A New Outlook
Written for the 'gossip' prompt over at tamingthemuse .
Title: A New Outlook
Warnings: vampXander
Rating:PG
Summary: This is a sequel to my ficlet Tired.
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine, never were. But they will be, one day...
Word Count: 572
Xander woke up. It wasn’t the slow and lazy kind of waking up that he usually indulged in on the weekends, nor the abrupt jolting awake by his alarm clock that characterized the beginning of school days. No, this was more like, he simply was awake. He’d been asleep, unconscious, whatever, and now he wasn’t. He felt different, more aware; sharper than usual. He was also really hungry.
There was someone nearby, maybe they had food? He opened his eyes, taking in his surroundings, and his watching neighbor. He was in a small room, on a bed. The walls were off-white, and the bed was surprisingly comfortable for smelling like it was very very old. His observer was Spike. Why was he here? Why was he here with Spike? Excellent questions.
He thought back to the day before. Hmmm, let’s see, went to school, research session in the library after school. Patrol with the Scoobies, then home. Ah, that’s what happened. He went home and his dad was there, having lost another job, which, of course, meant the obligatory post-job loss kicking of Xander’s ass. Good times.
That had then led to his subsequent suicidal nap on the lawn at night. Stupid thing to do on a Hellmouth, which was why he’d done it. He looked at Spike; apparently he hadn’t wanted to kill him, which was weird. Unless, Xander held his breath and counted. 10 second…20 seconds…30 seconds…geez 60 seconds and he felt fine. No gasping for air or burning lungs. That settled it, Spike had turned him. Huh.
“Why?” Xander asked Spike, trusting that Spike would know the question he was asking.
“Cause I get tired sometimes too. Taking care of Dru, keeping the minions in line. Never get anything for it; Dru’s too busy gossiping with the stars to pay much attention. So I do all this and what do I get? Nothing, just more talk of ‘Daddy’.” Spike reached into his duster pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. Taking one from the pack, he lit it and continued. “I figured, you and me, we could help each other out.”
“How do you mean? I’m just a fledge, and while I do sort of feel this weird loyalty to you, I’m not sure why you want me around.” After all, his own parents didn’t want him around, and his friends, well, they didn’t want him enough. Not enough to ask why he was covered in bruises when they hadn’t fought a demon in over a week.
“You help me take care of Dru, and we’ll take care of you. She’s a bit high maintenance right now, being sick and all, but after she gets better we’ll travel the world, sow mayhem, and be a right proper family.” Spike looked wistful, like maybe all he’d ever wanted was a “right proper family.” If he was honest, that’s all Xander had ever wanted as well.
“That sounds,” he paused thinking his conscience might chime in about the sowing mayhem part. Oh wait; he didn’t have a conscience anymore. “That sounds great.” He grinned at Spike and vamped out.
Spike grinned back at him, and also vamped out. “Now I bet you’re hungry, let’s find you someone to eat.”
Xander nodded enthusiastically, he had the perfect person in mind. After all, if he was getting a new family, he didn’t need his old one anymore did he?
Title: A New Outlook
Warnings: vampXander
Rating:PG
Summary: This is a sequel to my ficlet Tired.
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine, never were. But they will be, one day...
Word Count: 572
Xander woke up. It wasn’t the slow and lazy kind of waking up that he usually indulged in on the weekends, nor the abrupt jolting awake by his alarm clock that characterized the beginning of school days. No, this was more like, he simply was awake. He’d been asleep, unconscious, whatever, and now he wasn’t. He felt different, more aware; sharper than usual. He was also really hungry.
There was someone nearby, maybe they had food? He opened his eyes, taking in his surroundings, and his watching neighbor. He was in a small room, on a bed. The walls were off-white, and the bed was surprisingly comfortable for smelling like it was very very old. His observer was Spike. Why was he here? Why was he here with Spike? Excellent questions.
He thought back to the day before. Hmmm, let’s see, went to school, research session in the library after school. Patrol with the Scoobies, then home. Ah, that’s what happened. He went home and his dad was there, having lost another job, which, of course, meant the obligatory post-job loss kicking of Xander’s ass. Good times.
That had then led to his subsequent suicidal nap on the lawn at night. Stupid thing to do on a Hellmouth, which was why he’d done it. He looked at Spike; apparently he hadn’t wanted to kill him, which was weird. Unless, Xander held his breath and counted. 10 second…20 seconds…30 seconds…geez 60 seconds and he felt fine. No gasping for air or burning lungs. That settled it, Spike had turned him. Huh.
“Why?” Xander asked Spike, trusting that Spike would know the question he was asking.
“Cause I get tired sometimes too. Taking care of Dru, keeping the minions in line. Never get anything for it; Dru’s too busy gossiping with the stars to pay much attention. So I do all this and what do I get? Nothing, just more talk of ‘Daddy’.” Spike reached into his duster pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. Taking one from the pack, he lit it and continued. “I figured, you and me, we could help each other out.”
“How do you mean? I’m just a fledge, and while I do sort of feel this weird loyalty to you, I’m not sure why you want me around.” After all, his own parents didn’t want him around, and his friends, well, they didn’t want him enough. Not enough to ask why he was covered in bruises when they hadn’t fought a demon in over a week.
“You help me take care of Dru, and we’ll take care of you. She’s a bit high maintenance right now, being sick and all, but after she gets better we’ll travel the world, sow mayhem, and be a right proper family.” Spike looked wistful, like maybe all he’d ever wanted was a “right proper family.” If he was honest, that’s all Xander had ever wanted as well.
“That sounds,” he paused thinking his conscience might chime in about the sowing mayhem part. Oh wait; he didn’t have a conscience anymore. “That sounds great.” He grinned at Spike and vamped out.
Spike grinned back at him, and also vamped out. “Now I bet you’re hungry, let’s find you someone to eat.”
Xander nodded enthusiastically, he had the perfect person in mind. After all, if he was getting a new family, he didn’t need his old one anymore did he?