Family Bonds
by
Kimalis
22
Xander drove them across town, heading for the Shady Hill Cemetery.
“We couldn’t just patrol my backyard? Save us the trip?” Spike asked.
“Who am I to question the wisdom of the Watcher?”
Spike snorted. “You’re the unpaid help Harris. Question everything, I say. Bloody Watcher.”
“C’mon Bleachie, it won’t be that bad.”
“Harris where have you been the last few days? Every time you’ve stepped out there’s been a demon on your arse and it wasn’t always me.”
“Nah, coincidence. We just got unlucky is all.”
Spike looked at him sceptically. “That’s a pretty serious run of bad luck mate.”
“Look, you heard Giles; it was quiet, now it’s picked up a bit. We’re bound to bump into the bad guys a little more often.” Xander pulled the car into a space near the cemetery gates. “Anyway, you’re healed, you’ve been on human blood so you’re plenty strong enough. I know you love a good fight, what better way to find one than patrol?”
“I’d be much happier if the only bad guy you were bumping into was me.”
Xander shut the car down and took off his seat belt, turning to Spike. “I won’t be sidelined, Spike. Just cause a couple of demons tailed us doesn’t mean I’m going to leave everyone else to do the dirty work.”
“I don’t expect you would Harris. Just be a bit more careful than usual yeah? Something’s just not sitting right with me.”
“Fine. I bow to your experience on this one.” He looked down the street and then checked his watch. “We’re a bit early, they should be here in ten minutes or so.”
Spike turned to Xander with a leer. He laid a hand on Xander’s belly, stroking softly. “Ten minutes you say?”
“Give or take,” he replied, feeling himself getting hard in an instant.
“Well if, as you say I haven’t lost my touch, this shouldn’t even need ten.” Spike unbuckled Xander’s belt, and flipped the button open on his pants. He leaned over and brushed his lips across Xander’s while he lowered the zip and slid his hand inside Xander’s boxers. Spike’s eyebrows shot up when he felt how hard Xander was already. “Maybe just five mate.”
Xander moaned at the cool touch and readjusted his seat further back. “Don’t care how long, just do something quick before they get here.”
“That’s what I had in mind Harris.” Spike pulled Xander’s cock free and lowered his head, taking the length in his mouth.
Xander sighed and relaxed back in the seat.
By the time Willow and Tara pulled up, Xander and Spike were leaning against the car, weapons in hand; Spike looking slightly amused and Xander looking a little flushed.
“Four minutes Harris. Not bad mate.” Spike chuckled.
“I defy anyone to hold out longer when you do that thing.”
“What thing’s that?” Spike asked, twitching his eyebrow and licking his lips.
Xander got up and went to open Willow’s door. “Later, pal. Behave yourself tonight,” he said, pointing at Spike. “Hey Will, Tara.”
Willow and Tara grabbed their coats and weapons from the trunk. “Hi guys!” Willow called with a wave at Spike. “Hey you look better, your insides are all insidey this time. It’s the best place for ‘em.”
“Right. Thanks Red.” He nodded a hello to Tara. “Let’s get this over with, don’t know why we’re all the way out here when there’s a perfectly good cemetery outside my front door.”
“Giles wants us to check out this place because Buffy cleared that nest out yesterday and we have to see that nothing else has moved in. He said we should check out the other crypts and make sure they’re all empty too and just do a circuit.” Tara said.
“That’s all is it? Watcher has everyone organised doesn’t he? Alright then, lets do it.” Spike hefted his weapon over his shoulder and led the way in, calling back instructions. “Stay together, no one goes off alone. Too many demons around this week.”
All the crypts they visited were empty, with no sign of anyone or anything having been there in a while. They’d spent over an hour walking from one to the other, finding nothing and Spike was getting bored.
“Soddin’ ridiculous. Get torn to shreds by the buggers all weekend, now when I can really kick their arses they’re nowhere to be found.” He swung his axe at a tree, embedding it deep.
“Well on the plus side you really took care of that suspicious looking foliage Bleachie.” Xander joked, sitting down on a gravestone and patting the spot next to him. “So she-witches tell me how things are over your side of the rainbow.”
“She-witch is kind of redundant Xan,” Willow shook her head at him as she sat down. “Ooh, rainbows! Tara just finished her course on auras, she is now fully qualified with the California Metaphysical Nexus. Go her.” She nudged Tara with her shoulder.
“Oi! Are we patrolling or are we just having a nice little sit down?” Spike asked impatiently.
“Sit down,” Xander and Willow chorused together.
Spike threw his hands up and went to sit on a headstone nearby, lighting a cigarette and making sure to keep them all in sight.
“So Tara, auras? Pretty colours right?” Xander asked.
“I’ve been learning how to read them,” she said. “It’s kinda cool.”
“Do Willow, I bet she’s all multicoloured,” he said.
Tara looked questioningly at Willow who nodded. “Sure why not, no action here tonight.”
“It’s a bit dark,” Tara said. “Let’s move over here.” She indicated one of the garden spikes lighting the walking paths that was casting a soft glow over the area. Tara stood in front of Willow and stared just past her body. “Willow’s always looks warm. Now it’s mainly red, that’s her passion and love and shows how giving she is. There’re some shots of a pale blue too, that’s her magic and her spiritual connection with the earth. Pretty again today sweetie,” she smiled at Willow and got a wide beaming grin back.
“So it changes?” Xander asked.
“Yeah it does, the colours always mean the same things though. It depends on the mood and mindset of the person and who they are interacting with at the time. Willow’s is usually reddish but a pink layer really shines when she gets closer to me, that shows we’re feeling- Oh, umm-never mind,” Tara said, blushing furiously.
“What? What’s the pink?” Xander asked looking from Willow to Tara. Both girls avoided his question. “Come on Tara, spill.”
“Harris you git, it means the witches got a dirty tickle on for each other.” Spike shook his head at Xander who shot an apologetic look to the girls.
“Oh, okay, thanks for that Spike. Really. Tara, let’s do Xan now. C’mon Xan, stand over here.” Willow pulled Xander over and moved out of the way.
Tara looked carefully over his shoulder and around him. “Ah, its kind of a greeny-blue. Maybe turquoise, maybe aqua. It’s beautiful though.”
“And turquoise means what? I’m handsome, intelligent, a potential lottery winner?”
Tara laughed. “Not exactly, but turquoise is still good. It just says you’re sensitive, gentle, composed and calming-”
A snort came from Spike. “Calming? Think you might have misread there pet. Harris is bloody annoying at the best of times.”
“I’m going to ignore that Spike because I’m composed and gentle,” Xander told him in a benevolent tone. “Go on Tara.”
Tara frowned a little. “There’s an unusual colour there too, sort of an area of gold sparks. Its pretty, but I don’t know what it means, I haven’t seen it before. I’d have to ask my mentor. And there’s a touch of a deep green around you; that’s your reliability showing through.” she added.
Spike nodded his agreement. “Well, maybe you’re right after all. He can be relied on to annoy you no end. Good job pet. Now let’s get back to work shall we?” Spike strode over to Xander to hand over his axe. Their eyes meeting and fingers brushing as Xander grabbed the handle.
Willow walked away and picked up her bag, rifling though it and so missed the open-mouthed expression of surprise on Tara’s face as she watched Spike approach Xander. Her eyes shifted back and forth between them, a smile playing over her lips and a knowing light in her eyes as Spike stopped at his side. “Oh my,” she whispered seeing the effect Spike’s presence and brief touch had on Xander’s colours. “So much pink.”
Both Xander and Spike caught this look, understanding exactly what she had seen in his energies. While Xander stood there stunned, Spike moved quickly to Tara, making full use of his extra speed. “Not a word till he’s ready. The slayer is not going know yeah?” He spoke very quietly in her ear.
Tara nodded, smiling at both of them. “I-its okay Spike, I would never tell what I saw in anyone without their permission. But you know Willow would be okay with it, she loves him.”
“His choice.”
Xander had snapped out of his mild panic-induced daze and joined them. “Tara it’s too soon. Please?”
“Sure Xander. Don’t worry.”
He smiled gratefully and in a louder voice said, “Okay, let’s get this patrol moving people.” Xander strode off, leading the way along the path but was soon caught up by Spike.
“Oi! You said you’d be careful. Don’t go putting yourself out there like that mate.”
“C’mon Spike you saw what it’s like here tonight, what are the chances-”
“Alexander Harris if you finish that sentence and jinx us, there’ll be trouble mister.” Willow’s sharp voice called to him.
Xander tossed back an apology and they headed off to the next row of crypts.
Every building they stopped at was empty, with the exception of one. Strewn with familiar looking bones, shredded fabric and with a strong odour of purification lingering in the air, all signs pointed to recent habitation.
“Could have just been an animal.” Tara said.
“Not with those heavy doors. They were shut tight when we got here,” Xander said.
“Yeah, an animal couldn’t have dug that far down for a meal.” Three pairs of horrified, disbelieving eyes turned to Spike. “Oh come on, look at the bones and the clothes. You didn’t get that?”
They quickly closed the crypt up again and moved off with a new purpose.
“With a nice place like that, food source close by, it wouldn’t have gone far.” Spike led them further into the cemetery. “It’ll be in the new section. Fresh food.”
“Oh joy.” Xander said.
Rounding the corner and noting the new paving and smaller saplings that delineated the old and new sectors, they slowed and stepped into the dark shadows behind the last of the crypts. From there Spike could scan the lower area while they remained out of sight.
Spike scented the air. “Fresh earth, bit of decomposition and something else, definitely demon.”
Xander stood close behind him. He couldn’t smell anything Spike spoke of; his nose was filled with that scent of smoke and leather that was so Spike. Knowing it was too dark for the girls to see him from where they stood, he leaned into Spike and wrapped an arm around his waist, pressing his lips silently into Spike’s neck and scraping his teeth over the cool skin. “You smell so good.” His voice was softer than a whisper, knowing Spike would easily hear him. Spike’s fingers linked with his and Xander slid his hand down, rubbing it over the hardness that was stretching the front of Spike’s jeans. Xander took Spike’s ear between his teeth and let his hot breath spill over it while he licked.
“So can you see anything Spike? Should we maybe go have a look?” Tara asked.
Xander pulled away from him and Spike sighed, letting go of Xander’s hand. “There’s more than one grave been opened. Nobody there though. It must have moved on. We should get down there. But you all stay behind me, we have no idea what the hell this thing is.”
They trooped down the short slope, Spike scanning the grounds in front of them. He stopped, turning to the left and indicating for them to be quiet. “Down this way,” he pointed.
As they reached the end of that row, they all could see fresh mounds of dirt and smell the damp earthiness of newly turned soil. It was the additional smell of rotting flesh that stopped them. Xander quickly counted six open graves, very obviously they had been emptied by hand, going by the way soil had been thrown about, and the rough edges of the cavities.
“I don’t think I’m at all premature in saying bingo.” Willow whispered.
“No you’re right there Red.” Spike told her. “But where’s it gone? I can smell the bugger, soddin’ digusting-.” Spike stopped and held up his hand for silence. “Its not go-”
As Spike spoke, three pairs of lengthy arms hooked over the edges of one of the open graves as three demons hauled themselves out of the hole. Two were still carrying body parts and all were uttering long low howls. They were tall and thin and looked almost as if they had been stretched on a rack. Everything about them appeared to be elongated, eyes hung in long ovals, mouths too. Long, lanky arms and legs swung freely by their sides. A greenish, grey colour, they looked like no more than stretched and skewed rotting corpses.
“Heads up folks, here we go.” Spike called, lifting his axe and taking up a fighting stance.
The demons, on seeing the group, dropped the meals they had been scavenging and attacked in a whirl of arms and legs.
Willow and Tara joined hands to send pulses of energy towards the demons, knocking them back. Each demon hit by the green light rolled away screeching, but quickly jumped back into the fray. In this way they were able to help Spike and Xander by keeping the odds more even.
Xander was swinging his axe and the demons, their long arms and legs very obviously a liability to them, were staying well back.
“Bloody limbs are so long I can’t get the blade near their bodies.” Spike called to him. “Never mind, start with those then.”
“Spike I rarely find going for the long flashy parts helpful, they’re usually the distraction aren’t they?” Xander replied lunging at a demon with the axe.
“Usually mate,” he grunted, rolled across the ground as a long arm swiped at his head. A green energy blast hit the demon giving Spike time to get on his feet. “But sometimes, they’re just a bloody pain in the arse, lop one off and see yeah?”
Xander swung his axe low and connected with the creature’s calf. The axe easily slid through the skinny limb, cleaving it in two. When nothing sprayed, squirted or oozed at him, Xander called to Spike, “Chop away pal.”
The demon teetered for a moment and looked as if it were about to topple, but as Xander watched, a new limb began to protrude from the dry stump. Within seconds a completely new leg was formed and the demon started towards him again. “Ah, Spike, not so effective with the lopping of limbs, we’re gonna needs some body hits here.”
The demon Xander had been fighting paused, raised its hand and waved it through the air as though feeling something in front of its face. It let out a series of short high pitched cries and the other two demons froze in their tracks.
“Okay and what the hell?” Xander said.
Spike’s demon spun on the spot, the one picking itself up from a blast of witch power turned, and all three headed for Xander, their voices joining in a keening wail. Willow and Tara aimed a blast, intending to take them all out; it hit, but the demons only stumbled once and kept their feet.
“Sorry guys, we can only do one at time. It’s not strong enough for all of them at once,” Tara apologised as they sent a second burst at the closest demon, sending it rolling away. It soon got to its feet and again moved towards Xander.
Spike ran for the other two demons, swinging his axe at their legs. He was knocked back as a long arm struck him, the creatures still advancing on Xander.
“And again, what the hell? Why me? Am I easy pickings? Vampire too feisty for you?” Xander again hefted his axe and swung it at the nearest demon, cutting away a hand. Not for long though, as he saw the new fingers inching their way out.
Spike had gotten to his feet, and was circling around behind the third demon. It’s focus completely on Xander, it didn’t notice the vampire take aim and swing at its head. It was a clean cut, taking off the top third of its skull. The demon crumpled to the ground and Spike stood over it, waiting for its regeneration. When nothing happened he laughed. “Head shots Harris, it can’t regrow a brain. Must be too complex.”
The two demons towered over Xander, flanking him and he was unable to get the axe past their flailing arms. The girls aimed another round at the demon to his left, knocking it down as it connected with his shoulder, sending him end over end across the grass towards the reach of the second. Xander’s axe flew from his hand and he landed at the feet of the demon unarmed and dazed.
“Xander!” Spike shouted and growling, he ran for the second demon, waving his arms and axe. “Come one then, you want a fight?”
It gave him a quick glance then ignored him completely, turning its back and bending down to snatch at Xander’s arm.
“Harris! Roll. Your right,” Xander acted immediately, slipping out of the demons grip. When he saw Xander out of the way, Spike brought his axe up to the demon’s head. The arc took it through the skull and it embedded the blade the grass two feet from Xander’s side.
The last demon was battling against the witches’ power. It stood, they shot. Each time, however, it was able to inch closer to Xander, as Willow and Tara regrouped their energies and subsequent bursts from their hands grew weaker.
Spike took a moment to crouch down and check Xander, franticly running his hands over him and looking for wounds. “You’re okay?” At Xander’s amused nod, he stood and ran towards the last demon. It too was single minded in its need to reach Xander, to the point of ignoring the approaching danger to itself. Spike again easily got behind it and slashed through its head.
Willow and Tara were resting on the ground, both looking exhausted. Spike checked all the bodies for any signs of regrowth and, satisfied, made his way back to Xander.
Xander had picked himself up and was brushing dirt and grass from his clothes when Spike stopped in front of him and took a fistful of his jacket.
“You still going to try and tell me that was a coincidence? Just your patented Harris bad luck again?”
“Well yeah, I was considering that route.” Xander took Spike’s hand and lifted it off his coat. “And that’s not happy touching there pal.”
Spike shook his head. “Mate those things disregarded the big blades swinging at them to get to you. They didn’t go for the witches, they didn’t go for me. They went for you. Something is going on here.”
“Spike they didn’t go for the girls because they had that green thing happening. They didn’t go for you because you were the strongest. They went for me cause I had nothing, that’s the only thing going on.” Xander thought and nodded at his own reasonable argument.
“No you didn’t have nothing mate, you have a pretty mean looking axe, you took off a couple of body parts, you were a threat to them but they were overlooking that too for some reason.”
“They overlooked it cause they knew I probably wasn’t strong enough to get past their limbs to their heads. It’s been the same all weekend Spike. The demons we’ve encountered, they all know I’m an easy target. If you want a kill, you go for the weakest right? I’m right. I’ve watched the Discovery Channel, I know how it works.” He looked around for his axe and walked away to collect it. “Simple. And besides when we were at the Lion, there were loads of demons in there and only two of them gave me a second thought.”
“Only two of them acted on that second thought Harris. Then another two in the days since,” Spike said following him. “Those are some fairly high stats. You can’t ignore that and keep putting yourself out there.”
“Watch me Bleachie. This is the Hellmouth, Giles says demon activity is increasing. I am neither super, nor powery. Just a guy with a sharp stick most of the time. If there’s trouble about it’s going to come for me, its just logical. And I’m just going to have to be ready to help fight it because that’s what I do. I help. I always have and I’m not going to hide behind your duster or Buffy’s skirts just because we’ve bumped into the clueyer side of the demon population. Tomorrow, we’ll go out again and I’ll run interference while you get your arse kicked or Buffy gets a good pounding, but you won’t be looking for bullseyes painted on your heads then will you?”
“Yeah, well, your bleedin’ logic has a few holes from where I’m standing Harris. But you know what? You’re an adult and I’m not gonna go telling you what to do. For now. But if I’m right and we find out these things are deliberately targetting you then all bets are off and you do what I bloody well say got it?”
“If and when, Bleachie. Stop worrying. It’s all just a normal night out on the Hellmouth.”
Xander wandered over to Willow and Tara offering them both a hand up.
Spike grunted and picked up his axe. “Let’s finish this normal night out then. One more section to go.”
23
The remainder of Shady Hill was deserted. No more disturbed graves, all the crypts empty. Spike and Xander walked Willow and Tara back to their car.
“Xan we’re going to check in with Giles at the shop. You coming?” Willow asked.
“Not tonight Will. Just not up for the big confrontation today. You can explain what happened, minus Spike’s crazy theories thanks.”
“Oi! None of that mate. My theory is as good as yours, better actually since mine is right.”
“That remains to be seen, Bleachie.”
“Xander I’ll call you when I’ve talked to my mentor, Maria. She should be able to tell me about those extra colours, um, you know, the gold.”
“Sure Tara,” Xander smiled. “And thanks.”
She smiled back and nodded, climbing behind the wheel.
~*~*~*~*~
Xander waved them off and watched till their car was out of sight. The moment it turned a corner, Spike was on him. His hands were pulling on Xander’s shirt, sliding underneath and over his back. His tongue forced its way deep into Xander’s mouth.
Xander responded eagerly; his hands on Spike’s face, pressing their lips harder together. When he ran out of breath, Xander pulled away panting. “What was that for? Not that I am in any way, shape or form complaining.”
“I need a reason?” Spike asked, twisting his body against Xander and nuzzling his neck.
“God no, never.” At that point, Xander’s stomach growled loudly.
Spike kissed him once more and sighed. “Right, food and fuck in that order. Get in the car then Harris. We’re eating at the Lion.”
Xander backed Spike up to the car and pushed him down over the hood, holding him there with one hand while the other unbuckled Spike’s jeans. “Food and fuck? And you say I have a way with words. So, appetizer, main, then fuck, what do you say?” Xander pulled Spike’s jeans down to his thighs, taking the jutting erection in his hand.
“I say knock yourself out Harris.” Spike lay back feeling the cool night air on his cock suddenly become a wet warmth sliding down its length. He felt the head hit the back of Xander’s throat, then the warm lips were moving back up as he withdrew.
Xander kept the tip in his mouth sucking hard and working his lips around the ridge, his tongue flicked over the slit then gently dipped in. He let his teeth rake gently down the underside of Spike’s cock as he slid back to the root, keeping up a steady suction. Xander slipped a finger in his mouth then slid his hand under Spike, probing at his entrance.
Spike groaned and thrust up into Xander’s mouth, then back to his finger. He grunted as the finger passed through the tight ring and found his prostate immediately. Xander was keeping up a steady stroke with both his finger and mouth and Spike felt the pressure building inside him. He jerked rhythmically in time with Xander, his hands coming down to clutch at Xander’s hair. Very shortly, he was tensing his muscles and shooting deep into Xander’s throat. Xander held him still and swallowed against his cock, taking all the cool seed.
“Fuck Harris, you don’t muck around do you?”
Xander grabbed Spike by his duster and hauled him upright, slamming his lips onto Spike’s mouth. Spike tasted himself in Xander’s mouth and moaned and the combination of flavours assaulting his senses.
Xander pulled away and looked him in the eye, “Told you I was hungry.” He stepped back while Spike zipped himself up again. “Ok, lets go. In the car pal.” Xander walked around to his side pausing with his hand on the door. Had he just done that? Blown a vampire on the hood of his car in full view of anyone who might drive by? Why had he done that? Not his usual style, but then Spike was hot and Xander was feeling a little antsy. He shrugged and put the unusual behaviour down to the influence of his companion.
~*~*~*~*~
Xander pulled up on the street, just a few doors from the Bear and Lion. He climbed out of the car feeling Spike’s hand on his ass. As his cock gave a twitch and began to fill he shook his head. Something about that guy had Xander in an almost perpetual state of arousal. He shut the door and turned around finding Spike there right in front of him. “Damn how do you do that?”
Spike shrugged and rolled his eyes. “Vampire, one of my many skills. You should see what else I can do.” He slid his hand over Xander crotch squeezing and kneading him to hardness.
“Do you ever stop with the horny?”
Spike snorted. “Do you want me to?”
“No,” Xander answered without hesitation. “It’s just that I’m finding myself wanting to do things with you in places I shouldn’t want to do anything with anyone. Like right now? I’m so hard I just want you to fuck me here in the middle of the street. But please don’t cause I know I would regret that choice.”
Spike chuckled. “Well mate, let’s get you fed and me watered, then I’ll fuck you anywhere and anyway you please. Okay?”
“Sounds like a plan to me.”
~*~*~*~*~
Spike led the way into the Lion, scanning the pub surreptitiously, counting heads, identifying demons, sizing up humans.
“Door-bitch!” a loud voice boomed across the room.
Spike smiled and shook his head. “Not been much of one of late Thomas.”
“Well you need to just come around more often, am I right? Evening Xander.”
“Hey Tom.” He pulled up a stool at the bar and leaned over to shake Tom’s huge hand. Spike stood next to Xander resting an arm over his shoulders.
“Any chance of some grub Tom? Rosie still got the kitchen open?”
“Sure has, just let me go see the old girl, tell her you’re here.” Tom put a beer each down in front of them and disappeared into the kitchen.
“Looks like a busy night.” Xander said, taking in the variety of demons and humans sprinkled around the room.
“Yeah, that it is mate. You stay with me yeah? Don’t go wandering off.”
Xander frowned at him and pulled away from his arm. “What am I, twelve?”
“No, mate I know damn well you're far from it. But if I’m right, this really isn’t the safest place for you to be on your own. I don’t want you to get caught up in something if I’m not around to help you out.”
“Oh come on Spike, again with the crazy?” When Xander saw the genuine concern on Spike’s face he relented. “Fine, you can shadow me everywhere until we find out that I’m right. I can make that sacrifice.” He grinned at Spike and got an exasperated sigh back.
“As you well should,” Spike put his arm back around Xander and kissed him. Xander had just pulled him closer by the waist of his jeans when they were interrupted.
“Well William I see you didn’t make an even bigger arse of yourself yesterday.” Rose came out from behind the bar and hugged Xander. “Hello chooky, did he apologise for being such a gormless twit?”
“Yes he certainly did, although not in as many words,” Xander told her with a grin.
“Good!” she patted his back. “Daft sod should never have gone.”
“Oi! Enough with the insults woman.”
“Oh stop whining William and give me a hug. You’re lucky he took you back you silly boy.” Rose grabbed Spike around the shoulders and pulled him to her.
“Hey! Get your dead hands off my wife.” Tom laughed as he came back from the kitchen carrying two plates of food. “On second thoughts, grab away, she needs refuellin’, does my Rosie.” Tom put the food down on the bar and winked at Xander.
Spike stepped back with a smirk and held up his hands. “Not my job mate.”
Rose huffed at Tom and picked up the plates. “Come on Xander, we’ll get you a nice table out of the way. From what I’ve seen, you two need it, we don’t run that kind of establishment you know.”
Xander was about to protest when he saw the teasing glint in her eye. He followed her to the booth in an out of the way corner and looked around for Spike. Still talking to Tom. Xander thanked Rose and began to eat, too hungry to wait for Spike.
~*~*~*~*~
“So everythin’ worked out okay for you two?”
“So far Tom. Another set of demons went for him tonight. Caught a whiff of him and bypassed me completely. Don’t know what’s going on mate.” Spike frowned and shook his head.
“Told you, Spike. You’re gonna have to keep an eye on that one. Bilarl was in again last night nosin’ around. Now he’s a nice fella and all and I won’t bar him from the pub, so you need to watch your boy.”
“He thinks its nothing. Says it’s just misfortune. I don’t know Tom, he says I’m crazy thinking there’s something to it. What do you think?”
“Well I don’t know him at all really; he seems like a top bloke though. Me and Rosie are right fond of the little fella. The other demons seem to be too. Now whether there’s more to it I can’t say. You’ll have to keep your peepers open and work that one out.”
“Bloody hell.” Spike sighed. “I guess I just keep fighting them off till we have some information either way then.”
“If me or the old girl think of anythin’, we’ll let you know.”
Spike picked up their beer and nodded his thanks to Tom.
~*~*~*~*~
Xander had watched Spike and Tom’s exchange from across the room. He was too far away to pick up the words and could only hear a mumbling over the background sounds. He could tell from their faces though that it was something serious. When Spike sat down Xander pounced.
“What was that about? You didn’t look too happy, is something wrong?”
Spike considered lying to him but then reasoned with himself. If telling him that Tom had similar concerns made him more cautious and more open to the idea that something else was at work, then it could help Spike’s cause.
“He says Bill has been looking for you. He also says the other demons seem to fancy you a bit more than they should. Funny. I remember someone else telling you that a couple of hours ago.” Spike ate a forkful of his food.
“You’ve managed to convince Tom of this too now?”
“No Harris, it was Tom who raised it on Friday night. Since then, with everything that’s happened, I tend to agree with him.”
“Well I don’t, but I told you I would be careful and I meant that. Now, on the subject of conspiracy theory versus Hellmouth unpredictability I guess we have to agree to disagree on this, unless you want to fight about it. I don’t though.”
“No Harris, I’m not gonna fight with you. I can think of much better things to do with you, even though you piss me off no end over this.”
“I piss you off? Gee, I had no idea.”
“Shut up and eat your food, git.” He leered at Xander. “You’ve got better things to do.”
Xander ate quickly then jumped up and took the empty plates back to the bar, Spike following with the beer glasses.
“Oh you boys go right on through to the kitchen. Rosie wants to give that fella there the once over.” Tom lifted the partition in the bar and waved them through.
Xander impatiently hurried Spike through in front of him. “Come on, come on, places to be, vampires to do.”
Xander took the glasses off Spike and dropped them in the sink.
“Chooky you can look after those while I see to this one.”
“No problem,” he said happily and went to the sink to wash their plates.
Rose turned back to Spike. “Right you, get it off, I want to see my handiwork.”
Spike peeled of his duster and Tshirt and stood still while Rose looked him over. “Oh, very good. Just the tiniest bit of scarring there but even that’s hard to see.”
He kissed her cheek. “You’re bloody brilliant Rose, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
Rose blushed and handed him back his shirt. “Here get this back on before Tom comes back, I’ve had enough of his jokes tonight.”
Spike dressed and Xander finished cleaning up their plates. On the way out Xander stopped and paid Tom for the blood delivery, assuring him it was arriving as ordered. Spike frowned a little as the money changed hands but said nothing.
With a final thanks and promises of another meal soon, they headed back out to the car.
Xander had just beeped the car open when a voice called to him from across the street.
“Xander, hi!” Bilarl waved from the other sidewalk and crossed the road at a jog.
“Ah, Bilarl. Um, hi. Spike you remember Bilarl right?”
Spike let out a low growl and positioned himself beside Xander. He wrapped both arms around Xander’s waist and held him tight, his yellow eyes flashing from within a vamped-out face.
“Woah, easy there master. I was just saying hey.” Bilarl backed away with his hands up. “I get it; he’s not on the market. Shame though-”
“Billy!” The short sharp sound came from outside the door of the Lion. Tom stood there with a trash bag in one hand, the other beckoning the demon. “Come here lad.”
“Oh shit, Xander tell him I wasn’t doing anything, he’ll rip my arms off if he thinks I was hitting on you.”
Xander looked from Spike to Bilarl to Tom. It was true, he had only said hello, no harm done. “It’s okay Tom, Bill was just saying hi. We’re going now anyway,” he called back down the street.
“Thanks Xander,” he said, warily edging around Spike. “Um, see you later then.”
At Spike’s louder growl Bilarl high-tailed it down to the Lion. Xander heard Tom’s voice echo up to them.
“Serves you right you dozy blighter, messing with a master’s boy. Lucky he didn’t bite you.” Tom led Bilarl inside.
“Game face for Bilarl, Spike? Was that necessary?”
Spike shook his head, looking at Xander from his regular blue eyes, but not letting him go. “Course it was Harris. Bilarl there is a demon, he needed to know that you aren’t up for grabs. My demon made sure he got that.”
Xander snorted, “Well I think you got that message across loud and clear.”
“Right then, one more message to send and we’re off.” Spike turned Xander around and slid his hands over his back and down to cup his ass.
“Oh I got that message long ago,” Xander laughed, kissing him. “Let’s get going; there’re more comfortable places than this.” They climbed into his car and Xander drove them back to his apartment, battling against wandering hands to keep his focus on the road.
~*~*~*~*~
Xander got up with his alarm the next morning and promptly tripped over the pants and boots strewn across the bedroom floor. Last night, they had been in a hurry, and he remembered there would be more coats and shirts thrown about the living room. Showered, shaved and dressed he headed off to work, leaving Spike to sleep.
It was a normal start to the day for Xander; high-cholesterol breakfast, reports and proposals. He worked steadily until just before lunch when a phone call came through.
“Mr Harris, a Ms Maclay on line two for you.”
He punched the button and transferred the call. “Hey Tara, what’s up?”
“Oh Xander, sorry to bother you at work but I was wondering if I could see you today. Maybe in your lunch break?”
“Well I’ve been a pretty popular guy for lunch dates this week and its only Wednesday. Sure, I’ll be free in about an hour, is that okay?”
“That would be great, I’ll bring you a sandwich. Oh and Xander, I’m bringing my mentor with me, she wants to meet you.”
“Umm, sure, ok. See you later.” He hung up the phone and tapped his pen on the desk. So not just as simple as asking the mentor, the mentor wanted to see for herself. Pushing it to the back of his mind, Xander again focused on his work until there was knock at the door to tell him Tara had arrived. He grabbed his jacket and headed to the outer office.
Tara was standing there with a small, dark-haired woman. “Hi Xan. Um Xander Harris this is my mentor, Professor Maria Williams.”
The woman smiled and shook his proffered hand. “Good to meet you Mr Harris.”
“Oh Xander, please. Let’s go outside, there’s a tree with my name on it.” Xander picked up a ground sheet on the way out and spread it over the grass under the tree.
“So,” he said when they were all seated. “Why do I deserve the special visit?”
“Xander, I asked Maria about the odd colours I saw last night. She wanted to check herself, just in case I had seen it wrong.”
“Oh, ok, well what can you see?” he asked Maria.
“Nothing yet, I haven’t looked. I wouldn’t do that without your permission first. It would be quite ill-mannered,” she said with a frown.
“So you don’t just see this stuff all the time?”
“No Xan, you have to concentrate on it. It takes a bit of effort so you can’t just walk around looking at everyone’s colours. Besides, like Maria said, it’s a bit rude to just invade someone’s energies like that.”
“Well, ok, you have my permission to peek.”
Maria smiled and settled herself comfortably in front of Xander. “Thankyou Xander. Just relax.”
Xander watched as Maria’s eyes slipped out of focus and she gazed into the air around him. “Yes I see, the turquoise is strong isn’t it?” A small expression of surprise flitted over Maria’s face and then was gone. “Right Tara I can see the colours you mean. Of course you wouldn’t have been able to make anything of that. It’s not very common at all.”
Xander looked from Tara to Maria. “So what is it then? Do you know?”
“Oh yes Xander I do know. It’s magic. It’s the signature of a spell.”
24
“Signature of a spell? What do you mean? What is that?” Xander asked, confusion sounding in his voice.
“Xander, quite simply it means that you have had a spell cast on you and the gold colours that Tara saw are what indicates that.”
“That’s the magical energies interacting with Xander’s natural energies?” Tara asked.
“That’s right. The clash shows as gold sparks. The rest of his aura will change, as does everyone’s, but the gold will remain.”
“But, wait, spell? There’s a spell on me? Tara, did you or Willow do this?”
“Xander no!” Tara looked horrified. “You know we would never do that without telling you.”
“Well not on purpose, but could Willow have done something accidentally?”
“It’s possible Xander, I guess.” Tara had to concede that point. Willow had been known to have a spell or two go spectacularly wrong.
“Excuse me, Xander.” Maria held her hand up to stop Xander’s next question. “Tara how long have you and Willow known Xander?”
“Me, just a couple of years, but Willow and Xander have been friends almost their whole lives. Why?”
“Bear with me now. How long has Willow been a practising Wicca?”
“Umm, a few years now, she started in high school.”
Xander interrupted. “Maria, I don’t mean to be rude but I’m spelled here, you need to tell me what’s going on.”
“Alright then Xander, here’s what I can tell you. Neither Willow nor Tara are responsible.”
“You’re sure? How?”
“I can clearly see the magic in your aura. Its old magic, it’s been there many years, too many for your friends to have cast it.”
“But who then?” Xander asked, feeling a small measure of relief that the girls had not done anything to him.
“I’m so sorry Xander I can’t tell you anything about the origin of the spell. All I can tell you is its well merged with your natural energies. It has been a part of you for a while now. It’s quite large, taking up about a square foot of your aura, just above your left shoulder. The sparks are moving so that means the spell is active. There is really nothing else I can tell you Xander. Again I’m sorry.”
“You can’t tell what it does?”
Maria shook her head sadly and got to her feet. Tara and Xander stood with her.
“Thankyou, so much Maria. Maybe Willow and I can take it from here. There might be a way to find out more about its purpose.”
“Xander if anyone could help you further, it would be Tara. Work with her and Willow and you may just find your answers.”
Xander stood and shook her hand. “Thanks Maria. I appreciate you coming.”
Maria left and Xander sat back down with Tara. She took a couple of sandwiches out of her bag and passed them over to him. “Sorry it’s not as nice as yesterday’s lunch, but think there’s meat in it this time.”
Xander thanked her but put the food aside. “Tara what the hell is happening? How can I have been under a spell and not known.”
“Xander you have to try not to worry too much. We have no idea what the spell could be. It might even be nothing, you know just like, oh, something to make your freckles disappear.”
“I don’t have any freckles.”
“Well there you go,” Tara gave him a wide but forced smile. “We solved it. Go us.”
“Tara-”
Tara laid her hand on his shoulder. “Xander just give us some time. Willow and I can do some work and we might be able to get more information for you.”
“And when you say work, you mean more magic right? So you’re gonna fight fire with fire?”
“The magic we can do would be harmless to you. It wouldn’t even hang around once we stopped. But it might tell us how this is affecting you, whether it’s changed you. It could tell us any number of things, but we won’t know until we try.”
Xander sighed heavily. “Okay. When?”
“Give us a couple of days to get organised. We’ll need to do some reading to find the best way of tackling this and we’ll need to source some ingredients too. I’ll call you when we’re ready.”
“What if this is what Spike has been talking about? He thinks there’s something that’s been sending the demons after me. This could be it.”
“I don’t know Xander. Maria said its old magic. So if it was the spell, then you should have had demons attacking you for most of your life. You haven’t have you?”
“Not until I met Buffy. And since then it was just the odd one or two.”
“Well I doubt that’s it then. But don’t worry, Willow and I will work on this, we’ll find you something Xander.”
“So what do I do now?” he asked.
“Same as you did yesterday, and last week, and last year. Until we work out what’s going on there’s nothing you can do.”
“And if it turns out to be something?”
“Then I guess your friends will help you. And it looked to me like Spike will be there for you.”
Xander nodded and took out one of his sandwiches. “Tell me about what you saw last night. You know, about him.”
“Oh, um, well, it was um, pink, and as Spike so elegantly suggested, pink can indicate sexual feelings. Yours flared pink as Spike got closer; it was obviously a reaction to him.”
Xander snorted and mumbled, “Yeah there’s been a lot of reacting this week.”
“Okay, um, right,” Tara blushed. “Oh but there was more to it Xander. Just one pink on its own would mean pure lust, but the way your colours reacted was a little different. There was a whole range of pinks which distinguishes it from the lust, it’s more of a connection being established.”
“How can that be? It’s only been a few days and you’re saying there’s some connection between us already?”
“Well, its more that the potential is there. Then it’s up to you two to build on it if that’s what you choose.”
Xander finished his lunch and laid back on the sheet thinking. “Tara, you know Buffy can’t find out about that. Not while she’s being all psycho mother hen with me.”
“Xander I told you I’ll keep it quiet. None of this, not the spell, not Spike, or anything I see in your aura is mine to tell.”
“No I don’t care if they find out about the spell, a problem shared you know? Giles, Anya, maybe Buffy, they might all be able to help. Just don’t want to give Buffy any more ammunition right now.”
Tara was about to answer when many loud voices rang out across the site. Xander jumped up looking to the construction scaffold for some clue about what had happened. There was no panic, just a lot of shouting, waving of arms and a strange quiet he couldn’t account for.
“Sorry, Tara, I gotta go see what’s up. You take off now and call me when you’re ready okay?” He gave her a hug and ran off across the site.
~*~*~*~*~
Crew were milling around and foremen were running from the scaffolding to the management building. Xander finally identified the lack of noise; none of the powered equipment was operating. All the tools were silent, all machinery stilled. Xander stopped next to one of the builders.
“Hey Danny, what’s going on?”
The man stood, hands on hips looking dumbfounded. “Power just went. The whole damn site’s out.”
“What, the whole site? That can’t be right, its all on different circuits,” Xander told him.
“Seriously, everything man. Every last circuit has had the crap blown out of it. The guys up top are climbing down with their harnesses now.”
Xander thanked him then turned and ran to the building where his, and all the other administration offices were located. The light was dim inside and Xander automatically flipped the light switch, but with no result. A strong smell of burnt out electrics filled the air and Xander began opening windows to let the slight smoke haze out.
Poking his head into other rooms, Xander found his boss and the assistant, together with most of the site’s foremen standing around the main office.
“Hey guys. Do we know what happened, Nate?” he asked.
Nathan, Xander’s boss, turned and shook his head. “No not a clue Xander. Just lost the power right across the site, no idea where it started but the guys all say everything has burned out, not just turned off mind you, but burned out.”
“So, what then? Everything’s got to be junked?”
His boss shrugged. “Some of it yeah, other things we can get repaired.”
“Geez, are we covered?”
“Yeah we are, but its really going to put the brakes on this project. I’ll get on the phone now and call the insurance company.”
“You’re gonna need to ramp up the security too Nate. No power to the alarm systems.”
“Aw, Christ. You’re right Xander, good thinking. You can get that sorted.” He waved the foremen out after advising them to supervise the crew climbing down the scaffolds, then reached for the phone, looking blankly at it for a moment. “Shit, phone system’s out too. Use your cell Xander, we’ll reimburse you.” He pulled his own phone out of his pocket and sat down to wade through the automated answering on the insurance company’s end. The assistant rushed of and began gathering up papers.
Xander headed back to his own office, finding enough light by the windows to read the security firm’s number. Extra patrols and emergency flood lighting organised, he made a couple of other calls to the head office of his construction company to explain the situation. Stakeholders informed, Xander walked back into the other office and sat opposite Nate, waiting for him to get off the phone.
Nate sighed and tossed his phone down. “Fuck. The claims guy will come out tomorrow, then they have to process the paperwork and get an evaluator out. This is going to take a while.”
“Will they cover all the wages?” Xander asked, thinking of the great number of crew that he knew had young families.
“Yep, he said that straight up. So after we get everything secured we’ll have to send all the crews home.”
“We can still work in here right?” Xander waved his hand at the office.
“No they say not. Safety issues with no lighting. They won’t cover us for any accidents. Besides, there’s no phone, no computers, no coffee.”
“Well hell, that seals it then. No coffee, then we shut it all down pal.” Xander laughed.
Nate laughed with him then groaned. “Oh God, this is a mess.”
“Well it’s why we pay our insurance isn’t it? Give the guys with the clipboards a week or so and we’ll be back on track.”
Nate and Xander closed down the offices, helped the other workers lock down the site as best they could and passed around the news of the closure. Arms full with boxes of paperwork that they could do from home, Xander and Nate headed for their cars in the lot at the far end of the site.
~*~*~*~*~
Xander juggled the box and his keys to open his apartment door, kicking the refilled cooler of blood inside on his way. Dropping everything down on the kitchen counter, he went through to the bedroom, dodging his shoes and coat that were still lying on the floor. The bedroom door was wide open, bed empty. He checked the bathroom and found that empty too. Spike had left. Xander felt some disappointment but none of the panic and self-doubt of last time. He knew Spike had things to do, what things though, he’d no idea.
Xander peeled off his work clothes and threw on a pair of old sweats. Retracing his steps he collected the shoes and clothes that either he or Spike had thrown last night and hung them back up. In the kitchen, he stuck the blood in the fridge and grabbed some snacks. Satisfied with his housework efforts he stretched out on the couch, noting that the blanket he kept there was gone. At least Spike had used protection when he left.
Afternoon viewing left a lot to be desired and, tired of flipping through endless sitcoms, talk shows and courtroom dramas, Xander soon began to doze. He was startled out of sleep in the afternoon, by the sharp ring of the phone. Dragging himself off the couch he grabbed it just before the machine kicked in.
He yawned into the mouthpiece. “Harris’ home for displaced workers, how can I direct your call?”
“Ah, Xander, hello.”
“G-man, how you doing?”
“Xander must you-”
“I must.” Xander chuckled at Giles sigh. “What can I do for you?”
“Well, I was rather hoping you would be attending the meeting tonight.”
“Wasn’t high on my list of torturous things to do today, no.”
“Xander surely you don’t mean that. How long were you planning on avoiding your friends.”
“How long is my friend going to be attempting to murder my, ah, other friend?”
“Xander I apologise for not keeping a closer watch on Buffy. She has seemed much more reasonable this week. Perhaps you could give her another chance?”
“To do what? Aim better? Come up with more insults and accusations?”
“Xander, you are needed here. I would like you to come back. I will do my level best to ensure there is no repeat of Sunday’s behaviour.”
“Giles, I don’t know.”
“Xander I have something I’d like to discuss with you. And I hope you see fit to trust me when I tell you I will not let it happen again.”
“You can just tell me now.”
“Well no that would not be entirely appropriate.”
Xander sighed in resignation. “Geez, okay. Fine. Alright. Yes, I’ll be there.”
“Thankyou Xander. You can trust me.”
“I know Giles. I’ll see you later.”
He hung up and put his head down on the counter. It had to be dealt with sooner or later, so why not sooner? Xander trusted Giles; not so much Buffy when she was acting so strangely towards him, but he knew Giles would do his best now that he was aware of the extent of the problem. He would go but Buffy would be getting nowhere near him, or Spike if he turned up.
Xander changed into comfortable jeans and a black sweater, pulled on his boots and grabbed a heavy jacket. If he ended up out on a patrol he wanted to be prepared. The weapons were still in the trunk, so he left empty handed but for one bag of Spike’s blood. Xander considered leaving a note but figured Spike would guess where he was anyway.
~*~*~*~*~
He stopped on the way and picked up a few pizzas, no garlic. No point being hungry as well as anxious. He pulled the car up opposite the Magic Box and sat watching the shop windows for a time.
The sun was going down and the interior lights were on. Xander realised he was stalling, he also knew he didn’t care. He did want this awkward situation with Buffy to be over with, just didn’t know how he could go about it. Could he just forgive her for that? Spike wanted him to. And how weird was that? Maybe he could give it a shot, if Giles was true to his word.
Xander heard the passenger door click open and before he had even turned around, Spike was sitting, throwing his blanket into the back seat.
“That looks to me like brooding mate. Fair warning, if you’re going to turn into the over-coiffed ponce, forget it, not going there again.” Spike reached over and pulled him into a kiss. When Xander could no longer breathe, Spike let him go. “Snap out of it Harris. It won’t be that bad.”
Xander shook his head in disbelief. “She tried to kill you and you’re okay with it. I just don’t get it.”
“Harris if I had a dollar for every time sometime tried to dust me? Well, we’d be living high on the hog I can tell you. But she’s a slayer, wouldn’t be doing her job if she didn’t try every now and then. Keeps me on my toes.”
“You may be the slayer’s job but I’m not. I’ve had it with her shots at me. And I don’t know if I can stand by and watch her try to kill you again.”
“You have to give the Watcher a bit of credit mate. Now he knows what’s what he’ll keep a tighter rein on the silly bint.”
“Geez you really are marching in the Scooby pride parade, aren’t you?”
“Oi! Let’s not get personal mate.” Spike laughed. “Can’t say I like any of the buggers, but they like you and I know the Watcher will look out for you. Come on now, Harris, chin up and all that, get it over with.”
Xander sighed and rubbed his hands over his face. “Ok, how bad can it be?” He looked over at Spike, taking in the crystal blue eyes, those sharp cheekbones, his smiling mouth. “Shame you weren’t at my place earlier. I could have done with a bit of Dutch courage.”
“You don’t drink.”
“Not what I meant,” he said, lazily looking over Spike’s body.
“Course it wasn’t,” he chuckled. “Even if I’d been there you would have been at work mate.”
“No, the site was closed down for a while, we had some kind of power surge and everything is burned out. I got home a few hours ago.”
“Shit. Looks like we both missed out then yeah?”
Xander glanced over at the Magic Box. “A quick one in the car is out of the question. So, raincheck?” Xander asked.
“Count on it.” Spike smirked.
Xander leaned over to Spike’s seat and kissed him. He wrapped his tongue around Spike’s and sank into the cool, wet sensation, feeling a warm tingling spread through him.
It was Spike who broke away first, nodding to the shop with a raised eyebrow. “Not that I don’t admire your delaying tactics mate.”
“Okay, here I go, getting out of the car.” Xander threw open the door and jumped out, all in one move. He collected the pizzas from the back seat, handed Spike the blood bag he’d brought along and together, they crossed the street to the shop. Xander tucked the pizzas under his arm and reached for the door handle, his hand stopping short when Spike took it and squeezed his fingers briefly.
“You’ll be right mate.”
Xander smiled at him and opened the door. “Hi guys,” he called in a less than chirpy tone, to the small group seated around the table.
Giles, Anya and Buffy turned to look at the unusually subdued Xander as he walked in and put the pizzas down
“Look everyone its Xander, and he has his friend Spike with him. Aren’t we happy to see them?” Anya came out from behind the counter and hugged Xander. She reached awkwardly for Spike but he stepped away and held his hands up to stop her.
“None of that thanks,” he told her.
Spike walked off to warm his blood as Xander sat down at the table with Giles and Buffy. Taking a position opposite her, Xander glanced over at Buffy apprehensively. She looked tiny, scrunched into a little space next to Giles. Xander considered his friend. He’d known her long enough and was more than familiar with her moods and expressions. This one she wore now, the one that was tugging at him, he knew was genuine. It was nervousness and sorrow. Yes, she looked sorry. Buffy offered him a small smile. He considered a multitude of inappropriate responses, sticking his tongue out, flipping her off, throwing a book, yelling, screaming, accusing. Not exactly ready to forgive and forget, he nevertheless settled on the response that felt right.
“Hey Buff,” he said and smiled back at her.
| Back | Index | Next |
| Feed the Author |
