Puppy Love

Appropriate Ratings: R
Warnings: Nudity, slight humiliation, boys touching
Disclaimers: Not my characters. I make no money off this, I'm just playing. I promise to give them a bath and thorough cleaning when I’m done! Joss Whedon is my lord and Master. All hail Joss Whedon.
Short Summary: Puppy gets aftercare.
Beta: LJ User Tamakin

A.N. This is in response to the prompt table given to me by LJ User hawk_soaring. Thanks bunches again!


Comments keep my muse well fed. Please feed her, pretty please? She's been rather quiet lately.

~*~*~*~*~*~

He finally woke up when he was no longer so bone cold. Well, okay, not “wake-up” so much as snap out of that trance thing he’d fallen into some time ago. The warm water lapped at his chin, chasing away the chills and easing away some aches and pains. He opened bleary eyes and saw he was almost completely submerged in pink tinged water while Spike gently sponged blood, tears and filth from his skin.

He started, trying to get away before slipping past consciousness again, slithering down a warm velvety cavern away from the world, the faint plink of water striking water his journey music echoing in the cavern of his unconscious mind.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

He still hurt.

Every joint screamed in protest as he wiggled slightly to ease the ache in his hip and settled once more into lush silk sheets over a well padded mattress. He snuggled under the thick comforter, relishing the comfort and warmth he felt. Wait… what? Silk sheets? And I’m all stretched out… He tried to reach out to find the bars he knew would be there but muscles and bruises screamed no to even the smallest movement. Okay… guess I have to open my eyes.

It took another minute to convince his eyelids to separate, they were stubbornly heavy and gummed together with tear filled sleep. He sighed to himself and tried again, managing to peer out of his right eye, just between the lashes. All he saw was something white, either really close or really big.

Okay… maybe I’m facing the wall now? But none of the walls in his room are white. Maybe this is another part of my punishment? I’m what, sent to my room to ‘think over’ what I’d done wrong? He groaned softly, knowing he’d drive himself nuts freaking out over what it could possibly mean to his new status before he’d try to open his eyes again and he really didn’t have the energy the freak out just now.

Fuck it. He opened his eyes with a mighty sigh of whimpered anticipation and managed to part them enough to peer out. For the life of him, he couldn’t make sense of what he was seeing. It was white, true, but not as perfectly white as he first thought. It had texture to it, and it wasn’t white-white like… well… white, it was white that was kinda pinky browny too, like… well, it looked like skin actually. Really really pale sun starved skin very very up close and personal. Like, so up close and personal he could feel his breath pushed back to his face, and wow was it stinky.

When was the last time I brushed my teeth anyways? Ewwwwwwwww. He ran his tongue over furry teeth and grimaced. I wonder if he knows about dental health and tooth brushes? Because unless he’s gung-ho about gummers he’d better learn quick. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeew…. Gummers, he smacked his lips in distaste.

He sighed in self disgust, wondering how a sensitive vampire nose could put up with his stinky human bits. Maybe if I’m stinky enough he’ll just… what? Toss me outside until I air out? I’d melt into a puddle of goo during the day and freeze into a Xander-sicle over night. Yeah… Maybe I should mention the stinky bits are easy to clean and the whole baby-bathwater analogy. Yeah… I think he should know this isn’t permanent… I really don’t want to be whipped for hours on end because he doesn’t know about tartar fighting cavity reducing toothpaste. He sighed again, eyes barely open and unfocused on the span of whiteness in front of him.

It took him a few minutes to realize there was an odd sort of motion coming from the white expanse. It took him even longer to pinpoint just what was going on. Every time he exhaled something… moved on the surface of the skin. It was like a soft… wave? What? He blinked his eyes, then stretched them wide trying to force them to focus. Of course they did, and then he finally clued into where he actually was.

I’m in his BED?? HIS BED? With him right THERE? Over there, almost touching me! Or wait, is he touching me? He clenched his eyes shut and tried to sort through all the various aches and pains over every inch of his back and buttocks, even down his thighs. His shoulders and arms ached from where he’d nearly wrenched them out of socket with his struggling, same with his thighs and calves. His nose was mercifully free of dried blood and his mouth bites were all healed. Actually… you know as bad as all that was, it could have been worse. I remember blood in my mouth, and it was a heavy metallic smell in the air but all I feel are bruises and sprains and strains. I’m not cut, not anymore… what happened?

He tried to remember last night more clearly, but was surprised he could barely dredge up any memories of the actual punishment. It was faded, hard to grasp and slippery when he finally pulled up images or sensations. He knew it hurt, knew he’d begged for it to be over but he couldn’t remember how badly it hurt, not really. He remembered lines of fire, burning explosions that sizzled from each blow. The heat spreading, filling his skin and surging out long after the blow had landed in searing pulsing pain. He remembered the waves of pain, how they’d swell and crest then swell and crest again and again from a single blow, and how Spike had kept it timed perfectly so the surges never stopped. They just rode over him again and again, a steady pulsing wave of pain that almost lulled him into a trancelike state.

What was that? What did he do to me? But the more he struggled the fainter things became. The only parts that remained indelibly in place were agony, crying, and shame. He remembered the shame, and stubbornly denied the arousal part of last nights activities. Well, considering these bruises will take at least a week and a half to fade, he winced when his subtle shift away from Spike made him dig into another bruise. Okay, two weeks… ow… I’ll be remembering this the lesson even if I don’t remember the actual punishment.

He winced, the ache in his left shoulder suddenly turned into a sharp stabbing pain before abating again. You know, if I was getting the shit beat outta me so he’d kill me, I think I could put up with this. It’s not that much worse than… worse than what I’ve had before. But with the whole ‘Don’t Want To Die’ decision thing? Yeah, this pain so isn’t worth a few seconds of ‘Ha ha, I whacked the vampire!’ joy right before walking into the invisible fence and getting another whipping when I finally wake up.

He groaned softly, and once more saw the hairs gently wave in front of him, extremely pale fronds dancing a choreographed display and then he remembered again, SPIKE!!! IN BED WITH SPIKE! And then he remembered the question of just how close the vampire could possibly be that he’d been previously about to answer.

Oh gawd… He clenched his eyes shut and concentrated outside the aches and pains, and found one slim and oddly warm arm wrapped around his waist from underneath. It held him securely on his side so he didn’t fall over onto his bruised back but the grip was gentle enough that it didn’t aggravate the bruises it touched. And now I’m even more confused, what?

Nothing was making sense. He’d been whipped until he’d bled and cried and screamed and begged all in the name of punishment, but he was held almost carefully in Spike’s arm so he didn’t fall onto his bruised back and the bleeding wounds were all gone. Besides that, he was no longer in the cage and was instead in a plush silk strewn bed beneath a thick, rich coverlet that made him feel very comfortably warm. What the hell kind of punishment is this?

He felt Spike shift beside him and held perfectly still, unsure what was about to happen. “Know you’re awake puppy,” he heard Spike murmur. “No need to pretend.” He felt fingers combing his short hair, tracing the curve of his neck, cheek and ear with such gentle caresses it made his hair stand gently on end, his stomach knot in apprehension just waiting for the fingers to turn cruel and careless.

“Wh-what’s going on?” He hated how his voice trembled in fear, almost warbling in distress. He already knows I’m scared shitless, doesn’t matter if he hears it too! He tried to convince himself, he wasn’t sure how well it worked.

“It’s my job to make sure you’re healthy an’ care for, it’s what a Master does for his pet.” Fingers slid through his hair again, strangely soothing some tension out of him. Feels like I’m being petted… He felt his eye lids slowly start to drift close, weariness taking over in a gentle numbing wave.

“Told you, can’t have any pudding till you’ve eaten your meat. Punishment’s over, now’s the time for pudding.” The fingers kept their soothing rhythm, carding through his hair gently, so gently. Why’s he so obsessed with pudding and meat? So wait… what?

“What?” he heard himself mumble almost incoherently into the mattress. The fingers paused for a second before continuing once more.

“Punishment’s over, you’ve been forgiven. It’s over.”

He struggled to make sense of it, but couldn’t. His brain felt all mushy and addled. “I’m not… trying to make you repeat yourself. Just dunno what you’re saying.” He managed to mumble out. Hey! That even made sense! Go me!

Spike was silent for a moment, but the fingers never stopped so Xander wasn’t afraid he’d pushed too far. “Means it’s over… I won’t hold any of it against you ever again. Once the punishment is over it’s all over. You have a clean slate pet. Means I get to start taking care of you again. Means I get to chain you to my bed to warm my sheets at night, let you go to the toilette and use the shower like a human instead of a caged beast. Means as long as I’m in this room you’ll have an ankle leash on an’ when I’m out you’ll be caged. We’ll work through your new responsibilities soon enough.”

Again those soothing digits worked their wonder, lulling him into that odd sense of security and safety once more. It took him a minute to understand what he’d just been told and the only one he had any comment for was, “Wait, I can use a toilette? Please, can I go pee? There? I promise to come right back!”

Spike swung out of bed, Xander felt the mattress shift and jump at the sudden loss of weight, the arm beneath him gently retracted. Spike walked over to Xander’s side of the bed on silent and quick feet. He heard a clink and a sound like pouring a chain onto silk sheets before getting scooped into cool and careful arms with gentle tenderness before he had a chance to try to move on his own. If Xander were to guess, it really felt like Spike had had practice with this before. He tried really hard not to think about other human’s the vampire could have chained and abused over his lengthy life time, but it was the only reason he could think of for this much familiarity to caring for a bruised and weak invalid.

He didn’t protest when Spike carried him into the sumptuous ensuite bathroom, he didn’t even quibble when Spike made a warning noise when Xander made to slide to his feet. “Trust me puppy, you won’t be able to do any walking on your own for a little while yet,” Spike murmured into his hair before gently lowering him onto the raised and padded seat of the toilet.

Xander grunted, feeling the bruises on every inch of his back and thighs scream in protest to putting his weight on them like this. Tears escaped clenched eyelids, the pain drew them forth along with whimpers of distress. He finally opened them when he could stand it and did a double take when he realized Spike was still in the bathroom.

“I can take a piss by myself!” he snapped peevishly. Spike raised a single eyebrow in response, looking at him with a look of dangerous warning. Xander wasn’t as stupid as his teachers and classmates thought, “I mean…. I mean thank you Sir, but I can… I can do this myself.”

“And that matters how? Punishment may be over, but I don’t trust you pet. Plus, need to check your piss for blood. So be a good boy, and do your tinkle in the bowl,” he waved dismissively and leaned back against the door jamb, pure blue eyes never wavering from Xander. When Xander just huddled and glared Spike let out an exasperated sigh, “Either you piss on your own or I draw it from you. You’ve got no choice pet, go!”

Xander blushed and looked away, hugging himself as he shivered, drawing his feet up so only his toes touched the cold tile. The bedroom might be toasty, but the bathroom is like a FRIDGE! Yeesh! “I can’t… I can’t…” He chewed his lower lip, trying to get the words out, “When someone is watching, I can’t just… I’ve got a shy bladder, okay?” He blurted out.

“Guess it’s gonna have to learn to perform in the spotlight, then don’t it?” Was the calm reply.

“I also happen to STAND when I piss! I’ve never sat down before!” Xander muttered angrily, still unable to lift his gaze.

“Right then,” and suddenly Spike was moving away from the wall. Moving away from the wall and towards Xander and by the time he realized he was no longer on the wall the vampire was standing tall proud and nakedly close to him.

He let out a panicked squeak, sure he’d pushed things way too far but Spike just leant over and looped his arm around Xander’s waist, pulling him effortlessly and with minimum discomfort, to his feet. A quick twist and he was facing the toilet, teetering on sore legs, startled to realize if Spike let go he’d go crashing to the floor. Guess he wasn’t lying about that… When Spike reached a single chilled hand towards his groin Xander tried to wiggle his pelvis away, “I can hold myself myself! I’ve been doing it since I got outta diapers, honest! In fact I’m pretty sure I’ve held it before I got out of diapers because I was a curious lad who really wanted to know what the dangly things were.”

“No.”

The single word stilled him, made him bottle up the nervous babbles that kept bubbling in the pit of his stomach, anxious to pour out. He held still, feeling Spike’s naked body pressed almost intimately against his own, gripping his flaccid cock which was trying it’s damndest to do a turtle impersonation from the cold and fear.

“Last chance pet, either tinkle in the bowl an’ do your human business or I tie you down and put a catheter up there to drain it.” Xander had not a single moment of doubt that Spike would do just as promised.

His bladder screamed one last time to void itself before he finally let it. He blushed a bright red, turning his face away from the bowl while Spike aimed the flow of his urine into it. It went on for a lot longer then he felt comfortable with but when it was done, he DID feel immensely better.

I don’t want to die…