PAIRING: Angel/Spike friendship/family?
RATING: Don't know, probably PG?
SUMMARY: A brief moment of connection between Angel and Spike
SPOILERS: Set after Not Fade Away
DISCLAIMER: These characters belong to Joss Wheedon and Mutant Enemy, etc, etc. but I think we'd all agree they would be better off with us
FEEDBACK: This is my first time, so please be gentle.
DEDICATION + THANKS: To Kris, for reading it through and being so kind. I'm posting it and I'm not even drunk.
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During the fighting, Spike became aware that he was acting instinctively, that he was allowing his mind to wander.
Sensing the lack of concentration, one of the demons jumped onto his back. Spike dropped to the floor, using the demon's own momentum to send it flying over him. He swiftly rose and brought his heel crunching down hard onto the demon's eyes.
"Eyes. It's always bloody eyes. Can't they be any more inventive?" Spike grumbled.
This was a pointless fight. They couldn't win. Yet it was also exhilarating, his blood was roaring. Another demon launched itself at him. Spike feinted to the left, grabbing the demon and throwing it against the wall. A flick of the axe he'd picked up finished off that one.
"Though decapitation also works for me."
Spike had quickly lost sight of the others soon after the fighting had started. He doubted that Gunn was still alive; he'd been too badly wounded to still be going. Intuitively he knew that the other two were still battling, simply because he hadn't been swamped by the demons.
He was sure he'd know if Angel had gone. Even in the midst of all this confusion, Spike's blood still sang.
It was why he had stayed, once he had become corporeal again. He'd felt nothing but emotions, and then suddenly to feel *that* again. He'd admit to few people the truth that he relied on instinct too much. That listening to his Blood and that not thinking would always make things go wrong.
Maybe he should have just walked away as soon as he was able. He couldn't do it. Sure, he'd told himself that it was simple. He was a champion, a warrior, fighting the good fight. That he was fighting for others, and not just for redemption. For the chance to become a real boy some day.
Some place along the line that had become less important. Just being close to Angel had been all that had mattered.
So they'd fallen back into the comfortable old routine. Desperate for Angel to connect with him, Spike had chipped away at that granite barrier. Occasionally it had worked and he'd felt that link between them. All too often, however, it was a case of clever remark, pissed off retort, fighting, and pain.
Spike threw back his head and with a guttural roar sprang forward, axe flying madly. The demons seemed to falter and he pushed forwards. Suddenly there was a clear space in front of him.
Damn, bound to be bad.
Spike raised his axe in readiness, only for a demon to fall onto it.
"What the hell?"
Okay, demons weren't usually so keen to kill themselves. Spike looked up and saw *HIM* on one of the fire escapes. Jumping, he caught the rail and threw himself over, landing ungracefully next to Angel.
"Hello, Spike."
Overcome with emotion, Spike threw himself at Angel, unable to stop. He choked out a huge sob of relief as he hugged him.
"Hey, it's nice to see you too. I'm still a bit busy right now, got an apocalypse to avert and all."
Spike reluctantly let go, then a thought occurred to him.
"You wanker, you know you're gonna get through this."
"Huh?"
"Yes you bloody well do. Else how's that Shanshu thingamabob gonna be fulfilled?"
Angel laughed and pulled Spike's head closer to his, gently kissing his forehead. He brought his mouth down next to Spike's ear.
"Tag, you're it." Angel whispered softly.
Angel stood up in one graceful fluid movement.
"I signed it away. It's all yours now."
"You dumb son of a . What are you doing then?" Spike yelled after Angel as he watched him jump back down into the fracas.
Laughter and a single word floated back up.
"Living."
The End