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Slip Slide Melting	By : Tisienne Category: > Spike(William)/Xander > Spike(William)/Xander Views: 5066 -:- 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
- 1-Slip Slide Melting
- 2-Part 1
- 3-Part 2
- 4-Part 3
- 5-Part 4
- 6-Part 5
- 7-Part 7
- 8-Part 7
- 9-Part 8
- 10-Part 9
- 11-Part 10
- 12-Part 11
- 13-Part 12 & 13
- 14-Part 14
- 15-Part 15
- 16-Part 16
- 17-Part 17
- 18-Part 18
- 19-Part 19
- 20-Part 20
- 21-Epilogue...
- 5
- 6
- 7
* * * * * * * * *
Part 5

�Hey, babe, what�s wrong?� Faith demanded, rubbing a towel over her damp hair as she stepped from the training mat.

The tall, dark-haired former-vampire shrugged and dropped a kiss on her sweaty forehead. �Nothing, really. Magus wants to see me so I thought I�d let you know I might be late for dinner, okay?�

The Slayer laughed and shook her head, the vertical pupils of her eyes widening just a bit. �You mean you might not make it at all and you don�t want to be the one to tell Robin and Giles. I so see through you, stud.�

He had the grace to blush slightly, much as he hated doing it. �I�ll try not to be too long. Promise. Besides, I think it�s just� some new regs. We had another attempt the other night.�

�And nobody told me?� Faith demanded angrily, her tiny fangs growing just a bit, �I�m still a Slayer, right? Someone should have said something!�

�Faith. Baby. He wasn�t that bright, okay? He didn�t even make it to the front doors.� He grinned winningly, swallowing a sigh of relief when his wife calmed a bit. �Besides, he�s been eliminated. No muss, no fuss.�

The Slayer grumbled a bit but finally nodded. �Okay, babe. But next time, you make sure someone clues me. I like knowing what�s going on; especially when our kids are here too, y�know?�

The brunette nodded, looking at the floor. �I�m sorry. I didn�t want you to worry. Hey, let me walk you back to our floor, okay? I can be a few minutes late to meet Xander.�

* * * * *

�Are they gone?� came a whisper as the door closed behind Faith and Angel.

�Yeah� I think it�s safe,� a second voice answered.

The four Citadel guards stumbled from the locker room attached to the training area and helped each other to the door.

�Damn� that Slayer�s still a tough one,� one of them groaned, gasping as he put too much weight on his sore ankle.

�I guess she�d have to be,� another replied, rubbing the huge lump on his forehead, �You know� to be married to the Captain and the other two.�

�No shit,� the first one snorted, coughing when the action had him swallowing blood. �The Archivist and his Apprentice aren�t any softer, either. That whole family is tough� even the kids!�

They made their way slowly to the Infirmary, knowing there�d be staff there waiting for them.

�On the bright side, we�re out of the Training rotation with all of them for another month��

�Yeah, at which point we get to do this all over again.�

�Well, maybe we�ll get injured in the line of duty before then. You know� permanently.�

Sadly, they were all only partly kidding when they agreed that it was a worthwhile hope.

* * * * *

One thing that had definitely changed about the boy seated behind the desk was that these days, his stare was decidedly more intense.

Then again, he supposed he couldn�t really call Xander Harris a boy anymore, no matter that he still looked to be twenty-three or so.

Fact was, the boy he�d once known as the Slayer�s�the other Slayer�s�White Knight was neither of those things. The magic that had changed him�made him the Magus Prime�had also hardened him in some ways while leaving him relatively human in others.

Of course, none of those reflections was enlightening him as to why he was here in Xander�s office, or why the guy was just� staring at him, unless it was to make him uncomfortable, because it was definitely doing that.

�Uh, Xander�?� he finally tried, wondering what the hell was going on. He knew the Magus didn�t much like him, but he�d never been quite so� obvious about it. �What�s going on?�

Xander cocked his head, still gazing at the one-time vampire. His cheeks hollowed a bit as he bit gently at the inside of his mouth and steepled his fingers in front of him. �That�s a really good question, isn�t it, Angel? What�s going on. Yeah, that�s maybe the best question ever, isn�t it, Angel?�

He had a feeling that he looked entirely confused, but then again, he was. �Yeah� and since I�m the one who asked it��

A short nod answered the human�s befuddled response and Xander sighed. �Alright. If you really want to know, I�m curious about something.�

He got up and paced around the desk, leaning against it when he stood in front of the former vampire�s chair.

He crossed his arms over his chest and stared deep into Angel�s brown eyes, looking for� something� as he spoke.

�I�m wondering if you can tell me why you wanted Andrew to kill Spike, Angel. And don�t,� he nearly growled, holding up one hand in a halting gesture before crossing it with the other again, �Don�t try to tell me that you didn�t know it was him. I�ll know if you lie to me. Hell, I can smell your fear right now.�

Andrew� this was all Andrew�s fault! He should have just had the pathetic little weakling bring Spike to him. Then Spike would be dead, which he obviously wasn�t, and� and the Magus was still staring at him. �I� Xander, look, it�s��

Xander sighed and muttered one very short syllable with very specific intent, smiling a touch darkly when the human found himself speaking but no sound emerging from his lips. One more sharp syllable had the man motionless in the chair.

�I told you I�d know if you were lying to me. I always know. I just don�t usually call you on it, but in this case�� he sighed, glad he�d waited this long to confront the man. He was still furious, but with the two days since Spike had appeared, he�d at least managed to calm himself enough that he wasn�t likely to do any serious harm to his Captain.

�See, I have a theory, Angel,� he said, his tone nearly conversational. �I think you were afraid of what Spike might say; that maybe�just maybe�Spike knows something you don�t want anyone else knowing.�

He nodded slowly to himself as the stench of fear poured from the human more thickly.

�The question is� what could it be, hmmm? I mean, there are so many options.�

Xander let his eyes glitter darkly, small sparks of light scattered through solid black in what Willow always called �the night-sky eyes of Magedom� and moved, sprawling almost casually in the chair beside the former-vampire�s.

�See, I�ve been thinking about it ever since I heard Spike was back. What could your Favored Childe know that would have you wanting him dusted? Is it the fact that you killed the dragon, not Spike�the way you said, by the way? Because that would mean all of this was your fault, wouldn�t it? I mean, everyone knows it was the dragon�s blood that opened the gateway to the magic� so if you killed it, the whole Change was your fault. And the Chaos-times too, right?�

He let his head roll against the back of the chair and gazed at the man from under his lashes, seeing the panic building in his Captain.

�I considered that first, actually, because Spike said something very interesting when we met here the night he came back. He said something about� you not being willing to be back in the world and not a hero, y�know? And� I can see that. I�ve known you for a while, haven�t I? And you do like to be important.�

The human found himself breathing just a little bit easier. The Magus thought he had him all figured out? Good. And okay, maybe he�d lied about the dragon, but so what? Spike had been dead at the time, so� it wasn�t like the vampire cared.

Of course, then Xander spoke on and the once-vamp found himself tensing even more. He�d run if he had to. Knock Xander out and just run away until nobody could find him, and� and that would leave his family without his protection� but he could do it. Would if he had to� he thought. Maybe. Even if Faith would hunt him down and kill him slowly� painfully� and probably messily, as well.

�So yeah, I thought maybe that was it, y�know? That you were the one who�d done this to the world and you were ashamed. Maybe even scared of people finding out. But would that be enough reason for you to have your Favored Childe dusted?� Xander chuckled, still furious but doing his best to sound reasonable.

�I don�t think so. I mean, it may be a part of it, but I don�t think it�s the whole. Is it, Angelus?� he demanded.

Angelus blinked at the black and silver eyes suddenly a mere inch from his own brown and swallowed hard. His throat worked hard but still no sound emerged.

He knew! Xander Harris knew, and� how could he know? It wasn�t� he�d hidden it so well! Nobody knew!

Xander�s smile was nasty and cruel as he nodded. �Yeah� I think that�s it, Angel. You wanted Spike dead for good because you were afraid he�d spill your little secret. Even knowing that I had-- have-- feelings for him�and you had to know because I just realized what all those smug glances of yours were about when I was with Thomas�you wanted him dead to� protect your identity or some such shit.�

He growled softly and leaned closer still. �Be glad, Angelus,� he whispered clearly, �that Andrew came to me. Be very glad. If he hadn�t� if he�d listened to you and dusted Spike? I would have killed you myself. And Andrew, too. Because your �secret�?� He chuckled coldly. �Not so much of a secret. I�ve always known, Angelus. Faith always knew. And as for Giles and Robin? Well, they�re not exactly stupid, are they?�

On that note, he straightened and moved behind his desk again.

He stared at Angelus for a few more minutes then released his small spells and poured two large glasses of whiskey from the decanter on his desk.

Angelus was gaping, even as he felt himself taking the offered glass and downing the fiery honey-hued liquor with a gasp. �Y� you knew?� he nearly whimpered, meeting brown-again eyes desperately, �But� how?�

Xander sighed and forced himself to release some of his anger. �I guess we should talk, Captain.�

And if the Magus Prime was still calling him Captain, maybe things weren�t quite as bad as he�d thought. Maybe he wouldn�t have to run for his life, after all.

* * * * *

Spike was fascinated by the �new world� he�d woken up in.

Of course, it helped that he was living in the lap of bloody luxury and apparently had been set up with some sort of account.

He�d been so stunned by the assortment of imported foods Xander had sent him that it hadn�t been until the next day that he�d found the envelope in one of the discarded bags.

~Hope these help you feel at home, Spike. Use the card for clothes or whatever� Thomas�s things look good on you but they aren�t really your style.

I�ll be in touch about that testimony, okay?

X~

The fact that the enclosed card had some sort of tingly feel to it didn�t bother him. The fact that it had his new name embossed on it did.

How had Xander managed to get something like that set up so quickly?

Of course, then he�d contacted the number on the back of the card and discovered just how generous his not-friend had been, and�

Yeah, it was good to be King� or at least, it was good to be on the King�s�or Magus Prime�s, as the case may be�dime.

He�d taken advantage of it while he could, of course. New jeans, new Docs, new t-shirts� and a few more opulent items that would be comforting to have around once his ass was kicked out of the fucking amazing apartment he�d been staying in.

He figured he had maybe another day or so before he told his story to whomever Xander sent to talk to him, and then the boy�s Magus Prime wouldn�t have any more use for him and it�d be back to having nothing again.

�And that�s bloody fine,� he told himself over the sounds coming from the magetrix unit. He�d been amazed by the assortment of old punk available online� and even more amazed to find that there were a truly incredible number of demon bands around these days who played chaotic thrash just as well as the old groups.

�Maybe I can get a job as a bouncer or something� make some connections, manage some blokes� something.� Because the bad side of the world being mostly demons and other magic-types was� even vampires needed to work for a living. Especially if they wanted luxuries like the apartment he was sitting in right then. And he did want those sorts of things. He�d spent enough time with nothing to call his own.

�I�ll bet Xander could put a word in, yeah?� He frowned. �But why would he, �ey? Sent me food, sure. And the card to shop with� but that�s just to keep me here until he gets what he wants from me.�

�Could have tossed you in a cell and you�d have told him what he wanted to know,� the soul whispered insistently, as it had been doing for three days now, �Could have told Thomas to send you some more clothes� or kept you here naked��

Spike shivered and tried to ignore the images of being kept by Xander Harris� and even more to the point, being kept naked by same.

�Bloody hell,� he groaned, tugging the long velvet robe tighter around him, �Wonder if I can use that card to buy me a bloke� rent one, anyway��

It was a good thought, he figured, although searching the info-base on the magetrix didn�t turn up anything under �escorts� or any other euphemism Spike could think of. Even the massage parlours were very clearly and obviously just that.

�Fucking hell! Where does a bloke look to rent himself a bloke for the night!� he snarled at the ceiling, only to blink like a moron when the magetrix unit pinged at him and flashed up a display of available services under the heading �Sex for Hire�.

He blinked again then laughed delightedly. �Oh, I bloody love this world!�

* * * * *

He still wasn�t thrilled with Angelus, and he was entirely sure that he�d never like the man. Then again, he didn�t really need to like him. He needed to trust him, though, and� now that the lies were uncovered and the former-vampire had come clean, so to speak, he figured the tiny bit of distrust he�d always held for Angelus would dissipate on its own.

He�d taken the man on as the Captain of the Citadel Guard because of his history, after all. Or mostly. It had also been because of the reason he�d told Spike. He�d sort of walked in and took over the Hyperion, regardless of whether Angelus owned it or not.

Still, the human had lived for more than two hundred years. He�d seen all sorts of evil. Hell, he�d been all sorts of evil for much of it. Even when he�d been subservient to the soul, Angelus had been in there and aware.

It must have been a huge fucking shock to wake up after Angel�s final battle to find that he was human� and a demon without powers. A mortal demon tied to humanity.

His own personal theory was that it was the Change itself that had created the seemingly impossible juxtaposition of a demon in a human body. After all, in the early days the supposed full-humans had almost all been changing, taking on aspects of whatever demonic or other blood was back there in their family trees.

He figured it was likely that the demon had been in that body for so long it had superseded any other demonic �taint�. It seemed likely, in any case.

Hell, even Angelus had agreed after a while.

They were still going to call him Angel, of course. Angelus had gotten used to it in the last couple decades. And it wouldn�t be fair to him or the Guard to out him now.

In fact, much as Xander hated to admit it, the demon had more of a sense of humanity now than Angel had ever had.

They�d still have to do something about Spike being blamed for the Change, but he figured it would only be right to let Spike decide how he wanted to handle that.

And that was part of why he was currently striding through the streets of the city on his way to the Vampire Sector and the apartment he�d assigned to his�

�My nothing,� Xander muttered bluntly to himself. �He�s not my anything, and he never will be, so just� go there, get his statement, pretend you�re still the Zeppo and� get out. Assign someone to be his representative and moderate whatever compensation he wants for Angelus sullying his good name�� And even he couldn�t say that last part without laughing. �Good name�. That was a good one. He�d have to remember to tell Spike. The vampire would laugh his ass off and then, well� laughing could lead to other things, and�

He sighed again. Spike wouldn�t want to enjoy the joke with him, much less anything more. Hell, he�d be surprised if the other man even asked about the eye he�d decided not to hide. Why would Spike care, after all?

�Right� just get it done.�

And he would. He�d talk to Spike and walk away, and while he was sure the vampire would go on with his life and never think of him again, Xander was pretty damned sure that he wouldn�t be able to do the same. Not when he�d obviously never gotten over the bleached blond� even if he hadn�t known he�d had a thing for him until just a few days earlier.

This time, though� oh, this time, Spike would be gone and he wouldn�t even be able to pretend he didn�t choose his own lovers based upon their resemblance, and� similar would never be enough. It had never been before, after all, even when he hadn�t realized what he was doing, so�

�Fuck. I guess it�s celibacy again. Shit. Or� maybe a female?� Well, yeah. That might work. Assuming he found one who was both interested and interesting, and that would mean socializing, and� The thought alone made him shudder.

He sighed and slowed down as he reached the Guard�s Station at the entry to the Vampire Sector and threw back the hood of his jacket, letting the glamour he was wearing show. �Uh, here for Mister� Nemoy.�

Michaels raked his eyes down then up the young demon�s body then nodded slowly. �Another one, huh? Then again, he�s a Master. Two hire-lads should be about right. Papers?�

�What the fuck? Hire-lads?� Xander thought, even as he reached into his pocket and created appropriate papers from nothing, including his own seal of approval. But� Spike wasn�t gay! Why would he have a� hire-lad? Unless� maybe Spike was more like other vampires than he�d thought.

�Go on in,� the guard said, �And tell him Michaels says hi.�

Xander nodded distractedly as he resumed walking, his mind still turning over the concept of Spike hiring a male� for sex.

He was so distracted, in fact, that he entirely forgot to put on the eye patch in his pocket.

* * * * *

tbc...

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Slip Slide Melting