Homecoming
by Colleen Hillerup
"You're back."
Spike turned around at Xander's voice. "I'm surprised. Thought you woulda trashed the place by now."
"I thought about it. But I was hoping you'd stay away." He stepped closer to the vampire. "Since you're back, I decided it would be better just to kill you." He raised his fist. "Plunging a stake through your heart would be very satisfying, but I think I'll enjoy beating your head in until your chip runs out your ear much more."
Spike put up his arm and blocked the blow. "I'd think twice about that, mate."
"Don't call me mate." He smashed his fist into the side of Spike's jaw, hearing a satisfying crack, but the vampire just stood there, unflinching.
"I owe you that one." While Xander wound back for the next blow, the vampire shot his hand out with lightening speed, clutching him under the jaw. "But only that one." He kept his grasp at an even pressure, holding the human in place. "And I wouldn't count on that pesky chip. It's gone."
Xander's eyes grew wide with fear. "How?"
"Don't matter. But you should know, that with just a tad more pressure, I could crush your larynx. A little twist, and your neck's broken. Very little effort, and I could rip your head from your body and use it as a chalice." He stared into Xander's eyes. "You've hurt me, Harris. Said things, done things, that I should never forgive. I should kill you."
"Then do it," Xander croaked, defiantly. "End it."
"No." Spike released his grasp, and Xander fell to his knees, gasping for air. "Don't really interest me anymore." He helped the dark haired man to his feet. "Besides, I've hurt you just about as deep as one man can another. That why you came here? Cause of the demon?"
"I came because of Buffy." He rubbed his reddened throat. "I know about it. All of it. Every sordid detail. I came because you destroy everything you touch. I came because I hate you."
Spike leaned back against the crypt wall. "How is Buffy? I'm assuming if she told you, she's had her true confession time. The gang's back together and she's gotten on with her life. Good for her."
"You don't know." Xander considered how much to tell him. "She's a mess. She quit her job. Social services took Dawn away. I don't think she's eaten since you left. Giles is back, but she doesn't listen to him. All because she fell in love with you, you bastard. And just like every other fool she's let into her life, you left her."
Spike picked his duster off the chair. "She's at home, then?"
"She doesn't have a home. The bank foreclosed. She's at Giles' hotel." He ran his fingers through his hair. "I don't know why I'm telling you this. You're not what she needs. Why should I trust you?"
"You're alive, aren't you?"
by Colleen Hillerup
"You're back."
Spike turned around at Xander's voice. "I'm surprised. Thought you woulda trashed the place by now."
"I thought about it. But I was hoping you'd stay away." He stepped closer to the vampire. "Since you're back, I decided it would be better just to kill you." He raised his fist. "Plunging a stake through your heart would be very satisfying, but I think I'll enjoy beating your head in until your chip runs out your ear much more."
Spike put up his arm and blocked the blow. "I'd think twice about that, mate."
"Don't call me mate." He smashed his fist into the side of Spike's jaw, hearing a satisfying crack, but the vampire just stood there, unflinching.
"I owe you that one." While Xander wound back for the next blow, the vampire shot his hand out with lightening speed, clutching him under the jaw. "But only that one." He kept his grasp at an even pressure, holding the human in place. "And I wouldn't count on that pesky chip. It's gone."
Xander's eyes grew wide with fear. "How?"
"Don't matter. But you should know, that with just a tad more pressure, I could crush your larynx. A little twist, and your neck's broken. Very little effort, and I could rip your head from your body and use it as a chalice." He stared into Xander's eyes. "You've hurt me, Harris. Said things, done things, that I should never forgive. I should kill you."
"Then do it," Xander croaked, defiantly. "End it."
"No." Spike released his grasp, and Xander fell to his knees, gasping for air. "Don't really interest me anymore." He helped the dark haired man to his feet. "Besides, I've hurt you just about as deep as one man can another. That why you came here? Cause of the demon?"
"I came because of Buffy." He rubbed his reddened throat. "I know about it. All of it. Every sordid detail. I came because you destroy everything you touch. I came because I hate you."
Spike leaned back against the crypt wall. "How is Buffy? I'm assuming if she told you, she's had her true confession time. The gang's back together and she's gotten on with her life. Good for her."
"You don't know." Xander considered how much to tell him. "She's a mess. She quit her job. Social services took Dawn away. I don't think she's eaten since you left. Giles is back, but she doesn't listen to him. All because she fell in love with you, you bastard. And just like every other fool she's let into her life, you left her."
Spike picked his duster off the chair. "She's at home, then?"
"She doesn't have a home. The bank foreclosed. She's at Giles' hotel." He ran his fingers through his hair. "I don't know why I'm telling you this. You're not what she needs. Why should I trust you?"
"You're alive, aren't you?"