Bot I Didn't

Xander stood outside Spike's crypt, uncertain what he was going to do. It had sounded so easy to do at Buffy's place. Go in, pretend to be Xander-bot, and find out what Spike had or had not told Glory, but now he was here, it was suddenly so very much more complicated. The vampire had fixated on him to the extent that he had had a very lifelike sex-bot made (although he was a little insulted with the assumed size of his genitalia) and had even dressed him in one of Xander's favourite shirts (which he'd stolen somehow.) He honestly wasn't sure how he was meant to feel about all of it.

He tugged the shirt he'd taken back from Xander-bot, fixed an awed smile on his face, and walked in. Spike was lying on the sarcophagus, an utter mess, from his black eyes to the various cuts, including one that looked like it was from a compound fracture. It was probably just as well the vampire was so injured, because otherwise he was pretty sure he would have picked the deception already. Xander tacked the grin on that bit firmer, and cooed his way through the deception.

When Xander walked out of the crypt, he paused, and looked back. He should be horrified. He had been horrified, completely traumatised, even, when he'd first found out what Spike had done. And the caricature that Xander-bot had turned out to be hadn't helped. Obviously Spike was attracted to him, and had even held his tongue simply because Xander would have been hurt if he hadn't. So where did that leave Xander?

He chewed his lip, then turned around and walked back into the crypt.

"Xan?" Spike whispered.

"So, here's the deal, Bleachy," Xander began, hopping up to sit beside him. "You get a second chance, this time with the real deal. I don't call you 'Master', you don't call me 'Xanny', and there's no guarantees that this is even going anywhere, 'cause, well, you're a vampire. This will be public, and I'm pretty sure there will be mocking, but a lot of that will be directed at me. I'm sure Buffy's going to have a lot to say about this, but, well, it's my choice."

Spike pushed himself up onto his elbows. "Xan?"

"I am best friends with the Slayer, a Watcher and two powerful witches, and I'm pretty sure I could even get your Sire to side with me if you mess up."

Spike tried a small smile, and raised an eyebrow. "Xan?"

Xander leaned forward, and placed his hands either side of Spike's shoulders. He hovered over Spike, his face inches from the vampire's. "You willing to try for the real thing?" he challenged.

"Yeah, pet," Spike whispered. "Yeah, I am."

Xander smiled, and closed the gap. He brushed Spike's lips, then pressed harder. When Spike relaxed, and laid back on the sarcophagus, Xander followed him down. When Spike parted his lips, Xander dipped into the cool cavern of his mouth, and began to explore. And when Spike raised a bloodied hand to cup Xander's face, he sighed, and leaned into the caress.

Finally, Xander pulled back, and looked at the other man. "Do you have anything here to help you get better?"

Spike looked around vaguely. "Uh, should do."

Xander gave him a look, then gently picked him. "Okay. Off home with you. I have blood, a first-aid kit, and a decent place to rest. If you're going to be my boyfriend, I can't have you dusting before I get the chance to find out if you're as good as Xander-bot thinks you are. Oh, and by the way," he added as he carried the vampire out of the crypt. "You underestimated on Xander-bot."

Spike glanced up, surprised.

"What?" Xander demanded, blushing faintly. "You didn't think I'd look. Please!"

Spike chuckled. Something good came out of this mess after all.