Fic: The Needs of the One versus the Needs of the Many, Angel/Xander, Prompt - Temptation

[strickens-girl.livejournal.com]

Title: The Needs of the One versus the Needs of the Many
Series: The Dark World
Fandom: BtVS
Pairing: Angel/Xander
Prompt: Temptation
Rating: Mature/Adults Only overall
Spoilers: AU after The Becoming, BtVS Season Two
Warnings: Bloodplay, D/s themes, dark!fic overall
Word Count: 856

This is part of my series The Dark World which is a sequel to The Dark'Verse. You should really read those before this or it won't make much sense.

Thanks to seductivembrace for the new banner under the cut! Yay!

Crossposting with tamingthemuse and _xangel.






The Needs of One versus The Needs of Many

Xander slowly chewed his food, savoring the taste and texture of the sustaining meal. He'd come to enjoy the nourishment the demons provided him. It was tasty and filling and it gave Xander a few moments rest from his endless training.

His fingers ached as they curled around the large fork as tried to bring to his mouth. He'd tried eating with his left hand but he'd fumbled too much food to make that practical to actually sustain himself and not look like a complete idiot at the same time. He'd developed calluses from gripping the handle of his sword for hours on end, learning how to parry and stab, discovering the most effective ways to defend in an attack, discovering how to make the sword an extension of his own arm, to fight, to win.

Of course, so far all he'd really learned was how to keep the sword upright and protect his head. Ali kept telling him that was the most important part, but Xander knew he needed to know more, needed to do more to lead the army and win the war.

All his muscles ached as he lifted his arm to eat. He groaned lightly at the strain and several demons at the table chuckled.

"Thanks for the sympathy," Xander grumbled as he shoved a mound of food in his mouth. "I wouldn't expect you guys to understand."

Angel smiled as he reached over to pat the boy's sore shoulder. "I know we've been working you hard, Xander, but right now the most important thing is to get you trained. It'll get easier, I promise you."

"Right," Xander groused as he shoveled more food in his mouth.

As his plate emptied, Xander slowed down, pushing his food around his plate. Every night since they'd come to this dimension had ended the same way: biting, pain, blackness. The boy was tired of waking up every morning hurting and disoriented. He wanted to try to put off the inevitable.

"What is for the matter, K-sander?" Ali asked as he watched his trainee play with his food.

Xander smiled to hear how much better the demon's English was coming along. Angel had explained to him how hard it was for them to get the language right, especially having to translate it from their own language into the alphabet then into German and subsequently into English. That left the end result something that made Xander smile whenever he heard it. But now they were learning and Xander almost missed the demons sounding like super-sized Yodas.

Xander cleared his throat before answering, "Nothing's the matter. I'm just..."

"...afraid to go our room," Angel finished for him.

The tension was suddenly heavy and Xander wished there was no one else there. Dropping his face into his hands, the boy sighed. "It's just hard," he whispered. "Every night. It's hard."

"I-I just can't fight it," Angel whispered. "I've tried not to take so much. I've tried not to hurt you, but I can't stop. I can't..."

"Lust," the Shaman interrupted.

"What?" both Angel and Xander questioned.

"Your lust is not divided. Blood lust is being over and whelming. You need to be slacking the lust you have. Temper your temptation."

Xander sat staring at the Shaman, his eyes wide. "So you're saying..."

"Yes, he's saying," Angel whispered.

They stared at each other for several long moments before the Shaman stood, signaling that the meal was done. Xander sighed as he followed the demon and Angel back to their room. He began to fidget, his fingers picking at the edge of his shirt, as the door closed behind him with a bang.

Xander turned to see brown eyes tempered with gold staring at him. "Angel..." he whispered.

"It's so hard, Xander," Angel began to explain as he stepped closer to the trembling boy. "I don't want to hurt you but I'm afraid. What if Angelus..."

"What?!" Xander snapped, his nerves on edge. "What if Angelus suddenly shows up and tries to kill me? Been there, done that, wear the scars. Besides, do you really think I’m going to give you perfect happiness? You've had one moment of perfect happiness in how many years? Fuck that! I'll tell you what I know for sure. You won't have perfect happiness with me."

Angel froze inches away from Xander. "What makes you think I won't?!" he shouted.

"Because," Xander challenged, lifting his chin to stare into the vampire's eyes, "You'll always remember what you did to me. No matter how good you make me feel, you'll always know how much pain you gave me."

They stared, waiting and watching, each wanting the other to make the first move.

Suddenly, Angel darted in to kiss the boy and Xander stopped him, pushing hard against the vampire's chest with both hands.

"I don't think so," Xander teased as he kept the vampire at bay. When Angel cocked his head in confusion, Xander chuckled before continuing. "You've taken me against the wall every night since we've been here. I think it's time we used the bed."

Tbc...

Comments

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Oh, Xander, you tease *g*
It's beginning to look like they're going to be there a while. Angel taking offense at the idea that Xander can't give him perfect happiness was funny. But Xander is right, Angel's soul is safe, because Angel can never forget what he did as Angelus. Nice.

[strickens-girl.livejournal.com]

Well, after everything I put poor Xander through, he'd better not let Angel forget. Besides, our Xander wouldn't let Angel delude himself into a moment of perfect happiness. Soon they are going to come to an understanding and work together, because, yes, they are going to be here for a while. *g*

[spiceblueeyes.livejournal.com]

Yes yes, use the bed!
...
sorry, I just can't help myself sometimes.
*hangs head*

"Xander almost missed the demons sounding like super-sized Yodas."
Hehehe, I like that image.