| After: Underneath by Shiver |
| Pairing: A/S Spoilers: Up to “Origin” (AtS: S5) Notes: This is going to be a multi-part leading up until the end of the series describing the slashy goings-on between Angel and Spike between the episodes, also with flashbacks. - - - - - At the time, Spike hadn’t been surprised, had barely noticed it, really. Lorne had cut through his ruined shirt to dig the bullets out of his back, and Angel had just walked by and dropped a brand-new one on the table. It was only later, when he saw the neat stacks of denim and t-shirts on the bedroom dresser that he’d realized Angel had gone to the trouble of having fresh clothes delivered. He opened the top drawer, found socks and underwear, hairbrush, razor and other toiletries. Opened the second and found a bathrobe, towels, and a pair of dark blue silk pajamas. Spike looked over his shoulder as Angel walked past to his own wardrobe and began changing for bed himself. Spike pretty much expected Angel to be watching him, waiting for a reaction, or thanks, but he wasn’t. In fact, he seemed completely indifferent. Another surprise. “I’m not wearing those poncey pajamas,” Spike said. “Thought they’d be nicer than sleeping in your clothes,” Angel said reasonably. “But you don’t have to. You can sleep naked for all I care.” And then Angel did turn to look at him, mortified by his own words. “Spike, I didn’t mean…” But Spike had grabbed up the pajamas and some towels and shouldered his way past Angel into the bath. - - - - - Spike entered the bedroom a bit later clad in the pajamas, feeling very self-conscious. He saw Angel look, then pretend he wasn’t looking, and Spike pretended he hadn’t seen Angel look in the first place. “They’re alright,” Spike said. “Comfortable.” “Good,” Angel said. Spike plopped himself in the middle of the bed, bouncing a little. “So, how’s this work?” he said. “Do you seduce me or do I seduce you?” “Uh…” Angel clutched his own pajamas to his chest and backed towards the bath. “I’ll be out in a minute.” Spike dropped flat onto his back and pulled a pillow over his face. “Shit,” he muttered. After an unnecessarily long interval, Angel came back to find Spike rummaging through the nightstand drawer. “There isn’t… it’s in the medicine cabinet,” Angel said quietly. Spike looked up. “A magazine?” If vampires could blush, Angel would have. “I thought you were looking for…” ”I know,” Spike cut him off and slammed the drawer shut. He glanced around the room distractedly. “You need a TV in here, mate.” “There is a TV,” Angel said, coming around the bed. He reached under the pillow and pulled out the remote. “It’s behind the wall.” With the press of a button, the wood paneling slid back to reveal an enormous flat-screen. Spike grinned. “That’s brilliant,” he said. Angel shrugged, pressing another button to close the wall again. He dropped the remote on the nightstand and sat down on the bed. “Look, Spike,” he said, “I’m glad you’re here, but I’m not sure that after what happened today that I’m ready to… you know, with you. Right now.” Spike touched Angel’s shoulder lightly and gave a reassuring smile. “That’s the difference between you and me,” he said. “Right now, I can’t process any of this. It’s too big. So the primitive little part of my brain takes over, and all it knows is killing things and fucking until my head blows off.” Angel allowed himself a smirk. “In that case, you’ve been in primitive brain mode since the first time I met you.” Spike gave Angel a gentle shove. “Pillock,” he said, but he was smiling, too. Angel lay down on his back and laced his fingers behind his head. Spike lay on his side alongside him. “We need to get Gunn out of there,” Angel said after a few minutes of thoughtful staring at the ceiling. “Agreed,” Spike said quietly. “But will the Senior Partners let us? Can they stop us? How much can they control what we learn?” Spike moved closer, draped one arm over Angel’s waist and rested his head on Angel’s chest. “Don’t think right now,” he murmured. He slid his hand down to Angel’s thigh, then to rest on the fabric that covered his cock. Spike wasn’t surprised to find it half-hard. “Let me take care of you.” Angel took hold of Spike’s hand, lifted it and rested the knuckles against his lips. “No,” Angel said, and he turned their bodies over. “Let me take care of you.” Angel took hold of Spike’s hands, lifted them, stretched them above Spike’s head, and kissed him gently on the mouth. Then in one smooth, almost languid movement, Angel ran his hands down Spike’s arms, down his sides, hooked his thumbs in Spike’s waistband and stripped the garment off. Spike gave a small gasp, and Angel swallowed him down. Spike had, in his long life, been taken this way many times. Drusilla, of course, in her detached and distracted way. The innumerable whores, both male and female, that he and Angelus had shared. Even Buffy, rarely, when she was in the bleakest moments of her depression. But when it was just he and Angelus alone, there were certain unspoken rules between them which were unwavering in their assertion that Angelus penetrated Spike. Always. Which is why Spike gave a shout of surprise and arched his body like a bow when he felt Angel’s mouth take him in, why he shuddered as he felt Angel lick and suck. Why he hid his face in his hands and gave a sob when he came. His cock slipped from Angel’s lips and then the older vampire was alongside him, embracing him, stroking his face as he shivered in release. “Oh, God,” Spike panted. “Where in Hell did you learn that?” Angel smiled. “Exactly,” he said. The meaning of Angel’s words hit him, and Spike hugged him back. “No,” he said. “They didn’t…” “Shh,” Angel soothed, touching Spike’s lips to still him. “It doesn’t matter how. I wanted to do that for you.” Spike lowered his eyes seductively, and his hand crept back to Angel’s waist. “Now let me do for you,” he said. Angel took his hand again, pulled him back into an embrace. “I can’t. Not right now.” He turned Spike in his arms, spooning against his back. “Sleep now,” he said. “Just let me hold you.” And Spike, exhausted in mind and body, did. - - - - - For the second morning in a row, Spike awoke alone in Angel’s bed, again wrapped up. He mused about how long it had been since someone had cared about his comfort, realized he must have had a pulse at the time. And for that, the insanity that was happening between them just might be worth nurturing along. He found Angel in the kitchen, same as before, coffee and newspaper. But he was determined not to dance around the elephant today. “Why did you do it?” he asked. “Do what?” Angel said. “Stop being deliberately dense,” Spike said, pulling the paper out of Angel’s hands. “Why did you stop me last night? It’s not like I haven’t done it before.” “That was different,” Angel said, reaching for his paper. Spike held it well out of reach. “Is this about your stupid curse?” Spike said. “For God’s sake, Angel, do you honestly believe you could ever have perfect happiness with me?” “It’s not about the curse,” Angel said, then he turned away from Spike’s dubious glare. “Okay, it’s a little about the curse,” he amended, “but it’s more about the past.” Spike sat down opposite, folded the paper and set it on the side of the table furthest from Angel. “What about the past?” Angel fidgeted a moment, not meeting Spike’s eyes. “When we were together… before,” he said, “you were always limited because I was your elder, and stronger than you, and I was evil. Your desires were always second to mine. I don’t want it to be that way now. I don’t want you, um… taking care of me because you feel obligated to.” There was a long minute of silence while Spike stared at Angel in disbelief. “You’re bloody stupid,” Spike said finally. “You do know that.” He stood and crossed to the counter, his back to Angel, who watched him expectantly, knowing Spike would continue soon enough. Spike leaned on the counter, slightly bent over, hands apart, then turned. “I do what I want,” he said. “I told you night before last, I’m not going to be used again. Whatever I do, I do because *I* enjoy it. If you could get over all of the macho bullshit you learned 200 years ago, you’d know just how good it can be.” He turned his head away angrily, then slowly back a moment later, eyes soft and lusty now. “And unless I misjudge my own charms, you will find out for yourself, soon enough.” Angel swallowed hard. “Uh… we’ll see, I guess.” Spike smiled knowingly. “We’ll see, then,” he agreed, heading for the kitchen door. “Spike,” Angel stopped him, and Spike turned. “I’ll find something for you to fight today,” he said. “Finally,” Spike said, rubbing his hands together. “I’m holding you to that, mate. And don’t worry,” he added. “I have a feeling today’s gonna be better.” |