Spoiled & Rotten Spoiled & Rotten

Chapter Seven Xander raced to catch up with Angel, the older man's lengthy stride eating up ground quickly. He called out after Angel. "Hey, give a guy a chance to catch up!"

Angel stopped and turned suddenly and Xander crashed right into him, knocking them both over. Xander landed on top of Angel with a heavy thud. Xander looked down at him with a lopsided grin. "'K. I just wanted you to slow down. Stopping wasn't really on the agenda."

Angel couldn't take his eyes off Xander's mouth. That smile, the simple unguarded one he rarely saw, never failed to affect him. There was just something about those full lips, the way they curved upwards, the corners just slightly crooked, that mesmerized him.

Xander's gaze darkened as he realized to where Angel's attention had drifted. He inched his head lower, wondering idly if there was any difference in the way Angel kissed when he had a soul. His grin widened as watched Angel lick his lips in anticipation.

"Well, isn't this cozy." A sardonic voice drawled from above the pair.

Angel and Xander turned to glance up at the new arrival.

"Spike." Angel said grimly.

"Miss me, did you, Peaches? What else would bring you back to Sunnyhell?"

Xander and Angel quickly sought to extricate themselves from one another. They jumped to their feet and Angel turned to face his errant childe.

"Yeah, Spike, because a visit back to the old stomping grounds just wouldn't be the same without running into you." Angel stepped closer to Spike, menacingly. "You know, I never did get the opportunity to thank you for your visit to Los Angeles."

Spike was confused. This was Angel standing in front of him, there was no question about that. Yet, he seemed different somehow. There was a power and command to his stance that Spike wasn't used to seeing. He definitely wasn't the Slayer's lap dog. On the other hand, he wasn't quite the soulless demon either.

Add in what he had seen transpire moments ago between Angel and Xander and it left Spike...unhinged. "Well, I-"

Angel took another step closer and grabbed Spike by the throat. "It's almost sad, Spike. No matter how many times this town kicks your ass, you always have to come back for more. You're a masochist. Oh wait, I already knew that."

Spike just gaped at him in stunned amazement. Then he felt a warm hand on his chest as Xander moved between the two of them, separating them. "Look, Deadboy, as much as I'd love to sit and watch you grind Junior here into talcum powder, we don't have time for this."

Angel looked at Xander, suspiciously. "Oh and why would you enjoy that? I thought you two were so close."

Xander was at a loss for words. He knew this entire situation was his own fault. He let Angel believe that he and Spike had had a relationship. Now he was going to pay the price for trying to invoke Angel's jealousy.

Unfortunately, he was going to have to admit to his foolishness in front of two vampires, who were both eyeing him with great interest.

"Fine, I lied. Giles needed someone to put Spike up while a friend of his was in town. Nothing ever happened. Can we please go now and find a nice roomy crypt for Buffy and Faith before the men with the guns show up?" Xander turned and headed off across the cemetery, his face flaming with mortification.

Angel grinned down at Spike before tossing him against a headstone. "Good to see you, boy." He turned and went after Xander.

Spike sat on the cold ground for a moment, replaying the scene he'd just been an unwilling participant in. "Bloody hell. Like I'm going to miss this. This is better than 'Passions'." He scrambled to his feet and raced after the pair.

Angel fell into step alongside Xander. They walked in silence for a moment before Angel ventured, "Why did you let me think that you and Spike-"

"You're over two centuries old, Angel. Figure it out." Xander spit out the words, furious with himself.

Angel spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully. "I tried that. The only thing I can come up with is that you were trying to make me jealous."

"Now why would you be jealous if the Anchovy Kid here and I got horizontal?"

Xander groaned as Spike joined the conversation. "I knew I should have let you stake yourself."

"You tried to stake yourself?" Angel looked at Spike in concern.

"Yeah, Wills and I walked in on him before he could do the deed. Then she wouldn't leave him alone in case he tried it again."

Angel's expression was serious. "Spike, I can't believe that you were going to kill yourself. You know, you didn't have to go to such drastic measures. You could have called me. I would have been happy to do it for you."

Xander chuckled as Spike sputtered indignantly. "That's pretty much what I said to him." Xander stopped and pointed to a large stone mausoleum at the top of the path. "There it is. The MacDougal crypt."

"You two shacking up?" Spike asked. "Lovely choice. Especially the large stained glass panel on the rear wall." He turned to Xander. "Hope you brought a broom for the Nancy Boy here."

"Damn! I forgot about that." Xander turned to Angel. "We're going to have to keep looking then. But it's not going to be easy to find one enough to house two hospital beds."

Angel looked a Spike, a speculative gleam in his eyes. "Spike can help us." He quickly filled the younger vampire in on the situation and then glowered at him as Spike began to laugh uproariously.

"They're trying to kill their own Slayers? Bloody Hell! They should have sold tickets. Demons'd be lining up 'round the block to see that." He leaned against a headstone as his laughter slowly faded. "And why would I help them?"

Angel took a menacing step towards him. "Because I'm telling you to."

Xander muttered under his breath. "Yeah, like that's going to work." He reached out and placed a restraining hand on Angel's arm. "C'mon, Angel. We don't have to time for this. Why would Spike want to help us? It's not like it's in his best interest or anything. I'm sure when the next Slayer is activated, she'll be very sympathetic to his plight."

Angel immediately understood Xander's game. He nodded and moved away. "Of course, Slayers being known for their compassion."

"Yeah. I mean 'poor, impotent William the Bloody.' Her heart will go out to him."

Spike watched for a moment as they walked off before calling out after them, "The Petersen Crypt. It's big, no sunlight and there's a sewer access grate right outside the door."

Xander and Angel exchanged an amused glance before Xander gestured grandly, "Lead the way, Billy Idol."

Spike lit a cigarette and shoved the pack roughly into the pocket of his duster. He strode past them muttering furiously. "Fuck me."

Xander snorted, "You wish."

Angel lifted a brow in surprise and Xander grinned at him.

"Hey, I'm moist and delicious."