25/26
Author: BmblBee
Paring: S/X, AU
Rating: Adult NC17 for language and M/M sexual content.
Disclaimer: The Bee owns nothing including the characters and
products named in this story.
Warnings: Sex, violence and character death. Yes, the mouse
dies.
Summary: This story is a followup to Mouse but it is not necessary
to have read it. Xander brings Spike home to kill a mouse.
The mouse escaped and Spike stayed for the fun, games
and conflicts that S/X always get up to. One night Spike
gets more than a little drunk and does something stupid.
Comments: The last few stories have been drama and trauma. I felt
we needed some lighthearted fluff, comedy and stupidity.
Thanks to: Petxnd for her preread and suggestions and to Silk Labyrinth
for her betaing of boo boos. It should be noted that if any
irregularities remain it is due to the Bee's bullheadedness.
Xander was unusually surly and short tempered all morning. A condition so out
of the ordinary that it was both noted and repeatedly remarked on by his coworkers
until Xander was ready to scream. By lunchtime, after having nearly dropped a
steel pipe, misplacing his wrench and coming within inches of knocking Bill in the
head with a 2x4, Xander decided he better take his bucket to a far corner of the
construction site and pull himself together.
The others decided that privacy was the last thing Xander needed and within minutes
every seat at the long table was full. Men chatted happily all around him, exchanging
stories of the morning's sexcapades with wives and boyfriends, and the smell of
peanut butter filled the air.
Xander scowled. He kept his head down and offered no contribution to the
conversation. Then with an unseen nod from Jamie's head, Bill took the lead.
"So, Xander. What crawled up your butt this morning? And I assume it wasn't
the new boyfriend."
A collective twitter and chuckle rose from the group as Xander's head snapped
up. His glare of attempted intimidation silenced the others and every eye was
trained on him as they waited for what they hoped would be a scintillating
explanation. Xander resolved not to supply one. His life would not be water-
cooler fodder.
"Nothing. I'm just in a bad mood. Is that all right with everyone here?"
Bill shrugged casually and bit into his turkey and swiss.
"Actually, no. And since I am one of the ones you almost beheaded this morning,
I think that buys me the right to a little clarification."
Xander's head snapped up in shock. His hands shook and he dropped his fruit
cup as the realization and truth of Bill's words hit home. His carelessness and
self-centered brooding nearly cost the other men their safety. Maybe even their
lives.
"Shit. You're right. I'm sorry. It's just that my mind isn't on.... See, things at home
are.... Fuck, you don't want to be bored with my problems. Look, I'm really sorry,
I promise...."
By now, every sandwich had been forgotten and every cookie tossed away as
each man at the table scooted closer and waited with rapt attention for the
sensational story that they knew Bill would coax out. Bill's eyes darted around
giving them the 'back the fuck down before you scare him off' look. The others
tried and failed miserably. With a grunt of disgust, Bill wrapped his arm around
his dejected friend's shoulder.
"Tell us all about it, Xan. It will make you feel better to spit it all out. I know
how confusing it can be for a newly gay guy to deal with the complications that
come from two dicks battling for supremacy in a relationship. So, what happened?
Is it about that boyfriend you mentioned? Is he making you do...things...that you
aren't comfortable doing?"
Xander stared at the sincerity in Bill's face and he knew it really would make him
feel better to vent. Of course he couldn't be totally honest but he could hit the
high points and maybe Bill was right. Perhaps someone in the same situation
might be able to offer some hope and solid advice.
He tossed the remains of his mostly uneaten lunch back in the Stanley lunch-bucket
and he slammed shut the humped lid as he took the time to gather his thoughts.
The rest of the crew held their breaths.
"Well, see here is the problem. Me and Spike have been together for a few
weeks now and...."
"Spike!" One of the younger, straight boys at the far end of the table squealed
in excitement at the rakish name. The story was already getting good. Chad,
the worker next to him, kicked him on the leg to shut him up. Xander scowled
and continued.
"So, mostly everything between us is great. I mean all parts fit together like
a glove and wow, he can really...well, that isn't the problem."
The general whimper of factual deprivation that rose up around him went unnoticed
as Xander considered the wording of his problem. He finally decided that detail
was unimportant and generalities were the best direction to take.
"OK, the problems. Spike is mad cause I won't tell my friends about us and
now there is someone else in the picture. Someone that Spike is spending time
with. A LOT of time with."
The audience gasped at the audacity of Spike's apparent infidelity. Bill just nodded
knowingly.
"Are Spike and this other guy fucking behind your back?"
Xander shook his head.
"No. It isn't like that. He and Luffton...."
The other's chuckled and squiggled as they left it to Bill to express what was on
all their minds. Bill's nose wrinkled in disgust.
"Luffton? The guy's name is Luffton? Believe me, Xan. Never trust a guy whose
name is Aloysius or Poindexter or Luffton. It just ain't natural. So if they aren't
fucking, what do they do together?"
Xander sighed and shrugged.
"They go out at night when I have to be home in bed. They go for walks and I
think sometimes they go to Wil....um, some bar downtown. Then when it's
time for me to get up for work, they come home and go to bed."
The entire group lurched upright in their chairs. Their eyes bugged and their
mouths gapped open and closed like a school of fish. Even Bill had trouble
retaining his mask of neutrality in the face of this outrageous revelation.
"They are home? Now? In your bed together??? Xan, man, NO! You gotta
nip this, buddy! You gotta nip this shit in the bud! Now, look here. You gotta
trust old Bill to give you some solid. If you ain't got a lot invested in this Spike
guy, you need to kick him to the curb. Put the boot to his rump and let the door
finish the job. Don't believe the hype, Xan. I know all the stuff you read about
gay guys says we will fuck at the drop of a hat but, well, yeah, ok that part is true,
but if you ain't in the middle during a threesome, you gotta pull the plug."
The others nodded their heads so violently that their hard hats flopped and waved
back and forth like a clutter of yellow buoys bobbing in the sea. They muttered
their agreement between themselves and encouraged Xander to listen to Bill's
sage advice. For Xander, the problem was not so easily solved.
"I can't just toss him out. Especially in the daytime. Besides, I don't want him to
go. I really...I care about him but I don't think he would agree to me evicting
Luffton. I think if I made him chose between us, he might choose Luffton."
And there it was. Xander's fear of abandonment and lost love. The two terrors
that had haunted him all his life and the two things that he thought Spike had been
the solution to. Bill rubbed small circles on his friend's back. He had been in this
identical situation many times and it never ended well. He hoped Xander's outcome
would be better.
"All right then. Take a suggestion from an old queen. Stop making it so easy for
this Luffton guy to move into your territory. If they go out, you go too. If they go
to the bar, you sit on the stool beside your man. And I won't tell you what I think
about them sleeping in your bed together while you are at work. Geesh, Xan!
So, stop being so understanding and get your ass out there. All you have to lose
is a little sleep and you may gain a whole lot more."
Xander perked right up. It was a plan. It was hope and it was doable. Even
if it wasn't the demise of the hated Luffton, it at least was a chance to spend
more time with Spike and share another part of the vampire's life with him.
Yep, Xander would help train the fuckhead known as Luffton whether the
rodent liked it or not.
"Damn! Yes! Thanks, Bill. I really feel a lot better."
"No problem, Xan. Oh and by the way, just because you are gay now doesn't
mean you had to rush out and get your ear pierced."