Just Another Game

Author’s notes :~ This is AU season 7, Spike has his soul and has got rid of the chip, but no First Evil, or hordes of potentials; just business as usual on the Hellmouth. As for Angel, I’m skipping ahead in Ats land, it’s season 5, Angel is running Wolfram and Hart, leaving the Hyperion empty for our boys to play in later.

Accepting

Xander watched as Spike tucked their things away in the room Angel had told them to use, noticing that the vampire seemed almost more nervous than he was. Shoving the empty bags in the bottom of a cupboard, Spike hesitated for a second; then he turned to face Xander.


“All done luv, why don’t you pop in the shower, get yourself ready. I’m just gonna nip out, got one last thing to pick up.”


Stay here, on his own, in the hotel where Angel could show up any minute; no fucking way. “I’ll come with you, I can get ready later.”


The shifty look on Spike’s face intensified, “Not a good idea luv, I’ll not be that long.”


“ Come on Spike, I really don’t want to be on my own with Angel. Can’t whatever it is wait? I really don’t think I can just sit around talking with him waiting for you to get back.”


“Two of you are gonna be doing a lot more than talking ‘for the night’s out,” Spike took an unneeded breath and looked right into Xander’s eyes, “Fact is luv, Angel asked for this. He wants to talk to you on your own for a bit, just to make sure, you know?”


“I thought he’d already agreed, Spike if I can’t convince my friends that we’re doing the right thing, how the hell am I gonna convince him?”


“It’s not the same, they didn’t want to hear luv; didn’t want to think we could be happy together. He just needs to know you understand the what you’re doing, told you he was happy for us, but he wouldn’t be my broody git of a Sire if he didn’t feel he had to check.”


“I just thought you’d be here when I had to see him. I’m just not sure I can deal with him on my own.” Xander had thought that he’d gotten over his nerves, that he was ready for everything that was going to happen that night. But the thought of being alone with Angel; had left him starting to panic.


”Pet.” The word, spoken gently but firmly, reverberated through Xander’s brain. He didn’t know how Spike did it; with a single word or gesture he could take complete control. Could turn them from Spike and Xander into Master and pet. Xander’s mind would fall and his eyes would drop and he’d just stand, waiting to be told what to do. Xander could feel his brain start that wonderful spiral downwards, to the place where nothing mattered but his Master’s voice, his Master’s needs. Only to be jerked back to himself, when Spike gave him a quick shake.


“Sorry luv, but you’re gonna have to stay up, least until you talked to him. Don’t go flashing that pout at me. It’s not gonna work this time. You just get your arse in the shower and I’ll be back before you know it.” He reached up and stroked Xander’s cheek and pressed a swift soft kiss to his lips, “Just be yourself luv, he won’t expect anything else of you. Just let him see the Xander I love. ” Then he was gone, leaving Xander to his thoughts.


Xander lingered as long as he could in the shower, but eventually he had to come out. He looked at the bed and saw that Spike had laid out a robe for him to wear. It was soft and silk and ridiculously short, and it wasn’t his robe. His was worn terrycloth and he wore it curled up on the sofa watching tv with his vampire, or tucked up in bed when he was sick. This was not something he’d thought he would ever wear, feeling slightly ridiculous he pulled it on, cursing softly when he realised it barely covered his ass.


He knew that he couldn’t hide out in their room, so he headed downstairs, winding up in the spacious lobby. The high ceilings and vast size of the space left him feeling exposed and he tugged at the hem of his robe, trying to make sure he was covered. He couldn’t settle and found himself wandering round the room, soon forgetting his nervousness as he found himself fascinated by the hotel itself.


It was a beautiful building, and Xander found himself imagining what it had looked like in its heyday, he’d heard about the place from Cordelia and he spared a thought for the lost Seer. Hoping that Angel could arrange for him to see her whilst they were in town. He hated the idea of Cordy lying alone and silent, that beautiful body still and broken.


He lost himself in his thoughts, reaching up to get a better view of the fixtures and bending low to examine the workmanship that had gone into the construction. He stopped worrying about how he looked as he got caught up in his mind, so caught up he never heard the door open and Angel slip inside.


When Spike had come to him and said that he wanted Angel’s help to mate with Xander, the older vampire had been shocked to say the least. Unlike the Sunnydalers he knew that Spike must love Xander, there was no way his Childe would ever consider chaining himself to a human unless he was deeply in love. No it was Xander he couldn’t understand, Angel remembered a bitter and angry boy, who’d always been more than ready to stake him. Xander’s hatred for vampires had been part of what defined the boy’s very existence; and Angel still doubted his capacity to change.


Spike thought he wanted to talk to Xander alone, because he needed to be sure that the boy wasn’t being forced into this, but the truth was, that Angel was here as much for Spike as for Xander. He needed to know that his Childe had given his heart to someone who loved him back as he deserved.


He hadn’t expected to be greeted by the sight of Xander on his knees, his head bent low as he examined the corner of the reception desk that formed the centrepiece of the room. The boy was beautiful, and Angel wandered how the hell he’d never noticed that before. He stayed in the shadows watching Xander as he moved about the room, looking at this and that.


The Xander that Angel remembered had always hidden himself; had walked with hunched shoulders, tucking himself away so as not to be seen. This Xander walked with a grace and confidence that Angel would never have credited him as being capable of. It spoke of his being comfortable with his body and himself, and Angel wandered how much of that was due to Spike’s influence.


Xander’s wanderings were cut short when he finally noticed the still figure in the shadows. All his nerves returned in a rush and even as he crossed the room to greet Angel he had no idea what he was going to say. He forced his fingers from the hem of his robe, where they’d been pulling and clutching at the cloth, and looked at Angel briefly before muttering a quick, “Hello.”


When he got nothing but a mumbled greeting back from Angel, Xander went into full babble mode, apologising for not noticing Angel’s arrival, and explaining that Spike would be back soon. Going on to talk about the hotel, praising its structure and fittings, words pouring from his mouth in an attempt to breach the awkward silence. This was the Xander Angel remembered and he wandered, not for the first time, how he managed to say so much without seeming to pause for breath.


This wasn’t why they were here, and though he was as nervous about their talk as Xander was, Angel knew he had to be the one to take control. He laid a finger across Xander’s lips and just said, “Hush.” He was almost surprised by Xander’s instant compliance, but decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth.


Taking the suddenly silent mortal’s hand, he led him to a low sofa and pulled him down to sit. He watched Xander closely, and once he was sure the boy had calmed down a little he started to talk. “Xander you know I need to talk to you before the ritual, I want to be sure you understand the consequences of what we’re going to do. You’ll never be able to walk away from Spike, never be able to leave him. If you have any doubts at all you have to stop this now. You’re talking about the rest of your life, which will be a very long time, if you aren’t sure of your feelings, then you have to walk away.”


Xander had thought Angel might be going to talk him out of this, that Buffy and the others might have convinced the vampire to stop the ritual for Xander’s own good. He’d worried and panicked that Angel might try to save him from himself, and now he almost laughed as he realised the truth; Angel wasn’t worried about him, he was worried about Spike. Xander didn’t have to convince Angel he knew what he was doing; he needed to convince Angel that his feelings for Spike were genuine.


Xander tried to figure out how to explain what he felt, and when he eventually began to speak his voice was low and sure, “You know I’m suddenly understanding how Spike felt, every time he had to put up with Buffy and the others accusing him of not really loving me, it seriously sucks. I love him, it sounds so simple but I know it isn’t, this wasn’t exactly an easy choice for either of us. I fought it for a long time, I didn’t believe he could actually love me, but he’s pretty convincing when he wants to be. I don’t have any doubts about what he means to me, sure the ritual is a little scary, but there’s nothing in the world that could convince me not to go through with it.


I don’t know what to say that’ll convince you, words aren’t exactly my thing; I just know that I’m his, every part of me, and even if you change your mind, it isn’t gonna alter anything. Nothing could ever make me leave him. Walking away hasn’t been an option for a long time.”


It wasn’t the words that made Angel sigh in relief; it was the quiet confidence in Xander’s tone. He believed every word he said, and that meant that Spike had been right in his choice of mate. Xander obviously loved and wanted Spike as much as the vampire loved him. Angel still had a hundred questions, most of all he wanted to know how, and indeed why, Xander had changed so much. They’d keep ‘til later, Xander’s body was all rigid tension and tight lines and Angel knew that he had to get the boy to calm down. They needed to be comfortable with each other or tonight would be a disaster.


Shrugging his coat, Angel first placed a small wooden box on the table and then fetched them both a drink. Xander couldn’t be drunk for the ritual, but Angel figured a little alcohol would help the boy relax. Xander swallowed the drink quickly but he still wouldn’t look Angel in the eyes. Instead his gaze seemed fixed on the box.


Angel leaned in closer and removed the lid, showing Xander the contents, a set of ancient pens and inks, and Xander couldn’t help but catch his breath as he realised what they were for. Spike had explained to him, that part of the ritual involved him being tattooed with the Mark of the Aurelian line. When Xander had balked a little at the idea of Angel drawing the tattoo, pointing out that there’d be less risk at a regular tattoo parlour and saying he didn’t fancy coming down with blood poisoning. Spike had just chuckled and said that he might be an exhibitionist, but he didn’t think Xander would like giving everyone in the place a free floorshow, as the ritual all had to be completed as soon as the tattoo was done. Xander had to agree that he had no intention of getting fucked by Angel and Spike in front of a whole bunch of strangers, but he was still a little unsure about the idea of Angel doing the tattoo.


He listened with half an ear as Angel explained what he would do and how the tattoo and the magic would work, but most of Xander’s attention was on the contents themselves. As Angel spoke he played with the pens, his long fingers stroking up and down them, almost like a caress. It was all too easy for Xander to imagine those hands on his body, those strong fingers caressing his skin as lovingly as they now moved on the pens.


Angel seemed to sense he’d that Xander wasn’t really listening and he reached up to grip the boy’s shoulder, the fingers of his hand flexing and massaging the tight muscle in an attempt to offer comfort. Unfortunately for Xander, each sweep of Angel’s fingers grazed his claim mark, hidden by the silk of his robe, and the gentle touches were driving him crazy. He clenched his fists and squeezed his eyes tight shut, in a vain attempt to keep his body under control.


Sometimes Xander imagined that there was a nerve just beneath his skin, running the length of his body from the tiny claim scar direct to his cock. There was nothing in the world that could turn him on so hard and so fast as Spike manipulating that mark, and Xander bit back a groan as he realised that Angel’s touch had the same affect.


Hearing the barely stifled sound, Angel worried that Xander was hurting in some way, so he used his other hand to raise Xander’s face, needing to get a look at the boy’s eyes so he could see what was wrong. What Angel saw was a man becoming lost in lust, his face was flushed and his eyes were dazed, then the sharp smell of blood filled the air, as Xander bit hard into his lower lip.


Angel reacted without thinking, reaching to move the lip away from Xander’s teeth, and he had to bite back a groan of his own, when his thumb slipped into Xander’s mouth and the boy began to suck it and stroke it with his tongue. Pulling his thumb quickly out, he noticed a few bright drops of Xander’s blood clinging to his skin, and he raised the hand to his own mouth and tasted the precious liquid. This time Angel didn’t bother to conceal the sound of longing that the delicious taste ripped from him, he just reached out and hauled Xander to him, giving the boy no time to think before he crushed their lips together.


Xander had started to fall the minute Angel had begun stroking his claim mark, and when the thumb had slipped into his mouth, the need to suckle at it had been a reflex. He snapped back to awareness the second Angel’s mouth touched his, but he couldn’t bring himself to push the vampire away. It wasn’t Spike’s tongue teasing the roof of his mouth, they weren’t Spike’s teeth nibbling at his lips, but right now Xander didn’t care, Angel’s touch was setting him on fire, and all he could do was hold on for the ride.


The smooth silk of the robe was swept from Xander’s body and he could only whimper helplessly as Angel began to lick his way down Xander’s neck, nibbling and sucking at the tiny scar from Spike’s claim, causing Xander to arch up and try to press even closer to Angel’s hard body.


“Bloody Hell!” The words had them springing apart and they turned to see Spike leaning in the shadowed entrance, watching them. “Don’t stop on my account, was turning into one hell of a show. Fucking beautiful the pair of you.”

Tbc…….