Chapter IX - I Think. (damn roman numerals, grrr) - Rain
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A/N: Sorry about this. There is far too much sap. And I feel I should mention that I wrote this at work, and kept getting interrupted by people who thought that I should actually *work* while there, every five minutes. The nerve! But, I guess if you've read it this far, you wont quit now, right. Right? Please keep reading, it gets better, I swear! *Is dragged off kicking and screaming by people in white coats*
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"No. Way."
Xander's voice was stunningly loud, breaking the silence between them. Spike felt as if a weight had been lifted. Xander not talking, meant that Xander was thinking, and since the vampire couldn't tell what went on in his head it was a little frightening. After all, Xander had a lot to think about.
Spike managed to pull himself together enough to drop off little Cecily, while Xander stood waiting near the gate, and then they walked back to the inn, both thoroughly soaked. Spike tried to start numerous conversations with his companion, but the second he opened his mouth the words that he carefully planned out beforehand were forgotten. so there was silence, except for the pouring rain, their footsteps, the creaking stairs, a key turning in the rusty lock, and now, Xander's voice, filled with disbelief.
Spike watched Xanders' eyes follow the drops of water. Up, down, up, down, up. . The rain, having soaked through the thatched roof was now making its way through Xander's bed, and dripping on to the floor. The substantial puddle that had formed covered half the room, and needless to say, the mattress was soaked.
Xander whimpered and sat on the edge of Spikes' bed. He looked at his hands, then at Spike. The vampire tried again to explain but like for the past half an hour, he couldn't even start.
Walking over to his bed, he sat down at the opposite end. The silence had gone from uncomfortable to unbearable, they both felt it.
"You can have my bed."
Finally the silence was broken, and though Xander had been waiting for Spike to say what he really wanted to say. To try to explain. He was clearly avoiding the issue, so the slayerette decided to go along with it for now. He wanted to offer some comfort, but Spike had to want to talk about it. Xander knew he did, really, but some doubt stopped him from being the one to bring it up.
"Where are you gonna sleep?"
Spike thought of the floor, but there was the puddle.
"I'm a *vampire* Xander, we sleep during the day."
That came out harsher than he intended, but Spike was frustrated with himself, and didn't think.
"Spike."
That was it for his fragile self control.
"WHAT?!! I couldn't do it, alright?! I wanted to, I was about to, but *you* were the one to stop me, so don't start regretting it now! God knows I don't! I don't want to kick off just because I deserve it, if I'm goin' to hell, I'd rather it be later than sooner! So, I guess I'm not all noble like you lot, WHY THE HELL DID YOU STOP ME??!"
Spike looked down suddenly. Warm fingers wrapped around his hand, gentle and comforting.
During his rant Xander just sat on the bed, watching him pace around the room, which brought him to stand in front of the boy screaming a question that Xander's own moral compass was struggling with. Yet he knew the answer. He knew more than that. He knew it was right.
Spike was in front of him, breathing hard (quite unnecessary for vampire, but that just showed his emotional state) Xander wrapped Spikes' cold hand in his own and stood up slowly, watching Spike watch him.
"I stopped you because I didn't want you to die either. That doesn't make me noble. It just makes me your friend. Spike you don't deserve to-"
"I do, pet. . ."
Spike looked in to Xanders eyes, as soon as he felt capable enough to do it with out breaking down completely. Wet hair was hanging in his eyes, warm shallow breaths moved past his lips, an anguished and wanting expression on his face.
#Why does he have to care? He is so beautiful.#
"But maybe I can start making up for it a little."
A small smile pulled at the boys' lips, that soon turned in to a grin.
"You already have. One of the slayerettes now, remember? Working for redemption.."
"And free blood. . ."
"Not to be confused with Angel."
Spike groaned and rolled his eyes. Xander chuckled, and before he had a chance to think anything his arm was around the vampire's neck and he was pulling him closer for a brief hug. . . that didn't seem to be ending.
The tension broke and the next thing Spike new was that Xanders' body was pressed up against him, arm around his neck, head on his shoulder, still holding his hand. It didn't make much sense, but what Xander had said earlier almost made him cry, so he was on an emotional high and nothing made any sense. His arm sneaked around Xanders' waist of it's own accord, and he sighed, as they stood like that for a moment. #What *am* I doing?# listing to that part of his brain, instead on the one screaming #No, good, stay!# Xander pulled away and awkwardly cleared his throat and looked at the floor which held unrivaled fascination all of a sudden.
"Thanks luv. I needed that."
Xander smiled and looked at Spike from under his hair. He realized he must have been blushing. He also realized that he was still holding Spike's hand. He let go and probably changed color.
Spike smiled back. Holding Xander like that, even though the boy only intended it for comfort (the idea of comforting a 127 year old vampire could only originate in the mind of Xander Harris) he didn't want to let go. He had to of course, but as Xander stepped back Spike noticed he was shivering, and his lips had gone from their usual pink to a dark purple. Spike tried looking at something else.
"Pet, you'd better get out of those clothes before you freeze to death. . ."
Xander wholeheartedly agreed and looked wistfully at the bed, then at Spike. . .who just raised an eyebrow and continued to stand there. Xander crossed his arms over his chest and gave Spike a look. The vampire chuckled, and put his hands up, turning around.
"You're such a girl, mate."
Xander did his best girly voice and giggled.
"Am not!!"
while hopping up and down trying to get his wet trousers off. His boxers were soaked too, but he decided to hang on to those for the time being, and climbed under the covers after hanging his clothes on to the back of a chair to dry. "Ok, you can turn around now, I'm done."
Xander yawned, as Spike felt around for his non existent cigarettes, swore under his non existent breath, and then took off his coat, the rest of his clothes were half dry for the most part.
Xander saw the blonde shudder, half-heartedly # he must be tired as well # he though to himself, feeling guilty about the bed. After all, why exactly should he get to sleep in it?
"Spike?"
Before Xander could say anything else, Spike interrupted him.
"I've been thinking 'bout what Dru said. About a test?"
Xander nodded, his mind switching tracks.
"Well, if we're 'ere 'cos 'o that, then how come we're still stuck? Shouldn't we've been zapped back by now? You know, mission accomplished?"
Xander had thought about this, but if it was a test, then whoever planned it must have really put a lot of thought in to it. After all, they didn't get there through any magical means... or rather, not the kind that just happened for no reason, it was Willow. So presumably, the 'zapping back' part was going to be up to them.
"It's not fair. . ."
Xander mumbled under his breath, and when Spike inquired as to which particular thing he was referring to, the slayerette explained his whole theory. He wouldn't have done that for anyone else, unless he had to or he was sure. Neither of which happened very often. He was never very sure, and he almost never *had* to, as nobody seemed to trust him enough to depend on his theories that much. Except Spike. Xander was sure the vampire *trusted* him. He knew this because of the way Spike acted around him. It was different when everyone else was around. At first, he wondered why Spike would choose to trust him, he was more of a liability than an asset in a fight, but then he figured out it must have nothing to do with his combat skills. Spike trusted him for being Xander. And he didn't seem to trust anyone else, which made Xander feel special. # Sad though it may be, and I'm probably imagining things again. # But it felt good, and he didn't want to loose that.
Meanwhile said vampire continued to be impressed with Xander's deductive reasoning, even if what he'd deduced wasn't good news at all.
"So it's back to being rescued, is it?"
Spike said after a little while.
"Yeah. We can think of something else tomorrow."
Xander yawned again and closed his eyes.
After a few minutes, when Spike was sure Xander was asleep, he walked soundlessly across the wet floor and put out the candle on the night stand.
"'night pet."
He said quietly as he walked back to the chair passed the bed.
"'pike?"
Spike stopped in his tracks. He hadn't meant to wake the boy. He sat on the edge on the bed with a sigh.
"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you."
He said sheepishly.
"You didn't"
Came the groggy reply. Xander seemed plenty awake now though, as he scooted to the far edge of the bed. He then industriously tugged the blanket from under Spike and moved one of the two pillows to the side of the bed.
"Sleep here."
Ok, that came out a little blunter than he'd intended, and the total humiliation helped to wake him up a little more. He glanced up at Spike and shaking off his deer-in-headlights look started to dig a hole.
"The chair can't be that comfortable, besides we can fit right, we're both adults right, I mean you're over a hundred, so you definitely are, and I'm sure my bed will dry over night, it stopped raining, and anyway well be out of here by tomorrow, so-"
Xander could just make out Spike's smile in the darkness. He realized he was babbling uncontrollably, but he just couldn't seem to stop. # Oh dear God I Sound like Willow #
"Alright pet, you've 'ad me convinced for about a minute now."
He chuckled good-naturedly, because he could see Xander a lot better than Xander could see him in the dark and the boy was obviously embarrassed about the whole situation, but probably felt guilty.
"Sure pet? You're gonna be cold, but that shouldn't bother me. . ."
Xander remembered that Spikes clothes were probably still semi wet.
"It does though, right? I don't mind. Really. It's not as though-"
Xander felt Spikes cool fingers press against his lips gently just in time to stop him from babbling again.
"Shhh."
It was all Xander could do to stay quite. His lips tingled pleasantly, and suddenly he was thanking the higher powers for the fact that his boxers were wet and cold. #no. no, no, no, NOT thinking about this. #
Spike climbed under the blanket and shuddered at the temperature change. His arm brushed past Xander, there really wasn't that much space, and the boy yelped.
"God, you're freezing!"
Instead of backing away however, he felt Xander pull him closer to the middle of the bed and then curl around him.
#Not thinking has its up side..# thought Xander, as he felt Spike's arm brush up against his side. He was so cold. Funny how you do things at night, that would seem impossible in the light of day. But then again: what was the big deal?
"hummmm."
Spike couldn't believe he just did that, but it felt so good. There was no way he was gonna be able to sleep, but he wouldn't give this up for the world. He knew Xander was half asleep, and his innate tendency was to help people, with nothing in his rational mind to stop him from doing what felt right to him lading to the current situation. Spike wondered if he was on any kind of moral ground, taking advantage of this.
#If I move, I'm gonna wake him up.# Hello, moral ground.
Xander's kindness and fragile nature just seemed conducive to evoking protective instincts in people. and a certain blond vampire. Maybe that carried over in to subconscious's, because the morning found Xander wrapped securely in Spikes arms, his head resting on the vampire's shoulder, breathing softly while being watched over by his guardian angel... or rather, his guardian demon.
A/N: Special thanx to all who reviewed, esp. drc for the spelling correction, I owe you one!
A/N: Sorry about this. There is far too much sap. And I feel I should mention that I wrote this at work, and kept getting interrupted by people who thought that I should actually *work* while there, every five minutes. The nerve! But, I guess if you've read it this far, you wont quit now, right. Right? Please keep reading, it gets better, I swear! *Is dragged off kicking and screaming by people in white coats*
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"No. Way."
Xander's voice was stunningly loud, breaking the silence between them. Spike felt as if a weight had been lifted. Xander not talking, meant that Xander was thinking, and since the vampire couldn't tell what went on in his head it was a little frightening. After all, Xander had a lot to think about.
Spike managed to pull himself together enough to drop off little Cecily, while Xander stood waiting near the gate, and then they walked back to the inn, both thoroughly soaked. Spike tried to start numerous conversations with his companion, but the second he opened his mouth the words that he carefully planned out beforehand were forgotten. so there was silence, except for the pouring rain, their footsteps, the creaking stairs, a key turning in the rusty lock, and now, Xander's voice, filled with disbelief.
Spike watched Xanders' eyes follow the drops of water. Up, down, up, down, up. . The rain, having soaked through the thatched roof was now making its way through Xander's bed, and dripping on to the floor. The substantial puddle that had formed covered half the room, and needless to say, the mattress was soaked.
Xander whimpered and sat on the edge of Spikes' bed. He looked at his hands, then at Spike. The vampire tried again to explain but like for the past half an hour, he couldn't even start.
Walking over to his bed, he sat down at the opposite end. The silence had gone from uncomfortable to unbearable, they both felt it.
"You can have my bed."
Finally the silence was broken, and though Xander had been waiting for Spike to say what he really wanted to say. To try to explain. He was clearly avoiding the issue, so the slayerette decided to go along with it for now. He wanted to offer some comfort, but Spike had to want to talk about it. Xander knew he did, really, but some doubt stopped him from being the one to bring it up.
"Where are you gonna sleep?"
Spike thought of the floor, but there was the puddle.
"I'm a *vampire* Xander, we sleep during the day."
That came out harsher than he intended, but Spike was frustrated with himself, and didn't think.
"Spike."
That was it for his fragile self control.
"WHAT?!! I couldn't do it, alright?! I wanted to, I was about to, but *you* were the one to stop me, so don't start regretting it now! God knows I don't! I don't want to kick off just because I deserve it, if I'm goin' to hell, I'd rather it be later than sooner! So, I guess I'm not all noble like you lot, WHY THE HELL DID YOU STOP ME??!"
Spike looked down suddenly. Warm fingers wrapped around his hand, gentle and comforting.
During his rant Xander just sat on the bed, watching him pace around the room, which brought him to stand in front of the boy screaming a question that Xander's own moral compass was struggling with. Yet he knew the answer. He knew more than that. He knew it was right.
Spike was in front of him, breathing hard (quite unnecessary for vampire, but that just showed his emotional state) Xander wrapped Spikes' cold hand in his own and stood up slowly, watching Spike watch him.
"I stopped you because I didn't want you to die either. That doesn't make me noble. It just makes me your friend. Spike you don't deserve to-"
"I do, pet. . ."
Spike looked in to Xanders eyes, as soon as he felt capable enough to do it with out breaking down completely. Wet hair was hanging in his eyes, warm shallow breaths moved past his lips, an anguished and wanting expression on his face.
#Why does he have to care? He is so beautiful.#
"But maybe I can start making up for it a little."
A small smile pulled at the boys' lips, that soon turned in to a grin.
"You already have. One of the slayerettes now, remember? Working for redemption.."
"And free blood. . ."
"Not to be confused with Angel."
Spike groaned and rolled his eyes. Xander chuckled, and before he had a chance to think anything his arm was around the vampire's neck and he was pulling him closer for a brief hug. . . that didn't seem to be ending.
The tension broke and the next thing Spike new was that Xanders' body was pressed up against him, arm around his neck, head on his shoulder, still holding his hand. It didn't make much sense, but what Xander had said earlier almost made him cry, so he was on an emotional high and nothing made any sense. His arm sneaked around Xanders' waist of it's own accord, and he sighed, as they stood like that for a moment. #What *am* I doing?# listing to that part of his brain, instead on the one screaming #No, good, stay!# Xander pulled away and awkwardly cleared his throat and looked at the floor which held unrivaled fascination all of a sudden.
"Thanks luv. I needed that."
Xander smiled and looked at Spike from under his hair. He realized he must have been blushing. He also realized that he was still holding Spike's hand. He let go and probably changed color.
Spike smiled back. Holding Xander like that, even though the boy only intended it for comfort (the idea of comforting a 127 year old vampire could only originate in the mind of Xander Harris) he didn't want to let go. He had to of course, but as Xander stepped back Spike noticed he was shivering, and his lips had gone from their usual pink to a dark purple. Spike tried looking at something else.
"Pet, you'd better get out of those clothes before you freeze to death. . ."
Xander wholeheartedly agreed and looked wistfully at the bed, then at Spike. . .who just raised an eyebrow and continued to stand there. Xander crossed his arms over his chest and gave Spike a look. The vampire chuckled, and put his hands up, turning around.
"You're such a girl, mate."
Xander did his best girly voice and giggled.
"Am not!!"
while hopping up and down trying to get his wet trousers off. His boxers were soaked too, but he decided to hang on to those for the time being, and climbed under the covers after hanging his clothes on to the back of a chair to dry. "Ok, you can turn around now, I'm done."
Xander yawned, as Spike felt around for his non existent cigarettes, swore under his non existent breath, and then took off his coat, the rest of his clothes were half dry for the most part.
Xander saw the blonde shudder, half-heartedly # he must be tired as well # he though to himself, feeling guilty about the bed. After all, why exactly should he get to sleep in it?
"Spike?"
Before Xander could say anything else, Spike interrupted him.
"I've been thinking 'bout what Dru said. About a test?"
Xander nodded, his mind switching tracks.
"Well, if we're 'ere 'cos 'o that, then how come we're still stuck? Shouldn't we've been zapped back by now? You know, mission accomplished?"
Xander had thought about this, but if it was a test, then whoever planned it must have really put a lot of thought in to it. After all, they didn't get there through any magical means... or rather, not the kind that just happened for no reason, it was Willow. So presumably, the 'zapping back' part was going to be up to them.
"It's not fair. . ."
Xander mumbled under his breath, and when Spike inquired as to which particular thing he was referring to, the slayerette explained his whole theory. He wouldn't have done that for anyone else, unless he had to or he was sure. Neither of which happened very often. He was never very sure, and he almost never *had* to, as nobody seemed to trust him enough to depend on his theories that much. Except Spike. Xander was sure the vampire *trusted* him. He knew this because of the way Spike acted around him. It was different when everyone else was around. At first, he wondered why Spike would choose to trust him, he was more of a liability than an asset in a fight, but then he figured out it must have nothing to do with his combat skills. Spike trusted him for being Xander. And he didn't seem to trust anyone else, which made Xander feel special. # Sad though it may be, and I'm probably imagining things again. # But it felt good, and he didn't want to loose that.
Meanwhile said vampire continued to be impressed with Xander's deductive reasoning, even if what he'd deduced wasn't good news at all.
"So it's back to being rescued, is it?"
Spike said after a little while.
"Yeah. We can think of something else tomorrow."
Xander yawned again and closed his eyes.
After a few minutes, when Spike was sure Xander was asleep, he walked soundlessly across the wet floor and put out the candle on the night stand.
"'night pet."
He said quietly as he walked back to the chair passed the bed.
"'pike?"
Spike stopped in his tracks. He hadn't meant to wake the boy. He sat on the edge on the bed with a sigh.
"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you."
He said sheepishly.
"You didn't"
Came the groggy reply. Xander seemed plenty awake now though, as he scooted to the far edge of the bed. He then industriously tugged the blanket from under Spike and moved one of the two pillows to the side of the bed.
"Sleep here."
Ok, that came out a little blunter than he'd intended, and the total humiliation helped to wake him up a little more. He glanced up at Spike and shaking off his deer-in-headlights look started to dig a hole.
"The chair can't be that comfortable, besides we can fit right, we're both adults right, I mean you're over a hundred, so you definitely are, and I'm sure my bed will dry over night, it stopped raining, and anyway well be out of here by tomorrow, so-"
Xander could just make out Spike's smile in the darkness. He realized he was babbling uncontrollably, but he just couldn't seem to stop. # Oh dear God I Sound like Willow #
"Alright pet, you've 'ad me convinced for about a minute now."
He chuckled good-naturedly, because he could see Xander a lot better than Xander could see him in the dark and the boy was obviously embarrassed about the whole situation, but probably felt guilty.
"Sure pet? You're gonna be cold, but that shouldn't bother me. . ."
Xander remembered that Spikes clothes were probably still semi wet.
"It does though, right? I don't mind. Really. It's not as though-"
Xander felt Spikes cool fingers press against his lips gently just in time to stop him from babbling again.
"Shhh."
It was all Xander could do to stay quite. His lips tingled pleasantly, and suddenly he was thanking the higher powers for the fact that his boxers were wet and cold. #no. no, no, no, NOT thinking about this. #
Spike climbed under the blanket and shuddered at the temperature change. His arm brushed past Xander, there really wasn't that much space, and the boy yelped.
"God, you're freezing!"
Instead of backing away however, he felt Xander pull him closer to the middle of the bed and then curl around him.
#Not thinking has its up side..# thought Xander, as he felt Spike's arm brush up against his side. He was so cold. Funny how you do things at night, that would seem impossible in the light of day. But then again: what was the big deal?
"hummmm."
Spike couldn't believe he just did that, but it felt so good. There was no way he was gonna be able to sleep, but he wouldn't give this up for the world. He knew Xander was half asleep, and his innate tendency was to help people, with nothing in his rational mind to stop him from doing what felt right to him lading to the current situation. Spike wondered if he was on any kind of moral ground, taking advantage of this.
#If I move, I'm gonna wake him up.# Hello, moral ground.
Xander's kindness and fragile nature just seemed conducive to evoking protective instincts in people. and a certain blond vampire. Maybe that carried over in to subconscious's, because the morning found Xander wrapped securely in Spikes arms, his head resting on the vampire's shoulder, breathing softly while being watched over by his guardian angel... or rather, his guardian demon.
A/N: Special thanx to all who reviewed, esp. drc for the spelling correction, I owe you one!