Title: Xander's Green Eyed Obsession
Author: Grayswandir
Fandom: Harry Potter, BtVS
A/N: That last chapter: it sucked, I know. It wasn't supposed to go all serious and mostly pointless. Here's some movement, I promise.
BBT
Friday morning was a lazy affair as far as Xander was concerned. Harry had charmed his friends fairly well, even passing the inspection of a cave-dwelling edition of the Slayer. Returning to the room the previous night had delighted Xander as Harry adopted his own full-body blush when they entered the kitchen to stash the leftover pizza. Informing Harry of his decision to quit at the pub didn't seem so bad after seeing the aftermath of his own frustrations.
The lack of a wake-up call eventually drew Xander out of his laze. Frowning at the lack of a slightly hyperactive British boy's presence, Xander opened his eyes to survey the room. Nope, not in here. Resigning himself to the idea that he was going to have to join the world now that Harry had been absent for some time, Xander threw himself upright, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. Stretching and groaning, Xander took a deep breath, taking the time to smell for any hint of food being prepared.
Nope. Xander knew that cooking wasn't strictly necessary considering the current contents of the fridge and kitchen but it was Harry and he isn't always sane. The lack of Harry pestering him or, in lieu, cooking leant to a bad in Xander's 'verse. Growling, he pulled himself off the bed to search for his oddly truant companion. Xander froze on entering the living area, absently noting the sound of a mildly upbeat synthesizer, which even Giles wouldn't object to, playing softly. The furniture had been shoved against the walls and Harry stood in the vacant area. Well, more like splayed. It was this vision that had attracted Xander to Harry in the first place.
The precise, harmonious movements of hands, arms, feet, legs, head in a slow dance of deathly blows against an absent opponent presented itself as a stark contrast to the Slayer's own brute force style. Xander's own clumsy attempts to fight previously had been mocked or easily blocked by vampires and demons merely due to their own bodily strengths. Learning from Buffy or, ugh, Angel had not appealed to Xander as they both outclassed him in strength and neither were exactly forgiving of that particular downfall. And asking Giles to teach him always made him believe he was Homer to Giles' Burns.
"Enjoying the show?" Harry asked, his back still turned to Xander. A low sweep with the left foot, followed by a high kick from the right brought Harry closer to Xander's position.
Always. Ignoring the tease, Xander walked past, claiming the loveseat for a good sprawl. A light chuckle preceded the restart of the martial display. About the fifth circuit of the room, Xander knew he had to say something. "How'd you get so good?" Xander swallowed hard as he watched Harry's left foot go straight up in the air, flashing that mesmerizingly intricate tattoo that emblazoned the outside of said ankle.
Harry slid to the floor, starting his cool down routine. "Spent a lot of time restricted to an early curfew and I was regularly bored, so I read."
Xander gaped. "What?" he coughed. Harry turned to face him, still stretching. "You learned to fight from a book? I want this book!" His ban on book-learnin' could be put on hold if a book would teach him how to fight.
Harry laughed, snorting slightly. "Books: plural. Many, many books on many, many different subjects, not all of them about combat."
Xander stared as Harry rose from the floor without the use of his hands, trying to decide what that last sentence really meant. Still lost, he asked, "And what did the non-combat books provide?"
Smiling, Harry stood over Xander's sprawling form, sweeping his eyes up and down. "Aside from diversionary tactics?" Xander gulped hard as Harry issued a dark chuckle before swooping down to capture his lips in a simple heated smooch before drawing back slightly, locking eyes. In a whisper, Harry continued, "Fictional pieces can be quite … inspiring when it comes to actual combat."
Panting, Xander scrambled to respond. Swallowing slightly convulsively, he blurted out, "Rumors, heard, did I." Harry's expression became quizzical, head canted to the side. Wincing, Xander elaborated, "Reading make English speaking good." Groaning at Harry's answering laugh, performing a face-palm to himself, he finished with, "Waiting still."
Stealing another kiss before straightening, Harry smiled. "All right, lazy. I'm off to shower then it's time to get to work." Xander groaned as he was pulled upright, out of his comfortable position. "Dress, eat. Then we'll go sign some rental agreements followed by furniture shopping." Harry turned to follow through with his task, again allowing Xander the view of muscles quietly sliding under creamy tan colored skin.
Slave driver, Xander thought, amusedly. "Yesss, massster," Xander replied in a passable imitation of Igor from any Frankenstein movie.
Harry froze. Swallowing hard, he responded, pain evident in his whispering voice, "Don't, ever, call me that. Even in jest." A subtle tremor rippled across his shoulders.
Shit! Rushing to the other side of the room, Xander threw his arms around Harry's shoulders, pressing himself flush against that slender, shorter form. "I'm sorry," he whispered, nuzzling slightly against Harry's left collarbone. "I promise to avoid calling you that." Xander had learned shortly after meeting Harry that some words triggered the worst reactions. The tremble slowly abated, Harry taking deep shuddering breaths. "Better?"
Harry grasped Xander's hands, squeezing gently as he leaned back into his arms. Closing his eyes, Harry sighed, "Yeah. I'm," he swallowed. "I'm gonna grab that shower now." Silently, both boys pulled away, allowing for the only sound to be the still playing synthesizer as they returned to their previously sought tasks.
BBT
The day passed swiftly after two painstaking hours at the apartment complex due to Harry arguing with the manager about requiring a month-by-month contract, instead of an extended leasing agreement. Harry won, of course. Xander found it to be one of those wonders that someone who was classed as just about average in size could be commanding enough to cow even those who towered over him. Buffy never seemed quite able to put the fear of the word in people without an action, or three.
The boring paperwork finished, followed by a quick tour of the apartment, led to the shopping. Xander hadn't ever had the pleasure of shopping for furniture and wasn't sure if he would find it all fun. Of course, Harry chose to start with the mattresses. Some bouncing, lounging, lazing, and a minor bit of spooning. Xander had been wondering why Harry had chosen the unfurnished apartments of the two complexes he had narrowed the selection to until the bed testing began.
Yeah, Xander kinda liked furniture shopping.
Until the sofas, that is. It was the third, or possibly fourth, style they tried. Xander sat, nestling down, while Harry curled with his legs up on the seat. Leaning against Xander's side, Harry started whispering in his ear. "Now that we're comfortably alone, what happened with that fire last night?"
Ah hell! Xander froze, not prepared to deal with lying on the fly. What do I say? "Well," he started. "I think one of those drunks was a pyromaniac, so while he started the fire, the others attacked the peeps inside." Simple, and not completely a lie.
Harry nodded into Xander's shoulder. "Makes sense. So whose life were you in fear for?" Xander flinched as he heard the casual tone. Where—? "I visited the pub before I found you. Your boss said you left in fear for someone's life."
It was unnerving, Harry answering questions that weren't asked. Telling, that his thoughts were always in direct sync with Xander's private musings. That unpleasant demon-ish wiggins flared momentarily before he dismissed it. Been living on the Hellmouth too long. Seeing demons in everything. Swallowing silently, Xander replied, "Secrets, sorry." Harry pulled away, standing up and wandering off to another furniture set.
Need to speak to Buff and all. Now-ish. Resigned to the idea of actually trying to beat the Slayer into submission, Xander followed his boyfriend to the next living room display. He was still standing outside of the setup, allowing for Xander to walk straight up to him; glad he could rest his chin on Harry's shoulder and wrap his arms around his waist. "This professor of yours: ancient or just plain old?"
Harry chuckled, turning his head to face Xander. His eyes showed the pain he felt for being left in the dark. They both knew the previous subject was still in play, but Harry willingly accepted the change. "Oh, young, in comparison to others. Jealous?"
"Insanely," Xander affirmed, stealing a kiss before they continued couch sitting.
BBT
Thankfully the couch shopping passed seamlessly into dining tables before they eventually pulled away from the furniture store and straight into kitchen essentials at Sears. Harry snickered at the consternated look on Xander's face. Reaching across the gear shaft, Harry smiled, turning Xander to face him. "Last stop today, I promise. You can go look at clothes or tools or whatever; I'll find you when I'm done."
Harry fairly bounced out of the car after that and was halfway to the doors before Xander followed that bouncy figure. Where does he find the energy? Xander smiled as he joined Harry inside, giving a quick kiss before heading off elsewhere to allow Harry to outfit his kitchen. Xander wasn't sure where he'd go but he'd been party to numerous girl-led shopping trips and knew the art of aimless wandering.
A quick trip through menswear to peruse the latest surfer tops and novelty patterned boxers Bugs is back in style, yes!, followed by a slow meander through electronics to drool slightly over the Nintendo 64 display Cool! Resident Evil 2 is out, before eventually ending up in housewares, bedding specifically. Xander cringed as he observed the miniature displays of the latest god-awful comforter designs. Floral, in fall? That is so wrong. Xander spied a neatly stacked wire bin, full to near overflowing with plastic wrapped, squishy new pillows. It had been quite some time since Xander last had a new pillow to pummel. Grinning, he pulled the top pillow off and proceeded to squeeze the air out and flatten the stuffing as well he could. Hmm. I wonder which theme Harry would like. Still clutching the pillow to his chest, he stepped closer to some of the less gaudy, still packaged comforter sets.
"Xander?" The tentative question didn't pull Xander far enough from his search to do more than grunt in response. "Xander!"
Shaking his head to pull back to reality, Xander turned to face his questioner. "Yeah?" It wasn't until he finished his turn that he realized who it was. "Hi, Anya," he sighed. Always the magnet.
Anya giggled a bit before she responded. "I knew you'd see sense." That was when Xander noticed the nametag. Joygasm.
Grimacing slightly, Xander knew the next minute would be a disaster. "Sorry, An', I'm not here to see you. I'm actually shopping." Well, he wasn't, not really. Harry was. Semantics, Xander.
Anya frowned. It was a repeat of her look at the beginning of her friend misunderstanding speech from Halloween. "I don't understand. You're not dating anyone, I'm not dating anyone. We should date each other to complete one another and enjoy many eventful nights of copulation." Well, at least she hasn't dropped clothing.
Xander coughed, hard. "Err, sorry to burst your happy, An', but I am dating. In fact, it's kinda serious. We're even moving in together. Paperwork signed and everything." A slightly wilted look came over Anya's face before she frowned.
"But who? Cordelia is in LA, Willow is still with the werewolf, Buffy would never notice you, so who?" Her tone was heavy with skepticism.
Xander closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and counted. 1, 2, 3, 4. "Anya—I understand that this human thing is very new to you, but even you should realize that the dating pool, much larger than Sunnydale." He started as a warm hand extracted the pillow he was clutching, before pulling him tightly against a slightly smaller body. Xander relaxed at the comforting gesture.
Anya growled indignantly. "Excuse me, smallish man-boy! We were propositioning here!"
Xander could feel Harry resisting the urge to laugh, snorting slightly to relieve the pressure. "Smallish, man, boy," Harry repeated, deadpan. He stared at the blond female before them. "Curiosity: is English a new language for you, or are you just really awkward when it comes to insults?" Xander immediately turned, trying hard to avoid cracking up in full view of Anya.
Anya stamped her foot on the floor before she replied. "If I still had my powers, I would—"
Xander gasped, turning about, "Anya, you haven't met; my friend. Harry, this is my ex-girlfriend of one date, Anya. Anya, this is my boyfriend, Harry." Damn ex-demon. So clueless!
Harry obligingly offered a hand, refusing to relinquish his hold on Xander. Anya grudgingly accepted the offer. Shaking hands, Harry queried, "Powers?"
Xander clenched his teeth, trying to convey that Harry was in the dark about the Hellmouth and its related dangers, intimately aware that any physical motion would alert Harry. Of course, Anya didn't understand. In her natural pomposity, she answered, "When I was an avenging demon, I cursed men for the wrongs they committed against women. And I was very good at it."
"So how did you lose these powers?" Harry asked, not unkindly.
Anya frowned. "I miscalculated, and my power amulet was destroyed."
Xander waited for a laugh that never came. Turning, he saw a thoughtful look filled Harry's visage. Drawing a breath, Harry responded, "And I suppose you've partied with Death?" Anya nodded, confused once more. "Well, next time you see him, tell him I said hi." Then, Harry turned to Xander. "Did you want to get pillows today, or are you ready?" he asked, gesturing to the full cart sitting at the end of the aisle.
Confused himself, Xander squeaked, "We go. I, pillows later." Smiling, Harry proceeded to push the cart out the door, Xander trailing behind.
Anya stood still as she thought of the strange man's request. "Tell Death you said hi?"
BBT
The car was loaded with the purchases before Xander could think of what exactly he should say. Even with the extra time, he still couldn't decide, so he asked, "What, exactly, was that?" Harry turned, giving him a quizzical look. "The entire powers and death thing," he elaborated.
Harry smirked, settling back into the driver's seat. "I've learned that if a person is crazy, you're better off playing along with their fantasy. And if she wasn't, I'll know soon enough." He started out of the lot, turning toward the apartment complex.
Xander sat, pondering a bit. "So, Death is a person?"
Harry nodded. "Oh, yeah. Great conversationalist. Not a bad looking bloke either."
Xander turned to face his boyfriend. Glaring, he retorted, "Pull the other one, Harry." A shoulder shrug was Harry's only response.
BBT
The evening wound down quickly after dropping off the kitchen items at the apartment and a quick jaunt for B&Js before retiring to the hotel. Leftover pizza, a Nick at Nite visit with Johnny Carson, and Harry filled the Jacuzzi tub for some additional relaxation. As the tub filled, Xander checked the email he now had access to through his cell phone to find a vexing message from Willow, time stamped much earlier in the day:
/ Need to speak to you about hawt guy, ASAP! /
Xander frowned. What could be so important about Harry? They only met last night. He thought about when he might have free time to talk to Wil and the Scoobies, and subsequently drew an immediate blank. The sound of smooth jazz filled the air, drawing Xander out of his sudden conundrum. Bath must be ready, he grinned. Setting the cell down, he grabbed the ice cream and two spoons to join Harry.
On entry Xander saw Harry was already in the tub, the jets on low, churning the vanilla scented water. Popping the tops off the pair of pints and spearing each with a spoon, Xander swiftly handed them over before divesting himself of clothing to join the green-eyed beauty. Xander moaned as he stepped into the semi-molten waters, a heated chuckle answering his moan caused a tingling arousal to emerge. Seating himself astride Harry's legs, he growled, "Evil!" before taking his own pint from Harry's hands and swooping in for a kiss. A questing tongue, already slightly chill and tasting of the blackberry cobbler flavor, met his own, wrapping and caressing each other in an intimate dance.
The need for air drew them apart, heat radiating from the water and their eyes as they both drew a bite of their chosen ice creams. Xander cleared the cream from his cow shaped chocolate candy piece before presenting his tongue for another kiss. Harry moaned as the flavors mixed within each other's' mouths, the chocolate candy melting in the heated abyss.
Back and forth they continued their personal ice cream social, silently enjoying the blissful atmosphere. Nearing the end of the individual pints, Harry refused a spoonful of Xander's preferred chocolate monstrosity, sighing. "Xander," he started. "I know I promised that I had nowhere to be until January but I need to take care of something Monday."
Xander frowned. "Why?" He knew it sounded petulant, but he really wanted to know. What could be so important!
Harry ruffled his hair before responding. "Malfoy bolloxed up and the contract negotiator refuses to speak to anyone else." Xander growled, refusing to look at Harry. Setting down his ice cream, Harry grasped Xander's chin, turning him to face meet eye to eye. "Xander, it will only be gone for the day, I swear, and any other issues will be over the phone only, not in person. Tell you what—while I'm taking care of business, you can setup the apartment for a flat warming, invite your friends and we'll have a movie night or something. Deal?"
He sounds sincere. Should I? Xander closed his eyes as he thought of what might happen to him if he didn't accept Harry's offer. Visions of dating a girl like Anya or Harmony, or even a guy like Parker or Larry, flashed through his head. All he was pure heartache and rejection. Harry was his best chance at happiness. "Okay," he sighed, opening his eyes. "I choose the movies though."
Harry laughed as he relaxed back into the tub. "Deal."
The two renewed their ice cream sharing, even after the ice cream was finished. Well, now I have a time to tell Willow.
TBC