A quick snack for Spike before the big dinner

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Continued from here.

"It's not just that," Wesley said, looking at the way Spike's hand curled around his mug. "It's..." He trailed off.

Comments

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"It's what, love?" Spike asked.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"Everything," Wesley said finally. "The way you look. The way you look at me. How you're so determined to go through this with me, when it's certainly not your responsibility to. The fact that you love me that much. That you love me at all." He ran out of words.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike set his mug down and said earnestly, "I do love you. More than I can tell you. More than I can show you. That means if it's your problem it's my problem, too."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"I know. It just amazes me that you feel that way." Wesley looked up at Spike again, blinking into sincere blue eyes.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"I do." Spike extended his hand across the table, placing it palm-up in front of Wesley. "It amazes me that you'd take me on at all, so we're even."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley didn't hesitate to rest his own hand on top of Spike's, curling his fingertips around the edge of Spike's palm. "And we'll do everything we can to help them?" he asked.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"We will," Spike said, not looking away from Wesley's gaze. "Both of us."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"Thanks." Wesley tightened his grip to express his gratitude.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike was quiet for a moment, soaking in the look in Wesley's eyes, and then smiled. "But if hitting Angel's involved, I want the first punch."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley found himself grinning unexpectedly. "Oh, by all means," he said. "I'd probably just break my hand."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"His head is abnormally hard," Spike agreed, stroking his thumb along the side of Wesley's hand. "You could always go for the stomach; it's got more padding."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"I don't want to hit him," Wesley said, although part of him did, and he suspected that Spike knew that. "I feel... well, angry, but sorry for him, too."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Well, he is losing you." It was about the least argumentative thing Spike could think to say.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"He lost me when he made the decision to do what he did," Wesley said.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"I'm not arguing with that," Spike said. "I only feel sorry for him that he was stupid enough to make it."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley rubbed his other hand across his forehead, resting his elbow on the table. "He's not stupid," he said. "He just has very poor judgement sometimes." He shouldn't be defending Angel, he knew that, but somehow he couldn't help it.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

That it was Spike's own fault for bringing up Angel didn't make him any happier hearing Wesley still sticking up for him. "That makes it so much better." He squeezed Wesley's hand and then pulled his own back, draining the rest of his now lukewarm blood in a single swallow.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"No," Wesley said quietly, even though he knew that Spike hadn't been serious. "Actually, it doesn't make it better at all." He stood up and went to the refrigerator for some bottled water.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike found himself at a loss as to how to answer; talking about Angel with Wesley was like walking through a minefield, and he didn't think either of them wanted to blow up just them. He spun his mug in slow circles on the table and utterly failed to come up with something neutral to say.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Closing the refrigerator door and opening his bottle, Wesley leaned against the countertop and took a sip. He wished they'd never got on this topic, not that it was easily avoidable. "Do you want to go?" he asked.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," Spike said, getting up and taking his mug to the sink. "I'll just be a minute."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"Okay." Wesley stayed where he was -- he wasn't sure what Spike needed to do, but they had a few minutes, at least.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike would have liked to give Wesley a kiss on his way out, but the whole point of him leaving the room was that he couldn't, so he settled for a faint, somewhat apologetic smile and headed to the bathroom. He rifled through the medicine cabinet for the mouthwash and swished mouthfuls of the bright blue, unpleasantly sharp liquid until he could no longer detect a hint of pig's blood beneath it. Then he slicked back his hair with a few practiced movements and went to find Wesley.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley'd stayed put once he'd realized that Spike had gone to the bathroom, presumably to gel his hair. He drank his water and tried not to think about how the evening was going to go. He glanced up when Spike reappeared in the doorway. "All right?"

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Not breaking stride at all, Spike walked directly over to Wesley, boxed him in against the counter, and gave him a short but determined kiss. Wesley tasted far better than minty mouthwash. "Yeah," he said, taking a small step back. "I'm ready when you are."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Startled, Wesley blinked at Spike, licking his lips as he realized what else the vampire had been up to. "I'm ready," he said, since Spike seemed to require an answer, although his voice was rather faint.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Grinning at Wesley's reaction, Spike asked, "You sure about that?"

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"Yes. I just..." Wesley swallowed. "You rinsed your mouth out." Then, without waiting for a reply, he dragged Spike in again by his shirt front and kissed him again, this one longer but no less determined.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

This time Spike was the one who was surprised, but he didn't hesitate to return the kiss. "I wanted to be able to kiss you," he explained.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"I'm glad you did," Wesley said, running his hand up Spike's arm. "Thank you."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Anything for you, pet," Spike said with a small smile. He couldn't quite bring himself to step back again now that he was so close.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley didn't want to move. "We should probably go," he said.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," Spike said, tearing his eyes away from Wesley's face and forcing himself to move away. "Sorry." He glanced at Wesley again, drinking in the last sight of him somewhat relaxed and loving that he was likely to see for far too long.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"Don't be sorry," Wesley said, moving closer to Spike as if drawn to him. "Tell me we don't have to go." It was an absurd request -- of course they had to go, but he so didn't want to.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike looked over at the clock, though he had no idea how long it would take to get to the restaurant. "We might have a few minutes, but..." He gave Wesley a weak, sympathetic smile and fought not to slide his arms around him. "We have to go."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley sighed, stepping in and resting his chin on Spike's shoulder, one arm going around him in a loose embrace. "I don't want to," he said, rather petulantly.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"I know," Spike said softly, leaning the side of his head against Wesley's and giving in to the urge to hold him. He rubbed his hands over Wesley's back. "It shouldn't be your job to tell them, but then it'll be over, and you won't have to worry about it anymore."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"I know. You're right." Wesley stayed exactly where he was, soaking up the comfort of Spike's embrace, for a long moment, then sighed again and straightened up. "Okay. I'm ready."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike leaned up to brush his mouth over Wesley's once more and then let him go. "All I need is my coat," he said.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"Me too," Wesley said. "Oh, and the book. Just in case."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Right, then." Spike gestured for Wesley to lead the way to the living room.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

With Spike following, Wesley went back to the living room and spotted the book immediately, picking it up and then going to retrieve his jacket.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike slid into his duster, feeling a bit like he was putting on armor for battle, and patted his pockets to be sure that the little bit of money he had was in them. Satisfied that he had everything, he waited for Wesley to be ready.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley put his own jacket on, made sure one of his smaller handguns was tucked into the inside pocket, and nodded at Spike. "Well, here we go."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Continues here (http://www.livejournal.com/community/reality_bends/67530.html).