Set of 4 drabbles for ![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
open_on_sunday's challenge #82 - Shakespeare
Oct. 19th, 2004 01:30 amdarkhavensAuthor: darkhavens
Title: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Pairing: S/X
Rating: PG-13 (erring on the side of caution)
Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be. No harm, no foul, no money made.
A set of four drabbles, quotes acting as titles of sorts. (I'm not a Shakespeare fan, so I garnered inspiration from the quotes themselves, not the work from whence they came.)
~~~~~
And since you know you cannot see yourself,
so well as by reflection, I, your glass,
will modestly discover to yourself,
that of yourself which you yet know not of.
Julius Caesar, Act 1 Scene 2
Xander leaned across and planted a swift kiss on a mouth open in shock, pulling back before he got lost in the feel of satin soft skin against his lips.
"You have no idea what I see when I look at you. You think I see a cold, harsh, punk who doesn't give a damn? No. I see the beauty in you, the caring in you. I see the loneliness, the love, the need to have someone to call your own, someone who'll call you theirs in turn. I want to be that someone, Spike. Let me be that someone..."
~~~~~
I have immortal longings in me.
"Antony and Cleopatra", Act 5 scene 2
It was a conversation Xander could only imagine having in the dark, curled beneath the bedclothes with his lover in his arms. He'd thought long and hard about what to say if Spike came out and asked. He never thought he'd be the one to voice forbidden words.
"It's been on my mind since Jesse died. Since Angel proved a vampire could be more than death and fangs, I've wondered... And then there was you and your love for Dru. And now there's us, and the choice is easy. Make me yours, Spike. Let me love you forever. Turn me."
~~~~~
The sands are number'd that make up my life.
Henry VI, Part 3, Act 1, Scene 4
...so I decided to write you instead. I'm sending everything to you, G-Man, (and I'm not apologising for that, either) because I know you'll be there for my girls to cry on when they learn why I won't be around any more. Spike didn't talk me into anything, I swear. I asked him, and the truth is, he turned me down at first. He said I didn't know what I was getting myself into, but I learned a lot from those books you never believed I actually read. He understands now.
So...
This is the last will and testament of..."
~~~~~
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5
One hundred years and never a night apart. Two halves made whole, two hearts unbeating, one soul shared between them both. They lived well in the darkness, kept each other safe from harm. They watched as all they'd known slowly turned to dust and faded memories, but never once regretted what they'd done, though tears were spilt. They honoured long gone friends and watched their progeny grow up, so sure the bedtime stories were all make-believe and jest. They made their presence felt wherever demons roamed the earth. They revelled in the violence and the blood.
Their love was true.
~~~~~
Part 25
on 2004-12-04 02:55 am (UTC)“Yeah, pet?” Spike asked, looking up from where he was tying fake snowflakes together on a string.
“What are you doing?”
“What’s it look like I’m doing, ya git? Hanging decorations, aren’t I?”
“Well, I can see that. But… why? You don’t even like Christmas.”
Spike eyed Xander, leaning weak and wobbly against the frame of the door and frowned. “You shouldn’t be up, pet. Thought I told you to rest.”
“Got bored, heard you tinkering around out here.”
“Well get your bloody arse back in bed. Don’t need you exerting yourself.”
Xander rolled his eyes. “I’m fine.”
Spike returned his gaze with a stern look.
“Here, I’ll lay down on the couch, I’ll stay quiet and I’ll stay out of your way, okay?” He pushed his bottom lip into a curl and gave his best Xander pout.
Spike sighed heavily and gave in. Always gave in. Xander smiled in victory and made his way to the couch, pulling a red and green afghan over his lap. “See? This is me… relaxing.” His eyebrow rose as he glanced around the room at the various Christmasy objects. “So, what are you doing?”
“I told you. Decorating,” he answered, attaching the long strand of snowflakes to either side of the window.
“Snowflakes, Spike? It’s California.”
“Uh, huh,” he said, picking up a large aerosol can. He pulled the nozzle and began to spray the windows white.
“And snow?! What the fuck’s gotten into you?!” Xander screeched, sitting up straight in panic. “Where’s my Spike and what have you done with him?”
Spike turned, hands on his hips, annoyed. “I thought you said you’d be quiet.”
Xander turned his head, eyes wide and put his fingers to his lips, zipping them. Spike nodded and turned back around to continue adding the white fluff to the windows. Xander watched a while longer, but nestled down warm and comfortable, soon drifted off, his head resting on the arm of the couch.
***
“Xander.”
Xander pushed at whatever it was tickling his cheek and let out a breath in his sleep.
“Wake up, Xan. Time for eggnog.”
Xander registered the sound of Spike’s voice and shifted, lifting one sleepy lid open…and began to laugh.
Spike, topped with a red and white furry Santa hat was sitting beside him, glass in hand. Before he could say anything, Xander noticed the room. It was dark, with the exception of the Christmas lights wrapped around the large tree sitting in the corner, and the flashlight shining up on the wall, glowing on the torch of the… “Statue of Liberty?!”
Spike smiled. “Or hopefully some resemblance.”
Xander pushed the blanket aside and made his way around Spike, slowly moving toward the mural painted on the wall. There, in all its glory was Lady Liberty, surrounded by the skyline of the sparkling New York City skyscrapers.
“What the…how’d you? Why’d you do this?”
Spike eased up behind him, locking his arms around Xander’s stomach and rested his chin against Xander’s shoulder. “Since the doctor didn’t want you to travel, and I know how much you wanted to go back for Christmas, I just…brought it here to you.”
Xander couldn’t speak, instead staring silently, his eyes focused on the wall and the effort Spike had made for him. He blinked, pushing back threatening tears, until he finally turned around to face his partner, his lover…his heart.
“Merry Christmas, Xander.”
The tears flowed as he drowned himself in the taste of Spike’s lips.
Eight years and counting…
Re: Part 25
on 2004-12-04 03:02 am (UTC)