Author: Inca
Feedback: Cause I can meow like a cat if I wanna - [email protected]
Rating NC17
AU Liam/Spike
Disclaimer: Whedon, Mutant Enemy and all that jazz
Summary: Liam�s an addict
**
He checked his hair again and leant closer to the mirror, nervously smoothing his fingertips along his eyebrow. He stepped back and appraised himself, chin up and eyes solemn.
He�d opted for a red shirt, over a wifebeater, with his beloved black pants. He�d forgotten to ask Spike where they were going and he couldn�t get in contact with him.
He nodded. He looked� alright. Worn out, used up. He looked tired. He�d been struck by the craving from hell at about midnight and hadn�t been able to sleep, calming himself by eating every candy in the apartment, drinking all the orange juice and chain smoking a pack of cigarettes, huddled next to the window, trying to puff the smell out into the cold night.
He sighed. His stomach was cramping again. Goddammit. He mentally ravelled all the feelings up into a little ball so he could hold on to it tightly, close to his chest, afraid he�d trip and fall over the ache in his tongue or the jumpiness in his bones.
But the shirt looked nice. He�d splurged and bought it, loving the slight almost unseen deeper red pinstripe in the fabric.
This was pretty much versatile. He could go anyw-
Knock Knock
He made himself stay for a moment, checked his breath, and then calmly made his way to the door. He unlocked and opened to reveal Spike leaning against the jamb, in his usual clothing, the Blade-esque coat making another appearance.
��Ello� He drawled, his voice rough as his gaze slipped slowly down to around his waist and back up again. �You look good enough to eat.�
He smiled, embarrassed. That was flirting, wasn�t it? He loved it, whatever it was.
�Um� thankyou.� He said, feeling his cheeks blush traitorously, and he turned to get his jacket, hiding his face.
�S�alright pet, ready?� he asked, amusement in his voice at Liam�s answer.
He came back to the door. �Ah, yes. Um where are we going?� His hair was slicked back neatly, and Liam was sure the eyebrow stud was new. It was pointed at the ends and was less silver, more blackened now.
�Bar. Dennig Line.� He said, looking into Liam�s apartment interestedly, taking it all in. �S�great. Cheap booze.�
Was he meant to invite him in? Was that the etiquette? Offer him a drink, maybe?
�Well, lets go.� Spike said before he had a chance.
�Oh.� He nodded, shucking his coat on, flipping the collar to sit the right way around his neck.
Spike backed up, so he could get out the door without squeezing past him, but he did it with a smirk on his face. Liam locked up and let Spike lead down the concrete stairwell.
The gorgeous DeSoto was parked at the curb and Liam felt the same tingle as they approached it. Spike unlocked it and Liam slid inside, stealing a moment to run his hand over the smooth dash before Spike slipped in beside him, flicking the edge of his coat up over his thigh, settling so he could sit comfortably in it.
�This is really a beautiful car.� He said, hoping that conveyed enough of what he thought.
Spike laughed and gunned the engine for him, pulling away from the curb. They cruised down the black L.A. streets, stopping in the ever-present traffic, Spike taking obvious pleasure in driving, tapping a beat out on the cream steering wheel as he nodded his head a little. Liam wondered what he was listening to, inside. Pistols probably. Or something like that. Spike turned down a thin side street and pulled into an underground car park hidden by another alley running between two buildings.
�You sure know your way around L.A.� Liam commented, thinking about knowing the different pubs, the copy shop he worked at, hidden parking lots. He�d lived here since he was fourteen and he didn�t know it half as well as Spike seemed to.
Spike shrugged and pulled into a spot, turning the car off, the engine winding down. �Right, this is it.� He got out of the car, rattling his keys.
Liam slipped out and heard the car lock as he followed the peroxide head through the half filled underground lot, smelling the stink of hot engines and petrol that was soaked into the grey concrete. There was a seedy looking black painted corridor, with some stairs leading down to a huge steel door. Liam had never been to a place like this. It all seemed very secret, fun secret.
Spike knocked on the door and it opened, guarded by two huge Latino looking bodyguards with bald heads and small moustaches. They let Spike though and Liam followed.
The bar was smoky, and there was music playing, low swaying music, not trance club mixes. It was dark, and the bar was lit green and blue, the booths around the small floor lit with dim red lamps.
�You wanna beer?� Spike asked, watching him with a smirk as he took it all in.
�Um sure. What is this place?� He asked. It was large, but only about half filled, some couples dancing sensually on the small raised dance floor, some dancing alone. Couches were scattered around.
�Just a place. Go get a table, yeah?�
He nodded and wandered into the bar, which was probably more classified as a club, what with the music and dance floor. He almost stumbled down some stairs in the dark, but salvaged his cool composure and slipped into a booth, feeling it was comfy on his aching back and then turned to watch Spike. He was chatting to the bar woman, leaning over and nodding as she spoke. He pulled back, took the two beers in hand and nodded again, mouth moving a little more, before throwing her a happy smiled which she returned and turning to walk towards him. He did not stumble down the steps.
He sat down across from Liam; his face lit pink tinged by the light, hair red. �Like it?�
�Yeah. Is it one of those� have to be a member clubs?�
Spike slid his drink towards him, taking a sip of his own. �Yeah, why not?� He grinned. �But no wings here. No matter how much I�ve asked for them. You hungry?�
�Not right now.�
�Okay well I know where we can get some dogs later, If you�re interested.�
Liam blinked. �Dogs?�
�Hot dogs.�
�Oh!� He could�ve slapped his forehead for being so stupid. �Right, yeah, I love hot dogs.�
They sipped their drinks in silence for a moment, until he realised Spike was staring at a dark shaggy haired man in a booth across the room. He didn�t say anything. The man caught sight of Spike and smiled. Spike looked back to Liam and tossed him a tight smile before taking great interest in his fingernails scratching at the table.
�Anything wrong?� Liam asked, watching as the man got up and made his way around the row of booths towards him.
�No, I just didn�t think I�d see him here.� He said, almost scowling.
�Oh. Who is he?�
Spike shook his head and the man reached the table.
�Spike, hello again. Been a bit of a stranger around these parts.� He asked, a ranch type drawl hiding in his words, hardly noticeable. His blue eyes were complacent as they watched Spike.
�Rehab.� He said shortly, drinking his drink.
�Oh right.� The man laughed. �How�d they catch you?�
�Went for literal drive through at McDonalds.� He said tersely, glancing back at Liam. �It was nice seeing you again.� He said, obviously trying to end the conversation.
Liam was intrigued but he sipped his beer innocently. The man looked at him, eyes running up and down, and grinned.
�Who�s your friend?�
�Lindsay this is Angel, Angel, Lindsay.�
�Angel?� he said smugly. Liam nodded, completely confused. Angel?
Lindsay held his hand out and Liam shook it, finding it held tight when he tried to pull back. �Nice to meet you. I hope to see much more of you.� He said lasciviously and Liam laughed a little, embarrassedly passing off the obvious entendre as a joke.
He pulled his hand away and looked at Spike.
�Where�d you find him? Santa Monica? Melrose?� He sneered, looking him up and down again.
Spike glared at him, still coolly confident. �None of your business, piss off.�
He nodded smugly. �I should go past, see if I can find one as pretty. Nice to see you again, and you�� He said to Liam, �nice to see you.�
Liam didn�t answer, and both men watched as Lindsay went back to his table, gathered his friends and wandered out past the Latino guards, flicking amused glances back at them.
�Tosser.� Spike muttered, tossing his drink back, the ring in his lip making a tiny clink noise against the glass.
�Did he think I was a hustler?� Liam asked, asking about the Santa Monica-Melrose remark.
�He�s a tosser, ignore it.�
Liam sipped the last of his beer. He wondered if Lindsay and Spike were lovers. He somehow couldn�t imagine that. Couldn�t imagine them kissing, but there was � something between them. History.
�How do you know him?�
He curled his lip. �Run into each other a bit. I�m gonna get us another round.� He said sliding out of the booth.
�No, I�ll get it.� He said and Spike just smiled.
�You get it next time.�
He frowned a little but Spike was already walking towards the bar. He watched him order the drinks while he sat at the table wondering about the man, Lindsay, clicking his thumb and forefinger nails together in thought. Snick, snick. Spike came back two drinks in hand.
�Why did you introduce me as Angel? Thanks.� He said taking the cold beer.
Spike slipped back into place, red light washing over his fine features. �Just needed to give you a name, didn�t want him to know your real name.�
�Why not?�
He shrugged and took a sip of his beer, watching him with his calm even blue eyes, tinged with red. His blunt black thumbnail started digging into the hard wood.
�So� why that name?�
�First name I thought of. S�my cat�s name.�
Liam smiled. �Your cat�s name is Angel?�
�Hey it was my ex�s cat. She named him.� He said defensively, dark eyebrows drawing together playfully.
Liam picked up on the feminine. So Spike�s ex was a girl, which meant he wasn�t fully gay then. Fully gay? He frowned at his words and shook his head. He could ask, Spike would probably answer, but he was too shy, so he picked up the glass, the condensation wet and slippery underneath his fingers and sipped instead. They drank in silence again; the mere comfort of each other�s company speaking pages to them. Spike was watching him and it was making him smile in embarrassment.
But he didn�t ask Spike to stop.
He pretended he didn�t notice as his pride lapped it up.
�You�re gorgeous, you know that? So where do you hail from, Liam?�
�Excuse me?� He asked, stunned.
�Where do you come from?�
He thought it best not to dwell on the first comment, to not be greedy and to just pass it off as a benign compliment. �Uh, Arizona.�
Spike raised his eyebrows. �Really? What was that like?�
�Good. Nothing much to do, kinda just� went at your own pace. Knew everyone and everyone knew you.�
�Small town boy?�
�Yeah I guess. Flagstaff.�
Spike shook his head. �Haven�t heard of it.�
�Not really surprised.� Liam joked. �But hey, we were voted one of the top ten cities with the best summer climate if that impresses you.�
�Oh it does.� He laughed. �Well, that�s bloody fascinating, what else?�
�One of the ten best spots for RV touring. And we�re up there for a good place to retire.�
�You say it like you still live there.�
He shrugged, a little flustered. �Well I remember it. I was happier there.�
�Really?�
�Yeah, I mean it�s clean, wood houses, people wearing flannelette and cowboy hats. Always thought I�d move back.�
�Why didn�t you?�
He shrugged again, staring down into the pink-lit liquid. �Don�t know. Cordy was a city girl. She loved Los Angeles, and � well�well�� He trailed off and gave his beer a tight smile. He shouldn�t bring her up, not when it sounded like that, like she made him stay. She would�ve moved if he asked, but he couldn�t do that to her.
He changed the subject. �We used to take a family holiday to the Grand Canyon every year.� He smiled at the memory, of hot and sand. �My parents immigrated from Ireland, and they never took anything for granted. They love America.�
�Your parents moved over did they?�
He nodded. �Da� wanted to, I have no idea why he picked Arizona. Never asked him. Was the only Irishman in Arizona I think. He bought a corner store and he manned it probably five six days a week. Got enough money to buy another store. And my mother worked that.�
�Were you born here?�
�No, born in Galway. We all came over when I was just a baby. I grew up here, so�� he shrugged. He didn�t think of it as he had immigrated as well, he was from America they way he felt. �I don�t remember Ireland at all.�
�Wanna visit it?�
�Someday. Wanna get Da� to show me where he grew up, which street, and where I was born.�
Spike smiled.
�What?� He asked, bemused.
�You say Da�. You don�t have an accent at all, �sides that.�
He didn�t have his parent�s accent, even though theirs was still strong.
�Did your Da� wear a cowboy hat?� Spike asked with a smile, looking at the bodyguards in front of the door.
�No. No, he didn�t.� Liam laughed.
�So why�d you leave?�
He let out a small laugh. �Da� got bought out, he sold it, used the money to bring us to California, because for some reason, that meant giving me a better chance at a better education.� He rolled his eyes. �I don�t know. But that�s what we did.�
�So how old?�
�Fourteen.� He still remembered the exact day they left. Got in the car and started driving away from the house with the view of white tipped mountains at ten nineteen.
�Lost your �Arizonian� accent. If they have accents.�
�Lost it quickly, got sick of being beaten up at school for talkin� funny.� He said, smiling.
Spike lifted the beer to his lips and Liam saw his lips part through the glass as he tipped it. He still seemed� agitated, since they had seen Lindsay. More closed off. Liam again wondered if they could had been lovers, they had the same sort of confidence, same healthy ego. He glanced up at Spike to see him staring blankly at the muted lights over the dance floor, lost in thought, hand still loosely around his glass.
�Wanna go get those dogs now?� Spike asked suddenly, still gazing at the flickering lights.
�Um, sure.� Liam answered, draining the last of his drink.
Spike watched the lights for a few more moments and then suddenly blinked awake, shaking his head a little and smiling, before he took the last gulp of beer and slid out of the booth. He stood by the table as Liam shuffled out a little clumsily; stumbling over something in the dark, jammed his knee against the hard wood, and almost performed a face plant in front of Spike who was watching him amused, arms crossed.
Flustered he walked in front of Spike trying to regain his cool.
�Tams, see you on Sunday, right?� He heard Spike call. The bartender called a flirty affirmative.
They were quiet as they walked up the stairs and out into the parking lot. They were in the car and down a few streets before Spike�s cockney voice filled the car, loud after the silence.
�What�s your sport?�
�Mine?� Liam asked, off guard. �Uh, I like hockey.�
�Really? You know I�ve never watched an entire� match? The whole way through?� He said, the lights from oncoming traffic flickering across his profile as he watched the road.
Liam smiled. �You should. It�s a good game.�
�Does your son play it?�
�Uh, not yet. It can get a little rough.� He�d like to go to Connors hockey matches though. It was a secret little dad-dream of his.
�You play that at school?�
�Nah, football. It was mainly all about football at our school. But I played it sometimes.� He hadn�t played it himself in years. He still had his hockey stick though. He smiled wistfully. He�d probably suck at it if he tried again now.
Spike turned down a street, Liam had no idea where they were, and pulled into a parking space. A small store was still lit up, bright and white. Liam guessed that�s where they were headed. The engine was turned off and Spike exited without a word. Liam unclipped his belt and followed uncertainly, seeing Spike bend to lock it and then turn around sharply, coat flicking out before striding towards the store.
The store itself was empty, and consisted of a counter and stools, napkin dispensers lining the surface, buns and hot dog warmers on the other side.
Spike sat on a stool, settled himself and yelled �Ralph�, bringing out his soft pack of cigarettes after the shout and jerking the pack until a filter poked out. He drew the cigarette out with his teeth as Liam sat down next to him, and brought out the flip pack of matches to light it. He snuffed out the match and tossed the half burnt stick out into the street just as a small black man, Ralph � he guessed, came out from the back, wizened and grey haired, in a stained apron.
�Spike.� He stated happily. �Usual?�
�Ta�. And you?� He said looking at Liam.
Liam looked at the menu high on the wall. �Just, with cheese and mustard for me. And some gherkin?�
�Can do fella.� Ralph started to carefully slice up the buns and create the orders. �What�s your name? Never seen you before.�
Ralph said looking up at him as he brought out a bag of pre shredded cheese from a fridge underneath the counter.
�Me? Liam.�
�Liam.� He said nodding as if this were an interesting fact. �How do you know ol� Spike here?�
Liam glanced at the man in question who was blowing smoke straight up in the air, looking at the ceiling.
�We met in rehab.� Spike answered disinterestedly, tapping ash onto the ground, peering over the table to watch Ralph.
The old man peered up at him for a moment, face unreadable, before going back to his art.
�You went looking for him Spike?� Ralph asked, looking at Spike, his tone, almost scolding, warning, suggesting he didn�t want to say something in front of Liam.
�When I got out, yeah. Do you sell beer yet?�
Ralph stopped working and bent down again, bringing out a can of cola, popping the top with a hiss and sliding it to Spike.
�Yeah, great as usual.� He said sarcastically. �Liam here�s from Arizona. You got some family there, don�t ya?�
Ralph nodded. �Do indeed. What part are you from?�
�Flagstaff.�
�Well my family�s not there, but lovely country isn�t it?� He said, handing Liam a finished dog in a paper basket.
�Thanks. Yeah it is.�
�Ralph, hurry up.� Spike said impatiently, curling his tongue and biting the stud with a frown on his face.
Ralph rolled his eyes and spooned out some onions onto the other dog before handing it over. Spike picked it up and took a huge chunk out of it, chewing with closed eyes. Liam lifted his as well, taking a bite, surprised at how good it was.
�This is great.� He said to Ralph. Ralph just nodded with a chipped grandfatherly smile and trotted out the back.
Spike was half done, turning a little in his seat so he could talk to Liam, his knee resting against Liam�s lower thigh. �Good, right?� He asked through a mouthful of bun and sauce.
Liam nodded and wiped off some mustard on the side of his mouth. Spike didn�t turn away, just stayed watching the road past Liam disinterestedly as he chewed, his knee pressing against Liam. He was very aware of it. Liam finished off the bun as Spike noisily drained the can of cola, crunching it in his fist and then leaning over the counter to throw it and the basket his dog was in, into the bin underneath. Liam handed his over and Spike tossed it in.
�Ralph! We�re done, gonna go now, see you tomorrow probably, yeah?�
�Yeah, yeah.� Ralph yelled from the back.
Spike grinned widely, slipped out a twenty from his pocket and put it under the chopping board. Liam smiled. Obviously Spike and Ralph were friends or something; they had a strange relationship at least.
�Eat there a lot?� Liam asked as they walked back to the car.
Spike let out a low burp. �Yeah, a lot. Maybe four times a week.� He looked like he was going to say more, but a ringing filled the quiet street.
Spike reached into his pocket. �Ello?� he said into the small black cell phone.
�Yup� yeah� no, no, what? What? �How�d he even know about it? Why? That stupid, bloody fucking wanker! Right. Good.� He hung up, irritated.
�Listen,� He said to Liam tersely, opening the car. �Just gotta pick something up at mine, then I�ll drop you �ome, that alright?�
Liam looked at his watch. It was past eleven. He blinked. That had gone quickly. �Yeah sure.� He had work tomorrow.
He slipped into the car and watched Spike drive, his mouth taut, both hands on the wheel. They turned into a thrown together little neighbourhood, and parked under one of the short apartment buildings, protected by a security gate. It had garages lining the walls, little empty spaces made of concrete with doors that wheeled down and Spike parked in one of these, that was also filled with boxes up one side, and closed the door behind him, silently leading Liam to a set of stairs. They walked into a hallway which was carpeted and had five doors heading onto it. He stopped at the second door, opening it and grabbing an plain unmarked envelope off the floor tucking it into his jacket, before letting Liam in. Liam was puzzled but went in anyhow.
Spike lived in a small dusty one room apartment, the bed next to the kitchenette, the only other things in the place were a couch, a TV and DVD player, a few self standing drawers and cupboards, some stools at the kitchen counter and a peeling door that was open. It led to a tiny green tiled shower and toilet. There was another door next to the fridge, thick wood.
�Nice.� Liam said. The wall above the TV had watermarks running down from the roof.
�It�s a shit �hole.� Spike sniffed, heading towards the fridge. �Wanna beer?�
�No thanks, I�m good.�
Spike nodded and popped the top of a can, taking a swig. �Sorry bout the detour, �had to let my cat in.�
He went to the heavy door next to the fridge, which led out into a small paved area guarded by heavy fences. �Angel! Come �ere baby.� He called out into the night. He propped the door open with an empty bottle and came back.
�He�ll come in when he�s ready.� He said, looking back at Liam as if he expected him to say something.
Liam stood in the middle of the room, feeling uncomfortable. This was Spike�s house, where he lived. He wasn�t sure what to do. He smiled at Spike who settled himself on one of the kitchen bench stools watching him.
�What type of cat is he?� He asked, trying to think of something to say, rubbing his palm self consciously against his hip.
�Shorthaired Manx.�
�Oh.� Said Liam, pretending he knew what that was. He didn�t know cats. Cats weren�t openly friendly like dogs. He liked dogs better. Dogs understood you.
�He has no tail.� Spike said, smiling.
He wondered if a cat could lose its tail in a fight. Probably not. �Why?�
�That�s what the breed is, the cats mainly have short tails or none.�
�Oh.� Spike seemed like a strange person to have a cat. Then he wondered why he thought that. Probably cause he was punk tough with his curled lip and white hair and face full of piercings, and he couldn�t imagine him cozying up with a cat. That did mean he couldn�t though.
Something meowed and they both looked at the door to see a small white cat, with black ears and a black patch over its eye. It had no tail, which looked strange to Liam, who had never seen that before. It strutted into the kitchen and jumped on the bench, meowing again.
�Shhh, you�re alright.� Spike said softly, reaching forward to pat its head with his be-ringed fingers and black nails. It purred happily and he pulled it onto his lap, chuckling softly as its paws started digging in under the pats.
It was incongruous� but also strangely cute, watching Spike�s face melt a little.
�So how�d you get the cat again?� He asked, sitting down, feeling more comfortable after watching Spike play with the cat for a while.
�Ex didn�t want it anymore.�
Liam blinked. �That�s a bit harsh.�
�Yeah well Dru kinda fell in and out of fancies quickly. But it�s okay cause I wanted you.� He said to the cat.
�How old is it?�
�Not an it, pet, Angel�s a he.� Spike said, smiling widely at him. �And he�s three.�
Liam nodded.
�Okay, good,� Spike said, standing up and putting the cat on the floor, and walking to the door to kick away the empty bottle so he could close it, the cat running after him and rubbing against his boots. �He�s in, so I can drop you home, if that�s what you want?� He asked, and Liam heard the sly innuendo in the voice but smiled it away.
�Um, right. Thankyou?�
Spike nodded and slowly headed to the front door, smirking at him. He stood up and realised he�d been sitting on the bed, and felt his cheeks get hot. He ducked his head and followed Spike out into the hallway.
**
BZZZZ
Connor jumped, frightened by the noise from the game when he�d been concentrating so hard. They both cracked up into giggles on Liam�s living room floor.
�I touched the sides.� Connor said goofily.
Liam nodded, his giggles slowing down. �My turn.� He said, removing the butterflies from the stomach.
Connor focused even harder, renewing his efforts. They�d been out to about half a dozen comic book stores across Los Angeles that day, the proof lying on the dining room table in the form of many, many comic books. He�d bought Connor a lot of his favourite X-Men, Spiderman comics, while he himself had bought another P Russell adaptation, this one of Cavalleria Rusticana.
BZZZZ
Connor jumped again giggling madly.
�Wanna get a pizza?� Liam asked, standing.
�Yup! Can we get anchovies?�
Liam blinked. �Since when do you like anchovies?�
Connor shrugged.
�Have you ever had anchovies?� He said, unsure Connor would like them.
�Uh� yep.�
That wasn�t convincing.
�How about I get them on half, and you can try them?� He � didn�t mind anchovies. He could eat them.
�Okay!� he said excitedly, deliberately touching the tweezers against the metal lining of the game making it buzz loudly.
He got up off the floor and went to the table, carefully pulling out one of his new books and started flipping through it as Liam ordered the pizza, everything on thick crust, double cheese, no olives and half anchovies.
**
�Morris coming down now.�
Liam leant forward in the couch, watching his red players whip across the ice, the sccrrr of their Bauers across the white.
�Come on, come on�� Liam muttered, eyes wide open, glued, afraid to blink and miss something.
The puck whipped across the ice, undeterred by even the goalie�s body slamming to the ice. Liam threw his fists up in the air, silently victorious.
He nodded, teeth bared in a huge smug smile and swigged his last beer as they set up again.
Knock Knock
He glanced at the door anxious, then back to the game, calculating they weren�t ready to start yet, and leapt out of the lounge, unlocking and opening the door.
Spike nodded at him.
He blinked.
��Ello, thought I might get some company.� He said, black leather coat flowing off his shoulders as he smirked. He held up a paper bag. �Bought you a present.�
Liam was baffled. He stood to the side and let Spike in, glancing at the television to check the status of the game. Commercial.
�Hey, sorry, what�s up?�
�You�re watching the game right?� he asked, dark eyebrows up, forehead crinkled.
�Yeah� I am��
�I�m here to watch it with you. Look,� He said handing over the paper bag. �Chips and beer.�
�You like hockey?�
�Thought you might � tempt my favour.� He said, smirk slipping onto his face.
He laughed, kind of used to Spike�s innuendo by now. �Well, sit down. I was just finishing off my last beer.� Liam said, happy to have some company, motioning him over and watching him flop down on the couch next to him.
He rose after a second to slip his coat off, and tossed it over the back of the chair. �Just in time then.� He said, pulling a long neck out and hissing it open with a flick of his wrist. He dropped the lid back into the bag.
The game flicked on and he popped open a bag of Cheezels. He watched interestedly, asking Liam questions and nodded at the answers taking it all in. The game had already been twenty minutes in, but Spike caught up.
The game finished and they watched the highlights, Liam woozy from all the alcohol he�d consumed so quickly, and then they watched the infomercials and continued to watch the crap that came on after it. Spike suddenly stood up and walked to the wall.
Liam was confused for a moment and then saw what he was looking at. The pictures he�d put up. He silently cursed himself, he knew that was a bad idea.
�Did you draw these?� Spike asked, looking at the charcoal of Connor.
�Yeah, but� you know they�re just up there �till I can find something good to put up. They didn�t take long to do. I was just playing around. I just hate bare walls you know?� He said, aware he was babbling. He stood up, unsure of what to do, but wanting to distract Spike from the pictures somehow, and the room tilted sickeningly.
�These are bloody good. I didn�t know you were an artist.� He said, turning to look at him for a moment, before scrutinising the pictures again.
�I�m not. I just� like drawing.� He finished lamely, sitting back down. He never took compliments well. He just wanted to go back to talking about hockey.
�This Arizona?� Spike asked, pointing to the other picture, moving over to it, biting on the ring in his lip as he looked at every stroke, eyebrows drawn together.
Liam nodded. �Yeah from my window.�
�So do you draw a lot then?� Spike asked, coming back to sit down beside him, closer than before.
Liam nodded slowly. �Yeah. No. Sometimes I do.�
He could feel Spike�s thigh pressing into his own. He was getting flustered. He could smell smoke and leather, tickling up his nose. The last time he and Spike had sat like this� His heart rate picked up, making him breathe a little quicker.
�Right. Well now I have a favourite artist. I feel� cultured.� He drawled eyes fixed on Liam�s face, picking up the remote control and flicking the off button.
Liam grinned shyly, shaking his head. �I�m really not an artist. Really.� He wasn�t. But he liked being called one. He realised he had his hands grasping each other nervously in his lap, and loosened them, resting them on his thighs to affect coolness, calm.
Spike raised his eyebrow, stud glinting and capturing Liam�s attention. It was suddenly so silent in the room, Spike watching him with a smirk. His face felt hot. Spike licked his lips and he saw it, pink tongue darting out. He could feel tension. Heavy, sticky strings of it, connecting them both.
�Can I kiss you?�
Liam blinked. �Uh��
�Can I?� He asked in a low dusky voice, much lower than usual, a rumble.
�I ��
Spike leant forward and cupped his hand around Liam�s jaw, a long warm finger running up behind his ear to pull him towards his lips. Liam didn�t struggle; he didn�t pull back so he must�ve wanted it on some level. It felt good. Being connected like that with someone, someone wanting him like that, the hot mouth on his, the panting and the wet the only sounds in the room, intimate and close, and with someone. He ran the tip of his tongue lightly along the intriguing metal stud, realising he�d wanted to feel it again after all these months, a hardness nestled into the soft wet mouth.
He liked it, twirling his tongue around it, he heard Spike snort at him, and he liked that too and his hand spread out across the jeaned knee touching his. He didn�t know how he felt. Didn�t know if he liked Spike, the way Spike liked him, his brain and heart were too nervous to trust, jittering and scared, but he did know he felt good. He felt good with Spike�s hand and its cold rings stroking his cheek, and the arm that had wound itself around his waist to pull him closer, as if the few particles of air between them was too much.
Liam�s other hand came to rest on Spike�s hip, fingers against the slippery belt, as he felt little kisses peppered over his bottom lip.
Spike�s lips continued down his neck and he heard his name being kissed into his neck. A breathy little noise escaped his own lips as he concentrated on the wet kisses on his neck and the feel of Spike�s temple against his cheek as he kissed the skin under his chin. He knew he should be reciprocating in some way, return the affection that was warming him like a fire but he couldn�t. He felt like he was melting. In a good way. He giggled at his thoughts.
Spike rose up to look in his eyes. He was on his knees on the couch now, sitting back on his boots, taller than Liam as he looked down with heavy eyelids. His pupils were dilated. �You taste good luv.� He breathed, leaning back in to nibble across his lips in a way that had never been erotic before, but was now, was when the lip had a ring that pressed against his skin, was when he could see blue eyes watching him with a smirk, that could see exactly what he was thinking.
Both of Spike�s hands were holding his face, while his own were slung limply around Spike�s waist, his whole body was relaxed, like Spike�s lips somehow had a tranquillising effect when they pressed against him.
One of the hands slipped down his chest and up under his shirt, pulling it up, the air cool on his heated skin, and blunt fingertips started to gently twist and scratch the soft sensitive flesh of his nipple, switching from side to side to excite and constrict them. Flashes of lust travelled down past his clenched stomach to his crotch but he couldn�t watch, all he could see was Spike�s face dipping down for a chaste kiss and drawing away to watch his face, and then dipping down again as the fingers on his chest flicked and rubbed in the right combination and pressure to keep the flashes flushing through him, waves of heat.
�Just relax luv.�
An arm around the back of his shoulder blades, pushing his chest up and Spike�s flushed face dipping and the studded tongue slipping out and laving a flat hard and soft lick across his nipple and all Liam could do was pant. The stud massaged into the centre of his nipple, the soft wet flesh of the rest of the tongue slippery and enticing as it slid across him. He was hard, that thought alone made his mind roll, but the feeling of his jeans pressing back down against him, allowing no relief was making him grimace and his thoughts circle around whether he should undo them. He was hard. Insistently hard in his pants, and Spike had done it to him. Oh, god, it felt good, his body alive for a moment instead of numb and empty and craving. A quick bite and Spike moved to the other side, slowly and gentle as Liam gasped like a virgin and held onto Spike�s forearms, stroking the hot skin with his thumbs.
A strong hand brushed down between his spread legs and gave a gentle squeeze, before sliding up to the button.
Liam jumped and slid back into the chair, away from the dexterous hand.
�What?� Spike panted the question against his neck.
�Uh��
He couldn�t look at him as he panted and pulled his shirt back down. He was embarrassed, ashamed. Mostly confused.
�What�s wrong?� he asked pulling back, not impatient, just puzzled.
He tried to say, but his mouth just worked a little as he shook his head. He was flushing under the gaze. He wasn�t ready. Not for this. Even though it felt good now, he just�
He slowly wiped his palm across his eye as his cock throbbed in his pants and his nipples were itchingly sensitive.
�Liam?�
�Not now.� He managed.
Spike slumped back into the couch. He was watching his face he could tell. He kept his eyes on the wall in front of him, on the picture of his backyard. He felt horrible now. Like a worm.
He could feel Spike�s wet kisses drying coldly on his lips and neck.
�I�m sorry.� He almost croaked.
Please, please, don�t hate me for doing this, he thought over and over, the thought broken as it span around his mind.
Spike sighed. �No. Don�t be sorry.� He said, a little exhaustion sneaking into his understanding words.
Liam heard sounds, fabric against the couch, a crackle. The sound of a match and than a puff of a cigarette. The tobacco drifted into his nostrils, overpowering the Spike smell.
�I should probably go then, yeah?� Spike asked, humour in his voice now.
�It wasn�t you.� He said quickly. �I just� I did like it� I just��
�You ever been with a man?� Spike asked, cutting through his babble.
�Uh�� Images of his body pressed against hard flat muscles, his fingers through short hair. �Not like ��
The corner of his eye picked up Spike nodding slowly. �Well � just,� He paused. �Just think about it.�
He unfurled off the couch and loped towards the door. ��Had fun tonight. �Hope I see you soon, yeah?�
He nodded and the door clicked closed behind him, closing Liam into the emptiness of the room, leaving him with only the taste of whisky and hot smoke on his lips and the feeling he�d made a horrible mistake.
*
Ring Ring.
�Yep?�
�Spike?�
�� Liam. Hey, what�s happening?�
�Uh, I just wanted to say, um, sorry, for the way I acted �uh, before.�
�No need for apologies Luv.�
�Well, I�d like to take you to dinner to make up for it, there�s a little trattoria down the street from me, � its got great pasta if� you know, if you like� pasta.�
�Sounds great.�
�Really? Great! So, um, yeah, come to mine and um, we�ll go.�
�What time?�
�Oh. Um, Friday, seven?�
�I�ll be there ducks.�
Ducks? Ducks was a new one.
Back to Inc's Fic Part Six up soon!