Parts 10,11
Part 10: Willy's Place.
"It's my turn to choose the bar, Xander. Don't make me get rough with you."
Xander gave a bitter chuckle. "I already learned the hard way what happens when I get in your way, Ri."
Riley stopped and stood in his path. "Xander."
"Yeah?"
"Go on, hit me."
"Huh?"
"Give me your best shot, Xander." Riley stood there hands at his side.
"I don't *want* to hit you, Riley." Xander kept his hands in his pockets.
Riley looked at him. He let out his breath in a long sigh. "I just want us to be even."
Xander shrugged. "I'm not looking for even. If I was, I'd spend way too much time . . . "
"What?"
"Just forget it, OK?" It was almost a whisper. Xander looked down.
"OK. OK. . . . You know, I wish I could do that."
Xander looked up. "Do what?"
"Let it go like that."
Xander smiled a bit ruefully, "Years of practice backing down."
"I've *never* seen you back down, Xander."
"OK, years of practice getting knocked on my ass." Xander shrugged. "It's one of the advantages of nobody thinking you're a tough guy, you never have to prove it."
"*I* think you're pretty tough."
"Bullshit! You pretty much think I'm Buffy's useless sidekick."
"I pretty much think you're gonna steal her away from me the second she really looks at you."
Xander grinned, "That'll never happen. Never. Trust me. Idiot kid brother, remember?"
"Better than kitteny, I think."
"Kitteny?"
Riley sighed, "Yeah. She called me 'kitteny'."
"Well, you are kinda kitteny." Xander grinned up at him.
"And you are pretty much an idiot." Riley put an arm across his shoulder, and led him down the sidewalk. They turned the corner, and headed into Willy's place.
"Ri, Tell me again, why are we coming here?"
"Because."
"Right, I keep forgetting." Xander stopped. Riley took a step and then stopped and faced him, waiting. Xander looked at him, "One thing: No fighting, OK?"
"No fighting. Promise."
Xander nodded, and they walked in. Xander got them both a beer and they grabbed the only empty table, one near the door.
"Oi! What have we here? The junior slayerette and his sidekick, Captain Cornfed! Sharing an intimate moment together, eh chums?"
Spike leered at the two of them. Riley started to get up, but Xander pulled him back down.
"Hitting a little close to home, am I? Too bloody cute, you two."
Spike grinned. This was better than anything he could have planned himself. He'd thought about ways to get Riley out of his way, but this was just too sweet. He pulled up a chair and sat down and grinned at the two.
"Too right, you two." He winked at Xander, "You, I always knew about, Mr. Nummy Treat himself."
Xander blushed. The vampire continued, "You always wanted to shag me silly. Tying me up in your bedroom and all. Almost sorry you never had the stones to actually do it. From what your little demon lover says, you actually know how to throw a decent shag."
Spike turned his attention to Riley, "Which means that soldier boy here has finally figured out that he's a catcher not a pitcher. That's good. It's important to figure out what position you like to play."
A snarky smile came over Spike's face. "Well, I like it. It's about time you two got a chance at some of the fun stuff. You mortal types get so hung up over what you call things, that you forget how good it feels just to do 'em."
He looked back at Xander "You shagged him yet? Cause the boy fancies you. Written all over that gob of his, innit?" Turning back to Riley, Spike continued, "You do fancy our Xander, don't you? Go on, tell him."
"Fuck off, Spike"
"OOH, Tough talk from the soldier boy. Ex-soldier boy, I oughta say. Play nice, ex-soldier boy, or I'll let Harmony to kick your ass again."
Xander's hand stayed firmly on Riley's shoulder.
"Come on Riley, let's go." Xander stood up, putting himself between Spike and Riley. Riley let himself be guided to his feet. They headed for the door.
Spike got in a parting shot, "Don't shag him too hard, mate. Your Captain Cornfed not as tough as he used to be."
==================
"You shoulda let me kick his ass."
"Yeah. Because that would be the smart move, kicking a defenseless vampire's ass in a demon bar."
Riley sighed at Xander. "Yeah, you're right. But he just pisses me off."
"That's all he's trying to do, get under your skin. I lived with him for a while, remember? All he's trying to do is get a rise out of you."
"It just pisses me off when he says all that shit."
"I noticed." Xander examined Riley's face. Riley was more upset by this than Xander had thought. He put a hand on Riley's far shoulder and gave it a friendly squeeze, and then left his hand there as they walked down the street. Riley fell into step with Xander, letting his arm brush against Xander's side as they walked.
Finally, after several blocks of silence, Riley looked over and asked softly, "Xander. Answer me one question, and be honest. OK?"
Their eyes met. Riley was being very serious. And more than a little scared. Xander nodded.
"Do you want to have sex with me?"
"Ri. I told Buffy that as a joke. Not that you're not . . ." Xander couldn't finish the sentence.
Riley stopped, and demanded in a whisper, "Do you, Xander? I gotta know. " There was an almost desperate undertone in Riley's voice. "I just gotta know."
Xander stood still and, staring down at the ground, didn't answer.
"Tell me 'no', and I swear I'll never bring the subject up again."
Xander looked up at Riley's face, searching for a clue, trying to figure out if Riley was making some kind of jock-boy joke at his expense. But Riley looked totally serious, and very vulnerable. Xander swallowed slowly.
"You're not saying 'no'."
Xander shook his head.
Riley stared at him. "Is that 'no, I'm not saying no' or is that 'no'?"
Xander swallowed hard, and said very softly, "I'm not saying 'no'."
Riley let out a long breath. "I need a drink. Come on."
They headed back to Riley's place, neither one saying a word. Each occasionally glanced at the other, as though they were playing a game of chicken, waiting to see who would be the first to back down.
Neither one did.
Inside, Riley got the bottle off the counter and holding two glasses in one hand, poured them each a shot.
He handed one glass to Xander. Riley started to taste his, then reached over and clinked glasses. Then Riley tossd his back. Xander followed suit.
"Gonna try calling me 'wimp' again?"
Riley flashed him a slightly embarrassed grin. He poured himself another, and offered to do the same for Xander.
Xander shook it off, putting the glass down on the counter, and leaned against it. Riley was looking down, head bowed. Then he looked up at Xander, head still bowed.
"You ever done this before?"
Xander hesitated and then nodded. "With another guy? Yeah, once. You?"
Riley shook his head.
"You sure you want to? Because you're not acting all that eager." Xander nodded at the glass.
Riley put the glass down, and reached over and ran his hand along Xander's shoulder, and down his arm. He whispered, "I'm eager."
Xander smiled and nodded. He reached up and ran his hand across Riley's cheek. Riley moaned softly. "Come on." Xander whispered, as he stepped over towards the bed.
They undressed to their boxers and got into bed. Neither said a word. They lay next to each other, neither sure what to do next, both breathing a little hard. Both feeling the stiffness in their boxers. Neither one willing to make the first move.
Riley looked over at Xander. "Do you think I'm a . . . fag or something?"
Xander raised his head and looked over at Riley, and whispered soothingly, "It doesn't matter what I think."
Riley stared at Xander and swallowed hard. But he didn't resist at all as Xander rolled over and kissed him.
*****
Part 11: Eavesdropping
Graham knocked at Xander's door. Xander opened it
"Hey!"
Graham put a finger to his lips. Xander nodded. Graham gestured towards the outside. Xander grabbed his keys and jacket and followed the commando guy out of the building.
"Shit! You think my place is bugged?"
"Riley's is." Graham looked accusingly at Xander.
It sunk in. "Oh, shit!"
"Yeah. 'Oh, Shit!' I sort of had to accidentally erase some of the tapes from last weekend. Told the C.O. they were blank cause Ri was at Buffy's."
Xander looked up slowly to see the anger in Graham's eyes. "It just kinda happened, Graham." Xander saw that Graham was not impressed by that explanation. Graham was wound tight, His jaw clenched, his eyes narrowed. He was looking like he was ready to explode at any moment.
Xander put his hands in his pockets and looked down. "Graham?"
"Yeah?"
"If you're gonna kick my ass, just do it and get it over with, OK?"
It was like Xander had just let all the air out of him. Graham sighed. "I guess I got no claim on him."
Xander looked up sharply as he heard the 'him' . The marine couldn't meet Xander's gaze. He looked down at the ground. So this wasn't about him and Graham at all, it was about Graham and Riley. "You really love him, don't you?"
Graham met his eyes, and asked earnestly, "Don't you?"
=====================================
"I think Ri is just really lonely. He just doesn't think she loves him." Xander explained as they walked.
"Course he doesn't." Xander was surprised at how bitter Graham sounded. "Basic projection."
"Huh?"
Graham gave him a bit of a smile, "Psych stuff. He can't deal with how he's feeling so he kinda transfers his uncertaintly to her. If she doesn't really love him, so it's OK if he jumps into bed with the first guy who'll let him suck his cock." Xander looked down. "Ouch." He whispered.
Graham sighed. "Sorry, that was a little harsh."
"Yeah." Xander's voice was small.
"I just mean . . . never mind. Fuck the psychology crap. Maybe she's not what he wants, or all he wants, and he can't admit that yet so . . . "
"He puts it on her. . . "
Graham nodded.
"Yeah, maybe."
"This is fucked up. I want him, he wants her. You want . . . who?"
Xander shrugged, still looking down.
Graham looked at him and sighed. He put an arm across Xander's shoulders and gave him a bit of a hug. "You're a good guy, Xander. Something tells me that when you figure out what you want, who you want, that someone's gonna be the luckiest fuck in the world."
Xander looked up at Graham, "You think so?"
"Yeah, despite myself, I think so. Kinda wish you felt that way about me." Graham grinned.
"I do, kinda."
"Yeah, kinda. And kinda for Riley, and kinda for Anya, and kinda for Buffy. . . anybody I'm leaving out?"
Xander grinned, "Willow maybe. And just maybe Giles."
Graham shook his head, chuckling. "Always looking around to see what's better, aren't you? Well, Xander, fuck us all, and see."
"Yes, Yoda."
Graham looked at him and a bit of a smile crossed his face. "You know, I should have kept a copy of that tape. It was pretty hot. Ri was really into you."
Xander turned bright red as he remembered how . . . vocal Riley had been at several points that night.
Graham let his hand caress Xander's ear very lightly. "Look. I gotta go see Riley, find out if he's interested in re-upping, in joining up again. I can't go see him as horny as I am right now, or I'm gonna lose it. What are my chances of a buddy-fuck? No strings?"
"You really know how to romance a guy, don't cha?"
Graham shrugged but kept grinning. "How bout it?"
"What if my place is bugged?"
Another shrug, "Don't use my name."
Graham pulled Xander's mouth towards his.
"Jesus, Graham!"
"Xander, I'm gonna kiss you, and then I'm suck your cock so hard that your head is gonna explode. And then you're gonna fuck the shit out of me. Only question is: do you want it here, or you wanna go inside?"
Xander grinned, and ran his hand along Graham's arm. Impressive arm at that. "Come on."
============================
Graham was in the shower when the door bell rang. Xander pulled back on his T-shirt and khakis and ran his hands through his hair as he walked over "Coming!".
He opened the door, and Anya leaned in for her kiss. She got it.
"Hey." Xander grinned.
"Hello." Anya walked in to the apartment. The shower suddenly stopped. She turned toward Xander.
"If that apartment manager is in our shower . . . " You can take the vengeance demon out of the girl . . . or maybe you can't.
Xander laughed. "I promise you that there is no woman in the shower, Anya. It's a friend of Riley's. Initiative guy. Come to check up on him. See how he's doing."
"Why is he in your shower?"
"Cause . . . he was dirty." The trick with Anya was to pretend that whatever she asked about was the most natural thing in the world. And then give her the most obvious answer.
Anya nodded as though Xander's answer made perfect sense. Xander suddenly realized that Graham's clothes were on the couch. He went over, scooped them up, and carried them to the bathroom, knocked on the door.
"Lt. Miller, got your clothes here. Uh, I've got company."
"Uh, thanks, Harris." The door opened and the clothes got snatched away quickly.
Xander turned back to Anya, who was smiling at him. "Xander, I've been around for a lot of centuries, I've seen lots of naked guys."
Xander blushed, "He's kind of really good looking."
Anya squealed, "You don't have to be insecure, Xander!" She walked over and gave him a big hug. They were still kissing when a freshly showered and newly dressed Graham walked back in.
Graham coughed. They broke the clench. "Uh, Anya, this is Lt. Miller."
"Hey, Anya, call me Graham."
"Hi, Graham." She looked him up and down, turned to Xander, and said brightly, "You're right, Xander, he *is* really good looking! And all muscle-y!"
Graham had the decency to blush.
Anya asked "If you're a Lieutenant, how come you don't have a soldier suit on? Xander looks really cute when he put his soldier suit on."
"Anya!" Xander said in his warning voice.
"He likes to give me orders when he puts on his soldier suit." Anya helpfully explained.
"Uh, TMI, Anya."
"Too much information, huh?"
"Yeah, Anya. TMI."
"OK" said Anya brightly, "Graham, forget what I said about the giving orders."
"Done." Graham shot Xander a leer that made him blush to his roots.
"There, all better now?" She asked Xander, who sighed and hugged her.
"Yes, Anya, all better."
Anya sat on the couch, Xander sat beside her, and Graham took the chair. She looked at Graham. "I thought the Initiative was all ended and filled up with concrete."
"It is. I'm still in the service though."
"Good. About the Initiative being ended."
"Anya has issues with the Initiative." Xander explained helpfully.
Anya nodded brightly. "Cause I used to be . . . "
"Anya!"
"Never mind."
"A demon, yeah, I know."
Xander shot a glance at Graham. "You do?"
Graham nodded. "But demon no more, right?"
Anya sighed sadly and shook her head. "Are you going to go see Riley? Because if you are, then Xander could put on his soldier suit and he could . . . "
"Right!" interrupted Graham. He stood up. "I'd better go see Riley. Thanks for letting me use your shower, Harris."
"Any time, Graham."
As Graham opened the door, he turned and met Xander's gaze. He gave him a sly grin and a very smart salute.
==================================
Later that evening, as he lay in bed, a reasonably satisfied Anya asleep in his arms, Xander sighed wearily. He'd better start taking vitamins or eating oysters or something. He never thought that the day would come when the biggest problem in his life would be that he was having too much sex.
Part 12
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