Prompt 67 - Movie Night - BtVS

[thismaz]

This prompt threatened to defeat me, all week. Then I saw an advert for a show by the Ladyboys of Bangkok and the solution was there. Or rather, it's here. I'm beginning to suspect this story is going to be a bit like that and with no consistency in the length of the chapters.

Title: Movie Night
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 67 - Bangkok
At: tamingthemuse
Rating: Pg
Summary: Part 6 of my pre-season one story which includes Xander, Willow, Jesse, Angel and Spike, but where it's going, I haven't a clue.
Word Count: 2,300
Previous parts, in reverse order, are here or in my memories. Disclaimer: here.
Now beta'd by the wonderful laazikaat



6. Movie Night

Wedneday

Xander stood resentfully on the sidewalk, staring across the street at the cinema and holding onto his anger, hugging it to himself with self righteous determination. Although, inside, he knew that tomorrow it would all be forgotten and most likely they'd hang out again, right now he didn't care about that. He wanted to see the movie today! They'd have enjoyed the show and talked about it all the way home, adding jokes and pointing out the best bits to each other, until they'd dissected the whole thing and lived it all over again. 'What's wrong with Jesse?' he thought. Normally, he'd be as eager as Xander, but instead he'd put him off. Again.

The argument had blown up out of nowhere, as such arguments do. Three people with too much time on their hands, hanging out in the park, slightly bored in the heat of a summer's afternoon. Jesse had wanted to go to the beach. Xander had held out for the movies. And Willow? Willow had been too busy trying to accommodate both of them to express a preference of her own. Eventually Jesse stood up and yelled at them about how they never did what he wanted to do. So then Xander had to stand up too and get in his face, yelling back, then storming off, tears prickling the corners of his eyes, face scrunched up at the injustice of Jesse's accusation, when they'd been doing what Jesse wanted every day for the last week. Just because Cordelia was leaving for France in two weeks, was no reason to not go to the movies today. Just because Cordelia was going to the beach, didn't mean they had to. It wasn't as if she even noticed Jesse. Or that Jesse would do anything, except sit and sigh and watch her from fifty yards away. If Xander believed Jesse would actually do something, like ask Cordelia out, and have a snowball's chance in hell that she'd say 'yes', then sure, he'd have gone to the beach. Then maybe they could've gone to the movies together tomorrow.

But Jesse was never going to say anything to Cordelia and he'd still be following her around tomorrow, like some sad puppy. So instead of a fun evening out, Xander was here by himself. It wasn't fair! Well, he was going to enjoy it anyway! And when Jesse came to his senses and wanted to come? Xander would smile, maybe sneer, and say that he had other things to do. See how Jesse liked having to see a movie like this by himself. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans, digging into the corners and gathering up the crumpled dollar bills and small change. Clenching his hand around them, hot and sweaty with his anger and indignation, he marched across the street.

Xander settled into his seat in the middle of the middle row and dipped his hand into the big tub of popcorn, his eyes already glued to the screen even though, at the moment, all it was showing were ads for hot dogs and car dealerships. He felt, rather than saw someone sit down in the seat to his right.

"This is gonna be good," said a voice next to him.

Xander spared half a glance and a grunt of agreement.

His neighbour didn't seem to notice Xander's lack of enthusiasm for conversation because he continued, "I hear this is the best one yet. Plus, it's got that bald guy as the captain," as he settled himself into a comfortable slouch, knees resting against the back of the seat in front.

Feeling obliged to reply, Xander gave a tentative smile and a snorted laugh of agreement. "Yeah, Patrick Stewart's cool," he said, turning his head to look. He saw a young man with slicked back hair that glowed white in the subdued lighting.

The guy smiled back. "Brilliant special-effects too. I read that somewhere."

His neighbour seemed chatty and Xander discovered that he really didn't mind. It was actually nice. Friendly. "And the Borg." he agreed. The guy didn't have any snacks, so he tilted his tub, offering. The guy smiled and reached over, taking a small handful with a nod of thanks. Then Xander's eyes were drawn back to the screen as the trailers started and he was sucked into the images, oblivious to the small fidgets of the other cinema goers and to the automatic movement of his own hand between the popcorn tub and his mouth.

*****

Spike was actually enjoying himself. Sitting in an open air cafe, across a table from a barely pubescent man-boy, talking about science fiction movies and TV, he was actually enjoying himself.

They'd exchanged views on the whole Vulcan mysticism rubbish, on the temporal inconsistencies of the Terminator and the stupid impracticality of chain-mail bikinis for women warriors, no matter how nice they looked. One way or another they'd agreed on all counts. He'd made sure of that. Just as he'd used his skills to subtly direct the conversation the way he wanted it to go. Talking about the original Star Trek, they'd agreed that Spock was cool but dorky, that William Shatner was sometimes just plain embarrassing, although Xander held out that that was at least as much the fault of the scripts as of the actor, and that no one could announce a crisis like Scottie.

It was when they got to discussing the character of Bones that Spike suggested, "You know, I reckon he was gay. I always thought there was something going on between him and Spock."

Xander spluttered over his Coke and laughed. "You think so?" he asked.

Spike smiled "Well yeah! It's bleeding obvious, if you look at it sideways."

Xander seemed slightly embarrassed, but his bravado apparently required that he not wimp out on the conversation. "What do you mean, 'sideways'?" he asked.

Spike settled in, leaning forwards, resting his forearms on the table. "Sideways is sideways," he explained. "Just look at the World and step sideways - leave all your preconceived ideas and prejudices where they are, step away from them and look at all it again."

Xander looked like he hadn't really followed that, so before he could speak Spike continued, "I mean, there's nothing wrong with gay sex is there?" Xander shook his head in agreement, like the dutiful twentieth century teenager he was. "It's just that people, like the Church and teachers and authority, they don't approve of it. But just 'cos they say it's wrong, does that mean it is?"

Xander nodded, thoughtful now. "No, I guess not. I guess I never really thought about it, is all."

"Really?" Spike allowed just the right degree of incredulity to seep into his voice. "You never thought about it? How old are you? Seventeen? Eighteen? You never thought about what it'd be like t'kiss another guy? See if it was different from kissing a girl?"

*****

Xander was too embarrassed to admit to only being sixteen and never actually having kissed a girl, let alone another boy. "Er, well maybe?" he said, uncertainly. Looking at Spike, he couldn't decide how old he was, although he was obviously older than Xander. He had an air of experience, but his enthusiasm and certainty reminded Xander of Jesse - the way he took hold of his argument and the energy he expended on it. Xander decided he was probably about twenty. He acted too young to be a proper adult, but twenty? Twenty wasn't old, but it was leaving home and being independent, old. Twenty was experienced, but not boring and middle-aged.

"Doesn't matter," Spike said with a casual wave of his hand. "It wasn't a test." From anyone else, that would have been a put down, but the laughter in Spike's eyes robbed the dismissal of any malice and Xander found himself relaxing and smiling back. Then, without him really knowing how it happened, Xander found that the conversation had shifted and, within moments, they were deep into a friendly dispute about the authenticity of the story in Jean-Claude Van Damme's movie, The Quest, which Xander and Jesse had seen, before Jesse went crazy. That led to Spike telling some amazing stories about places he'd been in the Far East and Europe and Xander was too busy enjoying himself to worry about whether Spike had guessed that he was still in school.

It was almost midnight before Xander thought to check his watch and realised how late he was. The cafe had closed around them, without him even noticing. He scrambled to his feet apologetically and again Spike made it easy, standing up without Xander needing to make up a story to explain why he apparently had a curfew.

They left the table and headed out towards the street, but as they reached the gap in the half wall that was the entrance to the cafe, Spike hesitated, looking almost shy. "You know? I really enjoyed this," he said.

Xander felt like his smile should probably split his face in half. "Yeah, me too."

With the same hesitation, as if he was afraid Xander would refuse, Spike asked, "You want to meet up again, some time?"

And wasn't that amazing? But for once, Xander didn't feel awkward at all. "Yeah Sure! That would be so cool. Do you live round here? You're not just visiting, are you?"

"Think I might be around for a while, yeah. Got to find myself a place. Somewhere with cable. Hey!" he said, as if it had just occurred to him. "Then we can watch all the re-runs on the Sci-Fi Channel, eh? You ever seen Dr Who?"

"Sure, yeah. That would be neat." Summoning up his courage, Xander asked, "Are you doing anything tomorrow? During the day?"

Spike's expression was regretful. "Sorry. Kind of busy during the day tomorrow," but before Xander could stammer out a reassurance that it didn't matter, he continued, "But I'm free late afternoon, if you are? You want to come over and watch a video or something? Motel's nothing special, but it's okay and I've got a TV and video player in the room." At Xander's dumb but enthusiastic nod, he added, "Right! So you've really never seen 'Trainspotting'?" They sorted out the details and Xander had stepped out onto the sidewalk when Spike spoke again. "Hey. I left something. Listen, I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?" He raised his hand in a casual wave as he stepped back into the shadows, towards the table they'd occupied. "Don't forget, okay?"

Xander laughed and waved back. "No way! I'll see you at five o'clock." He turned and headed home.

He felt light and happy. He had a new friend. Someone just as good as Jesse, for the talking and stuff, but older too. And that was all kinds of amazing; that an older guy would like him. Usually the older kids knocked him out of their way and looked down at him as he sprawled on the ground at their feet. That is, if they noticed him at all. But Spike... Spike wasn't a kid and had not only noticed him, he'd talked to him. And he was cool and really knowledgeable and worldly wise. And foreign too. That made the fact that he liked Xander somehow even more amazing. He must have met so many, much more interesting people, before coming to Sunnydale. From what he'd said of his past, he seemed to have travelled a lot, although Xander wasn't sure he believed all Spike's stories. The red lights in the windows in Amsterdam, maybe, after all the term 'Red Light District' must have come from somewhere, but the idea that boys could dress up as girls and really fool people, like he said they did in Bangkok? Xander couldn't believe that one was true. But he didn't care. He'd had the best evening he could remember with Spike. And he was going to see him again tomorrow. Xander was going to visit a guy who was staying in a motel. By himself. Like a grown-up would.

At that thought, he forced his mind to a halt. 'No, come on Harris.' he thought. 'You can't think like that. That is so not cool. He's not a grown-up, like you were some little kid. He's just a guy. Who happens to be a few years older than you. Grown-ups aren't friends. But he is.' Xander hugged himself again and wandered on, replaying as much of the conversation as he could remember, in his head, so he could enjoy it all over again. He really hadn't ever thought of Bones and Spock like that before. But now that he did...

Xander crept quietly into the house, hearing the TV droning in the living room, but no other sounds. He breathed a quiet sigh of relief and slipped down the hall to his own room and into bed.

And dreamed of blue eyes that really saw him.

Once again, he had failed to notice the dark shadow that guarded his walk home.

*****

Spike waited until Xander was out of sight, before leaving the cafe. He saw his Sire turn the corner of the street and start to follow the boy. 'Old man's really slipping,' he thought. 'That was too close. He must be well off his game not to sense me.' Although, it had been chance that Spike had caught the feeling at the edge of his brain that signalled that his Sire was near, but not in sight. Even so, the old man was slipping. Spike knew he should think some more about what that meant. But first, he had a more immediate game to play and plans to make. The boy had taken the first hook, but he was nowhere near landed yet.

Continued here.

Comments

[sparrow2000.livejournal.com]

Oh, that was just lovely. Bounces happily.

" He acted too young to be a proper adult," Hee, that's Spike!

"Xander was going to visit a guy who was staying in a motel. By himself. Like a grown-up would." Oh, my baby. He is so wonderfully young here.

This is just a beautiful set up. I can just picture the argument with Jess, making Xander ripe for the picking when someone takes an interest in him. I wonder how long it will be before Angel catches a clue.

This was great, hon. And the use of the prompt worked a treat. Hee, I can just picture Spike telling stories about ladyboys and Xander going absolutely beetroot with embarrassment.

And just while I think, what were you doing looking at ads for shows about ladyboys - raises eyebrow at you...

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Thanks hon, as always, I am so pleased you enjoyed it.
I wonder how long it will be before Angel catches a clue
Ah, that's the question, isn't it? *looks around, hoping someone will supply the answer*
what were you doing looking at ads for shows about ladyboys
*laughs* It was on the side of a bus. There is a UK tour going on.

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

Oh god this is good. The dramatic irony is just killing me, and I can't wait for the fireworks when Angel finds out what Spike is doing... and then Buffy and Giles. Oh god. Yep, official disasters are pending and I LOVE it. I can't wait to see where you go with this, and I love the way you're showing a side of the personalities I haven't seen before. IN a fandom this old, that takes real talent!

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

*laughs with delight* Thank you. I am both flattered and chuffed to bits by your praise.
I'm not sure what will happen when Angel finds out. I'm not even certain how he will find out, although, obviously, he will have to. However, I'm beginning to feel fairly confident that the story won't last long enough for Buffy to arrive. This is definitely a Sunnydale without a slayer. Sorry.
But Giles.... *thinks* Not sure, but it's a thought for the future, thanks. I'm storing thoughts like that up. I may not get a chance to use them, but I also may. Like BoaS, this story is forming, one chapter at a time. Which is just, since BoaS ended up using the main premise this one was originally intended for, which means this one has to go somewhere else. *g*

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

Watching Spike play Xander was suprisingly hot. He's got Xander on the line but good. Question is, what does he want with him once he reels him in? You've got me on pins and needles to find out.

Interesting that you went with Spock and Bones rather than the more traditional Kirk and Spock. then again, Spike is a nontraditional kind of guy. :)

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

what does he want with him once he reels him in?
There's the question. He wants Angel. And he sees Xander as a tool to snag Angel. But neither he nor I yet know how that might work (or not *g*)

I know nothing about Star Trek slash. I actually went with Spock and Bones because I always found Kirk too embarrassing to be taken seriously. Yep, Spike's thoughts on Kirk are really mine, while Xander's objections were me trying to be fair to the guy. *g*

Sorry about the pins in your feet. Hold still, I've got some tweezers here and I'll try and pull them out. What do you mean, you're sitting down? Oops, sorry, you're on your own there. *g*

Thank you for the lovely comment. I'm glad you are enjoying it.

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

It's kind of funny how we didn't used to find Kirk embarrassing. Of course, when it first came out I was a small child. :)

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Yeah, probably an age thing. I don't know when it was first shown in the UK, but I think I must have been about 11 or 12 when I watched it. I liked Spock and Bones and Scottie. I thought Uhura was great. But the way Kirk always got into sentimental love scenes with pristine blond planet dwellers, when he should have been commanding the expedition and making sure his crew were safe, made me want to curl up. *g* The only time I hated Spock was the episode when he discovered emotion and ended up in a tree with the girl (see still carrying the scars).

[lilithbint.livejournal.com]

excellent chapter,
I love that Spike let his inner geek out even if it was just part of his nefarious plan (we know better of course, he is a geek)

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

*laughs* You're right, William was the 19th century equivalent of a geek.
I'm so pleased you are enjoying it. Thank you.

[blue-icy-rose.livejournal.com]

I wonder now how I missed tamingthemuse when there's so many good stories there. And now I've been completely sucked in by this 'verse because it's all so completely ironic! You have me wondering how things are going to go from here and what Spike wants with Xander. Plus, all this tension between Xander and Jesse is great to read, especially knowing how things on the show went once the next school year starts.

"Doesn't matter," Spike said with a casual wave of his hand. "It wasn't a test." From anyone else, that would have been a put down, but the laughter in Spike's eyes robbed the dismissal of any malice and Xander found himself relaxing and smiling back.

Spike certainly knows how to play Xander doesn't he? I also really enjoyed the glimpse of Jeb that we got from Spike's perspective. It was nice to see the fact that they bonded, even though Jeb obviously didn't get a chance to live out his dreams.

I'll definitely be looking forward to more of this 'verse!

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

I wonder now how I missed tamingthemuse when there's so many good stories there.
Aren't there just? I read a load of them every week and really enjoy the variety.
I'm so pleased you have enjoyed this story, so far. I hope you continue to do so. I've wanted to write this story for a couple of years, but it died on me when I first started it.
Watching the first season, I saw how Jesse was panting after Cordelia, while Xander was oblivious to Willow's attraction to himself and I thought about how people grow up at different rates and that was the start.
As for Spike, it seemed to me that an experienced vampire must use charm and wiles, more than violence, in the Joss 'verse, the glimpses of Angelus we saw in flash backs suggested it, so Spike playing Xander was a logical progression.
Thank you again for your lovely comment. I really appreciate it.

[smwright.livejournal.com]

*smiles* You really know how to lay it on, don't you?

Willow had been too busy trying to accommodate both of them to express a preference of her own. Have to admit to a certain amount of self-reflection here. *g*

This is lovely. Xander was just ripe for Spike's meddling, and for once, Spike wasn't heavy handed with it. Played beautifully.

Again, I have to comment of the (not distracting) greater powers you accord the vamps than Whedon did. It's a nice touch when that comes into play in your stories. Here, particularly, where Spike senses Angel just on the edge of conscious awareness... very nice.

Now, it seems, you have a plot. Can't wait to see where it leads!

Well done, love.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

You really know how to lay it on, don't you?
*Attempts to look innocent.... fails*
I'm not even going to touch that next comment *grins at you*
I think Spike could be subtle... he just didn't usually see the point in making the effort, but for Dru... he'd do anything.
With the vampire powers thing, I am drawing on Spike being able to follow Buffy's scent, in season 7, when the gang staged their coup, and Angel's comment when Penn came to LA that he could sense when one of his own was around. But I admit, I have exaggerated that last one beyond what is hinted at in canon.
Yes, I seem to have a plot, but I still don't now where it's taking me *g* But that's the fun, yes?
Thank you, as always your comments are a real pleasure to receive.

[smwright.livejournal.com]

Yes, you bring up good points about S7 and Angel... but it took Whedon a long time to get to it... the giving of power to them.

And yes, that is the fun. *g*

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

It did take Whedon a while, but it didn't take fan fiction long to pick them all up and add a few more. I can't remember, for example, an incident in canon to support the idea that a vampire can hear a heartbeat across a room, although that is fairly common in fic.
I figure they are creatures who hunt by scent and by being able to see better in the dark than humans, rather than by hearing. Although as hunters and predators, they would tend to use all their senses, especially the successful ones, who would make sure they trained all their senses for the hunt. Maybe that is the difference between a minion and a master? - The intelligence and persistence to hone their senses (as Giles told Buffy to do, in the Bronze in Welcome to the Hellmouth).

[smwright.livejournal.com]

I've been trying to get back to this for so long!

Maybe that is the difference between a minion and a master? - The intelligence and persistence to hone their senses (as Giles told Buffy to do, in the Bronze in Welcome to the Hellmouth). This is a great analogy!

I think you're right... it took him a while, but then he did start to include some of those elements. I think I just always felt that some things should never have been able to occur (i.e., Xander could have occasionally landed a lucky punch - once a season maybe - but not with the regularity he did, even hanging out with the Slayer). Toward the end though, okay. Yeah, Whedon did better. I just think you do better still with that.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Now I'm blushing. And to argue about Xander would just sound ungrateful *g*

Although it is true that the powers and weaknesses of the vampires in the show were totally variable, depending on the 'artistic needs' of the moment. I mean, why the hell would The First try and torture Spike by holding his head under water, for goodness sake? *g* And sometimes it took all Buffy's or Angel's strength to defeat a newly risen fledge, while at other times Willow could beat them into the ground. *shakes head* Still we overlook these things (or find ingenuous ways to explain them) because we love the world he created and the wonderful language it spawned.

[smwright.livejournal.com]

Still we overlook these things (or find ingenuous ways to explain them) because we love the world he created and the wonderful language it spawned.

That is equally true. :)

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

:-)

[lyddieonwed.livejournal.com]

Spike drawing Xander in and Xander not having a clue.

You did a wonderful job of showing Xander's naivete- especially during the conversation about gay star trek.

You conveyed the feelings of teenage friendship perfectly- the immediacy of everything along with the hurt. Very nice.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

the immediacy of everything
Yeah, that's what I was after. Xander is right on the tipping point into young adulthood, but still thinking like a child. Jesse has already begun to tip.
Thank you.

[laazikaat.livejournal.com]

This is fun, watching Spike drawing Xander in.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're enjoying it. Thank you.