Where the streets have no name

Where the streets have no name.

Author: Purpledodah
Fandom: Ats human AU.
Pairing: S/A W/X
Rating will be nc17
Disclaimer: Not mine, they got off at my bus stop.
Warnings: m/m slash. Angst, some violence and drug abuse.
Summary: Angel is a homeless street kid, Spike is a New York cop.

This was written for a challenge set by katsa db lover over on strip off angel


Many thanks to rockstarpeach for the super fast beta, sablerose2 for the help with Dru, and w6c who did some research for me.


Chapter 8

Angel watched fascinated as Spike and Lindsey set up the portable radio and recording equipment on the table. He smiled as he listened to Doyle bantering with Xander.
Spike picked up something and spoke into it. “Kay Wes, got em loud and clear. Sounds like they’re having fun.”
“Yes, quite the excited Xander babble going on. Though I think he has met his match.” Wes replied.
“Angel, do you talk a lot as you walk? Do we need to shut Xander up?” Spike asked him.
Angel smiled. “That’s what Doyle does, if you don’t talk he starts an argument, says it helps with the voices.” Angel shrugged. Spike knew that one well.
“Your free to gab away Xan, just don’t over do it, keep your eyes peeled kiddo” Spike spoke into the microphone. He was answered with twin giggles.
“Hey, serious conversation this” but Doyle and Xan carried on talking what sounded like nonsense to everyone else.

Lindsey and Darla left, promising Xander home safe in less than four hours.

Spike made tea, again. Then sandwiches for them both while he listened to the radio, monitoring the progress. He fed Gabe off cuts of meat while Angel watched his every move.

“You seem wound up, like a spring sir” Angel said as he watched Spike moving restlessly, not even sitting to eat.

Spike snorted. “Yeah? Suppose I am. Guess I’m not use to being left behind. Normally I don’t let Wes out of my sight.”
“I’m sorry, this is all my fault” Angel looked at the floor.
Spike’s stomach flipped, poor kid he thought. “Hey, no it’s not, you just got caught up in it.” Spike sat by Angel. “If I went out that door I’d be followed by journalists wanting me to make a statement, or answer silly dumb fuck questions. Even if I sneaked out, I‘m well known. Xander is safer without me near him. Just feel left out. They’ve gone to play without me.” He pouted and fluttered his eyelashes.
Angel giggled. “You love your work don’t you?”
“Yeah I really do. Mind you most the fun is working with Wes, he’s easy to wind up.” Spike smiled, this smile lighting up his face, touching his eyes like previous smiles hadn’t, they had been tinged with his sadness.

Angel began to relax. The warmth, the food and the company easing his weary body. As they listened in on what was happening across town Angel began to yawn.
Spike looked at Angel. The kid was shattered. Dark circles under his eyes. “Would you like to have a kip pet?”
“A what sir?”
“A sleep, go have a nap on my bed”
“Oh no, I couldn’t, and anyway I want to know what happens” he nodded towards the radio.

“Yes you could. It’s alright, worst bit is over, Xander is in the car on the way to the station now. Lindsey and Darla will get him out soon enough. He’s often at the station, Wes has his tools in the car. He’ll walk out with Wes as if he’s been doing a spot of work there. Just like he has loads of times before. Doyle will be quiet for a few hours, he’s not going over to the master till later. Nothing for us to worry about. Could be a late night, come on.”

Spike led Angel to his room, made him strip down to his t shirt and boxers and covered him up. “Sleep tight kiddo, I’ll wake ya if anything happens ok?”
“Ok, and sir…. Could you leave the door open?” Angel blushed. He didn’t like sleeping without Doyle close by, and was nervous of being shut in places alone.
“Sure, no problem. Gabe can keep an eye on you too” Gabe had jumped up on the end of the bed, walked in a circle before flopping down with a small grunt.

Angel slept. Spike sat at the table looking at the picture Angel had drawn for him, letting the tears fall once more. “Gonna miss you so much Princess” he whispered. Eventually he ran out of tears.

Spike spoke on the phone with a very relieved Wes. Xander had loved every second. They were just waiting to bring him out. As soon as Xander was off the premises Lindsey was going to make a statement to the press letting them know Angel had been arrested and had made a full confession, he had been taken to a secure facility nearby blah, blah.

Spike visibly relaxed, and flopped down on the couch. He was just relaxing when Gabe came running in pulling at his jeans leg. “Oi ya cheeky git” Gabe backed off, woofed softly and ran back and forth to the door. Curious Spike got up and followed him. Gabe led him to his bedroom. Angel was moaning and thrashing about in his sleep. Spike stepped closer and could see tears on Angel’s cheeks. He looked even more like an innocent child than ever.

Angel sat up suddenly, screaming “CATHY”. In seconds Spike was holding him, rocking him and stroking his hair. Whispering nonsense, mostly soothing noises to calm Angel down.

Angel became aware of his surroundings slowly. His distressed mind assuming it was Doyle that held him. “Ohhhh God sir, I am so sorry.”

“Shhhh kiddo. Just a hug. A wise guy told me they’re universal.”
Angel snorted. Spike held him a bit longer. Spike found he liked the feel of Angel in his arms. It was a bit of a shock. But somehow it just felt good to hold him when he needed comfort. He slowly backed off. Feeling uncertain of why it felt good, was he using Angel as a distraction for his own grief?

“Feel better now kiddo?”
“Yeah, thanks” Angel’s stomach growled loudly. He put his hand on it and gave Spike a pained look.
Spike laughed out loud. “You sure you’re surname’s not Harris? Come on, get in the shower, I’ll go fix some food.” Spike looked in a cupboard and found a set of sweats that were far too big for him. “Here ya go, everything ya need is in the bathroom.”

Spike left Angel to it. As he sliced cheese to make toasties he wondered why he’d took to the kid so fast. He had no idea, just felt the need to look after him and keep him safe. Sure he’d done that in the past, but Angel was the first one he had brought home with him. He shook his head. Kids and dogs, hell he must be going soft in his old age.

Angel was in heaven. A hot shower and clean clothes two days running. He dried himself off on the soft warm towel, slid on the comfortable NYPD sweat pants and top. He felt all snuggled up and safe. He smiled to himself. Despite his nightmare, he felt safer than he had in years. Doyle was getting help. He combed out his long almost waist length hair, leaving it loose to dry.

Angel walked into the kitchen just as Spike was placing mugs of tea and cheese toasties on the table. “You really drink a lot of tea.”
“Ohh well see I live on it. I can go ages without food, but get grumpy without tea. I was just as bad when I smoked. Drove Wes barmy chain smoking.”
“Don’t you smoke now?”
Spike shook his head. “Nah. Had to give up. My lungs were so full of crap I couldn’t leg it after the bad guys. Wes kept finding me bent over heaving for breath. So gave up. Getting older is no fun.”
Angel giggled. “You’re not old sir”
“Twenty years older than you sunshine. Tell ya, things I used to be able to do with no effort, have to think about now”
“Like what?” Angel asked as he took a bite of his toastie.
“Oh going for a drink on a work night, never used to be a problem, now I don’t want to get up cos I get hangovers. Stupid stuff that creeps up on ya.”

Since Dru had left Spike had spent a lot of time getting fitter. He went on runs, walked whenever he could, and had a small gym set up in the spare bedroom. He had scored higher on his last fitness test than he had in over ten years. Now it was Wesley struggling to keep up with him. And contrary to popular belief he did eat well, he was just turning it all into muscle, he also seldom drank alcohol anymore. He had been to close to losing everything when he hit the bottle two years ago, it had scared him.

Angel squirmed and giggled in his seat. Spike raised a brow in question while he was eating.
“Gabe is licking my toes.” He giggled. Spike looked under the table, Gabe was indeed lazily licking Angel’s toes.
“Tell him to stop it, give him a gentle push away pet.”
Angel looked at him sheepishly. “But I like it.”
Spike nearly choked on his food laughing. God this kid was so adorable.