Taming the Muse Prompt 36, BoaS Part 20, Going out to the dance, BtVS, PG

[thismaz]

Title: Going out to the dance
Part 20 of the Blood on a Sundial series. Previous parts, in reverse order, are here or in my memories.
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: #36 - Batting a thousand
At: tamingthemuse
Disclaimer: here.
Rating: Pg
Word Count: 4,160



20. Going out to the dance

For the next few nights Spike went out alone and came home as the first glow of sunrise began to light the sky. Xander should have spent that time re-establishing his human sleep patterns, but for some reason he found he couldn't settle. He tried climbing into his nest of blankets and pulling the covers over his head, but he always ended up sitting in one of the easy chairs, channel hopping through the seemingly endless range on the big TV. When he eventually found a station that showed nothing but classic SciFi he could have cheered and when he accidentally stumbled on a porn channel he couldn't believe his luck, although he sat watching in a state of mixed excitement and dread, with his finger hovering over the button on the remote and more than half his concentration focussed on listening for boots on the stairs, for fear Spike would come back and catch him before he could switch back to the Star Trek re-runs.

Each morning Spike came in, glanced across at Xander and disappeared into the bathroom. When he re-emerged he went straight to bed and that was Xander's signal to clamber into his own corner and finally get some sleep. They didn't talk and the silence was really getting to him. He didn't do silence very well.

By the fourth night he'd had enough and when Spike dragged on his duster, obviously planning to go out again, he cracked.

"Spike?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I come with you?" he asked hesitantly. "If you told me what you're doing... maybe I could help?"

Spike just looked at him. "Why would you want to do that?" he asked, eventually.

"I don't. Well... I mean... I don't know what you're doing. But I... I just thought... I've been stuck here for days and..."

"Getting cabin fever, pet?" For some reason he looked pleased and Xander scowled at him. "You can go out anytime you want, as long as you come back."

Xander was stunned. "I can?"

Spike raised a satirical eyebrow. "Intention, mate. How often do I need to tell you?" His eyes narrowed. "And no, you can't leave on the promise of coming back in twenty years." He pursed his lips in thought, his tongue pushing at the back of his bottom lip. "Time I set some ground rules." He grinning. "Just so you can make your intentions clear. You can go out to the shops, but you come back here once you're done. Before I start to notice you're gone. If you stay out too long you'll know it and the spell will kick in."

"How will I know when you start to notice I'm gone?" Xander asked dubiously. This had to be a trick. But he was so desperate for company, he thought he'd trade anything for some conversation.

"Intention." That was definitely smug and the repetition irritated Xander. "It's when you think I'll have started to notice. Okay?"

The accumulated pressure of the last week suddenly broke through, now that Spike was acknowledging his presence, making Xander want to scream. "Why are you doing this?" He cried in frustration. "Why are you keeping me here? What do you want from me?"

Spike looked surprised. "Company," he said.

"Company? But you don't talk to me. You go out and leave me here. You come home and go to sleep. What is this?" He drew in a heaving breath and collapsed back in his chair. "I don't understand," he groaned. "And oh my God, I sound like my Mother."

Spike burst out laughing. Then he sobered up and shrugged. "Been busy," he said calmly. "You seemed alright. Didn't seem to mind."

"I didn't mind," Xander agreed. "But I've been stuck here for days and I'm going crazy."

Spike looked puzzled. "Does that mean you did mind?" he asked.

"No. Yes. I don't know." Xander felt his frustration mounting again. "I don't know anything right now. I don't know why I'm here. I don't know what you want. I don't know... anything," he finished, throwing up his arms.

"I suppose I just forgot about you," Spike mused. He shook his head. "You looked happy enough."

"You forgot about me? What is this? You kidnap me. Haul me right across the country, then you forget about me?"

"I've been busy. I brought you food, when you ate the last lot." He almost sounded defensive. Almost. And Xander was almost fooled, but there was something in his tone... something Xander just couldn't pin down, which alerted him.

"You make me sound like the pet cat," he groused. "Give it food and it's happy enough. Doesn't need any attention. Better than a dog - you don't have to take it for walks." By the time he finished he was almost spitting and Spike was laughing again.

"Okay, pet," he acknowledged with a final huff of laughter and an expression of satisfaction that worried Xander slightly. "If you've finally given up on this ostentatious habit of staying outside the door, you can come with me and I'll tell you what's going on. Sort of. I finally got a lead. Need to go talk to a guy. You come too and we'll see about how you can help."

"Help with what?"

"Ah, that would be the part I'm not telling. Yet."

This time as they walked down the street Xander walked at Spike's side. The night was clear, unseasonably cool and the traffic was light, with more people on foot than usual, as if they had been persuaded to leave their cars behind by the clean smell of the evening. Spike led the way and the silence between them was almost companionable. Not like the heavy, expectant, ignoring silence of the last week.

"So where are we going?" Xander asked.

Spike turned his head, his expression still guarded. "Going to see a guy called Azumar. I've been looking for him. Finally found him last night. He said he had a lead for me. He's been doing a job for me for the last few years. I was beginning to wonder if he was avoiding me. Seems like he might have come through."

Forty minutes later, after walking numerous streets of brick apartment buildings and specialist retail outlets, Spike came to a halt in front of a small, dark shop in dire need of a paint job. Xander gazed up at the faded lettering on the sign but he couldn't quite make out what it said.

Beside him Spike braced himself, taking a deep breath and letting it out noisily. "Right then. Let's see what he's got." He stepped forward and pushed open the door. Xander followed closely behind.

The inside was a mess. Empty display cabinets, broken packing crates and scraps of paper littered the bare lino on the floor. In the faint light that came through the dirty windows it all looked depressingly chaotic. Opposite the front door, a bead curtain hung in the entrance to a back room. Spike strode forward. The beads clattered as he thrust them aside. He held them back for Xander as he stepped through in his wake.

Suddenly a light snapped on and Xander blinked as his eyes adjusted. He glanced round quickly, taking in the empty shelves lining the room and a large chair, against the far wall, but his gaze was captured and held by the figure standing with one hand still on the light switch next to what seemed to be the back door of the shop. He wasn't big, not as tall as Spike and slimly built, dressed in faded jeans and a denim jacket over a faded blue T-shirt with the Yankees' logo and the slogan 'Reggie Jackson Batting a Thousand for New York' emblazoned across the front. He wore a red baseball cap pulled down low over a face that more closely resembled a monkey than a human being and he stood with a hunched posture, as if attempting to appear inconspicuous, although that could be his natural stance.

Spike halted, squaring his shoulders and raising his chin slightly, so he looked down his nose at the strange creature. "Azumar," he said, with a nod of acknowledgement. "Right on time. So what have you got? I'm here like you asked, but I don't see a book."

Monkey man hunched even more, twisting his neck so he looked up at Spike sideways, the picture of obsequious respect. " Master Spike, so good of you to come. I have it, I promise. It'll be here in a moment." He wrung his hands together, like he was washing them.

Spike snorted. "Not sure I trust you, mate. You're being altogether too polite."

"Please, Master Spike. You know me. You didn't need to bring a guard."

Spike snorted again. "Him? He's not a guard." He turned his head to regard Xander. "Not sure what he is. But I'm dammed certain he's not a guard."

"Not sure what I am?" Xander asked incredulously. "I'm a prisoner, that's what I am. I didn't ask to be here. I just got kidnapped and dragged across the country."

Spike laughed. "Yeah, well, that's true enough. But you can calm down, pet. No need to get riled. I'll figure out something for you eventually."

Xander actually growled. "How about you figure out letting me go?"

Spike shrugged and Xander felt the dismissal of his concerns. Turning back to the little demon Spike said, "Come on then, what are we waiting for?"

At that moment there was a sound of the shop door opening, followed by footsteps across the outer room. Xander backed away from the doorway until he was pressed against one of the shelves, while Spike turned around slowly on the spot, just as three large vampires entered. Beyond Spike, Xander saw Azumar pull open the back door and another vampire came in, elbowing the little demon out of the way.

Xander turned back to watch Spike as he confronted the vampire at the head of the delegation. This one was smartly dressed in a snazzy suit, in contrast to the combat trousers and leather jackets of the others. He carried a gold topped cane and Xander guessed he was the one in charge. He would have taken him for a dodgy car salesman, if it weren't for the heavy ridges, the yellow eyes and the very sharp teeth.

Spike maintained his human face, pursing his lips and scrunching his nose in apparent puzzlement, as if racking his memory. "Don't thing I remember arranging to meet anyone except his-nibs here. Who are you and what do you want?"

Smart and sleazy shook his head and the demon face was replaced by something that matched the suit far better. He glanced quickly around the room, noting and discounting Xander and nodding approval to Azumar before returning his gaze to Spike. "William the bloody. I've heard of you."

"So what? I've heard of me too. What of it?"

"I'm Heinrich," he announced with supreme certainty, as he stepped around Spike and casually sat in the large throne-like chair, propping his walking stick against the arm.

Spike turned again, tracking him as he moved. "Never heard of you."

Heinrich's eyes flickered briefly but he masked his annoyance quickly. "I'm the Master of New York." He announced. Xander thought he looked like the kind of guy who made announcements a lot.

Spike shrugged. "So?" But his eyes darted quickly around the room and he took a casual step backwards, so that he could keep all three henchmen in sight.

"So... Azumar here tells me that you're looking for Argentum Veneficus. Is that correct?" Spike didn't reply, merely cocking an eyebrow questioningly. "Where did you hear about that particular book?"

Spike smiled calmly. "What's it to you?"

"Not much. But I'm interested. It's supposed to tell the whereabouts of a certain famous gem. If it weren't for the fact that the gem was a myth, I'd be wondering if you were making a play for it." He looked around the room from his position as focus of attention. "If there was any chance that the Gem of Amara was more than a myth, I'd be a little put out if I discovered that some minionless itinerant had come into my territory to steal it away."

Spike followed his glance, casting his own eyes around the empty shelves. "Err. Right mate. That's what I'm here for. Searching for a myth." He threw up his hands in mock disgust. "Come on. Be serious" he said, with a derisive laugh. "The Gem of Amara?" He spun on his heel but was brought up short by the two hulking vampires in the doorway. Turning back to Heinrich he tilted his head to one side and regarded him thoughtfully. "Is that why you've gone to all the trouble of getting this treacherous little snitch to lure me here? You think I've actually got a lead on the Gem of Amara? And you're some sort of master? I'd have thought you'd be too busy ruling the roost and keeping the city in order to be wasting your time on fairytales."

Heinrich frowned. "So why do you want Argentum Veneficus? Who told you about it?"

"The Prince of Lies." Spike said. "Met up with him in the war." He smirked. "Just before he died."

Heinrich's eyes narrowed. "The Prince of Lies? I've heard of him too." He leant forward, leaning on the arms of the chair. "And he told you it contained the whereabouts of the Gem of Amara?"

Spike's shoulders slumped. "No mate," he enunciated wearily. "He didn't. It doesn't. I'm not looking for any bloody gem. I want it for something else." He looked up at Heinrich and, if it had been anybody else, Xander would have said he looked innocent. "If you've heard of me, you'll have heard of my sire?"

"Everybody's heard of Angelus." Heinrich sneered. "An object lesson to us all."

Spike growled. "That wanker's not my sire. My sire is Drusilla."

"Drusilla the mad?" Heinrich looked thoughtful. "I heard that rumour, but I didn't know it was true. I wouldn't have thought, from what I've heard of her, that she was capable."

Spike's growl echoed around the room and for a moment his eyes flashed yellow. "She's quite capable." He snapped. He paused and apparently wilted. "Or at least she was. She's sick. That's why I'm looking for the book. I think it's got the cure."

Heinrich closed one eye and focussed the other on Spike thoughtfully. "And you've been looking for it for sixty years?" he asked.

"No. I've been looking for it for three years." Spike flicked a quick glance at Azumar then a longer one at Heinrich on his throne.

Heinrich nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm. You almost convince me." He leant back, bracing his arms. "Tell you what... Whether it's the Gem, or not, it's sure to contain useful information. Since you're in my town, and I hold the power here, why don't you bring your sire to my court and I'll look after her, while you find the book. Then, when you've got it, you can sort out her cure and then we'll see what else the book contains. Together. How's that?"

Spike shook his head. "Can't do it. She's not here. I took her to the Hellmouth for a rest cure. The air there's invigorating. It makes her stronger. She's there now."

Heinrich frowned "Did you?" He paused thoughtfully. "Okay. A second deal. I'll keep that human of yours instead."

For a moment Spike looked nonplussed, then he pulled himself together to object. "No. You see mate. Um. This human... he's tied to me. Can't survive if separated. Isn't that right Xander?" Xander nodded fervently. "Anyway," Spike went on. "Why do you think he's tagging along behind me? Why do you think I keep him? I need him to find the book. So leaving him with you isn't really an option." He looked back at Xander, sweeping him from head to foot with his eyes. "Besides... what would you do with him?"

Heinrich's smirk was decidedly twisted. And cruel. "I'm sure I'll think of something."

Azumar crept forward and bowed deeply before Heinrich's chair. "Master, the human said he was a prisoner."

Heinrich smiled. "Is that so? It seems to me William, that you were attempting to steal the human away. I said: This is my city. The Gem may be a fairytale. You're right there. But this search for a book? I don't think you have any idea where it is. And you certainly don't know what's in it. This is a waste of my time. You're just the childe of a mad woman and an abomination. You have nothing for me." He looked over Spike's shoulder. "Take him, boys."

As the three vampires sprang into action Spike went from totally still, to whirling dervish action, in a split second. Xander cowered back against the shelves intent only on keeping out of the way, until it occurred to him that although he couldn't kill Spike...

A flash of steel caught Xander's eye just as one of the vampires staggered backwards towards him. From somewhere Spike had produced two long knives. Xander fended the lumbering body of Heinrich's minion away, pushing it to the side where it crashed into a packing crate smashing it to splinters. Xander snatched a broken sliver of wood from the wreckage and shoved it through the vampire's back, straight through his heart. A small voice in the back of his head cried 'Yes!' and as the dust settled around his feet he turned back to watch the rest of the action.

The knives Spike wielded were each at least seven inches long and he used them to good effect. The two remaining vampires were hanging back out of reach and Spike had got himself positioned in a corner, so they were forced to come at him from the front.

Heinrich rose to his feet. "Get him!" he shouted. "Come on, what are you waiting for?"

Hulk on the left lunged forward and grabbed Spike's wrist, forcing it upward, but they weren't a team and his mate followed his lead just a moment too late. Even though Spike's arms were occupied battling the upward pressure of hulk number one, somehow he managed to kick out with his right leg, catching hulk number two square in the chest, sending him staggering backwards towards Xander too. It was almost instinct that caused Xander to raise his makeshift stake and it was probably pure luck that ensured it pierced his heart.

Almost absently Xander noted Azumar edging cautiously towards the back door, but his attention was focussed on the fight in the corner where the remaining hulk's extra height and weight seemed to be working to his advantage as he forced Spike's arms to bend under the pressure, bringing the twin knives close to Spike's exposed throat. Xander watched with his heart in his mouth, unsure whether he should just let Spike get killed. He glanced across at Heinrich, who had relaxed again and was sitting back in his throne smiling. Slowly he turned his head and looked at Xander. Xander's heart clenched and a shiver travelled down the length of his spine at the sheer malevolence of his expression. He turned back to the fight, now silently cheering Spike on, as the hulk shifted his feet into a position which would allow him greater leverage. The blades of the knives were actually touching Spike's neck and a thin stream of blood was running down the left side to soak into his collar. All the hulk needed to do was bring them together and Spike's head would separate from his shoulders.

Spike's knee flashed upwards and the hulk went reeling back, screaming and clutching his groin. Spike bounced once on the balls of his feet, then he pounced. With his arms crossed in front of him he closed the distance between them and with a wide, expansive gesture he threw his arms apart. The blades flashed and the hulk's head momentarily sprang free before it fell, hit the floor, bounced once and burst into dust, followed closely by the rest of his body.

Spike spun round to face Heinrich who slowly stood back up. "Very impressive," Heinrich sneered. "Those were three of my best minions. But they were just minions. Let's see if you can face a true master?" He reached down, picked up his walking cane and took three paces forwards, twisting the top of the stick and pulling it apart, exposing the long length of a stiletto sword blade. Spike took a half step backwards, crouching into a defensive position with the knives held in front of him. Heinrich threw the sheath of his sword stick away and lunged forward in one easy motion. Metal clashed on metal as Spike raised his knives to block the sword's advance. Heinrich stepped back and Spike once again resumed his defensive posture. They circled each other in the small space, eyes narrowed as they assessed each other's moves. Xander watched breathlessly. He really wasn't sure which way this would go. Somehow Spike's lighter build and two serviceable knives seemed almost a match for Heinrich's greater reach and longer, single blade.

Suddenly Spike straightened up. With a growl he threw the knives in opposite directions so their points buried themselves in the walls leaving the handles vibrating with the force. "This is bollocks! Who needs bloody weapons?" With a strange crunching sound, loud in the sudden quiet of the room, his face transformed into that of the demon and with a roar he dived to the floor, somehow twisting in midair so he landed on his back, sliding across the lino towards Heinrich. Bringing his arms up he grabbed Heinrich's wrist, wrenching it downwards with a twist which forced his hand open so that the sword rolled harmlessly away, just before Spike's shoulders collided with Heinrich's shins causing him to topple clumsily forward, tripping over Spike and crashing to the floor.

Heinrich was already in gameface and if the situation had not been so violently serious the combination of gameface and shocked confusion would have made Xander laugh. Heinrich didn't think it was funny either. He scrambled to his feet at the same time that Spike did another of his inhuman manoeuvres and somehow bounced from flat on his back to upright. Heinrich charged, head down with the full force of his bigger body and his speed. He crashed into Spike shoving him backwards and Spike's head cracked against the sharp edge of one of the shelves. His body went limp in Heinrich's grasp as he shook his head in confusion and Heinrich roared his victory as he brought his mouth down to Spike's exposed neck.

Xander gaped at the sudden turn of events and for a second was frozen. Clenching both hands around the splinter of packing crate that he still held, he ran forward. Heinrich must have heard his footsteps because he raised his head from Spike's neck and began to turn. Xander closed his eyes and brought the sliver down into Heinrich's back with all the force he could muster. Heinrich roared again, this time in pain, but he remained disconcertingly solid and Xander realised that not only had he missed the heart but that he'd probably also condemned himself to what ever painful future Heinrich's earlier look had promised. He staggered back dragging the sliver of wood out of Heinrich's back as his hand forgot to let go. And somehow that did the trick. A twist to the left as he staggered must have sent the splinter into Heinrich's dead heart because suddenly there was nothing between him and Spike but a cloud of dust.

Xander regained his balance as Spike straightened himself against the wall. Xander gazed gape-mouthed at the gradually settling pile of dust and Spike raised an amused eyebrow. "Thanks mate," he said with a thoughtful smile. "Guess I owe you one for that."

Xander shook his head, pulling himself together. "Fuck off Spike," he said wearily. "I didn't do it for you. I was saving my own neck. Think I didn't know I wouldn't last a day with him?" He turned and looked around, noticing that Azumar had gone. "Are we done here?"

Spike laughed. "Sure pet. We're done. Come on. Enough excitement for one night. I'll find Azumar tomorrow. You deserve a drink. I know a place that'll take no notice that you're not twenty-one." He slapped Xander on the shoulder and gave him a small shove towards the door.

Xander went where he was pushed, but he did look back to growl again, "I said I was doing it for my own sake."

Spike shrugged. "Doesn't matter pet. You saved my life. Same difference, far as I'm concerned."

Hours later, in the aftermath of the alcohol, which had temporarily done a great job at replacing the adrenalin but by then was only making his head ache and his stomach roil, Xander paused long enough to wonder if it had been worth it.

Next Part

Comments

[lilithbint.livejournal.com]

Poor Xander so confused...
*cackles with glee*

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

*cackles with you and rubs hands together in anticipation*

[sparrow2000.livejournal.com]

Wow, you've been a busy bee, haven't you.
There's just so much to love in this chapter, I could just do quotage on the entire thing.

I love the idea of Xander watching the porn with one ear open for Spike's return - it's like Spike has turned into a surrogate dad.

And that spell just keeps getting tricksier - so now he can go out on his own as long as he intends to come back. Hmmm, I wonder how long it will be before Xander tests how far he can push it.

"I'll figure out something for you eventually." I just had to quote that. It's so Spike - he's got himself a Xander, now he just has to decide what he's for!

"So what? I've heard of me too. What of it?" You made me spit tea over my keyboard!

Great fight scene and I loved that Xander staked some vamps. The accidental staking was so like what happened with Jesse - was that deliberate?

And yay, Xander saved Spike's unlife. I wonder if that will change the dynamic between them.

Great, great update love.
s xx

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

he's got himself a Xander, now he just has to decide what he's for!
*laughs* Yes, I think that is a very fair summary of the situation.

The accidental staking was so like what happened with Jesse - was that deliberate?
Sort of... incidentally. It was in my mind, but I wasn't deliberately referencing.

I am glad you enjoyed. Thank you.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_sharvie_/]

Wow! Your fight scenes are fucking amazing! This paragraph in particular...I don't think I've scene a better fighting maneuver in fic, ever! Spike's knee flashed upwards and the hulk went reeling back, screaming and clutching his groin. Spike bounced once on the balls of his feet, then he pounced. With his arms crossed in front of him he closed the distance between them and with a wide, expansive gesture he threw his arms apart. The blades flashed and the hulk's head momentarily sprang free before it fell, hit the floor, bounced once and burst into dust, followed closely by the rest of his body.

Just amazing. And Xander made the absolute right decision. Go with the devil you know that hasn't really hurt you yet, to the one you know is going to eat you for a victory dinner.

This will also make Spike see what an asset Xander can be. He may not be a guard but he knows how to handle himself. I mean, seriously, he killed the Master of New York! New York! *thud* Spike better realize how kick ass that is.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Heee. *bounce* I got a 'Wow!', with an exclamation mark and all.
Thank you so much. That is high praise indeed and I will treasure it.
I am glad you enjoyed it. And yes, I think there will be a shift in the dynamic, of some sort.

[smwright.livejournal.com]

I'm going to be redundant this week (both repeating myself from prior weeks and repeating others here).

I maintain that your ability to describe the action inherent in fighting is superior to pretty much any I've ever read - published or unpublished. You simply have an extraordinary talent for it. This chapter is a sublime example and rivals, in my opinion, the first warehouse scene which I've always loved.

I have to echo Sparrow. My favorite quote: "So what? I've heard of me too. What of it?" Just priceless, particularly when followed by: "Never heard of you."

Too bad for Xander that Spike doesn't believe in honoring any wish the boy might make for having saved his life. Xander could simply ask for his freedom. Then again, were he to do so, this story arc would be over, and you'd have to figure out something else to write about in the series!

Very nice update. Looking forward to this week's installment!

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Wow. Thank you. I am bowled over. Again. You are very kind.
No, I can't have Spike letting Xander go. It would end the story in a very anticlimactic way. *pauses and considers the 'classic' fantasy yarn format* Thunder crashes. Wind howls. Two heroes on a quest. They fought their way through flood, siege and bandit infested forest. Then they gave up, went home and had a nice cup of tea. The End.
Hmmm. No, I think you're right - wouldn't work. *g*
I missed the whole April 1st prompt thing. But I quite like the actual prompt for this week. Here's hoping something comes of it.
Thank you for your continued support. Have a great week.

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

Xander killed more of them than Spike did. Heh.

I love how Xander could feel himself getting handled but didn't have a way to stop it. There was definitely an element of better Spike than Heinrich, but you did an excellent job of there being other reasons just below the surface. Spending all this time with Spike without him doing anything to hurt him is probably doing Xander's head in. Meanwhile, Spike can't decide what he wants to do with his captive. Very nice.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Yes, he did, didn't he? More by accident and opportunity than design perhaps, but still he got the last blow in to 3 out of 4. He's just not as dramatic about it as Spike.
Poor Xander is a bit confused at the moment. I don't know that he will get very much less so in the next few weeks. *g*
Thank you for your lovely comments.

[jans-intentions.livejournal.com]

Very interesting seeing what's happening with these two now. I still continue to wonder about where their relationship will lead. ^^

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

*Smiles beatifically* I'm not telling (yet).
Thanks for reading.

[stretfordditto.livejournal.com]

Excellent.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

*Laughs* Thank you.

[i-luv-trees.livejournal.com]

Boy, you really write the action scenes spectacularly! Great fight, and Xan helped more than even he expected to. Wonder if Spike will teach him some moves? (And the opportunity for close, sweaty, physical contact is just de-lious!)

Xan may have been torn, but he was smart enough to know that sticking with Spike was better for his health than the so-called Master. Loved that Spike made a point to him, that they are in this together, for now anyway, and that it's better to be good company together than miserable apart.

This is staying wonderful, can't wait for more! (Thank goodness I don't have to!)

Thanks for the lovely words, C

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

you really write the action scenes spectacularly!
*wide smile* Thank you. I'm really happy you think so.
And really very happy that you are still enjoying it, after reading so much in one go.
Thank you for reading and commenting.

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

Spike's admission that he's keeping Xander as a companion was both endearing and insulting. He's not being a very good pet owner, and it's delightful that Xander's so exasperated he just calls Spike on it.

The shop scene was vivid and wonderful. Azumar had me on edge right from Spike's "Not sure I trust you, mate. You're being altogether too polite." How right he was.

Heinrich was a vivid, pompous original character and I thoroughly enjoyed the tight choreography of the kicking of his ass. Xander having to throw in with the demon he knows to save both Spike and himself was beautifully realized. You kept the tension and excitement high right up to Heinrich's dusting.

This is very entertaining!

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

I have this big grin on my face, right now.
I think Xander got so annoyed, he forgot to be afraid for a moment, and when Spike didn't do anything awful to him for it...
I so glad you enjoyed the fight too. I enjoyed writing it.
Thank you for all your lovely comments.