Title: From Out of the Darkness 1/
Author: Forsaken2003
Pairing: S/X
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I own none, all belong to Joss Whedon
Comments: Always welcomed!
Summary: Spike finds Xander living in New Orleans. What could have happened to caused him to up and leave his friends?
Warnings/Spoilers: Post Season 2 Becoming Part 2
Beta'd by: My sister

Part One

It had been almost a year since Spike left Sunnydale with Drusilla and six months since she up and left him for going against 'daddy' and teaming up with the slayer. The crazy bitch didn't realize he had saved her ungrateful arse. She definitely was never going to forgive him after the stars screamed at her that Angelus was dead. Now old Spike would have chased after her but as much as he loved and wanted Dru, Spike was tired of being the one who put in all the effort with getting nothing in return.
Fucking slayer ruining his unlife. Spike had half a mind to go back to Sunnydale and break her neck if he didn't think he'd be defeated again. What slayer had friends? That question never left his mind since the night of Saint Vigeous. They were meant to stand and die alone. That's how it's been since the dawn of time. Fucking cheating if you asked Spike. The thought that one day Buffy would be nothing but bones did help.

Since Spike was on his own he decided to travel since there was no reason to settle down. Next place was New Orleans. Mardi Gras had just started and it was going to be easy pickings for the next couple weeks. Why shouldn't he enjoy a few easy meals? All he needed was to find an abandoned factory or condemned house so that he would have refuge from the sun. But Spike had hours before he had to worry about that. Right now he was looking for some fun. He parked his car in an alley near a bunch of abandoned houses before heading out to paint the town red... with blood.

Strolling down the busy streets Spike wondered why he hadn't come to Mardi Gras before. The answer was simple. Drusilla. Spike was starting to wonder why he had spend his entire unlife trying to make her so happy when he knew he'd never live up to Angelus. Well, not anymore from this moment on he was going to live for himself. Fuck, he needed to find himself a distraction from her.

A few more blocks and his prayers had been answered. 'Electric Showcase' strip club. Now this was more like it! The place seemed popular by the line of people waiting to get in. Spike didn't like to wait so he walked past everyone who was waiting until he found the bouncer controlling who got to go in.

"Back of the line, buddy. Just because you're good looking doesn't mean you can cut the line." The bouncer was big. Any human would be intimidated but Spike wasn't human.

Spike was a little thrown for a male bouncer at a strip club to call him good looking but then again he was good looking. "We can do this two ways you let me in right now or I'll go in after I break your jaw. Either way I'm going in."

The bouncer crackled his knuckles menacingly ready to give Spike a beat down for threatening him but suddenly the colour drained from his face when he watched as Spike's face morph into something hideous, including fangs descending from his mouth and his once gorgeous blue eyes turned yellow. He scrambled to remove the velvet rope to allow Spike entry.

"Smart choice." Spike patted the man on the cheek as his human facade fell back into place. He walked in and the music was blaring luckily Spike liked it that way. Pushing people out of his way to get to the bar. He was feeling thirsty and wanted a beer and a shot of Jack.

"Alright, gentlemen. We've got some flesh blood for you on stage tonight! You probably know him from waiting on you. So give him a round of applause and be generous with your tips! I believe I can speak for all of us when I saw we want to see more of him. Help me welcome Lex!"

It was in that moment that Spike realized he was in a gay strip club. Not that he minded. Men, women, vampire, human and everything in between. It also explained why the bouncer called him good looking.

"I love the Billy Idol look," the bartender said from across the bar. He was wearing a skin tight mesh shirt. His lower half was blocked by the bar. His name tag read 'Max'.

"He actually stole my look," Spike replied. "I'll take whatever's on tap and a Jack Daniel. Leave the bottle."

The bartender seemed suddenly distracted by something behind Spike. What was he missing out on? Turning on his stool Spike immediately saw a familiar face. A face that should be two thousands miles away from here. What was his name? It sure as hell wasn't Lex.

"Lex is one good looking guy," Max commented.

Xander! That was the idiots name. "How long has he been working here?"

"He showed up about four months ago picking through the garbage looking for food. He was in rough shape all he had was a backpack and no money," Max explained. "He hasn't told us much but it was obvious he was living on the street for a while. Cole the owner took pity on him and hired him as a dishwasher and there was a cot in the back for him to use. Once he turned eighteen he got promoted to waiter. He's now got his own apartment.

Speaking of Xander, he was only wearing tight short gold coloured shorts dancing to 'Pour Some Sugar on Me'. Xander spread his legs, bent his knees and pumped his pelvis. He then crossed his right leg over his left his arms coming up in the air looking like a 'T' before spinning and his left leg now in front of his right. Xander brought his left leg out but shifted all his weight onto his right leg. As he put his weight onto his leg his hands touched his chest and slowly slid down until they almost touch his crouch. Xander then did a couple more hip thrusts before the lights went out.

Even though the stage was dark Spike could see Xander picking up all the crumbled bills that had been thrown at him. In Spike's opinion the dance had been mediocre at best but all these men were eating it up. It was one hell of a look on the boy though.

So not only was Spike going to kill one of the slayers friends he was also going to be pocketing some money. It was going to be a good night for old Spike. "So, he's stripping full time than?" Spike pretended to show interest.

Max laughed. "Hell no! Cole only agree to tonight because he knew it was gonna be a tame night. They'd would eat him alive on the weekend. He makes plenty of tips as a waiter but there is a car he wants to buy and he's short a grand. He'll have no probably making that tonight on top of waiting tables.

Xander appeared behind the bar out of nowhere, sweat still glistening on his forehead. Spike just noticed that Xander had an entirely new look. His dark hair had bright blue streaks, he had an eyebrow, lip and nose piercings. And how could Spike have missed the heart tattoo with a blade penetrating it on his left peck? Spike couldn't lie it was a good look on the boy. "Damn, Max. That was insane!" He was now wearing the same garb as Max. "That car is as good as mine."

"You did good, kid," Max said supportively. "Now, why don't you show this gorgeous man to a table and grab him a beer and bottle of Jack?"

"I'm on it." That was when Xander's focused on his patron. Spike could hear Xander's heart speed up. "Spike?" he whispered.
Spike gave a predatory smile. "Hello... Lex."