[identity profile] strickens-girl.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] tamingthemuse
Finally, this 'verse is finished. There will be an epilogue, or what one of my friends called a Sex-ilogue. *waggles eyebrows* This prompt finally struck me just right and the quote I found really wrapped things up for me nicely. I hope you like too. *g*

Written for the [livejournal.com profile] tamingthemuse prompt of "Rusting".


Title: Guilt Upon the Conscience
Series: The Boy Next Door
Pairing: Spike/Xander, mentions of Ethan/Giles
Rating: Mature/Adults Only
Prompt: Rusting
Spoilers: None, all human AU
Warnings: Underage, manipulation, dark!fic, daddy!kink, child abuse, overall dirty!bad!wrongness.
Summary: Xander needs some help but Spike decides to help himself to Xander.
Word Count: 1,091


And, due to the LJ Boldthrough, I am sporting a new disclaimer for this fic, thanks to [livejournal.com profile] _sharvie_:

Disclaimer: No childrenz were hurt in teh making of this fanfic! *g*

Previous Parts.

Thanks to [livejournal.com profile] _sharvie_ for the lovely banner beneath the cut.



Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket



The Boy Next Door: Guilt Upon the Conscience



Spike stood leaning against the old crabapple tree he'd once watched Xander hide beneath what seemed like so long ago. Three boxes sat at his feet. Three boxes filled with things that Xander wanted to take home. Three boxes that symbolized Xander's life in his parent's home, that represented his childhood.

Spike kicked one of the boxes, smirking as it clinked slightly. It's not like there was much that Xander would take from that place that Spike couldn't provide for him, but there were things that the boy would miss if he'd left them all behind like Spike wanted.

The older boy longed to have Xander forget all about the people who hurt him, to leave that old life behind, like a snake shedding an too-small skin, and start his life anew with him and his family. But Xander wasn't like that. He couldn't just leave his old friends and his old things behind. They were a part of who Xander was and Spike wouldn't have him any other way.

Soon, Xander walked out of the basement door carrying one more box. He moved to join the blond boy in the shade. Dropping the box on top of the pile, he leaned against the reclining boy, his sable covered head resting on the shorter boy's shoulder.

"That the last of it, Xan?" Spike asked.

"Yeah," Xander replied, snuggling down into the older boy's embrace. "I couldn't find some of my older comics though. I think my mom might have sold them and thrown them out of something."

Spike snorted instead of spitting out the rude comment waiting on the tip of his tongue. He pulled the younger boy closer, snuggling the warm neck.

"Probably right, Tossers." Well, he'd tried not to make a rude comment for an entire two seconds. They rested against each other, soaking in the other's warmth and strength while they studied the house that had been the source of so much pain and grief.

"I should tell Dad to replace those," Xander whispered after several long minutes.

"Replace what, Pet?" Spike asked.

"The gutters," Xander replied, motioning toward the rusting metal surrounding the roof of the dilapidated house. "They're getting pretty bad and they could fall if he doesn't replace the rusted ones. Maybe I should go in and…"

"No, Pet," Spike whispered, tightening his arms around the body leaning against him. "You're not going back in there now that I've got you out."

Xander sighed and relaxed, nodding his head slowly. They stood in silence, simply watching as the sun set, turning the sky into an amazing cascade of colors. Suddenly, the porch light turned on and the front door opened tentatively.

Spike watched warily as the woman slowly made her way over toward them. They moved away from the tree as she approached, leaving little room between them. Jessica Harris stopped and smiled slightly, her hair falling in front of her face as she ducked her head shyly.

"I wanted to say good-bye," she whispered just loud enough for the boys to hear. "I'm sorry things turned out like they did, but that's how it goes sometimes, right?"

Spike had to swallow hard to keep down the ire rising in him. He wanted to grab the woman and shake her, tell her that she ruined her child, leaving him to pick up the pieces. He quelled the desire, knowing that he would upset his boy by hurting his mother.

Xander remained silent as well, waiting for his mother to finish talking.

"I'd like it if you'd keep me up to date, you know, with your school stuff and all," the shy woman continued. "Just stop by once in a while, please."

Xander nodded before whispering, "Sure, Mom."

Before Spike could stop her, the woman had her arms around Xander's neck, hugging him close. The younger boy froze, seemingly unable to move, until finally he reached around to return the hug. Jessica's brown eyes met Spike's blue ones over Xander's shoulder and she whispered, "Promise me you'll take care of him."

Spike glared at the woman, incensed at the request, as if she didn't know him at all.

"I always do," he growled.

Finally, Jessica let the boy go and Spike pulled Xander close as she stepped away. She was suddenly thrusting something into Xander's hands.

"I made you some banana nut bread," Jessica mumbled quickly. "I remembered that you liked sweet breads, right? I could never keep you out of the Twinkies and stuff like that. This is better for you."

Xander looked down at the plastic wrapped loaf in his hands. "Thanks," he whispered.

"Well, bye." Jessica blurted before rushing back into the house, locking the door and switching off the porch light.

Xander turned and smiled slightly at Spike before tossing the bread into the top box, picking up two of the boxes, leaving the other two for Spike.

"Let's get you home," Spike said, smirking at the boy. "Da will have dinner ready and I'm sure Giles has the assignments you missed today. Besides, we need to get the bedroom ready, yeah?"

Xander laughed when Spike waggled his eyebrows before he began to head to the house next door. Looking back over his shoulder, he said wistfully, "I can't believe she baked for me."

"Yeah, Pet," Spike replied before asking, "But does she even know that you're allergic to walnuts?"

"I thought so," Xander chuckled. "Maybe she just forgot or something. Who knows? Maybe Giles will eat it?"

"Doubt he'd eat anything that woman made. He'd probably be afraid she would poison him on accident."

"Too true," Xander answered. "Still it was nice."

"Yeah, she probably felt guilty for everything, but I don't think a loaf of banana bread is adequate repayment for years of neglect, Xan."

"At least she's trying," Xander offered.

"That she is," Spike conceded.

They'd reached their house and as they stepped over the doorway, Spike called out, "Da! I'm home! And look what I found on the way. Can I keep him?"

They all laughed and hugged as Xander and Spike set down the boxes. Before Ethan and Giles could steer them toward the kitchen, Xander turned to close the front door, glad to be home at long last.

~~~The End~~~




Date: 2008-04-18 04:55 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] piksa.livejournal.com
This was really sweet. Xander is finally home where he is well taken care of.

Glad to see the boys back!

Date: 2008-04-18 09:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] brunettepet.livejournal.com
I enjoyed this bittersweet chapter. Jessica's goodbye was too little too late, and forgetting the food allergy just added insult to injury. I love how angry Spike is for Xander, and how he struggles not to voice his ire because he knows it will just upset his boy. Xander's finally loved and cherished like he's always deserved.

Date: 2008-04-18 10:07 pm (UTC)
ext_30096: (Default)
From: [identity profile] yanagi-wa.livejournal.com
Glad Xander is finally home. Trust Jess to mess up even that simple thing. Great story.

Date: 2008-04-21 06:55 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alterian.livejournal.com
I'm so sad it has ended, but what a good ending it was!
You did a great job, and I loved it.
I'm pretty sure I'll be rereading the whole thing in a day or two....

Profile

tamingthemuse: (Default)
Taming The Muse

Authors

Navigation

Prompt Tags and Lists

Word Prompt Entry

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jul. 12th, 2025 09:48 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios