Fic: Sheared 1/3 S/X

This is dedicated to sorot because she's the sweetest person in the world. *hugs* Hope you like it, honey. :)

Uh...sorry about the histrionics last night, guys. *embarrassed* You can do almost anything to me...rape me, beat me, take away my glasses or my car...but if it concerns my computer? Well...if anything happened to it I think I'd become catatonic. Forgive me? *sad puppy eyes*

Beta'd by kitty_poker1. Aren't you proud of me for not being sick off my ass and forgetting to add that this time?

Archived here.



Part One


Xander had been out of the closet for well over a year now. He'd told Willow and Buffy and Giles and didn't tell his parents, for obvious reasons.

It was just as well he'd moved out. His dad was getting too focused on finding him a 'nice little girl' to 'settle down with' and give him some grandkids.

He was living with Spike.

Yep, chip-dip. The chipped wonder. The impotent one. He who drank cow blood. Formerly human blood drinker and human killer.

Also, Xander found himself fighting off an attraction to the bleached blunder. When Spike opened his mouth it became easier, for Spike was a sarcastic assmunch.

Yet, sometimes, even the snarky comments and insults didn't help.

Spike had become a steady semi-good guy to call on when they needed a demon pounded into the dirt, or grass, or asphalt...whatever the case might've been. Since his chip implantation, when he'd been forced to come to them for help, he'd eventually accepted the inevitable and stopped his evil ways.

Well, mostly. He still rooted for the bad guys in all the movies he watched with Xander, still stood back and let the Scoobies get pounded a bit before stepping in.

But he was reformed...

Oh, he was still an asshole and didn't pick up his wet towels or do the dishes but he, at least, washed out his bloody mugs. That, though, was probably for his benefit alone. Rancid blood didn't smell very good and the vampire had a sensitive nose.

They'd been roommates for four months now, since Spike's crypt had flooded and become uninhabitable. The flooding wouldn't have been that bad, it would've dried out and he could've moved back in, but the City made plans to tear it down since it was an eyesore and falling apart.

So, his temporary stay had become pretty much permanent. Neither Xander nor Spike said anything about that -- it just was.

It wasn't an inconvenience anymore. Xander even enjoyed his company because the girls were doing their college thing and weren't around much. He found himself drinking and watching movies and playing drunken board games and poker with Spike more often than not. They, surprisingly, had a lot in common.

His social life was going right down the tubes.

Not that he'd had much of one to begin with and his trek into gaydom had ended before it had begun.

He'd yet to go on a date with a guy, but not for lack of trying when he did go out.

Spike just always happened along when he was getting a good conversation going...or, really, babbling like he did best.

He knew he was cute and sweet, endearing, when he babbled. It was one of his finest weapons against, well, the same sex now, just as it had with the opposite sex when he was still batting for the heterosexual team.

He'd get a smile, a short conversation, an innuendo, a drink offer, half of a phone number and then Spike would mysteriously come along, throw his arm over Xander's shoulder and hug him like they were long lost buddies, thus ensuring his potential date's quick departure.

He'd stay pissed at Spike as long as it took the vampire to get him another beer and one of those onion things, or maybe some chicken wings they could share, and give him a quick smile that wasn't anything like his old, smarmy, smartass smirks that barely hid his disdain.

And now they were friends and stayed in most nights when they weren't patrolling and saving the world.

******

"What is this crap?"

Xander waited until a commercial break to remove his attention from the screen. He blinked and said slowly, as if to a child, "It's not crap, Spike. It's a movie. You know, those things with moving pictures that come with sound and colour now? You watch them for entertainment."

The vampire rolled his eyes. "Who's the pouf with the bad hair? You're staring awful hard. Gonna catch an eye strain." Spike plopped down on the couch beside him and stole some of the popcorn he'd been eating.

Xander glared at him and hugged the bowl to his chest out of spite. "If you're going to insult my taste in movies then you can go away."

Spike munched the mouthful of popcorn and put his hands up. "Didn't mean nothin' by it...just wondering why you're all..." He waved one of his hands and lowered the other to his thigh as he shifted down comfortably, "...well, I haven't seen you this interested in something since you saw one of them Star Wars prequel sequel whatthebloodyhellever they were."

Xander stared. "The main character is played by an actor I follow, okay? He's a good actor and I enjoy his work. A lot. Now, shut the hell up, dippy, because it's back on."

"But--"

"Spike!"

"Fine, wanker," Spike grumbled, turning his attention to the tv. He watched for a moment, then frowned. "You like this git? He's...a pretty boy. Over the top. It doesn't seem real. Could cut glass with those razor blades he's got for cheek bones." He scoffed and pointed. "This movie's not even accurate. There are better stones to use for fake diamonds. Those greenbacks don't even look remotely like real money. Why's he wearing vintage clothes when I just saw a modern car drive by? That house? Is decorated in late seventies, early eighties style and I know damned well this heist took place in '72. Give me the remote, I'm switching to something better. I can't tolerate something that's such shite. If you're going to do a film based on something real, bloody make it accurate."

"Says he who watches Passions," Xander retorted, pushing the remote under his ass for safe keeping. "And like hell. I've been anticipating this movie for months, Spike, and you're not going to spoil it for me. Go. Away. I don't want to deal with your shit right now when I'm supposed to be enjoying myself. It's bad enough you chase all my dates away and I'm not getting any because of your stupid vampire ass. You're not going to fuck up the one good thing I've got going on for me right now."

Spike's scarred eyebrow crawled up his forehead. "Bloke doesn't even have any hair."

Xander's eyes grew dreamy and just for a second he forgot who he was speaking to as he relaxed into the back of the couch and watched the actor he was smitten with. He sighed and practically clasped his hands over his heart and swooned. "Oh, he's got hair, Spike. Nice hair. It looks good on him. Always did enjoy a good buzz-cut. Guess that's why I always went in for military guys, you know? I've seen some of the soldier guys at the college when I visited Willow and...yeah, they just do it for me."

Spike frowned. "You like bald guys?"

Xander broke out of his stupor and glared at Spike again. "No, you ass, it's not complete baldness! He's got at least an eighth of an inch of hair. He's got a nicely shaped head too. That helps. It's just the whole package that's nice."

"The birds know you're insane or is that your cute little secret?"

Xander threw popcorn at him. "You better be glad I'm taping this or your ass would be mulch, pal."

******

"Who is this bloke, anyway?"

Xander turned his head but his eyes remained glued to the tv. "Huh?"

Spike snorted and hit Xander as hard as he was able.

Xander rubbed his bicep absently. "What?"

"Who the ruddy hell is this twat you're so interested in? Sweet Christ, you're drooling!"

A commercial came on and Xander sighed. He stretched and cracked his back, then turned to face Spike, who wasn't looking too happy. Xander wasn't too happy either; he kept getting interrupted and the premiere of the movie was slowly getting ruined. "Why the hell do you keep interrupting? I'm trying to watch this damn movie!"

Spike growled. "The actor, you git, who is he?"

"Oh, him," Xander practically purred, practically orgasmed the words. "James Marsters. He's not too big yet but he's getting there. He's got talent oozing out of his perfectly shaped ass."

Spike made a face. "Oh, I really didn't need to hear that. You're bloody delusional! I've seen better ass when I--well, if I could look in the mirror I'd see a better ass." He added, disdainfully, "James Marsters sounds like a ponce."

"I'm delusional? I don't think so, buddy. He's hot, he's in, he's talented...it's just a matter of time before he's a big fucking star! You're just jealous, anyway. Now, shut the hell up. It's nearly over. Can't you wait fifteen minutes to bug the crap out of me?"

Spike pouted, crossed his arms and sulked for all of two seconds before he began again: "So, this bloke's...shaved head gets your motor revving?"

"Oh, boy howdy, yeah. Not just the hair thing but the whole package. He's just...got it all."

The movie came back on and Xander returned his attention to it.

Spike sat staring gloomily at Xander but the boy didn't notice.

******

It was nearly two weeks later that Xander was in his kitchen making popcorn, preparing to watch Cool Money for the tenth time, that Spike slammed into the apartment, mumbling to himself.

He didn't look at the irate vampire, or acknowledge him, because Spike was apparently in one of those moods and it didn't pay to get in his way when he was acting like this.

He poured M&Ms in the steaming bowl, grabbed a soda and then turned around.

And stopped.

And stared.

Spike was behind him, shoulders hunched forward, head down, eyes meeting Xander's warily from beneath insanely long lashes.

But that wasn't the remarkable part. Spike being quiet and non-hyperactive and un-assholey wasn't either.

Spike's hair. It was shaved. Spike had shaved his head -- or had someone do it for him, but the semantics weren't really something Xander wanted to get into right now.

He nearly dropped his snacks, along with his jaw.

After several moments of uncomfortable silence, Spike cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck.

Xander's eyes followed the movement and then the line of Spike's well-shaped head. The remaining hair was dark and looked soft and Xander felt his fingers twitch with the desire to touch.

He took a deep breath. "Umm...your hair...your lack of hair..."

Spike bobbed his head slightly, looking sheepish, almost embarrassed.

It was the strangest emotion Xander had ever seen on the vampire.

"Yeah...sort of a...random decision of stupidity, I suppose. Looks like utter crap, doesn't it? Knew I shouldn't have got drunk and went to that demon barber on Meridian. It'll take months for it to grow back in, though, which is a real bitch."

Xander swallowed hard and put his snacks on the nearby kitchen table before he dropped them. He stepped marginally closer, wiping sweaty palms on his pants. "Umm...no. Doesn't look bad. It's, um, a surprisingly good look for you. Must suck not to have a reflection. Ever thought of a digital camera or a regular camera or something?"

Spike rubbed his scalp, black-tipped nails lingering on the soft pelt. "Used them a time or two, yeah. Always end up losing the film or breaking the camera, though. Don't keep up with 'em, really."

"Cool Money's on again. You, uh, wanna watch with me?" Xander found himself asking.

Spike smiled, slow and calm. "Yeah, all right."

******

"Gratuitous crotch shot."

"Huh?" Xander looked at him again. He'd spent the duration of the movie scattering his attention between it and the newly shorn vampire and was having a hell of a time coping with two such pretty distractions.

He was torn between his obsession with James Marsters' pretty ass and Spike's newly shaven look.

It was odd, but Xander could see some sort of resemblance between the two and that really didn't help his situation any.

Spike gestured at the tv. "He was sitting on that bed, he stood up, the camera didn't pan anywhere. Stayed right on his dick. Looks like he's packing a bit...pants were quite flattering. Pretty boy might not be so bad after all."

Xander gulped and put the popcorn on the coffee table. "Umm, yeah, noticed. Nice camera man. Should be given a bonus or an award for that or something."

Spike shifted and rolled his head on the couch.

Xander watched him, bit back a whimper.

******

The movie ended, Xander sighed and leaned back after having stuffed himself with melted butter-flavoured, slightly salty M&Ms and chocolatey popcorn. He rubbed his belly gently and got up with a grunt.

The vampire stared at him and he fidgeted.

"Uh...gotta pee."

He fled.

Being around Spike was different now, somehow. He couldn't put his finger on it.

He peed, washed his hands, looked at himself sternly in the mirror and mentally gave himself a pep-talk.

He would not be distracted by the pretty vampire. No more than he usually was, anyway. The shaving thing had put Spike over the top and it was really hard to ignore now. Spike was even acting different, not such of a bastard, and it was throwing off the 'hating-Spike-even-though-he-wanted-his-ass' thing he'd worked out.

With a heavy sigh, he looked away from his distraught reflection -- it held no answers anyway -- and exited the relative safety of the bathroom.

Spike was still on the couch, his eyes shut, and he looked like he was asleep.

Xander knew better. Spike didn't sleep at night.

He sooo wasn't fooling anyone.

Xander cleaned up his mess, removed the video tape from the vcr, switched both the vcr and tv off and then got a glass of water.

He frowned as he noticed Spike's still unmoving figure on the couch.

"Spike?" he whispered around his water glass as he drank.

No answer. No movement.

Xander padded into the living room and looked down at Spike. The formerly blond vampire lay slack-faced and relaxed curled up on Xander's couch, looking far more innocent than he could ever be.

Maybe he was sleeping...

He leaned forward and searched Spike's face and then nearly screamed like a little girl when blue eyes popped open and a full bottom lip curved upward into a smile.

His water glass went flying and spilled all over the carpet. He clutched his chest, feeling his rabbiting heart pounding away like it was trying to escape the cage of his ribs.

"Jesus, Spike!"

Spike stretched and arched his neck and Xander's mouth went dry. "What's up, pet?"

Xander's eyes widened and he stumbled back. He clasped his hands in front of his crotch. "Nothing! Nothing could be more down, in fact. What are you doing, anyway? You looked..." Don't say beautiful. Don't say hot. Don't say fuckable. Don't say it! "...dead."

He didn't say it!

Spike rolled his eyes. "Was just resting my peepers, wasn't I?" He sat up and then stood. "Suppose I'll go out now. Get some more reactions," he said, pointing to his head. "You have a fetish for shorn blokes, can't really trust what you say."

Xander's arousal went down a notch, he frowned, got insulted. "Hey! I have good taste! I can tell when someone looks good and when they don't, Spike."

"Right. Says the boy with the hot pink t-shirt with lime green polka-dots...one of many such poor choices in his wardrobe. You really should learn how to dress better. Being gay, I'd've thought that was a prerequisite or something." Spike's lip curled. He put on his duster. "Well, see you later. Probably much. Might get lucky tonight. God knows I need it."

He left in an inky swirl of leather and vanilla skin and Xander's mouth fell open.

"That's not fair, you pretty, bald bastard. You won't let me get laid so why the hell should I let you?" Xander grabbed his keys and slammed out the door after the vampire. "There's no way in hell you're going to go get some when I'm not."


TBC...in part two.