Humming, the blond smiled as he gently swept aside the scattered
dirt from the black marble headstone. Discarded candy wrappers
gathered up in one hand, the vampire placed them carefully in
the plastic bag pulled from one of the numerous pockets dotted
around his ripped and torn leather duster. Once all the empty
chip packets joined the sticky brightly coloured bits of paper
and foil inside the bag, he twisted the top closed in a tight
knot. Bag replaced in the only servicable pocket, Spike set
about pulling the headstone upright again.
Tongue clucking as he wondered just how the heavy block had
ended up laying on its back again, he effortlessly heaved the
stone into its usual position. He really had no idea why it
always fell over, it just did. Rather like the way his
perfectly planted flowers were scattered around the damp grass.
Asters, violets, pansy's, snowbells, all kinds of pretty little
flowering plants. Must grow legs and try to walk to a friends
place. Sometimes they swapped places with other friends,
especially when it was cold. There would be constant green
plants trying to escape their moorings when it was cold.
He liked the flowering ones the best, they were good friends,
they always listened. A small plant was gently gathered from
the numerous others that hadn't walked too far. It must have
gotten too tired to go far this time, not like the times
everything had disappeared. Too many times to count now.
A quick intake of not needed breathe and the vampire shook his
head, smiling as he gave the dark salmon pink flowers a hesitant
brush. Long slim fingers plucked off the twisted leaves before
placing the naughty plant back safely in its rightful place.
Humming resumed, he repeated the process with each plant.
Mauve, purple, blue and light pink, each flower was freed from
any dirt that dared disrupt the beauty they provided. Once all
done, Spike wiped his fingers against his shirt, his digits
cathcing in the ragged seams. A broad grin broke through his
humming as he surveyed his work. It was good, he was pleased.
With a careful step over the edge of the ring, he sat himself
down in the centre of the circle of flowers.
Eyes closed, the vampire breathed deeply. Nose raised to the
slight wind, he ignored every scent that didn't belong to the
plants surrounding him. He identified each blooming plant and
its unique flavour that wafted softly through the air. So nice,
it was calming. Only a few minutes more to wait. Catching a
strong female scent, his nose wrinkled as he tried to remember
just why that particular smell bothered him. Hers was a scent
that upset him but for the life of him, he couldn't remember
why. All he ever got from it was fading images of a small
blonde, who it was, he wasn't too sure.
The female paid no attention, he hummed as he waited. Just one
more minute to go. Left hand resting on his knee, Spike held
his right hand out. Playing with the numerous threads hanging
off his thin jeans, he felt his heart leap when the mug made
contact with his outstretched palm. Hand closed around the
handle, he lifted the blood filled mug to his mouth, drinking
deeply. The flood of warmth that filled his empty belly was
ignored as he savoured the presence of his friend. He didn't
dare open his eyes to see if it was really Xander standing
infront of him. He had done that once but all he had seen was a
strange redheaded girl. She had just stared at him when he had
started to cry. Spike had yelled at her for scaring Xander
away. He hadn't meant to make her cry as well, he had just been
scared that Xander wouldn't visit anymore.
Sometimes he thought he could feel the strong warm fingers
brushing against his when the mug was placed in his hands.
Spike knew that for as long as he held onto the mug, Xander
would listen to him talk. He knew that Xander listened to him,
he often heard little sighs and moans when he told the boy how
Spike wished to be able to hold him. No matter how far forward
he leant out of the circle of flowers, he could never stretch
his arm out far enough to be able to touch Xander. It was just
one thing that he pleaded to be able to do. One little kiss, a
quiet word to be heard. He could hear the grass crunch
underneath the boys feet on occasions, the warm presence
circling the vampire. Always out of reach.
"I love you Xander"
(sigh)
"Are you safe?"
(grass crunching)
With a sniff of the air, Spike smelt salt intermingling with
sweet fragrance of the flowers. Head shaken, he begged for the
boy not to cry, to be brave and not to worry about the vampire.
"Please don't cry Xander, it's alright. Everything is just
fine"
(sniffle, sob)
"I made everything pretty again, just the way you like it. I
don't mind cleaning up after you but you shouldn't eat so much
candy, its not really good for you. It will probably make you
sick"
(sigh, sniffle)
Spike babbled the last of the words, knowing that in just a few
minutes his mug would be taken from him, signalling the end of
Xander's visit.
"Can I touch you pet? Please, just once?"
(rustle of grass)
"No, your'e right, I shouldn't keep asking. I can't help it
though, I miss you so much. It hurts my chest when I think of
you. Sometime it feels like my breast bone is crushing my heart,
I don't think its ever going to go away"
"I know you have to go now...I'll talk to you tomorrow night,
ok"
Mug held out for Xander to take, he gasped as he felt his cool
fingers brushed with much hotter ones. Resisting the urge to
grab at them, the vampire forced himself to be happy that Xander
had given him that much. It just proved how much Xander loved
him. Hearing the rustle of the grass fade as the boy walked away
from him, the blond allowed his own tears to course down his
sunken cheeks. He never allowed himself to cry infront of the
whelp, just wouldn't do for the boy to get upset. Once he was
sure that Xander was gone, he asked the one question he always
wanted to but could never bring himself to ask the boy.
