Just Begun

Chapter 4


“We’re all going out. You’re coming.”

Angel looked up from his papers and frowned at his Grandchilde. “Did I hear you knock?”

Spike raised exasperated hands in the air. “You know you bloody didn’t. Come on, then. I’m thirsty.”

“I’m not stopping you.”

“Yeah, you are. You’re coming with us and we are waiting for you, hence, you are stopping us.”

Angel returned to his papers. “I can’t. Someone has to watch the potion.”

“Bollocks. The potion can watch itself. It’s boiling. What more do you want? Expecting it to get up and do the tango?”

Angel opened his mouth to say something probably ineffectual, but the words became stuck as he caught sight of Xander entering the room.

“Hey, Peaches and Cream, what’s the hold up?”

Spike grinned and hooked a thumb in Angels’ direction. “He doesn’t want to come.”

“Oh, come on, Deadboy. Don’t be a grouch.”

Angel stared at the human formerly known as Xander, geek of Sunnydale, now to be referred to as Xander, seriously sexy stunner of Sunnydale. He’d dressed up for the evening’s activities and was now wearing dark blue jeans with a hint of sparkle and a shiny, tight black shirt that clung to his body like a second skin.

“Deadboy?” Xander prompted, concerned that Angel hadn’t spoken for a full two minutes. “Hello? Anyone in?”

“Yes,” Angel finally managed.

“Yes you’re in, yes you’re a grouch, yes you’re coming or yes you’re not coming?”

“Yes.”

Xander frowned with bemusement and cocked his head. “You get stranger by the day, you know that, right?”

Angel hesitated, desperately trying to stop staring at Xander and make sensible things come from his mouth. “Yes.”

Spike rolled his eyes. “Bloody hell! Talk about bird brain!”

Xander laughed and crossed the room, pulling Angel up from the couch. “Come on. I’m not taking no for an answer. You and Spike saved my life today and Cordy…well, let's just say that she saved my shopping. I got these today. Like?” he asked both Spike and Angel, gesturing to his sparkling jeans.

“They’re poncy,” Spike answered

“They’re wonderful,” Angel sighed, almost drooling.

“Thanks!” Xander said cheerfully, completely missing Angel’s reaction. “Anyway, I want to buy you *both* a drink to say thanks.”

Xander didn’t give Angel a chance to react. He already had him by the arm and was busy dragging him out the door.

Spike hung back and grinned to himself. Sooo, Peaches liked what he saw, eh? Even as Xander’s honorary big brother, he had to admit that the kid looked seriously hot. If he wanted to pull a guy tonight, then Spike had no doubt that Xander would have no problem whatsoever. A thought entered his brain and he chuckled. He’d always fancied himself as a matchmaker.

**

“More chips?” Xander asked, offering the bowl to Angel for the fifth time in half an hour.

“No.”

“Suit yourself. I like this place. Sooo much better than that awful club from last night…well, I guess the club itself was okay…” Xander trailed off and tilted his head as a familiar song began to play. “I love this song! I’m gonna go dance. Who’s coming?”

“Me!” Cordelia chirped, grabbing Xander’s arm. “Let’s see what you’ve learned since Sunnydale.”

“Oh, I learned plenty.”

“Oh, yeah. Prove it, Hell-Boy.”

Cordelia all but dragged Xander onto the dance floor and Spike grabbed the bowl of chips, leaning back in his chair to get more comfortable for the show.

“He’s got a few good moves,” Spike said finally, nudging Angel in his ribs.

“I wasn’t watching,” Angel replied, his eyes glued to the dance floor.

Spike smirked but stayed silent. Yup, Angel’s got it baaaad, he thought. Spike’s smirk dropped as he caught sight of two men moving between Xander and Cordelia. He sat forward and got ready to intervene.

“Neither of them will appreciate that,” Angel said, guessing his Grandchilde’s next move.

“What?!”

“They’re only dancing.”

Spike stared at Angel for a moment before he looked back to the dance floor. “But they cut in! That ain’t allowed!”

Angel sat forward and studied his dancing friends. They looked like they were having a good time. Intervention definitely wasn’t called for. They were just enjoying the music and enjoying the company of other humans. A sad look crossed the older vampire’s face and he quickly hid it.

“I think they’re fine,” he said at last, staring down and examining the bottom of his drink.

“Yeah, well, I think I’ll join ‘em…just to make sure.”

Angel nodded but didn’t lift his eyes.

“You alright?”

“Yes.”

Spike left the table, knowing that he would get nothing further from Angel now that a full on brood was in progress. He jumped into the dancing bodies and quickly found his friends.

“I didn’t know you danced, Spike,” Xander yelled over the music.

“'Course I bloody dance!”

“Show us, then?” Cordelia asked, sure that the only dance that Spike would know was the Locomotion.

“You asked for it. Prepare to be awed.” Spike nudged one of the intruders away with a sharp dig of elbow.

Xander giggled at Spike’s attempts. He wasn’t half bad, but needed some serious practice. Obviously Cordelia thought the same thing and Xander backed out to find Angel as Spike found himself on the end of a dance lecture.

“Aren’t you coming?” Xander asked Angel when he found him staring into his drink.

“No. You go on. You all look like you’re having a great time.”

“Yeah, we are, but it would be better if you would join us. I hate people getting left out. It sucks.”

“I’m fine, Xander. Really.”

Xander nodded and wondered what to do. If he had a penny for every time he’d claimed that he was fine about being left out, then he’d have…a lot more money than he had right now. Xander made up his mind. If Angel didn’t want to dance, then neither would he.

“Well, I’m gonna get myself another drink. You? Same again? Good. Back in five,” Xander babbled, not giving Angel the chance to even open his mouth.

If Angel didn’t want to dance then he would have to talk. Xander was going to get a half decent conversation out of that vampire if it killed him. And it probably would.

**

“…and then it turned red and dropped off,” Angel slurred, half drunk from a beer that Xander had laced with god knows what.

Xander winced. “Sounds painful, man. Were you able to get it fixed?” he asked.

“I was going to but another one grew back in its place. It was just one of those things.”

Xander glanced back over to the dance floor and caught sight of Spike bouncing around like a lunatic. “Does he ever run out of energy?”

Angel looked up at Spike and then turned to Xander, a small smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. “Sounds like someone else I know. You remind me of a puppy.”

“Erm, thanks? I am house trained, you know.”

Angel laughed and nearly fell sideways off his chair. “Oops! Um, what was I saying? Oh yeah! Puppy…oh…erm, yes. You have puppy dog eyes. Anyone ever tell you that?”

Xander rolled the said eyes. “Yes, yes, yes. *All* the time. It’s the only compliment I ever get. Although, I have to ask, if they are so cute and appealing, why can’t I ever get my own way?”

Angel thought about the question, his face contorting with genuine confusion. “I don’t know. Because humans are stupid?”

“And vampires?”

“We’re stupid too. If you flashed those eyes at me and asked for something, I’d give it to you in a second.”

“Really?” Xander asked, fully aware that Angel was getting drunker by the second.

“Yep,” Angel said with two giant nods. “*Anything*”

“Okay, then, let’s see. Gimme two hundred dollars.”

Angel pulled out a wad of cash and slapped it on the table. “Done!”

“And your watch.”

Angel took off the watch and handed it over immediately.

“And whatever is in your left pocket.” Xander added, hoping that whatever was in the pocket would not be sticky, half chewed toffee.

“Done.” Angel pulled out a pack of sugar free gum and slapped it on top of the money.

Spike suddenly appeared and leaned over the table, inspecting the former contents of Angel’s pockets. “This looks like a fun game,” he said with a grin. “You know what would be much more fun?”

Two voices in unison: “What?”

“Kitten poker.”

Angel shook his head with an exaggerated movement. “Nope. Kitten poker is crap.”

“It ain’t!”

“Yes it is,” Angel said, determinedly. “It’s a game for babies.”

Xander slunk back and stifled a laugh.

“Oi!” Spike shouted. “Who you calling a baby?!”

“Well, if the cap fits.”

“You are treading on fucking thin ice, mate!”

“I’m sorry, Spike,” Angel said, sounding anything but. “I just don’t think you have what it takes for a real man’s game.”

“Is that fucking so? What do you call a real man’s game, then? Mr Potato head? Sounds more on your wavelength.”

Angel laughed and swayed. “I’m talking about a real game. A game of skill and brass balls. A game of courage and infinite dexterity. A game that *you* couldn’t handle.”

“Bollocks. If you can play it, then so can I.”

“I’ll only beat you,” Angel insisted. “I was the national champion *five* years in a row.”

“Well, prepare to be the un-champion!”

“Erm…” Xander interrupted. “Can I play?”

“Are you sure, Xander,” Angel said, seriously. “It can get pretty competitive.”

Xander nodded enthusiastically. “Not a problem. Whatever this game is, I’m sure I can give *both* of you a run for your money.”

“Oh, you won’t need money.”

“Kittens?” Spike asked.

“No.”

“Then what we gonna bet with if we can’t use money or kittens?”

Angel grinned. “Our clothes,” he declared, grandly.

“Strip poker?” Xander suggested, a little worried now. Poker was not his game. He had this problem with grinning at good cards and frowning at bad ones.

“No.”

“Then what?” Spike asked.

Angel sat up straight and grinned from ear to ear. “Strip froggy tiddlywinks.”

Spike blinked.

Xander wasn’t sure if he wanted to pinch Angel’s cheek and coo at him for using the word ‘froggy’ or to get seriously worried about what they were going to have to do with said froggies.

Angel frowned at the silence. “Come on, you two. Are you men or mouses?”

“Mice,” Spike corrected. “How much have you had to drink?”

Angel swung his head round to Xander to provide the answer.

“Um, he’s had…a bit.”

Spike nodded. “Strip froggy tiddlywinks, eh?”

“Uh-huh.”

“You’re on! Xan, you up for it?”

“I dunno. I don’t really like frogs. What will I have to do with them?”

Spike turned to Angel. “Won’t have to lick ‘em, will we?”

Angel looked shocked. “Why on earth would we do that?”

“It gets you high.”

It was Xander’s turn to look shocked. “Really? Does that work with all frogs?”

“Naaah. Just one or two. Think they call them lickybacks.”

“Oh. Okay then, as long as there is no licking or ingesting of any kind, I’ll play. Just one thing, though. Where are we going to get frogs from at this time of night?”

Angel tapped his own nose. “I know a few people. I could score a dozen or so off the black frog market. I’ll just get Cordelia and we’ll be on our way.”

Xander watched Angel walk away before he spoke. “There’s a black frog market?”

Spike shrugged. “Apparently.”

“I thought frogs were green?”


TBC…