Distracted

by
Wildepet

Part Seven

Xander was more than a little grateful that Angel had been distracted by the whole giant-snake-thing-wanted-to-eat-my-girlfriend drama, because even he was aware that Spike's scent was still lingering on him. Or maybe that was only the taste of the vampire's come on his tongue, which he just couldn`t seem to get rid of.

Now that the adrenaline high he'd been riding had passed, Xander could feel the panic rising, slowly but steadily.

What the fuck had he been thinking? If he had been thinking at all...

Now he was walking home alone, because all the others had been fussing over Buffy and he was reasonably sure that Spike would not come back for him tonight. Though he had seemed ambiguous about his decision to let Xander live, for the time being. And Xander had no clue why he wasn`t dead yet. And he wasn't sure if he should be glad or worried about that. At least he'd been able to let off some steam, breaking a couple of noses and hopefully also knocking out a few teeth at the frat house.

Suddenly he was grabbed and flung against a wall violently.

"Fuck," he groaned, vision momentarily blackened from the pain.

Blindly he reached into his pocket, grateful that he was at least wearing his own clothes again and was no longer unarmed, and pulled something out. "Watch it!" his attacker cursed, knocking the cross out of his hand.

"Angel?" Xander gasped out, surprised.

"Were you expecting someone else?" Angel asked, gamefaced and angry.

"N-no," Xander stammered, intimidated by the snarling vampire, who was pinning him to the wall with brutal force.

And why was the only thought racing through his brain - or what was left of it, anyway - that Spike would be really pissed if Angel killed him now?

Deciding that pretending that he had no idea why Angel was furious with him wouldn't do him any good, Xander said: "Look, he's stronger than me, right? And so are you."

Angel finally let go of Xander's wrists and the boy rubbed them gingerly, glaring at the vampire reproachfully.

"Stronger, is he?" Angel asked, still in full vamp mode. "Funny, you don't seem all that bruised to me, lad."

"Can you... you know, do without the bumps and fangs?" Xander asked, gesturing at Angel's face. "It`s kinda unnerving... And, uh, that's the point, isn't it? Hey, I know the guy's a vampire, evil and everything. It's not like I sent him an email, saying "Come let's fuck outside the frat house " or anything." He stopped and blushed.

"And we so didn't fuck," he added hastily. "I mean, I would have been perfectly happy if I'd never seen him again. Cause I'm not, um, gay or bi or whatever...," he babbled on nervously after a moment's silence.

"He bit you again," Angel stated, brushing his thumb over the fresh scar. And you liked it."

Xander flinched slightly when Angel touched the bite mark.

"He's toying with you, Xander," the vampire said slowly. "I taught him that. He'll seduce you, make you feel for him. And then he'll destroy you. And everyone you love. You`re playing with fire, boy. And believe me, you are going to get burned."

"I can watch out for myself," Xander said evasively.

"No, you can't," said Angel, grabbing him by the throat. "You've proven that tonight."

"Let go," Xander choked out.

He struggled against the vampire's death grip. Just when he thought he was going to pass out, Angel let go. Xander dropped to the ground, coughing and spluttering.

"Are you insane?" he asked hoarsely.

"If Buffy gets hurt because of your stupidity, you'll wish that Spike had just killed you today, Xander," the vampire said coldly.

Xander nodded slowly.

"The only reason that you're not yet dead is that he's trying to use you to get to Buffy. I'm not going to let that happen. I can hardly believe I let you... Don't know what I was thinking, really. I'm talking to Giles tomorrow " Angel said.

"No!" Xander cried out, horrified. "You... you can't tell Giles! He'll kill. ..oh my god, please, don't tell Giles. Please! It's never gonna happen again. I... I'll fight him off next time. I'll..."

"Fight him off? Oh, please, Xander. You let me knock that cross out of your hand. How are you going to fight off a master vampire? Show me."

Xander glared up at Angel from his position on the ground. That really was the final straw. The vampire had reduced him to a pathetic, begging mess, and he just couldn't take it anymore. He'd had more than his fair share of humiliation for one night.

"Yeah, right," he said, in a shaky voice. "First you choke me half to death and then you want me to fight you, only to prove that I can't do it anyway. Fuck you, Angel. We've already established that you are stronger than me. And I really don't need any more bruises."

He staggered to his feet, never stopping his rant. "I really don't like you, you know. You have a goddamn soul, but you've hurt me more than Spike ever has because you know what's right for me, don't you? Because poor little Xander can't decide for himself, not to mention defend himself against anything more dangerous than an angry puppy! I'll tell you something, Angel," he almost screamed, suddenly whirling around and pressing the tip of a stake against Angel's chest. "People always underestimate me," he finished, eyes sparkling dangerously.

Angel hissed surprised when the stake pierced his skin through his silk shirt.

"You could be dust now, and nobody would ever know it was me," Xander said slowly, aware that he was treading on dangerous ground here.

"Are you threatening me?" Angel asked disbelievingly. "Over Spike?"

Xander shrugged, trying to look casual, but his heart was thundering in his chest, betraying his nervousness.

"I asked you to please not tell Giles anything about me and Spike," he said, withdrawing the stake. "I can deal with Spike. Alone. The others will never have to know."

"I will not let him get near you again," Angel said.

"Are you putting me under permanent surveillance?" Xander asked.

"Possibly," Angel replied.

"You're going to kill him, aren't you?" Xander said quietly, avoiding to look at the vampire.

"I have already killed my Sire for Buffy. And I will not hesitate to kill the demon I have created in order to keep her safe."

Xander could hear the pain in Angel's voice and wondered briefly if he just regretted having created Spike in the first place. Or was he maybe as reluctant to think about the possibility of Spike's death as Xander was? Despite everything he said?

"You never answered my question," Xander said, suddenly.

"What question?" Angel asked suspiciously.

"So, you're Spike's Sire, you made him?"

Angel nodded tersely.

"What does that mean? Are you like, his dad, or something? Aren't you supposed to... dunno, care for him?"

Angel looked at him, surprised.

"He is a demon, Xander. A killer."

"Killer, see?", the voices in Xander's head piped up again merrily.

"It is true that I made him, and my demon... It's difficult to explain," Angel muttered, clearly not wanting to explain.

He straightened his jacket and looked at Xander, with a sad expression on his face.

"Just go home now," he said. "Forget you've ever met Spike."

"Yeah, right. Because that's so easy, isn't it? Don't you think I've tried? I can't forget him. He's under my skin. Haunting me. Everywhere I turn I see him. Just go home now. Great advice, deadboy, really," Xander said desperately. "I... I... Look, I'm sorry I threatened you. I didn't mean to. It's... I'm just so confused, I don't know what's happening with me."

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He knew he was being hysterical, but he couldn't help it.

"Is it... is it because he bit me?" he asked finally.

Angel shook his head helplessly.

"He's only put a claim on you," the vampire said. "That doesn't affect the way you... well, feel. And maybe I shouldn't have said that. That's not really making it easier for you. I'm sorry, Xander."

Xander smiled weakly.

"I think I'll just take your advice and go home now. Hop off the emotional roller-coaster ride..." he said with a far away stare. "And here I was, thinking that being assaulted and bitten by my stalker vampire was going to be the strangest thing that could happen to me today. I think I'm slowly going mad, you know."

"Come on, I'll walk you home."

And he had thought that his life couldn't get any weirder. Angel being nice to him was just... plain scary. He started to walk, and Angel hurried after him.

"Oh, and you'll pay for that shirt you ruined." Now that was much better.

"I'm sure I will," he said.

Part Eight

Spike was confused. And he didn't like being confused. He hated not being able to control his emotions. It was a weakness he'd never succeeded to overcome, in all his years as a demon. They always got the better of him, made him do things he shouldn't be doing. That thing with the boy. He'd wanted to take him - and not.

Xander would make a fabulous vampire. But he also was a fabulous human, unfortunately. All warm, sweet and insecure. Spike was torn. He was sure, though, that eventually, the boy would become his first childe. He was too precious for a pet.

Besides, while most of the minions were bright enough not to challenge his authority, there was no guarantee that they wouldn't touch him. And Dru ... No, he'd be dead in under a week. Consort, now maybe that was a possibility, once Dru was whole again. He could travel a little with his boy, stay out of her way, until Xander was strong enough. But that plan wasn't without flaw either.

He didn't know an awful lot about taking a consort, but he was certain that he wouldn't be able to force Xander to enter a bond with him against his will. And while he responded better than expected to Spike's sexual advances .... no, he'd never get the boy to agree. Never. If, on the other hand, he made Xander his childe...

"Thinking about your sweet kitten again?" Dru's voice interrupted his musings.

"What?" he asked, caught off guard.

"I know what's bothering you," she whispered. "He'll take you from me, soon "

"What are you talking about, princess?" Spike asked. "No-one's gonna take me from you. I love you."

"You've been with him. He's like the sun, isn't he? Sweet and warm, burning you, but in a good way. Not like me, cold, unmoved. I've seen you with him, and he's ..."

"You've seen us? You've been out again?" Spike interrupted her angrily.

"In my dreams. He's with you. And I'm not."

Spike took her hand and kissed her fingers gently.

"Those are only dreams, luv. I won't ever leave you."

She stared past him and smiled eerily.

"Do you love my insides? The parts you can't see?" she asked dreamily.

Spike looked at her curiously, wondering what was going on in that pretty head of hers. Did she really think that'd he'd abandon her for the boy? Not that he hadn't thought about it, but it just wasn't going to happen. He didn't want it to happen, really.

"Eyeballs to entrails, my sweet," he assured her. "I know I've been a little distracted recently, but everything will be fine. Just let me get rid of that Slayer first."

"Don't worry," she whispered. "Everything's switching. Outside to inside. It makes her weak."

Spike frowned.

"Really? Did my pet have a vision?" he asked slowly. "This thing that makes the Slayer weak? When is it?" he continued, when she didn't answer at once.

"Tomorrow," Dru answered firmly.

"Tomorrow's Halloween. Nothing happens on Halloween," Spike said confused.

"Someone's come to change it all. Someone new."

A new player in the game. Spike smiled thoughtfully. Maybe this year Halloween wouldn't be all that boring after all.

Xander did not like Halloween. He used to love it until old Mrs. Henderson from across the street had told him that he was too old to go trick or treating with the kids a couple of years ago. And here he was now, having been volunteered by the ever fair and likable Principal Snyder to watch over a horde of trick or treating kids in hideous costumes. He thought his costume was pretty cool, though, especially as it had cost him next to nothing.

He ushered the children to the next door, scanning the surroundings warily. Giles had better be right about Halloween being an undead holiday, because he really didn't fancy being surprised by Spike tonight. Angel had been following him around like a lovesick puppy for the past couple of days but he'd apparently drawn the line at terrorizing the neighbourhood with pleas for chocolate and candy.

Xander had been half-heartedly grateful when his bodyguard hadn't shown up on his doorstep tonight, because he had this nagging feeling that Buffy and Willow were seriously starting to think that something weird was going on between the two of them. And the last thing he needed was a suspicious Slayer jumping to the wrong conclusions. He shuddered at the thought. Laden with more sweets than they could possibly carry, the kids returned, waiting patiently for his orders. Being in charge was a nice change, he decided.

"One more house," he said, starting to lead them across the street.

And suddenly all hell broke loose around him. People screaming, running for cover, chaos, monsters. He turned around slowly. He was dimly aware of the fact that the toy gun in his hands felt different. Something had changed. The gun was raised, aimed at a couple of dustbins and he absently wondered how that had happened. His body was moving, but he didn't seem to be in control.

"Not again," he thought desperately.

A couple of monsters were heading in his direction, and he heard automatic rifle fire. It took him a couple of seconds to realise that he had done that

"Xander?"

"Willow!" he thought, grateful that she appeared unharmed.

"It's me, Willow."

"Yeah, well sure," he thought.

"I don't know any Willow," he heard himself say.

Now that was just neat.

Spike watched the chaos around him with a satisfied grin. He'd have to find the fellow who was responsible for this and thank him. But first, he had to find the Slayer.

Xander knew that without Buffy, they didn't stand a chance against the bunch of monsters and demons coming after them. Even if Angel was now there to protect them. Or rather her. Because the Duchess of Buffonia needed all the protection she could get. He had a nasty feeling that this was the point of tonight's exercise. Make the Slayer weak, so she was easy to kill. He was glad that his soldier self seemed to know what he was doing. Until he spotted a shock of ice blond hair among their followers. Oh fuck. That stupid bastard. He was going to kill Buffy and he'd have to hate him ... And why exactly was he worrying about having to hate Spike?

Everything happened so fast, one second he was held by a couple of butt-ugly demons, and Spike, who'd barely spared him a glance, held Buffy by the throat, ready to kill her, then Xander had managed to break free, heard Willow scream, and he was pointing the rifle at Spike. Who, hearing the commotion behind him, had turned around and was looking at him incredulously, shaking his head slowly. Xander was mentally yelling at the soldier to drop the fucking gun before someone got hurt but he just wouldn't listen.

He felt his finger pull the trigger and ... Suddenly the world went out of focus for a couple of seconds. Disoriented, he stared at the toy gun in his hand, barely able to suppress a relieved sigh. He'd actually pulled the trigger. He'd almost killed - well, hurt, Spike. Spike. Who was still staring at him, gamefaced, yellow-eyed, dangerous.

Xander saw Buffy move behind the vampire and flinched.

Spike reacted a fraction of a second too late. And Buffy was seriously pissed off. She flung the vampire around and punched him in the gut. Spike groaned in pain, and Xander stepped forward, as if to interfere, but a hand on his shoulder restrained him.

"Don't," Angel said simply.

They glared at each other for long moments.

"What's it with you two anyway?" Cordelia said suddenly, shaking her head
disapprovingly.
Xander blushed. There was a loud crash and everyone turned around. Buffy had thrown Spike against a crate and was laying into him with a vengeance.

Xander, though grateful for the distraction, winced sympathetically.

"Fuck," he muttered. "She's going to kill him."

"Probably," Angel said indifferently.

"I don't understand you," Xander hissed. "He's your childe."

"And your what?"

Xander bit his lower lip, but said nothing. After all, what could he have said? Lover? Not very likely.

"Help me with those wailing kids, would you?" Cordelia snapped next to him, pushing one of the confused children in his direction.

"Yeah, sure," Xander muttered distractedly, keeping his eyes on Spike, who had just managed to push Buffy off, and land a kick to her side.

Their eyes met and Xander mouthed "Run, you moron!" at the vampire.

Spike smirked at him - or was that just his imagination? - before he spun around and ran, leaving a relieved Xander and a irritated Slayer behind.

Once again, Spike was licking his wounds after an encounter with the bloody Slayer. And Dru being all sympathetic didn't really help. He did not need anyone's sympathy. What he needed was the Slayer's heart on a silver platter

He'd taken Dru to bed, where she'd eventually fallen asleep - after she'd lovingly tended to his various minor wounds that reminded him of his latest defeat.

True, her attentions had been nice, she'd cleaned the blood off him with her cool and agile tongue, just like she used to in the good old days. Only then the wounds had usually been inflicted by her, in endless hours of sublime torture, with knives and whips, holy water and crosses, making him scream and cry and beg. Making him bleed. For her. The coupling that had followed these sessions had always been special, frantic, desperate in a way.

And thinking of that now wasn't really helpful, either. He was hard. He craved release but he was reluctant to bring it on himself. One of the minions? No. He shuddered at the thought.

With longing he stared at the peacefully sleeping form of his companion for the past century and sighed. He brushed a stray curl out of her face before he got up.

"Sleep well, princess," he whispered tenderly before he grabbed his coat and left the factory again.

He ignored the curious glances from the few minions who were roaming the halls. Let them talk. He needed to get out of this place. Find someone to shag.

Automatically he headed for the Bronze. There was bound to be some action there tonight. And he very much doubted that the Slayer and her entourage would bother to show up there.

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