The Crypt: Haven by Xela

“Spike...come on, don't do this beautiful.” He felt a hand carding through his hair and grabbed onto it like the lifeline it was. Another rubbed gently along his back. He took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to center himself.

“You doing alright, Spike?” Spike shook his head at the question, owning up to what a shitty, shitty day it had been partly because he was way too exhausted to lie, mostly because he didn't have the emotional capital to pull off a convincing lie. “Yeah, didn't think so. How about we get you to bed?” Spike simply shrugged and allowed them to gently roll him under the covers; a part of his brain pointed out that this wasn't his bed, but it faded away with the rest of the world.

Alanna sat on the bed, running her fingers through Spike's hair. They'd need to ask about bleaching it sometime soon.

“He's out,” Leto noted unnecessarily.

“Not surprising. He went through hell today.” She sighed and smoothed Spike's hair one more time. “Came out the other side, too.”

“Is that a hint of pride I hear?” Leto wrapped his arms around her, resting his head on her shoulder and looking down at his new childe. A warm feeling spread through him at the thought. He had a childe. Well, not quite officially yet—Spike needed to acknowledge him and then seal the bond and just agree to the whole thing—but...a childe.

“He's amazing,” she murmured reverently.

“Yeah. He doesn't know it.”

“He will.”

***

Spike felt awareness chasing away sleep. He halfheartedly chased after it. He woke with a sigh, arching back to stretch his muscles when he encountered resistance. He tried to roll over but was stopped by a pretty solid chest. His gaze travelled upwards until they met with Leto's amused green eyes.

“Mornin' sweetheart.” Spike was momentarily dumbfounded, and Leto started laughing at him.

“Sod off. 'snot my fault I'm irresistible'.” Leto snorted and the next thing Spike knew, he had a mouthful of pillow.

“Respect your elders.” Spike raised one disbelieving eyebrow at that. The vampire that had just thwacked him with a pillow was telling Spike to respect...anyone?

“That's your sage advice? Respect m'elders?” Leto scowled at Spike. Impertinent twit.

“I'm new at this. But you want some advice? Don't insult the guy with the pillow.” Spike yelped and protected his head with his hands as Leto rained down a flurry of hits. He reached back, trying to grab his own pillow, and Leto was taken by surprise when he get a pillow to the face. It was on. There was an early casualty when Spike tried to steal Leto's pillow and it ripped in half, sending feathers every which way. They knocked heads diving for the one remaining pillow, and Spike was nearly thrown off the (rather large) bed when his bid failed. Leto managed to get his legs under him—a totally unfair advantage in Spike's opinion—and was poised for the killing blow when they were interrupted by a bright flash of light.

“Oh please, don't stop your PILLOW FIGHT on my account,” Alanna said with a grin. She brought up the last picture on her digital camera and grinned evilly. Oh, yes, this would be the PERFECT addition to Haven's next newsletter. She could see the headline now, 'Former Master Vampires have Sleepover, Complete with Pillow Fight in their Neglige'. Gold.

“Alanna,” Leto growled warningly. His mate merely rolled her eyes at him and deliberately protection-encrypted the photo.

“Yes? Did the pillow-whumping Master Vampire of Haven wish to speak with me?” Leto growled again. “Oooohhh, scary. Gonna hit me? With a...pillow? Or maybe threaten to paint my nails a dastardly color of pink?” Leto launched himself at Alanna, but she twirled away and laughed as he hit the wall and slid down. She picked up his forgotten pillow and thwacked him in the head. Leto spun around, game face on, to find Alanna perched next to Spike on the bed, pillow held at ready. She leaned down with an impish smile.

“He's ticklish,” she whispered sotto voice.

“ALANNA!” Spike watched with thinly veiled curiosity at their interactions; he couldn't sense any fear or reservation from the slayer now that Leto was in game face, nor did he feel the rumblings of aggression and dominance from Leto. It was unlike any interaction he'd ever seen as (or from) a vampire. Angelus, Darla, and Dru had been all about the blood, sex, and serious power plays. This...playfulness had never existed.

“Yes, oh pillow-licious love of my life?” Leto's golden eyes narrowed and he growled low and rumbling in his chest. Spike would have blushed if he could when the scent of female arousal permeated the air; amazingly, Leto just smirked and growled again. Spike glanced away when he saw the fine tremor run through Alanna. “You bastard.” It was high a breathy, and Spike could see her pupils dilate. Leto chuckled and leaned bonelessly against the door...and growled again.

“Leto.” This time there was a warning note in Alanna's voice.

“Yes, oh slayer of my heart?” He punctuated his question with a low, rumbling purr.

“Stop. You're embarrassing Spike.” Spike was pretty sure he's actually achieved a blush at that point. He glanced a Leto and was relieved to find that the older vamp (...his...sire?...maybe?) just looked amused.

“Sorry,” he mumbled, ducking his head.

“Oh please.” Alanna flopped down on the bed beside him, hair tumbling off the end, looking at Leto up-side-down. “I live with demons who all have an overachieving sense of smell. They know what I'm up to before I do. I'm so over the embarrassment, so stop blushing before your head explodes.”

“I'm blushing?”

“Well. No. But you would be if you could.” Alanna sent Leto a mental slap (and was wholly satisfied to see him actually jump), urging him to get on with it. He glared at her, but she just smiled an inscrutable and impervious slayer smile back at him.

“So Spike. How are you feeling today, assault by pillow aside?” she asked with far too much fake cheer. He glanced nervously at Leto, trying to gauge the older vamp's mood. Leto just slouched against the doorjamb nonchalantly, looking relaxed but alert.

“I'm...” He was really tempted to say fine, but one glance at Alanna told him he wasn't going to get away with that answer. “...not sure.”

“OK.” Spike blinked.

“What?” He'd been expecting...something. A protestation, an eye roll, a dissection of his past actions and maybe a description of how he should be feeling... pressure for an answer to Leto's offer. 'OK' hadn't been anywhere on his list.

“You're unsure. That's understandable.” Leto sighed mentally at the completely lost look on Spike's face. Someone had really done a number on the poor boy's psyche, and he had a really good idea who. Since when was confusion not an acceptable response to a life changing decision?

“You're not...I don't...” Spike was suddenly very, very tired.

“Look, the offer doesn't come with an expiration. It's not a 24-hour fire sale or a limited-time-only thing. It's one of the biggest decisions of your existence. I'd have been more worried if you'd jumped to an answer, especially considering last night.” Spike winced at the reminder, and Leto was by his side in an instance, hand on his shoulder. “You're allowed to be confused, and mad, and angry, and what the fuck ever. That's your prerogative. I'm not going to leave or get angry because you have to work a few things out. So take all the time you need, ask all the questions you want. Alanna and I will try to help you as much as we can.”

Spike ducked his head and started picking at invisible strands on the mattress. This was something new, unfamiliar territory. Alanna touched his arm.

“You're not alone anymore. Let us help you.” Her smile was soft, and Spike let himself hope. Just a little bit.