Standing the Test of Time

Author: Erin-Starlight

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters nor am I making money off this. This is just for fun.

Summary: When captured in the aftermath of a battle Spike finds himself at the mercy of his old rival--Count Dracula. Will he be saved before it’s too late or will he be lulled into something even more dangerous than the Counts’ wrath?

Warning: This is slash. It will have some Spike/Dracula and Spike/Angel in it. This is a challenge I took up to do a Dracula slash fic with the guys. I'm not usually a slash writer but I did it for this challenge, where I had to set in up some in my last fic.

Authors Note: This story takes place after my one shot “William Restored.”

Spoilers: For the Peter David IDW comics Spike vs. Dracula 1-5.

The women present exchanged meaningful glances with each other as they glided to the table. Spike was still confused on what was happening when they reached their seats. Dracula helped a couple with their chairs and the rest declined help as they were far too enthralled with what the evening had in store to care about manners. When Spike saw that his options in seating arrangements were fast becoming limited he made a step in the direction of the chair with the most distances between Dracula and himself. He didn’’t get more than that one step before it was occupied by a smirking bride. With no other choice he was forced to sit at the host left.

Sitting across and two chairs down was Anselina who smiled fondly at him. About to ask her what the hell was going on Spike was startled by something brushing his foot. The red head seated at Draculas’ right was whispering to her love though he didn’t seem to be as pleased with what she was saying as she was. Spike had just written off the foot thing as an accident when he felt something slid up his leg. The foot shifted into a more inmate place causing him to jump back in surprise.

This did not escape the Counts’ notice as he caught on fast hissing Romanian to the woman he was speaking to giving Spike the impression that he was none too pleased. She pouted looking at both him and her master replying in what sounded like a regretful tone. Her demeanor changed when she rose as she cast him a predatory smile.

His attention was drawn to the gossiping brides who were gigging every few seconds. He pieced together words like "can not wait", "union" and "quite handsome." The longer he sat there the more it felt like a set up. Not that he had much choice in the matter. The butler brought the meal in giving each vampire at the table two goblets one filled with wine the other with blood. When the man reached Spike he asked if wanted to try something different tonight. Knowing he meant human blood he refused.

If the drinks were poisoned like he had suspected why go to all of the trouble of bringing him there. Very few poisons did anything serious to a vampire in the first place. Were they rubbing in the fact that they could drink human blood? Then again he was offered. Was it Dracula showing off that he had all these women to bed while Spike had no one? It was petty but at this stage he wouldn’t put anything past the git.

Most of the brides were sipping their drinks when he was still eyeing his distrustfully. About to take a cautious sip his thigh was stroked before he could even get to the goblet. The woman to his left winked at him moving her hand to his hip, slowly moving it over...

"Aleera!" Dracula bellowed. He snapped at her in Romanian telling her and the rest of the brides to leave. That much Spike could understand. He had no idea why they couldn’t keep their hands off of him that night. To piss off Mr. Silky hair? Likely. Spike just added it to the growing number of questions.

Looking up from his drinks he found that the dark lord was studying him. He had felt those eyes on him most of the time tonight, and maybe even longer than that. Having prided himself on his ability to read people Spike was totally baffled by his long time enemy. The behavior made no sense to him, just once had the two men been in a room together without fighting during their short term alliance to plot a way to save their girls from the Nazis. Now there they were alone once more with Spike still feeling like a late comer and Dracula waiting to spring unpleasant news to him. What if Dru was dead? He wasn’t ready for that, he didn’t think he ever would be. Hearing from a gloating enemy would make it worse.

"You have not touched your meal." Dracula helpful pointed out during Spikes' panic attack.

"There some hurry? Can’t wait to poison me, eh?"

"You make it exceedingly difficult." The older one muttered. "I am attempting to have a civilized conversation with you for once and you are treating it as torture!"

"Who said it wasn’t? ‘Sides it’s hard not to with our history, mate." Spike banged his wrists together to illustrate his point as the metal bands hidden underneath the sleeves clanked.

"Perhaps it is too much to take in at once. I am having trouble with the concept myself."

"Wot are you on about?"

Dracula sighed rising from his seat to pace, which in it’s self was surreal to Spike. Was he nervous? That thought triggered something in his mind as Spike made a mental list of the odd events. The brides were forced to leave the two of them alone, then why were they there in the first place. A memory of hanging out with Joyce and Dawn suddenly appeared...

"The truth is William, that despite our many differences things have changed between us. I did not want to feel as I do but these things can not be helped--"

...The hall was decorated in Victorian fashion--the box of candies he never had the nerve to give Buffy. Offering the meal like he had offered a drink to her when they were hunting vampires. Dressing up and making sure Spike had too. If he didn’t know better than he’d think Dracula was trying to impress a bint.

Bloody hell, I’m the bint! Spike thought his eyes widening in dismay. No that could not be true, it was impossible. There was absolutely no way that Dracula, his immortal enemy, had feelings about him. No, Spike had just read too much into it, that’s all.

"--It proved futile to deny these feelings no matter how much I wished to, the truth is that I have come to c--"

"You’re a poof?" Spike squeaked out still clearly shocked. "I mean I knew you were a poof, just not...a poof!"

"What? I am not--you are being cruder than usual Spike. I am attempting to tell you something of great importance and you make a mockery out of it."

"This has to be some sick joke. It is right?" He asked his voice coming just short of hysteria.

"Yes and it seemed to be on me. I should have known better than to expect a crass tasteless being such as you to be reasoned with in a courteous manner!"

"Wot the hell are you thinking? Are you daft?" The blond exclaimed. "How did this--,"he motioned to the two of them, "ever seem like a good idea inside that peach pit you call a brain? We hate each other, we’re archenemies and all that rot!" Did you act any different with the slayer, a helpful thought asked. He didn’t have too much trouble dismissing it as he was completely appalled by what was happening.

Everything had been just moonbeams and puppies before he found out that Count Hard-on had a thing for him. Hell, the harsher treatments he could handle, a cozy dinner with these absurd sudden feelings from his foe he could not. Grabbing the wine goblet he downed it in one go.

"I mean really what if anything does this change? We still hate each other! Are you just going to forget about your vendetta against us, or get these damn bracelets off?"

"Would you be interested if I agreed?" Dracula countered.

The implication and that haughty tone was too much for Spike to bear. Reeling from the humiliation, the confession and the unfairness of his life in general he lashed out on instinct. His right fist slammed into Draculas’ face drawing blood. Not heeding the burning of the bands he went to strike again when his wrist was grabbed mid-air.

"You bastard! You think that there’s anything you could offer me that could get me to willing touch you? I’m NO one’s whore!"

Furious as the Count was he attempted to maintain control over his emotions. His face however betrayed his stormy mood as he reached for his handkerchief to wipe the blood off his face while he held Spikes’ wrist firmly his other hand.

"Do you think that I am doing this for my own amusement? I am the lord of vampires, the elite of our kind and I have to deal with these unwanted regards towards you. I want them gone, I do not want to think of you! I wish to be rid of it! Do you honestly think that I am pleased to be affected by such a lowly, vulgar, debase creature like you?"

"I’m the dirt that you like to roll in, that what you’re saying? If these are the sort of lines you use pillock I’m not surprised that you need to work your voodoo to get laid." Spike frowned pondering that. "Is that wot this is ‘bout? You trying to make your little point and me being your Guiana pig? Well if that’s it then lay off, I ain’t interested."

"You dare to presume--"

"Oh I most certainly do. I’ve been here less than half an hour and all you’ve done is treat me like shit. Really who professes how they feel and tells you how unworthy they think you are of them? Implies that you sell yourself off to them and be glad when you’re gone? I’m not saying that it would have changed me choice even if you acted with these so-called manners you keep claiming you have. ‘Cuz I wouldn’t. But it sure as hell would have proved that you had at least a pint of class that you keep saying I’m lacking."

A vein throbbed on Draculas’ jaw that at another time and place he would have prided himself in. Not now when he was shaking with rage himself. "You have said enough, I will hear no more of this tonight." Dracula proclaimed regally. "We will discuss this further tomorrow."

"There is nothing else to talk about prat, now let go!"

Seeing that the other vampire was moving to hit him with his free hand Dracula twisted the arm and grabbed the other wrist forcing Spike against the wall. With both wrists trapped Spike was stuck unable to move between the wall and the dark vampire.

"I disagree."

Struggling against Dracula proved harder than he thought. He had nothing to use to his advantage and a rival that blocked his every move. Glaring daggers at the Count he was unprepared for the unguarded soft looks he was receiving. They were tender and affectionate, the kind that he was not used to seeing directed at him. The dark eyes dropped to stare at his mouth making him return to his squirming. It was unsettling, more so when he was released a second later when Dracula gingerly brushed a lock of hair from Spikes’ face.

"We have much to discuss and you have given me much to think on. I will not give up on you yet." He murmured silkily.

For a terrible uncertain moment Spike feared that he was going to be kissed as Dracula lingered over Spikes’ mouth. Slowly he shifted position until he hovered next to the blonds’ ear. "Until tomorrow I bid you good night." Dracula whispered his lips brushing the shell of his ear. The next moment he was gone and an escort to Spikes’ chambers was there to take him back upstairs.

Feeling weary Spike had slipped out of his clothes and into bed right away. He could not fall asleep however as his mind was racing with the events of the meal. It was insane, that’s what it was. The idea that Dracula, his long bitter foe fancied him. Why did it have to be him? Of all the people that could feel anything for Spike it had to be someone else who hated him.

It felt bizarre to have someone pursue him for a change. It was William who had watched Cecily from afar hoping one day that she would notice him. Drusilla had found him yet it was always him that did the grand romantic gestures that she only half noticed in her mad way. He had chased after Buffy far too much, always ending with disappointment and hurt. With Angel it had just happened, neither one of them had gone out of their way to seduce the other.

Afterwards Spike had been the only one who wanted to foolishly try for more. No one had ever been able to give Spike what he craved, not the way he wanted it to be. Just a body for them to use as they pleased for their own pleasures. Who wanted to deal with Spikes’ feelings?