Spike growled irritably and flicked ash off his cigarette. Stupid Slayer, he thought. Sending him off like an errand boy to pick up the whelp, who did she think she was? Just because the boy hadn't shown up promptly at the Magic Box shouldn't have meant that Spike had to be cheated out of his only bit of fun by going to the Basement of Doom to pick up the boy.
"Spike," she had nearly spat his name, "please, just swing by and pick him up and bring him to the east cemetery. We'll meet you there," she had huffed and spun dismissively on her heels.
"I'm sorry Spike," Red had indeed look apologetic, "but Xander hasn't picked up the phone," her hesitant look at the vanishing Slayer also offered a silent apology as she followed Blondzilla out of the Magic Box.
"Y-you c-can look a-at it this way, S-spike," Tara stuttered, but smiled a little, "t-the f-faster you get Xander, the quicker you can g-get in your 'spot of violence'," before bustling off after her girlfriend.
Spike finished his cigarette as he rounded the whelp's street. He had to admit, the witches weren't a bad lot. Red made bloody amazing cookies and Glinda's easy acceptance calmed his nerves, even around the Slayer.
The boy's beat up pick up was around back. Spike rounded the house for the basement's back entrance, and noticed the only light was the dim blue glow of the TV. It was rather strange for the White Knight to skip out on fighting evil to watch TV, he thought as he barged into the boy's basement apartment.
Spike felt his skin crawl the moment he entered the room. An indefinable scent hung in the air as he crossed the room searching for Xander. His eyes went wide when he saw the whelp motionless and felt a rush of panic.
"Harris?" he reached down and furiously shook the boy, "Harris?" The boy was still breathing, but slowly, like he was deep asleep. That eased his worry somewhat, but he still felt a strangely anxious. "Xander?"
The boy groaned and his eyes fluttered open, "wha?" He felt like a semi had plowed him over and slightly detached from everything. He blinked a few times. He must've fallen asleep. Someone was saying his name; he groaned and shifted to his elbows, blinking rapidly. "Spike?"
"Bloody hell, pet, what happened? You look terrible!" Was Spike... worried? That's weird, Xander thought dumbly.
"Um, I fell asleep? Had a crazy dream..." he mumbled. Man, did he sleep funny or what? He ached all over. He tried to get up, but gave up.
Spike narrowed his eyes, something had happened here but he really couldn't place it. When he saw Xander fail to get to his feet, studied the boy before shrugging off his duster, "Well, guess I'm not gettin' any violence tonight," he sighed dramatically as he leaned back onto the couch.
Xander just blinked at him with confusion before leaning back as well, "Yeah. How about a movie?"
"Not watching Star Trek," Spike grumbled, crossing his arms for effect.
"Highlander?"
"... Sure."
Sometime before Ramirez finished training MacLeod, Xander fell asleep. Sometime after Kurgan decapitated Ramierz, the boy's head had slumped onto Spike's shoulder and mumbled something Spike didn't catch.
Spike glanced down at the brown head resting on his shoulder. Xander had been letting his hair grow out lately, and his bangs nearly covered his eyes. Spike felt something soften in him. His fingers twitched. That hair looked nice and silky. He shrugged internally. He was the Big Bad, he could do whatever the hell he wanted, so he reached out and brushed a lock and gently. Xander stirred, and nuzzled into him. Spike froze. Oh great. Not the whelp. Not the Scooby's Zeppo. Not the White Knight.
Xander grumbled and threw his arm around Spike's waist and settled again. Spike's unneeded breath caught as the boy's body heat seeped into him. So warm... he glanced down at Xander. Goddamn, he looked even younger like this, innocent and trusting. Spike fought the strong desire to just take him in his arms and just take, but in the end he just sighed and let his own head rest gently on Xander's and before he knew it, he was asleep as well.
