Night Life

Night Life: Two of Spades
Pairing: S/X
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Next chapter is the clincher for the slash! I swear!
Spoilers: Um... Spike is chipped and does NOT love Buffy, nope, nada...Okay so he has lusty feelings but not love, because I find it disturbing.
Disclaimer: Mine, you say? Do the men in white coats know you're free?
Feedback: I've been told I am a whore for comments. (AtamaWolf@hotmail.com - Make subject Night Life)
Notes: This comes to you by Aonikoi for bitching at me to write more and a final thanks to those who've read this and actually liked it! ^-^ Love ya all!
Music: Batman Forever soundtrack
Summary: Spike meets a flustered Xander.

Not beta'd so all mistakes are mine so I can look back on English class and scoff.

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Tainted Lifeline filed off the stage giving way to a collective groan from the crowd as the band had done its last bout for the night. Even Spike gave a scowl of disappointment but his was mainly about how to get to Xander now that the boy was backstage and quite certain he couldn't just waltz in to say a 'How do you do?'. Caught within the brood [No, deep thinking] session one of the lingering vampires near stage nudged the blonde's shoulder to try and get Spike's attention yet he simply ignored the fellow demon.

"I can get you to see them." The voice hissed close to his ear as if the simple sentence meant the world's end if uttered out loud, even Spike could just barely make out the words from the fledgling's mouth just scant millimeters away. The vampire then leaned away where Spike could see him out of the corner of his eye, a smug look on the bumpy ridges and dirty red-dyed jagged hair that lead Spike to believe this vamp was just a step above dirt in the ranks. There was a mental laugh inside his head when he saw the low-ranker was looking for a possible clan to become a part of and so Spike was completely confirmed in his belief that anyone here just saw him as: Master vampire, bow down before him.

[Get to confront Xander face to face? Heeello...]

Spike didn't bother to turn his head to see the vampire, didn't want to seem too energetic about seeing a throng of mortals and ruin the reputation he undoubtedly had here among vamps with his stature. "Yea? How's that then?" The blonde kept watch upon the stage as the next band made their set-up, a bass drum announcing this group to be labeled Systematic Anarchy. The name was a bit misleading as they seemed more subdued in character get-up than Tainted but he was sure the club wouldn't mind as long as their dance orgy continued as soon as possible.

The first song started out simple enough before the blaring of the guitar took over the speakers, completely drowning out the fledgling's voice and also the answer to Spike's question. He couldn't be all that upset since the speaker was making a delightful thrumming deep within his chest like earlier, sure enough that if his heart could beat again it would be matching the metallic pulse of two custom guitars now fighting for volume dominance. Only then did Spike feel the tug at his duster sleeve and whipped his head with a heated snarl at dubbed Grunge-vamp who immediately leg go with a soundless mouthed apology complete with invisible tail between legs.

Turning away from the stage where the youths were now trouncing about in front of the crowds that reminded him of Jintoke demons, Spike made his way back towards the bar in hopes of getting another free beer to wet his throat against the intense heat of the air. Spike was only partially aware of the clingy vampire still following him but was brought to full attention of the presence when the gothic undead swept ahead of him to snatch up a foaming glass, holding it as a sacred offering towards Spike.

[You get 8 brownie points...]

Plucking the cup from the subdued vampire, Spike jerked his head towards the far side of the club as an invitation for somewhat easier conversation. Grunge-vamp's smile was full out as he trailed Spike ever closer through the pressing human bodies, slipping in and around demon couples as well until both vampires had the solid concrete against their backsides. The bleached vampire contented himself with the free drink, a light rumble of satisfaction welling in the back of his throat when discovering the alcohol had the sting of human blood mixed within.

"S-sir? The mortals?" Grunge-vamp edged closer to Spike to again keep his voice low even though the blonde was certain no one else would even care of their chat when there were others just begging for a dance partner to be plastered to. Spike pointedly pushed the smaller vampire away from him with a sneer, shrugging the leather duster upon his shoulders more to look the very meaning of casual, when in fact he was dying to get to Xander before the boy left. After all, when would another prize like tonight be presented to him?

"Right then. Lead the way." Spike absently tossed the cup upon the floor amongst numerous others to be trampled and self-consciously began to primp himself for the meeting of Tainted Lifeline, only did he realize the action when Grunge-vamp held out the sheer black comb within his view. Startled a moment the blonde vampire blinked in an owlish fashion but then turned surprise into quiet anger with a low-throated growl at the low rank fledge.

This time all Grunge-vamp did was put the comb back within a secretive pocket and smile at Spike, one that was all too smug in the blonde demon's opinion. "I don't blame you, Master. Everyone wants to impress TL when they meet them. Especially X... Ask anyone here and they'll tell you what they want to do with X in a dark closet." The red-dyed demon almost seemed to become wistful in front of Spike's face, that flickering yellow about the eyes that happened to vampires when they became overly stimulated.

Spike snapped his fingers in front of the dazed being, bringing the bloodsucker out of his little world and back to the constant shifting club. "Who's X?" Oh sure, he had an idea of who X was but he called it wishful thinking to hoping it might be the young girl that played about the keyboard earlier. Spike would even settle for the drummer since he hadn't gotten around to viewing the entire band in full. Inside, Spike hoped the nasties in the club were decidedly not thinking of jumping the one and only Xander Harris in the middle of the night before he could. One thought slipped into his mind causing Spike to snarl quietly. [...Maybe one already got to him? And why do I give a bloody fuck?]

"X is the main attraction of Tainted. I'm sure you've seen X up there with the dark hair and eyes..."

[Don't say it...]

"...leather pants, very skimpy..."

[Be the girl...]

"...chains all over his body..."

"And name's Xander." Spike issued the name with an unneeded sigh that was dealt from suddenly dry pale lips. Grunge-vamp gave him an odd look as though the name was in another language but gave a slow nod nonetheless, actually leaning in closer with pierced eyebrows drawn in close cur curiosity. The fledge opened his mouth to ask a question of Spike but the blonde merely raised a hand to silently cut the vampire off, instead giving Grunge a hard glare. "Take me to him, no questions asked."

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Spike couldn't stop his foot from thumping upon the carpeted floor if he wanted to, he was just told to stay here in the cramped little room while Grunge-vamp went off to look for Xander. 'No promises he'll still be here.' Were the parting words but he had given the vampire a stake-filled look that meant Xander had better be around or the fledge wouldn't be. It seemed like hours had passed when Spike knew only a possible five could have when hearing two songs from the band still raging out on stage, the current ditty was the beat his left Doc Marten was steadily bouncing to.

When the door actually did open up, e ree resisted the urge to give a leap into the air when the same botch-dyed job vampire stuck his head in. He opened the door further and motioned for Spike to follow him, no words exchanged, before walking down a network of twisting and turning hallways. Every so often they would be stopped for a type of clearance or have some band groupies wanting Spike to come party with them, have a 'good time'. Needless to say, Spike was ready to start breaking heads...i wer weren't for the chip embedded into his brain.

Grunge stopped in front of a door, seemingly thousands of engraved messages and images placed about the black painted wood. The one that caught Spike's eye immediately was the scarred in picture of a stake, made even more realistic by the grains of the door showing up along the length and placed directly at eye-line. He recognized Xander's wood carved hand writing without pause, an insidious smirk inching at the corner of his mouth.

'Armed and Ready - X'

The blonde vampire looked at his 'guide' with a million dagger glare, sending the worthless fledge on the run for the high ground if he favored his unlife. He couldn't help but place on a true to the world smile at the rush of power he held within this swarming club and couldn't do a damned thing to any mortal being inside, but there was no reason for them to know any of those minor details. Full of ego, Spike placed his palm over the tattooed stake and pusthe the door, aided by some vampiric strength, to have the entrance swing open to crash loudly against the wall.

Inside were the band mates, all upon their feet at the sudden crash and staring wide-eyed at Spike who could only smirk while tipping an invisible hat in mock greeting...bumpy ridges included. The keyboard girl squeaked faintly and back peddled to stand behind the lead singer, the human all but shrouded by sick horror while her mouth gappen,pen, probably not even aware.

[Poor chit. Musta had a bad intro with a vamp.] Spike's face melted back into the human planes as he leaned back on the open door frame, leather clad arms crossed over his chest while gazing about the room. A frown creased Spike's brow when he counted one member short of Tainted Lifeline, all of which were slowly inching together in case he planned on lashing out at them. [Now where's the boy?] About to voice this question aloud, Spike didn't notice the form coming down the hallway until...

"Hey guys, I got some dough... SPIKE!?" The vampire looked over his shoulder just in time to see Xander himself drop a box of doughnuts and a tray of coffee, the liquid spilling unnoticed over the brunette's shining boots to make a dark splotch on the scraggly carpet. The colored flush that had remained even after walking off stage was now completely scarce making the tanned skin look frightfully pale under the cheap hall lights as Xander's expressive eyes stared in disbelief at Spike.

With a grin that rivaled the Chesire Cat's, Spike pulled away from the doorframe using his unnatural speed to pin the shell shocked Xander up against the far wall. He leaned in close to whisper within an ear, "Just who I wanted to see."

There was the sudden rush of dread from Xander that Spike had to bite the inside of his mouth to not moan at the tangy scent he had slowly become to love whenever arothe the boy. Only this dark mortal had that perfume simply labeled Victim and Sex to a demon so it was no wonder Xander had a throng of admirers running about the concrete beast of a club.

Taking this as a good enough opportunity for his cause, Spike took hold of the boy's wrist and proceeded to walk quickly down the halls, senses stretching out for an empty room so he could 'speak' with Xander about the ideas running rampant about his chip-diseased brain. Upon hearing no activity behind a faintly opened door the vampire lightly pushed the guitarist into the room, which by change happened to be one of the club's many private quarters.

Xander, complete with deer-in-headlights expression, kept right on staring at Spike and one could imagine the chant of 'Wake up, wake up' on constant replay. He only snapped out of the daze when the blonde vampire stepped within the personal space of the mortal, instinct causing Xander to take a few steps back to where the room's queen-sized bed hit his calves. "Spike, w-what's going on? Why are you here? Why am I IN here? How'd you know? Do the others know!?"

Silencing the babble-question onslaught with one pale finger over Xander's lips Spike gave voice to a light laugh. "Cor, no! I'm the only one who knows your little 'secret' here, pet. Safe as houses you are."

"That's not very comforting when you say it." A shiver raced down Spike's spine at the feeling of Xander's warm lips moving against the sensitive pad of his finger, giving images to the already eager vampire of what that smart mouth would be *really* useful for. Spike gave a mental slap to himself to at least tell the offer to the boy and then jumping his bones, not the other way around if he actually wanted Xander to agree. He only came back to himself from the musings when the silky warm breath touched upon his skin again as the brunette spoke once more, a confused look written on his face. "And what's with 'pet'?"

"I got a deal for you...pet. Care to take a listen?"

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Iktia: Hee, R&R people! Reviews keep a muse on their feet!