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Once Bitten, Twice Shy	By : tjgoldstein Category: > Spike(William)/Xander > Spike(William)/Xander Views: 2168 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS), nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
Wednesday, 16 August 2000

7:27 am

With the last of the wet, slippery cutlery shoved into the dish drainer, Spike scrubbed the dried ring of blood from his mug and placed it alongside the cheap plastic drainer. Wiping his hands on the tea towel held out to him by Xander, Spike's mind was reeling with how to raise the issue of the ex-soldier's Claim upon him. It wasn't a discussion that Spike was looking forward to. Xander was still angry, Spike able to smell the emotion wafting off the youth every now and again, which is why Xander hadn't gone to work.

~Couldn't have a hissy fit at work now could we? Hmpf.~

Spike knew it was a safe bet that the mere mention of the crypt incident or anything to do with a Claim and Xander's banked anger would immediately flare into a major hissy fit, with Spike bearing the brunt of it. As always, Spike noted sourly to himself. Absently, Spike nodded his head at the random breaks in Xander's congenial babble. As distracted as he was, it took a hard pinch to the soft flesh of Spike's underarm to bring him back to the present. Covering his sharp hiss of pain with a soft grunt, Spike rubbed at the sore spot, turning his complete attention towards Xander.

"Spike. I asked you two times already and I'm not gonna ask again, go take a shower. Now." demanded Xander, the harsh tone of his words softened somewhat as he gave Spike a peck on the cheek as the vampire passed him on the way to the bathroom.

~Sorry pet. An' what's with all the kissin'? Not that I'm gonna object or anythin' but jus' cause I'll be puttin' out for ya later tonight don't mean I'm gonna start likin' all that hearts and flowers bullshit.~

Bathroom door closed, Spike gently touched where Xander had kissed him as butterflies rampaged at the very bottom of his belly. No point denying it, he was as nervous as all hell about what was going to happen between himself and Xander later that night. Grabbing at a fresh towel from the dwindling stack from the linen closet, he hung it over the far corner of the shower rail, far enough away to be kept out of the water. Spike stripped, throwing his boxers in the general direction of the dirty linen basket, shrugging to himself when they landed on the floor, a good few inches from the wicker basket; Xander would pick it all up later. Even though Xander had initially demanded that Spike keep things tidy and not drop his clothes all over the place, Xander had steadily eased up on the rule until it was Xander himself who picked up any of Spike's discarded clothing. As long as Spike did most of the housekeeping and cooked a few nights a week, Xander was fairly easy going. Most of the time. Water turned on, Spike fiddled with the hot and cold taps, getting the temperature just right before stepping into the water. Spike groaned in honest pleasure as the almost scalding heat instantly started to soothe his overly tense muscles. He rubbed his hands over his upper arms in hard, slow circles, twisting and grabbing at his flesh, massaging the knots from his neck and shoulders. Spike pressed a pointed finger down hard on a couple of the deeper knots, wincing when, try as he might, he just couldn't get to a particularly sore knot that seemed to be deep under his right shoulder blade. Down his body he went, his small, slender but strong fingers rubbing away the tension in his lower back, buttocks and upper thighs that had started to ache. All the while, he couldn't keep his mind from how he was going to tell Xander about the ex-soldier's claim upon him.

~ Jesus, I'm such an f'n pansy. I knew this day would come sooner or later. I jus' gotta tell the boy and he'll put it right. Well, I hope he does. Hope to fuckin' hell he doesn't get killed in the process. Christ only knows what I'd do then? ~

Spike quickly washed his hair, waiting a few minutes before rinsing out the blue conditioner that took any brassiness out of bleached hair.

~ Suppose it would be back to the Watcher's then. Hello bathtub! 'Course, the old tight arse would probably keep on pretendin' I don' even exist. Fuckwit of an arsehole! ~

I'm gonna get a slapping, Spike sung to himself as he turned his attention back to his Claiming. The whole issue was tricky and he was sure that the whelp was going to go mental when he was told about what the unnamed ex-soldier had unwittingly done. It wasn't as if he could ignore it and Spike figured that he was lucky that the arsewipe of a country boy, Riley, hadn't yet read about it in one of Giles' books. Hell, even after all this time, Spike was still shocked that Xander had known what a Claim was, let alone how to perform one. Spike had told Xander almost everything about his rape in the crypt but had been too ashamed and disgusted to admit that a *human* had actually stooped so low as to piss *in* him, let alone rubbed urine all over his face. More significantly, massaged it into his vampiric facial ridges. But the fact remained, no matter how sick it made him to think about it or how angry it was going to make Xander, Spike had to tell Xander about the Claim. And the sooner, the better. Although Xander was visibly relaxed after the blowjob, from previous experience, Spike could tell Xander was going to be touchy all day.

Spike knew of four ways to release a Claim. The first was if Xander killed the Claimant, then fucked Spike in the Claimant's ash and initiated a Claim upon Spike. The second was if Xander fought the Claimant and dominated him, forcing the Claimant to acknowledge that Xander was the stronger of the two. Spike would then have to drink the blood of the Claimant, relegating the original Claimant as subservient to Spike. Thirdly, the Adored could run away from their Claimant until the five years was up, the Claim was dissipated and the Adored a free vampire again or finally, the Claimant could stake the Adored. A cum Claim, such as Xander's, was strong but a first Claim was always stronger, whether it be piss or cum. Angelus' cum Claim, not having been renewed every five years as required, had run out over a century ago once Angelus had regained his soul. Every vampire who put such a Claim into action never bothered about the five year requirement, usually preferring to re-initiate their Claim every few months or so. But the five year time period only applied to the initial Claim.

How it was going to work with a human as his Claimant, Spike really didn't have clue. Spike had never heard of anything even remotely like the bind he now found himself in. He didn't want to belong to the ex-soldier and he sure as hell didn't want to belong to Xander either but seeing as the boy was the lesser of two evils, Spike felt as if he really didn't have much choice in the matter.

~ Suppose I could always ask Peaches for help? ~

The vampire snorted to himself, a grimace on his face as he mentally berated himself for stooping so low as to even think of his old Sire.

~ Not fuckin' likely! I'd rather belong to Harris for all his short mortal life than ask Mr 'I've-got-a-broomstick-up-me-arse' to lend a hand. ~

Maybe it would work out, maybe it wouldn't, as he couldn't bite and he knew full well that Xander wasn't going to kill any of the soldiers, even Binty's fucktoy. Right, he thought as he pulled on clean boxers and track pants, let's get the show on the road. Spike walked through the doorway and headed towards the couch, followed by a billowing cloud of steam. Spike's stomach clenched as he sat down next to Xander, giving the boy a weak smile when Xander patted at Spike's thigh in what was obviously meant to be a reassuring manner.

~ Please don't hurt me too much, Pet. I'm sorry I didn't tell you 'bout it all, jus' didn't think they would come for me again. ~

With that thought in mind, Spike leaned down to pick up the small notebook from off the floor and once again retrieved a pen from underneath the couch cushion. In small, jerky sentences, he described what the soldiers had placed upon him, making sure to include all the known ways to break the Claim. His smile more of a grimace; Spike hurriedly shoved the crumpled notebook into Xander's hands, eyes scrunched tight as he waited for the inevitable.~

With my bloody luck, I'll walk away with only a couple of bruises. Hopefully the little shit won't pull out any of me hair, hurt like the fuck'n beejesus last time he went me and did it. ~

One minute.

Spike could feel Xander moving around on the couch as he waited for Xander to say something, anything really, about what he had written. Nose twitching not unlike a rabbit, Spike knew the very instant Xander's good mood took a serious nosedive, a nasty, dark scent overwhelming the lazy sweetness of Xander's former mood.

Three minutes.

Spike instinctively flinched as he heard Xander emit a long, soft sigh. Still, five minutes had passed and nothing had been said but, oh fuck me dead like right now, Spike was steadily convincing himself he could taste the acidic aroma of Xander's anger, the tang coating his tastebuds and making them tingle like there was no tomorrow.

Six minutes.

He couldn't take the silence anymore. Sure, it had only been a few minutes but as far pikepike was concerned, hours and days had passed. A deep gulp and Spike turned his head towards Xander, peeking at him from under lowered lashes. Something that Spike immediately regretted. Xander was sitting as still as a rock, staring at Spike with an odd little half smile on his face. If Spike didn't know better, he would have put Xander's expression down to the youth puzzling over a joke he didn't understand the punch line to but through long experience, the sheer black of Xander's eyes spoke of how angry he currently was. Spike felt himself tense, his body rigid for fear of provoking Xander by just moving even an inch. Oh, Spike knew he was going to cop it and that there was nothing he could do to prevent it but if he could just... just put it off for even another minute or two then...

~ Not me head. Anywhere but me head... please, Pet... Xander... I'm sorry. So stupid, I shoulda told you last night... Oh Jesus Christ, I'm in for it now... ~

"So. My Claim... my *protection* of you is nothing until the other claim is gone? Is that right, Spike... is that what you're telling me... hmmm... is it, Spike?" asked Xander in a polite voice, the calmness of his tone all too deceptive. Ok, Xander was coming to terms with what Spike had told him last night... sort of... exactly, not really as it was hard to imagine Riley, the all American poster boy for country upbringing, being nothing more than both a stalker and rapist but even though Xander did believe Spike... the two images of Riley were very hard to put together. But this, for Spike to now tell him that Xander wasn't even Spike's true Claimant... well, *that* was like getting punched in the face. As his thought trailed off, Xander wasn't at all surprised to find his fist already arcing towards Spike's face. Xander grunted with satisfaction as he felt his knuckles crash into the corner of the vampire's left eye, a momentary grin sliding across his face at hearing Spike squeal. "You better answer me when I ask you a question, Spike, or I swear to God, this is just a taste of what you'll be getting. Are you telling me... you fucking look at me when I speak to you... that I'm not your Claimant?"

Whine. Nod.

With sparks of pain ripping through the vision of his left eye, Spike dared not even raise his hand from his side to touch at the eye that was already starting to bruise. Spike was lucky; Xander had only managed to graze his fist over his eye, Spike's cheek taking most of the impact. Still, for his eye to blacken and swell, Xander would only have to give him another solid punch. His chest hitching with the onset of a panic attack, Spike mentally berated himself for not telling the boy the truth the night before. No-one else to blame but himself.

"Let's see shall we? According to *you*, the best options would be to either kill this guy or run away for five years? Because, let's face it, you can't bite anymore and I'm sure as hell not going one-on-one with a commando and coming out on top am I... is that right? "

Gulp. Whine. Nod.

"I'm betting that Riley's little friend doesn't know... *you* belong to *him*... because, I'm thinking if he did, you wouldn't be here. You'd either be a pile of dust or The Initiative's official mascot. Hey, you know… if you were their mascot... would they like, take it in turns to walk you around Sunnydale on a leash? Nah... probably not,after all, you know what their favourite exercise for you is... don't you? DON'T YOU? Yeah, you nod... you piece of shit. Just why the fuck do I put up with you..." Xander's thoughts drifted as he realised he would have to do something he had never done in his life; steal. Chiefly the book Giles liked to read with one hand. Xander felt himself redden as he recalled his own particular interest in the book. He glared at the vampire sitting next to him. It was all Spike's fault... again... as usual. There was just no way he could rely solely on what Spike had to say about the situation, especially if murdering a fellow human being was one of the options available. And it's really not the option for me, Xander muttered to himself as he imagined walking up to the arsehole and introducing himself before killing him.

Xander continued to stare at Spike, for once not bothering to soothe the vampire as Spike started to pant softly. "You know I'm pissed off, don't you?"

Gasp. Nod. 'Yes' grunt.

"Good. Just thought I'd let you know." Xander nodded to himself as he turned his attention to the blank tv screen in front of him. A bare instant later, Xander lashed out, connecting with Spike's already discoloured cheek. Again and again he pummelled the pale body next to him, Spike's breathy grunts of pain only serving to fuel his anger.

PUNCH...

SMASH...

Spike bore the pounding fists as he always did; hands hovering over the chip in his head, body turned slightly to one side and his legs pulled up. He hunched over so that most of Xander's blows would end up leaving their mark on his arms, back and thighs. Turning his face away from the seething youth next to him, Spike desperately tried to blink away his tears. If Xander should catch him crying... God only knew how nasty Xander would turn then. Fuck, he was such a moron... just look where being terminally retarded had gotten him now...

~I'm sorry... not gonna cry... not gonna cry... ~

SLAP...

PUNCH...

~ Ooooff, that hurt... should have told him last night. Was gettin' screamed at anyway... shoulda just got over and done with all at once… not gonna cry… not gonna... ... aaahhhh.... stop... please? ~

Xander was fuming, his mind racing at the thought of those arseholes being able to make a claim at what was supposed to Xander's property. Damn, if only he had read the whole book... not just the 'oh-my-god-I'm-so-hard-I-could-crack-concrete' chapters. If he had, then at least he would have known about the other type of Claim. Scowling even as he gave Spike one last solid punch to the upper arm, Xander recalled reading about the five-year time limit of the Claim. Xander had known that any type of Claim Angel had once had on Spike would have been void after five years, well, everything but the whole confusing Sire/Childe thingy... and that was something he was going to have to get Spike to explain to him one day. No way in hell did Xander want to sort out this mess only to find that he would have to fight Angel for ownership of Spike. Christ, why couldn't things ever be simple for him? He shook his head; he lived on an active Hellmouth... *why* would his life be easy? With both hands wound tightly through Spike's hair, Xander forced Spike to look at him. Sourly, Xander sat and glared at the vampire for a moment, noting that Spike was trying his hardest to sniff back his tears before they broke free. Resisting the temptation to start laying into Spike once again, Xander instead shoved his face into Spike's. "You don't go out unless it's with me. Do I make myself clear? Not even down the park. You don't leave this apartment for anything, not one fucking thing!"

~ Yeah mate, crystal clear. Don't worry; don't wanna go nowhere where those twats can get at me. ~

Nodding, Spike hissed under his breath when Xander released his grip on Spike's hair, giving the vampire a stinging slap across the head before getting to his feet. Remaining as still as possible, Spike watched Xander throw on some clothes and his shoes.

"I gotta go past Giles' place, see if I can borrow his stick book. I was thinking about getting a couple of videos for us to watch later tonight but I guess that can wait now, can't it? I gotta get you out of yet another mess... don't I? Jesus, Spike, just what the hell would you do without me?" sneered Xander as he tied the laces on his sneakers. Straightening up, Xander crossed over to the front door. Door unlocked, he made to pass through the doorway but turned at the last minute to look back at the still sniffling vampire on the couch. "Well, I'll tell you... not much because if I hadn't rescued you, you'd have starved into a big pile of dust and right now, you'd be making the crypt look shittier than anyone could ever imagine, that's what. And what thanks do I get from you... hmmm... how do you repay me... by screwing up my life *again*... thanks, Spike, thanks a fucking lot. Oh, and if you're not here and sitting on that couch when I get back, you can forget about ever coming through this door again... got it? Good."

~ Yeah, yeah... woof, woof. Trust me, I want this fixed as much as you do... more actually. ~

His body aching, Spike watched Xander stomp through the door, sighing raggedly as he heard Xander lock the deadbolt from outside. When he could no longer hear Xander's footsteps as the youth walked down the hallway, Spike allowed himself to relax. He carefully lowered his legs, giving a watery sniffle as he winced from the shooting pain of brand new bruises. He glanced towards the door; great, no getting out... well, it was actually just a simple matter of barging straight through the door itself but Spike was pretty sure that Xander wouldn't be impressed. Or, as Spike reasoned with himself, he could just hurl himself out the fourth floor window, although, how he would get back in again was anyone's theory.

~ Boy would just kick the shit outta me if he ever found out I ignored his 'advice'... wouldn't be worth the bloody hassle jus' for a few minutes by meself. ~

Sitting stiffly on the couch, Spike wiped at his eyes and waited for Xander to return.

Taking the stairs two at a time, Xander pleaded with all the numerous gods and goddesses that neither Riley or, by some slim chance, one of his ex-Iniative buddies had clued themselves in about a certain vampire ritual. Xander ran a hand over his face, rubbing his eyes as he continued to bound down the hard concrete stairwell. He honestly didn't know what the hell he would do if someone tried to take Spike from him.

"I'm used to him now... and I don't want him to leave. I mean, he's fairly useless most of the time... what, with the constant waterworks and the forever following me around like a fucking dog but I'll like, totally miss him. I think?" Xander shook his head, flipping his collar up to protect his neck from the chill of the autumn day as he stepped into the dimly lit underground carpark. "I don't want to lose him yet, half the time, I can't stand the sight of him. Humpf, just way too weird right now. First, the G-man's place and the book... and how am I supposed to talk my way into borrowing it? Hey Giles, found a book with some majorly sticky pages, insert the nudge, nudge, wink, wink, when I snooped through your private things a few months ago and since reading it, my 'alone time' has achieved a significant power factor.... can I borrow it to show Spike so he knows what to expect when I wanna go kinky?"

"Not that planning to fuck a male vampire isn't kinky enough by itself," Xander grumbled to himself, racking his brain as he tried to come up with some sort of semi plausible explanation as to why he was stealing one of Giles' much loved books. Reaching his beaten up car, Xander patted his pockets for his car keys. With a shiver at the bite in the cool air, he wished he had put on some warmer clothing while Spike had been in the shower. He briefly entertained the idea of going back to the apartment for a jacket but he knew that if he went back, he would just start laying into Spike again and besides, his hands were already hurting.
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Once Bitten, Twice Shy