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 distressing sight of Spikes’ tears was more than disturbing to the Count. How many days--years--had he dreamed of bringing the other man to such a state? Now that it had been achieved he wanted to taken on all of the pain himself if it would help cleanse the other vampire of the demons that currently tormented his mind. Spike wasn’t supposed to be broken, this was horribly wrong.

Dracula had high hopes of there being no scarring despite the holy water burns if Spike had feed enough. Those vicious words carved into his flesh could heal over. If they didn’t then the second and harder part of the younger mans’ recovery would take longer to achieve. The emotional wounds were far deeper. He truly doubted that such a weak bigoted man could reduce William the Bloody to this if those injuries were not already present.

That meant that someone had hurt Spike before, hurt him deeply. If he ever found those guilty of inflicting such damage he would make that Romanian humans’ fate look like a pleasant past time in comparison. Dealing with the problem head on now...that was the tricky part. He could not comprehend what Spike was going through. The self-loathing and guilt that the soul brought him. How could you if you lacked a soul yourself? Even as a human Dracula had little time to linger on remorse. All around him had been traitors waiting to slay the one man who could bring about order to his troubled land. That was not to say that he did not understand all of the torment Spike was going through.

Of being looked down at for a perceived "sickness" that those narrow minded fools could never see the beauty in. He did not know how the younger man felt about him after such an abuse had been taken out on him in Draculas' name. All the same the Count felt he owed the other man something in return. Perhaps to himself as well. It had been many years since he had spoken on his own heartaches.

"You were shocked to learn of my preferences, were you not?" Spike stared at him blankly not grasping the importance of the question. "It is true that once I only counted the ladies of being those I felt worthy of my affections."

Dracula frowned not liking how revealing that had unintentionally been but Spike had not appeared to have noted it. "In my...other life I was married to a woman of astonishing kindness, beauty and grace. Though she loved me she could not endure the kind of man I had to be. For my people, and for my family. Since her death and my rebirth I have taken many lovers. It is not because, as you suggested, that I want a random harem. I love each of my brides in a different manner. It is easy to think of forevers when you are young, naive and know little of nothing of the worlds' inner workings. Eternity is an endless stretch, a lonely existence. I know when I choose each bride that they will not live as long as I will. They never do. I will treasure each one as long as I can yet I can not fully give my heart to any of them. Knowing my fate you see has tainted my hardened heart against opening fully to any lover."

With a small tug he began to unbutton his shirt much to Spikes' alarm. Giving a reproving glare at the assumption Dracula went on without missing a beat. It was unthinkable to stop now that he had begun. "I confess that I was intrigued by the concept of bedding men at first. My brides of course encouraged this--as long as I promised not to forget them--and I enjoyed the freedom it gave me. No false pretense, no rules of engagements, the taboo, all of it appealed to me. I thought that I would have no attachments. I was wrong. I met Aime'. " He paused, a small bittersweet smile gracing his face. Spike, unknown to him, was watching him curiously.

"He lived in a small town in France--a name I am certain you have never heard of and is of no consequence. Aime' never had an idea of who he was supposed to be, his parents had made that choice for him by marrying him off to some silly headed girl. Once they had a heir his wife fled with the blacksmith leaving him to care for their daughter in peace. Most would have despised have a girl child but he was thrilled with such a blessing. Such a shy yet noble man. Simple to a fault in his ideas and work carving pieces of art in wood. Aime' caught my eye the moment I first saw him. It was a chance he half tried to resist, he didn't realize how much he wanted it until it was almost too late. For two weeks we were together when I offered him immortality."

"He said no?" Dracula looked up at Spike, startled by the sudden question. Spike seemed to be surprised himself but his expression was also earnest.

"No, he agreed to it. His only wish was that his child was protected. He was frightened though, of what others would think of two men that lie together. I told him not to think of it since it mattered not. I would protect them. Still I bowed to his wishes of keeping us a secret. I was already a public figure. His town you see had sought to form an alliance with me to save them from from a horde of oncoming demons. They hated our kind yet had to serve me in order to save themselves from utter destruction." The darker vampires' brow furrowed, lost in his thoughts.

"Did--did a piss poor job at saving them, did ya?" He almost smiled at the bravado half wishing they could snip at each other once more.

"I was victorious. I had planned on returning to turn Aime' that night to return with him here." Cold dark eyes met Spikes' causing the latter to flinch at the harshness he found there. He almost expected to freeze to death by that look alone. "The whole town was in the town square--I believe it was to celebrate my victory. It was to cheer on the death of a sodomite. My Aime'. They had learned of us and had taken out their barbaric sense of justice on him."

Spike watched unable to look away from hatred that poured off of Dracula in waves. "He was almost unrecognizable when I saw him, beaten back and blue. Hung up like--" For the first time the Counts' voice broke. He took a moment to compose himself, Spike remained silent unable to find the heart to gloat. Once Dracula reigned in himself to go on his voice was harsher. "I wiped them off of the map in one night. All those who bared witness to his suffering, all those who did nothing, or worse joined in paid dearly. The only survivors were Aimes' parents and the girl."

His touch belied his hard words, caressing Spikes' face with a gentleness that still confused the one receiving it. "I will not abide such ignorance nor treatment of those I--"

"Wot do you want?" The tenderness was too much for Spike to take in at the moment. Having the Count finish would have surely been far too much for him to deal with. "You just want another toy, is that it?"

Bright teary eyes glared up at him accusing him after he had just reopened old wounds for Spike. No, he couldn't be angry at him when the other vampire was hurt like this. This was supposed to be about healing past pains not retreading recent ones.

"No, I do not. It should mean something, even to you Spike, that I am willing to let that insult to my character go unavenged. I am tired of these games of ours. Of pretending that I do not feel as strong as I do. You want to know what I desire? There are to many things to list. In regards of tonight? To rid you of these lies you have been told. You are not mere flesh to sate another with. You are a man of great courage and honor." Dracula kissed his brow, cheek and lips to better show his affection.

The tension in Spikes' body lessened momentarily letting him enjoy these soft touches and sweet words. It didn't matter then if he believed any of it because Dracula sounded like he did. The conviction made his un-beating heart clench. Did someone finally see him? God, he wanted it to be true but he had been burned so many times. Everyone wanted him for his talents not for him. Not that he wanted Dracula to WANT him. Did he?

Ahh, head must be more buggered than I thought if 'M asking that.

His eyes were getting heavier with each whisper. Just before Spike fell asleep he heard Dracula start to recite one of his favorite poems.

Anselina had searched throughout the castle for their master along with the others. He was not to be found in his own chambers and it was not like him to be this late for a meeting. Adela had suggested trying Spikes' room with a sparkle in her eyes. Taking the hint Anselina had come in thinking to find the Count sitting in a chair watching his beloved. Instead she found him in bed cradling Spike in his arms. She had to take a moment to look on the pleasing image the two made. Two perfect sculpted forms of male beauty tangled together. While the burns, bruises and cuts marred ones' flesh it did not ruin the scene. It only made the protectiveness her lord showed more endearing. At least the smaller ones' wounds were healing nicely.

"I hope that there is a suitable reason for this interruption, Anselina." The darker one said while unashamedly kissing the other mans' forehead.

"Sadly there is, you are needed, Master."

He sighed regretfully. She had to admit his pout was both disturbing and adorable. Giving Spike a lingering kiss he rose half dressed to get ready. Seeing his lovers' glance he shook his head. "We have not been together in that manner. I will not take advantage of him in his weakened condition."

"You do seem very pleased."

"All I did was hold him, watching him as he slept. It was more than enough."

Spike felt pleasantly fuzzy and did not want to bother with the buzz of warning at the back of his skull. If he had he would have known that there was other presences in the chambers watching him drift off again. Faintly he felt a soft finger trace his mouth as the bed shifted from the weight of another being.

"I am never letting go of you again." The voice promised tracing the faint contented smile of those lips he had so recently kissed. Spike couldn't tell who it was when he was so tired but he felt safe for the first time in an age.