Title: The Love of the Bullied 3/?
Author: Forsaken2003
Pairing: S/X
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I own none, all belong to Joss Whedon
Comments: Always welcomed!
Summary: Life sucks for Xander but when Spike moves to Sunnydale will things get better or worse?
Warnings/Spoilers: None
Beta'd by: Unbeta'd
Note: I feel like this story is possibly over dramatic. Not what I really write but it just kind of went that direction.
Part Three
Xander exited the all but empty school and started heading home before stopping. Spike lived on the other side of town. He turned at started walking in the opposite direction only to stop again. What was he doing? H didn't owe Spike anything. Why did he care what Spike had to say? Xander already knew the answer, he didn't want to be associated with a loser. Just like everyone in this school Spike only cared about popularity.
What if this was all a trick though? Some sort of initiation created by Larry to humiliate Xander? No, that didn't make any sense, Spike sent the text before he joined Larry and his cronies. That didn't seem to stop the paranoia. Finally Xander pulled out his phone and FaceTime'd Spike.
Spike picked up immediately looking happy. "Xan! I didn't think you'd come."
"I'm not sure if I am," Xander admitted.
"Why?" Spike asked, his face fell.
Xander looked around to make sure no one was around. "I'm having problems trusting you."
"Xan, I swear I never wanted to hurt you. Please come and talk to me," Spike begged.
"How do I know this isn't a trick? That the whole football team isn't there?" Xander asked.
Spike's mouth open and closed multiple times. "What? Why would they be here?"
Xander shrugged even though Spike couldn't see it. "They're your friends. I'm sure you'd get bonus points for tricking the loser of the school to coming to your place thinking that we were going to be friends."
"I wouldn't do that to you," Spike said quietly. "They don't know where I live and I plan on keeping it that way."
"Sure." Xander rolled his eyes. "Prove it then."
"Just tell me how," Spike replied.
Xander bite his lip thinking how Spike could prove it. "Turn the camera away from you and should me every inch of your apartment. If I so much as think you are hiding even a corner I'm not coming and you can lose my number."
Before Xander could even finish Spike had the camera flipped. He walked into the small kitchen and turned in a circle. He then made his way into living room doing a three-sixty showing that no one could possibly be moving to avoid the camera. Next was the bathroom, where Spike pushed back the shower curtain. The same tactic was done for both bedrooms.
Spike appeared back into view. "Satisfied?"
"I'll be there in fifteen minutes," Xander answered before ending the call.
Spike was pacing like a caged animal. How could Xander think he'd set him up for some horrible prank? Sure he tried to distance himself but that doesn't mean he wanted to hurt Xander. Though that was exactly what he had done. The worse part was it was all his fault, he couldn't get Xander to share the blame. Xander didn't pursue him, didn't ask for his number and didn't ask to meet him in front of the school.
There was a light knock on the front door. If Spike didn't know better he'd think Xander was hoping he'd done it soft enough where he couldn't hear it. Spike rushed to the door before Xander could possibly make a run for it. He guessed right because when he opened the door Xander was already slowly backing up towards the stairs.
"Where are you going?" Spike asked leaning against the door jam.
"Huh? Oh! I thought I smelt smoke." Xander flinched at his lame excuse.
Spike's pierced eyebrow went up. "I don't smell anything." He held his hand out to Xander. "Come in." It came out as more of an order.
"Are you always this bossy?" Xander asked. He didn't accept Spike's hand and slipped past.
"I'm a rich kid," Spike said as if that explained it all. Which it did from the look of some of the other kids in school. He took hold of Xander's elbow and guided him over to the couch pushing him down before sitting himself right beside him.
Xander's eyes narrowed. There was a huge section of the couch being ignored. "What do you want?"
"I wanted to explain why I did what I did," Spike said.
"Not apologize?" Xander asked his eyes narrowed drastically.
Spike grabbed Xander's arm afraid he was going to leave. "I'm hoping you'll forgive me after you hear me out."
"I'd most likely forgive you if you apologized," Xander grumbled under his breath. "Look, why does it matter what your explanation is? You showed your true colours. Popularity will always win."
"So you're jealous of popular people," Spike accused.
Xander rolled his eyes. "Popular people are fake. They do whatever everyone else does just to be liked. They cant have their own opinions without worrying they'll be considered an outsider. They are like all these 'influencers' on social media that post the exact same videos and get hundreds of thousands of views. I'm not interested."
Spike felt offended. He wasn't like everyone else. He was him and that was what drew people to him. "I'm not going to fight with you about that. We both have our opinions about what being popular means. Will you just hear me out?"
"Whatever," Xander replied his defences were up. He honestly believed that senior year he wouldn't be alone.
"I gave up everything to come to the States," Spike started. "I told you I wanted to open my own club in LA. I gave up my senior year with my friends, my mum's home cooking and playing football with my dad because of my dreams. I can't let my first year here be a shite one. The only way my parents will help me fund my club is if I stay out of trouble and I won't be able to do that if I'm not popular. You got stuck in the cross-hairs and I never meant to hurt you. I really do like you. A lot," Spike stressed hoping Xander knew what he meant. He's never felt like this about anyone so quickly.
Could Xander really fault Spike? The boy had a plan for his future, it was more than what Xander had himself. And why should he care, anyways? They were still basically strangers, the pain he had in his chest made no sense. "I can't be mad at you for going for what you want."
"Thank you," Spike said feeling relieved.
"Maybe if things were different we could've been friends." Xander stood up. "I really hope you are able to get what you want." He made his way to the door but was stopped.
Spike's hand gripped Xander's arm holding him in place. "Who said we couldn't be friends?"
He eyed Spike's hand. "I really don't like being grabbed."
"What?" Spike asked confused. He followed Xander's gaze and dropped his hand immediately. "Sorry. Look, Xander just because we can't be friends in public doesn't mean we can't be friends. This..." Spike waved his hands around the room. "Could be our place, where we can just be us. I'm not letting any of those buggers here. We can be safe here."
A safe place? Xander didn't think he'd ever have that, not until he was out of Sunnydale at least. Did he really want to be some sort of 'manstress' though? No, but God was he tired of being alone all the time. "Fine, but I have one condition." Xander said leaving absolutely no room for arguments.
"Anything," Spike agreed eagerly.
"You never take part in what Larry and his lackeys do," Xander answered. "One single thing and whatever... this is, is over."
Spike wanted to ask what type of things Larry and the others did to Xander but didn't think Xander would be very forthcoming. They already used him as a human garbage can today. "Deal, I'll never do anything to hurt you." He held out his hand.
Xander was hesitant but did shake Spike's hand. He was not expecting Spike to pull him and all but falling against Spike's body.
"Want to seal it with a kiss?" Spike asked with a glint in his eyes.
"Try it and you'll get a knuckle sandwich," Xander threatened even though he felt his heart sped up.
Spike smirked and helped Xander stand on his own two feet. "Can't blame a bloke for trying."
"One more rule," Xander said after he cleared his throat.
Curious Spike said, "lay it on me."
"If anything happens between us." Xander pointed between them as if Spike wouldn't know who he was talking about. "It will be because I made the first move."
Spike's jaw dropped so fast. "Are you bloody serious?"
"Dead serious. Take it or leave it," Xander replied his face showing just how serious he was.
"What exactly does that mean though? Just so I know what I can and can't do." Spike was glowering. Never in his life had he been told he couldn't do something. He always got his way.
"No flirting, no trying to kiss me and no touching," Xander listed off on his fingers.
He was joking. There was absolutely no way Xander was expecting all that from Spike. "What the hell am I allowed to do?"
"You can talk to me, get to know me. Let me get to know you," Xander answered.
How could Spike just talk with Xander when he was so yummy looking? Why was he being punished? Sure he was spoiled and could be selfish but this was a harsh punishment. "And this is the only way to get you to stay?"
"Yup."
With a put upon sigh Spike held his hands up surrendering. "You win, but for the record I think you're being cruel and not friendly to a man who flew across the pond for a new life."
"Noted," Xander laughed and went back to the couch. "I don't suppose you have anything to eat?"
"I've got a fully stocked kitchen. I'll grab us something. Make yourself at home." Spike headed towards the kitchen as man on the mission. If he couldn't flirt with Xander he'd have to find other ways to impress him.
Fifteen minutes later Spike came out of the kitchen with a tray of food. Xander had a rerun of Stargate on.
"I don't know what you like so I grabbed a bit of everything," Spike said as he placed the tray down. There were three different types of cheese, crackers, slice meat, some chips, chocolate and a bowl of mixed nuts.
"Everything looks good. Except for the nuts. I'm severely allergic," Xander told Spike. He thought he'd get hives by just looking at them.
Spike reacted quickly scooping the bowl up, rushing back to the kitchen dumping them back into the container they came in. He then gave the bowl and his hands a thorough washing. Once he was done he returned to the living room where Xander was munching on some cheese. "Are you okay? Do we need to call an ambulance?" He was already pulling his phone out.
"I'm fine, Spike. I do have an epi-pen just in case. He pulled an epi-pen out of his back pack. "I never leave home without it."
"Can I see it?" Spike held out his hand. He saw a confused look on Xander's face but in the end the pen was placed in his hand. "Do you have extras?"
Taking the pen back Xander replied. "I've got another one at home."
"Next time you come over bring it," Spike ordered. Xander gave him an unimpressed look. Most people didn't mind Spike telling them what to do. They were just happy to have his attention even if it was just for a minute. "Please? I want one just in case, okay?"
"Okay," Xander agreed, he was going to have to get used to Spike's demanding ways.