tabaqui | Neverland! Chapter nine...yes, finally! *s/x*

Neverland! Chapter nine...yes, finally! s/x

Thursday, October 12th, 2006 03:15 pm

I have been remiss! Also, distracted. Working on another story and it's really just *eluding* me. So frustrating. But this! It just poured right out, easy as pie. Guess i need to spend a little more time in Neverland!

And people on my flist reporting snow!! Oh, so jealous! It hasn't frozen here yet, but soon, or so they say. *longs*

Thanks for being so patient, everybody.
And thanks,

reremouse for the usual.
Previous parts here.

Xander stumbled into the clearing, gasping harshly. Reeling as he made his way among the tepees, toward the central fire. Spike slowed to a brisk walk as he cleared the trees – watched several curious heads pop out of tepee flaps here and there. But most of the Indians seemed to want to stay inside – out of the rain that had started again as they'd run up from the boat landing. The other boys were crouched close together by the fire, wrapped in loaned hides. They stumbled up and ran toward Xander as he neared, hands going out to steady him.

"Xander ,what -?"

"H-help – Tink –"

"Xander!" The red-headed woman gestured, standing in the doorway of what Spike assumed was her home and the clutch of boys moved toward her, filing inside one by one.

Spike ducked in after them, standing up into a dim, fire-lit place, lined with hides and furs. Herbs, tools, baskets and other things hung from the ribs of the frame and the whole place smelled of smoke and sage and woman. The boys stood in silence, shoulders brushing and eyes wide. There was blood streaking down Xander's leg, the bandage coming unraveled from his run.

"Poisoned," Xander gasped out, holding Tink up and the red-head gently lifted the twitching body into her hands.

"Sit, sit down. Tiger Lily, is that water hot? Yes? Good - you tend Xander's leg. Alec –" to the boy called John – "fetch me the blue box, it's behind my bed." He scrambled over a tangled heap of furs and blankets, hunting, and the woman knelt down, leaning in close to the fire. "Do you know what with?" she asked Xander, and Xander shook his head.

"No, he just…came flying into me…the pirates, they've got Roxy and Tony an'…an' Tootles. Tink said." Xander hissed softly as Tiger Lily pressed a wet cloth to his leg and she shot him a quick, apologetic glance.

"Pirate poison…probably strychnine…" John knelt down beside her, the box in his hands. "Thank you, Alec. Please open it and find the green bundle. Michael, I need you to scrape some charcoal off a burnt stick into a cup, quickly now." Michael – who actually was a Michael – pulled a half-charred stick from the fire and started scraping while John rummaged in the painted tin box and came up with a little bundle of green calico. "Danny –" That was Curly. "Please reach down that basket for me, right over your head. And everyone – please be very quiet. Any little noise can make Tink worse."

"Here, Marion," John whispered, holding up the bundle.

"Open it – crush half a leaf in the palm of your hand and mix it with hot water. There's a scallop shell in the box – put it in there. Make it thin but not too thin." Everyone worked silently, quickly, casting frightened glances at Tink. Tiger Lily finished winding a fresh bandage around Xander's calf and patted his knee. He gave her a distracted, wide-eyed glance.

Spike sighed softly and sank down onto his haunches, watching. Watched Marion delicately funnel charcoal-water down Tink's throat and then hold him gingerly while the fairy vomited bile and sticky pink froth and what looked like cake. Then she poured the warm leaf-mixture carefully down as well, and Tink shuddered and sighed and blinked at her, then abruptly went limp in her hands.

Xander was huddled over his knees eyes fixed on Tink. Curly was crouched next to him, his hands fisted into the hides that lay over the floor. They were both mumbling something under their breathes and Spike cocked his head, listening.

"I believe, I believe, I believe…"

Spike snorted and Xander shot him a fierce look. "Shhh!"

"All right," Marion whispered. She was wrapping the fairy in a rabbit skin, soft browns and greys against Tink's bluer – better – color. "All of you, out. Too much of anything will bring the convulsions back. He needs to sleep."

The boys all nodded and shuffled around, filing out again into the rain. Spike stayed a moment longer, watching Marion tuck the little bundle of fur and fairy into the basket and set it a foot or so from the fire. She looked up at Spike – wiped her wrist back over her forehead, pushing aside a strand of henna-dark hair. "You too, vampire. Oh, yes –" she added, when Spike felt his eyebrows going up in surprise. "They told me. Go use your…powers or whatever you have to save those others. Hook's not himself anymore than Pan is. They won't last long."

"What makes you think I give a fuck for those boys and that little cow?"

"You went after Xander, didn't you?" she said, and settled cross-legged, a hand on the edge of Tink's basket. "Now, go."

Spike snarled silently but he went, striding out of the tepee and over to the fire where the boys were standing, cured hides and furs over their heads and shoulders against the wet. "So – off to fight the pirates now, yeah? Save the damsel, all that rot?"

"We have to go," John said. Alec. "Don't we? I mean…Hook'll…"

"He'll kill 'em," Curly said, his voice catching a little. "And Roxy, he'll…"

"Yeah, we have to go." Xander blinked maybe-rain out of his eyes – looked up at Spike. His face was white – drawn and bruised under the eyes. Too old for his years – too old for Neverland. "Will you help us? Pan's right, you might be able to take Hook. Kill him or…something."

"Not if he's the way out of this bloody hole."

"Take him with you, then," John muttered.

"Look, just – tell me how to find his sodding lair or where ever he's taken your mates off to."

"No," Xander said, and Spike growled, letting the demon up and out. Xander flinched – swallowed. The pale, silky fur that he had wound around his head made his eyes fathoms deep – earth dark. "You have to promise you'll help us get them free. Promise. If we – if we go in and get killed then there won't be anybody here to remember until Pan brings a new Slightly. You'll have forgotten everything by then - you'll never get home."

Spike glared at Xander – reached out and yanked him close, ripping the fur out his shaking fingers and twisting the wet, dark hair in his fist, tipping Xander's chin up. His other hand locked around Xander's wrist, twisting his arm back and up, between Xander's shoulder blades. The whole of Xander's body was pressed tight to Spike's – hot and sweat-slick and sweet with fear. Rich with blood. The other three stared, frozen, and Xander himself stopped breathing when Spike ran the tip of his tongue up Xander's throat.

"Might be easier to take Hook out with two vamps, don't you think? Only take a few hours for you to rise…" He let the tips of his fangs scrape lightly down the sweet flesh and felt Xander shudder against him. That…felt good.

"Leave him alone! Don't!" Someone was pounding on Spike's back with their fists and Spike roared and spun – kicked out, sending John flying. He hit the ground and rolled, crying out, and Michael and Curly ran after him.

"Stop it! Spike – please stop it, stop it –" Xander got in front of Spike – put both hands flat on Spike's chest, pushing, and Spike let him think he was actually holding him back. "Please, you can – I mean, I'll…I'll let you – d-do –"

"Would you now?" Spike grinned, licking over his fangs and Xander's pale face blanched paler yet. He looked over his shoulder at the other boys, who were helping John up. John was crying but didn't look like he was any more than bruised. Spike hadn't really been trying.

"Yeah, I'd… I would."

"Just what is it you think you're promising me, boy?" Spike rumbled, pulling Xander in close, hands clenched tight on Xander's biceps. Xander was shaking now – rain caught in his lashes and on his lips – rain making his hair cling in arabesques of rich, brown satin to forehead and shoulders.

"Any-any thing. Whatever you w-want," Xander whispered. "Just – just please get Roxy and Tony free. Don't let Hook…don't let him."

Spike breathed in, slowly, tasting Xander's scent on the back of his tongue. Rich, sweet – iron-salt warm. Cake and blood. And lust, faint but there. *Teenage boy, doesn't take much. But it sweetens the deal…* "All right, then. I'll promise. But you give me something in earnest."

"Earnest?" Xander said, and Spike rolled his hips a little, letting his own lust become glaringly obvious.

"Give us a kiss, boy," Spike murmured, and Xander's little, harsh gasp made his chest press up against Spike's. Spike could feel his heartbeat – could hear it, thunderous and rabbit-fast.

"Xander –" one of the other boys warned, and Xander cut his eyes that direction.

Shook his head. "It's okay." Xander licked his lips – leaned in and pressed his mouth lightly to Spike's.

Spike let the demon go – slid his hands from biceps to throat to skull, his thumbs on Xander's jaw. Pressing in and taking full advantage when the pain made Xander open his mouth. He tasted like honey and blood. Eventually, Spike drew back and Xander just stared at him.

"Tell me what you know about the pirates, then," Spike said, and Xander smiled.

Tags:

neverland,
spander

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