Title: All Roads Led to You 2/?
Author: Forsaken2003
Pairing: S/X
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I own none, all belong to Joss Whedon
Comments: Always welcomed!
Summary: After a demon kills his sister Spike takes him out. He isn't prepared for the outcome.
Warnings/Spoilers: Series never happened
Beta'd by: Whichclothes

Prompt #348 from Tamingthemuse- Papaya

Note: From now on most of my Tamingthemuse stories will be named as the challenge.

Spike stared at the human cowering before him. The humans big hazel eyes stared back frightened.

"Shit," Spike muttered. He looked over his shoulder at the door. He could turn around and just pretend he didn't see this poor battered bastard. He could go back to his hide out and mourn his loss properly, but something was holding him back. The words Dru said to him before she died: that there was something in Sunnydale that belonged to him. Even in his dream she told him he was not going to be left alone. Could she have been talking about this human? Spike had never owned a pet before. He never needed one or wanted one.

With a sigh Spike knelt down. "Hey, pet," he said quietly so he wouldn't scare the already fragile human. "Are you all right?" He knew it was a stupid question but he didn't know what else to say. When he didn't receive an answer Spike asked, "What's your name?" Spike saw that he got the boys attention.

"X-Xander," was the only reply Spike got.

Spike smiled, feeling like they were getting somewhere. "Well Xander, the name's Spike. How do you feel about us getting out of here? Get you fed and cleaned up."

"Vampire," Xander said. He tried to scurry back but the chain around his neck stopped him.

"Yeah, I'm a vampire, but I have no intention of hurting you," Spike promised. He didn't get into a description of why he wouldn't hurt him; it was all still too much for Spike to think about. When Xander didn't look convinced, Spike went on. "You can either come with me and get taken care of or you can stay here with a good chance of another demon finding you. One that won't be offering you what I am."

It didn't take long for Xander to make a decision. "Okay," he said in a hoarse voice.

With his vampire strength Spike yanked the chain free from the cement floor. "When we get back to my place we'll cut off the collar."

Xander shook his head hard and fast. "Mine."

Spike was about to ask why he wanted to keep it when he remembered he'd seen other pets like this. They owned absolutely nothing except the collar. That belonged to them. Deciding not to argue over it Spike simply nodded. "Fine, we'll take care of the chain then." He helped Xander up, the cloak falling from his naked, battered body.

Xander had cuts, bruises, burns all over his body. Spike picked up the cloak and wrapped it around Xander's slim frame. He was far too thin, almost skin and bones. "I'll make you some papaya soup," Spike said. "Even though I'm a vampire I still enjoy human food especially papaya soup."

Not understanding why this vampire, this killer was being nice to him, saving him, all Xander could think was he didn't care. He was away from his old master and that was all he cared about. "Bath?" Xander asked.

Spike got the feeling with Xander's one worded answers he wasn't allowed to talk. "Sure. I've got a claw foot bathtub. Haven't had a chance to try it out yet."

Xander's body started to tremble more than it already was. He wasn't saved. He was still a pet… a slave only with a new owner.

Spike instantly realized his mistake. "I don't mean together," he said softly. God, he was talking to this human as if he were talking to Drusilla. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"Why?" Xander asked.

"Because… because I think I'm supposed to help you," Spike replied. Wanting to get out of this hell hole, he picked Xander up figuring he probably didn't have enough energy to really walk, and carried him out into the night. Daylight would be coming soon and he needed to get Xander fed and cleaned up before he could sleep.