*********************

Spike lay awake, on his side, idly playing with Angel’s fingers where they
lay over his chest. He’d been awake for at least an hour, but for some
reason, didn’t really want to move. So here he was, wide awake, with Angel
still spooned up against him, nose buried in the back of his neck. Angel
was apparently still sleeping peacefully, which Spike knew the older man
really needed. Spike entertained himself by staring at the locked trunk
pushed against the far wall. ((What can be in there?)) Curiosity was eating
away at him. What could be so precious or embarrassing that his Sire would
lock it away? ((He has the rest of his life on display so what…
Hello..who’s this?))

He heard soft footsteps slowly descending the stairs. When he closed his
eyes and concentrated he could hear the heartbeat that accompanied those
footsteps. ((Someone alive, then. Trying to be all sneaky like.)) He
thought about waking Angel, but just then he got a whiff of cologne and
snuggled back further against the hard body behind him.

"Angel?" The voice was barely above a whisper; as if he wasn’t sure Angel
was even home.

The footsteps paused in the living room and then proceeded towards the
bedroom… where Spike was waiting to pounce. Okay, not literally.. but…

"Hello… Angel? Cordelia told me you were… OH DEAR!"

"Wesley." Spike leered at the startled man. "Come to see Angel?"

"Yes.. uh… Cordelia told me what happened…. uh.. I’ll just go wait in the
other room, shall I?"

"If you want…. or… you could join us…" Spike flung the sheet off of the bed
and snorted with amusement when Wesley made a squeaking noise, turned and
beat a hasty retreat out of the bedroom, eyes wide and face flaming red.

"That wasn’t very nice, Spike."

"You’re awake!"

"Yes."

"How long have you been awake?"

"Since Wesley reached the bottom of the stairs."

"So why didn’t you scramble out of bed and protect your virtue when you
knew he was coming down? You knew I wouldn’t be able to resist."

"Too comfortable right here. And he’ll have to get used to it eventually."

"He will? Wait… get used to what exactly?"

"Us being… together."

"And just when did you decide we were ‘together’? I don’t remember taking a
vote or even being asked." Spike pulled away from Angel and turned over to
face him.

"I just thought… Never mind then." Angel sat up and swung his legs over the
side of the bed.

"Angel… wait… Can we talk about this some more?"

Angel looked over his shoulder at Spike. "*You* want to talk?"

"Yeah….well.. I guess I’ve been hanging out with a certain poof for too
long." Spike was amazed that Angel was giving him a choice at all. Angelus
never would have. "You better go or Wesley will think I’m in here doing
something perverted to you."

"You’re probably right."

Angel stood and Spike sighed with disappointment as he watched his Sire
head for the bathroom. He closed his eyes and rolled onto his back,
crossing his arms behind his head. Just because Angel had to get up didn’t
mean he had to.

"But he can wait a few more minutes."

Spike started when he heard Angel’s voice only inches from his ear. Even if
he didn’t hunt anymore, Angel, apparently, could still do the ‘sneaky’
thing. He cracked open one eye. "He can?"

"Mmm hmm. I didn’t say a proper good morning to you."

"That’s true, you didn’t… what did you have in mind?" A sly smile made it’s
way across Spike’s mouth. "And is it messy and loud?"

"Tempting, but no." Angel used every ounce of his self-control to keep a
straight face as he climbed onto the bed and straddled Spike’s silk covered
hips, clamping his large hands around Spike’s biceps, preventing the blonde
from moving an inch. Once he had pressed his still naked body flush against
Spike’s, he leaned in close, staring into his Childe’s surprised blue eyes.
"Just a friendly ‘good morning’ kiss. That’s all." Angel closed the
distance between them, pressing his lips against Spike’s softly. Feeling no
hesitation or resistance from the younger man, he flicked his tongue out,
seeking entrance.

Spike opened his lips without any further prompting but remained as relaxed
as was possible with Angel’s tongue down his throat and a pecker hard
enough to break concrete.

Angel sat up and smiled. "Good morning, Spike. Hungry?"

Spike drove his fingernails into his palms to keep himself from grabbing
his Sire, forcing him back down and showing Angel just how hungry he was.
He settled on just nodding his head and licking his lips suggestively.

"OH GOOD LORD!"

Wesley’s exclamation drew both sets of eyes to the bedroom door where they
saw a quick flash of Wesley’s retreating back. They heard his quick steps
as he ran up the stairs and slammed the door.

"I better go." Angel didn’t really want to go after Wesley, but… "Hold that
thought, I’ll be back in a minute." He quickly climbed off Spike and the
bed and grabbed a pair of sweat pants out of the dresser, hopping as he
tried to pull them on and walk at the same time. When the waistband settled
on his still tender wound, he made a mental note to send Cordelia to the
butchers’ for more blood and quickly followed after Wesley up the stairs.

*****************

((Bloody hell! Who has he been practicing on? ‘Just a friendly kiss’, my
ass! Bet he never kissed the Slayer like that or she never would have let
him out of bed, soul or no soul.)) Whistling happily, Spike climbed out of
bed and went into bathroom for a shower, assuming that Angel would be back
quickly. And who knew, maybe Angel would want to conserve water like a good
Californian should and join him.

Twenty minutes later, a slightly annoyed Spike exited the bathroom toweling
his wet hair. "Where the hell is he?" He leaned down and snatched his
clothes off the floor and groaned. "Shit… " His last cleanish pair of jeans
and t-shirt were stiff with a combination of Angel and the demons’ blood.
The other three pairs of clothes were still at the laundry and not due back
until the next day. He dropped the offending articles of clothing into the
corner to throw away later and grinned. "Guess that means I’ll just have to
stay in bed until Cordelia picks up the laundry." Launching himself onto
the bed, he arranged the pillows for maximum comfort and lay back, humming
his favorite dirty ditty.

*****************

"Wesley… wait." Angel grabbed Wesley’s’ arm just as he reached the door out
of the main building.

"I’d prefer to go."

"Why?"

"Because.. because… " Wesley continued to stumble over the words when he
realized he wasn’t quite sure how to express ‘why’.

"Is it because Spike and I are both men?"

"No… That is, not really. That in itself is disturbing enough, but.. no, I
don’t think so."

"You know it’s not a gender thing with vampires, right?"

"In theory, yes. And I’m not homophobic, if that’s what you’re implying,
but it’s not something I’m really interesting in seeing."

Wesley sounded rather offended that Angel would think him so narrow-minded.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to insinuate anything. So if it’s not that, what
is the problem?"

"Well.. It’s Spike! Remember? The only reason we are not dead is because
Fate decided to render him temporarily incapable of killing humans! As soon
as that thing malfunctions or is removed or neutralized…. "

"I see." Angel moved farther away from the door as someone entered,
nervously skirted around the half-naked vampire and scurried down the hall.
"Come back into the office, Wesley. We can’t stand here and expect to talk
undisturbed."

"Only if Spike is not there."

"He’s not. Come on.. we should have talked about this a week ago."

Wesley nodded his agreement and waited for Angel to take the lead.

"You don’t even trust me anymore, do you?"

"You are not showing the best judgment of late, can you blame me?"

"No, I suppose not." Angel turned and went back to the office not waiting
for Wesley. When he was sure Wesley had followed he continued into his
office and sat behind his desk.

Wesley entered and sat in the client chair but it was there were too many
blind spots for his comfort, so he moved to stand near the door. "Do you
really understand my concern or are you just humoring me?"

"No, I can see that, from your perspective, you have reason for concern."

"From my perspective!"

"Yes. But you seem to have forgotten that I would never let anyone hurt you
or Cordelia. You are my friends… I had hoped more than that… but… So yes, I
can understand your concerns, I just don’t agree that they are all valid."

"Do you really think that Spike won’t kill the first human he comes across
when that thing in his head stops working? Do you really, really believe
that?"

"Six months ago, I would have said you were right. I didn’t know him very
well then. I mean I knew him… as he was when I was Angelus, before I was
cursed. But that was a long time ago in a very different world. And I knew
him from Angelus’ brief return, although I mostly ignored him in favor of
Dru. But until recently, I haven’t really known him. Do you understand what
I’m trying to say?"

"And you know him now? Is that what you’re trying to say? He was torturing
you just a few months ago! He wanted to kill you! He’s tried to kill your
‘friends’ in Sunnydale more than once and from what I’ve read about him, he
has no qualms about maiming and killing anyone who crosses his path! And
are you trying to say that when he gets that thing out of his head he’s
just going to go on his merry way and not cut a swath through L.A. in
celebration? Have you been hit on the head recently? Or perhaps all those
hours brooding in the dark have driven you insane? Or is it that another
part of your anatomy is now doing your thinking for you? It has to be
something Angel because you have lost sight of reality!"

Wesley was panting by the time he had finished with his outburst. Angel had
never seen the normally reserved ex-Watcher get so agitated. Keeping his
voice calm and even, no matter how angry Wesley’s words made him, Angel
began to explain.

"You make some very good points, Wesley. But think about this. You said
yourself that Spike is a skilled and efficient killer, right? Well then why
aren’t I dead? Why aren’t Buffy, Willow, Cordelia, Xander, Giles and, for
that matter, you, dead? If he wanted any of us dead, we would be. He plays
a hard game but it’s the only one he knows. It’s what I taught him and what
he’s learned on his own. If he was as emotionless as what is written in
your journals, why did he stay with Drusilla all those years, caring for
her? Why did he help Buffy? I can tell you it wasn’t only because he wanted
to get me away from Dru or save the world. I’m not saying he will continue
to be harmless ‘if’ he gets the implant out, I’m just saying that he’s not
like you think. I don’t think you can imagine what he’s had to deal with,
what he is still dealing with not being able to feed himself. I’m surprised
that he has dealt with it as well as he has…. but now he has to learn a new
way to survive. And I’m going to try to help.. if he’ll let me."

Angel paused to let his words sink in and then continued. "He’s impulsive,
impatient, stubborn, easily bored, crude, a bully and he enjoys being a
vampire, but he’s not stupid. He knows I would not allow him to really harm
anyone I care about."

"But…"

"The … relationship that Spike and I have is very complicated in some ways
and very simple in others. I won’t bore you with all the Sire/Childe
traditions since you know them as well as I do and they don’t really seem
to apply anymore… well, not much. But what it boils down to is that he is
staying here, with me, in my bed if he chooses, for as long as he wants.
I’m sorry if that bothers you but I won’t give him up. Not again."

"And if you’re wrong about him? What then?"

"Then I’m wrong and he will be dust the first time he hurts one of you."

"You could do that?"

"Yes."

"Then I will pray that you are right about him because I don’t believe you
could kill him."

"It will never come to that."

Wesley sighed and shook his head sadly. "I think you are deluding yourself…
but there isn’t much I can do about it, is there?"

"Will you at least give him a chance and stop jumping any time he comes any
where near you? You know it only makes him want to pick on you all the
more. Stand up to him a few times and he’ll treat you better. Cordelia
seems to get along with him okay."

"I shall try, Angel. I respect all that you are trying to do here but on
this subject, I fear we are doomed to agree to disagree." Clearly wanting
to change the subject, Wesley asked, "I came over to find out if you were
all right. Cordelia said you were injured quite badly."

"It looked worse than it was. A lot of the blood wasn’t mine." Angel stood
and pulled down the waistband of his sweats to show Wesley the site of his
injury. "It’s still a little tender but it will be completely healed by
this evening. Come downstairs and I’ll tell you about it over breakfast.
You can help me figure out what kind of demon that was. You know, just in
case I run into another one and need to find a way to kill it before it
rips my guts out again."

"I’m afraid I will have to take a rain check on that breakfast, Angel. And
it’s not because of Spike. I have an appointment in an hour with a rather
reclusive book collector. He’s promised to let me copy some texts that he
has about some rather obscure history of demons."

"Well, you know you are always welcome to come downstairs anytime you like.
But I would recommend making more noise when you do."

"Yes, I certainly shall. I must say that was quite a shock…. Uh.. I’d
better be going and leave you to get dressed. I should be back this
evening, if that is acceptable?"

"Fine, Wesley. And have a good time."

Wesley waved and departed, feeling a little better about things than when
he’d arrived, but not by much.

*************

Angel remained at his desk, thinking about the things he’d said to Wesley.
((Could I really stake Spike? And if I can, why haven’t I before now after
everything he’s done, everything he’s tried to do. I had good cause… but…))
He leaned further back in his chair and stared at the ceiling as if
searching for the answer there. ((No, I will not brood about this! I am
going to go downstairs and see what trouble Spike has gotten into while
I’ve been gone and then we are going to spend a nice day together. Really
talk for once. And then tonight, we have to go interview a potential
client…. Damn! What is he going to wear? I know the laundry isn’t back
yet…)) Picking up the phone, he dialed Cordelia’s number and listened to it
ring five times before it was finally answered.

"DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS?"

"And good morning to you too, Cordelia. Little on the cranky side this
morning?"

"Yes and why do you sound so chipper? You couldn’t have gotten much more
sleep than I did. How are you feeling, Angel?"

"Better, thanks. Listen.. the reason I called… Um… you know how you like to
shop, right?"

"Angel, it’s too early for games."

"How would you like to make some money?"

"How much money and who do I have to kill?"

"No one. You just have to shop… for Spike."

"No way! How much money?"

"Fifty?"

"Get serious. Nothing less than two hundred."

"Cordelia, I just want you to go buy him some clothes and maybe stop by the
butchers while you’re out. Seventy-five above and beyond what you buy."

"One-fifty."

"One hundred."

"Done. What do you want me to get? More of the same?"

"Well, one pair of jeans and a t-shirt, yes.. but.. I have a few other
things in mind, too."

"Fine, let me get a pad and pencil so I can write down how you want to
dress your boy-toy…. okay, shoot and it had better not be too kinky, I will
not be seen in one of those ‘adult’ stores."

"He’s not my boy-toy and no, it’s nothing in the ‘adult’ store, I promise.
You can use the emergency credit card for the clothes and I’ll give you the
cash when you bring the stuff over. Okay, you know those….."

******************

((It’s probably human body parts.. all shrunken like and he takes them out
and looks at them, remembering the old days. Or sex toys. Yeah, definitely
perverted sex toys that they don’t sell in stores. Or maybe money.. no, he
wouldn’t keep money in so obvious a place. I know it’s not rare books or
paintings because those are out where any thief with half a brain can take
them….))

Spike continued to entertain himself by speculating on the contents of the
locked trunk for several more minutes. He was very sure that it would drive
him nuts before the end of the day if he couldn’t find out what was inside.
((I could just ask him.)) "Nah, he wouldn’t tell me. It can’t be that easy.
Have to think of some other way, besides breaking in, to find out. Maybe I
can pick the lock and he’ll never know I looked. Yeah…"

He slid off the bed and listened carefully. Still no Angel. Spike crept
over to the trunk and hunkered down in front of it, examining the lock.
"Bollocks!" The lock was a relatively new padlock. He knew there was an
easy way to unlock them, but he’d never bothered learning since he could
normally just force them off.

"What are you doing?"

"Stop sneaking up on me! I wasn’t doing anything. Just admiring the fine
craftsmanship of this trunk." Spike turned his most innocent look on Angel.
"Have a lot of stuff you need to lock up, do you?"

"Besides you? No."

"Ha fucking ha, very funny." Spike rose to his feet and went to where his
duster was still laying on one of the chairs. "Now, tie up, that’d be
okay.. or maybe some nice chains…" He pulled out his smokes but put them
back in his duster when Angel made a face.

"Some other time, perhaps. I called Cordy and asked her to go buy you some
clothes. She should be here sometime after lunch."

"You sent Cordy to get me clothes? Great…."

"What? She has good taste."

"Did she pick out any of your clothes?"

"A few things, yeah."

"Wonderful. I’m sure I’ll end up looking like one of those pansy Gap ads or
worse yet, like you."

"Well, it’s only until your stuff comes back from the laundry" Angel ran
his eyes down Spike’s body appreciatively. Spike had put on a pair of red
silk boxers this time, just as loose as the ones he’d worn the night
before. "Not that I don’t like what you have on, but I think my clients
would prefer a little less skin."

Seeing the look Angel was giving him, Spike took the opportunity to start
his ingenious scheme to find out what was in the trunk. "Can I get you a
drink Angel?"

Angel blinked a few times in confusion at the swift change of subject.
"What?"

"A drink, a beverage, alcohol, me?"

"Huh?"

"Never mind. So, what do you want to do until Cordelia gets here?" ((Okay,
doesn’t want to get drunk, try the sex thing.))

"Well, I’m going to go wash the demon gunk out of my hair and then I’m
going to go upstairs and work for a while. You?" ((And just what are you up
to, you little twit? Why the games all of a sudden?))

"Oh… um.. nothing. I guess I’ll just hang around down here by myself…
bored… alone… restless. Who knows what I might get into…"

"You are not a five-year old, I’m sure you can manage to control yourself.
" Angel was tired of playing Spike’s game. His Childe was going to have to
learn that he couldn’t, and didn’t need to, manipulate him to get what he
wanted. "Borrow something of mine and come upstairs if you want. You can
help me read through some files and pick out anything that looks
suspicious."

"No, I think I’ll stay down here and look around. Maybe find a nice book to
read, jerk off.. something."

"You do that…"

Spike watched in amazement as Angel disappeared into the bathroom and shut
the door. "Wanker! Why can’t you ever just cooperate with my plans? Fine,
if that’s the way you want it, I’ll just break the bloody lock. It will
serve you right for siccing Cordelia’s fashion sense on me." Once he heard
the shower come on, Spike went to the kitchen and got the hammer out of the
drawer. He plopped himself down in front of the trunk, gave the lock a good
whack with the hammer and pulled the demolished lock off.

He rubbed his hands together in anticipation of what dirty little secrets
he’d find inside to use as blackmail. Slowly, almost reverently, Spike
lifted the lid of the trunk and looked inside. His mouth gaped open as he
processed what he saw piled inside. Then the dam broke and he was rolling
on the floor laughing so hard he thought it was going to make him puke.

Angel came out of the bathroom and frowned down at Spike. "What is so
funny, Spike?"

Spike pointed at the open trunk and tried to form words… "Those… No wonder…
the lock…. everything makes sense now… ow…" He clutched his stomach and
went into another gale of laughter.

"So you think it’s funny do you?" Angel narrowed his eyes and dropped the
towel from around his waist.

"Yes… ye…I..I….do…" Spike still couldn’t stop laughing.

"You’ve been a very bad boy, Spike. Breaking into my things and then
laughing at me." Angel’s tone was very serious but his eyes were sparkling
with good humor and anticipation. "I think you need to be punished. Don’t
you?"

Spike’s laughter immediately died down as he looked up at Angel, towering
above him. Spike grinned at his Sire and stood up. "Oh, yes… I definitely
deserve some punishment. Should I go lock the door?"

"Might be a good idea. But hurry back."

Spike was off in a flash to lock the door. ((Finally! He wants to play… ))
 

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