Walker of Night Part 6

[madimpossibledreamer]

I, um.  Sorry about all the ‘trying to write accent’ stuff.  This is hard for even me to read at this point.  There's always a line between being true to the accent and being readable to an audience, and I think this falls too heavily on the former and ignores the latter completely.  Which is a shame, because I actually really like the content of this one.
(Also, awkwardly, Xander's sick, but obviously just a cold or a flu as that's what existed back then)
(...also this might be one of few cases where the core scoobies have showed up in my fic together?)
~Dreamer~

Main Points:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer AU
Summary: Buffy gives her grudging approval, Willow's just amused (but also approves), and Xander is too out of it to realize that his friends are evaluating his new boyfriend.
Word Count: 1374
Rating: Teen
Pairing: Xander/Spike
Warning: Xander has a cold or flu.  Thought I'd warn for this rn

 

I just can’t ‘elp marvelin’ at my White Knight.  Dunno what I did, ‘xactly, ta get all this, but if I knew I’d do it a ‘undred times again.  I can ‘ave my love, an’ my spot ‘o violence, an’ ‘pparently that’s enough for me.
               ‘E’s been a bit quiet, tonight, an’ it’s not normal.  Tired, too, an’ whiter ‘n ‘e should be, bein’ ‘alf ‘uman.  I c’n ‘ear ‘im, natterin’ away back there with Red, but ‘e’s lackin’ ‘is usual energy.
               I turn, unable ta keep my eyes off ‘im any longer, just as ‘e sways, an’ manage ta catch ‘im.  Slayer’s just come out, ‘n she’s glarin’ daggers at me, but I don’t right care.  ‘T’s Xan ‘m concerned about.  She c’n go off an’ rot.
               “Xan, what’re you playin’ at?” I ask, trying not ta sound too concerned.
               ‘E clutches at me like a lifeline, an’ that’s when I know something’s definitely wrong.  “Hurts,” is ‘is only reply, an’ doesn’t that just make me nervous an’ frustrated.
               “Poisoned, luv?” I ask, this time not botherin’ ta conceal ‘ow worried I am an’ ‘ow much I’m gonna tear open ‘o’ever’s be’ind it, an’ ‘e opens ‘is eyes and grins at me weakly.  ‘E knows I’d kill for ‘im.  ‘Tain’t somethin’ ta be laughed at.
               “Sick, I think.  You know, it’s something humans do?”  ‘E reaches out, one ‘and playin’, fascinated, with my shirt collar.
               “You’re not ‘uman, pet,” I whisper back, tryin’ ta still be mad at ‘im, not ta give in ta ‘ow cute ‘e looks.
               “Half human.  Close enough.”  ‘E yawns like a pussy cat, all wet an’ adorable, an’ ‘is large, chocolate eyes drift closed, even as ‘e rambles on ‘alf-‘eartedly.  Probably doesn’t even realize ‘e’s still talkin’.  “Spike arms, arms of Spike, safe now.  Sleep.  Want to sleep.  Wore myself out, apparently, that’s what homework does to you, that’s why I dropped out.  Wait, no, didn’t do my homework before.  Why am I doing it now?  Silly Xander, doing homework is for Wills.  And, y’know, not skipping class.  ‘T’s okay, though, right, ‘cause Spike’s there.  To support me and remind me why I’m doing this again, ‘cause it’s not because I miss high school, that’s for sure.  Or Snyder.  Want Spike.  Need Spike.  Mmm, smell of Spike.” ‘e nuzzled further inta my shirt, turnin’ soft an’ boneless.  I look over, ‘elpless, an’ Red’s standin’ there, tryin’ ta conceal a smile.
               The Slayer’s marched up ta me, tryin’ ta look all dangerous, an’ I ‘ave ta laugh at the thought of ‘er attackin’ a ‘elpless vampire with arms full of ‘er best friend.  Not that she wouldn’t, mind, but th’ thought is ridiculous, an’ with ‘er claimin’ she’s got the moral ‘igh ground, too.
               “Spike, what have you done with Xander?” she asks, all fiery fury, and I smile at her.  Best way ta piss ‘er off, I’ve found, when she’s angry.  Xan’s defense, ‘specially when others are angry at ‘im, is either jokin’ or smilin’.  Confuses the enemy.  Best thing is, ties ‘em up.  Don’t know ‘ow they should respond.
               “You’d blame a bloke even for germs.  Then again, won’t say I didn’t see that comin’-you blame me for everythin’, sweet.”  Red giggled be’ind me, an’ I pulled Xander inta my new car.  ‘E whimpered when I pulled ‘im off me an’ pushed ‘im inta th’ passenger’s side, an’ I couldn’t ‘elp the look of sudden loss.  Carefully, I rummaged around th’ back ‘till I found th’ ‘mergency blanket ‘e’d made me put in that morning, an’ tenderly placed it ‘round ‘is shoulders an’ torso.  ‘E snuggled inta it, still mutterin’ about ‘smell of Spike’, an’ that made me ridiculously ‘appy.  Right whipped, I am.
               When I finally looked back at ‘er Slayerness, there was somethin’ in ‘er eyes I ‘and’t seen before.  Th’ anger was mostly gone.  She looked a little bit soft, then.
               “You really do care about him, don’t you?”  ‘Er words were almost gentle.
               “You’re finally catchin’ on.  Well done, Slayer,” I state gruffly, but my ‘eart’s not in it.  If I ‘ad a ‘eart.  Big Bad’s goin’ all soft, now.
               She looks at me, an’ ’m surprised at all the things I c’n see in ‘er eyes.  Finally understands, yeah, but more ‘n that.  Sad, grudging acceptance.  Doesn’t want me ‘ere, but she doesn’t really ‘ave a choice.  Knows why Xan loves me, ‘n wants me around.  She’ll never like me much, but she’ll respect an’ tolerate me, for the sake o’ ‘er friend.  Fierce protection, didn’ think ‘e knew what ‘e was doin’, but then, they’re always underestimatin’ m’ Xander.
               Just like that, ‘m part o’ the family.  ‘T’s surprisin’, really.  Ta look at them, you’d think with all their differences an’ misunderstandins an’ rows they’d be easily shattered.  Probably be right, too, but they always come back tagether, ‘cause ties of blood are stronger ‘n anythin’.  They’re not related, but th’ bond…now I’m lookin’ for it, ‘t’s there, shinin’ out stronger than th’ stars.  Not sure what it is, or why ‘t’s there, but I’m ‘appy it is.
               ‘T’s familiar, that fierce, protective love.  Like comin’ ‘ome.  ‘T’s like a vampire’s family, a vampire’s love.  Sure, there’s ‘urt an’ pain ta be ‘ad, and things certainly aren’t gonna get any easier.  But there’s also the belongin’, an’…any one of ‘em would die protectin’ th’ others.  They may be ‘uman, but they’re not any less ‘n I am.  ‘n I’m not ashamed, really, now, ta be a part o’ them, ta taste in their sorrows and joys.  Knew I was in th’ long run with those beautiful fangs and that soft, sweet voice an’ those ‘orrible puns.  Th’ way Xan looks at me, with love an’ trust I know I ‘aven’t deserved.  Innocent but dangerous, at times so naïve an’ yet so knowin’.  Now, with these ties, I don’t feel like I’m at all degradin’ myself, nor my rep as the Big Bad.  Yeah, okay, so there may be a few ‘o don’t understand, but they ‘aven’t looked ‘ard enough, ta see th’ way these seemin’ly weak mortals ‘re stronger ‘n the lot o’ us, the way this mismatched crew binds stronger ‘n steel.
               “If you ever break his heart, I will stake you.”  An’ for once, I don’t ‘ate th’ bird.  She’s completely serious, an’ I’m grateful.  This one I can respect.
               “If I don’t dust myself first, you’re welcome,” I’m completely serious, too, an’ she respects that.
               She nods once, solemnly, an’ then smiles.  “Xander Harris, you’re a complete hypocrite for falling in love with a vampire and I will have to tease you for several weeks straight.  Once your worrying vamp has gotten you back to health that is.”  Teasin’ among this family is a sign that th’ tension is gone, an’ I’m glad for that.  Been drivin’ Xan barmy-I’ve seen the signs of ‘is increased tension-th’ ‘eadaches, th’ frowns, a slight brittleness like ‘e’s gonna shatter, estranged from ‘is mental family just on account of Big, Bad, and Soulless ‘ere.  Surprised ‘e ‘ad th’ guts ta do that, but ‘m glad I mean that much ta ‘im.
               “t’s good,” ‘e mumbles back, and she reaches out an’ ruffles ‘is ‘air.
               I turn ta Red an’ she’s smilin’ shyly.  “I’m glad.  It just…wasn’t fun, you know, with the whole everyone not being able to talk to each other and all.”
               I laugh at ‘er, tryin’ ta look like th’ old me.  “Was fun for some of us, pet.”  She ‘ugs me, and when I pull back, startled, she does laugh.  Right annoyin’, that is.
               “Yeah, yeah, sure.  Still evil and don’t care about anyone.  I won’t tell a soul.”  She smiles, an’ we both know she’s lyin’, but it makes me feel better, that I can pretend and they’ll pretend along with me.  Still got a pride ‘ere.
               “Go take care of your boyfriend, oh Big Vamp,” Slayer’s voice drifts over to me, an’ she’s laughin’ too, but means it mostly, so I nod ta them both an’ prepare myself for takin’ care of my clumsy White Knight.  I sneak a glance over at ‘im beginnin’ ta snore in the other seat, an’ feel contentment fill me.  ‘T’s good.