Chronos' Puppet

They stood, weapons drawn with their blades down beside them. A sea of gleaming eyes
a witness to the duel between Sire and Childe. The battle played out in Spike and
Xander's minds, each vampire planning their strategies quietly as though this were
nothing more then a simple game of chess.

It was spike that made the first move, using all of his preternatural speed to have the blow
count. Xander side-stepped it easily. Every thrust was met with a feint and dodge as
though the brunette was reluctant to attack his offspring.

"Will you stop dancing around, ya bloody ponce!" yelled Spike as he brought his katana
down from above him. it was the moment Xander was waiting for; frustration in his
Childe bringing anger to the fore and Xander once again blocked the down-comming
sword with his own. Instead of merely deflecting the blade he twisted his wrist, metal
singing as it glided down and clashed, handguard to handguard. Fangs dropped and
growls played among the cavern's crags as they circled each other, toe to toe.

Xander swept his foot out, trying to knock Spike out from underneath. The blonde fell
back, rolled to his feet and rushed at his sire once again. Steel crashed again, both
vampires nearly matched in speed and ability, but Xander had an advantage; patience.
Years of drilling and practice made his sword an extension of himself and he knew Spike
would soon grow angry enough to slip.

All he had to do was wait.

Spike was an accomplished fighter to be sure. A vamp didn't kill two slayers by accident,
and Xander quickly surmised the situation. Did he keep his Childe in a perpetual state of
aggravation, or would he allow a few blows to connect and allow overconfidence to play
to his advantage? Decision made he lunged with a roar, fangs aiming for the jugular.

Spike side-stepped the move at the last moment, knee raised quickly to catch Xander in
the groin.

It worked. The other vampire went down hard, curling in on himself at the pain that
flared through his gut.

"Thought you had the best of me, eh pet? Spike snarled down at the fallen vampire.
"You forgot I don't fight fair." He brought his blade close to Xander's neck, ready to
make the final blow and win the duel. A leg kicked out, catching Spike behind the knee
before it slammed down with an axe kick to the blonde's ribcage as he fell back. Spike
weezed as though there was breath in him to lose and his unused mortal instincts kicked
in, making him gasp for unneeded air. Xander rose up, seemingly unharmed as he
brought the blade close to his Childe's throat.

"Do it. Finish the job, Xander."

"No."

Spike tried to rise but the hand that pressed down on his chest held him fast to the floor.
"What the fuck is with you! What kind of sick game are you playing at, fighting me with
these knives then wimping out at the last second. No bollocks to kill me, is that it?"

"I don't want to kill you, I want you to yield."

"Fuck no."

"Yield!" The katana pressed tighter to Spike's throat, bringing a scent of blood to the
room.

"NO!"

Xander struck, fangs piercing the throat as he drank his fill, trying to draw out the fight in
Spike as he thrashed against the floor. The hands that tried to push him off soon changed
their minds, drawing the other vampire closer. Sensing the issue had been somewhat
resolved, some of the minions returned to their tasks as a few kept watch over the strange
scene. One separated from the pack to retrieve the deadly swords and pack them for the
trip home. Spike noticed none of this. His entire existence focused on the canines in his
neck and his body sang with the feeling. A small part of him knew he was being drained
dry, but his demon acquiesced in its sire's presence, content in the contact. Inside his
mind, a fight between his persona and his demon rose as they sought an answer for this
display. Spike's symbiotic spirit wanted to stay; proof of his sire's dominance made in the
duel and in the feed. Spike himself, faced with no other alternative and with the
convincing arguments his body and his demon made, made his choice. Finally, Xander
drew back, licking the last traces of the blood from his lips as he examined the slack
expression his Childe wore. "Will...please. The clan will not accept you if you do not
listen to me as your Sire. It would be better to dust you here then have you face our
Master. At least with me you have a chance. Think...no more begging for scraps from
the Scoobies, no more looking over your shoulder for the Initiative. For once, stop being
such a stubborn pain in the ass!"

Spike looked up at the face of his one time lover, cum enemy, cum sire. It made
absolutely no sense and in the fog of bloodloss he followed his demon's lead, and
conceded. His head turned slightly to the side, neck arched to show his submission and
waited. He felt cool skin press against his lips as Xander brought his torn wrist to Spike
and let him regain some of his strength. The blonde said nothing as he was drawn to his
feet, trying not to lean to heavily on his sire as Xander called the gate open and the
minions filed through. "Try to keep your eyes closed for this one, okay?"

"No problem, mate. Just tell me this is the last jump, alright?" He felt an arm wrap
around his waist, drawing him close and holding him upright as they moved towards the
glowing disc. "I promise, Spike. It's the last one. Damn, you certainly know how to
make a stop over an event."

"Expect anything less?" Spike opened his eyes and looked up into his sire's face, taking
in the small smile highlighted by the blue light of the gate. Xander laughed quietly at the
comment. "Nope. Would have been disappointed otherwise." They stepped forward,
Spike making sure that his eyes were closed tight for the ride. His sire had never said
where they were going, but he hoped to find his answers at the end.