Blood

by Anne

Feeling dizzy, Giles pressed his hand against the doorframe to regain his balance. Supporting himself by leaning on the counter, he stumbled into his office. His head was reeling in a particularly sickening way and his vision was blurred. He had never had such a painful migraine in his life. He knew its cause: the gas. He had breathed in a lot of gas. If Angel had not intervened, Willow, Xander and he would have suffocated, locked in the basement of the High School.

Giles sat down heavily on his chair, trying to ignore the pain that stabbed through him every time he shifted his throbbing head. He needed to listen to some music and have a hot cup of tea to relax. As he turned on the radio he saw that his hand was covered with blood. He frowned. He had totally forgotten he was injured, his migraine was so overwhelming. Giles managed to get up and headed towards the counter. Once behind it he bent to take the first aid kit, which was on the lowest bookshelf. As soon as he had stood up again, the room started to spin and black spots danced in front of his eyes. His head felt on fire and he was panting.

"Oh! No," he breathed just before blacking out.

He dropped the first aid kit and collapsed heavily onto the floor.

*****

Later

Angel gasped, very worried when he discovered the Watcher unconscious, sprawled on the floor behind the counter. He lifted Giles in his arms effortlessly and carried him into his office. He laid the human on the couch, sat down next to him and took his pulse. The heartbeat was a bit rapid but seemed normal otherwise, and his breathing was steady, he noticed. Giles was fine, he had just fainted. Angel suspected that the gas Giles had inhaled in the basement earlier had poisoned him, but fortunately Angel knew that the effects should only be temporary, so he wasn't too concerned.

Angel looked at the injured hand of the mortal and took it in his. He observed it one moment: the hand was beautiful, long, fine, and elegant. It was the hand of an artist. He knew that the man wrote poetry and short romantic novels besides his Watcher`s journal, also songs which he sang whilst playing his guitar. The hand was also calloused because Giles had used heavy weapons since he was a child. Angel smiled; he knew absolutely everything about Rupert Giles… his living Childe.

The vampire sighed sadly. Giles remembered nothing of their meeting in London. He no longer remembered the four months they had spent together. Ethan Rayne had been furious at not having his best friend around any more. He had no one to have fun with or to do magic with, so one night he had cast a spell on Ripper to erase his memory. When Angel had seen Giles again the following morning, Giles had not recognized him, and had even tried to plunge a stake in his heart because his sixth sense as a Watcher had warned him that he had a vampire in front of him. He had, of course, run away; not wanting to face and hurt his living Childe. Rayne had found him in the twilight and had told him what he had done. He admitted that what he had done was for his own selfish reasons, but Ethan also wanted to help Ripper. He knew that one day Ripper would eventually accept his fate (he had a calling and would respond to it) and would become a Watcher, and his relationship with a vampire would complicate his life enormously. This relationship had to end.

"And so the relationship between us ended," Angel said, looking at the bloody cuts which streaked the palm of Giles' left hand.

He followed them with his finger. If his blood still flowed in Giles' veins, the wounds would have disappeared long ago thanks to his powers of regeneration, but Giles had been hurt and poisoned by the claws of a Kalok demon during his first mission as a Watcher. The Council doctors had given him a massive blood transfusion to remove the toxin, and in the process also removed every trace of the vampire's blood. He had been very sick for weeks but had survived. Giles had become human again, mortal.

The vampire bent towards the still unconscious Watcher and kissed him on his lips, moaning with pleasure. He was still in love with Giles and would never stop loving him. The bond they shared was strong and indestructible. Even if one of them died, the survivor would continue to love the other. Angel was sure that his living Childe was still in love with him, and that he had to wonder why. He did not remember anything of their past life together. He rested his head against Giles' chest, moving up and down regularly, closed his eyes and remembered their meeting …

*****

London, 20 years earlier

//… The vampire stopped in the middle of the deserted street and sniffed at the air: Blood! A lot of blood. Somebody was seriously injured, not far from him. Trusting his highly developed sense of smell, he began looking for the man or the woman doubtless dying. The smell of blood became stronger and Angel knew that he was very close to the victim bleeding to death. He noticed an alley on the right-hand side and was pulled there by the strong, metal and salty smell towards a man lying on the ground, sprawled on his back, unmoving, his eyes closed. His ultra-developed hearing caught the man`s shallow breathing. He was still alive. Angel ran towards him, his mouth watering. He hadn't fed on human blood for many years, but he still had the desire to lick, suckle and swallow rich human blood. The blood of a man could not be compared with the rank blood of an animal, especially the blood of the rats on which he fed almost exclusively now that he was a vagabond roaming in the streets of London.

He knelt down beside the young man who was severely injured, sprawled on his back in the middle of the alley, and quickly examined him: he was unconscious. His face had a waxy complexion and was streamed with sweat. He glanced at the wound and then grimaced. The cut was deep and went from the left hip up to the navel. The vampire finally took the pulse of the human being: it was very weak, almost imperceptible and very irregular.

"He's going to die," Angel concluded.

There was a way to save to his life and he was going to use it. He morphed then and, with his fangs, sliced the palm of his hand. When the blood poured out of the cut onto the ground, he placed his bloody hand on the dying young man's wound and mixed his blood with his. The vampire's blood, bit by bit, destroyed and replaced the human being's blood and when the process was completed, Angel noticed that the wound was closing. It healed and then disappeared thanks to the regenerative power of his blood. When he took the young man's pulse again the heartbeat was steady and regular. His fever had also disappeared and he didn't look so pale.

"Here we are, it's done," Angel said, satisfied, to the still unconscious young man. "You're not a human being any more, but you are not a vampire either. You're now a being in between."

The vampire lifted Ripper's limp body in his arms and left the dark alley, holding his living Childe tightly.

*****

Ripper slowly opened his eyes and screwed them up. The light hurt them, but he succeeded in keeping them open. A fuzzy face seemed to float in the fog in front of him. The face moved, making him nauseous. He waited for the sickness and the fog to dissipate and his vision to settle down, then raised himself on his elbows. It was then that he saw a young man with brown hair, a kind smile and affectionate dark eyes kneeling next to him. He noticed that his skin was very pale and as he held his hand, that his fingers were ice-cold.

"You're a bloody vampire!" Ripper yelled, in full Watcher mode, jumping to his feet.

He quickly glanced around him looking for a piece of wood which he could use as a stake, but he found nothing. The dank room was totally empty except for the dirty and torn mattress on which he was sprawled just 30 seconds ago. He staggered and gasped seeing the vampire launching at him. He raised his fist to hit him and collapsed on the floor, his strength totally drained by his last efforts. Angel lifted Ripper in his arms and carried him back to the old mattress, which occupied the corner of the room. He saw the young man look at him, resigned to dying in the squalid room.

"I won't hurt you. I have a soul and I haven't killed humans to feed on their blood for many years."

Ripper was astonished. "You're a souled vampire? … Only one vampire with a soul exists in the whole world … Angelus. You're Angelus!"

It was in Angel's turn to be more than stunned. "I prefer Angel. How do you know that?"

"I was supposed to become a Watcher before choosing another direction. I know many things about you."

Ripper suddenly realized that he should have died and he shivered. [God! He turned me!] He touched his neck searching for the two holes left by Angel's fangs and did not find them. He then noticed, to his great surprise and relief, that under his fingertips his skin still felt warm. He was still alive. He raised his T-shirt, cut and stained with dried blood, and examined his stomach. There was no sign of any injury. He frowned, puzzled, not understanding what had happened.

"I mixed my blood with yours," Angel explained, guessing the young man's thoughts. "It replaced your blood very quickly and thanks to its regenerative properties healed what would have been a fatal injury. It was the only way to save you. Now you are my living Childe. It is therefore my duty to educate you, love you and protect you. But you know all of this because you know everything about vampires, don't you?"

Ripper snorted. "I don't need you to teach me anything, and I don't need your love or your protection! I taught myself everything I need to know, I have friends who love me and I can protect myself without your help."

Angel nodded. "Really? Then how did you end up almost dying this evening in that dark alley?"

The young man blushed, embarrassed. "I was surprised. But I shan't be surprised any more. I swear."

Angel shook his head. "No, you shan't be surprised, and hurt, because from now on I'll be at your side to protect you. Now tell me your name."

"Ripper."

"No, your real name."

"Rupert, Rupert Giles."

"Rupert, what happened?"

"It's not important. I've already forgotten it. And now… what's going to happen, Angel?"

Ripper jumped when Angel tenderly caressed his cheek. The vampire then bent towards him and kissed him on his lips.

Angel said, softly: "A Sire always makes love to his Childe to create a physical bond between them. It works for a living Childe too. This bond is unbreakable and…"

Ripper continued: "and the Childe will always love his Sire, and he will always be his faithful lover."

The vampire smiled. "Very good. Mmmmmm… but there are some exceptions to the rule sometimes you know, Rupert. Now, my Childe, I am going to make love to you."

"I … I haven't-haven't ever… " Ripper stammered, frightened.

"You've never...."

"No, I've never. With a man, I mean. I've got lots of experience with women, yes…"

Angel smiled reassuringly. "I'll be gentle, I promised."

The vampire placed a soft kiss against his living Childe's lips. Ripper closed his eyes, thinking about nothing but Angel's soft, full lips touching his, sending all his blood south, causing his growing erection to rub against his pant's zipper.

Angel unbuckled the human's belt, unfastened his pants, slipped off his shoes and socks, then indicated that Rupert should lift his buttocks a moment. Once done, he pulled Giles' pants and briefs off in one go. Angel surveyed for a moment the young man`s slender and muscular body. Then he gently pushed his legs, not wanting to frighten him more than he was already, focusing on the soft penis nestled in a mass of dark curling hair. Angel began phase one: he bent over his living Childe and trailed soft kisses across his collarbone, swirling his fingers through the hair on his chest as his mouth worked its way down Ripper's body. Finding a nipple, he stopped there, licked it, flicked it with his tongue and felt the mortal squirm deliciously beneath him. Angel smiled hearing low, contented moans deep in Ripper's throat as he suckled him gently. The young man suddenly arched his back, wanting more. The vampire moved to his other nipple and gave it equal attention, thrilled to see Ripper responding so eagerly to his touch. It was promising.

Angel moved on to phase two: he nuzzled Ripper's pubic hair and inhaled deeply several times, enjoying the scent of his lover. He had not smelt male arousal for a long time and loved the musky scent of the human. Ripper gasped and found himself fully erect within moments. The vampire observed his lover's erection, his mouth watering in anticipation. It was impressive, long and thick, the throbbing vein running the length of it pulsing with blood and arousal. He licked his lips, but tasting Ripper would have to wait. He had to continue teasing him a little longer. Angel started to lick and to suck and nip the sensitive skin all around his living Childe's genitals. After several long minutes of hearing the human moan and pant, he placed a soft kiss on the already glistening head. Ripper hissed and arched on the bed as he licked the tip of Ripper's shaft and sucked the semen beaded in the slit, tasting the sticky substance. Angel then took the eager erection bobbing under his nose, swiped his tongue up the underside a couple of times with hard strokes, and suddenly, in one swift movement, deep throated Ripper. The young man let out a strangled scream as the vampire's cold mouth engulfed him and clutched at the dirty mattress. Angel pulled back immediately, smiled at his living Childe to reassure him and then started to lick and suck the fat purple tip.

"Oh God! Oh God! Oh God!" Ripper breathed.

"Do you want me to continue, Ripper?"

Ripper nodded and Angel moved then to phase three: hollowing his cheeks he began to suck gently on the tip and then slid down as far as he could go, impaling himself again on the throbbing penis and sucking on it. Sliding his mouth up and down, he changed the pressure and sucked hard and relentlessly on the tip. Then he drove down on the rock hard member and lodged the head in his throat, working his muscles around it, forming a tight suction. Angel then pulled back again and wrapped his fingers around the base of the oh, so warm shaft. He made a tight channel and pumped the engorged member hard and fast. Angel looked up and was pleased to see Ripper was in total bliss: he had his head thrown back and his eyes closed. His neck was arched and his mouth opened. He was moaning in cadence with the hard and fast strokes.

Ripper suddenly stiffened, cried out, and arched as his orgasm thundered through his body. His balls tightened then drew against his body and he exploded, spurting his semen into the vampire's waiting mouth. Angel swallowed all the hot semen, and as he did not have to breathe he kept Ripper's cock down his throat until his lover was spent. Then Angel licked him clean. He then cupped the limp penis, and dusted small wet kisses along it.

"That's all for today, luv. Now you have to rest."

Ripper nodded. "Yes, but not here… my Sire. It's cold and dirty. Come to my place."

Angel nodded. "Yes, my Childe."

He would finally get to phase four, later, at Ripper's place… //


*
* *


The present

Angel disinfected the wounds then began to wrap the hand with a bandage. Staring at Giles' face he thought:

[I would like so much to tell you that I still love you, Rupert; I would like so much to hold you against me, to kiss you, to make love to you, to hear you sighing and moaning with pleasure and cry out as you come, but it would be useless. You would doubtless believe me knowing what Ethan Rayne is capable of, but to find out everything that happened between us would disturb you greatly, and if it caused you to lose your concentration, that lack of focus could cost you your life in a fight. And I don't want to lose you. No, I don't.]

He suddenly heard the first few words of a song that was playing on the radio and froze.


*** You never close your eyes anymore when I kiss your lips.
And there's no tenderness like before in your fingertips.
You're trying hard not to show it, (baby).
But baby, baby I know it...

You never close your eyes anymore when I kiss your lips.
And there's no tenderness like before in your fingertips.
You're trying hard not to show it, (baby).
But baby, baby I know it... ***

Giles moaned and slowly opened his eyes. He was surprised to see Angel sitting beside him, bandaging his wounded hand.

"Thank you, Angel."

"How are Willow and Xander?"

"They're both fine. I sent them home. I thought that you had left, Angel. What are you doing here?"

"I came to see if you were OK and I found you passed out behind the counter. You should go home, Giles. You are tired and unwell."

"And I am…" He let out a long enamored sigh. [In love with you! Oh God! I am completely crazy about you!]

*** Now there's no welcome look in your eyes when I reach for you.
And now you're starting to criticize little things I do.
It makes me just feel like crying, (baby).
'Cause baby, something in you is dying. ***

Giles sighed. As soon as he had seen Angel for the first time he had wanted to throw himself at him, kiss him, and ask him to make love to him, and it was not due to love at first sight. It was far too much strong, far too violent a reaction to be that; and anyway, men had never attracted him. He had thought that he was the victim of a spell, probably something cast by Ethan to annoy him, but the sorcerer hadn't come to gloat over his little trick, so Giles had abandoned that idea. He frowned. So he simply ignored his attraction to the vampire, and tried to pretend that he didn't want to be loved and protected by him, and to make love to him. And he fought against this terrible urge every time he met Angel.

*** Baby (baby), baby (baby),
I beg of you please...please,
I need your love (I need your love),
I need your love (I need your love),
So bring it on back (So bring it on back),
Bring it on back (so bring it on back). ***

"Yes? You are?"

"Hmm? … Oh, nothing. Thank you, Angel, for everything. Without you Willow, Xander and I would have died."

"You're welcome, Giles. Go back home now, all right?"

Giles nodded, "Yes."

The vampire got up and went to the door. He stopped, turned around and said: "I'm glad that you're not dead, Giles."

Angel turned to the door and walked away, so he didn't see the tears rolling down Giles' cheeks. The Watcher felt so very, very lonely again.

*** Bring back that lovin' feeling,
Whoa, that lovin' feeling
Bring back that lovin' feeling,
'Cause it's gone...gone... ***

*****
END