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Entry tags:
There’s Always a Sneer in Vegas (81/?)
Title: There’s Always a Sneer in Vegas (81/?)
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.
This chapter dedicated to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
kayt_arminta...she knows why. >;)
“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.
*********************************************************************************
“LINDSEY!” Angelus roared before turning around to see his toy defiantly leaning against the throttle. Lindsey grinned his hatred back at the vampire. Angelus charged forward. He grabbed the human by the throat and threw him to the floor.
Lindsey landed hard on his restrained hands. There was the dull crack of a finger breaking. Angelus snapped his fingers and pointed at the wheel of the boat signaling one of the other demons to take control while he ground his heel painfully into Lindsey’s sternum.
“You just ruined my evening, boy,” he ground out in time with the twisting of his heel. Lindsey cried out in pain. “I had such plans fer Xander! You didn’t need ta be jealous, Linds. I wouldn’t have left you outta the fun!”
He looked back at the demon driving.
“Circle back at around! See if you spot anything!”
The demon did as instructed and the boat made a wide turn to the left circling back around to where Spike and Xander had gone overboard.
“PRABHA!” Cyvus shouted and white light flared briefly high above the water. There was no sign of the vampire or his Claimaint.
Angelus growled and kicked Lindsey. He stormed over to Dawn and grabbed her chin. She struggled to pull away from him.
“Guess you’ll have ta take his place,” he crooned. Angelus looked back at Lindsey who was coughing and trying to sit up. “Whaddya think, Lindsey? She’s softer than Xander!”
“You…think..I’m gonna break over a girl?” Lindsey wheezed. “You don’t think I’ve seen..done worse working for Wolfram and Hart?”’
“You went weak for Darla,” Angelus grinned spinning Dawn around in front of him and pulling her close.
“Let go of me!” Dawn yelled as she kicked at Angelus’ shins. The vampire laughed.
“I think we both know she’s no Darla,” Lindsey replied coolly staying back at the vampire.
“But she is the Key,” Angelus said his hand slipping low over Dawn’s stomach, “and her blood will open portals.”
Lindsey threw back his head and laughed.
“That why you brought me, Angelus? You think..you think I’ll actually tell you where to look for him?”
Angelus nodded at the demon driving. Once it again it turned the boat and it began to head back toward the island.
“Up ‘til now, Linds it’s all been fun and games but play time is over. When I cut her open and the blood starts to flow, make no mistake, you will tell me what dimension to unlock. You will tell me where you hid Connor…where you hid my son.”
***
Black memories and water closed in all around Xander. He was lost in them. They threatened to choke him. Still, he forced his eyes open and his legs kicking. He swept the water away from him as he dived deeper.
C’mon, Spike. Where are you? He thought as he strained his eyes searching for a shocking streaking of gold against the cloying blackness. This is one time your hair makes sense!
He ignored the slight burn beginning in his lungs.
I lasted longer in the Tank! He dared to remind himself. This! This is nothing, Xanman!
Overhead he could hear the rev of the engine as the boat circled overhead. He gave another strong kick and pushed with his arms propelling himself deeper. Then suddenly there was a burst of white light.
Dawn! Xander thought as he froze wondering what was happening. He looked up briefly half expecting to see another body come crashing into the lake. Nothing. He turned his head and looked around and just off to his right and below him his saw a garish bit of white-gold.
Spike! Xander thought as he once again began to swim. His long arms, legs and years on the swim team gave him an advantage. It didn’t take him long before he was right over the top of the vampire.
Reaching out he grabbed at the vampire’s jacket with one hand. Spike jerked and looked up at him. Their eyes met as the light began to fade. The vampire shook his head furiously while Xander held on and as the weight of the block pulled them both under.
As they sank, Xander grabbed at Spike with his other hand. His lungs began to burn in earnest. He shook his head and ignored them. Quickly, like some spider, he crawled his way down Spike’s sinking body feeling for where the chain was hooked in the back.
The sound of the boat began to fade away as his hands roamed over the vampire’s jerking body searching and at the same trying to send a message: HOLD STILL!
You aren’t making this any easier, Xander thought as he felt around at the small of Spike’s back with one hand while holding on to his jacket with another. You throw me off its going to be that much harder for me to find you a second time and believe me, Master Leadweight, I’ll be back to search as often as it takes!
Xander almost let out a shout, and some precious air, when his fingers finally felt the metal hook. Quickly he swung his legs through the water to wrap around Spike’s as an anchor. He squeezed tight. Finally Spike stilled.
Then Xander began to tug and pull at the chain trying to get enough slack to unhook it. His lungs were in agony and his head was starting to grow light.
I can hold out a little longer, he told himself as he tugged at the chain. Held out longer the third time in the Tank.
Small bubbles began to leak from his nose. Still he yanked and pulled.
C’mon! He thought. C’MON!
He could feel Spike grunt underneath him.
Sorry! He thought as he continued to struggle to get just a little more slack in the chain.
Bubbles were now starting to press out from his lips as the blood roared in his ears. He gave the chain another fierce tug then heard a muffled yell of pain through the water. The hook slid out from the link and the chain went lax around Spike.
Xander immediately released the vampire and began kicking up as fast as he could. More bubbles began to escape his mouth and nose as pain erupted in his lungs. Once again he was in the Tank. Once again he was drowning! There was no way out! He was going to die!
Then something strong and powerful wrapped around his waist. Suddenly he was moving faster through the water. There was another set of legs kicking with his pushing him up; pushing him out of the darkness.
”UHHHAHHHHAHH!” Xander gasped as his face broke the surface and he exhaled while trying to inhale at the same time. He coughed painfully. The world spun around him.
“Pet!” Spike tried to say as he coughed and then retched water out of his own lungs.
Xander was oblivious. He was lost in the sensation air pulsing in and out of his chest. His wet skin was shivering cold in the night air and overhead the small twinkling light of the stars almost seemed blinding.
He was still for a moment. He was quiet.
“Xander?” Spike tried again.
For several long moments Xander lay still. He was quiet except for the sound of his blood pulsing through his veins and his lungs greedily sucking in much needed oxygen. Eventually though the sounds began to settle and finally his human spun around in his arms. He stared at Spike then leaned his forehead and touched it to the vampire’s.
“I didn’t drown,” Xander whispered. “I…I’m not in the tank.”
“You didn’t. You aren’t,” Spike said pulling him closer. He could feel small shivers racing down Xander’s body and cursed the fact he was undead. He could offer his love no warmth. “But you may freeze if we don’t get you to shore.”
Spike sniffed the air.
“Or worse, one of the Usige, may come back to try and take us down again.”
Xander nodded but did not move.
“Pet,” Spike said softly leaning back slightly so he could look at Xander. “You..you did good.”
“I did better than good, Spike,” Xander grinned as his teeth began to chatter.
“We gotta move.”
Xander nodded.
“I just…I beat ‘em, Spike. I beat ‘em!”
“I know..I know you did.”
Xander took a deep breath then looked around.
“I..I can’t see much of anything. Can you? You know which way to go?”
“I think I can us back to shore,” Spike said.
“Then what?” Xander asked.
“Let’s just do first things first, yeah?”
“Yea…yeah, Spike,” Xander said as his shivering started to get more pronounced. “Maybe moving will warm me up some too.”
Spike nodded.
“Stay close then,” he ordered as he released his hold on Xander . He turned to the right and began to swim. Xander followed close.
***
Spike wasn’t sure how long they swam, but he knew it wasn’t long before Xander started to fade. While the human was a better swimmer than the vampire, he didn’t have the strength or the stamina. Plus, unlike Spike, Xander needed to breath and the near drowning had drained his Claimaint more than either one of them cared to admit. Additionally, while the cold was a nuisance to Spike it was something far more sinister to Xander.
After a while they were barely crawling through the water toward the shore.
“This isn’t going to work, pet,” Spike said as he stopped and treaded water as he waited for Xander to catch up.
“D..D..Don’t have…m..mu..much choice,” Xander stuttered as he made his way to the vampire.
“Let me help you.”
“I c..c..can do th..this.”
“Wasn’t a suggestion, pet,” Spike said suddenly wrapping his hand around Xander’s chest and up under his harms.
“H..Hey! M..Ma..Master Mc..McGrabby!”
“Relax!” Spike ordered as Xander started to squirm. Xander sighed and obeyed. Spike then turned and began swimming with one arm while pulling Xander.
“Y…you..just want to..to mooch m..m..my heat,” Xander said.
Spike closed his eyes momentarily. It was true. Swimming like this was warmer. He could feel the heat from Xander but it scared him. He knew Xander wasn’t as warm as he should have been.
“Good, Pet should warm his Master,” Spike said as he continued to swim.
“G…get….an electric b..blanket!” Xander laughed.
“Oi! Don’t need one. Have you. ‘Sides, don’t have to worry about a findin’ a bloody outlet.”
“G…guess..it…wouldn’t…w..w..work so well in the w..water either.”
“See. Yer much better than an electric blanket.”
“And my..gu…guidance counselor s..s..said I’d n..never amount..to much,” Xander laughed.
And what did they amount to, Pet? Spike wondered.
“Only my precious, Pet, Xander. Only my most precious, Pet,” Spike said softly his voice full of love. He pushed his body to move faster.
Xander shivered. He wondered how it was possible to be so cold and yet feel such heat burning inside of him. He wanted to turn in Spike’s arms. He wanted to wrap around him and kiss the vampire senseless. Instead he relaxed into Spike’s hold trusting him.
The water sloshed up around his ears. It pulled heavily on his clothes. The cold air bit against the skin poking up out of the water and the skin below it shivered as the cold seemed to sink inside. Xander thought of their bed back in Vegas. He thought of the hot shower where Spike had first helped him rediscover himself.
He thought of the warm pool where Clem had taken him. He thought of the sunny hours and how the demon had helped him with his fear of water.
He thought of Spike. He thought of the whiskey taste and smell of Spike. Xander closed his eyes. His thoughts were warm and he sank deep down into them.
***
Something tickled his nose. It was soft and furry.
“Mnot nmow, Ante,” Xander groaned as he curled himself deeper and against the warm blanket.
“Xander?” Spike whispered.
“Mnnnn,” Xander said burrowing closer to the soft warmth pressed all around him.
“Are you sure he’s ok?” Spike asked in an urgent whisper. “Why isn’t he waking up?”
“Be patient,” another voice answered. “Hypothermia was close to setting in. This is the closet we have to heating blankets unless you want him to join Wesley.”
“Not bloody likely,” Spike growled. “Don’t want him smelling like dog.”
“Well, I don’t think that will be necessary. You can see he’s already responding,” the other voice said.
“We can’t wait much longer, ‘Gelus is on the island.”
Xander frowned. The other voice was familiar. Where did he know that voice from?
The blanket moved around him pressing closer. It was a heavy weight on top of him and to the side of him.
“And so is Dawn!” Faith snapped.
Faith! Some part of Xander thought. Faith! You’re alive! You’re pissed, but alive!
“I haven’t forgotten about Nibblet,” Spike replied.
“Like you have forgotten about telling us about your little back up plan?”
“Well,” Oz said softly. “He did mention they were in the woods.”
“A convenient detail you both neglected to share,” Wesley intoned.
The blankets shifted. Heavy sand paper stroked gently across the back of Xander’s neck.
“Hempgh!” he muttered.
“Without them, I would not have been able to track you,” the familiar but out of place voice said.
“You could hav..”
“I couldn’t!” Spike snarled.
Guess it’s time to get up, Xander thought sleepily as he pushed against the blanket, before Spike and Faith start doing that whole vampire versus slayer thing.
The blanket refused to move.
Xander frowned and then began to notice the blanket wasn’t really a blanket. It was furry, like a pelt.
But it’s warm! He thought suddenly doubling his efforts to open his eyes.
He was even more confused as the world slowly came into focus around him. It was a golden brown.
“..ike!” He croaked!
“Pet!”
“Xander!”
“Cupcake!”
Several voices cried out at once. Xander froze. He blinked as several realizations slammed into him at once.
One, he was stark naked. Two, he was squashed between two lions. Three, there were five people staring at him; Spike, Faith, Oz, Wesley and Lorne.
He stared at Lorne for a moment in shock.
Lorne! He thought as his heart raced. Lorne! The head’s connected to the neck bone and the neck bone is connected to the…
“Spike!” he yelled climbing to his feet forgetting all about the state of his undress. “You son-of-a-mphg!”
Spike quickly covered Xander’s mouth as the vampire cocked his head behind him.
“Pet, demon rules.”
Demon wh..? Xander wondered for a moment then looked over Spike’s shoulder. Behind and around the vampire he could see gathered a number of Oni, Boretz, Voynock and other demons. Behind them were several unmoving Kith’harn and Jhe demons sprawled out on the ground.
Faith, Oz, Wesley and a couple of werewolves were surrounded by several bruised and battered Mofo demons. Xander bit Spike’s palm.
“Pet!” Spike yelled as he jerked his hand back sending a warning look to Xander.
“Cupc…er..Claimiant Xander,” Lorne said quickly stepping between the pair. “Perhaps Lem…Master Spike can explain while you get dressed. I mean unless you really want to storm the proverbial castle in your birthday suit.”
“I…” Xander began to say then stopped. He glared at Spike who leaned over, picked up Xander’s wet clothes and then dangled them by a finger out to Xander.
“Pet?” Spike asked arching an eyebrow. Xander knew and understood that look well. Behave and play the part of the good Pet and everything will be explained in good time or don’t and get punished and then have everything explained.
“Please,” Xander ground out taking his clothes. There wasn’t time to drag this out with a punishment. “Explain.”
Spike arched his other brow.
“Master,” Xander added.
And this better be a good one or so help me you are gonna wish I’d left you at the bottom of the lake!
TBC
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Thank you so much for the update... Xan being so brave, Lindsay getting a modicum of revenge and the twist at the end of this chapter with the extra demons and *Lorne*... nail bitingly brilliant.
More soon please!!
l
j
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Thank you for the updates.
I've been checking every couple of months for like forever.
I so knew Lorn couldn't be dead, I remembered that cutting his head off didn't kill him from the TV series.
:D
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This is great!
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