A/N Betad by seapealsh and dawnofme. Banner by dawnofme.
This is set before Thomas ever met Justine.




As Thomas led Xander away, he pondered the words he’d said to Spike. He could tell they were true by the way Spike had reacted to them. But how the hell had it happened? How come Spike couldn’t bite or even hit the guy? Thomas rubbed his chin. Spike had certainly been able to hit him with no problem earlier. He turned his attention back to the human.

“So what did you mean? Why can’t Spike hurt you?”

“It’s not just me,” Xander said, pupils dilating as he gazed adoringly at Thomas. “He got caught by this government secret operation called the Initiative. They stuck a chip in his brain that fires if he tries to hurt a human.” Xander chuckled. “His head explodes in pain – man, you should see it.”

Thomas scowled. It seemed a lot like Xander was kicking a puppy to him; baiting someone he knew was unable to defend himself. He ignored the little voice telling him that Spike had done plenty of that himself before this happened.

“So he can’t hurt anything?”

“He can kill demons. So now most of the demon population of good ole Sunny D are out to get him, ‘cause he’s fighting their friends and relations all the time.

Xander started to glance around him. Why am I walking with this guy?

Noticing that he’d let his attention wander, Thomas upped the wattage and smiled at him. Time to teach someone a lesson.

“C’mon,” he said, his voice low and sensual. He nodded his head towards the bathroom.

“Oh, yes.” Xander grinned and tried to hold Thomas’s hand.

Thomas avoided it and walked quickly into the bathroom. As he’d expected it was full. He glanced down to see Xander staring at him with such longing that Thomas found himself wishing he was a bloodsucker instead. Sometimes it just wasn’t appealing, but it did have its uses.

He made sure that the two of them were blocking the exit and just as someone approached, Thomas put his plan into action. The incubus vibe rose to maximum and Xander was powerless to resist. He leaned forward as one hand slipped behind Thomas’s neck to pull his lips to his own, and the other planted itself firmly on Thomas’s groin.

“Just what the hell do you think you’re doing?” roared Thomas, making sure all the guys in the bathroom heard him.

He abruptly knocked down his vibe and Xander came to his senses holding a very attractive stranger’s crotch, his lips puckered ready to kiss him.

“What? I don’t…why…?” Xander stared around in confusion.

“Get your hands off me, or else I’ll call the cops!” said Thomas, trying not to laugh at the expression on Xander’s face. “Empty night! I only came in here for a piss!”

“Christ, Harris,” someone muttered at they pushed past the two men.

Thomas shoved Xander away, sending him reeling into another boy who promptly pushed him away as if he was toxic waste. Smiling to himself, Thomas whirled around, strode out the door and went to find Spike.

*~*~*~*

Spike pinched the skin between his fingers – hard. It hurt, but Buffy was still standing in front of him, smiling as she sipped her Coke.

“So you had a good day then, pet?”

“Yes, I have actually. I had a normal girl day.”

Brows knitting together, Spike said, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I went shopping, um…had a cup of coffee…” A faraway look came over her face as she said that. “uh…and now I’m out for the evening with my friends.” Spike’s heart swelled. “Well, I would be if they were here.” His heart deflated.

That puts you right in your place, Spike. “Er…the boy was here earlier.” Spike glanced around anxiously, suddenly realising that he so didn’t want Buffy to meet Thomas.

She misinterpreted Spike’s look. “Has he been riding you again? He should watch his mouth.”

Spike once more stared at Buffy in amazement. Did she just actually stick up for him? She was even more full of mixed messages than usual. He spotted Thomas making his way back. Even out of range of Thomas’s lethal vibes, Spike could see that the bloke was sodding gorgeous. No way could he let Buffy and Thomas meet. Even if it meant leaving her when she was actually being kind of nice, treating him like a man and not a freak.

“Um…well, it doesn’t matter to me what the git says,” Spike lied. “I’m sure Red’ll be here soon. I’ve got to go, pet.”

“Go where?” Buffy frowned, unused to Spike leaving of his own free will. It usually took a couple of hard punches, at least.

“Just something I’ve got to do.” Spike turned on his heel and strode towards Thomas, turning him around and guiding him to the door.

“Hey! What’s with the rapid exit?” said Thomas.

“The place is dead, thought seeing as we’ve got your flash wheels we could go a bit further afield?”

“Sounds a good plan.” Thomas nodded. “I think I taught your young friend a lesson.”

“He’s no sodding friend,” growled Spike, eyes flashing amber.

“No, I gathered that.” Thomas rested his hand on Spike’s arm, halting him. “Was he telling the truth when he told me what had happened to you?”

Spike rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically. “If he said that the government has stuffed a little chip in my brain that fires when I hurt a human – then, yeah, it’s right.”

“Christ,” said Thomas, letting his hand fall away.

“Christ had nothing to do with it. The bastards have taken away my natural ability to hunt and kill. It’s not bleeding right!”

“So how are you surviving?”

The pair resumed their walk to the car.

“I get pig’s blood from the butcher. It tastes like shite, but I’m getting used to it. I can sometimes get expired blood from the hospital. Now that is bloody delicious. I can hit demons, so if I need a spot of violence I can always find something to have a go at. ‘Sides, it gets me in good with the Slayer.”

“Slayer?” Thomas’s eyes widened comically and his voice rose an octave or too higher than was manly. “The Slayer’s here? In Sunnydale?” He glanced around nervously.

Spike chuckled. “It’s okay. Don’t sweat it. I doubt if White Court vampires are even on her radar.

“Still…”

“Don’t worry, mate. I won’t let her chop off your head.” Spike put his arm around the taller man’s shoulder. “Now let’s go and find some of those girls you were talking about earlier.”

*~*~*~*

An hour or so later, saw the vampires in another club in the nearest big town to Sunnydale. As soon as they’d spotted a couple of likely girls, they made their move. Spike had to admit that Thomas was pretty smooth, even without letting his irresistible vibe lose on them.

Although Spike’s heart was very firmly taken by Buffy, he decided that a bit of fun with a willing partner would do him the world of good. He doubled his liquor intake. If he was going to sleep with someone who wasn’t the Slayer, then he needed to get pissed.

Courtesy of Thomas’s platinum Amex card, they spent the night in the most expensive hotel the town boasted. Thomas had secured them adjoining suites, and after they’d played strip poker for a while, with the girls soon naked and the vampires not even devoid of a sock, they split into couples and retired to their own bedrooms.

Again, although Spike thought that feeding on emotion like Thomas did, was a nancy boy way for a vampire to feed, he had to admit it was a damn sight easier than having to drain a body of blood.

Spike’s partner for the night was a tall brunette, who was about as different to Buffy that a girl could get. For one, her tits were truly enormous and despite himself, Spike hadn’t been able to stop staring. But when they kissed, all he saw was Buffy’s disapproving face peering at him over the girl’s shoulder. He remembered how nice she’d been to him earlier and was relieved when the girl passed out on the bed. After he’d pulled the bedcovers up over her, he settled down to sleep on the couch in the living room part of the suite.