Xanpet 1
"Spike," I said. Willow walked beside me as we approached the blond vampire, stakes at the ready. Buffy sat beside him on one of the many stone benches that littered the cemeteries of Sunnydale. Jeez, when it came to Buffy the bleach freak just wouldn´t give up. "I shoulda known you´d be tagging along."
Spike inhaled deeply from his cigarette and Buffy stood up. "Hey, guys. I, uh... I found Spike and was, uh, trying to figure out what kind of dangerous contraband he had." A disgusted look crossed Spike´s face as he listened to Buffy. He rose from his cold stone seat. "Tell you what, Slayer," Spike said, dropping his lit cigarette and savagely grinding it out with one boot clad foot. "Let me get out of your way." Pale hands reached down to lift a brown grocery bag. "I´ll stop bothering you."
God, so much for the Big Bad, Spike was the Big Pathetic. "Yeah, maybe you should do that, Spike, just run along," I taunted the vampire. "You know, I guess you know all about that, don´t you." Spike stalked over to stand before me. "The king of the big exit." I stared at him. My emotions were already in turmoil. I hated myself because I hurt Anya, hell I hurt myself when I hurt her. "Heard it brought the house down," Spike finished and I glared at him.
"I don´t need this crap from you," I spit out between clenched teeth, furious with the vampire.
"Right. Let´s not listen to Spike." The vampire turned to look at the Slayer. "Might get a bit of the truth on you." Spike turned back to me. Anger flashed across his face; he deliberately stepped closer. Willow´s voice interrupted our glaring contest. "Okay, okay. Heh. Calm now. Let´s, uh, turn around now and release this very manly thing the other way." I looked at Spike. "I forgot. Willy wannabite can´t hurt me." I knew he could see the smug look flooding my eyes. "Dumb to pick a fight, I guess."
"Xander." I heard the disappointment in Willow´s voice at my behavior. "Guys," Buffy said softly in the background, but my attention was focused solely on Spike, waiting to see what his next move would be. "More than happy to beat you through the pain, you pathetic poof." The vampire threw his bag of groceries aside. He looked up and I nailed him in the face with my fist. I watched in satisfaction as Spike hit the ground, hard.
"Harris, I wish you´d been mine back when Angelus and I were at our prime. I would have taught you your place beside a Master Vampire and you wouldn´t forget it." Spike snarled at me but I wasn´t even looking at him anymore. I had seen Buffy wavering; something was wrong. I didn´t think twice about the bleach blond vampire at my feet as Willow and I rushed to Buffy´s side, each of us holding one of her arms. "Buffy? Are you okay?" Willow asked.
"What happened?" I asked as Buffy slowly lifted her head. "Oh.... no!" she murmured.
Spike joined us beside Buffy. "Here, let´s get her back to my crypt," he said. Buffy was obviously unwell, and I was having flashbacks from when she passed out from fever while fighting Angelus. Lots of fun that had been. The last thing I needed was Spike breathing, er, not breathing, down our necks right now.
"Spike, just go, okay? She´s our friend, we´ll take care of her," I ordered the vampire away. Together, Willow and I helped Buffy to her feet.
"No, guys, I´m okay. I´m okay," Buffy insisted. "Come on, Xander, help me get her home," Willow told me. I felt Spike´s eyes boring into our retreating backs as we walked off.
Ow. I flinched as I unlocked my apartment door. God I hurt, I had been a demon throw toy earlier this evening. I practically fell through my door, booting it closed with the back of my heel. I dragged my battered body across the apartment, headed for the bathroom and the hottest shower I could handle.
Blindly, I turned the shower spray on. The hot water quickly steamed up the small room. I looked at my blurred reflection in the foggy bathroom mirror. What had those hallucinations been like for Buffy? She had tried to explain herself after that demon had almost killed us. Buffy had said it was as if she was actually there. I shivered. Scary thought, that your mind could play such powerful tricks on you. Buffy had died to protect her sister, hell she had died at the hands of the Master to protect all of us, and yet a demon´s mind tricks almost undid her. My hand squeaked across the bathroom mirror, leaving a wet trail as I cleared away the fog. Dulled brown eyes stared back at me before I stripped out of my clothes and eased myself under the burning spray of the shower.
I leaned my head back to douse my hair, trying to clear my mind. I looked forward to sleep. I just didn´t want to think for a while, and sleep brought me that small comfort. I reached for a bottle of shampoo, but my hand fell limply to my side as I saw the neat row of feminine bottles. Anya´s shampoo and conditioner lined the shower rack.
I don´t need a demon to mind fuck me. I´m capable of screwing up my life all on my own. I avoided Anya´s bath products, quickly finishing my shower. I dried off and slipped into a pair of silk boxers before walking into the darkened bedroom. I collapsed onto the mattress. I just needed to sleep. Lately, I wished I could sleep for a long time. Hell, I would have been thrilled to wake up and find out that days had gone by. I closed my eyes. I was tired and sore and though it felt as if it took forever, I was asleep within minutes.
I groaned at the aches assaulting my body as I woke up; sleep had stiffened my abused muscles. A quiet voice dragged me toward consciousness.
"William, come childe, ye ken entertain yer new pet later." The lilting accent barely penetrated my sleep–fogged brain. "I´d have ye hunt wit´ me tonight." Shit, had I left the TV on? I tried to clear my head, but found I didn´t even have the strength to open my eyes. "Yes, Sire." The softly spoken reply came close to my own ear. I jerked away from the familiar sound of Spike´s voice in surprise and stars crossed behind my eyelids. My ears buzzed loudly and I desperately tried to stay conscious, but fell into the encroaching oblivion.
