Title: Mr. Snuggles

 Author: meagan <nutmeg@serv.net>

 Summary: Xander had a crappy shift at work. Spike kisses it and makes it better. Sequel to "The Feature."

 Spoiler: Everything up to and including the episode "Doomed" as well as my story "The Feature."

 Rating: Let's say NC-17.

 Disclaimer: Of *course* they belong to someone else. If they were mine, things would be different. Specifically, they belong to Mutant Enemy, Fox, WB, and anyone else I forgot.

 This is for Criss. It might not be what you meant, but this is what wanted to be written. I do have a certain image that I want to work into a story, but it just wouldn't work in this one. So maybe the next one will be closer.

 This is also dedicated to everyone who still sleeps with stuffed animals. Yes, Annemarie, if you happen to find this, I do mean you.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Spike had experienced better things. Crawling through the sewers for three hours was definitely not among his favorite leisure time activities. Even if they *had* found the big ick and saved the world yet again.

  "You smell like crap. Go take a shower. Get all that hair stuff washed out for a change."

  Startled and hurt by Xander's words, Spike obeyed. He had thought that they had come to an understanding the previous week. Apparently not. Xander was still as hostile to the vampire as ever. Well, okay, they had been on good terms for several days, ever since Spike had shared his most recent discovery about the implant with Xander. But tonight, it seemed that they were right back where they had started. Briefly, Spike wondered if it had anything to do with the fact that Xander had not been able to join the rest of the team on their mission that evening. His latest job had taken the teen away for the whole day and evening.

  Spike returned to the basement, cleaned and hair product-free as ordered. To his surprise, he found Xander slouched in a chair, staring into space. Dispirited and shirtless. "Are you all right?"

  The soft British voice jolted Xander out of his reverie. "Yeah." He stood and moved away from the chair, his back to Spike. "I'm fine."

  "No, you're not." Sighing, Spike took a seat on the now-vacant chair. "There's something wrong. I upset you."

  "You didn't do anything." Now Xander turned to face Spike. "Why do you assume everything's about you?"

  Spike shrugged. "Because it usually is. Especially when someone is mad about something." He held up a hand, beckoning Xander to move back to the space in front of the chair. "Want to talk about it?"

  Back in front of the chair, it was Xander's turn to sigh. "Work sucks."

  "I thought you were supposed to have tonight off."

  "I was. I got called in to work for one person, then someone else didn't show up, so I ended up working a double shift on my day off. Plus every jerk in this town decided to come in."

  The vampire nodded. "Go on."

  "That's pretty much it."

  "No. Give me details."

  "Details? You want me to relive one of the worst non-slaying nights of my life? Why? For your own personal entertainment?"

  "Not exactly." Spike unbuttoned Xander's pants. "I just want to hear your voice."

  "Why?" Down went the zipper. "I mean, it's not like we talk a lot."

  And the pants demonstrated what gravity could do when given the chance. "Humor me?"

  "Spike, I --" Xander gasped as Spike's fingers eased the mortal's boxer shorts down to the floor.

  "Conversational stuff. Tell me about your worst customer of the night."

  Xander swallowed and nodded. "There was this couple. The guy was trying to impress the girl." Spike's fingers began slowly stroking Xander's belly. "He was just an ass." Spike gently kissed the very tip of the now-growing erection in front of him. Xander tried to speak again. "Spike --"

  At the sound of his name, Spike stopped his movements. It was a very pleasant torture for him, the bliss in his head surging and ebbing like the tide as he paused to encourage Xander to speak. "Tell me more."

  "The ice machine broke, so I had to mop it up." Spike stroked Xander's hip with one hand while the other danced along the human's shaft. "Someone had a two-year-old who spent the whole time screaming and running around the place. The parents just smiled and said that he was 'energetic.'" Those cool fingers now rubbed his belly and thighs as Spike's tongue began tracing short trails along Xander's cock. "Uhh --"

  Spike grinned and peered up at Xander. "Are you speechless?" The brunette nodded, and Spike smirked, satisfied with himself. He pushed Xander back away from the chair, and Spike knelt on the floor between the naked man and the chair.

  "What are you doing?"

  "Reminding you who's in charge here."

  "What --" And Spike returned to his task of licking every exposed spot of skin at eye level. Every bit except Xander's cock. For what seemed like forever, Xander allowed Spike to continue doing exactly what he was doing.

  Then he decided he had waited long enough. Quickly, he plunged his hands in Spike's hair, firmly grasping handfuls of the stuff and forcing Spike's mouth to his member. Spike opened his mouth as if to take the head into it, but he paused and looked up at Xander. Licking his lips, he smiled. "That's right. You are."

  "I am."

  Xander's words were whispered, but the impact on Spike made him thankful that Xander's hands were firmly wrapped around his skull. If this hadn't been the case, Spike would most likely have found himself staring directly at the faces of the biggest, meanest dustbunnies in the Harris household, ear firmly attached to the floor. The lust that Xander felt as a result of his actions were sending his mind swirling. If he hadn't known better, Spike would have sworn that someone had switched a shake-up snow globe for his brain. To show his gratitude, Spike first lapped the fluid from the small slit before him. Then he moved his hands to Xander's ass, firmly grasping the flesh in an effort to keep himself upright and on task. Finally, he slowly took Xander in his mouth, inhaling deeply when his nose hit the wiry hair at the base. As he moved his tongue and lips over the warm length, Xander's fingers twisted absent-mindedly in the bleached hair. In the back of what small part of brain he still had functioning, Spike noted that he wasn't *completely* lost in the sensations this time. He could still remember to move one hand to stroke here, rub there, and then Xander began bucking, tugging Spike's hair firmly but not too painfully.

  Instead of the unnerving tidal wave of feeling he had the previous times that had knocked him into unconsciousness, this time he felt merely extraordinarily overwhelmed. He was able to remember to swallow the fluid pumped into his mouth, and he was glad for that as soon as it occurred to him that he would have to speak. He suspected that, had he not actually thought to swallow, he wouldn't have been able to figure out what to do when the time rolled around.

  On shaky legs, Xander moved behind Spike and sat on the floor, leaning against the chair. "Thanks." He pulled the blond head against his chest, running his fingers through the hair. "I kind of messed up your hair."

  Spike shrugged and licked his fingers, not wanting to wipe the emissions off just anywhere. "It's all right." He pulled away from Xander and turned, grinning. "It was worth it." Then he settled back into place and closed his eyes when Xander's fingers returned to his scalp.

  "So what was that, anyway? Mercy or pity?" The last three words were delivered in a tone that announced that those were the only two possible answers.

  "I wanted you to feel better."

  Xander nodded. "Pity."

  Now Spike pulled away from Xander, turning to face those sad brown eyes. "No. Not pity. Pity is what you feel for people you don't care about."

  "Like I said --"

  To the shock of both of them, Spike cut off Xander's words with a kiss. Then he settled back in place. "It was concern. That's not the same as pity." He grinned. "The fact that I come when you do is just a little added bonus."

  One of Xander's hands moved to caress Spike's jaw. "So you were concerned about me?"

  "Of course." In his favorite sarcastic tone, he continued. "If you weren't around, I have to rely on Giles for everything. I don't like his place. Not enough candles." When he glanced up and saw Xander's jaw tighten, he relented. "Yeah. I was concerned. Still am." Now he turned his gaze to Xander's lower half. "In fact, I think it's time for you to get up off the floor. It's cold, and you're naked. While this would not normally be something I would object to, at the moment, you're tired and cranky and in need of sleep. I want you to rest up so we can screw properly later."

  Xander sighed and stood. To his surprise, he was led over to his bed. Spike motioned to the bed, and Xander climbed between the sheets. "Hang on a minute." Spike moved over to the small refrigerator and returned carrying a bottle of water. "You *were* one of those kids who always needed a glass of water by their bed, correct?" Amused, Xander nodded, watching Spike place the bottle on the nightstand. "All right then." As he spoke, he tucked the sheets and blankets snugly around Xander's body. "You're all tucked in, you have your water, and, while there may be a monster under your bed, I'll be here to chase him away. Okay?"

  "Okay." Xander nodded, and Spike stood, turning off the light as he started back for the chair. "Wait. You forgot Mr. Snuggles."

  "Excuse me?"

  "Mr. Snuggles. You know. Every child had a favorite stuffed animal to sleep with. Mine was Mr. Snuggles."

  Spike sighed. He had started the game. He should have expected Xander to like it. Or at least play along just to be annoying. "All right. Do you think he's in the basement?" Xander nodded. "And you expect me to find him before you'll go to sleep tonight." Again, Xander nodded. Once more, Spike sighed. He picked through piles of laundry. He rearranged a pile of items better left unnamed. He even examined the contents of Xander's backpack. "He's not here."

  "That's weird." Xander frowned, considering the situation. "Well, if you can't find him, I guess you'll just have to substitute."

  "Find a substitute?" Spike glanced around the room, picking out suitable potential replacements. "So how big was this thing?"

  "That's not what I said." Spike turned his attention back to the bed and found a naked Xander holding the blankets and sheets up, as if inviting someone to join him. "I said *you* will have to substitute."

  "Oh." The vampire grinned. "I think that will work out."

  But just as he settled in place, Xander's arms wrapped securely around him, the chest under his ear rumbled. "Mr. Snuggles."

  Spike blinked. "When did you get this Mr. Snuggles, anyway?"

  "Oh, let's see." Xander shifted, rearranging both bodies so he was facing Spike, arms still wrapped around the blond. "I guess it was a week ago."

  "Really." He wasn't sure if he liked this development. Then Xander reminded Spike that the vampire had ears and that he had always been fond of gentle, teasing tongue strokes behind his earlobes. Okay, if sharing a bed with this young man would involve this tongue action, it might be acceptable.

  "Really." Now Xander's finger made their way to Spike's chest, carefully stroking nipples. At some point, Spike realized, Xander's mouth had moved from his ear to his mouth. A few too-brief kisses later, Xander pulled back. "Spike, you didn't pass out this time."

  "What?" All he wanted was to have that wonderful mouth back against his own. Just stop talking so things can get rolling again.

  "When you... You know." Now Xander grew concerned, running his hand down Spike's arm. "What happened? Last time, you passed out. This time, you didn't. Did it hurt you again?"

  Spike's head returned to Xander's chest. "No, I'm fine. It's no big deal. It was different this time."

  "How?"

  "Well, we weren't just rutting like wild animals just for the hell of it." He closed his eyes. He hadn't planned on saying this, but it seemed like he was going to have to do so. "I care about you. I wanted to make you happy. I can't cook or help pay rent, but --"

  "But you can give me head when I've had a crappy day." Spike's eyes snapped open, but Xander was grinning. "Gosh, what a horrible friend."

  Now Spike smiled shyly. As soon as he realized what he was doing, he attempted to cover it with a stern expression. Finally, he gave up, settling for a self-conscious grin. "Well, don't go around telling the rest of the gang about that."

  Xander's face fell. "You don't want them to know that we..." He released Spike and rolled facing away from the other body in the bed. "You're ashamed of me. Nothing new."

  Horrified, Spike scrambled for an apology. "Not quite." He snuggled back against Xander, molding his cool frame to Xander's warmth. "I don't want them to know because I don't want them to get jealous and try to separate us. Or to think I've gone soft just because we're no longer fighting." He smiled once more when Xander rolled over to face him again. "I want to just be here for you. I would like to think you need me. No one else does. And I guess I do need you, even if you don't need me."

  "Really?" When Spike nodded, Xander sighed as if one of his biggest problems had been resolved effortlessly. "Thanks."

  Spike smirked. "You know, you thanked me before."

  "I did?"

  "Yeah. The very first thing you said afterwards."

  "Oh. I guess I meant it." Xander yawned and turned off the bedside lamp. "I'm tired. Can we sleep now?"

  Spike nodded, and they settled back on each other's arms. "Good night, Xander."

  "Good night, Mr. Snuggles."

  The vampire formerly known as William the Bloody sighed. And kissed soft brown hair before closing his eyes for the night.

  ~~~ the end ~~~