Introductions

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Part 4

It really hadn’t taken long to find Trevor, although the vampire had been surprised that the man had made it down the stairs and out of the building so quickly. Still, he’d learned the smell of the bloke’s anguish in the stairwell so he simply followed it a block or so until it disappeared inside a small bar.

He stepped inside himself, scanning the room until he saw the young man in a booth at the back. Spike stopped at the bar, paying a ridiculous amount for a full bottle of Jack and a shot glass before going to join him.

"Guess you’re feelin’ pretty bad, mate," he said, filling the young man’s glass and pouring himself a shot.

Trevor growled. "Ya think, Spike? What was the first clue?"

Spike shrugged, watching the brunette slam back the liquor. "Runnin’ away from your lover, ta start. That an’ th’ fact that you’re sittin’ alone in a bar, or were ‘til I got here. ‘s not really th’ kind of thing you usually do these days, is it?"

"Lover. Hah." Trevor laughed bitterly. "If he loved me he wouldn’t have…" he filled his glass again, drinking deep. "So let’s not call him that, if you don’t mind. My lying cheating deceitful fucking bastard of a boyfriend is more like it."

One dark brow rose and Spike appropriated the bottle for a moment. " ‘s a bit of a long moniker for conversation, mate. Think I’ll go with callin’ him Elliot. An’ by th’ way, he hasn’t been shaggin’ anyone else."

The brunette snarled. "Sure he hasn’t. Because he’s a monk now, right? Because there for damned sure hasn’t been any… shagging… going on at our place lately."

"Bloody hell. Not somethin’ I really wanted ta know, you git. Can’t tell you th’ why of it, in any case. Point is…" Spike poured himself another shot, tossing it back smoothly. "You know I can smell a lie an’ th’ bloke wasn’t lyin’ when he said he hasn’t been runnin’ around on you, Trev."

"Yeah? Then what the hell was all THAT about?" he demanded, gesturing vaguely in what was supposed to be the direction of Spike and Harris’s place. "I know what guilt looks like, Spike, and he was fucking GUILTY as SHIT!"

And here came the tough part, Spike told himself. He wasn’t sure whether Trevor would be relieved or upset that his lover had kissed Robert, but he somehow doubted the kiss itself would be the problem. No, it was more likely to be the who rather than the what.

And when the bloody fuck had he ended up being sodding Cyrano? Or dear bloody Abby, for that matter?

"Right," the vampire said after a moment. "Th’ short version. Your bloke got inta a clench with another bloke when he was in DC. Snogged him good an’ proper. So good he an’ th’ bloke came in their pants. An’ he didn’t tell you when he got back. I’m guessin’ it’s been eatin’ at him ever since, yah?"

Trevor blinked and lifted his glass then put it down without drinking. "Wait. Elliot’s been acting like… that… because he kissed some guy?" His brow furrowed deeply and he shook his head. "Not that I’m really okay with him just… kissing someone, but… why the fuck wouldn’t he just tell me that? It… we could have handled that. A lot better than we’ve been doing lately." He sighed and stared at the amber liquid in the bottle. "Shit, Spike… I… fuck, I love him and…"

Spike frowned and tried to find a delicate way of putting it. "It was young Bobby," he finally said bluntly. "That’s th’ bloke he was snoggin’."

And just like that, Trevor was slamming back the liquor in his glass. "Robert. Fucking Robert! I should have known!"

"Yes," came a firm, forceful voice, the strong Australian accent flowing melodically, "You should have."

Brown and blue eyes turned, meeting the violet gaze of the woman neither of them had noticed approaching.

"You." Trevor said slowly, taking in the tall, lean form wrapped in black leather and emerald green silk.

The woman nodded, the long, high ponytail of shiny black hair bobbing slightly with the motion. "Yes. Me. And you, Trevor, are an idiot."

Spike stared at the woman, then cocked his head at Trevor. "Friend of yours, mate?"

The young man sighed softly. "Something like that." He sighed again and looked back to the woman. "This is Spike. Harris’s claimed. Spike, meet Hypatia Lee. My… sister."

The woman chuckled and shook her head. "I suppose that’s one way of putting it. And you’re still an idiot." She nodded sharply and sat down, cavalierly pushing Spike further along the bench of the booth. "Do you have any idea of what you’ve done, Trevor? The Powers are NOT pleased."

* * * * *

"So, wait," Harris interrupted yet again, "You’re telling me that you and Trev haven’t… anything in like a month and a half? Christ, El, no WONDER he left!"

Elliot frowned as he wadded another tissue up beside the rest. "I know, I know… but it’s… fuck. Look, I just felt so bad, so guilty, and… and I still can’t stop THINKING about him. About Robert and… what if I… that is, while Trev and I were… what if I called him Robert instead? I…" He gave Harris a sheepish grin. "I fucked up, didn’t I?"

The brunette shook his head, returning the smile. "Buddy… you passed ‘fucked up’ a few exits back. You’re in completely uncharted areas of ‘screwed the pooch to the wall then spackled him in’."

Elliot sighed. "Yeah… I know. I… God, Harris, what if he can’t forgive me?"

And he honestly didn’t know what to say to that, so Harris just hugged his friend quickly and got him another drink. At least the tears were done for now, and that was a good thing.

* * * * *

Well, well, and this was getting interesting. He was still trying to figure out how Trevor could have a sister, especially with what he knew of the man’s origins. The fact that the two looked and smelled nothing alike only added to the question although it was obvious the Powers the two talked about were somehow involved.

"Whatever else you two are, you definitely ACT like siblings," Spike said with a smirk. He pitched his voice high, then low, imitating their exchange. "Idiot." High. "Bitch." Low. "Moron." High. "Interfering busybody." Low. "Imbecile." High. "Know it all." Low. He arched an amused brow and shook his head sadly. "It’s like you’re in grade school."

Trevor flushed slightly. "Well, we kind of are, Spike. I mean we’ve been human for… what, Hy? Six years?"

The young woman shrugged. "About that, yes. But that’s no excuse for you to ignore every sign, every single indication of what you were supposed to be doing. Being human doesn’t mean you can forget what we were, Trevor. What we still ARE, to some extent! And as you SEE what the Powers allow you to, I’d thought you would have known that."

Spike rolled his eyes. "Your sister’s a bloody harpy, mate," he said with another smirk. "You goin’ ta let her talk ta you that way?"

The young man shrugged. "Sisters," he said as though that explained anything.

"Yah, whatever, mate. I’m getting’ another bottle. You two seem ta be able ta drink almost as much as a vampire." He winked and climbed over Hypatia’s lap then sauntered to the bar.

"How much have you told him?" the woman demanded, giving Trevor a hard stare. "He could be dangerous if he…"

"Don’t worry, Hypatia," Trevor snapped, "He only knows as much as he needs to. None of them know everything, okay? So calm down and stop being such a bitch!"

She snorted softly, flicking a finger at him and grinning when he jumped. "I haven’t even started being a bitch, and you know it. Believe me, I’d like to be. It wasn’t MY idea to travel halfway around the Earth to slap some sense into you, you know. And as for William and the others... I'm more concerned that you may not have told them enough. But either way, here I am and what the FUCK were you thinking?"

"About that. I thought we weren’t supposed to be…"

"Not exactly. We can’t have too MANY of us in the same place. Two or three or so isn’t against the rules."

"Well that’s a relief," Trevor admitted with a smile. "Wait. You said three. Who?"

Violet eyes closed as Hypatia focused. When they opened again they were troubled and a good bit darker than they’d been. "Iggy, I think. Or Ricardo. I… can’t be sure."

"How can you not be sure?" the man demanded. "It’s… what you DO. You KNOW things!"

"Things, yes! But not EVERYTHING! Damn it, Trevor, I only KNOW what I’m permitted to, just as what you SEE is what you’re shown!"

"Bloody hell," Spike frowned, returning to the table, "I leave you two alone for a minute an’ you’re at each others’ throats. Do I need ta separate you?" He arched an amused brow.

"Too late," Hypatia said almost silently as she stood to let the blond sit again. She nodded at him quickly. "I’m sure I’ll be running into you again… William. Trevor," she added, giving him an annoyed stare, "Don’t screw this up. You know what’ll happen if… either of them comes here. It’s in their natures. I’ll find you soon."

The vampire blinked as the woman strolled away from the table and out into the night.
"Interestin’ family you’ve got there, Trev."

Trevor laughed softly and rolled his eyes. "You have NO idea."

"Wonderin’ somethin’, though. How’d she know my other name… an’ why th’ bloody fuck is she so worried about whoever’s comin’ here?"

"Is THAT all. She’s my sister, Spike. She knows who I watch for the council."

Spike nodded and poured another drink. "An’ th’ other?"

"Just a couple guys we know. Bad news, the both of them. Nothing to worry about, though. They probably won’t even come." Trevor added, even while hoping he was telling the truth about that.

* * * * *

The vampire sighed as he flopped on the couch once the two humans headed off, hopefully to shag each other smart again because they'd surely gotten bloody stupid during their 'drought'. "So much for a happy bloody birthday, 'ey pet?"

Harris chuckled at the small pout on his love's face. "I don't know, babe," he murmured, throwing himself down beside his favorite blond and resting his head on one denim-covered thigh. "At least they're talking now, and you know Elliot. Talking will lead to sorry's, will lead to tears, will lead to banging away until they just about bring their building down."

He grinned, his eye twinkling as he pushed the strap of his eye patch up over the crown of his head, letting the item fall beside the couch. "So in that sense, it's been a happy birthday. My best friend and his lover are working things out. It's good." He nodded, rubbing his cheek against Spike's leg. "I like Trev. I think they're good for each other. So yeah..."

Spike snorted, brushing the ever-lengthening brown hair back off the high, smooth forehead slowly. "Not really th' kind of prezzie I had in mind givin' ta you, though..."

That brown eye sparkled more as Harris's brows waggled playfully. "Mmmm... it's not midnight yet. Still time for prezzies."

The blond laughed, his bright blue eyes raking over the familiar and beloved form spread out on the couch. His fingers tightened in the soft dark hair, fisting against the warm, tight scalp of his Claimed as his free hand slid down the toned, cotton-sheathed torso then up under the fabric to twist teasingly at first one silver ring, then the other. " 's that so, beloved... got somethin' in mind, yah?"

His back arched against the couch beneath him, even as he turned his head a bit more and dug his teeth into the covered thigh lightly, muffling his own groan. "Jesus fuck..."

Spike smirked and repeated the slow twist again. "Still got that spare tub of frostin'... might have ta have me a bit of a treat..."

"Hey!" Harris lifted his head quickly, "It's MY birthday! I'M the one who gets the treats!"

It took less than a moment to slip out from under his beloved's head and toss the human over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. "Trust me, pet... you'll be gettin' a treat, alright," the vampire purred, swatting his love's ass as he hauled him to the kitchen for the aforementioned icing, then to their bedroom where he tossed the younger man onto the bed and proceeded to strip them both.

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(A/N: Yes, another OC. LOL Sorry. *grins* Many thanks to astracindel (NO, it's not THAT Harry. LOL Thank gods.), TheShadowCat (yeah, yeah... working on it. *snerk*) and RedSharpie (Yes, ANGST-- shocker, huh? And semi-kinky b-day sex... I mean, really... they're always kinda kinky. LOL). Thanks for taking the time to review, guys. More soon.)