Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me

If anyone but Xander would ask him if he was enjoying himself, Spike had a vicious dialog planned out about the crappy food, drink, music and general atmosphere of The Bronze and all those that inhabited it. He would also deny attending a school dance where there were paper hearts hanging from the ceiling for the rest of his unlife or until the sun went nova, whichever came first.

But he had to admit the truth, if only to himself, and the truth was that Spike was finding himself having...fun. At a school dance. With the food.

It was a shame. Dru would be rolling around in her bloody grave if she wasn't a puff of dust on the wind.

But how could he not enjoy it, just a little bit? For one, there was Xander, dressed in his oldest pair of jeans that were faded until they were light blue, soft to the touch and so tight the boy could barely fit his wallet in his pocket. Not only did his boy look particularly delicious but Xander seemed to have no problem about letting all of his little school chums knowing they were together.

In fact, Xander seemed to delight in it. When they first arrived one of the little girls that looked to be a bit older had tried to make a move on him. Xander had immediately dragged him out onto the crowded dance floor and proceeded to wrap himself around the vampire, much to Spike's amusement.

After all, Spike was used to being the possessive one in a relationship. Drusilla had always had a wandering eye for any demon that came along. It was only now that he'd found Xander did Spike realize that half the fights and his reputation of being highly erratic and violent was thanks to his jealousy.

Not that he hadn't been on the receiving end of a leer before, but this had been the first time his partner cared about it. For a moment he'd thought Xander was going to growl at the girl and he found himself smirking at her as Xander's hands found their way to the loops on his jeans.

They had danced to some accursed warbling female about their heart going on. The song had been enough to make his ears bleed, but the feeling of a warm Xander against his body had more than made up for it.

Now Spike was getting the drinks while Xander saved a corner booth. The Bronze looked like a cross between a honeymoon suit, a bad porno movie and a commercial for Pepto Bismol or what have you. Pink bunting and streamers were festooned from wall to wall and there were paper hearts with lace hung from the ceiling, doorways, and just about every surface imaginable.

Which was why Spike was buying the drinks, because he needed something alcoholic and, even if Xander was looking damn fine, they knew he was too young to buy it for himself. Still Spike found himself balancing two bottles of beer, a coke and a double shot of JD. He slid into the booth and set the coke down in front of Xander. “Here, pet.”

“Thanks, Spike.” Xander took a drink and looked around. “I can't believe we're the only ones here. I mean, it's the Valentine's Dance. Cordy should be holding court over her fawning minions or something.”

“It's early yet, luv, give her some time.” Spike threw back the JD in one swallow and opened up one of the bottles of beer. It was a good thing this godforsaken roach pit served alcohol, else Xander would have never gotten him to step in the door without the promise of being able to kill the DJ, at the very least. The music had moved onto Mariah Carey or whatever, and that alone was cause to kill.

Still, it was all worth sitting there in front of nearly everyone the boy knew with his arm around Xander's shoulders. Spike cursed at himself as he drank the rest of his first bottle of beer. He was getting sentimental in his old age.

Speaking of sentimental...Spike rummaged around in the pocket of his duster and found the package he'd hidden away from Xander. He pulled it out and threw it in front of his lover. “There. Can't say I never gave you anything now.”

Xander gave a big grin and started unwrapping the box. Spike hadn't been happy about the wrapping but the crazy bint at the store had insisted. He thanked the gods some of the stores in this twice damned town had sewer access for the nightsiders, otherwise he would never get any business done, much less finding time to get Xander a present.

“Spike! It's great! Put it on me!” Xander all but stuck his arm in Spike's face and he made a show of grumbling as he took the gold ID bracelet and put it on his lover's wrist.

“You know boy, you're turning me into a ponce, because I actually mean it.” He was referring to the engraved sentiments he'd had put on the ID tag. Spike and Xander on the top and underneath, Eternity.

Xander smiled and leaned into Spike. “I know. I meant it too, you know, the other night...” Xander broke off and blushed but his free hand came up to brush the side of his neck where the still visible sign of Spike's mark was.

Spike found himself smirking and Xander sighed in exasperation before pulling him into a kiss. He allowed Xander to dominate him, enjoying the taste of coke and the omnipresent chocolate that seemed to be part of Xander. Yes, there was something to be said for having a partner who was just as loving and possessive as Spike himself was.

Their kiss was interrupted by a high pitched feminine squeak. Xander broke off the kiss and jumped. “Willow!”

To Spike's shock he didn't act embarrassed, and he didn't try to pull away from Spike's arm around his shoulder. Instead Xander was glad to see his friend. Spike did have to smirk at the look of embarrassment the girl wore.

“Oh! Umm, Xander, hi. I didn't expect...I mean...” Willow dropped her voice down to what she probably thought was a whisper but even without vampiric hearing Spike could have heard her. “You're in public!”

Xander looked around and grinned. “Duh, Wills! If we were private someone would have their pants off by now. Where's Oz?”

“OH! Oh, he knows one of the guys in the band that's setting up so he'd backstage helping out. I'm just...I'm just going to get myself something to drink...”

The redheaded girl turned and fled, leaving behind her the scent of embarrassment and arousal which only made Spike smirk more. A sudden slap on his arm made him turn and look at Xander.

“Be nice!”

“What?! I wasn't doing a bloody thing, I'll have you know!”

“You were smug. And you were contemplating evil and I wanted to head you off at the pass. With Willow, at least. It was bad enough having to answer questions about being bitten by her and Buffy today. If I didn't know better, I'd think they were getting off on it.”

Spike opened his mouth to point out that he’d caught the scent of arousal but Xander held up a finger. “No! I don't want to know. Just...a whole big world of no. A universe of no. No!”

Spike settled back in the booth, and didn't even try to wipe the smug look off his face. “All I was going to do was point out that you didn't have any proof I was about to be evil, Xander. I'm hurt. Deeply hurt.”

“Right. It's you, Spike. You're always evil. And psychic here, remember.”

“Then you should be able to pick up that your little innocent friend there likes to watch...”

“NO! NO! N-O. Not going there, not going to contemplate it, just—NO! La-la-la! Can't hear you!”

Spike subsided, content. Despite having his closest friend, who also disapproved of their relationship, catch them snogging, Xander hadn't pulled away. Not only that but the girl had fled in embarrassment and he'd managed to torture Xander just a bit. It was turning out to be a good night, despite the fact that the band tuning up in the back sounded like a sack of cats being drowned in the Thames.

Willow made her way back to the table, biting her lip in indecision, and Spike steeled himself to not kill one of Xander's little friends, no matter how annoyed she might make him. The girl slid in the booth, keeping a few inches between herself and Xander but choosing his side rather than Spike's.

“Where's Buffy?”

Xander shrugged and took a drink of his coke. “Dunno. I thought she or Cordy would be here by now. Maybe they're having Valentine Blues? I mean, not that Cordy can't get a date but none of them seem to like her for her and, well, Buffy's last guy is trying to kill us all. That's gotta put a damper on your holiday enthusiasm.”

Willow made some vague sound of agreement and then fell quiet and Spike could see Xander floundering to connect with her. She was trying, and he was trying so that was something, but there was this gap between them. For his part, Spike found himself caring only because Xander did.

Before he could say anything, though, there was a commotion at the entranceway that had everyone looking over, himself included. A veritable bevy of boys and young men were in a knot, some holding up boxes of candy or flowers and all of them pleading for a moment of someone's time.

With it came the prickling feeling of magic across his senses, and by the way Xander frowned he felt or saw it too. Then Xander relaxed. “Don't worry, it's just something Ethan's done.”

“What? What are you talking about?” With that statement, Xander was reminded that Willow couldn't sense anything. He shrugged and shot Spike a look but Spike only raised his eyebrow. What he told the girl was up to Xander.

“Ethan, he must have done some sort of spell on someone. I knew he was getting bored. I wonder...” Xander awkwardly slipped out of Spike's embrace and slid up so that he was standing on his seat. “BUFFY! CORDY! Over here!”

When he sat down he had the kind of mischievous grin that made Spike want to press him into the nearest hard surface and... “Wait till you guys see this!”

The gaggle...herd?...of males came their way and Spike could hear the cheerleader swearing and even the Slayer saying a few choice words. Another smirk found its way to his face and he glanced at Xander to find what he assumed was an almost identical one there. Spike had to chuckle at that. No, he wouldn't have missed this night for all the dead slayers in the world.

“God! Will you losers just leave me alone! What the hell kind of perfume did that old man give me? Obsession for Geeks?” The last was said as Cordelia sat down beside him, shoving Spike closer to Xander, which he didn't mind one bit. Well, the Xander part. He could have done without the Cordelia part, especially since the 'perfume' surrounded both her and the Slayer like a cloud.

Whatever it was didn't seem to be affecting Xander or himself, which meant he was free to sit back and watch the chaos. Spike made a mental note to send the Mage a bottle of Scotch for providing the evening’s entertainment.

Meanwhile, Xander was laughing so hard Spike was afraid for his airway for a moment. “Oh god! That's just...hee! That's too funny!”

“What, Xander?” Someone tell me what's going on!!”

Willow and Buffy's simultaneous pleas for information went unheard as Xander nearly slid down in the booth laughing. He was saved from the floor when Cordelia reached across Spike and pulled him up. “Tell me what's going on, Xander, before I rearrange something you don't want moved.”

Spike slipped into his true face and growled at the girl. She might be Xander's friend but he wasn't about to let anyone threaten his lover. Cordy just looked at him. “Oh, please, like you'll rip my throat out with Buffy in hearing range and we're in a crowded room. Get your butt buddy to spill and I won't have to mess up your newly found sex life.”

Xander held up his hand in supplication. “All right! Sheesh, no need to get violent. Thank god I'm gay; I don't think I can handle the mood swings. I take it you two lovely ladies got gifts of perfume from Ethan, correct?”

Both girls nodded but it was Buffy who answered. “Yeah, he said he felt bad, you know, for almost killing me.”

Cordy turned to Buffy. “He told me he felt bad because Harm died and I needed to take my mind off things. He also mentioned a new business venture...opening an all natural type of perfume shop.” Cordy whipped her head around to stare at Xander. “You mean he gave me magicked perfume?”

Xander reached out and grabbed Cordelia's arm and brushed his hand on her pulse point. “Looks like it. It's mostly harmless, it's just that all available men in a certain age range will try to win you over for a date. And since it's Valentine's, that means gifts. I don't think it'll last very long, but for more information, you'll have to ask Ethan.”

Willow frowned. “But...that's wrong! To mess with people's emotions like that.”

Spike rolled his eyes. “Can't force someone to love, but you can make them interested, especially if they're alone and not wanting to be.” Spike eyed the crowd of males that were circling their booth. “And from the looks of it, most of this lot don't have a chance with a pretty girl.”

Cordy looked at Spike. “So it's harmless?”

He shrugged. “For the most part, unless you've got a Ted Bundy in your lot of admirers.”

Buffy shuddered. “One psychopath in my life is enough, thank you.”

But Cordelia tipped her head to the side and then forced her way out of the booth. “All right, losers! I want three separate lines! Candy, flowers and jewelery! And if it's cheaper than the locked case at Spencer's in the mall, go back out and try again!”

*****