Patching up and going out.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Continued from here.

Spike came to an abrupt halt in the doorway. Since Wesley had been wearing a t-shirt when they had dealt with his bandage that morning, Spike hadn't been prepared to turn the corner to find an unexpectedly appealing back exposed to his eyes. His gaze flickered along a lean torso, over well-proportioned shoulders, down one nicely-defined arm, and came to rest on the wound that Wesley was trying to uncover.

"Let me do that," Spike said brusquely, but his hands were gentle as he took over the task. He removed the gauze and was pleased to see that there was no sign of infection and that the stitches were holding. "Looks like it'll heal cleanly, if you don't do anything stupid."

Comments

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"I'll try not to disappoint you," Wesley said, then paused awkwardly -- he'd meant his tone to be joking, but the words had come out sounding rather serious.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Not about me," Spike said, using the tip of one finger to dab antibiotic ointment carefully over the cut.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley had no idea what to say, so the awkward silence continued. He looked at the way Spike's right hand cradled the back of his forearm to hold it steady. The touch was cool and comforting, but Wesley shivered slightly, feeling overly sensitized, strung out.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

At Wesley's movement, Spike froze and glanced up. "Am I hurting you?"

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"I -- no." But Spike's words blew a cool breath of air over Wesley's bare skin, making him tense further. "Sorry. It's... it's fine." What the hell else was he supposed to say?

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike couldn't help but notice that Wesley seemed to be getting uneasier with each minute that Spike was touching him, so he set his jaw and wrapped the wound as quickly as he could. When he was certain that it was safe from infection and detection, he stepped away and grabbed his t-shirt, which was hanging to dry over the towel rack. "All set."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"Thank you." Wesley picked up his own shirt and held it in front of him, hoping to hide the slight arousal that had resulted from Spike's touch. He felt as if he were about fourteen years old again.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike nodded and turned toward the door, not wanting to embarrass either of them by commenting on Wesley's involuntary physical reaction. Spike knew that it had nothing to do with him in particular, just his proximity. "Don't know how long it takes to get there, but I'll be ready after I change my shirt."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"We've a little bit of time before we need to go," Wesley said, calculating in his head. He wondered if Spike had had enough blood but thought it might be better not to ask. "I'll just get dressed myself."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Leaving Wesley to what he liked, Spike walked back into the living room and stripped off his borrowed shirt. His own t-shirt was still somewhat damp, but he slid it over his head anyway. If his hair didn't look right, at least the rest of him would.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley paused, momentarily spellbound at the sight of Spike's pale skin stretched taut over hard muscle, then forced himself to look away. Made himself take a step toward where he could get another shirt, and after that it was easier. He found a tight sleeved shirt, pulled it on, then buttoned a second shirt over it and went back into the living room. "Is this okay?" he asked, holding his arms out at his sides.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. Someone looking closely might notice, but they'll probably think it's a weapon up your sleeve." A thought occurred to Spike. "Please tell me you will be armed."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley grinned at Spike's tone and headed over to pick up his jacket. "Yes. I did, believe it or not, manage to survive without you until now. I have a collapsible wrist weapon, not to mention these." He pulled out two pistols.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Maybe you do have some common sense after all." Returning Wesley's grin, Spike slipped into his duster.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"You have no idea how many times I've had to use these," Wesley said, putting his jacket on and then tucking the guns back into their sewn-in holsters. "It's actually starting to get funny."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Good thing you carry them, then, isn't it?"

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"I suppose so." Wesley looked around, trying to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. He had cash in his jeans' pocket for the informant they were going to meet, he was armed... he sighed as he realized he ought to strap on his wrist weapon before they left, just in case.

He took off his jacket and considered whether he could successfully strap it on over both shirts, then realized something else. "Would you like a weapon? Not that you wouldn't do fine without one, I'm sure."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Already got mine." Spike flashed in and out of game face. "Besides, most informants don't like people walking in with big swords. Makes them twitchy."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley perched on the edge of a chair so that he could brace his wrist on his knee as he used the other hand to close the latches on the weapon, then stood back up and put his jacket on again. "All right. Ready?"

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike nodded and followed Wesley down to his car. When they were on their way, with Wesley driving this time, Spike said, "So what's this bloke informing you about that's so important you can't put it off and get some sleep?"

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"Maybe nothing," Wesley said, although he hoped otherwise. "But it's a regularly scheduled meeting -- he expects me to be there, and if I'm not, I'll lose some of his trust."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"I'll stay out of your way once we get there. Doubt he'd be happy to make a new friend."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley had to admit that was a good idea. "Sheldon's... a bit nervous." That was an enormous understatement -- the man, who was at least part demon, though Wesley couldn't be sure what kind, was a twitching example of paranoia gone awry. It was the reason they met where they did, the demon-frequented bar being one of the few places that Sheldon apparently felt comfortable.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike snorted. "Sheldon? If my name were Sheldon I'd be nervous, too. Doesn't exactly strike fear in others."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"I think he's less concerned with striking fear and more with escaping notice," Wesley said. "But for some reason, people seem to trust him. Well, enough to tell him things that they don't tell other people."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Works out well for you and for him. He keeping his ear out for anything specific for you?"

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley shrugged slightly. "Any number of things -- he knows the sorts of information I'm interested in, and he knows a fair number of people in the city who seem to run into it." He thought for a moment, then added, "Information about Wolfram and Hart, actually."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Yeah? Keeping an eye on the firm from the outside? Finding out what your underlings are hiding from you?" Spike asked, impressed by the idea.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley nodded. "Sometimes you have to go outside the source if you want to hear the rumors."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Very good thinking," Spike said. "Must be people in every department spending most of their time trying to keep you lot out of the loop."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"It's good to know who to keep an eye on." Wesley sighed as he wondered if Angel shouldn't be added to that list, what with the way the vampire had backpeddled away from his attempt at conversation earlier that day.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"At a place like that? Got to keep an eye on everyone." Spike pushed his hand through his hair and tried unsuccessfully to get it to lie flat. "Maybe not Harmony. She may be daft, but she's not devious."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

It was almost worrisome to Wesley how often he found himself agreeing with Spike. "No, Harmony's the least of my concerns."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"We'll see if you say that when she and Lorne reveal their plans for improving morale," Spike said. "Heard her say something about disco night."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

The sound that escaped Wesley was half chuckle, half groan. "Good lord. What did you ever see in her?"

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike smirked. "Think it's obvious, mate."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley nodded back at him. "But even still. She's so..." He couldn't think of a word that wasn't immensely unflattering.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Bloody annoying?" Spike suggested. "Got good at tuning her out. I was evil at the time."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"And apparently very patient," Wesley said. He barely had any contact with Harmony and even he could see how, as Spike had put it, bloody annoying the woman was.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Doubt she'd agree," Spike said. "But she's not that bad, really. Just wants someone to love her."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"Maybe she'll find some attractive demon with amazing patience. And a hearing problem," Wesley suggested, turning at the lights and heading west.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike grinned. "Sounds perfect. 'Course, then she'll go on and on about her new boyfriend..."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"Or maybe we're the ones who need to develop hearing problems." Wesley rubbed the left side of his throat just under his ear ruefully, as if trying to encourage said malady.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"I won't be there, but you might think about it," Spike said. "Unless that makes her speak louder. You know, tuning her out still seems like the best option."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Continues here (http://www.livejournal.com/community/reality_bends/6794.html).