Distracted

by
Wildepet

Part Nine

Xander was sitting motionless on a bench, staring at the toy gun in his hand. He'd taken the kids that had been assigned to him and the girls home, almost on autopilot. Thankfully they'd been all right, apart from a few scratches and a lot of confusion. He shuddered at the thought that he could have shot some of them with that stupid rifle. That soldier, he'd had no scruples about killing another human being. Xander wondered if the spell had set something free that was in him all the while or if he'd simply been possessed again.

He just wasn't sure. He felt different. The experience with the hyena had been nothing like this. Then, he'd only had the memories of what he'd done. Now, he suddenly had the knowledge of things he should know nothing about. It was all there, in his head. He might as well join the army now ...

When had his life become so twisted? And what the fuck was he doing here, all alone, in the middle of the night, anyway? Even if it was Halloween, tonight had been proof enough to show that not all things evil took a holiday on Halloween. And he thought he vaguely recalled a homeless man being found dead on this very bench only a couple of weeks ago.

"Get a grip, Harris!" he muttered angrily. He almost wished Angel was here to yell at him again.

With a frustrated sigh he got up and stuffed the toy gun back under his belt

"Almost had me worried there for a minute, pointing your big, scary gun at me," a silky voice drawled behind him.

Xander gave an unmanly shriek and whirled around. Spike smirked and casually jumped over the back of the bench to sit on it.

"So, where's your bodyguard?" Spike asked.

"He's ..." Xander began uncertainly, taking a step back from the vampire. He ... must be somewhere around here."

"Yeah, sure," Spike replied, lighting a cigarette. "Want one?" he asked, offering the crumpled pack to Xander.

"I don't smoke," Xander replied.

Spike nodded thoughtfully. "Figures."

"What do you want?" the boy asked.

"Wanted to let off some steam at the Bronze, but I think I found something a lot more interesting to do now," Spike said, leering at the blushing human. D'you want me to take you right here?"

"Wha ...? Ta ... huh?" Xander spluttered out. "N-no, no, no, there will be no taking of any kind here!"

"Not here?" the vampire continued, seemingly unfazed. "So, where do you want it, luv?"

Xander glared at Spike, who was sprawled out on the bench like the whole world belonged to him and although Xander was towering over him, it was pretty obvious who was the one in control of the situation. Gracefully the blonde jumped to his feet and backed the human into a newsstand. "Here, maybe?" he drawled. "Or we could find another dark alley. Although .. "

Xander found himself being whirled around again and he staggered a few steps backwards before he caught himself.

"No," he said.

Spike laughed in his face. The vampire inched closer and gave him a peck on the lips.

"You're so funny, Xander," he said. "Can't you just admit that you want me?"

"I ... I ...," Xander stammered, looking utterly confused and more than a little frustrated.

"Gods, you're adorable, pet," Spike said. "I really, really need to fuck you now."

"You ..., god, you're infuriating!" Xander almost yelled, trying to push the vampire off.

When Spike didn't stop grinning, the boy stepped forward and grabbed him by the apparently ever-present shirt. Spike's eyes widened briefly in surprise, but he remained passive for the time being. He was curious. He certainly hadn't imagined that Xander would take the role of the aggressor at any time during their little encounter tonight. Though admittedly he'd made quite an impression on the vampire earlier.

"You're so full of yourself, vampire," Xander hissed. "Did it ever, ever occur to you that maybe you are not completely irresistible?"

Spike had opened his mouth to protest but was effectively silenced when Xander meshed their lips together in a brutal and bruising kiss.

"Bloody hell, pet," Spike said appreciatively when Xander finally let go of him. "Ever thought about joining the army?"

"Not before tonight. But Buffy kinda seemed to like the outfit."

"Oh, did she now?" Spike asked, ripping Xander's shirt off and sending the toy gun clattering across the street in the process.

"Whoa!" Xander exclaimed. "Easy, man, you're ruining my costume."

"That is the point of this little exercise. So, tell me, luv, did the Slayer pick this for you?"

"Fuck! You're jealous!" Xander said, surprised.

"I'll fuck you all right, but I am not bloody jealous," Spike said, accentuating every word by stabbing a rather pointy finger into Xander's naked chest.

To his horror, Xander felt his cock harden at the contact.

Eyes fixed on his victim's face, but obviously well aware of the effect he was having on the boy, Spike slowly ran his finger down Xander's chest until he was stopped by the waistband of his fatigues. The vampire tilted his head slightly to the side and studied the human's face intently. So many questions he could ask, but wouldn't. Talking was definitely not on the agenda tonight. Not after everything that had happened earlier. Conversation was not what he needed, really. He was in need of something entirely different. The question was, would Xander be willing to give, or would he have to take it?
He was feeling this ridiculously overwhelming need to ascertain that he wasn't losing his touch, to prove to himself, and perhaps also to Xander, that he wasn't just some incompetent idiot, who bragged and talked big but eventually always got his arse kicked.

"So," Spike said quietly, eyes still trained on the boy.

With difficulty Xander turned his gaze away from the slender digit tugged into his waistband. He looked at Spike and realised that nothing short of an army - or maybe Buffy - would stop the vampire from taking what he wanted tonight. And that would be him. He swallowed thickly.

"So?" he replied carefully, resigned to the fact that there was nothing he could do.

"I'm going to shag you," Spike said, slowly undoing the buttons of Xander's pants.

"Here?" Xander squeaked, horrified.

"Right here," Spike confirmed.

Xander felt the cool night air caressing his hard cock as it sprang free from the confines of his pants. Going commando hadn't been such a brilliant idea after all, he thought distractedly.

"S-somebody will see," he said meekly.

"Possibly," Spike said, casually running a single finger over the tip of the boy's erection.

There was a sound of laughter at a distance and Xander's cock twitched. "Traitor," Xander thought reproachfully.

Spike looked at him with a knowing smirk. "I'm gonna make you scream, and everybody will know that you're mine. That you're taking it up the arse from me and loving every second of it," he said

Xander blanched.

"No, please," he whispered, trying to back away, but he was stopped by the bench.

"Say yes, please," Spike said, slowly steering him around the bench.

"N-no."

"Hold on tight," the vampire instructed, placing the boy's hands on the back of the bench. He moved to stand behind him and pulled down the fatigues with one rough jerk. Then he nudged Xander's legs apart, as far as they would go with the pants pooling around his ankles.

"Say yes, please," he repeated.

"Oh my god," Xander whispered, shaking his head in denial. "This isn't happening. This can't be happening."

Spike chuckled.

"Oh, yes, it is. And I'll do my best to make it a memorable experience, luv.

"Please stop," Xander said, but it was barely more than a choked whisper. He couldn't believe that this was really happening, that he was letting the vampire do this to him. Part of him wanted to fight Spike, however hopeless that might be, but what worried him more and kept him frozen to the spot, was that part of him didn't. He wanted this. Not here, not now, but some obviously sick and twisted part of him wanted this to happen. The realisation almost made him want to throw up. He was a sick fuck and he'd get what he deserved. And more.

"Stop it!" Spike hissed suddenly, slapping Xander's exposed arse cheeks so hard that he yelped in pain.

"What ...?" he began indignantly, starting to turn around, but a sharp order from Spike stopped him.

"Don't move!"

Xander shivered. This was not the vampire who had dragged him out of the cinema. And it wasn't the vampire who had kissed him so tenderly outside the frat house. This was not a side of Spike he had encountered before. And somehow this made him very sure that he was going to die tonight. On this very bench. Like that poor old bastard. Only that he'd have a fairly good chance to rise again and kill everyone he cared about. Hooray.

"I said stop it!" Spike's voice whispered sharply into his ear. "Stop worrying. Just go with the flow."

Xander felt goose bumps rise along his spine. The vampire ran a cool hand over his buttocks and continued to whisper into Xander's ear.

"You're thinking too bloody much, Xander. It's no good. Thinking won't help you. You know that this'll happen. It should have happened months and months ago."

Xander felt a soft finger probing at his entrance and he bit back a moan.

"Ask for it," Spike demanded quietly.

"No."

Another stinging slap and Xander hissed in pain. He swayed ever so slightly before a strong hand steadied him.

"Sorry, luv. Now ask."

"No," Xander said more firmly.

When Spike slapped him again, Xander was prepared. His fingernails were digging into the hard wood of the bench, chipping the weathered paint off, but he didn't make a sound.

"We're wasting time," Spike said. "Just ask nicely and I'll give you a proper coring."

He slipped his hand around Xander and started teasing his nipples. "Beg for it, Xander. Be a good boy. Good boys get rewards, don't they?" Spike whispered seductively.

"P-please let me go."

"Say pretty please and maybe I'll let you come instead."

A single finger, slick with whatever, breached Xander's hole and the boy gasped in shock. Part of his brain, the part that was still working, obviously, registered that he ought to be grateful that the vampire bothered to prepare him at all.

Two fingers now, and he was starting to get more than just a little uncomfortable. He was stretched and filled and it hurt and he really, really couldn't imagine that the vampire's cock could fit in there. Apparently the vampire had a better imagination, or maybe just more experience, because he continued to scissor his finger and probe around as though he was searching for something.

"Shit!" Xander cursed.

His knees almost gave way and his cock jerked so violently that for one terrible moment Xander thought he'd come.

"Ready to beg?" Spike whispered, dangerously close to his ear.

"Wh-what?" the boy stammered, not actually coherent anymore.

The vampire brushed over that spot again and Xander whimpered weakly.

He felt a sudden, sharp pain radiating through his lower back, and Xander felt something wet and warm dripping down into his ass crack. Blood. The vampire must have cut him, carved something into the small of his back, thus giving him yet another mark to bear.

Spike's mouth latched onto the fresh wound briefly, and he heard the vampire moan in delight.

"God, you're such a treat," Spike muttered when he pulled back.

The fingers that had penetrated him were withdrawn without warning and Xander tried to stifle another whimper but failed miserably.

Spike chuckled evilly.

"I know you want this, Xander," he whispered. "You've wanted it from the moment I first put my claim on you. You want me to take you, possess you, don't you? And you know what? I think you'll get your wish, boy."

One second Xander felt the vampire's thick, hard length being placed at his now slick entrance, the seductive whispers still in his ear and he really, really thought that maybe Spike was right.

But then his world exploded into white, hot agony, searing through his body as the vampire pushed inside with one forceful stroke. He felt his knees go weak, and all that kept hiM upright was a supernaturally strong arm wrapped around his body from behind.

"Shhh," Spike said, surprisingly soothingly. "It'll be all right in a minute "

Unfortunately Spike didn't give him a minute.

Xander bit his lower lip to keep from crying out loud when the vampire started to pull out again, more slowly.

"Better get used to it fast, though," Spike ground out.

Then he pushed back in, just as hard as before, not nearly giving Xander enough time to get used to the penetration.

"Fuck, you're just too hot, burning me," Spike panted, setting a fast and steady pace.

Xander was breathing raggedly as he tried to will the pain to cease. It didn't stop but it slowly faded into a more bearable, distant ache. He jumped, surprised and unprepared, when Spike hit his prostate again. And again. And again. For a moment Xander thought he'd gone blind with pleasure.

"That's it, scream for me!" Spike whispered in the vicinity of his ear and it took him some time to realise what the vampire meant.

He was screaming. God, he was screaming! Somebody was bound to hear. This time, when he bit down on his lip, he drew blood. The pain and the familiar taste of his own blood helped him to focus.

Unfortunately the scent of fresh blood had quite a different effect on Spike. It seemed to push the vampire to new heights and Xander whimpered helplessly when a cool hand wrapped itself around his hard cock.

"I'm sick and perverted," he thought desperately, somewhere in the back of his mind. "I really get off on this."

It didn't take more than a few expert strokes to send him over the edge. Totally oblivious to the noise he was making, Xander cried out as his seed spilled out over the vampire's hand and the bench.

He swayed on his feet, and Spike - having come with Xander - allowed him to sink to the ground. Feet still tangled up in his pants, Xander dropped to his knees, panting harshly. He was vaguely aware of the fact that he was aching all over and that there was come dripping out of his ass, but for the moment he was beyond caring.

"You might wanna get dressed," Spike's amused drawl interrupted his blissful oblivion after a couple of minutes. "Someone's coming."

With a horrified gasp Xander staggered to his feet, and pulled up his pants. His shirt was positively shredded and his jacket didn't look much better. Stupid goddamn vampire.

He glared at Spike who was looking perfectly normal again. Well, not quite, Xander noted on closer observation. His hair was slightly dishevelled and there was ... come on his lower lip? Xander frowned in confusion. Tentatively he moved closer to the vampire - wondering frantically what the fuck he was doing - and licked it off. Then he stepped back again and watched Spike's eyebrow travel up to his hairline as though in slow motion.

"You're one cheeky little bastard," the vampire said with a barely hidden smirk, before he pulled the boy back to kiss him thoroughly.

There was a scandalized gasp and a lot of disapproving murmuring when the people the vampire had apparently heard, finally turned around the corner but Spike did not allow Xander to pull back.

They walked past the kissing men and Xander could almost feel them glaring daggers in his - naked - back. But Spike's tongue was duelling with his own again and, even though he knew he was fighting a losing battle, he was enjoying himself, losing himself in the vampire's firm embrace. And for a moment Xander couldn't really care less about who saw him doing what with whom.

When Spike finally let go of him, he blinked, dazed. Spike smirked, obviously amused, and Xander fell into a dark pit. Of course none of that had been real. He cursed himself for letting himself be fooled, even if it had only been for the duration of a kiss.

"So, aren't you gonna kill me already?" he asked in a toneless voice. "You had your fun. Finish it."

He didn't want to look at Spike, but when no answer was forthcoming he redirected his gaze from the amazingly fascinating cigarette butt on the ground to the blonde's face. To his surprise the vampire looked almost ... hurt? Their eyes met. Xander worriedly noted that they were flashing yellow split-seconds before the vampire launched himself at the boy.

"What is this? What the fuck are you talking about?" Spike yelled, pushing Xander away. "Where's your spirit, boy? You don't want to die! Go on, tell me to fuck off! What happened to that big mouth of yours? Beg me to spare your life, whatever! But don't give me this! You're not some bloody virgin sacrifice, are you?"

"Well, I might have been if you hadn't just fucking raped me, you freak!" Xander screamed back.

"Now that's more like it!" Spike said approvingly.

"You ... huh? What?" Xander spluttered. "You're completely off your rocker, aren't you?"

"Maybe," Spike replied with a mad grin.

"What?"

"No, make that a probably," the vampire amended.

"What?"

"You said that."

"What?"

"What what?"

"What are we talking about?" Xander asked, genuinely confused. Apparently he was not going to die tonight after all.

"No idea, you started this," Spike replied with a shrug. "I'd better take you home."

He fished a pack of cigarettes and a lighter out of his coat pocket.

"Home?" Xander squealed, terrified.

"Your place, you ponce. Wouldn't want Dru to munch on you for breakfast."

"Dru?" Xander asked, intrigued.

Spike's face closed down immediately, and Xander wisely decided not to ask any more questions.

"Come," the vampire said. "You look like shit."

He dabbed one of the many fresh bruises on Xander's body and the boy hissed in pain.

"Best avoid Angelus for a couple of days."

"He's Angel now," Xander corrected automatically.

Spike shrugged, non-committal, and took a long drag of his cigarette.

"So, do you hate me now?" he asked casually.

"What?" Xander asked helplessly.

"Not again," groaned Spike.

"Of course I fucking hate you!" Xander said vehemently.

"Good."

"What?!"

Part Ten

So ... this was weird. Spike had walked him home and the fact that he had known the way made Xander realise that perhaps he hadn't been all that paranoid when he'd started to see the vampire everywhere. They hadn't talked anymore, but the silence hadn't been oppressive or anything. It had been surprisingly nice. Peaceful, in a way. Spike had stopped under the tree on the front lawn, and Xander - unsure what to do - stood at a distance and watched the vampire through half-lidded eyes

"Aren't you going to go inside?" Spike asked after a couple of minutes.

Xander jumped slightly and blushed.

"I ... er, sure," he stammered, inwardly cursing himself for feeling a stab of disappointment once again.

"Pathetic, really," he thought disdainfully and turned to go in.

"God, I'm such a wuss," Spike muttered, darting forward and grabbing hold of the boy's wrist.

He pulled him into a surprisingly gentle kiss.

"You're turning me into a pathetic tosser and I don't like it one bit," he murmured into the kiss. "And I bloody hate you for it, too."

Nevertheless he kept kissing Xander slowly and tenderly, and Xander found himself melting into the vampire's embrace.

"Love the way you feel, all hot and moist. So bloody tempting."

Xander knew that he was doing it again, but he just couldn't help feeling .. something, when Spike kissed him like that. Like he cared. But he didn't. It took every ounce of willpower Xander possessed to push the vampire away.

"Don't do that," he panted, eyes sparkling wildly. "Don't fucking do that!"

"What?" Spike asked, confused. "What am I doing?"

"This ... kissing me like that ... it's ... I can't deal with that, okay? So just don't."

"Oh," Spike said, with a curt nod. "Gimme my coat back then and I'll be on my merry way."

"Oh. Right. Your coat," Xander muttered and avoided looking at the vampire, because he knew all too well that his eyes would be cold and tinged with yellow again.

He took off the coat the vampire had draped around his shoulders in another surprising show of concern earlier. The cold night air brushed over his exposed upper body and he shivered.

Spike yanked the coat out of his grip and shrugged it on. Then he swirled around majestically and left without another word. Xander felt goose bumps rising all over his body but he put it down to the cold.

Now that was bloody fucking brilliant. Why the frigging hell had he kissed Xander like that anyway? As if they were lovers. God, he'd as good as raped the boy earlier! That, Xander could deal with perfectly well as it seemed. But not that totally uncalled for show of affection.

Spike was still cursing under his breath, his worn duster uncomfortably warm from the boy's body heat. His scent was also still clinging to the leather, taunting him and making him even more furious by the minute. He had no idea why the boy triggered such intense reactions from him. Violent, tender, it didn't seem to make a difference.

This was certainly not what he'd had in mind when he'd left the factory earlier. A good, uncomplicated shag and possibly a quick snack. Now this was anything but uncomplicated. This was about as complicated as it could get. Bloody Xander Harris! If only he wasn't the Slayer's little lapdog. If only Dru was better again already. If, if, if!

He checked his watch and sighed. Too late for the Bronze now. He'd be lucky if he made it to the factory in time. And his demon was screaming in his head to be let out to play, torture, maim, kill. Maybe that annoying little prick Dru had accidentally sired a couple of weeks ago ... Wouldn't be too great a loss, he decided. Even though Dru wouldn't be pleased. It would be worth it. Anything to take his mind off the boy.

Xander was staring at his naked body in the full-length bathroom mirror. He'd taken a shower, scalding hot at first and when he couldn't bear it anymore freezing cold, until his whole body had been shivering. Now he was still shaking, but the shock of seeing himself like that in the mirror had completely taken his mind off the cold.

Spike had been right. He looked like shit. If Angel saw him like this, he was a dead man. He gingerly ran a finger over the bitemark on his neck that had almost healed by now. His body was covered in bruises. Lovebites and smaller bitemarks covered his neck and shoulders. Imprints of steel hard fingers graced his hips, and his wrists. He was hurting all over, and despite the shower, he was anything but relaxed.

Full of trepidation he turned around to check the damage on his back. More lovebites, and a fairly large bruise where he'd hit the newsstand. And an angry red X, carved expertly into the small of his back. X. Not the S he'd half expected. Why?

He had no idea. Maybe Spike had simply thought it would be less conspicuous if he ever decided to prance around naked in front of Angel or his friends. As if.

Still, it was as much a mark of ownership as the bitemark on his shoulder. He turned to face his reflection again.

"This has to stop," he whispered.

His reflection stared back blankly, not looking convinced at all.

"This has to stop," he repeated more firmly. "I do not belong to a vampire."

The other Xander was still looking doubtful.

"This will never happen again. Ever."

It was an off-hand remark by Cordelia, about Angel stalking Xander, that set Giles thinking.

She was right. The vampire had been acting weird around Xander lately. And Xander ... Something was bothering the boy, that much was clear. And Angel seemed to know something.

When Xander entered the library later that morning, Giles watched him from his position behind the shelves as the boy was chatting amiably with Willow, waiting for Buffy to arrive.

He was smiling and cracking jokes as usual, but it somehow seemed forced.

He looked like he hadn't slept all night. There was something else, as well, but Giles just couldn't put his finger on it. He seemed to be moving differently, more stiffly. Was he in pain? Giles was certain that the boy was hiding something, and he was determined to find out what it was. The boy kept fingering his shirt collar nervously, and Giles stifled a gasp when the sleeve slid down Xander's arm and revealed an angry purple bruise around his wrist. An angry, finger-shaped bruise. Only a vampire was strong enough to leave such a bruise.

The pieces were coming together when Xander sat down on the table in front of Willow and winced almost imperceptibly. Giles's mouth fell open when he realised what must have happened ... been happening to the boy. Possibly for weeks. And none of them had noticed.

He put the book he'd pretended to be studying back in the shelf and went over to the two teenagers.

"Hello Giles," Xander greeted him cheerfully.

"Xander," Giles acknowledged, before he turned to Willow.

"Willow, could you perhaps do me a favour," he said, picking up a random book from the heap on the table. "I think there is a revised edition of this somewhere in the History section. Would you be so kind as to try and find it for me?"

Willow looked up and nodded slowly.

"Sure, Giles," she said, taking the book.

She cast Xander a questioning glance before she left, but he simply shrugged with a goofy smile.

"Xander," Giles said, once Willow was out of earshot. "A word, if you please "

The young man stared at him blankly for a moment, then he nodded.

"Sure," he muttered, trying in vain to hide his anxiety.

"In my office," Giles added quietly.

The reply didn't come immediately, and Xander fidgeted nervously for a couple of moments.

"What's so important?" he asked uneasily, looking over Giles's shoulder at the door, clearly hoping for Buffy to interrupt them.

"Please, let's talk about it in my office. Where we'll have more privacy."

"All right, all right," Xander muttered reluctantly, as he got up and followed Giles into his small office.

"Sit," Giles ordered tersely after he'd closed the door behind them.

Xander hesitated for a moment, but then he obeyed slowly. Giles watched him carefully and the small wince Xander tried to suppress as he sat down didn't escape him.

"So, what's all this secrecy about? Willow's birthday isn't for a couple of months," Xander said.

"Is there anything you want to tell me Xander?" Giles asked. "About last night?"

"I ... who ... I mean, what?" Xander spluttered out, looking positively terrified.

Giles moved to stand in front of him.

"Look, Xander, whatever hold you think Angel has over you, I ..."

"Angel?" Xander interrupted without thinking. "I mean, why would you ... Er ... I don't know what you're talking about. I simply didn't sleep well last night."

Giles frowned thoughtfully. If it wasn't Angel ... another vampire, perhaps? Or a human after all? He stepped forward and pulled Xander's shirt collar aside, revealing his neck. And a freshly healed over bitemark.

"Don't tell me you fell on a fork," he deadpanned. "This wasn't there yesterday. What happened?"

Xander swallowed.

"I, er, was bitten?" he said slowly.

"And?"

"I'm not dead. I'm not a vampire, either, before you start waving a cross at me. I ... got away."

"There are lovebites on your neck. What happened?"

"I can't tell you," Xander replied hesitatingly, avoiding looking at the other man. "It's private."

"Was it Angel?"

"No!"

Giles studied the boy thoughtfully.

"Are you hurt?" he finally asked.

"No."

"Who hurt you?" Giles insisted.

"I'm not hurt!"

"Xander, stop being ridiculous! Something happened to you last night, you were assaulted by a vampire, and the way I see it, it is not unlikely that you were even raped. You are most probably in need of medical attention! You need help and you will let me help you," Giles said angrily.

"You were raped?" a tiny voice asked from the doorway.

"Willow!" Xander whispered, looking ready to bolt.

Before he had a chance to move, Giles put a soothing hand on his arm. Seconds later Willow rushed over to them and hugged Xander tightly. He gasped quietly when she touched the bruise on his back, but then allowed himself to melt into the embrace.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry. Are you ... are you ... I ... You didn't want me to know, I understand, but I couldn't find the book anywhere, and who would put "The Great American Peanut Butter Book" in the History section, anyway, so I came back looking for you and you were both gone and I was worried, god, Xander, are you okay? Please say that you're okay. I'm sorry, I'm babbling again, but I think I am in shock and I can't stop because if I stop it'll be real and I don't want it to be real, please say it isn't true. You weren't r-raped, were you?"

Fighting back the tears of shame that were threatening to fall, Xander gave Willow what he hoped was a reassuring smile, when she finally pulled back from the embrace. It had felt good to be held like that, he thought distractedly. He doubted that she would ever hold him like that again if he told her the truth. The truth. Can't exactly rape the willing, can you?

"Xander, say something!" Willow's voice urged, making him realise that he'd been spacing out on her.

She looked worried, troubled by the lack of response.

"I ..." started weakly, trying to find a way out of this. "I'm fine," he said finally.

Willow frowned, about to argue, but the pleading look in Xander's eyes made her stop. Xander breathed a sigh of relief, when Buffy's voice rang through the library.

"Guys?"

"We're here!" he called, brushing past Willow. "Cheers, Buff. Looking good. Is that a new necklace?"

Willow and Giles exchanged a look before they followed Xander back into the library.

"There you are!" Buffy said with a broad smile.

She hugged Willow.

"I so prefer you solid," she said.

Turning to Xander she added: "But I think I could get used to the tough guy look on you. Seems Willow is not the only one hiding something under way too many clothes."

Xander blanched.

"I, uh, have to go, I ... forgot something," he stammered, leaving the library in a rush.

"Now what was that all about?" Buffy asked, confused.

After sharing another meaningful glance, Willow and Giles shrugged in unison.

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