Healing

Part 13

Having slept all day, and being a nocturnal creature to begin with, Spike was in no way tired enough to sleep after his shower. He dressed in yet another pair of Xander’s sweats, and lounged on the sofa with a cold beer. He'd been pleasantly surprised to find that Xander had cleared space in the bedroom closet for his clothes and emptied a drawer in the bedside table for him to keep his things in. It was as if he were his lover, not just a friend.

Granted they shared a bed, they curled up at night like puppies, and always woke up wrapped around each other. Then of course there was the fact that they had actually shagged already. So technically they were lovers, or at least had been. And then there was the thing about Xander’s clothes. Spike didn't know what he'd do if Xander wanted him to stop wearing them now that he had his stuff there. He loved the feel of his too big pants hanging low on his hips, the way they pooled around his feet so he had to roll them up a few times. He liked being enveloped in Xander’s scent when he wasn't in his arms. Yeah he was a big ponce, but he loved him so it didn't matter.

Xander had put the clothes through the wash and was now transferring them to the dryer. He inspected them carefully to make sure all the stains had washed out. They looked okay so he started the dryer before heading back upstairs. When he got inside and saw Spike watching television and drinking a beer he had to laugh. He felt like they were married or something. Here he'd gone and picked up Spike's clothes off the bathroom floor, taken them down to be washed, inspected them to make sure they weren't stained and come back to find him channel surfing and drinking. The worst is that it wasn't the first time it had happened. If anyone had told him that Spike would become such a big part of his life, even a month ago, he'd have laughed his ass off. Now, he was just thankful to have him here. He just wished he'd put more clothes on. The sight of him in those pants, with no shirt, and still slightly damp from the shower was killing him.

"I'm off to shower Spike, back in a few."

As soon as Spike heard the water start he opened the windows and the apartment door. He could already smell the boys arousal. He needed to air the place out. Spike sat directly in front of the window, eyes closed and jaw clenched. He should have worn a shirt. It was getting a bit chilly in front of the window.

"Aw bugger! I should have put a bloody shirt on! That's probably what started him off this time."

Spike slipped into the bedroom and pulled one of Xander’s less colourful shirts on over his head. It was a dark green t-shirt made of the softest cotton he'd ever felt. It was way too big on him but he didn't care. It felt like heaven and it smelled like Xander. He went back out to the living room, ignoring the muffled sound of his name on Xander’s lips from in the shower and sat back down in front of the window.

When the shower turned off, Spike closed the apartment door and then shut the windows as well. He could still smell Xander’s release in the air but not nearly as heavy as it would have been. It would have to do so long as the boy didn't come strolling out in just his boxers. Spike wouldn't be held responsible for what he did if that happened.

As fate seemed to be on his side, Xander did not come out in just boxers. He was wearing a matching ensemble to Spike; sweat pants and a t-shirt. Xander grabbed a beer and a bag of pretzels and joined Spike on the sofa.

"Anything good on?"

"Nah, almost 200 channels and not a bloody thing worth watching! Couldn't even find a footie match."

"That's satellite TV for ya, re-runs and Spanish television. Wanna watch a movie? We could order pay-per-view."

"Depends, anything decent on?"

"Lets find out."

Twenty minutes later they had decided there was nothing decent on pay-per-view and were therefore going through Xander’s video collection.

"Christ Xan! I can't believe you own this movie!"

"Hey! It was a gift."

"Who the hell bought it for you?"

"Willow."

"Red? Bought you 'Interview with a Vampire'?"

"It was a gag gift."

"I see."

"Besides, I like it. Louise reminds me of Angel. All 'woe is me. I am a vampire, an evil blood sucking fiend!' I told Buffy that once, she didn't find it amusing."

"You know, you have a point there. But that Lestat prances around like a bleedin' poof. Not a great image for us undead ya know. And they can't even shag! What's the bloody point of living forever if ya can't even shag? Gah, I'd stake meself!"

Xander had to laugh at the look of outrage on Spike's face. He had a point, the movie did kinda portray the vamps as poofs. And an eternity without sex would be unthinkable. Although he did often wonder about the mechanics of a being with no circulation achieving an erection. Thoughts about Spike and erections were not a good idea though.

"Okay, so we're in agreement that we don't want to watch Tom Cruise prancing about. How about we watch something not vampire related?"

"Okay, like what?"

"You pick, they're my movies so I'll watch any of them."

Spike spent the next few minutes going through the titles and trying to decide what to watch. Eventually he narrowed it down to three choices. Road House with Patrick Swayze, Soldier with Kurt Russel and Commando with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"Which of these do you wanna watch?"

"What ever one you want."

"Just pick one would ya?"

"Alright, Commando."

"I don't wanna watch that one now."

"Fine. Soldier then."

"Mmm, military experiments....I don't think so."

"I guess that leaves us with Road House then eh?"

"Guess so."

"Give it here, you know if you wanted to watch this one you could have just said so."

"Was more fun the other way."

Spike grinned at Xander and got a playful swat in the head for it. Xander put the movie in, turned off the lights, and sat next to Spike on the sofa.

By the time the movie was halfway through Xander and Spike were curled up on the couch together. Spike was resting back to chest with Xander, his head tucked under Xander’s chin. Xander had his arms wrapped around Spike's waist, his head resting on the top of Spike's head and one leg draped over his hip. It was comfortable and neither one had any desire to move away from the other.

When the movie ended Xander went to pull away from Spike to eject the tape.

"Don't."

"Don't what?"

"Don't go."

"Not going anywhere, I was just gonna take the movie out."

"No, don't get up. M'comfortable, don't want you to move."

"Okay."

Xander lay back down and pulled Spike a little tighter against his chest. He was quite comfortable himself and had no real desire to move either.
He felt Spike lay his hands on top of his and squeeze gently. His chest tightened and he smiled. Damn he loved this vampire.

Spike was content, more so even. He never wanted to move. This was heaven; he felt warm, safe and loved. Xander was holding him, they had curled up on the sofa and watched a movie together like an actual couple, like the witches did. It was nice and he didn't want it to end. He wanted to turn in the embrace and snuggle into Xander’s chest. He wanted to kiss the man senseless. He wanted a lot of things, but what he had was nice too.

As if reading his mind, Spike felt Xander tug on his shoulder to turn him around. He went without resistance and wrapped his arms around Xander and pulled himself closer to him. He felt Xander begin to trace random patterns on his back with his warm hands. He had one leg wedged between Xander’s and could feel the effects this was having on him. He felt the same way. He looked up to find Xander watching him .

Xander lowered his head slowly and kissed Spike. It was the barest whisper of a kiss but it set his lips on fire. Xander drew back and looked at him questioningly.

"Was that okay?"

"Yes. Do it again?"

The hopeful tone in Spike's voice made Xander groan. He kissed him again, slowly, and let Spike choose whether to deepen the kiss or not. He did. There was just the briefest swirling of tongues before Spike pulled back.

"Mmm, that was nice."

"It was, just..."

"What is it Spike?"

"I want this, you, us. Just I'm not ready yet."

Xander tilted Spike's face up to look him in the eyes.

"As slow as you need. I'm not gonna push you. Okay?"

"Thanks Xan."

"No need to thank me, I want you too, I want us. I'm willing to wait, I understand how you feel."

There were more lingering kisses and soft words spoken between them. They both knew that things had changed between, their relationship was progressing from friendship to something more and they were both glad for the change. When they crawled into bed early that morning, they exchanged kisses before dropping off to sleep. Xander was sure he heard purring just before sleep claimed him.