cheerfulAUTHOR:
bohofemmFANDOM: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
PAIRING: Spike/Xander.
GENRE : Slash
TABLE: B
PROMPT: 093. Glimpse.
RATING: PG-13
WORD COUNT: 1646 words.
SUMMARY: For once, Xander doesn't want to strangle Spike.
WARNINGS: None. Pre-slash.
NOTES: X-Posted to
lover100. Set Post Chosen and NFA. Beta'ed by kimalisSTORY NOTES: This is a new series. Previous stories can be found Here.
DISCLAIMER: You recognize them? I don’t own them.
Xander woke up, still tightly holding Spike. He groaned, realizing the sun had gone down. Just how long had they been sleeping?
“Spike,” he whispered, lightly shaking him. “Come on. You need to wake up.” He winced, his stomach starting to growl.
“Five more minutes,” Spike mumbled. Restlessly, he turned.
“Time to eat.” Xander gently eased Spike out of his arms. He held back a chuckle when he noticed an annoyed Spike glowering at him.
“I was comfortable, you git,” he hissed. “Did you mention food? I'm hungry.”
“I'll see what I can rustle up.” He lifted Spike into a sitting position. “Remember-”
“Don't move.” Spike finished his sentence. “Yes, yes, I know.” He growled. “I'm hungry.”
“Tell me again,” Xander muttered, walking out. He bumped into Dawn. “What time is it?”
“Nine. You and Spike were out most of the afternoon. Amara and I ordered out, so, there's leftover pizza on the stove,” Dawn told him. “By the way, the two of you are so cute together.”
“He has nightmares unless you hold him,” Xander explained. “Didn't you hear him screaming before? Either way, I'm going to grab food for me and our cranky patient.”
Xander wasn't ashamed of his attraction tp Spike but he wasn't ready to reveal it. He knew Dawn wouldn't care but he still had to gather his thoughts on it. It was still so new and confusing.
He poured blood into a mug and heated it in the microwave. Adding pizza to a paper plate, he strained to hear Spike in the bedroom. He knew Amara was with him but he couldn't make out what was being said.
“I'm not used to being ill but I'm glad-” Spike stopped, noticing Xander in the doorway. “About time, Harris.” He accepted the blood and pizza from him.
Xander sat next to him on the bed. Digging in, he enjoyed his food while trying to ignore the fact Spike was ruining perfectly good pizza by dipping it in blood.
“After this, would you like to attempt a shower?” Xander could only imagine what the bathing conditions had been like down there. “I'm sure we can figure out a way to get you in and out.”
“Alright.” Spike sipped his blood. “There was no hot water in Hell.”
Xander shuffled off the bed and pulled a small plastic stool from his closet until he realized he had a better idea. “A nice hot bath should work.”
“You're not going bathe me, are you?” Spike asked warily. “Not a complete invalid, you know.”
“I think you can manage that on your own but I'll be there just in case.” Bathing Spike was the last thing Xander expected to do but he would if he had to. “While you finish up, I'll just run your water.”
Xander was no stranger to taking care of people. Last year, Dawn had spent the last month of her pregnancy on complete bed rest. He had been in charge of keeping her comfortable and making sure she didn't need anything. Now, he had the distinct feeling that taking care of a cranky vampire was going to be much more difficult than taking care of an anxious pregnant woman.
He turned the taps on his tub. Running his hand under the flowing water, he adjusted it to the right temperature.
Glancing in the mirror, he realized he hadn't put his eye patch on all day. Ever since Caleb had gouged his eye out, the patch had been his security blanket, only off when he went to sleep. It took a lot for him to go a day without it. Yet, here it was, nine at night and it hadn't made an appearance all day.
“Ready?” Xander called, shutting the water off. “You're going to try to slowly walk the ten steps to the bathroom while leaning on me. Feel up to it?”
“You don't want to know what I would do for hot water,” Spike said. “Clothes?”
“No. Thought I'd let you become a nudist.” Xander laughed. “I may need to throw in a load of laundry but I know I have something for you to wear.” He rifled through a dresser drawer and came up with a gray t-shirt and black sweatpants. “Unfortunately, I stopped wearing underwear years ago.”
“And yet, I wonder why you would choose to tell me that.” Spike chuckled.
Xander struggled to follow Spike's line of vision. What was he staring at?
“It slipped out. Swing your legs over the side. Hold tightly to my shoulder and we'll go slowly. One step at a time. If you think you're about to fall, let me know or even land on me.” Xander waited until Spike's feet were on the floor before he eased him up. He noticed that each slow shuffling step was difficult and painful but Spike kept at it. He wasn't sure if it was his stubborn pride or the promise of hot water. Either way, Xander admired Spike's perseverance.
“Appreciate the help, Harris.” Spike said, now safely sitting on the toilet. He managed to pull his shirt off but struggled with his tattered jeans. “Care to help me get my pants off?”
Xander gently pulled the jeans off of him and helped Spike into the water. “How's it feel?”
“Heavenly. Got any soap?” Spike held his hand out. “It was in-”
“Short supply in Hell.” Xander pressed a bar of soap and a washcloth into Spike's hand. “Do you want help with your hair?” He hated to ask but he could tell when someone needed help and didn't want to admit it. Without him having to say it, Xander knew help would be appreciated. He pulled down the hand-held shower head and turned the water on.
Xander suddenly realized just what he was doing. He was washing the hair of the man he was attracted to and who just happened to be nude. Closing his eyes, he struggled to remind himself that this was work and play could come later when Spike was back on his feet.
“You don't know how bloody embarrassing this is,” Spike said, running the washcloth over his body.
“Never needed help like this before.”
“It's alright. I don't mind.” Xander gently massaged shampoo into Spike's scalp. “If you don't mind me asking, what happened there?”
“Not ready to go there.” Spike shook his head. “Although-”
“What?” Xander began to rinse the shampoo from Spike's hair.
“If I was the only one to make it out.” He bit down on his lip. “Last thing I remember is Angel asking me what I missed from the surface. Next thing I know, I'm in your bed.”
“I don't know. I can see if The Council will look into it but it's up to you.” He finished rinsing Spike's hair. “Done. Do you want to stay in a little longer? I need to go talk to Dawn.”
“Don't worry. It's not as if I can drown myself.” Spike basked in the glory of hot water.
Xander found her in the living room, engrossed in the news. “Dawn, is everything okay?”
“What do you mean?” Dawn asked, turning the TV off.
“I've got the idea that you're not too thrilled with our guest.” Xander sat on the arm of her chair.
“I'm just overwhelmed. I never expected to see him again but here he is. I'm going to take Amara on patrol.”
“Go for it. I'll take her next week. Hopefully, Spike's on his feet by then.” Xander glanced back to the bathroom.
“Where is he?” Dawn opened a cabinet, searching for a weapon.
“Taking a bath. Figured he'd be fine alone since he can't drown himself.” Xander reached over to the mantle and handed Dawn his crossbow. “Take care of it.”
“You never let me use this.” Dawn gently ran her hands over it. “Although, I'm surprised you kept this. Since you and Andrew hate each other.”
“Reminds me of the good times but consider it a small gift that I want back.” He opened the door to the linen closet. “Are we out of towels?”
“I took the last one. Here.” Dawn handed him the crossbow. “I'll get that towel for you.” She disappeared into her bedroom.
Xander glanced down at the crossbow. It had been Andrew's present for their first anniversary. Made of the finest wood by the finest maker, Xander knew his ex had gone to a lot of trouble to obtain it. Six months later, they were arguing so much that life was miserable. Seven and a half years later, they could still barely stand to be in the same room as each other.
Xander hadn't been in a serious relationship since then.
“Trade.” Dawn took the crossbow and replaced it with a large fluffy towel. “We'll be back in a bit. Don't worry.”
“Are you ready to get out?” Xander sat back on the toilet.
“Close. Water's getting cold.” Spike sighed, glancing around. “I missed this. Hot water and all.” He shivered. “It's cold.”
Xander helped him out of the water and then wrapped the towel around his shoulders. “Okay, let's get you dressed.”
“I can dress myself.” Spike managed to get the t-shirt on, but struggled with the pants. “You can help now.”
Xander eased the pants on. “Now, we're going to take the ten steps to the bed. Remember slow and easy.” Xander let Spike lean on him. Each step was slow but soon Spike was safely in bed.
“I've been in this bed a day and I already hate it.” Spike wrapped the blanket around his shoulders. “I feel better. Being clean and all.” He watched as Xander sat next to him. “Think there's only one way to properly thank you.”
And with that, Spike pressed his lips to Xander's in a light kiss.