tiredPairing : Spike/Xander
Rating : NC17
Summary: The words of a prophecy force Spike and Xander closer than they ever thought they would ever become but will it be close enough?
Part: 8/?
A/N : Inspired by plot bunny/challenge posted here: http://spanderfiles.com/grp/challenges.html
Lady Q: Write a story based on the meaning of Xander's name. Alexander means: Defender of Men and Warrior. So I would like to see a story based on the meaning of his name and Xander coming to understand it
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It began very much like the last time. He was in a white white room with a mirror in front of him. He could see his demon in a cage, whimpering, growling and snarling. And he could see William, the ponce of a poet, honey-curls flopping over his forehead, wiping his glasses on his handkerchief. He looked towards the mirror and watched it turn transparent and there was Harris with his two manifestations – the hyena-man and the soldier man. This time, the hyena wasn't caged. They stood very close to him, again looking as though they were trying to merge themselves into him. Spike watched as Xander reached towards him and found himself again walking forwards to meet the man halfway. Their hands clasped together, they stood facing each other.
“I'm scared Spike”.
“What are you scared of?”
“They want to take over and I'm scared”.
He shook his head. “Don't be scared – I don't think they want to take over. I think they want you to accept them. Accept them as part of yourself and you'll be whole again”.
“Will you accept them as part of you?”
“If that's what it takes – if that's what needs to be done”.
“But do you want to?”
“Yeah, Whelp, I want to. I – I don't do so well on my own. I need to belong – to family, to someone. And I think you could be that someone”. Xander nodded and a small smile crossed his face.
“We're very alike in that respect. I need to belong too – the hyena calls it pack, I call it family. And I want that.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah”. Xander's hand slid up towards Spike's face, fingertip once more tracing his cheekbone then moving to his lips. Spike turned his face into the caressing hand, eyes closing as he soaked up the warmth and affection in that gesture. His lips parted as the finger moved towards his mouth, and he sucked the tip between his lips, grabbing it lightly with his blunt human teeth.
He opened his eyes and they were blazing golden yellow, passion obvious within their depths. The manifestations moved closer
“Spike?”
“Yeah?”
“Come get me Spike – before it's too late”. A cold prickling sensation travelled up his spine and he found himself growling.
“Xander – what's happening?”
“Before it's too late Spike. Please – come get me”.
“What do you mean – Xander – Xander, don't go!!” But as he watched, Xander faded until he was standing facing an empty white space. And somehow Spike knew if he didn't do something quickly, he could lose Xander completely.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Everything hurt. His head hurt where the giant had thumped him; his wrists hurt from the handcuffs they had put him in; and his body was aching from laying on a cold, concrete floor. Looking around, Xander tried to figure out where he was. The room looked familiar, and for a moment he couldn't figure out why until he realised – they were at the abandoned factory, scene of his bizarre kidnapping experience with Spike and Willow. Shoving himself to a sitting position, Xander managed to shuffle to the wall so that his back was supported. He closed his eyes wearily, head thumping back against the wall. He hated being the damsel in distress awaiting rescue but for the moment he couldn't think of anything else he could do. So much for being the great defender of mankind. Sighing, Xander wished there was some way he could alert the Scoobies or Spike, let them know what was going on.
“Ah, you're awake”. The tall gangly vampire appeared in the doorway. He moved towards Xander, lowering himself into a squat in front of him. “We've been waiting for you to wake up – there's a lot to be done Alexander”.
“Who are you and what the hell do you want with me?”
“My name is Karl Wilhem, and I am of the House of Lucius. And it's very simple, Alexander. I want – I intend to claim you. The Defender of Mankind will be my claimed and you will help me make the Hellmouth a safe haven for vampires and demons from all over. And I will rule them all. So it is written, and so will it be”. Xander couldn't stop the sarcastic laughter that escaped him.
“You have got to be kidding me?? You think I'm some great Defender?”
“Oh, we know who you are. And we want you on our side – the Codex states quite clearly that the Defender will be claimed by a Master Vampire and then come into his power. And we want your power with us. By the end of today, you will be mine and you will come into your power – the ceremony takes place tonight. I would suggest you rest – apparently becoming a claimed can be, er, tiring for a human”. The smirk on the thin face was threatening, and Xander felt his heart kick up a notch. Somehow he didn't think he wanted to know why the ceremony was tiring for a human, or why this vampire was so eager to be the one to claim him. Just his luck to have a evil dead guy who insisted on sharing the details of his dastardly plan. “I consider myself lucky – you are most attractive and it won't be a hardship claiming you. No hardship at all”. So saying, the vamp moved quickly to his feet and strode away leaving Xander alone in the dark and scared, very very scared.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“Xander's missing!” There was a gasps of surprise from Willow and Giles as Spike barrelled into the Magic Box, blanket steaming from the early evening sunlight he had rushed through. “I've been to his apartment – the door was open, and I could scent another Master Vamp and a ruddy great big demon, not sure what it was. He's missing and we need to find him!”
Spike thanked God for the infamous Scooby togetherness – there was no questioning, no faffing around. Instant belief and instant action. Thank fuck for that. As he paced backwards and forwards, Willow was putting together the ingredients she needed for a locator spell and Giles was on the phone to Buffy. The events of the previous night were forgotten as they all worked together to prepare for whatever they needed to do to get their friend back.
“Got him. They're at the old factory”.
“Excellent”. Returning to his phone call, Giles said “Buffy, Willow has traced Xander to the old factory. Spike is going to load up some weapons and I'll drive him in the boot of my car. The trunk, yes.” He listened for a few moments. “Yes, ok, I'll let him know. See you there in fifteen minutes”. Spike turned back towards Giles, his hands full of various weapons including his favourite axe and a large dagger.
“Slayer bringing Angel?”
“Yes – she says you might know about sewers or tunnels that will enable us to sneak in? We can drive as close as possible to the nearest sewer entrance and take it from there. I do wonder what exactly we'll be facing, but I think the sooner we do this the better”. Spike nodded in agreement. “Spike? Er, the reason Willow and I were here this evening is because we were examining the prophecy in more detail. We need to be prepared – if another vampire manages to claim Xander, this won't go well – for any of us”.
“It won't happen.”
“Spike....”.
“I'm telling ya, Watcher, it ain't gonna happen. Now let's go yeah? That's my Claimed out there we need to be getting back”. Spike grabbed up his still steaming blanket, ready to head out of the back of the store to where Giles had parked his car.
“Spike?” He sighed in exasperation – trust her not to be able to let it lie.
“Wot?”
“I – I just wanted to say.....”
“Spit it out – we ain't got time for your histrionics”. Willow glared at him for a moment, then lowered her eyes.
“I'm sorry – for the things I said to you last night. They were mean and unkind and I shouldn't have said them. I – I can see that you feel something for Xander, and I shouldn't have tried to get in the middle of that”. Spike nodded curtly, loathe to get into it with her while Xander was missing – this could all be sorted out if - no, WHEN – they got Xander back. And the cold prickling sensation down his spine was telling him they needed to get a move on before it was too late - there was no way he was going to let someone claim what was his - no way in Hell.
Chapter 9 is here