Backfire - Spander Files

“And I’m not one to be taking orders from spotty-faced little boys.”
Xander’s fist struck Spike’s jaw before either one really knew what was happening.
Spike, who had been propelled back about a foot, shook his head a couple times
(more out of shock than pain, Xander figured), then let out a little laugh. The
vampire took one step forward, latched dull teeth onto his bite mark, and sucked
hard.
Xander threw his head back against the tree and semi-screamed, “Fuck!” through
gritted teeth. Spike stopped as quickly as he started and moved to look Xander in
the eyes.
“You know what’s going on, right?” Spike asked.
“Angel explained it to me.”
Spike seemed amused. “Oh, Angel did, did he? Suppose he would know. He’s the
one who taught it to me. Never had any use for it until now.”
“God, I fucking hate Angel.”
A snicker from Spike. “Yeah. Me, too.” The vampire took a step back. “I’m not
going to kill you right away. I’ll kill you, yes. If I don’t, then I’ll go around feeling
like this forever. Can’t have that. But it is kind of amusing for now.”
“What do you mean you’ll go around feeling like this?”
“What? Angel didn’t explain that part? Typical.” Spike sighed. “You crave me. I
crave you. That’s just the way it works. It will continue that way until you die. Then
I’m free of it.”
“But it doesn’t work the other way around, right? I mean, when I die, then you’re
free, but when you die…” Xander slid down the tree again. Angel had explained
this part, sure, but it had taken a really long time to process the information
completely. “If you die, then this craving, this need, it won’t go away, will it? I’m
going to be pulled toward you, but there won’t be a you to go to. What will happen