Chapter Two

"...There's actually a notorious amount of evil things lurking about in the shadows," Wesley finished his dialogue and promptly tried to take another sip out of his glass. Which he discovered was empty so grabbed the bottle to refill it. Until he realized there was already a hand on the bottle and that it was already refilling the glass for him. He was beginning to become suspicious at how many times that had already happened over the night.

Riley had listened to everything that Wesley had to say - which was a considerable amount - with such attentiveness that it had only made Wesley want to say more. It was a rare thing when people actually listened to what he had to say but Riley just seemed to soak it all eagerly up. And after the initial shock and denial, the sudden knowledge of the existence of vampires and demons didn't really seem to rattle him. Or he was just very good at hiding it. Or Wes was just too drunk to notice whether Riley was freaking out or not.

Riley nodded as Wesley finished, sitting back in his chair as he had been leant slightly forward the entire time that Wesley had been talking. They had gotten a small booth in the back at Riley's insistence that they would want the privacy. He seemed now to be mulling over everything that Wesley had said. Wesley waved his somehow half empty glass at him. Or was that half full? To eliminate that little conundrum he quickly drank down the last half. This was actually sort of depressing to think that the glass was now completely empty and so he filled it again. There.

Riley was still waiting patiently for Wesley to actually say something.

"You realize that I'm only telling you any of this due to the fact I'm utterly drunk?"

Riley smiled and looked amused. "Of course."

"And that you can't tell anyone? Most people are ill equipped to handle the news that the monster under their bed could be real."

Riley seemed to take a moment to decipher what Wesley had said and Wesley had a brief flash of wondering whether he was still speaking English or if he hadn't lapsed into another language altogether and not realized. He had an embarrassing tendency to do so whenever he drank too much. It was generally the sign that he should stop.

After a moment though Riley seemed to understand and nodded. "I understand."

It wasn't good enough for Wesley who lurched up in his chair, banged his elbows down on the table to hold himself up, then reached across to grab at Riley's shirt. All after setting his drink safely to the side, of course.

"You must promise," he hissed out, trying to put as much severity in the tone as he could.

Riley's expression switched from surprised, amused and finally to a humoring sort of seriousness. Wes thought seriously about frowning at him but quickly decided that he had neither the energy nor the inclination to bother.

"I'm not going to tell anyone. I promise."

Wesley studied him critically for a moment, trying to decide if Riley was trying to hide humor in his voice.

"Good," Wes said almost warily. He didn't notice that his hands were still clenching at Riley's shirt, almost hanging on as if it would help him to keep his already well kept balance. Then warm hands were covering his own and gently prying them loose. Wesley blinked.

"I promise I won't tell anyone," Riley repeated himself. Then his lips twitched up into a half smile as he finally got Wesley to let go of his shirt and placed his hands down carefully on the table. "I also think you've had enough to drink."

Wesley stared at him. Still leant half over the table and with his hands now spread flat over the surface. He stared as Riley reached into the wallet that had mysteriously materialized into his hand to draw out some money. Vaguely, he wondered when it had turned from him buying Riley a drink to Riley buying him a drink. Or…many drinks. He felt he should make at least a token protest but apparently his mouth didn't agree as it refused to move. Also it was probably more important that he stop staring at Riley who was now standing and looking down at Wesley with that amused look again.

Wesley suddenly found the effort to scowl at him. "You did this on purpose," he accused Riley adamantly. Riley's lips definitely twitched towards a smile, belying his words entirely.

"Did what?"

"You kept refilling my glass so that I'd tell you everything." He was beginning to sulk. Trust him to not even be able to keep a simple secret that he had been entrusted with. And here came the maudlin part of being drunk.

Riley shrugged a little and had the grace to look sheepish. Wesley glared at him some more despite the fact that it seemed to be having no effect.

"You could simply have asked."

"I did."

Wesley thought about that for a moment before his face fell. "...Oh yes. Well...you know you haven't got to pay for this," Wesley jumped tracks as Riley moved to place the money that he had drawn from his wallet down on the table.

"Think of it as thanks for telling me everything." Riley smiled disarmingly.

"Oh, yes. Thank you." His words were beginning to sound a little slurred even to him. Horribly, he wondered if this meant he was beginning to sober up a touch. It may have been time to get home. Riley seemed to agree with him.

"Come on, Wesley; think it's time we got out of here. Head home."

"Yes, you're probably right. Except home is in England and I can't exactly go back there," he slurred as Riley took hold of him by the elbow to help haul him up when Wesley seemed to have some difficulty with it on his own. Standing also seemed to be presenting him with a bit of trouble but luckily Riley's hands didn't leave their grip on his elbows.

Riley's perpetual amusement with him seemed to be going nowhere and while Wesley would have liked to look put out over it this would probably only amuse him more.

"Well where are you staying then?"

Wesley though about it before a horror stricken look came over his face. "I hadn't thought about it."

The answer seemed to come as no surprise to Riley who gave a nod and a smile that told Wesley it was okay. Not a thing that a lot of people ever told Wesley. "There's a hotel not too far from here. It's decent and cheap. I'll take you." That statement left there to be no questions about it which made Wesley want to protest on that principal alone. He didn't though, only nodded meekly. Then immediately gave Riley a suspicious look.

"Are you propositioning me?"

Riley seemed a little taken aback at that before his face quickly recomposed itself. Clearly the thought hadn't even crossed his mind and Wesley's face fell. Riley gave a smile that seemed to be on the nervous side despite the confidence that had seemed to cling to him since Wesley had first laid eyes on him.

"Actually, I'm just working on the assumption that there's no way you'll be able to drive any amount of distance. If you can even get out the front door."

"...Oh." Wesley's voice came out in a very embarrassing squeak. Luckily, he was far too drunk to bother with being properly embarrassed. "I wouldn't mind if you were, you know," he added on as an afterthought.

Riley looked like he was trying desperately not to blush. "I'll, uh; I'll keep that in mind."

Guilt hit Wesley at the tone in Riley's voice. He was making the poor boy uncomfortable and that had never been Wesley's intention. None of this had been his intention. Passing out really seemed like the best option about now. His body seemed to agree with him as his legs - which had up till then been cooperating, though that could well be due to the continued support of Riley's hands at his elbows - picked that moment to buckle and pitch him forward.

Riley's hands suddenly slid up to his shoulders were the only thing that kept Wesley from tipping over onto his face. Good Lord, but he knew how to make an impression...

Riley was laughing though, the vibrations traveling along his arms to the grip that kept Wesley on his feet. "Looks like I'm just going to have to carry you straight to the bed."

Wesley simply blinked at him. Less than a second after the words were out and Riley's eyes widened as he tripped over the next ones.

"I mean...that...," he sighed. "Let's just get you to the hotel."

I think that may be a good idea," Wesley agreed. Although when Wesley turned to try and take a step forward it became clear that Riley might just have to carry him to bed after all.

An arm slung around his waist did wonders though and Riley made him drape his arm across Riley's shoulders. Walking actually seemed to be possible now. As did passing out but that could probably wait till a better time.

They made their way carefully out of the bar, Riley going slowly in order to give Wesley the time to properly negotiate the extra set of feet.

Riley's ride was an old beat up gray - possibly at one point blue - Buick car. It didn't exactly look road safe and after a brief look - and Riley's insurance that they wouldn't have to be in it for long - Wesley got in. Wesley somehow managed to fasten his seatbelt and they were off, the great gray beast grinding into gear as it pulled out of the parking lot.

It wasn't until the next morning, when Wesley woke up with the mother of all hangovers in a bed he didn't know in a room he didn't remember getting, that he realized he'd left his life sitting unprotected in a bar's parking lot.

"Oh, bugger."