White Knight, Black Knight

White Knight, Black Knight Chapter Sixteen

“Benedick? Benedick please Love, let her go.”

It was the pet name that Xander had only used in writing that got through the red haze that had filled his vision at the scent of the boy’s blood. He finally realized what he’d done, that he had the Slayer dangling from his grip like a rag doll and he roared and tossed her away, letting her hit the counter and slide to the floor.

He turned to Xander and could smell the blood and the pain. He swore under his breath and then turned to the humans. “You lot even try to attack Xander or me again, and you’ll be sorry. Boy still considers you his friends so you’re safe from evisceration, for now at least. That could change at any time. Watcher, we’ll need the med kit.”

“Yes…yes of course. Willow?”

“No.” Spike couldn’t help but growl. “You. The little witch has been playing with Chaos magicks, she stinks of it”

“What! Willow…”

“Not now Rupert, get the med kit and then you can shout at her.”

“Spike, I’m okay, really.” Spike snorted. Just like the boy to brush off one of his best friends stabbing him. Not this time.

“No your not okay, you’re bleeding from where the Slayer here wouldn’t let you talk and oh, she tried to kill your lover. Don’t pretend Xander, we’re gonna have to deal with this.” Xander just looked down at the ground and Spike could tell that he was hurt by his friend’s actions, despite the fact he halfway expected it to happen. he She Slayer was being coddled by her boyfriend, bruises visible around her throat. She’d probably not be able to talk much and right now Spike was glad of that, one less problem.

Red seemed frozen at the table, whether it was because of Xander’s protection of Spike or the fact that he just let her little secret out. Truth in fact he hadn’t noticed the taint of chaos magicks around her recently, not since the night she tried to take on Glory and failed.

But he had felt the growing power in the room as he deafened his boy, felt the crackle and tingling of it along his spine, the taint of it reminiscent to some of Drusilla’s workings. He may have loved his Dark Princess, but some of the magick she had played with felt like nails down a blackboard and had left him shuddering. He was glad with Xander the worst he had to worry about was being forced to watch bad television programs.

Spike fought the urge to lick at Xander’s wound to clean it, knowing it would only scare the Scoobies more, and he kind of wished Dawn and Tara would return. He’d feel less outnumbered; not that he couldn’t take on the slayer and Finn, but he knew Xander didn’t want him to.

“I think I know how to deal with it.” Joy, the tin soldier speaks up. “Deal with it like we should have over a year ago, with a nice piece of wood through the heart. I don’t know how you got rid of the chip, but now that you’re not harmless I don’t think anyone would mind.”

As Finn spoke Giles came out of the office with the first aid kit. “Will everyone please calm down! We are all letting our tempers get ahead of us. Here’s the med kit Spike, is Xander going to be all right?”

“Yes, no thanks to his best friends.”

“Spike, please…”

Spike le dro drop as he cleaned Xander’s shoulder up and bandaged it. The room was silent, everyone seemed to be watching how he took care of his mate, and so Spike kissed him on the temple. “There. Not too bad Beatrice, no splinters at least.”

“Thanks.” Spike stood behind Xander, well away from everyone else with his arms wrapped around his waist.

All of a sudden Giles laughed, a true sounding laugh free of tension and both he and Xander looked at him curiously. “This isn’t funny Watcher.”

“I’m sorry, you’re right. It’s just…the thought of the two of you, quoting Shakespeare at each other is quite, well, amazing is a polite way of putting it.”

Spike growled, either at the thought that the Watcher underestimated him or that the fact that his secret as an educated man was out. Before he could say anything though the life had come back to Xander who was answering for the bot the them.

“I love it! Spike even took me to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream Saturday in Oxnard. It was so much fun!”

“Really? I didn’t know they did that anywhere closer than Los Angeles?”

“Hey!” Buffy’s voice was hoarse as she broke into the conversation, and Spike hid a smirk in Xander’s hair. “If the mutual English lover’s tea party can come to the end can we discuss how Spike has Xander under a spell and how his chip isn’t working anymore?”

“I still say we ought to kill him.” Riley had his hands clenched, ready to strike out and part of Spike just wished for one of the spike’s that gave him his name and ten minutes alone in a room with him. Then they would see who would get staked.

“That’s enough. All of you! Spike and Xander, you two stay over there. Everyone else sit down. We are all going to discuss this rationally, without any more attempted staking, assaults or death threats.”

While everyone settled down, Giles once again took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose and Spiet tet that when it was all said and done the bottle of brandy he’d opened earlier would be gone, once everyone had left.

Truth be told he was feeling rather appreciative towards the Watcher. He didn’t like the idea of Spike being with Xander, but had been willing to give them a chance. He was glad he had invited the man over for dinner, he’d done it for the look of happiness that had crossed Xander’s face at the time, but now he had double reason to do it.

“Now these are the facts. Spike and Xander are…mated for lack of a better term. There is nothing I or any of you can do to change it, and as Xander is over the age of eighteen, he does not need our permission. Any more acts of violence, will no doubt be met with similar violence from their part, so there will be no more attacks. Do you three understand me?”

The Slayer crossed her arms defiantly but it was Willow that looked up with tears in her eyes. “But Giles! You can’t just be going along with this! Spike has Xander under some sort of…thrall or spell or whatever and you’re just going to let it happen? He’s just trying to get to Buffy through Xander!”

Spike just shook his head and he felt Xander sigh. Evidently Giles was tired of explaining it as well; the man thumped the table with his hand. “Willow! You do not have to approve or give your blessing but you will not interfere. I find it hard to believe that Spike would bind himself to a human just to annoy Buffy, it’s much more permanent for him than Xander.”

“Watcher, careful…” Spike growled. The man may know about vampire rituals but the Slayer didn’t need to know.

“Yes, well. Right now I want all three of you to give your word, no more violence. For now at least, I’d like to get through this conversation without needing to restock the first aide supplies.”

Spike curled his lip in a sneer towards the group at the table. “Little bit late for that, isn’t it?”


He hated how Xander was so quiet. Of course it could be that he was just waiting till the others to say his piece, but it was just, wrong. Xander was never quiet, not even during a movie, constantly talking to the screen. He knew that Xander would still patrol, bad shoulder or not. So tonight after they patrolled he’d have to do some reassuring thanks to the damn Scoobies. A nice slow lovemaking session should reassure Xander that he was wanted and appreciated for who he was.

“True. Buffy apologize to Xander please.” Giles actually looked serious and Spike had a picture in his mind of the Slayer being forced to keep her nose to the blackboard like a child. That may work for a little while, but not in the long run.

“Sorry I staked you when I was trying to rescue you from Spike’s thrall Xander.”

Spike found himself laughing and he could feel Xander shake, either with laughter or rage.

“Thrall? Have you been watching late night movies with Dawnie again Buff? Spike couldn’t thrall himself out of a paper bag.”

“Hey!”

Xander turned in his arms and winked at him. “You know it’s true Spike, either your crazy-ass Sire of yours forgo tel tell you how to do it or you were too hyper to listen to her. I’d blame it on JD but I don’t think you could get that in London back then.”

“Stop it Xander, just stop!” Willow had gotten up and Spike watched for signs that she was going to start casting something nasty their way. As it was though, the girl seemed lost and had tearsher her eyes. “You’re the normal one Xander, you can’t be special. You’re human and…and normal and it’s our jobs to protect you, that’s how it’s supposed to work!”

Just then the bell over the door chimed and Tara and Dawn came in. Spike was glad to see the two girls, maybe they’d help Red, because it seemed as if the girl was throwing a wobbly.

“Hey guys, discussion over yet?” Dawn bounced in and started to move past where the others were sitting and towards Spike and Xander.

“Dawn stop! Come back over here.” At the girl’s curious look her sister bit her lip, and Spike knew she was trying to figure out just what to tell the girl. “Just…don’t go near Spike, the chip’s not working anymore, stay over here okay?”

Dawn looked at her and rolled her eyes and jumped up on the counter within Spike’s reaching distance and he could taste the Slayer’s fear for her sister.

“Old news Buffy. I noticed it a month or so ago. He’s not gonna eat me.” Spike felt a swell of pride that this girl had such faith in him, and he knew he’d never do anything to disappoint the two mortals that meant the world to him. Luckily enough both knew him so well, for Dawn continued on with her conclusions even as the three at the table looked on in sort of horror.

“Now he might eat someone else, but not us. Cause that would hurt Xander and me and he doesn’t want to do that.” She looked over at them and smiled, a smile that quickly faded into a worried frown. “God Xander! Are you going to be okay? What happened?”

“I’m just a little sore Dawn, I’ll be okay.”

Before the discussion on Spike’s chip could get started again a soft voice came from near the door. Spike looked over and noticed finally that Tara had frozen in place as she took in the sight of her lover; and he realized that something in the Red Witch’s looks told her girlfriend about the chaos she’d been playing with. Tara’s voice was hoarse with fright.

“Goddess! Oh Goddess, Willow! What have you done?”

For some reason the way the girl spoke sent shivers down his spine, and Willow seemed to fold into herself even more.

“Tara! Wh-what do you mean?”

“I think what Tara means Willow is why you’ve been working with chaos magicks. Now that Spike has pointed it out it’s obvious to me. Why do you feel the need for dealing with something you know is dangerous?”

Spike could feel the worry radiating off the other man, and Giles looked as if he was ready to scold another one of his children. Willow sank to the chair behind her and put her face in her hands. Her voice was muffled when she finally spoke.

“I…I had to do it! Buffy and I agreed! I mean, what if Glory came back for Dawnie, we had to protect her and it had to be us! So I’ve been learning more dark magicks, and…and other stuff. Like helping Buffy get more power, so we can protect the rest of you better the next time something happens. So Tara won’t get hurt and Dawn won’t get killed and Xander can live a normal life! That’s why Xander and Dawn have to be normal; I’ve given up so much of myself so they could stay that way. Spike how, how could you? You’ve tainted him!”


“Who ever said I wanted to be normal Wills?”

Spike can feel Xander, feel his heart beating a mile a minute and know that his boy is getting ready to blow his top. He remembered the first night they made friends, how Xander resented so being told to go home, have a normal life. Hated the way his friends didn’t understand why he didn’t pack up and leave the Hellmouth and everything behind.

What had always been different is that Spike, he understood. Understood hating being weak andmal.mal. Remembered when he was human and could empathize. It had been what had started their friendship, Spike offering to teach the boy things the Watcher and his friends should have years ago.

“Do you know how much it sucks to be normal? To be the one left behind all the time? I never asked you two to play with magicks like that Wills, and I know Dawnie didn’t so don’t try to blame us. Besides I thought we all know that we didn’t have to worry about Glory anymore so that’s just an excuse for you and Buffy powering yourself up. Damn it Willow! I don’t know much about magick and I know there’s a high price to pay for crap like that!”

Spike tightened his arms, this time to keep Xander from doing something stupid and looked at the group. “So you want Xander to keep being normal to make you lot feel better? Never works you know. He can’t live by your expectations just like he can’t live by mine.”

There is more shouting, so much that his ears rang from it. Riley threatening, Xander and Tara arguing with Willow, Dawn doing her usual “you never let me do anything because I’m young” routine that even Spike thought was gettind. d.

But finally it is the Slayer’s voice that overpowered all of them.

“What do you mean we don’t have to worry about Glory?!”

And Spike realizes then that the girls never knew. Never saw when he, Giles and Xander came back to the site of the tower, broken bits of concrend snd scrap metal litte the the place as the three of them gathered up paper and other kindling from the area and made it look as if Ben had gotten drunk and burned the place down around his head.

He realized that the Slayer never knew what her Watcher had done for her.

And from the look of horror across her face she wasn’t appreciating it now and Spike found himself reluctantly feeling sorry for the Watcher as the arguing started again.

******

The light of dawn was beginning to tint the sky when they finally got home. Spike was right, Xander refused to put off patrolling unless it was a life threatening injury. He was afraid Riley would know and take advantage and Spike found that he couldn’t argue with that reasoning.

He took off his duster and followed Xander into the kitchen. Spike thought back on the evening and found it rather ironic. All those times he had t to to break the Scooby gang up and now that it looked it it might be happening he felt bad for them.

Not just for Xander either. Tara had been devastated by the thought that Willow not only had been playing with things better left alone but that she hadn’t trusted her to take care of herself. Dawn was forbidden to see both Spike and Xander and from going to the Magic Box after school.

Buffy was furious that Giles took a human life and the Watcher had let his mask slip and Ripper had come out to play. Add to that Ribeinbeing confrontational to anyone who didn’t agree with him and the entire evening was a giant cock-up.

Xander stood at the refrigerator with the door open but Spike doubted that he was seeing anything in there. He took him by the shoulders and sat him at the kitchen table.

“Here Pet, sit. I’ll fix us something and then we can go to bed.”

Xander smiled at him, and that seemed to make all of the crap they had to deal with earlier go away. “Thanks Spike. I’m so tired I don’t think I could do 30 second oatmeal right now.”

“Don’t know why you’d want to that stuff’s nasty.”

“Not when you add enough chocolate syrup. Anything is better with enough olatolate on it.”

Spike turned from the fridge and leered at his mate. “I’ll have to remember that when you have more energy Xan. Cover us both in chocolate and see what happens.”

They didn’t speak about what had happened on patrol, or earlier. They talked about other things, like needing more roast beef for sandwiches and what to make for dinner on Sunday. Xander had a recipe he wanted to try with the Guinness so they needed to buy more and Spike thought they might by some hard liquor. Spike figured the Watcher might need it. The only mention they made to their problems was when Xander said he’d offered their couch to Tara now and in the future if she ever needed it.

After eating they made their way to the shower, warm water soothing away both physical and mental hurts. Caring touches and clean soap, washing each other as a way to connect with each other, not just for sex but also for love. Spike soaped up Xander’s back while at the same time nibbling and sucking on his neck and Xander moaned and arched into the touch.

And Xander returned the favor, soaping up Spike down to his legs and falling to his knees to follow the lines of his calves before engulfing Spike in his hot mouth and making Spike scream as others in their building were getting ready for work.

It wasn’t about the sex. It was about love and connecting and touching each other the way no one else would. Some things couldn’t be said but Spike could show Xander just how much the human meant to him, just how precious he was.

After much teasing they ending up in the bedroom, damp and panting. Spike looked up at Xander and it was as if his boy was glowing he was so beautiful. And when his hot shaft finally entered Spike’s body he could feel his Xander’s pulse inside of him, as if they were one being in two different shells finally being put together again.

Xander thrust forward a few times before actually hitting Spike’s prostate but he wasn’t going to complain, it was the boy’s first time with a bloke and damn he was being so forceful and controlling. Normally he would fight, not being used to being the bottom for a long time.

But Xander needed this, and Spike could give it to him.

The entire time Xander gasped words in his ear, tickling him with his breath.

“Love you Spike…so much. Can’t live without you now. Love, love you. Spike…”

And Spike in return wrapped his lean legs around Xander’s middle; pulled him close and thrust up to meet him, increasing the pace until finally he felt himself reaching the edge. He licked at Xander’s neck, laving the mark there with his tongue even as Xander returned the favor one his own neck.

“Love you Spike, no matter what happens I’ll love you forever.”

The entire time Spike had been able to keep his human mask, but hearing the love and want coming from his mate made him growl as his true face slipped through. Blunt teeth ripped into his neck and he plunged forward, sinking his own fangs into his mark as they came together.