Fic: Another Future (2/3)
Author: Cobalt Mystic
Title: Another Future, Pt 2/3 Like Every Wave to Kiss a Shore
Pairing: Spike/Xander
Rating: NC17 to be safe
Feedback: Suit yourself, just no permanent damage, k.
Disclaimer: Just playing with the pretty kittens. Unfortunately, they are not mine, but I will gladly groom and bathe them before sending them back home to Daddy (aka Joss/Mutant Enemy/et al).
Warnings/Squicks: Character death (canon, nothing new and pls remember the Mys is one of those sappy ppl, so anyone important will be alive/undead and, if at all possible, happy by the end so don’t get your knickers in a twist).
Summary: The boys had finally gotten together, it’s smooth sailing from there on out right… Unless, you’re a souled vamp who makes the mistake of falling in love on the Hellmouth. Written for spring_with_Xan.
Like Every Wave to Kiss a Shore
~~~~The poem used here is Sonnet by the lovely and talented takhen.~~~~
Africa wasn’t so bad. Or rather, it was, but it was equally as beautiful, and that made up for a lot.
Sometimes he wondered, ’Why Africa?’ Of all the places they could’ve sent him, why here? In truth, he was pretty sure he knew the answer. They thought it would remind the least of Spike. He loved his girls and Giles, but sometimes they were idiots! Didn’t they remember the soul- the very thing that drove Spike to seek Xander’s forgiveness, which in turn led to… and finally took his lover’s life. Yes, Africa, just the place to forget about demons, souls, and the things we do for love. *HA!*
But it was quiet, and he wasn’t constantly being asked how he was doing, and people (like basically everyone who survived Sunnydale) didn’t treat him like he was about to break, and he wasn’t treated to looks ranging from pity to disgust.
It also gave him plenty of time and opportunity to read.
At first, it was all he could do to make it through a single page of Spike’s journal, but over the weeks Xander had pushed on through the tears and pain, eager and determined to learn everything he could about his vampire. A few days earlier, he came across an entry that made all the pain worthwhile.
Thou art my world, and all my hopes of joy
long held within a heart which, knowing loss,
had sought to keep its hopes sequestered,
entombed, ice-bound, unborn, and locked away
from any touch or any warming ray
which threatened to invade the sepulchre
wherein those hopes, slow-dying turned
to dust.
For love of thee, that heart hath ope'd its gates to let
the sweet day of thy touch within;
Its hopes have flown as never being bound,
to rest upon the promise of thy love,
which, given, hath revitalized my heart from that
poor shrivelled thing which once it was
to pulse with warm encompassed life
again.
It spoke so clearly to Xander, saying exactly what he felt for and because of the blonde demon, and being all the more poignant because it was Spike’s feelings for him.
Since he’d found the poem, it was the last thing he read each night. It wasn’t that it gave him any foolish sense of hope, it gave him much more than that- it gave him love. Little did he know that, that night as he spoke the words he was rapidly memorizing, half a world away hope was being born.
---------
”Angel, please,” he put on his best puppy eyes, complete with pouting lower lip and suitably down turned corners.
Nearing exasperation Angel tried not to snap, ”I’ve known you too many years to believe that look, Spike,” even as he reached for his phone.
”Don’t need you to believe it, Peaches; jus’ need it t’ work,” the not-quite-a-ghost-vamp quipped, eyes glistening as he watched the elder vamp dial an international number.
”Hmph, just keep quiet and I’ll see what I can find out.”
”Hello?”
”Willow. Hey, you got a minute?”
”Ask her about Xan!”
Placing his hand over the mouthpiece, ”Shut up.” Returning to Willow, ”Yeah, sorry, so do you?”
”Sure, Angel, umm, is everything okay?”
”Oh, yeah, just peachy.”
Spike looked imploringly at his Grandsire.
”Just thought I’d check in, see how things were going, you know.”
’Xander?’ Spike mouthed cursing not being able to rip the phone out of the elder vampire’s hand.
”Well, they’re going. ’bout how you’d expect I guess.”
Spike’s ghostly fingers grabbed at the receiver, causing Angel to instinctively bat at them and hiss, ”Would you stop it!”
”Uh, Angel?”
”Yes,” he snapped. ”Yeah, I’m here, sorry.”
”What’s going on over there?”
”Oh nothing, just an unexpected guest.” Quickly, changing the subject, ”How’s Xander?”
Spike stilled.
”Xan’s fine,” the calmness in her voice convinced Spike it was the truth. ”Giles sent him off Slayer hunting to help get his mind off… you know. I don’t think it really helps, but…” Suddenly, the voice on the other end of the line tensed, ”Why? Is there something we should know?”
’NO!’ mouthed Spike.
”No, not yet anyway, just checking on him, that’s all.”
”Angel?” The gruffness of the word made it obvious that she didn’t believe him.
”Damn. Okay. Willow, are you alone?”
”Why?”
”I’m gonna put you on speaker, okay, but I really think it would be better kept quiet, for now. I don’t think the others need to know about this just yet.”
”Again with the why?”
”You’ll see Willow, please?”
”Alright, but I expect an explanation.”
”You’ll get it- or as much as we have of one.”
There was a soft click and a rich cockney voice asked, ”He really okay, Red?”
”Oh, Goddess!”
”’fraid not, luv, jus’ me, sorta…”
”How? When? Goddess, I’ve got to find Xander.”
”NO!”
”NO!”
”Why not! You said you loved him! You HAVE to tell him!” The young witch was practically screaming.
”Bloody hells Red, you know I love him, that’s why you can’t let on yet.”
”Willow, Spike’s not quite all here.”
”Oi, ya don’t ’ave to make it sound that bad!”
”Sorry,” though clearly Angel wasn’t.
”Okay. Start from the beginning…”
”…so you’re all ghost-like and can’t leave L.A.”
”’bout that.”
”And that’s why you don’t want me to tell Xan.”
”Got it in one, luv. Least not ’til we know I’m gonna be sticking around.
Her mood quickly softened and shifted from furious to fixer, ”What can I do to help?”
---------
”Are you sure?” The witch was almost afraid to hope.
”As sure as we can be.”
”His tests are all normal, well normal being relative to your average ensouled undead demon. Not exactly a lot of pre-existing data to go by.” An oversight Fred was doing her best to fix, when your boss and friend fell into that category it gave you a vested interest.
”Oi, in the room people!”
”Sorry.”
”Sorry, Spike”
”…”
Snorting at his Grandsire’s lack of remorse, Spike turned his attention to the ladies whose opinions actually mattered to him. ”Alright Red, Texas, what’s the verdict? ’m I gonna unlive?”
Both Willow and Fred knew the real question hidden beneath the vampire’s flippant inquiry- when could he return to Xander!?!
Smiling at the vamp she’d come to care for as much as the rest of her makeshift family, she said, ”There’s nothing I can see that would make you go all incorporeal again. I think you’re here to stay.”
Before she knew what hit her, the small southern genius was swept up and spun in strong, remarkably solid, arms.
”That, pet, is the best news I’ve had in ages!”
On the other end of the conference call, Willow giggled, ”And I thought telling you I can have Xan back in London by this time tomorrow was going to be the best.”
”You serious, Red?”
”Would I joke about Xander?”
The young woman could practically hear the vampire’s smile.
”Jet’s standing by for you,” the elder vamp all but whispered.
”Angel!?!” Wide blue eyes questioned the man who a century ago was his world.
Angel knew what the simple gesture meant to his Childe, so to re-establish the natural order of things, he replied, ”What? Sooner I can get you outta my hair and let you be someone else’s problem… I consider it an act of self-preservation.”
”Hmph, maybe you oughta consider mousse ’stead of gel.”
”You’re one to talk…”
As the two vampires snarked, Willow was making arrangements for Xander’s speedy return.
Title: Another Future, Pt 2/3 Like Every Wave to Kiss a Shore
Pairing: Spike/Xander
Rating: NC17 to be safe
Feedback: Suit yourself, just no permanent damage, k.
Disclaimer: Just playing with the pretty kittens. Unfortunately, they are not mine, but I will gladly groom and bathe them before sending them back home to Daddy (aka Joss/Mutant Enemy/et al).
Warnings/Squicks: Character death (canon, nothing new and pls remember the Mys is one of those sappy ppl, so anyone important will be alive/undead and, if at all possible, happy by the end so don’t get your knickers in a twist).
Summary: The boys had finally gotten together, it’s smooth sailing from there on out right… Unless, you’re a souled vamp who makes the mistake of falling in love on the Hellmouth. Written for spring_with_Xan.
Like Every Wave to Kiss a Shore
~~~~The poem used here is Sonnet by the lovely and talented takhen.~~~~
Africa wasn’t so bad. Or rather, it was, but it was equally as beautiful, and that made up for a lot.
Sometimes he wondered, ’Why Africa?’ Of all the places they could’ve sent him, why here? In truth, he was pretty sure he knew the answer. They thought it would remind the least of Spike. He loved his girls and Giles, but sometimes they were idiots! Didn’t they remember the soul- the very thing that drove Spike to seek Xander’s forgiveness, which in turn led to… and finally took his lover’s life. Yes, Africa, just the place to forget about demons, souls, and the things we do for love. *HA!*
But it was quiet, and he wasn’t constantly being asked how he was doing, and people (like basically everyone who survived Sunnydale) didn’t treat him like he was about to break, and he wasn’t treated to looks ranging from pity to disgust.
It also gave him plenty of time and opportunity to read.
At first, it was all he could do to make it through a single page of Spike’s journal, but over the weeks Xander had pushed on through the tears and pain, eager and determined to learn everything he could about his vampire. A few days earlier, he came across an entry that made all the pain worthwhile.
Thou art my world, and all my hopes of joy
long held within a heart which, knowing loss,
had sought to keep its hopes sequestered,
entombed, ice-bound, unborn, and locked away
from any touch or any warming ray
which threatened to invade the sepulchre
wherein those hopes, slow-dying turned
to dust.
For love of thee, that heart hath ope'd its gates to let
the sweet day of thy touch within;
Its hopes have flown as never being bound,
to rest upon the promise of thy love,
which, given, hath revitalized my heart from that
poor shrivelled thing which once it was
to pulse with warm encompassed life
again.
It spoke so clearly to Xander, saying exactly what he felt for and because of the blonde demon, and being all the more poignant because it was Spike’s feelings for him.
Since he’d found the poem, it was the last thing he read each night. It wasn’t that it gave him any foolish sense of hope, it gave him much more than that- it gave him love. Little did he know that, that night as he spoke the words he was rapidly memorizing, half a world away hope was being born.
---------
”Angel, please,” he put on his best puppy eyes, complete with pouting lower lip and suitably down turned corners.
Nearing exasperation Angel tried not to snap, ”I’ve known you too many years to believe that look, Spike,” even as he reached for his phone.
”Don’t need you to believe it, Peaches; jus’ need it t’ work,” the not-quite-a-ghost-vamp quipped, eyes glistening as he watched the elder vamp dial an international number.
”Hmph, just keep quiet and I’ll see what I can find out.”
”Hello?”
”Willow. Hey, you got a minute?”
”Ask her about Xan!”
Placing his hand over the mouthpiece, ”Shut up.” Returning to Willow, ”Yeah, sorry, so do you?”
”Sure, Angel, umm, is everything okay?”
”Oh, yeah, just peachy.”
Spike looked imploringly at his Grandsire.
”Just thought I’d check in, see how things were going, you know.”
’Xander?’ Spike mouthed cursing not being able to rip the phone out of the elder vampire’s hand.
”Well, they’re going. ’bout how you’d expect I guess.”
Spike’s ghostly fingers grabbed at the receiver, causing Angel to instinctively bat at them and hiss, ”Would you stop it!”
”Uh, Angel?”
”Yes,” he snapped. ”Yeah, I’m here, sorry.”
”What’s going on over there?”
”Oh nothing, just an unexpected guest.” Quickly, changing the subject, ”How’s Xander?”
Spike stilled.
”Xan’s fine,” the calmness in her voice convinced Spike it was the truth. ”Giles sent him off Slayer hunting to help get his mind off… you know. I don’t think it really helps, but…” Suddenly, the voice on the other end of the line tensed, ”Why? Is there something we should know?”
’NO!’ mouthed Spike.
”No, not yet anyway, just checking on him, that’s all.”
”Angel?” The gruffness of the word made it obvious that she didn’t believe him.
”Damn. Okay. Willow, are you alone?”
”Why?”
”I’m gonna put you on speaker, okay, but I really think it would be better kept quiet, for now. I don’t think the others need to know about this just yet.”
”Again with the why?”
”You’ll see Willow, please?”
”Alright, but I expect an explanation.”
”You’ll get it- or as much as we have of one.”
There was a soft click and a rich cockney voice asked, ”He really okay, Red?”
”Oh, Goddess!”
”’fraid not, luv, jus’ me, sorta…”
”How? When? Goddess, I’ve got to find Xander.”
”NO!”
”NO!”
”Why not! You said you loved him! You HAVE to tell him!” The young witch was practically screaming.
”Bloody hells Red, you know I love him, that’s why you can’t let on yet.”
”Willow, Spike’s not quite all here.”
”Oi, ya don’t ’ave to make it sound that bad!”
”Sorry,” though clearly Angel wasn’t.
”Okay. Start from the beginning…”
”…so you’re all ghost-like and can’t leave L.A.”
”’bout that.”
”And that’s why you don’t want me to tell Xan.”
”Got it in one, luv. Least not ’til we know I’m gonna be sticking around.
Her mood quickly softened and shifted from furious to fixer, ”What can I do to help?”
---------
”Are you sure?” The witch was almost afraid to hope.
”As sure as we can be.”
”His tests are all normal, well normal being relative to your average ensouled undead demon. Not exactly a lot of pre-existing data to go by.” An oversight Fred was doing her best to fix, when your boss and friend fell into that category it gave you a vested interest.
”Oi, in the room people!”
”Sorry.”
”Sorry, Spike”
”…”
Snorting at his Grandsire’s lack of remorse, Spike turned his attention to the ladies whose opinions actually mattered to him. ”Alright Red, Texas, what’s the verdict? ’m I gonna unlive?”
Both Willow and Fred knew the real question hidden beneath the vampire’s flippant inquiry- when could he return to Xander!?!
Smiling at the vamp she’d come to care for as much as the rest of her makeshift family, she said, ”There’s nothing I can see that would make you go all incorporeal again. I think you’re here to stay.”
Before she knew what hit her, the small southern genius was swept up and spun in strong, remarkably solid, arms.
”That, pet, is the best news I’ve had in ages!”
On the other end of the conference call, Willow giggled, ”And I thought telling you I can have Xan back in London by this time tomorrow was going to be the best.”
”You serious, Red?”
”Would I joke about Xander?”
The young woman could practically hear the vampire’s smile.
”Jet’s standing by for you,” the elder vamp all but whispered.
”Angel!?!” Wide blue eyes questioned the man who a century ago was his world.
Angel knew what the simple gesture meant to his Childe, so to re-establish the natural order of things, he replied, ”What? Sooner I can get you outta my hair and let you be someone else’s problem… I consider it an act of self-preservation.”
”Hmph, maybe you oughta consider mousse ’stead of gel.”
”You’re one to talk…”
As the two vampires snarked, Willow was making arrangements for Xander’s speedy return.