Elderly Pets

Fic: Elderly Pets

Author: josie_h

Pairing: Spike/Xander

Rating: Mature Audiences (M/M sexual content! And themes)

***Warnings: D/s, Major character death, slavery***

It’s an AU!..... The Premise: A hundred and fifty years after the final battle with the Senior Partners… Demons rule the world. The luckier humans are pets…. Most are bred for food. Spike survived, and in the early days found Xander at an auction, purchased him and did what Spike does best…. Made the most of it.

Author’s Note: Don’t own the characters etc and bow down to their original creators Joss, et al., plus all the wonderful online writers who continue to give them life.


Part 5

He traced around the space where his Pet’s left eye once was. Xander had lost the eye so long ago, that by year twenty of their time together, they both suspected that Xander would have no idea what to do with an ‘extra’. Of course Spike had an ocular implant fitted for his Pet as soon as they had perfected the technology enough…. But in private Xander always removed it…. so it was just the two of them with all their flaws.

Sometimes it had been their flaws that saved them, indeed were the reasons they had found each other.

…………………………


Spike had managed to access some of the Aurelian ‘family’ accounts in London around the time he had found Xander. Prior to that, he had simply ‘survived’. Demons had annexed all the human systems including trade, and once those systems stabilized again, he was able to trade and invest, quickly proving quite adept. Like a handful of other master vamps and intelligent demons who had already been ‘living in the human world’ and therefore comprehended the ‘adapted’ systems, he began to fare very well.

His growing fortune and established reputation as Master Vampire, allowed most other demons to ‘overlook’ his dreadful affliction, ‘that soul’. When he took on a personal human pet with only one eye, some of the ‘bitchier’ in his business circles had snarked that it was probably appropriate that the handicapped stuck together. In latter years however, few mentioned it, as his power and influence had Spike’s flaw’s and foibles reinterpreted as the natural eccentricities of the ruling class. It did not protect the household from all society’s ‘rules’ however…

As the warring of various demon clans petered out, and the intercontinental trade of slaves became standard practice, fairly consistent societal rules and regulations were established regards the care and treatment of humans. Europe was the first to define the standards of management and protocol for personal slaves in public, but it was the former USA east coast (now controlled by a cartel of seven demon families) that were instrumental in the drive to enforce standards of public etiquette for humans by punishing both owner and slave. The trend spread quickly around the world and though it generally meant a monetary penalty for the owner, and ‘witnessed’ mild beating of the slave; other measures such as ‘reeducation’ of errant slaves were common in many regions, and systematic drugging as a cheaper alternative became widespread.

Owners who were considered to be encouraging misbehavior in some way and prosecuted as human ‘sympathizers’, were more often than not killed as a warning to others, along with their pets. Some small remote communities made their own rules, becoming pockets of liberal resistance against the more draconian laws, though the dominant clans made every effort to wipe them out. Regions where humans were in particularly short supply and who were force to ‘fill the gap with weaker demons captured in various wars, made efforts to formulate first a demon, then eventually a non-demon (human and animal combined), slave rights manifesto. The demon section was ratified and enacted in most places, but the rest seen as too contentious and only spasmodically and inconsistently applied…..

As the public laws for humans tightened, Spike and Xander took to using some of the ‘required’ practices in private, for fear they might slip up in the wrong company. The requirement for Pets to kneel and the various acceptable positions when in public became more and more defined, and Xander became comfortable kneeling at Spike’s feet inevitably resting his cheek on the vampire’s muscular thigh as was permitted for personal pets. When at home, Spike always ensured his partner had an ample velvet cushion to kneel on whenever in the position and regardless of company. The then unusual practice of ‘the cushion’ later became a status symbol for any of the ‘in crowd’ in society.

Xander inevitably remained silent in any company, at most replying formally and succinctly to direct questions. But that had its advantages as his knowledge of Spike’s business activities improved. There was often a ‘meeting after the meeting’ to debrief with his Master and compare their impression of what had gone on.

Xander’s pleasuring of Spike in public did not bother him after the first couple of times, as the vampire never failed to reciprocate as soon as they were home again. And being fed by his Master’s hand had become a favorite part of any ‘event’ they were made to attend, and indeed even at home. Xander could pretty much guarantee evoking near painful arousal for the vampire by the third or fourth bite with his well practiced nibble… then lick… then suck the fingers clean with a nice thorough lave of a warm tongue (and repeat as needed). It always amused them both that other demons he associated with seemed to accept the fact that he nearly always excused himself for a ‘private smoke’ at parties immediately following the feeding of his pet. Xander accompanied him of course.

The branding laws for humans came in around their fifteenth year together. And though Xander already sported Spike’s claim mark on his neck, they were forced to comply. Spike discussed options with his partner for many weeks before deciding on the Aurelian Griffin to nestle at Xander’s tail bone. Twelve years later they added a pretty S with knot work surrounds below his naval to mark him as Prize Pet – but that was more a social status symbol and simple expectation by that stage, rather than law. It was made all the more welcome as it gave another point for Spike to ‘attend to’ during their lovemaking. They had both wished sometimes that the vampire could be marked but the ink simply would not take to skin that would not scar.

………………….

Spike reached down and caressed the mark on Xander’s stomach… noting that ink had spread and faded over the years and now… the spot was colder than even his touch. Xander was never cold. Even after the dress codes had changed for humans… his Xan had never been allowed to be cold…..

Spike pulled another rug over the inert body and wrapped his arms around his ancient lover even tighter, trying in vain to let him be warm, even in death…. His Xander had always hated the cold….

………………….

They had been sitting reading the new dress code for acceptable attire for humans, in particular when in public, but even the printed document from the ruling body stated that it could only be ‘recommended’ in private as they recognized it difficult to enforce (though both Spike and Xander noted the ‘right to prosecute on private property if deemed appropriate’ in the fine print at the bottom of the fourth page).

“You daft bugger Pet…. If I turn you, you won’t have to wear this rot, cause you’d be a bloody vampire! And you *wouldn’t* feel the cold.”

“Well Master… Spike…. that’s because I’ll f#%$ing well *be* cold permanently!”

“I’m never cold….”

“You…!!!! That is the biggest load of … of….. crap and you know it Mr Hogs-the-Covers-Every-Night alias Lover-Grabbing-Limpet!!!!” Xander huffed with mock frustration.

Spike could not help a smirk, they had had this conversation many times, though he did note that Xander’s ‘descriptors’ seemed to be getting better.

“Oi! I’m just bein’ amorous Luv!”

“*Amorous* happens when we’re awake! The Heat-Seeking-Missile behavior that I’m talking about Mister Master Vampire, happens when we’re unconscious!” Xander saw the azure eyes turn dark with lust and he knew that he’d won ‘the day’.

Spike leaned forward, licked around the shell of Xander’s ear and grabbed his partner’s hand, pushing it against his crotch to connect with (as the human suspected he would) an impossibly hard erection. “Don’t know Pet… Got a missile here that is seeking some heat right about now, and I seem to be well conscious at the moment!”

The remainder of the afternoon was spent finding and penetrating the ‘target’.

………………

Spike brushed over the elegant ruby encrusted collar. The ancient leather was as soft as one of Xander’s velvet kneeling cushions. It had been so beautifully crafted that it had needed repair only once in the last eighty years. Spike wore a matching band around his wrist. It, like Xander’s adornment, had not been removed except for bathing since the day they obtained them. In his last days, Xander had asked that the collar be passed on to John upon his demise, and that instead he might wear Spike’s wrist band in death.

Spike slowly unbuckled the ornate clasp and slid the collar from the beloved neck, then tearfully removed his own band and encircled the aged wrist with it as they had agreed. He hugged the collar to his chest and returned his arm to its place over the body, lying down once more to rock then both gently and continue his vigil.

…………………………………..

Collars were standard for all slaves even by the time Xander was first captured, as were shackles and lead chains. It was only later amongst the liberal and the elite, that they became yet another way of adorning their pets. Indeed, for prize pets in these latter years the fashion was that they be so slim and ornate, as to be useless if genuinely trying to ‘control’ a human.

When Spike publicly presented Xander with the exquisitely crafted collar at a party around winter solstice, his awed guests gasped at the obvious expense and beauty of the piece. Several of the wealthy females had immediately sought the name of the maker from Spike, while others were fascinated by the clever use of a tiny clasp on Spike’s matching wrist band as a way of relieving the vampire of the tedium of holding a lead chain. In reality Spike and his partner had decided upon the design to symbolize his very permanent connection to Xander, while still apparently adhering to the law when ‘out and about’.

The new clothing laws in year thirty were harsh, with original group of demons penning the legislation apparently overlooking the fact that humans were warm blooded and tended to die if too hypothermic. After initial objections from some of the powerful clans (particularly those in colder climates), the standards for public adornment of slaves came in with one concession. The new rulings meant that human slaves and pets were no longer permitted to be clothed from the waist up and were required to have their branding(s) visible at all times. The concession was permission to have them wear a cloaks for warmth and protection in inclement weather. Nevertheless, numerous uncaring masters still didn’t bother to cover their charges. Spike and Xander were ever amazed that many humans managed to survive as they regularly passed slaves kneeling in the pouring rain chained to a post outside some shop, and shivering violently as they waited in silence for their Master to finish their errand within.

Spike always made sure his charges had a variety of cloaks of different weights so they might select according to daily need, to the point where few of his humans were ever seen outdoors without them. There was little need for clothing inside their home as he made sure it was kept at a consistent twenty five degrees in all areas (and a little warmer in the nurseries). The children tended to use their cloaks for all sorts of ‘pretend games’ if given the opportunity, but generally had them removed or fastened down for convenience, if at playing outside.

Spike’s response to the increasing demand that humans wear chains on their uncovered upper body, was to present Xander with a series of feather light strands made of precious metal and diamonds designed to fit his form and sparkle with every shift of his body. When hip chains were insisted upon, he commissioned a number of different pieces, each one designed to decorate and highlight his partner’s strong thigh muscles, while still satisfying the societal standards.

In private, Xander loved ‘dressing up’ his Master in the leg pieces, though they always ended up in fits of giggles when Spike tried to get the hip chains to swing as he walked. Without the aid of a mirror to inform him, and chains designed specifically for Xander’s form, the term ‘Mata Hari on a bad day’ had been used more than once to describe the resulting exaggerated action. Although her seductive prowess could not compare to a certain blonde vampire despite his ‘challenged’ hip wiggle.
………………..

Spike smiled weakly as he remembered then carefully smoothed the long white curls, clearing them from the noble forehead. In the early days Xander had been a brunette but they both delighted the distinguished silver hair of the ‘mature’ Xander. His beautiful Pet had always joked that if only Spike had been turned later in life he might have saved a fortune in peroxide…. If only…. He continued to smooth the hair…and clutch the collar to his chest.. He would have to send word to John and Daniel soon… But then... that would make it real...