Fisi Mtima

Title: Fisi Mtima, Chapter Nine
Author: frk_werewolf
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Pairing: Xander/Spike, hints of Angel/Doyle
Rating: NC-17
Story Summary: A battle is fought and from within an animal is released. Featuring Hyena!Xander.
Chapter Summary: The joys of L.A.
Notes: Angel is in AU mode. This takes place before Hero, so Doyle is alive, but we all know Lorne and who he is.


.Chapter Nine.


"We should talk."

Spike slowly opened his eyes at the words, blinking as the headlights from a passing car blinded him. The sentence sunk into his brain gradually, giving him enough time to look over at his companion. Xander looked tense. His hands gripped the steering wheel and his jaw was set, teeth grinding against one another.

"'Bout what?" Spike mumbled. Xander's knuckles turned slightly white. "You okay, mate?"

"There are things that need to be said, Spike." Xander said with a soft voice.

"Which are...?" Spike prompted.

"This relationship." Xander replied. "We need to talk about our relationship."

"Bloody hell." Spike cursed softly.

"It's not that difficult, talking about us. I mean, people do it all the time, right?" Xander babbled. "Just me and you talking, on the way to L.A. Oh god, what are we going to do about Angel? What if he... senses something?"

"Don't be so paranoid." Spike said. "The poof wont notice a thing."

"Yeah, but that's just it." Xander told him, glancing over. "Is there a thing to notice in the first place? What is this?"

"I think you're the best one to answer that, pet." Spike said honestly.

"What makes you say that?"

"Because you're in control." Spike replied. He focused on the dark scenery outside, ignoring the look that Xander was giving him. "You. The hyena. Whichever it is, I don't know. But you are in control, mate."

"And?" Xander asked gently.

"And?" Spike let out a grunt of annoyance. "And I bloody well like it, okay? I like not having to be the one taking care of someone. I like knowing that you will protect me if I accept this. I like the idea of you... I just like it, okay?"

"Okay." Xander gave him a brilliant grin, that even in it's goofiness never lost it's feral quality.

"What? That's it, then?" Spike looked over, tilting his head.

"All I wanted to hear." Was Xander's reply. Spike shook his head and remained quiet for the rest of the drive.

Cordelia Chase was bored. This was naturally putting it lightly, because she often felt bored. Today, she felt as though the world would suck her down at any moment and leave her in hell. Hell, in her opinion, was a place with no department stores or entertainment. Come to think of it, maybe she was already there?

"Bleedin' hell, pet, I'm all right!" The demanding, British voice echoed from the hallway. Cordelia stiffened in her chair, setting down her nail file. She remembered that voice.

"It looked like you were getting a little... toasty is all." Another voice said, filled with worry and something reminiscent of a stern lecture. That's when the door burst in, revealing a scowling Spike and glaring Xander. Xander shoved past Spike, huffing. "I was just concerned. We could of found a covered parking lot and taken the sewer, you know."

"What? And pop up in the poof's living room, waving a white flag?" Spike asked. "I don't think so."

"You're the one who had to go to-"

"Shut your yap, Xander." Spike growled. Xander narrowed his eyes and took a menacing step toward Spike, who cowered slightly into the wall. The vampire's eyes darting around the room, before landing on Cordelia. “Oh, look! It's... Uhhh.... Cady?"

"Cordelia?" Xander gasped, turning around.

"Xander? What are you doing here? Is there something happening in Sunnydale? What's going on? Why are you and Spike doing the bizarre old married couple thing?" Xander winced at the ambush of questions, and chose not to answer.

"Sheesh. You can take the girl out of Sunnydale, but you can't take the Sunnydale Babble out of the girl, eh?" Spike commented.

"Oh, shut up Spike." Cordelia snapped. "So, tell me. Are you here to torture my boss again, or what?"

"Actually we came to ask Angel something." Xander replied.

"Why?" Cordelia asked suspiciously, before gasping. The ex-cheerleader fumbled with a drawer and suddenly yanked out a stake. "Oh God, Xander's a vampire. Angel! Angel, get your broody ass up here! Xander's a vampire and has come to kill me and get revenge on you!"

"Was she always like this?" Spike asked. Xander arched an eyebrow and tilted his head, watching as Cordelia gripped the stake and backed away from them.

"Hmm... Yeah, she was." Xander said thoughtfully. Both Spike and Xander could hear the sound of metal grating, the sign of an old elevator working. In unison, their eyes traveled over to a doorway, watching as two figures entered the room. Xander sniffed the air slightly, noticing how mingled Angel's scent was with the strange man. Xander glanced over to Spike, noticing the slow smirk appearing on his mate's face.

"Cordelia-" Angel started, before standing stock still and staring at Spike and Xander. "Spike."

"Angel." Spike greeted.

"Xander." Xander said.

"Doyle." The strange man said, pointing at himself.

"Now that you've all had your moment of acting like three year olds, can we get to the slaying?" Cordelia asked, still brandishing her stake.

"Cordelia, Xander's not a vampire." Angel said calmly.

"Oh... Well, how about Spike?" Cordelia asked hopefully.

"Oi! There will be no staking!" Spike exclaimed, while a soft growl was heard from Xander. Angel raised an eyebrow at Xander's dark look, but did not comment. "'Sides, Peaches, I think there is something important you need to share with me."

"And what would that be, Spike?" Angel asked, with his usual sound of being tortured.

"I thought having a soul squeezed all the cock-loving out of you, but apparently I was wrong." Spike said conversationally. Angel's eyes narrowed. "Gotta say, mate, never knew you'd go for the short and Irish. You always avoided your nationality."

"Hey, now-" Doyle started, before reaching up and clutching at his head. He staggered over to the desk and gripped it with one hand, a low moan escaping his mouth. Angel darted forward, wrapping an arm around Doyle's shoulders. A moment passed, both figures not moving, before Angel straightened up with Doyle. The Irishman leaned against Angel's larger frame, his face looking older than it did a second ago.

"What the bloody hell was that?" Spike asked rudely.

"Doyle has visions." Angel stated.

"Never could pick a normal bloke, could you?" Spike tsked.

"What did you see?" Angel asked Doyle, completely ignoring Spike.

"Two ice demons. They were attacking a couple of teenagers in an alleyway." Doyle replied.

"Right. Spike, behave yourself. I'll be back in a couple of hours." Angel ordered.

"What? Going for a waltz in the sun, Deadboy?" Xander asked, pointing at the shaded window. Angel cursed under his breath.

"It's okay." Doyle told him, patting his shoulder. "Not going to happen until tonight anyway."

"Good." Xander said. "That gives Deadboy and I time for a little talk."

Xander looked around Angel's basement apartment with a sense of humor. It wasn't everyday you found out the former thorn in your side lived in a basement, just like he did. His focus paused once on Spike pacing form, before landing on Angel. The dark vampire sat in a chair across from him, half in shadows. Xander could remember a time when that would have made him uneasy. Now, he understood Angel's need to hide half in darkness, and have in light.

Xander didn't speak at first. He could hear the soft murmurs of Doyle and Cordelia upstairs, the echo of their footsteps. Spike was getting impatient, but he didn't speak. He wouldn't speak. Xander was happy that Spike understood that Xander needed to deal with this. That Xander felt the desire to help his mate.

"What do you want, Xander?" Angel asked, breaking the silence.

"We need to find someone, and I hear you're the guy to ask." Xander told him.

"Enough with this cryptic bullshit!" Spike suddenly exclaimed.

The moment he said the words, he knew it was a mistake. Xander had pinned him to a wall the last time he had questioned or undermined him. Spike held an un-needed breath and watched as Xander's eyes flashed bright green. Angel's jaw dropped open, a surprised look that on any other moment Spike would have enjoyed.

In one fluid movement, Xander had stood and was walking towards him. Spike didn't want to think about it, but he could help but question his own stupidity. He knew that Xander still had the hyena, that it was still engraved inside him. It was obvious, every time he moved even. Spike knew that sometimes Xander let the instincts control him. It was natural, really.

What Spike didn't know is why he kept placing himself in this type of position, to be dominated by the young man. Because you enjoy it, a small voice in his head told him.

"Spike." Xander said softly, his voice laced with pure control.

"Yeah?" Spike asked, backing away from Xander's advancing form until he was flush against the wall. Xander pressed up against him, not a single inch separating them.

"I will take care of this, okay? I don't want you to complicate things with some childish argument with Angel. Is that clear?" Xander spoke slowly, as though speaking to a dog. Spike shuddered, only moving to nod his understanding. A small smile graced Xander's lips, before he turned back to Angel. "Giles said you knew a demon that can read auras. We need you to take us to him."

"And why would that be?" Angel asked, fighting the look of shock that had been on his face.

"Something's happening to Spike." Xander explained. "He's getting these attacks... It's hard to explain. You would have to see it to know what I'm talking about. All I know is something weird is happening. It's like... Spike's body is trying to come back to life."

"That makes no sense." Angel told him honestly.

"Yeah, well, wait until you see it." Xander said. "I'm sure it will happen again."

"Thanks for the encouragement into screaming pain, love." Spike whispered. Xander glanced back at him, smirking slightly.

"Well, Deadboy, what do you say?" Xander asked, grinning.

"I suppose we can make a visit to Caritas after we deal with the ice demons tonight." Angel relented. Xander nodded in agreement. He turned to Spike, only to be stopped by Angel's voice. "Xander... What happened to you?"

"Simply got in touch with my inner animal, Angel." Xander gave him a feral look. "Oh, and I expect you to be nice to Spike while we are here, along with giving him blood."

"Never thought I'd see the day." Angel muttered to himself, not aware that Xander could hear him perfectly. "Xander Harris protecting William the Bloody."

"Life's full of surprises, eh Deadboy?" Xander asked, raising an eyebrow at Angel's look of annoyance.

The rest of the day was spent, much to Angel's displeasure, with Xander and Spike teaming up against him. It seemed Spike adored the side of Xander that mocked the souled vampire. Angel, for the unlife of him, could not understand the relationship, though. Xander seemed to bounce back and forth between the goofy kid he was before to this animal on the prowl. He never took his eyes off Spike when the vampire was near. When Spike was in another room, it seemed that Xander was completely aware of the vampire, despite not being able to see him.

Angel wasn't stupid. He could see a bond when it was shoved in his face, and that was definitely what Spike and Xander had. It wasn't strong, but it wasn't weak either. It was different, that was certain. Xander's side was strong, determined. Which didn't really surprise Angel. Xander had always taken his emotions as far as possible. It really was what made him so loyal.

Spike was what confused Angel the most. He was linked to Xander, it was obvious. Yet, Angel couldn't help but wonder why. He could remember his unsouled days, the torment he had put the blonde vampire through. Even now, after years of brooding, he still felt the need to sulk over how he treated Spike. Still, Spike seemed to almost burst with glee when Xander's possessive streak pushed to the surface. The vampire was stubborn, though, and Angel could tell that Spike had yet to openly bond himself with Xander. That was what made Spike's side so weak. Spike was uncertain.

If Angel trusted his own instincts, he would know that it was because Spike was afraid of rejection. The thought saddened him.

Night finally fell, and Angel, Doyle, Spike, and Xander found themselves in a nice alleyway. The two ice demons had been sucking the energy out of a couple of teens, taking away their warmth and slowly freezing them from the inside. The four had quickly diverted the demons' attention, making certain the two humans were able to escape.

Xander threw himself into the fight, using the speed and strength of the hyena to aide in the battle. He could see from the corner of his eye as Spike attacked the other demon with Angel. The fight was long. The demons, while strong, were slow and rather stupid.

Spike bantered with his enemy, enjoying the confusion that often graced the ice demon's face due to a clever remark. He could see Xander laying into the other demon, all grace and power. When the battle finally ended, Spike ignored Angel and Doyle as they carefully looked each other over for injuries. Spike's eyes remained on Xander, his head titled and his eyes watching Xander's deep breaths.

"Spike." Xander growled, locking eyes with Spike. Angel and Doyle looked over in shock as Xander leaped forward, a barking hyena-like laugh escaping his throat. Spike was quickly pinned to the wall, Xander's face buried into his neck. "Mine."

"Want you." Spike admitted, all the stolen blood in his body having dropped to his cock the moment Xander had touched him, turning his brain to mush.

"You have me." Xander growled loudly, completely ignoring Angel and Doyle's stares.

Spike shuddered when he felt Xander's tongue snake up his neck. Xander nibbled on his ear, before pulling back far enough to meet his lips. Their lips crushed against one another, tongue immediately moving to battle against one another. Xander's hands quickly slide underneath the duster, pulling Spike flush against him. Their erections met, and soon were grinding against one another.

Angel could only stare in shock as Xander lifted Spike off the ground, wrapping the younger vampire's legs around his waist. Their hips bucked against one another, bodies pressed close. They never stopped kissing, and Angel momentarily wondered how Xander was managing to actually breathe. Their moans filled the air and Angel gulped, trying not to look over at Doyle.

Spike's feet were suddenly returned to the ground. Looking down, he watched in amazement as Xander knelt before him. His jeans were quickly unbuttoned and he thanked every sex god in existance that he didn't wear underwear, thus allowing Xander a direct path to his hard erection. A warm hand wrapped around it, stroking lightly. At the first swipe of Xander's tongue, Spike's arched his hips forward, his head falling back against the brick wall of the alleyway.

When Xander's mouth enveloped Spike's erection, even Angel moaned. The pure scent of arousal was filling the air. The non-participants half expected it to arise the curiosity of demons a mile away. They watched as Xander sucked on Spike's cock. The blonde writhed against the wall, one hand resting on Xander's shoulder and the other pressed against the wall. The sight made a beautiful picture, really. A lustful, sexy, and arousing picture, but a beautiful one none the less.

As Spike finally came, for it seemed to take forever in Angel and Doyle's mind, his cry was probably heard as far as Colorado.

"Now that you two are finished..." Angel started, giving both of them a scowl and completely ignoring his own erection.

"Problems, Deadboy?" Xander asked innocently, licking his lips. Spike simply growled from next to him. Angel went to reply, but was stopped by the sight of Spike yanking Xander toward him for a soul searing kiss. When they parted, both men had dazed looks on their faces.

"Do you still want to go to Caritas or would you prefer to go-" Angel started once more.

"Bloody hell!" Spike screeched, his hand reaching to clutch at his chest. Xander immediately got Spike to the ground, wrapping his arms around the vampire as he convulsed and yelped in pain.

Angel had never seen anything so painful. The look on Spike's face summed up the fears of anything that despised being hurt. A full minute passed, Spike's face twisted in pain and his body twitching. Then the blonde stilled and Angel's jaw dropped open. The alleyway had been the home to two heart beats. That of Doyle and Xander. Now, another was added to the mix. It was faint and skipping, but it was still a heartbeat. Angel remember that beat from over a century ago, when a crying Victorian had bumped into him on the street.

"It burns." Spike whispered, his blue eyes opening. They looked brighter with the unshed tears in his eyes. Xander held him closer, his head dropping briefly to kiss him lightly on the forehead. The sound of tires driving over gravel seemed to emit through the air. Xander refused to look at Angel as he purred. Spike gasped, his body tensing. Then the heartbeat that echoed in Angel's ears slowed and finally stopped. Spike remained in Xander's arms for another moment, before slowly standing. He wobbled a moment, Xander's arm wrapping around his waist to help steady him.

"Right." Spike said after a moment of un-needed breathing. "To Caritas, then?"