A/N: Sorry it's taken me so long to update. School and such. It doesn't help that my demonic ball of fuzz spilled something sticky on my keyboard in his zest to kill a post-it. I'll try to keep the typos to a minimum. Again, thanks for the reviews. I'm still unsure of where this story is headed, so I'll just let the characters play around in my head as they wish. On another note, I just found out that some of the Buffy cast are going to be at Dragon Con in Atlanta! Woo-hoo! Now I just have to acquire the money to go.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Even my lap is currently in the possession of the aforementioned black fuzzy, who, if asked, would say that he owns me.
Choices
Chapter 5
"What were you and the Slayer discussing so quietly in the corner?" Spike asked as they walked toward the crypt. He knew that they thought that he hadn't caught the quick conversation, but his eyes hadn't left Xander all night. For one thing, he was worried about allowing a soulless, and fortunately, chipless, vampire anywhere around his Niblet. For another, this new Xander-vamp was interesting to watch.
"She wants me to start patrolling." Xander answered, "But not with you."
"Why the hell not?" Spike had expected Xander to patrol with the Scoobies eventually, but only under his watchful eye.
"She said I'm too protective of you." Xander looked puzzled. He hadn't understood where Buffy had gotten such an idea.
Spike had noticed Xander's protective behavior, and was just as surprised as Buffy. My white knight. He used to be the Slayer's. He smirked at the thought.
"You can patrol with me. And only if you're with me. But you need to learn to fight."
"I know how to fight."
"Don't argue. Every fledgling wakes knowing how to survive, pet. You need to do more than just survive. Which means that you get up early."
Xander frowned at that. He remembered the times that he had seen Spike running about in the sun with a blanket over his head. "What is it with you and daylight? Don't you understand the definition of the words 'creature of the night'?"
"I miss it."
Spike's answer surprised him so much that he barely realized that they had made it to the crypt. He hadn't been a vampire for more than a few days. Not long enough to make him feel what he had lost.
"Besides," Spike smirked, "Sixteen hour lie-ins just aren't healthy."
"I did not sleep for sixteen hours."
"You did. I should know. I got tired of waiting for you to wake up, so I had to do the pillow trick."
"Pillow trick?"
"Yeah, putting a pillow beside you to hold instead of me."
That morning Xander refused to sleep on the bed.
*****
"Watch your left, pet. Keep your fist higher, it's easier to defend."
Spike feigned another attack on Xander, and won.
"Spike, you're stronger and faster than I am. This isn't working." Xander frowned up at his sparring partner from his position on the floor.
"Don't forget, the same blood runs through our veins. I'm no stronger than you, just more experienced." Spike's expression turned serious, "But there are things out there that are stronger than us, faster than us. You have to be prepared."
"Okay, okay. I guess we can try again."
This time Spike turned unexpectedly and grabbed Xander from behind. He quickly had the boy pinned to the stone wall.
"How're you gonna get out of this fix?" he asked between clenched teeth. Xander struggled, but in vain. Spike frowned. Xander had shown that he was capable, but only when he was threatened. I have to do something to get him to fight properly. With an idea in mind, he ground his pelvis into Xander's suggestively.
Within seconds, Spike was sprawled on the floor of the crypt, laughing. Xander was circling him warily, game-face on.
"Somehow I knew that would do it, pet." He rolled about on the floor, he was laughing so hard. "I'll just have to remember to molest you if we're ever attacked."
Xander positively snarled, "I'm glad you find me so amusing, dead-boy." His face relaxed into its normal appearance. Somewhat giddy from his success, he fell upon Spike suddenly, his fingers curled into menacing claws. They were aimed for the small strip of bare skin that had been exposed by Spike's t-shirt.
"Don't you dare." Spike's eyes showed genuine fear.
"You did it to me." Xander grinned as he found a particularly vulnerable spot.
"AAAAAAAAARGH! NO!" Spike screamed, curling into a fetal position to protect himself, "I HATE TICKLING!"
A/N: Yes, I know, sickeningly fluffy, but I was in a fluffy mood. It comes from being stuck in a room with a very cute girl for several hours. Makes me downright bouncy. Especially if it's a girl I've spent significant time crushing on, which this was. Anyway, Review please.