~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~Part: 11~
Willow was asleep again. Spike watched her from the living room, where he sat at the breakfast bar with the laptop. He was surfing the net and doing a bit of online shopping for magic supplies and books. He wanted to surprise the witch with a small inventory of basic things needed for most spells. He knew she was really into the dark arts after re-souling his wanker of a sire, and didn’t want her to fall off of her game because of this little interlude.
He was also no dummy, and figured the watcher would get the word out to all magic shops, alerting them to keep an eye out for a bleached blonde vampire and a redheaded witch. Hence the convert method of procurement.
Additionally, there was the young fledge that had yet to rise. He could not leave him alone with Willow. If the vampire rose, he would see the girl as a meal, nevermind the claim. But if the boy proved worthy, he would be taught to protect Willow from all the others when Spike could not be there himself.
Once satisfied that he had all she would need to keep boredom at bay, he decided to turn in. He padded quietly to the room, leaving the French doors open, peeled off his clothing and climbed in next to the witch, pulling her close to keep her safe. She barely stirred as she snuggled into him, falling deeper into sleep…and other things.
~~~*~~~
The delivery men, quite content to move in everything with all curtains closed after each receiving a $100 tip for the inconvenience, were finally all done and gone. Willow and Spike both collapsed onto the blue leather sofa in the family room, the blonde lighting a smoke.
“We better get back, luv. The fledge is gonna be up soon. I don’t want him roaming around, creating havoc.”
“Sure, let me just get the list for the stuff I forgot to order.” She walked to the kitchen and snatched the paper from the marble countertop, stopping to admire the blue swirls running through the black before dashing out.
Spike was already in the car with it running, and she couldn’t tell if the smoke was from his cigarette or from him running to the car in the slightly overcast rays. She hopped in and decided he was none the worse for wear. The house was about an hour away in the afternoon traffic, so she put in a CD, letting the music lull her to sleep.
The demon still had a full night ahead of him. There was Josh. He had to have a crash course in hunting once awake, then Spike would take the boy to the Comfort Inn, see if those two from Saturday actually showed up. After that, they all had to do to the Days Inn and meet up with his minions that were waiting. Steven, his most trusted, called around 2pm, advising his master that they were checked in and waiting.
~~~*~~~
Josh was still asleep, but moved periodically, ruining the imitation of a corpse he’d perfected so well.
“I have to go meet the boys tonight. Will you be alright here alone?”
“You ARE taking HIM with you, right?” She pointed at Josh, who turned over again.
The vampire rolled his eyes. “What? Do you think I’m a bloody retard? Course he goes.” Her relief was palpable.
“Good. I’ll be fine then. How long will you be?”
“Not sure. Depends on how independent and rebellious they’ve become. But I’ll be back before 3am either way, alright luv?”
“Okay Spike. I think I’ll call Buffy.” When he frowned she explained. “She’ll be more inclined to stop worrying and stop pestering Angel if she hears from me a lot.”
“But the chit upsets you, pet.” He pouted. “Why put yourself through that?”
“I’ll be fine,” she told him again, as much to convince herself as to convince the vampire.
There was a low growl coming from the other side of the room and they both looked up. Anxious described Willow’s _expression, while bursting with delight was more apt to describe the blonde vampire.
“Watch, Willow,” Spike ordered as he left her side and stood over the rising fledgling.
He was in his gameface, yellowed eyes darting to and fro between the redhead and blonde. He was uneasy and snarled as Spike approached him.
Finally, as if a decision was made, he let his eyes settle on the vampire, drinking in the vision of his maker.
“Sire.”
“Welcome back Josh.” The clarity in the boy’s eyes was astounding, and he was in much more control than any minion Spike had ever made. He’d expected growling, snarling and violence. This was a pleasant change, almost like creating already-aged minions, more thanks to his witch. <Mine? Oh Yeah!>
He sniffed the air in Willow’s direction. “Is she for me Sire?”
Spike growled in warning, pulling the fledge to his feet by his neck. “Sorry, mate. She belongs to me and me only. Lesson the first - never touch her. I will torture you for weeks and then kill you if you break that rule.” Biting into the brunette’s throat, the vampire let his fangs sink deep, giving Josh a mark of ownership and protection. The fledge froze, enchanted by the sensations, whimpering when the blonde pulled away.
“Understand Josh? She is off limits.” Spike reiterated, licking the delicious blood from his lips.
Willow watched it all, eyes wide in fascination as the new demon returned to human facade. He was beautiful. They both were.
He nodded furiously. “Yes, off limits. But what CAN I eat, Sire?”
Spike chuckled at his hunger, already in control of the demon so much that he didn’t rage to go after any of the tasty morsels that he had to be smelling outside.
“We’ll leave soon. And call me Spike. Now, come. Meet my pet.” He walked the new minion over to the girl. She swallowed, her reaction to being called “his pet.” After all, she did lose the bet. If you can call that losing.
“This is Willow. You will protect her always, even from our own kind. Only I can touch her.”
“Hello Josh.” Willow smiled tentatively, not knowing what else to do. <What do you say to the newly undead? Congratulations?>
“Willow…Hi. I can’t eat you.” He told her, a shy smile crossing his lips, as he looked at her though long, dark lashes, his own blue eyes flashing in a heated stare.
“No, you can’t.” She giggled a little at his blatant sexuality, staring back into his deep blue eyes.
“Uh, Josh?” Spike called him softly.
“Hmm…”
“NO seducing my toys.” The blond demon had no intention of allowing this behaviour to continue.
“Sorry Spike.” Although nothing about him was sorry, except that he couldn’t have the girl. But crossing the one who made him would be most foolish. Nothing was worth that, not even her pretty green eyes. He turned away, becoming more interested in the room, for his own sake.
Spike grabbed Willow by the arm and lead her roughly into the bedroom.
“What??” She protested his treatment of her arm as it began to bruise.
“What do you think you’re doing, luv?”
“Nothing! Saying hi.” She knew she had been staring a bit, but it was just because Josh was staring at her.
“Willow, you belong to me. He will …”
“I belong to no one!” He was becoming enraged, the demon berating him for reasoning with her when he should be beating or fucking her into submission. Or both. He tried a different approach.
“Willow…he looks like a nice bloke and all, but right now, he’s too dangerous. He’s got enough bloodlust in him right now, without making him crazy for sex. I made him strong and smart, so stay out of his way for a while, until I have established dominance over him. Kay, pet?” He held her by the shoulder, squeezing gently, and then took her freshly bruised arm, admiring the marks.
“You bruise so beautifully, pet.” He kissed the flesh, letting his tongue taste her in the process. The girl was motionless, caught between wanting more and wanting to run.
“Tomorrow,” he said between kisses as she shivered under his touch, “we move in. Tonight, I take what’s mine
~Part: 12~
After a quick hunting lesson, which was quite fruitful (the boy was a bit squeamish at first, but warmed to the hunt quickly) Josh and Spike drove in silence to the first stop for the evening, the Comfort Inn. Spike parked near the back, turning to the new vampire.
“Had a pair of minions help me out the other day and promised them a chance to join up. Stay in here, and if anything goes bad I’ll toss my fag at the car.” He handed him a stake. “You come out with that and stay close to me.”
“What fag? And you shouldn’t call…”
“Huh?” The blonde's brow was furrowed.
“You said…” Josh tried again.
“Smoke. Cigarette.” The boy nodded in understanding as Spike rolled his eyes and opened the door. “And keep quiet.”
The blonde demon sauntered a few steps away from the car, leaned on another and lit a cigarette. His senses told him that there were four vampires in the area, hidden off to the left. He waited for them to make their presence know to him, not wishing to expose the extent of his strengths and abilities. Not yet.
After some minutes, the girl from Saturday came out, motioning for the others to come out as well, although only another female and the male from Saturday appeared, which left one more.
“Well, well… I was about to leave when I finished." He held up the shrinking cigarette for emphasis. “Thought you didn’t show. Who’s the bint?”
“A friend. Turned her yesterday.” The unknown girl shrunk back behind the girl that Spike recognized, the power emitting from the blonde demon making her cower.
“What’s your name, luv?” He held his hand out and waited expectantly. She was no more than seventeen, such a tender meal she must have been. Slowly, she reached, giggling as he twirled her once around and pulled her close to him.
“Lisa… Do I call you master?” She inquired, hope blazing in her demon eyes.
Ignoring her question he looked to the other two. “And your names?”
“Debra, and he’s Jake,” she replied, nervously picking at the chipped polish on her nails, which reminded Spike that his own black polish could use a fresh coat.
“And the other?” His eyes narrowed.
The Debra and Jake looked at each other. It was a quick glance and may have been missed by another, but Spike, as a rule, didn’t miss much.
“Don’t try to play me people. Get the fuck out here!” Slowly a child, a boy, no more than twelve, peeked out.
“Lisa, will he hurt me?”
“No…no honey, he’s gonna help you.” She broke away from the oldest vampire and hugged the boy. “He’ll teach you how to feed and what to do.”
“Who did this?” The blond clenched his jaw, rage building.
“Don’t know. Found him, nearly starved and bruised all over about a week ago. Said he’d been beaten by some vamps downtown and didn’t remember anything after that.”
“It’s not right. Turning kids.” Spike started a pace and he mulled over his choices. The first was to dust the child vampire. It was an abomination. But part of him thought the boy would be a good project for his pet. Something to keep her feeling productive, and perhaps keep her in line. Since he could always kill it later, he decided on the latter.
“Right then. Here’s what you do. I don’t have room for you all in this car, so you will have to make you own way, but go to the Days Inn across town. If I’m gone, go to room 117, ask for Steve. He’ll have instructions.”
The blonde began to walk away, toward the car, and remembered another thing that bothered him.
“And who turned Lisa?” Spike was growling.
Jake raised a tentative hand. “Me.” His voice trembled as the blonde vampire’s steady gaze penetrated him.
“Only I make minions from now on. You’re too young, your demon’s too weak and you make weak minions. Do we have an understanding , Jake?”
~~~*~~~
Later Spike met up with his minions. Steve and the others were excited to be back with their master, and were ready, willing and able to do battle with whatever stood in Spike’s way. They took to Josh immediately, and Josh wanted to stay with them, but Spike was reluctant to leave him behind. He was, after all, for Willow.
He took them out to a bar around the corner, throwing back a few beers as he and his made plans. Recon missions were detailed. He didn’t want the minions to move in yet, so he paid for two more nights and added another room for the locals coming.
He told Steve about the four and the kid, directing him to keep them inside, and to go with them when they feed.
When the bar began its closing ritual, Spike said his goodnights and called for Josh to come with him. The boy pouted, disappointed to miss the late night hunt that the rest were about to commence, but the blonde promised him a spectacular hunt the next night, which seemed to appease the boy. Spike also planned to take the witch tonight, and wanted the boy to hear it all, teaching him without a doubt to whom the girl belonged.
~~~*~~~
Her hands were trembling. She was consumed with anxiety over the vampire’s last words to her. If she had learned anything being around Spike, it was that he was true to his word and followed through on threats and promises alike. Right now she could not tell if taking her was a threat or a promise, as her body’s reactions were varying and confusing.
She held the cell phone in her hand, debating if the call she was about to make was wise. But the fear of the unknown was driving her crazy, so she dialed, albeit hesitantly, hanging up and starting again twice before actually completing the numbers.
It rang three times and she nearly lost her resolve, ready to hang up, when he picked up, speaking softly.
“Hello…”
“A-Angel? It’s Willow.”
The vampire sat up straight, the book he’d been reading falling to the side in his hurried shock.
“Willow, God! Are you okay? Are you back?”
“No…yes…uh no… well, yes, I’m okay and no I’m not back,” she stammered.
“Where are you, Willow?”
“I can’t, Angel.”
“Willow, you have to tell me where you are. Buffy and I can help you. Spike is…”
“I know what Spike is, Angel, and no I won’t tell you. I made a deal and we have a plan. If everything works out, I’ll be back in good ole Sunnydale before Christmas.”
<A plan?> Angel pondered this remembering that most of Spike’s plans never worked out, mainly because of his impatience rather than actual bad planning. “Willow, you don’t understand. He will kill you or worse.”
“He’s not even here, Angel. How’s that for threatening me all the time? I’m helping him accomplish a task. That’s it.”
“Has he hurt you?”
“No. He’s actually kinda fun. I have to keep reminding myself that he’s a demon.”
“Hmm…” For a few seconds Angel allowed his thoughts fall fondly on the blonde who haunted him every night, before returning his focus to the stubborn and, apparently, incredibly gullible redhead on the phone.
“Angel?”
“Yeah. Spike can be amusing. But he’s still a killer. I made sure of it. And he won’t feel a twinge of guilt for killing you.”
“But we get along pretty well, as long as I obey the rules. A-and he’s very nice.”
“He was nice to Dru, and ripped out beating hearts to bring her for breakfast. You have to let us come get you. Willow! Stop being stupid!” He growled.
“Angel, please… I knew this was a bad idea.” She started to tremble, remembering the reason for her call, but feeling it was impossible to discuss with the souled vampire. “Look I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset…”
“Willow, wait,” he interrupted, calm taking over even as he seethed underneath. “For now, I will accept that you have to stay with Spike. For now. But what is it you're doing? Why did he need you?”
“Now that would be telling, and I can’t tell you anything. You know him and can find him and I can’t have that yet. If I think he’ll hurt me, I promise to get away. I’m not totally helpless, and he trusts me.”
“Fine.” His response was curt and immediately regretted.
“But I did call YOU for a reason. I can get yelled at by Buffy, but she can’t help me with this. So you’re the man. O-or vamp.”
“Willow…”
“Okay! I …Spike…tonight…he…okayitstartedtheothernightwhensSpikesaidhecouldmakemelikeabiteandIlethimanditwasveryenjoyable…” Breathe. “butnowtonighthesaidthathewasgoingtotakewhatwashis. What does that mean?”
Angel sorted through the words rapidly flung at him in desperation, and got to the meat of the matter.
“You let him bite you?! Are you insane?”
“No, and I’m not dead either. Now stop badgering me and help, or I’ll hang up and you can explain to Buffy how you kept pissing me off and insulting my intelligence, and now I won’t call.”
“Okay , okay….” He stifled a chuckle, never really seeing this side of the shy girl. Maybe Spike wasn’t as much a threat to her as her to him, if she got under his skin and he began to have feeling…. “Wait…He said he was going to ‘take what was his’?”
“Yeeees….Angel, what’s he gonna do?”
“Get out of there, Willow. Now.”
“Why???” The urgency and fear she heard in his voice unnerved her, making her feel faint.
“The bite he gave you, was claiming. It was deep and you feel…it’s sexually stimulating, right?
She nodded and whispered an agreement, more scared than embarrassed.
“He’s gonna turn you or …oh…force you to have sex with him. And he may still turn you.”
“No Angel… He promised to let me go when this is done.” The tears fell freely.
“No, he won’t. Not if he thinks of you as his. Not if he’s taken to you. But he can’t do it if you’re not there. Leave. Now.” The tension in the vampire had him stalking in his home, looking for something to destroy.
“If I leave, he’ll kill them all. Probably not you, but everyone else.”
“Buffy and I can protect you from him,” Angel proclaimed.
“NO YOU CAN’T! YOU CAN’T STOP HIM! SHE CAN’T STOP HIM! HE WILL GO THROUGH US ALL, ONE BY ONE, AND I’LL BE THE LAST.” She heaved a great sob, allowing it to calm her. “And there is nothing that you can do. Only Spike stops Spike.”
Angel was shocked by her outburst, but understood. She was right. It was probable that his blond childe would get to everyone one of the gang, including Buffy, if it’s what he wanted to do. And without Dru to distract him, he would be a wholly-focused demon.
“Alright Willow. What can I do to help?”
“I just needed to know. And now I do. I’ll call in a few days. Tell them all…Goodbye, Angel.”
The connection was lost, before he could say more. Immediately, he dialed the slayer. Even though they were helpless to do anything, he had to tell her that this last conversation may be the last time anyone talked to Willow alive.
~Part: 13~
It was nearly dawn before he stripped off his clothes and crawled between the cool cotton sheets. The girl was still asleep, which was fine with the vampire. He was too tired to contemplate taking her now, and was content to snuggle up to her warm little body for a good days rest. Jake was out on the sofa, snoring. After a few more minutes of planning his afternoon, the blond fell over the edge, sleep finally taking him.
~~~*~~~
Willow stirred, wondering why she couldn’t move. She tried to turn over only to be held down by one cool, pale, muscular, arm. <Spike! And he’s NAKED!> She felt her neck and found a pulse. <Okay, so still alive…I wonder what happened?>
She pulled the covers back and wiggled out from under him, finally free and escaping to the bathroom.
After a hot shower she felt better and hungry. He was still asleep, looking like the most beautiful corpse in the world. She let her eyes linger on his perfectly masculine form before shaking her head and dismissing the thoughts.
Turning away, she crept to the French doors, intent on making a quick breakfast and touching base with Buffy. By now, Angel must have told her about their conversation, and her friends would be insane with worry.
“Come back to bed, pet.” A muffled voice, deep and soothing, ceased her movements.
“Spike…” She said breathlessly. “I was going to get something to eat. Human here. Hungry.” She was panting, averting her eyes as he turned over with a groan, clearly not shy.
His eyes narrowed, still sleepy and irritating at being disturbed. Her scent altered his mood slightly so that he didn't physically force her back to the bed.
“Red, there is a fledgling out there, hungry as well. Come. Back. To. Bed.”
She saw a flicker of gold taint his blue eyes, and heard the demon in his voice. It was a subtle change in him, all the more reason for her to do as he said. So it was with a heavy sigh and a hungry tummy that she sat back down on the bed and picked up the remote.
At first he was pleased. She was cooperating without threats. <Good.> He wanted a few more hours of sleep, and could never relax if she was in there alone with Josh. The minion was just too young to be trusted with a human as delicious as his pet.
But then his face fell, _expression unreadable as she sat by the foot of the bed and picked up the remote. He supposed it was his own fault. He didn’t specify what she was to do once back on the bed. She was a challenge.
“Uh…pet?”
She trained the big doe eyes expectantly on his, which were thankfully all blue, . “Yes?”
“I’m still planning on sleeping. That TV may keep me up. When I do get up I intend to make good on my promise. The longer I sleep, the longer you stay…innocent.” He eyed her pointedly, and she crawled quickly back under the covers, dropping the remote along the way. He smiled to himself and pulled her close, spooning her, her heartbeat a lullaby to his ears.
~~~*~~~
Xander and Buddy sat in the library, going over options with Giles. Angel’s conversation with Willow left them emotionally drained.
“Buffy, I don’t see what more we can do, but wait.” Giles, tired and exasperated, was out of useful suggestions. They were at a dead end, perhaps literally.
“I can go see Willy again. He has to …”
“Absolutely not! You will not terrorize that man again over this. He’s told you everything, which was nothing. Spike came into town and didn’t contact anyone but your mother, it seems. You and Angel saw him more than anyone and don’t have a clue either.”
“But Giiiiles…”
“Leave him alone.” He was firm, and the slayer wisely backed off, slumping into her chair with a pout. “Violence isn’t the answer to everything, Buffy.”
“Yeah, but it sure makes me feel better,” she mumbled.
“Biffy, I’m all for a good Willy-thrashing, but what’s the use? You can kill the guy and still won’t know where Spike took Wills.”
After a long silence Giles said, “I believe Angel knows more.” This was met by the usual ‘I knew I couldn’t trust Deadboy,’ from the young man and the ‘Angel’s doing everything he can to help,’ from his slayer. He waited for them to tire out before continuing.
“I’ve been reading the journals and a bit more on vampire relationships.” He turned thoughtful for a moment, forgetting about them as he pondered some ideas.
“Angel is Spike’s sire.”
“We know this G-man. I was there when he offered to feed me to the bleached wonder, remember?”
Giles ignored him. “ And Spike is a childe, not a minion, but a true childe, created to be a companion thoughout eternity. This would indicate a bond stronger than what mother feels for her baby.”
“But they hate each other,” Buffy offered, missing the obvious.
“Yes, hate…” He smiled at the innocence around him. “And what better way to acknowledge a betrayal of a love so deep and all emcompassing?”
“I don’t understand…” Buffy trembled as a chill swept through her small, yet powerful frame.
“By all accounts, William the Bloody was Angelus’ favourite childe, always a challenge, and keeping his vampire family in trouble with his wild antics. He took to his new unlife with a zest that thrilled his sire, and they became quite the notorious pair. This went on for nearly 100 years. You don’t spend that much time with someone and not grow extremely close.”
“Are you saying that Angel and…” Her throat tightened and she choked on the rest of her sentence.
“Yes, Buffy.” He removed the glasses for their ritual polishing. “Eternal companions, mates, lovers. And as such, Angel has a tremendously powerful connection to that menacing childe of his. Sire/childe, blood bonded and mated.”
“Soooo… Deadboy and Junior played hide the salami for, what, a hundred years. How does that help us find Willow?” Xander proposed his question as only he knows how.
“Angel can find Spike.”
“What? How?” Buffy inquired quietly, still numb from Giles’ speculation over the vampires’ history.
“The bond. He’s always been able to feel his childe’s presence. I’m not sure exactly how it works, but YOU, Buffy, are going to have to be careful. Work on Angel and get his cooperation, but know we are asking him to betray is own existence.” The bell rang.
She sighed, standing up and grabbing her book bag. “Whatever it takes… Come on Xan.” ~~~
Willow woke up coming and confused, her small hands tangled in short blond curls, as the vampire affixed to her neck took another small sip. His name fell from her lips, the realization that it was time washing over her. He would do it now, whatever he planned. Her hours of waiting were over, and for that she was grateful.
He left her neck, reverting to the human visage that fooled so many. Such a sweet face, she could gaze at him forever, giggling at the absurdity that she just may have to. He smiled into her belly as he nibbled his way down her body, pulling her pants and panties off with practiced ease. She wondered at that and promised to ask him later if she was still able.
He delighted in her scent, inhaling deeply while licking her inner thigh before changing and plunging his vampiric teeth into the virgin flesh there. She felt the ridges, but was still unprepared for the sensation. She cried out, tears immediate and hot. His demon was giddy. Spike, however, maintained his controlled, slow drinking of the girl, sliding his fingers along her wet cunt before plunging two inside. Her walls clutched at him, sucking his fingers in greedily. He worked her clit with his thumb, pumping into her slowing as she threw her head back and began a low keening. He removed his fangs to stare up at her, so adorably wanton.
“Did your wolf ever do this for you?” He purred against her thigh, lapping at the blood still leaking.
She only shook her head, grunting what he took to be a ‘no’.
“The whelp?” She wasn’t sure what a whelp was, but thought he may have meant Xander. She shook her head again, gasping ‘no’ as his tongue flicked over her clit.
“Cor, luv, you taste so good, I don’t know what I want more. Your delicious blood, sliding down my throat, filling me, making me crazy to possess you, or you hot little pussy, all pink and inviting, tasting like the finest cream.”
She moaned, her hands in his hair again, guiding him first to the bite, then to her center, as if she could not decide either.
He grinned like the devil he was. “I’ll just have to have both,” he purred, and before she could contemplate what that meant, his fangs drove into her labia, enticing a scream that just thrilled the demon, and his tongue began it’s torturous effort on her clit. He removed the fangs, but stayed in gameface, sucking the blood as it spilled out freely, her clit always at the center of his attention.
Her body jerked violently as the waves of her orgasm took her. She was not prepared for these sensations, the petting she’d done with Oz now child’s play in her distant memory. She was clutching the sheets and screaming, her body bucking, needing him to stop.
“Spiiiike!” Was the one word she was able to form. He gave her no time to ride it through, sliding up her form quickly and entering her fully, a wicked grin gracing his features when he broke through her maidenhead.
By now she was past that pain, and ready for anything he would give her. He gripped her hips and began a hard and deep fucking of his new toy. She was an excellent pet, scared, eager, receptive to his every touch. Without breaking stride he spoke to her.
“You belong to me now, witch. I want everything about you, and will give you everything you need.”
He smelled the tears and smiled into her neck. She was still in turmoil even as she clutched at him to go deeper. “Who do you belong to, Willow?”
“God, please…” She whispered. “I belong to you, Spike.”
Elated, the blond flipped her and she found herself on top of him. He bucked his hips, sending him deeper into her, and she threw her head back, revelling in the feeling of his cock buried inside, filling her.
“Ride me, witch. Please yourself with my body as I will certainly please myself with yours. Take me now and I will take you a thousand times in return.”
She opened her eyes and looked into his cold blue orbs, seemingly devoid of emotion and feeling, but she knew that had to be just an illusion. Due to his missing soul, his emotions could not be reflected in his eyes. And still she looked. Looked while she let her hands play over his hard, perfect chest. Looked while she cupped a sculpted cheek. Looked while she leaned over, brave, and kissed him. Looked while she lifted her body and began to slide up and down his cock.
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