Just Begun

With Cordelia gone home muttering something about men and their crazy antics, it was just Angel, Xander and Spike left sitting around the small coffee table. A large oversized mixing bowl had been placed in the middle of the table and Xander was puzzled as to what had compelled him to get involved with this weird game.

“So we have to get our frogs in the bowl?” Xander asked with a tilted head.

“Yes. If your frog misses the bowl, then you have to take off an item of clothing. If one of your frogs jumps out of the bowl at any time you also have to take off an item of clothing.”

“And how do we get the frogs in the bowl? Can I throw them?”

Angel laughed. “No, Xander. Where would be the skill in that? Look, I’ll demonstrate. You put one frog in front of you, like this, then you take your chosen lead frog and hover it over the top. When you feel that your aim and timing are right, you drop the frog onto the other one. If you are clever enough, the bottom frog will be surprised and jump straight into the bowl. Like this.”

Angel positioned a small frog so that it was facing the bowl. With careful aim and a look of sheer concentration he dropped his lead frog onto the other one. The bottom frog had the decency to look surprised and with a load croak it jumped straight into the bowl.

“Looks easy enough,” Spike observed.

“Yeah,” Xander added.

Angel hid a smirk. That’s what they think.

**

Half an hour later and all hell had broken loose. Frogs of all shapes and sizes hopped happily and unhappily about the room, Spike was down to his jeans and one sock and Xander had only his boxers left. The two men were shouting at each other about whose frog had just jumped out of the bowl. Xander had a suspicion that it was probably his, but there was no force on this earth that was going to make him admit it.

A fully clothed Angel leaned back on his hands and smiled. How happy did he feel right now? Words couldn’t describe. It had been a long time since he’d had any genuine fun. Even his time spent with Buffy didn’t come close to a night of strip froggy tiddlywinks with his friends.

Friends?

When had that happened?

He’d always held Spike close in his heart. This was his Grandchilde, his family. No matter what had happened in the past, no matter what words had been said, he had always loved Spike and so had Angelus.

And Xander? Angel had never hated him. He was constantly irritated and infuriated by him, but he never had and never would hate him. If anything, he was grateful to him. It had been Xander that had helped him to hold onto the last piece of himself that was human. How? By making him just feel. Angel did a good job with hiding emotions, but Xander was the only one, apart from Spike, that could bring them to the surface.

A snarky comment here.

A sarcastic remark there.

A joke.

A swing of his hips.

A lick of his lips.

So, yes, somewhere along the line Xander had become a friend. Angel felt a longing stirring within him. Something more than friendship? Was that what he wanted from his irritating, loud mouthed, pigheaded friend?

“Spike, it’s your frog and if you touch my boxers or come anywhere near them again, I will cut off your hands and slap you with them.”

Yes.

“It’s your bloody frog! Look, that’s mine, little green fellow.”

“They’re all green!”

“Guys, I think we should call it a night. I think we can all safely say that I won.” As much as Angel would have loved to watch Xander stand and pull off that last piece of clothing, he didn’t want it to be under these circumstances. They were all pretty drunk and, no matter how much confidence Xander had gained over the last couple of years, chances were he would feel mortified in the morning.

Spike looked over and seemed to understand. But that didn’t mean he was happy about it. Losing was not in Spike’s vocabulary.

“Alright,” he said with narrowed eyes. “But I will require a re-match. I’m sure you bloody cheated.”

Angel didn’t bother with a retort. The effort was just too much. “Could one of you help me clear up these frogs?”

Spike seized his chance. “Yeah, I will.”

Xander narrowed his eyes as he buttoned up his jeans. What was that sneaky vamp up to now?

“Thank you, Spike.” By the expression on Angel’s face, it was clear that he shared Xander’s concerns.

Xander said his goodnights and left the room. As much as he was concerned about Spike’s sudden urge to help, he was too tired to really care.

Spike padded around the room, using his vampire reflexes to chase and capture the little bouncing froggies. “This would be soul destroying if I had a bloody soul to destroy.”

Angel threw him a quizzical look.

“The only thing I use my vampire skills for is pouncing on bloody frogs.”

“I understand your frustration.” Angel grimaced. The drink was well and truly wearing off and it was leaving him with a mighty headache.

“Talking of frustration. When you gonna make a move on Xan?”

Angel dropped his frogs.

“Well?” Spike persisted.

Angel’s colour went from ivory to brilliant white. “I…I have no idea what…”

Spike smirked and placed his frogs in a large tub. “Deny it all you want, Peaches, but I’ve seen you gawping. I fucking know you fancy him. Don’t blame you either, he’s not bad looking. Fucking gorgeous when he gets dressed up…like tonight.”

“He’s…very attractive and I do like him…”

“But,” Spike guessed. “There is a definite but coming. What’s the problem? You like him. Go for it.”

“It’s not as easy as that. Xander and I are so different…”

“Opposites attract.”

“I’m a vampire…”

“He has an open mind.”

“He lives so far away…”

“He’ll get the bus.”

“Spike! It wouldn’t work!”

“Why?! Because you think you don’t deserve a chance at love? Because you prefer to live your life devoid of any pleasure?”

“No.”

“Then what? Is it the love thing you’re scared of? Hell, I’m not saying you have to fall arse over tit in love with the boy! I’m just saying that you two could give it a shot. Take it slow, whatever.”

“It isn’t that.”

“Bloody hell, Angel, I know you want him. It’s fucking obvious. Tell me what’s holding you back?”

Angel sighed. “I don’t think he wants me.”

“Oh. Have you asked?”

“No.”

“Then how do you know?”

“I don’t know. I just don’t see why he would. He’s so young and full of life. Why would he want me?” Angel’s eyes filled with unshed tears.

“Fuck off, you tosser!! Don’t be such a bloody ponce!”

Angel blinked away the tears and genuine confusion crossed his face. “What…?”

“I get so sick of you bloody whining all the time. If you like him and it turns out that he likes you, then I don’t see a problem.”

“But what if…”

“Shut it. He does. I’m fucking certain of it. *And* I’m gonna find out for sure.”

“Spike, you can’t…”

“I can and I’m gonna. Don’t fret, Peaches, I’ll be discreet.”

Angel fretted and Spike softened.

“Look, I know you’re crap at this stuff. So just let me drop a couple of hints and see if you’re at least in the running. I promise that I won’t let on that you got a crush.”

Angel fretted some more and finally nodded. “Okay. But please watch what you say. I don’t have many friends and I’d rather you didn’t alienate me from one of them.”

“Have I ever let you down?”

“…”

“Okay, just forget I said that. Angel?”

“Yes?”

“I might not know much. But I do know about the love stuff. I’ll see if he’s interested. And I will be discreet.”

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure. I’ll fix you up. Just don’t do anything perverted with these frogs while you’re waiting.”

TBC...