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tamingthemuse2008-08-23 10:52 pm
authoressnebula.livejournal.com) wrote in tamingthemuse2008-08-23 10:52 pm
Entry tags:
authoressnebula, #109, Revenge Can Be Sweet, 12/?, Buffy/Xander, PG-13
Title: Revenge Can Be Sweet
Pairing: Buffy/Xander (other pairings to be announced later on)
Chapter: 12 of ?
Prompt: #109 - Anguish for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
tamingthemuse
Rating: PG-13
Time Period: Mid Season 7
Summary: With the memory of Spike and Anya's night in the Magic Box firmly in their minds, Buffy and Xander just want a way to make them feel hurt too. They form a pact and a pretend relationship, but soon enough, they realize the feelings between them are anything but pretend.
Isn't it gorgeous? Thank you![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
spikeshunny!
Previous parts here
Previously in Revenge Can Be Sweet:
There appears to be something between Anya and Giles, and Buffy is surprised that Xander isn't surprised by it. Dawn leaves, Willow joins Spike in the kitchen, and the growing awkwardness between Buffy and Xander has finally hit the have-to-deal point. They sneak out the front door for the back porch to talk.
The back porch was quiet and dark. The only light came from the kitchen windows, which were covered with blinds. Just enough to see where he was going, and Xander took a seat on the top stair. Buffy settled next to him, resting her arms on her knees, and they sat for a moment in the darkness and silence.
Finally, Xander spoke up. “So we're awkward. Which is what we were aiming to not do. Where'd we go wrong?”
Buffy shrugged. “I don't know. One minute we were pretending and having a blast, and the next...well, it wasn't so much a blast as it was spray. In the face.” She scrunched up her nose, and Xander found his lips turning up of their own accord. “I think I lost the metaphor.”
“I think the metaphor lost itself,” Xander replied dryly. Buffy cracked a grin of her own, and the tension Xander had forgotten was there slowly fell away. The last thing he wanted was awkwardness between them.
He wasn't entirely sure he was willing to give up whatever was going on between them, though, to get rid of said awkwardness.
It had opened up a box he thought he'd shut away years and years ago. Buffy was his friend, had been ever since he'd met her, and the things he felt for her...? Platonic love, really. He'd shoved away the crush of a young high school boy and figured that was it.
“We're not pretending anymore, are we,” Buffy said softly. Apparently, she'd been thinking the same thing.
“Honestly? I don't know,” Xander admitted. “I mean, it's been what, just a few days? I mean, how could anything have happened that fast?”
Buffy turned her gaze towards him, and Xander immediately caught it. Just like he'd always done, giving her his full attention, but it felt different. Everything felt different, but...not, really. All the same.
She was still Buffy, Slayer extraordinaire, she who didn't die easily. His best friend, his leader, the girl who wore her heart on her sleeves when it counted and hid it when she needed to. And he was still Xander, the high school nerd who got involved in dangerous things, who knew how to fix windows and wounds. The white knight who saved the girl and the boy who watched her every move with a thudding heartbeat.
Kinda like he felt at the moment. He realized, albeit slightly late, that they were still staring at each other. A small breeze came through the back yard, and a stray tendril of blonde hair came across her face. Without even thinking, he reached out to tuck it behind her ear, then froze. Buffy was still watching him, not moving away, but actually almost leaning into his hand.
Oh god. Oh god oh god, he was actually considering this. His mind showed him the multitude of ways that this was a bad idea, that he shouldn't lean in like he was doing at the moment, why he should be backing away when she leaned in to meet him, and-
As soon as her lips brushed against his, he told his mind to shut up. Her eyes were still on him, and she looked unsure and hesitant for the first time since he'd met her. He parted his lips and gently pulled at hers, asking the question without speaking.
She licked her lips and parted them slightly. Question answered. Her breath was quick and warm against his mouth, and he moved forward to capture it. Her eyes slid closed when his lips covered hers, and he let his hand flatten to cup her cheek. His other hand rose to cradle her face, even as his lips met hers, pulling back and sliding forward. The pace was slow and easy, gentle, soothing.
Xander let his own eyes fall shut and let himself have what he'd only dreamed of having years before.
Spike was at the kitchen table when Willow came in. She gave him a brief smile as she passed him for the kettle, and the small twitch of his lips felt like a victory of sorts. “You want tea?” she asked. “I make a mean herbal or Earl Grey.”
“...Yeah, that'd be nice,” Spike said quietly. “'Preciate it.”
Willow shrugged. “Tea's lonely with just one, you know? Better to share. Plus, I'd hate to boil water and torture all those molecules just for a single person.”
When no response came, she glanced over her shoulder. Spike was turned to fully regard her, eyebrows raised. “Torture molecules?” he asked.
She felt her cheeks warm to what had to be a rosy pink. “You know. Water molecules. I'm, uh, boiling them. Which has to be torture. Or, you know, it could just be warming water to better steam herbs,” she added, her voice having dropped to the lowest she could manage.
Spike stared at her awhile longer, then honest to god chuckled. “You're one of a kind, Willow,” he finally said. “I'll give you that. Don't think I've ever looked at makin' tea like that.”
“I'm kinda odd like that,” she said, grinning and turning back to the kettle. The sink quickly filled it to her desired level, and she set it on the already warming stove top. “And what happened to Red?”
“What?” Spike asked, sounding confused. “What do you mean, what happened to red? Color's still around, far as I know.”
She rolled her eyes and pulled out two mugs from the cabinet. “No, I meant my name. You've been calling me Willow, but you called me Red this afternoon.”
Spike shrugged uncomfortably. “Who I used to be, I guess: I called you Red back then...before.”
She watched him carefully, spotting self loathing and anguish on his face. Her lips pursed, she made her way over to the table, setting the mugs down. “Yeah, well, my hair color hasn't changed, so my name better not either, Mister.” She wagged her finger at him, but gave a grin to belie whatever anger might've been interpreted from the words.
Slowly he began to smile. “Fine then; can't say I didn't warn you. You're stuck with Red now, pet.”
Her cheeks felt warm again, and his smile slid into a grin she hadn't known she'd missed. “Especially since it seems to fit your face more than your hair these days.”
“Oh, shush up,” she mumbled. A figure stepped into the kitchen, and Willow happily turned her attention away from the smirking Spike. “Dawnie! I thought you were snagging the bathroom?”
“There's five of them up there,” Dawn said unhappily, then heaved a sigh as if her mood hadn't been translatable. “I'll wait. Where's my sister and Xander?”
Willow and Spike frowned at the same time, then glanced into the living room. The couch had been vacated, and there was no one nearby. “Uh...”
The front door opened, and Anya and Giles stepped through. “What are you two doin' back?” Spike asked, raising an eyebrow. “Should've taken longer than that.”
“I wanted to stop by Xander's apartment and double check to ensure it would set up easily for the girls, but Anya didn't have a key,” Giles explained. “As long as we're heading out to the bus depot, we might as well swing by his apartment.”
“Where is he?” Anya asked, a frown on her face. She glanced left to right, then opened the basement door and peered in. “Oh, sorry, none of you are Xander,” she said to whomever was down there, then shut the door again. “Where'd he go?”
Dawn squeaked, causing Willow to glance in her direction. She was standing by the back door, her eyes fastened onto the something outside. “What's the matter?” Giles asked, concerned.
“They're kissing,” she said, sounding stunned. Willow frowned in confusion, then felt her jaw drop at who the 'they' had to be. What the...?
“No,” she denied, but her feet moved her over to the window next to Dawn. “No way.”
There, on the back porch steps, were Xander and Buffy. Even if his hands hadn't been gently caressing and covering her face, it was fairly obvious just what it was they were doing.
“No way,” she breathed. She was instantly aware of bodies behind her, pressing in to see what she was seeing. She backed away as best she could, and still wound up bumping into someone. She whipped around immediately to apologize, and found herself face to face with Spike. She swallowed and watched him mimic the action.
Giles pulled them all from the window, sparing Willow the awkward moment of trying to get around Spike. “They're really together,” Anya said. “They're really together.”
“I thought that was made painfully obvious earlier today,” Giles said, his brow scrunched in confusion.
“They're really together?” Anya repeated again, aiming her question at Willow.
“Um, like I know?” Willow said, wishing she was a better liar. From the looks Anya and Spike were giving her, she obviously needed work.
“I knew it!” Anya said, turning to glare at Spike. “You said 'no, it's too close to incest'.”
“That was you, Anya,” Spike said, narrowing his gaze at her.
“Wouldn't you have thought he'd have learned his lesson back in high school?” Giles mused, still looking shell shocked.
Dawn continued staring at the window she'd just been peering through. “It was just supposed to be a game,” she whispered.
Everything froze. Willow cringed, and everyone's attention switched from Dawn to her. Anya narrowed her gaze at her, and it was then that Willow remembered there wasn't a wall behind her.
“Dawnie, let's see if the bathroom's open yet,” she said brightly. With an indignant squawk Dawn was dragged after Willow all the way up the stairs, away from the accusing glares.
But dear goddess, they'd really been kissing. It wasn't like Willow had thought THAT was going to happen.
---------------------
A/N: Will not be replying to comments right now; life's gotten very crazy and busy. I wanted to let you all know in advance; I'm really sorry about that. I hope you enjoy!
~Nebula
Pairing: Buffy/Xander (other pairings to be announced later on)
Chapter: 12 of ?
Prompt: #109 - Anguish for
tamingthemuseRating: PG-13
Time Period: Mid Season 7
Summary: With the memory of Spike and Anya's night in the Magic Box firmly in their minds, Buffy and Xander just want a way to make them feel hurt too. They form a pact and a pretend relationship, but soon enough, they realize the feelings between them are anything but pretend.
Isn't it gorgeous? Thank you
spikeshunny!Previous parts here
Previously in Revenge Can Be Sweet:
There appears to be something between Anya and Giles, and Buffy is surprised that Xander isn't surprised by it. Dawn leaves, Willow joins Spike in the kitchen, and the growing awkwardness between Buffy and Xander has finally hit the have-to-deal point. They sneak out the front door for the back porch to talk.
The back porch was quiet and dark. The only light came from the kitchen windows, which were covered with blinds. Just enough to see where he was going, and Xander took a seat on the top stair. Buffy settled next to him, resting her arms on her knees, and they sat for a moment in the darkness and silence.
Finally, Xander spoke up. “So we're awkward. Which is what we were aiming to not do. Where'd we go wrong?”
Buffy shrugged. “I don't know. One minute we were pretending and having a blast, and the next...well, it wasn't so much a blast as it was spray. In the face.” She scrunched up her nose, and Xander found his lips turning up of their own accord. “I think I lost the metaphor.”
“I think the metaphor lost itself,” Xander replied dryly. Buffy cracked a grin of her own, and the tension Xander had forgotten was there slowly fell away. The last thing he wanted was awkwardness between them.
He wasn't entirely sure he was willing to give up whatever was going on between them, though, to get rid of said awkwardness.
It had opened up a box he thought he'd shut away years and years ago. Buffy was his friend, had been ever since he'd met her, and the things he felt for her...? Platonic love, really. He'd shoved away the crush of a young high school boy and figured that was it.
“We're not pretending anymore, are we,” Buffy said softly. Apparently, she'd been thinking the same thing.
“Honestly? I don't know,” Xander admitted. “I mean, it's been what, just a few days? I mean, how could anything have happened that fast?”
Buffy turned her gaze towards him, and Xander immediately caught it. Just like he'd always done, giving her his full attention, but it felt different. Everything felt different, but...not, really. All the same.
She was still Buffy, Slayer extraordinaire, she who didn't die easily. His best friend, his leader, the girl who wore her heart on her sleeves when it counted and hid it when she needed to. And he was still Xander, the high school nerd who got involved in dangerous things, who knew how to fix windows and wounds. The white knight who saved the girl and the boy who watched her every move with a thudding heartbeat.
Kinda like he felt at the moment. He realized, albeit slightly late, that they were still staring at each other. A small breeze came through the back yard, and a stray tendril of blonde hair came across her face. Without even thinking, he reached out to tuck it behind her ear, then froze. Buffy was still watching him, not moving away, but actually almost leaning into his hand.
Oh god. Oh god oh god, he was actually considering this. His mind showed him the multitude of ways that this was a bad idea, that he shouldn't lean in like he was doing at the moment, why he should be backing away when she leaned in to meet him, and-
As soon as her lips brushed against his, he told his mind to shut up. Her eyes were still on him, and she looked unsure and hesitant for the first time since he'd met her. He parted his lips and gently pulled at hers, asking the question without speaking.
She licked her lips and parted them slightly. Question answered. Her breath was quick and warm against his mouth, and he moved forward to capture it. Her eyes slid closed when his lips covered hers, and he let his hand flatten to cup her cheek. His other hand rose to cradle her face, even as his lips met hers, pulling back and sliding forward. The pace was slow and easy, gentle, soothing.
Xander let his own eyes fall shut and let himself have what he'd only dreamed of having years before.
Spike was at the kitchen table when Willow came in. She gave him a brief smile as she passed him for the kettle, and the small twitch of his lips felt like a victory of sorts. “You want tea?” she asked. “I make a mean herbal or Earl Grey.”
“...Yeah, that'd be nice,” Spike said quietly. “'Preciate it.”
Willow shrugged. “Tea's lonely with just one, you know? Better to share. Plus, I'd hate to boil water and torture all those molecules just for a single person.”
When no response came, she glanced over her shoulder. Spike was turned to fully regard her, eyebrows raised. “Torture molecules?” he asked.
She felt her cheeks warm to what had to be a rosy pink. “You know. Water molecules. I'm, uh, boiling them. Which has to be torture. Or, you know, it could just be warming water to better steam herbs,” she added, her voice having dropped to the lowest she could manage.
Spike stared at her awhile longer, then honest to god chuckled. “You're one of a kind, Willow,” he finally said. “I'll give you that. Don't think I've ever looked at makin' tea like that.”
“I'm kinda odd like that,” she said, grinning and turning back to the kettle. The sink quickly filled it to her desired level, and she set it on the already warming stove top. “And what happened to Red?”
“What?” Spike asked, sounding confused. “What do you mean, what happened to red? Color's still around, far as I know.”
She rolled her eyes and pulled out two mugs from the cabinet. “No, I meant my name. You've been calling me Willow, but you called me Red this afternoon.”
Spike shrugged uncomfortably. “Who I used to be, I guess: I called you Red back then...before.”
She watched him carefully, spotting self loathing and anguish on his face. Her lips pursed, she made her way over to the table, setting the mugs down. “Yeah, well, my hair color hasn't changed, so my name better not either, Mister.” She wagged her finger at him, but gave a grin to belie whatever anger might've been interpreted from the words.
Slowly he began to smile. “Fine then; can't say I didn't warn you. You're stuck with Red now, pet.”
Her cheeks felt warm again, and his smile slid into a grin she hadn't known she'd missed. “Especially since it seems to fit your face more than your hair these days.”
“Oh, shush up,” she mumbled. A figure stepped into the kitchen, and Willow happily turned her attention away from the smirking Spike. “Dawnie! I thought you were snagging the bathroom?”
“There's five of them up there,” Dawn said unhappily, then heaved a sigh as if her mood hadn't been translatable. “I'll wait. Where's my sister and Xander?”
Willow and Spike frowned at the same time, then glanced into the living room. The couch had been vacated, and there was no one nearby. “Uh...”
The front door opened, and Anya and Giles stepped through. “What are you two doin' back?” Spike asked, raising an eyebrow. “Should've taken longer than that.”
“I wanted to stop by Xander's apartment and double check to ensure it would set up easily for the girls, but Anya didn't have a key,” Giles explained. “As long as we're heading out to the bus depot, we might as well swing by his apartment.”
“Where is he?” Anya asked, a frown on her face. She glanced left to right, then opened the basement door and peered in. “Oh, sorry, none of you are Xander,” she said to whomever was down there, then shut the door again. “Where'd he go?”
Dawn squeaked, causing Willow to glance in her direction. She was standing by the back door, her eyes fastened onto the something outside. “What's the matter?” Giles asked, concerned.
“They're kissing,” she said, sounding stunned. Willow frowned in confusion, then felt her jaw drop at who the 'they' had to be. What the...?
“No,” she denied, but her feet moved her over to the window next to Dawn. “No way.”
There, on the back porch steps, were Xander and Buffy. Even if his hands hadn't been gently caressing and covering her face, it was fairly obvious just what it was they were doing.
“No way,” she breathed. She was instantly aware of bodies behind her, pressing in to see what she was seeing. She backed away as best she could, and still wound up bumping into someone. She whipped around immediately to apologize, and found herself face to face with Spike. She swallowed and watched him mimic the action.
Giles pulled them all from the window, sparing Willow the awkward moment of trying to get around Spike. “They're really together,” Anya said. “They're really together.”
“I thought that was made painfully obvious earlier today,” Giles said, his brow scrunched in confusion.
“They're really together?” Anya repeated again, aiming her question at Willow.
“Um, like I know?” Willow said, wishing she was a better liar. From the looks Anya and Spike were giving her, she obviously needed work.
“I knew it!” Anya said, turning to glare at Spike. “You said 'no, it's too close to incest'.”
“That was you, Anya,” Spike said, narrowing his gaze at her.
“Wouldn't you have thought he'd have learned his lesson back in high school?” Giles mused, still looking shell shocked.
Dawn continued staring at the window she'd just been peering through. “It was just supposed to be a game,” she whispered.
Everything froze. Willow cringed, and everyone's attention switched from Dawn to her. Anya narrowed her gaze at her, and it was then that Willow remembered there wasn't a wall behind her.
“Dawnie, let's see if the bathroom's open yet,” she said brightly. With an indignant squawk Dawn was dragged after Willow all the way up the stairs, away from the accusing glares.
But dear goddess, they'd really been kissing. It wasn't like Willow had thought THAT was going to happen.
---------------------
A/N: Will not be replying to comments right now; life's gotten very crazy and busy. I wanted to let you all know in advance; I'm really sorry about that. I hope you enjoy!
~Nebula
no subject
Gabrielle
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But yay for kissing
no subject
I loved this, finally kissage;)
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