Family Bonds
by
Kimalis
28
A final circuit of their assigned route uncovered a nest of fledges so new and unorganised that even Tara managed to stake her fair share. Spike casually dispatched half of the group while appreciatively watching Xander alternately staking with one end of his axe and liberating heads from bodies with the other. No matter what he said, Spike still thought that the boy had been training with either the watcher or the slayer. He had no more strength that usual, but was moving with more coordination and grace than he ever had. There were still some major flaws in his style but he seemed less prone to trips, stumbles and mis-hits. Whatever Xander said, Spike enjoyed the show. Very much. Like he’d told Xander, now that he knew what was under those clothes, he could easily picture the play of flexing and bulging muscles. Not long now and Spike could get him inside and enjoy it all without the fabric in the way.
When the last of the dust settled, they brushed themselves off and headed back to the rendezvous point near the main gates.
The other group was sitting on the ground, covered in a glistening fluid. Xander, Spike and Tara received some less than impressed looks when they turned up relatively clean. Tara heard Willow’s whimpering sounds, accompanied by her pout and pulled an old scarf from her bag. “Oh sweetie you got a little goo on your, um, everywhere.” She began wiping it off, trying to hide her smile.
“Well you look suspiciously clean. I knew I should have gone with you,” Anya said. “Did you even get within fifty feet of a demon? We did, and this is what happened from fifty feet away.”
Xander looked at Spike and saw the vampire struggling to keep a straight face. “Well we killed a couple of things, nothing as flashy as that though. Oh, a little pig thingy tried to eat Spike and Tara.”
“But did you find what was causing the lights to burn out?” Giles asked.
“Nope, well nothing we saw seemed that tech savvy. How about you guys?”
“No luck, I’m sorry to say. Ah, vampires, Jaiet demons, and a rather large Beunoli.”
Spike sucked in a breath and cringed. “And that would be the Beunoli all over you yeah?”
“Yes it would.”
“Ooh, Buffy learned a valuable lesson tonight.” Willow pointed out.
“”Yes I did Will. I learned that you do not throw stakes at a Beunoli demon, they tend to pop, like a balloon full of pudding.”
“Yes thankyou Buffy. I would also have thought my warning of don’t burst the big demon might have been a clue,” Giles said, wiping slime off his glasses. “Considering our lack of progress tonight, I think tomorrow some research into demons might be useful. Although many demons could easily pull out wiring, I think we are looking for something different seeing as there is no damage to the area.”
“Again with the book learnin’” Xander sighed. “Okay well if we’re done here?” He looked expectantly around the group and they all got to their feet, dripping viscous fluid from various places.
“I think it might be best if I drive,” Tara said. “I’ll take everyone back to the shop. But we better cover the seats first.”
Xander pulled some plastic sheets from his trunk and helped Tara tuck them in around the car seats. Giles and the girls slipped and slid their way into the car and Tara got behind the wheel, waving to Xander and Spike as she drove off.
“Right mate. Get your arse in that car and get us home. You and me, we got some business to take care of.”
Xander looked at Spike with a wide grin and slowly walked towards him. “We do, don’t we?” He grabbed the front of Spike’s duster and yanked him in close, running his tongue along Spike’s lips. “Something about shagging me till I can’t walk. That was it wasn’t it?”
“Yeah Harris, that was it. Then, if I remember correctly, you mentioned fucking me till I scream your name.” Spike grabbed fistfuls of Xander’s thick hair and held him still while he nipped gently at Xander’s lips. His tongue slipped in between and then suddenly they were kissing frantically, panting, biting, licking at each others’ mouths. Hands grabbed at bodies, hard crotches ground together, until Spike tore away. “Car, now Harris,” he growled.
Xander flew home, accelerating for the amber lights, barely pausing at the stop signs, making full use of any red lights he couldn’t run to taste Spike again, to touch him and keep the fires burning.
All the way, Spike kept up a low, husky monologue, explaining exactly what he was going to do to Xander to fulfil his promise of fucking him into immobility. This he punctuated with light touches to any of Xander’s sensitive spots that he could safely reach without causing the boy to crash the car.
~*~*~*~*~
Xander parked the car, not his most accurate effort, and they raced up the stairs, Spike paced while Xander fumbled with the lock. Inside, the door was kicked closed by someone’s foot and clothes fell. Coats were tossed away, shirts ripped with buttons rolling across the floor, belts unbuckled, boots kicked off.
Xander kicked his jeans off and away and dropped to his knees on the floor, spreading his ass wide and looking at Spike with a pleading expression. Spike pushed his own jeans down and off and fell in behind Xander, leaning him forward and gripping his waist. He spat large strings of saliva into his hand and wiped it over his cock, smearing it together with the fluids dripping from the slit. While Spike prepared himself, Xander did the same but reached around and plunged his wet fingers into his ass, slicking the hole for Spike and giving his muscles a cursory stretch.
Spike groaned at the sight of Xander’s fingers working into himself and began pumping his cock, rubbing the head over Xander’s knuckles. Xander withdrew his fingers and Spike lined up and slid in to the hilt in one long slow stroke. He paused till he felt Xander’s muscles were ready then thrust, no steady, gentle moves this time, both needed hard and fast. Xander pushed back into him to force him faster and deeper. Spike held tightly to one hip, his other hand gripped Xander by the shoulder and pulled him back harder to meet each thrust.
Xander took his cock in his fist and pumped it, loud grunts accompanying his motions. He felt his balls pull up as Spike hit his sweet spot with each stroke and soon Xander was shooting his release through his fingers and onto the floor, shuddering and clenching at Spike’s cock with the muscles of his spasming channel.
That extra sensation was all Spike needed and he came deep in Xander, pulsing the thick streams into him and throwing his head back with a deep, throaty cry. They fell to the floor, Spike laying over Xander’s back, both panting. When they had calmed, Spike slid off and lay next to Xander, lazily stroking fingers over Xander’s neck, shoulders and back then down to his cleft and through the sticky mess leaking from his entrance. He kissed at the side of his neck and up to his ear, blowing cool air over the shell.
After several minutes of Spike’s attentions, Xander moaned into the floor and turned to look at him. “Fuck.”
“Yeah mate, I know what you mean,” Spike said with a satisfied smirk.
Xander rolled over to his back. “No, I mean fuck me, I’m hard again.”
Spike looked down and raised his eyebrows as Xander lifted his legs and threw his arms out above his head.
“C’mon Spike. I’m pretty sure I can still feel my legs. You’re not done yet.”
“Not by a long shot mate.” Spike shifted to kneel in front of him. He dropped Xander’s long legs down over his shoulders and slid his still hard cock easily back into Xander’s wet arse. “Oh mate you are a picture.” Spike groaned as Xander’s eyes fluttered closed, his mouth dropped open and he arched his body up.
Xander lay spread before him, an open invitation for Spike to use his body, to bring them both to a second completion and Spike didn’t disappoint. He took Xander’s hard, weeping cock in his hand and stroked while he slammed himself repeatedly into Xander’s hole. It took mere minutes and they were both coming again, no less powerfully than the first time. Spike angled Xander’s cock and, leaning down, caught some of the shots of fluid on his tongue. Letting Xander’s legs down and slipping out of him, Spike fell onto his chest, mashing their lips together and spreading the taste of Xander’s come through both their mouths. Xander wrapped his legs around Spike’s waist and rubbed their wet groins together, his body jerking at the friction on his sensitive head.
Xander groaned into Spike’s mouth. “You’re still hard, how the hell do you do that?”
“Not still, mate, again. Something to be said for vampire constitution; very little downtime. Specially if you’re gonna keep doing stuff like that.”
Xander was still swivelling his hips, sliding their cocks against each other. “Mmm, feels good.” Xander slipped his hand between them and wrapped his fingers around Spike’s hardened shaft, “This feels good too.”
“Oh yes it does Harris,” he said rocking himself into Xander’s palm. He pressed his lips back to Xander’s and kissed him lazily, their tongues twisting together, licking at each others mouths. Xander tightened his hand and Spike jerked his hips faster, grunting against Xander’s lips as he came again, cool streams of fluid oozing between them and spreading out.
Spike rolled off Xander and lay on the floor beside him. He ran a hand over his stomach, feeling how far the wetness had spread. He leaned up on his elbows and looked over at Xander’s belly. Spike drew his fingers through the rapidly congealing film, rubbing it into Xander’s skin, painting over the lines of Xander’s muscles, spreading it on his nipples and reaching up to smear it across Xander’s lips. Spike watched in fascination as Xander’s pink tongue snaked out to lick over his lips. He lowered his own face and met Xander’s mouth, both tongues together licking off the sticky fluid.
Spike pulled back and smiled at Xander, who was languidly stretching and flexing his body out. “C’mon mate, off the floor.” He got to his feet and held out a hand for Xander. “Not that I don’t love seeing you covered in my come, but lets get you cleaned up so I can get you dirty again in round two.”
“There’s round two?” Xander asked with a happy smile, letting Spike pull him up.
“You’re still walking right?”
There was a round two. It began under a long steaming shower, continued on the arm chair in the bedroom and ended on Xander’s bed when his legs did in fact give out, much to Spike’s amusement.
~*~*~*~*~
Spike woke several hours later and, leaving a still sleeping Xander, heated himself a bag of blood. He’d need it after this night, damn if Harris wasn’t giving him a run for his money. He was leaning over the counter staring into space and sipping at the mug of blood when he heard Xander come out of the bedroom and stumble into the kitchen. He felt the warmth and weight as Xander draped himself over Spike’s back, his hands running over Spike’s stomach and chest. He was ready again? He could feel the hard length pressing against his arse and Xander’s hips began to move, sliding himself between Spike’s cheeks. Spike smiled to himself. What the boy wants, the boy gets. He bent forward a little more and rubbed himself back against Xander.
With a sleepy moan, Xander attached himself to Spike’s neck, sucking and nibbling on the soft skin near his shoulder. Spike felt Xander’s fingers twisting at one of his nipples and saw his other hand reaching around to dip into Spike’s mug. He watched this with wonder then groaned as Xander’s wet fingers slid into him.
“Oh, fuck Harris, what are you doing?” He moaned as the warm liquid slicked him inside.
“Whatever I feel like,” Xander whispered into his ear. “Is it okay?”
“Fuck, yes!” Spike leaned his head around and caught Xander’s lips. “More than okay.”
Xander dipped his other hand in the warm blood and wiped it over his throbbing cock. Gripping it firmly, Xander guided himself into Spike’s hole, past the tight muscles and slid his full length in. His fingers still wet with blood, he took a hold of Spike’s hips and ground himself in deep.
Spike braced himself on the counter and let Xander pound him. None of their contact tonight had been what he would call slow or tender, each coupling had been hard and needy but passionate, each orgasm just as shattering as the one before. Xander was taking only minutes to recover and be ready for the next time, and Spike felt like his own cock had not been soft since they’d begun.
Their grunts and moans mingled and echoed around the kitchen. Xander held Spike to him with one large hand on his belly while the other came around and covered Spike’s cock, jerking him none too gently. Their breaths came loud and ragged, intense waves washing over them. Laying against Spike’s back, Xander pressed his mouth against the juncture of Spike’s neck and shoulder. As soon as he felt Spike’s orgasm begin he opened his mouth wide and bit down hard, not breaking skin but coming as close as he dared, leaving deep red marks.
Spike’s orgasm rocked through him, then he felt Xander’s bite and every sensation intensified, rushing from the pain at his neck down through his body and bursting from his cock. Spike’s knees buckled and he howled.
“Xander! Ah, ah, fuck.”
Xander held him upright and when he felt Spike’s channel clamping down on him, heard his name shouted from Spike’s lips, he too came, shooting long pulses of warm come and biting down harder into the firm muscles of Spike’s neck.
Xander lay gasping for breath against Spike’s back, Spike splayed out on the counter top under him.
“You mate, are full of surprises aren’t you?” Spike panted.
“No surprise, Bleachie, told you I’d make you scream my name.” Xander straightened, letting Spike stand and turn around to face him. He wrapped his arms around Spike’s waist, kissing him slowly and thoroughly. “I win. You screamed and I fucked your legs out from under you.”
Spike gave a tired chuckle. “That you did Harris. I’m well shagged. Blood and bites. You know the way to a vamp's heart that’s for sure mate.”
“The way to a vamp’s heart is through his ass? Suits me, I like your ass.”
~*~*~*~*~
After refuelling, they retreated to the bedroom, emerging for food every now and then, or, for Xander, bathroom stops. With no work, there was no alarm and they stayed in bed through to the late afternoon, sleeping, fucking, talking, shagging. Just after sunset they woke again. Wound together in each other’s arms they lay touching and kissing until they were both fully awake.
“I hate to say it but it must be nearly time to get up. Giles wants us for research.” Xander yawned and stretched rubbing himself against Spike. “I don’t want to move though, I can think of better things than research.”
“Christ Harris, again?” Spike laughed, then sobered a little when he felt the hard bulge against his side. “Mate, have you noticed your almost complete lack of recovery time?”
Xander pulled away from him and nodded. “Yeah I kinda did. Its never been like that before.”
“You don’t think it’s a bit unusual?”
Xander snorted. “Well yeah, but what’s not unusual about my life right now.”
“True mate.” Spike pulled Xander back and laid him across his chest, running a hand over his back Spike lay still, idly stroking over the soft skin while he sifted through old memories, stories Angelus had shared so many years ago. “Can’t recall exactly, but I think I know something.”
“About what?” Xander asked, scraping his teeth over a hard nipple.
“Harris stop it, I’m trying to talk to you.”
Xander stopped playing with Spike’s nipples and looked up at him questioningly.
Spike sighed. “Mate, I lost count of the number of times we shagged since last night and its been a while since I’ve been with a human but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t normally work that way. There were stories, maybe myths, maybe not, about what happens when vampires and humans get together. Your energiser bunny routine might just be part of that.”
“Yeah? I’d say its not just a story. What do you think?” Xander pressed his groin into Spike, letting him feel the hardness.
“Mate, I’m beginning to think who the hell cares, I’m just gonna say thank you.”
Xander rolled on top of him, spreading Spike’s legs. “You’re welcome.”
~*~*~*~*~
It was almost two hours later when Xander and Spike arrived at the Magic Box. Giles, Willow and Anya sat at the table, books spread around them. According to Giles, Buffy was in the training room, the best place for her to be a safe distance from Xander. Tara was currently keeping her company and Xander stuck his head in to say hi.
“Xander we were rather expecting you some time ago. We’ve been through most of these books already.” Giles looked over the top of his glasses as Xander sat at the table. “And Spike the sun has been down for several hours now, where have you been?”
“I’ll come when I’m good and ready Rupert and not a moment before. I’m not on your research team, you don’t pay me enough for that.” He dropped in to a seat next to Xander making no moves towards the pile of books.
“Yeah, sorry guys,” Xander said grabbing a thick volume off the stack. “I got buried in some, um, paper work. Lots of paper work,”
“Paper work huh?” Anya said with a doubtful look. “I wouldn’t have minded helping you that with you know. You only had to call.”
Spike’s low inaudible growl rumbled through Xander, the vibration carried through the small points of contact where their legs and elbows pressed together.
“Right, thanks Ahn, but I can manage the paper work on my own, it’s a one man job. In fact I thought that was pretty clear last time you asked to help.”
“Xan, if Anya had given you a hand you might have been able to get out of there sooner.” Willow suggested helpfully.
His hand under the table gripped Spike’s thigh and kneaded the muscle, stilling his growls. “No Will, it wasn’t anything she could have helped with. It was fairly involved and I needed to be pretty thorough about it. Just one of those things you know, but here I am, what are we looking for?”
“Xander if you could look for any reference to electricity or perhaps power surges. We’ve had no joy as yet and we’re nearing the end of the resources. We did however, leave you some.”
“Yeah I can see, thanks guys. I can always count on you right?” Xander sighed and flipped open the book. God he hoped this would be quick and they could get out to patrol then home again. He slid one hand back under table and into Spike’s lap. Research had to be done but there was no point being completely bored was there?
29
Boring came and went, closely followed by mind-numbing tedium. That stayed. Book after useless, monotonous book, all increasing in their uselessness and monotony. Xander’s eyes glazed over and he slowly turned the pages skimming over each in a system long ago perfected to get the job done, accuracy be damned. Spike had long since given up; the Watcher looking over everyone’s shoulders soon put an end to any entertainment attempted under the table. Not one for sitting still and browsing the old volumes, he’d paced and smoked, snarked and complained until Giles had sent him out to patrol. Spike, usually loath to follow the watcher’s instruction regardless of the money involved, went without a fight. He’d managed to draw Xander outside as he left by asking for his weapons out of the trunk; that had led to some quick mutual relief in a darkened alcove a few doors down.
Xander returned to the books with a small smile on his face, getting a smirk from Anya, which she quickly covered when he shook his head at her with a frustrated sigh. Buffy had also been sent out on patrol, albeit to a different location to Spike. Giles was sure that she was only a danger to Spike after having been too close to Xander, but was not prepared to lose a fighter, no matter how irritating, to a simple error if he were wrong.
Xander, Willow and Tara sat around the table watching Giles packing up the used books and mindlessly paging through the odd obscure text. They all jumped when Anya stood up suddenly, grabbed her bag and announced, “As fun as this all is and as much as you know I would to stay here and read dusty old books with you- I’m obviously lying by the way- I am meeting someone for coffee. I am assuming he is using coffee as a euphemism for orgasms otherwise this will be a very short and boring date.”
Xander’s head snapped around and he jumped up facing Anya. “A date? You have a date?” Who? Where?”
“Yes a date, with a stockbroker. Simon the stockbroker. At the coffee shop, then if I’m right, my place, or possibly his place, or maybe even a motel, hmm, I hope he’ll pay for that.” Anya realised what she was saying and stopped, watching Xander carefully and a little apprehensively.
Xander felt a tiny pang of jealousy, followed by a twinge of possessiveness, but then they were gone and he hugged Anya. “Have fun then, please keep the details to yourself if the coffee does turn out to be a red herring.”
When she was gone they settled back into the joyless rhythm of research. It was quiet and without Spike nearby Xander found his thoughts wandering. They wandered over Spike first and brought a smile to his face. He found himself missing the vampire, and realised that was a thought he’d never expected to have. In their almost week together, they’d gotten close; they fit together well. There was outstanding sex, good conversations, easy silences and Xander was more than happy. Thinking about Spike gave him that swelling feeling in his chest and made him want to grin like a loon; it also made him hard and horny, but those were side effects of the basic fact. His insides lurched as he recognised he was falling for Spike, falling hard and fast and had absolutely no intention of trying to catch himself. He looked at the clock. How long could a patrol take anyway? He really wanted to talk to Spike about this now.
Willow’s voice reached him through the jumble of feelings he’d lost himself in. “Xan, you look happy. It is nice that Anya has a date, isn’t it? And I’m glad you’re not letting that spell get you down.”
The spell. Xander felt himself crash, and his stomach rolled again but not with the same pleasant warmth. This time it was a heavy dread. Willow had just forced his mind back to places it would rather not go. He had spent the last couple of days trying desperately to ignore the news he’d gotten about the spell. It hadn’t been all that hard actually; he’d been kept considerably and deliciously distracted by Spike.
“Thanks Will,” he said with a touch of anger to his voice. “Cause that spell was really something I wanted to be thinking about.”
“Oh Xan I’m sorry. I thought you were okay with it.” Willow looked sadly at him. “I just assumed you weren’t too worried, you haven’t mentioned it.”
“I haven’t mentioned it because I’m trying to avoid the hell out of it. I’ve had plenty of other things on my mind this week and that was thankfully not one of the more regular thoughts.”
“Xander Harris, did you deliberately go denial-guy over this? You can’t do that.”
“That and more. Can and did. But now thanks to you I’m can’t-deny-guy.” He dropped his head down onto his folded arms. “Have you guys found anything, anything at all?”
“Oh Xander not yet.” Tara patted his shoulder. “We have a couple of incantations that might work, but we need to wait for delivery of some herbs and crystals that are a little hard to find.”
Willow came and sat next to him, wrapping her arms around his middle. “As soon as we can Xan, I promise.”
“Meantime anything could be happening. If this thing is doing stuff to me, I’d rather know sooner than later so you guys can fix it. I don’t want anymore demons hunting me down to suck my aura.” Xander closed his eyes as the image of the large hairy she-demon ran though his mind. Hot on its tail was a small bluish demon with a barb in its arm, a long stretched out demon picking its teeth with people bones and a crazy kicking demon with pus-covered shoulders. Xander sat bolt upright as his brain took over and ran with his thoughts. “Oh god, Spike could be right. If this spell is strong enough to affect the slayer and bring a demon after me from hundreds of miles away then Spike is probably right. All these other demons, they’ve all targeted me over him. What if he’s right and the spell is making me demon bait?”
“Xander we’ll find out for you just as soon as we can,” Tara said kindly. “Spike might be wrong, after all that little pig one didn’t want you at all. And Giles and Willow’s group last night met a whole bunch of demons that didn’t come after you.”
“Please,” he looked at both girls with pleading eyes. “Please find out, I need to know. Spike is so sure and I trust him. I just really want him to be wrong Will.”
Willow and Tara wrapped their arms around him and held him tight, giving him assurances that they would do everything they could the minute they were organised.
“Why isn’t Spike back yet?” Xander looked at the clock, then when he noticed Willow looking at him strangely he added, “Oh, and Buffy. Shouldn’t they both be back now?”
“You two guys have been spending a lot of time together this week.” Willow said carefully.
Xander turned his head and stared at his best friend, the girl he’d known nearly his whole life and who knew him as well, if not better than he knew himself. “Yes we have.”
Xander sometimes tried, he thought it would make things easier but he could never keep the big things from her, and he really wanted someone who was close to share this with. Anya knew, but the idea of talking to his ex about his current just didn’t sit well, especially when he had a good idea of what would be going on in her mind. Tara knew, and not that he didn’t love Tara too, they just didn’t have that kind of relationship, she was his go-to gal for the practical side of life, not the mushy emotional parts.
He’d asked Tara to keep it quiet, said he wasn’t ready for his other friends to know, but what was to be gained from keeping secrets? Out of the lot of them it was Xander who had the track record for being the least accepting. Really it was only Buffy he could foresee having a problem and then only if she got within spelling distance again. He was prepared, though, for them to be pointing out the irony. Xander, who’d made such a song and dance about Buffy and Angel, was having wild, crazy, man-sex with the vamp they all loved to hate. And the fact that they weren’t his number one fans might pose a problem too, but Xander was prepared to argue his case if necessary.
“So, you and Spike are bestest buddies now?”
“Not exactly buddies, no.” Xander thought about what he and Spike were. Not buddies, definitely not the right word. For the moment, lovers, that was nice and brought all kinds of feelings to the fore, feelings that he couldn’t easily keep hidden. He really did want to share this with her; he knew that after she got over the initial shock of the who, the fact that the who was a guy wouldn’t matter to Willow at all.
Willow’s forehead wrinkled. “Xander I’ve seen that face before. We’re talking about Spike here. Out of all of your faces is that the right one to go with thoughts of Spike?”
Xander took a deep breath. “Yep Will it is.”
“Oh.”
Xander hated to see the expressions playing over her face. Confusion, disbelief, worry. “Willow its okay. This is a good thing. I’m happy.”
“Yeah Xan I can see that but its Spike. Spike!”
“Well not that long ago I was right there with you. But what’s a man to do? You feel what you feel right? And this is the Hellmouth, life is potentially too short to mess around with quandaries. I am quandary-free guy.”
“Xan I didn’t even know you thought about other guys like that.”
“You think you’ve cornered the market on alternative lifestyles? I tried out a few alternates and suffice to say, what happens in Oxnard, stays in Oxnard. There are some big things you just have to wait for the right time to share.”
“But Spike? He’s dangerous Xander. Sure we’re all getting used to him and I kinda don’t mind having him around, but still, he’s Spike. He’s cranky and snarky and violent and sure, maybe he dresses really cool and he has that bad boy thing working for him and he’s pretty easy to look at, and- Oh!”
“Yeah.” Xander smiled. “All of the above.”
“Oh boy, you know that its not going to be an easy thing with him right?”
“Not blind here Will. There’s all kinds of potential bad, but I don’t want to miss out on any of the good for the sake of a few ‘what ifs’.” Xander took her hands and gave them a squeeze. “It’s okay, really.”
Willow glanced at Tara who was looking at Xander with a small knowing smile. “Tara? You’re not worried?”
“No, Willow. Don’t be mad but I already knew. I found out when I read Xander’s aura the other night.”
“You knew and you never told me?” Willow looked hurt for a moment, but then shook her head and smiled. “No its ok, I know you wouldn’t tell me about what you’d seen in his aura.”
“I wouldn’t, but apart from that it just wasn’t mine to tell.”
Willow nodded her understanding, then hugged Xander to her. “I’m happy you’re happy. I’m still worried and Spike still scares the bejesus out of me sometimes, and if he hurts you I’ll probably hex him with something really bad, but you’re a big boy, I guess you know what you’re getting into.”
“I have a pretty good idea Will. I’m just gonna take it as it comes. Meanwhile I don’t think it’s the best time to tell Buffy, just in case she gets another dose of my mojo, it could all end badly.”
“Yeah true. How about Giles? Are you gonna tell him?”
Giles voice carried down to them as he negotiated the ladder stairs from the landing above. “Why you people persist in talking as though I’m not here is beyond my understanding. Am I that forgettable?”
“Nah, Giles, how could we forget you?” Xander joked half heartedly, feeling a bit apprehensive about Giles reaction.
“Quite easily it would seem.” He stopped behind Xander and laid a hand on his shoulder, smiling at the nervous look Xander was giving him. “You are an adult. You can make your own choices, however ill-advised they may be, but I trust you will think them through carefully. Just be cautious is all I can ask. Willow is right. Spike can still be dangerous regardless of his chip.”
“I know. And thanks Giles.”
After a few questions from Willow about how he and Spike had managed to get together, and Xander’s carefully edited explanation, they again picked up the few remaining books. The work was no less dull, but Xander felt much lighter within himself. He still had the knowledge of the spell hanging over him and the almost lonely feeling of begin quarantined from Buffy, but sharing the news of his new relationship with his friends had lifted the heavy oppressive feelings just a little.
Willow’s sudden shout startled him out of his reflections. “Bingo! Or possible bingo. Fewoi demon.”
Giles came from behind the counter and took the book Willow was holding out. He adjusted his glasses and frowned as he read the text. “Well, yes Willow, this may be a promising lead.” Giles sat at the table and looked more carefully at the passage. “The Fewoi generates an unusually large electrical field around its body. It can short out or even burn out electrical equipment in its proximity.”
“We’ve never seen this one before right?” Xander asked. “It’s another newbie come to try its luck on the Hellmouth.”
“Well it appears that although we are not familiar with this demon, its presence has been felt across the country. When it relocates it does so in packs and can cause substantial chaos. You might recall reading about New York City blackout about twenty five years ago? Or perhaps the North East blackout nearly forty years ago? They were explained away to the public but were in fact a result of Fewoi hoards migrating.”
“So they’re migrating to Sunnydale?” Willow asked.
Giles scanned the remainder of the article. “No I think we would be seeing blackouts on a larger scale were that the case. I would suggest, if this is in fact the correct demon, that we are dealing with only one or two at the most, not migrating just roaming.”
“And so to the meat of it, G-man. Where do we poke it with the pointy stuff?”
Xander smirked as Giles closed his eyes and sighed. Counting to ten. Probably he had to go higher than ten, or else he just counted really slowly, but his eyes were closed for a while. When he opened them again and looked at Xander they were filled with Giles’ patented impatient frustration. “It doesn’t mention any way to kill this Fewoi. And in fact we may not have to, its not harmed anyone, just caused an inconvenience by burning out the lights.”
“But maybe it wasn’t just the lights.” Xander said slowly. “My entire site was burnt out. What if the electro demon did that? We couldn’t find anything to explain what happened, but this would.” Xander dropped his head into his hands. “What if its me? Spike’s idea, you know? If that demon in the book is the thing that took out all the lights while I’m at the cemetery and there’s a mysterious power surge while I’m at the site, it just adds more fuel to his fire doesn’t it? Colour me demon bait.”
“Xander we can’t be sure-”
Xander cut Giles off. “Giles, we can’t be sure either way, but I’m beginning to see why Spike’s been pushing this agenda. There’ve been so many demons this week that have just taken it upon themselves to attack me. Not so much the people around me, just me. And now here’s another.”
“Xander you’ve been in places where the power’s gone out but there hasn’t been a zappy monster trying to attack you. And Tara was there both times too,” Willow argued.
“Will it’s all just too much of a coincidence. I think Spike might have something.”
“Why would all those demons be after you Xander?” Tara asked him.
“Oh, I don’t know. Why did that big, brown, shaggy she-beast follow me home?”
“That demon was attracted to your energy. Few demons are able to detect auras to that extent.” Giles said. “But Xander you may have a point. It bears closer examination and perhaps when Tara is fully prepared, she will find answers to this. As it stands I can see no reason for Spike’s hypothesis other than conjecture. Please, let’s suspend any further assumptions and wait for something more conclusive.”
“Geez Giles wordy much? Could you get any more syllables into that?” Willow scoffed. “You couldn’t say ‘nah, dumb idea, lets wait and see’?”
“Willow the day you hear me say that will be the day I-. Actually you will never hear me say that.” Giles stood and left them with a fatherly frown of reprimand.
Xander looked at the colour plate of the Fewoi demon; solid, grey, metallic looking and with thin blue runnels of electricity forming criss-cross patterns over its body. “Why do we never get the demon that looks like a kitten? Or the demon that looks like a teddy bear?”
“Or the happy birthday party clown demon?” Tara’s laugh was cut short by Willow and Xander’s horrified looks. “What?”
All heads turned as the bell rang and the shop door was thrown open. Spike strode in, looking dirty and ruffled, but very self-satisfied. His shirt was torn and he had something smeared across the side of his face but he was oozing still pent up energy. Their eyes met briefly across the room and Xander’s insides rolled and lurched as he easily picked up on the vibe Spike was sending. It was one that told him Spike had been working himself up fighting and killing and having a mighty fine time and tonight Xander’s ass would reap the rewards.
“Bagged me a nice lot of nasties tonight I did. Cash up Watcher.” Spike waggled his fingers at Giles. “C’mon, don’t be tight now, its that time of the week again.”
“As always Spike you are so discreet.” Giles took out an envelope from under the counter and passed it to Spike who immediately stuffed it inside his coat.
“Oi! I’m discreet, there’re things I’m especially discreet about,” he said with a brief flick of his eyes towards Xander.
“Um, Spike?” Xander said hesitantly. “There’s one less thing for you to be discreet about now. They all know. Um, about us. Well except Buffy.”
“They know?” Spike looked at him in astonishment. “Thought you wanted to keep that hushed up?”
“Yeah, well the best laid plans, you know.”
Spike took a few steps back towards the door. “Right, so am I dodging the witches’ wand or the watcher’s left hook?”
“Neither.” Giles came around the counter to stop in front of Spike. “Xander is quite capable of making serious decisions for himself and acting on them. As are we should you deliberately fail him in any way.”
“Easy now Ripper. I’m not gonna do anything to hurt the lad.”
“See that you don’t,” Giles said in a deceptively calm manner but with a hard edge to his voice.
Willow stood next to Giles. “And Spike I don’t need a wand so you won’t see it coming.”
“Okay folks, I think we get it.” Xander got up from the table and grabbed Spike’s arm, pulling him away from his protective and newly disturbing friends. “And ew, what have you been doing?” Xander looked in disgust at the now slimy hand that had touched Spike’s duster.
“Killing stuff mate. Some of those buggers don’t go down without a fight. Some of them do, but like to make a mess of you on their way down. ”
“Spike is there anything about your patrol activities that would be helpful to our research?”
Spike carefully peeled off his coat and laid it over a chair before sitting at the table and pulling Xander down next to him. He threw an arm around the broad shoulders and absently twined his fingers through the ends of Xander’s hair as he gave Giles a run down. “Yeah, more lights out. A few went while I was not too far away, couldn’t see anything though. Pizza place down the street here is blacked out as well.”
“The one we went to on Sunday? And where I got the take out last night?” Xander asked him with some concern.
“Yeah mate, that’s the one,” Spike nodded.
Giles shook his head at Xander. “Now Xander this might mean nothing, lets just wait to see what the girls can turn up before you panic.”
Spike looked from one to the other, heard Xander’s heart rate increase and tightened his arm around Xander. “What are you talking about Rupert?”
“Xander has suggested you may be right in your thought that the demons are targeting him. We found a reference to a Fewoi demon and it may be the cause of the electrical disturbances. Now, as Xander’s worksite was affected and the cemetery we patrolled, and now the shop he recently visited, it would seem that perhaps you have something.”
“So now you believe me?” he asked Xander.
“I don’t know Spike, I guess I’m just more open to it okay? The last thing I want is to be drawing demons from all over the damn place, especially if you’re gonna have to jump in to fight every time one takes a shine to me.”
“Hey, no skin off my nose mate. You know I love a good arse kicking. And you’ve been kicking your fair share too. Not like you’re standing around like the proverbial damsel now is it?”
“It’s been more than skin off your nose Spike, you can’t have forgotten that whole kidney issue have you?”
“Course not mate, but its not a new thing for me. I don’t dwell on it. And you shouldn’t either. It happens. Now if I’m right, and it looks like I might be, then we need to find out why and in the meantime you don’t go putting yourself out there okay?”
“Spike we’ll help as soon as we can. It shouldn’t be much longer,” Tara told him.
Spike nodded his thanks to her and stood up. “Right then. Research finished? No more nooks and crannies you want poked, watcher?”
“None Spike, tomorrow I think we’ll undertake a major sweep and see if we can’t find this Fewoi. But for tonight we’re done.”
“Good. I know of some nooks and crannies need poking so we’ll be off then.” He hauled Xander up from the table and gently swatted his behind.
“Spike! Oh god I am so gonna regret having told them aren’t I?” Xander turned all shades of red.
“No more than I already am.” Giles mumbled and removed his glasses for a much needed polishing.
30
Spike woke just after midday, kissed Xander, who responded without waking, and got dressed. He wrapped himself in a blanket and ran for the sewer access outside the apartment next door. Xander would be out of it for a long while yet, sleeping off the after effects of a night of loud, athletic sex. Normally Spike would still be sleeping too, would prefer to be wound up in Xander’s long warm arms, but damned if he would leave the boy unprotected on night patrol. He had business to take care of today so it would have to be done in the daylight.
His coat had taken a beating on last night’s patrol, some small tears, a few stains, nothing of import. He had a good arrangement with the Zeeum, his coat was repaired, sometimes while he waited, always gratis, and in return Spike would chase up a few accounts. If the work on his coat was minor, he sometimes walked away with a little cash for the collection jobs, just to keep things on an even keel between him and the Zeeum. Times past, the money was small, maybe a carton of smokes, maybe a bottle of Jack. This last week though the couple of visits he’d made had paid off nicely. Apparently there were more blow-ins looking for one-off jobs from the Zeeum, then trying to scarper. Made sense if the watcher’s idea of more demons in town was true.
He dropped down into the tunnel and slung the blanket over his shoulder. He wouldn’t be needing that again for now, the Zeeum was located in central Sunnydale with direct access from the tunnels. Spike knew that most of the jobs he would be sent on would also be accessible from the tunnels. It was a popular route for the Zeeum’s clientele.
It was a quick visit with the Zeeum; he did his thing, Spike’s coat was restored to its former battered and worn splendour, minus the holes and gunk. Spike was then given a list of defaulters to ‘encourage’ a payment out of and had a bloody fine time doing it thankyou very much. All were demons, most were easy targets and Spike returned to the Zeeum with his pockets full of recovered payments. He left a short time later with a small bundle of cash and a contented swagger in his step. A magnificent night of shags sandwiched between two outings chock full of bloody and violent stoushes; what more could a vampire want? Images of naked Xander flashed through his mind and Spike grinned to himself. Yeah that’s what he could want; more of that.
The boy was a goer that was for sure. Spike was certain the bedtime stories Angelus had told him were true. He had no doubt that if he hadn’t needed to sleep, Xander would still be at it now. He wanted to rush, to get back as soon as he could, not just for the damn fine sex he knew he would get but because he missed the closeness they had been sharing. Spike berated himself for acting like a sappy teen, but couldn’t deny his feelings. Xander bloody Harris of all people had inched his way into the unbeating heart of William the Bloody.
Spike picked up on a familiar scent and realised he was near the access point for the Bear and Lion. He paused, fingering the money in his pocket. Xander had been happy to take care of the blood but Spike hated feeling like a kept man, even though he knew full well Xander didn’t intend it that way. He veered off at the next turn and headed for the access hole behind the pub. Once inside he waved off the offer of a beer in favour of a quick exit and gave assurances to Rose that he would bring ‘that lovely boy’ for a meal very soon. On his way out he spied a cowering Bilarl and in full game face sent an audible growl the young demon’s way, sending him toppling off his stool. He left to the sound of Tom’s chuckles and Roses displeased muttering, his pockets considerably lighter having paid Tom for the next few weeks’ blood deliveries.
All up, a productive afternoon that left him free to watch over Xander on the patrol tonight. Of course he would not tell Xander that’s what he was doing, and truth be told the lad was able to handle himself pretty bloody well these days, if only he could build up some strength to match his coordination. But if Spike was right, and all the signs pointed that way, then patrol was one of the least safe places for Xander to be. With the slayer slipping off her rocker around him, she couldn’t be relied on to help if he got in a situation.
Spike emerged from the sewers and was surprised at how dim the light was. Not one for watches, he’d not been keeping track and it was now only minutes away from sundown. He was able to make the short trip to Xander’s front door without needing the protection of the blanket. Xander’s car was still there, but there were no lights on upstairs so Spike assumed he was still in bed. Good. Save having to drag him back there.
Upstairs, Spike tried the door and found it unlocked so he let himself in. Dropping his coat over the couch, he found Xander sitting in the dim light, head bent over some papers.
“Mate you’ll go blind trying to read like that, why didn’t you turn the light on?” Spike flipped the switch, bathing the table in a soft glow.
“Dunno. Just got into this and didn’t notice.” Xander leaned back in the chair and stretched. He tilted his head back against Spike’s chest and groaned when Spike’s strong fingers worked at his aching shoulders.
He leaned down and nipped gently at Xander’s ear. “There’s something better you can get into.”
Spike took Xander’s hands and led him through to the bedroom. He stood Xander next to the bed and slowly peeled off his old Tshirt. He loosened the cord at Xander’ waist and slid his sweat pants down and off. Spike was pleased to note the boy had forgone his usual underwear and was already sporting a full erection. Spike leaned up against him, laying soft kisses along Xander’s shoulder and up his neck. He slid his lips over Xander’s jaw and kissed the willing mouth. His hands roved over Xander’s back and down to grip his arse pulling Xander closer to rub against him. When he felt Xander’s hips begin to move, he pushed him down on the bed, stripped himself quickly and straddled Xander’s thighs. Reaching under the pillow for the tube he’d left there earlier, Spike slathered a handful of the gel over Xander’s length then positioned himself over it. One hand holding Xander’s cock steady, Spike slid himself down with a long sigh until he was flush against Xander’s warm groin.
This was what he’d been waiting for. Xander deep inside him, stretching and filling him, the burn of entry slowly giving way to the heat of passion. Spike threw his head back and breathed deep letting the scents of this boy overwhelm him. The pheromones, the natural heavy musk, the faint spicy soap from a recent shower, all of these flowed around Spike and combined with the sounds of their pleasure into one image. Xander. He rode Xander at a slow leisurely pace, raising and lowering himself in a controlled way. Xander took hold of Spike’s cock and lazily rubbed his palm over the tip, around the ridge and just as slowly stroked the length. It felt like hours but was probably no more than minutes when they both came with long moans of release. Spike fell to Xander’s chest and felt the warm arms encircle and hold him. He could feel the thumping of Xander’s heart and listened as it slowly wound down to its normal rhythm, the echoes of Xander’s panting breaths calming to his regular pattern.
Spike slipped off Xander and lay up against him, pulling the blankets back over them both. He lay with his head on the pillow next to Xander, wondering how to go about talking to the lad about how he felt. He was fairly certain that he and Xander were of the same mind, but just in case, he wanted to give him room to back out if that’s what he wanted. Spike hoped to hell it wasn’t.
Xander propped himself up on one elbow and watched as tiny lines furrowed Spike’s brow. “I can hear the wheels turning. Problem?”
“Nah, mate, no problem.” Xander’s hand was stroking over Spike’s hip, he caught it and brought it up to his lips, lightly kissing the long fingers. “Was just thinking.”
“About?”
Spike considered backing out, making up something else but knew he would kick himself later if he let it go. “I was wondering if you were still okay with this. You know, with us. If you maybe wanted to back out.”
Spike knew he’d been misunderstood when he saw the confusion and hurt in Xander’s face.
“You want out?” Xander tried to pull his hand out of Spike’s but Spike held tight.
“No! No mate, not at all. Far from it in fact.”
“You think I do then? Why are you asking?”
“Harris, look we said before that this thing was going somewhere and I have no doubt of that. None. But before it goes any further I just wanted to make sure you weren’t having second thoughts.”
“God no, Spike, no. You don’t really think that do you?”
“No mate, but it’s a big step for you, getting into it with a vampire.”
Xander nodded. “Sure maybe it is, and maybe there’ll be some issues later on but we can deal then. For now, no, I do not want to back out. You get it? I want in.”
“Got it mate, don’t need to be told twice.”
“Okay then.” Xander raked his eyes slowly down Spike’s body and back up to Spike’s smirking face. “You know, we still have enough time for me to show you how exactly how much I want in.”
~*~*~*~*~
They arrived, hand in hand at the Magic Box; Xander squeezed Spike’s fingers a final time before he reluctantly let go when he saw Buffy through the window.
As they entered, Buffy unobtrusively shifted away to a safe distance with a sad, resigned sigh when Xander received a hug of welcome from Willow and warm hellos from the others. Spike was awkwardly included in the greetings but merely nodded to the room in general before taking up a position at Xander’s side.
Giles got straight to business, organising teams and discussing strategy. It was his plan that they would work together in one particular cemetery to flush out any lingering demons and hopefully find the Fewoi.
Xander interrupted Giles’ instructions. “Why can’t the demons gather in the mall, or a nice restaurant? Why has it always got to be the dark, dirty, nasty bone yards?”
He gave Xander a withering look and continued. “We’ll go in with two teams again, that seemed to be quite effective on our last outing. Obviously Buffy and Xander we need to keep you separated for the moment.”
Xander looked over at Buffy who was hovering behind the counter. “Sorry Buff.”
“Not your fault Xan,” she said. “Not mine either. As soon as Tara and Willow can find out what it is I’m gonna kick something’s ass for doing this to us.”
“Yeah you and me both.”
“Right then, in the meantime there are many things, I’m sure, that are awaiting your kicking, so shall we?” Giles indicated the pile of weapons and the girls began arming themselves.
~*~*~*~*~
Xander and Spike had successfully avoided having Anya join their group again but this evening had Willow as their magical back up. Giles had elected to stay with his slayer. They’d moved through to the north end of the cemetery and were beginning their sweep back towards the main gates. Buffy’s group were further away to the left, working back in the same direction.
“Now mate, if you're with me on this theory of mine then do I need to tell you to keep your eyes open and stick by me? You too Red.”
“Spike its not like I was planning to go off on my own and patrol with my eyes shut. And yes I’ll be careful and no I probably won’t be hiding behind you.”
“Not asking you to hide Harris, just asking you to keep in a group,” Spike stopped and stared at him. “And must you be so bloody stubborn every time we patrol?”
“Hey, no domestics; save it for later pal.” Willow pointed at Spike, her finger shaking slightly.
“Right then Red, watch where you point that thing.” Spike held his hands up. “Just making sure you and the lad here are on the ball.”
“So Spike, anything? Your spider senses tingling?” Xander asked him.
“My what? My spi-?” Spike rolled his eyes at Xander. “No, nothing yet, but with the amount of noise you’re making, it either won’t be long till you attract every bloody thing here, or scare them all off.”
“Well I don’t know about you guys but I’m all for scaring them off.” Willow said.
“Well I’m not,” he spoke with faked patience. “I want to fight, I like to fight and if you scare away the baddies, I can’t fight, then I get pissed off, then Harris here doesn’t get his end away.”
Xander stopped dead and stared at Spike with his jaw flapping. It took a couple of goes to get the words out. “You- I- that- could we please not mention my end in front of my friends.”
Spike merely looked from Xander to Willow and back again, snorted and walked off waving for them to follow along behind.
Willow avoided Xander’s eyes, looking everywhere but, as they moved through the darkened grounds.
Further into the burial plots, Spike stopped, checked to make sure they were not too far away and held up a hand to silence them. “Something coming.”
Xander took Willow’s hand and waited.
Spike turned in a slow circle, listening and peering into the darkness. Suddenly he tensed, his eyes narrowed and he reached for Xander.
“Mate, stick close, and you Red.” Spike lifted his axe. “They’re coming fast.”
“No, no, no! Pronoun usage!” Willow said with mild panic. “They? Don’t you mean it? They?”
“Its sounds like a they Will, sorry,” Xander said with his head cocked. Spike shot a quick glance at him then focused back on the darkness ahead of them.
“What does? I can’t hear anything yet.”
“Here they come.” Spike warned.
~*~*~*~*~
They stood in a clearing. Old, large headstones to their left and right, thick trees in front them, concealing what approached. The sounds of heavy thudding feet and cracking, snapping, rustling of underbrush grew louder. Xander hefted his axe, nudging Willow, who whimpered but lifted her short sword.
“Shouldn’t we run?” Willow suggested.
“And let them get you in the back while you’re not looking?” Spike asked.
“A good point.”
Spike and Xander both tensed their bodies and took up a fighting stance, keeping Willow between them as two vampires crashed through the trees and into the clearing.
“It’s just vampires?” Willow giggled in a nervous voice. “We can do two vampires.”
The two males ran growling at the group, separating themselves and flanking Xander, Spike and Willow. The vampires didn’t pause; no threats, no snappy banter. Just a lunge, a grab, and one had Xander by the neck, pulling him away from the group, Willow was knocked to the ground and Spike was engaged in a fight with the larger of them.
Xander twisted and struggled, kicking out behind him and jabbing back with the handle of his axe in the soft gut of the vampire that was trying to pull him away towards the trees. He tried letting his legs go from under him, hoping to drop them both to the ground. The vampire only stumbled, didn’t fall.
Willow had found her feet and was circling, trying to swing her sword at the legs of the vampire Spike was fighting. It kicked out at her as though shooing a bug, catching her shoulder and knocking her back down.
Xander’s arm was pinned so he couldn’t swing properly, but he managed to let the axe fall and using his hands and wrists, guided the blade to pass by his leg and connect with the lower leg of the vampire behind him. There was little power to it, but gravity, along with the weight of the blade and the handle gave sufficient strength for the sharp metal to cut into the leg.
Spike manoeuvred himself around so that he could scan the area and see where Xander and Willow were while swinging his axe at the vampire. Seeing Xander being dragged away drew a loud growl from him, his face rippled and changed. He easily dodged a few blows, quickly skirted around behind the vampire and swung at its neck. The dust was still drifting when he turned and ran for Xander.
Willow had rolled away and was sitting against a tall headstone, looking around the area for any more vampires, making sure there had been only two. Seeing none she quickly crawled along the tree line towards Xander, digging into her bag as she went.
Spike charged for the trees where Xander was trying to pull his axe from the vampire’s leg, still held fast by one arm around his throat. “Xander!” he bellowed.
The other vampire swung around, ignoring the weapon buried in its leg, and put Xander between himself and Spike.
“Back off, I’m keeping this one,” the vampire warned Spike and tightened it arm around Xander’s neck.
“Like fuck you are. He’s mine.”
The vampire sniffed at Xander, then in Spike’s direction. “Not completely.”
Spike inched forward and saw the vampire jerk its arm threateningly around Xander’s neck. “If you want to keep him, you’re not gonna do that now are you?”
The vampire used its other hand to snatch at Xander’s hair and jerk his head to the side, licking and scraping his fangs over Xander’s neck. “Could always turn him.”
Xander thrashed. “Get the fuck off me.”
Spike flicked his eyes to the side and behind the vampire. It caught his movement and laughed. “You won’t be fast enough to get behind me before I bite.”
Spike leaned, seemingly carefree, on his axe handle. “You might be right, but I’m not your biggest problem right now.”
As the vampire turned to glance over his shoulder, Willow pounced from behind him, plunging the stake through his back, into his heart.
Spike was there in an instant, catching Xander as he stumbled from the sudden release. Xander scrubbed at his neck with his shirt sleeve. “Oh, geez, it was gonna bite me,” he looked at his shirt seeing the dampness. “It licked me, gross, it licked me Spike. I have vampire lick on me and it’s not yours, that’s just disgusting.”
“C’mere mate, hold still.” Spike licked and sucked at his neck, spitting on the ground every now and then.
Xander clung to him, leaning into his mouth and letting out little groans of delight as Spike worked to remove any trace of the other vampire.
Satisfied, Spike kissed him, filling his mouth with Xander’s taste and running his hands over Xander’s body, checking for injuries.
“Ahem! Company here people.” Willow was brushing herself off, shaking dust from her hair and trying not to look at her best friend being devoured by an apparently very hungry blonde vampire.
Xander pulled away from Spike, panting. “Okay, sorry Will. And hey! Go you with the stakeage.” Xander hugged his friend.
“Good job Red.”
Willow gave Spike a tentative smile.
“Right then, onwards.” Spike pointed with his axe towards the pathway. “Fall in troops; we’ve got us some demons to see to.” He spun in a swirl of leather and led them on.
As they walked, a smile played over Xander’s face as he recalled Spike’s words. He’s mine. Xander had no doubts now that Spike had meant every word earlier. The smile slowly faded as he thought about the need for Spike to say that. Another attack. Target? Him. There was no two ways about it this time. Xander felt the heavy weight pressing in on him again.
~*~*~*~*~
They’d made a few circuits of the crypt areas, looking in doors, behind walls, dusting the odd solitary vamp unlucky enough to be lurking in a darkened corner.
It was accidental, stumbling across the group of demons behind one crypt. There were six, a little on the large side, beefy, dressed in intricately patterned heavy robes which did nothing to disguise their obvious strength. Shining and pulsing with its own light, a large horn began on one side of their heads, curled over the top and down the other side of their neck, protruding with a wicked looking point several inches in front of their body.
Spike, Xander and Willow stopped dead in their tracks as they rounded the building. The demons were lined up, side by side facing the group. Spike spread his arms, forcing Xander and Willow to step back with him. As they inched away, the lights from the demon’s horns grew dimmer and they became agitated; shuffling and twitching.
“I know about these blokes, they’re too strong for us to take, we need back up.” Spike scanned the area, looking for escape routes. “They’re not that fast. Get ready to run.”
“But our backs. What about our backs?” Willow asked.
“Better to take the chance, than have these things get hold of you, Red.”
The two centre demons took a small step forward, their horns again glowing stronger.
Spike indicated with his head which way they would go. “Let’s high tail it folks.” He turned and ran, Willow close behind. Xander moved less quickly.
Spike glanced back and saw that Xander was not behind him and stopped. “Harris, move it.”
Xander looked at him with a glazed expression. “Yeah, I’m coming. Spike, see their horns? That’s beautiful, that light.” Xander reached out a hand towards it.
“No! Harris run, c’mon.”
“In a minute.” Xander’s voice was vague, wondering.
As the demons stepped closer to him, the light from their horns shone brighter.
Spike growled, ran and grabbed Xander around the waist yanking him away. He took Xander’s hand and pulled him along as they ran. “Those lights are not as pretty as you think mate.” Looking over his shoulder he saw the lights again dimming. The demons did not run after them, but reformed their lines and marched slowly but determinedly forward.
Xander shook his head as they ran. “What the hell? That was bad and wrong. What did those things do to me? I didn’t want to move.”
“Something like a vampire thrall mate. Like hypnotising but with a bit more class.” Spike told him as they ran and caught up with Willow.
“Xander what happened? Couldn’t you move?” she asked.
“No not couldn’t, just didn’t want to. But now I do, let’s go.”
They ran back towards where they had begun their patrol then followed the path of Buffy’s group calling loudly as they went.
“They’re up ahead.” Spike said pointing. “Slayer! Watcher!” he yelled.
Within a few moments they heard the sounds of feet running along the path. Xander lifted his axe.
“Its okay mate, it’s them.” Spike told him with a hand on Xander’s back.
“What is it?” Buffy asked looking around with her weapon up.
Giles rounded the corner behind her at a sprint. “You found the Fewoi?” he panted harshly.
Anya and Tara were close behind, also breathing heavily.
“No, not the Fewoi.” Spike shook his head, looking directly at Giles. “Behind us, not far away. We’ve got a clan of Erhijii sages.”
“The whole clan?” Giles asked disbelievingly. “All six?”
“Every last one of them Rupert.”
Giles looked around at the group and silently wished for more weapons.
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