“Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless.”
Laughter, a light tenor, sounding the way honey would if – well you know – but with a spicy bite, like how he imagined a fine cognac would burn smoothly. Angel waited patiently for the caller to stop laughing at his slogan. It had been one of his best concepts yet. Where was all this humor coming into play? Angel caught himself about to pout and growled in irritation, instead.
Xander lowered the book he was reading and turned his head to look across the lobby. He was currently stretched out on one of the small couches, in the sitting area, with his head pillowed in Spike’s lap. Several days ago, the delivery guys from that furniture store had arrived with the new stuff for the new reception/waiting area. That ugly round couch had been removed and the tiles nicely refurbished to match the new floor that had been put down a week earlier.
Spike let out a small snicker and Xander looked up at him with a frown.
“What?”
“Wot what?”
“You’re doing the evil-guy snicker, why?”
“Your buddy’s on the phone,” Spike smirked at the look on his Sire’s face.
“Yeah, and this is funny because? Wait, why is Angel growling at Devon?”
“Cuz the lil bugger’s laughing his ass off.”
“Okay. Um why?”
“We help the hopeless?” Angel heard it in stereo; from Spike and the caller. Devon suppressed his amusement, somewhat. “So-sorry, mais I couldn’t help dat. Angel?” The vampire shivered, there was something about the way the young man said his name.
“Hmmm, yes, this is Angel. Devon?” as if he didn’t know by now who it was.
~Suicidal much soul-boy?~
“Oui. How are ya, homme?”
“Ce va, merci, et tú?”
Devon blinked at the phone on his end and his smile grew. “Allors, Angel, tú parler français aussi?”
“Yeah, a bit rusty though. What’s up?”
“Was wondering if Xan was ‘round?”
“Sure, I’ll get him, hold on.” Angel looked over at the amused couple and held the phone out toward Xander. “Devon, for you.”
“Merci, mon ami,” Xander said as he marked his place in his book and sat up. “What?” he asked looking at Angel with wide eyes full of false innocence. Spike snickered and grabbed him for a quick kiss and then sat back to watch his Nummy-treat glide across the room. Spike really liked watching his Xan-pet walk. He was so hot, the way the muscles in his ass bunched up with each step, straining the worn spots Spike had made in this particular pair with a piece of sandstone. Just watching Xander’s butt when he was walking, hell watching Xander’s ass at any time, made Spike’s mouth water and his dick hard enough to cut diamonds.
He was gonna have to break down and swallow his pride and ask Angel for help. The chip had to go, and Angel should be able to understand why – because of Xander. Spike needed to be able to protect Xander from any and everything and with the chip, he couldn’t protect the boy from a damn rat. Not good. Had to be fixed, really, it did.
~~~~~
Devon arrived at the Hyperion Hotel about an hour or two later. He parked his bike right outside the hotel’s front door and walked into the building.
“Bon jour, m’moiselle Chase.” He drawled and flashed that smile. Cordelia batted her eyelashes and flashed one of hers right back, unable to resist the young man’s charms or the challenge. Cordelia blinked. Devon blinked. They both snickered and nodded in recognition.
“Devon, hey, how are you?”
“Bien, chére, an’ you?”
“Oh you know, work a little shop a little, have a few visions and kill a few demons then shop and shop some more.” She was grinning openly now.
“Mais de shoppin’ and de killin’ tings dis boy can feel, but dat *working* part?” Devon did mock shivers of terror and then joined Cordelia in the laughter.
“Hey, thought I heard your voice.” Xander came in from the entry to Angel and Spike’s apartment. Devon grinned at Xander and the two did the ‘high-five’ hand-slap greeting.
“Hey, Xan, dude,” Devon drawled with a grin.
They moved into the lounge area, chatting quietly. Xander had lots of questions about his new friend’s life in New Orleans. Willow came down from her rooms wearing a pair of rust colored jeans and a body-hugging, long-sleeved black top with nude-colored splashes on it; looking like naked skin at first sight. She went to the larger kitchen set back behind the AI offices and grabbed a few soft drinks and some chips and other snacks, she’d discovered that Devon had a weakness for banana chips and salted cashews. She joined them in the lounge area and placed her goodies on the mahogany coffee table between the two short couches. There were also two matching, leather chairs positioned on each end of the rectangular table, creating an air of quiet intimacy.
They talked about the university Devon attended, his courses and sports interests. In high school Devon had run track and cross-country; he’d been on the swim team, he and Xander had that in common, and Xander told him about how he’d almost been turned into one of the aquatic. Devon had been on the soccer, baseball, and tennis teams; had also been in the fencing and archery clubs in addition to being the president of the gymnastics club and assistant coach to the girl’s varsity team since the school didn’t fund a boys' team. Oh yeah, and he also had a keen interest in the martial arts and had been studying since the age of nine and he wasn’t too bad at chess.
Devon’s cell phone jingled, signaling a text message instead of a phone call.
[Baby, if you can get to a t.v., turn to ‘Around the world in a day’ that kooky show E.B.B. is doing another exclusive]
“What’s up?” Xander asked as Devon closed his phone and returned it to the pocket of the black, baggy, carpenter’s jeans he had on.
“Oh, Richie just sent me a text message. There dis really off de hook weird show, E.B.B. or something. Anyway, dey did an exclusive interview with Rich when he released his first music video. We were in Rio workin’ on ‘nother one when...” he had been about to say when Nikolas had decided he needed Devon’s help in healing Xander and translocated him from Rio to L.A. in the blink of an eye. Instead, he quickly covered with, “... dis boy got bored an' decided to bug de pet mageling, and, well, here I am.”
“You got bored? In Rio? How does anyone get bored in Rio?” Cordelia asked in affronted horror. Devon blinked, his violet gaze slightly surprised. He shook his head.
“Niko is funner dan Riot when it comes down t’ ‘citement,” Devon grinned. He was thinking about the excitement of the Hunt.
“So what’s the deal with this interview or whatever?” Xander questioned.
“Oh, dat. Well Rich gave dem another ‘sclusive and its gonna air in,” he looked at his watch, “five minutes.”
“Oh, what channel, what channel?” Willow wanted to get a look at this guy Devon had been telling them about. His rap-star boyfriend sounded interesting. She didn’t know anyone who knew anybody famous, but, well guess she did now.
“Not sure, de name of de syndication is ‘Around the world in a day’ or something.”
“I know that one,” Spike said from where he was lounging in the door to the smaller library just off Angel’s office.
“Good, lets go,” Xander grabbed Willow and Devon and headed for his rooms where he had that really big large screen t.v. and something like four hundred cable channels from around the world. At least that’s what Spike used as his reason for hanging out on Xander’s couch and watching the teli – as if he needed a reason. Xander thought Spike was funny. He got a lot of fun out of his blonde-menace lover.
The group settled down in Xander’s suite and Spike flipped to the proper channel.
~~~~~
Nikolas flopped down on the couch in the living room. JoeCool considered the uncomfortable looking chair and then sauntered over and kicked the vampire-mage on his ankle. Nikolas stopped channel surfing and leaned over to peer down at his stuffed toy. With a toss of his little head, the knee-high tall, stuffed toy indicated that he wanted to be lifted to the couch.
“Mais ya ain’t dat lil, climb up,” Nikolas muttered and went back to the remote in his hand. JoeCool kicked him again, harder, with the edge of his little white sneaker sole. “Ow! Stop dat! Merde. Kay, k.” and Nikolas leaned over and snagged his toy by the waistband of its jeans and hoisted it to the couch. JoeCool lowered his Ray-Bans and considered the vampire-mageling over their tops for several long seconds, his little shiny black eyes looking as if he were rolling them before shaking his head and then smoothing out his outfit. Then JoeCool sat down next to the vampire, making sure to knock over the bowl of chips Nikolas had balanced on his thigh.
Nikolas spared the willful toy a glare and then the chips hopped back into the bowl as he continued surfing through the multitude of cable channels until he found what he was looking for, “Around the World in a Day Productions presents, Up close and personal... E.B.B Style.”
This was some sort of syndicated program hosted by a computer generated ‘hootchie-mamma’ dressed in a Judy Jetson TM, neon pink body suit complete with see-through, plastic, mini-space skirt flaring from the tiny waist, a matching halter, and snappy, white, thigh-high, hooker boots with six-inch ‘dick-me-down-daddy’ heels. The virtual-girl looked like a cross between a ghetto-booty-Lil Kim wanna-be and Chris Tucker as Ruby Red in the movie The Fifth Element. Simply outrageous.
~~~~~
The theme music, badly mixed and distorted 60’s and 70’s disco, kicked in and the announcer’s voice could be heard. “Boys and Girls, Judy Jet has just entered the building!” Studio audience cheers and clapping could be heard as the scene changed to one of those 3-D maze screensavers they have on Windows XP, and Judy jerked and strutted down the corridors, on her way to hold court in her virtual-world full of ridiculous backdrops and bad graphics of a playground setting.
“Hey ya’ll, welcome back to E.B.B.-” the fake studio audience yelled “Every Bodies Binizs!” Judy flashed her pearly white grin, tossed her wealth of pink and white striped hair and continued speaking, “...coming up next is our behind the scene EBB-sclusive with our favorite stud-muffin rap star [Who, who tell us who] Riot-X ho-ney! [Oooohhhhhhh] We caught up with the Black Panther on location in Rio, where Riot was working on his latest music video. Of course Riot-X didn’t know we had a hidden cameraman on the beach, so we got some really interesting footage. *wicked little grin* Wellll ya’ll... nah come da 411 on the *Boy-Toy* Rap star [gasp].
The computer generated hostess indicated the video monitor where a segment from the footage the managed to capture is playing. There was a quick shot of Riot grinning towards a lavender eyed young man before a loud voice called out.
“Dancers, go left – now,” and the row of scantily clad oiled bodies began to gyrate across the sand to their right. The director nodded and smiled in satisfaction when the six young-men moved as one, right along with the seven female dancers. “Rio, go... now,” and Rich Johnston stalked out of the gossamer tent, strutting his stuff to the beat. He tossed his head and looked dead into the camera. “Cut!”
“What now? Fuck man I am getting way tired of this...” Riot snapped
“Then do it right, please.”
“I am doing it right.”
“It doesn’t look right, sir.”
“Don’t sir me you jerk. We either shoot this damn video now or you are history.”
Riot turned away and started back toward the tent, cursing under his breath and hating this day. Nothing had gone right so far.
~The alarm didn’t go off, no hot water, the limo was late, the camera crew went to the wrong damn beach, and the D.J. started off with the wrong music~
Rich went off when he heard the competition’s track bumping out of the speakers. It hadn’t gotten better, or he wasn’t done bitching and moaning yet. His back hurt from sleeping on the damn floor, Dev hadn’t let him get in the bed the night before, had frozen him out for thinking about possible ways he could get away with a tumble with Logan’s lil’ red-hot Cajun-boy, Remy LeBeau. Hey, he had his fantasies too. Rich stopped in his tracks as the rude snickers of the young man in his thoughts reached his ears.
Rich spun back, “Something funny,” he snapped.
“Yep,” Devon said, flashing his famous Colgate-smile, violet eyes flashing with mocking laughter.
“Ya wanna share, or just keep giggling like a bitch?’ Rich snapped, getting pissed off. He needed to get this out of his system, a good argument would do just nicely, but everybody was scared to talk back to him, everyone except his love.
“Got ya *bitch*... rap-boy. N-T-ways, it be funny dat this your song, your video, and your choreography... and you can’t get it right,” Devon drawled.
“Oh you so damn funny. Think you da-bomb and all that cuz I let you shake yo ass in one of my videos. Boy, Puleaze.”
“Don’t be mad at me cause I can shake my ass better than you... rap-boy,” Dev smirked while buffing his nails against the tank top he was wearing and then holding his hand up to inspect them. “Like I said, this is *your* stuff and you can’t get it right, I could do this in one go, so um gee I guess I do think I’m da-bomb and all that.”
~Oh this was just going too damn far~
“Show me then, mutha-fuck'a, git yo ass out here and *show* me.”
“Sure ting, baby, mais, its ‘bout time somebody put y’ thug ass in check. Y’ really need ta take some anger management courses Riot.” Dev brushed past the slightly taller, dark-skinned, young man and walked into the tent.
“Riot?”
“Let him make a fool of himself if he wants too. Yeah, bet, shoot this too. Run it just like I was out there. You’re the director; do something go direct, just get out my face.”
“Cue music now.” The speakers crackled with light static, the kind from old-school record players and vinyl presses, followed by the delicate strands of a harp, plucking up the strings, pausing between this note and the last. Bass, cymbals, 808-drum machines and a host of other sounds blending together as they blared out at an incredibly fast speed, like when you turn up the pitch control a notch or three or four.
“Dancers, go left... NOW!” The row of scantily clad, oiled bodies began to gyrate across the sand to the right. The camera tracked them as they crossed in front of the tent. “Rio, go... now,” and Devon slithered out of the gossamer tent, snaking and swaying to the beat. He tossed his head sending a fan of tri-colored hair into the air around his smiling face as he spun once and stopped, balanced for a moment and then jacked across the sand toward the returning dancers.
Rich was fuming as the cameras continued to roll and Devon started rapping. He was all into the beat and wearing the hell out of Rich’s steps, popping each one with a flare the camera loved.
~Damn super-models... dayum I love that boy~
Rich forgot about the list of things that were wrong at the moment, concentrating on his lover, out there making him look like a fool in front of the hired help.
~Anger management, that boy got nerve~
Devon did, have nerve, and that was one of the many reasons Rich was crazy about him. Rich just stood there watching as Devon rattled off a verse from top of his head.
Remix – gotta flip dis
Dirty, down south – DragonBlade twist
Stay sick wit it – lets get it on
MC’s wanna eat me cuz I’m de bomb
Bronze ain’t new ta dis – Riot-X is ya down for dis?
Let me see ya’ll bounce ta dis – gonna shake every lil ounce of dis
Crush-it b’fore I even touch it – diamond hard cuts an shit
Ya know da Dragon cum thru
First class all stretched out - S class, stay sexed out
Windows down – seats back - stack coins – holla back
[Beat]
[Beat]
Stay iced out – minked up – rollie sick – light grey chrome six {beat}
Throw dat ass, wanna fuck – den throw da cash
Ya know what I need dirty south sex
Get it? Riot-X
Send ya on ya way wit Bronze on ya breath
“K…bored now.”
“CUT!” the director yelled when Devon stopped dancing and walked off the set. He stopped in front of Rich, who lowered his head and brushed his full lips over Devon’s, not caring who was watching them. He pulled the boy close and sighed as Devon snaked his arms around his neck.
They cut back to the studio and Judy turned to grin at the young man. “So, things look kinda hot between you and the little rich boy...” Judy drawled, Rich smirked, the audience whistled.
Nikolas rolled his eyes as he continued to watch the interview. Judy was asking about the release for the new video and Rich informed his fans that they were going to use the segment just shown as the opening for the Match My Riot remix.
“So, you write his lyrics too?” Judy was asking. Rich grinned into the camera.
“Nah, Dev makes shit up on the spur of the moment, that’s the fun part about this video. See, he doesn’t take rapping serious, so he just says whatever he feels like. Most people don’t realize that’s what the game is all about...”
~~~~~
Nikolas studied the young man on the television. Rich looked laid back and relaxed as he fielded the double entendre questions Judy was trying to trip him up with. He honestly liked the young man, the fact that he put Devon first in everything concerning his life. The rap star had faced a lot of opposition in the music industry because of his openness about his sexuality and had gotten into several altercations defending his lover and their relationship. The vampire-mage continued to study the young man, deciding that Richard Johnston would do the right thing. He knew Rich was already hurting and would later be devastated over loosing Devon, but both of them wanted him safe. There was no other way.
~~~~~
After watching the program Devon seemed a bit quiet and distracted. Xander and Willow decided that the three of them should go out and get something to eat. Both could see that something had disturbed the young man and decided that he could benefit from one of their, *just for us* afternoons. Even though Xander was no longer going to therapy, he and Willow continued to spend that quiet, quality time alone together on a regular basis. Without having to deal with Sunnyhell and everything that went with it, the two young friends had had more than enough time to grow closer. In fact, they were much closer now than they had been before Xander’s unfortunate accident. There was a slight niggling of something not quite right there, but the young witch didn’t have anything more than that so she pushed it to the back of her mind.
They told Devon all about Sunnydale and their adventures and most harrowing near-death experiences, basically a general overview of what it was like to grow up on a Hellmouth. In turn, Devon regaled them with tales of voodoo priestess’ and zombies. New Orleans didn’t have a Hellmouth, thank the powers, but it did boast its very own brand of vampire. “Oui, Xan, Lestat and all de rest are real. Ask Niko, de prick is his onclé.”
“The prick? Uncle?” Xander questioned. Willow giggled and Devon snickered wickedly.
“Oui, homme. Lestat is Niko’s onclé by way of de prick’s first Childe, Nikolas. It’s in de book he wrote in response to onclé Louis’ scribbles.”
“You mean that stuff is really real?”
“Xander,” Devon pointed out calmly, “didn’t ya just tell dis boy ya grew up on a Hellmouth? Y’ met Devon’s vampire, and ya asking if de stuff is real?”
“Well,” Xander pouted and then snickered.
Devon continued to tell them about the other supernatural forces that roamed the streets of New Orleans at night during DeadTime.
“What’s dead time?”
“DeadTime, is dat thirty minutes before midnight, when y’ work de strongest light magic, and de thirty minutes after, when y’ work de strongest dark,” Devon informed them.
He also told them of his travels around half the world, in a round about way – Paris, Milan and other exotic places with Richard going on location to do this or that video, not to mention his responsibilities concerning the company he’d inherited. He spoke of the people he’d met, telling them about the remarkable young man he’d met through his friend Lex Luthor, in Smallville. He didn’t spill any important secrets, but both teens got the impression that Devon’s interest in the other teen was based purely in friendship, the same kind developing between them, and that young Clark Kent was in the same category as Devon, more than met the eye. With a somewhat surly attitude, Devon mentioned the X-men, and when questioned about it, revealed that Nikolas had been spending too much time *playing* with Scott Summers and yes he was jealous and no he didn’t care that Scott and Nikolas both wanted to fuck him through a mattress together, well with all three of them in the same bed at the same time.
And of course, Devon being Devon and a creature of instant gratification, despite being showered with the attention of his new friends, did some shopping while they were out. “It’s a good thing we’re on foot,” Devon commented as they left the bookstore and made their way back toward the hotel. Willow and Xander had taken him to the little shopping plaza several block away where they discovered the extent of Devon’s reading addiction.
“Really, why?” Willow asked from her position on his right.
“Don wanna lug ‘round a bunch o bags. If we had wheels, I think I would have gotten more books,” Devon huff-puffed while stopping to set down the two large shopping bags full of books and rotate his shoulders.
“Like you don’t have enough now?” Xander huffed as he sat down his two shopping bags and swung his arms while flexing his fingers to get the circulation flowing again.
“Didn’t notice you trying to stop him when he was throwing our books in with his stack,” Willow chided Xander as she sat down her single bag and studied her nails. Devon flashed her a grin and a wink.
“Mais, think I’m gonna have to leave most o’ dese at de ‘otel t’nite. I’ll make Niko help me take dem back to our hotel Friday.”
Willow couldn’t help smiling at the way Devon’s eyes lit up whenever he mentioned the vampire-mage, it was just like when Xander talked about Spike.
“What’s burning in that fiery head of yours?” Xander queried as they entered the lobby. “Spike,” Xander breathed as he laid eyes on his lover leaning against the reception counter pestering Cordy.
“Oh, just the way the two of you get when it comes down to your fang-boys,” Willow laughed as one of the fang-boys in question cut off Xander’s reply with a series of kisses.
Devon snickered and slipped around the kissing couple. Willow directed him over to the lounge area where they placed their bags on the coffee table and began sorting through them.
Angel and Wesley were coming down from the training gym and Cordelia picked up her can of diet soda and started making her way toward the book bound duo. “Get a room, we have enough of them,” she snapped at Xander and Spike as she passed them. “Did you leave any books for the other shoppers?”
Spike stuck out his tongue and waggled it in the seer’s direction.
“Hey, Mr. Big Bad, I don’t share so don’t make offers,” Xander admonished his lover as the vampire reached for the bags he was holding.
“Yeah, Spike, do something else with your tongue.”
“I don’t think Angel meant it like that, exactly. Spike, get your tongue out of Xander’s throat and let the boy breathe,” Wesley added as he made his way closer.
“Sod off you, lot of wankers, ya are,” Spike sniped back good-naturedly before stealing a final kiss from Xander and then lugging the two shopping bags over to the others.
The sound of Cordelia’s muffled groan and the crash of the soda can on the tiles jerked everyone’s attention in her direction.
“Merde! What’s de matter wit de femme?” Devon demanded as he jumped to his feet. Cordelia looked as if she were having some kind of fit or was under some kind of unseen attack.
“Vision, Cordy has visions. Its alright, they’re from the Powers,” Angel calmed him, noticing how Devon was looking around frantically. He caught the glimmer of light or something in the air around the boy and frowned.
“The powers?” Devon questioned still scanning the room.
Spike laughed at the boy’s reaction. “Don’t tease,” Xander admonished with a mild smack to the back of Spike’s blonde head.
“Oi! Watch me hair!” Spike yelped as he stepped out of arms reach and let go with another snicker.
“Spike!” both Angel and Xander snapped.
“Wot?” Spike was all wide eyes, “Sor-ry!”
“Guys,” Cordelia hissed as the vision tried to focus.
*****
Part 28:
While Angel and Wesley were hovering over Cordelia encouraging her to relax and let the vision take shape, Spike, Xander, and Willow ran to the weapons cabinet. Devon didn’t know exactly what to do. He cast a glance at his excited friends as they began to pull out swords, stakes, battle-axes and crossbows.
“Everyone please, shut up!” Wesley demanded “Breathe, Cordy, Breathe!” Wesley instructed.
“Hello? Alive here! I am breathing.” Cordelia snapped as she put a hand to her head. Wesley helped her to sit on the coffee table and Angel stepped closer. “And I’m supposed to breathe how-ow-ow-*pant*-*pant*-*pant* with the two of you crowding me?” Angel back-pedaled; Wes dropped to his knees and tried to calm her. Cordelia squeezed her eyes shut as the pain tore through her.
~It would have been nice if they’d kept all the pain~
The A.I. seer–slash-receptionist hadn’t had a vision in a couple of days, if anyone bothered to think about it, the last vision Cordelia actually had, had coincided with the arrival of Devon and his strange vampire, and from the look of things this one promised to be a hum-dinger. Cordelia struggled with the bright splashes ripping across her mind.
“Children? A playground and demons?” Cordy panted, confused by the barrage of image-flashes. They came in no order of sequence or comprehension.
“Where? When? How soon?” the questions battered against her.
“I-I can’t tell. Soon. Blood and strange creatures!”
“What?!” This really was a bad one.
“Sekul demons! Is that a zombie?! Shit zombies! And Burrower Demons!”
“Cordy what the hell is going on?” Normally the visions were of one event, just enough to give them something to work with. This sounded like three separate incidents, definitely *not* of the good. Angel was seriously starting to get worried.
Devon watched, wanting to help but reluctant to reveal more than necessary about himself. Another pain tore through the seer, another heart wrenching scream and the young Healer decided. Moving forward, he brushed aside Wesley’s futile attempts at soothing the pained woman.
“What are you doing?” Angel demanded. Devon was moving his hands toward Cordelia’s head and they were glowing hazy blue-green.
“Stay back!” Devon snapped without looking away from the seer. “Open y’ eyes p’tite,” Devon crooned as he placed his hands on Cordelia’s blonde streaked head. Her large brown eyes flashed open and locked with Devon’s bottomless, violet gaze. “Look at me, dat’s right Cordelia, just look at Devon an’ relax, chére,” Devon murmured. His honey-drenched voice pitched in a way that refused to be ignored. Every eye in the room turned in his direction.
“What?” Cordelia asked somewhat startled as the pain began to fade. She felt strangely light, clear, yet hazy. The vision was suddenly washed in a soft shimmer of blue-green and the pain receded completely. She blinked once but didn’t break eye contact with the young man.
“How is this?” Devon murmured.
“Wonderful, it doesn’t hurt. Why is everything that funny color?”
Devon shrugged and stepped back, watching her intently.
“What did you do?” Angel demanded grabbing Devon by the arm. The boy ignored him and continued to watch Cordelia. Angel looked over at her and noticed the bemused expression on her face as she spoke in a very even and calm tone to Wes. The demon hunter had returned to her side and was scribbling furiously on the little tablet he’d taken to carrying around with him.
Cordelia’s vision had shown her creatures she’d never seen before, things she couldn’t name. A portal opening. Hideously tentacled monstrosities swarming from the gaping hole; shadowy forms flowing like mist. A barrage of black-winged, deadly vipers and something reminiscent of were-wolves, only they were twisted and just *wrong*.
The howling creatures were replaced by a flash of bright light and voices roared through her awareness. “This is your fault. You killed Jared,” deep growling. A sudden rain of sizzling bolts. “No, actually *you* did.”
Angel and Wesley racing through a familiar cemetery. Willow screaming, “Xander!” her head falling back, mouth open wide as her voice tore loose. “A’lesh, N’thra A’lesh Wildanté!” And then it stopped, just as suddenly as it had begun.
Devon finally looked up into the vampire’s dark gaze. He could see the concern and worry in the brown eyes; there were also flashes of irritation and impatience. It became evident to Devon that the vampire didn’t like to not be in control. Devon sighed. “Dis boy be a Healer.” Wes looked in his direction. “Not sure what caused de femme pain, an’ I don’ want to tamper wit what I don’ understand. I put a sort of shield b’tween de femme and de pain. It won’t last forever.”
“We’re gonna talk about this.” Angel told him and turned to Wes and Cordy. “Are you alright?” Cordelia nodded.
“Devon, I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Mais y’ just did, chére,” Devon winked at her.
“Sunnydale,” Cordelia groaned between her clenched teeth, “here we come.”
Silence followed that statement. It fell like a heavy boulder wrapped in wet blankets. Sunnydale. A word that held a wealth of meaning for almost everyone in the lobby; Xander, Willow, and Cordelia were Sunnydale natives; Wesley had come directly from England on assignment as a Watcher, albeit an inept and prissily over-bearing twit, but a Watcher all the same. For Angel, Sunnydale meant Buffy and the beginning of his search for redemption. Spike had been drawn along by Drusilla, tempted by the fun factor, the killing. None of them were looking forward to going backward in any way and a return to Sunnyhell would bring them face to face with things they had all left in order to escape.
“Mmmm, ‘citement,” Devon murmured, watching them through his lashes. Xander and Willow had told him all about their lives growing up on the Hellmouth. “When do we leave?”
“*We*? Sorry there is no *we* in this. There’s *us* and there’s *you*. You are *not* going with us,” Angel stated flatly. Devon blinked at him. “I’m sorry, Devon, but this is seriously bad. We’re talking real demons, blood, killing, slayers and the whole three ring circus.”
“Like dis boy said, chér, ‘citement.”
“You’re not going.”
*Blink-blink*
“We’re going to tangle with serious demons, pet, no place for amateurs,” Spike told him.
Devon smiled, “Don’ worry ya pretty lil blondeness. Dis boy can take care of his-self,” Devon assured them and reached under his jacket. When his hands moved back into sight they were full of the wicked looking star-blades he’d used that first night.
“Wow,” Willow whispered.
“B’sides, Niko and I may be able to help. Think ‘bout it while I’m gone, hmmm?”
“Where are you going?” Xander asked.
“Hmm, oh, back to de hotel for Nikolas,” Devon murmured, finally shifting his wide gaze from the dark haired vampire.
~~~~~
Heading back to the hotel, Devon thought about the situation. He felt that his decision to go to Sunnydale with Xander and his friends was still the right choice. The young man felt strongly about it, despite the sense of foreboding. Something within had stirred in recognition of what he had glimpsed in Cordelia’s vision.
There was no doubt in his mind that Nikolas would agree and be able to explain what he’d glimpsed. They were going to wind up in Sunnydale no matter what Angel said. Devon frowned when he thought about the way the vampire had acted around him that day. After their initial greeting, Angel had pretty much gone out of his way to avoid being around him and Xander. Devon shrugged the thought away and focused on what had to be done right then.
Getting Spike and Xander away from the others had been easy. Well, not really all that difficult. Angel had refused to let anyone drive his car, and they needed to get Xander’s bucket from where Spike had stashed it upon their arrival in L.A.
“If its still there,’” had been Xander’s only comment.
“No worries, luv, its there,” Spike had assured him confidently.
Devon was simply mystified that they hadn’t bothered to get the car back before now.
“Oi! Wot for? It’s safe where it is. Peaches has wheels. His humans have wheels. S’not like we were lacking for transportation,” Spike smirked. His smirk deepened when Xander revealed what he thought was the real reason.
“Yeah, right. You just didn’t want to have to pay for gas.”
~~~~~
Cordelia went back to her place to pack her bags. “Don’t over pack this time Cordy,” Angel said. Cordelia stared at him as if he were wearing a sign over his head that read ‘clueless’. Wes gave Xander and Spike a ride to where Spike had left Xander’s car and Devon followed them on his motorcycle. From there, the demon hunter went to his place to start getting ready and the trio, now completely mobile and independent, made their way back to Devon’s hotel.
~~~~~
The three men entered the hotel and Devon flashed a smile at the young man behind the reception desk. “Ah, Mister Dexter, how are you this evening?” the clean-cut young blonde greeted.
“Bien, Randy,” he pronounced it, Ran-di. Randy flashed him a wide, bright smile, his bright blue eyes taking in the two young studs flanking Devon. “How‘s tricks?”
Randy shrugged, “you know how it is around here at night, dull.”
“Well, maybe we can fix dat for you,” Devon drawled, his voice full of promises he wasn’t even remotely considering. Randy’s smile got brighter, and wider, if that was possible. The young man hadn’t stopped smiling since they’d entered the lobby.
“What did you have in mind?”
Spike suppressed a snicker and elbowed Xander who grinned and elbowed him back.
“Someting has come up and we’re gonna have to cut our stay abrupt. Y’ ‘member all de packages ya dropped by de suite?” Randy nodded, Devon flashed *that* smile. “Need ya to pack up de tings and ship dem to dis address?”
Randy’s smile faltered. “Oh. Yes of course,” he said as he looked down at the address the sexy young man had scribbled on one of the hotel’s message pads. “1624 Duémain, New Orleans, La.” When he looked up Devon and his friends were vanishing up the stairs to the mezzanine. The young desk clerk sighed and tucked the piece of paper in his shirt pocket, the one right over his racing heart.
The elevator doors slid shut and Devon pressed the button for their floor. Spike burst out laughing and Xander quickly joined in. Devon gave them a wide-eyed look of question and concern.
“You, pet, are truly wicked,” Spike chortled.
“Wot?” Devon asked innocently.
“What you did to that guy at the desk,” Xander snickered again, leaning against the blonde vampire.
“Didn’ do anyting,” Devon denied in six-year old.
“No, nothing except get that poor sod all worked up, the boy thought he was gonna get laid... finally.”
Devon shrugged, “mais, dat’s not my fault, all I did was smile at de homme,” he pouted.
“Ya did that on purpose, too,” Spike snickered again.
“Did not,” Devon’s pout faltered and his grin finally broke out.
“I knew it!” Xander giggled, “You are soo bad. Bad healer-guy, bad.”
“Mais... I have so much fun,” Devon giggled as he stepped from the car and led them into the suite. They all stopped in the small foyer at the sight that greeted them.
The Snoopy doll was sitting in front of the little boom box Devon had purchased, bobbing its little head to the music thumping from the speakers. Nikolas was sitting on the floor not far away, with his legs folded Indian-style. He was just finishing off the last of the hundreds of skinny braids he’d woven his hair into. Several of the long silken ropes sported tiny gold bands securing the loose ends and soft glints flashed from the tiny ankhs dangling among the dark depths when he dropped the last braid and looked around.
“Bronze, bébé, y’ back.” Nikolas purred as he rose to his feet and moved across the room. “Spike, Xan,” he grinned at them while wrapping his arms around Devon and pulling him in for a kiss. Devon kissed him back and then giggled as a couple of the braids tried to sneak under his shirt.
“Stop dat. Later,” Devon husked as he slipped away. Nikolas pouted as Devon walked across the room and squatted near JoeCool. The stuffed toy turned to look at him, pushing his little shades up on his head.
“So, what brings y’ boys ta dis neck o’ de smog pit?”
“’Citement,” Devon cooed as he headed toward the bedroom.
Spike and Xander quickly filled the vampire in on things. Devon returned with a small, black and crimson, leather carry-bag. He sat down beside his lover and told Nikolas about the creatures he’d seen in Cordelia’s vision. Nikolas confirmed his suspicions; they were things that the vampire-mage was intimately familiar with. He was afraid of what it could mean but didn’t reveal that fact to the others. Instead he focused on the task that Devon wanted him to perform.
“Xander,” Nikolas asked watching the human closely, “how do you really feel about Spike?”
“I love him,” Xander replied without hesitation. Spike beamed proudly. The same question was posed to him and the vampire was just as quick and confident in his response. “Mine. Xander is mine.”
“Mais if ya love de homme, why haven’t ya claimed him? Marked him as yours?” Devon asked softly.
Spike’s entire demeanor and bearing changed. He seemed to swell in indignant anger and sink in with self-hate at the same time. There was an intense silence that lasted until Nikolas finally broke it.
“You love him, but y’ don think ya can protect him, an’ if ya can’t protect him, den y wont risk loosing him by claiming him.”
“Is that true?” Xander asked turning to look at the blonde. Spike met his eyes and then quickly looked away. Xander reached out and cupped Spike’s chin, turning the vampire’s face back to his. “Spike?”
Spike’s blue eyes were wide and full of a multitude of emotions, all of them reached out and wrapped around Xander’s heart, binding him to the vampire all the more tightly. “I love you, Spike,” Xander said simply. Spike blinked. He blinked again. In a swift movement, he had Xander wrapped in his arms, crushed tightly to his chest as he panted.
“Need to breathe here,” Xander murmured and Spike loosened his hold. Xander brushed his lips. “My bite-mark is gone, and I miss it, Spike. I want it back, if you still want me...” Xander’s voice was slightly hesitant but charged with emotion.
Spike took a deep breath, “He’s right Xan, I love you and I want to claim you as mine, but the frigging chip, luv.”
“Is about to stop being a factor,” Devon said softly. Both men turned questioning eyes on him.
“Wh-what are you saying?” Spike asked in a breathy voice full of hope and disbelief.
“He’s saying dat we’re gonna get rid of dis fuckin chip. It shouldn’t be dere!” Nikolas snapped in anger.
Xander and Spike were both moved and a bit shocked by the outburst and the obvious fury the two were struggling to contain. They were more shocked by the revelation that not only was Devon a Healer, but he was also a Dreamspeaker, a Tradition Mage. Devon and Nikolas revealed the reason the vampire had come to Los Angeles to begin with, Willow, and his subsequent discovery of Xander, Spike and the others. Something had moved him to call Devon from Rio, knowing that the minute the young Healer set eyes on Xander he would insist on helping him, it was his nature. Nikolas also revealed how he had hoped the similarities in their situations would help Devon.
They hadn’t expected to get so wrapped up in their lives, but a friendship had developed and they truly liked Xander, Spike, and Willow. They wanted Xander and Spike to be happy. But more importantly, they wanted Xander to be safe. In order for that to happen the chip had to go. That damn chip had to go more so now than ever; before they left for Sunnydale.
Startled and dazed looks, blue and brown eyes met sliver and violet. The silence stretched out. Time moved in a dissolving transition of intermingled instances. Devon fell back into his memories of being claimed, becoming a consort. The exquisite taste of Nikolas’ blood burning down his throat. The powerful substance adding to the fire burning through him as the glowing sphere sank into his forehead and the vampire pressed his slit wrist to the boy’s parted lips. The vampire must have been remembering as well because he growled softly.
Xander was reliving the moments when his lover had been helpless and at the mercy of humans. People like Riley Finn and the rest of the Initiative assholes. Spike remembered being trapped in a hotel; unable to revenge himself on those who would dare to touch what was his.
“Do it,” Xander said. The two words broke the spell.
“Wot?!”
The two dark-skinned youngsters smiled. Xander held Spike’s intense blue gaze with equal intensity. He nodded once. “Do it, please,” he said without looking away from his lover.
“Xander, luv,” Spike started but Xander shushed him.
“Shhh,” he whispered; fingers pressed lightly against the vampire’s cool lips to stop the flow of words that would follow. Spike watched as Xander climbed to his feet and began to undo the buttons of his fly.
“What the bloody hell?” Spike tried to grab Xander but the young man stepped out of reach and began to push his pants down. Nikolas watched with wide eyes, his slim nostrils flared as the pants came to rest just above the edge of Xander’s curly pubic hair. Spike growled as he scented his lover’s musky perfume.
“I want to show you something,” Xander murmured with a wink at the grinning young Healer as he turned so that Spike could get a good look.
“Xand-” The blonde vampire breathed in wonder. He reached out to brush tentative fingers over the exposed skin at the small of his lover’s back. “When, why?”
“Today. Because,” Xander replied. The light touch at the small of his back arousing him.
“Today? But how?” Spike was confused and didn’t bother to hide that fact from the others.
“Well, it helps when you have a buddy who can heal you in the blink of an eye,” Devon grinned at the vampire’s reaction.
“Do you like it?” Xander asked, “Willow helped design it.”
“Remind me to thank her, pet,” Spike said as he traced his pale fingers over the tattoo just below his lover’s spine – A blood red rose in half bloom, sitting atop a thin, curling stem, that upon closer inspection proved to be a dark green spike with tiny spike-thorns. The tip of the spike stem pierced the dusky skin at the cleft of Xander’s buttocks; a single drop of blood appeared to run down into the tight valley. The tip of each thorn-spike was dabbed with vivid red and looked life-like, as if it would prick the skin for real. Inside of the half open blossom, in a scrawling script was written one word, a name. *Spike*. A shiver raced down Xander’s back, raising goose-bumps, as the vampire’s cool fingers brushed over his skin. Spike was awed. Xander had gone out and gotten a mark, his own way to symbolize Spike’s claim on him – one that would never vanish.
Spike pulled Xander down into his lap again, wrapping him in his arms. His pale hand wormed its way down between them, fingers moving over the vivid image on the boy’s tanned skin.
“Chér,” the vampire murmured and Devon sat up.
“What?” Xander asked, tearing his gaze away from Spike’s.
Two glowing hands reached out toward the blonde’s head. The hand glowing silver cupped the back of his shapely skull while the one glowing blue-green settled on his pale brow. “Ready,” Devon muttered. His eyes were distant and full of silver swirls that appeared brighter within the deep lavender his eyes had become. Spike made a strangled sound, barely a scream, as his body went stiff; the vampire-mage bending his will to the task of destroying the chip. Tiny bolts of mage-energy shocked through the blonde’s head, dissolving the tiny but deadly piece of technology in a matter of seconds. Devon quickly sent healing-energies flooding through the preternatural being. He quickly and instinctively healed the damage caused by the chip’s initial insertion and subsequent destruction. Feeling the pull of a full healing trance, Devon bent his will to the task of restoring and strengthening the vampire; healing the damages done from the long-term lack of human blood. With the last burst of his energy reserves, the young healer bolstered the strength and power of the Sire’s blood Angel had given his Childe in order to speed his recovery. When he finally passed out, Devon had not only restored Spike to full fight and bite, but now the master vampire was as strong as his Sire, if not a tad bit stronger.
~~~~~
“Is he going to be alright?” Xander demanded. He and Spike were now standing near the couch where Nikolas had carefully placed the unconscious young man.
“Oui,” Nikolas said, his wide gaze never leaving Devon’s lax face.
“Wot happened to him, mate? Ya sure the little whelps gonna be fine,” Spike demanded as well. He was rubbing at his head, tracking the fading of the mild tingle he’d experienced from Devon’s touch. He watched as the Egyptian vampire-mage stroked his consort’s thick hair before turning to face them. Even now the blonde was unconsciously fingering the rose tattoo and Nikolas smiled.
“De lil knuckle-hed over extended, again. He just needs ta rest up a bit. The two of you hommes got tings ta address b’fore we hit de road ta Sunnydale (?) M’ gonna go take a look at ya wheels, toss our stuff in de trunk and mebbe grab a bite ta eat,” nonchalant fang-grin, “den dis boy be back and we get de show on de road, oui?”
Xander and Spike continued to stare at Devon and Nikolas scowled at them. “Go on wit ya, be off ya children! Dere’s ‘citement ta be had. De bedroom is dat way.” He made shooing motions at them. When the two continued to be held in their daze, Nikolas growled and flexed his fingers, tiny flashes of cold-light – harmless – flashed in the air between them. The Snoopy doll shook his head as Spike grabbed Xander’s hand and dragged him off. Nikolas waited until he heard the bedroom door close before bursting out into wickedly pleased giggles.
~~~~~
Spike shut the bedroom door and turned slowly. There was a glint of yellow deep within the rich blue of his eyes as he studied Xander, his dark kitten. Dru may have been his dark princess, but Xander was his dark kitten.
Xander moved like something of the wild, gracefully feline. And the way his toes turned in when he ran, or loped, made him sexier, adding a hint of bowlegged-ness to an already erotic swagger. Yeah, loped; Xander didn’t run, he loped, like some kind of fleeting jungle cat moving through the night. Predatory.
He was graceful even while being clumsy, like now, the way he inched backward away from Spike. Brown eyes wide as he watched the blonde stalking him across the room. Spike’s movements were sensual, gliding, and dance-like; calling his mate to join in.
Claiming wasn’t about being gentle. Loving, yes, possessive, raw animal sex. Claiming. It was about all of those things and more. Consummation. Letting go. Marking. Bonding. Trust. Trust was the biggest, deepest, foremost and powerful emotion ruling them. Spike saw all these things in Xander’s heated looks. Now they could come together without fear of hurting. Xander could let go, finally, and shower Spike with the unadulterated passion and desire burning within him for his vampire lover and the vampire was looking forward to doing the same.
“Snow Fox,” Xander breathed as he danced the mating call of equals. Even knowing that they weren’t; that Spike could kill him with no effort. But he wouldn’t. Spike loved Xander the way no-one had ever loved the mortal before. With an intensity surpassing obsession.
Spike let go as he scented Xander’s arousal, his need to be claimed, screaming along his preternatural senses. Another lilting glide-step forward, shifting of denim clad hips. A deep, unnecessary inhalation, tasting Xander on the air. “Xander,” Spike’s purr rippled through the air, unfurling its need, a call of mates, as it spoke to the mortal on a multitude of levels. He was in Xander’s personal space now, close enough to lean forward and claim Xander’s lush mouth in a fierce kiss.
A kiss so heated, impregnated with desire, need, love, that it had them both gasping when Spike finally broke the kiss and allowed his lover to take in much needed air.
“Naked. Now.” Harsh gentleness in the tone. A flurry of movement and clothing flew through the air, falling across furniture, the floor, as the two tore at each other. The frenzy to feel skin against skin grew like a bonfire being fed by a screaming mob.
“Bed. Need you. Now, Spike,” Xander growled. With another swift and fluid move he was sprawled naked across the bed and Spike was crawling up his body.
Xander shivered and moaned at the small nips, licks and kisses Spike delivered along his foot. Moving up from the instep to the ankle, calve. “Yesss,” Xander hissed as his leg was lifted, bent slightly and the bend of his knee was tasted. Spike licked a wet trail from Xander’s knee to his inner thigh, all the while watching the boy squirm and buck on the mattress. His hips arched upward, spearing his stiff shaft into the heavy air as he felt the graze of fangs against his skin. Trailing up, Spike let his fangs caress Xander’s inner thigh until he was nuzzling his lover’s warm scrotum. The sensation of Xander’s balls squirming against his nose as they drew up tightly against his warm body made Spike groan.
“Gotta be in you. Make you mine. Claim you. Mine. Xander,” deep forceful growls full of want and need. Demanding and begging at the same time.
“In me, Spike. Now. Yours. Forever. My Spike Love you so much,” Xander gasped.
With fierce gentleness, Spike flipped Xander over on his stomach and attacked his muscled ass. Gripping and kneading the hot flesh in his cool palms. Remembering the taste of his pet, the sweetness of his skin, sweat and blood, flowing across his tongue. He wanted that again. He would have it, Xander was his. He would claim and mark him. Forever. The word rang in his mind as he lowered his head and kissed the perfect globes of flesh. Xander mewled when he felt the possessive kiss graze across his buttocks.
“Mmmooore,” Xander whined. He pressed his hips back and Spike closed his eyes and just inhaled. His questing mouth found its way to Xander’s pucker. “Ohh, shit, Spike, eat me. Eat me UP!” And the vampire did. His lips glued themselves to the hot pucker Xander offered him willing. Always willingly and with unrestrained passionate desire. It was almost a repeat of that last time, only there was no chip to stand in the way of the fierce passion being released. Spike drilled his tongue into Xander’s twitching pucker with unrelenting force, vibrating the muscles within, melting Xander into a mass of quivering flesh as he felt himself being bitten. “YESSS!” his orgasm tore through him as Spike pierced the flesh of his trembling ass and began to suck. Spike captured the fluid as it spewed from Xander’s jerking cock, collecting it in his palm.
Spitting some of the blood in his mouth into his hand, Spike slicked the pearly red/white mixture along the length of his throbbing shaft. The low growl that rose from his chest commingled with the humming keen Xander made as he rocked back and forth in anticipation. “This is gonna hurt, luv,” Spike warned before sinking himself into Xander’s heat with one powerful thrust. Plastering himself along Xander’s sleek back, the vampire tore his own tongue on a fang before slipping it into Xander’s mouth, smothering and swallowing his roar of pain and pleasure. He lost himself in the taste of Spike’s blood burning across his pallet, forgetting the stinging burn centered between his buttocks as his body adjusted to the intrusion. All of his awareness focused on the burn of vampiric blood unfurling fire in the pit of his stomach.
With a gentle tug, Spike freed his tongue from Xander’s hot sucking. Xander growled in displeasure. “Not too much yet, luv,” Spike strained to whisper in the shell of Xander’s ear. He fought to hold himself still until Xander was ready for him to move. Claiming was always slightly violent and brutal but the blonde vampire didn’t want to inflict any unnecessary pain what-so-ever on his mortal lover. The blonde head dipped down so that Spike’s pale lips could scatter kisses along the curve of a warm neck, down into the shoulder and across the back to trail the same path along the opposite side. Xander arched his back, pressing his hips back while pressing his tortured nipples more firmly into Spike’s cool manipulations.
Time tripped over itself; he whimpered in pleasure as Spike twisted and rolled his hard nipples. “Move, please move,” Xander begged. Spike flexed his hips forward, grinding himself deeper into Xander’s tight heat, stimulating his prostate. A cry broke the air and stars exploded in a burst of blinding brightness behind his eyes as Xander felt the cold spike stirring him up, stroking over his nerve-nodule and burning his guardian ring with an incredible iciness. Being taken by Spike had never been like this, this raw. And they both savored it; Spike thrusting forward into Xander; Xander slamming back against Spike, meeting his ever deepening penetrations. A cool hand wrapped around his straining cock and Xander howled as he bucked into Spike’s tight grip. An intricate dance ensued, timeless in its simplicity.
As they reached the pinnacle, Spike tore into his wrist and placed the bleeding gash against Xander’s parted lips. The boy’s brown eyes flared open, no longer brown but bottomless pits of swirling blackness full of desire as endorphins exploded through his body with the piercing of his throat as Spike sank his fangs into the tender flesh. Their bodies glowed under the sheen of sweat that slicked their skin as they shared blood and fell over the edge into the final bliss. Completion. Claiming. Mated.
*****