Introductions

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Part 18

"Hey, El. How's it going?"

"Hold on, Harris. I'm driving. Let me get my headset."

Mutters and the sounds of fumbling, then

"Okay, sorry. I'm back."

"Good. But why are you driving? I thought you were supposed to get in last night."

"Yeah, we were. We had some... car trouble."

A snort. "Yeah, right. He... how is he, buddy? We've been worried about you guys."

Small, unhappy sigh. "The weather's still the same, Harris. But I'm sure it'll improve sooner or later. It's been kind of... humid."

A pause while Harris puzzled that out. "Oh... got it, El. Shit, why don't you call me back later, when you can talk?"

"I... yeah, I think that's a good idea. I don't like talking while I drive here anyway. The roads are kind of... winding. But you remember that."

A sigh. "Yeah... it's not gonna be easy, El. But... he's a good kid and... I know you'll take care of him. You and Trev, I mean. Speaking of which, tell him Spike has a little crush on his sister." Laughter.

"Bloody hell! I do not!" heard in the background.

"You SO do! You've been jumping every time the phone rang all day just in case it was her, babe!"

"I'm a bloody VAMPIRE, luv! We don't GET crushes. That's a purely human thing."

A snort. "Whatever."

"He really does, El. It's funny."

A laugh. "Well, I'll tell Trev. It'll give him something to tease Will about, anyway."

"Yeah. So call me later, buddy. I... fuck, El. Keep us in the loop, okay? And tell the guys I said hi."

"Definitely. Later, Harris."

"Later... and good luck."

"Thanks. Bye."

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"So how is young Bobby?" Spike demanded as he sipped his blood slowly, savoring it as usual for the time of day.

Harris sighed. "From what I could tell, he's the same. But Elliot thinks he's gonna get better... or at least feel better eventually... assuming I'm getting his talk about the weather right." He shrugged a little. "They're still driving so I guess he didn't want Robert to know we were talking about him."

"Right, then," the vampire frowned. "Hardly know th' bloke but seein' as he's important ta El an' Trev... want me ta find th' git what done him an' torture an' kill him?"

He laughed quietly and crossed the room, kissing his love's blood-tinted lips roughly. "No, but I appreciate the offer. That's something for Robert to decide. When he's ready." Harris nodded. "I think... he'll do better with El and Trev than he would without them, though. I think they... well, they care for him, in any case. That'll help, right?"

Spike shrugged. "Dunno, luv. Never spent much time with humans who'd had that happen ta them. 's different with vamps. A bit of force an' blood... 's just foreplay. Th' demon just likes ta get off, you know? Can find pleasure even in th' pain. Guess it's one of th' things ta make up for not havin' a soul, yah?"

Harris cocked his head, his eye gazing deep into his lover's. "You know... maybe I should ask Trevor about that. I mean, he's been your Watcher for what? Almost seven years now?"

" 'ey! Had me a soul alla that time, didn't I? Soddin' Trev wouldn't know. An' speakin' of th' git... what the bloody fuck were you doin', sayin' I've got a crush on 'Patia?"

He gave the blond a sly grin. "You do, Spike. Come on, it's not like I don't know the signs." He chuckled, putting a few feet between himself and his claimed. "Besides, the way you kept staring at her the other morning made it pretty clear. Hell, you even did the dishes, babe! You NEVER do dishes unless you're trying to impress someone... or make up for something."

The vampire snorted and finished off his blood then pointedly walked into the kitchen and washed his mug. "You were sayin'?"

"That SO doesn't count. Just admit it, babe. You've got the hots for Hypatia." Harris grinned again. "I don't blame you. She's... well, you know how she is, so... OH! I get it!"

"Get what?" Spike demanded, glaring at his Claimed. "That you're a bloody nut job? Yah, I get that too, luv."

"No, no..." he was laughing so hard he almost couldn't speak but he managed. "She... the long dark hair... an accent... strong woman... she's like... a human and not crazy as horse-pants DRU!" Harris almost fell over laughing at the look on his love's face.

The blond blinked a few times then snorted again. "My princess might have been a few bricks short of a... alright, a LOT of bricks short of... oh, bloody hell, she only had th' one brick and she kept puttin' it down and wanderin' off without it, but..." He frowned. "What was I sayin'? Right! Nothin' at all like my Dru."

Harris snorted right back at him. "Keep telling yourself that, babe. Meanwhile, I'll be over here laughing at you." He winked teasingly and ducked out into the bright sunshine of their rooftop garden. "Vampires don't have crushes," he mimicked annoyingly, knowing his claimed could hear. "I don't know what else you'd call it when you moan someone's name in the shower..."

"Oh... bloody hell..." Spike growled to himself, "Didn't think he heard that... an' why th' hell isn't he jealous? I'D be soddin' jealous if HE'D done it..." He ignored the fact that he'd just more or less admitted to himself that his beloved was right. Not that it mattered. Hypatia Lee had shown no signs of any interest in him.

The brunette grinned and stripped naked before laying down with a smug smile on the towel-covered chaise lounge he'd gotten specifically for this purpose. He truly didn't mind Spike wanting the young woman. Hell, he wanted her himself, not that he'd ever say so. Hypatia was clearly NOT looking and... that was fine too. Besides, it was kind of... cute to see Spike so entirely baffled by what to do next.

Yeah... Harris figured this was gonna be fun. It'd be a change to be able to tease Spike for once instead of the other way around. And he still owed him for a good bit of the teasing he'd been subjected to back in Sunnydale.

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(A/N: MANY thanks to RedSharpie, DaniKitten, Grey and TheShadowCat for their reviews! Thanks for taking the time, guys! :) Glad you're enjoying it... makes the writing it that much more worthwhile! *hugs* You ROCK!)