Fisi Mtima

.Chapter Eight.


Spike sat in the uncomfortable chair that he had once slept in, back when he had been forced to live with Xander. He watched from his post as Xander's eyes moved behind their lids, indicating a dream. Xander had fallen asleep the moment they had stumbled into his basement home. Spike, instead of returning to his lonely crypt, had opted to remain there and watch over Xander. It gave him time to think. Which had became apparent the moment his mind began to run and scream in different directions.

Mate. Xander wanted him as a mate, and would not take no for an answer. Spike wasn't sure he should be protesting loudly, or giving in. He was mixed with the idea. With Drusilla it had been so easy. She came to him, told him she wanted him and made him hers. He could not get away. He didn't want to. She had taken his soul, leaving him no place to turn.

With Xander, it was different. On first glance, it seemed the same. But in reality, Spike could leave if he truly wanted to. But did he? Drusilla had taken from him, hardly ever giving back. Xander... Xander was retrieving his soul. Handing it to him, first on a silver platter and now with a violent shove that resulted in two beats of the heart and a rupture of pain.

Spike still wasn't sure if the pain he had experienced earlier had anything to do with Xander. He thought it might, but thoughts and assumptions would get him nowhere. Instead, Spike leaned back in his chair and focused once more on Xander's sleeping form. His eyes lingered on the gash in his side. It looked to be already knitting, after Spike had cleaned and disinfected it. Maybe the hyena aided in healing, Spike wasn't sure. Still, it looked to be doing better. He would have a scar, but it would be fine.

Spike could hear voices in the kitchen above. Xander's father slurred against his mother's mutters. They were fighting. Spike immediately blocked them off. He rested his thumb against his bottom lip, stroking it slightly. He wanted a cigarette, but would not risk disturbing Xander's sleeping form.

And why should he care?

The thought hit Spike in full forced, but was quickly beat into submission. Why? It was rather simple, once he thought about it. This was, after all, Xander Harris. The White Knight. The Zeppo. Clever and bright and everything Spike could not be.

"Fuck." The word echoed long after Spike said the word. He knew, without a single doubt, that he was in for the long haul. And it angered him, but calmed at the same time. Such a complicated emotion, despite how easily he fell into it. He truly was Love's Bitch.

"Hmmm, whu?" Xander blinked his eyes open and looked at Spike with sleep induced shock. "Spike?"

"Hey, pet." Spike whispered from his seat. He didn't move over to Xander side, despite the small part of him that wanted to.

"Oh, ow. Okay, I feel like I've been hit by a semi." Xander groaned. He moved a little, seemingly to sit up, but then gave up and slumped back onto the bed. "What time is it?"

"About eight." Spike said.

"AM or PM?"

"AM."

"Oh, early. Too early." Was Xander's response, right before he rolled over and fell back to sleep.

Spike chuckled to himself before returning to his thinking. Which only caused him to mutter a curse at himself. He was turning into Angel, and it was truly annoying. Grumbling, Spike stood and walked over to the couch. He fell back onto it and turned on the television, allowing the drama of daytime TV. to lighten his mind.

Xander was awoken three hours later by a nearly controlled scream. His eyes shot open and he sat up in bed, ignoring the minor pain that shot through his body. Blinking away sleep induced blurry vision, Xander was greeted with a sight that caused his blood to halt in his veins. Spike had fallen off the couch and was now twisting on the floor, one hand gripping his chest.

"Spike?" Xander managed to get over to Spike's panting form. A low whine was emitting from Spike's mouth, breaking into small cries. "Spike? Spike!"

Spike twitched on the ground, his face morphing into vampiric features. His yellow eyes rolled back in his head. Then, with a loud gasp, Spike stopped moving. Xander kneeled next to him, his hands hovering over Spike's still form. A small spasm went through Spike's body. Spike's face seemed to flush. Xander gently rested his hand on Spike's chest, before jerking back in surprise.

"Spike!" Xander yelped, eyes wide. "Spike? Spike! Oh god, you have a heart beat. You have a heart beat! Spike?"

Spike's eyes slowly opened, returning to his human form, and locked with Xander's. Taking in a ragged breath, Spike was unsure if he really needed it or not. He had the urge to breath, just for that moment. And for that moment, he was filled with pumping blood and warmth. His veins burned. His heart ached, but it beat like sweet music. Blinking, Spike stared at Xander's worried face, focusing on what was happening. He knew in a moment it would all be over. He wanted to savor the feeling of life, no matter how small.

The shattering pain wracked his body, concentrating on his veins and heart. It ended before he could make a sound and his chest calmed, the residue of the momentary burn easing away. His eyesight blurred a moment, before clearing. Xander still sat next to him, his shoulders shuddering in some strange effort against crying.

"Spike?" Xander's voice was hoarse, as though he had been the one screaming.

"Xan..." Spike shook his head, unsure of what to say. Slowly, he sat up and found himself deceptively close to Xander.

"Are you okay?" Xander asked with such worry and care that Spike nearly felt like bursting into tears. But he didn't feel it, so instead he sighed and leaned forward. Xander allowed Spike the comfort of resting his head on Xander's shoulder.

"It burned." Spike said, his voice a near whimper.

"Was this what you were talking about?" Xander pulled back to look Spike in the eye. "When you said last night that something strange had happened?"

"Yeah." Spike replied.

"I don't understand." Xander shook his head. "Your heart was beating, Spike. You were warm, like a human. But... I could still feel the demon. I could smell the strength and scent of it."

"I don't know what's happened, love." Spike said, before struggling to his feet. He grabbed his duster from where he had left it on the chair. "But I'm planning on finding out."

"Where are you going?" Xander asked, his voice stern and full of authority. Spike stopped mid-step and glanced at Xander. The brunette was dressed in wrinkled clothes and his hair was standing on end, plastered at one side, and yet he still managed to send that submissive shiver through the vampire.

"The Watcher's." Spike replied honestly. "I figured I could ransack his library."

"Do you actually expect him to allow that?" Xander asked, highly amused.

"Don't see why not!" Spike frowned. "Oh, bugger. Fine. You want to come, then?"

"Hmm..." Xander looked down at his clothes, then at Spike. "Let me get dressed."

"Hurry up, then." Spike grumbled. Xander smirked slightly before pulling off his shirt. Spike, in a strange case of modesty, tried not to look. But curiosity and the fact that he was a perverted vampire finally got the best of him and he looked over to find Xander in just his boxers, bending over to put on a pair of jeans. The wound in Xander's side was still knitting itself, so it wasn't a shock when Xander let out a tiny gasp of pain.

Spike, ignoring the part of him that was asking what he was doing, rushed over to help. He straightened Xander out and then bent down and pulled up the other man's pants. Xander watched him with a heated look as he zipped and buttoned him up. Spike avoided his gaze and aided in the shirt's placement as well. When they were finished, Xander's hand suddenly grabbed Spike's. Pulling the vampire closer, Xander kissed him lightly on the lips.

"Let's go." Xander whispered, turning away from the mildly shocked vampire.

"What do you think you're doing?" Giles exclaimed, yanking off his glasses and cleaning them with vigor.

"Researching." Xander said simply. Spike rolled his eyes from his spot at the table and returned to squinting at the book. Giles sighed and turned on a nearby light, making the inner workings of the Magic Box light up. "Huh, why didn't I think of that?"

"What, exactly, are you researching?" Giles asked, watching Spike oddly as the vampire continued to hold the book close to his face. "Spike... Eyesight problems?"

"Wuh?" Spike looked up and if he could, he would of blushed. The look quickly faded and was replaced by agitation. "If you must know, Watcher, I wore specs when I was a bloody human."

"Ah." Was Giles' response, before turning back to Xander expectantly. Xander sighed.

"I'm researching vampire physiology, if you must know." Xander told him.

"And why would you need to look that up?" Giles asked, raising an eyebrow. Xander looked over at Spike, who ignored them both. It was apparent that the vampire was listening to their conversation, though.

"Well, you see..." Xander trailed off, his eyes distant.

"Xand-"

"Sex!" Xander belted out. Giles stopped mid-word and stared at Xander, his mouth hanging open. Spike didn't look much better. Xander's eyes darted around the room, before landing once again on Giles. "I was curious about... Vampire sex."

"That's right!" Spike agreed, perking up at the look of distraught on the Watcher's face. "Xander was so curious, you know. And who am I to say no to aiding in the downward spiral of humanity? Offered to help look, I did."

"How... Very thoughtful of you." Giles replied. He blinked in confusion, before pulling of his glasses and wandering away. Spike turned to Xander with a grin that matched a child in a candy store.

Xander felt a spark of desire at the sight and sent Spike a feral grin, fully displaying what he was thinking. Spike's cheek twitched, but he showed no sign of registering the look on Xander's face. Ignoring Xander, Spike returned to his book.

An hour later, Xander was getting impatient. He wanted to prowl and hunt, though if he was honest with himself he couldn't explain just why he wanted to hunt. Still, it seemed like a good idea at the time, and after reading book after book about vampire hunting habits, Xander was willing to give it a go. But he didn't get the chance to voice his opinion to Spike, knowing full well the vampire would jump at the chance of kicking some literal arse. Instead, he was faced with Spike slipping out of his chair and onto the floor in a twitching, screaming pile.

Xander leaped from his seat, throwing the book in his hands a few yards. Giles came running in from the training room and both men stared down at Spike, who held his chest with one hand and clawed at the floor with the other. Xander rushed toward his mate, quickly wrapping his arms around Spike's body. He felt something in his chest vibrate, and was shocked to hear himself begin to purr. Nuzzling his neck, Xander watched Spike twist and yelp in his arms, before the vampire went limp.

"Bloody hell." Giles breathed, kneeling down to look at the vampire. Xander growled under his breath, but made no move to stop Giles from reaching out a hand to rest on Spike's heaving chest. The older man's eyes widened in shock, his mouth fighting to form words. "Xander... He's-He's!"

"Got a bleedin' heart beat." Spike cursed from within Xander's hold.

"This is... Amazing." Giles stated in awe. "How did this happen?"

"We don't know. Why do you think I chose to actually volunteer to read?" Xander asked.

"Hmm... Well, there is a book on vampires that might help, called Whisper of the Soul." Giles mused, pausing as Spike let out a whimper and his heart beat stilled. "Fascinating."

"Giles? The book?"

"Hmm? Oh! Yes, well, the book." Giles' face turned thoughtful. "It is write by a man named Eric Michophlegn. He is the top demon physiologist in the trade, as you can imagine. Now... The book, if I recall correctly, only has a small section on living phenomena in an undead body." Spike blinked open his eyes, took in an un-needed breath, and watched as Giles grabbed a book from the nearby shelf. "Here it is!"

"Well, what does it say?" Xander asked impatiently, his gravelly purr coming to a stop.

"Huh." Was all Giles said. Xander growled under his breath. Spike slowly sat up and gave Xander an uneasy look.

The pain from this attack had been less severe than before. He could write it up to him getting used to it, but he knew there was more to it. When Xander had pulled him into his arms, the scorching heat that was flowing through his veins seemed to dim considerably. Spike had to admit it was unnerving, and not for the first time scary. This draw toward Xander hadn't left when the hyena and the human was fused together. Instead, he found himself wanting more than before.

Xander's eyes locked with Spike's, filled to the edge with compassion. Spike almost wanted to hit Xander, for actually caring. He was a vampire. A demon. What had he possibly done in his lifetime to be gifted a chance with Xander Harris?

"Apparently, due to the make-up of the vampire, you can only discover an ailment such as this through two things." Giles announced, breaking into Spike's thoughts.

"Get it out, Watcher." Spike glared, climbing to his feet and slumping back into his chair. Xander watched him a moment from his perch on the floor before standing with a fluid movement and returning to his own seat. Spike fought down a shock of lust. He knew Giles would not appreciate Spike launching himself a Xander and baring his neck in offering.

"The first is... Dissection." Giles said. Spike's eyes closed at the word and small flashes of memories echoed in his head. He could almost feel the chip throb in his head. "Oh, honestly, Xander. You can stop growling at me. I can assure you I had no intention of inflicting pain on Spike."

"..." Xander narrowed his eyes and Spike was suddenly hit with the desire to laugh.

"Yes, well..." Giles cleared his throat. He sat down the book and started to clean his glasses religiously. "The second choice is to have your aura read."

"Bloody hell, what are you bantering on about?" Spike asked. Giles sighed.

"Some demons or magical people can read auras, which in turn can tell your future or help solve a mystery." Giles said.

"That's really fascinating, you know." Spike said sarcastically. "Really, it is."

"Well, I was going to suggest an aura reader to you, but since you're not interested..." Giles trailed of, shrugging.

"Spike." Xander said softly, but with a tone of voice that made Spike look over. "Don't you want to get to the bottom of this?"

"Of course I do, love." Spike replied. Xander broke into a smile at the endearment, leaving Spike to wonder if he really should be encouraging this relationship. Spike sighed and pushed the thought away. Now wasn't the time to be thinking about this. He needed to fix whatever was wrong with him first, then he could worry about whether or not he was good enough for Xander.

Which rather pissed him off. Why should he care anyway? Bloody hell.

"Fine. Watcher, who is it?" Spike asked.

"Now, Spike," Giles said carefully. "I want you to know that I'm not intentionally doing this, okay? Though, why I am helping you is anyone's guess. But... The demon is an associate of Angel's."

"Bloody freakin' hell!" Spike leapt to his feet. "It never ends! When I finally think I'm away from that bugger of a Grandsire, I have to go ask him for help! This is... I'm not doing it!"

"Spike." Xander said sternly. Spike immediately shut up. Inwardly he cursed his apparent cowardice when it came to defying Xander in any way. Xander walked over to him, slipping an arm around his waist. Xander's hand gripped his buttocks lightly, away from the eyes of the Watcher. "You're not really asking Angel for a favor. You're just asking him to direct you to this demon, okay? I want you to be better, Spike."

"Dammit, whelp, do you have to use the puppy-dog eyes?"

"What would you prefer?" Xander asked, grinning wickedly. His eyes flashed green. "Hyena eyes?"

Spike was completely aware of the fact that he became hard the moment Xander's eyes had changed color. He was digging himself into an impressive hole, it seemed. His reactions to every little thing that Xander did was all together new. Xander kept his attention, made him interested. Which was odd, because they weren't even having sex on a daily basis. Spike sighed.

"I can't bloody believe I'm going to L.A."