Leaving the office. Really, this time.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Continued from here.

"I don't know. I don't know why I said that," Wesley admitted. "I know it still matters. It just feels a bit... empty. As if nothing really happened here." He looked around the room.

Comments

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"A lot seemed to be happening from my point of view. Maybe too much," Spike said with a faint grin. "But I'm sure it'll take you some time to sort it all out."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley looked at Spike again. "I hope you don't mind waiting," he said. "I want to tell you that things will be fine right away, but..."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Anything good's worth waiting for." It was a lesson Spike was trying to learn, anyway. He held Wesley's gaze seriously for a moment before looking back out of the window, though Wesley's reflection was more compelling to him than the city beyond the glass. "Though if I can help speed up the process let me know," he offered more lightly.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"I think speed is the problem," Wesley said thoughtfully. "Everything happened so fast." He shook his head and turned his attention back to the task at hand, adding another book that belonged to him to his box.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike nodded. How long had it been since he had been haunting the hallways, feeling outside of it all as he had listened to Lorne sing "The Yellow Rose of Texas" to a flustered Fred while Wesley and Gunn watched and grinned with the familiarity of old friends? Not long at all, but it seemed like forever ago. "We can take things slower now. Not make decisions until you're sure."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"There are some things I'm sure about," Wesley said.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike couldn't show his insecurity and ask what they were, though he was optimistic that Wesley would have included him in that list. "That'll help, then." Still restless, he stepped away from the window and wandered to the other side of the room, where he could survey the empty common space. He was pleased to see that Harmony had still not appeared.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Glancing up again, Wesley saw something in Spike's posture -- a hint of uncertainty, something -- and left what he was doing, going over to stand behind Spike and wrapping his arms around the other man's torso, pulling him against his own chest. "Are you all right?" he asked softly, taking comfort in the touch of Spike's body along his.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Surprised by the gesture, Spike was stiff for a moment before laying his arms over Wesley's and allowing himself to relax enough that he could close his eyes for a few brief seconds. "Just looking forward to that drink." It was as far as he could go to admitting that he was upset.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"Okay," Wesley said, pressing a quick kiss to the back of Spike's head and releasing him. "Let's go then. If I've forgotten anything, I can live without it."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"No, that's not what I meant," Spike said, turning. "Take your time. I know this is important."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley touched the side of Spike's face fleetingly. "No," he said. "It's not. When it comes right down to it... this isn't important. It's just a room."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike knew that what Wesley was doing was far more than simply leaving the room. "Don't rush on my account, pet. I'm fine."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"I'm nearly done anyway," Wesley said, returning to the desk and closing the drawers. He shuffled through the papers and things on the top of the desk to make sure none of them was anything he needed.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Not going to argue if Wesley wanted to leave, Spike slid his hands into the pockets of his coat and looked out of the windows into the main space of the floor again. He was vaguely surprised that Angel hadn't made another appearance, but he wasn't sorry for it. With Angel as a handy and suitable outlet, Spike would have been hard pressed to keep the violence to a minimum.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Deciding that he was done, Wesley picked up the bottle of liquor, made sure the cap was on tightly, and tucked it into the box along with the other things. He picked the box up. "Okay, let's go."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Is there anything else you want to do while we're here?" Spike asked, heading toward the office door. "Or should we get out while we still can?"

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"I'm all set," Wesley said, following Spike, refusing to let himself turn around for one last look at the office. Besides, tomorrow he'd see Fred and the others -- that would be more difficult than leaving a room.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Need help with that?" Spike asked, though the box looked more than light enough for Wesley to carry.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"No, I'm fine," Wesley said, aware that he was clutching the box rather tightly.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike got to the elevator first and pushed the down button. While they were waiting, he surveyed the space again. "I thought I'd be happier to see the last of this place."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley looked at Spike in surprise. "You're not?"

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Believe me, pet, I'm thrilled to get out of here," Spike clarified, "but I pictured more of a triumphant exit." The reality of retreating in defeat was far less pleasurable. The elevator arrived, and he gestured for Wesley to enter ahead of him.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley stepped inside, still clutching his box of things, looking back out through the doors at the lobby and telling himself this might very well be his last view of it. "It isn't very triumphant, is it," he said, feeling empty.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"I was imagining tears, maybe a farewell round of drinks. Not this." Spike followed Wesley into the elevator and went to select the button for street level. He paused before he pressed it, looking over at him. "Ready?" he asked gently.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Wesley said, nodding.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike pushed the button and leaned against the wall, watching Wesley instead of the doors sliding shut in front of them. "You know, sometimes I really hate this sodding soul," he said conversationally, trying to fill up the silence. "I can't even enjoy his pain properly anymore."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry that he's upset," Wesley said, looking down into the box. "But I don't think we're doing the wrong thing."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"We aren't." Spike glanced up at the display of descending numbers, which were not moving as quickly as he would have liked. "Well, you aren't, anyway; I don't really factor into it."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley considered arguing that point, but he wasn't sure he could manage to do so successfully. Now that they were away from Angel, it was really starting to sink in what had transpired. "He destroyed them."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike's hands clenched into fists. "I know. And if you don't want me to go back and break every bone in his body you might want to wait to talk about it until we're out of the building. I'm fine either way."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Taking a step back so that he could lean against the wall of the elevator, even though he knew it would be opening very soon, Wesley sighed. "Sorry."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Don't be sorry," Spike said, looking over at Wesley again. "I'm just trying to do what you asked. If you've changed your mind about me hurting him, I'd be very happy to let my feelings out."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"I'd rather just get out of here," Wesley said, straightening up as the elevator stopped moving.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Crossing his arms over his chest, Spike tried not to show his disappointment, though he couldn't hide the agitation in even his smallest movements. He needed some way to vent some of his frustration and anger, and he wasn't convinced that the alcohol would be enough. The doors slid open, and he pushed off of the wall and walked out into the main lobby. A pair of security guards sat at their desk, and two suited lawyers were leaving through the front doors, but otherwise the space was empty of people. "We're almost out."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Heading for the main door now that there was no reason not to, Wesley said in a low voice, "Is it ridiculous that part of me is waiting for someone to shout out 'stop?'"

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"If it is, we're both ridiculous," Spike admitted, watching the guards, who looked bored and disinterested, out of the corner of his eye. "With everything that's gone on here, I think we're being smart."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"I may have lost the ability to tell," Wesley said. "What's smart, I mean." They were nearly at the doors.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"If you have, you'll get it back." His attention still focused on potential problems, Spike sped up enough to reach the doors first and held one open for Wesley.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

It was a relief to step outside into the night air. Smiling his thanks to Spike, Wesley took a deep breath and let it out.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

The soft thunk of the door swinging shut behind them was music to Spike's ears. "Nearly there," he said, relaxing just slightly.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"You could start in on this now if you wanted to," Wesley said, offering the box toward Spike so that he could take out the bottle of scotch.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike gave a slightly hollow laugh. "Don't tempt me, pet. I won't be able to resist for much longer." He did, however, reach for the box so that Wesley could get his keys.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

With a murmured thanks, Wesley handed over the box and unlocked the door to the back seat, gesturing to indicate that Spike could put it in there, then unlocked Spike's door as well. "We'll stop and get some more," he said. "There's a shop close to the apartment building."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Continues here (http://www.livejournal.com/community/reality_bends/47849.html).