AUTHOR:
bohofemmFANDOM: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
PAIRING: Spike/Xander.
GENRE : Slash
TABLE: B
PROMPT: 036. Whew.
RATING: PG-13
WORD COUNT: 1319 words.
SUMMARY: Xander never expected see HIM when he opened the door.
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 pulled away, unsure of how to react. Had Spike actually just kissed him? What had brought this on?
“Bloody Hell. Had to do it. Couldn't control myself,” Spike said, reaching out for Xander's arm and squeezing it. “Don't hate me.”
Xander shook his head, trying to ignore the fluttering in his stomach. He knew he had to say something. The silence couldn't be allowed to linger. Lingering silence after a kiss was never a good sign.
“Wow.” It was the first thing that had come to mind. “That definitely qualifies as thank you.”
“You're not angry?” Spike asked.
Before Xander had the chance to answer, he was interrupted by someone knocking on the door. “Hold that thought.” He dashed to the door.
When he opened it, he saw the last person he ever expected to see.
“Andrew. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”
In the seven and a half years since they had broken up, Andrew had changed a lot. He had matured greatly but had also become snobby. He always had to compare Xander to himself and then point out the ways he was better. Xander found it childish and the reason they couldn't stand to be around each other for any amount of time.
“Official Council business. Giles called and I had to see Spike for myself.” Andrew glanced around. “Where are Dawn and your slayer?”
“On patrol.” Xander motioned for Andrew to follow him in. He didn't want Andrew there but knew it was best to just be civil and he would leave soon enough.
“She's still on Watcher-guided patrol?” Andrew asked incredulously.
“Yes. Dawn has this week. I have next.”
“After six months, the council recommends slayers attempting solo patrol. Ingrid's been going solo since month three.”
“Yeah, well, Dawn and I don't feel Amara's ready to be alone yet. She's led a sheltered life and besides, you know a two watcher slayer doesn't attempt solo patrol for eight months.” Xander clenched his fists, resisting the urge to hit him. “Why do you want to see Spike? He's not well. I don't want to risk putting him under excess stress.”
“Los Angeles is still nowhere to be found. You know it's been my project to discover where it went, even after all these years.” Andrew crossed his arms over his chest.
“He's not ready to talk about it.” Xander glanced at his closed door, hoping Spike would stay quiet. “I tried. Plus he's weak. He can barely sit up. He has nightmares. I don't want to upset him.”
“Can I say hello at least?” Andrew pulled his phone out. “Or I can see what Giles thinks about the situation.”
Xander gritted his teeth. He wasn't about to let Andrew drag Giles into their pissing match. He'd have no choice. He would have to show him Spike.
“You mention LA and I throw you out. He almost died last night.” He paused. “You upset him, I throw you out. Basically, anything that harms him physically or mentally, I throw you out.” He reached out ,opened the bedroom door and walked in. “Oh. You're also not being left alone with him.”
Spike glanced up, waiting for Xander. “Hello?”
“Spike.” Andrew feigned cheeriness. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I've been to Hell and back. Xander's a good nurse though.” Spike sat up as Xander stuffed pillows behind him. “Makes sure I'm fed and the blinds are down. Helps me until I'm a bit better.”
“So, Hell, is that where Los Angeles was?” Andrew sat on the foot of the bed. “Specifically, which hell dimension?”
Xander cleared his throat. Then, he nodded towards the door to remind Andrew.
“Not going to talk about Los Angeles. I refuse to.” Spike glanced around, momentarily looking like a caged animal. He calmed down by gripping Xander's hand. “But Xander's helping me.”
Xander gently slipped his arm around Spike's shoulder in a calming gesture. “It'll be alright,” he whispered just loud enough for Spike to hear. “He'll leave soon enough.”
“Sorry. I wasn't aware that Los Angeles was such a touchy subject.” Andrew sat down. “What's going on? Why can't you walk?”
“I assume it's a mix of near starvation and dimension hopping.” Xander replied. “Now, if you don't mind, he needs to relax. I'll walk you to your car.”
Andrew always managed to aggravate Xander in some way. Nothing had been the same between them since breaking up. They only saw each other when work dictated it.
“I'll be back. Los Angeles is my pet project.” Andrew stormed out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him.
“Spike, are you alright?” Xander turned back into the room. “I told him not to mention LA but he doesn't actually listen to me anymore.”
“What happened to him?” Spike asked. “I don't remember him being so mature and...”
“An asshole?” Xander tried to complete the sentence.
“Something like that.” Spike leaned forward on the blanket. “So, about that kiss-” He seemed hesitant to bring it up.
“We don't need to discuss it.” Xander didn't want to make things awkward. He also thought some of Spike's hesitance may have come from his encounter with Andrew but he just wasn't sure. “Unless you want to.”
“No. No need to discuss it.” Spike sighed. “Hold me?”
“You want me to what?” Xander wasn't sure if he had heard him correctly.
“Hold me. Bit tired and would like not to have nightmares.”
Xander could feel the stress coming off Spike in waves. Suddenly, he felt terrible because Andrew had added unnecessary stress to an unwell man. Holding him was the least Xander could do to make up for it.
He didn't know what but something was off with Andrew. As much as they didn't get along, Andrew had never seemed so distant. There was something odd about the way he stared at Spike. It wasn't one big thing. It was a lot of little things that combined to make Xander uneasy.
“Was a hostile person in here?” Amara asked, peeking her head in the door. “We walked in and I just got hit with a wave of hostility.”
“Come here but keep your voice down.” Xander nodded towards the sleeping vampire in his arms. “Andrew Wells from the Council visited. He upset Spike.”
“Andrew was here?” Dawn asked, joining Amara in the room. “Were Dietrich and the baby with him?”
“He was along. Came to try and question Spike. He got angry when I wouldn't let him ask questions. For some reason, seeing him was more unpleasant than usual,” Xander admitted. “Never noticed before just how bitter he is.”
“He is not bitter! He's perfectly nice.” Dawn shook her head. “You have a bad case of 'Hating the Ex'. I can't believe he was here and didn't call!”
Xander didn't care what Dawn said. Andrew was acting odder than usual. Normally, Andrew was bitter but not hostile. The fact he had been so hostile startled him. He knew too well that angry men could never be trusted.
“He's so cute when he's asleep,” Amara remarked. “I know he shouldn't be growing on me. Slayers and vampires never get along but I sense he's a good...something.” She glanced around, making sure Dawn was out of earshot. “I'm picking up on weird feelings. Relief and anxiety.”
Xander was surprised. He had been told Amara was a special two watcher case but it had never been explained to him why she was special. There should have been no way to know what she was saying.
“He has a soul.” Xander gently ran his fingers through Spike's hair. “He earned it for love.”
“I know. He's in my book, The Scourge of Europe and the Horrors They Caused . Doesn't seem as scary as the book describes.” She giggled. “Night, Xander.”
“Good night, Amara.”