White Knight, Black Knight

The next day was Saturday, and Xander woke up much earlier than usual. Back when he was a kid, he’d love to be up to watch all the cartoons, but most of today’s shows were a bit too childish, even for him. Then again Toonami was on in the afternoon on Cartoon Network, so that made up for it. He just wished they would show more really good ones, like Batman and Gundam Wing. Good thing he had some on tape.

Still not much could keep Xander’s mind from going boldly where it should not be going. It had all started last night, when Spike was looking for weapons. Seeing the vampire’s unmade bed, indentations still there from where he slept, along with Spike with his shapely butt in the air while he picked up the sword made Xander flush for just a moment.

He had to use the old trick of thinking of Principle Snyder in his underwear the entire time Spike was showing how to use it. Sitting back now, TV on low so he didn’t wake the undead, Xander tried to think without getting…physically involved. Nope, couldn’t do it, and he sure as hell didn’t want Spike smelling his arousal. He checked to make sure that Spike was still asleep before turning to what was now his other guilty pleasure, the Food Network.

He was tired of living off of freezer pizza and macaroni and cheesRighRight after Anya left he had been sent home early due to weather and had found a couple of shows that actually cooked things he might eat. Case in point was this morning’s show, 30 Minute Meals. Watching the bubbly brunette on TV make some damn good looking meatball hoagies and oven fries, the cereal he had eaten was forgotten. That was the problem with these things, he may learn, but he also got hungry.

Try as he might; only part of his brain was on the show. The rest was reliving last night. How much fun it was to force Spike into watching The Princess Bride. How the blond actually laughed under his breath at all the right parts, despite his protests that it was too silly for a vampire. To make it up to him, Xander had put in a copy of Christine, figuring the violence and rock and roll would be something that he would love.

It was odd. Xander was used to having female friends, not someone he could be crass and unleash his morbid sense of humor with. He loved Willow like she was his own sister, but sometimes if he enjoyed watching someone in movies or TV who is an asshole get theirs she would get such a disappointed look in her eyes, as if Xander was supposed to be better than most humans. Personally that was what horror and disaster movies were for, Xander though, so you could picture your boss as the jackass who gets killed in the most spectacuof wof ways. He could show that side of himself to Spike without feeling like he was wrong for joking about things. Heck, Spike encouraged it!

Spike also didn’t try to coddle him. Didn’t try to tell him to back off from that rat-thing, ROUS, whatever it way. Even if Buffy was down and he tried to help she’d be all me slayer you weak man. Sometimes he thought that damn beer back in her freshman year permanently did something to her brain. He could patrol with Spike and feele hee he was making a difference, that he helped. Even if Spike didn’t need that much help. Still it made Xander feel needed and that he made a difference that he wasn’t just taking up space.

Still he had been unprepared for that half-second of lust that ran through him before he squashed it down last night. He probably knew better than any of the other Scoobies just what a vampire could sense, and he so did not want to die of embarrassment if Spike found out. Speaking of which, if he couldn’t stop going thin hin his brain it would happen again, with Spike sleeping in the next room. Bad brain! Bad cock for wanting Spike!

He got up and snuck into the bedroom to grab some clothes, and hadn’t that been weird last nigsharsharing the bed with Spike. Of course they stayed as far away from each other as possible, and Spike hadn’t even made a snarky comment, but still…Xander could get used to it.

He jumped into a cold shower, again trying to stop thinking until he got out of the apartment. He’d go get some groceries, and some blood, and other things he needed. r mir mind he never usually did anything on a Saturday until sometime after four; he needed to get out, to think. He left a note for Spike and was out the door before his hair had even had time to dry.

Four hours later he was back, laden with blood, all the stuff to make those hoagies, and still a bit confused. He had gone to the library first, to look up that recipe on the computer. He really needed to get one for himself, but with Anya there had never been the spare cash for things like that. Now he could get one. That way he wouldn’t have to risk dying from embarrassment that he, Xander Harris, came to the library for recipes and how to books. He’d learned a lot, it even helped get him his job, but still he could imagine what Buffy would say.

The time in the library let him think in quiet though, which was of the good. He admitted that yes he was atted ted to Spike. That was probably why the dreams about Jessie was worse this year; he was feeling guilty to be attracted to another male besides his lost friend. Spike was a vampire, and so was Jessie. If Spike could turn out to be a friend, despite the demon, maybe Jessie could have had a chance.

Spike was defiantly drool worthy though. The question was, did he want to do anything about it?

Spike was rapidly overtaking Willow and Buffy in the best friend category; did he want to risk that? The girls were just so busy with things he had no part of, it was like that first year they were in collage all over again, and they were drifting away.

Plus there was the question of if Spike liked him that way. What could he do, leave a not like some either grader, “Do you like me? Yes, no, maybe?” Gods he was turning into a girl!

Resolving yet again not to think of anything like that within a mile of his friend, Xander turned to making lunch. He figured he could try out his cooking on Spike, unless he added garlic it wouldn’t kill the vampire if it was bad.

Twenty minutes later, he hears Spike start to move around. The smell of food and blood probably woke him. Xander spoke from the kitchen, knowing he didn’t have to yell, “Hey lunch is just about ready. Ten minuets, fifteen at the most.”

Five minuets later spike came out, looking… Nope, not gonna go there, Xander thought.

“You cooked?” Spike also looked confused.

“Yes, Spike, I cooked. Granted I’m just learning, but I figure you being the Big Bad and all, you can take it.” Xander started piling up the fried onions and peppers on top of the meatballs that he had actually made with his own two hands. They looked good and he was proud of it. Oh yeah, he was turning into a girl.

They ate quickly, and neither Spike nor himself keeled over or had to go to hospital. Always a good sign. He did have a moment when Spike poured some of his blood and dipped the fries in it, but he figured he’d deal. Vampire, after all, and Spike just loved to gross people out with the fact.

Looking back on the weekend, Xander realized everything went well. He’d actually had some fun and was able to be himself. Still he knew he’d have to figure out what was his deal with Spike soon. There were only so many ways to get his brain to thinking something else besides sex and he was running out.

They had destroyed a nest of vampires Saturday night, and got a minor demon Sunday. Both times Xander made sure to be looking the other way when Spike looked for cash and other valuables. It wasn’t as he could get a real job, cause hello daylight. Plus Xander figured this way the money would work it’s way back into the economy rather than disintegrating in a paper bag in an old abandoned hotel.


Monday afternoon and Xander was paying close attention to what he was doing at work so as not to cut off a hand or something. Ever since coming back from running from Glory he’s been with this new crew and they don’t quite trust him yet for some reason. Still when he was the girder being lifted about to fall on Bobby and Ryan he did what any good Slayerette would do, ran like hell and threw them both out of the way. Just because they weren’t bosom buddies didn’t mean he wanted to see them squished.

Of course seeing the blue colored blood gushing from Ryan’s nose and the slitted eyes peering at Xander from under Bobby’s bangs was quite a surprise.

It was late Monday evening when Xander finally got home. He hadn’t had so much fun in with a group of people very long time. He’d gone to a bar with some of his co-workers after shift. Dark Havens was much nicer than The Bronze, and made The Alibi look like a cesspool. Willy needed better a clientele.

Of course he’d been freaked out at first, realizing that he was the only human in a work crew of demons. That was why everyone was standoffish, they were afraid of him, the Zeppo. Theyuredured he’d report them to Buffy and they’d have problems.


But hanging around Spike and Clem somewhat this summer had made Xander realize that lots of demons were just like humans, had as much potential for being good as they had being bad. That some wanted a normal, Leave It To Beaver Life.

So it was with g rel relief to his new friends at work when Xander joked about the time he could have saved worrying, when being chased by a demented Hellgod was a valid excuse for missing work. Bobby was a neko youkai, a Japanese cat demon, and the older man now loved to tease Xander that they could now say they fought like cats and dogs, once he found out about the hyena. Ryan was some breed of Sidhe, and wasn’t that cool to find out there really was fairies. Although he was sure if he called the huge fae Tinkerbelle he’d be thrown through a brick wall.

Of course he was still a little freaked that he worked with and for demons. From what he knew Mr. Long, the construction company owner was a good man, involved in the community and everything. He found out from Spike the next night Mr. Long was a wyvern. Half-dragon and half-human, very old and very powerful. It was kind of scary to think about. But still he had given Xander a chancter ter the whole skipping town running from Glory thing, and from what Spike knew of him, Mr. Long wasn’t about to pull a Mayor on them with his power on the city counsel.

By Wednesday night he had accepted his new friends and new situation. It was nice to be able to just talk to someone else outside of the Scooby sphere of influence about the weirdness of Sunnydale. He even met Bobby’s fiancé, Kyri one day when she brought him his lunch. She was human about twenty-eight years old and gorgeous. Add to that a powerful witch and healer and Bobby was one lucky cat. Xander couldn’t help but think that Willow could learn something from the older woman.

Of course it was a good thing his brain had started to deal with that revelation, because he had a whole new one to worry about by Wednesday night.

They were patrolling the campus at Sunnydale U, the girls not getting back into town till Sunday afternoon. Evidently some college seniors had decided to show up for the semester early, and having nothing better to do got roaring drunk. What looked like just over half a dozen of the football team stopped them near the dorms, trying to block their path.

Somehow, even with Spike trying to maneuver him around, they got the better of them, numbers outdoing intelligence yet again. Just over five years of fighting demons, vampires and ghouls (oh my!) gave Xander an advantage over the average drunk. Problem was these drunks weighed in around 300 pounds and was used to knocking down men twice Xander’s size.

Xander tried to put himself in front of Spike, thinking to take the majority of the blows. But that wasn’t what ended up happening.

The lead idiot made a comment about queers and took a swing at Xander; he ducked and hit back, actually following through for once. He heard the sound of a nose breaking and the big lug actually started freaking out at the sight of blood. Still that left about seven to take out. Xander turned to make sure Spike was okay and his jaw dropped in shock.

The vampire was fighting beautifully, not using too much force, but enough to stop the homophobes from rearranging his face. He currently had one by the neck while he snapped the arm on one of the others.

Xander was positive they were human. So that meant Spike’s chip wasn’t working anymore.