The Thin Line Between Hell and Heaven 6/9
Aug. 3rd, 2011 05:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dragonyphoenixTitle: The Thin Line Between Hell and Heaven
Fandom: BtVS
Characters/Pairing: Spike/Xander
Rating: R eventually, for sex, but PG for adult themes in this chapter
Concrit: Please, in comments
Disclaimer: They aren't mine, not yet, but the will be once I've taken over the world. Bwah-ha-ha.
Summary: There's a thin line between love and hate...
Notes: This is a reworking of my drabble, Don't Get Caught, which was inspired by forsaken2003's Weekend Stuck Together.
Notes: This story came out very Season 4 episode heavy: this chapter, "New Moon Rising"
Masterlist
Heading back to Xander's, taking a back way so the soldier boys wouldn't spot him, Spike was stopped short when a huge Frankenstein looking monster stepped out of an alley. “Spike.”
Git knew his name. That didn't bode well. Spike followed him into the alley, figuring he could always kill it if he had to. Frankenstein turned out to be Adam, the big bad everyone had been going on about. Spike played along, listening to his plan, which sounded like it'd work as long as Adam managed to take out the Slayer, good luck with that, but Spike wasn't thrilled with the world Adam was planning. It sounded as dull as ditchwater to tell the truth. What it didn't sound like was something Xander could survive. Still, Adam had some way of getting rid of the chip. It wasn't like Spike was about to turn that down.
After Adam finally stopped blathering on, Spike made his way to the Scooby meeting, figuring that's where Xander would be. He was about to push open Giles' door when he realized they were working on a way to break into the labs. It sounded like a plan that'd get Xander killed or captured in a heartbeat. Good thing Spike had his own way in, courtesy of Adam but the crew didn't need to know that. Hearing a break in the conversation, the pushed the door open, calling out, “Or you could just use the back way. Hell of a lot less bother.”
“How'd you get in?” Giles asked, as if Spike hadn't been helping for weeks.
“The door was unlocked. You might want to watch that, Rupert. Someone dangerous could get in.” Spike wandered to the back of the room, picking up a blaster left on the coffee table. When Giles asked Spike if he was short of cash, implying that Spike was no better than a paid human minion, Spike aimed the blaster at him. It fell to the floor as he clutched at his his head. “Oh come on. I can't even aim a gun?”
“Get out Spike,” Buffy said.
Spike fell back against the wall. “I was just messing around. Wasn't gonna shoot.”
“Which is why your chip went off.”
“You want into the Initiative or not?” Spike asked.
“Which you're providing out of the evilness of your heart?” Giles asked.
“Not only am I expecting cash, and lots of it, but leading you lot in also has the added advantage of jacking up those army gits.” It took a bit of persuading, but they agreed to follow him in.
As they approached the entrance, all dressed up like soldiers and scientists, Buffy said, “I've mentioned how much I'm going to kill you if this is a scam, right?”
“Hey,” Xander said. “He's been helping. He's been helping for a while. Why would he start playing us false now?”
“Do you want me to count the ways?” Buffy asked.
“Would I wear this,” Spike asked, pointing out the army outfit, “if I wasn't on the up and up?”
“You do sort of look like an evil olive.” And thank you, Willow.
Spike pulled on the door, feeling the locks give. Adam was keeping up his end of the deal. As the power went out and the emergency lights kicked in, Spike started wishing he'd grabbed Xander and gotten him out of town. He hadn't been able to resist the lure of getting dechipped though. He just hoped his boy didn't pay for it.
Following Adam's directions, Spike led the Scoobies to the big boss, the head army guy, who took them to Riley and then to Oz. That part went easier than he'd expected, but then Oz turned, exposing a bit of fur before he was human again. Great, something else to keep an eye on.
* * *
“What are you up to Spike?” Xander was on him as soon as they got home, asking questions that Spike didn't want to answer.
“What? Nothing.” Spike sounded as affronted as he could.
Xander gave him a look. “You've been living here how many months now? You think I can't tell when you're working a situation?”
“Working? I don't work. That's your gig, you... human you.”
“You used to be better at the insults,” Xander told him. “So, what're you hiding?”
To give the boy a distraction, Spike opened the fridge, scanning the shelves for blood. “I don't know what you mean.”
“How'd you get us into the Initiative?”
Spike bit into a blood bag, tearing it open, and started pouring it into a mug. “Kept my ears open. Not my fault they don't keep their doors locked.”
“Spike,” Xander warned.
“You couldn't have known something was off,” Spike said triumphantly, not realizing that was as good as admitting his guilt. “Wouldn't have followed me in.”
Xander gave him a half-smile. “I'd follow you in again. I just want to know what's up.”
“What?” Spike dropped the mug onto the counter, spilling blood. “You don't follow the evil undead anywhere, you got that?”
Xander looked hurt. “Not stupid here. I'm not following any evil undead; I followed you in.”
“And I'm as evil as the next bloke, more so maybe,” Spike shouted. “Ought to have your head examined,” he muttered.
“Good job with the distraction,” Xander said. “Now tell me what's going on.”
Shit. “It was that Adam git. He's got this plan to bring about, well the best way I can describe it is an apocalypse.”
“A trap? You led us into a trap?”
“Told you not to follow the evil undead,” Spike said, feeling like he'd just been slapped.
Hanging his head, Xander fell down into a chair. “What kind of an apocalypse?” Xander asked, not looking up.
Leaning back against the kitchen counter, Spike crossed his arms over his chest. “He's got this plan to merge humans and demons, to make more Frankenstein creatures like himself, splicing parts together. Hell on earth.”
“You know I remember Angelus trying to bring about that very thing.” Xander still wouldn't look at him.
“I'm not 'Gelus.” Spike's voice sounded cold even to his own ears. “And if you're little Scoobie pals talked at all, you'd know I helped stop it.”
“What? You're the only demon on earth who doesn't want the end of the world?”
“Plenty of demons like the earth just the way it is.” Spike said.
Xander looked up at him. “Why didn't you say anything sooner then?”
Couldn't tell him about the chip but didn't have to. “Knew how you'd react, didn't I?”
Xander was staring at him so intently that Spike couldn't move. “You think you can stop him on your own?”
Spike hadn't thought about it. “Well, no. Probably not.”
Xander stood, laying on hand on Spike's shoulder. “You do understand that we have to tell Buffy, right?”
Not knowing how he'd suddenly ended up on the saving the world team, Spike grumbled. “Knew I should have kept my big mouth shut.”
“Why did you tell me?”
Spike turned his head away. He didn't want to admit it. “You asked, didn't you?”
“I, um, is that some kind of a chip thing?” As Spike was about to snarl a response, Xander continued. “No, it can't be. I mean, you can lie up a storm so why force you to always answer questions if you can lie? It doesn't make sense, not unless the scientists were really stupid. Where the scientists stupid, Spike?”
“Wish they were,” Spike muttered.
“I'm calling Buffy and Giles,” Xander said.
Spike rolled his eyes. This was going to go well. He just hoped they'd leave him Xander.
Xander dragged him back to Giles' flat. Buffy, who'd beaten them there, was sitting on the couch with Riley, forcing Spike to sit across from Xander, who'd grabbed a fizzy drink from the fridge, not seeming to notice that Buffy had effectively split them up. “So, where's Willow?” Xander asked. “Oh, with Oz, huh? I guess that makes sense, them not seeing each other in a while and all.”
“I think she picked Tara,” Buffy said.
“Huh?” Xander asked, taking a swig of soda.
“Tara,” Buffy repeated, as if Xander were hard of hearing. “I think she picked Tara over Oz.”
Xander spurted fizzy drink across the rug. “She what?”
Spike looked at him curiously. “You didn't know?”
“That my best friend is gay?” Xander asked. “Did you really ask me if I knew that?”
“If you don't mind,” Giles said. “Could we move this along? I'd like to clean my rug before the soda sets.”
“Fine,” Spike said. “Let's get this over with.” He explained everything Adam had told him, which wasn't big on the details. He hadn't noticed it at the time, but he sure picked up on it as Buffy and Riley grilled him until dawn. “Look,” Spike finally said. “You know everything I know. If I'm going to get home before sunrise, I have to leave now.”
“Xander's house is not your home.” Buffy's tone sounded final.
Here it comes, Spike thought.
“I want you out of town. Since you can't leave during the day, you've got tomorrow night.”
“Hey,” Xander said, rising from his chair to stand next to Spike. “Not your call to make. You can't kick him out of my house, and you don't get to say whether it's his home or not.”
Buffy stood, walking over until she and Xander stood chest to chest. “I don't trust him.”
Riley, from the couch, said, “You told me you trusted him.”
Buffy turned. “What?”
“A couple of weeks back, when Faith was in town. You told me he helped you, asked me not to take him in.” Riley's voice was quiet, but if filled the room like thunder.
“Um,” Buffy said. “It's complicated.”
“Either you trust him or you don't.”
“I trust him,” Xander said. Spike hid a smile. The guy was a real idiot. Spike had told him not to trust a vampire. He wasn't about to encourage him by being amused.
“What?” Apparently Buffy was just as surprised.
“You do realize I've been paying him to help us,” Giles said.
“There were plenty of times he went above and beyond,” Xander replied.
“Name one.” Buffy had that this isn't over tone to her voice.
Xander was obviously having trouble coming up with something. Oh wonderful, Spike thought. That doesn't look bad at all.
“That time Faith got loose,” Xander said, sounding triumphant. “He could've gone after Faith and told her how to find us. He didn't.”
“He didn't have to,” Buffy said. “Faith knows where we all live.”
“But he did volunteer,” Giles interrupted. “He went out with Xander, looking for Faith.”
“Didn't ask for money or anything,” Spike muttered.
Xander leaned in. “You're not helping.”
“That's just one,” Buffy replied.
“You said, 'name one',” Xander countered.
“Maybe he didn't have time to find her,” Buffy said, not willing to give it up.
“I trust him.” Xander's voice was just as firm as Buffy's had been when she'd said she didn't.
“It could be useful,” Riley added, “to have intel on what Adam is up to.”
Buffy looked at Riley as if he'd betrayed her. Turning on Xander, she said, “Fine, but if he gets us all killed, I am so haunting you in, well wherever we end up.
Fandom: BtVS
Characters/Pairing: Spike/Xander
Rating: R eventually, for sex, but PG for adult themes in this chapter
Concrit: Please, in comments
Disclaimer: They aren't mine, not yet, but the will be once I've taken over the world. Bwah-ha-ha.
Summary: There's a thin line between love and hate...
Notes: This is a reworking of my drabble, Don't Get Caught, which was inspired by forsaken2003's Weekend Stuck Together.
Notes: This story came out very Season 4 episode heavy: this chapter, "New Moon Rising"
Masterlist
Heading back to Xander's, taking a back way so the soldier boys wouldn't spot him, Spike was stopped short when a huge Frankenstein looking monster stepped out of an alley. “Spike.”
Git knew his name. That didn't bode well. Spike followed him into the alley, figuring he could always kill it if he had to. Frankenstein turned out to be Adam, the big bad everyone had been going on about. Spike played along, listening to his plan, which sounded like it'd work as long as Adam managed to take out the Slayer, good luck with that, but Spike wasn't thrilled with the world Adam was planning. It sounded as dull as ditchwater to tell the truth. What it didn't sound like was something Xander could survive. Still, Adam had some way of getting rid of the chip. It wasn't like Spike was about to turn that down.
After Adam finally stopped blathering on, Spike made his way to the Scooby meeting, figuring that's where Xander would be. He was about to push open Giles' door when he realized they were working on a way to break into the labs. It sounded like a plan that'd get Xander killed or captured in a heartbeat. Good thing Spike had his own way in, courtesy of Adam but the crew didn't need to know that. Hearing a break in the conversation, the pushed the door open, calling out, “Or you could just use the back way. Hell of a lot less bother.”
“How'd you get in?” Giles asked, as if Spike hadn't been helping for weeks.
“The door was unlocked. You might want to watch that, Rupert. Someone dangerous could get in.” Spike wandered to the back of the room, picking up a blaster left on the coffee table. When Giles asked Spike if he was short of cash, implying that Spike was no better than a paid human minion, Spike aimed the blaster at him. It fell to the floor as he clutched at his his head. “Oh come on. I can't even aim a gun?”
“Get out Spike,” Buffy said.
Spike fell back against the wall. “I was just messing around. Wasn't gonna shoot.”
“Which is why your chip went off.”
“You want into the Initiative or not?” Spike asked.
“Which you're providing out of the evilness of your heart?” Giles asked.
“Not only am I expecting cash, and lots of it, but leading you lot in also has the added advantage of jacking up those army gits.” It took a bit of persuading, but they agreed to follow him in.
As they approached the entrance, all dressed up like soldiers and scientists, Buffy said, “I've mentioned how much I'm going to kill you if this is a scam, right?”
“Hey,” Xander said. “He's been helping. He's been helping for a while. Why would he start playing us false now?”
“Do you want me to count the ways?” Buffy asked.
“Would I wear this,” Spike asked, pointing out the army outfit, “if I wasn't on the up and up?”
“You do sort of look like an evil olive.” And thank you, Willow.
Spike pulled on the door, feeling the locks give. Adam was keeping up his end of the deal. As the power went out and the emergency lights kicked in, Spike started wishing he'd grabbed Xander and gotten him out of town. He hadn't been able to resist the lure of getting dechipped though. He just hoped his boy didn't pay for it.
Following Adam's directions, Spike led the Scoobies to the big boss, the head army guy, who took them to Riley and then to Oz. That part went easier than he'd expected, but then Oz turned, exposing a bit of fur before he was human again. Great, something else to keep an eye on.
“What are you up to Spike?” Xander was on him as soon as they got home, asking questions that Spike didn't want to answer.
“What? Nothing.” Spike sounded as affronted as he could.
Xander gave him a look. “You've been living here how many months now? You think I can't tell when you're working a situation?”
“Working? I don't work. That's your gig, you... human you.”
“You used to be better at the insults,” Xander told him. “So, what're you hiding?”
To give the boy a distraction, Spike opened the fridge, scanning the shelves for blood. “I don't know what you mean.”
“How'd you get us into the Initiative?”
Spike bit into a blood bag, tearing it open, and started pouring it into a mug. “Kept my ears open. Not my fault they don't keep their doors locked.”
“Spike,” Xander warned.
“You couldn't have known something was off,” Spike said triumphantly, not realizing that was as good as admitting his guilt. “Wouldn't have followed me in.”
Xander gave him a half-smile. “I'd follow you in again. I just want to know what's up.”
“What?” Spike dropped the mug onto the counter, spilling blood. “You don't follow the evil undead anywhere, you got that?”
Xander looked hurt. “Not stupid here. I'm not following any evil undead; I followed you in.”
“And I'm as evil as the next bloke, more so maybe,” Spike shouted. “Ought to have your head examined,” he muttered.
“Good job with the distraction,” Xander said. “Now tell me what's going on.”
Shit. “It was that Adam git. He's got this plan to bring about, well the best way I can describe it is an apocalypse.”
“A trap? You led us into a trap?”
“Told you not to follow the evil undead,” Spike said, feeling like he'd just been slapped.
Hanging his head, Xander fell down into a chair. “What kind of an apocalypse?” Xander asked, not looking up.
Leaning back against the kitchen counter, Spike crossed his arms over his chest. “He's got this plan to merge humans and demons, to make more Frankenstein creatures like himself, splicing parts together. Hell on earth.”
“You know I remember Angelus trying to bring about that very thing.” Xander still wouldn't look at him.
“I'm not 'Gelus.” Spike's voice sounded cold even to his own ears. “And if you're little Scoobie pals talked at all, you'd know I helped stop it.”
“What? You're the only demon on earth who doesn't want the end of the world?”
“Plenty of demons like the earth just the way it is.” Spike said.
Xander looked up at him. “Why didn't you say anything sooner then?”
Couldn't tell him about the chip but didn't have to. “Knew how you'd react, didn't I?”
Xander was staring at him so intently that Spike couldn't move. “You think you can stop him on your own?”
Spike hadn't thought about it. “Well, no. Probably not.”
Xander stood, laying on hand on Spike's shoulder. “You do understand that we have to tell Buffy, right?”
Not knowing how he'd suddenly ended up on the saving the world team, Spike grumbled. “Knew I should have kept my big mouth shut.”
“Why did you tell me?”
Spike turned his head away. He didn't want to admit it. “You asked, didn't you?”
“I, um, is that some kind of a chip thing?” As Spike was about to snarl a response, Xander continued. “No, it can't be. I mean, you can lie up a storm so why force you to always answer questions if you can lie? It doesn't make sense, not unless the scientists were really stupid. Where the scientists stupid, Spike?”
“Wish they were,” Spike muttered.
“I'm calling Buffy and Giles,” Xander said.
Spike rolled his eyes. This was going to go well. He just hoped they'd leave him Xander.
Xander dragged him back to Giles' flat. Buffy, who'd beaten them there, was sitting on the couch with Riley, forcing Spike to sit across from Xander, who'd grabbed a fizzy drink from the fridge, not seeming to notice that Buffy had effectively split them up. “So, where's Willow?” Xander asked. “Oh, with Oz, huh? I guess that makes sense, them not seeing each other in a while and all.”
“I think she picked Tara,” Buffy said.
“Huh?” Xander asked, taking a swig of soda.
“Tara,” Buffy repeated, as if Xander were hard of hearing. “I think she picked Tara over Oz.”
Xander spurted fizzy drink across the rug. “She what?”
Spike looked at him curiously. “You didn't know?”
“That my best friend is gay?” Xander asked. “Did you really ask me if I knew that?”
“If you don't mind,” Giles said. “Could we move this along? I'd like to clean my rug before the soda sets.”
“Fine,” Spike said. “Let's get this over with.” He explained everything Adam had told him, which wasn't big on the details. He hadn't noticed it at the time, but he sure picked up on it as Buffy and Riley grilled him until dawn. “Look,” Spike finally said. “You know everything I know. If I'm going to get home before sunrise, I have to leave now.”
“Xander's house is not your home.” Buffy's tone sounded final.
Here it comes, Spike thought.
“I want you out of town. Since you can't leave during the day, you've got tomorrow night.”
“Hey,” Xander said, rising from his chair to stand next to Spike. “Not your call to make. You can't kick him out of my house, and you don't get to say whether it's his home or not.”
Buffy stood, walking over until she and Xander stood chest to chest. “I don't trust him.”
Riley, from the couch, said, “You told me you trusted him.”
Buffy turned. “What?”
“A couple of weeks back, when Faith was in town. You told me he helped you, asked me not to take him in.” Riley's voice was quiet, but if filled the room like thunder.
“Um,” Buffy said. “It's complicated.”
“Either you trust him or you don't.”
“I trust him,” Xander said. Spike hid a smile. The guy was a real idiot. Spike had told him not to trust a vampire. He wasn't about to encourage him by being amused.
“What?” Apparently Buffy was just as surprised.
“You do realize I've been paying him to help us,” Giles said.
“There were plenty of times he went above and beyond,” Xander replied.
“Name one.” Buffy had that this isn't over tone to her voice.
Xander was obviously having trouble coming up with something. Oh wonderful, Spike thought. That doesn't look bad at all.
“That time Faith got loose,” Xander said, sounding triumphant. “He could've gone after Faith and told her how to find us. He didn't.”
“He didn't have to,” Buffy said. “Faith knows where we all live.”
“But he did volunteer,” Giles interrupted. “He went out with Xander, looking for Faith.”
“Didn't ask for money or anything,” Spike muttered.
Xander leaned in. “You're not helping.”
“That's just one,” Buffy replied.
“You said, 'name one',” Xander countered.
“Maybe he didn't have time to find her,” Buffy said, not willing to give it up.
“I trust him.” Xander's voice was just as firm as Buffy's had been when she'd said she didn't.
“It could be useful,” Riley added, “to have intel on what Adam is up to.”
Buffy looked at Riley as if he'd betrayed her. Turning on Xander, she said, “Fine, but if he gets us all killed, I am so haunting you in, well wherever we end up.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-08-03 09:45 pm (UTC)Oh Hell's Bells! I do hope you, your Xander and your Spike know what they are doing. Great, exciting update again. Thanks!
no subject
Date: 2011-08-03 09:47 pm (UTC)Thanks, I'm glad you're enjoying it.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-03 10:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-04 01:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-04 01:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-03 11:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-04 01:05 am (UTC)Ha! See? I can be as cryptic as you. Except you usually don't do the happy dance when you're being cryptic. As far as I know...
no subject
Date: 2011-08-04 01:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-04 01:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-04 08:23 am (UTC)Also, I'm loving this Spike - he's so... divided.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-13 10:25 pm (UTC)He did look rather idiotic in that uniform, didn't he? I like divided!Spike. ;-)