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Red -- by Luisa
Rating: G
Description: Xander and Spike talk.
Note: Dedication - To all Xander fans out there (me included).
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Another night at Xander's. The boy didn't seem inclined to go anywhere or do anything and Spike wasn't about to try and persuade him.They both stared at the TV, failing to take in its sights and sounds. Two beers stood on the table, a sort of compensation after a tiring day. Spike suddenly glared at the run-down washing-machine in a corner of Xander's basement. It glared back, reminding him of the havoc it had created with his clothes.They were all he had left from a most cherished past as one of the world's fiercest vampires...and now the stupid gadget had done them in. Well, if he couldn't kick humans, he could at least kick a pile of rusty metal without getting a migraine. And that had been exactly what he had done. Xander had arrived to find him in the process of trashing his parents' "Welcome to maturity!" present. Somehow the sight of Spike's helpless rage had made him want to roll on the floor, laughing his guts out. But he had refrained from insulting him in that way. The vampire had suffered enough to last him another unlifetime...he didn't need one of Xander's chuckling fits.
So now they just sat side by side, saying nothing. Monosyllables seemed to work perfectly for both of them and Xander was certainly used to that form of communication, having been around Oz and Angel for what seemed like forever. Spike was calmly smoking one of his Marlboros, relishing the feeling of the stale, toxic smoke on his uncomplaining lungs. He offered one to Xander, looking on mockingly at the boy's feeble attempts to resist something he'd always wanted to try. "Come on, mate. It won't kill you.", he smirked. Xander finally accepted it gratefully, fumbling with the lighter in the most inept way possible. Spike laughed and helped him light the cigarette. The spectacle of the coughing mortal gave him a most welcome rush of pleasurable glee and he stared scornfully until Xander wished there were a hole he could hide in. "I see you're a pro.", the vampire quipped. Xander didn't answer, too busy trying to keep the smoke off his vocal chords. After what seemed like an eternity, his body got used to it and he relaxed, feeling exhausted.But what came next immediately startled him out of his well-being.
"So tell me about Red.", Spike asked leisurely, blue rings of smoke dissolving over his bleached hair. Xander glanced at him quickly, clutching the cigarette clumsily.
"Red?", he asked uncomprehendingly.
"Willow.", Spike snapped.
Xander didn't like the way the conversation was heading. Why did Spike want to hear about Willow? He glared at the vampire, looking very much like a defensive calf.
"Why do you want to know?"
Spike smirked. "Well...I am gonna be working with you lot. It'll help if I know your weak points.", he said. "So let's start with Red.". He couldn't have been more relaxed. Xander was taken aback by his answer.He gazed at the point of his cigarette for a few seconds before shrugging awkwardly. He didn't have enough energy to be evasive.
"Will's my best friend.", he retorted casually. To him, that about summed it up. He'd known the small redhead for years, she was the most caring human being he had ever met. The most selfless. His mind went back to the time Willow had started dating Oz. He remembered the pain he had felt at witnessing the other boy's successful endeavour to steal his best friend away from him. Willow had become less and less available, even though she did her best not to neglect her friends. Xander had tried to talk to her several times on the subject, he had constantly whined and complained, but a hurt expression on the girl's face told him that it was a lost battle. She was deeply in love with Oz and nothing Xander might say would change that.
Images flashed through his brain, memories of their time together as Spike's hostages. He had been overwhelmed by his need of her at the time, but he'd never been in love. The fact that he loved her more than he loved anyone else in his life didn't alter the truth for a second. As he slowly resurfaced from his mental journey into the past, he noticed Spike's calculating gaze on his face.
"I'd give anything to know what was going through your head two seconds ago.", the vampire grinned mischievously.
"I bet you would.", Xander replied, gulping down some of his beer.
"She's your best friend. What else?"
"Look, Spike, don't get any ideas, okay? Will means everything to me and I don't want to see her in danger...of getting hurt, that is.", Xander retorted quickly. He was unsettled by Spike's line of questioning.
Spike rolled his eyes. To Xander it seemed as if the vampire were greatly bored by his suspicions.
"I'm not gonna try anything, for God's sake! I just want to know a few things. She's going through a rough time right now. I can see it on her face. It's like there's this spark missing...", Spike muttered thoughtfully, crushing his cigarette on one of Xander's innumerable sports magazines.
"She broke up with her boyfriend a few weeks ago.", he answered quietly.
"That explains it. What happened?"
"Oz is a werewolf. And...he had a hard time dealing with that. He, uh...he didn't want Willow to be in any sort of danger, least of all from him, so he just left. At least, that's Buffy's account of the whole thing."
"Do you believe it?", Spike asked, looking at the boy's profile in the dim light.
Xander shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. The thing is...I don't think Will believes it."
Spike smirked. "She's smart...she probably knows better."
Xander looked sad for a moment. "I guess."
Spike stretched his limbs like a giant tiger in a Hawaiian shirt. He got up and switched off the TV. "She's too soft for her own good.", he murmured, as if speaking to himself. Xander looked up at this, frowning at the older man's words.
"What do you know about it?", he asked angrily, crushing the cigarette filter on the ash-tray.
"A lot.", the vampire retorted, looking into the boy's eyes with what seemed to Xander like an eternity of knowledge. He didn't say another word. Spike paced in front of the couch, lighting himself another cigarette.
"Are you in love with her?", he asked quietly.
"No.", Xander answered. There was no point in withholding the truth.
Spike seemed unfazed by his reply. There was no shade of feeling on his face.
"How do you know?"
A shadow of confusion darkened Xander's eyes. He opened his mouth to speak but changed his mind. Getting up, he headed towards the only small window in the place. Silence hovered between the two men. Spike was looking at the boy's back with a strange expression on his face. After a few minutes, Xander turned towards the vampire, determined to have the last word. "I'm in love with Anya." As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he knew he was lying. Spike sensed this at once. He laughed scornfully.
"You're as in love with Anya as I'm in love with the Slayer.", he retorted scarcastically.
Sighing in exasperation, Xander waved away his words, heading towards the couch.
"Goodnight, Spike. There's a blanket over there, if you need it. Though since you're dead and all, I doubt that's the case.", he finished lamely, hunching his shoulders.
"Sweet dreams, mate.", an amused voice replied. The light was switched off, darkness fell on the cramped space.
The End
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