Bewitched, Chapter 20

[thismaz]

Posting this, then I'm off to WriterconUK in Coventry. I'll be back on Sunday, but probably not back on line until Monday. Have a great weekend, folks.



Title: Bewitched, Chapter 20
Pairing: S/X. I promise it will get back there... eventually.
Rating: This chapter PG-13
Summary: Valentine's Day arrived and Dru dipped her finger in the brew, giving it a stir.
Word Count: 3,060
Betaed by sparrow2000 and DJ, for which, many thanks. Thanks also to Sparrow for conflabbing on plot twists and forms.
Comments: Are greatly appreciated, loved and cherished.
Disclaimer: here.
Prologue here, with a link to the other chapters, or you can find the whole thing, in reverse order, in tags, or in the correct order, in memories. There's a menu of links on the right hand side of my main journal page.


Many thanks to mwrgana for the beautiful banner.



Chapter 20

Xander looked at the title on the spine of the book he'd picked up off the top of his pile: 'άργυρος'. He put it aside for Giles to consider, later. The next one was called 'Incendia Incitation' by some guy called Aelfthryth. Or maybe that was part of the title. It was a large, leather bound volume, with faint scorch marks around its edges. Hefting it in his hands, he considered the bookshelf in front of him and pushed it into a space between two other books with titles beginning with 'I'. Cocking his head on one side, he considered it and frowned. "I don't get your crazy system, Giles," he said.

Giles glanced up from the page he'd been reading for the last ten minutes, when he'd stopped actively shelving books, himself, gave a sigh of exasperation and pulled Xander's book back off the shelf. "System?" he asked (rhetorically, Xander decided.) "It's called the alphabet!" Using his other hand, he forced an opening between 'Growing Your Own Psilocybe', by Thomas Adkins, and 'Allsopp's Compendium', and pushed the book into the space.

Xander grinned. "Huh. Would you look at that."

He'd intended to spend only one day with Giles, drinking English tea and helping him shelve the books rescued from the high school library that were still piled up everywhere in Giles' small apartment. He'd intended that to be the sum of his downtime. With rent due weekly, his few savings from Oxnard wouldn't last long and he needed a job. This was day two.

Giles looked at him. "Your heart's not in this, is it?" he observed with a smile. "Why don't you go and put the kettle on? You'll find the paper on the counter. I've already read it. I'm afraid there's not much there."

Scrambling to his feet, Xander sketched a sloppy salute. "You got it, Giles."

The newspaper was indeed on the kitchen counter, already open at the help wanted section and he looked through the listings as he waited for the kettle to come to the boil. It was depressing, how Principal Snyder's prophecies were coming back to haunt him. Most of the openings seemed to require qualifications beyond a mere high school diploma. However, he found a couple of ads that looked promising, at least for the short term, until he found something better.

A week later, he decided that pizza delivery was not so bad. He had his days free to hang out with Giles, the hazard pay alone more than covered his rent at the motel and there were always tips from customers who never understood why so many pizza orders never arrived, but were very grateful when they did.

He could have worked every night of the week. The high turnover of staff made it a seller's market among the otherwise limited employment opportunities in Sunnydale. Xander decided that he could afford to upgrade his accommodation and find himself a place of his own.

He was more than grateful for his freedom to dictate his own terms when Buffy went crazy. Soulless Buffy was not a pretty sight. As a result of the ruckus, he only managed four shifts that week.

Thankfully, Buffy's crazy period didn't last long and Willow was happier with a roommate who might have a number of bad habits, but at least could be trusted not to throw all-night parties with five thousand decibel music.

*****

Spike sent Alan through the hole first. If there was a magical trap, he didn't want to be the one caught in it. He waited, lantern in hand, and when no screams, thuds or floating dust came back to him, he hauled himself up into the crypt.

Alan was standing with his back to Spike, rummaging through a tangled pile of necklaces, bangles and other jewellery scattered across a shelf against the far wall. "This is amazing, boss," he said, without looking around. "This lot's got to be worth a fortune." Glancing back over his shoulder, at last, he added, "but finding one gem is gonna be tricky. There was no description of it in any of the books?"

Spike gazed around the crypt. It was indeed amazing. He'd need to get his lawyers in to clear it out. Once he'd found what he was looking for. They'd take a hefty cut, but given the size of the haul, that was not going to be a problem. Alan turned back to his search and Spike watched him pick up strings of pearls and lay them aside, concentrating on the gems in single settings. That was the trouble with Alan, too clever to be satisfied with simple obedience and too stupid to hide the fact. He put his lantern down on a convenient block of stone and reached into his back pocket for his stake.

Alan's remains floated down to join the dust of ages that covered every surface. He'd been right, finding one gem in such a huge trove was going to take time. If it wasn't for his impatience to find Xander, Spike wouldn't care about that, since no one else knew it existed. As it was, he did, but it would still take time.

Alan had already separated out most of the candlesticks, strings of beads, ceremonial masks and other rubbish. Spike continued the task, throwing a couple of skulls over his shoulder to smash on the floor. Approximately twenty minutes later he had a small pile of rings, pendants and brooches in front of him. Using a rag from the shroud on the body in the stone coffin in the centre of the crypt, he picked up an altar crucifix and placed it near at hand. One by one, he tried on the jewels, placing a finger against the cross each time. Each time, he snatched his hand away, when the holy relic burnt his profane flesh. By the time he was down to the last few pieces, all his finger tips and most of his right palm were red and blistered. He swore as he fumbled, whilst slipping an inconspicuous gold ring with a green stone onto his left ring finger. Taking a fortifying breath, he hesitated, wondering if it had all been a fool's errand, after all, then he touched the cross. It took a moment to register the lack of pain. In surprise he looked at his right hand. The blistering was gone. He was healed. With a whoop of glee he picked up the crucifix and hugged it to his chest like a woman, as he waltzed around the coffin.

Even with the evidence of the cross, Spike was still cautious. Having retraced the tunnel to the old school and clambered up to ground level, he stopped under the last section of remaining roof, in the shade, stretching only his hand out into the glaring sunlight. Nothing! No flames, no smoke, no pain. With a giddy laugh, he jumped out from cover, into what used to be the courtyard and, stretching his arms out wide, he spun on the spot, his face turned up to the sky. If the fountain had still had water in it, he'd have probably gone for a splash, from sheer exuberance.

Eventually, he calmed down, belatedly grateful that no one had been near to see him being so undignified. He also realised he was hungry. The last few days of concentrated effort, with only Alan to do the work, had been conducted on a starvation diet. Finding someone to eat was the first priority. Then he'd find the college Accommodation Office, locate the witch and find out what she knew of Xander.

Hunting in daylight, he discovered, required different techniques from hunting at night. For one thing, there were far more people on the streets. His first attempt to simply grab someone and drag them into an alley, caused an uproar that required his swift departure from the scene. It was as if the prey knew that they were safe in this, their natural environment. His second attempt was more successful. Playing the lost stranger in town, asking for directions, he seduced a helpful older man into showing him the way and jumped him as soon as they were alone.

Wiping his mouth on the man's shirt, Spike decided that it was just as well he'd always been adaptable. Culture shock like this would be the undoing of a lesser demon. It was not only the behaviour of the prey, the whole world looked different in daylight, more real, in a way that TV and the movies could never hope to mimic. Spike found himself constantly distracted by the vivid colours of the most ordinary, everyday objects. It was like being alive again. And the clothes... Artificial light never made their colours glow so brightly. For the first time in decades, he felt like the Victorian he'd been when he was a man - disorientated from being transported from an existence surrounded by drab vegetable based dyes, into a more exciting, chemical world. The walk to the college campus was almost too short; there was so much to take in.

A sign, just inside the gates, told him where the accommodation blocks were and the Administrative Offices. As he headed in that direction, he considered whether threats or charm would be most effective. Would the staff hand over the address of a student to a concerned relative who came bearing bad news? Maybe he'd simply scout the place out and stage a break in, after hours. He snorted, silently; or maybe not. Threats and violence it was then.

With a nod of satisfaction, he swung around the corner of one of the dorms, and collided with someone coming in the opposite direction. They both reeled back, the young man staggering slightly on his feet. It took Spike an unbelievable moment to recognise his assailant as Xander. As large as life.

"Xander!" he blurted. "You're here!" A second thought occurred to him. "Why weren't you at home when I called?"

"Er, I don't live there," Xander replied. He sounded bewildered and he stared at Spike blankly. "Who are you?" he asked. As if his eyes were just coming into focus, Spike saw the moment of recognition. "Hang on... Spike? But..."

"'Course it's me. Who else would it be? I've been looking for you."

Xander began to back away. "But, but, daylight," he stuttered, looking wildly between Spike and the sunlit campus.

It was then that Spike finally had time to notice something very strange. Where was the expected warm glow at seeing the boy? Where was the surge of adrenaline and lust? Shock held him frozen in the middle of the path, as Xander edged slowly away from him. He refused to acknowledge the sense of loss he didn't feel, for the non-appearance of an urge to grab the boy, wrap him up in a fluffy blanket and take him away, somewhere safe, but there was no denying the sense of disappointment, the flat feeling that was forming like a lead weight in his gut.

Xander's eyes stopped flicking around and fixed on something behind Spike. "Buffy," he yelled.

Spike whirled around, in time to see the Slayer stop walking and turn towards them. She appeared to have just come out of the dorm. At Xander's shout she headed immediately in their direction. "Spike!" she snarled. "What are you doing here?"

"More to the point," Xander asked. "What are you doing here, during the day?

The slayer paused and frowned. "Yeah! What's with that?" She turned to Xander "And what are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you. We were at Giles' place, watching TV." He grinned. "I know, feel the wonder. There was a news report about a cave-in and Giles got very excited. I came to tell you it needed investigating." He looked over at Spike. "But I'm thinking we already know the answer."

"Not all of it," she objected. She squared up to Spike who had decided to let them work through their befuddlement, while he worked through his, and had taken up a position leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

Seeing her shift her focus, he decided to take the initiative from her. "Remembered I'm here, have you?" he asked. "So, now what do we do?"

Xander looked from one to the other of them. "I don't know how you're doing this, but we stopped you before and we'll stop you again."

Spike grinned at him and held up his left hand. "I do love this world," he said. "Sun beaming down from the sky, in a nice, non-fatal way. I can't wait to see if I freckle." He stood away from the wall when the Slayer ran at him. "Now, now, Slayer," he warned. "No need to get excited."

Although he saw the punch coming, he didn't bother to dodge. The blow caused him to stagger, but he didn't go down. Instead, since he hadn't been trying to avoid her attack, he was able to put all his strength into his own punch. She went flying and landed on her back on the grass.

Xander ran to her side to help her up and Spike hesitated. He didn't know why the feelings he remembered so clearly from their night in the hotel were not there, but he didn't want the boy in the middle of a fight with the Slayer. She apparently felt the same because she pushed Xander away and got to her feet unaided. Xander started fumbling in his jacket pocket while the Slayer advanced on Spike again.

With Xander safely on the sidelines, Spike stepped forward to meet her. The blows she landed still hurt, but that was nothing. He knew she couldn't damage him in any permanent way and that gave him an advantage in the fight. She hit him twice in the face, with a fast right-left, but he planted another blow that sent her right back on the ground. He jumped forward, intending to pin her down, but she got her legs up in time and kicked out, planting her feet squarely in his gut. He flew backwards and hit the wall.

While he was catching his metaphorical breath after that exchange, he heard Xander call out, "Buffy!" and out of the corner of his eye saw the boy throw something. The Slayer caught it and immediately came at him. He leapt forward in counter-attack, and landed straight onto the stake she was holding out in front of her.

They both froze and he saw the Slayer's shoulders relax, waiting for him to burst into dust. He grinned. "Oh, do it again," he taunted. "It tickles." He gave her a leer. "You know? In a good way."

The Slayer pulled her stake free and they all watched, fascinated, as the wound in his chest closed up and healed, until there was no sign that it had ever been there.

Spike lifted his left hand again and wiggled his ring finger. "The Gem of Amara," he said, following up immediately with a back-handed blow to her face.

Xander had been edging towards them, as gobsmacked as the Slayer by Spike's new healing ability and the Slayer went crashing into him. "Xander, get back!" she snarled, giving him a shove that knocked him over.

Spike growled and sprang forward. He threw a punch which she blocked. Grabbing her arm, he heaved, swinging her around so she went face first into the side of the building. She used her other arm to push herself away from the wall and spun, pulling herself free of his grasp, but not before he got in a solid kick to her stomach.

She doubled over, but kept her feet. He went for her again, with a blow to the shoulder that sent her back a few yards, arms windmilling for balance. He followed up with a roundhouse kick, trying to put her down, but she grabbed his ankle and knocked him off balance in his turn. In that moment, she landed a kick to his chest that sent him spinning to the ground. He used the momentum to continue the roll, regaining his feet and tried to hit her with a spinning kick, but she blocked it against her crossed arms.

"Getting tired, Slayer?" he asked. She was certainly looking the worse for wear.

Xander had been hovering to the side throughout their exchange, but Spike's taunt seemed to do something to him. He ran forward and Spike was momentarily distracted by the need to avoid hitting him. The Slayer took advantage of his inattention and grabbed his left arm under her right and against her chest, going for the ring.

Spike felt her fingers curl around his, forcing them straight. He lifted his right arm to elbow her, but Xander grabbed at his wrist, pulling down on it with all his weight. The Slayer almost had his ring finger separated from the others. "Take it off me this way," he threatened, "and we all burn."

She was panting heavily. "Really?" she gasped. "Let's see."

With a final tug, she dragged the ring off his finger and instantly the pain hit. The Slayer had jumped back, as soon as the ring was off and Xander released him immediately after. The pain in his face was agonising and he was dimly aware of smoke beginning to rise from his hands. He looked around, wildly, and spotted a manhole cover under a wide spreading tree. Running, he made it to the shade and pried the lid off, slithering head first into the cool, dark, if smelly safety below.

As he made his way through the sewers and tunnels, nursing his burns, he didn't think he'd ever felt so totally flattened. A meal would go a long way towards healing the physical hurt, but the emotional confusion was still overwhelming. The fact that when he saw the boy, he didn't feel what he'd expected, was like a bereavement, and once again he cursed Dru and her meddling spells.

So many changes and shocks in such a short time was more than even his resilience could stand against. He didn't know which was worse, the gaining and immediate loss of the sun, or the finding and immediate loss of Xander. At least he now knew that Xander was home. All he had to do was figure out what he wanted to do about it. And find a way to get his ring back.


Note: Some snippets of dialogue from episode 4.03 - In the harsh light of day

Next Chapter

Comments

[vampsarecool.livejournal.com]

hmmm poor Spike and I do hope he gets his ring back. However, if you go the way the show did he won't. At least he knows that Xander is home and that is really good. Thanks for the update.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

You are welcome. Thank you for reading and for commenting.

[mulder200.livejournal.com]

LOL! Spike's plans never do go right. However, you do feel bad for him. Spike & Xander meet but without magical influence. What will they do now?

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

I think it's both canon and fanon that Spike's plans never work out, when he's up against the scoobies. I do feel a little bit bad for him, here. *g* But not enough to let him win on his own terms.
Thank you for the LOL.

[chaoskir.livejournal.com]

So I guess now when the ring is moved away from Spike he will feel his needness for Xander again. I mean I think Dru's spell didn't worked when he wears the ring but maybe it will work again when he is just Spike the vampire without the ring.
Spike really is a jinx.
Thanks for the great update. I can't wait for the next chapter.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

If you remember, part of what Buffy demanded from Spike, when he went to make his deal with her, was a phial of his blood. At that time, Dru had put a forgetting compulsion on him, so he didn't remember Xander. The implication was that Giles got rid of the original spell, off Spike, as he did for Xander, but when Spike got his memory back, he didn't know that and he only remembered how he'd felt when the spell was still in force. Now he's met Xander again, without the spell, and the change in how he feels was disconcerting.
You are so right - Spike's life really is jinxed. *g*
I'm so glad you are still enjoying it. I hope you continue to do so. Thank you for reading and thank you so much for commenting.

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

Alas, Spike was still cocky enough to tell the slayer exactly where to aim. Of course, the alternative would probably be him killing her so, for the best.

I love the lack of emotion setting Spike back on his heels. I can't wait to find out how Xander feels about the encounter. I also adore the more self sufficient s4 Xander. I think I see where you're going and I like it. :)

I hope you're having a wonderful time at Writercon UK. I wish I could be there.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

*g* You're right; I couldn't have that.
Xander was brilliant in the series, for being the comic relief, but since I love him so, I have to let him learn from his experiences *g* Thank you; I'm glad you like him this way too.
WriterconUK was great fun, thanks. I slept like the proverbial log, last night. It would be so wonderful to meet up. Maybe one day *hugs*

[melanie2525.livejournal.com]

Wonderful new chapter. And I am with Spike, what is going on with his feelings towards Xander? And Spike walking in the sun? Priceless....

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'm really pleased to know that you enjoyed it.
As for Spike... *points up at previous reply to chaoskir - he didn't really realise how Dru's original spell worked.
I'm glad you enjoyed Spike going slightly crazy with the ring - I couldn't see him making such a huge find and staying all cool and collected.
Thank you for commenting.

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

Well, drat. Not only is Spike's emotional investment in Xander gone, but now he's lost the Gem as well! I loved being in his head as he was enjoying his stroll and hunt in the sun. That Technicolor world will be sorely missed.

I also enjoyed the insight into Xander's job. I'd always imagined his crap delivery job to be pretty low paid and thankless. Here it's lucrative and Xander has grateful customers. Xander seems to be having a much better time of it than in canon. He's on his own, earning a living wage and contributing to the good fight. I can't wait to see how Spike tries to muck it all up.

Thanks for posting more of this entertaining story.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

I know *pets Spike* poor boy, he got too cocky in his invulnerability *g*
I was thinking about the fanon thing about pizza delivery (and the fate of the poor kid in the episode Faith, Hope & Trick) and it occurred to me that, the free market being what it is, any job as hazardous as that would have to be well paid. At least in Sunnydale. *g*
Thank you. I'm so glad you are still enjoying it.

[super-seme04.livejournal.com]

Spike and Xander running into each other was hilarious. Spike not really having a place except to enjoy himself was absolute Spike. Memo to Spike: PLAN.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

*laughs* You are so right, he really ought to plan better. Thank you for reading. I'm so glad you are enjoying it.

[sparrow2000.livejournal.com]

As brunettepet pet points out, it's so nice to see Xander looking at the upside of being the pizza guy.

The scene with Giles and the books reminds us how far their relationship had developed in those last few months of school at the time of the spell.

You show so many facets of Spike here - the pragmatic master vamp, putting his minion in the firing line first, before dusting him - the Victorian, dazzled by so many colours, the giddy school boy revelling in his freedom after so long in the dark, and finally the confused non human how can't comprehend why he doesn't feel the emotions he was expecting when he sees Xander again. The last one was the most unexpected and it works so beautifully. I'm fascinated to see how Spike will regroup and how Xander will react when he takes the time to ponder the implications of Spike being back.

Hope you're enjoying writerconuk, hon. By my estimation curiouswombat should be talking about 'What makes you go WTF or breaking the flow?' I bet that's a great session.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

*g* Supply and demand and a seller's market.
Yes, my Giles and Xander have a much closer relationship than in canon. Or maybe I am just concentrating on it. *nods* Yes, that's what it is. They were close, we just didn't see it much. *g*
I'm so pleased that my twist works. I have been working towards it, but I was a bit nervous about it.
WriterconUK was great fun, thanks. All the sessions were really good. And a number of people commented that it was lovely to see your post, wishing us all well, and asked after you.
I was totally knackered when I got home. I'll tell you all about it at the week end. *hugs* Have a good week.

[sparrow2000.livejournal.com]

I'll really look forward to catching up on Sunday. I saw the back of your head in a couple of pics folk have posted - yes I knew it was you *g*

[laazikaat.livejournal.com]

Spike can never shut his mouth can he? Loved this chapter, love the whole story. Now to see if those feelings can resurface without aid of magic.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

He really, really can't resist, can he? Thank you. I'm so glad. Thank you.

[missus-grace.livejournal.com]

Eventually, he calmed down, belatedly grateful that no one had been near to see him being so undignified.

LOL!

Poor Spike, all confused. He's made it his goal for months to find Xander, and when he does, there's nothing there. And then his ring gets taken. Bad day all around!

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

I am sure that Spike has had some bad days in his unlife, but yeah, I'm guessing that this would count as one of the worst. *g*
I'm glad to know that I also made you laugh. Thank you for commenting.