Part 4
Xander made it safely to the bathroom. He breathed a sigh of relief. He did not have to *go*, so much as he needed a space to collect himself, and think out why he was staying the night in an apartment full of enchantments that were obviously harmful to his health, add to that the bugs that were currently off in the wild blue apartment unknown
Shaking his head he went toward the sink. However, the shower across the way called his attention. He remembered his other incentive for staying.
Spike.
He could imagine Spike standing there, the soapy suds idly dripping to the shower bottom. A hand dragging a wash cloth across a chiseled chest. Soft lips parted, whispering Xander's name.
Xander banged his head against the wall. His thoughts were not helping to relieve or calm *anything*.
Remembering Spike had said something about the enchantments affecting the shower, Xander trembled. That would be one thing he would not be doing while here. Wait a minute, Xander thought. Maybe if I pass out naked, in the shower, then Spike would have to touch me. He'd probably just man-handle me, though. Although, I wouldn't complain. Nah. He'd probably just turn the cold water on and leave me to wake up on my own. And cold water and naked did not go together
Sighing, Xander went to the sink to throw water on his face. His hands under the cold stream, he sensed his empty stomach's angry disapproval at being neglected, and decided to make his way back.
The path was far less strenuous going than coming. He felt almost confident there were no secret enchantments.
He flopped onto the couch and looked at the TV. He frowned.
"Spike? What is this?"
Spike merely smirked.
Slightly irritated, Xander tried to figure out what was on. "Spike? Is that a battered woman on trial for murdering her husband?"
Spike shrugged his shoulders with an innocent look on his face.
Xander watched. There was evidence that the woman was abused. And was that the detective who had been on the stand, but was now moving to sit behind the woman? And did he look sympathetic, if not a little protective? Xander groaned when he realized that he knew exactly what they were watching.
"You're making us watch a Lifetime movie? I officially am disgusted."
Spike glanced over, giving an half-hearted smirk. "You mean you weren't before?"
Something in Spike's words caused Xander to quiet an immediate comeback. The sarcasm in the voice had almost, but not quite disguised the seriousness.
Whoa, why would Spike be serious about asking if I wasn't disgusted before, Xander thought.
At last basic Xander brain functions kicked in, "Well, of course I was Spike. I just never knew there were further depths to such disgust." Wearing a fake smile, Xander turned his attention to the movie, while keeping his head turned enough that Spike was in his peripheral vision.
The pair did not speak again, until the pizza arrived, was paid for with Xander's money, and Xander held a slice not far from his mouth.
Spike appeared before Xander with several paper towels. Handing them to Xander he said, "Do not, and I repeat do not, get grease on my couch, Harris."
Xander rolled his eyes. Taking the paper towels, his fingers brushed Spike's. The grease blocked Xander's full enjoyment of the touch, but it still carried a small amount of electricity, and not the static kind. An all too brief second later, and Spike had already returned to his armchair making himself comfortable again.
Xander inwardly sighed, and prepared to dig in.
After having scarfed down several extra cheesy slices of a pizza, Xander sneakily brushed his thumb along a cushion, causing a small but noticeable smear. Smiling he settled back. He was now full and could concentrate on the bug problem, with the wonderful background music that plays on every Lifetime movie.
The bugs, from what Spike had described were what Xander had determined as Garvinadeles, which were only found in the Iktorth dimension, and only as ingredient gatherers for major spells. If the bugs here were really Garvinadeles, then they had arrived via spell, and for what could only be some serious havoc wreaking.
Sighing Xander tried to remember what the non-insect beings of the Iktorth dimension were like. He had extensive knowledge of the bugs, but that came with the territory. Working for Pete's Pest Control, which disposed insects of all dimensions, Xander had to know about which insects from which dimensions frequented Earth. Starting from the most populous to the Critrwans, which arrived once every three million years.
There were only 300,000 species which had feathers. And of those only 4,000 were able to stand on their hind legs. And of those, only 1 had red jeweled eyes. The Garvinadeles. And now thousands of them had taken up residence in Spike's enchanted apartment.
Xander closed his eyes thinking of the few ways to send the bugs back to Iktorth. There were none that he knew of. Maybe he could try a portal? A shift in time? Make them watch Lifetime movies?
As Xander deliberated the possibilities, he quietly slipped into a slumber.
#####
"Xander?"
Xander opened his eyes. He wondered when he had fallen asleep. The last thing he remembered was the easiest way to send the bugs back to their home dimension; making them march into a gaping lion's maw.
Stretching, he looked at his watch. It was after three A.M.
Yawning, Xander said, "Why'd you wake me up, Spike?"
Spike pointedly looked at him. "I don't want you complaining in the morning that you have a stiff joints."
Stiff joints, huh? Xander shuddered.
Spike continued speaking. "Besides, you'll already be bitching and moaning about those bleedin bugs, and those blasted feathers. That's the only thing those enchantments are good for, those feathers don't last long." Chuckling Spike went through a door and came out with a pillow and a blanket.
"So I'm sleeping…" Xander raised his eyebrows with the question.
"With me." Spike smirked, and Xander's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"What?"
Spike rolled his eyes. "Idiot. You think I would wanna hear your bleedin snoring? The past hours have been hell on my sensitive hearing. 'Sides, I wouldn't want to sleep with you anyway."
Xander slapped the side of his head. Nothing popped back into place, so no screws were loose. "Ookay, Spike.
Merry images of what "sleeping" with Spike would be like flitted through Xander's mind.
Fighting arousal with every thought of every disgusting bug ever, Xander stood, picking up the blanket and laying it across the couch. He knew he should make some sort of comment. For instance how he was not thinking naked Spike thoughts. Xander shook his head.
"As long as you don't return the favor of years past and tie me to a chair, I think I can handle not sleeping with you." As soon as it left is mouth, Xander knew it was by far the worst thing he could say, as his pants were becoming tight.
Spike looked at Xander with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Now there's an idea." With that, he lunged for Xander, dragging him to the armchair.
"Oof!" Xander found himself sitting in Spike's armchair. "Spike, what the hell are you doing?"
Xander's torso was now wrapped tight with rope. Where the hell did the rope come from? thought Xander.
"What I should have done long ago, pet." Spike finished tying the ropes. He looked down at Xander, with a genuine smile.
The smile jolted Xander. A real smile? Now?
When Spike bent forward a little, Xander squeaked, "Spike? You're scaring me."
And with that Spike leaned forward…
And Xander snapped his eyes open. He looked up and saw the TV was still on, but Spike was nowhere in sight.
Being tied to the chair and almost kissed had been but a dream.
Xander made it safely to the bathroom. He breathed a sigh of relief. He did not have to *go*, so much as he needed a space to collect himself, and think out why he was staying the night in an apartment full of enchantments that were obviously harmful to his health, add to that the bugs that were currently off in the wild blue apartment unknown
Shaking his head he went toward the sink. However, the shower across the way called his attention. He remembered his other incentive for staying.
Spike.
He could imagine Spike standing there, the soapy suds idly dripping to the shower bottom. A hand dragging a wash cloth across a chiseled chest. Soft lips parted, whispering Xander's name.
Xander banged his head against the wall. His thoughts were not helping to relieve or calm *anything*.
Remembering Spike had said something about the enchantments affecting the shower, Xander trembled. That would be one thing he would not be doing while here. Wait a minute, Xander thought. Maybe if I pass out naked, in the shower, then Spike would have to touch me. He'd probably just man-handle me, though. Although, I wouldn't complain. Nah. He'd probably just turn the cold water on and leave me to wake up on my own. And cold water and naked did not go together
Sighing, Xander went to the sink to throw water on his face. His hands under the cold stream, he sensed his empty stomach's angry disapproval at being neglected, and decided to make his way back.
The path was far less strenuous going than coming. He felt almost confident there were no secret enchantments.
He flopped onto the couch and looked at the TV. He frowned.
"Spike? What is this?"
Spike merely smirked.
Slightly irritated, Xander tried to figure out what was on. "Spike? Is that a battered woman on trial for murdering her husband?"
Spike shrugged his shoulders with an innocent look on his face.
Xander watched. There was evidence that the woman was abused. And was that the detective who had been on the stand, but was now moving to sit behind the woman? And did he look sympathetic, if not a little protective? Xander groaned when he realized that he knew exactly what they were watching.
"You're making us watch a Lifetime movie? I officially am disgusted."
Spike glanced over, giving an half-hearted smirk. "You mean you weren't before?"
Something in Spike's words caused Xander to quiet an immediate comeback. The sarcasm in the voice had almost, but not quite disguised the seriousness.
Whoa, why would Spike be serious about asking if I wasn't disgusted before, Xander thought.
At last basic Xander brain functions kicked in, "Well, of course I was Spike. I just never knew there were further depths to such disgust." Wearing a fake smile, Xander turned his attention to the movie, while keeping his head turned enough that Spike was in his peripheral vision.
The pair did not speak again, until the pizza arrived, was paid for with Xander's money, and Xander held a slice not far from his mouth.
Spike appeared before Xander with several paper towels. Handing them to Xander he said, "Do not, and I repeat do not, get grease on my couch, Harris."
Xander rolled his eyes. Taking the paper towels, his fingers brushed Spike's. The grease blocked Xander's full enjoyment of the touch, but it still carried a small amount of electricity, and not the static kind. An all too brief second later, and Spike had already returned to his armchair making himself comfortable again.
Xander inwardly sighed, and prepared to dig in.
After having scarfed down several extra cheesy slices of a pizza, Xander sneakily brushed his thumb along a cushion, causing a small but noticeable smear. Smiling he settled back. He was now full and could concentrate on the bug problem, with the wonderful background music that plays on every Lifetime movie.
The bugs, from what Spike had described were what Xander had determined as Garvinadeles, which were only found in the Iktorth dimension, and only as ingredient gatherers for major spells. If the bugs here were really Garvinadeles, then they had arrived via spell, and for what could only be some serious havoc wreaking.
Sighing Xander tried to remember what the non-insect beings of the Iktorth dimension were like. He had extensive knowledge of the bugs, but that came with the territory. Working for Pete's Pest Control, which disposed insects of all dimensions, Xander had to know about which insects from which dimensions frequented Earth. Starting from the most populous to the Critrwans, which arrived once every three million years.
There were only 300,000 species which had feathers. And of those only 4,000 were able to stand on their hind legs. And of those, only 1 had red jeweled eyes. The Garvinadeles. And now thousands of them had taken up residence in Spike's enchanted apartment.
Xander closed his eyes thinking of the few ways to send the bugs back to Iktorth. There were none that he knew of. Maybe he could try a portal? A shift in time? Make them watch Lifetime movies?
As Xander deliberated the possibilities, he quietly slipped into a slumber.
#####
"Xander?"
Xander opened his eyes. He wondered when he had fallen asleep. The last thing he remembered was the easiest way to send the bugs back to their home dimension; making them march into a gaping lion's maw.
Stretching, he looked at his watch. It was after three A.M.
Yawning, Xander said, "Why'd you wake me up, Spike?"
Spike pointedly looked at him. "I don't want you complaining in the morning that you have a stiff joints."
Stiff joints, huh? Xander shuddered.
Spike continued speaking. "Besides, you'll already be bitching and moaning about those bleedin bugs, and those blasted feathers. That's the only thing those enchantments are good for, those feathers don't last long." Chuckling Spike went through a door and came out with a pillow and a blanket.
"So I'm sleeping…" Xander raised his eyebrows with the question.
"With me." Spike smirked, and Xander's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"What?"
Spike rolled his eyes. "Idiot. You think I would wanna hear your bleedin snoring? The past hours have been hell on my sensitive hearing. 'Sides, I wouldn't want to sleep with you anyway."
Xander slapped the side of his head. Nothing popped back into place, so no screws were loose. "Ookay, Spike.
Merry images of what "sleeping" with Spike would be like flitted through Xander's mind.
Fighting arousal with every thought of every disgusting bug ever, Xander stood, picking up the blanket and laying it across the couch. He knew he should make some sort of comment. For instance how he was not thinking naked Spike thoughts. Xander shook his head.
"As long as you don't return the favor of years past and tie me to a chair, I think I can handle not sleeping with you." As soon as it left is mouth, Xander knew it was by far the worst thing he could say, as his pants were becoming tight.
Spike looked at Xander with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Now there's an idea." With that, he lunged for Xander, dragging him to the armchair.
"Oof!" Xander found himself sitting in Spike's armchair. "Spike, what the hell are you doing?"
Xander's torso was now wrapped tight with rope. Where the hell did the rope come from? thought Xander.
"What I should have done long ago, pet." Spike finished tying the ropes. He looked down at Xander, with a genuine smile.
The smile jolted Xander. A real smile? Now?
When Spike bent forward a little, Xander squeaked, "Spike? You're scaring me."
And with that Spike leaned forward…
And Xander snapped his eyes open. He looked up and saw the TV was still on, but Spike was nowhere in sight.
Being tied to the chair and almost kissed had been but a dream.