Part Nine

"Pet, you awake? Spike’s back..." he curses softly as he approaches the bed. He can read tension in the boy’s rigid posture and scents the despair. Soddin’ Hell, whelp thought he wasn’t coming back! He abandons all attempts at calm and practically flies to the bed. He sits down carefully and stretches out behind his mate, trying to massage away the tension. His ears catch an extremely soft muttering from the form under his hands.

"Please come back, Spike. I’ll be good. I won’t fight with doctors anymore. I’ll do whatever you want. I won’t make you mad, promise. Why did you leave? Was I bad? If I was bad, I’ll be good. You can touch my butt all you want. I won’t cry, please come back!"

Spike is a vampire. A Master Vampire. Nothing a human says can possibly matter enough to make him feel guilty. What utter rot. He was feeling so low than an earthworm would have to look down to see him. When will he learn that emotions are so much more fragile than the shells that hold them.

"Luv, I’m here. You aren’t bad. Never bad. You’ll never have to see another doc again if you will just stop trembling and look at me. Please, pet. Don’t say please a lot, whelp." Spike is desperate. Was revenge really worth coming back to this? He thought Xander was as broken as he could possibly get. How could someone shatter so much and ever become whole. For a long moment he was stuck in the bleakest despair. This is what being selfish wrought. Josh wasn’t punished for Xander. That was for Spike and the Watcher. He should have gone through the regular human channels and never left his mate’s side. Can he fix this? He has to.

"Pet, I was wrong. Never should’ve left you. Promised to stay put and I already bollixed that up. Never again. Listen up, Xander, only gonna say this once. Never again. Won’t leave." He pulls Xander closer to him and begins his favorite activity - pet the human. "Can’t face the Watcher for a bit, luv, " he chuckles, "Rupes said you complimented my petting technique. Wonder how long an embarrassed Mater Vamp can hide with his human before ‘dad’ becomes suspicious?" He nearly cheers when the trembling boy turns over and burrows into his chest, giving a watery chuckle.

"Don’t care, Fangless. My vampire. You followed me home, finder’s keepers. You really won’t leave me again? Everyone leaves me. I don’t know what I’d do if you left me alone again. Well, I can go to the bathroom by myself and you will need to eat - I’m not a walking blood bank. Do you promise?"

Spike smirks at the return of the Xander babble.

"Right, luv, got it. No withdrawals. Suppose I can survive on the blue plate pig special. Word of a Master Vampire, Pet. More important, word of William the Bloody, mate. May have lost me bite but the word still means something." Spike gave a sigh of relief. He hadn’t lost the most important thing in his unlife. Without his mate, and now was not the time to discuss that with him, he would be there to greet the sun. Or, shudder, maybe even go see the Poof. He is glad that isn’t going to happen. He doesn’t need a lecture from hairboy!

"Spike... my butt hurts." Xander’s reply is filled with reluctance.

"Whelp, why didn’t you tell the Watcher?" Spike sounds exasperated. Not that he has to help, but frustrated that Xander waited.

"Ew, my father figure touching my ass? No way! That is so not happening. Spike, how can I put this? I already told you I am tired of having people’s hands up my ass. But of all the people I know, if I have to have someone do it, well... I want it to be you." Xander finishes quietly and snuggles back into his vampire’s chest, hiding a red face.

Ever see William the Bloody so happy the ice around his heart melts? Okay, fine, when he was not killing or maiming. Ah, I didn’t think so.

"You want ME to touch your arse, mate?"

"Calm down, Spike. I just need you to apply some cream. You so don’t have to sound like groping me is your favorite pastime." Xander sounds a bit nervous. Spike doesn’t have to sound so thrilled. Like it’s an honor or something.

"No need to be worried, luv. I’ll never touch you without permission. Just was happy you trust me that much. Love you, I do, never will hurt you." Spike wraps his arms around his Xander and runs his hands up and down his back. Xander briefly stiffens when he gets too close to his butt, but as soon as Spike feels it, he avoids touching that low. He needs his mate to relax.

"Um, Fangless, this is nice but my butt still hurts. Can we take care of that then cuddle? Cuddling is of the good, when I’m not in pain." He squirms uncomfortably.

"Right, pet, thought I would relax you first." Spike reaches behind him and gropes around until he feels something cool, smooth, and tube-shaped.

"I appreciate the thought, Spike, really do. But sore butt’s so not good."

Spike laughs, "Got it, luv, pain first, then fun stuff." He quickly pulls Xander’s pants down far enough to apply the cream. Xander shakes a bit but then sighs in relief as the cream cools.

"You can touch my butt anytime, Spike." Xander puddles back down, getting comfortable again. Spike smirks but actually manages to avoid any snarky comments. Cuddling with his mate has priority.