*****

Xander yawned, reluctantly getting out of bed. He had woken up for a second only to realize that his throat was burning with thirst, so he had no choice but to abandon the sleep gods and hope they still welcomed him with open arms later. He turned on a light, shooting a glance at Spike to see if the brightness had awoken him, breathing a sigh of relief when he realized that it hadn’t. Spike was a right bitch whenever he was awoken from a “bloody smashing kip”, as he liked to call it. Could rant and rave about it for hours, and Xander was in no mood to tolerate his outbursts right now. But that wasn’t the only reason why he didn’t want to wake Spike.

He tiptoed up the basement staircase as quietly as he could, wincing at every creak the protesting steps gave out. Don’t wake up, don’t wake up, don’t wake up…Xander chanted silently. He opened the door to the living room, closing it softly behind him. Xander gulped as he was surrounded by nothing but darkness.

Hurriedly, Xander switched on the lamp in the living room, blinking his eyes at the sudden brightness. Feeling a little better, he tiredly made his way to the kitchen, turning on the light in there too though the luminosity from the living room enabled him to see quite well enough. Xander needed all the lights on.

He downed the glass of water in three nervous gulps, leaving it in the sink when he was done, all the while on the alert. Trying to breathe normally, he turned off the kitchen light and entered the living room. Did it seem darker now than it was before…okay panic setting in again! Ignoring the living room lamp that was still on Xander fled back down the to the basement as fast as he could. He reached there slightly out of breath, cursing himself for being so childish. He swallowed heavily and reached out to switch off the basement light, grateful it was all over.

Xander climbed back into bed with a smile of relief on his face. Thank God Spike didn’t see any of that, he thought briefly before closing his eyes. I don’t know what I’d do if Spike found out I was afraid of the dar-

“I know a secret...” A smug voice sang through the darkness.

“AAAAAH!!!!!!” Xander lurched out of bed. Quick as a flash he switched on the basement light and found himself staring into a pair of wickedly amused sapphire eyes. OH MY GOD, Xander thought in mortification. He goggled at Spike in sheer disbelief. Spike only smirked back at him from his chair.

Fuck how could this happen to me FUCK Spike knows Spike knows Spike knows and it’s the end of the world as I know it and he’ll never let me live this down and he’ll taunt me night and day and – wait. Wasn’t he sleeping when I got the water?

Xander’s mind reeled when he realized what Spike had been doing. He pointed an unsteady finger at the snickering vampire. “You were wide awake all the time!” He spluttered, his body shaking with anger.

Spike bit his lip, visibly restraining himself from laughter. “I suppose I always have been an exceptionally good actor.” He said modestly.

Xander was absolutely livid, his eyes goggling out of his head ridiculously. “You...fucking poser!!!!” He choked out.

“Oh I’m the poser am I?” Spike crowed. “I’m not the one who goes around pretending to be someone I’m not! Brag about killing demons, will you? Well I wonder what your friends would say if they found out their little Donutboy’s shit-scared of the dark!” He laughed cruelly.

“You...you wouldn’t tell them...” Xander said uncertainly.

“And why is that may I ask? It’s not like you’ve been very nice to ME, you prat. I SHOULD tell ‘em.” Spike sniffed, leaning back in his chair. Xander immediately dove towards him, gripping Spike’s thighs painfully.

“Listen to me Spike. You will not breathe a words of this to ANY of them you hear me? They already don’t give a fuck about my help with slayage and more often than not I know they wish I would just disappear completely. I’m just an ornament to them and the only reason they haven’t told me to get lost yet is because they haven’t got an excuse to. If they find out about this they’ll cut me loose for good. Do you get it, Spike? My friends don’t want me around.” Xander sank back on his heels, his lip trembling.

Oh bloody bollocky hell, he’s gonna cry! Spike thought, alarmed. He hadn’t really meant to make the boy cry. Bleedin’ Hell vampires didn’t go around trying to make people sniffle, for God’s sake! He was merely looking for a fight, how was he to know the whelp would be so sensitive? He felt right awkward now.

*Sniff*

Alright, Spike was beginning to feel a little bad about things.

*Sniff*

Spike started to feel a bit worse.

*Sniff*

Bloody hell if he keeps that sniffling up I’ll be forced to apologi-

*Sniff* *Sniff*

“Oh fine!” Spike threw his hands up. “Won’t tell ‘em none, you clot!”

There. That was a good apology as any.

Xander stopped sniffling. “Really?” He asked in a small voice.

Spike was disgusted with himself.

“Yeah.” He said grudgingly.

Xander stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter.

Spike’s mouth dropped open in shock. What the hell?

Tears began to gather in Xander’s eyes as he fell about hysterically, the sounds of his laughter reverberating off the basement walls. “Sp-Spike,” He wheezed. “You actually believed me?” Xander collapsed in a heap, giggling helplessly.

“They KNOW I’m afraid of the dark, Spike. And they’re totally okay with it. They love me, after all.” Xander admitted between gasps.

Spike jumped up in horror.

“You played me!” He breathed, letting loose a colorful stream of curses that only made Xander laugh harder.

Xander stumbled over to him, smiling widely. “You’re right, it was all a joke.”

Spike ignored him, muttering something about staking himself.

He leaned closer to Spike so that their noses were touching. “But I appreciate that you changed your mind.” Xander whispered before kissing Spike gently on the lips. A long, sweet kiss, it lasted for mere seconds yet it meant the world.

Wow, Spike thought as Xander pulled away. I mean...WOW.

Spike licked his lips in appreciation. “Mmmmm you’re very welcome pet. Do I get anymore?” His eyebrows wiggled suggestively.

Xander chuckled. “Not for tonight. I’m so tired I might drop dead right now.” He grinned mischievously at the vampire’s disappointed look and climbed back into bed, pulling the covers to his chin.

Spike collapsed into his chair sulkily. “Nice of you to leave a man hanging.” He chastised Xander.

Xander snorted. “Consider it payback for pretending to be asleep. And if you EVER tease me about being afraid of the dark I swear I’ll rip your intestines out and smear them all your life.”

Spike snickered a while before admitting, “ You know luv...I wasn’t the only good actor tonight.”

Xander smiled, his eyes still closed. “Yeah, I guess we’re both pretty good at being sneaky, huh?”

“That we are, mate.” Spike agreed, already giving in to sleep.

“Spike?” Xander yawned.

“Yes, pet?”

“How the hell did you get free from your ropes?”

The End