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Suki Blue Fiction From Out Of Nowhere Series
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The floor beneath them vibrated and Xander closed his eyes and swayed from side to side. Strong arms wrapped around him and he found himself being pulled towards a firm, hard body. A cool mouth crushed over his expectant lips and Xander blew a long drawn out sigh into the heated kiss. He clasped his hands tighter to the leather clad figure that held him, fearing that if he was to let go, even for a second, Spike would be pulled away from him by the pulsing crowd.
Spike released Xander’s lips and allowed him to breath. He watched, mesmerized and hypnotized, as Xander exhaled a shaky breath and lifted long black lashes to reveal dark eyes that glistened brightly beneath the flashing white lights of the club. As their eyes locked, everything else faded into blackness. Nothing else existed. The crowd was gone and The Bronze was gone. All that remained was the music and them.
The music grew impossibly loud and the base thumped fast and heavy around them. Spike dropped his hands to his lover’s hips, gripping them tightly and pulling Xander’s body flush with his own. They began to grind their hips together in time with the throbbing base and they both felt themselves melting into one single existence.
Xander kept the rhythm steady, touching his lips gently to Spike’s neck and teasing him with tiny nips and licks. Spike returned the teasing by brushing his hardness over and over Xander’s aching cock, causing Xander to whimper desperately into his neck.
Spike felt his lover’s urgent need. Xander was as close as he was. He grasped Xander’s hair and gently tugged his lover’s head back to expose his beautiful tanned neck. Spike leant forward and placed his lips onto the soft, warm skin of Xander’s throat and he was careful to keep his human visage as his fangs dropped and sliced into his consort’s flesh.
The music pounded faster and the base boomed and kicked at the wooden dance floor. Spike and Xander swayed and ground together in a frantic and hypnotic rhythm, desperate to release before the music changed its racing tempo. Xander slid his arms down Spike’s body and crushed his hands over his buttocks, seeking to increase contact to their throbbing lengths. The base thumped into its frenetic crescendo and the two lovers clung to each other and cried out their own thunderous climax.
The music changed to a slower, softer pace and they pulled slightly apart. Spike’s fangs receded and he watched intently as the bite marks on Xander’s throat slowly disappeared.
Xander looked around at the rapidly thinning crowd; no-one seemed to have noticed their impromptu grinding and biting session. This was one of the only up-sides to living on a Hellmouth. People only saw what thy wanted to see.
Spike pulled him in for one last passionate kiss. “Mine, pet.”
“Mine, too.”
**
The lovers had returned from the bathroom after their quick clean up. They were now leaning against the bar and Spike was ordering them some drinks. Xander turned around and came face to face with Willow. “Hey, Willow. I didn’t know you were here.”
Xander felt suddenly nervous and he hoped that his friend had not been here long enough to witness his and Spike’s special brand of dancing.
“We only just arrived.” Willow pointed to a table that was about ten feet away. “Would you like to join us?”
Xander glanced over to the table and spotted Tara and Buffy settling themselves and chatting excitedly. Xander’s curiosity kicked in and he looked hopefully at Spike.
Spike rolled his eyes at Xander’s expression. “Yeah, we’d love to join you, eh, Xan? You Girls want drinks? I’m buying.”
Willow left her drinks order with Spike and went back to join the other two girls.
“You don’t mind, do you Spike?”
“Naaah, we got all night to be alone. And besides, I wanna get the gossip too.”
Xander smiled at his lover. “You’re turning into an old woman,” he accused.
“Yeah, well. At least I wasn’t born one,” Spike teased back.
Spike gathered the drinks onto a metal tray and carried them over to the table. He hung back and allowed Xander to walk in front so that he could admire his mate’s denim clad ass. Very nice.
Spike felt extremely pleased with himself. Ignoring his lover’s vigorous protests, Spike had insisted on taking Xander on a much needed shopping trip. Xander was in desperate need of some new clothes and Spike had seen this as not only a chance to spoil his lover for a day, but also to get Xander into some clothes that would actually do himl some justice. Out went the awful wild prints and baggy pants and in came rich dark colours and pants that were tight enough to show off Xander’s beautiful tight arse and his gorgeous long legs.
“Hey, guys. What’s up?”
Tara looked at Xander and smiled shyly. “Oh, hi, Xander. N-nothing’s up, nothing’s happening and no Buffy doesn’t have a date in five minutes.”
“Tara!”
Spike grinned as he handed out the drinks. “Slayeeeer, who’s the lucky guy?” he purred.
“No-one.”
“No-one?” Xander asked, amused. “So it’s just you? I know that these are desperate times, Buff, I mean, look who I ended up with, but dating yourself? Are things really that bad?”
Spike grinned over at his lover.
“I mean, that its no-one you know.”
Spike and Xander looked to the witches for confirmation and Willow shrugged. “She won’t tell us either.”
Buffy looked nervously between her friends and the door. She was excited about the date, yes, but Spike was making her nervous. She hadn’t expected him to be at The Bronze tonight. She sat up as she spotted her date entering the club. Oh, well here we go. Maybe Spike won’t recognise him. “Okay, guys. He’s here. So keep out the way.” Buffy took her drink and stood. “I mean it, no interfering.” Buffy turned her back on her friends and weaved her way through the crowd.
The other Scoobies stood up and tried desperately to see the man she was heading for. As Buffy reached her target, Willow squealed. “There he is! Oooh, he’s handsome.”
Xander bobbed his head up and spotted Buffy’s date. “Um, yeah. He’s okay. Not really my type, though.”
“I should bloody well hope not.” Spike laughed and turned to get a good look for himself. When he spotted the man, his laugh abruptly stopped and it was replaced with a low, amgry growl.
Xander looked at Spike with a concerned gaze. “What’s wrong?”
Spike continued to stare.
“Spike? What is it?! Talk to me.”
Xander’s alarmed tone pulled Spike from his furious paralysis. He grabbed Xander’s arm and tugged him from the table. “We gotta go, pet. Now!”
Willow looked at Spike and Xander and when she spoke it was with obvious concern in her voice. “What’s going on?”
Spike continued to pull Xander. “Left the gas on, ducks.”
Willow was confused. “But you two don’t have gas!”
Spike growled again at the man in the distance. “Then I guess you had better ask the Slayer.”
Before Willow could question him again, Spike had nearly reached the side exit and was dragging his lover roughly through it.
**
“Spike, will you stand still for a minute and tell me what’s going on. Why did we have to leave The Bronze?”
Spike flicked his third cigarette into the sink and turned to face his mate. “Buffy’s date. I recognised him.”
“And?”
“He’s Initiative.”
“What? You’re kidding?”
“Not kidding, luv. Remember a few weeks ago when Buffy and I were tracking those bloody great wolf things?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, Buffy dragged some Initiative bloke out the bushes. He was sent to locate their *experiment* and report back...”
“I remember you saying about it.”
“Well it was ‘im. And don’t bloody ask me if I’m sure, ‘cos I’m positive.”
Xander sat down heavily onto one of the kitchen chairs. “Why? Why would she do it? She knows what those bastards did to you.” Xander’s expression turned to disgust as he thought about what Spike must have gone through at the hands of the Initiative.
Spike guessed what Xander was thinking. “Try not to think about that, luv. I’m more concerned with the here and now.”
Xander nodded quickly and rushed to join his lover at the sink. “We can’t let them find you. What if he recognises you? I mean, last time it was dark, if he sees you again...”
“Hey, take it easy, pet. We’ll go see Buffy tomorrow. See if we can talk some sense into the bint.” Spike hugged his lover. “And pet, we both need to keep away from that guy. Don’t forget that you’re my consort now. You’re rare, luv. The Initiative would probably find you more interesting than the likes of me.”
Xander looked up at his lover and sighed. Would life ever be normal?
**
Spike crashed through the door of The Magic Box and stood silently in the middle of the shop.
Buffy sat at the table with Willow and Tara. The two witches had questioned Buffy about Spike’s strange behaviour and Buffy had come to the conclusion that Spike had recognised her date. “Now, Spike, before you start, just let me explain...”
Spike stalked forward. “Explain what, Buffy? Explain that you have put me at risk by tangling with soldier boy? Or do you just want to explain how you are willing to put Xander at risk for the sake of a good shag?”
“Just what has Xander got to do with this?”
“Use your brain for once, Slayer. Me vampire, Xander human, Xander vampire lover. I’m sure they would love a little chat with him, they could get some interesting insights, don’t you think?”
“God, I didn’t think of that. But anyway, that’s beside the point. I’m not going to put either of you at risk. Riley didn’t recognise you that night, so as long as you don’t wear a banner across your head saying *I am a vampire* then I’m sure you’ll be fine.” Buffy’s voice hit a sarcastic tone and Spike growled at her.
“I’m not gonna tiptoe around your sodding nancy boyfriend!”
“He’s not my boyfriend!...Yet”
Xander stepped into the shop and glared at his mate. “Thanks for waiting.” He started to mumble “Damn vampire. Never mind that I can’t keep up.”
Spike walked over to him. “Sorry, luv. I was a tad preoccupied.”
Xander immediately aimed his glare to Buffy instead of his lover. “What are you playing at, Buff? We’re supposed to be friends. Why would you do this to us?”
“God! Be reasonable, guys, please. I need a life too you know. It alright for you two, you’ve each other. What have I got? I’ll tell you. I’ve got nothing. Apparently, I’m not allowed a life. I just want to be normal. Do normal things. I’m lonely, guys. I want someone. I need someone. Ever since Angel went...”
Buffy’s breath hitched and the rest of her sentence came out as an unintelligible sob. Spike and Xander exchanged expressions that had gone from betrayed to sympathetic in one easy step.
“Oh, bloody hell, woman. Leave out the tears. Makes us manly types quiver with fear,” he joked.
“We’re sorry, Buff. We had no idea that you were feeling like this.”
Buffy sniffed, pulled out a tissue and blew her nose. Spike winced, the noise sounded like a foghorn to his sensitive vampire ears. “Look, Slayer. I can’t say that I’m happy about this. In fact, I’m still fucking livid. But if you really want this guy then just bloody go for it. But let me tell you this, if he comes anywhere near me or Xander then you’ll both regret it.”
Buffy wiped at her eyes with her sleeve. “Thank you, Spike. Xander?”
Xander smiled sadly at her. He had felt what it was like to be lonely for most of his life. How could he deny her a chance of happiness? Anyway, knowing what Buffy was like, Riley would be old news in a couple of weeks. Xander suspected that Buffy had not gotten over Angel. No-one else surely stood a chance. “Yeah, what Spike said.”
As Buffy was about to fling herself into the arms of one of her best friends, Giles entered from the basement and the room froze. Spike and Giles had not properly spoken to each other since the argument that had taken place a few weeks ago and no-one was quite sure how to behave around them, least of all Xander.
“Ah, Spike, Xander.”
“Giles,” Spike said through gritted teeth
“Hey, Giles.” Xander tried to smile at the Watcher but it faltered midway through and he settled instead for staring at his feet.
Spike felt anger bubbling away inside him. Ever since the fallout with Giles, Xander had begun to act strangely around him. Spike was confused by Xander’s behaviour, but however Giles was causing it, it only served to fuel Spikes fury.
“S-so, do you guys want to join the meeting,” Tara asked, quietly.
Spike nodded and immediately sat down, but Xander hesitated and tried his best to meet the Giles’ eyes. “Is that okay Giles?”
“Oh, err, yes, of course Xander. Please sit down.”
Xander approached the table and sat down next to Spike. Giles, however, ignored the empty seats on either side of the lovers and chose instead to sit between Willow and Buffy. Spike glared.
“So, Wills, what evil will we be fighting in tonight’s episode,” Xander joked uneasily
“Um, Pixies.”
“Pixies,” Spike repeated in a tone that was dull and disbelieving.
“Well, they are probably not *actual* pixies. But just picture really small, disturbing little men.”
Xander smiled. “Hey, something I can handle for a change. I could crush a few disturbing little men, no problems.”
“I seriously doubt it, Xander. You would be very unwise to underestimate these creatures. By all accounts they could be very dangerous. Perhaps you should do a little bit of the research before you…”
Giles stopped mid sentence and looked over to Spike. Spike was emitting one of his classic warning growls. “Problem, Spike?”
“I’m not having it, Watcher.”
“Not having what, Spike?”
“You, putting Xander down all the bloody time.”
“I was not putting him down. I was simply trying to make the boy see that we can’t go rushing into things all...willy nilly.”
“He wasn’t exactly gonna immediately rush out and start hacking at short people with a garden rake! Have a little faith, Watcher.”
“I simply mean…”
“Just shut your fucking mouth for once.”
“I see, so now I can’t speak in my own establishment.”
“Not unless you’ve got sommit nice to say to Xander here. I suggest you apologise to him.”
“Apologise?! I have done nothing that needs apologising for!”
“You really are a closed minded bastard. You’ve been putting Xan down for years, and I’m not going to put up with it any bloody longer!”
Xander stood and bellowed louder than he ever had in his life. “THAT’S ENOUGH!! *Please* just stop it! Why do you have to fight all the time?!”
“I’m only sticking up for ya, luv.”
“I know, Spike and don’t get me wrong, I love that you care so much. But I don’t want anyone to fall out, not over me. Lets just get on with the meeting, *Please*”
Spike saw the pleading in Xander’s eyes. He was upset and as usual he just wanted to brush his feelings under the carpet and carry on as normal.
Spike glared at Giles one last time and then looked back at Xander. “No problem, pet.” He wasn’t going to upset Xander further by pushing things. “C’mon, then, Watcher. Tell us what we’re dealing with.”
Giles stared irritably at Spike for a few moments before turning back to the others and clearing his throat. “I think that *Pixies* is not quite the right term for these creatures. They may be little, but they are quite deadly.”
“What do they look like?” Xander asked.
“Like little goblins,” Willow chirped. “You know that little Gollum guy from The Lord Of The Rings? Well, they kinda look like that, but with pointier teeth.”
“And just where have the little critters sprung from?” Buffy tried to keep her voice light and breezy. You could cut the tension in the room with a knife and Buffy was well aware that she hadn’t helped matters with her insistence on dating an Initiative soldier.
“That is what we need to find out. I would imagine that we would be looking for some kind of portal. These lightly blighters are certainly not local. I have amassed some volumes referring to the sort of thing we are looking for...” Giles looked briefly at Spike: He almost had a message stamped across his forehead. Don’t leave Xander out.
“Xander, I wonder if you would care to browse through them? See if you can turn up something? We need to know exactly what…err...what…*breed* we are dealing with.”
“Um, okay, no probs.” Xander reached out his hands and snared the said volumes.
Spiked looked back at Giles and spared him a subtle nod. He was pleased that Giles had included his lover in the activities. But what pleased him even more, was that he had a feeling that Giles had done it for Xander and not because Spike would tear off his head and spit down his neck if he didn’t.
“Right then, as long as you have Xander on the case, Tara and I will be off.”
“Not staying, Red?”
“No, sorry, Spike. It’s our anniversary and we have reservations.” Willow gathered her belongings and turned to whisper to Spike. “Try and get along with Giles. He doesn’t mean to hurt Xander. Please believe that. And Xan really hates all the fighting.”
“Yeah, I know he does. I guess it must remind him of his parents.”
Willow abruptly dropped her gaze “Yeah…Tara! C’mon sweetie. We’ll be late.”
Spike stared after the retreating witch. She knows something. “Willow...?”
“See you guys tomorrow. Bye.” Willow half ran out the door, dragging a confused Tara with her.
Spike was suddenly aware that Buffy was talking to him. “Huh?”
“I said, do want to stick your nose in a book with Giles and Xan or do you want to go Pixie hunting?”
Spike didn’t need to think about it. “Pixie hunting will do just fine.” Spike leant down and kissed his consort. “Don’t mind, do you, luv?”
Xander looked up, incredulously. “God no! Please, go kill something.”
Spike stood back up “Think I’ll do just that, pet.” Xander had read his mind. Spike was still frustrated and angry and he needed to vent it, otherwise he’d stay up all night pacing, punching walls, and cleaning. (It was a closely guarded secret that Spike did housework when he was pissed off). He needed to let off a little steam, then have a good think about Xander. His boy was special, and Spike was determined to find a way to prove it and introduce the real Xander Harris to the world.
**
“A car park?”
“Well done, Spike. Your powers of observation grow by the day.”
“Ha, fucking ha. I mean, what makes you think we’re gonna find a Pixie in a car park?”
“Willow searched the police crime reports for this week and there has been an unusual amount of car vandalism, most of it in this car park. And as I’m sure you’re aware, Pixies are mischievous little critters.”
“Yeah, Slayer and so are teenagers.”
Buffy hauled herself up and sat on the bonnet of a car that had seen better days. “Don’t believe me then. We’ll just wait and see.”
Spike huffed and pulled a fresh pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. He lit one and stared at Buffy. “I meant what I said earlier, Buffy. If that boyfriend of yours even looks at me or Xander twice, I’ll rip his fucking heart out.”
“With the chip? I don’t think so. Look, there is no reason why Riley would look at you two twice anyway. Just don’t get all fangy around him.” Spike failed to meet her gaze and she thought hard for several long moments. “Spike? Why have you gone into mega protective mode with Xander all of a sudden?”
“Give me a break, Slayer. I’ve always been protective. If you’d paid either of us an attention you would bloody well know that.”
“See!? There you go again! All big with the defensiveness. We all pay attention to you and Xander, and we all care about the both of you. But lately you’ve gone into protection overdrive. You jump down our throats every time one of us even so much as speaks to Xander.”
“Only ‘cos all you say is stuff that puts him down.”
“That’s not true, Spike...”
“Yeah, it is. You lot have got no faith in him...”
“Spike, I don’t want to argue, but let me just say this. Maybe Xander needs to have more faith in himself. Maybe he needs to stand up for himself and maybe he just needs to...find himself?”
“Find himself? What kind of cheesy crap is that?”
“It’s the kind of cheesy crap that *you* need to pay attention to. Don’t wrap him up in cotton wool and hide him from the world. If you really want to help him, then teach him. Teach him to say something if he feels someone has put him down. Teach him to say no if he doesn’t want to act as bait *again*. Teach him how to fight. Teach him how to be the person that he really is. Teach...”
Spike laughed and held up his hands. “Alright, alright, I got it. Don’t know where to start, but I got it.”
Spike really did get it. He *was* being overly protective. Spike wondered where this fierce protectiveness had suddenly sprung from. Okay, so he had always been more than keen to keep Xander safe and defend him, but ever since the binding ritual Spike had been almost overwhelmed by feelings that he needed to protect his lover from everything, even Xander’s own shadow. Buffy was right, he wasn’t doing Xander any favours. Spike looked up at the stars and pondered about what he could do to really help him. Fighting? Yep, Spike could definitely show him a move or two. But what else?
Buffy read his mind and answered his question. “Maybe you could start by nudging Xan to do what he really wants to do?”
Spike raised an eyebrow. “Do?”
“Don’t be smutty. I mean a career. He has said on more than one occasion recently that he wants to do something that he would really enjoy and not some boring shop job.”
“Yeah, good one, Slayer. He has been talking about it, but he hasn’t actually done anything about it. Probably ‘cos he thinks that if he tried then he would probably only fail.”
“Exactly, and this is where you would step in. Encourage him, Spike. Make him realise that he won’t fail.”
“I could do that. Yeah, not a problem. I wonder what he could do.”
“That’s his choice.”
“I know that! I’m just trying to think what he’d be really good at, so I can nudge him in the right bloody direction.”
“Okay, I see your point. Let me think. Um, veterinarian?”
“Nah, can’t see him sticking his hand up a horse’s backside, can you?”
“Good point. Um, what about a doctor or a nurse?”
“More backsides, Slayer.”
“Okay, how about a writer? Or a journalist?”
Spike shook his head. “Nope, brat can’t spell properly to save his life.” Then it hit him. Xander did have a talent. He didn’t show it off and he probably didn’t even realise that it was a talent, but Spike had noticed it many times and It hadn’t struck him until this moment that Xander could make a career out of it. “You know what? I think Xan could be a great…Pixie.”
“Pixie? Okay, well, for a start he’s far too tall...”
“No, Slayer! Pixie! Behind you!”
Buffy hopped from the car and whirled around. “Where? Spike, WHERE?”
Spike lost site of the tiny creature. “Err, err…there! Behind that Citroen!”
Buffy saw it and dived around the side of the car. The Pixie abruptly changed direction and skidded under a battered Cadillac. Spike interpreted the move and quickly squatted down on the other side of the vehicle. He ducked his head under the car, bared his fangs and roared, causing the Pixie to squeak in alarm and back up. As it emerged backwards from under the car, Buffy grabbed it by its collar and lifted it high into the air. “Hey there, little fella. Watcha doing?”
The Pixie spoke with a chipmunk voice. “Eeek, let me down, human. Please, let me down. Eeeeeeeek!”
At the sound of the Pixie’s cries, two of its friends emerged to join it. “Human, please release our friend. We mean you no harm. Do not hurt us, we beg of you.”
Spike circled around the little imps and stared at them with part suspicion and part curiosity. These were strange creatures indeed. They stood about three foot high and had faces like trolls, ugly and wrinkled. They each wore brightly coloured clothes and tiny pointy hats.
“Auw, Spike. They’re quite sweet.”
“Sweet wasn’t the word I was looking for.”
Buffy placed the tiny Pixie onto the ground. “Okay little guy, tell me what you and your friends are doing in Sunnydale and tell me where you came from.”
The Pixie that Buffy had addressed turned to its friends and pulled them into a miniature huddle. Buffy and Spike stared at each other with confusion while the three Pixies conferred in whispered voices. The first Pixie left the huddle and walked up to the Slayer.
Buffy smiled sweetly at the cute little man. “Well?”
The Pixie grinned back up at. “Blow me!”
All three Pixies blew raspberries.
“Oi, you little buggers!”
“Bye, bye, vampire.” The Pixies waved at Spike and sprang off across the tarmac.
Buffy and Spike tried to keep up, but it was useless, the imps were way to fast. They darted and weaved through the parked vehicles, stopping only when they reached the far end of the car park. They turned back towards the vampire and human that ran towards them and shouted. (Actually make that, squeaked) “Catch us if you can!” It was then that the three Pixies did something very strange indeed. With a loud ‘Ting!’ they exploded into three small balls of light and zipped back across the car park.
Spike whipped his head around and watched the Pixie balls disappear up into the sky. “Bollocks.”
**
“Anything?”
“Um, not too sure. There are a couple of things in those two books that might be helpful. I’ve marked the pages. But I don’t think there’s much more that we can do until we at least get a proper and accurate description of them.”
Giles nodded and glanced quickly at the pages that Xander had marked. He was impressed. Xander had found some very interesting information relating to small folk and portals. “Yes, very good, Xander. This will be most helpful. But I think you’re right, we need to know more about these creatures. It could be any number of the ones described in these tomes.”
“Should we wait for Spike and Buffy to get back? Maybe they spotted them.”
“I think that’s exactly what we should do. But in the meantime, shall I make some tea?”
“Yeah, tea would be great.”
Giles shuffled into the kitchen and Xander began to doodle on his notepad. He had been all set a couple of weeks ago to ask Giles for a part time job, just until he figured out what he wanted to do with his life. But after Spike’s argument with him, Xander didn’t think that it was such a good idea.
Xander couldn’t blame Spike for being upset. Giles, after all, did nearly get him killed. But it didn’t change the fact that Xander wished that they could all just forget what had happened and go back to way things were. Giles was nearly like a father to him and Xander loved him very much. But sometimes he felt like Giles was looking down on him. He hated that. He hated that he always felt inferior to the others. Every time he started to feel more confident, he somehow felt like he was being knocked back down and he just couldn’t figure out why.
Giles appeared from the back and placed a mug of tea in front of him. “There you go. It’s PG Tips. I get it imported from England.”
“Err, yeah. So does Spike.”
“Oh, does he? Yes, well, very good.”
Giles drummed his fingers on the table. He was lost for what to say. He knew he needed to clear the air, but he could feel Xander’s uneasiness hanging in the air. If he tried to talk seriously with him now, he would most probably bolt. “Weather has been clement, hasn’t it?”
“Clement? Is that a fruit?”
They both stared at each for a few seconds before erupting into great gusts of laughter.
**
“What’s all this, then?” Spike asked, eyeing the two giggling humans. Giles and Xander had been laughing continuously for the past five minutes.
Xander stood and walked over to his lover, greeting him with a welcoming kiss. “Oh, we were just talking about the weather…and fruit, apparently.”
Spike was glad to see that Xander was happy. When Xander smiled it always lit up any room. And tonight the room was aglow with a million stars.
Giles coughed and straightened his jacket. “Any luck, Buffy?”
“Well, we saw them if that helps.”
“It might. Tell us what you know.”
Buffy and Spike recounted their story and Xander quickly consulted one of the books. After finding what he was looking for, he turned the book around to show the others. “Is this them?”
“Yep, that’s them alright. Rude little buggers.”
Xander turned the book back to himself and picked out the relevant information. “Says here that they are called *Trable Muckers*. Oh and they are a type of Pixie! How about that! Usually found underground somewhere in the region of Southwest England, namely, Bristol.”
“How did they get here?” Buffy asked.
“It says that they often use portal travel. Particularly if they are on a quest.”
Giles thought hard. “Hmm, England, portal travel, quest.”
“Uh-huh, thanks for the recap, Watcher.”
Giles shot Spike a long suffering look. “The Answer is obvious. Pixies are here from England and they have used a portal to travel to Sunnydale to complete a quest.”
“Ooookay, Giles that was a fine explanation. That’s a wrap them.”
“Buffy, I am simply thinking aloud, trying to sort the information so that I can work out what we…” Giles frowned at the whispering lovers. “Is it something that you would like to share with the rest of the group?”
Spike sat up straight. “Actually yeah, we would like to share. Go on, pet, tell ‘em what you just told me.”
“Um, it was nothing really.”
“Yeah it was, luv. Tell ‘em what you think.”
“Okay, well, it’s just a suggestion, but I was thinking that maybe we could try and spy on them. I mean, the books might not be able to tell us about the quest, even if there is one, and by the sounds of it, the Pixies weren’t exactly forthcoming with the info.”
“Yes, I do believe that would be the best course of action. I’ll call Willow and Tara in the morning. How about we all meet back here tomorrow, at say six o’clock?”
They all agreed and Spike led his lover out of The Magic Box and into the car. He felt very proud. Xander had played an important part in the research and had come up with the plan for the next day. This was how Spike needed to help Xander. He needed to give him the courage to speak up. His mate had a good sized brain and Spike was going to teach him how to trust it. Hello World, meet the real Xander Harris.
**
The Scoobies split up and followed the trail of destruction around Sunnydale. It wasn’t hard to track the mischievous little urchins. The town was bathed in smashed mail boxes, broken down shop fronts, garbage in the streets and plenty of other misdemeanours.
“My feet are starting to ache,” Willow complained.
Xander sympathised. “Yeah, mine too. What do you think, give it another hour?” Before Willow could reply, Xander spoke again, this time in a more hushed voice. “You hear that?”
Willow listened. “I can’t hear anything.”
“Listen, that chirping sound.”
“Um, sounds like a bird, maybe.”
“Or a chattering Pixie perhaps?”
Willow listened again. “You might be right. Where is it coming from?”
“Down here I think. C’mon, move quietly.” Xander took Willow’s hand and led her into a small alleyway. They crept silently towards the chattering noise and when Xander spotted the three little Trable Muckers, he quickly pulled them both behind the large dumpster that took up half of the alley.
“We are close, Sebastian. I can feel it.”
“Yes, I feel it too. It will not be long.”
The third Pixie joined in the conversation. “There is a large place, outside of town. I believe that is where we will find them.”
“Yes, Karl. I see them now. Most beautiful ovals. They will soon be ours.”
Xander and Willow looked at each other with confused faces as the Pixies began to chant.
“Bright as the rainbow, find them, we will. Shells of delight, for them we will kill. The souls of the ovals, so precious and rare. Return we will not, until we have what is fair.”
The pixies finished their mysterious chant. “Let us depart. There is much fun to be had tonight before we claim our ovals tomorrow.”
“Yippeee!”
“Yippeee!”
The three little pixies scaled the wall and skipped across the roof of an electronics store until they were out of sight.
“Did you understand *any* of that?” Willow asked.
“Nope. So much for my spying idea. Perhaps we should have just made a grab for them and dragged their skinny asses back to The Magic Shop.”
“Don’t be silly, Xand. I’m sure that what they said will make some kind of sense once we have had the chance to think about it. Perhaps Giles will know something about these ovals.”
“I guess. C’mon then, Wills. Lets head back.”
**
“Ovals with souls?” Giles asked. “Very curious. And they will be looking for them at a large place outside of town? Hmm, even more curious. Well, if they are going to strike tomorrow then at least that gives us a little time.”
Spike growled and Giles sighed at him. “Spike? You have something to say?”
“Yeah, I bloody do. We’ve been tramping around all sodding evening and I for one need a break. I wanna go for a drink.”
Buffy raised her hand. “Um, and I have a date.”
Spike and Buffy waited for Giles to chide them, and to say that they were surprised when he didn’t, was an understatement. “Yes, very good. Willow? Tara? Are you staying?”
“We are,” Tara replied.
“Then, I don’t see why the rest of you can’t *cut loose* for the evening. Although I’m afraid that I must insist on you all returning as early as possible tomorrow.”
“No problem, G-man. Me and Spike can come back in the morning.”
Willow gestured to herself, Tara and Buffy. “We have classes, but we’ll all swing by straight after.”
Spike stood and yanked Xander to his feet. “Right, we’re off, then. C’mon, Xan. Drinks are a ‘waiting.”
**
“Mmmm.”
Spike pulled Xander close and placed soft, slow kisses up his neck. With restraint that he never knew he possessed Xander pushed him away. “I think we need more drinks.”
“In a minute. I want another kiss first.”
Spike dived towards him and Xander quickly ducked his head out of the way. “Spike! Thirsty!” he complained.
“Oh, bloody hell. Alright, wait here.”
Spike went to get up and Xander pulled him roughly back down. “My round,” he grinned.
Xander weaved through the crowd towards the bar. When he reached his target, he leant on it and waited for his turn to be served.
“I think they need more staff,” Said a voice next to him. “I’ve been waiting near enough ten minutes.”
Xander turned his head to look at the man that had spoken to him. He was a tall attractive man who looked maybe five years older than himself.
“Yeah, it gets busy in here sometimes,” Xander said. He turned back to face the bar.
“You come here often?” The man suddenly clutched at his own head. “I can’t believe I just said that. How lame am I?!”
Xander lowered his eyes and blushed slightly. “Do you really want me to answer that?” he said, not unkindly.
“Perhaps not.” The man peered around him and tried to catch his gaze. When Xander looked up, the man spoke again and held out his hand. “I’m Graham, by the way.”
Xander glanced over in Spikes direction and hesitantly took Graham’s offered hand. “Xander. And yes, I do come here often.”
Graham laughed. “Well, it’s good to meet you, Xander. I don’t suppose I could buy you a drink?”
Xander smiled apologetically “Um, sorry. I don’t think my boyfriend would be too chuffed with that.”
Graham nodded. “No problem. But hey, can’t blame a guy for trying.”
Xander continued to blush. “No, I guess not.”
“Graham! Buddy! I didn’t expect to see you here tonight. I thought you were on duty?”
Graham turned to face his friend. “Nope. Got the night off. I thought I would come down here and see what was kicking.”
The man’s eyes trailed over Xander’s body. “Kicking indeed. This your date, Graham?”
Xander blushed again and Graham spoke quickly. “No. Forrest, this is Xander. We were just talking.”
“Oh I see. So he’s fair game then?”
Xander suddenly felt very nervous and his heart picked up the pace.
“I don’t think so, Forrest. He’s here with his boyfriend.”
“That a fact? I don’t see no boyfriend. So, what’ya say then *Xander* Wanna kick it with the Forrest?”
“No, I don’t.”
Xander turned to move quickly away but a long black arm snared him. “Aw, don’t leave *Xander baby,* the fun is just starting.”
Panic seized Xander and he twisted and struggled in Forrest’s grip. “Get off me!”
“C’mon, play with us…Hey!?”
Forrest was roughly pulled away by his friend.
“That’s enough, Forrest. He’s not interested, leave him alone.”
“That’s exactly what I was about to say…but perhaps with a little more bad language and a tad more violence.”
Forrest spun around to face an angry looking blond man. “What’s it to you?”
“What’s it to me? That’s my boyfriend you’re bloody groping!”
Forrest held his hands up in a surrendering gesture. “Aw, man, sorry. Didn’t know he was yours. But, hey, if you fancy sharing...”
Spike struggled to keep his cool. Inside, he was burning with fury and his instinct was to release his demon and tear out the bastard’s throat. The only thing that held him back was the thought that it was not really a good idea to slaughter someone in such a crowded place and particularly not with the Initiative crawling all over Sunnydale.
“I don’t share,” he said through gritted teeth. “Now I suggest that you step away from my boy before I do something that *you* will most definitely regret.”
Forrest laughed, briefly. “Yeah, alright, *Billy Idol,* whatever. Take your little fuck buddy, then. Go shag him senseless and get the fuck out of my face...”
Spike’s temper was finally lost and he lunged, his face shifting, his eyes blazing gold and his teeth gnashing violently.
Forrest jumped back and Xander grabbed at his lover and hauled him back.
“Fuck, man. You’re a vamp...”
It was Xander’s turn to lose his temper. Most of The Bronze had not noticed his lover’s sudden change in facial features and he was not going to let this egotistical bastard announce it to the whole club. He stepped in front of Spike and threw out a solid, hard punch, knocking Forrest to the floor.
“C’mon, let’s get out of here,” he said.
Spike growled and tried to surge forward, but Xander stood in front and effectively blocked his path to the man that was still lying on the floor. “No. I wanna go. *Please.*”
Spike grabbed Xander’s arms. “Just tell me, he hurt you?”
“No,” Xander lied. Forrest had twisted his wrist and it hurt like hell. “People are starting to stare. Let’s not draw anymore attention, yeah? If you still want to drink, then let’s go to Willy’s.”
Spike kept hold of one of Xander’s arms and drew him gently aside, getting a better view of the man that was struggling to get to his feet. He spoke to the floored man in a voice that was frighteningly calm. “If I ever see your ugly mug anywhere near my lover again, I’ll fucking kill you.”
Spike backed up and the together they left The Bronze, leaving Forrest to nurse his gushing nose. “Call in, Graham. Tell ‘em we’ve got another hostile on the rampage.” Forrest stood and thought for a moment. A vampire with a human lover? That is interesting. I’m sure Dr Price will be *real* fascinated.
**
“Bloody hell, Xan,” Spike said as he tried to rub some life into Xander’s bruised wrist. “Why didn’t you just sodding admit that ponce hurt you?”
“Because I didn’t want you to commit murder in front of two hundred people.”
“Okay, while that’s a fair point, don’t lie to me again.”
“I won’t,” Xander lied.
They had not gone home, choosing instead to drop by at Willy’s. Spike was still in an extremely agitated state and Xander was much happier that Spike could maybe take out his frustration on Willy’s furnishings, rather than their own.
Willy walked over to their table and placed two drinks in front of them. “Trouble, Spike?” he said.
“When is there ever not?”
“Well, perhaps I can help you.”
“Yeah? What do you know?” Spikes asked sharply thinking that the bar owner was referring to the incident in The Bronze.
“I hear you’ve been Pixie fishing.”
“You know about the Pixies?” Xander asked in a surprised tone.
“I may know a little something…for the right price.”
Spike rolled his eyes and sighed. “I decide the price. Twenty bucks and a promise from me that if you’re fucking with us, I will pull off one or more of your limbs.”
Willy considered the offer. “I’ll take the twenty bucks upfront...please.”
Spike handed over the money. “Spill it.”
“The word is...”
“Hang on, who’s word?”
Willy tried to remember. “Fricky three eyes heard it from Herman the small. Fricky told Bubble and Bubble told Bernard the saint. Bernard then had a quiet word with that Tranlar demon that lives beneath MacDonald’s and the Tranlar told Stripy the tiger demon to tell me.”
Spike stared and shook his head. “Go on, what did he tell you?”
“Err, she actually. She told me that three little Pixies have travelled from England using |