After Midnight 5/? Erosion of Mercy
Hey everybody! I have the next chapter of my experiment ready for your consumption. Let me know whether I should continue, ok?
Title: Erosion of Mercy
Pairing: this one is mostly Xander & Spike, but Angelus is in there in a big way.
Rating: hard R definitely. No smut or really bad torture-y violence.
Disclaimer: I of course do not own any of the characters. I am merely taking them out to play.
AN: This is STILL unbeta'd and will remain so until finished in it's entirety. Then I'll send it off and refine and repost.
Previous After Midnight fics are HERE.
Story Banner by lit_gal
Erosion of Mercy
Xander and Spike managed to avoid Angelus while in town feeding. Spike had taken in the scent of pain that rolled off the young vampire and knew he needed blood. He’d moved toward the skittish one slowly, running a casual hand over his jaw and cheek, then down both arms, checking for breaks. He saw the mangled hands and noted how Xander had attempted to set them, but some of the fingers and carpal bones in the hand were still out of line, so he straightened them. He grinned, proud from some reason, when Xander remained silent through the ordeal. Not even an indrawn breath. This one knows pain, he though to himself.
Once the hands were set again, he silently asked permission to check for broken ribs. He found several, but the bones were already set and had even started to heal on their own. He knew, though, until Xander could feed, the process would take a long time and the young one would be in considerable pain. That was why they’d headed into town.
It was obvious to Spike that Angelus had kept his new young thing locked up when he had difficulty taking his first victim. Xander caught himself a pretty young chit. Small, brunette, with attitude to spare. She reminded Spike of the Slayer in that way. Xander had taken one look at her and said, “Her. I want her.” and went after her. He pulled her from her friends at the Bronze by asking for a dance.
Still awkward in his body, still thinking like he was human, Xander moved stiltedly. He stood nearly a foot away from his prey, moving with no degree of grace, until, with a sigh of frustration, the girl had sidled up closer to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and just sort of slithered against him. At the half smile and quickly hooded gaze that fell across Xander’s face, Spike was glad to see that at least the internal shift had occurred.
Xander started moving more seductively, dipping his hips into the curve of hers, pulling her tighter against his body, the two of them becoming one to the sound of the music. Spike knew it wouldn’t be long before the young vampire took his victim outside, and when the moment passed with a slow heated kiss on the dance floor, he moved to follow them.
Xander’s ribs and broken hands were giving him fits, not allowing him to restrain the girl properly, and she was fighting hard against him. Every time Xander tried to move in for the kill, the girl would go wild, swinging her fists and kicking, twisting her body, pulling on Xander’s still injured ribs.
“Need some help, pet?” Spike called casually from his spot in the shadows.
“Yes. My ribs...”
With raised eyebrows at the ease of Xander’s admittance, Spike moved in and snatched the girl by the front of her shirt. “I’d be still if I were you, little girl. I don’t want to have to break your bones before he kills you. You’re gonna be a nice little snack for my friend here. He needs all that you can give him. But if you don’t stop that fighting, I’ll make sure to hurt you first. How does a little rape and guttin’ sound to you, love?”
He smiled at her deeply indrawn breath and the wave of acrid fear that poured out of her at the word ‘rape.’ He looked up at Xander. “Here, pet, take your supper. You’re going to need your strength when we get back to the mansion.”
Xander hesitated. Not wanting to risk further pain to his ribs or face. “‘S’all right, Xander. I’ve got her, now come and eat. I don’t feel like standin in this bloody alley all soddin’ night long.”
“Right, ok. Just.. Hold her still, please, Spike. She hurt me.”
“Hurt her back then. But dammit, boy, feed.”
The girl started to whimper, having caught her breath. Spike punched her in the mouth. “Shut up. I like the smell of fear, you little bitch, even the taste is good. But damned if I can stand the mewling sound of it.”
Xander lowered his head to her shoulder, about to bite.
“Pet? You might want to put your face on, if you know what I mean. Makes biting through the skin that much easier, when you have your fangs on. Also, go for the neck, proper. Easier access to the arteries, yeah. Fresher blood. Chock full of that adrenalin. Trust me.”
Xander nodded and let his demon settle on him. He felt the click and slide of broken bone and moaned a little at the pain. Then the slow slide of fangs through his gums had his mouth watering and his jaw aching fiercely. He leaned down again and gently bit into the girl’s neck, feeling the skin pop open like lime wedges, the blood gushing onto his tongue tangy and piquant with fear, sliding down his throat with the sweetness of acceptance.
He could feel the healing energy of the blood, knitting bones and cartilage back together, his ribs finally easing out of the pain they’d been in. He stretched his hands, feeling the strength return to them and he grasped the girl tight around her ribs, pulling her in closer and pulling harder on her blood.
Spike finally let go of the girl, watching Xander take his fill of her. When Xander was done, he dropped the girl, letting her slide casually down his body in a dead sprawl, her limbs loose and folded over her body at strange angles. Spike smiled.
“You finished? Or are you still hungry?”
“Neither. But I want some more.” Xander paused for a minute. “Also. Kinda horny. Huh.”
Spike laughed. “‘Course you are.” He threw an arm around Xander’s shoulder. “Let’s see if we can’t find us both a little bit of fluff to take the edge off. And I’m feelin’ a mite bit peckish myself.”
Several hours later, the two completely sated vampires were back at the mansion. They stood outside the door, lingering in the breaking dawn. The sky slowly changed from midnight blue to violet, finally fading into pink, as they sat outside in the courtyard. Neither wanted to go in, knowing that Angelus waited. He always waited.
“He’ll be in there. He’ll have fed, wanting to share that blood with you, his newest childe.” Spike took a long drag off the cigarette he lit. “Know he’s not expectin’ me. Not with how I turned against him last time I was here. So, you might get off the hook for a little while anyway. At least from anything rough he might have planned. He’ll be too concerned with me.”
“I don’t know. Maybe.” Xander sighed. “I just don’t ... Dammit! There’s this huge part of me that is glad I’m back here. Some part of me already needs him, needs what he can give me. I hate that part. I’m me, Spike. I don’t like him, don’t want to be anywhere near him, but this part of me, this fuckin monster in me, needs him. And it makes me sick.”
“He’s your Sire, Xander. It’s always going to be the case that your demon needs him. And he’ll use that to break you. An there’s nothing you can do to stop that from happening.” Spike looked hard at Xander. “Remember me helping you with that kill tonight?”
“It was just a couple of hours ago, Spike, of course I remember.”
“Well. That was the last time. I won’t do it again. From now on, when you eat, if you eat, is entirely up to you. If you can’t subdue your kill, then you’ll die.”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it.”
“You’d better. Because everything changes. Once we walk through that door-”
He was cut off by the strong arm that flew from nowhere and wrapped around his neck.
“You meant once I dragged you, kicking and screaming through it, didn’t you, Spike?”
Xander turned, ready to run again, but was stopped by Angelus’ other arm coming around his own neck. “I thought I had you chained up good and proper, boy. You and your need for flight are going to get you in deep trouble, Xander.”
As Angelus dragged them both back into the mansion, easily subduing their struggles, Xander nearly retched at the feeling of relief that was slowly filling him. He could feel the fight leaving him, being replaced by a calm he’d not felt since the night he let Angelus taste him. He tried to fight off the coming words, but there was a force inside him that compelled him. He bit his tongue till it bled, then when he couldn’t stand that pain, he started on his lips, determined that he would not speak that treacherous word.
But then Angelus forced him on his knees, and cuffed him hard on the jaw, bruising, but not breaking the newly healed bones. “You stay there, Xander. Do not make me come after you. It will be so much worse for you.” He slapped him again, reinforcing the order. The word escaped, carried on the wind to Angelus’ ear.
“Sire.” Xander hung his head in shame.
“Don’t Xander!” Spike snarled as best he could from inside Angelus’ grip. He received a hard jab to his nose and another to his jaw for his effort, then Angelus dragged him over to the manacles secured to the wall and chained him there.
Slowly, taking in the penitent form kneeling on the floor, Angelus walked over to Xander. “You have something you want to say to me, Xander?”
“Sire....deserve......punished.”
“It’s alright, Xander. I know.” He reached out to pet the younger vampire, trailing his big hands through the impossibly soft hair. “I know what you need, baby,” he cooed and continued to pet Xander. Suddenly, Xander felt the gentle hands fisted in his hair. “Trust me to give it to you, too.” The voice was hard, menacing.
And Xander couldn’t wait.
TBC
And there ya have it, folks. More later this weekend.
Title: Erosion of Mercy
Pairing: this one is mostly Xander & Spike, but Angelus is in there in a big way.
Rating: hard R definitely. No smut or really bad torture-y violence.
Disclaimer: I of course do not own any of the characters. I am merely taking them out to play.
AN: This is STILL unbeta'd and will remain so until finished in it's entirety. Then I'll send it off and refine and repost.
Previous After Midnight fics are HERE.
Story Banner by lit_gal
Erosion of Mercy
Xander and Spike managed to avoid Angelus while in town feeding. Spike had taken in the scent of pain that rolled off the young vampire and knew he needed blood. He’d moved toward the skittish one slowly, running a casual hand over his jaw and cheek, then down both arms, checking for breaks. He saw the mangled hands and noted how Xander had attempted to set them, but some of the fingers and carpal bones in the hand were still out of line, so he straightened them. He grinned, proud from some reason, when Xander remained silent through the ordeal. Not even an indrawn breath. This one knows pain, he though to himself.
Once the hands were set again, he silently asked permission to check for broken ribs. He found several, but the bones were already set and had even started to heal on their own. He knew, though, until Xander could feed, the process would take a long time and the young one would be in considerable pain. That was why they’d headed into town.
It was obvious to Spike that Angelus had kept his new young thing locked up when he had difficulty taking his first victim. Xander caught himself a pretty young chit. Small, brunette, with attitude to spare. She reminded Spike of the Slayer in that way. Xander had taken one look at her and said, “Her. I want her.” and went after her. He pulled her from her friends at the Bronze by asking for a dance.
Still awkward in his body, still thinking like he was human, Xander moved stiltedly. He stood nearly a foot away from his prey, moving with no degree of grace, until, with a sigh of frustration, the girl had sidled up closer to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and just sort of slithered against him. At the half smile and quickly hooded gaze that fell across Xander’s face, Spike was glad to see that at least the internal shift had occurred.
Xander started moving more seductively, dipping his hips into the curve of hers, pulling her tighter against his body, the two of them becoming one to the sound of the music. Spike knew it wouldn’t be long before the young vampire took his victim outside, and when the moment passed with a slow heated kiss on the dance floor, he moved to follow them.
Xander’s ribs and broken hands were giving him fits, not allowing him to restrain the girl properly, and she was fighting hard against him. Every time Xander tried to move in for the kill, the girl would go wild, swinging her fists and kicking, twisting her body, pulling on Xander’s still injured ribs.
“Need some help, pet?” Spike called casually from his spot in the shadows.
“Yes. My ribs...”
With raised eyebrows at the ease of Xander’s admittance, Spike moved in and snatched the girl by the front of her shirt. “I’d be still if I were you, little girl. I don’t want to have to break your bones before he kills you. You’re gonna be a nice little snack for my friend here. He needs all that you can give him. But if you don’t stop that fighting, I’ll make sure to hurt you first. How does a little rape and guttin’ sound to you, love?”
He smiled at her deeply indrawn breath and the wave of acrid fear that poured out of her at the word ‘rape.’ He looked up at Xander. “Here, pet, take your supper. You’re going to need your strength when we get back to the mansion.”
Xander hesitated. Not wanting to risk further pain to his ribs or face. “‘S’all right, Xander. I’ve got her, now come and eat. I don’t feel like standin in this bloody alley all soddin’ night long.”
“Right, ok. Just.. Hold her still, please, Spike. She hurt me.”
“Hurt her back then. But dammit, boy, feed.”
The girl started to whimper, having caught her breath. Spike punched her in the mouth. “Shut up. I like the smell of fear, you little bitch, even the taste is good. But damned if I can stand the mewling sound of it.”
Xander lowered his head to her shoulder, about to bite.
“Pet? You might want to put your face on, if you know what I mean. Makes biting through the skin that much easier, when you have your fangs on. Also, go for the neck, proper. Easier access to the arteries, yeah. Fresher blood. Chock full of that adrenalin. Trust me.”
Xander nodded and let his demon settle on him. He felt the click and slide of broken bone and moaned a little at the pain. Then the slow slide of fangs through his gums had his mouth watering and his jaw aching fiercely. He leaned down again and gently bit into the girl’s neck, feeling the skin pop open like lime wedges, the blood gushing onto his tongue tangy and piquant with fear, sliding down his throat with the sweetness of acceptance.
He could feel the healing energy of the blood, knitting bones and cartilage back together, his ribs finally easing out of the pain they’d been in. He stretched his hands, feeling the strength return to them and he grasped the girl tight around her ribs, pulling her in closer and pulling harder on her blood.
Spike finally let go of the girl, watching Xander take his fill of her. When Xander was done, he dropped the girl, letting her slide casually down his body in a dead sprawl, her limbs loose and folded over her body at strange angles. Spike smiled.
“You finished? Or are you still hungry?”
“Neither. But I want some more.” Xander paused for a minute. “Also. Kinda horny. Huh.”
Spike laughed. “‘Course you are.” He threw an arm around Xander’s shoulder. “Let’s see if we can’t find us both a little bit of fluff to take the edge off. And I’m feelin’ a mite bit peckish myself.”
Several hours later, the two completely sated vampires were back at the mansion. They stood outside the door, lingering in the breaking dawn. The sky slowly changed from midnight blue to violet, finally fading into pink, as they sat outside in the courtyard. Neither wanted to go in, knowing that Angelus waited. He always waited.
“He’ll be in there. He’ll have fed, wanting to share that blood with you, his newest childe.” Spike took a long drag off the cigarette he lit. “Know he’s not expectin’ me. Not with how I turned against him last time I was here. So, you might get off the hook for a little while anyway. At least from anything rough he might have planned. He’ll be too concerned with me.”
“I don’t know. Maybe.” Xander sighed. “I just don’t ... Dammit! There’s this huge part of me that is glad I’m back here. Some part of me already needs him, needs what he can give me. I hate that part. I’m me, Spike. I don’t like him, don’t want to be anywhere near him, but this part of me, this fuckin monster in me, needs him. And it makes me sick.”
“He’s your Sire, Xander. It’s always going to be the case that your demon needs him. And he’ll use that to break you. An there’s nothing you can do to stop that from happening.” Spike looked hard at Xander. “Remember me helping you with that kill tonight?”
“It was just a couple of hours ago, Spike, of course I remember.”
“Well. That was the last time. I won’t do it again. From now on, when you eat, if you eat, is entirely up to you. If you can’t subdue your kill, then you’ll die.”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it.”
“You’d better. Because everything changes. Once we walk through that door-”
He was cut off by the strong arm that flew from nowhere and wrapped around his neck.
“You meant once I dragged you, kicking and screaming through it, didn’t you, Spike?”
Xander turned, ready to run again, but was stopped by Angelus’ other arm coming around his own neck. “I thought I had you chained up good and proper, boy. You and your need for flight are going to get you in deep trouble, Xander.”
As Angelus dragged them both back into the mansion, easily subduing their struggles, Xander nearly retched at the feeling of relief that was slowly filling him. He could feel the fight leaving him, being replaced by a calm he’d not felt since the night he let Angelus taste him. He tried to fight off the coming words, but there was a force inside him that compelled him. He bit his tongue till it bled, then when he couldn’t stand that pain, he started on his lips, determined that he would not speak that treacherous word.
But then Angelus forced him on his knees, and cuffed him hard on the jaw, bruising, but not breaking the newly healed bones. “You stay there, Xander. Do not make me come after you. It will be so much worse for you.” He slapped him again, reinforcing the order. The word escaped, carried on the wind to Angelus’ ear.
“Sire.” Xander hung his head in shame.
“Don’t Xander!” Spike snarled as best he could from inside Angelus’ grip. He received a hard jab to his nose and another to his jaw for his effort, then Angelus dragged him over to the manacles secured to the wall and chained him there.
Slowly, taking in the penitent form kneeling on the floor, Angelus walked over to Xander. “You have something you want to say to me, Xander?”
“Sire....deserve......punished.”
“It’s alright, Xander. I know.” He reached out to pet the younger vampire, trailing his big hands through the impossibly soft hair. “I know what you need, baby,” he cooed and continued to pet Xander. Suddenly, Xander felt the gentle hands fisted in his hair. “Trust me to give it to you, too.” The voice was hard, menacing.
And Xander couldn’t wait.
TBC
And there ya have it, folks. More later this weekend.