Suki Blue Fiction

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Chapter 13

Xander winced at the mighty crack of Willy’s head banging against the table. The man fell back into a well placed chair and whined like he was more put out by the rough treatment than in any actual pain. His head had probably hardened over the years, Xander thought.

“Talk,” Buffy demanded.

“Hey, I’m no snitch!”

With her hands on her hips and her face set in a fierce expression, it was clear The Slayer was not amused. “Tell. Them.”

Willy folded his arms and shook his head. “I’ll never crack.”

“Willy, you already did,” Buffy pointed out. “You cracked like a nut in a nut…thingy.”

“Cracker,” Xander provided.

“Yeah, one of those. Look, I just want you to tell them what you told me, and if you don’t I’ll put you back in your shell and…un-crack you. Backwards. Like a…a…I’ll…”

Xander felt sure Buffy was about to start flailing her arms at any moment. He shrank back. It was best not to be around her when she did that. It was normally followed by grumpiness, whinging and mucho foot stamping. This seemed to happen especially once a month, so Xander was a little taken aback that it was happening again. Buffy’s hormones were obviously out of control…and that was so not the sort of thing that Xander wanted to think about.

“…oh, just confess!” Buffy finished with a shriek.

Giles rubbed his temple and hoped the sudden tinnitus would eventually go away. “Yes, please do, for all our sakes.”

“What’s going on?”

“Hey, Wills!” Buffy called brightly. “This is Willy.” She reached down and twisted his ear.”

“OW!”

“And he’s got the low-down on our robed, Virgin Goddess worshipping vampires. Spill it!”

Willy rubbed at his ear. “Hey, I was gonna spill! No need for the ear-twisting move. I ain’t some schmuck on the street, you know. I’m connected. I know things. Like, I know you’re The Slayer.”

Xander closed his eyes and shook his head sadly. This guy had absolutely no clue.

“Really, that a fact?” Buffy said. “I guess I’ll be coming to you for all my intel, then.”

“Ah, well, when I said that I…OW!” Willy rubbed at the other ear. “Vampires. Nest,” he said, quickly and before anything else could be twisted. “About six of them. They’re hiding out in one of those derelict buildings down by the docks. You know the one behind The Fish Tank? They got these robes and they reckon they got a deal going with some high powered demon god. They have to do a ritual – lots of rituals, actually. Seems this demon god likes his or her flesh on the nubile side. Can’t say I blame…”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” Giles warned. “What else do you know?”

“That’s it. I swear.” A hard cuff to the back of his head changed his answer. “Friday night! They start Friday night. And that really is it this time. I don’t know…OW! Okay, they’re armed. Got all these fancy weapons that’ll take your arm off with just a glance. And they’re quick – real quick. Gonna have to watch them.”

Buffy stepped back and gestured for Willy to leave.

“That’s it? You’re not gonna beat me up? Torture me?”

“Nope,” Buffy said. “Not gonna. Unless you’re lying. Then I’m gonna scoop your insides out with a spoon and serve them up in a cone. You may go.”

Xander watched Willy warily back away until he was halfway out. Then he turned and ran. Somehow Xander had a feeling they’d be seeing lots more of this guy and that it wouldn’t be particularly a good thing.

“Buffy,” Giles asked, “why did you feel the need to bring him all the way here when you could have just delivered the information yourself?” It was a good point.

“He was being…slimy. I needed to assert myself.”

“I see. Very good.”

“What are we going to do?” Willow asked.

“Easy,” Buffy answered. “I’m gonna hunt out the nest and wipe them all out.”

“Let’s not be so hasty,” Giles said, catching Buffy’s arm as she headed to the book cage to get a weapon or three. “We have no reason to trust this Willy. Even if he’s correct about the location, who’s to say that there would be only six vampires inside? Buffy, you could be walking into a trap.”

Xander stood a little straighter. “Trap? Okay, I’m picturing a door in the floor that you’re gonna fall through, but still, that doesn’t sound good.”

“Yeah, Buffy. Xander’s right. Not good. Let’s think about this.” Willow used the power of her huge puppy eyes to finish making her point for her.

“Okay, okay,” Buffy relented, seating herself in the chair Willy had vacated, “I see your point. So, what’s the plan?”

“The plan is that we all retire for the evening,” Giles replied.

“And that helps how?” Xander asked.

“It helps because I’ll be able to get a decent night’s sleep before I check the location at the crack of bloody dawn tomorrow.”

“By yourself?” Buffy asked. “No way. I’m coming with. No arguments. If we’re lucky we can catch them while they’re sleeping.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Xander said as he discreetly slid the book Giles had given him off the table and into his school bag. There obviously wasn’t much else cooking here and Xander was keen to get home and get with the book thing. In fact, this was working out great; if the virgin-eating vampires were as good as toast, there would be another crisis to look forward to instead. That would give him much more time to work out what it was and what needed to be done.

“I’m gonna head home, then, guys,” Xander called.

He got about halfway home before he realised he should have asked for an escort or a lift in Giles’ car. Well, wasn’t that a dumb thing to do?

“Hello, pet.”

Yep. Very dumb.

**

“Walking around alone at night is a bit of a habit with you, innit?” Spike observed through a swirl of cigarette smoke. “Shouldn’t do it. Never know what nasties are lurking about.”

Xander risked a smile. “Like you?”

“Exactly like me.”

Spike wasn’t smiling back and that was just unnerving.

“Is everything okay?” Xander asked.

“You looked at those Watcher books yet?” Spike asked back, completely ignoring Xander’s question.

“No. Not yet.” Xander patted his school bag. “But the night is still young.”

Spike nodded and blew out another stream of smoke. “Joy.”

“Really, Spike, what’s wrong?” Xander asked, a little more forcefully. Spike’s aloof attitude was beginning to grate and that so wasn’t fair. If Xander was to have a last memory of himself and Spike he’d rather it had been a memory like the one on Friday. Hot, sweet, scary and needing so much more. This? Was like a kick in the teeth.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing? Right, okay. Um, I don’t accept that.”

Spike raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? Tough, ‘cause it’s all you’re getting. Now fuck off. You’re in my way.”

Xander considered fucking off.

He also considered punching Spike right in his stupid face. But that would be an idiotic thing to do, especially considering Spike’s current temper. It would also completely give away the fact that what Spike was saying and doing hurt like a bitch.

“No,” Xander said.

“No?”

“No. Talk to me.”

“Nothing to talk about,” Spike sighed. “Fucking nothing.”

“Doesn’t sound like nothing. Come on, Spike. Please don’t… Look, quit being a baby, okay?!”

Spike looked up sharply and Xander experienced the sensation of his balls retreating into his body and turning inside out.

“What did you just say? Did you just call me a baby?”

“Yeah,” Xander said defiantly. “You’re a baby and…I hate you. Well, hate’s a strong word. More like I find you less attractive when you’re being pissy. And you are, being pissy, I mean. It’s not like I did anything to you, is it? I’m just the nice guy trying to mrph!”

A kiss as sudden as the one Xander was experiencing was a strange feeling indeed. Especially as he felt sure that his own hissy fit could very well have reached a very pointy point. But as Spike’s tongue slid against his and Spike’s hands slid around his waist, Xander completely forgot about everything, including his own name.

“Xan?”

“Mm?”

Spike smiled despite the need to kill something. “Sorry, luv. Didn’t mean to take it out on you.”

They stood linked together, waist to waist and lips just barely apart from each other. Xander took this opportunity to think about why he wasn’t scared. Perhaps it was because he was still a little mad at Spike and could not multitask, or perhaps it was because of Spike’s fingers gently rubbing at his side.

“Yeah, well,” Xander said, trying not to sigh at the sensation, “I’m used to it, anyway.”

Spike frowned at that and stepped back. “Just had a bad night.”

Xander nodded. “I know how that goes. You wanna talk about it?”

“What, like some sort of pansy?” Spike asked. “Should I bare my soul to you? Oh, sorry, haven’t got one.”

“Hey, I’m just trying to help, okay? No need for the Sarcastics lesson.” Xander was tempted to stomp away at this point, and ordinarily he would have. But this was no ordinary evening, and standing in front of him was no ordinary vampire. He straightened when Spike looked at him sideways.

“What?” Spike asked.

“What, what?”

“You, what?”

Xander shook his head. “What?”

“You’re looking at me funny,” Spike said.

“No, you’re looking at me funny,” Xander pointed out.

“Yeah, only ‘cause you looked at me funny first.”

“Oh. Well, I was just wondering, is all.”

“Wondering what?” Spike’s fingers fidgeted and stroked, seemingly of their own accord.

“I don’t need to read this book to know that you’re different, but…” He forgot his next words when soft lips touched his jaw.

“Still a killer.” The other hand lifted and caressed Xander’s hip. “Still a very bad man.”

“I know that,” Xander said. He tilted his head to allow the path of slowly peppered kisses to carry on down his neck. “But you have this restraint thing going on. Most vamps bite first, think later. You’re…” Spike nipped, “…unusual.”

“You’re not exactly normal yourself, pet.” Spike’s mouth attached to the offered throat and he sucked. Hard.

The feel of the kiss and the thrill of the danger zig-zagged through Xander like lighting and shook his frame. “Oh my god! Spike!”

Spike pulled away and admired the red blotch that was forming on Xander’s neck. He leaned in and licked it better. “Angel reckons he’s found Dru.” It was said absently and Xander almost missed it.

“Wuh?”

Spike’s lips returned to his and kissed him slow and deep, his hands finding Xander’s and threading them together. When Spike pulled back, Xander was left panting. “What?” he tried again.

“Says he’s found her.”

With his chest still heaving and Spike’s hands roaming again, Xander tried his hardest to get his teenage brain around what was happening. “You’re…leaving?”

Spike shrugged like he didn’t care and kissed Xander again. He pressed their bodies together and groaned when their cocks touched through the double layer of material.

“Spike?” Xander asked when Spike went back to his neck for seconds. “Please tell me what’s going on. Please?” His hands scrunched the leather of Spike’s coat and he knew it was going to be hard to let go when Spike’s lips felt so good and his body felt so hard and firm. “Please?”

Spike pulled back but, as predicted, Xander had absolutely no intention of letting go. Instead Spike nestled closer and toyed his restless fingers through Xander’s hair. “I had a right go at him.”

“Who? Angel? You fought with him?”

“I’ll say. Accused him of all sorts.”

“Like?” Xander was finding it difficult to keep his eyes open. Spike’s fingers were like…well, fingers really. But they were very nice fingers that were playing with his hair and making him feel kinda dozy.

“Told him I thought he was setting me up for a fall.”

Xander eyes went from half closed to wide open. “He’s not, right? Is he?”

Spike shook his head. “Don’t think so.”

“So what’s wrong?” The palm of Spike’s hand touched his cheek and Xander smoothed his face against it. He was powerless to resist. Apparently, Xander had missed that particular memo.

Spike was silent while he studied Xander’s face. They locked eyes and Xander wondered exactly what it was that Spike was looking for.

“You can trust me,” Xander said, taking a leap. “I didn’t tell on you to Buffy, did I?”

Spike’s gaze was suddenly sharp, aggressive, like he was daring Xander to betray him. “What if…what if she doesn’t want me anymore, Xan? What if that’s why she left?”

If the hand against his cheek hadn’t felt so soft and the one at his hip hadn’t felt so gentle, Xander would have been positive that Spike would rip his head off if he gave the wrong answer. He tried to ignore the piercing gaze and concentrated instead on the hands. Nice hands.

“What makes you think she did?”

“Because she just left. No word. No nothing. Just upped and left.” Spike’s voice was softer now, a mere whisper. He dropped his gaze and for one crazy moment Xander thought he looked as though he might cry.

“Maybe she was taken,” Xander suggested.

Spike shook his head sadly. “You know when you just know?”

“That feeling right in your gut? Yeah, I know.”

“Besides,” Spike said with a laugh. “Bitch would have raised merry hell. No-one takes down my Dru without losing at least an eye. Reckon I would have heard that sort of fuss going on. I’m not that much of a heavy sleeper.”

“Do you think you’re still gonna try and contact her?”

“Yep,” Spike said tiredly. “Got to, haven’t I? Don’t want to. Don’t want to make it real.”

“You’re shocked Angel found her so quickly, aren’t you?” Xander asked. He wanted it to be his turn to pet Spike, but he wasn’t entirely sure it would be welcome. Best not upset the already fragile vampire.

Spike laughed again and, like the first time, there was no real humour in it. “Thought he was as useless as The Plonker, sorry, Master. I’d been banking on a couple more months of denial.”

Xander understood that completely. “Ah, Denial River. It flows through the town of Blissful Ignorance – population 1. I absolutely get that.”

Spike smiled at him and resumed hair stroking. Xander was beginning to feel like a large, slightly confused puppy. “Knew you would,” Spike said. “Suppose I should get back and tell Angel I forgive him.”

“Forgive? Okay, so not getting that.”

Spike shrugged and actually grinned. “Not gonna admit to being in the wrong, am I?”

Xander laughed and shook his head. “Yeah, it is Angel. I wouldn’t ever admit I was wrong to him.”

“Exactly.”

“Spike? Depending on…you know…are you coming back?”

Spike thought about it and frowned. “Probably be better for you if I didn’t, eh? I mean, you like me enough now, despite what your conscience is telling you, but once you’ve read that book…” he patted Xander’s school bag purposefully.

Xander dropped his head and Spike stepped back. “Do you want to?” Xander asked. “I mean, if she…? Would you want…?”

Spike shook his head. “You won’t want me, luv. And there’s no way I’m gonna come crawling – not my style. One rejection a week is enough, thanks.”

Xander was silent. He really didn’t know what he could say to that. He did want Spike, so fucking much, and he didn’t even know why. Perhaps it was just all those teenage hormones working for him and Spike really was the first person to show him any kind of sexual attention, so that probably explained the fact that Xander was permanently aroused around him.

Plus, that was one hot vampire.

But Spike was right. How much would he want him once he’d read about Spike’s atrocities – all the people he’d killed and tortured and turned?

It was one of those moments where Xander was pretty sure that he needed to re-evaluate his life. He was actually debating with himself whether he wanted to do hot, dirty things with a serial killer. A serial killer that was still waiting for him to speak.

“Sorry,” was all Xander could manage.

“Well, bollocks.” Spike turned and paced away. He managed three long strides before he twirled around and paced back. “You know, a little bit of violence would go down a treat right now.”

Xander raised both eyebrows. “Not involving me, I hope.”

Spike waved his hand. “Don’t be daft.”

“You know, actually, if it’s violence you’re after I think I may have just the assignment for you. Uh, should you choose to accept it, that is.”

“If it’s violence, I accept.” Spike started to bounce. It was a similar move to Xander’s ‘waiting in a line for popcorn’ bounce.

“How would you feel about clearing out a nest of vampires down at the docks?”

Spike grinned and his face morphed into his demon mask. It was nasty, evil and ohfuckohgodsofuckinghot.

“Show me.”

TBC…