The First: Version Slash 9/?
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Alexei tapped his fingers lightly on his desk. He'd attended to all the pressing business of running his city and his company, so he allowed his thoughts to return to his guests and their role in the coming battle. He still did not believe the legends, no matter how close the parallels between the young man in the story and Xander Harris. He did believe that the boy had power, beyond any of their imaginings. And it would seem he had finally solved the mystery of Rupert Giles. The man was hiding his past, just as Marie had believed. Ethan Rayne, was nothing if not talkative. He had spent hours giving out inconsequential personal information while they were researching some arcane matter or another. Many of these things, were tales of his misspent youth and of the golden boy he had shared it with. Rayne had never uttered this man's name, but he had said a good deal about him. He had told Alexei how his friend had a destiny with the Council of Watchers, but had rejected it. He told Alexei of the brilliance, beauty, and intensity of this man. And he had told him, how the two of them had lost control of a demon, there had been others involved, but they were the ones with power. They had lost control of it and the demon had killed a friend. It had driven Rayne's golden boy away, back to the Council and his destiny. It was quite clear that Ethan Rayne loved this man, had always loved him. And so it was, that he came to meet the golden boy. Rupert Giles, who had rejected the Council and its principles. Giles obviously held himself responsible for what Rayne had become. That spoke to something, some bond between them. The next days should be interesting at the very least.
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Xander had taken a nap as soon as he and Spike got back to the hotel. He really was exhausted. He knew he had more sleep than the rest of them, but it didn't change the fact that he felt like he hadn't slept in about ten days. He felt refreshed when he woke, a couple of hours later. His sleep had been undisturbed by unsettling dreams this time around. He was ready to take a real look at the choices he was going to have to make. He got up and stretched, changing clothes before going out to the living area of the suite to find Spike.
"You're up." Spike was sitting on the couch watching cartoon network.
"Yeah. Why are you watching cartoons?"
"Nothing else on. Besides, I don't have the attention span for much else right now." Spike shrugged.
"Oh. Do you want to shoot some pool? Maybe have that talk?" This was more awkward than Xander had expected it to be.
Spike smiled, relieving the tension just a bit, "Ready to lose again are you?"
Xander returned the smile. "That was nothing but luck. I'll beat you tonight." The two of them returned to the game room. There were people there, so they held off on the talk and concentrated on the pool. A couple of games later, both won by Spike, things were pretty much back to normal, so it was with some apprehension that Xander turned the conversation back to the binding ritual.
"Cordelia and Angel have decided to go through with it."
"Told you they would. What about us?" Spike replied.
"I don't know. There's all this stuff wrapped up with it. I think I might have been more ready if Marie hadn't given me that book. It's one thing to deal with the idea of binding yourself to a vampire, it's another thing entirely to think that in doing so you'll be seen as some kind of savior to vampires everywhere. I'm not sure if I can handle that, and even though Alexei seems to think it's all a bunch of crap, I'm not so sure." Xander was more freaked by that thought than he had let on earlier.
"Let's just deal with one thing at a time. The story may very well be true, but there isn't a whole lot you can do about it. I don't think there are many like Marie. It may be a bit strange, but Alexei will keep them away if it makes you uncomfortable, and if he doesn't I will." Spike tried to be as reassuring as possible without any pressure. This was Xander's decision and his alone.
"I know, and I guess, while it kind of bothers me, it's not that much of an issue. So, the binding itself, you said it would be intimate. How intimate? Show me." Xander needed to know if he could handle this.
"I can't. Not really. I can't bite, and that's a big part of it. When you allow it willingly, sharing blood can be incredibly pleasurable for both the vampire and the human. I can't show you that, or even explain it." Spike was trying to be honest.
"What can you show me? I need to know, Spike. I can't just say I'll do this, without having some idea of what it means."
"Alright." Spike moved close, more quickly than Xander could really process. Barely an inch separated them when he stopped standing behind Xander. "The ceremony requires closeness, like this." The words were whispered against Xander's ear. Spike moved back in front of him, never leaving that inch of space between them. He took Xander's hand and brought his wrist to his mouth, lips and tongue working the pulse point and teeth scraping ever so gently against the skin, not enough to hurt, just enough to let him know they were there. "It requires touch like this." Spike stepped back, breaking the spell that had fallen over them. Xander's breathing was quick and shallow and his eyes were just a bit unfocused. Spike gave him a moment to readjust. "That's not everything. It doesn't just require that I touch, it requires your touch as well. I can't show you that. This won't be a single moment of a single day either. This closeness, this touch will be repeated many times over years, decades, perhaps even centuries. Then there is all of the other stuff that comes with this. Marie said we'll be in each other's minds. Willow has been in mine, and I think yours too. This will be all the time, not just in an emergency. We can learn to control it, to block thoughts out, but it will always be there."
Xander was still trying to process what had just happened. One thing he did know. It hadn't felt awkward or even strange at the time. It had felt right, as if he was meant to have Spike standing that close, and touching with mouth and tongue as well as hands. He wasn't sure how he felt about that, but he did know that it was true, so he had to see if he being in that same position was just as true. Where Spike had moved quickly he moved slowly, walking towards Spike until they were almost touching. "In the dream, I took your blood here." He tentatively ran fingers along the smooth skin at Spike's collarbone. Spike tilted his head to offer better access. Taking that as consent, Xander pressed his mouth to the spot where his teeth had ripped into flesh in his dream. When Spike didn't resist, he opened his mouth and pressed at the flesh there with tongue and teeth, much as Spike had done earlier at his wrist, not breaking skin or causing pain, just exploring the taste and texture of skin. A moment later he pulled back just a bit and smiled at the dazed expression on Spike's face. "This feels right, like I belong here, doing just this. I'll do it. As soon as we work out the ritual and the spell from Willow, we'll do the binding."
Xander hadn't moved away and his hands were still resting lightly on Spike's shoulders. "You're sure. There's no going back, no changing your mind once it's done."
Xander nodded. "I'm sure. This is right, everything in me, tells me this is right."
"Then we'll tell them tomorrow."
"No, tonight. If we wait until tomorrow we won't be together. They'll ask me while you are still sleeping. We should tell them together, when they get back." Xander was adamant.
Spike smiled. "Okay. Tonight, but lets go back up to the room."
"Yeah, that was exhausting." Xander took Spike's hand and headed for the elevators. Once back upstairs they sat in front of the television, still on Cartoon Network. They weren't really watching, they were both tired and soon fell asleep.
Willow was the first one to the room when they came back. She hadn't heard from Xander since he had left Alexei's home, and she was worried about him. She walked into the living area of their suite to find, the two of them asleep in front of the television. Spike was leaning against the far end and Xander was curled against him. Spike's arms circled Xander's body as if protecting him. They both looked utterly content. Willow smiled gently and stepped back into the hallway to make sure that the others were quiet when they got there.
They arrived in a group. "Shh. They're sleeping. I think it's safe to say they've made their decision." Willow whispered to them.
The group moved into the living area and just looked at Spike and Xander for a moment. Everyone smiled, even Buffy's harsh stance softened a bit. "They look happy. I can't remember the last time either of them, really looked happy." She had spoken quietly, but it was enough to wake Spike, his movement woke Xander as well.
"Hey. Must have fallen asleep. What time is it?" Xander asked.
Giles answered, "About four in the morning. We stayed until we risked dawn."
"Oh, no wonder I fell asleep." Xander shook his head to clear it and sat up, putting just a little space between himself and Spike. "We talked."
"And?" Giles gently prodded.
"As soon as we figure out all the details of the spell we'll do it. And before anyone asks, yes I'm sure. This is the way things are supposed to be, so don't even bother trying to tell me the reasons it's not." Xander sounded almost defiant as if he expected resistance from his friends.
"Wouldn't dream of it." Buffy laughed.
"You'll take care of him?" Willow questioned Spike.
"Always." Spike answered her with as much gravity in his voice as he could muster.
"They work. This will be good for them." Tara reassured Willow, pulling the other girl into a tight hug.
"Alright then."
"Just so you know. Ethan is here. He arrived, just before we left. He of course knew it was us. He hasn't changed any, so just try to ignore him. He'll be there when we return. I've asked him to help Willow research the ritual and spell to free Spike to bite. Expect him to be obnoxious." Giles warned Spike and Xander.
"I remember him well enough to know that's his natural state. Don't worry. I can handle it." Xander reassured the older man.
"Very good. We should all be following your example and getting some sleep. I expect it to become a precious commodity in the next days. Good night." Giles went to the room he shared with Wesley and the others spread out to their respective rooms.
"Good night, Xander." Spike ran a hand along Xander's jaw and he leaned into the touch.
"Good night." They went to their beds, to rest, knowing that sleep would be in short supply from here on out.
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Alexei tapped his fingers lightly on his desk. He'd attended to all the pressing business of running his city and his company, so he allowed his thoughts to return to his guests and their role in the coming battle. He still did not believe the legends, no matter how close the parallels between the young man in the story and Xander Harris. He did believe that the boy had power, beyond any of their imaginings. And it would seem he had finally solved the mystery of Rupert Giles. The man was hiding his past, just as Marie had believed. Ethan Rayne, was nothing if not talkative. He had spent hours giving out inconsequential personal information while they were researching some arcane matter or another. Many of these things, were tales of his misspent youth and of the golden boy he had shared it with. Rayne had never uttered this man's name, but he had said a good deal about him. He had told Alexei how his friend had a destiny with the Council of Watchers, but had rejected it. He told Alexei of the brilliance, beauty, and intensity of this man. And he had told him, how the two of them had lost control of a demon, there had been others involved, but they were the ones with power. They had lost control of it and the demon had killed a friend. It had driven Rayne's golden boy away, back to the Council and his destiny. It was quite clear that Ethan Rayne loved this man, had always loved him. And so it was, that he came to meet the golden boy. Rupert Giles, who had rejected the Council and its principles. Giles obviously held himself responsible for what Rayne had become. That spoke to something, some bond between them. The next days should be interesting at the very least.
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Xander had taken a nap as soon as he and Spike got back to the hotel. He really was exhausted. He knew he had more sleep than the rest of them, but it didn't change the fact that he felt like he hadn't slept in about ten days. He felt refreshed when he woke, a couple of hours later. His sleep had been undisturbed by unsettling dreams this time around. He was ready to take a real look at the choices he was going to have to make. He got up and stretched, changing clothes before going out to the living area of the suite to find Spike.
"You're up." Spike was sitting on the couch watching cartoon network.
"Yeah. Why are you watching cartoons?"
"Nothing else on. Besides, I don't have the attention span for much else right now." Spike shrugged.
"Oh. Do you want to shoot some pool? Maybe have that talk?" This was more awkward than Xander had expected it to be.
Spike smiled, relieving the tension just a bit, "Ready to lose again are you?"
Xander returned the smile. "That was nothing but luck. I'll beat you tonight." The two of them returned to the game room. There were people there, so they held off on the talk and concentrated on the pool. A couple of games later, both won by Spike, things were pretty much back to normal, so it was with some apprehension that Xander turned the conversation back to the binding ritual.
"Cordelia and Angel have decided to go through with it."
"Told you they would. What about us?" Spike replied.
"I don't know. There's all this stuff wrapped up with it. I think I might have been more ready if Marie hadn't given me that book. It's one thing to deal with the idea of binding yourself to a vampire, it's another thing entirely to think that in doing so you'll be seen as some kind of savior to vampires everywhere. I'm not sure if I can handle that, and even though Alexei seems to think it's all a bunch of crap, I'm not so sure." Xander was more freaked by that thought than he had let on earlier.
"Let's just deal with one thing at a time. The story may very well be true, but there isn't a whole lot you can do about it. I don't think there are many like Marie. It may be a bit strange, but Alexei will keep them away if it makes you uncomfortable, and if he doesn't I will." Spike tried to be as reassuring as possible without any pressure. This was Xander's decision and his alone.
"I know, and I guess, while it kind of bothers me, it's not that much of an issue. So, the binding itself, you said it would be intimate. How intimate? Show me." Xander needed to know if he could handle this.
"I can't. Not really. I can't bite, and that's a big part of it. When you allow it willingly, sharing blood can be incredibly pleasurable for both the vampire and the human. I can't show you that, or even explain it." Spike was trying to be honest.
"What can you show me? I need to know, Spike. I can't just say I'll do this, without having some idea of what it means."
"Alright." Spike moved close, more quickly than Xander could really process. Barely an inch separated them when he stopped standing behind Xander. "The ceremony requires closeness, like this." The words were whispered against Xander's ear. Spike moved back in front of him, never leaving that inch of space between them. He took Xander's hand and brought his wrist to his mouth, lips and tongue working the pulse point and teeth scraping ever so gently against the skin, not enough to hurt, just enough to let him know they were there. "It requires touch like this." Spike stepped back, breaking the spell that had fallen over them. Xander's breathing was quick and shallow and his eyes were just a bit unfocused. Spike gave him a moment to readjust. "That's not everything. It doesn't just require that I touch, it requires your touch as well. I can't show you that. This won't be a single moment of a single day either. This closeness, this touch will be repeated many times over years, decades, perhaps even centuries. Then there is all of the other stuff that comes with this. Marie said we'll be in each other's minds. Willow has been in mine, and I think yours too. This will be all the time, not just in an emergency. We can learn to control it, to block thoughts out, but it will always be there."
Xander was still trying to process what had just happened. One thing he did know. It hadn't felt awkward or even strange at the time. It had felt right, as if he was meant to have Spike standing that close, and touching with mouth and tongue as well as hands. He wasn't sure how he felt about that, but he did know that it was true, so he had to see if he being in that same position was just as true. Where Spike had moved quickly he moved slowly, walking towards Spike until they were almost touching. "In the dream, I took your blood here." He tentatively ran fingers along the smooth skin at Spike's collarbone. Spike tilted his head to offer better access. Taking that as consent, Xander pressed his mouth to the spot where his teeth had ripped into flesh in his dream. When Spike didn't resist, he opened his mouth and pressed at the flesh there with tongue and teeth, much as Spike had done earlier at his wrist, not breaking skin or causing pain, just exploring the taste and texture of skin. A moment later he pulled back just a bit and smiled at the dazed expression on Spike's face. "This feels right, like I belong here, doing just this. I'll do it. As soon as we work out the ritual and the spell from Willow, we'll do the binding."
Xander hadn't moved away and his hands were still resting lightly on Spike's shoulders. "You're sure. There's no going back, no changing your mind once it's done."
Xander nodded. "I'm sure. This is right, everything in me, tells me this is right."
"Then we'll tell them tomorrow."
"No, tonight. If we wait until tomorrow we won't be together. They'll ask me while you are still sleeping. We should tell them together, when they get back." Xander was adamant.
Spike smiled. "Okay. Tonight, but lets go back up to the room."
"Yeah, that was exhausting." Xander took Spike's hand and headed for the elevators. Once back upstairs they sat in front of the television, still on Cartoon Network. They weren't really watching, they were both tired and soon fell asleep.
Willow was the first one to the room when they came back. She hadn't heard from Xander since he had left Alexei's home, and she was worried about him. She walked into the living area of their suite to find, the two of them asleep in front of the television. Spike was leaning against the far end and Xander was curled against him. Spike's arms circled Xander's body as if protecting him. They both looked utterly content. Willow smiled gently and stepped back into the hallway to make sure that the others were quiet when they got there.
They arrived in a group. "Shh. They're sleeping. I think it's safe to say they've made their decision." Willow whispered to them.
The group moved into the living area and just looked at Spike and Xander for a moment. Everyone smiled, even Buffy's harsh stance softened a bit. "They look happy. I can't remember the last time either of them, really looked happy." She had spoken quietly, but it was enough to wake Spike, his movement woke Xander as well.
"Hey. Must have fallen asleep. What time is it?" Xander asked.
Giles answered, "About four in the morning. We stayed until we risked dawn."
"Oh, no wonder I fell asleep." Xander shook his head to clear it and sat up, putting just a little space between himself and Spike. "We talked."
"And?" Giles gently prodded.
"As soon as we figure out all the details of the spell we'll do it. And before anyone asks, yes I'm sure. This is the way things are supposed to be, so don't even bother trying to tell me the reasons it's not." Xander sounded almost defiant as if he expected resistance from his friends.
"Wouldn't dream of it." Buffy laughed.
"You'll take care of him?" Willow questioned Spike.
"Always." Spike answered her with as much gravity in his voice as he could muster.
"They work. This will be good for them." Tara reassured Willow, pulling the other girl into a tight hug.
"Alright then."
"Just so you know. Ethan is here. He arrived, just before we left. He of course knew it was us. He hasn't changed any, so just try to ignore him. He'll be there when we return. I've asked him to help Willow research the ritual and spell to free Spike to bite. Expect him to be obnoxious." Giles warned Spike and Xander.
"I remember him well enough to know that's his natural state. Don't worry. I can handle it." Xander reassured the older man.
"Very good. We should all be following your example and getting some sleep. I expect it to become a precious commodity in the next days. Good night." Giles went to the room he shared with Wesley and the others spread out to their respective rooms.
"Good night, Xander." Spike ran a hand along Xander's jaw and he leaned into the touch.
"Good night." They went to their beds, to rest, knowing that sleep would be in short supply from here on out.