Setting: "In the Dark", some of the conversation in this is a twisted
version of conversations in the episode. This is becoming more and more AU,
read this you'll see what I mean.
Disclaimer- I don't own the shoes I'm currently dancing in what's the likelihood I own anything in Joss' universe? I own the original novels. . . I bought them in Borders, and I own the DVDs. I don't however make money off of this I just seem to spend a lot on it. I in no way intend to infringe copyrights. I'm just entertaining myself, honestly, I'm shocked that anyone's read it.
Warning: SLASH Angel/Doyle. Don't like, don't read, don't flame.
Dedicated to Jack for going to Vermont.
Section rating: R
Part 3/?
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His heart fluttered as he saw the ring. Mouth dry, mind racing Doyle watched Angel for his reaction. The only sign the man was in anyway moved was a slight dilation of his eyes. But Doyle could smell the other man's chemical reaction that no cool demeanor could hide. If Angel's heart were beating, it would have stopped. He held in his hand the ring that rendered its vampire wearer un-killable.
Cordy was whittering, while Angel simply stared at the ring in the palm of his hand. The subject of the Slayer was brought up and Doyle felt the sudden compulsion to change the topic.
"Hey! Put it on, and I'll stake you it'll be fun!" he said trying to cut Buffy straight out of the conversation.
"Maybe later."
"What, are you out of your mind?"
"I said maybe later." Said Angel with an edge like that of a father talking to his petulant child.
"Yeah. . ." said Doyle softly, angry that Angel would speak to him thusly.
"Doyle," said Angel finally looking up and seeing the hurt in the man's eyes, "I-"
"I'm gonna go celebrate your good fortune." Said Doyle and booked in a fast retreat.
Cordelia made some comment to the extent that Doyle was a drunk that neither man heard and followed him in the company of Oz. Left standing alone Angel held the ring. Decisions are often hard to make, however Angel was now faced with a simple one. Dropping into the sewers, he hid the ring under a loose brick. As he left the sewers he was confronted by a person sitting on his bed. Saying nothing he sat down next to the man. Doyle placed his head in Angel's lap.
"I though you were going for a drink?" said Angel softly while running his fingers through black curls.
"You were down there for a long time languishing. I've had three pints, cried enough to get sent home by Cordy, and ran back here."
"So about forty minutes, then?" asked Angel good-humoredly.
"Give or take." Capitulated Doyle.
"I can't use the ring, I didn't mean to chide you off but I just can't. There is too much power there that I don't dare touch. I'm not that strong and I'd lose my way."
Doyle sat up and pulled Angel to him for a kiss, "I wouldn't let you get lost. But if you don't want to use it, I won't blame you. I just want you safe and sound."
"Thank-you for understanding, I know it seems childish but it scares me."
"Only the brave admit to fear." Said Doyle softly. Angel rested his head on Doyle's shoulder. "Are we good now?"
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The next morning Doyle woke wrapped in something heavy and while not warm, pre-say, extremely insulating. It took him a moment to remember the night before. There was a fight, and some drinking, and a resolving conversation. . . and now he was wrapped in his very own Angel. He smiled and relaxed into the position savoring the closeness of another being something he'd rarely had in the last four years. His own thoughts distressed him and he nestled closer still to Angel.
Suddenly there was a loud noise, Doyle was scared momentarily before he realized what it was. Angel was purring. Slowly Doyle relaxed back into his prior location. Tentatively he stroked Angel's hair, something the man would have cringed at while conscious. However, in his current state he nuzzled closer to Doyle. Pulling the man closer Doyle placed a chaste kiss on his forehead. Angel's eyes fluttered open and he slowly smiled.
He pulled Doyle to him for a kiss and asked, "What time is it?"
"'Levenish, we should get up, Cordy 'ill be in soon and it sets a bad example if we're bunking off, she never come in on time again." He said but didn't make a go to get up.
"One of us has to make a move." Said Angel and then he sighed heavily. "I'll go put some coffee on and we'll take a shower and enter the world of the living. . . or unliving, whatever."
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"Hey," said Cordy as she walked in, her normal bundle of light and joy. "Where's the brooder?"
"He's still doing his hair, give him another twenty minutes." Said Doyle looking up from a note about a girl named Rachel needing protection from her boyfriend that the law didn't cover. Apparently Angel had gotten him put away. He tried to stifle a yawn but it came out unfettered.
"Tired?" asked Cordy. Doyle simply nodded. "This is why you should lay off the ale before you start quoting Angela's Ashes, crying like a baby man, and calling Oz 'my little Bambam'." Doyle merely shrugged. "Plus not staying up all night having sex with the boss helps too." She said parenthetically. Doyle's jaw dropped. "Oh please, I'm an actress: I can read people. Plus your portrayal of a drunken Doyle was slightly stiff. I'm glad you and Angel are happy but don't you dare make him too happy. Look I know you weren't around last time Angelus made an appearance so you don't know the whole deal. But I assure you, you don't want to know the whole deal. Let's just say he's more than a little grumpy and he goes for the person closet to him aka you. So don't break Angel or I'll be forced to hurt you, and don't underestimate me, I grew up on the Hellmouth and survived." She said in her "I'm Cordelia Chase and you will obey me" voice complete with its trademark head tilt.
"That's sweet, totally unnecessary but sweet." Said Angel was he walked in from the stairs. "So what the address of that Rachel girl? It turns out scum does float to the top." he was apparently completely unfazed.
"Am I the only one who's scared by that speech?" asked Doyle stunned.
"Well she didn't threaten me, and it's not as though it's news. She's can't file, or answer the phones, or make coffee, why did you think I hired her if not to be my muscle?"
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Angel walked out to the car followed closely by Doyle. He was listening to the man's footsteps when suddenly a beam hit his forehead. He smirked slightly. "Hello, Spike. Cup of tea? A scotch? I'm kinda busy."
"I want the ring." Said Spike in an even but menacing voice. Angel just smiled at his peevish childe.
"Spike, no I'm sorry but no. I can't do that. And we both know how an out and out fight will end so why don't you just go."
"Oh please, throw the gauntlet down, old man. Ya know, I had a plan, but watching you, I got bored. You've gone linear. . . and proved with that statement: How many times have I heard that same speech? I've gone Sunnydale. Look, I did the research, I sired the help, I did the digging, didn't you always teach me to reap what I sowed? Well here I am, the reaper."
"No, Spike. I can't give it to you. You could hurt yourself or someone else, you could become dependant on the thing and sloppy and one day you make the error that kills you because you became reliant on it. That's not how you should end."
Spike just stared at his sire, "I'll be back, and I will get the gem." He looked over Angel's shoulder to Doyle who was watching the scene. He winked. "Hey there cutie." He said and ran off.
"The prodigal son in all his glory." Muttered Doyle. "Peculiar, childlike man isn't he?"
"I always knew how to pick them." Said a brooding Angel he bit into his lip and drew blood. "Would you get Cordy to your place and hide out 'til this is over? I don't really want you too see me deal with Spike, it's not something I'll be proud of. And I don't want you getting caught in the cross fire."
"What about you, man. He'll be coming back before long." anxiously Doyle asked.
"I guess I'll find him first. I'll be ok, he's a childe, my childe."
"Don't hold back because you rather die than hurt your blood. Ok?" asked Doyle with resolve face.
"Doyle, I-"
"Don't lie, Angel. You know you would. But promise me, or I won't go."
"I promise that if one of us must die, it won't be me."
"Thank-you." Said Doyle and pulled Angel to him for a kiss. "If you die, I will kill you."
"Careful, you're starting to sound like Cordy." Said Angel running his fingers through dark curls. "Just be sure to stay out of sight, I'll come get you. And while I'm at Rachel's try some of your, I use this term under duress, friends, maybe they know something."
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"So what's the deal with Spike? Should I be sweating?" asked Doyle of Cordelia as they sat in his apartment. He'd made a lot of calls and was making some small headway.
"No, no. . . sweat." Confirmed Cordy. "He's not good news. Even as bad guys go, he is hardcore and scary. I mean, Angel has nothing to worry about, you never saw him as Angelus, but believe me he will treat Spike as Angelus would even Spike, the Big Bad, can't stand up to Angelus."
"He won't treat him like that, Cordy. Mark my words he's going to end up bloodied and bruised and Spike is going to walk out with only his ego hurt. He won't get the ring but that doesn't mean he won't win."
"No, Angel is stronger-"
"That doesn't mean he'll use that power. This is his childe and Angel views this as acting out and that worries me. I just hope playing father doesn't get him dead." Said Doyle waiting for the phone to ring.
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"What do you want, Angel?" asked the torture demon sticking yet another poker into his side.
"I want to get out of here, and go see a movie." Muttered Angel, "I hear The Matrix is good."
"Spike's going to find the ring, if you just told me where it was I could make all the pain go away, I like you, I'd even let you live. All you need to do is tell me where it is and what you want."
"I want forgiveness. Is that what you want to hear? I can say that, it's not entirely true but close enough. I want inner peace, that's what I want and the ring can't bring me that."
"But he can, can he?" Said Markus as he pulled the poker back out, it's barb shredding Angel's body as he did so.
Spike came in looking put out. "I couldn't find it but I've got the good people at Angel Investigations working on it."
"I told them not to leave his apartment." Muttered Angel to himself. Clearly angered that his ward was capable of thinking outside of the pain Markus stuck another poker into him.
Spike rolled his eyes." Markus could you give us a moment alone?" he asked and watched as the man walked away. "I don't like this Angelus, I don't like to treat you like this, you're my sire and this is just wrong. I didn't think you would really get hurt, I thought you'd just give it up." His eyes were filled with true remorse. "And I know what you're going to say when you get back to your friends, something about your childe acting out again. But this isn't acting out this is me being a through and through bastard. Your boy and Cordy are finding it as we speak, so why don't I just send Marcus away?" he asked softly, there were tears in his eyes. "I just want that ring. I need the ring."
"Why does it matter so much to you? You never were a tanner in the first place and it's not as though anyone can touch you, not even the slayers." asked Angel.
"I'm dieing, Angelus, I caught some mystical plague in Brazil and am dieing. The ring would stop that. I wouldn't even use it for evil, I swear to you."
"Oh, Spike." Sighed Angel. "I can fix this without a ring." Spike's eyes lit up in hope. "Come here." He said and when Spike made no move he added, "I'm chained to a ceiling, I can't hurt you." Spike shuffled towards him and then rolled his eyes at his own stupidity and trepidation and walked to his Sire. "Tilt your head." Commanded Angel. Spike obeyed his Sire and sighed as he felt the needles piercing through his skin, it was like coming home. Angel drank long and deep, until Spike was clinging to him to stay upright. Angel could taste the poison in his childe's blood. He released Spike neck and tilted his head.
Sire's blood, the cure for all that ails you. Here Spike was being offered that which all children dream of, their Sire willingly offering blood. "Are you sure, Sire?" he asked not wanting to have misinterpreted the action, for he feared the consequences if he drank unbidden. Angel laughed, he was chained the ceiling in the midst of being tortured and Spike was worried about a nip. Spike laughed too. "Thank-you, Sire, I'll never comprehend you're capacity for forgiveness." He said and bit tentatively into the other man's throat. He felt the raw power flowing into his mouth and felt even weaker than before. Angel smiled into his childe's hair as Spike kneaded his arm like a kitten kneading it's mother's tit. Spike pulled back afraid of taking to much. Heavy lidded eyes like that of a drugged man looked into Angel's, "I love you." He said softly. "That's why I hate you so fucking much."
Angel licked Spike's neck testing his blood, "You're fine now. Could you maybe get these pokers out of me? Only they kinda hurt."
"I'm sorry. . . funny, we're not supposed to feel guilt are we? So why do you bring out everything human about me?" he said as he unchained Angel's wrists and sat him down on the table his legs swinging off the side. He held each poker in place with one hand on the handle while with the other he broke off the barbed point so he could pull them smoothly from Angel. "God, I'm so sorry." Said again sinking down to his knees in front of the man. While kneeling he kept his head down and bared his neck to the man towering over him. It was the perfect demonstration of the typical childes' supplicant position. Angel rolled his eyes. Trying to get Spike to get up would be fruitless, the boy was stubborn and for some unknown reason he respected the old traditions, strange, as he thumbed his nose at almost everything. Angel pulled the boy into his arms and bit savagely into his neck knowing that the larger the scar the less guilt Spike would feel. Softly Spike started to cry not for pain but from frustration. "Why do I do these things? I love you. So why do I do all of these stupid things to push you away from me? I just want you to love me."
"I do love you. It just-"
Spike interrupted him, "He's beautiful, Angel. Innocent, pure, and sad: just your type. You don't owe me an explanation. Hell, I don't even deserve one. All you did was give me life, you have no dept to pay back. I owe you everything."
"This has nothing to do with Doyle." Angel said as Doyle and Cordy walked in. Doyle grabbed her and quickly hid behind the doorframe.
"Yeah whatever, but when the mortal mick mix dies look me up." He said he kissed Angel full on the lips.
Angel broke the kiss off with obvious reluctance. "Spike I can't not in any way shape or form. The mortal mick mix as you call him is where it is for me right now. You need me I'm here, your sick I'll take care of you, if you need a place to stay I will give my bed but please don't ask me to do this to Doyle. I love you and I always will but I'm falling in love with him."
"I can really stay with you?" asked Spike with hope in his eyes.
"Of course you can, we need to get some meat on your bones. When was the last time you fed?"
"I've been too sick to be interested in food."
"Why didn't you just come to me?. . . stupid question, you really need to get over your pride." Said Angel with a laugh.
Doyle let go of Cordy and they walked in. He ran over to Angel and faked consternation. "Angel man, are you all right?"
Angel nodded slowly and wirily, "I'm fine Doyle."
"What's going on?" asked Cordy slowly. "Spike said you were being tortured to death and here you are being all buddy buddy. And what about the ring?"
"The ring doesn't matter anymore and Spike told the torturer to go away and took the hot pokers out about ten minutes ago. . . I wonder where Marcus went. Oh well, doesn't matter. Commo guys lets go home, Spike's gonna come too, he has no place to stay."
"What!" shouted Doyle.
"Don't fuss." Said Angel unenthusiastically, "I'll explain it in later. Can we just go home?" he started to stand but fell as his legs would not support him. With Demonic speed Doyle rushed forward and caught him. "Thanks for that." He said with a wry smile.
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Angel was sitting on the roof's edge wearing the much coveted ring for the first and last time watching the sun set.
Doyle slowly came up the stairs behind him, "So how long has it been between sunsets?"
"200 years, give or take."
" Well you got to be feeling pretty damn good then, huh? I mean this ring- changes everything, don't it? " he asked Angel didn't look away from the sun, "Yeah, it's spectacular, I know. But I do promise that there will be another one exactly like it tomorrow."
"Not for me." Said Angel pulling off the ring with the last rays.
"What are you saying? That the city will be hit by a meteor before tomorrow night or. . ." he said walking forward and sitting down next to Angel on the wall.
"No." said Angel softly.
"No. It's to horrible to say the other. I can't even bring myself to say the other."
"I'm not going to wear the ring."
"That was the other. - You got a real addiction to the brooding part of life. Anyone ever tell you that?"
"Once or twice." Said Angel with a smirk. And then he handed it to Doyle. "Keep it for me."
"It's like getting your pin" joked Doyle but then asked seriously, 'Care to explain? I mean this ring is your redemption. It's what you've been waiting for."
"Nah, it just looks like it. Funny you say that actually, Marcus the torture vampire said you were my redemption. . . I don't know about you, but I had a nice day. . . You know, except for the bulk of it, where I was nearly tortured to death." He said as he snaked his arms around his boyfriend.
"Yeah, well, you stood up." Said Doyle coldly thinking of what he'd seen of Angel's "torture"
"Oh, god. I was this close to telling him everything. I mean, one more hot poker and I was giving him the ring, your mom, - everything. . . How is your mom?"
"I love you, Angel," said Doyle seemingly apropos to nothing. "Thank-you for not making me fight for you, I don't want to lose you."
Angel realized what he was talking about. "You won't, I love you too damn much to let you go."
"Really?" said Doyle close to tears, "Because for a minute there I. . ."
"He's my childe, but I'm in love with you and his sudden appearance isn't going to change that."
"Can we just go to bed and forget about today?" asked Doyle in a downhearted voice with every emotion of fear and anxiety threatening to break through.
"Yeah," said Angel but he started to laugh. "Spike's asleep in my bed. Commo, we better go to your apartment." He surveyed his tired boyfriend and pulled him into his arms as he jumped off the roof, he landed catlike and upright on the street below and they walked slowly into the night.
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Review- should I keep going?
Disclaimer- I don't own the shoes I'm currently dancing in what's the likelihood I own anything in Joss' universe? I own the original novels. . . I bought them in Borders, and I own the DVDs. I don't however make money off of this I just seem to spend a lot on it. I in no way intend to infringe copyrights. I'm just entertaining myself, honestly, I'm shocked that anyone's read it.
Warning: SLASH Angel/Doyle. Don't like, don't read, don't flame.
Dedicated to Jack for going to Vermont.
Section rating: R
Part 3/?
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His heart fluttered as he saw the ring. Mouth dry, mind racing Doyle watched Angel for his reaction. The only sign the man was in anyway moved was a slight dilation of his eyes. But Doyle could smell the other man's chemical reaction that no cool demeanor could hide. If Angel's heart were beating, it would have stopped. He held in his hand the ring that rendered its vampire wearer un-killable.
Cordy was whittering, while Angel simply stared at the ring in the palm of his hand. The subject of the Slayer was brought up and Doyle felt the sudden compulsion to change the topic.
"Hey! Put it on, and I'll stake you it'll be fun!" he said trying to cut Buffy straight out of the conversation.
"Maybe later."
"What, are you out of your mind?"
"I said maybe later." Said Angel with an edge like that of a father talking to his petulant child.
"Yeah. . ." said Doyle softly, angry that Angel would speak to him thusly.
"Doyle," said Angel finally looking up and seeing the hurt in the man's eyes, "I-"
"I'm gonna go celebrate your good fortune." Said Doyle and booked in a fast retreat.
Cordelia made some comment to the extent that Doyle was a drunk that neither man heard and followed him in the company of Oz. Left standing alone Angel held the ring. Decisions are often hard to make, however Angel was now faced with a simple one. Dropping into the sewers, he hid the ring under a loose brick. As he left the sewers he was confronted by a person sitting on his bed. Saying nothing he sat down next to the man. Doyle placed his head in Angel's lap.
"I though you were going for a drink?" said Angel softly while running his fingers through black curls.
"You were down there for a long time languishing. I've had three pints, cried enough to get sent home by Cordy, and ran back here."
"So about forty minutes, then?" asked Angel good-humoredly.
"Give or take." Capitulated Doyle.
"I can't use the ring, I didn't mean to chide you off but I just can't. There is too much power there that I don't dare touch. I'm not that strong and I'd lose my way."
Doyle sat up and pulled Angel to him for a kiss, "I wouldn't let you get lost. But if you don't want to use it, I won't blame you. I just want you safe and sound."
"Thank-you for understanding, I know it seems childish but it scares me."
"Only the brave admit to fear." Said Doyle softly. Angel rested his head on Doyle's shoulder. "Are we good now?"
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The next morning Doyle woke wrapped in something heavy and while not warm, pre-say, extremely insulating. It took him a moment to remember the night before. There was a fight, and some drinking, and a resolving conversation. . . and now he was wrapped in his very own Angel. He smiled and relaxed into the position savoring the closeness of another being something he'd rarely had in the last four years. His own thoughts distressed him and he nestled closer still to Angel.
Suddenly there was a loud noise, Doyle was scared momentarily before he realized what it was. Angel was purring. Slowly Doyle relaxed back into his prior location. Tentatively he stroked Angel's hair, something the man would have cringed at while conscious. However, in his current state he nuzzled closer to Doyle. Pulling the man closer Doyle placed a chaste kiss on his forehead. Angel's eyes fluttered open and he slowly smiled.
He pulled Doyle to him for a kiss and asked, "What time is it?"
"'Levenish, we should get up, Cordy 'ill be in soon and it sets a bad example if we're bunking off, she never come in on time again." He said but didn't make a go to get up.
"One of us has to make a move." Said Angel and then he sighed heavily. "I'll go put some coffee on and we'll take a shower and enter the world of the living. . . or unliving, whatever."
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"Hey," said Cordy as she walked in, her normal bundle of light and joy. "Where's the brooder?"
"He's still doing his hair, give him another twenty minutes." Said Doyle looking up from a note about a girl named Rachel needing protection from her boyfriend that the law didn't cover. Apparently Angel had gotten him put away. He tried to stifle a yawn but it came out unfettered.
"Tired?" asked Cordy. Doyle simply nodded. "This is why you should lay off the ale before you start quoting Angela's Ashes, crying like a baby man, and calling Oz 'my little Bambam'." Doyle merely shrugged. "Plus not staying up all night having sex with the boss helps too." She said parenthetically. Doyle's jaw dropped. "Oh please, I'm an actress: I can read people. Plus your portrayal of a drunken Doyle was slightly stiff. I'm glad you and Angel are happy but don't you dare make him too happy. Look I know you weren't around last time Angelus made an appearance so you don't know the whole deal. But I assure you, you don't want to know the whole deal. Let's just say he's more than a little grumpy and he goes for the person closet to him aka you. So don't break Angel or I'll be forced to hurt you, and don't underestimate me, I grew up on the Hellmouth and survived." She said in her "I'm Cordelia Chase and you will obey me" voice complete with its trademark head tilt.
"That's sweet, totally unnecessary but sweet." Said Angel was he walked in from the stairs. "So what the address of that Rachel girl? It turns out scum does float to the top." he was apparently completely unfazed.
"Am I the only one who's scared by that speech?" asked Doyle stunned.
"Well she didn't threaten me, and it's not as though it's news. She's can't file, or answer the phones, or make coffee, why did you think I hired her if not to be my muscle?"
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Angel walked out to the car followed closely by Doyle. He was listening to the man's footsteps when suddenly a beam hit his forehead. He smirked slightly. "Hello, Spike. Cup of tea? A scotch? I'm kinda busy."
"I want the ring." Said Spike in an even but menacing voice. Angel just smiled at his peevish childe.
"Spike, no I'm sorry but no. I can't do that. And we both know how an out and out fight will end so why don't you just go."
"Oh please, throw the gauntlet down, old man. Ya know, I had a plan, but watching you, I got bored. You've gone linear. . . and proved with that statement: How many times have I heard that same speech? I've gone Sunnydale. Look, I did the research, I sired the help, I did the digging, didn't you always teach me to reap what I sowed? Well here I am, the reaper."
"No, Spike. I can't give it to you. You could hurt yourself or someone else, you could become dependant on the thing and sloppy and one day you make the error that kills you because you became reliant on it. That's not how you should end."
Spike just stared at his sire, "I'll be back, and I will get the gem." He looked over Angel's shoulder to Doyle who was watching the scene. He winked. "Hey there cutie." He said and ran off.
"The prodigal son in all his glory." Muttered Doyle. "Peculiar, childlike man isn't he?"
"I always knew how to pick them." Said a brooding Angel he bit into his lip and drew blood. "Would you get Cordy to your place and hide out 'til this is over? I don't really want you too see me deal with Spike, it's not something I'll be proud of. And I don't want you getting caught in the cross fire."
"What about you, man. He'll be coming back before long." anxiously Doyle asked.
"I guess I'll find him first. I'll be ok, he's a childe, my childe."
"Don't hold back because you rather die than hurt your blood. Ok?" asked Doyle with resolve face.
"Doyle, I-"
"Don't lie, Angel. You know you would. But promise me, or I won't go."
"I promise that if one of us must die, it won't be me."
"Thank-you." Said Doyle and pulled Angel to him for a kiss. "If you die, I will kill you."
"Careful, you're starting to sound like Cordy." Said Angel running his fingers through dark curls. "Just be sure to stay out of sight, I'll come get you. And while I'm at Rachel's try some of your, I use this term under duress, friends, maybe they know something."
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"So what's the deal with Spike? Should I be sweating?" asked Doyle of Cordelia as they sat in his apartment. He'd made a lot of calls and was making some small headway.
"No, no. . . sweat." Confirmed Cordy. "He's not good news. Even as bad guys go, he is hardcore and scary. I mean, Angel has nothing to worry about, you never saw him as Angelus, but believe me he will treat Spike as Angelus would even Spike, the Big Bad, can't stand up to Angelus."
"He won't treat him like that, Cordy. Mark my words he's going to end up bloodied and bruised and Spike is going to walk out with only his ego hurt. He won't get the ring but that doesn't mean he won't win."
"No, Angel is stronger-"
"That doesn't mean he'll use that power. This is his childe and Angel views this as acting out and that worries me. I just hope playing father doesn't get him dead." Said Doyle waiting for the phone to ring.
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"What do you want, Angel?" asked the torture demon sticking yet another poker into his side.
"I want to get out of here, and go see a movie." Muttered Angel, "I hear The Matrix is good."
"Spike's going to find the ring, if you just told me where it was I could make all the pain go away, I like you, I'd even let you live. All you need to do is tell me where it is and what you want."
"I want forgiveness. Is that what you want to hear? I can say that, it's not entirely true but close enough. I want inner peace, that's what I want and the ring can't bring me that."
"But he can, can he?" Said Markus as he pulled the poker back out, it's barb shredding Angel's body as he did so.
Spike came in looking put out. "I couldn't find it but I've got the good people at Angel Investigations working on it."
"I told them not to leave his apartment." Muttered Angel to himself. Clearly angered that his ward was capable of thinking outside of the pain Markus stuck another poker into him.
Spike rolled his eyes." Markus could you give us a moment alone?" he asked and watched as the man walked away. "I don't like this Angelus, I don't like to treat you like this, you're my sire and this is just wrong. I didn't think you would really get hurt, I thought you'd just give it up." His eyes were filled with true remorse. "And I know what you're going to say when you get back to your friends, something about your childe acting out again. But this isn't acting out this is me being a through and through bastard. Your boy and Cordy are finding it as we speak, so why don't I just send Marcus away?" he asked softly, there were tears in his eyes. "I just want that ring. I need the ring."
"Why does it matter so much to you? You never were a tanner in the first place and it's not as though anyone can touch you, not even the slayers." asked Angel.
"I'm dieing, Angelus, I caught some mystical plague in Brazil and am dieing. The ring would stop that. I wouldn't even use it for evil, I swear to you."
"Oh, Spike." Sighed Angel. "I can fix this without a ring." Spike's eyes lit up in hope. "Come here." He said and when Spike made no move he added, "I'm chained to a ceiling, I can't hurt you." Spike shuffled towards him and then rolled his eyes at his own stupidity and trepidation and walked to his Sire. "Tilt your head." Commanded Angel. Spike obeyed his Sire and sighed as he felt the needles piercing through his skin, it was like coming home. Angel drank long and deep, until Spike was clinging to him to stay upright. Angel could taste the poison in his childe's blood. He released Spike neck and tilted his head.
Sire's blood, the cure for all that ails you. Here Spike was being offered that which all children dream of, their Sire willingly offering blood. "Are you sure, Sire?" he asked not wanting to have misinterpreted the action, for he feared the consequences if he drank unbidden. Angel laughed, he was chained the ceiling in the midst of being tortured and Spike was worried about a nip. Spike laughed too. "Thank-you, Sire, I'll never comprehend you're capacity for forgiveness." He said and bit tentatively into the other man's throat. He felt the raw power flowing into his mouth and felt even weaker than before. Angel smiled into his childe's hair as Spike kneaded his arm like a kitten kneading it's mother's tit. Spike pulled back afraid of taking to much. Heavy lidded eyes like that of a drugged man looked into Angel's, "I love you." He said softly. "That's why I hate you so fucking much."
Angel licked Spike's neck testing his blood, "You're fine now. Could you maybe get these pokers out of me? Only they kinda hurt."
"I'm sorry. . . funny, we're not supposed to feel guilt are we? So why do you bring out everything human about me?" he said as he unchained Angel's wrists and sat him down on the table his legs swinging off the side. He held each poker in place with one hand on the handle while with the other he broke off the barbed point so he could pull them smoothly from Angel. "God, I'm so sorry." Said again sinking down to his knees in front of the man. While kneeling he kept his head down and bared his neck to the man towering over him. It was the perfect demonstration of the typical childes' supplicant position. Angel rolled his eyes. Trying to get Spike to get up would be fruitless, the boy was stubborn and for some unknown reason he respected the old traditions, strange, as he thumbed his nose at almost everything. Angel pulled the boy into his arms and bit savagely into his neck knowing that the larger the scar the less guilt Spike would feel. Softly Spike started to cry not for pain but from frustration. "Why do I do these things? I love you. So why do I do all of these stupid things to push you away from me? I just want you to love me."
"I do love you. It just-"
Spike interrupted him, "He's beautiful, Angel. Innocent, pure, and sad: just your type. You don't owe me an explanation. Hell, I don't even deserve one. All you did was give me life, you have no dept to pay back. I owe you everything."
"This has nothing to do with Doyle." Angel said as Doyle and Cordy walked in. Doyle grabbed her and quickly hid behind the doorframe.
"Yeah whatever, but when the mortal mick mix dies look me up." He said he kissed Angel full on the lips.
Angel broke the kiss off with obvious reluctance. "Spike I can't not in any way shape or form. The mortal mick mix as you call him is where it is for me right now. You need me I'm here, your sick I'll take care of you, if you need a place to stay I will give my bed but please don't ask me to do this to Doyle. I love you and I always will but I'm falling in love with him."
"I can really stay with you?" asked Spike with hope in his eyes.
"Of course you can, we need to get some meat on your bones. When was the last time you fed?"
"I've been too sick to be interested in food."
"Why didn't you just come to me?. . . stupid question, you really need to get over your pride." Said Angel with a laugh.
Doyle let go of Cordy and they walked in. He ran over to Angel and faked consternation. "Angel man, are you all right?"
Angel nodded slowly and wirily, "I'm fine Doyle."
"What's going on?" asked Cordy slowly. "Spike said you were being tortured to death and here you are being all buddy buddy. And what about the ring?"
"The ring doesn't matter anymore and Spike told the torturer to go away and took the hot pokers out about ten minutes ago. . . I wonder where Marcus went. Oh well, doesn't matter. Commo guys lets go home, Spike's gonna come too, he has no place to stay."
"What!" shouted Doyle.
"Don't fuss." Said Angel unenthusiastically, "I'll explain it in later. Can we just go home?" he started to stand but fell as his legs would not support him. With Demonic speed Doyle rushed forward and caught him. "Thanks for that." He said with a wry smile.
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Angel was sitting on the roof's edge wearing the much coveted ring for the first and last time watching the sun set.
Doyle slowly came up the stairs behind him, "So how long has it been between sunsets?"
"200 years, give or take."
" Well you got to be feeling pretty damn good then, huh? I mean this ring- changes everything, don't it? " he asked Angel didn't look away from the sun, "Yeah, it's spectacular, I know. But I do promise that there will be another one exactly like it tomorrow."
"Not for me." Said Angel pulling off the ring with the last rays.
"What are you saying? That the city will be hit by a meteor before tomorrow night or. . ." he said walking forward and sitting down next to Angel on the wall.
"No." said Angel softly.
"No. It's to horrible to say the other. I can't even bring myself to say the other."
"I'm not going to wear the ring."
"That was the other. - You got a real addiction to the brooding part of life. Anyone ever tell you that?"
"Once or twice." Said Angel with a smirk. And then he handed it to Doyle. "Keep it for me."
"It's like getting your pin" joked Doyle but then asked seriously, 'Care to explain? I mean this ring is your redemption. It's what you've been waiting for."
"Nah, it just looks like it. Funny you say that actually, Marcus the torture vampire said you were my redemption. . . I don't know about you, but I had a nice day. . . You know, except for the bulk of it, where I was nearly tortured to death." He said as he snaked his arms around his boyfriend.
"Yeah, well, you stood up." Said Doyle coldly thinking of what he'd seen of Angel's "torture"
"Oh, god. I was this close to telling him everything. I mean, one more hot poker and I was giving him the ring, your mom, - everything. . . How is your mom?"
"I love you, Angel," said Doyle seemingly apropos to nothing. "Thank-you for not making me fight for you, I don't want to lose you."
Angel realized what he was talking about. "You won't, I love you too damn much to let you go."
"Really?" said Doyle close to tears, "Because for a minute there I. . ."
"He's my childe, but I'm in love with you and his sudden appearance isn't going to change that."
"Can we just go to bed and forget about today?" asked Doyle in a downhearted voice with every emotion of fear and anxiety threatening to break through.
"Yeah," said Angel but he started to laugh. "Spike's asleep in my bed. Commo, we better go to your apartment." He surveyed his tired boyfriend and pulled him into his arms as he jumped off the roof, he landed catlike and upright on the street below and they walked slowly into the night.
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Review- should I keep going?