The Deal

By Esmeralda

Part One

An extremely agitated Buffy paced around Giles' room, stabbing her hands in the air wildly. "They came out of nowhere. One minute I was dusting a majorly bad dressed vamp, all wing collars and corduroy. Then *they* appeared, grabbed Xander and took off. I didn't even see which way they went." Distraught she turned to her Watcher. "I tried to find him, Giles. Really I did, but...." she trailed off.

"I'm sure you did everything you could." Giles reassured her firmly. "Right now the important thing is to identify what sort of Demon has Xander. Then perhaps we'll know why they took him and-"

"-where to look." Buffy finished. "I know." She slumped onto the couch. Giles frowned in concern and sympathy. He leaned over the back of the couch, holding an open book out in front of the girl. "Were they anything like this?"

Buffy stared hard at the illustration. After a moment or two she shook her head. "Less 'grr' and bumpy. More smooth and pasty." She pursed her lips thoughtfully. "*Very* pasty," she added.

"Like albinos, you mean?"

Buffy shrugged helplessly. "I don't know." Her voice rose in frustration.

"Maybe I should go back out? Patrol some more." She was already up and moving toward the door. "I might pick up their trail-"

"-which, according to what you've already told me, they didn't leave." Giles reminded her gently.

Buffy paused with her hand on the door handle. She glanced back at Giles, her face openly telegraphing her distress.

Giles looked at her sadly. "I know you're worried, Buffy. So am I." He motioned toward the book in his hands. "I just think we're better knowing what we are dealing with before we go rushing off."

"I just feel so useless," said Buffy softly, as she walked back to the couch. She sat down, knees together, hands clasped tightly in front of her. "It's *my* fault, Giles. I should never have let him come with me."

Her mouth set in a tight line. "I should never let any of them come with me, *ever*."

Giles sighed. He understood Buffy's feelings of guilt and blame, though personally he felt she was being too harsh upon herself. True, her friends were not as well equipped to fight the forces of darkness as she was, but what they lacked in supernatural strength and fighting skills, they more than made up for in simple courage and determination. Not to mention pure blind luck. Though it seemed that this evening Xander's luck had taken a definite turn for the worse.

--------------------

The young man had just started work in a new bar in town - having decided to give the role of bartender one last spin. He had offered to join Buffy on patrol when he got off at 2.00. Buffy would usually have declined his help, but for the fact it was the first real - 'let me get out and kick some demon ass' - sign they'd had from Xander since his split with Anya.

The relationship between 'non-college guy' and the former vengeance demon had taken everyone a little bit by surprise, not least of all Xander. However, the two seemed to 'click' and things progressed in leaps and bounds; that was until Xander began to find himself growing oddly wearisome of Anya's continuous sexual demands. A little freaked, he had gone to the Watcher for advice. An embarrassed Xander stuttered out his problem to an equally uncomfortable Giles.

The young man had confessed that at first he'd been overcome with nervous wonder at having a beautiful girl come on to him, and, as with Cordy, he had been in a state of perpetual, anxious excitement. However, as the initial *wow* factor faded and things shifted into relationship mode, it was evident - to him at least - that all was not as it should be. His body responded to the girl on a purely physical level, but mentally and emotionally he just wasn't feeling 'enough' of anything and he felt like he was just going through the motions. As a result, Xander felt ashamed and guilty. He was finding it increasingly difficult to get aroused and when he did it was all he could do to maintain interest. What was wrong with him?

Giles had suggested, as kindly as he could, that perhaps the two had leapt into a physical relationship too quickly and they needed to calm things down in order to get to know one another better. Xander had morosely replied that he wasn't sure he wanted to. Something didn't feel *right* but Xander was at a loss to explain what it was, and Giles was left feeling he had let the boy down by failing to provide a solution.

The Watcher's hope - that everything would work itself out - proved to be a vain one. Giles didn't know all the details but it seemed that Xander had repeatedly 'failed to perform', leaving Anya hurt and confused. Things had deteriorated rapidly, until finally Anya declared her intention to leave town, probably, she admitted, for good this time. A thoroughly confused Xander was left to question what on earth was wrong when he turned away a beautiful, intelligent girl who wanted him all the time?

Xander spent several weeks swinging from panic, to depression, to - as he put it - unmanly displays of emotion. It was a good three months before he began to pull himself back together, climbing his way back out of the black pit he'd fallen into. The young man had announced that he'd decided to put the whole 'relationship thingie' on hold indefinitely, or at least until he'd sorted out what he wanted to do with his life.

The others had been supportive and sympathetic, recognising that he wouldn't get anything from home in that quarter. Willow in particular, had been very patient and understanding. Though she couldn't offer much by way of an explanation as to why things hadn't worked out. "Maybe she just wasn't the one ?" The red-head had suggested.

"The one?" Xander asked nonplussed.

"Yeah, you know. The *one*." Willow emphasised the word, as though that would clear up all the confusion. When it was apparent it hadn't, she sighed. "The right one. The one you're supposed to be with."

"I'm supposed to be with someone?" Xander looked frustrated, then his expression cleared. "Ah. This is that mysterious romance and destiny stuff, right?"

Willow grinned and nodded her head excitedly.

"Well, no offence, Willow. But I kinda gave up on *that* when I was six." His tone was bitter.

Willow's face fell. She understood Xander's disillusionment; his family wasn't the best advertisement for love and happiness. She sighed again, then linked her arm through his and offered him a reassuring smile. "There *is* someone for you, Xander Harris, count on it," she said decisively. Xander just smiled sadly and allowed himself to be led to lunch.

--------------------

Now it seemed that the strange life of Xander Harris had taken yet another bizarre twist. In the middle of a vampire attack, a handful of pale skinned, hairless demons had dashed into the fray, literally scooping him up and running off into the night. By the time Buffy had dusted her two combatants, the demons were no longer in sight. She had tried desperately to pick up their trail, and when that had failed she had raced to the Watcher's house for help.

They had called Willow to ask her to bring some books from the library and the magic shop; so far they had failed to turn up any trace of Xander's abductors in Giles' collection.

An annoyed British voice cut through the Watcher's preoccupied thoughts. "Oi! Is any one gonna feed me? Cos I'm bloody starving in 'ere."

"Shut up. Spike." Buffy snapped, jumping to her feet, her hands tight by her sides.

"Later, Spike," Giles called out. "We're a little busy right now."

"So I 'eard. " Spike sounded vaguely amused. "Must say, I didn't think he was their type."

The Slayer and the Watcher both froze and then looked at one another.

"Spike!" Buffy exclaimed urgently.

"He knows who they are!" Giles cried in agreement.

They raced into the bathroom. Spike ignored them. The bleached blonde's gaze was fixed firmly on the flickering screen in front of him, as he sprawled as best he could in the narrow tub. A spot of inappropriate behaviour had seen the vampire's freedom curtailed - hence the reissue of the heavy shackles around his wrists and ankles.

Buffy clutched the side of the tub. "Spike, tell us who they are."

Spike didn't even glance at her. "Keep it down, pet. Trying to watch the telly 'ere."

With an impatient 'tsk', Giles switched off the set, ignoring Spike's indignant "Hey!"

The vampire turned his gaze to glower at them both. "You want to know who took your little chum?" He paused dramatically. "Oenan demons. They always hunt in packs. Pale guys? Kinda smooth and slick looking? No hair?"

Buffy nodded worriedly.

Spike looked smug. "That's them."

"But why take the boy? Why Xander? Why not Buffy?" Giles asked.

"Well duh. Because she's a girl, mate. Least she was last time I checked," the vampire leered, looking up and down the Slayer's body.

Buffy hit him. His head snapped back with the force of the blow. "Ow!" He growled menacingly. Neither Buffy nor Giles paid him any heed.

"You're a pig, Spike," said Buffy with disgust. "Just tell us why they've taken Xander?"

Spike held up his chained wrists pointedly. "Let me out of these and I'll tell you."

Buffy gave him a 'you must be kidding me' look.

"Fine." Spike dropped his hands. "I'm sure Xander will be very happy with his new friends. Now turn the telly back on."

Something in the vampire's tone made Giles go cold. "Spike, if you wish to leave this bath other than via a dustpan and brush, I suggest you tell us what has happened to Xander right now."

Even Spike seemed a little taken aback at the venom in the Watcher's tone. "Easy there, mate. Don't have a coronary."

"So, talk." Buffy demanded.

Spike raised his eyes to the ceiling dramatically. "Alright. They live in clans, big clans. I mean like a hundred or more. They live underground or in caves. They don't have to avoid the sun, they just don't like it much."

"And? What else?" Buffy snapped. She was getting impatient with the vampire's procrastinating. Her friend was in trouble and all this inactivity was making her twitchy.

Spike glared at her. "I'm telling you, aren't I?"

"Get to the point quick, Spike." Buffy drew a stake out from beneath her jacket. "Or I will." She waved the sharpened wood at him meaningfully. Spike tried not to flinch from it. He poured out the rest in something of a hurry, all the while staring hatefully at the stake and its bearer.

Oenan demons lived in nomadic tribes of up to two hundred. They preferred to avoid areas heavily populated by humans, except when they were hunting for a new mate.

"A 'mate'?" Buffy's eyebrows rose in disbelief.

"Yeah, you know. A partner, a spouse, a good shag-"

Giles cut in. "So these demons are matriarchal?"

Vampire and Slayer both stared blankly at the Watcher.

"The females lead the hunt? Or was that just in this case?"

Spike laughed nastily. "Not quite, mate." He continued to chuckle softly while the two stared at him impatiently. It was only when Buffy tapped the stake against the side of the tub that he quickly explained the source of his amusement. The Oenan lived in single sex groups. Male and female clans only came together at the breeding grounds, once every seventy years, to mate. The Oenan were disgusted by the idea of opposite sex relations for anything other than producing more Oenans. Their 'life-partners', or one night stands, were always same-sex. Small raiding parties sometimes ventured into towns and cities during 'the hunt', in order to find a mate outside of their own clan. Obviously one of the young bucks had taken a shine to Xander, "-though god knows why," Spike muttered.

"But Xander's human." Buffy said needlessly.

"Doesn't matter. " Spike explained. "They're quite big on inter-mingling, even with your namby pamby lot." His eyes suddenly took on a far off look. "Knew one meself once. Met him after Dru took up with some disgusting Nexus demon." His mouth twisted in angry recollection then relaxed as he thought of the Oenan. "Now there was a guy who had it where it counts." Spike sounded almost wistful. He turned his focus back to the present and discovered the Watcher and the Slayer staring at him open mouthed. "What?" he snapped defensively.

"You?...You and a?...You with one of *them*?" Buffy stammered. "A demon? A *guy* demon?"

"Yeah, Why not?"

"But..." Buffy's voice trailed off and she blushed hotly.

Spike grinned at her discomfort. "Bloody good shag he was. Only ever 'ad one better and he has a nasty tendency to get all broody about it afterwards."

Giles decided now might be a good time to interrupt. He had an idea where this conversation was heading and he was quite sure that this wasn't the moment for Buffy to learn that her ex-boyfriend also swung both ways. It wasn't a piece of vampire etiquette he had felt comfortable discussing with a teenage girl and he was extremely doubtful that Angel had ever mentioned it. "Listen this is all terribly fascinating, but what we need to know is where their lair is in Sunnydale, so we can rescue Xander."

Spike snorted. "Good luck with that little venture, mate."

"What do you mean?" Giles asked.

"I *mean*, that they're hardly likely to hand him back if you go calling, are they?" He looked at Buffy. "And no offence, pet, but you're no match for a hundred pissed off Oenans."

"They're bad?" Buffy guessed.

"Lethal," Spike replied. "Gotta be ain't they. All them guys hanging out together for hundreds of years. All they do is fight and shag, stands to reason they're bloody good at both."

"Oh dear," said Giles, removing his glasses to clean them.

"So we'll just stun them or something!" Buffy exclaimed, upset at Giles' obvious disheartenment. "Or a spell! That's it. We can get Willow to cast a spell."

Spike shook his head.

"No spell?" said Buffy mournfully.

"Sorry, pet. They're pretty much immune to the mojo stuff."

Buffy was angry. "How come we've never heard of these guys? I mean super warrior demons you can't throw spells at? Why aren't they in one of those big books? Why aren't they out taking over the world or something?!" she cried.

"Not their thing," Spike said. "They're not interested in territory or power, or even violence outside their own lot. The only time they mix is when they want fresh meat." He leered. "Looks like Xan was dish of the
day."

"They'll eat him?!" Buffy exclaimed in horror.

"Only figuratively speaking, pet," Spike said crudely.

Buffy blushed and then paled as the meaning of his words sank in. She turned to Giles. "We *have* to get him out of there. I'll just have to tool up. Maybe Willow can cast some sort of spell on me? A protection spell or something?" She was fired up and ready for action, deadly demons or no deadly demons.

Giles was not so certain. "I'm not so sure that this is the way to do this, Buffy..."

"Giles, we can't just leave Xander with these guys," said Buffy.

"No. No. Of course not," said Giles defensively. "However, we still have no idea of their exact numbers, or the location of their lair." Buffy looked back down at the vampire. "Spike?"

"I'll tell." Spike offered. "On one condition."

"Which is?" Buffy was tiring of all this 'talk and no action'.

"You fix me and let me go."

"Out of the question," said Giles.

Buffy's response was a snort of laughter.

"Fine." Spike's mouth tightened. "Then I hope your friend can lie back and take it like a man."

"Giles?" Buffy looked at the Watcher beseechingly.

The Watcher was equally disturbed by Spike's inference. "Look, be reasonable, Spike. We don't *know* how to fix you, and if we did it would hardly be responsible of us to turn you loose afterwards."

"I'm not saying you have to be happy about it, peaches. Just *do it*. Find out how to fix me. I mean," the vampire looked annoyed, "you haven't even tried."

Giles had the good grace to look slightly guilty. It was perfectly true he hadn't investigated the possibility of removing Spike's implant. It was a long way down on his list of priorities. In fact it hadn't even made it onto the reserve list. "Alright, I'll look into it."

"Giles!" Buffy looked shocked.

"Buffy, *please*"

She fell silent, pouting slightly.

Giles replaced his glasses and fought off a sigh. He sometimes forgot how very young the Slayer was. To her, the world could still seem black and white, even after all she'd seen and suffered. Only time would reveal the shades of grey that made up the mainstay of life.

"What about lettin' me go?" Spike pressed.

This time Buffy decided she was going to call the shots. "You get a head start. A count of ten, then all bets are off."

"That's your offer?" Spike didn't sound too happy about it.

"That's it. Take it or leave it." Buffy's face was hard. "I suggest you take it."

"How do I know you'll keep your end of the deal?"

"Same as always. You'll have to trust me," said Buffy with false sweetness. "Now *talk*."

Before the vampire could say anything a voice called out from the living room.

"Guys?"

"Willow, in here," Buffy called out.

The young witch appeared in the doorway, her face drawn and anxious. "Any news?"

Buffy shook her head. "No, but Spike is about to give us the low down on our chief suspects." She smiled forcibly at the vampire. "Aren't you, Spike?"

"I've told you. It won't do you any bloody good. They'll tear you apart, Slayer."

"Well, thanks for the sweet concern, but I'll manage. Now tell us."

Spike lips pursed in annoyance.

Buffy was incredulous. "What's the biggie? You hate me! If I get torn limb from limb you'll be at the head of the victory parade."

"Maybe," Spike admitted. "But you can't keep your end of the deal if you're dead."

"So? I won't be dead."

"Not good enough-gh." The vampire's voice rose as Buffy pressed the stake against his unbeating heart.

"Okay, Spike. I've tried being nice and polite. Now it's Mr Pointy's turn."

"You won't get anything out of me if I'm dust, Slayer," Spike snarled, trying to squirm away.

"Buffy, please." Giles lay his hand upon the girl's arm until she relented and moved the stake away. "What do you suggest?" he asked the vampire.

Spike shrugged. "I'll go and get the boy."

"You!" Three voices chorused almost simultaneously.

"Why? Why would you even care?" Willow demanded.

Spike rolled his eyes at her. "I don't, pet. But a deals a deal. Anyway," he muttered, "I already kind of owe you for taking me in and feedin' me and stuff."

"Why, Spike. Was that a thank you?"

"Shove it, Slayer," the vampire snarled. "Look, you want your boy. I want out. It's a straightforward deal. Now are you gonna unlock these or what?" He rattled his chains impatiently.

Buffy silently held out her hand to Giles, who reluctantly dropped the key into it. Spike tensed expectantly. "First," said Buffy. "You tell us where their lair is. Just in case we need to send in reinforcements."

Spike held out his wrists. When she made no move to unlock them he snapped out. "Alright. The Master's catacombs. It's the only place big enough. Head towards the Municipal building, there's a chamber almost directly underneath it, they'll gather there." He gave her a warning look. "But don't come charging in when I'm trying to make a deal or you'll get us all killed. These guys don't mess around. One peek of your pretty face and it'll be a blood bath. And if by some miracle you survive it, they'll call in the other clans. Hundreds and hundreds of Oenan with only one thing on their minds - vengeance. Against you, your families, your friends. The whole of bloody Sunnyhell."

Buffy tried to look unconcerned by the prospect of a demon war. "Fine. You've got 12 hours."

"24. I don't like to be rushed."

"14"

"18"

"16. Final offer."

Spike nodded reluctantly. Buffy unlocked the manacles and the vampire leapt out of the tub in case anyone decided to change their mind. He made a show of rubbing his wrists. "The clock's ticking, Spike." Buffy warned him. She wasn't at all happy at the prospect of sitting around for sixteen hours while one her worst enemies rescued one of her best friends. Spike spared them one last hateful sneer before storming past a startled Willow, who jumped out of the way.

"I hope this is a good idea," muttered Giles. His tone suggested he thought otherwise.

Willow was more succinct. "I don't trust him."

"Neither do I." Buffy tried to make them understand. "But if he's telling us the truth - and bizarrely I think he is-" she looked amazed by the realisation, "he's our best chance of getting Xander back. He knows how these guys do things. He even knows some of them personally."

"He does?" Willow asked doubtfully.

"Oh, yeah," said Buffy. There was a world of meaning in her reply that only made Willow frown harder.

Giles decided he didn't really want to get back onto that topic. The idea that two teenage girls might pick his brains about the 'in and outs' of vampire sexuality at some future point, left him alternatively hot and cold. "Yes..Yes. You're right of course. However, we had better do some more research on the Oenan just in case. We can look through the books Willow brought with her and check the Watcher diaries."

"I'll help." Willow offered.

"Great. You two do that," said Buffy briskly.

"What about you?" Willow asked her friend.

Buffy looked pained. "I'm not really research girl or sit around and wait girl either. I guess I'll just go out and find something else to slay."

"You're going on patrol? Now?" Giles looked surprised.

The girl sighed. "I can't just do nothing, Giles. If I can't help Xander, at least I can help someone. There are still monsters to slay. I need...I need to keep busy."

"But your focus-"

"Is focused," Buffy said firmly, brushing aside her Watcher's concerns.

"I'll be careful and I'll check back every hour. Come sun up I'll be back to give the research a go. Okay?"

"Alright." Giles conceded reluctantly. "But be careful."

Buffy nodded. "Always," she promised. She shared a look equal parts worry and understanding with Willow as she left.

Once she had gone, Watcher and Wiccan set themselves up in the main room, surrounded by texts and tomes. They also felt the frustration of not being directly involved in Xander's rescue. Their fears for the boy's safe return increased with every passing minute. Had they done the right thing by entrusting his rescue to a vampire? To *Spike* of all creatures?

In sixteen hours they would find out.

Part Two

Spike moved quickly but cautiously through the moonlit streets, keeping to the shadows wherever possible. Those bloody soldier boys were still about and he had no wish to be recast in the role of a sodding lab rat. Spike was equally keen to avoid a run in with any of his own kind. He was hardly 'Mr Popular' since his unwilling alliance with the Slayer and her loser friends.

The vampire thrust his hands deeper into his pockets. Spike felt on edge; he would, quite literally, have killed for a smoke. The vampire was far from at his best and he knew it. Pig's blood was a poor substitute for the vital pulsing essence of a living human - that, and his recent confinement, had left him feeling somewhat weak. The bloody Slayer seemed perfectly happy to keep him half starved.

Spike was already having second thoughts about the deal he'd made. He didn't really doubt the Watcher's word - the bloke was irritatingly honourable - but he had some misgivings about his own half of the bargain. His promise to retrieve the boy might come unstuck if this were the same clan he had encountered before. If *his* Oenan were amongst this lot, it could make things very tricky.

The vampire had fallen in with the Oenan during a seriously low point in his unlife. Dru had chucked him - again - and he was hitting the bottle hard, depression and fuzzy thinking all round. He had taken to the road without a destination and had finally run out of gas along a stretch of deserted highway. Out of his mind on booze and pills he had staggered along for several miles before ending up face down in the dirt. With dawn only a few hours away, Spike would have become a permanent feature of the dry dusty landscape had an Oenan not stumbled across his prone body. Having rescued the vampire from the suns deadly rays, the Oenan had carried Spike back to his clan's cave lair and proceeded to 'cheer him up' - Oenan style. Spike grinned in fond recollection. He hadn't been able to walk for a week. His brow furrowed as he recalled the rest. The Oenan had grown very attached to his new 'friend'; when he'd declared his intention to make Spike his 'mate', Spike had decided it was time to move on. He'd had fun with the Oenan but the vampire had no intention of taking up permanent residency. Sobered up and straightened out, Spike's thoughts had inevitably returned to Drusilla. He had obsessed on how to make his dark goddess pay for the misery she'd put him through - as a prelude to winning her back of course.

However, stuck out in the mountains with nothing but desert for miles he had needed their co-operation to leave and an Oenan, quite simply, rarely took 'no' for an answer. They might - *might* - relinquish their hold if their intended had a prior claim attached to them. Spike had been stuck since he couldn't declare Dru as his mate - even if she'd come, the Oenan wouldn't have recognised the relationship. Spike had needed a male claimant. He could have summoned a minion, but if they'd talked it would have seriously undermined his status. Besides which, Spike hadn't been sure he could stomach shagging any of his crew. He hadn't exactly picked them with that in mind - a talent for violence and unquestioning obedience were his key recruitment issues.

In the end there had only been one hope, one desperate chance of avoiding an eternity as an Oenan sex toy.

To Spike's undying shame he had been forced to swallow his pride and write a letter to his Sire, begging Angel to come and free him. The poof had taken his bloody sweet time about getting there. Spike's grin widened, but it had been worth it, though he could have done without the bleeding lecture afterwards. The blonde's lip curled in disgust; one hundred and twenty-six years old and Angel *still* acted as though he needed a sodding keeper. The grin re-emerged as Spike wondered what the Slayer would make of his relationship with her ex-boyfriend?

After a sticky patch, things were back pretty much as they had been. Most of the bumps they had hit stemmed from Spike's bewilderment at finding his Sire again. Discovering that Angelus now possessed a soul and had renounced his former existence had completely thrown the younger vampire. For a while he had floundered, feeling as though the one constant in his eternal existence had suddenly shifted beneath his feet. Spike had told himself that Angelus was gone - that this was a stranger with his Sire's face. It hadn't stopped Spike wanting or needing him and the resulting confused rage had almost destroyed them both.

Even when Spike realised that his Sire was still very much present in Angel's ensouled body he had rebelled against the discovery. It was only after his little venture in LA that he finally accepted that he couldn't stake Angel. He had returned some days later, tail between his legs, to ask for forgiveness.

Angel had granted it.......eventually.

--------------------

Spike cursed as he realised he'd let his thoughts wander; now was definitely *not* the time to be brooding over his Sire. Sloppy thinking would not help him survive the next sixteen hours with all his limbs attached. Angrily shaking himself free of his reverie the vampire tensed, tasting the air, every predatory instinct focused and wary. Confident that there wasn't anyone or anything in the vicinity, Spike raced out into the road and dropped into a crouch beside a manhole. He lifted the cover easily, peering down into the darkness. One last look around and he slipped into the hole, reaching up to drag the cover back over the opening.

Spike shifted into his game face as he extended his senses through the sewers. Above the stench of refuse and decay and the sounds of rats foraging, Spike could detect other creatures moving about in the blackness. Someway off to his right a small party of vampires were on the prowl, making too much bloody noise for their own good. In the tunnel directly ahead Spike picked up the scent of an Arres demon; a slow moving scavenger who needed these cold dank passageways to survive. Spike grimaced; carrion feeders disgusted him.

He narrowed his focus on the remaining tunnel as it twisted away sharply to the left. Spike pushed his senses to the limit; after a moment he grinned savagely, exposing jagged ivory. His guess had been right on the mark - the Oenan were holed up in the Master's ceremonial chamber. The vampire let his face slip back into its smooth human mask. Xander would have a key part to play in this little deception and the boy would perform better if he wasn't scared witless. Spike knew his game face made Xander nervous and for once he had no wish to play upon the boy's fears. The muffled noises ahead grew louder and clearer as he drew closer to their source. Spike walked quietly through the sludge but without any real attempt at stealth; it wouldn't be smart to try and sneak up on the Oenan.

There were three guards posted at the mouth of the tunnel leading to the ceremonial chamber. They sensed the vampire's approach and growled out a warning, moving into attack formation. Spike stepped forward, his hands held out in a placating gesture. He called out a brief greeting in Oenan and the demons stood down. Two of them approached him cautiously. There was a short and somewhat one-sided exchange before Spike was escorted down the tunnel into the chamber.

--------------------

It was a *big* clan, probably close to two hundred demons crammed into every available inch of space, laughing, drinking, fighting and - Spike noted with a smirk - shagging. The whole thing resembled an enormous free-for-all, a Bacchanalian orgy. Spike grinned appreciatively; like 'em or hate 'em, the Oenan knew how to party.

The vampire allowed himself to be led across the length of the chamber. Spike ignored the appreciative looks and calls sent his way, stepping casually over a pair of furiously fucking demons and easily eluding a hand that grabbed for him. They reached the far wall. Leaning against it, his knees drawn up to chest, was Xander.

The boy's wrists and ankles were bound with a length of frayed rope and he had a fresh bruise over his left eye; other than that he appeared to be unhurt, physically at least. Emotionally, however, his eyes told a very different story - they were wild with fear and barely restrained panic. Xander's teeth worried his bottom lip relentlessly as he stared around him in terrified confusion.

The boy was sat upon a tattered blanket; he shared it with an Oenan, who was turned away from him chatting amiably to a companion. As Spike watched, the demon stretched out a clawed hand and stroked the boy's leg. Xander twitched violently and tried to shuffle away. Spike was fairly certain that Xander wouldn't have suffered much worse than this. The Oenan could be extraordinarily patient, preferring to woo and win their mates, rather than take them by force. Though judging from Xander's expression, Spike thought this Oenan was in for a bloody long wait.

The demon accompanying Spike stepped forward, bending down to whisper something to the seated Oenan. It seemed the vampire's arrival had finally broken through Xander's terrified stupor; the boy looked up, blinking dazedly. "S-Spike?" He sounded incredulous.

The vampire suppressed a flicker of annoyance as Xander's dark eyes darted past him anxiously, clearly looking for the Slayer. "Just me, pet," he murmured through gritted teeth. "Now, be a good boy and let me handle this. Okay?" Oceanic eyes glanced down at Xander, a hint of warning in their icy depths.

Despite what others might cruelly suggest, Xander was far from stupid. His fear numbed brain was still capable of grasping that in some bizarre freaky way Spike was here as the rescue party. The boy sat up straighter his attention focused on the blond. Spike gave him a slight nod of approval and turned back to the Oenan.

The demon looked displeased at this unexpected turn of events. He lay a hand on Xander's thigh in a proprietary fashion. "Mesk a gar brir-issh," he snarled.

Spike smiled coldly. "Dishal mudura zah-al."

Confused, Xander's eyes darted back and forth between the two.

The demon's companion leaned over to mutter something to his friend, who - with obvious reluctance - relinquished his hold on Xander's leg. The Oenan who had 'claimed' Xander slowly got to his feet, standing head-to-head with the vampire.

The demon had an imposing build and towered over the blond vampire, but Spike didn't back down; instead he stepped even closer, pushing his face up into the demon's. Spike snarled something and the demon threw back its head and roared. The vampire responded by shifting into his game face, growling low in the back of his throat.

Xander jumped. "Er...Spike?"

"Shut up." Spike snapped, not looking down.

"I...I just don't think you want to be making him mad, that's all," the boy whispered urgently.

Spike ignored him, golden eyes glaring at the Oenan.

Once again it was the smaller demon who interceded, saying something quietly which made both protagonists back down. An alarmed Xander could only sit and wait. Clearly Spike understood these guys, but whatever was being said the vampire didn't look too happy about it. As the boy watched, Spike shook his head vigorously, waving an arm around the chamber. The demon growled something, Spike snarled something back. A heated discussion followed, until the Oenan pointed to an iron stairwell at the far side of the chamber; it led up to a closed metal door.

Spike seemed to be thinking over whatever the Oenan had said. The vampire eventually nodded tersely and the Oenan leaned down toward Xander, who instinctively flinched away. With vampiric speed Spike shot forward, pushing the demon away from the frightened boy. The Oenan growled, purple eyes reddening. Spike hissed and the demon straightened up and moved away, glaring at the vampire with undisguised loathing. Spike didn't appear concerned. The vampire slipped out of his game face as he reached for Xander, effortlessly scooping the boy up and swinging him across his shoulder.

"Hey!" Xander cried, disorientated at suddenly finding himself draped down a leather-clad back.

"Quiet," said Spike.

The Oenan and his friend led the way; they picked up a third demon en route, who fell into step behind Spike and his burden.

"What's going on?" Xander asked, wriggling slightly. He couldn't see much of anything with his face pressed into Spike's duster.

"Sorry, peaches. Can't talk now. We'll have a nice little chat later alright?" the vampire muttered. He pinched Xander's thigh, hard. "Now, *shut up*," he hissed. The boy yelped and fell silent.

The door at the top of the stairwell opened onto a small office, stripped of everything but a broken chair and a battered filing cabinet. There were a number of candles dotted about and a pile of rags in one corner, suggesting that someone had once called this place home. The last demon closed the door quietly before lighting the candles; the room was soon bathed in their soft, flickering glow. Spike strode confidently across the floor, carefully depositing his charge upon the rags.

The vampire crouched down beside the boy. "Ganessh mura cul?" he called over his shoulder.

"Meska," the demon replied gruffly, leaning back against the door. His friend was perched upon the filing cabinet, while the third demon had lit the last candle and now sat cross-legged on the floor.

Permission given, Spike began to undo the rope binding Xander's wrists. The boy was shivering violently, a mixture of fear and cold. "Right, peaches," Spike spoke in a hushed whisper. "Listen tight, cos I'll only say this once." He leaned in close and the boy shuddered as the vampire's lips brushed his ear. "See that big guy over by the door? Well he wants you as his boyfriend." Xander tensed. "I can get you out, but you'll have to play along." He drew back a fraction and looked into the boy's blank face; Spike frowned. "You getting any of this?"

Xander nodded mutely.

"Good. I don't think they understand us, but best not to chance it, so watch what you say." Spike swore softly as he struggled with the last knot, until his patience broke and he simply wrenched the rope apart. Xander's eyes widened. The vampire moved down to work on the ropes around Xander's ankles, his blond head bowed low, speaking so softly the boy had to strain to hear him. "If they think we're mates, they'll let us go."

"Xander found his voice. "M-mates?"

Spike kept his head down but raised his eyes to meet the boy's, they carried the true meaning of his words. Xander blanched. "Oh, gods."

"Ssh." Spike tugged Xander's leg in warning. "Trouble is," he lowered his voice even further," they don't believe it."

"I can't think why." Xander mumbled.

"We're going to have to convince 'em."

"How?" Xander hissed, leaning forward to hide his face.

"A little performance, pet. Nothing to worry about." Spike undid the last knot and looked up at the boy. "Just try not to look like you're pissing your pants and it'll be fine."

Xander was still playing 'catch up' with the plot. "P-performance?" It came out as an undignified squeak.

One of the demons muttered something. Spike snapped out a reply and turned his attention back to Xander. "Look, it's 'im or me, peaches Who'd you prefer?"

"B-Buffy?"

"No girls." Spike snapped.

"G-Giles?" the boy asked plaintively.

Spike ground his teeth, his lip curling in annoyance. Somewhere deep down he felt a twinge of something other than irritation; he ignored it. Xander seemed to realise that the vampire was losing patience and he was in danger of driving away his lone rescuer. The boy capitulated quickly.

"Okay," he agreed in a small voice.

Spike nodded, throwing the rope aside before sitting back to strip off his coat.

"Now?!" Xander exclaimed weakly.

Spike inclined his head toward the three Oenan. "Don't think they want to wait, pet."

"They're going to watch?" Xander asked in a horrified whisper.

"Ssh. Keep it down." Spike warned. "How else are they gonna judge whether or not we're together?"

"We're not!" Xander wailed softly.

Half-way through unbuttoning his red shirt, Spike shot forward, shoving his face up against Xander's. "Will you bloody well shut up," he hissed. The boy flinched and swallowed hard. Spike drew back slightly, visibly struggling to bring himself under control.

"I-I'm sorry." Xander said softly, his breath warm against the vampire's icy skin. "I...I just don't think I can do this."

Spike was surprised to feel his anger drain away in the face of Xander's obvious distress and for once his expression was devoid of its usual smirk. He offered the stunned boy a faint, but reassuring smile, laying slender white fingers against a warm cheek. "Sure you can," he whispered, putting his lips to Xander's.

Spike felt the boy stiffen in shock but he didn't pull back. He continued to nibble and coax Xander's lips until they parted slightly, then he slowly deepened the kiss.

Part Three

Xander couldn't move, his mind was reeling in fear and confusion. He had been on an adrenaline high since battling the vampires with Buffy; now it was finally beginning to fade he felt dazed and disorientated, as though he were somehow disconnected from his body.

When the pasty looking demons had appeared during the battle, Xander had tried to call out a warning to Buffy. The words never made it to his lips. All that he managed was a surprised yelp as they bundled him up and carried him off. Struggling proved useless. Xander had again tried to shout for help but one of the demons stuck a foul tasting rag in his mouth. As they carried him into the sewers his head had struck the metal ladder. It was only glancing blow, not enough to knock him out, but more than enough to muddle his senses. He recovered to find that he was sat on a ragged piece of blanket, bound hand and foot, though thankfully no longer gagged.

Xander's eyes had bulged as he took in the scenes around him. He was in some sort of underground cavern, lit with torches and literally teeming with demons. He had closed his eyes, praying for it to be a very bad dream. Xander hadn't held out much hope of it working; it never had before. Sure enough, a second later and he had almost jumped out of his skin when a rough gnarled hand touched his cheek. Five minutes later and he was completely freaked. Apparently the demon next to him had decided Xander was his personal puppy; he kept stroking and petting the boy despite Xander's desperate protests. Other than 'Mr Touchy-feely', no one else had, as yet, come anywhere near him. He'd even been offered refreshments - or rather the demon had held his head back and poured sour, gritty homebrew down his throat. Still, he *really* wanted to go home.

When Spike had appeared Xander first thought he was hallucinating - maybe the drink had been drugged? Once his confused brain accepted that the vampire wasn't a product of some narcotic haze, Xander had frantically looked around for his friends. His stomach had plummeted when it became clear Spike was here alone. Bewildered, he'd wondered if Buffy and the others were hiding somewhere, ready to carry out a wild and daring rescue attempt? He had even fearfully considered the possibility that Spike was here to join forces with his captors. That fear had grown when he realised the vampire understood the local lingo.

Xander had wondered how much worse things could possibly get. Spike had told him.

Xander's brain had immediately tried to shut down. Wild panic gripped him as he battled to accept what Spike was saying. When he finally grasped the idea of the 'guy guy' thing, he had asked for Giles purely out of reflex. The boy had cringed from the sudden flare of anger in Spike's cold blue eyes, but he was more startled by the rush of hurt that followed it - flitting across the vampire's face so quickly Xander had almost thought he'd imagined it.

The boy spent a few stunned seconds struggling to grasp the idea that he might actually have hurt Spike's feelings. The other half of his brain was toying with the whole 'death before dishonour thing.' Could he really bring himself to do this? What exactly was *this* going to involve? Wasn't death infinitely preferable to doing *anything* with Spike?

Xander was more than a little disturbed to find that actually, the thought of 'doing *anything*' with Spike didn't revolt him at all. He told himself it was just his good old survival instinct kicking in. Xander refused to listen to the traitorous voice that chanted 'liar, liar', and he *totally* balked against the part of him that wondered if Spike's skin was as smooth as it looked. Okay this was *not* good.

Xander choked out a reply and watched as the anger faded from Spike's face. The vampire was now looking at him oddly. Xander stumbled out an apology, suddenly certain that he wasn't going to be able to do this. He'd tried not to flinch when icy fingers reached out to touch his cheek. His heart all but stopped when Spike leaned forward and kissed him.

For a timeless moment Xander was too stunned to do anything. Spike's lips were cold, but not unpleasantly so. At first they merely ghosted over his, like the whisper of cool silk; then they pressed more firmly, nuzzling and nibbling. As Spike gently sucked on Xander's bottom lip, teasing the fullness, the boy finally remembered that he had a part to play in this. Trembling, full of fear and wonder, Xander warily parted his lips. He jumped when a cold tongue slipped into his mouth, brushing slickly against his own. The fingers cupping his cheek slid down to caress the skin of his throat, stroking the pulse.

Xander's world tilted. Suddenly he forgot the three demons in the corner; he couldn't feel the dirty rags beneath him or smell the burning wax of the candles. All Xander knew was Spike. Spike's mouth urgent and needy, his tongue skilfully tangling with Xander's; Spike's fingers grazing the sensitive skin of his throat. Spike's hard, lean body. Xander's hands moved of their own volition, gripping the vampire's arms desperately, feeling the rigid strength of unyielding muscle.

Xander finally had to break the kiss to take a shaky breath. He stared at the vampire, eyes wide, breathing hard. Spike looked surprised; the vampire clearly hadn't expected Xander's response. Xander hadn't either, but he knew there had been more to it than role-play. Quite simply it had felt good - *incredibly* good. He licked his lips unconsciously, tasting the unique flavour of Spike. The vampire made a strange strangled sound in his throat and knelt back, hurriedly pulling the half-fastened shirt and T-shirt over his head.

Xander stared wide-eyed at Spike's chest. The warm, flickering candlelight gave the vampire's unearthly pallor an ivory luminescence. Slowly, the boy's hesitant gaze travelled downward, following smooth skin and sleek muscle across the finely chiselled torso. His eyes took in the broad shoulders, taut belly and narrow waist. His gaze wavered on the slender jean-clad hips and abruptly he looked back up again. Xander's mouth went dry as his eyes settled on the pale discs of Spike's nipples, already stiffening into hard nubs.

"Take your shirt off," the vampire whispered hoarsely.

Shaking, Xander obeyed, the cool air lifted goosebumps along his bare skin. Spike was staring at him raptly, gold glittering behind the blue of his eyes. Xander watched nervously as Spike stretched out a hand, trailing it across his chest. He sucked in a ragged breath when a polished finger nail lightly scratched a taut nipple. Spike teased the fleshy bud to full hardness, tugging gently, then twisting sharply. Xander gasped as his body arched forward; the mild sting already dissolving into a delicious burning as Spike's cold fingers continued to soothe and stroke. Xander whimpered softly as waves of heat spiralled outwards. He'd never paid much attention to his own nipples before - not that anyone else had either. Xander was beginning to realise he needed to rethink the whole 'erogenous zone' thing.

Spike's hand swept lower, stroking his flat palm over the twitching muscles of Xander's belly. His finger snaked down the line of darker hair disappearing into Xander's jeans. "Nice pet, very nice," the vampire murmured approvingly.

The words sent a rush of warmth through Xander's body, pooling in his groin, stirring his awakening member. Xander couldn't believe that he was getting turned on by a vampire....a *male* vampire...... *Spike* for goodness' sake! The thought sobered him and he was suddenly painfully aware of his audience. He glanced at them fearfully and a hand reached out and caught his chin, dragging his gaze away.

"Don't look at them." Spike said firmly. "Look at me." The seductive tone held Xander as if hypnotised, the boy's gaze fixed upon the vampire. Supple as a cat, Spike leaned forward, drawing Xander's nipple into his mouth. Xander gave a startled cry, which became a soft moan as Spike sucked hard on the sensitive nub, swirling his cool tongue around it. Spike released the nipple, lathing his tongue across Xander's chest to reach its neglected twin, already hardening in expectancy. The vampire nipped it playfully, flicking his tongue back and forth over the stiff bud. Xander wriggled as chilled lips and a cold tongue teased his heated skin. The vampire raised his head and flashed Xander a quick grin. Xander lay back gulping for air but Spike gave him no time to recover, trailing his tongue wetly down Xander's squirming torso. The vampire swirled his tongue around the dip of Xander's navel, earning another ragged moan.

The vampire went lower, pausing as his chin grazed Xander's belt. Like a large contented feline, Spike rubbed his cheek over the bulge pressing against the boy's zipper. Whimpering, Xander dropped his head back; he was so hard it hurt and the slight friction was more than he could bear. As though sensing the boy's rising agitation Spike sat back, his hands moving swiftly to Xander's belt. Xander lay perfectly still, breathing hard, his skin flushed, dark eyes glazed with desire. He shivered when Spike undid the buckle and slid the leather free of its loop. Slender fingers deftly undid the button at the top of his jeans before easing down the zipper. Xander's shivering grew more pronounced as cool fingers slipped beneath the denim, brushing lightly over his burning flesh. "Oh, gods." Xander murmured helplessly. His hips lifted unconsciously to meet the questing touch.

"Ssh. Easy, pet," a soft voice whispered. The hand withdrew and soft lips pressed briefly against his own.

"Oh." Xander said dazedly. He was silenced as cool lips came back to claim his, kissing him with growing urgency. Xander responded eagerly, caught in the web his seducer was spinning. His hands moved up to cradle Spike's head, his fingers tangling in the short blond hair. Spike broke away to crawl down his body, sitting at his feet to undo the laces of his trainers. The vampire slipped off one and then the other, before carefully removing the boy's socks. Xander felt strangely naked without them. Spike's gaze never wavered from Xander's as he took off his boots and undid the fastenings on his jeans. The vampire slipped out of them gracefully and knelt before Xander. The boy trembled as he looked at Spike's nude body, his gaze fell on the rigid flesh jutting out from between muscular thighs. The vampire moved closer and Xander whispered his name - part protest, part confused plea - "S-Spike..."

"Ssh. Hush pet." The blond lay down beside the boy, facing the Oenan. He carefully tugged Xander over onto his side, so that the boy had his back to them. Spike stroked a finger down Xander's face; he smiled. "See, just you and me, pet. No one else 'ere." He kissed Xander gently, letting his fingers play up and down the boy's naked torso, keeping his touch light and soothing.

When the tremors lessened, Spike let his touch become more intimate. He deepened the kiss, thrusting his tongue against Xander's, sliding his hand down the boy's body. He firmly stroked a warm flank, then slipped his hand around to knead a jean-clad buttock. Xander moaned into the kiss. The jeans had worked themselves loose on the boy's hips and the vampire let his fingers slip beneath the denim, caressing warm bare flesh. He pulled Xander closer.

Xander was in total turmoil; his body screaming for more, his mind rebelling furiously against the traitorous urges swamping it. This strange, gentle side of Spike did nothing to alleviate his confusion. Helpless, he surrendered to the vampire's skilful touch. Cool fingers slid out of his jeans, brushing over his belly, before easing the stiff material over his hips. Without even thinking, Xander assisted. He lifted his hips, dragging the jeans down his legs with stiff, fumbling fingers, kicking his feet free. He barely had time to blink before his boxers followed the same route and he was skin-to-skin with Spike.

Xander bit his lip as the vampire's erection brushed against him. He stared at it, wide-eyed and fearful. Spike touched his cheek gently, drawing his gaze back up. Xander was taken aback by the tender concern in the vampire's face. "It'll be alright." Spike assured him softly. "We do this and you can go home." Xander nodded but his shivering was becoming more pronounced. Spike kissed along the line of his jaw, following it up into the soft dark waves of his hair. "Don't be afraid, Xander. I won't hurt you." Xander felt cold fingers thread through his own, they squeezed gently. "I promise." The vow was a cool caress against his ear.

Xander knew he would normally have greeted the vampire's words with scathing contempt, but as Spike regarded him steadily, Xander realised that he believed the promise. He wasn't sure why. Perhaps because he wanted to? Perhaps because he needed to? Perhaps because he really didn't have a choice? Or perhaps it was the silent promise in those gold-blue eyes. Whatever the reason, Xander found himself answering the vampire with a tremulous smile. It vanished as the situation suddenly struck him with the force of a physical blow, driving the air from his lungs and bathing his innards in ice. "Spike? I...I'm scared," Xander confessed, a touch guiltily.

Spike's look soothed away some of his panic. "I know," the vampire said simply, placing a quick, almost chaste kiss against Xander's forehead. "It'll be alright." There was a warning growl from the far side of the room; the Oenan were growing impatient. Spike glared at them over Xander's shoulder, then looked back at the boy. "We're going to have to step the pace up a bit, pet. Okay?"

Xander offered him a minute nod. "S-sure."

Spike was suffering his own mini-crisis. His initial plan had simply been to bluff the Oenan into releasing the whelp. When that had failed the vampire had fallen back onto plan 'B' - namely, 'give the boy one' and go home. He hadn't expected the boy's bewildered fear to stir something in him. Truth be told, he had always felt a glimmer of pity for Xander. It seemed nothing the boy ever did was good enough and the lad was often treated with ridicule and contempt, even by his so-called friends. Spike had experienced his share of that. Of course, he'd also had his share of fun-filled moments tormenting the boy. Spike wasn't troubled by the remembrance of it, he was a vampire, a demon; he delighted in dredging up all the boy's fears and insecurities so he could play with them.

Which was why this sudden, sodding tenderness was so bloody disturbing. He already knew he could be a soft pillock; he had cosseted Dru for years, even his Sire brought out his protective side on occasion, but this?....This was Xander!....Bloody 'nummy treat' for crying out loud! He wasn't supposed to feel anything but cold contempt or burning hatred for the boy. So where the bloody hell was all this soppiness coming from? Why did he want to pummel the bloody Oenan into the ground and drag Xander away to safety?

Fortunately, Spike wasn't one for lengthy introspection or deep contemplation. Not because he was shallow, far from it, he just preferred to leave the brooding to others while he got on with enjoying his unlife. So he shoved his confusion to one side and concentrated on the task in hand.

Spike knew he would have to guide the boy through this encounter if either of them wanted to step outside that door again. 'Who was going to do what to who' had been decided for him. The vampire couldn't risk triggering the device in his head. Spike had absolutely no doubts that this was Xander's first time with a man and if he took the boy, no matter how slowly and carefully, it would hurt. The first few times always did, Spike remembered that. Somehow, the vampire didn't think that their mutual cries of pain would do much to convince the Oenan of their relationship.

That meant Xander was going to have to do him. That was fine by Spike. His status as a Master vampire meant that normally he could only be taken by his Sire (another reason he was glad things were straightened out between him and Angel) however, Xander as a non-vampire, was out of the loop, which removed the obstacles of dominance and submission. Spike understood that he was still going to have to do most of the work, since Xander would probably be clueless. Of course, the boy *might* have experimented with Anya?....That was a possibility Spike found himself oddly reluctant to consider.

The blond reached behind him, rummaging around in the pockets of his duster until he eventually retrieved a small tube of lube. There wasn't much left. Spike gave a mental shrug, he could take it rough. He looked back at the boy, Xander was staring at the object in his hand almost accusingly.

"You...you brought *that* with you?"

Spike quickly realised Xander was entertaining thoughts about a set up. "Calm down, pet. I carry this all the time. Be prepared, that's my motto." He gave the boy a quick grin. Xander looked stunned. Spike could sense the growing tension in the corner of the room and decided it was time to cut the chat. The vampire sat up and motioned for Xander to do the same. Spike straddled the boy's outstretched legs, kneeling up over Xander's thighs. Xander's gaze flickered toward the Oenan. "Hey?" Spike called softly. The brown-eyed gaze swung back to the vampire. "Just you and me, pet. Remember?" Xander nodded mutely. Spike squeezed out some of the lube, he reached for Xander's hand and carefully coated the boy's fingers. Xander watched him in blank confusion. Spike knelt up a little more and pulled Xander toward him until the boy's head was laid against his body. Then he took Xander's hand and slowly guided it around him. He felt the boy tense and twitch as he pressed Xander's warm, lube- coated fingers between the cool cheeks of his buttocks.

Spike gave his own boneless shudder as slick fingers tentatively probed his crease. The vampire draped his free arm around Xander, lowering his head to nuzzle the boy's thick dark hair. "Prepare me"

Xander pulled back, his head shooting up as he stared, wide-eyed at the vampire. Clearly he hadn't considered this version of the scenario. Spike looked at Xander, letting his face communicate his desire, showing the boy how much he wanted this, how much he wanted him. Xander blinked sharply and lay his head back against Spike's chest. The vampire felt the hesitant fingers return, brushing along his crease until they found the entrance to his body. One pressed forward shakily, stopping as it encountered resistance.

"Don't stop." Spike instructed. "Push hard."

The eyes that lifted to his were a little dazed, but the boy obeyed. Spike smiled at the look of startled wonder which crossed Xander's face, as the boy's slick digit pushed past the tight ring of muscle and entered the cool, snug channel of Spike's body.

Part Four

Xander couldn't believe what he was doing; he felt as though he was having an 'out-of-body experience'. He had watched in shocked disbelief as the vampire had coated his fingers with the non-sticky gel. Though that shock had been nothing compared to the jolt he'd received when Spike had taken his hand and placed it between taut cold buttocks.

Until now, Xander's mind had voted for the - 'this is not happening' - approach; he had worked hard not to think about what lay might ahead. Unfortunately, his somewhat lurid imagination had supplied him with some very graphic images. Though of all the various possibilities he had tormented himself with, *this* had most definitely *not* been one of them. Xander had simply taken it for granted that whatever was going to happen, Spike would be the 'do-er' and he would be the 'do-ee'. He'd had to force his way past that stumbling block before he could respond to the vampire's gentle urging.

Xander wasn't ashamed to admit that he was terrified; this went way beyond any twisty-turn he had imagined life might throw at him - and that included a *lot* of weird monster stuff. Once he got past the shock of what was going to happen and the mild panic of having his fingers introduced to places he'd never even dreamed of, Xander pulled himself together and tried to go with the flow. He had a vague idea of what the vampire wanted him to do; Giles' library had held some very interesting texts.

At first the tightness had frightened him - as did the rather startling realisation that he didn't want to hurt Spike with his inexperienced blundering. Nevertheless, when the vampire told him to push harder, Xander had complied, albeit very gingerly. After the initial resistance he was surprised to find that his finger slipped in quite easily with only a minimal amount of force.

The sensation was like nothing Xander had ever experienced. Spike's body was cool and slick and *oh so tight* around his finger, the velvet muscle squeezing him snugly. Curiosity made him bold and he wiggled his finger experimentally, turning it slightly and crooking the tip. He froze when Spike tensed and shuddered. Xander held his breath, wondering if he should remove his finger, when he heard a strange low rumbling sound. It was coming from Spike, Xander could feel it reverberating through his body. The vampire was purring.

Or at least that was what it sounded like to Xander. The deep throaty purr of a very big and very contented cat. Xander's jaw almost hit the floor.

"Y-you...you like that?" His voice was tinged with amazement. Spike's only response was a gentle rocking of his hips as he rubbed against Xander. Emboldened, the boy pressed his lips to Spike's torso, raining light, nibbling kisses over the smooth cool skin. He steadied himself by gripping Spike's thigh with his free hand, then he let his other finger, the one still buried deep inside the vampire's body, begin to move.

He started up a slow thrusting motion, simply because it felt right. The vampire evidently agreed if the soft sounds he was making were anything to go by. Spike undulated his hips sinuously and Xander moaned. This felt good, in fact it felt fantastic, and Spike wasn't even really touching him! As though reading his thoughts, the vampire's hands suddenly moved to clutch Xander's shoulders. Their fierce grip was almost painful, but Xander understood the restraint Spike was showing; those marble white fingers could crush him easily, instead they kneaded his back and shoulders while Spike nuzzled the top of his head.

"More," the vampire gasped. It took a moment for Xander to understand what Spike was asking for. The boy took a deep breath and gently eased a second finger into the tight passage. "Yess." Spike hissed, rubbing himself against Xander so vigorously the boy almost fell back. Xander regained his balance; increasingly confident he decided to try something. Spike was so tight it was difficult, but with some careful manoeuvring Xander was able to scissor his fingers slightly, pushing them in even deeper.

Spike gave an eerie howl and bucked against him. Xander panicked, unsure if he had hurt the vampire or merely sent him to new and dizzy heights. Spike answered his unspoken question by shoving Xander down flat against the rags; the boy's fingers slipping free of his body. Xander stared up at Spike anxiously. His fears melted away as Spike pushed his legs apart and dropped down between them, seizing Xander's mouth in a bruising kiss. The vampire thrust against him madly as he brutally kissed Xander's mouth. Xander couldn't think or breathe, he knew nothing but the violent, demanding passion of the creature claiming him.

Just as spots of faintness began to appear behind his eyes, Xander found himself released and dragged back up into a sitting position. He was literally picked up and moved aside as the vampire took his place in the centre of the rags. Spike knelt on all fours, his smooth marble white back turned toward Xander. "Do it," the vampire hissed, his voice low and fierce. Shaking, Xander shuffled closer until his thighs brushed the vampire's. He hadn't touched himself yet, he hadn't dared, he was too close to the edge. The hot rigid length of his erection slid between the cool crease of Spike's body, nudging the entrance as though it knew exactly where it wanted to go.

"Oh gods," Xander whimpered, unable to stop himself from rocking back and forth. Spike hissed in warning and Xander looked around frantically for the lube.

"Just *do it*," Spike ground out.

Xander ignored him; he was going to do this right if it killed him and that meant not hurting Spike any more than he had to. He scanned the floor desperately. The vampire made a sound of annoyance and snatched up the tube from where it lay hidden beneath a fold of rag. "Here! Now bloody well get on with it!"

Fumbling, Xander squeezed out the remainder of the tube; it wasn't much. Flustered, he coated his erection with it as best he could, gasping as the cold gel touched his hot flesh. Spike was beginning to grumble and Xander hurriedly threw the empty tube aside and knelt back up behind the vampire.

For a moment he paused, momentarily spellbound by the smooth, curved bow of Spike's pale back. He reached out, running his fingers along the ridged column of the vampire's spine, he frowned as his fingertips traced the faint criss-cross lines of long-faded scars. Spike arched his head back, clearly enjoying Xander's touch.

"Xander..." It was almost, but not quite, a plea. Xander certainly heard the desperation in it. He took hold of his erection and attempted to guide it into the tight entrance. It slid away at the first attempt and his whimper of frustration was echoed in Spike's growl. He tried again and watched with a glow of triumph as the head of his erection slowly eased its way forward into Spike's body. Xander grit his teeth, it was hard going, uncomfortably so. The vampire was clearly relaxing his body, but he was incredibly tight and Xander had to really push to work his way past the opening.

Then he was inside and the breath was literally sucked out of him. He moaned as he slid forwards, pulled in by the tight velvet muscle closing around his rigid member. There was no more discomfort, just the incredible feeling of being held by the cool, snug channel of Spike's body. Xander's fingers grabbed the vampire's slender hips, digging into the lean flesh almost cruelly. He pushed deeper, until his body was flush against the vampire's back. Spike was silent; he'd barely moved as Xander entered him, only the muscles of his arms and shoulders had trembled slightly.

Xander was suddenly unsure; his mind was melting with the heat pooling out from his groin but he was uncertain what to do. He wanted to move, instinct demanded it, but he was loath to hurt Spike and that concern held him in check. Just as Xander thought the strain would kill him, Spike moved. The vampire thrust back hard and Xander sucked in a sharp breath as he slid in impossibly deep. Spike paused before slowly rocking forward, then back, then forward again. Xander whimpered, a shudder travelling the length of his body as he watched Spike impale himself. Xander surrendered the last of his reluctance, giving himself totally to the sensations flooding his mind and body, watching himself sliding in and out of Spike with a slow easy rhythm.

The vampire stepped up the tempo. Xander was gasping, his hands gripping Spike's hips. He forgot all about not causing the vampire pain and began to thrust savagely, pistoning his hips as the pressure built inside him. Spike was making strange mewling, growling noises; clearly close to his own release. With a cry, Xander came, driving himself deep into Spike's willing body - pushing harder and harder until, with a final shudder, the last of his seed was spent and he collapsed breathless against the vampire's back.

Xander had never been more grateful for the vampire's unnatural coolness as he clung to Spike's body, sweaty and trembling. He finally withdrew, sliding bonelessly to the floor. Spike followed him, the vampire sprawling over onto his back. Xander glanced across at his companion, trying to catch his breath.

Spike was also panting. Xander found it a strange sight, knowing that the vampire didn't need to breathe. Spike's face was caught between its smooth human planes and the roughened ridges of its demon aspect. Xander realised the vampire was trying not to let his face shift; it looked painful. A heartbeat later the boy was struck by a possible reason for Spike's internal struggle. Was it because of him? Xander couldn't really comprehend why, but it seemed the vampire was battling the change to avoid Xander seeing his demon visage. Xander realised something else as he looked at Spike; the vampire was still hard, very hard, the rigid flesh straining forward urgently.

Xander rolled over onto his belly and pushed himself up onto his knees. Spike stared up at him with golden eyes, strangely vulnerable. As Xander watched the vampire's face shimmered; then Spike shivered and his features resettled into their unstable 'human/vampire' half-state. Spike whimpered. That decided it for Xander, he leaned forward, bringing his face down close to the vampire's. "Let go," he whispered softly. "Just let go. It's okay." He kept his words soft and soothing, as though speaking to a child or a frightened animal. Spike looked at him, his expression mingled - part confusion, part hopefulness, part suspicion. Xander stroked the slight ridges above the vampire's eyes. "Let go, Spike."

With a soft moan, Spike relaxed and his face fell into its familiar vampiric planes; the ridges now considerably more pronounced, especially around those unblinking yellow eyes. Xander touched them curiously. There was a strange intimacy to it, one that somehow felt deeper than what they had just done. Xander let his finger trace a gleaming ivory fang. It was oddly exhilarating, like petting a wild cat, not knowing if it would purr, or try to tear off your arm.

A soft rumbling sound told him Spike had decided to go with purring. Xander smiled shyly. Spike grinned in response, then abruptly he sucked the boy's finger into his mouth. Xander tensed, he could feel the razor sharp edges of Spike's teeth against his skin. Even knowing about the existence of the implant wasn't that comforting; Spike might consider biting off Xander's finger a worthy price for a splitting headache. Xander felt a rush of fear, but it wasn't paralysing, it was -*thrilling*. Unbeknownst to Xander, his excitement glittered in his dark brown eyes. Spike saw it and smirked in approval, giving the finger in his mouth a good hard suck before letting it go.

With his hand freed, Xander turned his attention back to the erection jutting out from the vampire's body. Nibbling his lip nervously, the boy reached out and very cautiously stroked the swaying head. The eager flesh twitched, nudging his exploring fingers. Xander swallowed hard and wrapped his fingers around Spike's erection. The vampire swore and thrust up into Xander's hand. Xander tightened his grip, gently stroking the cool, rigid column - all the while watching closely for Spike's reaction. The vampire's legs slowly fell open, as his arms reached above his head; his hands tearing savagely at a piece of knotted rag. Xander felt a rush of dizzying heat flood his body as he gazed down at the vampire's wanton sprawl. He'd never had a lover so uninhibited, or so aggressive, Spike grabbed him. Dragging him down to bathe Xander's face in kisses. Xander continued to pump Spike's erection as the vampire kissed and nuzzled his face. After a moment Xander realised the vampire was also licking him. That was...weird - but not, he decided, all that unpleasant.

He tensed slightly as the vampire's lips slid down to his throat. Spike sucked hard. Xander thought dazedly, then he gasped as Spike suddenly pushed him away with a frustrated snarl. Confused, Xander stared at the vampire, his fingers releasing Spike's erection. Spike growled again and shoved Xander's hand back between his legs.

Increasingly bewildered, Xander watched as the vampire mouthed his own forearm with something akin to desperation. Small, dark rivers of blood emerged, flowing sluggishly down the vampire's moon-pale skin. Spike whimpered and the vampire thrust his arm away, numerous jagged holes peppered the flesh. Spike continued to writhe and whimper.

With a sudden flash of insight, Xander understood what it was the vampire needed and he began to look around urgently. His eyes fell upon a piece of metal from the broken chair. Ignoring the vampire's protests, Xander released Spike's erection and reached for it. Sitting back, he held up his arm, turning it to expose the paler skin of his forearm. Biting his lip and gritting his teeth, Xander jabbed the shard into his arm below his wrist, pressing just hard enough to split the skin. The cold metal opened up a ragged cut; he slowly dragged down it almost as far as his elbow. Tears stung his eyes, it hurt, but he could already feel the hot swell of blood rising up into the wound. Xander tossed the piece of metal aside and leaned over the vampire. Without hesitating he pressed his bloody arm to Spike's lips. "Drink."

Golden eyes widened. "Drink," Xander repeated hoarsely. The vampire didn't wait for a third invitation. Xander gasped as he felt Spike's tongue snake out to lick the wound, shivering as the vampire nuzzled the torn skin apart. Xander swayed slightly as Spike began to drink, making soft sucking noises. The vampire wasn't using his fangs, though Xander could feel their needle sharp points nudging his skin. Spike was lapping up the blood like a cat. Xander felt hot and dizzy, a strange sensation coursing through his shaking body. With a start he realised he was growing hard again. The strange sensation was pleasure - a wild, intense ecstasy - one with its roots embedded in fear and pain and the delicious rush of Spike feeding from him.

He lay pressed against the vampire, who clutched his arm in a bruising grip. Xander remembered something and his hand slipped back down between their bodies to grasp Spike's erection. The angle was awkward and restrictive but Xander managed to set up a slow, even rhythm that seemed to please the Spike, who rocked his hips into Xander's hand. The boy felt his own re-awakened flesh rubbing against the blond.

Suddenly Spike tore away from Xander's arm, blood dripping from mouth. Xander cried out at the loss, and a second orgasm was ripped from his exhausted body. Spike came almost simultaneously, giving another eerie howl as his cold seed gushed over Xander's fingers. As Xander lay, utterly replete, the vampire reached for his cum-coated fingers and with dedicated thoroughness began to lick them clean. Finished, he lay down beside the boy and tugged Xander toward him, purring softly.

Part Five

Xander's sated contentment was rudely shattered by the sound of a door opening and slamming, making the candle flames jump and splutter. Xander raised himself up onto his elbows and opened his eyes; his muzzy gaze met the blood-red stare of an Oenan. He gave a startled yell and fell back, scrambling away. Strong arms encircled him, holding him still, while a soft voice whispered in his ear.

"Easy, pet. He just wants to let us know what's what."

Xander relaxed minutely, but he remained pressed against his protector, and as far from the Oenan as he could physically manage. It was the smaller demon who knelt facing them; his two companions - including Xander's claimant - had already left.

"Perassh bruska djinaa szaal."

Spike nodded. "Kesh." The demon stood up and disappeared through the door after his departed friends. The vampire released Xander and lay back, his arms folded behind his head. "Well, pet. Looks like we gave a stellar performance. Not only are our friends convinced, they're also pissed as hell." The vampire grinned nastily as his face slipped back into its human mask.

At the vampire's words, Xander felt an icy numbness steal over his body. Of course, this was all an act, a necessary evil for both parties in order to effect their escape. He'd known that all along so why now did he suddenly feel so sick and empty? Xander knew why. It was because with those words, the most intense experience of his life was exposed as an ugly deception; a pretence that meant less than nothing to the other player. Xander struggled not to let the tears pricking his eyes escape.

All he wanted to do was crawl into a corner and scream. Xander wanted to hit something. It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair! How could the most amazing moment of his life be meaningless? Xander had made a discovery. He understood now why he'd grown uncomfortable with Anya and Cordy. With them it had been lust - pure physical gratification for both parties. There had been no 'connection'. He could have been 'anybody' fooling around with 'anyone'. Well okay, not quite, they had liked him and he had liked them, but the real intimacy had been missing. However - and this was the part that really had him freaked - when Spike had touched him Xander had felt as though his whole being was involved. The degree of intimacy had overwhelmed him. Xander had never surrendered so completely to another, he had never felt able to let himself go like that before. Likewise, he had never had a lover respond so intensely.

The realisation that it hadn't actually meant *anything* was nearly killing him. Numbly, the boy reached for his clothes and began to dress. He didn't notice Spike watching him with a troubled look. The vampire was ready first and stood impatiently by the door. "Come on, mate. Before they change their bloody minds."

Xander nodded dully, pushing his foot into his other sneaker. He'd shoved his socks into his pockets. Spike walked back over to him frowning. "You all right?"

Xander shook off the vampire's hand. "Fine," he snapped. "Let's," he drew in a deep breath, "let's just go." He walked past the startled vampire to the door. A hand shot out with preternatural speed and yanked him back. Xander glared. Spike matched his anger and then some.

"Best let me go first, pet."

"Whatever." Xander just wanted to go. The room seemed smaller - claustrophobic - the lingering smell of sex heavy in the air. He needed to get out of here before he lost it altogether. A glowering Spike stomped past him, wrenching open the door and setting off down the stairwell; it shook with the force of the vampire's footsteps.

Xander followed silently, trying not to look at the demons swarming around him. It was no less painful, however, to look upon the leather- clad blond ahead, so he stared down at his feet as he made his way gingerly across the chamber and out into the tunnel. The black sludgy water quickly soaked into his sneakers, squishing unpleasantly between his bare toes.

It was dark, very dark and he stumbled along, clutching at the slime covered walls for support. Spike strode ahead untroubled by the lack of light. Xander couldn't bring himself to ask for any assistance. He was puzzled by Spike's sudden burst of annoyance back in the room. Unless of course the vampire was also now regretting their brief encounter? The thought hurt.

Xander stopped, pushing up his shirt to try and look at his arm, he squinted in the near blackness. There was a grate up ahead and he moved to stand beneath it. The faint threads of streetlight from above enabled him to see the blood drying along the edges of the cut. The wound itself was already closed. Xander mused on whether it had something to do with vampire saliva. He looked up ahead and felt a flutter of panic as he realised the blond was no longer in sight. He peered desperately into the darkness, "Spike?" Moving forward Xander slipped and almost fell into the rotting refuse swirling around his feet. He called out again, slightly more urgently this time, "Spike?"

There was no reply; the vampire was gone. Tears burned behind Xander's eyes, a gulping sob escaped him and he tried to choke back the next; it came out as a sort of gasping snuffle. He wiped his eyes angrily and set off down the tunnel, striding with determined steps through the watery waste.

Xander's footsteps faltered when he failed to find anything remotely resembling a way out. He stumbled over something in the darkness. This time he was unable to regain his balance. Xander screwed up his face as he prepared to meet the foul slippery sludge. It didn't happen - a pair of strong hands pulled him upright, holding him steady until he could stand unaided. Startled, Xander turned and into a pair of bemused dark blue eyes.

"*You* have got two left feet, pet."

"S-Spike?"

Spike shook his head at the boy. "Who else would be down here hauling your sorry arse out of the sludge?"

"Y-you came back?" Xander stammered.

Spike frowned. "What d'you mean - *back*? I went to scout ahead a bit. Don't fancy popping my head up and getting zapped by some git."

"Huh?"

"Them sodding soldier pansies," the vampire snarled. He rifled through his pockets. "God, I need a smoke. I don't suppose...?" Spike looked at Xander, then he snorted. "No, course you haven't."

Spike wasn't being strictly honest about his reasons for leaving Xander alone, albeit only briefly. He had needed to get away from the boy to clear his head and think. Spike was confused. The vampire hadn't had that many human lovers, at least not willing ones, and while the boy had been coerced in a fashion, Xander had come across with an eager innocence that the vampire found strangely compelling....not to mention bloody erotic.

Spike had known all along that he might have to shag the boy. He hadn't been bothered, he was a vampire, he could shag a tree if he had to. Performance anxiety was not an issue. However, Spike had not been prepared for the all consuming desire that had seized him once the boy started to co-operate. One reason he rarely bothered with human lovers was their fragility, you had to be dainty with 'em or they broke. Plus they tended to be squeamish. Xander had fucked him into the floor and then torn open his own arm to feed him. To say that Spike was somewhat surprised by this turn events was an understatement. Who was this strange boy and what had he done with the real Xander Harris?

The boy in question was stood watching him with a slightly lost look on his face. Spike shook off his thoughts and began to walk away. "Come on," he muttered. "Time to get you home." He heard a sloshing behind him as Xander slowly followed. After while it got fainter as the boy fell further and further behind, then it stopped altogether. Spike rolled his eyes. He was disturbed to find that the boy's woebegone expression was playing havoc with his malicious nature. He shrugged, hands buried in his pockets.

"I made a deal, pet. I get you out and the Slayer fixes me."

"A...a deal?" Xander looked strangely upset.

Spike was getting annoyed. "*Yes*. A deal. Now I'll make one with you if you like. I'll keep all this a jolly little secret just between the two of us. In fact, I'll forget it ever happened. IF YOU BLOODY WELL GET YOURSELF OVER HERE SO WE CAN GET OUT OF THIS SODDING PLACE!" He looked down as his feet. "This muck's ruining me boots," he moaned.

"What if...if I don't want to?" a small voice asked.

Spike frowned and looked back up. "Huh?"

"I said," Xander took a step forward. "I said what if I don't want to? Forget," he added.

Spike stared at Xander so intently the boy shivered. Xander barely had time to blink when the vampire rushed at him - slamming him up against the sewer wall. He hung there, suspended in the vampire's powerful grip. The boy made no attempt to get free and not just because he knew it would be pointless. Gold-tinged eyes stared into slightly frightened brown ones.

"And why," the vampire asked slowly, "wouldn't you?"

Xander refused to back down from the vampire's sneering gaze. "B-because I liked it," he admitted quietly. He lowered his eyes then, unwilling to see what would certainly be cold contempt on Spike's face. There was a fairly lengthy silence and then Spike released him. Xander slid down the wall onto his feet; he stood waiting miserably, wishing this was one of those occasions when the earth really would swallow him up.

"Wanna make a new deal, pet?"

Xander's head snapped back up. Spike was smiling at him in a conspiratorial way, but there was nothing unkind in the vampire's expression. "A deal?" Xander asked faintly.

"Hmm." The vampire stepped closer, his body pressing Xander into the wall. "A deal. Just between you and me," Spike murmured softly.

"W-what kind of a deal?"

"Well," the vampire took hold of Xander's hands and held them up against the wall. "We could maybe consider one where I get to do *this*, now and again." With that Spike pushed Xander hard into the brickwork, devouring his mouth in a bruising kiss. Xander whimpered with pleasure, his legs lifting up as the vampire's strength supported him. When the kiss ended Xander was flushed and dazed. Spike grinned at him. "So?"

"Wha-?" Xander swayed and would have slid to the floor if Spike hadn't continued to hold him.

"Do we have a deal?"

"Okay." Xander agreed muzzily, still light-headed from the kiss. Spike looked pleased. Once he was reasonably certain that Xander wasn't going to fall face down into the muck, the vampire released him and set off down the tunnel, whistling jauntily.

Xander stayed where he was, breathing hard. The boy's mind was beginning to reassert itself. Xander asked himself what he was doing. Then he smiled wondrously. Xander's smile spread into a grin and he refused to listen to his 'panicked voice', hurrying to catch up with the vampire.

 

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