S/X Ficbit- help appreciated
Jun. 28th, 2005 02:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tarotgalOkay... so this came from the single 3-second image of the "discovery" portion, and the rest of the ficlet sort of sprang up around it. However I don't particularly like where it ends up and don't know what to do with it. It ends like Osmosis did. *shrug* I could write a sex scene. Or (and I'd prefer this) I could have them start and be interrupted... and then they'd be pressured into continuing working. But then I'd actually have to have a plot. LOL I could try to be creative and come up with something, though based on the situation I outline in the beginning (though the fact that Xander's supposed to be explaining yet he claims he's on a break would need to be justified... as well as the end line). Something Xander and Spike would HAVE to be involved in for it to succeed. And then there'd be a nice risk and angst and possible hurt!Spike on top of sick!Spike requiring Xander to be extra caretakery by the end which might be a nice balance to the Xander here at the beginning (and, yes, I deliberately had early Xander/Cordy in mind while writing this). BASICALLY... this is really rough still and I don't know what to do with it.
*shug* Anyone have any ideas/preferences? *she says, taking the I-don't-have-time-to-get-this-betaed-so-anyone-with-an-opinion-please-chime-in approach*
Feeling the sneeze build beyond what a simple bent finger rubbed against his nose could take care of, Spike stepped back from the group. Absorbed in their work which currently involved standing around a single computer screen as Willow pulled up blueprints, no one noticed his retreat. Or, if someone did notice, nothing was said to him.
That's how it had been all day, however. With a pack of demons on the loose, with mysterious but nefarious intentions, they'd all been too busy to notice Spike slipping away at odd moments to be alone. He'd used the smoke break excuse a few times as well, even though he'd stopped smoking weeks ago. No one called him on it. And no one noticed all his rubbing and pinching and scratching at his nose, or his quiet sniffles, or his frequent clearings of his throat.
The gang was so absorbed in their task that Spike guessed they probably wouldn't even notice if he were to sneeze right then and there in front of them all. But he wasn't going to take any chances. It wasn't that he was trying to hide the fact that he was falling ill… yet again. It was just that everyone had their plates full at the moment what with the main courses of the new slayer training program, watcher recruiting and demon fighting. The last thing they needed was a side helping of sick Spike.
Once Willow pulled up the plans, there'd be discussions about infiltration and storming their hideout, which they almost always left to Xander to explain. Knowing his absence definitely would not be noticed then, and feeling the tickly urge to sneeze rising in the back of his nose, Spike slipped out of the room altogether and into the records and storage closet.
He didn't bother with the light as he leaned against a filing cabinet and cupped both hands to his face. "uhhh…" His breath was shaky and uneven as the tickle eased down the bridge of his nose and settled in twitchy nostrils. "Uhhhh!" His tone rose in pitch and his eyes closed. "Huhh-CHIHshhhhhh! IhhhChshoooo! k'TChhoooo!" He sniffed liquidly as he squeezed his nose between his palms which he'd held up to his face in praying position. Then he dropped his hands and shook his head, blinking to urge the sensation back.
But suddenly he heard movement and realized he wasn't alone in the room. His mind immediately filled with all sorts of horrible possibilities, as well as the thought that he wasn't up to much fighting at the moment, not feeling his best. But if was just one, he was sure he could take it. Whatever it was.
The soft clinking of a metal chain against glass sounded, echoing in Spike's overly-sensitive ears. Spike prepared himself to fight. The bare light bulb on the ceiling in the center of the small room turned on. It wasn't a demon.
Sitting in a folding chair in the center of the room was Xander. With the light source shining straight down on him against an otherwise dark room, he looked quite menacing. His expression was dead serious, his arms were crossed in front of his chest, and his eye patch only added to his mystique. "Gesundheit," he said with equal parts calm and firm.
Spike's lip curled slightly and he sniffed without meaning to, just because his nose needed it. He wished he hadn't. "What are you now? The Gestapo?"
Not bothering to point out how ridiculously backwards that comment was, Xander simply maintained his air of strength and power and whatever else he seemed to have from suddenly appearing in a pitch black room and looking stern. "You're sick again, Spike."
Rolling his eyes, "Yeah, I know. Bloody obvious, innit? Been sneezing all day now." He sniffled again and rubbed at his nose. "Been waiting for you to notice and get me the hell out of there."
"Oh." Xander relaxed with a bit of surprise. Then he stood and said rather happily, "Well all right then." Xander pulled keys out of his pocket and handed them over to Spike. "I guess you should go wait in the car. I'll think of something to tell everyone."
That was going to be the hardest part of it all. The situation certainly wasn't the worst they'd ever faced, but it was serious and compounded by at least four equally serious projects at the moment. There wasn't time to take a few days off to allow Spike to recuperate, with or without Xander's help. It was going to take something very creative to make their exit valid.
Spike eyed the set of keys. A few went to the apartment, a few to the car, a few to headquarters, and the rest to various storage rooms for weapons and files and the like. The three circles holding the sets were linked together with a single black leather fob with a pair of crossed swords engraved on it. "I can take the bike," said Spike.
"If you could, you would have," Xander pointed out and Spike did not argue. "I'll drive you home. Just go."
Spike answered with a sharp sniff and crossed his arms over his chest, hugging his long black coat around him. He must have looked cold without realizing it. "Fine then. I'll go." He turned sharply and headed for the door. But as he reached it, he paused. His hand, instead of going for the doorknob, pressed flat against the wall beside the door.
"Spike?" Xander said, craning his neck to try to get a good look at him.
"h'TChooo! huhhhhShoo! IhhhShooo!" His head snapped down with the first and stayed down during the rest of his body shook with them. When done, he sniffed rather badly and sighed heavily but silently.
"Spike?" Xander called again. Spike turned, sniffling and blinking at the bright light just above Xander which made his nose tingle. Xander smiled sympathetically. "Maybe you should stay here a little longer?"
Spike cocked his head curiously, but smiled back as he noticed Xander's hand moving towards the top button of his pants. "What're you after, Pet? I've got a bloody bad cold here."
"How bad?" Xander asked.
Spike rolled his eyes. "Well it's not a particularly good cold if that's what you mean. I feel sick."
"And I'm supposed to be on a break, we're in a storage closet, in private, and it's been a long, hard week." He increased the temptation by cupping his hand over his crotch through his boxers. "A long, hard week."
Spike sniffed and wore an expression that showed he was rapidly forgetting his cold. "Long and hard, you say?" he said, curiosity replaced with something much different now. He walked slowly to Xander. "Mmm… I like the sound of that."
As Spike pressed himself lightly against Xander's front, there was no need to ask Spike if he was up for a little fun. Xander slipped his arms under Spike's black leather jacket and wrapped them around Spike's waist tightly, pulling him closer. Xander lifted his head and Spike immediately began to kiss him.
After a minute or two, Spike pulled back, sniffling rather badly. He lifted his arm and buried his face in the crook of his elbow. A slightly over-sensitive nose brushed against the thick leather and he took a deep breath. "huh-huhh-CHIHShhh!" The sneeze hadn't calmed his urges one bit, but it had given him pause to consider the situation more fully. "I'll never be able to justify skipping out after this."
Xander nodded. "I'll pick you up some decongestants and tea when I make my donut run. And you can curl up for a nap under my desk."
Spike nodded. "Sounds good to me, Luv." He reached out and cupped Xander's head in both hands and snogged him hard.
Suggestions?
*shug* Anyone have any ideas/preferences? *she says, taking the I-don't-have-time-to-get-this-betaed-so-anyone-with-an-opinion-please-chime-in approach*
Feeling the sneeze build beyond what a simple bent finger rubbed against his nose could take care of, Spike stepped back from the group. Absorbed in their work which currently involved standing around a single computer screen as Willow pulled up blueprints, no one noticed his retreat. Or, if someone did notice, nothing was said to him.
That's how it had been all day, however. With a pack of demons on the loose, with mysterious but nefarious intentions, they'd all been too busy to notice Spike slipping away at odd moments to be alone. He'd used the smoke break excuse a few times as well, even though he'd stopped smoking weeks ago. No one called him on it. And no one noticed all his rubbing and pinching and scratching at his nose, or his quiet sniffles, or his frequent clearings of his throat.
The gang was so absorbed in their task that Spike guessed they probably wouldn't even notice if he were to sneeze right then and there in front of them all. But he wasn't going to take any chances. It wasn't that he was trying to hide the fact that he was falling ill… yet again. It was just that everyone had their plates full at the moment what with the main courses of the new slayer training program, watcher recruiting and demon fighting. The last thing they needed was a side helping of sick Spike.
Once Willow pulled up the plans, there'd be discussions about infiltration and storming their hideout, which they almost always left to Xander to explain. Knowing his absence definitely would not be noticed then, and feeling the tickly urge to sneeze rising in the back of his nose, Spike slipped out of the room altogether and into the records and storage closet.
He didn't bother with the light as he leaned against a filing cabinet and cupped both hands to his face. "uhhh…" His breath was shaky and uneven as the tickle eased down the bridge of his nose and settled in twitchy nostrils. "Uhhhh!" His tone rose in pitch and his eyes closed. "Huhh-CHIHshhhhhh! IhhhChshoooo! k'TChhoooo!" He sniffed liquidly as he squeezed his nose between his palms which he'd held up to his face in praying position. Then he dropped his hands and shook his head, blinking to urge the sensation back.
But suddenly he heard movement and realized he wasn't alone in the room. His mind immediately filled with all sorts of horrible possibilities, as well as the thought that he wasn't up to much fighting at the moment, not feeling his best. But if was just one, he was sure he could take it. Whatever it was.
The soft clinking of a metal chain against glass sounded, echoing in Spike's overly-sensitive ears. Spike prepared himself to fight. The bare light bulb on the ceiling in the center of the small room turned on. It wasn't a demon.
Sitting in a folding chair in the center of the room was Xander. With the light source shining straight down on him against an otherwise dark room, he looked quite menacing. His expression was dead serious, his arms were crossed in front of his chest, and his eye patch only added to his mystique. "Gesundheit," he said with equal parts calm and firm.
Spike's lip curled slightly and he sniffed without meaning to, just because his nose needed it. He wished he hadn't. "What are you now? The Gestapo?"
Not bothering to point out how ridiculously backwards that comment was, Xander simply maintained his air of strength and power and whatever else he seemed to have from suddenly appearing in a pitch black room and looking stern. "You're sick again, Spike."
Rolling his eyes, "Yeah, I know. Bloody obvious, innit? Been sneezing all day now." He sniffled again and rubbed at his nose. "Been waiting for you to notice and get me the hell out of there."
"Oh." Xander relaxed with a bit of surprise. Then he stood and said rather happily, "Well all right then." Xander pulled keys out of his pocket and handed them over to Spike. "I guess you should go wait in the car. I'll think of something to tell everyone."
That was going to be the hardest part of it all. The situation certainly wasn't the worst they'd ever faced, but it was serious and compounded by at least four equally serious projects at the moment. There wasn't time to take a few days off to allow Spike to recuperate, with or without Xander's help. It was going to take something very creative to make their exit valid.
Spike eyed the set of keys. A few went to the apartment, a few to the car, a few to headquarters, and the rest to various storage rooms for weapons and files and the like. The three circles holding the sets were linked together with a single black leather fob with a pair of crossed swords engraved on it. "I can take the bike," said Spike.
"If you could, you would have," Xander pointed out and Spike did not argue. "I'll drive you home. Just go."
Spike answered with a sharp sniff and crossed his arms over his chest, hugging his long black coat around him. He must have looked cold without realizing it. "Fine then. I'll go." He turned sharply and headed for the door. But as he reached it, he paused. His hand, instead of going for the doorknob, pressed flat against the wall beside the door.
"Spike?" Xander said, craning his neck to try to get a good look at him.
"h'TChooo! huhhhhShoo! IhhhShooo!" His head snapped down with the first and stayed down during the rest of his body shook with them. When done, he sniffed rather badly and sighed heavily but silently.
"Spike?" Xander called again. Spike turned, sniffling and blinking at the bright light just above Xander which made his nose tingle. Xander smiled sympathetically. "Maybe you should stay here a little longer?"
Spike cocked his head curiously, but smiled back as he noticed Xander's hand moving towards the top button of his pants. "What're you after, Pet? I've got a bloody bad cold here."
"How bad?" Xander asked.
Spike rolled his eyes. "Well it's not a particularly good cold if that's what you mean. I feel sick."
"And I'm supposed to be on a break, we're in a storage closet, in private, and it's been a long, hard week." He increased the temptation by cupping his hand over his crotch through his boxers. "A long, hard week."
Spike sniffed and wore an expression that showed he was rapidly forgetting his cold. "Long and hard, you say?" he said, curiosity replaced with something much different now. He walked slowly to Xander. "Mmm… I like the sound of that."
As Spike pressed himself lightly against Xander's front, there was no need to ask Spike if he was up for a little fun. Xander slipped his arms under Spike's black leather jacket and wrapped them around Spike's waist tightly, pulling him closer. Xander lifted his head and Spike immediately began to kiss him.
After a minute or two, Spike pulled back, sniffling rather badly. He lifted his arm and buried his face in the crook of his elbow. A slightly over-sensitive nose brushed against the thick leather and he took a deep breath. "huh-huhh-CHIHShhh!" The sneeze hadn't calmed his urges one bit, but it had given him pause to consider the situation more fully. "I'll never be able to justify skipping out after this."
Xander nodded. "I'll pick you up some decongestants and tea when I make my donut run. And you can curl up for a nap under my desk."
Spike nodded. "Sounds good to me, Luv." He reached out and cupped Xander's head in both hands and snogged him hard.
Suggestions?
no subject
Date: 2005-06-29 12:40 am (UTC)Mm, I very much like the idea of Spike trying to hide his illness, and yet secretly hoping that Xander will notice and get him out of there.
And then there'd be a nice risk and angst and possible hurt!Spike on top of sick!Spike requiring Xander to be extra caretakery by the end
Oh, that'd be nice!
As to your request for help ... Well, it does feel a bit off that Spike justifies sneaking off because everyone's going to be listening to Xander, but then Xander's on break. Couldn't you easily fix it by substituting some other explainer of "infiltration and storming their hideout," maybe Buffy or Giles?
no subject
Date: 2005-06-29 02:16 am (UTC)*G* Yayness. I like that concept as well. One of the other S/X fics I'm writing (which I must admit I'm cheating on because it's to your bunny which hasn't yet been chosen, but I honestly could NOT resist!!) touches on how Spike hates being treated like a weakling but loves being the center of attention when sick and hates that he loves it, etc. Even though Spike's pretty open with his emotions throughout the two series, he's also rather hesitant at times. So it sort of makes sense to me that he wouldn't want everyone to know... but extra attention from Xander to get what he wants might be just the thing :-)
As to your request for help ... Well, it does feel a bit off that Spike justifies sneaking off because everyone's going to be listening to Xander, but then Xander's on break. Couldn't you easily fix it by substituting some other explainer of "infiltration and storming their hideout," maybe Buffy or Giles?
Oh, absolutely. I think if/when it becomes a big fic I'm going to need to come up with a huge, actual plot and there's more than enough issues they could discuss before Xander's called over to discus things that he might have more of an expertise in. Not at all a hard change... I'm just going to need to be creative and come up with a plot/situation. I hadn't given it much thought before since I'd only intended it to be a tiny little thing.
Anyway... thank you!!! So great to get your feedback on it. I'm glad you liked it thus far :-)
no subject
Date: 2005-06-29 10:41 pm (UTC)Aha, you use your inside knowledge to get a head start on bunnies! Sneaky girl. :D Seriously, that sounds really lovely. That whole mess of contradictions sounds perfectly, deliciously Spike-like.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-29 11:08 pm (UTC)*runs and hides in corner* It's worse than sneaky! If you read the Weekly Hatching FAQ, I make a promise NOT to do that very thing! And this is the only time I've ever done it. But I saw the bunny when adding it into the system and immediately paragraphs started flowing through my head and I didn't want to lose them because they were too damn good. *snuggles my WIP* So I hope it comes up in rotation soon so I can start feeling LESS guilty about writing it!
And I'm glad you like. Now all I have to do is figure out plot... 5 pages into it... (though my gut says it's going to be a PWP-type character study no matter what I manage at this point)
no subject
Date: 2005-06-30 04:11 am (UTC)Aha, I see. You naughty girl! Well, that's okay; by the power vested in me as the contributor of the bunny, I absolve you from your sins. And hope along with you that the bunny pops up soon, because I want to see what you've got!