Love's Bitches

Title: Love's Bitches 3/?
Author: Rowaine (rowained@yahoo.com)
Pairing: Spike/Xander, eventually
See first part for disclaimer, warnings, etc ad nauseum
Feedback is welcome, but please limit yourself to constructive comments. Flames will be forwarded to my hormonal teenagers for their weekly bonfire and weenie roast.

Pre-story thanks to all who've sent comments so far. It's always gratifying to know that there are others out there with twisted enough minds to appreciate the internal babblings of your brain, yeah?

Can't promise how long this'll end up, or that I'll be able to update daily. Might be two or three times a day though, if my kids haven't volunteered me for anything. Ah well, we deal, right?

:: The definition of 'explain' ::

"Y'know what woke me up, pet? A beam of sunlight in the face. Thought for a minute I was gonna burst into flames. When that didn't happen, I figured that it was just another fanciful dream. But no, that warm spot of sun just kept getting warmer, never hurting though. And hey, 'm not gonna question this new perk, right?"

Vampire. Sunlight. Spike without shirt, in sunlight, turning pink and looking healthy. Chocolate? Coffee at least?

The clueless expression still wasn't leaving his friend's face. If it wasn't doomed to prove inconvenient, Spike might've prolonged the entertainment just for blackmail material. Since he's been feeling hungry for awhile, he figures that it's best to move them along to the nearest town for breakfast. Or lunch, whatever. Food first, worry later.

Shoving Xander back into the jeep proves to take more effort than he'd first anticipated, especially considering the no caffeine situation. A testament to how gobsmacked the mortal truly is -- he doesn't say a word when Spike gets behind the wheel and shifts into gear. Doesn't say anything for the entire 30 plus miles to the closest little town. Doesn't question the food he's been provided, or that Spike seems to have commandeered his wallet.

And ok, Spike's milking the whole thing for every last second of shock value he can get. It's just too much fun, a feeling that's been in short supply since his dusting. So he eats heartily, reminds Xander to shovel food from plate to mouth and chew, and contemplates where he should go from here.

Changing subjects on his semi-comatose friend, he slops some more coffee into Xander's cup and asks, "Whatcha doing out here in the boonies, eh?"

Thankfully, that question seems to be simple enough for the man's few functioning brain cells to answer. "Taking a trip, seeing the country. Needed a change, somewhere away from giggling potential slayers."

That reply gets him a knowing nod and a raised eyebrow. Said eyebrow is too damned sexy, throws him back into a denial loop. Maybe he shouldn't have asked for the whole 'gay me up' thing. Or maybe it's always been there, and he was too repressed to admit it. And maybe he just doesn't care anymore. His parents were among the few too stupid to know when to jump the SS Sunnydale, and they were the main reason for his homophobic reactions. The Xanman may not be Willow-smart, but he isn't stupid either. He knows from whence come his neuroses.

Breakfast must've tasted good, but he can't remember eating it really. There's a dead undead guy sitting across the table, looking too damned good in borrowed sweats with just a hint of sunburn across his nose and cheeks. This same tangible ghost keeps up a running commentary on the locals, causing them to get less than perfect service. Oh well, the coffee isn't that great. At least they had a full sugar jar to start with.

"So, you can walk in the sun now. Got plans on doing anything special with that?" Yay me, think I just joined the conversation.

"Mmm, dunno pet. Got noplace I really gotta be, no one but you knows o'course. Whatcha say I just tag along for awhile, figure out me options, yeh?" Chewing thoughtfully on his last piece of bacon, Spike almost wishes for a mug of warm blood to finish off the meal. But with that thought comes a powerful wave of nausea. Oh bloody hell.

"Eh Xan? Anyone watching us?" he asks in a low voice, not willing to look behind him for observers.

A quick glance shows that they've been left alone, the one waitress joining the cook for a smoke break. "Don't see anyone. Why, what's up?"

"Gonna shift to gameface, k? Tell me it works, will ya?"

After a century and more, the switch between demon and human facades is painless, so smooth he honestly can't tell how well it's done without a second opinion. Judging from the expression on Xander's face, Spike figures he must have managed pretty well. No surprise, no disgust. Huh? There's always been...


:: Learning new tricks ::

Ok, smoother around the edges, same stunning golden eyes and deadly teeth. What's he asking about anyways? This whole situation is so weird, even for a hellmouth boy. Hmm, on second thought, he doesn't look like the vamp I first met on Parent/Teacher night back in high school. Maybe a younger relative or something. Do demons have genetic resemblences? Gotta ask Giles about that.

"Well, your makeup's on crooked, but other than that, same old same old. What's wrong, blondie? Too many bumps on the head?"

Just as quickly as it fell into place, the demon visage is gone again. "Right then. Had to wonder... was ok in direct sunlight, and the thought of blood made me sickish. Not the same as..."

"... yeah, got it. Won't mention that time, ok? Wasn't much fun for anyone, specially you."

"So, you're seeing the world now. Good on you. What's next on the agenda?"

A year ago, I'd have cringed at the thought of having Spike as my sole travel companion. Now? He's probably the only person -- and isn't it just too weird that I think of him as a person? -- I'd want to join me on this mission of self-discovery. And no, I refuse to admit anything about the scenery being nice.

"Tired of the bluegrass beat, was thinking bout making my way down to see Micky Mouse. You game for that?" Let's see what he does with that suggestion. Hey! It's my trip, I'll plan it however I want. You've just saved the world, what are you gonna do?

First, a small snort. Not derisive, just there. "Just like you, Harris. Loads of dosh, no bevy of bints to tell you what to wear, and you wanna go to Disney's World of Hell?"

He didn't say no. Heh. "Yeah, never been. Wils used to go with her folks when she was a kid, to the one in California. Figured I'd get a day or two at the one in Orlando. Send her some mouse ears with 'Wacky Wicca' on them. She'd get a kick outa that."

Tossing a few bills down on the table, Spike gets up and waits for Xander to follow. Even obediently hands over the keys, now that the man's over his shock. Nothing surprising there. Born and raised on the hellmouth, he's had to adapt and adjust to stranger things than a rejuvinated pile of dust joining his little cross country trek.

Back in the rover, Xander feels compelled to ask, "So... what was it like?"

"Eh?" He's pretty sure he knows where this is going, but he has to be sure.

"Being... where ever you were."

Yeh, that's it. "Not much to tell. Wasn't real, but was more than a dream. Nothing good or bad to tip the scales. Just *there*, y'know? Had to watch you lot rebuilding your lives." A quick chuckle. "Didja know the watcher's doing the geek?"

"GAH! I so did not need to have that suspicion confirmed. Damn you, now I'm gonna have nightmares about them together." The series of shudders makes Xander swerve dangerously across the road. Forcing himself to slow down and straighten up, he glares at the blond. Not that it'd do any good, but it makes him feel more normal. Relatively speaking.

"Fine. No details then?" He snickers at the choking sound from the driver. "Buffy and Bit are doing alright. Real active in college life, doing the whole UCLA student thing. Got themselves a cute little house off campus. Slayer's pulling a part-time gig with the poof, no big surprise there, eh?"

"Yeah, figured as much. And no, no details necessary. Long as they're doing ok." Taking a deep breath, he has to ask, even if he doesn't really want to know the answer. "Not going to talk to Buffy?"

I know what you're really asking, whelp. Won't make it easy for ya. Hell, hasn't been easy for me either. No reason to go into it now. "Eventually. She might care, might not. Won't take up much of her time just to say hi though."

"Hmm..."

And silence reigned for all of two towns.