Title: Beauty, Pain. Part 1/9
Author: Ephemera
Email : AN1@starmail.com
Pairing: S/X
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Not mine. Joss Whedon and various big companies made and own
them - I'm just playing. Feedback: Please! All flavours greatly
appreciated.
A/N: My first challenge fic. Set somewhere in Season Four, playing fast and
loose with the timeline.
For Benaresq, with grateful thanks for the rest of the Hive Brain.
"Pain is beauty, beauty, pain"
*****
Slouching in that gawd-awful recliner, one elbow resting on a raised knee, Spike looked the picture of contentment. He was spinning a business card between the finger and thumb of his upraised hand and smiling a very worrying smile.
"What?"
"Nothing much, pet, nothing much."
Xander's sense of unease ratcheted up another couple of notches. Looking somewhere between confused and concerned, he settled for a disbelieving shrug. Spike flourished the card and grinned as he spoke.
"Got a message for you, though."
"Yeeees?"
Xander just knew he was being set up somehow, but wasn't quite sure for what, or how.
"Deb'N'Hair Beauty Salon called - they need to reschedule your appointment. Becki's out sick and they don't have anyone to cover her clients tomorrow."
"Oh."
The sheer panic that flashed across Xander's face made Spike's smile that shade sharper. He paused a second, watching as Xander dragged a hand through his hair The inspiration for a get-out was visible as it hit. Xander drew breath to start bluffing. Perfect timing.
"Keeping secrets pet? Didn't know you waxed."
And that breath came out again in a silent expletive and Spike pressed his lips together in an even tighter grin to keep from laughing out loud at the beautiful panic and confusion rolling off the boy.
"Like you can complain, Mr. Bleached and Blow-dried."
"Never said I was criticizing."
That took the wind out of Xander's attempt to rant his way out of the situation, and threw him even further off balance. He floundered for something to say that would just make this whole situation Go Away. It wasn't like he'd asked for an undead roommate who couldn't keep his nose out of other people's business.
"'Course, your mates at work might think differently. The Slayer's into the whole personal grooming thing though - you share salon tips with her then?"
Again, opening and closing his mouth wasn't making actual words come out and where's a ready wit when you really need it?
"Your demon chick does know though, doesn't she?"
That he could answer, at least.
"It was her idea, Spike, so you can't blackmail me that way."
"Blackmail? I'm shocked pet! You really think - weeell, yeah, I would, wouldn't I, being evil 'n all."
And the grin was back with a vengeance. Xander gave up any attempt to make it over to the microwave, and hit the couch instead, head in his hands. Voice muffled by his position, he asked
"What's the deal Spike - Cash? Cigarettes? You've already got free blood and a roof over your head courtesy of Casa Del Harris."
"Actually, was thinking more in the way of a road trip - couple of days of your company, use of the wheels .course some beer and fags for the road's not a bad idea"
Xander groaned, and settled in to listen to Spike elaborate his plan.
For Benaresq, with grateful thanks for the rest of the Hive Brain.
"Pain is beauty, beauty, pain"
*****
Slouching in that gawd-awful recliner, one elbow resting on a raised knee, Spike looked the picture of contentment. He was spinning a business card between the finger and thumb of his upraised hand and smiling a very worrying smile.
"What?"
"Nothing much, pet, nothing much."
Xander's sense of unease ratcheted up another couple of notches. Looking somewhere between confused and concerned, he settled for a disbelieving shrug. Spike flourished the card and grinned as he spoke.
"Got a message for you, though."
"Yeeees?"
Xander just knew he was being set up somehow, but wasn't quite sure for what, or how.
"Deb'N'Hair Beauty Salon called - they need to reschedule your appointment. Becki's out sick and they don't have anyone to cover her clients tomorrow."
"Oh."
The sheer panic that flashed across Xander's face made Spike's smile that shade sharper. He paused a second, watching as Xander dragged a hand through his hair The inspiration for a get-out was visible as it hit. Xander drew breath to start bluffing. Perfect timing.
"Keeping secrets pet? Didn't know you waxed."
And that breath came out again in a silent expletive and Spike pressed his lips together in an even tighter grin to keep from laughing out loud at the beautiful panic and confusion rolling off the boy.
"Like you can complain, Mr. Bleached and Blow-dried."
"Never said I was criticizing."
That took the wind out of Xander's attempt to rant his way out of the situation, and threw him even further off balance. He floundered for something to say that would just make this whole situation Go Away. It wasn't like he'd asked for an undead roommate who couldn't keep his nose out of other people's business.
"'Course, your mates at work might think differently. The Slayer's into the whole personal grooming thing though - you share salon tips with her then?"
Again, opening and closing his mouth wasn't making actual words come out and where's a ready wit when you really need it?
"Your demon chick does know though, doesn't she?"
That he could answer, at least.
"It was her idea, Spike, so you can't blackmail me that way."
"Blackmail? I'm shocked pet! You really think - weeell, yeah, I would, wouldn't I, being evil 'n all."
And the grin was back with a vengeance. Xander gave up any attempt to make it over to the microwave, and hit the couch instead, head in his hands. Voice muffled by his position, he asked
"What's the deal Spike - Cash? Cigarettes? You've already got free blood and a roof over your head courtesy of Casa Del Harris."
"Actually, was thinking more in the way of a road trip - couple of days of your company, use of the wheels .course some beer and fags for the road's not a bad idea"
Xander groaned, and settled in to listen to Spike elaborate his plan.