Title: Secrets Don't Make Friends (Pt 16-I Once was Blind…)
Author: DivaDelilah (divadelilah@aol.com)
Description: Set in late Season 4, after Faith has body switched and is in prison.
Adam isn't in play, Spike is working with the Scoobies reluctantly.
Disclaimer: They're not mine, but at least I treat 'em right. Joss, Mutant Enemy,
and Fox own all…I'm just daydreaming.
Distribution: Fanfiction.net, assorted lists, and anything I okay.
Feedback: Feed me, Seymour!
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Angel stared morbidly into the scotch he was nursing. Every fiber of his being
was screaming at the unfairness of his situation. He was unable to tell Buffy
about the lost day, unable to keep the images form playing in his head, and
now, unable to stop imaging Spike and Buffy together, taunting him with what
he couldn't have. A half smile came to his face when it occurred to him that
in the old days, he and Spike would have gladly shared Buffy, and maybe they
would have even shared the claim on her. He willed himself not to entertain
dangerous thoughts like those. That was not even an option. A frustrated snarl
emanated from his lips. Spike now has everything I ever dreamed of: Buffy,
wholly and completely, and acceptance...no, forgiveness for his past from her
and the others. I hope he's satisfied… Something in the back of his
head told Angel that Spike was probably more than satisfied right now. More
like sated, he thought grimly.
He felt a tap on his shoulder and it jerked him out of his moping. Cordelia
was standing next to the bar smiling at him. His heart kind of melted like it
used to for Buffy, and he smiled slightly. Maybe I don't have it so bad after
all…
"Okay. I don't know why I seem to be the only one who has any ties to
reality, but why did Buffy attack you? You didn't really address that to the
group. Something you'd like to share?" Cordelia demanded.
"Not really, Cordy. But why do I have the feeling you'll torture it out
of me if need be?"
She grinned. "Because I was the first one brave enough to date Xander
Harris?" He laughed and she added, "And I might be the only one crazy
enough to consider dating you after…"
His head whipped around to see her studying a poster on the wall above his
head. "Cordy, I… Buffy attacked me because I thought that you looked
pretty," he blabbered.
She raised one sculpted eyebrow in amusement at his stuttering. "For a
guy who's older than the founding of this country, you're not very adept at
dating. Are you trying to say you 'like' me?"
"Cordy." His voice warned her not to push it. "I do. But you
know just as well as I that it can never happen. You deserve someone who can
be with you wholly, just like Buffy. I'm smart enough to not get into the same
mess twice." He stared into the bottom of the glass as if it held all the
answers in the world.
"Uh uh! No way, Mister! Buffy might have bought that doomed love, self-sacrificing
crap, but Cordelia Chase doesn't let anyone tell her who she and can't date.
Not even you," she finished, stomping her foot adamantly.
Angel felt her glare at him, and raised his head. "Cordy, don't make this
difficult. Right now, I have to deal with the love of my lifetime, who I can
never have, mating with the bane of my existence, my own Childe. I also think
there's something going on with Buffy because of this claim business and I can't
figure out what, but her smell is off and Spike's smell is off… I don't
know. I just can't deal with you, too."
"Look, I'm going to say this once, Angel. I will make it easy for you.
You don't just tell me you like me and take off like Batman. When we get back
to LA, we're going to work this out, and I do mean the fun way,"
she said with a glimmer in her eye. "We'll get some chains from the weapons
closet, and have Willow on call just in case, and then we'll see what you have
to say."
A small chuckle escaped Angel's lips, and he smiled up at the seer. Who'd
have thought one person could change so much in such a short time? he thought.
But then, Buffy has grown up a lot, too, I suppose…Maybe I should trust
her instincts with Spike. I may not like it, but I've always favored Spike,
and if she's not with me, I know Spike will defend until the day he's dust.
Taking her hand, Angel lead Cordy to the dance floor and wrapped his large
hands around her petite frame. Everyone heeds the call of time, even vampires.
Time is nothing if not in constant motion, changing rapidly, moment by moment…
"Angel? I hate to interrupt your brooding… but how did Buffy
know you were thinking I looked pretty? I thought she could only read Spike's
mind. And while we're on the subject, what was with the sniffing? God, I felt
like someone had brought their annoying puppy along," she complained.
"I wondered about that, too. Maybe since Spike is my Childe and he claimed
the Slayer I had been intimate with…maybe she can read both our minds.
As for the sniffing, I've never seen a human do it, only vampires," he
trailed off, his mind racing with possibilities.
"O-ookay. So Buffy really is becoming a vampire like Giles said. Way creepy.
I mean, Vamp Willow was one thing, but, ugh. Slayer Spike? Scary, scary thought,
especially fashion wise." Cordy wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"I think we have a very serious problem. We've given them enough time
to, uh, work off their frustrations. We should get the others and head to my
apartment. Even if we have to chain her down, we need to have a long talk with
Buffy about her new… hobbies," Angel said grimly. He lead Cordelia
back to the table to collect the Watchers, the Witches, the ex demon, and the
Whelp. If they weren't a motley crew, he didn't know what was.
As they reached the door, a boy Angel only halfway recognized stepped out in
front of them. The boy glared at him and Cordelia holding hands like they were
covered in filth. A low growl formed in Angel's throat but Cordelia squeezed
his hand reassuringly, cocking her head towards Willow, who was waving at the
kid.
"Oh, hi, Riley! Um, how are you?" she asked, a cheery smile pasted
on her face. She glanced at Tara helplessly, trying to figure out how not to
let it slip that Riley's sort of girlfriend was now mated for life to a soulless,
bloodsucking British vampire.
"Fine, Willow. Where's Buffy?"
Angel groaned inwardly. Now he remembered where he knew this guy from. It's
Buffy's Soldier Boy. Boy, is he in for a surprise. Angel smirked at the
boy maliciously, intending to tell him exactly where Buffy was. As soon as he
opened his mouth, he found it shutting involuntarily, and looked around wildly.
Willow winked at him, and wiggled her pinky finger. "I haven't seen her
tonight Riley. Maybe you should leave a message on our machine and when's she's
done patrolling or whatever, she'll call you." She opened her mind and
found Angel's for a moment, whispering to him 'Just keep quiet. Buffy has
to tell him herself. Even if you don't like him, it's not fair to Buffy.'
Angel rolled his eyes and motioned for her to take the spell off his mouth.
He felt a small jolt and his lips unglued. He sent a menacing glare at her,
and she simply grinned.
"Well, Riley, we have to go. Nice seein' ya, man," Xander said, his
voice overly cheerful. "We got places to be right about now so good luck
on finding Buffy."
They started to shuffle past him, but Riley grabbed Angel's arm. "You'd
better not have anything to do with Buffy being MIA," he threatened.
Before Angel could even reply, Cordelia stared Riley right in the eyes and
snapped, "Angel has nothing to do with that skinny, badly dressed hussy
anymore. He's my pet vampire now. And I'd appreciate it if you'd let
him go before I have to get our resident witches to zap you someplace unpleasant."
Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she took Angel's arm and practically dragged
him away. Everyone looked at each other, then Riley, then at the retreating
couple and shrugged, leaving Riley standing gape mouthed.
Cordelia leaned in and whispered in Angel's ear, "Let them chew on that
all the way there." He sighed, and she gave him a steely glare much like
the one she'd given Riley. "And no more sighing. For God's sake, you'd
think you were a teenager not a vampire. I told you things would be different
now that I'm in charge." She jumped into the driver's seat and looked at
Angel expectantly until he climbed into the passenger seat.
The rest of the gang piled into the car quietly, shooting questioning glances
at the prom queen and the brooding vampire, but neither of them answered as
Cordelia tore out of the parking lot, tires squealing.
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Buffy sat up ramrod straight, her breathing heaving from exertion. Looking around
wildly, she groped for the sheet and pulled it around her, sighing with relief
when she saw that Spike wasn't gone. He was sitting on the couch, smoking, and
watching her sleep. He cocked his head to the side, his eyes asking her the
question his mind had just telegraphed to her.
"Angel and the gang are headed here now. They saw Riley, but they didn't
tell him anything. And they seem to think I'm- I'm," her throat tightened
and she almost couldn't finish. "They seem to think I'm turning into a
vampire," she whispered.
Spike smirked, shaking his head. "Now do you see what you get for reading
people's minds without asking, pet? You're no more turning into a vampire than
I'm going to a tanning bed." He snorted and shook his head, then put his
cigarette out. He walked over to the bed and took her hands in his.
'The Claimed shall share everything
heart and soul
body and mind
Till never the twain be separated
In lightness or in dark
From the mating
Strengths shall be twofold
Weaknesses shall be eliminated
And love will rule
For the eternity that is their bond.'
"Does that make you feel better, ducks? We didn't really get to go over
the formal stuff, what with your whole bloody family and mine barging in for
the show," he grinned. "You see, you can't become a vampire;
it would be a weakness to you as the Slayer. The original ritual included that
chant, but you know me…never one to bow to convention. Rather get on with
the biting and snarling and all that fun stuff."
"Um, Spike? I'm still dealing with 'eternity' portion of your poem. What
exactly does that mean? And why the hell doesn't Angel know about any of this?"
"How many times do I have to tell you? He's a wanker, that's why! Christ,
Buffy, I can't tell you how many times he sat there while Darla explained all
the customs to Children. When Angelus was, well Angelus, he was about as useful
as a thumb up your arse. All he thought about was killing wealthy people, and
playing games with his victims. Anyone else who overheard that bitch droning
out these practices all the time would have caught at least a bit eventually,
but not Peaches, that sodding git…"
She put a finger across his lips vertically. "I get the point, baby. He's
an ass. Okay? You're the Big Bad and he's a poofy haired wanker. Feel better?"
She smiled angelically at him.
"Only if you said that while straddling my lap with blood running down
your neck, but a bloke can't have everything, can he?" Spike smirked.
Buffy gave him a knowing look while hunting down something to wear. Her eye
caught his briefly as she pulled on his torn jeans and her halter top. Maybe
you'll get your wish later if you're a good boy while the gang is here. I'm
all about making fantasies come true, she though mischievously. He swallowed
hard and she giggled, curling up on his lap to nap while they waited for the
gang to arrive.
Spike sighed happily as he rubbed his hands up and down the sleeping Buffy's
back. A quiet purr was emanating from both of their chests, and he smiled, knowing
this meant the claiming process was complete. They were bonded completely, just
as the poem stated. He wasn't exactly sure what the whole thing meant, no matter
what he had told Buffy. He only knew sketchy details of the transmogrification
of traits and such; it didn't matter really. He knew more than his Sire, that
was for sure. And that's really all that counted. The hairs on the back of his
neck tingled, and as if on cue, a key slid into the lock. Grinning slightly,
he closed his eyes and feigned sleep, knowing how the women would coo over him
and Buffy sleeping in each others' arms.
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