Quantum Xander II: In Wake of the Curse
folder
BtVS AU/AR › Slash - Male/Male › Spike(William)/Xander
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
65
Views:
20,525
Reviews:
119
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
BtVS AU/AR › Slash - Male/Male › Spike(William)/Xander
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
65
Views:
20,525
Reviews:
119
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS), nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
~PART 11~
Part 11
Instead of lunch, Xander and Buffy ended up sitting in his car while he told her everything. He told her about the curse, about the spell Willow had put on him in high school, the alternate version of Riley and what had happened to Spike. He told her about Spike, how they had fallen in love, how he had died. Buffy was shocked and saddened for her friend. She couldn’t imagine having to go through what Xander had been through. She also found herself a bit worried.
“Are you and Spike - this Spike - together?”
“No. It’s not like that. He loves you, Buffy. And even if he didn’t, he’s not the vampire I fell in love with. I do care about him, though; if he’s siring people, he isn’t aware of it. There’s no way he could hide something like that from me.”
“I believe you. But we can’t ignore this, Xander. We need to talk to him about this. Soon.”
“You’re right. I’ll pick you up after work and we’ll sit down with him, try to figure this out. Ah, Buff? About what I told you… that stays between us, okay? I’m not ready to deal with Willow yet; it’s too painful and I don’t want to end up doing something I’d regret later.”
“Okay. It stays between us, for now.”
“Oh, and Spike. He knows the whole thing.”
Xander was intrigued by the momentary flash of jealousy he saw in Buffy’s eyes. He wasn’t sure if it was because he had shared his story with Spike before her, or because it was obvious he and the vampire were close now.
Xander dropped Buffy back at the school and went back to work. He wasn’t looking forward to their talk with Spike tonight. As he unlocked his trailer and stepped inside, he was startled to see Anya sitting behind his desk.
“Anya? What are you doing here?”
“Lunch. I told you we’d have lunch when we talked a few days ago. Where were you?”
“Buffy. I was with Buffy, we were going to have lunch but something came up.”
“Good!”
Anya smiled and Xander watched curiously as she pulled a large picnic basket out from under the desk.
“If you didn’t have lunch with Buffy, then you’re hungry, right?”
“Starved. What did you bring?”
“Roast beef sandwiches, potato salad, lemonade and fudge brownies for dessert.”
Anya pulled out plates and began unwrapping sandwiches. Xander sat in the chair on the other side of the desk and watched her. He really was glad they were friends; he couldn’t imagine his life without Anya in it - even though she was a demon again.
“So, what was so important that you spent your lunch hour talking to Buffy and not eating?”
“There’s a possibility that Spike is siring vampires again. Buffy was talking to a vamp last night…”
“New boyfriend?”
“No. And can we not start on the Buffy-dating-the-dead issue right now? As I was saying, she talked to this vamp and he told her that Spike had sired him.”
“So he’s killing again? Didn’t see that one coming. And at some point, someone does need to address Buffy’s infatuation with dead guys.”
“Anya.”
“Alright, alright, I’m just saying, I know all about her and zombie-Xander.”
At Xander’s pointed look she changed the subject.
“Well, maybe you should search his room for clues.”
“Like what? Blood stains on his clothes? He’s a vampire; he drinks blood and he spills it all the time.”
“Well, trophies then. Killers like to keep trophies of their victims. Like teeth; maybe he has a necklace of his victims’ teeth.”
Xander swallowed as he remembered presenting his mate with a fine silver chain strung with Riley Finn’s teeth. He shuddered at the implications of his actions. Touched by darkness - yeah he could see that.
“Oh - sorry, Xander. I forgot.”
“That’s okay; I’m sure a tooth necklace rates pretty low on the things you’ve seen - or done for that matter.”
“Well, yeah. But for you, that’s a big thing. It was a good present though. If I were Spike, I would have appreciated it.”
“Thanks An, you always know just what to say to make me cringe.”
The smile he gave her softened the criticism, and she shrugged her shoulders and passed him a plate of food. They ate quietly for a few minutes and then Xander sighed.
“Anya? Have you heard anything about a new big bad coming this way? Something from beneath?”
“No. But my contacts in the demon community aren’t what they used to be. Being human has ruined my reputation. Nobody takes me seriously anymore; they all think I’ve gone soft. Not to mention that I helped you all with the killing and the world save-age. I have a Fyarl demon stalking me ‘cause he thinks I killed its cousin. I mean, really, do I look like someone who would get anywhere near a Fyarl demon?”
“Nope. You look too smart for that.”
“Exactly.”
After lunch, Anya disappeared - literally - and Xander got back to work. His mind wasn’t on his job though, and it showed. He had messed up the weekend reports as well as the work detail. He knew he would end up taking it home and working on it there, after the confrontation with Spike, that is. He really wasn’t looking forward to it.
By the time his day was finished, he was beyond tired. The last two days were beyond stressful and he seriously just wanted to go home, have a hot shower, a cold beer, and fall into bed and stay there all weekend. Thank God it was Friday.
Buffy didn’t look any happier about their task than Xander did; they barely talked on the way to his place, both of them pondering the outcome of the talk they were going to have to have with the vampire. There was one thing Xander had to make perfectly clear to Buffy though, before he let her in his apartment.
“Buffy? Before we go in I have to warn you; no matter what, I won’t let you dust him.”
Buffy turned and looked at Xander appraisingly. She now knew he was practicing magic and had power - although he had admitted he wasn’t very good at controlling it yet - but she also knew he wouldn’t use it on her. She hoped it wouldn’t even be an issue. She didn’t want to dust Spike either, not unless she absolutely had to. She owed him too much.
“Xander, I don’t think it’ll come to that.”
“I hope not, ’cause I really don’t want to blow my apartment up.”
Xander shook his head and then they both got out of the car. They walked in silence into the building and waited for the elevator. They rode up to Xander’s floor without even looking at each other. By the time they reached Xander’s door, Buffy was chewing on her fingernail in a nervous gesture. It reminded Xander of the girl she had been when they first met. He smiled at her and pulled her into his arms.
“Hey, it’ll be okay. We’ll figure this out.”
“I know. It’s just…”
“I know. You don’t have to explain to me, Buffy.”
Xander chuckled as an insane thought popped into his head. Buffy tilted her head and looked at him like he was crazy.
“Sorry. Funny thoughts.”
“Well, I could use some funny. Share?”
“You probably won’t see the funny.”
“Xander.”
“Alright. I was just thinking that we now have something to bond over. We’ve both slept with the male half of the Scourge of Europe. How many people can claim that and live to tell the tale?”
“Oh God. That’s right! You… you and Angel, I forgot. Oh, you have to let me be there if you ever tell him. Promise me that and I’ll give you anything! Even Mr. Gordo!”
“Deal. But you can keep the pig.”
The pair stood for a few minutes longer just holding onto one another in the hallway outside Xander’s door. Xander smiled and kissed Buffy’s head. This was what he had wanted to come home for, this closeness. He was glad he had opened up to Buffy and told her everything. He had missed her.
The door opened and Spike looked at the two humans with their arms wrapped around each other. He was instantly insanely jealous. Only problem was, he wasn’t sure of which one. He looked at Buffy and his inner voice cried out ‘love her’ then he looked at Xander and the demon raged. One word coming to mind, ‘MINE’. He was torn. The demon loved Buffy, but Xander was his. He wore his mark, his claim. He had no right touching another, especially someone that Spike was in love with.
“Well, well. Isn’t this cozy.”
Xander and Buffy both jumped and turned to look at the glowering vampire in the doorway. They hadn’t been doing anything wrong; they were friends, and friends hugged.
Xander realized he was feeling guilty and rolled his eyes. He had no reason to; he could hug Buffy if he wanted to, and he didn’t have to answer to Spike, anyway. He wasn’t his Spike. If anything, the vamp was Buffy’s - if she’d just make up her mind one way or the other.
“Hey, Spike. We should go inside. We need to talk.”
Instead of lunch, Xander and Buffy ended up sitting in his car while he told her everything. He told her about the curse, about the spell Willow had put on him in high school, the alternate version of Riley and what had happened to Spike. He told her about Spike, how they had fallen in love, how he had died. Buffy was shocked and saddened for her friend. She couldn’t imagine having to go through what Xander had been through. She also found herself a bit worried.
“Are you and Spike - this Spike - together?”
“No. It’s not like that. He loves you, Buffy. And even if he didn’t, he’s not the vampire I fell in love with. I do care about him, though; if he’s siring people, he isn’t aware of it. There’s no way he could hide something like that from me.”
“I believe you. But we can’t ignore this, Xander. We need to talk to him about this. Soon.”
“You’re right. I’ll pick you up after work and we’ll sit down with him, try to figure this out. Ah, Buff? About what I told you… that stays between us, okay? I’m not ready to deal with Willow yet; it’s too painful and I don’t want to end up doing something I’d regret later.”
“Okay. It stays between us, for now.”
“Oh, and Spike. He knows the whole thing.”
Xander was intrigued by the momentary flash of jealousy he saw in Buffy’s eyes. He wasn’t sure if it was because he had shared his story with Spike before her, or because it was obvious he and the vampire were close now.
Xander dropped Buffy back at the school and went back to work. He wasn’t looking forward to their talk with Spike tonight. As he unlocked his trailer and stepped inside, he was startled to see Anya sitting behind his desk.
“Anya? What are you doing here?”
“Lunch. I told you we’d have lunch when we talked a few days ago. Where were you?”
“Buffy. I was with Buffy, we were going to have lunch but something came up.”
“Good!”
Anya smiled and Xander watched curiously as she pulled a large picnic basket out from under the desk.
“If you didn’t have lunch with Buffy, then you’re hungry, right?”
“Starved. What did you bring?”
“Roast beef sandwiches, potato salad, lemonade and fudge brownies for dessert.”
Anya pulled out plates and began unwrapping sandwiches. Xander sat in the chair on the other side of the desk and watched her. He really was glad they were friends; he couldn’t imagine his life without Anya in it - even though she was a demon again.
“So, what was so important that you spent your lunch hour talking to Buffy and not eating?”
“There’s a possibility that Spike is siring vampires again. Buffy was talking to a vamp last night…”
“New boyfriend?”
“No. And can we not start on the Buffy-dating-the-dead issue right now? As I was saying, she talked to this vamp and he told her that Spike had sired him.”
“So he’s killing again? Didn’t see that one coming. And at some point, someone does need to address Buffy’s infatuation with dead guys.”
“Anya.”
“Alright, alright, I’m just saying, I know all about her and zombie-Xander.”
At Xander’s pointed look she changed the subject.
“Well, maybe you should search his room for clues.”
“Like what? Blood stains on his clothes? He’s a vampire; he drinks blood and he spills it all the time.”
“Well, trophies then. Killers like to keep trophies of their victims. Like teeth; maybe he has a necklace of his victims’ teeth.”
Xander swallowed as he remembered presenting his mate with a fine silver chain strung with Riley Finn’s teeth. He shuddered at the implications of his actions. Touched by darkness - yeah he could see that.
“Oh - sorry, Xander. I forgot.”
“That’s okay; I’m sure a tooth necklace rates pretty low on the things you’ve seen - or done for that matter.”
“Well, yeah. But for you, that’s a big thing. It was a good present though. If I were Spike, I would have appreciated it.”
“Thanks An, you always know just what to say to make me cringe.”
The smile he gave her softened the criticism, and she shrugged her shoulders and passed him a plate of food. They ate quietly for a few minutes and then Xander sighed.
“Anya? Have you heard anything about a new big bad coming this way? Something from beneath?”
“No. But my contacts in the demon community aren’t what they used to be. Being human has ruined my reputation. Nobody takes me seriously anymore; they all think I’ve gone soft. Not to mention that I helped you all with the killing and the world save-age. I have a Fyarl demon stalking me ‘cause he thinks I killed its cousin. I mean, really, do I look like someone who would get anywhere near a Fyarl demon?”
“Nope. You look too smart for that.”
“Exactly.”
After lunch, Anya disappeared - literally - and Xander got back to work. His mind wasn’t on his job though, and it showed. He had messed up the weekend reports as well as the work detail. He knew he would end up taking it home and working on it there, after the confrontation with Spike, that is. He really wasn’t looking forward to it.
By the time his day was finished, he was beyond tired. The last two days were beyond stressful and he seriously just wanted to go home, have a hot shower, a cold beer, and fall into bed and stay there all weekend. Thank God it was Friday.
Buffy didn’t look any happier about their task than Xander did; they barely talked on the way to his place, both of them pondering the outcome of the talk they were going to have to have with the vampire. There was one thing Xander had to make perfectly clear to Buffy though, before he let her in his apartment.
“Buffy? Before we go in I have to warn you; no matter what, I won’t let you dust him.”
Buffy turned and looked at Xander appraisingly. She now knew he was practicing magic and had power - although he had admitted he wasn’t very good at controlling it yet - but she also knew he wouldn’t use it on her. She hoped it wouldn’t even be an issue. She didn’t want to dust Spike either, not unless she absolutely had to. She owed him too much.
“Xander, I don’t think it’ll come to that.”
“I hope not, ’cause I really don’t want to blow my apartment up.”
Xander shook his head and then they both got out of the car. They walked in silence into the building and waited for the elevator. They rode up to Xander’s floor without even looking at each other. By the time they reached Xander’s door, Buffy was chewing on her fingernail in a nervous gesture. It reminded Xander of the girl she had been when they first met. He smiled at her and pulled her into his arms.
“Hey, it’ll be okay. We’ll figure this out.”
“I know. It’s just…”
“I know. You don’t have to explain to me, Buffy.”
Xander chuckled as an insane thought popped into his head. Buffy tilted her head and looked at him like he was crazy.
“Sorry. Funny thoughts.”
“Well, I could use some funny. Share?”
“You probably won’t see the funny.”
“Xander.”
“Alright. I was just thinking that we now have something to bond over. We’ve both slept with the male half of the Scourge of Europe. How many people can claim that and live to tell the tale?”
“Oh God. That’s right! You… you and Angel, I forgot. Oh, you have to let me be there if you ever tell him. Promise me that and I’ll give you anything! Even Mr. Gordo!”
“Deal. But you can keep the pig.”
The pair stood for a few minutes longer just holding onto one another in the hallway outside Xander’s door. Xander smiled and kissed Buffy’s head. This was what he had wanted to come home for, this closeness. He was glad he had opened up to Buffy and told her everything. He had missed her.
The door opened and Spike looked at the two humans with their arms wrapped around each other. He was instantly insanely jealous. Only problem was, he wasn’t sure of which one. He looked at Buffy and his inner voice cried out ‘love her’ then he looked at Xander and the demon raged. One word coming to mind, ‘MINE’. He was torn. The demon loved Buffy, but Xander was his. He wore his mark, his claim. He had no right touching another, especially someone that Spike was in love with.
“Well, well. Isn’t this cozy.”
Xander and Buffy both jumped and turned to look at the glowering vampire in the doorway. They hadn’t been doing anything wrong; they were friends, and friends hugged.
Xander realized he was feeling guilty and rolled his eyes. He had no reason to; he could hug Buffy if he wanted to, and he didn’t have to answer to Spike, anyway. He wasn’t his Spike. If anything, the vamp was Buffy’s - if she’d just make up her mind one way or the other.
“Hey, Spike. We should go inside. We need to talk.”