Fragile
Spike is about to say...something...when they both hear Xander behind them.
"What!? You......you-you WHAT!?" his face is a kaleidoscope of reds and pinks as he tries to process the information screaming through his brain.
Buffy and Spike's heads both snap around to see the source of the disturbance. Xander's ears are glowing in the yellow light from the kitchen window. Buffy's mouth drops open. Spike looks away in disgust and then his eyes drift back to Buffy, searching her face for a sign of the familiar backpedaling she does whenever they're caught in an intimate moment. He silently notes it absence, as well as the fact that they're still holding hands. He inwardly smiles.
"Buffy," Xander tries to continue, searching for control. "Tell me PLEASE tell me you're kidding and that, PLEASE GOD, this is part of some big plan to trick the First
"O-or that you're under some spell! God!! His hands reach behind him for anything that will support his trembling knees. He finally finds the wall and tries to recover from, what he feels, is an enormous betrayal. She can't do this to us again, she can't.
"Xander...", she says, cursing herself for not having found a more private place for her moment with Spike. Buffy knows from the look on Xander's face, that her friend is about to lose it; she stands up, trembling, the duster pooling around her knees. She and Spike let go of each other simultaneously.
Both are suddenly, painfully, aware of the loss of contact yet they don't miss a beat. Spike stands by her side, his hand resting in the small of her back, lending her support. Aware of (and grateful for) the gesture, Buffy tries to think of something to say that won't send Xander over the edge.
"Save it, Buffy." Xander spits out bitterly, before she can form a word. The sting in his voice is a shock to her. His eyes are wide and blacker than their normal chestnut brown. He is gasping for air as if he were struck in the chest.
Spike feels his jaw clenching as the apology forming in the back of his throat morphs into an angry growl, his demon itching to come out and teach the child a lesson in respect. But he knows that this is between the two friends and he backs down.
"I'd better, uh –" Spike looks at Buffy and then sweeps up the duster and climbs the remaining step. He brushes past the whelp as he reaches for the door.
"Where do you think you're going?" Xander steps over to block Spike's path. "You tell me what the hell that was?!" he demands.
"I think it's better if the Slayer tells you," he responds slowly. His voice is low and calm, but the ire behind it is evident. He stares into the boy, teeth grinding, to let him know that it is only out of respect for Buffy that he hasn't grabbed him by the throat and knocked some sense into him.
Xander wants badly to lay into Spike, but the reaction to his obvious challenge is so...reserved. He loses a bit of his conviction and finds himself acquiescing in the stare-down match and moving out of the way and closer to Buffy. She's looking past him to Spike who nods as he slips into the duster. Something silent passes between them and he disappears inside.
Buffy shifts her gaze to Xander. He is looking at her with an expression she never thought could live on that face. She turns and sits on the step once more, preparing herself for conversation that she wasn't expecting to have so soon, but one that she is prepared for.
TBC