Old Enemies... (S/X)

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Part 23

He didn’t know the room he was in. He was pretty sure he would have remembered it if he’d been here before. Hell, the antique four poster bed alone would have stuck in his memory.

No, Harris had never slept in a bed with a canopy, not even a manly canopy like the one above him.

He blinked a few times and stretched, arms spreading wide as he arched his back, working the kinks out. He hadn’t slept so well in ages, he thought, unsure of why that felt like a lie… why he felt so alone.

“Well, duh, Harris,” he told himself out loud, “You ARE alone. Great big bed, with nobody in it but you.” He chuckled softly, rolling from the high mattress.

The rug was thick and soft beneath his feet, almost caressing the soles of his feet as he wandered to what he hoped was a bathroom. A small frown crossed his lips at the sight of the empty closet. “Other door, then.”

After making use of the toothbrush he found still in its wrapper, then showering, he strolled back into the bedroom, a fluffy dark green towel wrapped low around his hips. “Okay… I’m obviously at a hotel somewhere… so where are my clothes?”

He opened drawer after empty drawer in the dresser, frowning again when he realized he didn’t have anything to wear. Not even a robe or a pair of boxers, and that was just… wrong. What had happened to him? And what hotel was he at?

He was fairly sure he hadn’t gone on a bender and ended up going home with some guy, because… well, there was the alone in the bed thing from earlier. Besides, he didn’t feel like he’d been drunk recently. He felt… really, really good. Physically, anyway.

Something was bothering him, niggling at the back of his brain. He couldn’t figure out what it was, though, and after a few minutes, he shook his head. He’d worry about it later. Right now, he just wanted some clothes. Naked was all well and good when it was a choice. Right then he wanted to choose NOT to be naked.

His eye lit on the telephone beside the bed. Maybe he could call the front desk. He might have sent his clothes out to be laundered or something because he couldn’t imagine a place this nice letting him check in while naked… and if he called down, he’d at least be able to find out where he was.

Harris actually had the receiver in his hand when he heard the very soft knock at his door.

He put the phone down and crossed the lush rug, tucking the towel tighter around him.

“Yeah?” he said through the door.

“Mr. Alexander,” a voice said, low and definitely male, “I’ve brought your things. I apologize for the delay but some of the girls got a bit rambunctious when they discovered you were here. They’re big fans, you know.”

“Girls…?” Harris asked, opening the door to arch a brow at the man outside, “What girls?”

“The potentials, sir. The newest batch. I’m Collins, sir. Happy to be of service should you require anything during your stay.” The man extended a small pile of clothing towards him.

It wasn’t until he saw the eye patch on top of his clothing that he realized he wasn’t wearing it. He blushed, somehow ashamed that this man was seeing him that way when not even… somebody he couldn’t think of… He flushed more and snatched up the patch, pushing the strap over his head and settling the entirety into its usual position. “I… I’m sorry about that, uh… Mr. Collins. I didn’t realize…”

“It’s just Collins, sir. No Mr. I… serve here.” The man nodded, not at all ashamed of being a servant. He was good at his job. The best, really. And even with the throng of teenaged girls about the place, it was a pleasant position. Lively. It was also one he was very well paid for. “There is nothing to apologize for, sir. There is no shame in being wounded while serving the world. Indeed, it is perhaps admirable that such is the limit of the damage you received during your service, Mr. Alexander.”

And apparently he COULD blush more because he could feel how hot his face was getting. “I… thanks, it’s just not… pretty. I try not to make people… see it…”

Collins smiled slightly, liking the young man. “Life is seldom pretty, sir. However, it has its moments and is greatly preferable to the alternative.” He extended the clothes to the man again, almost losing his professional demeanor at the desperation they were grabbed with. “I will leave you to prepare yourself, sir. Miss Summers and Maiden-Crone Rosenberg await you in the blue salon whenever you’ve completed your ablutions.”

Somehow, hearing that Buffy and Willow were nearby didn’t surprise him. It should have, but it just didn’t. So he just looked at the man for a moment and arched a brow.

“You know,” Harris said, chuckling quietly, “If I hadn’t taken up writing, I’d have to ask for a translation. Thanks, Collins. And it’s Harris by the way. None of that Mr. Alexander stuff, okay?”

Collins actually looked regretful. “I’m sorry, sir, but I am unable to refer to you in such a familiar manner. It would violate the separation of Master and Servant. However, the sentiment is appreciated.” He nodded. “And now, sir, I really must return to my duties. I have been invited to participate in a rousing game of… Dream Date.” He almost scowled before remembering himself. “When you are prepared, please use the bell pull beside the door and someone will join you momentarily to conduct you to the Ladies.”

Harris couldn’t help laughing at the quickly hidden look of disgust on the man’s face when he mentioned the game. Still, he closed the door and began to get dressed. Once he’d finished, he did as Collins had instructed and pulled the long, tasseled rope. He almost thought he could hear a bell ringing somewhere far away, but he couldn’t have. His hearing wasn’t that good.

He stepped from his room to wait for his guide, surprised when a young man came around the corner almost at a run. “I guess Collins wasn’t kidding about the ‘momentarily’, huh?” Harris grinned.

The out of breath young man laughed, his face still pink from exertion. “You must have impressed him. He threatened me with scrubbing the foyer floor if you had to wait more than two minutes.” He winked. “I’m Robert,” he added, combing his blond hair back with his fingers. Brown eyes sparkled merrily in his strong, chiseled face. “I’m responsible for tutoring the girls in demonic languages. I also assist Mr. Giles in research, though that mostly involves sending me out for coffee and pastry.”

Harris laughed loudly. “I guess G-man hasn’t changed. That used to be my job. Uh, the getting donuts. Not the tutoring.”

“I know,” Robert said, nodding as he started down the hall, back the way he’d come. “Believe me, we’ve ALL heard all about you. Apparently nobody else can do the job right.” He grinned, taking the stairs down two flights then turning left.

Harris chuckled, unable to keep himself from watching Robert’s butt flex beneath the form fitting linen trousers. “See, that’s interesting. Because from what I remember, I couldn’t do it right either.”

The blond laughed as he took another turn, then went up a flight of stairs and veered right. “Sorry about the up and down, Mr. Alexander. The house was built in bits and pieces. Some areas can’t be reached by a direct route.”

Harris just shook his head. “It’s like a big old maze. And it’s Harris, okay? People call me Mr. Alexander and I wonder who they’re talking to. You know, aside from hotel clerks… and Collins, apparently.”

Robert laughed again and slowed to a stop outside a set of obviously hand carved wooden doors. “The blue salon… Harris. Nice meeting you, by the way. If you’re not too busy later, maybe you’ll let me show you the town?” He arched a brow, letting a lazy gaze sweep down the taller, older man, then back up. “I’d enjoy doing that.” He nodded slowly. “I think you might find it… fun, too.”

Harris almost blushed but made himself laugh instead. “Mmmmaybe… uh, how old are you, Robert?” The last thing Harris needed was to get arrested for… well, anything, but especially messing around with someone underage. Assuming he was reading the young man right, of course.

The blond smiled slowly, sure now that the tall, dark and sexy Harrison Alexander had caught his meaning. “Twenty three next week, Harris. Old enough, I think.”

Harris chuckled softly, one hand rising to rest on Robert’s shoulder. He squeezed lightly, leaning a bit closer. “Definitely. Hey, what time is it now?”

“Seven PM, Harris,” Robert said after looking at his watch.

“Good. Let’s call it ten, then. I haven’t seen my girls for a while. We have some catching up to do.”

The blond grinned. “I’d say it’s a date… I’ll meet you back here?” He arched a brow again.

“Yeah. I’m not sure I could find my way back to my room, anyway.”

“Later, then…”

“Yeah. Later, Robert.”

Harris ignored that niggling feeling at the back of his head again. There couldn’t be any reason for the word ‘later’ to make him sad, after all… “Ignore it and it’ll go away,” he whispered to himself as he opened the doors and stepped into the mostly blue room, only to find his arms full of two wriggling bodies, one blond and one redheaded.

He grinned, returning their hugs. It was good to be… home? And something about that felt wrong, too, but he’d think about it… some other time.

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(A/N: Like I said, this is gonna be LONG. Depending on what my muse does, it MIGHT be almost halfway done. Or less than halfway. LOL HUGE thanks to TheShadowCat, Cathy and ladyicondraco for their reviews on the last part. Much appreciated, darl's. More soon. *hugs*)