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thismaz.
This was going to just be the start of the chapter, but it kind of grew and turned into a chapter in its own right, if not a very long one.
In other news, I still haven't read many of last week's stories. In fact, as far as my flist page is concerned, it's still 26th June *g*. And I'm out most of the day tomorrow. So if you don't hear from me for a while, that's probably why.
Title: There is no disguise
Part 34 of the Blood on a Sundial series.
Previous parts, in reverse order, are here or in my memories.
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: #50 - Thin Line Between
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: 1,295
34. There is no disguise
"What else are lawyers for," Spike asked, "if not to handle the boring stuff?" But that didn't change the fact that the 'telephone installation specialist' the lawyers had organised was human and worked normal daytime hours, so Xander, who wasn't a lawyer was stuck doing guard duty, while Spike retreated to the basement dragging Jimmy with him, as soon as he'd pointed out where he wanted the phone to sit on the new desk.
It wasn't that Xander didn't often get up in daylight. He had to if he wanted to eat, after all. It was just that he usually got to do it when he was actually awake. And 9am was too early to be up and about. It was only when he'd put the cushions back on the sofa and had finished arranging the blankets strategically, so it looked like he slept there, that he realised he was embarrassed. That was crazy. Why did he care what a telephone repairman would think, walking into the apartment with its one big room and its one big bed? Didn't mean it was the only room in the building. He was hardly going to give the guy the guided tour. Glumly he picked up the cleaning supplies and trudged downstairs to scrub out the rest room, get rid of the evidence of Wesley's brief occupancy and try to make it look more like a deliberate design choice and less like the accidental survivor of the previous human inhabitants of the factory.
And of course it was nearly midday before the technician actually turned up, by which time Xander was hot and bothered and even more tired, as well as embarrassed. Glancing round one last time, before going to answer the knock on the door, he gave a nod of satisfaction to his camouflage. The paint can and drop sheet were a nice touch, he thought. Made it look like a renovation in progress. But he still found himself babbling as he led the man upstairs, explaining how his friend was out at work, but was in the process of renovating the factory into studio apartments and how he, himself, was visiting for a few weeks, while his folks are away in Europe.
Thankfully the guy seemed pretty laid back and friendly and he didn't laugh at Xander's nervousness. He said his name was Steve and he promised he wouldn't take too long. Once they got upstairs the absence of any windows stumped him for a moment, but he soon figured out where he could bring the cable in and got to work, while Xander perched on the edge of the sofa, trying to keep out of the way. But it was odd, having a stranger in the factory, with Spike not around. Xander found himself fidgeting, trying not to watch Steve at work, but also trying not to ignore him. He felt awkward, like he was the interloper, afraid Steve would think he was spying on him. In desperation he grabbed his backpack and went over to the kitchen.
Sitting down at the table, Xander pulled out a pad of paper and a pencil and began noting down what he knew about the book Spike was looking for and the Gem of Amara it was supposed to lead them to. Black Wind had said the Gem was in Peru. He considered that. That might be good. But the book was in Sunnydale. That was a potential problem. Even worse, Giles had it. It was possible Spike had got this internet connection so he could set Jimmy off searching, to see if there were any other copies. But if there weren't, then wasn't he likely to want to head back to Sunnydale, anyway, regardless of what he'd said that night about needing to be sure his plan would work this time? And if he decided they were going back to Sunnydale, what would Xander do? The telephone cable stretched like a thin line between New York and Sunnydale, promising the possibility of phone calls from Willow, at times she chose. Promising news and gossip and warnings delivered. Trying to pull him back, like a giant elastic band, with false promises of safety and certainty. And if they went back to Sunnydale, Spike would face not only Giles, but Buffy too. And Willow. Face to face. And so, inevitably, would Xander.
And Buffy and Willow would face Spike.
A voice broke through his obsessive musings. "Done," it announced. "The rest's an outside job." Steve was standing in the middle of the room, looking around. "Nice place," he observed. "Shouldn't be too difficult, opening out those bricked up windows. But your friend's going about this job backwards. Should've had the big stuff done before he got into decorating. Shame, it'll make a real mess when he does it." He began packing away his tools and gathering up the snipped off ends of wires and insulation from the top of the desk. "Tell him to be careful when he opens that one up. The cable goes through the wall at the corner. Okay?"
Xander stood, glad of an excuse to start moving and stop thinking. "Sure, I'll, I'll be certain to tell him that... about the cable. So is that it?"
"Yeah. The inside job's quick. I've still gotta connect it outside, though. The line should be live by this evening. Just call the operator to activate the account. They'll tell you the number, too." Picking up his tool box, Steve headed for the door and Xander followed him down to the ground floor.
After watching Steve leave and making sure he got into his van and drove away, Xander locked up securely and turned back to the stairs. He was going to retreat to the sofa and catch some more sleep, but it occurred to him that Spike and Jimmy might be glad to move too, so instead he went down to the basement. Opening the door carefully, he peered into the darkness, trying to locate the vampires by the light spilling in from behind him. There was a lump of bedding on the practice mats, so he tiptoed towards it, not wanting to disturb Spike if he was sleeping and not wanting to disturb Jimmy at all, if it was him. He was about three feet away when he froze. The lump was far too big to be only one vampire. It had to be both of them. Together. Sleeping. Under the same blankets. He gasped and almost against his will, found himself leaning forwards for a better look.
The two glowing yellow eyes that suddenly appeared out of the gloom sent him stumbling backward in shock, but Spike's voice sounded more groggy than annoyed. "Fuck off, will you, mate?" he growled. "It's too early to be waking up."
Grabbing at a shelf to steady himself, Xander edged back towards the door. "Umm. Sure," he whispered. "Yeah. I just thought.... But it doesn't matter. I'll, umm, I'll leave you in peace. Er... I'm going to get some sleep too."
Spike must have blinked and the disappearance and reappearance of the yellow spots of light was totally unnerving, but his voice, though soft, was clearer and it was still calm. "You do that," he advised. "We'll see you at sunset." Xander reached the door and grabbed the knob. As he pulled it to, he turned in the doorway and saw movement in the darker shape on the mat and heard Spike's voice whisper, "S'okay, pet. I'm here. Go back to sleep."
Xander fled upstairs and into the living room. He grabbed the cushions off the sofa and threw them into his corner along with the blankets. Then he climbed in, still fully clothed, and buried his head under the covers.
Next Part
.
This was going to just be the start of the chapter, but it kind of grew and turned into a chapter in its own right, if not a very long one.
In other news, I still haven't read many of last week's stories. In fact, as far as my flist page is concerned, it's still 26th June *g*. And I'm out most of the day tomorrow. So if you don't hear from me for a while, that's probably why.
Title: There is no disguise
Part 34 of the Blood on a Sundial series.
Previous parts, in reverse order, are here or in my memories.
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: #50 - Thin Line Between
At:
tamingthemuseSummary: Spike, Xander, AU in Season 2. We are talking slow burn here, people.
Disclaimer: here.
Rating: Pg
Word Count: 1,295
34. There is no disguise
"What else are lawyers for," Spike asked, "if not to handle the boring stuff?" But that didn't change the fact that the 'telephone installation specialist' the lawyers had organised was human and worked normal daytime hours, so Xander, who wasn't a lawyer was stuck doing guard duty, while Spike retreated to the basement dragging Jimmy with him, as soon as he'd pointed out where he wanted the phone to sit on the new desk.
It wasn't that Xander didn't often get up in daylight. He had to if he wanted to eat, after all. It was just that he usually got to do it when he was actually awake. And 9am was too early to be up and about. It was only when he'd put the cushions back on the sofa and had finished arranging the blankets strategically, so it looked like he slept there, that he realised he was embarrassed. That was crazy. Why did he care what a telephone repairman would think, walking into the apartment with its one big room and its one big bed? Didn't mean it was the only room in the building. He was hardly going to give the guy the guided tour. Glumly he picked up the cleaning supplies and trudged downstairs to scrub out the rest room, get rid of the evidence of Wesley's brief occupancy and try to make it look more like a deliberate design choice and less like the accidental survivor of the previous human inhabitants of the factory.
And of course it was nearly midday before the technician actually turned up, by which time Xander was hot and bothered and even more tired, as well as embarrassed. Glancing round one last time, before going to answer the knock on the door, he gave a nod of satisfaction to his camouflage. The paint can and drop sheet were a nice touch, he thought. Made it look like a renovation in progress. But he still found himself babbling as he led the man upstairs, explaining how his friend was out at work, but was in the process of renovating the factory into studio apartments and how he, himself, was visiting for a few weeks, while his folks are away in Europe.
Thankfully the guy seemed pretty laid back and friendly and he didn't laugh at Xander's nervousness. He said his name was Steve and he promised he wouldn't take too long. Once they got upstairs the absence of any windows stumped him for a moment, but he soon figured out where he could bring the cable in and got to work, while Xander perched on the edge of the sofa, trying to keep out of the way. But it was odd, having a stranger in the factory, with Spike not around. Xander found himself fidgeting, trying not to watch Steve at work, but also trying not to ignore him. He felt awkward, like he was the interloper, afraid Steve would think he was spying on him. In desperation he grabbed his backpack and went over to the kitchen.
Sitting down at the table, Xander pulled out a pad of paper and a pencil and began noting down what he knew about the book Spike was looking for and the Gem of Amara it was supposed to lead them to. Black Wind had said the Gem was in Peru. He considered that. That might be good. But the book was in Sunnydale. That was a potential problem. Even worse, Giles had it. It was possible Spike had got this internet connection so he could set Jimmy off searching, to see if there were any other copies. But if there weren't, then wasn't he likely to want to head back to Sunnydale, anyway, regardless of what he'd said that night about needing to be sure his plan would work this time? And if he decided they were going back to Sunnydale, what would Xander do? The telephone cable stretched like a thin line between New York and Sunnydale, promising the possibility of phone calls from Willow, at times she chose. Promising news and gossip and warnings delivered. Trying to pull him back, like a giant elastic band, with false promises of safety and certainty. And if they went back to Sunnydale, Spike would face not only Giles, but Buffy too. And Willow. Face to face. And so, inevitably, would Xander.
And Buffy and Willow would face Spike.
A voice broke through his obsessive musings. "Done," it announced. "The rest's an outside job." Steve was standing in the middle of the room, looking around. "Nice place," he observed. "Shouldn't be too difficult, opening out those bricked up windows. But your friend's going about this job backwards. Should've had the big stuff done before he got into decorating. Shame, it'll make a real mess when he does it." He began packing away his tools and gathering up the snipped off ends of wires and insulation from the top of the desk. "Tell him to be careful when he opens that one up. The cable goes through the wall at the corner. Okay?"
Xander stood, glad of an excuse to start moving and stop thinking. "Sure, I'll, I'll be certain to tell him that... about the cable. So is that it?"
"Yeah. The inside job's quick. I've still gotta connect it outside, though. The line should be live by this evening. Just call the operator to activate the account. They'll tell you the number, too." Picking up his tool box, Steve headed for the door and Xander followed him down to the ground floor.
After watching Steve leave and making sure he got into his van and drove away, Xander locked up securely and turned back to the stairs. He was going to retreat to the sofa and catch some more sleep, but it occurred to him that Spike and Jimmy might be glad to move too, so instead he went down to the basement. Opening the door carefully, he peered into the darkness, trying to locate the vampires by the light spilling in from behind him. There was a lump of bedding on the practice mats, so he tiptoed towards it, not wanting to disturb Spike if he was sleeping and not wanting to disturb Jimmy at all, if it was him. He was about three feet away when he froze. The lump was far too big to be only one vampire. It had to be both of them. Together. Sleeping. Under the same blankets. He gasped and almost against his will, found himself leaning forwards for a better look.
The two glowing yellow eyes that suddenly appeared out of the gloom sent him stumbling backward in shock, but Spike's voice sounded more groggy than annoyed. "Fuck off, will you, mate?" he growled. "It's too early to be waking up."
Grabbing at a shelf to steady himself, Xander edged back towards the door. "Umm. Sure," he whispered. "Yeah. I just thought.... But it doesn't matter. I'll, umm, I'll leave you in peace. Er... I'm going to get some sleep too."
Spike must have blinked and the disappearance and reappearance of the yellow spots of light was totally unnerving, but his voice, though soft, was clearer and it was still calm. "You do that," he advised. "We'll see you at sunset." Xander reached the door and grabbed the knob. As he pulled it to, he turned in the doorway and saw movement in the darker shape on the mat and heard Spike's voice whisper, "S'okay, pet. I'm here. Go back to sleep."
Xander fled upstairs and into the living room. He grabbed the cushions off the sofa and threw them into his corner along with the blankets. Then he climbed in, still fully clothed, and buried his head under the covers.
Next Part
.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-07-07 08:12 pm (UTC)I had been going to comment on Xander's obvious mental dilemma regarding the possible trip home and how jarring it might seem that it would be a dilemma at all. Sort of a pivot point in your story, love. Very telling. Nice. Of course, in defense, he goes into research-y mode. Good, in-character bit of narrative.
It was such a simple chapter to read. Then you had to go and pull the rug out, naughty girl. I don't think I was shocked by the fact of Spike and Jimmy, but I felt a bit like I walked in on them as Xander, and I was shocked at the reaction (thought not entirely sure why). Confounding and strangely expository all at once. Beautifully done.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-07 08:51 pm (UTC)I am so pleased that you felt I managed to keep Xander in character. He has been causing me problems on that front, the boy - keeps wanting to rush ahead, without explaining how he feels as he changes.
Yes, it is a pivotal point in the story. It is a point of recognition, that his earlier realisations where only the precursors of. As for his reaction... it is emotional, but I doubt he has a clear clue which emotion.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-08 01:41 am (UTC)Yes! But you deserve that wickedness. It was well played.
As for his reaction... it is emotional, but I doubt he has a clear clue which emotion.
You'll figure it out; I don't have any worries on that score.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-08 05:46 am (UTC)Oh, and I meant to say in my earlier reply - thank you also, so much, for the help with the job title. You'll have spotted that I used more than two, including the really pretentious one.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-08 12:11 am (UTC)Now I'm a total loser, can you tell me how they are sleeping again? Xander's has the pile of blankets in the corner....why doesn't he sleep on the couch? I'm sure this is in the story somewhere and I'm being a total duffus. But help?
no subject
Date: 2007-07-08 05:56 am (UTC)Not a loser at all. Or a duffus. The sleeping arrangements were referred to, but not explained in detail in chapter 19, where there is this - Xander had staked out a space against the wall, under the shuttered windows and near the kitchen, as his, dragging one of the dressers across, to create a partition and to hold his belongings. He appropriated cushions and blankets from the couch to make up a bed on the floor. Spike raised an eyebrow, but made no comment.
He doesn't sleep on the couch because it is in the middle of the room and so too exposed. With his nest he has a wall, of sorts and he's tucked into a corner.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-09 03:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-09 10:01 am (UTC)Never.
But if you are interested, my vision of the entire layout -
Basement - One big room with the shooting range on one side, exercise mats on the other and a workbench and shelves against the wall near the mats.
Ground floor - Large space with the car in, garage doors on one wall, with a man door set into it, stairs up and stairs down on a side wall, at least one old staff toilet block room from when it was a working factory on the same side as the stairs, a couple of store rooms on the far wall opposite the stairs.
Next floor - At least one big room as the living space (whether it occupies the entire area of the floor is doubtful, but not important), a bathroom off, with a bath but no toilet (Spike didn't need on, so he didn't put one in).
Next 2 floors, full of junk and disused.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-08 01:59 am (UTC)You *thought* you were all upset about the girls going after Spike. Turns out you're *more* upset about Jimmy going after Spike. And I'm not sure that either Xander or Spike really have the ability to understand the quagmire this will leave them in. I'm sure to Spike it's just a sire thing, but I do believe Xander is feeling the green-eyed monster anyway. I wonder if Spike will interpret that as being like two fledges fighting for the Master's attention or if he'll see it as Xander falling for him.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-08 06:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-08 02:32 am (UTC)this was cute,
poor Xander all confused.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-08 06:08 am (UTC)Thanks.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-08 04:05 am (UTC)I wonder if Xander has realized that he worried about Spike first and his friends second? Very illuminating. Nicely subtle touch too. Especially followed by the little reminder of what he's sharing a house with. Possibly laced with a trace of jealousy?
no subject
Date: 2007-07-08 06:11 am (UTC)*laughs* Yes, I know what you mean. I console myself with the belief that it is very common, and not just me being socially inept.
You are very good at spotting the little hints. Congratulations. But I'm saying nothing. *g* Thank you for the comments.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-08 09:12 am (UTC)Love the panic of preparing for the telephone man - and of course he wouldn't turn up 'til hours after Xander was expecting him. And Xander worrying that Spike would be uncomfortable in the basement, so he'd just tell him that it was safe to come up was just lovely.
And you are a very wicked woman to through us all with that last scene. Poor Xander, if he thought he was confused before, then he's going to be completely schizo now - and of course Spike won't know what's wrong.
Great chapter, hon. I absolutely loved it.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-08 05:26 pm (UTC)And *gazes innocently around and whistles* there was something odd about the last scene?
I was sorry not to catch up with you at some point today, but I look forward to what you do with your birth sign *g*
no subject
Date: 2007-07-08 05:53 pm (UTC)No worries re catching up, I hope you had a lovely time with your mum. As for the birth sign prompt - first I froze and then went blank and finally I've begun to write - something! And it might even be in 3rd (oh look there's a boar in a balloon...)
I was tempted just to do a "dear diary" bit about me and my star sign, but I thought you'd probably shoot me...
s :)
no subject
Date: 2007-07-08 07:54 pm (UTC)No you won't, don't worry, that was me being ironic, or possibly innocently clueless. Huh, guess that's why it didn't work, eh?
but I thought you'd probably shoot me...
Nah, I wouldn't do that *hides Xander's shotgun under the keyboard and waits*
I'll look forward to it, what ever it is. Have a good week.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-10 03:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-10 05:35 am (UTC)This is chapter 34 of BoaS. This chapter is in response to the 50th prompt on the
I joined the community at prompt 8, and all my TtM stories can be found under the ttm tag or in my memories (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=thismaz&keyword=Taming+the+Muse+Stories&filter=all). BoaS has been going since prompt 16, except for one break and the previous chapter to this one was called Close to the grain (http://thismaz.livejournal.com/20015.html)
Thank you for stopping by and telling me you enjoy reading BoaS. I really appreciate it.
First Feedback here
Date: 2007-07-11 11:49 pm (UTC)Keep it up, you have gained another fan!
Thank you for - First Feedback here
Date: 2007-07-12 04:23 am (UTC)I don't actually understand the difference between 'R' and 'NC-17', is R more violent, while NC-17 is more about sexual content?
I post on Saturdays, in response to the prompt on Taming the Muse, so there will be more each week.
Thank you for reading and for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it.
Re: Thank you for - First Feedback here
Date: 2007-07-14 03:17 am (UTC)The main difference in R & Nc-17 is usually sex, but hard violence counts too. NC-17 usually has much more graphic, descriptive sex.
In movies it used to be described as "full insertion with wet climax" to get the NC_17 or XXX rating.
Re: Thank you for - First Feedback here
Date: 2007-07-14 07:10 am (UTC)Thanks for that.
So, I'd better start writing this week's chapter now.
no subject
Date: 2008-11-19 04:57 am (UTC)I was relieved when the interloper finally left their den, so I could feel Xander's need to connect with his "normal." Finding the two vampires in bed together felt like a punch to the gut. Poor Xander, he's got a lot to sort through.
no subject
Date: 2008-11-20 08:19 pm (UTC)Thank you.