Thanks to Lonnie for her wonderful betaing.
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Arezue; Desire, William the Bloody
Chapter One: Road Trips
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"So, you guys have everything, right?" Fred asked, looking over at the Desoto. Arezue shrugged, focusing more on the blue Popsicle in her hands then anything else; she was trying to figure out if it would cause her undead tongue to turn blue. "All set for your honeymoon in – " The brunette frowned, trying to remember the place. "Sunnydale, right?"
"Yeah." Spike answered the physicist's question, glancing around awkwardly. Angel, Fred, Cordelia, and Connor stood out in the dusk with them; Gunn had deemed himself too much of a man for 'sappy goodbyes' and Wesley had just disappeared without notice.
"That's – uh – good." Angel smiled painfully, looking as if he'd rather be somewhere else. "Everything's good…" He took a step towards Arezue and held out his arms, as if to hug her. She scowled and moved away, causing him to drop his arms with a wince. "Everything's not so good." Cordelia rolled her eyes, mouthing the word 'idiot' to him.
"So, Spike," She smiled sweetly. "This whole chip thing – does it mean you're not so evil anymore?" Spike glared at her, obviously upset by her words.
"No! I'm evil – I'm very – "
"What chip?" Arezue broke in, glaring accusingly at Spike. "There's a chip? What kind of chip? Girl like chip or potato like – "
"Aren't you givin' me the bloody silent treatment?" Spike broke in and she scowled at him. She opened her mouth to go on but he broke in again. "No need to stop now, love – 'm enjoyin' it too much." Arezue's eyes narrowed in anger.
"Fine!" She turned away from him with a huff. "Is my tongue blue yet?" She stuck it out at Connor and he scrutinized for a moment, then shook his head. Cursing under her breath, she shoved the now empty Popsicle into his hands.
"Make me a birdhouse for Christmas." She smiled thinly, her eyes icy cold. "I happen to like birds." Connor gave her a sickened look, taking the stick from her. Fred grinned.
"Me too!" She nodded enthusiastically. "They're so pretty, specially the perkin – " Arezue raised an eyebrow at her and she broke off, a look of realization crossing her face. "Oh."
"Right." Cordelia cut off the impending lecture that Fred would likely give – a lecture on the rights of birds or something along those lines. "You said you have everything." Spike shrugged to say he hadn't brought anything and Arezue held up her purse in reply. She couldn't help saying scathingly to Arezue, "Gee, Angel's a packhorse – kinda figured you would be too." Ignoring the shout of indignation from Angel, she went on sweetly.
"Anyways, you're all set and we have jobs. See you soon." To say that she didn't like Arezue would be an understatement. Not only was the brunette ignoring her avidly but she seemed to have some sort of hold over Connor…
Speaking of Connor – her eyes rotated back to him. He seemed to be chatting away with Arezue, smiling over something she'd said.
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"Gee, Angel's a packhorse – kinda figured you would be too." Cordelia said.
"Hey!" Angel gasped in indignation and Arezue rolled her eyes at the Queen C as she went on. She didn't know why but she couldn't help but not like the preppy woman. Sometimes, when no one was watching, she'd seen Cordelia look at Connor like one would look at a banquet. Hungrily, like she wanted something from him.
Like she wanted to eat him.
Realizing that she could easily piss off the other woman, Arezue pulled Connor over so that her lips were parallel to his ear.
"Can I tell you something?" She whispered and he nodded. She played with the idea of telling him something really embarrassing along the lines of sex, just so that Cordelia would see his blush and be annoyed… "You're the only person here I actually like as a friend." The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. Internally berating herself for such a useless display of affection, she steeled herself for Connor's rejection.
Instead, he surprised her. "Really?" He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a hug. "I like you too." Arezue couldn't stop her eyes from tearing up just a little. She'd forgotten what it felt like to be loved…
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"We'll send the wedding presents through mail." Angel said stiffly to Spike.
"Fine." The blonde replied just as stiffly, turning to Arezue.
"Char, we're leaving." She started to turn back to Connor and he gave her a look, nodding to the car. "Now." She huffed, rolling her eyes and stomping to the car. She pulled the door open and started to slide in when a voice stopped her.
"Hey, hey! Wait up!" Lorne ran out of the Hyperion and towards them, holding something in his arms. Reaching them, he hunched over, struggling to breathe. "Guess I'll need to lay off all those midnight snacks." Now that he was closer, everyone could see he was holding some sort of statue.
"Here doll, wedding present from me." He held it out to the brunette vampire and she made a face, wrinkling her nose.
"It's looks dusty." Lorne sighed, handing it over to Spike who didn't seem to want it either.
"It's a fertility goddess." Everyone stared at him and he went on. "Helps people have – " He broke off. "Just smile and accept it kids." Angel rolled his eyes.
"Lorne, vampires can't have children." Lorne turned to him, looking amused.
"This coming from the undead guy who's had one.." Angel opened his mouth to reply but Spike cut him off.
"Which is why the brat's known as the 'miracle child' – 'cuz there's only one." Lorne looked ready to argue with that particular brand of logic, but Spike cut in once again. "As great as this is, we gotta jet." He turned to Connor. "Piece of advice kid, ever burn down the house – run like hell and don't look back. Angelus isn't the most forgiving bastard" Angel's mouth fell open.
"Don't tell him things like that!" Connor rolled his eyes.
"Chill, dad." The Arezue-like reply made Angel scowl. To think Arezue and Connor would be a big influence on Connor was absolutely frightening.
"For your information, Spike," Angel snapped through clenched teeth. "When someone burns down your house – with you in it – you don't just say 'it's okay' and get over it!" Spike rolled his eyes, looking ready to argue.
"Yeah, well –"
"Oh, shut up." Arezue snapped at them. "Angelus, we're leaving. William," she turned to Spike. "Move it." Spike smirked and Arezue went on. "And I'm still ignoring you so shut up." Spike rolled his eyes, sliding into the car as she did the same. As Spike started the car and everyone said their final goodbyes, Arezue and Spike made it a point to ignore each other.
Things were still not all right between the two. Although neither of them had expected their issues to be resolved after only two days together, neither had expected to be sleeping in separate bedrooms either.
As Spike realized that living together would mean sharing a bed once again, he couldn't help muttering a few curses under his breath, causing Arezue to glare at him. He offered her a tight smile and she turned away.
"I hate this rusty car." She muttered loud enough for him to hear and he clenched his teeth shut, knuckles turning white on the steering wheel as he struggled to keep from snapping at her.
'Two soddin' hours alone with the Ice Queen till Sunnyhell,' He mused drily as the uncertain future loomed ahead. 'Oh joy…'
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