Backfire - Spander Files

Xander slid the duster, which somehow managed to stay on him during the entire
bout, off Spike’s shoulders and inspected the bruises on his arms. There wasn’t a lot
he could do about most of the injuries. He suspected broken ribs and perhaps some
ruptured internal organs, but vamps healed fast enough, so he wasn’t worried about
it.
Instead, he removed his own t-shirt, spit on it, and proceeded to clean the blood
covering Spike’s face. Eventually, he was able to see the damage done there. Lip
split in two different places, two black eyes, one completely swollen shut and the
other streaked with red veins where a blood vessel had burst. A cheekbone was
clearly broken and the nose was lying at an odd angle.
He had no idea why Buffy hadn’t looked this bad. “Geez, Spike. You don’t take a
punch very well,” he commented casually, which was rewarded by a shrug - Spike’s
first movement since they entered the crypt. It was promising. Xander decided to
see what else he could get out of the vampire.
“I mean, I hope you heal up quick, cause what would all the ladies say when they
see this lopsided nose and flawed line in your cheekbone. Gotta tell ya, not pretty,
man.”
No reaction. Okay, different tactic.
“Buffy really wailed on you. You know, if she didn’t have strict instructions not to
kill you, then you would be a pile of dust mixed in with your girlfriend.” That did it.
A hand came up and closed around Xander’s throat.
“Spike!” Angel cried from the other side of the crypt.
The grasp was high on his neck, just under his chin. The fingers were far from the
scars that rested closer to Xander’s shoulders, near the collarbones. Spike wasn’t
squeezing. Despite the speed in which the hand had come up, there was oddly no
malice or threat in gesture.
Xander turned his head slightly toward Angel. “S’kay. Not hurting me.” Angel’s