Touched (Part 1 of 8) Completed

(Characters: Not mine, Joss' - I'm just playin' with 'em)


They’d been driving for hours with no incidents. In fact, they’d fallen into an easy camaraderie, even managing to laugh about Xander’s special method of *magical cleansing.* The Spike-bot incident was still a topic that was off limits though, and both men steered well away from it.

“So, this surprise. Where is it?”

“Told you it’s a surprise, you’ll just have to wait till we get there, yeah?”

Xander jangled his knee. Where could Spike be taking him. Out to dinner? Maybe a bar? He’d mentioned down time, and it being somewhere not their hotel room. “For food?”

Spike shot him a quelling look.

“Drinks then? C’mon... tell me.”

“Almost there.”

“You’ve been saying that for hours!” He couldn’t wait. The last couple of days had been nothing but stress. If he wasn’t messing up with the magic, he was worrying about messing up, or covering up his mess ups.

“You’ve been asking every minute. Close your eyes and sleep.” Spike shook his head and changed lanes, passing a truck.

“That your answer to everything? Sleep.” Xander grumbled under his breath as he reached for a chocolate bar. He’d already been through the chips and the cookies. He glanced at Spike’s facade. It wasn’t too stern right now. He wondered if he could ask a question that had been bothering him.

“Not yet, almost there,” Spike answered automatically, as he had been for miles.

“That’s not... not what I wanna know.”

“You might be a warlock, but I’m not psychic. Or is this that bloody stupid game you wanted to play?”

“What blood...oh, twenty questions! That’s a great game. Everyone plays it, me, Willow...”

“Yeah, THAT’S everybody that plays it. Ask.”

Xander licked his lips. “You... A couple times now, you’ve said something about not liking to be forced... I mean...” he raised his hand up at the look Spike threw him. “No one does but even ... not forcing you... I ... just wondering, if there’s something more there?” Yeah... like wonderin’ if there was no magical glue involved, would Spike be interested? Sometimes a look entered the vampires eyes that said yes, but Xander couldn’t read him all that well. He never could.

There was silence. Not the comfortable kind. The kind that made you feel like you were sitting on the edge of a cliff about to fall off. When it stretched to breaking poing, Xander looked out the window to indicate no answer was needed. It was pitch dark now, all he saw were a few headlights on the highway that stretched out ahead. Suddenly he was as lonely as the highway.

“Had a problem with a curse once.”

Xander held his breath and didn’t move a muscle. Didn’t even turn to look at the vampire, half afraid that was all he’d get out of him.

“A love spell. That’s what it was. A sodding love spell.” Gripping the steering wheel more tightly, Spike stepped on the pedal, ignoring the rising speedometer. “Every time I got near her, I was consumed with need. The need to please her, to make her smile. A cutting word from her lips, and I was near tears.”

The raw anger and pain in Spike’s voice made a lump grow in Xander’s throat. Still, he didn’t turn or ask any questions.

“It was like Cecily all over again, only worse. Because I didn’t want her. When there was space between us, if I was across town, I hated her. For doing this to me. For making me into her puppet. And I was that... her little jester, happy to jump at her command. Run her bloody errands... and her friends’. ‘Spike, tell me what my mouth looks like, or my eyes,’ she’s say. I’d spew poetry and they’d laugh. ‘Beg me’ she’d say–“ Spike’s voice broke. “And I would. In front of the teetering crowd.”

The car started to shake and bounce, like it was an earthquake... only it wasn’t. Xander gripped the door handle. He was seething on behalf of the vampire. More than that... he was angry at himself.

“Was a long time ago.” Now cool as ice, Spike put his hand on Xander’s knee. “No need getting yourself lathered up over it, yeah?”

The car jerked and swerved one last time, then smoothed out over the road. Xander put his hand over Spike’s. “I’m sorry.”

“Wasn’t you.”

“For the other night. Wasn’t what I wanted. Not even close. I didn’t wish it on you Spike. I...”

“Good thing that. Would have hated to see you find your end the same way she did,” Spike drawled.

“She... you found a way to... okay, didn’t think I’d ever be glad you found a way to kill someone but this is like one BIG huge exception. How?”

Spike was done with the topic. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“What?”

“My hand.”

“What? Oh... no...no I’m not enjoying it. This is me NOT enjoying it.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah... perfectly sure. No doubt about it. I know what I’m feeling. And.... um... why?”

“Because you’ve bloody well trapped my hand under yours, haven’t you?”

“Wha... oh!” Lifting his hand as if it had been burned, Xander caught the triumphant gleam in Spike’s eyes. “I wasn’t thinking!”

Spike quirked an eyebrow and reclaimed his hand.

“You’re sexy, but not THAT sexy.”

“Not what you were saying last night in your sleep, yeah?”

“I don’t talk in my sleep - what was I saying? Oh, shit!” Xander panicked. It could have been any number of things. Heat crept across his cheeks. “C’mon?”

“Not putting you out of your misery that quick, am I?” Spike exited and drove into a slightly larger city than the last.


*

“They had rooms with two beds,” Xander pointed out as they put their stuff down in the small motel room.

“Would that have made difference?”

The last time they’d slept in two small twin beds, Spike’s mattress had floated up toward the ceiling, then dumped him on top of Xander. Neither one of them had been expecting it. There had been cries of pain. Accusation. Then the territorial fight over space and blankets. “One big bed, good idea. Where are you taking me?”

Spike stopped mid-stride, turned, and headed for the small desk. Pulling the yellow pages close, he started flipping through it.

Xander tensed. “You don’t have a place in mind, do you? Spike?” All that time, all that false hope! “It was a trick... another trick just to make sure we got here, right?”

Hmm hmm hmmm, beautiful boy

“You’re humming, why are you humming. I’m right, aren’t I?”

“Preventive measure.” Music worked the last time Xander’s magic got out of hand, why not use it to buy time. “Here.” He pointed at an ad in the yellow pages.

“You tricked me. I’m not a kid, I know...” he read the name of the place and broke into a broad smile. Just as Spike relaxed, Xander added, “Rage... I’m so happy I could hug you. Takin’ a shower now.” He rushed to the bathroom ignoring the hemming and hawing and protestations.

“Rage ... I’m not about to go to a sodding gay club... I... fuck!” Spike slammed his hand down on the table. “Rick’s bar... that’s where we’re going. Right... that’s where... fuck.”

*

The music blared. The lights flashed. People... mostly men... danced on the dance floor or in a dark corner, or drank at the neon bar.

“Oh Spike, you bring me to the bestest places.”

“Stop your simpering, git,” Spike frowned at Xander’s exaggerated motions, but he wasn’t blind. Couldn’t help noticing how well the tight black jeans fit the boy, or how low cut they were. Or how the thin skin tight hardly there shirt he’d tucked inside showed off every plane of his chest and abdomen. Warlock baby was built, and showing it off tonight.

Turning his head, Xander kissed Spike on the mouth. Very lightly, and only for a fraction of a second, but it was enough to mark the vamp as his - he hoped. “What? Just thanking you. But I think you enjoyed it too much.”

“I what?”

“Enjoyed..”

“Did not.”

“Still holding me.” Xander gave a triumphant grin that lit up his boyish face.

Spike looked down to find his hands were on Xander’s hips, holding him. He let go immediately, and narrowed his eyes as the still smug boy went to bar to order drinks. Xander was in a strange mood tonight... he’d need to be watched, that much was clear. And he was being watched... lots of male eyes doing watching here. Making a surly face, the vampire sat down at the bar and caught the beer bottle Xander shoved his way. “One hour.”

“Huh?”

“We’re leaving in one hour, so do whatever you have to...”

Xander gave a rude snort and raised the bottle to his mouth. “Says you and what army?”

“Don’t bloody need an....” Spike snapped his mouth shut as his stool began to vibrate. Was Xander getting a hold over his power?

“You were saying?” Xander grinned, and slowly pulled his foot away from the legs of Spike’s barstool.

“Fun place, this. You owe me one.” He lifted the bottle, staring moodily at his companion. He’d never been one to enjoy a game of having the tables turned on him. He wasn’t about to start now.

“And it was soooo nice of you to bring me all the way here. Course I owe you one. Be happy to give you one. You know all you need to do is ask.” Okay, so he had no idea how or why he’d gotten so brave. Probably it was because he’d managed to pull one or two over on Spike, and the vampire looked like he was out of his element. Oh...maybe he didn’t show it, but Xander knew. “Dance with me, Spike.”

“Bugger off.” Spike closed his eyes against the teasing look, against the hope. “Bar full of men, go find one who cares.”

“You care.” Xander sat down. Maybe he didn’t care the way Xander wanted him to, but he did care.

A laser stare was the response Spike gave. “Look over there, guy in leather. Might want to tear the clothes off him, or maybe shrink wrap him.”

When Xander pushed away from the bar, Spike felt a pang of guilt. He hadn’t meant it to hurt the boy. “Was a joke... bloody...” It had been a joke. He was over it. Odd that Xander wasn’t. Well, maybe the boy would get lucky and loosen up. He turned his back to him. Wasn’t something he was interested in seeing.

Several beers later, he still hadn’t turned around. But he was listening... zeroing in on Xander’s voice, his laughter. Even the muffled silences that told him that kisses were probably being exchanged. Or it could be just in his mind. Or the fact that he’d had to rebuff quite a few touchy feely hands... if they were aimed at him, stood to reason they were aimed at Xander as well. And the boy was probably being receptive. “Another one,” he growled, hardly waiting for the bottle to touch the bar before taking a long swig of it.

Another couple of beers later, he heard Xander ask someone to dance. And he heard the rude “fuck off.” Setting the beer down with a thud, he twisted off the barstool and strode across the room.

No one was entitled to be responsible for that look on Xander’s face. No one but himself. He was ready to give the guy a bloody nose job, when the guy smiled. Right... as if Spike wanted to dance with a short slender blond.

As the guy rose from his chair to introduce himself, Spike put his hand on his chest and shoved him back down. “Fuck off. Not interested in anyone but him, yeah?”

“Who...” Xander’s head bobbed. “Me?”

“Not dancing with myself, am I?” Spike had him in his arms and was steering him toward the center of the dance floor. This wasn’t his scene, he didn’t want to necessarily be on display.

A leather clad leg slid against Xander’s leg. His breath caught in his chest. He tensed beyond breaking point.

“You wanted to dance, stop standing there like a robot... and for God’s sake, breathe. Last time I checked, you were still human.” Spike gave a smug smile, pulling the boy closer and running his hand down his back, forcing him to relax . “One... two.. One... two...”

“Wha...what are you doing?”

“Teaching you to dance with a man, you git. Follow, not lead.”

“I...follow, yeah... but I’m a man too... alright... following.” Who the hell cared who lead, he was in Spike’s arms. He wasn’t forcing the vampire. There was no magic involved, and they were dancing. And God, the combined scent of leather and soap was deadly. His heart pounded as he slid his hand behind Spike’s neck, and ran his thumb back and forth.

“You’re enjoying yourself too much.”

“Yeah, I am.”

“I knew it.” Spike whispered across Xander’s ear.

Heat shot through Xander. His skin prickled everywhere. He was hot, and flushed, and... God, was happy. It felt like home. The shock of moist heat in his ear had him jerk slightly. “You’re enjoying that too much.”

“What’s that,” Spike asked.

“The in depth ear exam.” Xander smirked an burrowed his face in Spike’s neck.

“Proud of you, whelp. Haven’t hardly used any of your magic.”

“Yeah...” If Xander’s voice was strained, it could be because over Spike’s shoulder, he could see the a long tail wagging... a long white-blond tail, one that waved away Mr. I’m Slick, who had been heading their way, probably to cut into the dance. “I’m.. I’m trying.”

“Something wrong?” Spike started to turn, to look behind him.

“Oh no, just... just...”

“Just?” Spike locked gazes with him, waiting for an explanation.

“Just this.” Taking a deep breath, Xander kissed him, slowly sliding his mouth back and forth over the vampire’s. Please kiss me back. Please don’t see what’s behind you.

Spike stiffened for a second. He wasn’t used to these things not being his idea. But somewhere between surprise and stupid pride, instinct took over. Delving his tongue inside Xander’s mouth, he stroked the guy’s palette lightly, before tangling their tongues in a dance that mimicked the motions of their bodies.

Xander tasted sweet, and innocent, and trusting... and the way he clung to him, the way he made a small noise coming from the back of his throat, the way he squirmed, the sound of his blood rushing and his heart thundering, it was exciting... exhilarating to know he had that affect on the boy.

Xander broke the kiss. “I think you’re enjoying yourself too much.”

“Oh?” He followed the boy’s gaze... down to the his bulge in his trousers and decided the best answer might be none. Tugging him close, he gave him another kiss, this time a bruiser that left Xander completely breathless.

Eventually resting his chin on Spike’s shoulder, Xander was treated to yet another glimpse of that glorious tail. How long would it last? He might have to keep the dance going for a while. The tail swished down, slapping against the back of Spike’s thigh and worming between his legs.

Spike gave Xander a piercing look. “Enjoying... me?”

Xander gulped and gave a squeaky “yes,” putting his head down and resuming the dance. If only it was his hand roaming the way that tail was, but... please... please let it disappear without Spike finding out. Well... not yet. He spared an evil smile for yet another drooling guy who was backing away, mouthing none other than bizarro!.


(A/N: Thank you so much for your comments. I'm really enjoying them and very happy the comedy aspect is coming through. Everyone can agree that a story is scary or sad, but funny... everyone's funny bone seems to be in a different place, if you know what I mean.)