm only one hundred and twenty and since that ain't dog years, I'm nowhere near a thousand."
Xander chuckled. He loved getting a rise out of Spike. In more ways than one. He idly rubbed the slight sting away. "So have you? Claimed anyone else, I mean."
Spike leaned down and kissed him softly. "Nope. Never wanted to. You're my first pet, Pet."
Xander gave that some thought. "So why me? How come you claimed me?"
Spike looked into the deep brown eyes and wondered just what the answer was. Because he was going to die tonight? Make his last days happy? No, Spike knew in his heart that wasn't it. Finally after much consideration he gave an honest answer that he hoped they could both live with.
"I've been lonely, Xan. A man can only walk this earth alone for so long before he decides maybe it's time to stop walking. I've been everywhere and seen everything. I was tired, bored, depressed. I was sure there was nothing else for me, then you popped up. Right under my nose you were and I never saw you till now. You made everything old seem new again and I wanted to keep you forever. Guess I just fell in love with you, Pet."
Xander threw his arms around Spike's neck and hugged him close, whispering in his ear. "I love you too, Spike. My whole life I've felt like I was on hold, listening to elevator music and waiting for the operator to take my call and tell me
what I should be doing with my life. Now I know. I dialed your number and was waiting on you to pick up the phone. This is the rest of my life, Spike."
The reality and ominous premonition of his boys words burned deeply into Spike's brain and his dead heart cracked in his chest. Spike was eternally grateful for his practiced poker face. He knew he couldn't speak without his voice betraying him, so Spike merely pulled his claimed pet closer and snuggled under the warm security of the tattered blankets.
"Spike?"
Spike sighed the sigh of the oppressed. "Now what?"
"What happens when I get old? What do other vampires do with their claimed when they get too feeble? Do I get sent to a glue factory to be made into dog food and my hooves ground up for jello?"
Spike pulled back, a look of shocked confusion in his clear blue eyes. "Where the hell do you get such bizarre ideas? You're a young man, why are you even thinking about getting old? Maybe your Master needs to fuck some sense into you."
Spike dug his bony fingers into Xander's ribs, digging and tickling mercilessly. Xander laughed, squirming and trying to decide which direction his answer should take them. Eventually, the vampire took pity and relaxed his grip of tickles, leaving the human panting for breath.
As much as he wanted fucked, sucked and anything else Spike would do to him, Xander needed answers and reassurance more. "So what do they do?"
Spike groaned and flopped over on his back. Apparently they were going to have this conversation whether he wanted to or not.
"Depends. Some vampires are cruel bastards and they abandon their claimed either because they're tired of them or just for the pleasure of watching the human go insane from the want. Some vampires grow attached to the human but for some reason can't keep them. Usually cause they're too old or they get sick. In that case they kill them. Put them down. Usually drain them so they can keep the pet's blood and the memory it holds for a while. It is the most humane way.
The rest turn 'em. They are so attached to each other that they make the decision when the pet is still young to be turned so they can stay together for ever."
Both men became aware instantly of the rapid pounding of Xander's heart and his escalated breathing. Immediately Spike tried to reassure him.
"No. Xan, I wouldn't do that to you. I know how you feel about vampires and I wouldn't hurt you like that. We'll do just fine the way we are. You and me together. Now, I'm the Master here and I don't want to talk about this anymore."
"Yeah, but........"
"Tut, tut, Pet. No more."
Xander nodded and curled up around his vampire's cool body. Hard as he tried, he couldn't stop his brain. Every unanswered question stirred up two more. What about Willow and Buffy? Would they be mad? Would they still love him? Would they try to stake Spike?
How would they live? More importantly, how could he keep the hyper vampire's love and interest in him. Spike had an infamously short attention span.
After all, he was only Xander Harris, donut boy.
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