Wilfully Oblivious, 4/5, Spike/Xander

[darkhavens]

Author: darkhavens
Title: Wilfully Oblivious, 4/5
Pairing: Spike/Xander
Fandom: Buffy
Rating: PG
Words: 296
Feedback/Concrit: darkhavens @ slashverse.com
Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be. No harm, no foul, no money made.
Summary: "There are none so blind, as those who would not see..."
Notes: Written for stagesoflove 2006, Round 2, 'Exploring the Relationship Through The Senses', stage #4 - Smell.
Also posted here.
Stage #1 - Sight, stage #2 - Hearing, stage #3 - Touch.




Buffy has walked in on them, had them admit the truth of the relationship to her face, both of them proud and defiantly determined - which was disturbingly cute - but, in the end, it's her nose that convinces her.

For as long as she has known him, Xander's always used the same shampoo, the same soap, the same detergent on his clothes. He's always worn the same cologne, a new bottle bought and wrapped by Willow, every year, for his birthday.

But no more.

Now he carries with him the slightest hint of musk, and Buffy thinks that maybe that's the real, unperfumed, him. He uses scentless soaps and lotions and he always looks well scrubbed. She's half-convinced that Spike has got him cleanse-tone-moisturising, and it kinda freaks her out.

Sometimes he comes to meetings dragging Spike along behind him, shrouded in the faintest haze of cloves and fresh tobacco smoke. She wonders if he tastes of it too.

He always smells of leather now, something she tries hard not to notice, unless he's got his jacket on - the strangely new, perfectly tailored leather jacket that Spike swears he won at kitten poker. She doesn't ask.

At other times, Buffy tries to keep her distance. The rumpled clothes, the hair in disarray, the sweat-sheened skin - she knows he'd smell of sex.

She got too close, just once, early on, and now she tries to stay away - the mental pictures drive her crazy. No one should have to think about their friends like that, too many naked limbs and fingers in odd places. It isn't right.

Sometimes she wishes she could catch a cold and keep it for a week or two, just to give her brain a break. Instead, she plays keep-away.


Part Five

Comments

[kitty-poker1.livejournal.com]

She's half-convinced that Spike has got him cleanse-tone-moisturising

LOL. Actually too many great lines here to include them all. Okay, one more.

No one should have to think about their friends like that, too many naked limbs and fingers in odd places.

And one more ...

I'll end up quoting the whole fic if I carry on. :D

Excellent. Really first class. Your facility for writing in three fandoms equally well and with equal truth astonishes. Nice one. *smooch*

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Your facility for writing in three fandoms equally well and with equal truth astonishes.

Hee! It astonishes me too, especially when I'm switching from one to another and then on to the third in one continuous stream. Sometimes my fingertips are smoking by the time I'm done.

And now I'm doing H/D too, but just for lit! She wheedled me into it.

[soraidh.livejournal.com]

I'd end up quoting the whole thing myself if I wanted to quote all the great lines. There are too many to even consider picking a favorite.

I love this, love Buffy's reflection on the two of them, love that it's her nose that finally convinces her what's going on. This also works beautifully as a stand alone.

I think it's my favorite so far.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Sometimes I enjoy bashing Buffy, but sometimes, like in this, I like to make her a confused teenage girl (with extras). Because she was. :D

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

Oh so much work to seem Au Natural! It would really suit him, love the leather coat image

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :D

Xander+leather is always a pretty mental picture. ;)

[literati.livejournal.com]

hee! I love this. You know, despite all the Buffy hate I still very much like her.

..too many naked limbs and fingers in odd places. It isn't right.

Yeah, that's why she tries not to think about it.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

:D You know I can Buffy-bash with the best of them, but this time i just wanted her to be a shocked, out-of-her-depth teenage girl (with extras).

Poor girl, having to suffer those mental images...

Thanks!

[katbcoll.livejournal.com]

*grumbles* LJ is being a total ass monkey tonight. So if this double posts, that's why.

No one should have to think about their friends like that, too many naked limbs and fingers in odd places. It isn't right.
*cackles madly* I don't know. Depends on the friends...

Ooo the Sniffing Xander and Guessing the Scent Game! I'll play!

Loverly. This was fun to come home to!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Ooo the Sniffing Xander and Guessing the Scent Game! I'll play!

Hee! I'm sure we could sign up a whole tournament's worth of players. *g*

Thanks! :D

[tabaqui]

Ooh, i like that. Muchly.
Heh.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thankee. :D

[fearless5555.livejournal.com]

This was brilliant. Lovely images of fingers and sweaty skin. The aray of senses was done very well, subtle and creative.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :D

Spike and Xander are a feast for anyone's senses. *licks*

[electricalgwen.livejournal.com]

...both of them proud and defiantly determined - which was disturbingly cute

Awww. I can just imagine. Cute, indeed.

Beautifully written.

[electricalgwen.livejournal.com]

Augh! Oh no. I just had the scariest idea about what the last one will involve. O_o
I really hope I'm wrong.
Willfully oblivious. Hmm.
Damn, I'm going to be on tenterhooks all week.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

LOL! Well, I hope I put you out of your misery. ;)

[electricalgwen.livejournal.com]

Oh, you did!
I knew "Taste" was left, and would *have* to involve blood - and I realized it would be an interesting twist if it turned out that *Xander* was also "willfully oblivious", ignoring the dangers of Spike, and the series ended with him being drained/vamped much to his surprise.
I still think that actually would be a cool way to write it, I just don't like it. I'm glad you went with happier possibilities. :)

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

I have to admit I was tempted, but then I often am. I've lost count of the number of times I've vamped Xander, with and without his permission. *g*

It didn't feel right for this set though. I wanted them together and happy and as alive as ever. :D

Thanks!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

I could see them standing there, two stubborn chins pushed forward, arms folded, elbows bumping - and totally terrified of rejection. *g*

[electricalgwen.livejournal.com]

And you conveyed the image beautifully, in few words, 'cos that's just what I saw too. :)

[saifai.livejournal.com]

*happy sigh* Classic. Loved the progression from flirt to caught. I absolutely adore the protectiveness in both of them.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

I love how this format allows me to put up little scenes like this and have the readers fill in the gaps themselves. I just get to play with the highlights of the relationship. :D

[drusillas-rain.livejournal.com]

lovley and kind of sad that Buffy needs to keep away

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

I think she just needs to come to terms with it. Once she gets used to them she'll relax a little and learn to tune out the sex stuff. *g*

[amejisuto.livejournal.com]

HEE! That just is so damn good! Buffy's getting mental images that disturb her. That's so yummy since she gave me the same ones. Well done!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sweetie!

She hared them with me too. Isn't she kind? *g*

[tempestsreach.livejournal.com]

Ahhhhh, it appears even Buffy is not immune from the gay sex fascination that takes over many women. *chuckle* And imagination is such a strong thing.

Lovely chapter to a most enjoyable collection.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Buffy is lucky enough to have it being acted out practically in front of her eyes. So unfair! We wouldn't spurn them if they came to us looking all sexed up and sated, would we? *g*

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

I kinda feel sorry for the girl!LOL!! What a way to catch a clue!! Superb work, as always hon! You make it seem so easy and effortless - your grasp of the characters are dead-on!!

*Smooches you...*

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

*smooch*

[acostilow.livejournal.com]

Buffy is a twit.

You are amazing. Yes.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Hee! Thanks. :D
She's a twit, but a lucky twit, getting to see them all over each other all the time. *pouts* So not fair.

[twilightofmagic.livejournal.com]

Wow, that was intensely sexy, just by suggestion. Very, very nice.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Sometimes that the best kind of sex - the kind that happens in your head. :D