Sweet memories: part 30
by Kayla
Oz took a step back as the door in front of him was yanked open and a rather large, glowering figure eyed him darkly. He cleared his throat. "Um, hey."
Alex blinked. "Daniel, right? What's up?" He craned his head to see into the hallway behind the smaller man. "Is everything ok with Sophia?"
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, she's fine. Look, I kinda have a...confession to make." Oz took a half-step forward. "Can I...?" He gestured toward the apartment.
Alex almost refused, but something was niggling at the back of his brain, prompting him to step aside and invite the other man in. Holding back a sigh, Alex did so, closing the door behind him.
"Alex? Who was -- oh." Wil eyed their visitor. "Is something wrong?"
Alex shrugged. "He's here to confess," he told his lover.
Wil raised an eyebrow curiously. "Why? You're not a priest or something...are you?"
"No! I mean...I don't think so. I don't feel like a priest." Alex frowned.
Oz glanced between them, his confusion becoming ever more evident on his face. "Excuse me, but...what are you guys talking about?"
"Huh?" Wil studied Oz. "Well? What are you confessing to? Alex and I were about to...um, go to bed."
Alex coughed loudly and smoothed down the front of his shirt.
Taking no notice of the implications of that statement, Oz nodded. He ran a hand through his hair, deciding to just spit it out. "Ok, I kind of called Giles' shop, and the gang was all there. I didn't know you were trying to keep this," he waved a hand at them, "a secret. So I sort of, accidentally, spilled the beans about having seen you. Buffy sounded kinda pissed, and I think she might come looking soon." Having covered the highlights, he waited for their response.
Wil and Alex exchanged blank looks, then Alex asked, "Um, who's Buffy?"
Oz blinked, taken aback. "Who's Buffy?" he parroted. "Buffy. You know, short blonde girl, wields a mean stake, you used to have a crush on her. Buffy."
Wil gaped at Alex. "You had a crush on a girl named Buffy?" He asked in disbelief. "No wonder you ended up a pouf!"
Alex absently shot him a bird, ignoring the lecherous look Wil gave him in response. He shook his head at Oz. "Not ringing any bells here."
Oz closed his eyes, counted to twenty, then opened them again. "You are Alexander Lavelle Harris, aren't you?" he asked. "And that's William the Bloody, yes?"
Alex frowned, but nodded. "How did you know that?"
"Don't you remember me? Oz? Dated Willow for a while?" Oz stared, waiting for the light to dawn. He was disappointed.
"You dated a tree?" Wil cocked his head, considering the mechanics of that. "Don't think it's something I'd try," he finally said with a grimace.
Oz fumbled for a seat, dropping into it without his usual grace. "What's going on here? You don't have any idea what I'm talking about, do you?"
In unison, the two shook their heads. "Sorry," Alex said quietly. "We...� He looked over at Wil, and at the vampire's nod, continued. "We sort of had an accident a few weeks back. Ran into a nasty demon. Our memories got wiped. We've been working on getting them back, but not everything's there yet."
"Shit," Oz breathed. "Well that...sucks."
A thought struck Alex. "So, you know us? I mean, you can tell us about...us?" His face lit up with excitement, and he reached out and grabbed hold of Wil's hand.
Oz stared at their entwined hands. "I obviously don't know as much as I thought I did," he muttered. He opened his mouth to say more, but was interrupted by a jaw-popping yawn.
Alex hid the pang of disappointment he felt. "You're tired?"
Shrugging nonchalantly, Oz replied, "Been driving pretty much nonstop for about a week. Still need to catch up on some sleep."
"Well, I mean, we'd love to talk to you, y'know, ask some questions and stuff. But...if you're too tired..."
Oz thought about it. "This is kind of heavy," he finally said in a quiet voice. "I'm pretty bombed, and I don't know if I'll handle it without seriously messing with things that shouldn't be messed with. Maybe it should wait until morning."
Aware of his lover's disappointment over the decision, Wil patted Alex's arm consolingly. "That'll be fine, mate," he told Oz. "It can keep. We�ve managed for a while now, another few hours won't matter in the long run."
Oz nodded, took a deep breath, and stood. "Right. Um, I'll pick something up for breakfast, ok? Least I can do."
"Sure, sounds great." Alex walked him to the door.
"Oh, hey, congratulations on the claiming," Oz added as he walked into the hallway. "And sorry for interrupting...you know." He offered them a half-grin.
"No problem. See ya." Alex watched as Oz walked away. He desperately wanted to run after him, haul him back to the sofa, and pry every detail out of him that he could get. But Wil was right. It would keep until morning.
"Alex," Wil purred in a husky voice.
Oz was forgotten in the surge of lust that blossomed once more in Alex's groin. Shakily, he turned and shut the door, bolting it closed. "Yes, Wil?" he asked in as steady a voice as he could manage.
Wil bent a finger, beckoning him closer, and Alex came as if being pulled by a string. Looping his arms around the human's neck, Wil licked his mark, then breathed, "Race you t'bed." With that, he let go and bounded towards the bedroom.
Alex stared blankly for a split second, then a wide grin stretched across his face as he shot off after Wil. Damn, but his husband knew how to distract him! And Alex was ever willing to let him.
They were a perfect match.
"Come on, 'Liam, let's just go. None of these people are worth our time." Alastair tried to pull his friend from where he was ensconced in a corner chair, hoping to be able to leave this dull party.
William resisted. "I can't, 'Tair. You know she's here tonight! I have to see her!" He sighed dreamily and whispered, "Cecily." He didn't see the anguished look that came over Alastair's face at the mention of her name.
Alastair struggled to maintain his composure, no matter how desperately he wished to haul William upright and inform him quite frankly of his feelings for him. He heart was wounded a little more each time William made mention of Cecily, and he knew deep down that William would only be hurt by his infatuation with her. If only the daft man could see what, or rather who, was right under his nose, waiting patiently. Suppressing an exasperated groan, Alastair smiled at his friend. "I'm going to get some punch. Would you like some?"
Shaking his head, William wrote a brief sentence on the parchment in his lap. "No," he answered distractedly, "You go. I'll be fine here."
His smile turned a bit melancholy, and Alastair reached out and brushed an errant lock of hair out of William's face. "I'll be back in a bit," he said. He didn't bother waiting for a response, knowing that William was once more immersed in his own little world.
When Alastair left, William continued to sit in the rather uncomfortable chair, staring at the piece of paper in his lap. With a sigh of frustration, he scratched out another word.
"Luminous," he uttered quietly, then shook his head. "Oh no, no, no, no. Irr-irradiant...is better." He gnawed on the end of his pen. Footsteps approached, and he looked up.
"Care for an hors d'oeuvre, sir?"
He ignored the tray that was held out. "Oh, uh, quickly. I'm the very spirit of vexation. What's another word for gleaming?"
The server gave him an odd look, so he tried to explain. "It's a perfectly perfect word as words go, but the bother is, nothing rhymes, you see?" The man nodded and backed away quickly. "Hmm." William dismissed the man from his mind, once more engrossed in his quandary.
The figure coming down the stairs caught his attention, and he smiled softly. "Cecily," he breathed, his eyes lighting up with pleasure. Suddenly inspired, he began to scribble down a few more words. Then, taking a deep breath, he stood and walked across the room.
He came up behind the group gathered around Cecily, starting slightly when one of the gentlemen addressed him.
"Ah, William! Favor us with your opinion. What do you make of this rash of disappearances sweeping through our town? Animals, or thieves?" Lord Huntington gave him a condescending smile.
Blushing slightly, William moved around to where he could get a better view of Cecily. "I prefer not to think of such dark, ugly business at all," he answered, chin held high. "That's what the police are for." He glanced at Cecily out of the corner of his eye, gauging her reaction.
Cecily shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, looking away a bit distastefully.
William didn't notice, continuing, "I prefer...placing my energies into creating things of beauty." He lifted the piece of paper he held as an example.
"I see. Well, don't withhold, William." The other man walked over and deftly plucked the paper way.
From across the room, Alastair watched with dread as Lord Huntington read aloud William's impromptu bit of poetry, to the great amusement of those listening. His hands clenched into fists as titters of laughter spread through the crowd, and dismay filled him as he saw William's face tighten with embarrassment before he snatched his poem back and hurried after his lady love, who had fled the scene. Even from where he stood, he could hear the parting barb that wounded him almost as badly as he could see William was wounded.
"Have you heard? They call him William the Bloody because of his bloody awful poetry!" One of the young women announced loudly.
Eyes darkening with fury, Alastair prepared to stalk over and wipe those smug looks off of their faces. When he say William disappear into a side room, though, he changed his mind and followed his friend instead.
He reached to doorway, and hovered outside, unabashedly listening.
"I love you, Cecily." It took every bit of courage he possessed for William to say those words aloud.
"Please, stop!" Cecily turned away from him, her face burning in mortification.
"I...I know I'm a bad poet. But I'm a good man. All I ask is that...that y-you t-try to see me--"
Cecily faced him again, resolved. "I do see you. That's the problem. You're nothing to me, William," she informed him bluntly, then stood. Looking down at the stricken man, she finished, "You're beneath me." With that, she turned and walked away.
Alastair could hardly believe his ears. He stood, frozen in shock, as Cecily swept out of the room past him. Shaking himself peered around the corner, wincing at the look of utter desolation that was on William�s face. A deep anger filled him, and he hurried after Cecily, grabbing hold of her arm and spinning her around forcefully.
Cecily gasped, staring at him in shock. "Unhand me!" she demanded.
Alastair just glared at her. "You little bitch," he hissed out, barely believing that he was speaking to a lady this way. His mother would be so disappointed in him. Nevertheless, he had to tell this woman what he thought of her. "How dare you callously stomp on his feelings like that? For god's sake, he loves you!" He tried not to show how much it pained him to say that.
"Is that supposed to make me happy?" she snapped back. "To have the 'love' of that fool?" She wrenched her arm away, sneering at Alastair. "If you admire him so much," she said scathingly, "Why don't you let him court you? It would be doing me a favor, I assure you!" Then, with a haughty sniff, she twirled around and marched purposefully away.
Alastair let his hand drop to his side, his mouth twisting into a pained grimace. "If only he would do so," he whispered bitterly. "At least then his affections would be returned." With a heavy sigh, he turned and made his way back to William.
Finding the room empty, Alastair felt a brief moment of panic. He quickly got a grip on his emotions, figuring that William had decided to return home. He was determined not to allow his friend to remain alone after this crushing blow to his heart, and he hurried from the party, walking quickly down the street.
The lurching figure in the distance wasn't hard to spot, and Alastair broke into a fast walk hoping to catch up to William quickly. He frowned when the other man turned into a side street, but followed him unhesitatingly. Upon entering the small stable, he blinked to allow his eyes adjust to the dimmer light. "'Liam?" he called out softly.
There was a soft sniffle. "Go 'way," came the muffled response.
Alastair ignored that and crept around the corner. His heart twisted within his chest when he saw William huddled on a stack of hay, tattered papers clutched to his chest. He walked over and seated himself next to his friend. "Fancy meeting you here," he whispered with a tiny laugh.
William peered over at him with tear-filled eyes. "Sh-sh-she said th-that I w-w-was--" a choked off sob cut him off mid-sentence.
"I know," Alastair admitted. "I heard." Carefully, he put an arm around William's shoulder and tugged gently, drawing the other man to his chest.
William leaned against him, grateful for the support. "I just want her to l-love me," he said in a grief-stricken voice. "Am I really that...pathetic?"
"No." Alastair's grip on William tightened. "No!" he repeated more adamantly. He tilted William's face up. "I could never lo-- be friends with anyone pathetic," he told him firmly. "You are a very special man, and someday, you'll find just the right person to be with, someone who will love you like you deserve." He blinked back his own tears, willing his voice not to break. "Until then...well, you'll always have me." He tried to make that sound more uplifting than wistful, but wasn't sure if he succeeded.
William gave a weak chuckle. "Yes, I suppose I do," he answered. He pulled away a little. "Thank you for being my friend, 'Tair," he said before leaning forward and lightly kissing Alastair's cheek. Then he sat back and turned away. "I'd like to be alone for a little while. If you don't mind."
Alastair reached up and let his hand settle over the burning skin of his cheek. "N-no, not at all," he stammered. He swallowed around the lump in his throat and stood. "I'll just...I'll wait outside."
"All right."
Inhaling deeply, Alastair left the stable, his steps only faltering the slightest bit. Once outside, he leaned against the wall and let out a shuddering breath. His fingers still strayed over the spot on his cheek where he was positive he could feel the imprint of Williams' lips. He knew it was an innocent action on William's part, but he couldn't help imagining that it had gone further. His eyes drifted shut as he was overwhelmed by the mental image of William pressing that sweet kiss to his mouth instead, perhaps darting his tongue out between those lush lips of his and licking softly.
"Well, well, looks like someone�s enjoying the evening."
Alastair's eyes flew open, and he gaped at the man looming in front of him, arm draped casually around a petite blonde woman. He coughed, clearing his throat as he straightened and tugged his coat down, willing his arousal away. "I beg your pardon?"
"We don't have time to play, Angelus," the blonde woman spoke up crossly. "Where did that demented spawn of yours get to?"
Angelus flicked his eyes towards the stable, and Alastair whirled around, faring that something might have happened to William. He tried to rush back inside, but a strong grip on his shoulder nearly crushed the bone, and he bit back a cry.
"I do believe she found her new playtoy," Angelus commented in an amused tone, cocking his head as if he were listening. "Shall we join her, Darla?"
Darla nodded regally and swept past Angelus. "Bring the boy," she ordered. "He can at least provide us with a meal before we collect Drusilla.
Alastair struggled futilely against the astonishingly strong man, but was unable to keep from being dragged into the stable. The sight that met his eyes made him gasp in horror. "No!"
Darla laughed as Angelus easily restrained Alastair, keeping him from rushing to William's side. It was too late, anyway. As they watched, clouded eyes focused briefly on Angelus' struggling captive before drifting closed.
Drusilla smiled sweetly as she lifted her bloodied mouth away from William's neck, at the same time removing her equally bloody wrist from his mouth.
"Damn it!" Angelus roared. "When I said playmate, I didn't mean that bumbling idiot!"
Drusilla cocked her head. "But Daddy," she crooned, "the stars sang such pretty songs about blood and screams. I killed the burning fish, and now my precious will grow up to be a splendidly wicked tiger." She rocked gently, fingering William's hair as she hummed tunelessly. Then her eyes hardened as she stared at Alastair. "You'll take him away from me," she growled. "You always take him away. Clouding his brain with buzzing flies, biting and stinging until he cries for you." She wailed loudly. "He's mine! You can't take him away now!
"You're insane," Alastair whispered, his eyes still fixated on William's limp form. "William," he whimpered softly, his body sagging as it sunk in that his friend -- his love -- was dead. A lone tear trickled down his cheek.
"Well, isn't that just precious," Angelus muttered sarcastically. He glared at Drusilla. "You I will deal with later. For now...� His face rippled and transformed. "It's snack time." With a snarl, he struck.
Alastair barely felt the teeth entering his jugular. His vision was filled with William, and he almost eagerly accepted the darkness than rose around him. He'd be with William again soon...
Wil sat up with a gasp. "Oh god!" He panted harshly, not even feeling Alex's hands rubbing soothingly up and down his back.
"It's ok," Alex whispered. "I'm here, you're here. Everything's fine." He snorted softly. "I am gettin a little tired of dying all the time, though."
"It's not funny!" Wil twisted around and clutched Alex's shoulders. "I could feel something leaving me...and something else filling up the space. It was...� He shuddered. "And you. I saw you. When I...when I died. You were the last thing I saw." He collapsed into Alex's arms. "I remember, the last thing I thought was that I wished I'd told you I loved you."
"God, Wil." Alex held his lover tightly. "I knew. I knew you loved me. I'll always know, even if you never say it." He stiffened as he thought of something else. "Wil? That was you in the dream."
Wil pulled back, staring at Alex in confusion. "Course it was me, you git. It's always me."
"No, I mean...it was you. You looked like you; like you do now. Well, except for the hair. But it was you."
Wil drew in a shocked breath. "We're getting close, aren't we?" he asked in a subdued voice.
"I think so. I mean, if that was when you got turned, then..."
"We should finish remembering soon."
"Yeah." Alex pulled Wil back to him. "I love you," he said fiercely. "No matter what, ok?"
Wil smiled. "I know. You too."
They kissed each other tenderly, then lay back down. Arms wrapped around each other, they passed the rest of the night and early morning dozing lightly, secure in their love for each other, but not wanting to invite any more revelations that night.
"Got it! Yes!" Willow bounced excitedly in her seat as the others crowded around her.
Giles peered at the information on the screen. "How did you manage to locate this?" he asked curiously.
Willow shrugged, ducking her head to hide the faint blush. "Well, I kinda happened to stumble into the database for the phone company, and I ran a trace on all the incoming calls to the magic shop. Once I found the number Oz called from, all I had to do was search for the address connected to it and...voila!"
Giles cleared his throat. "Is that...legal?"
"Ummm, not...strictly speaking."
"Ah. I see. Well then, perhaps you shouldn't tell me any more."
Willow beamed at him. "Ok."
Cordelia patted Willow on the shoulder. "Wow, you're a pretty good hacker," she complimented, drawing several odd looks. "What? I can say something nice, can't I? Sheesh!" She rolled her eyes and stalked across the room.
"So, what's the plan?" Gunn asked.
Buffy looked up from where she was copying down the address. "Plan? Find Oz, convince him to tell us where Xander and Spike are."
"We going now?"
"Damn right!" Willow stood, back stiff with determination. Glancing at Angel, she wilted slightly. "Oh, daylight. Um..."
Angel shook his head. "No, you guys go. Just let us know what you find out."
"Us? Who else isn't coming?"
"Much as I would like to join you, I do need to stay and run the store," Giles said.
"Oh. Well, sure, I mean, I guess. Anyone else?" No one else spoke up, and Buffy nodded. "Ok then. Let's get going.
"I think this is it." A hand raised to shade her eyes, Willow squinted at the tall apartment building. "Um...I don't know what room he's in," she admitted in a defeated voice.
"So? Maybe they have a listing or something. If not, we'll check 'em all." Buffy strode forward, and the others all hurried after her. Once inside the lobby, they split up, looking for something that might list the names of the inhabitants of the different apartments. They ignored all the strange looks that were being sent their way, and quickly met up again in the center of the lobby.
"Anything?" Buffy sighed as everyone shook their heads. "Fine. Guess we do this the hard way."
Willow gasped. "Maybe not. Look!" She pointed to the figure entering the elevator.
"Oz. Bingo." Buffy grinned. "Come on!" She sprinted for the elevator, growling in frustration when it shut before she was even close. Hands on hips, she pressed the 'up' button, then tapped her foot impatiently as she watched the light crawl up the series of numbers before stopping on the '3'. "Gotcha," she muttered as the elevator made its way back down.
When the doors opened, the group piled in, and Buffy poked the button for the third floor.
"Come on, come on!" Willow said impatiently as she waited for the elevator to reach their destination. Finally, after an endlessly long minute, the doors slid open again. Willow shoved her way out, almost tripping over Buffy in her haste. "Oz?" she called.
Oz spun around, hand dropping away from the door it had been knocking on. "Willow?" His eyes widened fractionally at the crowd that emerged behind Willow. "Buffy," he greeted casually. "Cordelia." A deep breath, then, "Tara," he said softly. He frowned, thinking, then added, "Wesley." He quirked an eyebrow at the unknown man. "Sorry, don't know who you are."
"Charles Gunn. Nice to meet you."
Oz nodded. "I'm sure. What are you doing here?" he asked Willow.
"Looking for you! Well, really, we're looking for -- Xander!"
Oz held back a groan as he turned again to see Alex standing in the doorway, frowning at the multitude of people in the hall.
TBC...
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