'Shhhhhh…', S/X for slashthedrabble #67 'Secrets'

[darkhavens]

Author: darkhavens
Title: Shhhhhh…
Pairing: Spike/Xander
Fandom: Buffy
Rating: PG for minimal violence
Words: 300
Feedback/Concrit: darkhavens @ slashverse.com
Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be. No harm, no foul, no money made.


Shhhhhh…

Xander has a secret and it's been eating him alive and he doesn't have a clue if he should tell, or who, or what to say.

It keeps him up at night reading news reports and listening for that throwaway line on the TV or the radio. He wants to know if barbecue forks have gotten just that little bit more lethal in the last few weeks.

They haven't.

It's confusing, and he finds himself second-, third-, eleventh-guessing the conclusion that he knows must be right, and he has the bruises - and the broken bones - to prove it.

Three weeks ago, while out fighting demons of the oozy kind, Spike had body-checked him to the ground and thereby saved his life, briefly stunning Xander into speechlessness.

Before Xander had a chance to get his voice back and his brain in gear, Spike had stomped the demons into grey-green gunk and wiped the remnants off on Buffy's favourite denim jacket. There'd been screaming.

Xander had quietly picked himself up, avoided the worst of the goo and shuffled over to watch for signs that Spike had any clue about what he'd done. He had to, right?

Instead, his saviour had run through his usual routine of threats of gory death and glorious technicolour vivisection, before sauntering off towards the nearest bar for '-a real drink, not that American piss that passes for beer.'

Xander had limped home, clutching ribs he knew were cracked, mentally reviewing his stock of bandages and tape. He'd carefully not acknowledged the pale smudge of shadow that followed him all the way back to his cosy basement. One epiphany a night was his limit.

Xander's secret goes like this: Spike broke his ribs and saved his life and followed him home, and now Xander wants to keep him.

Comments

[geyer-fb.livejournal.com]

Lovely story. Interesting implications to the lack of increased fatalities by barbecue fork. I'm looking forward to the next epiphany.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I think Spike is behaving himself so he can court Xander without accusations of nibbling on the neighbours. *g*

[fanbot.livejournal.com]

Hee! Sweet!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :D

[strickens-girl.livejournal.com]

OOooooOOOO. Very interesting. Kinda creepy with stalkery Spike. *purrs* Me like. *g*

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I love obsessive protecto-Spike way too much, but he's perfect for Xander. *g*

[outsideth3box.livejournal.com]

"Xander's secret goes like this: Spike broke his ribs and saved his life and followed him home, and now Xander wants to keep him."


Me go awwwwwwwwww!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Spike's just like a big ol' stray tomcat really, with extra large fangs. *g*

[authoressnebula.livejournal.com]

Is it sad that I think stalker!Spike is too cute for words? ^_^ Cute drabble sweetie!

~Nebula

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Stalker!Spike is adorable. He's so devoted to taking care of his loved ones, how could we not adore him?

[http://users.livejournal.com/woman_of_/]

So they are both keeping secrets! Wonder how that will pan out, sounds interesting

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

They have so many secrets, those boys. *g*

[sablerose2.livejournal.com]

I say let Xander keep him :o)!!! Thank you

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

[noneeca.livejournal.com]

you know, our fandom is, i think, the only one in which stalking is considered just another sign of being in love.

and i agree with Xan. if Spike were following me home? damn straight i'd keep him!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

you know, our fandom is, i think, the only one in which stalking is considered just another sign of being in love.

It's the Aurelian vampire way. :D

Thanks!

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, now THAT'S out Xander in denial. So, is this part of the baby!vamp!Xander series?

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

No, it's not a part of the b!v!x universe, it just popped into my head full-grown and wanted out. *g*

[tabaqui]

*la la la*
Just as good the second time around!
*bounce*

Of course, i want *more*.
More!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

And hush! It was a one time only thing. You get to decide if Xander got to keep Spike. (Like I don't know how that's gonna go! *g*)

[ladycat777.livejournal.com]

Awwwwwwwwwww. This is lovely. Also, there needs to be more, yes.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I don't know about more, that was the way it popped into my head. If there is more popping there will be more writing. ;)

[batmanvinnie.livejournal.com]

Wow, crazy. I like the style in which you carefully work in the two epiphanies, that Spike cares, and that he is chipless. Once again, superb work.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

I love getting to play with a chipless, caring Spike. :D

[sp23.livejournal.com]

Spike had stomped the demons into grey-green gunk and wiped the remnants off on Buffy's favourite denim jacket.

I worship that line. :)

This was sooo good. And I, too, wonder if Spike realizes what he's done - hurting Xander without pain o' chip. The stalkery thing shows Spike very much knows that he protected Xander.

You are writing more in this 'verse, right?

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Spike had stomped the demons into grey-green gunk and wiped the remnants off on Buffy's favourite denim jacket.

I worship that line. :)

Thank you! You know he'd do that, just out of habit, to wind her up. *g*

You are writing more in this 'verse, right?

If I can cull the herd of WiPs milling about in my head I'll see if another snippet pops up. *g*

[werewindle.livejournal.com]

Keep him! Keep him! ^__^
Great ficlet, I hope there is more.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

[carnadosa.livejournal.com]

Xander's secret goes like this: Spike broke his ribs and saved his life and followed him home, and now Xander wants to keep him.

Awww...that's such the perfect line. Can I keep it?

: )

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

...you can share it. *g*

[literati.livejournal.com]

awww! so cute!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you, baybee. :D

[gnome781.livejournal.com]

Ohhh I love it! Xander should definitely keep Spike! But ouch, I hope he can do it without further injury!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I'm sure Xander will think it's worth a little pain once he's tasted lips of Spike. *g*

[stretfordditto.livejournal.com]

That was so good. I'm all for him keeping him. :p

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I think 'keep him!' is pretty much the consensus opinion. *g*

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

Oh, oh, loved that! Do more!! MORE!!! ~wails~

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

And... maybe. I started out at the top of the comments saying 'no, it's just a one off,' but here I am, halfway down, and saying maybe. *g*

I have to get out from under a few WiPs before I start a new one. I'm starting to drown in unfinished fic. ;)

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Xander's secret goes like this: Spike broke his ribs and saved his life and followed him home, and now Xander wants to keep him.

Of course!! LOL!! I think I'd feel the same - tho he wouldn't have to break my ribs to get MY attention...

Wonderful honey!!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

xander can forgive the rib thing, it's hardly the first time he's had cracked ribs, and the prize at the end of it will be worth the pain. ;)

[inkingwords.livejournal.com]

Spike broke his ribs and saved his life and followed him home, and now Xander wants to keep him.

I'm adoring that line!! Loved this!!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! That line is definitely the favourite quote of this piece. :D

[drusillas-rain.livejournal.com]

oh, so lovely

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

[cala-jane.livejournal.com]

best "he followed me home, can I keep him?" EVER

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Much better than a kitten and a puppy! *g*

[electricalgwen.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. Brilliant. ADORE the last line. I had to read it a few times before I worked out the whole chipless thing. Fantastic. Succinct. Great Xander POV.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Usually the overwhelming voice in my head is Spike, but this time Xander spoke up and wouldn't let Spike get a word in edgewise. *g*

[kitty-poker1.livejournal.com]

How adorable is that? Perfect last line. I once kept a dog who followed me home and that worked out very well. He was faithful and loyal and loved me to bits. More would be wonderful. *puppy dog eyes?*

Lovely stuff, as always!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you, darlin'!

If there is more lurking in the recesses of my mind, it will have to wait until I've dug myself out from under this mountain of WiPs. I'm drowning in unfinished fic! *g*