The Cost of Butterfly Kisses

[lit_gal]

The  Cost of Butterfly Kisses, Part 42
Fandom/Pairing: BtVS, Spike/Xander
Rated: ADULT
Prompt: Melancholy

Well, Xander is still in the hospital, but with Riley on scene, things are starting to shift.  And Spike has never been one to let a little public setting stop him from getting his end off.

( Chapter One... )  ( Chapter Two... ) ( Chapter 14 . )


Xander flinched as the doctor found a particularly sensitive rib, and Spike's glare grew colder.

"No eating the doctors," Buffy said without looking up from her magazine. Xander smiled at her.

"He wouldn't actually eat a doctor just for poking me," Xander said.

"Right you are. I'd just break his soddin' neck," Spike agreed. Oddly, that did not seem to reassure the doctor.

"No need. The patient is recovering nicely. He has a nondisplaced rib fracture; however, there are two bones completely broken and a second crack on your fifth rib, so I am concerned that a bone may become displaced, which would pose a danger to the lungs. I'm also concerned about pneumonia since you're having trouble using the full lung when you breathe. No doubt, it doesn't help when others continue to put pressure on the area." The doctor actually had the nerve to glare at Spike. "Human ribs are tough, but once they break, the body is very vulnerable to even light pressure."

"I bloody know that. I've killed enough humans to know what their innards look like," Spike said coldly. Xander sighed. Yep, when Spike felt backed into a corner, say by a hospital full of soldiers, he got a little on the touchy side. Actually, he was acting a little like Buffy had been lately, but Buffy was almost back to being Buffyish. Xander wondered how much of that had to do with the fact that Riley had taken the potentials and Giles to a base outside of town, and Buffy refused to leave the hospital with Xander and Willow both getting patched up. Xander just hoped Tara was doing a better job of patching than the docs because Xander felt way worse than he had two days ago. Knowing that he didn't know where his daughter was… that was definitely not helping. Xander could feel this heaviness pulling at him until all he wanted to do was curl up in Spike's arms and sleep, but there were bad guys to kill and ultimate evil to stop. Some days, Xander really hated being responsible.

"Just try to avoid killing this human," the doctor said, and Spike's glare grew so dangerous that Buffy dropped her magazine and moved over to stand at his side.

"So, how about his hearing? I mean, ringing bells in the ears… that can't be good," Buffy asked, her voice oddly cheerful.

The doctor shifted his gaze. "That's normal after a trauma. He seems to be recovering quickly, so he'll recover most if not all of his hearing." The doc started edging toward the door, so maybe he'd figured out that he'd pushed Spike to the limits of his patience. "You're cleared to get out of bed, but avoid strenuous activity, stay on the pain pills, and avoid having anyone put pressure on those ribs." The doctor gave Spike one more glare before he darted out of the room.

"Oi. That bloody git-" Spike looked ready to follow the guy and make a few comments about his bedside manner, either that or poke the man in the eye.

"Hey, he's getting Xander all fixed up, so we like the doc, don't we?" Buffy asked with a smile.

"Yep, big with the like," Xander agreed. "I would be very put out if someone ate him for dinner." Xander reached out and slipped his own hand in Spike's. Spike tightened his grip and rolled his eyes.

"I wouldn't eat the git, just put a bruise or twelve on him." Spike gave a sharp smile and then sat on the edge of the bed, still holding Xander's hand. Even if they hadn't ever made any announcements, Xander was guessing that Buffy had pretty much figured out they were an item. Either that or she'd developed the worst case of stupidity in history.

"It's totally unfair that the rest of you came through with ears intact, by the way."

"Vampire here," Spike said at the exact same time that Buffy offered, "Slayer healing."

Riley cleared his throat, and Xander looked up, surprised to see him in the doorway. "Personally, I find ear protection works for those of us who don't have supernatural abilities." Riley smiled. "How are you doing? I figure you must be feeling better or Spike wouldn't risk threatening Dr. Davis."

"The git ran to daddy for protection?" Spike snorted in his disgust.

"Actually, I just happened to run into him. He thinks that if Xander were in any real danger, you'd know it, and that would make you a little more willing to accept help. You were polite enough to the audiologist and Dr. Rocker." Spike didn't have an answer for that, and Riley turned his attention back to Xander. "So, he thinks you're out of the woods, but he does want you to try and avoid challenging any hellgods or demons for at least a month."

Buffy gave Xander a sad smile. "I've been trying to get him to do that for the last seven years."

"Hey, I'm not sitting on the sidelines while the world goes to hell," Xander said firmly. Junior year he'd won the fight about not getting sidelined. He'd earned his position in the group.

"I feel the same way," Riley said with a long look at Buffy. Xander had tried to smooth over that relationship, but it wasn't smooth as much as it was wavy and hilly with an occasional bump. "However, Vovka wanted to talk to you, maybe do a test or two."

"Vovka. Your spy." Buffy's arms crossed.

"No, Vovka the Magusaean who is friends with Halvard's family and who's been trying to help you." Riley gave Buffy a steady look, and even if it didn't look like a particularly unhappy look, Xander could feel the temperature drop in the room.

The sour expression on Buffy's face made it pretty clear that she wasn't buying that. "Well, tell him Xander's too sore to put up with testing. Wait. Why would he even want to test Xander?"

Riley sighed. "Because the target referred to Xander as one who sees."

"Well, yeah he sees. He has to eyes. He also tastes and feels."

"And hears," Xander added. Right now that was the sense he appreciated the most. He'd never actually lost his hearing, but there for a while, the ringing in his ears had been driving him buggy.

"And hears," Buffy added with a smile.

"What does Vovka think he's going to find?" Spike asked. Xander looked over, surprised at the suspicious tone. Even if Xander and Buffy were treating this like a joke, Spike wasn't, and that made Xander worry just a little.

Riley shrugged. "He doesn't know. But that thing had an ability to go after anyone in that room, and he went after Xander."

"The weakest link," Buffy said, and from her 'no duh' tone of voice, Xander was guessing that she didn't even know how deeply that cut. Yeah, he was their weakest link, but that didn't mean she had to point it out. It was like calling the fat girl fat: true, but not high on the nice scale.

Riley was already shaking his head. "That makes no sense. Tactically, you take out the target that poses the greatest danger first."

"Well, sure," Buffy said, "if you're logic-loving and normal. This guy… not so much with the logic or the normal. Frankly, all his Bible talk is starting to really creep me out."

"I'm already fully creeped," Xander said softly, and Spike's fingers tightened around his hand.

"It's possible that Xander has some sort of power that would be applicable to this situation."

"If he had a power, he would have been all powered-up before now, Riley," Buffy said, and those same harsh tones she'd started using when the potentials first showed up were back in her voice. Xander sighed at the return of General Buffy. "We've faced danger before."

"But not this danger. There could be something-"

"This is just like you. You walk in and all of a sudden you want to take over. You want to do things your way when your way clearly doesn't work," Buffy snapped. Riley's back stiffened, and for a brief second, Xander thought he was about to see the mother of all slap-downs.

Spike stood up. "Let's call in the others. If this Vovka wants to poke around Xander for whatever reason, I want the witches in here." Spike pinned Riley with a hateful look. "I don't trust you or your pet mage, so if he wants to prove something to himself, you make sure he knows that I will kill him in a second if this is a trick. And Willow and Tara need time to get some protective spells set up before I'll let him in here. We might even want to call Rupert in."

Xander stared at Spike, wondering what pod-person had just taken over his lover because that was not a Spike thing to say. Spike was usually more about keeping people away and Spike was definitely not okay with Giles. Nope, not even a little bit.

Buffy's mouth was hanging open. "You… you want him to look at Xander?"

Spike sucked air through his teeth and seemed to think about it. "Want? Nope. But when a magic-user sets his mind to something, he does it. If he's got some bee in his bonnet, I want allies close while he checks it out."

"Really?" Xander asked. "I thought you'd be more like the 'hell no' only with a few 'bloodies' and 'soddings' thrown in for color."

Spike shrugged. "Hell, pet, you know I can't figure out why you always come out of fights with creatures more powerful than you are. As far as I'm concerned, you should have been dead a dozen times already."

"Thanks, Spike," Xander said dryly. There was nothing like having your own friends think you were helpless.

"Oi, you aren't dead. I can count on one hand the number of people who could really brass off Peaches and live, and you're one. That was a soddin' compliment ya little idiot."

Xander frowned. He'd never heard a compliment worded quite so much like an insult, but this was Spike.

"I can tell Vovka to wait. Meanwhile, I did pull some files on criminal activities related to churches. I suspect that this Caleb has not been quiet in the last few years, so maybe we can find his past and track down something that could help us." Riley held out a thick file for Buffy. "This is everything.

She nodded. "You're right. A guy like Caleb didn't just get in the evil game; he's been playing for a while." Buffy took the file and Xander could practically see her waver between her two sides: demonic General Buffy and a young woman just trying to find her way. It killed him that he couldn't help her, but he really didn't know how.

"I'll look these over later." She held the file tightly to her chest, and then her body shifted, her spine straightened up and she gave Riley a sharp glare. "You will not have Vovka or anyone else in this room until Willow and Tara have a chance to set up, and I want you to send someone out to pick up Giles."

"Understood," Riley said, his voice as crisp as if he was talking to a commanding officer. "I'll get a driver out to pick up Giles. I assume you'll take care of Tara and Willow?" he asked Buffy.

"Yeah, I'll talk to them. But if Vovka steps one foot in here, not only will I let Spike eat him, I'll hold him down."

"Oi, don't need help killing one bloke," Spike said, clearly offended at that suggestion. Buffy rolled her eyes and then she followed Riley out of the room.

The second the door drifted closed, the latch clicking in the silence, Xander turned on Spike. "Okay, spill."

"Wot?" Spike asked with exaggerated innocence.

Xander just glared.

With a shrug, Spike settled himself back down on the edge of Xander's bed. "She's alpha, pet, and Riley is coming in making suggestions. He's just lucky he's not trying to tell Angelus what to do; the git would be strung up from the rafters with his skin stripped from his back." Spike winced in a way that made Xander suspect that Spike had been in that position, possibly more than once. "But if she's on her turf with her clan around her, she'll feel more in control, especially if she has Willow."

"Why especially Willow?" Xander asked, wondering if he should be offended.

"Because that one follows Buffy like a good little lap dog. She pulled Buffy out of heaven, which was bloody idiotic, but she did it because she's Buffy's creature. Hopefully Buffy'll feel a little more in control if she can gather her minions back up."

"Minions like us?" Xander asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oi!" Spike aimed a punch at Xander's arm, but luckily, he didn't use vamp strength. "You lot can be minions; I'm the bloody lieutenant."

"Riiight."

"Git."

"Minion."

Spike flashed him a bit of fang, yellow bleeding into his eyes.

Xander rolled his eyes. "So, why would this Vovka want to poke around me, anyway?"

"Because the enemy claims you have some sort of power."

"Evil lies, Spike."

Spike stretched out on the bed, and Xander slipped an arm around Spike's waist, shifting until he was on his side, resting against Spike. It was weird. He'd spent months sleeping in the same bed with Anya, and the whole time he'd worried about morning breath and B.O. and whiskers. Now he hadn't bathed or shaved in days, he had to stink of fear, and he so didn't care. He just wanted to lay close enough to touch. Spike's hand found his back and stroked gently.

"Most times, you hurt people more if you use the truth, luv. If you told Buffy she was weak, she'd laugh in your face and then punch ya in the gob hard enough to send you into the middle of next week. If ya told her she was going 'round the twist and losing control, you'd bloody destroy her. She knows she's walking the edge, so that's the knife sharp enough to hurt her."

"Wait, are you telling me that you're taking psycho-priest seriously?"

"Yep."

"If you're doing this just because you want me to have some sort of special power, I'm going to poke you," Xander threatened. Yeah, he could understand that Spike's demon wanted him to be more powerful, but he wanted to think that his lover accepted him, lack of superpowers and all.

"Poke?" Spike wiggled his eyebrows. "Promises, promises, pet."

"Geez, Spike, do you always have sex on the brain?"

"Pretty much."

"Funny thing, me too."

"Oh?" Spike shifted around. "Fancy that-two randy blokes sharing a bed."

"With broken ribs."

"Oi. You don't have enough imagination if you think that's going to slow me down." Spike gave a wicked smile, and Xander's ribs ached at the very thought of what Spike could do. Other parts ached, too.

"Maybe you could enlighten me," Xander suggested, "only maybe in a way that wouldn't lead to me having to stay in here any longer."

"You have no faith in me," Spike said with a snort, but his hands were already moving, stroking over Xander's chest and the contact made shivers run thought Xander. His skin tingled, and he reached out and stroked Spike's cheek, his fingers trailing down over Spike's neck. Somehow it wasn't surprising that Spike had a kink for necks. The contact made Spike pause, and Xander took the opportunity to curl his fingers around the back of Spike's neck and pull him closer.

Spike followed his lead, leaning closer, and Xander kissed him slowly, stroking a thumb over the soft spot between Spike's neck and shoulder. Spike made a happy little noise. Oh yeah, Spike might tease Xander about being a screamer, but Spike was a moaner. Finishing his kiss, Xander squirmed around to kiss Spike's jaw and then run dull teeth over Spike's neck. Spike's fingers found his arms and pressed deeply into the flesh.

With a smile, Xander sucked at Spike's skin just hard enough to make Spike squirm. Spike shifted closer, and his arm pressed ever so slightly against Xander's ribs. Xander whined in pain.

Spike pulled away. "So sorry, pet."

"I hate broken ribs. Actually, I hate broken anythings." Xander hissed as he tried to breathe though the pain. Weirdly, he was still hard, even though his ribs definitely did not want Spike touching him again. Having his lover in the same bed was definitely giving his cock naughty thoughts even if his ribs couldn't follow through.

"Just lay still, luv."

"Oh, I'm already there," Xander said through clenched teeth as he tried to take nice little breaths. Spike hadn't put much weight on him at all, but broken ribs were definitely worse than cracked ribs. Way worse."

Spike stroked Xander's cheek, long fingers sliding over his stubbled face, and Xander smiled at his lover. It couldn't be easy for Spike, knowing that Xander was a big old breakable tinker toy compared with just about everyone else. No wonder Spike wanted to think that Xander had some sort of power. Xander thought back to his old theory… that Jesse was up there watching out for him the way he had when they were kids. If that was true, Xander really, really hoped that Jesse wasn't into spying because there were some things he did not want his friend to see. Spike gave him a wicked smile and a little wiggle of eyebrows before he started sliding down.

Taking a second to press a gentle kiss against Xander's ribs, Spike pushed the sheets down, revealing Xander's cock pressing up against the hospital gown. "I shouldn't be this horny when I hurt this bad," Xander said. Normally stubbing a toe was enough to make his cock retreat for the day. "You're a bad influence."

"Bloody right, pet," Spike agreed. Bending one knee, he braced the foot on the bed and wiggled around until he was on his side. "Corrupting is what I do best." Spike let his hand slide down over his chest, and Xander watched the fabric ripple and shift as Spike's hand traveled south until he cupped his own crotch, squeezing as his head tilted back in undisguised pleasure. Xander groaned, his own hard cock aching with need.

"Have a reputation to keep up, you know," Spike said as he slipped his fingers under the waist of his jeans and popped the button. Xander's mouth went dry. Spike arched his back and slipped his hand into his jeans. He moaned as he massaged himself, the zipper slowly yielding to the pressure-opening one click at a time. Xander swallowed as Spike leaned his head back, his neck arching out and the head of his cock now visible.

Spike was breathing faster now, and Xander could feel his own breath speed up, the ache of his ribs a distant annoyance as he stared at Spike's hand around his own cock as the jeans slipped farther down so that Xander could see the darkening shaft, the head of the cock slipping out of the foreskin, the slick slit. "See something you like, pet?" Spike stroked his hand up and down his cock, the foreskin moving in ways that Xander hadn't ever really seen before. Usually by the time they were to the grabby part, the lights were down low and Xander was thrusting against Spike's hip or pinned to the mattress.

Xander licked his lips. He'd touched Spike plenty, but he'd never seen him or tasted him, and Xander was suddenly hyper-aware of that. "I see something I totally like," Xander said, reaching out to take over for Spike. He had to lean up a little too far, and he winced as his sore ribs complained.

"Oh no. You lean back and just watch." Spike reached out and put a hand in the middle of Xander's chest-above the broken ribs-and pushed him back onto his pillow.

"But."

"No buts. I'm not having you strain yourself. So, stop being a stubborn git."

"Hey, that's your lover you're insulting."

"Prat," Spike complained, but he managed to make it sound almost fond. He also started stroking his own cock faster. A tiny line of moisture appeared at the slit, and Spike squeezed his shaft hard enough to make Xander wince in sympathy. However, Spike started coming, white come spilling out onto Spike's jeans and the bottom of Xander's hospital gown and leg. Spike made a low sound like a growl and then sagged, his whole body going limp. Xander's eyebrows went up. Usually Spike was the marathon man when it came to sex; he never got off that fast.

Then Spike stretched his neck in each direction, the vertebrae popping. Since Spike had slid down on the bed, he leaned forward and rested his forehead against Xander's stomach. "Smell good."

"I assume you're talking about yourself because I know I smell bad."

"Nope, I mean you. Someone smells randy." Spike lifted his head and gave Xander an evil smile before shifting just a little farther down the bed so that he was hovering over Xander's cock.

"Oh shit," Xander whispered.

Spike didn't answer, but he did chuckle as he slowly leaned in. Xander had leaked enough precum to make a small spot on the front of his hospital gown, and Spike mouthed the spot. The feather light pressure against his hard cock, and the feel of fabric across the sensitive head, made Xander gasp. Shit. That was good. Xander tried to thrust up and get more pressure, but Spike braced his hands on Xander's hips, holding him down.

"Now, luv, let me play."

Xander panted, his cock aching with need. "You're evil," he finally gasped out.

"Bloody right I am." Spike lowered his head and sucked harder, right through the hospital gown. Xander made a mewling sound as the pressure started building painfully fast. Spike was chuckling again, and Xander could feel the vibration of it through his cock. Spike's hands shifting, stoking up Xander's sides and dragging the hospital gown with them so that cool air drifted past his hot cock.

Xander pressed the back of his head into his pillow and fisted the sheets as Spike's hands moved up over injured ribs with a touch gentle enough that it was no more than a feather against his skin. When Spike's hands wandered back down Xander's body, the hospital gown was around Xander's waist.

Xander tilted his head up and looked at Spike. They hadn't done much more than mutual hand jobs and a whole lot of thrusting and squirming and sweating, but the look in Spike's eye was just so hungry that Xander wanted to reach down and grab him, kiss him senseless, taste him-all of him. Instead, Xander was stuck with broken ribs. Leaning down, Spike licked Xander's shaft-he started at the base and then, with infinite patience, licked his way up to the very head where the tip of his tongue ran along the slit.

"Oh god. Oh god." Xander cried out and squirmed, his ribs aching in a distant, 'who the hell cares' sort of way. Spike sucked at just the head now, his cheeks puffing out as he sucked at Xander like a candy. When Spike started lowering himself, taking more and more of Xander into his mouth, Xander had to close his eyes before he came right in Spike's mouth. But that made the rest even more intense. In the darkness of his closed eyes, he could feel the wet warmth as Spike slid up and down on Xander's cock; he squirmed as Spike sucked, and the suction made Xander's lungs lose the ability to breathe at all. Spike's hands rested against Xander's hips, and Xander struggled to throw his legs open. He had to come, but he didn't want to either. He wanted this moment to last forever.

Xander felt himself get dizzy, and he forced his body to suck in air as Spike teased him beyond all endurance. "Spike, please," he begged, his brain fogging with pure lust. Then his little brain hijacked the controls before the big brain could react. "Bite me."

Spike froze. It could have been comical: Spike's shocked face hovering just above Xander's hard, spit-slicked cock that was turning a nice deep pink. However, Xander needed to come too badly to really appreciate the humor.

"Xander?"

For one shining moment, Xander wanted to lie or just tell Spike to forget it. He never did his best thinking with all his brain in his cock, Cordelia was proof of that. However, this was Spike. If he couldn't be honest with Spike, he had issues because Spike had kept every secret and honored every deal they'd ever made. So Xander whispered his request again. "Bite me." Spike looked just as shocked the second time around.

Moving slowly, he crawled up to Xander's side, leaving Xander's cock feeling very neglected. "Luv, that's…." Spike fell silent.

"You don't want do." Xander closed his eyes and embarrassment managed to make his cock start to soften where the pain of broken ribs couldn't.

"Bloody hell, yes I want to. I'd love to, luv, but that's not something you just ask a vampire."

Xander cracked his eyes open. "Are you just a vampire?"

"No, but Xander, for vampires, sharing blood means something."

"Does it mean we can finish?" Xander asked with his best puppy dog look, his hand reaching down to grab his own cock.

"Bloody hell. You're going to be brassed off when the blood gets back up between your ears, but you just remember that you brought this up," Spike said as he shifted closer and caught Xander's wrist, forcing Xander's hand away from his hard cock. Now Spike was nestled close to Xander's side, one hand resting against Xander's hip as Spike started peppering Xander's shoulder with soft kisses.

Now that Spike was closer, Xander ran his hand over Spike's back, feeling the strength under his palms. Spike made a happy little humming noise and his kisses moved up onto Xander's neck. Xander remembered how it had been when Spike bit him last time. There'd been fear, but there'd also been this incredible pull, this desire like an itch that he couldn't quite reach. It'd felt so damn good. When Spike started sucking at the tender skin, Xander turned his head away to give Spike more room. The teeth slipped in like two little stings, and Xander sucked in a breath, but then the itching returned, and Xander arched his back and strained as he could feel pleasure building up through his whole body.

He reached for his cock, but Spike's hand was there, skillfully rubbing up and down as he fed slowly, and before Xander realized that he'd reached his limit, his whole body spasmed in pleasure and he came all over Spike's hand and his own stomach. Xander cried out loudly and then lay in bed panting as his remaining brain cells tried to rearrange themselves. Most had leaked out his cock.

Spike settled down next to him, his head resting on Xander's shoulder. The sounds of the hospital slowly started reminding Xander that they were in a semi-public space, and Xander definitely looked… well, he looked like he had just had sex with his lover. With a happy little hum, Xander reached down and flipped his hospital gown down before he could scandalize some nurse. Or worse, Willow. He was definitely not okay with Willow finding him naked. Again.

"You should get dressed before Willow or Buffy show up," Xander said sleepily. The hospital had giving him lots of drugs to get him to sleep, but none had worked as well as one really good orgasm. They should market Spike. Xander tightened his arm around Spike as he thought about Spike having sex with all the patients to help them sleep. Actually, Xander was a jealous bastard, so the hospital was on its own trying to find something equal as good at the happy, sleepy making.

"You okay, pet?" Spike's voice sounded wary enough to cut through Xander's happy haze.

"Yes. Why?" he asked suspiciously.

"You're not going to throw a wobbly?"

"What's a wobbly and why would I throw one?" Xander asked.

"A fit, luv. You aren't going to throw a fit over the bite?"

Xander thought about that for a second. "Nope."

Spike's eyes narrowed. "No?"

Xander sighed. "Spike, you've been hanging out with girls too much. My thought process is pretty much… 'Mmmmm that felt good, must try again.' I'm the angst-lite one."

For a second, Spike just stared at him as if he didn't believe Xander's answer. Then, with a laugh, he shook his head and shifted around so he could zip up his jeans. "You never stop surprising me, luv." Xander just smiled and let sleep pull him down as Spike wrapped strong arms around him.