Tiny Smiles –
Ooshy-Gooshy
[Xander thoughts.]
Spike stared up at the marque with an expression akin to awe. The bright lights of Sun Cinema´s sign cast a garish glow on the vampire´s platinum hair. High school students [and the unemployed] stood in line for tickets to the 5:30 show, shivering under their winter coats. The sun set early in the winter months, making it seem colder than it really was in Sunnydale.
"I haven´t been to a show in a bloody age," Spike said, looking around as if he were visiting Disneyland for the first time, rather than going to the movies.
"The films have sound now," Xander commented with amusement. "And they´re in color."
Spike shot him a look that read: ´when I get rid of this chip, I will do bad things to you.´ Xander only laughed as he stepped up to the ticket window. "Hiya, Max," he said, recognizing the theater employee behind the plexiglass window. "Two, please."
"Two?" Max looked past Xander as he took the brunette´s money. "I don´t see Anya."
"That´s because Anya´s not here."
Max gave him a sly look. "You got a little sumthin–sumthin on the side?"
"Hey, pet," Spike appeared at Xander´s side, glanced at Max, then looked up at the taller man, "this theater have those stadium seats I´ve read about?"
"This is Sunnydale, Spike," Xander said. "They don´t have stadium seats. Heck, half the seats don´t even have backs."
The blond vampire´s lower lip thrust forward in a pout. Xander chuckled, and without realizing what he was going, tapped the tip of Spike´s nose in a plainly affectionate gesture. "Some of the seats do rock," he placated. "Although I don´t think they´re supposed to." He took the tickets from a stunned–looking Max and partially saluted. "Later, man."
"Later," Max said faintly.
Walking inside the theater, Spike passed by the ticket taker without pause. But before the kid could tackle Spike for non–theater etiquette, Xander handed him their tickets. "He´s with me," Xander said. [I can´t believe I just admitted that in public.]
"Next time, tell him to wait," the taker said with all his pimple–faced authority. "Be sure to keep your stubs."
Xander gave him a wan smile and pocketed one of the ticket stubs as he walked past the taker into the main lobby. He joined Spike in the concession line, ignoring the glares from the patrons who stood behind the vampire. "Here," Xander said, giving Spike the second ticket stub. "Hold onto that. Some of the employees take their jobs a little too seriously."
Spike stuck the ticked stub in his duster pocket without looking at it. His focus was concentrated on the lighted board above the concession counter, listing the products and [aack!] prices. They were next, and as they stepped up to the counter, Xander unconsciously put his hand on the nape of Spike´s neck. He looked up at the lighted sign and answered the concession girl´s query. "Yeah, we´d like two medium popcorns, extra butter. Unless you don´t want butter, Spike." Xander turned to the blond... to find Spike staring somewhat dazedly at him.
Xander frowned. "Spike? Butter? No butter? Parkaaaaay?"
Slow blinks from Spike. [Did the prices blow his mind, too?,] Xander wondered. "Hello? Earth to bleach boy? Do... you ... want... but... ter?"
Spike suddenly grinned brightly, and it was Xander´s turn to blink from the blond´s abrupt change of demeanor. [This vampire is so weird.] Right, and all other vampires were normal.
"Extra butter for me, luv," Spike addressed the concession girl. "And a large Pepsi."
Xander shook of his confusion over Spike´s behavior and added to the order. "And a box of Ju–Ju Bees and SweetTarts." [Goodbye, money.]
A few minutes later, loaded down with goodies and a small cup full of butter–salt [cause you can never have enough salt on popcorn], Xander led the way into the screening room and chose a seat, back row center. The theater wasn´t very large – being in the back row at the Sun was like sitting in the middle row of an L.A. theater. Plus, the back row center seats had the most stuffing left in them.
Spike dropped down beside Xander, and immediately put his feet upon the seat in front of him. Another giddy [weird] grin at Xander, and the blond dug into his popcorn with gusto.
The lights dimmed shortly thereafter. Xander munched his own popcorn and let the movie draw him in. He had no more thoughts about kissing Spike. Or about how cute he was. Or how normal and comfortable it felt to touch him. [Nope, no Spikey thoughts here. My mind is Spike–free.]
Then Spike started commenting – loudly – and cheering – even louder – every time someone on screen was killed. There was much shushing from the others in the show. Xander, in fact, told him to shut his mouth several times. Finally, enough was enough. Xander didn´t want to get kicked out [not after all the money I spent!], and Spike´s insistence that there´d be more blood if hit that particular way, was rapidly leading to theater ejection.
"Spike," Xander hissed, leaning over so his mouth was inches from Spike´s ear. "If you open your yap one more time, the employees will have to sweep you up in order to throw you out of here."
Spike turned his head to reply, only Xander hadn´t move away yet. The brunette´s lips scraped across Spike´s cool cheek and came to rest against Spike´s lips. Their noses cracked together, but Xander felt no pain. Eyes wide, Xander stared into the equally large blue eyes centimeters away. [Oh... my... God... my lips... Spike´s lips...]
Neither of them moved as the movie played on. The whole Roman Army could´ve marched off the screen and into the theater, and still neither of them would´ve moved. Then, finally, slowly, Xander tilted his head a little, sealing his mouth completely over Spike´s, and tentatively kissed him.
It should´ve been Xander who was completely flustered when the soft kiss ended. But it was Spike who dropped his chin and gave Xander a tiny, wary smile before moving as far away in his seat as possible. It was Spike who fumbled with his popcorn and drink until he put both on the floor. And it was Spike who was now almost, but not quite, sucking his thumb. The back of his thumb pressed against his lips and his fingers hooked over his nose as he stared resolutely at the screen.
[Adorable,] Xander thought, covertly watching the blond. He´d admitted to himself that he´d just kissed Spike and liked it. A lot. [Understatement, Xan–man.] And it hadn´t even been a knock–out, drag–down, passionate smooch. Just a gentle meeting of the mouths [that left me wanting more. It´s official –– I´ve truly lost my mind. Ooshy–gooshy feelings, do what you will. I´m just gonna sit here and enjoy the ride.]
