TITLE:
One More Time: Reclamations Series: Interlude One
DATE
POSTED:
AUTHOR:
Buffywatcher
FEEDBACK:
Constructive comments always welcome: [email protected]
PAIRING:
Angel(us)/Spike
RATING:
Strong R Possibly a bit of romantic NC-17’ish circumstances.
SPOILERS:
None this story takes place in AU
DISCLAIMER:
Just borrowing them for a bit of harmless fun. All characters, recognizable
likenesses are retained by their owner and accredited license holders.
Writer’s
Notes: This takes place after Sad Eyes never Lie, Story one of the Reclamations
Series. This portion of the series will feature the song Do That To Me One More Time by the Captain and Tennille. It may seem
an oddly antiquated choice but I think you’ll see how well it fits in this
particular story. As usual a wav of the song is available to those that would
like to hear it. As always thanks are going out to GF my most excellent
Beta/Editor.
Distribution:
If I’ve already given you permission please consider
it yours if you want it. If I haven’t and you would like to archive it please
do, all I ask is that you email me and tell me where it’s going so I can visit J.
SUMMARY:
Just when Angel has begun to realize the importance Spike holds in his life and
in his future, he stands to lose him for good to a shocking adversary.
One
More Time: Reclamations Series: Interlude One: By
Buffywatcher
The
ground rushes up to meet him with little mercy as the weight hurtling into his
side pushes him out of the way of the heavy clawed hand that swipes the air
harmlessly where his face had been only a second before. Angel groans as Spike
lets his momentum carry him over his back into a somersault and onto his feet
to regain his footing. The pause is nonexistent as Spike pivots with agile ease
and leaps onto the back of the Dreezka Demon and buries his own talon like
nails deep into the soft flesh of the back of its neck and starts ripping. The
Demon roars and tries to slash at the enraged Vampire with its gore covered claws.
Spike roars in
pain as a claw catches the side of his face, laying it open as easily as a
letter opener does an envelope. Angel shakes off the cloud of unconsciousness
as he hears Spike’s roar of pain and leaps with his own roar of rage; ripping
into the soft belly of the hideous looking flesh covered beetle-like Demon.
Avoiding the claws that slash at them
alternating between them, the pair coordinate their attack with one attacking as the other is dodging
and within seconds the Demon is ripped to shreds and Spike kicks clear and
rolls off its back and lands beside Angel as the pair get clear.
As soon as the
Vampires are clear a fusillade of crossbow bolts from Gunn and Wesley finish
the foul beastie off as Angel and Spike collapse onto a park picnic table.
Spike turns his
head to watch the Demon’s last breaths and flops onto his back with a groan. “I
really hate those things.” He lifts a hand to his face, grimacing at he’ll no
doubt find that the claw did to it but his hand is caught before he can find
out the extent of the damage.
Angel growls
softly and releases Spike’s hand as the younger Vampire relaxes and lets him
check the injury; letting his head flop back onto the picnic table. “It’s
pretty deep but looks like it missed anything vital.”
Spike grimaces
and growls. “Fuck vital…is it going to scar?”
Angel chokes back
his laughter at Spike’s priorities and feigns a serious look at the wound. It
is fairly deep and bleeding profusely. He cups a finger under Spike’s chin and
turns his face to the side gently, probing the wound carefully, wincing as
Spike whimpers quietly. “The edges are pretty clean and I don’t see any traces
of the poison the bloody things usually inject with their claws but it’s
bleeding a lot, it may have nicked a vein.” Angel leans over and carefully
flips the fold of skin over; as he extends a fang and thrusts his tongue up
onto it until his blood coats it thickly. Pulling his tongue off his fang,
Angel slowly drags it over the wound, lightly sucking the blood leaking from it
as he goes.
“Those poor
tourist buggers musta gotten the worst of it… who the hell would want to summon
a Dreezka?! Everybloodyone knows the dumb fucks only see the world in eat or be
eaten. No one can control the damn things.” Spike says muttering on a low moan
as he pushes his face against Angel’s sweeping tongue. “Oi; Wesley; where are
you Magic man?!” Spike tries to move his head to look for Wesley; only to still
as Angel’s hand tightens in subtle warning on his chin holding him still.
Hearing his name
Wesley straightens from where he’s been examining the corpse of the Demon with
Gunn looking on and looks around for Spike. He pulls his glasses off and cleans
them with the edge of his shirt before putting them back on and staring at the
sight just a couple of feet away. From
his angle he can clearly see Angel slowly licking the wound on Spike’s face
with long, slow strokes of his tongue cleaning the injury and helping it to
heal. Both men have their eyes half closed and are making soft, rumbling sounds
deep in their throats. Angel’s hand is resting on Spike chest flexing gently
and Spike’s hand is resting on Angel’s back, rubbing in a soft circle. From his
studies as a Watcher, Wesley knows that the gestures and sounds are meant to
comfort but that doesn’t stop the sight from being blatantly erotic at the same
time.
Wesley knows that
while Vampires are merciless predators when it comes to other species, they are
deeply caring and sensual beings when it comes to someone they perceive as
being “family”. No books he’s ever read however can portray the sheer heat of
the moment between Angel and Spike. There isn’t anything the least bit sexual
about the caring sight of Angel ministering to his Grandchilde’s wound; the
sheer sensual enjoyment of the act however has him shifting uncomfortably.
Wesley hears a sharply indrawn breath and turns to see Gunn hurried gathering
up their gear and hot-footing it to the car. After a moment and a brief glance
at the engrossed pair, Wesley wisely follows him in double time; after pulling
at his pants leg briefly.
Spike watches
them go with a knowing gleam in his eyes and a deep chuckle that manages to
sound amused and wicked at the same time. “I think we’ve managed to make the
kiddies uncomfortable, Peaches.” Angel lifts his head and watches Gunn and
Wesley seemingly in a foot race to the car for a moment before shrugging and
going back to licking his wound. “I think Wesley may have been injured, he
seems to be running a little funny.” Spike says with a snicker; before letting
his head flop back down on the picnic table. “You almost done there, Peachy or
should I just lay here and think about the queen then?”
Angel lifts his
head with a last, long slow dragging of his tongue over the almost healed
wound. He runs his sensitive fingertips over it and nods satisfied. “It’s
almost healed over; won’t even know you were injured by the time we get back to
the office.” Angel says moving back and easily levering the younger Vampire off
and back onto his feet.
“Thanks for the
“I’m fine,
Spike.” Angel says quietly; looking at him from the corner of his eye.
“Well will
wonders never cease, finally something we can agree on without it being a sign
of an impending Apocalypse.” Spike says with a wink, exhaling a soft cloud of
fragrant smoke. He snickers silently as Angel almost trips but covers it
quickly; trying to disguise it as side stepping a piece of litter. “Yeah you
can never be too careful with that trash there, Pet. That cup could have been a
trap or something.” Spike says laughing at Angel’s transparent antics.
Spike is still
laughing as they arrive at the car where Wesley and Gun are packing their gear
into the trunk. Spike braces a hand on the front car door and vaults easily
right into the front passenger seat; settling down with athletic ease to relax;
flicking his ashes well away from the car. “Mind dropping me by the bar, Mate?”
Spike asks as Angel opens his door and slides behind the wheel with dignified
elegance.
Angel sighs with
exasperation. “We need to get back and review the case Spike, same as always.”
He says with implacable certainty. “The Sorcerer that conjured up that pain in
the ass may try again.”
“Not without a
Gravloc’s heart he won’t and those are hardly easily come by.” Spike says with
a scoffing sneer. “There aren’t but two or three supply houses for a ticket
item like that as you know. A few quick calls and you know you’ll have him
persona non grata at every one of them.” Spike says with absolutely assurance.
“I wasn’t aware
you were familiar with the spell to summon a Dreezka Demon, Spike.” Wesley says
as he and Gunn close the trunk and climb in the back seat of the car.
“Wasn’t that much
to do but read; back when they were keeping me chained up in Giles’ bathtub, Wes.”
Spike says with a nonchalant shrug. Everyone laughs as Angel starts the car and
points them homeward bound.
Angel waits until
they’re well clear of the park and the evidence of a gruesome night; and flicks
his cell phone at Spike; he catches it with ease; never turning his head;
flicking it open and dialing quickly. “Yes, I saw something very large chasing
some people in the park off Botero and Nast.” A short pause. “No I didn’t get a good look at it but it was
big and I heard a lot of screaming, please hurry!” Spike inflects just enough
breathless panic into his voice and funnily enough no trace of his English
accent at all as he hangs up on the 911 operator. He snaps the phone closed and
pitches it back to Angel who catches it without turning his head and pushes it
back into his coat pocket without taking his eyes off the road.
Spike glances
over his shoulder and chuckles at the looks on Gunn and Wesley’s faces. “Now
Gentlemen, I am 129 year old VAMPIRE sitting next to a 253 year old VAMPIRE and
what amazes you both the most about me; is that I can actually speak proper
English without an accent?” Spike says allowing his accent to smooth into the
softly rolling cadence of an American voice.
Angel starts
laughing and shaking his head. Spike is much more the Chameleon than he seems
and the depth of his personality and intellect is a secret he has always kept
well; sharing only with those he holds in deepest trust. Angel glances at Spike
and finds he’s looking into cerulean blue eyes that sparkle with humor and the pair
laughs; joined after a moment by Wesley and Gunn.
Spike looks over
his shoulder, still chuckling now and then. “I was actually quite bookish as a
young man, before I met Drusilla. My Professors at
Angel glances at
Spike’s profile from the corner of his eye and holds his tongue. He’s never
truly spoken to Spike about the arbitrary decisions he made all those years ago
and doesn’t begin to know how to broach the subject now. He would take none of those decisions back as
they were truly made in his best interests at the time but perhaps Spike is
right. They have today and what good does dwelling on yesterday do? Whatever
those decisions were, they have made Spike into the person he is today so
perhaps it all happened as it did for a reason. Glancing at Spike again Angel
makes a sudden decision and hangs a left rather than the right that will take
them back to the office.
Spike notices the
change of direction and smiles without turning his head from the night view but
he knows that Angel knows he’s smiling all the same.
The line of
waiting people has already grown to a sizeable crowd as Angel pulls up outside
the club and slows looking for a parking space.
“Head to the
corner and take a right, Pet. There’s a gated back lot and entrance there for
regulars to park in.” Spike says quietly and Angel skillfully maneuvers the
convertible following Spike’s directions. Spike nods and waves at the attendant
working the back gate and he hurriedly opens the gate to admit them. “My
parking space is there; by the door.” Angel pulls into the parking spot
reserved for one W. Faulkner; raising a brow at the unexpected sighting of
Spike’s birth name after all this time. Spike just smiles unashamedly and
shrugs his shoulder dismissing the significant event ;as he gets out followed
by his friends Spike can hear Wesley talking to Fred on his cell phone,
inviting her to join them.
After a brief
stop at the desk just inside the rear door to secure passes for his friends;
Spike catches up and hands each of them a V.I.P. Key card and a parking pass; handing Wesley
the set he picked up for Fred. “Keep a hold on those passes Gents just flash‘em
to the bartenders and wait staff and your food and drinks will be on the house.
You have free access to the two V.I.P. lounges as well.” Spike takes them on a
short tour that seems to take twice as long as people keep coming up to talk to
him but they eventually end up at the bar; near the dance floor. The bartender
hurries over when he sees Spike and gets them their drinks straight away.
Spike lounges
against the bar, quietly talking to his friends and sipping his favorite Irish
style Stout beer and genuinely enjoying himself. He’s arguing with Wesley over
how well
Everyone smiles
as Fred and Harmony arrive and the group shifts again as the two women are
moved to the protective center of the group and the merriment continues with
the small group drawing no small crowd
of admirers as they’re all vital and very attractive in their own ways. Spike
waves over a passing waitress and whispers in her ear briefly before she nods
with a big smile and hurries off.
She returns
within a few minutes and hands Harmony her V.I.P. pass and parking permit;
while Wesley hands Fred hers. Spike thanks her with a smile and a pat on the
back that makes her smile beam as brightly as if she’d won the lottery and she
zips off through the crowd again. She returns within a few minutes with a tray
full of various appetizers that she lies out on the bar before blushing and
hurrying off once more amid their chorus of thank you. Spike reaches over for a
particularly plump stuffed mushroom; only to find that someone else has reached
for the same one. Spike chuckles and nudges the hand aside and picks up the
mushroom and holds it over his shoulder; feeling Angel’s teeth carefully biting
it neatly in half before he pops the other half in his own mouth. When he feels
the strong arm settle lightly across his shoulders he smiles and laughs quietly
as his own arm slips naturally around the trim but powerful waist.
Angel smiles; reaching
over to snag another mushroom; as Spike moves to naturally rest against him
with comfortable grace and ease. The house band is playing a quiet set of
instrumental romantic ballads and the House lights are low and intimate and the
dance floor is crowded by slightly swaying couples. The food is excellent; as
is the Irish whiskey he thinks with a silent moan of appreciation for the
smooth aged perfection of the fiery concoction. Angel realizes he’s genuinely
enjoying the evening and wonders what other simple pleasures of life he’s been
missing. There is only one mar on the evening as far as he’s concerned and that
are the patently blatant attempts by women and men alike to catch Spike’s
attention; as though he were a Marlin or some big game fish they could hook and
reel in. Angel moves with deliberation to reach an olive from a dish on the far
side; shifting his body in subtle ways until Spike is turned safely into the
center of the group with Fred and Harmony. Angel pops the olive in his mouth ; hard pressed not to grin at his cleverness at having
nonchalantly maneuvered Spike into the safety of being between the bar and
himself. The smile fades however replaced with awareness of how right it feels
to protect the slight blond who is all too capable of looking after his self.
It’s a sentiment helped along as Spike starts to dance in place to the house
band and his body brushes against his; only to be gone again on the next beat
of the music. Having tasted Spike’s blood earlier, he can feel the younger
Vampire’s enjoyment and it has settled over his brain like a cloud of sheer
sensation.
Spike hides his
grin; knowing that little by little Angel is rediscovering the simple pleasures
to be found with good friends, good drinks, and good music. A familiar tune
starts up and the grin he’s been concealing finally breaks through. “I’ve
always loved this song. An oldie but a goodie.” Spike
purrs as he begins to sway to the music.
Angel takes a sip
of his Whiskey to hide his own grin, Spike’s enjoyment is evident in the flash
of a fang he shows before he carefully schools his features to conceal the
deadly canines once more. It’s a natural Vampire instinct to let their canines
descend when their guard is down and they’re in the grip of strong emotions and
Angel chuckles as he carefully draws his tongue across of one of his own deadly
canines that has dropped and relaxes his muscles until he feels it withdraw
back into his gums. He hears a low sound building in Spike’s chest that is slowly
growing stronger by the moment and it startles him to realize that he’s singing
in a tone so low that only another vampire can hear it. Slowly though; it grows
louder and the conversation around them starts to die as people realize what
they’re hearing and stop to listen.
Angel sets his
glass down absentmindedly as he finds himself lost in the endless depths of
sparkling Cerulean blue eyes that gaze fixedly into his. Lost in Spike’s
eldritch gaze and siren’s voice, Angel is barely aware of his actions; as his
hands rise to cup the younger Vampire’s shoulders and Spike’s hands slip up to
cover his hips lightly as he sways.
Do that to me one more time
Once is never enough with a man like you
Do that to me one more time
I can never get enough of a man like you
Whoa-oh-oh, kiss me like you just did
Oh, baby, do that to me once again
Spike feels his
lips turn up in a gentle smile as he feels Angel’s body mirroring his swaying
unconsciously as he gets swept up in the moment he’s creating for him. He
inches closer; feeling Angel reciprocating the movement; as they draw each
other close and Angel’s hands slide down to rest on his hips; drawing his own
body into the rhythm of the song. Spike smiles and lets his hands drift slowly
up Angel’s sides to rest lightly over his shoulders as he sings softly.
Pass that by me one more time
Once is never enough for my heart to hear
Whoa-oh-oh, tell it to me one more time
I can never hear enough while I got'ya near
Whoa-oh-oh, say those words again that you just did
Oh, baby tell it to me once again
Lost in the
beauty of the moment, the mesmerizing depths of Spike’s eyes and the rhythm of
his softly singing voice, Angel finds that he’s become captivated and
enthralled lost in the timeless moment. The whole of his world has narrowed to
the sight and sound of Spike; the feel of the warm leather and muscle moving
under his sensitive palms. Spike is spinning his siren’s spell and it’s all
Angel can do to follow it.
Do that to me one more time
Once is never enough with a man like you
Whoa-oh-oh, do that to me one more time
I can never get enough of a man like you
Whoa-oh-oh, kiss me like you just did
Oh, baby do that to me once again
Spike keeps his
eyes locked on Angel’s as much enthralled by those whiskey colored orbs as
Angel is in his own gaze; a seduction turning on a dime into mutual desire.
Spike moves forward a bit and smiles as Angel moves with him; one step then
another and another; in perfect time. Spike shivers as a hand slides slowly up
his back to curl lightly around the back of his neck as Angel pulls him closer,
lost in the magical moment. Spike smiles and wonders when Angel will realize
that he’s skillfully maneuvered them onto the dance floor where they are
currently the sole slow dancing center of attention.
Whoa-oh-oh, baby, do that to me once again
Whoa-oh-ho-oh-oh-oh, baby, do that to me one more time
Do it again
One more time
Do it again
One more time
Wesley stares
fascinated by the display the two Vampires are putting on. A quick glance
around the room shows he’s far from alone in his awe of the pair. He turns his
eyes back to the pair and he can all too easily imagine what a deadly pair of
predators these two were in the fancy dress balls of yesteryear. Not much of
Angelus and William the Bloody’s lives have been recorded in regards to their
non-violent exploits. Watching the scene before him now, he can only quiver in
sympathy for the poor souls that were the focus of these insidious hunters.
He’s always imagined that a Vampire was just that, a hunter. Bred to violence,
living for the chase, for the kill that will sustain them, feasting on the
adrenaline filled blood of their terrorized prey. He can see now that while
perhaps some may be exactly that, as with so many things in life, that is hardly
all that they are. What need do they have for violence if they can bring the
prey to them, spin a seduction so complete and total that fear becomes desire
and desire becomes willingness. It suddenly occurs to Wesley that the many of
them have been fools, thinking that the measly little bit of technology that
once “leashed” Spike was any true handicap at all.
He realizes; that
for whatever reason; Spike allowed them to think so. Wondering if maybe he just
used the illusion of safety to make him acceptable to the Slayer and her
compatriots? After all it was easier to accept the fact that he COULDN’T bite
them over the fact that perhaps he just didn’t want to. He knows he’s right for
he too felt himself safe for that same reason once and his respect for Spike
grows tenfold. He lowers his eyes as he imagines what Angel must be feeling
right now; to have that remarkable man so focused on him; that Angel doesn’t
realize that not only is he dancing but that they’re the only couple on the
floor.
Angel has
realized it, he just doesn’t care; as he’s locked into the moment and for just
once he’s letting himself enjoy it without thinking it to death.
Spike shimmies
closer and staring into Angel’s eyes sings soft and low for Angel’s ears only.
Do it again
One more time
Do it again
One more time
As the song
trails to silence and the applause and shouts of approval break out as the band
starts up a new song, the Vampires are oblivious, lost in each other. As their
example has couples all over the club reaching out to pull their heart’s desire
closer to share in the romantic moment; the Vampires slowly close the distance
between their bodies as well.
Angel wraps his
arm around Spike’s lower back and pulls him tightly to him as he strokes his
nape and nuzzles his cheek against Spike’s temple tenderly. He sighs as he
feels Spike’s fingers slip into his hair, petting slowly; his fingertips
tracing his ears; knowing how much he likes the light touches.
Spike presses his
mouth lightly to Angel’s ear and breathes softly. “And you thought you couldn’t
dance.” He says with a soft chuckle; as Angel growls softly in mock warning and
Spike shuts his eyes and just gives himself up to the moment and to the care of
the giant of a man holding him like fine china. Sight is merely one sense that
is his to call upon and Spike smiles as the scents of his friends fill him and
he knows they’ve each taken a lady and are dancing nearby. A delicate sniff and
he can tell Wesley and Fred are dancing to their right and Gunn and Harmony are
dancing slightly behind them and to the left. A sense of well being fills him
and he lets go of his cares. Tomorrow will come in its own time. For now
tonight is enough.
Finis
*** This has been
but a small interlude in the action folks, a brief *Passo-doble* moment between
our two favorite fanged ones. The story will pick up immediately following this
segment so stay tuned! ***
*Passo-doble is a
Latin dance often likened to a bullfight with one partner being the Matador
while their partner symbolizes the cape, a protective, complimentary companion
that moves to the rhythm of the Matador’s movements as if they were one person.
If you’ve never seen this dance performed you’re missing a real treat.*