Title: A Dangerous Mind Part Three
Author: Buffywatcher
Feedback: Constructive comments always
welcome: Deepkori@hotmail.com
Pairing: Primarily Angel(us)/Spike,
References to Penn/Spike (Non-con), Spike/Drusilla
Rating: R Possibly a bit of romantic
NC-17’ish circumstances.
Spoilers: Big ones for Destiny, Angel Season
Five occasional references to other episodes in season five but for the most
part this diverges to AU after the Destiny Episode.
Warnings: This story will contain instances
of extreme violence, sexuality, character deaths and references to rape,
stalking, and some torture.
Disclaimer: Just borrowing them for a bit of
harmless fun. All characters, recognisable likenesses are retained by their
owner and accredited license holders.
Writer’s
Notes: This story
takes place in an AU setting. The events concerning Penn never occurred. Spike
left LA after the Destiny episode but everything else you can consider has
happened according to canon as of the start of this story. For the Episode
Damage: just consider the bits with Spike as not having occurred, Dana was
found and Andrew assumed custody of her without finding out that Spike was
alive. Please excuse any minor discrepancies or artist license. As always thanks
are going out to GF, MarieC, Luba, and Mera my most excellent group of
Beta/Editors. **A special thanks to Mera for some ideas she contributed to this
work.**
Distribution: If I’ve already been given
permission to archive my work please consider it yours if you want it. If I
haven’t and you would like to archive it please do, all I ask is that you email
me and tell me where it’s going so I can visit.
Summary: An ancient foe is unleashed and
Angel is forced to confront a painful episode from his past as his enemy seeks
to take from everything he’s ever loved.
*Denotes
thoughts*
*
Chapter
Four
The elevator doors open and a dark haired man steps confidently out into
the lobby and strides over to Harmony’s desk.
“I’ll be right with you.” Harmony says warmly, not looking up as she hits
a few keys on her computer keyboard and replies to someone through the phone
headset. “No I’m afraid he’s booked solid for that day. I can transfer you to
the secretary of Mr. Wyndam-Pryce if you prefer, he may have an appointment
available. The twelfth at two…” A quick flurry of fingertips on the keyboard.
“Yes that’s available. Certainly, thank you for calling Wolfram & Hart and
have a nice day.” Harmony disconnects the call and looks up with a smile.
Her smile brightens as she looks up at the man standing in front of her
desk. He is very well built but not overly developed like a body builder. He is
dressed in a simple dark brown leather jacket over a cream coloured v-neck
sweater and faded jeans that manage to look new. She carries her glance upward.
His dark hair is cut short on the sides and in the back but the top is cut into
soft layers that feather subtly to soften the slightly angular shape of his
face. A simple gold stud pierces his left ear and small gold hoop is thrust
through a piercing through his right brow. His left eye is covered by a roguish
looking eye patch. The overall effect is one of confidence and the easy power
that comes with being tested in life and coming out on top.
“Xander?” Harmony says shocked as she realises who the man is and darts
around the desk for a hug. “Wow I haven’t seen you for what two years now?”
Xander smiles with an easy charm. “Hi Harmony, and yeah it’s been about
that long. I’m in town for a few days on business with my roommate and I
thought I’d drop by and annoy your boss for a while. I don’t suppose the Prince
of Brood is around?”
“I’m sorry Xander he’s out of the office but I’m sure he’ll be back if
you’d like to stay and wait?” Harmony says regretfully. “Gunn and Wesley are in
Angel’s conference room, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if you went and said
hello. Follow me.” Harmony smiles and leads Xander to Angel’s office knocking
softly before she pushes open the door and motions for Xander to go in.
Xander smiles as Wesley and Gunn look up and smile warmly, rushing over
to meet him.
“Hello Xander, no one told us you were coming.”
“Hey Xander.” Gunn says slapping the young man on the back.
Xander smiles and shakes both their hands. “My roommate and I are in town
for a few days…on business and some personal matters. I thought I’d stop in and
see how you lot were doing in your posh surroundings. Things look ace here, are
they?”
Gunn and Wesley share an uneasy look, silently debating whether or not to
tell Xander what they suspect about Buffy but before they can the elevator
doors open and Angel strides off the elevator, cradling an unconscious and very
blond man.
Xander spins around to see what Wesley and Gunn are staring at and his
eyes harden to diamond sharpness and he strides into the lobby. Angel falters
when he sees him and Xander plants himself directly in his path and crosses
impressively muscular arms over his chest and raises an eyebrow in silent
inquiry.
“Well this is a surprise, hello Xander. No one told…” Angel adjusts his
hold on Spike’s limp form, hitching him up to higher spot across his chest. The
elevator opens and a very guilty looking Fred and a concerned looking Lorne
hurry across the lobby, their steps faltering when they see Xander.
“…You I was coming. Yes I know. Would you mind explaining why you’re
carrying my obviously unconscious roommate before I knock your fucking block
off?” Xander says stoically.
Angel just stands there gaping, his mouth opening and then closing in
confusion as he looks from him to Spike and back again. He just stands there
like a statue and fed up, Xander carefully slips his hands under Spike’s knees
and chest, takes him out of Angel’s arms and strides back into the office.
He can see Xander setting Spike down on the couch and tenderly checking
over his wounds. After a second of watching that, Angel realises that Xander’s
stolen Spike right out of his arms and strides after him with a growl of
annoyance. As he passes Wesley he suddenly stops, turns around and punches
Wesley solidly in the jaw knocking him senseless and sending him crashing to
the floor.
“Stop giving Fred ideas Wes!” He turns on his heel and continues into the
office with Lorne at his back, while Fred and Gunn stop to help Wesley.
Xander looks up and pins Angel with a dangerous glare as he kneels beside
the couch with his hand still resting familiarly on Spike’s stomach. “What did
you do to him? None of these are bad enough to have knocked him out. He’s
gotten worse injuries than these signing autographs.”
“I…there’s been some developments concerning his safety and I wanted to
talk to him about it, but he just attacked me instead. Fred tranquillised him
hoping to give us time to get him back here and talk some sense into his
stubborn blond head. I’m not sure what she used, but it was apparently Wesley’s
idea. I let him know I didn’t appreciate it.”
The trio look out in the lobby where Fred and Gunn are supporting a woozy
Wesley; then they turn back to the unconscious Vampire. Angel bites back his
growl of annoyance as Xander runs his hand up Spike’s chest, brushing over the
signs of their fight.
“He’ll do worse when he wakes up. He won’t blame Fred, but you can bet
he’ll be put to hurt Wesley for sure. You may want to get him out of the office
for the next two centuries or so. He may have calmed down then.” Xander says
wryly. Angel and Lorne can’t help but chuckle at that.
“Xander, you live with SPIKE?” Angel asks surprised, shocked actually.
Xander sits down curling his legs under him. “A couple of times now
actually.” Xander says with a smile at the unconscious Vampire. “You do know
that Spike lived with me for a while in Sunnydale right?” Angel shakes his head
clearly surprised to hear that fact. “Back in his chip days and then off and on
after that when he needed a place to stay. I wouldn’t say we were friends
exactly back then, I was young and stupid and he was old and stubborn. When
Caleb did this…” Xander brushes his fingertips over his eye patch. “…Spike was
one of the few people that never treated me differently. It’s like he never saw
it at all, for all the concern he showed. He never coddled me or made me feel
like I had lost anything. He pushed and shoved me to prove it to myself, that I
was still important to the cause. He started drilling me in moves and ways to
compensate for my blind spots. When he left LA, he called me to let me know he
was going to be moving. I invited him to come and stay with me until he decided
where to go, I was working on a construction project in
Angel looks nauseous. “So you two are…”
“Friends, best friends even. Over time, I naturally fell into the roles
of personal assistant and bodyguard. It’s to be expected of a man in his
position; the world at large doesn’t need to really know he’s more than capable
of dealing with anything that comes his way right? He kept his promise, we’ve
been all over the world and we’ve got a great estate in Connemara, a flat in
London, condos in Paris and New York, and our main residence is our house In
Two Harbours, over in Santa Catalina. We spend most of our time there between
shoots and matches. Speaking of which, you’re lucky the match tonight was
called off or you’d have one pissed Vampire on your hands.”
Angel can barely take in everything Xander’s revealed, but one thing
caught his attentions. “Match?”
“Spike is the North American Pit Fighting Champion for the super elite
division. It’s his little hobby to keep in shape. We usually patrol a few
nights wherever we are at the time but outside the Hellmouth, Demons aren’t as
prevalent so that’s not always enough to feed his need for violence. It’s
actually benefited him a lot, he’s a much more focused and deliberate fighter
now.”
Angel raises his hand to his still bruised cheek. “Yes, so I felt. Xander,
do you know about…”
“
“Are you sure Xander? It can’t be some kind of trick?” Angel asks
hopefully.
“It had her HEAD in it Angel. He’d done something to it…when I opened the
box it SCREAMED Angel.” Xander slumps forward, pressing his forehead to Spike’s
chest. “It was the most awful thing I’d ever seen or heard. Spike said it was
some kind of black magic that kept Buffy’s head alive forever, trapped at the
moment of her death when Penn took her head. Spike…he had destroy it Angel. He
set her free but he went mad, utterly insane for weeks. He killed every Vampire
he came across, whole nests he wiped out all on his own. Then we got another
package.” Xander doesn’t raise his head, sounding like he’s a century older
than he is.
Angel feels the tears starting down his cheeks and feels the weight of
Lorne’s hand falling onto his shoulder in silent support. “What was it?”
“There was some kind of a necklace, it was thick and gold and it had some
strange symbols carved into the outside and there was a letter with it. I don’t
know what it said; it was written in a strange language I couldn’t read. Spike
told me later it was Gaelic but he didn’t tell me what the letter said. He told
me to make arrangements to return here and we’d find him and make him pay. We
will you know. I’ve never been gladder that Spike is a Demon; Penn’s going to
beg to die before he’s done with him and I plan to watch every minute of it. He
didn’t want to come here, but I told him I would come and let you know Buffy
and Dru were dead. He told me not to tell you how they died; Spike doesn’t want
you to interfere, Angel. I won’t lie though Angel, this Penn guy scares me.
He’s totally insane and obsessed with Spike.”
“He always has been Xander, from the moment he saw him, Penn wanted to
own him and lock him away from everyone but himself. The only reason he didn’t
do that right away is Angelus made no secret that William was his favourite and
he feared him in those days.” Angel says heavily. “It didn’t stop him for long,
but I made sure he regretted trying to take what was mine. He paid dearly for
trying to take William.”
Xander looks down at Spike and wipes his thumb across some blood staining
his mouth, his brow sorrows though as more blood leaks from the split lip. He
looks at Angel and sees little evidence of the fight remains visible.
“Angel, shouldn’t he have started healing by now? These cuts are still
bleeding and the bruises are still fresh.” Xander asks worriedly.
“What?! He’s not healing?” Angel dives for the couch, kneeling beside
Xander and running light hands over Spike’s prone body that shows no sign of
stirring at all. “He’s not healing!” Angel exclaims panicked. “Lorne, go find
out what the hell they used in that fucking dart Fred shot him with.” Lorne
nods and hurries out of the office.
In a few moments they can hear his raised voice yelling all the way from
Wesley’s office, where Fred and Gunn had taken him to recover. He’s back within
a few minutes looking very pissed and rubbing his bruised knuckles. As he’s
entering the office it’s Fred and Gunn’s raised voices that ring through the
almost deserted floor.
“It’s a standard heavy class tranquilliser, but Wesley used the mojo to
put some heavy class enchantment on it to make it particularly more effective
for a Vampire. He’s not sure why it’s slowing down Spike’s healing; he’s never
tested the spell before apparently.” Lorne sounds thoroughly disgusted and
furious.
“I’m going to kill that son of a bitch.” Xander says punching his fist
into his palm with a resounding smack.
“Get in line Xander.” Angel says with a snarl. “We’ll have to treat these
injuries as if he were human for now. I’ll take him Xander; I can treat his
injuries and look after him until he wakes up.” Angel lays his hand on Xander’s
shoulder.
Xander turns his head to look at Angel wondering if he should just take
care of Spike himself, but then he notices Lorne nodding and motioning to Angel
with a pleading look.
“Okay Angel, I guess you would know the most about taking care of another
Vampire. At least certainly more than I do at any rate.” Xander says finally,
with some reluctance.
When he sees Angel smile, tenderly lift Spike and carefully arranging him
in his arms so his head is supported; he decides he’s done the right thing and
nods thankfully to Lorne who smiles back.
“Thank you Xander. This means a lot to me.” Angel says with quiet
sincerity.
Xander just nods and says. “Is there anything I can do to help you?”
“If he wakes, he’s going to be hungry…could you and Lorne maybe get some
take out? Something he likes to eat would be a nice thing to wake up to?” Angel
says looking uncertain.
“I think that’s a good idea Angel. He’s always eating, good thing he’s a
vampire or he’d probably be hefty sized by now. He loves Chinese, I know this
place that has the best dumplings in LA, Spike just loves them, I can go pick
up some food for us.” He says; only to slap his forehead. “I came over on the
motorcycle though, could I bum a ride?”
“Sure thing tall, dark, and delicious, you can be my navigator and I’ll
work the stick.” Lorne says with a wink and smile that has Xander and Angel
laughing quietly.
“We’ll see you when you get back.” Angel says leading the way to the
elevator.
Lorne and Xander ride up to his penthouse apartment with him. Lorne
presses the button and when the elevator doors open, Xander snags Angel’s card
key and opens the door for him. He darts ahead to set the key on the bar, then
heads back to Lorne waiting in the elevator, holding the doors open.
As soon as the elevator doors close Lorne, leans closer and says quietly,
“Thanks for letting him take care of Spike. I think he’s feeling really guilty
about the fact he gave Spike the bumps and bruises in the first place.”
“When Spike told me about Penn, he told me about Angelus too. I always
suspected there’d been some sort of a relationship between them that was more
than the hate, kill, and destroy variety. I had no idea just how much of a
relationship there was. He was almost reverent when he was telling me about
it.”
“Angel is the same way when he tells me about those days, and I was lucky
enough to see some of their past when Angel sang for me. I never knew such a
love existed before. He can deny it all he wants but Angelus had a soul, so did
William; they were each other’s soul. Then those misguided gypsies cursed him
with a true soul, complete with one guilty conscience. He told me about what
happened in Sunnydale, when Angelus escaped, how insane he was. I can’t imagine
how horrible that must have been for him, for them both.”
“What do you mean?” Xander asks confused.
“They were in love and one night Angelus preys on a gypsy girl and he’s
cursed with a soul that can’t accept that the love of his unlife is a Demon and
leaves. A century passes and they get on with their lives but still bound to
each other as much as they ever were. You can’t have the depth of hate these
two have been slaves to without a love as deep to make them bleed. Angelus
leaves William, who has to harden his heart and his body to survive without
him, becoming Spike. He clung to the last remnant he had left of his life with
his love.”
“Drusilla.” Xander breathes.
Lorne nods and continues. “Meanwhile his love, denying his past and the
reality of being a Vampire, tries to become human to the extent that he falls
in love with a Slayer, a teenage human for the most part. They meet up again
but circumstances force them to be enemies. Then Angelus loses the soul and
he’s freed but insane, not only from being confined inside Angel for so long,
but being imprisoned away from SPIKE for so long. He returns and Spike is
crippled but devoted to Drusilla because of the rift between them. He punishes
Spike by stealing Drusilla away but it’s not enough. In his eyes the world was
at fault for costing him Spike so the world earned his wrath. It was time to
end it all, to start over. As demons they would likely have been able to
survive Hell but regardless they’d be together and no one in the world could
part them again because the world was gone. Sadly now they’re just trapped by
the pain they’ve unintentionally heaped on each other and neither can bend
enough to break the pattern.”
“You know that’s more than a little fucked up…reason-wise I mean.” Xander
says shaking his head.
“You know what they say Xan-cakes, love makes you do the wacky.” Lorne
says in a sing-song tone. His eyes drift slowly over the handsome younger man.
“We should order a lot of food…I’m suddenly ravenous.”
“Sure, we can make that doable.” Xander says with a smile. “Are you sure
you don’t mind giving me a ride? I can always hop a cab and be back P.D.Q.
before you even missed me.”
“Oh I have absolutely no problem giving you a ride anywhere you want to
go Xan-cakes.” Lorne says with a smile, motioning Xander to precede him as the
elevator doors open to reveal the parking garage.
*
Chapter Five
Angel sighs gratefully as Xander quietly closes the door, leaving him
with Spike. He carefully carries his precious burden into his bedroom and sets
back down on his bed. He tenderly undresses Spike, neatly folding his clothes
and hanging up his precious duster. He tries for clinical detachment as he
checks the injuries, but he knows his touch is being too reverent, his hands
lingering just a few moments too long.
*You’re still the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen my Laddy.*
His eye is caught by the glint of gold in Spike’s navel and he lifts a
reverent hand to brush his fingertips lightly over the gold piercing and charms
that he saw in the magazine. He carefully pulls one of the charms up balancing
it on a fingertip and he stares. He smiles at the perfectly miniaturised
railroad spike. He sets that aside and lifts the other and stares in frozen
amazement at the tiny angel charm balanced on his fingertip.
“Oh my boy, my precious, wonderful boy.” He can’t help himself as he
leans over and kisses the piercing reverently, his tongue sweeping out to
tangle with the silent declaration that his boy still holds a place for him in
his heart. He forces his mouth away from the charm with some difficulty and
walks stiffly into the bathroom.
His mind floats on disjointed images of times gone passed, of nights
filled with sighs and flesh on flesh in a carnal dance that still haunts his
dreams. He comes out of his daze just in time to turn the water off and finds
that he’s run a hot bath, fragrant with jasmine and sandalwood bath oil and
he’s somewhat taken aback. He doesn’t need to touch the water to know it’s the
perfect temperature with just the right mix of bath oils, he knows it
instinctively and he marvels at his memory. He prepared a bath for his boy in
the same way he had countless nights so long ago and he shakes his head at the
fact he did it all without thinking about it. He stands and looks around at the
army of candles that seem to call every surface in the bathroom home. He picks
up the fireplace starter that’s always on hand and goes around the bathroom and
tub and lights every candle before he turns the glaring overhead light off.
He sighs as his sensual memories wrap around him with silken arms.
Memories of other nights in rooms thick with steam and remembered scents
flickering in the candlelight comes to him. His hands drift over his own
clothing, floating them away. He walks in a trance like serenity to the bedroom,
cradling the equally naked form of his Grand-Childe in his arms. He steps
carefully over the deep edge of the bath and sits down, sighing at the feel of
the steaming water as he sinks down. He tenderly slips Spike into the water,
pulling him back to cradle his back against his chest and lets the steaming
water soak into their skin and warm their bones. He wraps an arm around Spike
and trials his hand slowly up his chest marvelling at the changes he can feel
and see.
Spike has always been a beautiful man, but he’s in the best shape that
he’s ever been in. His musculature is cut and rippled with a clear delineation
between the muscles that he can feel under the surface of his pale silk skin.
While he is still all long and lithe lines, more like a gymnast than a
bodybuilder, there is undeniable strength to his form. Not a spare ounce of fat
dares to be out of place but he’s gained some weight and additional muscle mass
that he wears well. Wrapping his other arm around Spike, he finds his
fingertips playing with his belly button piercing as he relaxes and just holds
his boy and lets the steaming water clean out the scratches and soothe the
bruises.
After a while, he reluctantly sits up and grabs the container or
antibacterial bath gel that he likes to keep around for cleaning up after messy
slaying jobs. He pops the top and squeezes out a fair amount, before setting it
aside and rubbing his palms together and gently washing his boy then himself.
He leans Spike’s limp form slightly over the edge of the deep tub and levers
himself out, grabbing a warm towel he quickly dries himself off. Grabbing a
bath sheet from the towel warming rack, he spreads it out on the floor beside
the tub; then eases his boy out of the tub lying him tenderly down on the bath
sheet he laid out. Grabbing another warm towel, he pats Spike’s skin dry then
lays the towel over him to keep him from becoming chilled and drains the tub.
He leaves the bathroom and goes into his walk in wardrobe, picks out a set of
silk drawstring pants and matching short robes and sets them on the bed before
returning to the bathroom. He kneels and opens one of the cupboards, removes a
large black case and closes the door before walking on his knees back to kneel
beside Spike. He opens the case to reveal it’s a meticulously organised and
well stocked first aid kit. He makes sure every cut is clean, licking each to
promote faster healing before he covers each lightly in an antibiotic cream. He
runs his fingertips lightly over the worst of the bruises and drops his fangs,
lightly sinking his teeth in and draining off the trapped blood. He moans
raggedly at the first taste of his boy’s blood in over a century and forces
himself not to keep drinking. He repacks everything and washes his hands before
kneeling and lifting Spike, scowling as his head flops boneless still trapped
in his unconscious state. He adjusts his hold until his head rests supported by
his shoulder and carries him back into the bedroom.
He tenderly sets him on the bed and dresses him; then he slips into the
other set of sleepwear before padding silently back into the bathroom, slipping
the used towels down the laundry chute and blowing out the candles. He returns
to the bedroom and gently lifts Spike and carries him out into the living room
before sitting down with him cradled against his chest, on one of the thickly
cushioned sofas facing the huge floor to ceiling windows.
“Spike…come on it’s time to wake up. William, wake up.” Regardless of how
he tries, Spike remains trapped in unconsciousness.
*Hmmm maybe blood will work where words have failed.*
He lifts his index finger and dropping his fangs bites into cleanly,
piercing it right down to the bone before slipping it between Spike’s lips.
Massaging his throat with his left hand, he smiles as he feels the weakest of
draws on the bloody finger as Spike instinctively feeds albeit weakly.
*That’s it my boy, come back to me. There’s no need to hide in the
darkness anymore, we can find our light together.*
He feels a smile growing as he feels the stirring of the powerful muscles
of the man resting against him and he knows that Spike is fighting his way back
to consciousness. He feels the smile become a grin as he looks down and sees
the hint of fiery blue eyes trying to peek out of fluttering eyelashes and the
suction on his fingers grows somewhat stronger. He levers Spike onto his side
until his face is pressed into the curve of his neck and shoulder, with his
mouth pressed tightly to the skin.
“You’ve been hurt Spike, you need to feed.” He knows his voice is sharp
and rings with the tone of authority that he doesn’t really want to use but
it’s necessary.
It also works as he feels Spike’s true face shifting against his skin an
instant before his fangs slip into his neck. He rubs the back of Spike’s neck
stimulating him to feed and he feels a soft purring sound starting deep in his
chest.
He knows the exact moment that his blood has given Spike the additional
strength he needs to throw off the deepest unconsciousness, enough to realise
where he is. And with whom.
“Just shut up for once in your life Spike and don’t argue with me just
because you can. Just don’t okay? You need me and I need to do this for you.”
Angel says tiredly. He’s exhausted having to pretend he hates his boy rather
than having to face up to the fact that now that he can have him, Spike no
longer wants him. He braces himself, positive Spike is going to wrench away to
inflict the kind of physical and emotional wounds that only he can.
He inhales raggedly as Spike for whatever reason chooses to surprise him
yet again by turning so that he’s lying on his chest and relaxes to continue
feeding. He sighs as Spike’s hand curls around his thigh as he rubs lightly
against him as he feeds. Angel keeps rubbing the back of Spike’s neck and lets
his other hand slide into his hair combing through the ultra short but
surprisingly soft mane. He moves in counterpoint to his boy’s gentle movements
and he feels a sigh tickle over the sensitive skin of his neck. The movements
are surprisingly free of sexual overtones and instead it is like two pieces of
a puzzle, pieces that know they fit together to form a picture of something
much larger, than they ever have alone.
*Homecoming.* Angel thinks as the curves and valleys that predominate his
bulkier form mesh so completely into the angles and planes of Spike’s body.
He doesn’t know why Spike isn’t fighting him and he can’t honestly say
that he cares about that so much right now. It’s enough that he’s not fighting
him.
“Fred’s really sorry about shooting you with that tranquilliser dart. Apparently
Wesley gave it to her and convinced it that it was the only way you’d come
along peacefully. He used some freakish concoction that he laced with magic.
Your wounds weren’t healing so I brought you here to take care of you.” He can
feel Spike’s chest rumble with a growl of annoyance. “I dropped him like a bad
habit right in the middle of the lobby.” The growl becomes a silent reluctant
chuckle. “Xander was here when we got back with you. I’ve always thought you
rather hated the whelp but he seemed very affectionate towards you. Then he
must be if you live together.” Angel can’t keep the snidely jealous tone out of
his voice and hopes that Spike is too engrossed in feeding to have noticed. As
another silent chuckle subtly shakes Spike’s form, he knows that hope has been
denied.
Spike retracts his fangs, his face smoothes into its human guise and he
licks the neat pinpricks in Angel’s throat until they close. He moves his head
to lap at the stray trails of missed drops of blood, cleaning them off with
long, leisurely licks until not a trace remains. He reluctantly sits up and
sits on the edge on the couch beside Angel; forcing himself not to show his
disappointment at having to move.
Angel sits up and slides into the corner of the sectional couch, bracing
the heel of one leg on one cushion and the other one he leaves stretched out on
the couch. After a short hesitation that only lasts a few seconds that never
seem to end, he silently opens his arms.
Spike looks at Angel with an unreadable expression in his eyes for
several moments, then crawls into his arms, lays his head on his chest and he
finally cries.
Angel says nothing and just closes his arms around him, stroking his hair
and his back and letting him cry. After all, what is there to say? No words
will make this pain go away, will make the twin losses of Drusilla and Buffy
any easier to bear. Maybe the quiet strength and love in his embrace will be
the help that his words can never be.
Spike feels the first drops hit the back of his shoulder and tightens his
arms around Angel as they share their grief at last in private for the two
women that once shared their lives.
After a few minutes, almost in unison, their tears taper off and they
move to sit next to each other, their hands loosely clasped between them as
they look out over the city nightscape.
“We’ll go after Penn together, Spike.” He tightens his hand around
Spike’s, cutting off the argument he sees is going to rip out of his throat. “I
won’t stop you from doing what you need to do, but we need to be united on this
if we’re going to make Penn pay. We’re the last, William.” He turns slightly to
cup a sculpted cheek. “We are the last. The world trembled at our names when we
stood together. Let it tremble and quake again.” Angel says coaxingly. When he
sees a glint of acknowledgement in Spike’s eyes he decides to see just how
accepting he is.
Angel slowly slides his hand behind Spike’s head, sinking his fingers
into his hair and pulling gently. He stares into Spike’s eyes, but finds that
the fiery halo at the heart of his eyes has deepened and intensified, until his
eyes shine like twin supernovas. He meets no resistance as he gently pulls
Spike’s head closer and closer until their lips almost meet. His free hand
slips down to the tie of the robe and gently pulls it loose. Sliding his hand
inside the silk, he drags his hand slowly up his belly, fingertips stopping to
tug briefly on the belly button piercing before sliding up his chest to rest
over his heart.
“I, Angelus, do recognise you William as Favoured Childe of my Childe
Drusilla. From death she was stolen and to dust she is returned. In blood I
will assume her station and that which is hers becomes that which is mine. From
Sire you have been passed and to Grandsire you return a Childe’s place to
assume. I pledge my ‘troth to thee William of Aurelius.” With those words
spoken, Angel lets his fangs drop and he plunges them into his lower lip,
keeping the fangs embedded to prevent most of the blood from escaping the
punctures. He stares deep into Spike’s eyes and hopes against all reason that
something of William still lives in Spike and will answer the ritual in kind.
“I, William, do recognise you as the Sire of my Sire, Master of our line.
From death you stole her and to dust she has returned. In blood I will accept
her station and that which was hers becomes that which is yours. From Sire I am
released and to Sire I am bound, a Childe’s place to assume. I pledge my ‘troth
to thee Angelus of Aurelius.” Spike intones softly as he pierces his lower lip,
following Angel’s example.
They pull their fangs free and Angel flexes his arm to pull Spike’s head
closer; so that their lips can press together but he moans quietly as Spike
darts forward on his own to take his mouth in a hungry kiss. Both moan at the
taste of their blood mingling on their lips as they drink from each other,
shuddering as a powerful surge rushes through them both as the ritual is
completed.
Angel shoves Spike back until he sprawls backwards onto the couch
cushions, snarling at him with his eyes ablaze, a thin line of their shared
blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. He straddles his hips and braces
his hands beside his head, leaning down to lick the trail of blood off. He
shudders as their mingled flavours burst across his tongue. He wants to roar in
triumph and ownership over the prostrated blond lying compliantly beneath him;
instead he slowly lowers his weight against him, watching for signs that it
isn’t what his boy wants.
Spike looks up at his newly anointed Sire and knows that he’s trying to
be considerate of his feelings, but he knows that this isn’t the time for
considerate. He slides his hands down Angel’s chest and catches the end of the
robe sash and slowly pulls it open before sliding his hands back up his chest,
sliding his hands under the silken fabric to caress his chest.
Angel moans quietly, quickly opening Spike’s robe just as his Childe
pulls him down to press against him. There are twin hisses that lengthen into
quiet gasps at the first touch of their bare skin pressing together. It has
been too long since they’ve willingly touched in anything but anger or rivalry
and their both lost in the sensation as they cling together as their Demons
once more linked bask in their new bond.
“You know you’re being surprisingly…accepting of this. What are you up
to?” Angel asks slyly.
Spike looks up at him, his fiery blue of his eyes spark with some
unfathomable emotion. “I promised myself long ago that if the day ever came,
that you wanted to claim me, that I would let you.” He lets his eyelids drop to
mask his eyes somewhat as he looks up through his lashes. “I wouldn’t have let
you force me into it; I’ve had enough of living my life on someone’s leash when
I had that damn chip in my head. The part of me that is still William will love
you for doing this for the rest of my existence.” Suddenly he pushes against
Angel’s chest, easily tossing him off and into the corner of the couch as he
sits up. “This doesn’t change anything Angel and you know it. I’m not a
fledgling anymore and I’m not the boy that existed only for you and dreamed of
the day you would care enough to claim me for yourself without hiding behind
Dru. Your boy grew up Angelus; you didn’t leave me any choice.” Spike forces
himself to his feet, forces his body to shake off the lingering lethargy caused
by the tranquilliser. He walks to the window and looks out at the city and
wonders briefly which shadowy nook is hiding his prey.
Angel watches as Spike forces his body through the weakness with a silent
sense of pride, even as he wants to growl at defiance.
“I’m not going to roll over and play dead you know. Even if I do happen
to be. Being a ghost and having to deal with Pavayne taught me that I am
significantly more than the sum of my parts. By will be done, if you want it
bad enough, you make it happen and you find a way. I’ve found the way and I
have the will to make it happen. I won’t have to hunt Penn; he’s going to give
himself to me, he’ll lay himself at my feet before I’m through with him.”
“How do you plan to do that Spike? Penn may be crazy, but he’s not
stupid.”
“You’re wrong Angel, he’s both and as for the how. What worked before
will work again.” Spike says with a smile that is so predatory Angel feels his
Demon clamouring to join the hunt. “He cracked last time and made an error that
proved almost fatal. If you hadn’t wanted him to suffer for all eternity, it
would have been fatal. All he had to do was wait and bide his time, Darla would
have sent for you sooner or later and ordered you to leave Dru and I behind
like she had before. He could have taken me and been well away before you even
knew we were missing, but he was impatient and that lead to him making an
impulsive and stupid decision. I plan to force him to do it again.”
Angel stands and joins Spike at the window. “How do you plan to do that?”
“By making myself as tempting and accessible as possible.” Spike says
simply. “He’ll make another mistake and I’ll have him.”
Angel looks at Spike with horror. “And what if he gets YOU first?” He
notices a cold smile curving Spike’s lips and he feels sick. “That’s what you
want! You want him to get you!” He doesn’t answer him because he doesn’t need
to. “That’s why you weren’t planning to let me know that he was out isn’t it?” He
grabs Spike’s arm and jerks him to face him forcing him to look at him by
locking his hands around his shoulders. “You KNEW I wouldn’t let him take you
if I knew…WHY?”
“You’ve forgotten the lessons you’ve taught me Angelus, but I never
have.” Spike’s eyes are smouldering pools of blue that are lit from within by
the fury of his emotions.
*If you want to be sure that an enemy is dead, than destroy him from the
inside out. Draw them to you, make them think that you are weak, no threat, let
them draw you close, then sink your fangs into their necks and drain them dry.*
Angel wants to scream in pain and rage as he remembers the extremely painful
way he taught Spike that particular lesson.
“I won’t allow it, Spike. There are other ways to destroy him that won’t
put you that much at risk.”
“The other ways won’t get me close enough to watch him die in agony. I
have to be sure he’s gone for good this time. I have to be sure. I need to do
this; I have to kill him myself.” Spike says vehemently.
“Spike…what was in that letter he sent to you with…with the box?” Angel
asks getting the definite impression that it has something to do with Spike’s
drive to kill Penn in the manner he’s chosen.
When Spike remains stubbornly silent, Angel takes a deep breath and forces
himself to touch the bond that surges between them to coerce an answer from his
stubborn Childe.
To his surprise he hears Spike’s chuckle as he feels a resistance unlike
any he has ever felt and finds himself abruptly dumped back into his own
consciousness.
“By will be done; Angel. I didn’t realise that Pavayne’s lessons would be
of as much use as they are. I resisted Hell’s will itself Angel, I think I can
manage to resist a Sire command when the will moves me, don’t you, Peaches?
Consider me moved.” Spike’s voice is cool but his eyes blaze with an unholy
glee.
Angel looks at him in shock. “How…you felt that?” He knew that Spike was
stronger than he was as a younger Vampire but the strength to manipulate a
Sire/Childe bond is an ability that is beyond Vampires twice his age. It’s an
ability that is beyond HIM.
“Living with Drusilla for so long…it changed me in a lot of ways. Pavayne
only honed the raw edge of a blade that was already there. I say again, take a
LONG look, Hero. I’m NOTHING like you.” Spike darts forward and sinks his fangs
into his throat before he knows what’s hit him, drinking deeply and thrusting
his fangs in deeply.
By the time Angel’s recovered from the shock, Spike’s yanked his fangs
free and stepped away licking his fangs free of the blood. “Don’t even start
thinking that you own me or that you can “allow” me to do ANYTHING. You may be
my Sire and I may be your Childe, but I am the Master of my own destiny. I am
claimed and so are YOU. Remember THAT.” Spike turns on his heel and stalks
towards Angel’s bedroom where he can smell the familiar scent of his duster and
theorising that will be where he’ll find his clothes.
Angel stares at Spike’s back as he walks away, raising a shaking hand to
his neck, wincing slightly and pulling his hand back to stare at the blood
staining his fingertips. He roars that leaps at the same instance and Spike
whirls around just as his Sire tackles him around the waist sweeping him up
into a bear hug and buries his fangs into his neck, biting deeply and feeding
voraciously. He wrenches his mouth off Spike’s neck and slams his mouth down
onto his in a bloody, voracious kiss that just goes on and on for endless
minutes until Spike roars and throws Angel off several feet.
Bending his knees into his chest and bracing his hands against the floor
beside his head, Spike snaps off his back landing into a crouch and gnashing
his fangs at Angel. They stare at each other, chests heaving with exertion and
emotion watching the rivulets of blood leaking from their healing claim marks.
They rise in unison, muscles straining and twitching as they stalk to meet
halfway. They press together, sniffing up each other’s necks to rub their
cheeks together, finally bending their mouths to the bloody claim marks,
licking each other’s wounds tenderly. Still moving in unison they lean forward
at the same time to press their foreheads together as their arms wrap around
each other tightly.
Angel stands holding Spike as tightly as he can and marvels at the
silence in his head. For the first time so very long, the part of him that is
Angelus is at peace, purring softly and not fighting him with every breath to
escape.
“It’s nice isn’t it?” Spike says softly.
Angel leans back and looks at him curiously. “What’s nice?”
Spike smiles gently. “When they’re quiet and just purring in your ear
like big sleepy kitties.” Spike chuckles softly at the amazed look on Angel’s
face.
“This…how did you know?” Angel asks feeling strangely shy as his brow
furrows in confusion. Then it suddenly hits him. “You’ve tamed your Demon.” He
breathes in amazement.
Spike leans back and looks up at Angel through his lashes. “Not quite,
I’ve learned to embrace it and even cater to it upon occasion, but more
importantly I’ve learned to understand it. I’ve learned to live with my Demon
rather than existing to hate it. My Demon is strong and it speaks to me of many
things, it is older than time and I know I am not the first vessel it has worn.
Angelus could teach you much if you could learn to embrace that part of you.
You would be stronger than you ever dreamed of but more importantly Angel, you
would be happy. You don’t have to surrender to Angelus to live with him Angel.
You just have to find what makes him happy, embrace him and give him what he
wants now and then and your life will be a lot fuller than it is right now.”
Spike leans forward to press his lips lightly to Angel’s and rubs a teasing
kiss to their fullness.
“And if you’re what Angelus wants?” Angel whispers against those teasing
lips.
“Than you Mr Broody Cave-vamp will have to break out those rusty romantic
skills of yours and give me reasons to want to stay with you.” Spike says with
a saucy wink and a playful nip at the lips against his.
Angel laughs, wraps his hands around Spike’s waist and suddenly picks him
up and throws him over his shoulder and strides for the bedroom.
“Second thought…I can see the advantages of dating a Cave-vamp…” Spike
says chuckling as they enter the bedroom and Angel turns to kick the door
closed.
Just then the doorbell rings and the bedroom door flies open as Angel
reappears with Spike, still slung over his shoulder and laughing hysterically
at some of his more inventive curses. Angel stalks past the couch and shrugs
his shoulder, sending Spike tumbling off and onto the couch, still laughing.
Angel grins as Spike bounces off the couch and onto the floor, but he’s
still laughing as he picks himself up and straightens his clothes before
sitting back to lounge on the couch in a more dignified position.
Angel curses again and tries to walk normally without causing his
erection to rub against the silk of his sleepwear. He flashes an evil look at
his chortling Childe as Spike laughs at his dilemma. Angel throws open the
front door and Xander and Lorne pour through with arms full of bags, chatting
like a pair of magpies.
Angel stares after them then shaking his head he finally closes the door
and follows them but doesn’t stop to talk as he strides right past them and
into his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. Lorne and Xander look at Spike
questioningly as they unload their arms of what seems to be a dozen bags of
Chinese food.
“I’m sure whatever his problem is; he’s got it well in hand.” Spike says
with a snicker, grinning with amusement. His head tilts slightly towards the
door and his grin turns enigmatic. “He has matters in hand, I’m sure he won’t
be long.” He says with supreme confidence.
Xander throws himself onto the sofa by his friend and looks him over with
a critical eye.
“I’m fine Xapper; the ponce fixed me right up with a bite of Sire’s
blood. Not too much that a good dose of that ruby red can’t fix. I hear I have
Percy to thank for my trip into unconscious land?”
Lorne sits on the other side of Xander and begins unpacking the bags of
food. “Afraid so Spikester, Angel did manage to knock him on his ear and a few
other parts for it though. I think Fred and Gunn took a few shots at him too.”
“Don’t be so modest Lorne, from what I heard earlier, you got a few good
verbal punches in yourself.” Xander says with a laugh and Lorne gives him a shy
smile.
Spike looks on with an affectionately amused smile. “Thank you for that
Lorne. As for you Xapper, mind explaining why you happened to be around for my
no so dignified return to Wolfram & Hart?”
Xander winces and starts to hurry to explain but Spike puts up his hand
and smiles letting him know that it’s alright. “It’s alright Pet; I know you
were just trying to look out for a friend.”
“I don’t mind admitting this Spike but this Penn character scares me. He scares
me a lot. Those care packages he sends you are just…creepy.”
The door to Angel’s bedroom opens and a much more calm and collected
Angel strides out to sit beside Spike, looking hungrily at the food. Seeing how
at ease Spike’s predilection for eating human food relaxed his human friends,
he adopted the habit himself and he begins to see the appeal it holds for
Spike. Seeing his favourite dumplings he quickly snatches one up but then he
realises what Xander said.
“What? He’s sent you more than one package?” Angel asks worriedly; only
to stare in affronted amazement as Spike leans forward and cleanly bites off
half of his dumpling; leaving him holding the short end. Xander and Lorne laugh
as Spike grins and returns and snaps off another bite, nipping Angel’s fingers
in the process.
“He’s has sent us several packages so far, each one more disturbing than
the last. Thankfully none were as horrible as that first one.” Xander says with
a shudder, thankful for the arm Lorne throws around him and the quick hug of
comfort.
“What does he send?” Angel asks picking up another dumpling and biting
into the end he holds it and reaches for a plate and a pair of chopsticks.
Spike darts forward and before Angel knows what hit him he’s bitten off
the dumpling leaving only the little bit clenched between his teeth. Xander and
Lorne stare for a few seconds then laugh as Angel quickly chews the rest while
staring daggers at the sneaky blond.
“I probably should warn you that Spike is addicted to those dumplings. He
always tries to eat them all.” Xander says with a laugh.
“What is in those packages that Penn sends you Spike?” Angel grabs
another dumpling and keeps an eagle eye on Spike.
“The first one had some glass vials of oils, smelled like Christmas
cookies. The note with that one said that he always liked Spike to smell like
warm cookies. There were also a bunch of pictures of Spike. It was pretty
obvious that someone had been following him for a long time.”
Spike darts forward intending to snatch Angel’s dumpling, but Angel
snatches his dumpling and pops it into his mouth as he shoves an egg roll into
Spike’s mouth with a victorious grin. Spike grins and sucks his cheeks in
pulling the egg roll deeper and neatly cutting it in half and chewing slowly,
holding the other half in his hand rolling it between his fingertips.
“The second one had some black silk sheets and the note with that one
just said that nothing looked better on silk sheets then Spike’s naked body.”
Xander says between laughs as Spike proceeds to turn eating an egg roll into a
lewd act and Angel piles egg rolls on to the plate Lorne hands Spike.
“Sounds like this Penn character is sending you things he expects you to
use at some point.” Lorne observes.
“God Lorne, I hope not. There was a barbed whip in one of the packages
with one of those cheap novelty bumper stickers that said ‘Remember my name;
you’ll be screaming it later’. He’s a real freak.”
Angel notices that Spike isn’t
saying much; just calmly eating his food and making him lust for an egg roll.
“And what do you make of the ‘gifts’ Spike?”
“He’s sending me things that he’s seen in my print ads. I did an ad for
Vanilla scented cologne and about a week later, a case of it arrived. They
posed me on some black silk sheets for a mattress ad and he sent me the sheets.
I did a jeans ad where they posed me on the railing of a rodeo fence and they
coiled a whip around my shoulder. It wasn’t barbed, so I guess we can call that
psychotic artistic license.”
“Not to be the enquiring mind in all this…and all nods to your extreme
Spikey hotness aside, but why is this guy so fixated on you?” Lorne asks unable
to stem his curiosity.
“I’m not sure it’s me he’s actually fixated on Green-jeans. Personally
I’ve always thought he was stark bonkers and only wanted me because Angelus
did.” Spike says solemnly.
“There may be some truth to that.” Angel replies looking nauseous. “Penn
was reared to be Angelus’ match in every way, his carbon copy. He…I had William
so naturally, Penn would want him as well. I don’t think that’s all that
contributed to his obsession, but it may well have been part of why it started.
Xander gets up and brings back drinks for everyone, looking like he’s
trying to work through something. “We should be fairly secure staying at our Two
Harbours house. The area where we live doesn’t see much in the way of
strangers, so anyone new tends to stick out.”
“I’ll pack some things and come and stay with you until Penn is taken
care of.” Angel’s voice leaves no room for arguments.
Lorne glances at Xander. “Why don’t I join you Angel-cakes? I can pick up
on the ookie vibes of anyone close to the terrible twosome here.”
“That’s a good idea Lorne. Wesley, Gunn, and Fred can stay here and hold
things down on this end.”
“Good! I don’t want that bleeding limey bastard in our house. Bugger’s
got it in for me I swear.” Spike says with a snort.
Angel ignores Spike’s mutterings and rushes ahead. “From this moment on,
you don’t leave my sight Spike. Penn will have to go through me to get to you and
he’s going to find that damn hard to do.”
“Great, you can hold my willy when I piss then.” Spike says crudely. “It
should make sleeping a real joy too. Do you still hog all the pillows?”
“Wow, do you kiss your momma with that mouth Blondie?” Lorne snorts.
“Well she tried…but I staked her.” Spike says solemnly. Xander and Lorne
laugh until they notice that Angel isn’t and they come to the horrible
realisation that Spike was recounting an actual event.
Lorne quickly steps in to change the subject and the quartet relaxes and
enjoys their dinner and conversation.
After about an hour, Spike sets his glass down and stretches. “I think I
may turn in. Where am I sleeping Peaches? That bloody concoction that Percy had
me pumped full of hasn’t completely worn off yet I think.” He says with a yawn.
“My room Spike. Xander can have the room down the hall.”
Spike nods and stands slowly walking to Angel’s bedroom yawning again.
Xander stands and quietly follows motioning for Angel and Lorne to follow him
and be quiet. He darts to the side of the door and peeks around into Angel’s
bedroom and motions for Lorne and Angel to dart to the other side and watch.
Spike sits on the edge of the bed and tiredly removes the silk
loungewear, totally unselfconscious about his nakedness as he turns down the
bed and crawls in. He carefully fluffs his pillow, arranges the silk sheets and
comforter to his preference and wiggles into the soft bed. Xander grins and
gestures for Angel and Lorne to watch what he knows is about to happen. Sure
enough, within a minute of lying down, Spike is wiggling against the bed and
the covers, making a purring sound of pleasure as they caress his bare skin. He
writhes in hedonistic ecstasy for several minutes as he becomes lost in his
tactile experience.
Angel stares transfixed, until Spike’s writhing enjoyment of his silk
bedding gives way to the stillness of sleep.
Xander reaches in and quietly pulls the door closed. “He does that every
time he stays in a new bed for the first time. I love watching him do that.
It’s like watching a panther settle in for the night.” Xander says with a quiet
laugh.
“Maybe we should all get some sleep?” Angel suggests casually, wanting
nothing more than to be in that bed next to his Childe.
“Are you sure you don’t want to take the spare room Angel? I can share
with Spike; it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve had to share a bed.”
*It’ll sure be the LAST time you ever do that you Twinkie eating Twerp!*
Angel thinks.
“No; but thank you Xander. He’ll be safest if he stays with me. I’m not
about to let Penn get his paws on Spike. Goodnight you two.” Angel quietly
slips into his room and sheds his silks and climbs into bed beside his Childe.
Turning onto his side to face Spike’s back, he flips the sheet down and runs his
fingertips lightly down the centre of his backbone. He smiles as Spike starts
to roll towards him and he flips onto his back and sighs as his Childe nestles
his head against his chest and wiggles closer. Angel sighs as Spike’s leg hooks
over the leg nearest to him and he rubs his himself against him like a kitten.
He wraps his arms around Spike and strokes his hair and back gently.
“Was it worth it my Laddy, everything we’ve done, all the things that
we’ve lived through?” He whispers more to himself than to the man curled up
against him.
“It was worth it.” Spike murmurs sleepily.
“Yes, it was worth it.” Angel says quietly, pressing a soft kiss to
Spike’s temple. He tightens his arms around his boy and slipping into sleep,
carrying his boy with him every inch of the way.
There will be time tomorrow to come up with a plan to deal with
TBC