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Taming the Muse Prompt 47, BoaS Part 31, Double six, BtVS, PG
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dangerous_47 made me icons and a banner look, under the cut.
Title: Double six
Part 31 of the Blood on a Sundial series.
Previous parts, in reverse order, are here or in my memories.
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: #47 - Conclave
At:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
tamingthemuse
Summary: Spike, Xander, AU in Season 2. We are talking slow burn here, people.
Disclaimer: here.
Rating: Pg
Word Count: 2,880
31. Double six
Xander hurried after Spike as he strode down the street, almost managing to catch him by the time he reached the corner. "Spike, wait up. Where are you going? What are you going to do?"
Spike came to a halt and turned to face him. His shoulders were slumped and his hands were shoved deep into the pockets of his jeans. "I'm not going to do anything. I'm just not happy. I need that book, to find the gem, and your bloody watcher's got it."
Xander calmed down at little, since Spike was actually talking, instead of tearing off and destroying stuff. In fact, he seemed to be sulking, more than anything else. But he was still dangerous. How to calm him down? Maybe if he talked about it. Did that work on vampires? "But why do you want the gem?"
"It's the Gem of Amara. I told you, I've been looking for it, for a long time. Spent years researching and everything points to the book holding the key to its whereabouts." He threw his head back and growled in frustration at the sky. "That blasted watcher. Fucking council. It's a fucking conspiracy."
"But what does the gem do? Why do you want it?"
Spike's voice was resigned, almost weary. "I want my revenge. And the gem was going to help me get it."
"Revenge for what? Revenge on who?"
"Revenge for Dru, of course. The watcher killed my Dru. You didn't think I've forgotten that, did you? It's why we're here. It's why you're here. With the gem I could go anywhere, any time." His voice took on a note of controlled viciousness. "I could march up to him as he stood hiding in the sunlight and he wouldn't be able to stop me."
Xander felt like he'd been struck. "So all this time, all this time we've been together, you've been plotting revenge? You're planning to use me somehow to help you kill Giles? To kill my friend?"
"That was the plan. Originally. Still is. And after what you have learnt tonight, do you still think he's one of your good guys? Why the hell do you care what happens to him?"
With a sigh, Xander shrugged. "I don't know what I believe any more. You're right, I don't believe the Watchers Council are the good guys. I don't even know if Mr Giles is. But even if he has done bad things, he's still my friend. No, I'm not sure I trust him. I'm pretty sure that I don't always agree with him. And I know for a fact that I don't always like what he does, or think he's right. But he's my friend. And I can't help you kill him."
"Not asking you to help. Never was." Spike paused in thought. "Listen mate, you ended up with me because of an accident. I was after the Watcher that day. But I got you instead. After a bit, it seemed like fate. After all, Angelus gave you to me. Seemed like, when you fell into my hands, that it was more than coincidence." His shoulders twisted, in a move which looked like embarrassment. "And after a while, I kind of got used to you. Company, you know? I like having you around." He shrugged again. "So yeah, I still want my revenge. But I don't expect you to help. I understand about loyalty. I'll even keep you out of it, if I can. Can't say fairer than that."
"But... I don't want you to hurt Giles at all."
"Xander, he killed my sire. He broke a deal and he killed my sire. I let that pack of pathetic, deluded idiots walk, when I had them all at my fangs end, in exchange for Dru's life. And he killed her anyway. She made me. Can you imagine what it's like to love someone for a hundred years? I owed her everything. I'd have traded ten slayers for her. Twenty."
Xander frowned. "I know it wasn't right what he did. Did you know that Angel came back and accused him of it, and told him that he'd taken you away and let you go? And I understand how Angel felt, how you felt. But I can't stand by and watch you kill him. I won't stand by and watch you kill him. I don't care that I can't kill you. But I promise, if you go after Giles, I'll try and stop you."
Spike nodded his understanding. "Well it's all pretty bloody academic, at the moment. Told you, I'm not ready to go back to Sunnydale yet."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm not stupid, that's why not. I lost more than my sire that night. I lost a lot of face. The demon world isn't very tolerant of failure. To go back to Sunnydale, I need to be sure, because my reputation can't take another failure, not on top of everything else that happened there. The fact that I killed two slayers, when most vampires are lucky to meet one and walk away, means nothing. Except maybe, to buy me a bit of time. I need to know exactly what I'm doing before I go back there." He growled again in renewed frustration. "Especially since my treacherous grandsire is on the side that is ranged against me."
Xander took a deep breath. "So can I relax for now? Or do I have to do start planning how to stop you?"
Spike sighed "Yeah, you can relax for now." He shrugged again and grinned. "Meantime, hows about we go pay off my first debt, eh?"
Xander patted his pocket. "Sure. I've got the stone. Where are we going?"
"Just round here." Spike spun on his heel and continued around the corner and turned into the alley behind their block. "If you concentrate, you'll feel it."
"Feel what?"
"The entrance to Black Wind's shop. He relocated. And he went and parked right behind our house." He started walking slowly, one hand reaching out in front of him. "Can you feel the thickness of the air?" Xander shook his head. Spike reached down and picked up Xander's right hand holding it out ahead of them. "Feel that?" he asked. "Does the air feel different?"
There was a heaviness, a slight resistance, like the air had turned to treacle. "Yes, yes it does. That's really weird."
"Give it a push, pet. Just a little shove." Xander did as he was told.
A strange rippling feeling flowed through him, like his body was the water at the edge of a lake. And then he was blinking in the sudden light of the inside of a room. A very white and somehow familiar room. He looked at Spike who presented a glaring contrast to the overwhelming whiteness, like a crow on a field of snow. "Wow, that was weird." He looked around, turning on the spot, scanning the glass fronted cabinets and the long glass topped counter. Further around, and he stopping at the sight of three leather covered wing chairs set in front of a fireplace with a bright log fire burning in the stove and a small brass kettle on top. It all looking as odd and out of place as Spike did.
Black Wind stood up from one of the chairs, placing his glass down on a small table by his side and stepped forward to greet them. "Welcome my friends, welcome. You have been successful, I can feel it. You have brought me the Anashaman. Please, come sit." He gestured towards the chairs. Spike shrugged and led the way, taking the seat opposite Black Wind's and accepted a glass of something pale gold and probably alcoholic, while Xander took the one on his right and declined a similar offer with a polite smile and a shake of his head. Black Wind walked over to the stove and picked up the kettle, pouring hot water into a mug. "So tell me," Black Wind asked, returning to offer the mug to Xander. "The watchers?"
Spike leaned back in his chair and took a sip, seemingly totally at ease. "The watchers won't trouble you any more. "Black Wind nodded, pleased, but Spike continued. "But you didn't tell me the truth, old man. You said the Anashaman was yours. You can feel it?"
Black Wind's youthful face twitched, uncomfortably. "Yes, I can feel it. I know you have it."
"And you admit you lied?" Spike asked. Black Wind grimaced and Spike asked again, "The Anashaman was never yours, was it?"
"No, it wasn't mine. And I don't want it. But neither do I wish to have it hanging like a threat over me. If it remained in their hands, they would never leave me in peace."
"No, they probably wouldn't," Spike agreed. "So what's it worth to you, for me to destroy it, instead of holding it up and reciting some very interesting words I happened to hear?"
Black Wind gasped. "He tried to use it on you?" he asked, incredulously.
"You don't seem very surprised that it didn't work."
With a snort, Black Wind shook his head. "Of course it didn't work."
"But if I said these words, it would work on you, won't it?" Black Wind nodded reluctantly. "So what's it worth for me to destroy it instead of speaking those words?"
With narrowed eyes, Black Wind assessed Spike. "What do you want?"
"The promise of a favour. A big favour. At any time I ask it."
"I could offer to nullify both your debts?"
Spike grinned. "Nah. I don't mind what I owe you, seeing as how you can't ask me to do anything outside of my nature. I want for you to owe me. Anything I want. No provisos."
"No. I won't accept that." Spike raised one eyebrow. "There must be one proviso - nothing that would compromise my magic in any way resembling what the watchers wanted from me."
"Fine by me." Spike turned to Xander. "Pass me the box, mate." Xander dug in the pocket of his jacket and drew out the small wooden box and handed it to Spike. Spike opened the lid and extracted the stone. Placing it carefully on the floor he lifted his foot and stamped down hard. When he lifted his foot away the Anashaman was five separate pieces and Black Wind breathed a sigh of relief. Spike leaned down and picked up the bits placing them carefully back in the box. He looked up at Black Wind and observed, "Somehow I don't think that gluing them together again will make it work again?" Black Wind nodded his agreement. "But think this might still be useful." Turning to Xander he added, "Sorry, mate. You'll have to let your pet go. I think it would be useful if young Wesley got to see that it's really gone."
"Wesley?" Black Wind asked.
"Yeah, one of the watchers. The old one, Roger Wyndham Pryce, he's dead, as is their little band of soldiers. But the young one... the kid here didn't want to see him die. Seems he was mostly an errand boy anyway. So we'll use him as an errand boy and send him back with the broken bits, to show there's no more point in chasing after you and threatening you."
Black Wind's smile lit his face and made him look even more like a young student. "Thank you. That is well thought of." He raised his glass in a toast. "With this act, one of your debts to me is fully paid." He frowned slightly, but it didn't look like he was really displeased. "And you have gained the promise of a favour from me. I would say you have also profited well from this exploit, my friend. Allow me to offer you another drink?"
Spike grinned back as he leant forward, offering his glass to be refilled and Xander felt the atmosphere in the room relax and lighten. Sitting back in his chair, he sniffed his mug. It smelt of honey and herbs. He glanced up at Black Wind, who smiled at his dubious expression. "Never fear. It will do you no harm. It has no properties, other than an enjoyable taste. I promise." Xander took a sip and found that it did indeed taste good.
With the business over, they moved on to general conversation, what Giles would call 'the social pleasantries', Spike asking if Black Wind was planning to go back to Reno, which he said he was not. He'd decided that city was too big for him and was thinking of finding a smaller town to base his main entrance. Xander sat back and listened as they discussed a number of locations in the mountains, places Xander had never heard of, but which Spike had apparently passed through at one time or another. Once again Xander was reminded of how old Spike was. Yet Spike called Black Wind 'Old Man'. It made Xander wonder.
They discussed different styles of magic, which Spike admitted to not being overly fond of in any guise, although he acknowledged its usefulness, and different breeds of demons. Black Wind told a story about an encounter with a family of Wares, in the mountains and how he got invited to dinner and ended up almost married to the eldest daughter, which had them laughing at his expense. Spike followed up with an account of what he called a true vampire court, the politics that riddled the place and the secret gathering to declare the new master, when the old one had an accident at the hands of one of his children, and how he was afraid at one point that they'd elect him, just because no two members of the family could agree to work together. And how, if it hadn't been for Dru, he might have been master at 40, although he admitted he'd have been lucky to last a day.
At one point Spike introduced the Gem of Amara into the conversation, but he did it so seamlessly, that if Xander hadn't known his interest, he would have thought it was just idle chit chat. Black Wind admitted to having heard of it and Xander learnt that it gave the vampire who wore it the ability to walk in sunlight. He could understand the attraction of that, for Spike. It was no wonder, he thought, that Spike had been searching for it for so long. It also made him realise the threat that such an amulet could be to Giles and Buffy. It was almost a relief to hear that Black Wind believed it to be lost somewhere in Peru, or thereabouts.
Eventually Spike began to make noises about leaving before the sun came up and put his glass down on the floor by his chair. He glanced over at Xander. "Come on, mate. Time we were heading. Leave the old man in peace, to pack himself up."
Xander stood and passed his mug to Black Wind, who smiled at him, took it from him and placed it on the table. He turned back and took both Xander's hands in a firm grip. "Thank you for your assistance, my friend. Do not take more responsibility than you should for the actions of this night. You saved a life and in doing so, actually made the outcome even better. Your young watcher will go free. You could not have done anything about the others." He looked into Xander eyes and his own widened slightly. With his left hand he gently stroked the bracelet on Xander's wrist. "An interesting bauble you have there," he observed. Then he turned to Spike. "I owe you both a favour, for what you have done. Yours, you can call in at any time." Turning back to Xander, he added, "And yours I pay now." Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a small leather bag, pressing it into Xander's hand. "This is very like the tea you've been drinking. Use a small pinch in a mug with a spoonful of honey. It is good for concentration, keeps the mind alert without destroying sleep. Write and ask, when you run out, and I will send you more. It will help you with your studies." Xander opened his mouth to say that he didn't think he'd be in school again anytime soon, but shut it again, not wanting to spoil the mood. Instead he smiled and thanked him. Black wind smiled back "There is magic and there is physics," he said, "and in physics there are forces that keep things together and forces that keep things apart, just as in there are in magic. Remember that."
Xander smiled again. "Okay," he agreed. "I'll make sure to do that. Thank you."
Spike shook his head. "Are you talking in riddles, old man? Is there a meaning in all that?"
Black Wind smiled at him too. "I owe you, Spike. I won't forget."
Spike snorted. "Fine. And if you do, I'll remind you. But I'm not worried, because I owe you too and I don't fear you'll forget that." Then he turned towards the back wall. "Come on, pet. Give me your hand. See if you can find the doorway out, eh?"
Next Part
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dangerous_47 made me icons and a banner look, under the cut.Title: Double six
Part 31 of the Blood on a Sundial series.
Previous parts, in reverse order, are here or in my memories.
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: #47 - Conclave
At:
tamingthemuseSummary: Spike, Xander, AU in Season 2. We are talking slow burn here, people.
Disclaimer: here.
Rating: Pg
Word Count: 2,880
31. Double six
Xander hurried after Spike as he strode down the street, almost managing to catch him by the time he reached the corner. "Spike, wait up. Where are you going? What are you going to do?"
Spike came to a halt and turned to face him. His shoulders were slumped and his hands were shoved deep into the pockets of his jeans. "I'm not going to do anything. I'm just not happy. I need that book, to find the gem, and your bloody watcher's got it."
Xander calmed down at little, since Spike was actually talking, instead of tearing off and destroying stuff. In fact, he seemed to be sulking, more than anything else. But he was still dangerous. How to calm him down? Maybe if he talked about it. Did that work on vampires? "But why do you want the gem?"
"It's the Gem of Amara. I told you, I've been looking for it, for a long time. Spent years researching and everything points to the book holding the key to its whereabouts." He threw his head back and growled in frustration at the sky. "That blasted watcher. Fucking council. It's a fucking conspiracy."
"But what does the gem do? Why do you want it?"
Spike's voice was resigned, almost weary. "I want my revenge. And the gem was going to help me get it."
"Revenge for what? Revenge on who?"
"Revenge for Dru, of course. The watcher killed my Dru. You didn't think I've forgotten that, did you? It's why we're here. It's why you're here. With the gem I could go anywhere, any time." His voice took on a note of controlled viciousness. "I could march up to him as he stood hiding in the sunlight and he wouldn't be able to stop me."
Xander felt like he'd been struck. "So all this time, all this time we've been together, you've been plotting revenge? You're planning to use me somehow to help you kill Giles? To kill my friend?"
"That was the plan. Originally. Still is. And after what you have learnt tonight, do you still think he's one of your good guys? Why the hell do you care what happens to him?"
With a sigh, Xander shrugged. "I don't know what I believe any more. You're right, I don't believe the Watchers Council are the good guys. I don't even know if Mr Giles is. But even if he has done bad things, he's still my friend. No, I'm not sure I trust him. I'm pretty sure that I don't always agree with him. And I know for a fact that I don't always like what he does, or think he's right. But he's my friend. And I can't help you kill him."
"Not asking you to help. Never was." Spike paused in thought. "Listen mate, you ended up with me because of an accident. I was after the Watcher that day. But I got you instead. After a bit, it seemed like fate. After all, Angelus gave you to me. Seemed like, when you fell into my hands, that it was more than coincidence." His shoulders twisted, in a move which looked like embarrassment. "And after a while, I kind of got used to you. Company, you know? I like having you around." He shrugged again. "So yeah, I still want my revenge. But I don't expect you to help. I understand about loyalty. I'll even keep you out of it, if I can. Can't say fairer than that."
"But... I don't want you to hurt Giles at all."
"Xander, he killed my sire. He broke a deal and he killed my sire. I let that pack of pathetic, deluded idiots walk, when I had them all at my fangs end, in exchange for Dru's life. And he killed her anyway. She made me. Can you imagine what it's like to love someone for a hundred years? I owed her everything. I'd have traded ten slayers for her. Twenty."
Xander frowned. "I know it wasn't right what he did. Did you know that Angel came back and accused him of it, and told him that he'd taken you away and let you go? And I understand how Angel felt, how you felt. But I can't stand by and watch you kill him. I won't stand by and watch you kill him. I don't care that I can't kill you. But I promise, if you go after Giles, I'll try and stop you."
Spike nodded his understanding. "Well it's all pretty bloody academic, at the moment. Told you, I'm not ready to go back to Sunnydale yet."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm not stupid, that's why not. I lost more than my sire that night. I lost a lot of face. The demon world isn't very tolerant of failure. To go back to Sunnydale, I need to be sure, because my reputation can't take another failure, not on top of everything else that happened there. The fact that I killed two slayers, when most vampires are lucky to meet one and walk away, means nothing. Except maybe, to buy me a bit of time. I need to know exactly what I'm doing before I go back there." He growled again in renewed frustration. "Especially since my treacherous grandsire is on the side that is ranged against me."
Xander took a deep breath. "So can I relax for now? Or do I have to do start planning how to stop you?"
Spike sighed "Yeah, you can relax for now." He shrugged again and grinned. "Meantime, hows about we go pay off my first debt, eh?"
Xander patted his pocket. "Sure. I've got the stone. Where are we going?"
"Just round here." Spike spun on his heel and continued around the corner and turned into the alley behind their block. "If you concentrate, you'll feel it."
"Feel what?"
"The entrance to Black Wind's shop. He relocated. And he went and parked right behind our house." He started walking slowly, one hand reaching out in front of him. "Can you feel the thickness of the air?" Xander shook his head. Spike reached down and picked up Xander's right hand holding it out ahead of them. "Feel that?" he asked. "Does the air feel different?"
There was a heaviness, a slight resistance, like the air had turned to treacle. "Yes, yes it does. That's really weird."
"Give it a push, pet. Just a little shove." Xander did as he was told.
A strange rippling feeling flowed through him, like his body was the water at the edge of a lake. And then he was blinking in the sudden light of the inside of a room. A very white and somehow familiar room. He looked at Spike who presented a glaring contrast to the overwhelming whiteness, like a crow on a field of snow. "Wow, that was weird." He looked around, turning on the spot, scanning the glass fronted cabinets and the long glass topped counter. Further around, and he stopping at the sight of three leather covered wing chairs set in front of a fireplace with a bright log fire burning in the stove and a small brass kettle on top. It all looking as odd and out of place as Spike did.
Black Wind stood up from one of the chairs, placing his glass down on a small table by his side and stepped forward to greet them. "Welcome my friends, welcome. You have been successful, I can feel it. You have brought me the Anashaman. Please, come sit." He gestured towards the chairs. Spike shrugged and led the way, taking the seat opposite Black Wind's and accepted a glass of something pale gold and probably alcoholic, while Xander took the one on his right and declined a similar offer with a polite smile and a shake of his head. Black Wind walked over to the stove and picked up the kettle, pouring hot water into a mug. "So tell me," Black Wind asked, returning to offer the mug to Xander. "The watchers?"
Spike leaned back in his chair and took a sip, seemingly totally at ease. "The watchers won't trouble you any more. "Black Wind nodded, pleased, but Spike continued. "But you didn't tell me the truth, old man. You said the Anashaman was yours. You can feel it?"
Black Wind's youthful face twitched, uncomfortably. "Yes, I can feel it. I know you have it."
"And you admit you lied?" Spike asked. Black Wind grimaced and Spike asked again, "The Anashaman was never yours, was it?"
"No, it wasn't mine. And I don't want it. But neither do I wish to have it hanging like a threat over me. If it remained in their hands, they would never leave me in peace."
"No, they probably wouldn't," Spike agreed. "So what's it worth to you, for me to destroy it, instead of holding it up and reciting some very interesting words I happened to hear?"
Black Wind gasped. "He tried to use it on you?" he asked, incredulously.
"You don't seem very surprised that it didn't work."
With a snort, Black Wind shook his head. "Of course it didn't work."
"But if I said these words, it would work on you, won't it?" Black Wind nodded reluctantly. "So what's it worth for me to destroy it instead of speaking those words?"
With narrowed eyes, Black Wind assessed Spike. "What do you want?"
"The promise of a favour. A big favour. At any time I ask it."
"I could offer to nullify both your debts?"
Spike grinned. "Nah. I don't mind what I owe you, seeing as how you can't ask me to do anything outside of my nature. I want for you to owe me. Anything I want. No provisos."
"No. I won't accept that." Spike raised one eyebrow. "There must be one proviso - nothing that would compromise my magic in any way resembling what the watchers wanted from me."
"Fine by me." Spike turned to Xander. "Pass me the box, mate." Xander dug in the pocket of his jacket and drew out the small wooden box and handed it to Spike. Spike opened the lid and extracted the stone. Placing it carefully on the floor he lifted his foot and stamped down hard. When he lifted his foot away the Anashaman was five separate pieces and Black Wind breathed a sigh of relief. Spike leaned down and picked up the bits placing them carefully back in the box. He looked up at Black Wind and observed, "Somehow I don't think that gluing them together again will make it work again?" Black Wind nodded his agreement. "But think this might still be useful." Turning to Xander he added, "Sorry, mate. You'll have to let your pet go. I think it would be useful if young Wesley got to see that it's really gone."
"Wesley?" Black Wind asked.
"Yeah, one of the watchers. The old one, Roger Wyndham Pryce, he's dead, as is their little band of soldiers. But the young one... the kid here didn't want to see him die. Seems he was mostly an errand boy anyway. So we'll use him as an errand boy and send him back with the broken bits, to show there's no more point in chasing after you and threatening you."
Black Wind's smile lit his face and made him look even more like a young student. "Thank you. That is well thought of." He raised his glass in a toast. "With this act, one of your debts to me is fully paid." He frowned slightly, but it didn't look like he was really displeased. "And you have gained the promise of a favour from me. I would say you have also profited well from this exploit, my friend. Allow me to offer you another drink?"
Spike grinned back as he leant forward, offering his glass to be refilled and Xander felt the atmosphere in the room relax and lighten. Sitting back in his chair, he sniffed his mug. It smelt of honey and herbs. He glanced up at Black Wind, who smiled at his dubious expression. "Never fear. It will do you no harm. It has no properties, other than an enjoyable taste. I promise." Xander took a sip and found that it did indeed taste good.
With the business over, they moved on to general conversation, what Giles would call 'the social pleasantries', Spike asking if Black Wind was planning to go back to Reno, which he said he was not. He'd decided that city was too big for him and was thinking of finding a smaller town to base his main entrance. Xander sat back and listened as they discussed a number of locations in the mountains, places Xander had never heard of, but which Spike had apparently passed through at one time or another. Once again Xander was reminded of how old Spike was. Yet Spike called Black Wind 'Old Man'. It made Xander wonder.
They discussed different styles of magic, which Spike admitted to not being overly fond of in any guise, although he acknowledged its usefulness, and different breeds of demons. Black Wind told a story about an encounter with a family of Wares, in the mountains and how he got invited to dinner and ended up almost married to the eldest daughter, which had them laughing at his expense. Spike followed up with an account of what he called a true vampire court, the politics that riddled the place and the secret gathering to declare the new master, when the old one had an accident at the hands of one of his children, and how he was afraid at one point that they'd elect him, just because no two members of the family could agree to work together. And how, if it hadn't been for Dru, he might have been master at 40, although he admitted he'd have been lucky to last a day.
At one point Spike introduced the Gem of Amara into the conversation, but he did it so seamlessly, that if Xander hadn't known his interest, he would have thought it was just idle chit chat. Black Wind admitted to having heard of it and Xander learnt that it gave the vampire who wore it the ability to walk in sunlight. He could understand the attraction of that, for Spike. It was no wonder, he thought, that Spike had been searching for it for so long. It also made him realise the threat that such an amulet could be to Giles and Buffy. It was almost a relief to hear that Black Wind believed it to be lost somewhere in Peru, or thereabouts.
Eventually Spike began to make noises about leaving before the sun came up and put his glass down on the floor by his chair. He glanced over at Xander. "Come on, mate. Time we were heading. Leave the old man in peace, to pack himself up."
Xander stood and passed his mug to Black Wind, who smiled at him, took it from him and placed it on the table. He turned back and took both Xander's hands in a firm grip. "Thank you for your assistance, my friend. Do not take more responsibility than you should for the actions of this night. You saved a life and in doing so, actually made the outcome even better. Your young watcher will go free. You could not have done anything about the others." He looked into Xander eyes and his own widened slightly. With his left hand he gently stroked the bracelet on Xander's wrist. "An interesting bauble you have there," he observed. Then he turned to Spike. "I owe you both a favour, for what you have done. Yours, you can call in at any time." Turning back to Xander, he added, "And yours I pay now." Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a small leather bag, pressing it into Xander's hand. "This is very like the tea you've been drinking. Use a small pinch in a mug with a spoonful of honey. It is good for concentration, keeps the mind alert without destroying sleep. Write and ask, when you run out, and I will send you more. It will help you with your studies." Xander opened his mouth to say that he didn't think he'd be in school again anytime soon, but shut it again, not wanting to spoil the mood. Instead he smiled and thanked him. Black wind smiled back "There is magic and there is physics," he said, "and in physics there are forces that keep things together and forces that keep things apart, just as in there are in magic. Remember that."
Xander smiled again. "Okay," he agreed. "I'll make sure to do that. Thank you."
Spike shook his head. "Are you talking in riddles, old man? Is there a meaning in all that?"
Black Wind smiled at him too. "I owe you, Spike. I won't forget."
Spike snorted. "Fine. And if you do, I'll remind you. But I'm not worried, because I owe you too and I don't fear you'll forget that." Then he turned towards the back wall. "Come on, pet. Give me your hand. See if you can find the doorway out, eh?"
Next Part
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I wonder if anyone would notice if I made Taming a daily challenge?
*laughs* Don't you dare. I have trouble enough with weekly. But at least it keeps me out of mischief on Saturdays.