Altered Perception

Just like old times

Spike was bored, in fact he was giving serious consideration to punching Angel just to get a rise out of the old man, he’d been doing his best to wind the broody son of a bitch up for the last 30 miles and gotten nowhere. In fact each time he made one of his usual digs, pretty much guaranteed to get a response Angel had simply given him this creepy little smile, shook his head and then ignored him. If there was one thing guaranteed to annoy Spike it was being ignored and Angel knew this. He’d settled for leaning back with his feet on the dash and chain smoking, he knew that was working, he could see the tiny tic just above Angel’s left eyebrow that meant he was getting pissed. Really it was nothing against Angel, Spike wasn’t regretting reaffirming their bond. It was just… he was bored.

Angel glanced at Spike, he knew his Childe was getting bored. He had that tic in his jaw that meant he was minutes away from hitting something and unfortunately for Angel there was only him within reaching distance. Spike had spent the first half of the journey trying to piss him off and he knew it. That’s why he’d been unable to get annoyed with each comment and sly dig the platinum blonde made. Instead of getting to him like they’d used to he felt the emotion behind them, Spike’s fear for Xander and underneath it all the thread of happiness at having reconnected with his Sire. Each time Spike had started he’d simply shook his head at the familiarity of it, so much like when Spike was Will, his beautiful new fledgling vampire and craving his Sire’s attention had resorted to disobedience to gain it. Eventually Spike had been reduced to sulking, filthy Doc’s lodged belligerently on top of the glove box and smoking incessantly. With the exception of opening his window to ventilate the car’s interior Angel had not even acknowledged the behaviour much to Spike’s obvious annoyance.

Three, two, one… Angel’s hand shot out and gripped Spike’s fist before it could connect with the side of his head. “Will, I know you’re bored and I know you’re worried but try to hit me again and I swear to God I’ll lock you in the boot for the rest of the trip” Angel’s voice never raised above a nice conversational tone but the threat was like steel in it. Spike pouted and slunk lower in his seat “m’not worried, going to fix my Xander up aren’t we?” the tone was sulky but Angel could hear the questioning, pleading undercurrent, Spike needed reassurance that this was going to work. Sighing to himself he dragged a semi-reluctant Spike until the blonde head was resting in his lap. With one hand on the wheel he used the free one to run his hands through silky locks, hair that had been bleached so much just shouldn’t feel this soft he marvelled whilst noting that Spike’s hair was getting longer than he usually let it. Small, unruly curls gathered at the nape of his neck. Angel shifted uncomfortably at the memory of what that marble skin tasted like right at that spot, whether it was slick with sweat or blood it never mattered the overwhelming taste was always pure Will.

Spike felt cool hands carding through his hair and suppressed the overwhelming urge to arch into the contact like a huge bloody cat. He should have known of course that of all people Angel would know how to calm him down, sighing as the fingers moved to gently tug the longish curls at the back of his neck he was suddenly hit by a wave of pheromones as familiar as his own scent. Pulling himself into a sitting position and tugging his duster tight around him as though it could offer protection he fixed Angel with a scowl. “What the bloody hell you playing at you git? Know I love my Xander don’t you? What’s all this about then?” He watched the embarrassment flower on Angel’s face and took a moment to giggle internally over that, wasn’t often he saw Angel looking sheepish. “Will I- well I didn’t mean anything by it, I certainly had no intention of trying anything it was…” he trailed off helplessly, his gaze pleading with Spike to just drop it but Spike was having too much fun and to be honest he was a little annoyed, Angel knew how he felt about Xander and he knew that Spike was a one-person vampire, hell he’d only turned to Drusilla when Angel had left them.

“Memories, that’s all Will, memories” Angel’s voice was quiet and Spike felt a pang of something that felt suspiciously like guilt, grumbling internally that he was as bad as Angel with the guilt and the angst he gave a long suffering sigh and manoeuvred himself back with his head in Angel’s lap. When Angel didn’t take the bait and resume his petting he snorted and reaching up grabbed one of Angel’s hands from the wheel and placed it on the nape of his neck “was comfy” he muttered and closing his eyes feigned sleep. After a few moments Angel’s hand tentatively resumed it’s motions and Spike let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding, the motion of the car along with the soothing of Angel’s familiar scent and his petting lulled Spike close to sleep, it had been days since he had really slept and he was exhausted, before he drifted off he cracked an eye and sneaked a peek at Angel, satisfied at the small smile he saw tugging at his Sire’s mouth he closed his eyes and allowed himself to sleep.

What felt like seconds after Spike had allowed himself to sleep he was woken by Angel’s voice, “Will, wake up Will, we’re here”. Rejuvenated by the short amount of sleep he had he was instantly alert. Sitting up he ruefully ran a hand over his head, Angel’s mussing had removed the last traces of gel. What with everything that had been going on he hadn’t bothered to cut, bleach or really do anything with his hair for the last couple of weeks. Angel grinned at him, he knew exactly what Spike was doing, “it looks better that way, I always loved your hair” Angel smirked before tossing over a pot of hair gel from the drivers side door, Spike glanced at the container before passing it back with a small smile. Truth be told, he loved his hair longer himself, the bleach, the leather, it all looked great in the 70’s but he’d changed his look before, and was thinking now might be time for another change. Angel looked shocked, then pleased before looking out of the window and his expression became focused. “You ready for this Will?” he asked and Spike felt a small thrill at the voice, it was the voice of his Sire intent on achieving something. He hadn’t heard that tone for decades, it had usually been heard when Angelus set his sights on a particular target, someone he wanted to take and break before killing them.

Spike followed Angel’s gaze and saw a deserted landscape, nothing to see for miles and was about to ask if they’d come to the right place before spotting it. A small area raised slightly above the rest of the ground, he was betting that the entrance to this temple was under there. He glanced at Angel and felt a frisson of electricity run down his spine, Angel had a look of utter determination on his face, Spike had last seen that look back in Sunnydale when Angelus had made his last appearance and was determined to suck the world into hell. But he’d seen it countless times before that, decades ago when Angelus had set his sights on a victim who he intended to break thoroughly before finally granting the release of death. It was a look that said Angel would achieve what he had set out to do and it would take an insurmountable force, oh say a Slayer the likes of which had never before been seen, one who defeated a god before sacrificing her life to save those she loved to stop him. Spike grinned at Angel, “I was born ready, let’s go get my boy back yeah?” before exiting the car. With Angel on his side, there was no way they could fail.

After climbing down a seemingly endless set of stairs, he’d been right the entrance to the ruins had been concealed under the raised area they saw flickering torch light ahead. Spike turned to Angel, he wasn’t sure why but he felt bad about Angel being here, risking his life for him, for his happiness and he felt like he needed to offer Angel this last opportunity, a last chance to turn back, just let him do what he had planned and save Xander at the cost of his own life. Before he could even frame the offer though Angel turned to him and said “I’m not turning back from this now Will, not because of you, not because of Xander. Well, it is because of Xander, but I’m saying I’d do this for him alone, regardless of your involvement. You and him… it just makes it personal.” Spike swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat forcefully, managing a strangled “thank you” and whatever benevolent entity looked out for unsouled but chipped and not-quite evil vampires must have been listening because Angel ignored the wetness that he just knew was shining in his eyes and after giving Spike an impromptu, shocking but not unwelcome embrace clapped a hand on his shoulder and said, “come on then, let’s do this and get your boy back.”

As they entered the room that contained the source of the light they had seen Spike was on red alert, they had no idea what they were in for, the information that Giles and Wesley had been able to find was sketchy, just the same bits and pieces over and over again, face the trials, get a dagger, use it to heal Xander. Even the end bit was sketchy, they hadn’t quite figured out how the dagger was supposed to bring Xander back but the watchers, Cordelia and Fred had promised to research it whilst they retrieved it and Gunn had explained that he wasn’t exactly a book guy but would be on hand and assured Spike that if they needed to beat information out of anyone then he would be ‘all over it’. Focusing himself purely on the task at hand he scanned the cavernous room for any indication of what was coming.

The room they stood in looked more like a natural cave than anything else, rounded with rough walls. However there were three clearly man made archways spaced across the side opposite them. Each arch had a rune etched into the stone directly above it, Spike smirked at the look of confusion on Angel’s face. Fact of the matter was that Angelus had made sure his favourite Childe was well educated, and not just to pass through what passed as elite society in the human world. Spike had been forced to learn countless demonic languages and understand the basics of witchcraft, luckily including runes. However Angelus’ overbearing ‘parenting style’ had been hypocrisy of the highest accord, the fact was he could barely read the majority of demonic languages and didn’t have the first bloody clue when it came to witchcraft.

“We’ll have to go back topside, see if I can get a signal and call Wesley to get these runes transcribed” Angel had an apologetic look as though he should have foreseen this. “Don’t be daft ya git, can bloody read them cant I?” Spike pointed to the arch on the far left, “Thurisaz ,means conflict, can also represent demons yeah? So I’m guessing that that trials your standard ooglie booglie comes out, fight to the death gig”, he waved to the door in the middle, “Kaunaz, means fire, injury, malady and all that bollocks, not looking forward to that one too much if I’m honest, us and fire makes for flambé vampire…” he broke off with a pensive frown. “S’the one on the right that gives me the most worry though, Gytu, represents a gift or a sacrifice made for a loved one.” He turned to Angel, prepared to tell him that under no circumstances was he about to start sacrificing himself for Spike’s happiness, he had been prepared to die for Xander before Angel had invited himself along on this quest-thing and if anyone needed to die to get Xan back then it would be him. His speech was stopped before it even started though and he laughed at the look of shock on Angel’s face. “What? You thought I wouldn’t remember my lessons? You forced me to learn this stuff for bloody hours Angel, s’not like I’m gonna forget it” he snorted. “I just, I forget sometimes, how clever you are Will. You were clever when you were turned, a Cambridge graduate no less. You’re probably the most educated person I know in fact, well perhaps Giles, maybe Wesley… still.”

Spike felt a warm flush of pride under Angel’s praise, “yeah well, Rupert keeps the grey matter in shape. S’always some bloody prophecy or portent that he needs translating and it’s quicker if I do it, he’d have to use a codex or somesuch and I know the stuff straight off” he mumbled to cover his embarrassment. Angel placed a hand on his shoulder, “I’m proud of you Will, you’ve been helping them for a long time. Before this thing with Xander I’d wager, I know this isn’t necessarily the path you would have chosen Will but it’s good for you, and if it’s brought you Xander then it has to be a good thing right?” Angel’s voice sounded almost anxious, as though he were worried that Spike was unhappy with his situation, fact was he’d barely given a thought to the chip for the last few months. Oh he knew it was there but it didn’t make him feel… less anymore.

“Yeah, yeah m’happy Angel. If the chip came out tomorrow it’s not like I’d be running through the ‘Dale feeding and killing. Like you said Xander wouldn’t stand for it, hell he’d probably get all noble and decide it was him who had to stake me or something and…” his voice trailed off. The very idea of facing off with Xander, kill or be killed made him feel sick. Shaking his head to clear the mental images his mind had provided him of a broken Xander he finished quietly “I like who I am now.” “So do I Will, so do I.” Angel’s response was quiet but full of emotion, the bond between them was thrumming with love and pride. Dragging a hand across his face on the pretence of rubbing his forehead Spike managed to remove the slight trace of wetness in his eyes. “Right, enough of the feelings and all that rot, I want Xan back, got me some unfinished business with my boy and I intend to make him regret putting me through all this worry in the very best ways.” He shot a lewd grin and a wink at Angel and was relieved to see a genuine smile cross the older vamps face. “Right then, after you Will” Spike raised his head and fixed a picture of a grinning Xander, curls all flopping in his face firmly in his minds eye before leading them both through the far left archway.

AN - Sorry for the delay in posting, been away for the winter solstice. The next few chapters are all works in progress though and should be up soon.