There’s Always a Sneer in Vegas (80/?)

[stillrose]

Title: There’s Always a Sneer in Vegas (80/?)
Fandom: BTVS; Spike/Xander
Warnings: Slash,AU, Post Apocalyptic, violence,non-con, slavery, tentacles,
Rating: NC-17
Summary: It’s been seven years since Angelus killed Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Seven years after Angelus opened a portal to hell on Earth. Humans are food, slaves or on the run. There’s hope only in small band of resistance fighters. However, that’s a hope Xander Harris no longer has. It’s been six months since he was taken in a raid. At first Xander thought he was lucky the demons didn’t know who he was; but then that was before he became property to an Azora demon.

As always: Feedback makes my heart go pitter-patter.

UNBETAED

Previous parts here.

***********************

Eventually she made it to shore as the strange waves died down. She was exhausted but she managed to drag Wesley out of the water. He still hadn’t moved. Quickly she rolled him over and pushed on the back of his lungs to try and expel any water. Then she rolled him back on his back.

“This isn’t how I wanted our first kiss to go down. Not even going to be any tongue,” she muttered with hot tears flowing from her eyes as she leaned over and began to perform mouth to mouth resuscitation.

***********************

After Spike thought his entrails had been shaken more than one of the late Zorn’s martinis the quaking stopped.

“Xander,” Spike hissed as he loosened his hold on his Claimaint and rolled away. “We have to move.”

“Nuh...I want the number of that truck,” Xander said as he struggled to his feet for the umpteenth time since their plan had so far south it crossed the border some where past Laredo.  He felt worse than the time his parents had left him on the tilt-a-whirl. His head was spinning in one direction while his stomach was spending another and his eyes refused to focus.

“Believe it was ‘666,’” Spike said as he grabbed Xander’s arm and hauled him up with him. He looked around for a quick escape and was not surprised to find there wasn't one. Both the Sisterhood and the Kith'harn were closing in on them in a tight circle. Still Spike didn't intend to go down without a fight. He let go of Xander's arm and fell into a fighting stance. He risked a quick glance over to Xander and saw his pet was struggling to follow suit.

That’s my White Knight, Spike thought as he slid into game face.

“You sure you want it to go down like this, Spikey?” a familiar voice called out as the encircling demons parted to make a small opening.

“Sire,” Spike ground out backing closer to Xander.

“The one and only, if I may be so humble,” Angelus said stepping into the ring of demons and looking around. “Ooo…hoo, quite a party. I’m so disappointed you didn’t invite me.

“Musta slipped my mind,” Spie growled. “Lorne was the one who usually saw to all those details.”

“Well, he did have a head for those kind of things, didn’t he?” Angelus grinned back at Spike. “So, who’s all here?”

He spun around again; slowly this time. He grinned at Xander. Spike felt his human sidle closer so their sides were pressed together.

“Your lovely and spirited, Clamaint, Xander. No big surprise there.”

One of the Kith’harn demons stepped up.

“Most of the wolves are dead. A few escaped into the woods,” it reported.

“Tsk tsk,” Angelus said looking back at Spike. “I have to insist, Spike, no dogs allowed on the beach.”

He looked back at the demon.

“Take a group into the woods…and bring me back their pelts.”

“NO!” Xander yelled jumping forward only to be held back by Spike.

“You know..he really needs to be broken,” Angelus chimed.

“He’s mine,” Spike growled.

“Yes, he is,” Angelus said with a grin. Then he started to spin around again. “Surely there’s more! I mean it just can’t be you two and some dogs?”

A few more demons moved forward. A couple of the red Kith’har demons shoved Dawn and Larry in front of Angelus while a one of the blue Jhe demons walked forward. Tara and Willow walked in front of her. Malignant green glowing spheres of energy surrounded each of them.

Again Xander  tried to surge forward again but Spike continued his hold. Xander looked wide-eyed and terrified first to Dawn and then to Willow. Willow looked pale and sallow. Her gaze was unfocused. Glancing at Tara Xander could see she looked the same.

“Willow!” Xander cried.

“Oh…don’t worry, Xan,” Angelus said suddenly whipping around to the other side of him and crooning in his ear despite the hiss of anger from Spike. “Just a little spell. It’ll keep her…and…now who is the other one? I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced.”

“Get the fuck away from me!” Xander snapped stepping back from the vampire even as Spike moved between them.

The two vampires exchanged deadly glares before Angelus spun around to stand between the two witches. He was grinning.

“Well…you can make the introductions later,” he said looking at Tara. “I can’t wait to get to know her better.”

“Not gonna happen!” Xander snapped.

“Keep mouthin’ off, boy,” Angelus sneered in his Irish lilt. “Please…because I’m gonna stuff my cock down yer throat for every time you do.”

Spike growled, “Not while he’s mine!”

“We’ll see,” Angelus said smiling as he looked to Willow. “She’s gonna make a fine addition ta my stables. Imagine the powerful witches she’ll breed!”

“Don’t think Red swings that way,” Spike said.

“Does it matter?” Angelus replied.

“You think you can get a witch ta breed when she doesn’t want to?”

Angelus looked over at Tara then back to Willow. Then he looked back to Spike and Xander.

“Sumthin’ tells me she can be convinced.”

“You’ll never control Willow,” Xander said.

“Never, never say never, boy,” Angelus answered as he stepped away from the witches to move closer to Dawn and Larry. Dawn sucked in a breath but didn’t flinch.

Stay strong Dawnie, Xander thought even as he began to crumble inside. His friends were at the mercy of Angelus and there wasn’t anything he could do.

The vampire paused in front of Larry and frowned a moment.

“Have we met? You look familiar,” he said spinning back to look at Spike.

“Go to he…” Larry started to say

The blonde vampire stiffened and tightened his grip on Xander’s arm. Xander looked at Spike then looked back to Angelus. Angelus grinned then looked at Larry.

“That’s right,” Angelus said interrupting Larry as his arm shot out and his hand grabbed them man’s throat. There was a terrible chocking and wet snapping sound as Angelus squeezed crushing former football player’s larynx and windpipe. “You’re dead.”

The vampire released his grip and Larry fell to the ground making wet gurgling sounds while Dawn began to scream. Angelus put his hand to his ear as if he was listening to fine music. He winked at Spike and Xander.

“LARRY!” Xander cried knowing this time there was no trick. This time there was no saving him.

For several long minutes there was just the sound of Dawn sobbing and Larry dying. Finally when Larry was still and quiet Angelus again turned his focus on Spike.

“This it then, Spikey? A dead man? A girl? Some dogs? A couple of witches and the Donut Boy? This? This has been the big plan you’ve been spending all the time hatching against me?”

Spike sucked in an unneeded breath.

“You didn’t think I didn’t know?” Angelus asked moving back to the blonde vampire and wiping away a non-existent piece of fluff from Spike’s shoulder. He leaned in close and smiled. “It’s been fun though. Watching you play your games. Sacrificing Lorne!”

He spun away again and moved behind Dawn.

Xander jumped and Spike grabbed him with both hands.

“Leave her alone!” Xander screamed.

Dawn held very still but her body began to tremble.

“All of this for.. a key,” Angelus continued as he snaked his hands up Dawn’s shoulders and then slowly around her neck. “A key. And I gotta ask, Spikey. Where is it?”

“NO! NO!” Xander yelled.

Dawn’s wide and frightened eyes locked on to Xander’s. Angelus leaned down sniffed her hair.

“She smells so good,” he purred. “So innocent.”

Spike growled.

“They, key, Spike,” Angelus said squeezing his hands just a little.

Dawn let out a small squeal.

“Kill her and you’ll never find it,” Spike finally answered.

“Now don’t be greedy,” Angelus said before laying a small tender kiss to Dawn’s cheek. “You already have Xander. Why can’t I have this one?”

“Xa…Xan..Xander!” Dawn cried.

“Get away from her!” Xander yelled as he continued to struggle against Spike.

“She…she has nothing ta do with this,” Spike lied.

Angelus’ eyes narrowed. He looked at Dawn then back at Spike.

“Cyvus,” he barked as he let go and stepped away from the frightened young woman.

A bald red demon, similar to the Kith’harn, stepped forward. He bowed low in front of Angelus.

“Who…or what is she?” Angelus asked stepping away from Dawn.

Xander looked in horror at Spike. What had he done?

Cyvus stared at Dawn then raised his hand. Brilliant purple light shot forth. She screamed as it engulfed her. Blue light exploded out of her briefly lifting her up off the ground. It was momentarily blinding. Then as suddenly as it appeared it winked out dropping the unconscious Scooby to the ground.

“DAWN!” Xander cried.

Cyvus turned to look at Angelus. He bowed again.

“The key, m’lord.” He said. “The human. She is the key.”

Angelus smiled then he bent down to pick up the unconscious girl. He carried her in his arms and yelled to the demons. He motioned with his head toward Spike and Xander.

“Grab these two and get Lindsey. We’re moving this party to the island,” he ordered as he began to head toward the boat house.

The demons pushed Spike and Xander forward. Xander stared in horror at Spike.

What had he done? Xander wondered. Why had he done it? Why had he all but given Dawn away to Angelus?

***

Faith wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep going. She wasn’t sure how long she had been going. The only count she had been keeping was the one she hoped was keeping Wesley alive; press thirty, breathe two.

Over and over she did the routine hoping, praying, he would begin to respond. All the while she tried to ignore how vulnerable she felt in their shadowed spot on the beach. It wouldn’t take much to be found.

And if we are, she thought even as she did another chest compression, Wesley is dead.

She could hear Xander’s screams. Every slayer cell in her body urged her to get into the fight; help him. She needed to help whoever was left and yet she didn’t. She continued to try and resuscitate her Watcher until her arms were so tired she couldn’t feel them anymore. Her head grew dizzy and still she continued; tears streaming down her face.

She knew if it was anyone else she’d have given up by now.

But not, Wes, she thought angrily. He never gave up on me, I’m not giving up on him!

Once again she moved her hands from her Watcher’s chest. She placed one underneath his neck to make sure his head was tilted. The other she used to pinch his nose shut. She leaned over to cover his mouth when she froze.

“Uhunn,” Wesley let out a slight groan.

“Wes!” Faith hissed as loud as she dared staring at her Watcher’s face.

“Nnnn,” came another groan as she saw movement under his eyelids.

“That’s it!” she sobbed kissing his forehead lightly. “C’mon Watcherman. Come back to me. You’ve got a lot to teach me remember? Not many men can say that.”

Then she quickly cast her eyes to the beach. A blue light was bursting forth from Dawn. Quickly she covered Wesley’s body with her own hoping to keep their presence shielded from attention.

“Ga!” Wes grunted.

“Shhh,” Faith said putting her finger to the semi-conscious man’s lips while never taking her eyes off the action further down on the beach. When she saw the figures starting to move farther away, toward the boat house she cautiously eased off Wesley.

Then keeping low to the ground she snaked her arms under his shoulders and began to pull him slowly and quietly back toward the tree line. Every now and then she paused as another moan or groan escaped him. Then she would cover his mouth with her fingertips and keep watch until he settled again. Only when he was quiet did she begin to move.

By the time she had pulled Wesley into the tree line she was past exhausted. She knew the others needed her. She was the slayer; the chosen one. If anyone could bring them back from the edge of disaster it was her.

She took one last look at Wesley and then dug deep to find the strength to get to her feet. She looked toward the boat house and rolled her shoulders back. There was only one comfort any slayer had before going into a battle with overwhelming odds. She was the slayer, but she wouldn’t be the last.

Faith stumbled forward and then let out an aborted scream of rage as a large hand suddenly covered her mouth and even larger arm wrapped around her waist yanking her back to press against an impossibly muscled body. She kicked and bit, but it was like fighting a wall.

The mountain of flesh held her even as the last of her strength waned. Faith looked to Wes and saw another large demonoid shape bend down and scoop him up as the wall that held her drug her back deeper into shadows.

***

Xander’s mind was almost numb. There was just too much for him to process. He stared at Dawn as she sat huddled near the front of the boat where Angelus had put her. She stared back at him with eyes wide with terror. Sitting next to her, absently petting her hair was the vampire himself. Lindsey knelt at Angelus’ feet with his hands cuffed behind his back.

Hands, some part of Xander noted. As in one and two. A left and a right.

Seated in the center of the boat was a Kith’harn demon who drove. Next to him was Cyvus who watched everything with a look of odd detachment. Across from him knelt Willow and Tara still engulfed in the same green spheres. The one Jhe demoness sat behind them.

In the back was Xander, on his knees in front of Spike who was surrounded by two more Kith’harn demons. Furthermore, Angelus had ordered a thick chain wrapped around the younger vampire which was hooked to a large concrete block.

Looking to the side of the boat Xander could see nothing but the dark spray of the lake. The dark water brought back unwanted memories of the Tank and Xander found he was half nauseous. They were moving quickly. He had no idea how close to the island they were, but he knew they were far from shore.

Over deep water, Xander thought with a shudder.

Dawn sniffed back another sob.

Xander tried lifted his chin. He tried to will her some comfort. Angelus just grinned and murmured something in her ear. She paled.

“Pet,” Spike hissed as Xander started to rise. “Down.”

Everything warred inside of Xander. Dawn needed him. Now wasn’t the time to play Spike’s games! Especially after he’d all but told Angelus who Dawnie was!

Yet, too much was between he and Spike. He’d been too long in Vegas; part of a demon’s world and he found himself settling down.

Angelus laughed and raised his hand fist signaling the Kith’harn demon to stop the boat. Xander surged forward and almost lost his balance as the boat’s engine came to an idle and the waves pushed the boat. The elder vampire got to his feet gracefully and walked to the back of the boat.

He looked at Spike and then at Xander. He shook his head then grabbed Spike’s chin.

“When are ya gonna learn, William?” he said his speech thick with the brogue of his native lands. “Ya can’t beat me. Yer too soft.”

“Unchain me,” Spike hissed. “Let’s just you and me dance, sire. We’ll see who’s soft.”

“Eventually,” Angelus grinned. “But right now I have a promise ta keep to ya. What kinda sire would I be if I couldn’t keep my promises?”

“Promise, sire?’ Spike asked as fear started to stab at his gut for the first time since their capture.

Xander cried out as he was suddenly jerked to his feet by Angelus.

“Your little lad here, Spike,” Angelus said shoving Xander into Spike. Xander hissed as his body slammed into the hard chain wrapped around the blonde vampire.

“What about Xander?”

“Yer gonna give ‘im to me, William,” Angelus purred.

NO! Xander silently screamed looking at Spike. NO!

“You really are sixpence short of a shilling aren’t ya?”

“Most likely,” Angelus laughed. “Doesn’t change what’s going to happen.”

He snapped his fingers and one of the Kith’harn moved and lifted up the concrete block Spike was chained too. The demon then moved to the edge of the boat and held it out over the water.

“‘Gelus?” Spike asked fear starting to creep into his voice.

“I know I should just kill you, Spike, but…yer family,” Angelus said turning the hold he had one Spike chin to a caress. “Call me sentimental but that means something. So, I think it’s time ta give ya another time out. Time ta think about what’s important ta you. Who’s important to you.”

Xander's heart felt like it was going to beat right out of his chest. He knew Spike had to hear it. He tried to take several deep calming breaths.

Spike has a plan, Xander thought. He always has a plan. However just in case Master Marvelous doesn’t…

Xander began to wildly look around the boat for anything that might help them He looked for anything that might give him any ideas. That’s when he noticed Lindsey. Lindsey was slowly edging his way up back toward the boats throttle.

What is he doing? Xander wondered. And why did Angelus even bring him?

Lindsey looked at Xander. His eyes widened for a moment. There was a message there: Be ready.

Ready for what? Xander wondered.

“I know who’s important ta me,” Spike said.

“Do ya, Spike?” Angelus said pressing close trapping Xander’s between them.

Xander had a dejavu feeling. He remembered the last time he’d been pressed between the two vampires. It was that horrible day back in Spike’s office when Angelus had killed Lorne.

He could feel Spike stiffen behind him and he knew Spike was remembering too.

“I’m givin ‘ ya a time out, William,” Angelus purred. “I’m gonna drop ya over board and let ya spend a few decades at the bottom of this lake to think about things and you’ve got a choice.”

Choice? Xander wondered as he watched Lindsey creep closer.

“Choice?” Spike asked.

“Ya can give Xander to me. Give him permission to go with me, I can kill him here and now, or you can say nothing and he’ll die a slow painful death the farther he gets away from you.”

BASTARD!

“Bastard!”

“I don’t think that’s actually a choice, Spikey,” Angelus said. “I guess I could have Xander breed some while yer gone though. Whaddya think? Think we should pair him with the witches?”

“Ain’t going to happen, Deadboy,” Xander snarled unable to keep silent any longer.

“Oh please, William,” Angelus cooed as he moved his hand away from Spike’s chin to stroke Xander’s. “Give him to me.”

“Don’t do it, Sp..Master,” Xander said jerking away from Angelus.

Xan! Spike thought as everything Angelus said came crashing back into his mind. Oh yeah, William, ya’ll give him ta me. I won’t break him. I will respect yer Claim, but ya know what I will do?

I’ll take him. I’ll take him and he’ll fight me, Spike Ya know he will. No matter what ya tell him. He’ll fight me and that’s just the way I’ll want it.

“William?” Angelus asked.

“I can’t,” Spike said in the smallest voice Xander had ever heard the vampire use.

“So..then what’s it to be?” Angelus asked as he wrapped his hands around Xander’s throat and began to squeeze. “Should I kill him now?”

Xander started to claw at the vampire’s hands as he made terrible wheezing and gasping sounds. Dawn screamed and the demon who’d been seated at the wheel of the boat rushed forward and restrained her. Lindsey slipped around and moved next to the throttle while the other demons were watching Spike and Angelus.

“NO!” Spike roared.

“So it’s the slow death then?” Angelus said as he pulled he hands away from Xander’s throat. Xander took great big gulping breaths of air. As he did he noticed Lindsey again. The look on his face was even more urgent.

What? Xander thought and then he had another run in with the clue bus. It ran right over his fears and barreled straight into his memories threatening to shatter him. Instead he stiffened like a statue. There was another choice but it was up to him, not Spike.

He stared back at Lindsey for a moment then gave an almost imperceptible nod. He began to slow down his breathing. He could do this. He could. He fought back the terror and the nausea threatening to rise up and veto his brain.

“No, sire,” Spike whispered.

“Well..yer runnin’ out of options here, Spikey.”

Xander pressed back against Spike. It’s ok, Spike, he thought and hoped somehow his body language conveyed the message. It’s ok.

Pet, Spike thought. In all of his plans, this was one move he didn’t think he’d have to make. This is one play he hadn’t seen on the board.

The heat of Xander’s body pressing close to him comforted him and yet tormented him. He knew what he had to do no matter the cost to his soul and demon both. I can’t let you die, Xander.

“Sire…will you…” Spike began and then faltered over his words.

“What’s that?” Angelus asked leaning back. “Louder, William. I can’t hear you.”

Forgive me, Xan, Spike thought.

“Sire,” Spike began again in a broken voice. “Will you..will you take my Claimant? I give him permission to part from me.”

“With pleasure, Spike,” Angelus said as he snapped his fingers and the Kith’harn dropped the cement block overboard.

“Pet!” Spike screamed as suddenly he was jerked over the side.

“Spike!” Xander screamed.

Angelus laughed then the boat bucked and leaped forward as Lindsey fell against throttle. The vampire stumbled and lost his hold on Xander.

Xander had time to send one last look to Dawn and then he took a deep breath and dove overboard after Spike. As the black water closed in all around him over his head so did the memories of the Tank. He opened his eyes and kicked.

He kicked against the water and the memories as he desperately searched for a shock of blond hair.

TBC