Dead Man's Sunset 1/2
Title: Dead Man's Sunset
Pairing: Spangel
Rating: M
Summary: Spike lives with Giles and they are best friends. Giles notices that Spike is still in love with Angel and with the help of another ex-watcher they help the two vampires find love.
Prologue.
Spike leaned against the window as the rain hit the glass making a sad melody that fit his mood perfectly.
“Of course I’m leaving,” he said without turning around.
“So this is it,” was the soft, sad reply.
He could hear a shuffle of feet coming closer to him.
“Yes and don’t,” he said touching the cold glass, “just don’t come near me right now.”
His index finger traced a raindrop as it descended downwards.
“Spike, I…”
Spike held up a hand, silently asking the voice to stop.
“Just go.” He replied as he let his hand drop down to his side.
He heard a soft sigh and the slow closing of a door.
He looked out into the gray morning sky and placed his forehead against the window as he took deep calming breaths. He had an hour before his flight and it was taking all his strength not to punch his fist into the glass in front of him.
“Bloody fucking hell,” he whispered as he turned around and glanced around the room.
The packed suitcase on the bed was mocking him and he growled at it as if it was the cause for all his pains. He walked over to it and picked it up, noting how light it was and how everything he owned fit in a tiny case with room to spare.
He looked around the room, not to see if he was missing anything, but to look at all the things that he was about to be missing from his life.
“Come on, you wanker,” he hissed at himself, “stop acting like a poof, you’ve been through worse.”
He rolled the tight muscles in his neck and stared at the bedroom door, just a few more minutes of torture and he would be out of this house. Just a few more minutes and he would be-- all alone again.
He cursed as he felt a single tear roll down his cheek and roughly brushed it away. He took the few small steps to the door and grabbed the brass handle, he let the feel of the cool metal center him.
As he opened the door he could hear the quiet whispers from the hallway stop. He held his suitcase tighter as three pairs of eyes snapped up to meet his.
“Well, I’m off,” he said as he walked calmly as he could to the stairs. He had just reached the first step when someone gently called his name.
“Spike, will you…”
Spike kept his back turned and waited for the sentence to finish.
“Will you call me when you get there?”
Spike didn’t turn around, he couldn’t, wouldn’t do it. He nodded his head once and began to walk down the steps.
“Spike, please.” He heard the voice plead.
“What?!” he snapped looking at the front door longingly.
“Will you at least look at me and say good bye.”
Spike wanted to scream, yell at the top of his lungs, that he would rather die once more then turn around, but as always, he did as the voice commanded. He turned his head and looked into those beautiful hazel eyes that constantly broke his heart.
“Goodbye, Buffy,” he said, keeping his voice void of all emotions.
He didn’t wait for a reply and quickly dash for the door. He didn’t want to hear her say it, but that didn’t stop her.
“I’m sorry, Spike.”
He ripped open the front door and raced to the De Soto, her apology still ringing in his ears.
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Buffy and Spike had been together a year. For one year Spike had been happy and in love.
But like all good things in Spike’s life, it had all ended and in the most heartbreaking way.
Two days ago Spike literally screamed at the injustice of his situation. He demeaned to know why the powers had it out for him and why after everything he had done, after every bloody thing he gave up for Buffy, why---bloody fucking why, did that bitch cheat on him! Just like Dru, just like everyone else in his life, Spike was never enough.
It was only two days ago he saw Buffy and Robin together. Bloody Robin, the wanker that had tried to kill him, shagged his girl.
Spike slammed his foot down on the gas and gritted his teeth.
Buffy had begged his forgiveness, but he couldn’t give it. It was the one thing he wouldn’t forgive. Buffy knew, damn well KNEW, what he had been through with Dru.
So he wouldn’t forgive, couldn’t forgive her, and after breaking Robin’s legs and telling him how bloody fucking lucky he was that Spike had a soul; he told Buffy he was leaving, this time for good!
Yesterday he called the only friend he had, amazing how a man who once hated and tried to kill him became Spike’s only lifeline. Giles had instantly agreed to let him bunk at his flat.
With the threat of The First over with and the permanent closing of the hellmouth. Spike was no longer needed in Sunnydale and England was the best place for him to regroup.
The battle with the First had been anti-climatic, a small necklace and the power of Spike’s soul was all it took. He had single handedly stopped the First.
Two years ago, Spike had secretly walked down to the hellmouth by himself, while the others were making plans to turn all the young chits into fully grown slayers.
He’d been certain he was walking to his death that day, but shockingly all that seemed to happen was a large beam shot out of his chest and destroyed the seal.
Zip, Zap and it was all done. Spike remembers standing there clutching his chest, it had felt a bit tingly, and called out.
“Is that it, is that all the bloody fucking First has got?! Come on! I came to fight!!”
But Spike’s not stupid, he knows he’s a lucky fucking vamp and the huge befits of that day still affect him. Because the best part of that day, besides stopping the First and all that rot, was it caused his skin to become sun proof.
He was a day-walker as Xan-dork liked to call him.
At first it had given Spike the creeps, the heat of the sun, the brightness of the blue skies. It had taken him months to enjoy it, but now-now he’s slowly getting use the suns rays. He’d slowly gotten use to the normal little life Buffy wanted too, but then that was all over, wasn’t it?
‘Bloody well should stick to guys from now on,’ he hissed as the De Soto got closer to the airport.
Truth be told, his best relationship had been with a man, but like Dru and Buffy, it too had ended badly.
As Spike jumped out of his car and stalked into the airport he shrugged off all thoughts of relationships. He was better of alone, it made for an easier unlife.
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Part one
Two years later.
“Well,” he asked looking over at the older looking gentlemen to his right, “what do you think?”
Giles picked up each of the six canvases, taking a long look at each one.
When he took a step back and still hadn’t said a word Spike began to hop on his back heels and make annoyed little grunts.
“Well, you wanker, tell me what you bloody think?” he hissed when he couldn’t take it any longer.
Giles held back a smile and kept his back to Spike for few moments until he could practically feel the vamp vibrate with anger.
“Giles,” the vamp growled
Giles laughed out loud and turned to face his friend, “there bloody brilliant, Spike, and you know it.”
Spike grinned from ear to ear, “yeah, worked damn hard on them too.”
He looked over the six canvasses with pride as he reached into his jacket for his pack of fags. He placed one between his full lips and tilted his head to light it.
“What are you calling them?” Giles asked as he nodded his head at Spike’s pack and thanked him after being handed a fag.
“Dead Man’s Sunset,” Spike said with a wiggle of his brow, making the ex-watcher roll his eyes as lit his own smoke.
“I should have guessed,” Giles said as he stepped closer to the one in the middle, “this one is smashing, Spike,” he said pointing to the only one with a shadowed figure lurking in the background.
Each canvas was a breathtaking oil painting of a single sunset.
The first painting was when the sun was starting to set and the last just as the last bits of reds and gold disappeared. Each painting showed the beauty and emotional story that only someone that hadn’t seen a sunset in two hundreds years could re-create.
Each painting had a single tree, on a rocky cliff, as its only witness to the spectacular view; but if you looked careful next to the tree, in the third painting, you could see a man standing with his back turned to the audience. The man’s quiet and lonely appraisal of the view made the painting speak not only in color but in sure emotional content.
Giles was quite literally overcome by the talent and beauty of them.
“How can it be that this is the first time you’re ever showed me these?” Giles asked as he kept looking at the figure in the middle painting. Giles hadn’t even known his best friend enjoyed art, let alone had a talent that was reminiscent of Klimt.
“I just finished them, Rupes,” Spike said as he flicked his ash on the tile by his bare feet.
“Yes, but…these are bloody marvelous,” Giles said in awe.
Spike snorted, his eyes danced with amusement, “don’t sound too shocked there, Watcher.”
“How can I not, my best friend is a master of color and style when it comes to painting and I am just finding out.”
Spike smiled that the term ‘best friend’ that was so easily giving and tried to fight back the bloody disgusting blush that colored his dead face. Even in death he couldn’t push back all of William Pratt’s shy tendencies.
“Thanks, Rupes,” he said and moved over to the ashtray to stump out his fag.
“So, who is he?” Giles asked after a few moments of silence. Spike furrowed his brow and looked at Giles expectantly.
Giles pointed to the man in the painting and looked into Spike’s blue eyes, “who is he?” he asked again.
Spike looked at the painting and then back at Giles, “no one,” he said shortly. He kept telling himself to get rid of the shadowy figure in the painting but couldn’t bring himself to do so.
“No one,” Giles repeated his words with disbelief.
Spike sighed as Giles stared at him expectantly, knowing full well Spike wasn’t the type to keep things to himself for too long. It seemed the soul made Spike the biggest pussy when it came to opening up about his feelings.
He bloody hated how well Rupert knew him.
“It’s bloody Angel, alright,” he said flopping down on the huge plush chair a few steps away and running his hands through his short blonde hair.
Giles nodded his head and looked at the painting again, “I thought so,” he whispered as he moved so close that his nose was almost touching the canvas.
“If you bloody knew, then why the bloody fuck ask, Watcher?” Spike grunted as he grabbed another smoke from his pack.
“I wanted to know for certain,” Giles said as he moved over to the couch across from where Spike was sitting and sat down slowly, he was getting older and his knees were telling just how old he was.
“You want to talk about it?” Giles asked as he took another fag from Spike’s pack and lit it.
“No,” Spike said, not looking Giles’s eyes in the eye.
Giles was the only human in the world that knew about Spike and Angelus, and he was the only being on earth that Spike talked to about it to.
“And if you tell me to call him, Rupert, like you do every time that vamps name comes up,” Spike hissed as he pointed his lit fag close to the watcher’s face, “I’ll drink your old-ass blood down to the last drop.”
“Old,” Giles huffed, “Coming from the vampire four times my age.”
“Oi, at least I still look like I’m in my twenties,” Spike said wiggling his brow.
“Thirties, you mean,” Giles muttered.
Spike raised a single brow and gave Rupert an affronted look causing the ex-watcher to burst out laughing. Spike’s face slowly lit up and his eyes shined with amusement.
“Shut it, old man!”
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As much as Spike liked to pretend it was the other way around, it was in fact Spike that brought up Angel all the time. Most times Giles would sip his tea and nod his head as Spike suddenly bring up this or that about Angel or his evil counterpart.
But there were times were Giles would snap. He’d place down his cup, tear off his glass and make Spike look into his eyes.
“Bloody well call him already, you Pratt!”
It would always serve to piss the blonde vampire off, but on the other hand, Giles would have a few blessed days of not hearing the name of the blasted vampire who killed Jenny.
It wasn’t that Giles hated hearing about it, he cared about Spike enough to listen to his stories, but sometimes-sometimes he needed a break from the memories the name Angel brought up.
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It was a few days after Spike showed Giles his painting. They were having breakfast in the kitchen when Spike looked up from the entertainment section in the paper and pointed to the newest Opera coming to town.
“Ever been?” Giles asked as he nodded his head at the announcement.
Spike was looking off into the distance as he nodded his head absently, “Angelus took me in 1882.”
“Any good?” Giles asked as he picked up his tea.
Spike shrugged and picked up the paper, “Didn’t really pay any attention, but Angelus looked great in his tux.”
Giles eyes conveyed sadness for his friend that he’d never say out loud. The two of them lived for too much in the past, and had the weight of long lost lovers being them down.
It was time, way past time to do something about their sad state of living. And as Rupert Giles sipped his tea and saw the same dead, lifeless expression in his friend’s face he’d seen since the vampire moved in two years ago, Rupert tried to think of something to cheer his friend up. Oddly enough, an idea came to him a month later on his 50th birthday when he answered a simple phone call.
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“Rupert Giles.” The now 50 year old man said into the phone as he sat in his overstuffed chair.
“Rupert, its Angel.”
Giles eyes widened and he almost slipped the glass of brandy he had in his hand. He sat up straighter and placed his glass down on the side table. He glanced over to the other side of the room; Spike was in a deep conversation with one of their mutual friends.
Content in the knowledge that Spike was distracted he replied quietly.
“…Angel…um, yes, how are you?”
“Good, good…I just called to…um, wish you a happy birthday.”
Giles furrowed his brow and looked at the phone for a moment before placing it back to his ear.
“Well, thank you, Angel…it’s quite unexpected.”
“Um, yes well… Buffy and I talked recently and she told me it was your birthday, and well, I just thought…”
Giles sat there waiting for a few moments, feeling extremely awkward as the silence went on longer and longer. He sighed after a few more seconds pasted and decided he was far too old for phone calls that left him mentally exhausted.
“Yes, well thank you again,” he said quickly, “and if you’re ever in England...”
“I hear Spike lives with you,” Angel rushed out, interrupting Giles desperate attempt to get off the phone.
Giles felt a small smile grace his handsome face, “what was that, Angel?” he asked, enjoying the simple pleasure of making fun of the brooding vampire.
Giles heard a muffled, embarrassed cough.
“Yes, sorry about that,” the vampire said in a deeper baritone. “Umm, anyway--ah--Buffy told me that Spike has been living with you the last two years.”
Giles amusement slowly began to dissipate as an idea began to whirl inside his mind.
“Yes, he has been.”
“Really?” Angel didn’t even try to mask his surprise, “Well, that’s good to hear.”
Giles glanced at Spike, who in turn glanced his way. Spike gave him a small smile but the expression on Giles face caused him to raise a brow in question.
“Did you want to talk to him?” Giles asked Angel as he kept staring at Spike.
“No, no it’s ok,” Angel said quickly.
“I was just wondering how he was doing,” Angel said after another long pause.
“Aww, well, he’s doing well…in fact he has a gallery opening soon,” Giles said his voice clearly stating how proud he was of his best friend.
“Really?” Angel asked.
“Yes, he is quite talented.”
“I know,” Angel whispered.
Giles watched as Spike shook hands with the man he was speaking to and walk over to him.
“Who are you talking to?” Spike asked as he drew near, “It’d better be one of those damn Scoobies. I can’t believe not one of them called to wish you a happy birthday yet.”
“Spike,” Giles heard Angel whisper.
Spike’s narrowed his eyes and he stared at the phone. Giles could tell he was trying to find out who was on the other end using his vampire hearing.
Giles gave Spike a look of compassion and support.
“What is it, Rupes?” Spike asked “you’re acting a bit barmy, mate. If it’s Buffy, no worries, you know I’m over…”
“It’s Angel, Spike.”
Spike froze, his eyes filling with a whirlwind of emotions…hope, shock, love, anger, fear, sadness…love.
“Rupert, I better let you go,” Angel said quickly on the other end, “I’ll talk to you later…”
“Don’t you want to talk to Spike,” he asked in a rush.
Spike looked like half of him wanted to rip the phone out of Giles hand and the other part wanted to run for the exit.
“No!” Angel almost shouted, “Sorry, but no…good bye, Giles.”
“Angel!” Giles exclaimed before he heard the click that indicated that Angel had hung up.
He placed the phone down thinking of what to say to Spike.
“He…he just hung up,” Spike replied in a broken tone.
“Um, he had an important call…he had to take.”
“Bollocks, Watcher,” Spike barked pointing to the phone; “He heard my voice and bloody well hung up.”
Giles looked at him helplessly, “Spike, he sounded like he wanted to talk to you.”
“Rupert, God!” Spike shouted as he flung his arms in the air, “don’t bloody lie to me, alright!”
Giles ripped off his glasses as Spike began to pace.
“What the hell is wrong with me, Watcher?” Spike exclaimed as he paced back and forth in front of him, “Why the hell do I even care? Everyone I have ever loved has done nothing but bugger with my heart. Bloody hell, I don’t even know why I’m surprised by this. Angel bloody hates me, Dru did nothing but shag me and pretend I was someone else and Buffy…” Spike snorted and stopped pacing for a moment. He glared at Giles and shook his head in self disgust, “Bloody Buffy did all of the above and even more! It’s all the bloody same shit over and over again. I’m sick of it! Since I’ve gotten this blasted SOUL it’s only gotten worse, the pain has only gotten bloody worse. I am so fucking sick of it, Rupes!”
Giles could see out of the corner of his eye that people were quickly grabbing there stuff and walking out as fast as possible. He sighed, and smiled apologetic at one of his friends when their eyes met. He quickly looked away and gave all his attention to his best friend.
Giles stood up and stopped his friend’s pacing by holding him in place by his shoulders, “Spike, stop this,” he hissed, forcing the vampire to meet his eyes, “nothing is wrong with you, it’s them, not you.”
Spike snorted and gently pushed him away, “Look, I know what you’re doing and I appreciate it, but just don’t. I’m…I’m just going to head to bed.”
Spike began to walk away with his head hung low.
“Spike…” He called out.
“Rupert, please, just…just say goodnight.”
Giles watched helplessly as his friend walked away.
“Goodnight, Spike.” He called out wishing there was something he could do. It was then that it hit him; there was something he could do.
After a good shift drink Giles started his plan with the help of an old friend…well-maybe friend was taking it a little to far, an old college sounded a little bit more up to speed.
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“Wesley Wyndam-Pryce.”
“Wesley, it’s Rupert Giles.”
“Giles, what an unexpected surprise. Angel mentioned it was your birthday yesterday. May I wish you salutations and…”
“Wesley, I have a question for you,” Giles asked interrupting the long winded etiquette of English upbringing.
“Yes, of course, Giles.”
“This may sound odd, but does Angel ever…well, I know how childish this will sound, but does Angel ever talk about Spike?”
“William the Bloody, yes, he has brought him up a few times. May I inquire why you ask?”
“I just…well, as you may or may not know Spike has been living with me the last two years.”
“Yes, I did hear something to that affect, which completely surprised me, seeing as how in the past you made many objections to your charge having any friendship and/or relations with a vampire regardless if they had a soul or not.”
“Yes, well,” Giles answered with a sniff of indignation, “things change, Wesley.”
He heard a slight chuckle on the other side of the phone and answered it with his own half smile, “That they do, Giles.”
Giles smile faded and he quickly got back to why he called, “see the thing is, I was wondering how Angel reacts when he discusses Spike.”
“Hmm,” Giles could practically hear the other man taking of his glasses and wiping them thoroughly, “well, not any differently then any other vampire he has sired. Why is there a deeper connection between the two then was previously recorded?”
Spike had never told Giles that anything he said was confidential, but Giles wasn’t about to gossip like some other watcher he has know in the past.
“No, it’s just that Angel acted oddly on the phone and I am worried about it. He doesn’t know how much Spike has changed in the last five years and I don’t want him threatening him.”
“Well,” Wesley replied with a huff, “I don’t think Angel would do that.”
“I’m sure he wouldn’t” Giles said, “but maybe Angelus...”
“Are you telling me you think Angel has lost his soul because I can assure you…
“No, no,” Giles cut him off, “I was just--,” Giles sighed and stood up from the armchair he was sitting in. He looked out the window at the fading sun and begun to rub the bridge of his nose.
“Look, Wesley, as a personal favor to me, could you bring Spike up in a conversation with Angel and see how he reacts?”
“And why am I doing this?”
Giles moved over to the small bar near the kitchen and poured himself a drink.
“Like I just told you, Wesley, I want to know how he reacts, make sure he has no intentions of hurting Spike.”
“Why not just ask him yourself, or I could just tell Angel your concerns?”
Giles stared down at his half-full glass of brandy and swirled the liquid so it sloshed the sides of the glass. Wesley was being much too smart for his own damn good and wasn’t making this any easier.
Giles sighed and considered just asking Wesley to ask Angel if he had any feelings for Spike, but couldn’t even begin to imagine having such a childish conversation with this man.
It was much less embarrassing this way.
“I simply don’t want to make a big deal out of this, Wesley. If you could simply bring up Spike in a conversation and watch his reaction, it would be much appreciated.”
Wesley was silent for a moment before he cleared his throat, “and just what kind of reaction am I looking for, Giles?”
Giles took a long drink of his brandy before answering, “Any, Wesley, any and all reactions, regardless of how mundane you find them-I’d like to be briefed on.”
“I see,” Wesley answered after a brief pause, “Well, umm--seeing as you have always been so helpful in the past. I don’t see why I couldn’t help out on this small request.”
“Thank you, Wesley, that would be classic of you.”
“Very well, Giles,” Wesley stated. “I shall place it on my artillery today and get back to you tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Wesley,” Giles said “And um--please be discreet, I don’t want Angel knowing he’s being observed by you or he may hide his reactions from you.”
There was another short pause before Wesley spoke again, “Of course, Giles, I’ll use my utmost discretion in this manner.”
“Thank you, Wesley.”
“My pleasure, Giles.”
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Angel looked up from his reports as Wes walked into his huge office.
“Hello, Angel,” he said as he sat down on the leather chair across from Angel. “I trust your day hasn’t been too hectic?”
Angel gave the human a soft grunt, “A bit,” he replied as he looked back at the stacks of reports in front of him, “is there anything I can help you with, Wes?”
“Well yes, in fact,” he said, nervously looking down at his click board and then back up to the vampire in front of him, “I, well, I was wondering… that is…”
“Wes,” Angel said as he raised an eyebrow, “is everything ok?”
“Yes, of course,” Wes answered as calmly as he could.
“Ok, it’s just your acting nervous,” Angel said as he narrowed his eyes at the twitchy ex-watcher.
“What, no, just a little bit too much caffeine, I wager,” Wes said with a nervous laugh.
Angel nodded his head but kept his brows furrowed, “there was something you wanted to ask me?”
“Oh, yes…I…well, I noticed that the files Wolfram & Hart had on William the Bloody weren’t as in depth as I would like them. I was wondering if I could ask you some questions.” Wesley asked trying to keep his voice steady.
“You want to know about Spike?” Angel replied, both his eyebrows shot up to the hair line.
“Yes, um, if you don’t mind,” Wes said shuffling in his seat.
Angel narrowed his eyes and got out of his office chair, “Hmm, I find it odd that yesterday I talked to Giles, who is living with Spike, as you’re well aware, and today you’re asking question out of no where.” He said as he sat on the edge of his desk and crossed his arms in front of him.
“Um, well…when you told me about Spike living with Giles I starting doing some digging into our files. That’s when I noticed how appalling the reports on the famous Slayer of Slayers are.”
“And that’s all,” Angel asked, “that’s the only reason you’re asking?”
Wes shuffled again and nodded his head, “Yes, Angel, why else would I ask?”
Angel nodded his head as he looked at the clipboard in Wesley’s hands, “fine, what would you like to know?”
Wesley looked over his notes and pushed his glasses further up his nose, “I was actually wondering about the relationship between Angelus and William the Bloody.”
“What-what do you mean?!” Angel practically squeaked causing Wesley to look up from his notes and stare at Angel in shock.
“Who told you-I mean, come on Wes,” Angel said with a slightly nervous laugh, “I mean, do I look gay to you?!”
Wesley was sure his mouth was wide open and he snapped it shut just to be sure.
“Um, well,” Wesley said as he crossed his legs and then uncrossed them again, “When I said relationship I meant sire and childe but-well, I guess I could see were you’d get the---“ Wesley trailed off, unsure of how to continue, and becoming increasingly aware of the blush heating his cheeks.
Angel sat up abruptly and turned his back to Wesley, “I just remember I have a meeting soon. Can we do this another time, Wes?”
Wesley jumped out of his chair so fast that his clip board slipped off his lap and hit the floor. He grabbed it and pushed his glasses further up his nose.
“Of course, Angel, I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”
Angel only made a small grunt like noise as Wesley rushed out of the large CEO’s office.
Wesley quickly made his way back to his own office and tried to calm down his nerves.
He turned around in his chair and stared out the window were he could see his own reflection.
“God, how humiliating,” he said to himself as he pulled off his glasses.
He felt a tiny bubble of air escape his throat and before he knew it he was cracked up with laughter.
Angel’s voice was ringing in his ears and he wiped the tears out of his eyes as he whispered to his own reflection.
“I should have told him it was fine by me. Seeing as how I’m gay as well.”
Just as he was placing his glasses back on he saw something move behind him in the reflection in the window.
He turned around quickly and practically jumped out of his chair when he saw Angel leaning against his closed door with his ankles crossed and his hands on his hip.
“So why didn’t you tell me before.” Angel asked.
Wesley raised a brow and Angel sighed as he stood up straighter and walked closer to the desk.
“That you’re gay,” Angel practically whispered.
Wesley leaned back as he regained control of his nerves, “I could ask you the same question, Angel.”
Angel shuffled his feet as the silence grew deafening. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Wes?”
Wesley shrugged as he got up from his chair, “You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want, Angel. I wasn’t aware that you and Spike…” he trailed off as he sat down on the chair in front of the vampire and looked up at him.
He could tell that Angel was ready to bolt and he let his silence indicate that he understood if Angel did. Wesley was well aware of how hard it was too open up to someone, hell; he’d bolt if he was in Angel’s shoes.
Angel’s eyes burned into his, as if trying to read his thoughts. Wesley stared back at him, letting Angel find whatever it was he was looking for. It seemed the vampire found it because a moment later his shoulders relaxed and he took the chair opposite to Wesley.
Wesley knew that all the books in the watcher’s council would say that vampire’s don’t age and are suspended in time, but at this moment, Angel looked double his age.
Angel’s eyes looked old, like lifeless pools of earth that had no hope of ever seeing the rains again. He watched Angel fiddle with his large thumb ring on his right hand and let the silence between them calm the vampire down.
“Did you want to talk about it, Angel?” Wesley asked after a few minutes had pasted.
Angel nodded his head absently and ran a shaky hand through his thick hair; “Wes, this is difficult,” he said, “you see…” he trailed off with a nervous humorless chuckle. He turned to look at Wes, “I haven’t talked about it in…well…I haven’t ever talked about.”
Wesley nodded, despite the awkwardness of the conversation; he really wanted Angel to open up to him. The two of them had been friends at one point, but in the last two years they had drifted apart and Wes wanted to fix it.
“Angel, I hope you know that you can tell me anything,” he said wishing he was the type of man that could reach out and lend a comforting hand on the vampire’s shoulder. “I know we aren’t as close as we once were, but I still consider you a friend.”
Angel gave him a sad smile, he’d been pushing Wes away for reasons the ex-watcher didn’t even know about. The Wesley that kidnapped Connor wasn’t anything like the Wesley that was in front of him today. This Wesley was the man he’d trusted years ago, the man he’d called a true friend.
Angel crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. It was time to forgive and forget and maybe if he could reclaim this friendship with Wes, he wouldn’t feel so …lonely.
Wesley watched the unusually play of emotion flash in the vampire’s eyes and wondered what Angel was thinking. Wes was use to seeing pain and grief in those dark brown eyes but the unease in the vampire’s whole body made Wesley feel uneasy as well.
“Angel,” he said softly, “I don’t wish to make you uncomfortable…”
Angel’s eyes snapped up to Wes’s, “You’re not, Wes. It’s just, I was thinking about what you said and I agree with you. We have drifted apart and well…I want us to be close again too.”
Wes’s smile grew from ear to ear and he felt a rush of emotion course through him, but the proper English side of him, the part of him that demanded that no man should publicly show such vast emotions, reared its ugly head. Wesley coughed to cover his embarrassment and looked away.
“Yes, Well,” he said, his voice lowering an octave. “You were telling me about William.”
Angel hide a smile at Wesley’s action and but then frowned again at the thought of opening up about something he had hidden from everyone…including himself.
Angel got out of the chair and wrapped his arms around his chest, “Spike and I, well…we were close.”
Wes raised an eyebrow and waited for Angel to continue.
“Spike,” Angel said then closed his eyes, “I mean William…William meant everything to me,” he whispered, he opened his eyes and waited to see how Wesley would handle his words.
Wes remained still; he had never heard Angel speak with such emotion before. It literally sounded like Angel was speaking from the deeper part of his soul. Could it be that Angel felt that much for the blonde vampire? Was this in fact what Giles had been trying to find out? The poor excuse Giles had given hadn’t rung true to Wesley. It seemed that there was a lot more going on then Wes had realized.
“Everything,” Wes repeated softly, “did you…,” Wes furrowed his brow trying to find the right words, “feel affection for him?”
Angel moved over to the front of Wesley’s desk and sat on the edge. He didn’t trust his voice so he simply nodded his head.
Wesley kept his face neutral but inside he was shocked, even though it was clear; having Angel admit it. That he was attracted to men and had been in a relationship with the infamous vampire, William the Bloody, was amazing.
Angel cleared his throat once more before explaining himself, “You know that I sired both Spike and Dru, but what isn’t commonly known is that I sired Dru for Darla.”
“Darla had wanted a girl in the family and I gave her Dru as a gift. It was…it is, the worst thing I’d ever done…What I did to Dru,” Angel stopped and took a deep unneeded breath, “I made an insane monster with a bloodlust that matched Darla’s and my own.”
“Darla had been so pleased with the broken girl…I-I still have nightmares about what I did to Dru and…” he looked down at his hands and rubbed them together, “I deserve every one of those nightmares. When I think of Dru, I know I don’t deserve redemption.”
Wesley was frozen to his chair, never in all the years had he known Angel, had the vampire spook with such honesty and so deeply from his soul. Wes didn’t know what to feel, but honored was definitely at the top of the list.
“William, on the other hand,” Angel said looking up with a rare and beautiful smile that literally took Wes’s breath away.
“William was mine,” he said proudly, “I sired him for one reason and one reason only…”
Wes shuffled forward unconsciously as he gave Angel his full attention.
“To be with me forever, to be mine and mine alone--forever,” Angel said, his eyes unintentionally turning golden.
Wes looked deeply into those glowing, gold eyes and could see love radiating out of them. It was the first time Wes could honestly say he found demon eyes to be hauntingly beautiful.
“And you two were together for a hundred years?” Wes asked in awe. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be in a relationship that spanned a century.
“Yes,” Angel said, “and that’s the thing that makes this so hard to talk to you about, Wes.”
Wesley frowned, “you though I would judge you for being in a relationship with a man?”
Angel shook his head and gave the watcher a sad smile, “no, Wes, it’s not that…what I am trying to telling you, is that as much as I know I should look back at those hundred soulless years with disgust…I…I can’t,” he whispered not looking at Wesley, as if he was scared to see disgust and anger in the ex-demon hunter’s eyes.
“Angel,” Wesley said softly waiting for the vampire to look up. When Angel did Wes felt his heart break for the self loathing he saw there.
“Angel,” he repeated, “it’s perfectly understandable that you would look back at that time and not hate every moment of it. It’s only natural that in a hundred years of existence that you would have some good memories.”
Angel jumped up, “but don’t you see how wrong that is. Wesley. I was a soulless monster, I killed innocent people every night,” Angel looked at him pleadingly as if he needed Wesley’s reprimand, his hate.
“Yes, but you’re a hero now,” Wes said as he looked up at the tall vampire with warm, blue eyes.
Angel shook his head, “Wes, do you understand what I’m saying to you. I hate myself a little more each time I think about it. Each time I think about his smile…his blue eyes, his voice, because…oh Gods, help me, Wes. When I think about Spike I wish to be back in time. When I think about how much I love Spike all I want to do is be Angelus again.”
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Wesley threw his keys down on the coffee table as he flopped down on his couch. He thought briefly about putting on the telly before dismissing the idea. He took off his glasses and placed them gently on the coffee table next to his keys. He eyes felt heavy as he rubbed his hands up and down his face. He could feel his three day old stubble scratch his palms.
Tonight had been one of the longest of his life and one he would never in all his life forget.
Once Angel told him his fears, Wes had done the only thing he could think of doing. He stood up and softly kissed the vampire in front of him. Angel had stared at him in shock but a second later devoured Wesley’s mouth
Angel had moaned deeply when Wes had parted his lips and granted his friend access inside. Wesley had never kissed a vampire before but the experience had not been unpleasant. It had been nothing but comfort and Wes had been all but willing to give his heart broken friend anything he needed.
They had kissed passionately until Wes had to pull away for air and smiled at the awed and thankfulness in Angel’s eyes.
“After everything I just told you, how could you look at me, let alone let me kiss you, Wes?” Angel had asked as they had stared into each other’s eyes.
“Angel,” Wes had said touching the cool skin of Angel’s cheek. Wesley will never forget the purr that came from the vampire as he caressed that soft skin, “I have never felt more proud to be your friend.”
Angel had pulled away slowly and shook his head in denial, “I don’t understand.”
“Angel, what you just admitted to me took a lot of guts and shows just how amazing you are. You are begging for forgiveness for remembering someone you loved…someone you love, and no one should be expected to do that,” Wes said as he slowly pulled away.
“Yes, Angelus did horrible monstrous things,” Wesley continued, “but those aren’t the things you want to return to. The thought sickens you…don’t you see, Angel,” Wes said as he gave the vampire a small smile, “it’s only the love you’re missing. Only your love you want back.”
Angel’s smile was that of lost hope and defeat. He shook his head and said, “Wesley, I don’t think you understand at all. Demons like me and Spike--we don’t deserve love.”
Before Wesley could say anything else Angel walked out of the room leaving Wesley staring at the door at a loss for words.
A few minutes later he found him self walking to the elevator and mindlessly driving home in his old four door Sudan.
Wesley sighed as he rubbed his hand through his hair and pulled his feet up to get more comfortable on the couch. It had definitely been a remarkable night. Wes wasn’t sure how, but he was going to help Angel anyway he could.
Wesley’s eyes traveled over to were he had written down Giles number. He remembered the realization he’d had earlier as to why Giles had requested he talk to Angel. Wesley smiled as he picked up the number.
It seemed Rupert Giles was just the man to help him in this situation.
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Giles lit a fag as he watched the home shopping network. He smiled at the simple pleasures he hadn’t allowed himself a few years ago. The ex-watcher had changed a lot since retiring and had to admit the simplicity of watching late night telly was bloody wonderful.
He leaned over to get his half full beer when the phone began to ring. He looked over with a grimace and got up slowly. He muttered as he walked over to the phone, ‘Damn Spike and his distrust of cordless phones.’ Giles hated having to get up and walk over to the damn thing every time it rung.
“Bugger Spike, I’m picking one up tomorrow.”
“Rupert Giles,” he said shortly after he snatched up the receiver. He looked over at the telly and saw that they were showing that magic mop again. He was seriously considering ordering one.
“Giles, its Wyndam-Pryce.”
“Oh, good day Wes,” Giles said looking away from the TV and giving his full attention to the caller. “I trust your day went well.” Giles said sitting down on one of the stools by the kitchen island.
“It went well, Giles, thank you for the acquirement.”
Giles nodded his head impatiently, “good, good,” he said, impatient to get through the polite formality instilled in the both of them.
After a moment of silence Giles began to speak, “did you happen to talk to Angel as we had discussed yesterday?”
“Yes, I did, in fact that is why I have rung you up, you see…I have been thinking about what you said all night and well…may I be so bold as to say I know the real reason you asked me to talk to Angel”
Giles’s face broke out into a smile; Wesley’s intelligence was something he truly did admire in the younger man.
“I’m guessing you meeting with Angel proved to be enlightening then?” Giles asked, already knowing the answer.
“Yes, I would definitely call my meeting with Angel enlightening,” Wesley answered, “and I am assuming that Spike also…enlightened you?”
Giles smiled again, getting Wes’s help on this had been a fantastic idea.
“Yes, he has,” Giles answered.
“Good, good,” Wesley said then gave a small chuckle, “I have to admit, when I first walked into that meeting I still hadn’t figured it all out, but as soon as I asked Angel about his feeling towards Spike I suspected why you had called me.”
Giles nodded his head even though the other ex-watcher couldn’t see.
“So, what do we do?” Wes asked after a moment.
“You wish to get the two vampires’ together?” Giles asked just to clarify.
“Yes, Giles I…I think it is imperative...”
“Imperative,” Giles repeated questioningly.
“Yes, Angel is…well, let’s just say he needs this.”
Giles stayed silent thinking of how sad and lonely his friend was and nodded his head, “yes, I have to concur, it is imperative, to them both.”
“What are your suggestions, Giles?”
Giles looked over to the paintings sitting in the corner and smiled, “you think you could persuade Angel to visit London?”
“Yes, I believe I can, but there has to be more to your plan them getting them face to face?”
“Of course there is,” Giles said with a snort.
“Naturally, Giles, I didn’t mean to...”
“Its fine, Wesley, no harm.”
After an awkward pause Giles explained to Wesley about the paintings and having Angel come and see them.
“You believe if he sees the paintings that they will affect him?”
“Bloody hell, Wes,” Giles sighed, “once you see them you’ll understand.”
Wesley seemed to be thinking so hard that Giles could swear he could hear it an ocean away.
“It can’t be that simple.” Wesley said after a moment.
“It’s not Wesley, but really what more can we do. We can beg and plead but the rest...well, the rest is up to them.”
“Angel doesn’t believe he deserves love.” Wesley said abruptly like he was forcing himself to say it out loud.
“And Spike believes no one will ever really love him,” Giles said after a moment.
The two ex-watchers stayed silent before Giles began to chuckle loudly.
“What is it, Giles?”
“It’s just…who would have though that two watchers would be worried about the love life of the two most fearsome vampires to ever walk the earth.”
Wesley laughed out loud before answering, “Two watchers fired by the council, I wager.”
Giles smiled at that, “yes, I’m proud to say that I wasn’t all they expected. That I wasn’t a bloody mindless fool when it came to their black and white ideals.”
“I agree,” Wes said back, “best moment of my life was being kicked out of the council.”
Giles chuckled again, “not a prouder moment.”
They both remained quite as they both realized they were in the beginnings of a blossoming new friendship.
They both spent the next hour talking about the vampires. By the end they had both agreed that the best thing was to let the vampires’s met and not interfere past that.
“But, just one thing, Wes,” Giles said “Don’t let Angel walk away, when he sees Spike for the first time, insist he talks to him.”
Wesley was silent, he wasn’t the type of man to agree to anything without a moments pause and thought, “I’m unsure if I can, but I promise I will do my best, Giles. I assume you will do the same.”
“I will,” Giles said vowing to himself as well as Wes.
By the time Giles had hung up the phone he felt more of the weight on his shoulders melt away.
“This could really work,” he whispered as he walked back over to the couch.
Pairing: Spangel
Rating: M
Summary: Spike lives with Giles and they are best friends. Giles notices that Spike is still in love with Angel and with the help of another ex-watcher they help the two vampires find love.
Prologue.
Spike leaned against the window as the rain hit the glass making a sad melody that fit his mood perfectly.
“Of course I’m leaving,” he said without turning around.
“So this is it,” was the soft, sad reply.
He could hear a shuffle of feet coming closer to him.
“Yes and don’t,” he said touching the cold glass, “just don’t come near me right now.”
His index finger traced a raindrop as it descended downwards.
“Spike, I…”
Spike held up a hand, silently asking the voice to stop.
“Just go.” He replied as he let his hand drop down to his side.
He heard a soft sigh and the slow closing of a door.
He looked out into the gray morning sky and placed his forehead against the window as he took deep calming breaths. He had an hour before his flight and it was taking all his strength not to punch his fist into the glass in front of him.
“Bloody fucking hell,” he whispered as he turned around and glanced around the room.
The packed suitcase on the bed was mocking him and he growled at it as if it was the cause for all his pains. He walked over to it and picked it up, noting how light it was and how everything he owned fit in a tiny case with room to spare.
He looked around the room, not to see if he was missing anything, but to look at all the things that he was about to be missing from his life.
“Come on, you wanker,” he hissed at himself, “stop acting like a poof, you’ve been through worse.”
He rolled the tight muscles in his neck and stared at the bedroom door, just a few more minutes of torture and he would be out of this house. Just a few more minutes and he would be-- all alone again.
He cursed as he felt a single tear roll down his cheek and roughly brushed it away. He took the few small steps to the door and grabbed the brass handle, he let the feel of the cool metal center him.
As he opened the door he could hear the quiet whispers from the hallway stop. He held his suitcase tighter as three pairs of eyes snapped up to meet his.
“Well, I’m off,” he said as he walked calmly as he could to the stairs. He had just reached the first step when someone gently called his name.
“Spike, will you…”
Spike kept his back turned and waited for the sentence to finish.
“Will you call me when you get there?”
Spike didn’t turn around, he couldn’t, wouldn’t do it. He nodded his head once and began to walk down the steps.
“Spike, please.” He heard the voice plead.
“What?!” he snapped looking at the front door longingly.
“Will you at least look at me and say good bye.”
Spike wanted to scream, yell at the top of his lungs, that he would rather die once more then turn around, but as always, he did as the voice commanded. He turned his head and looked into those beautiful hazel eyes that constantly broke his heart.
“Goodbye, Buffy,” he said, keeping his voice void of all emotions.
He didn’t wait for a reply and quickly dash for the door. He didn’t want to hear her say it, but that didn’t stop her.
“I’m sorry, Spike.”
He ripped open the front door and raced to the De Soto, her apology still ringing in his ears.
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Buffy and Spike had been together a year. For one year Spike had been happy and in love.
But like all good things in Spike’s life, it had all ended and in the most heartbreaking way.
Two days ago Spike literally screamed at the injustice of his situation. He demeaned to know why the powers had it out for him and why after everything he had done, after every bloody thing he gave up for Buffy, why---bloody fucking why, did that bitch cheat on him! Just like Dru, just like everyone else in his life, Spike was never enough.
It was only two days ago he saw Buffy and Robin together. Bloody Robin, the wanker that had tried to kill him, shagged his girl.
Spike slammed his foot down on the gas and gritted his teeth.
Buffy had begged his forgiveness, but he couldn’t give it. It was the one thing he wouldn’t forgive. Buffy knew, damn well KNEW, what he had been through with Dru.
So he wouldn’t forgive, couldn’t forgive her, and after breaking Robin’s legs and telling him how bloody fucking lucky he was that Spike had a soul; he told Buffy he was leaving, this time for good!
Yesterday he called the only friend he had, amazing how a man who once hated and tried to kill him became Spike’s only lifeline. Giles had instantly agreed to let him bunk at his flat.
With the threat of The First over with and the permanent closing of the hellmouth. Spike was no longer needed in Sunnydale and England was the best place for him to regroup.
The battle with the First had been anti-climatic, a small necklace and the power of Spike’s soul was all it took. He had single handedly stopped the First.
Two years ago, Spike had secretly walked down to the hellmouth by himself, while the others were making plans to turn all the young chits into fully grown slayers.
He’d been certain he was walking to his death that day, but shockingly all that seemed to happen was a large beam shot out of his chest and destroyed the seal.
Zip, Zap and it was all done. Spike remembers standing there clutching his chest, it had felt a bit tingly, and called out.
“Is that it, is that all the bloody fucking First has got?! Come on! I came to fight!!”
But Spike’s not stupid, he knows he’s a lucky fucking vamp and the huge befits of that day still affect him. Because the best part of that day, besides stopping the First and all that rot, was it caused his skin to become sun proof.
He was a day-walker as Xan-dork liked to call him.
At first it had given Spike the creeps, the heat of the sun, the brightness of the blue skies. It had taken him months to enjoy it, but now-now he’s slowly getting use the suns rays. He’d slowly gotten use to the normal little life Buffy wanted too, but then that was all over, wasn’t it?
‘Bloody well should stick to guys from now on,’ he hissed as the De Soto got closer to the airport.
Truth be told, his best relationship had been with a man, but like Dru and Buffy, it too had ended badly.
As Spike jumped out of his car and stalked into the airport he shrugged off all thoughts of relationships. He was better of alone, it made for an easier unlife.
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Part one
Two years later.
“Well,” he asked looking over at the older looking gentlemen to his right, “what do you think?”
Giles picked up each of the six canvases, taking a long look at each one.
When he took a step back and still hadn’t said a word Spike began to hop on his back heels and make annoyed little grunts.
“Well, you wanker, tell me what you bloody think?” he hissed when he couldn’t take it any longer.
Giles held back a smile and kept his back to Spike for few moments until he could practically feel the vamp vibrate with anger.
“Giles,” the vamp growled
Giles laughed out loud and turned to face his friend, “there bloody brilliant, Spike, and you know it.”
Spike grinned from ear to ear, “yeah, worked damn hard on them too.”
He looked over the six canvasses with pride as he reached into his jacket for his pack of fags. He placed one between his full lips and tilted his head to light it.
“What are you calling them?” Giles asked as he nodded his head at Spike’s pack and thanked him after being handed a fag.
“Dead Man’s Sunset,” Spike said with a wiggle of his brow, making the ex-watcher roll his eyes as lit his own smoke.
“I should have guessed,” Giles said as he stepped closer to the one in the middle, “this one is smashing, Spike,” he said pointing to the only one with a shadowed figure lurking in the background.
Each canvas was a breathtaking oil painting of a single sunset.
The first painting was when the sun was starting to set and the last just as the last bits of reds and gold disappeared. Each painting showed the beauty and emotional story that only someone that hadn’t seen a sunset in two hundreds years could re-create.
Each painting had a single tree, on a rocky cliff, as its only witness to the spectacular view; but if you looked careful next to the tree, in the third painting, you could see a man standing with his back turned to the audience. The man’s quiet and lonely appraisal of the view made the painting speak not only in color but in sure emotional content.
Giles was quite literally overcome by the talent and beauty of them.
“How can it be that this is the first time you’re ever showed me these?” Giles asked as he kept looking at the figure in the middle painting. Giles hadn’t even known his best friend enjoyed art, let alone had a talent that was reminiscent of Klimt.
“I just finished them, Rupes,” Spike said as he flicked his ash on the tile by his bare feet.
“Yes, but…these are bloody marvelous,” Giles said in awe.
Spike snorted, his eyes danced with amusement, “don’t sound too shocked there, Watcher.”
“How can I not, my best friend is a master of color and style when it comes to painting and I am just finding out.”
Spike smiled that the term ‘best friend’ that was so easily giving and tried to fight back the bloody disgusting blush that colored his dead face. Even in death he couldn’t push back all of William Pratt’s shy tendencies.
“Thanks, Rupes,” he said and moved over to the ashtray to stump out his fag.
“So, who is he?” Giles asked after a few moments of silence. Spike furrowed his brow and looked at Giles expectantly.
Giles pointed to the man in the painting and looked into Spike’s blue eyes, “who is he?” he asked again.
Spike looked at the painting and then back at Giles, “no one,” he said shortly. He kept telling himself to get rid of the shadowy figure in the painting but couldn’t bring himself to do so.
“No one,” Giles repeated his words with disbelief.
Spike sighed as Giles stared at him expectantly, knowing full well Spike wasn’t the type to keep things to himself for too long. It seemed the soul made Spike the biggest pussy when it came to opening up about his feelings.
He bloody hated how well Rupert knew him.
“It’s bloody Angel, alright,” he said flopping down on the huge plush chair a few steps away and running his hands through his short blonde hair.
Giles nodded his head and looked at the painting again, “I thought so,” he whispered as he moved so close that his nose was almost touching the canvas.
“If you bloody knew, then why the bloody fuck ask, Watcher?” Spike grunted as he grabbed another smoke from his pack.
“I wanted to know for certain,” Giles said as he moved over to the couch across from where Spike was sitting and sat down slowly, he was getting older and his knees were telling just how old he was.
“You want to talk about it?” Giles asked as he took another fag from Spike’s pack and lit it.
“No,” Spike said, not looking Giles’s eyes in the eye.
Giles was the only human in the world that knew about Spike and Angelus, and he was the only being on earth that Spike talked to about it to.
“And if you tell me to call him, Rupert, like you do every time that vamps name comes up,” Spike hissed as he pointed his lit fag close to the watcher’s face, “I’ll drink your old-ass blood down to the last drop.”
“Old,” Giles huffed, “Coming from the vampire four times my age.”
“Oi, at least I still look like I’m in my twenties,” Spike said wiggling his brow.
“Thirties, you mean,” Giles muttered.
Spike raised a single brow and gave Rupert an affronted look causing the ex-watcher to burst out laughing. Spike’s face slowly lit up and his eyes shined with amusement.
“Shut it, old man!”
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As much as Spike liked to pretend it was the other way around, it was in fact Spike that brought up Angel all the time. Most times Giles would sip his tea and nod his head as Spike suddenly bring up this or that about Angel or his evil counterpart.
But there were times were Giles would snap. He’d place down his cup, tear off his glass and make Spike look into his eyes.
“Bloody well call him already, you Pratt!”
It would always serve to piss the blonde vampire off, but on the other hand, Giles would have a few blessed days of not hearing the name of the blasted vampire who killed Jenny.
It wasn’t that Giles hated hearing about it, he cared about Spike enough to listen to his stories, but sometimes-sometimes he needed a break from the memories the name Angel brought up.
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It was a few days after Spike showed Giles his painting. They were having breakfast in the kitchen when Spike looked up from the entertainment section in the paper and pointed to the newest Opera coming to town.
“Ever been?” Giles asked as he nodded his head at the announcement.
Spike was looking off into the distance as he nodded his head absently, “Angelus took me in 1882.”
“Any good?” Giles asked as he picked up his tea.
Spike shrugged and picked up the paper, “Didn’t really pay any attention, but Angelus looked great in his tux.”
Giles eyes conveyed sadness for his friend that he’d never say out loud. The two of them lived for too much in the past, and had the weight of long lost lovers being them down.
It was time, way past time to do something about their sad state of living. And as Rupert Giles sipped his tea and saw the same dead, lifeless expression in his friend’s face he’d seen since the vampire moved in two years ago, Rupert tried to think of something to cheer his friend up. Oddly enough, an idea came to him a month later on his 50th birthday when he answered a simple phone call.
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“Rupert Giles.” The now 50 year old man said into the phone as he sat in his overstuffed chair.
“Rupert, its Angel.”
Giles eyes widened and he almost slipped the glass of brandy he had in his hand. He sat up straighter and placed his glass down on the side table. He glanced over to the other side of the room; Spike was in a deep conversation with one of their mutual friends.
Content in the knowledge that Spike was distracted he replied quietly.
“…Angel…um, yes, how are you?”
“Good, good…I just called to…um, wish you a happy birthday.”
Giles furrowed his brow and looked at the phone for a moment before placing it back to his ear.
“Well, thank you, Angel…it’s quite unexpected.”
“Um, yes well… Buffy and I talked recently and she told me it was your birthday, and well, I just thought…”
Giles sat there waiting for a few moments, feeling extremely awkward as the silence went on longer and longer. He sighed after a few more seconds pasted and decided he was far too old for phone calls that left him mentally exhausted.
“Yes, well thank you again,” he said quickly, “and if you’re ever in England...”
“I hear Spike lives with you,” Angel rushed out, interrupting Giles desperate attempt to get off the phone.
Giles felt a small smile grace his handsome face, “what was that, Angel?” he asked, enjoying the simple pleasure of making fun of the brooding vampire.
Giles heard a muffled, embarrassed cough.
“Yes, sorry about that,” the vampire said in a deeper baritone. “Umm, anyway--ah--Buffy told me that Spike has been living with you the last two years.”
Giles amusement slowly began to dissipate as an idea began to whirl inside his mind.
“Yes, he has been.”
“Really?” Angel didn’t even try to mask his surprise, “Well, that’s good to hear.”
Giles glanced at Spike, who in turn glanced his way. Spike gave him a small smile but the expression on Giles face caused him to raise a brow in question.
“Did you want to talk to him?” Giles asked Angel as he kept staring at Spike.
“No, no it’s ok,” Angel said quickly.
“I was just wondering how he was doing,” Angel said after another long pause.
“Aww, well, he’s doing well…in fact he has a gallery opening soon,” Giles said his voice clearly stating how proud he was of his best friend.
“Really?” Angel asked.
“Yes, he is quite talented.”
“I know,” Angel whispered.
Giles watched as Spike shook hands with the man he was speaking to and walk over to him.
“Who are you talking to?” Spike asked as he drew near, “It’d better be one of those damn Scoobies. I can’t believe not one of them called to wish you a happy birthday yet.”
“Spike,” Giles heard Angel whisper.
Spike’s narrowed his eyes and he stared at the phone. Giles could tell he was trying to find out who was on the other end using his vampire hearing.
Giles gave Spike a look of compassion and support.
“What is it, Rupes?” Spike asked “you’re acting a bit barmy, mate. If it’s Buffy, no worries, you know I’m over…”
“It’s Angel, Spike.”
Spike froze, his eyes filling with a whirlwind of emotions…hope, shock, love, anger, fear, sadness…love.
“Rupert, I better let you go,” Angel said quickly on the other end, “I’ll talk to you later…”
“Don’t you want to talk to Spike,” he asked in a rush.
Spike looked like half of him wanted to rip the phone out of Giles hand and the other part wanted to run for the exit.
“No!” Angel almost shouted, “Sorry, but no…good bye, Giles.”
“Angel!” Giles exclaimed before he heard the click that indicated that Angel had hung up.
He placed the phone down thinking of what to say to Spike.
“He…he just hung up,” Spike replied in a broken tone.
“Um, he had an important call…he had to take.”
“Bollocks, Watcher,” Spike barked pointing to the phone; “He heard my voice and bloody well hung up.”
Giles looked at him helplessly, “Spike, he sounded like he wanted to talk to you.”
“Rupert, God!” Spike shouted as he flung his arms in the air, “don’t bloody lie to me, alright!”
Giles ripped off his glasses as Spike began to pace.
“What the hell is wrong with me, Watcher?” Spike exclaimed as he paced back and forth in front of him, “Why the hell do I even care? Everyone I have ever loved has done nothing but bugger with my heart. Bloody hell, I don’t even know why I’m surprised by this. Angel bloody hates me, Dru did nothing but shag me and pretend I was someone else and Buffy…” Spike snorted and stopped pacing for a moment. He glared at Giles and shook his head in self disgust, “Bloody Buffy did all of the above and even more! It’s all the bloody same shit over and over again. I’m sick of it! Since I’ve gotten this blasted SOUL it’s only gotten worse, the pain has only gotten bloody worse. I am so fucking sick of it, Rupes!”
Giles could see out of the corner of his eye that people were quickly grabbing there stuff and walking out as fast as possible. He sighed, and smiled apologetic at one of his friends when their eyes met. He quickly looked away and gave all his attention to his best friend.
Giles stood up and stopped his friend’s pacing by holding him in place by his shoulders, “Spike, stop this,” he hissed, forcing the vampire to meet his eyes, “nothing is wrong with you, it’s them, not you.”
Spike snorted and gently pushed him away, “Look, I know what you’re doing and I appreciate it, but just don’t. I’m…I’m just going to head to bed.”
Spike began to walk away with his head hung low.
“Spike…” He called out.
“Rupert, please, just…just say goodnight.”
Giles watched helplessly as his friend walked away.
“Goodnight, Spike.” He called out wishing there was something he could do. It was then that it hit him; there was something he could do.
After a good shift drink Giles started his plan with the help of an old friend…well-maybe friend was taking it a little to far, an old college sounded a little bit more up to speed.
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“Wesley Wyndam-Pryce.”
“Wesley, it’s Rupert Giles.”
“Giles, what an unexpected surprise. Angel mentioned it was your birthday yesterday. May I wish you salutations and…”
“Wesley, I have a question for you,” Giles asked interrupting the long winded etiquette of English upbringing.
“Yes, of course, Giles.”
“This may sound odd, but does Angel ever…well, I know how childish this will sound, but does Angel ever talk about Spike?”
“William the Bloody, yes, he has brought him up a few times. May I inquire why you ask?”
“I just…well, as you may or may not know Spike has been living with me the last two years.”
“Yes, I did hear something to that affect, which completely surprised me, seeing as how in the past you made many objections to your charge having any friendship and/or relations with a vampire regardless if they had a soul or not.”
“Yes, well,” Giles answered with a sniff of indignation, “things change, Wesley.”
He heard a slight chuckle on the other side of the phone and answered it with his own half smile, “That they do, Giles.”
Giles smile faded and he quickly got back to why he called, “see the thing is, I was wondering how Angel reacts when he discusses Spike.”
“Hmm,” Giles could practically hear the other man taking of his glasses and wiping them thoroughly, “well, not any differently then any other vampire he has sired. Why is there a deeper connection between the two then was previously recorded?”
Spike had never told Giles that anything he said was confidential, but Giles wasn’t about to gossip like some other watcher he has know in the past.
“No, it’s just that Angel acted oddly on the phone and I am worried about it. He doesn’t know how much Spike has changed in the last five years and I don’t want him threatening him.”
“Well,” Wesley replied with a huff, “I don’t think Angel would do that.”
“I’m sure he wouldn’t” Giles said, “but maybe Angelus...”
“Are you telling me you think Angel has lost his soul because I can assure you…
“No, no,” Giles cut him off, “I was just--,” Giles sighed and stood up from the armchair he was sitting in. He looked out the window at the fading sun and begun to rub the bridge of his nose.
“Look, Wesley, as a personal favor to me, could you bring Spike up in a conversation with Angel and see how he reacts?”
“And why am I doing this?”
Giles moved over to the small bar near the kitchen and poured himself a drink.
“Like I just told you, Wesley, I want to know how he reacts, make sure he has no intentions of hurting Spike.”
“Why not just ask him yourself, or I could just tell Angel your concerns?”
Giles stared down at his half-full glass of brandy and swirled the liquid so it sloshed the sides of the glass. Wesley was being much too smart for his own damn good and wasn’t making this any easier.
Giles sighed and considered just asking Wesley to ask Angel if he had any feelings for Spike, but couldn’t even begin to imagine having such a childish conversation with this man.
It was much less embarrassing this way.
“I simply don’t want to make a big deal out of this, Wesley. If you could simply bring up Spike in a conversation and watch his reaction, it would be much appreciated.”
Wesley was silent for a moment before he cleared his throat, “and just what kind of reaction am I looking for, Giles?”
Giles took a long drink of his brandy before answering, “Any, Wesley, any and all reactions, regardless of how mundane you find them-I’d like to be briefed on.”
“I see,” Wesley answered after a brief pause, “Well, umm--seeing as you have always been so helpful in the past. I don’t see why I couldn’t help out on this small request.”
“Thank you, Wesley, that would be classic of you.”
“Very well, Giles,” Wesley stated. “I shall place it on my artillery today and get back to you tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Wesley,” Giles said “And um--please be discreet, I don’t want Angel knowing he’s being observed by you or he may hide his reactions from you.”
There was another short pause before Wesley spoke again, “Of course, Giles, I’ll use my utmost discretion in this manner.”
“Thank you, Wesley.”
“My pleasure, Giles.”
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Angel looked up from his reports as Wes walked into his huge office.
“Hello, Angel,” he said as he sat down on the leather chair across from Angel. “I trust your day hasn’t been too hectic?”
Angel gave the human a soft grunt, “A bit,” he replied as he looked back at the stacks of reports in front of him, “is there anything I can help you with, Wes?”
“Well yes, in fact,” he said, nervously looking down at his click board and then back up to the vampire in front of him, “I, well, I was wondering… that is…”
“Wes,” Angel said as he raised an eyebrow, “is everything ok?”
“Yes, of course,” Wes answered as calmly as he could.
“Ok, it’s just your acting nervous,” Angel said as he narrowed his eyes at the twitchy ex-watcher.
“What, no, just a little bit too much caffeine, I wager,” Wes said with a nervous laugh.
Angel nodded his head but kept his brows furrowed, “there was something you wanted to ask me?”
“Oh, yes…I…well, I noticed that the files Wolfram & Hart had on William the Bloody weren’t as in depth as I would like them. I was wondering if I could ask you some questions.” Wesley asked trying to keep his voice steady.
“You want to know about Spike?” Angel replied, both his eyebrows shot up to the hair line.
“Yes, um, if you don’t mind,” Wes said shuffling in his seat.
Angel narrowed his eyes and got out of his office chair, “Hmm, I find it odd that yesterday I talked to Giles, who is living with Spike, as you’re well aware, and today you’re asking question out of no where.” He said as he sat on the edge of his desk and crossed his arms in front of him.
“Um, well…when you told me about Spike living with Giles I starting doing some digging into our files. That’s when I noticed how appalling the reports on the famous Slayer of Slayers are.”
“And that’s all,” Angel asked, “that’s the only reason you’re asking?”
Wes shuffled again and nodded his head, “Yes, Angel, why else would I ask?”
Angel nodded his head as he looked at the clipboard in Wesley’s hands, “fine, what would you like to know?”
Wesley looked over his notes and pushed his glasses further up his nose, “I was actually wondering about the relationship between Angelus and William the Bloody.”
“What-what do you mean?!” Angel practically squeaked causing Wesley to look up from his notes and stare at Angel in shock.
“Who told you-I mean, come on Wes,” Angel said with a slightly nervous laugh, “I mean, do I look gay to you?!”
Wesley was sure his mouth was wide open and he snapped it shut just to be sure.
“Um, well,” Wesley said as he crossed his legs and then uncrossed them again, “When I said relationship I meant sire and childe but-well, I guess I could see were you’d get the---“ Wesley trailed off, unsure of how to continue, and becoming increasingly aware of the blush heating his cheeks.
Angel sat up abruptly and turned his back to Wesley, “I just remember I have a meeting soon. Can we do this another time, Wes?”
Wesley jumped out of his chair so fast that his clip board slipped off his lap and hit the floor. He grabbed it and pushed his glasses further up his nose.
“Of course, Angel, I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”
Angel only made a small grunt like noise as Wesley rushed out of the large CEO’s office.
Wesley quickly made his way back to his own office and tried to calm down his nerves.
He turned around in his chair and stared out the window were he could see his own reflection.
“God, how humiliating,” he said to himself as he pulled off his glasses.
He felt a tiny bubble of air escape his throat and before he knew it he was cracked up with laughter.
Angel’s voice was ringing in his ears and he wiped the tears out of his eyes as he whispered to his own reflection.
“I should have told him it was fine by me. Seeing as how I’m gay as well.”
Just as he was placing his glasses back on he saw something move behind him in the reflection in the window.
He turned around quickly and practically jumped out of his chair when he saw Angel leaning against his closed door with his ankles crossed and his hands on his hip.
“So why didn’t you tell me before.” Angel asked.
Wesley raised a brow and Angel sighed as he stood up straighter and walked closer to the desk.
“That you’re gay,” Angel practically whispered.
Wesley leaned back as he regained control of his nerves, “I could ask you the same question, Angel.”
Angel shuffled his feet as the silence grew deafening. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Wes?”
Wesley shrugged as he got up from his chair, “You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want, Angel. I wasn’t aware that you and Spike…” he trailed off as he sat down on the chair in front of the vampire and looked up at him.
He could tell that Angel was ready to bolt and he let his silence indicate that he understood if Angel did. Wesley was well aware of how hard it was too open up to someone, hell; he’d bolt if he was in Angel’s shoes.
Angel’s eyes burned into his, as if trying to read his thoughts. Wesley stared back at him, letting Angel find whatever it was he was looking for. It seemed the vampire found it because a moment later his shoulders relaxed and he took the chair opposite to Wesley.
Wesley knew that all the books in the watcher’s council would say that vampire’s don’t age and are suspended in time, but at this moment, Angel looked double his age.
Angel’s eyes looked old, like lifeless pools of earth that had no hope of ever seeing the rains again. He watched Angel fiddle with his large thumb ring on his right hand and let the silence between them calm the vampire down.
“Did you want to talk about it, Angel?” Wesley asked after a few minutes had pasted.
Angel nodded his head absently and ran a shaky hand through his thick hair; “Wes, this is difficult,” he said, “you see…” he trailed off with a nervous humorless chuckle. He turned to look at Wes, “I haven’t talked about it in…well…I haven’t ever talked about.”
Wesley nodded, despite the awkwardness of the conversation; he really wanted Angel to open up to him. The two of them had been friends at one point, but in the last two years they had drifted apart and Wes wanted to fix it.
“Angel, I hope you know that you can tell me anything,” he said wishing he was the type of man that could reach out and lend a comforting hand on the vampire’s shoulder. “I know we aren’t as close as we once were, but I still consider you a friend.”
Angel gave him a sad smile, he’d been pushing Wes away for reasons the ex-watcher didn’t even know about. The Wesley that kidnapped Connor wasn’t anything like the Wesley that was in front of him today. This Wesley was the man he’d trusted years ago, the man he’d called a true friend.
Angel crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. It was time to forgive and forget and maybe if he could reclaim this friendship with Wes, he wouldn’t feel so …lonely.
Wesley watched the unusually play of emotion flash in the vampire’s eyes and wondered what Angel was thinking. Wes was use to seeing pain and grief in those dark brown eyes but the unease in the vampire’s whole body made Wesley feel uneasy as well.
“Angel,” he said softly, “I don’t wish to make you uncomfortable…”
Angel’s eyes snapped up to Wes’s, “You’re not, Wes. It’s just, I was thinking about what you said and I agree with you. We have drifted apart and well…I want us to be close again too.”
Wes’s smile grew from ear to ear and he felt a rush of emotion course through him, but the proper English side of him, the part of him that demanded that no man should publicly show such vast emotions, reared its ugly head. Wesley coughed to cover his embarrassment and looked away.
“Yes, Well,” he said, his voice lowering an octave. “You were telling me about William.”
Angel hide a smile at Wesley’s action and but then frowned again at the thought of opening up about something he had hidden from everyone…including himself.
Angel got out of the chair and wrapped his arms around his chest, “Spike and I, well…we were close.”
Wes raised an eyebrow and waited for Angel to continue.
“Spike,” Angel said then closed his eyes, “I mean William…William meant everything to me,” he whispered, he opened his eyes and waited to see how Wesley would handle his words.
Wes remained still; he had never heard Angel speak with such emotion before. It literally sounded like Angel was speaking from the deeper part of his soul. Could it be that Angel felt that much for the blonde vampire? Was this in fact what Giles had been trying to find out? The poor excuse Giles had given hadn’t rung true to Wesley. It seemed that there was a lot more going on then Wes had realized.
“Everything,” Wes repeated softly, “did you…,” Wes furrowed his brow trying to find the right words, “feel affection for him?”
Angel moved over to the front of Wesley’s desk and sat on the edge. He didn’t trust his voice so he simply nodded his head.
Wesley kept his face neutral but inside he was shocked, even though it was clear; having Angel admit it. That he was attracted to men and had been in a relationship with the infamous vampire, William the Bloody, was amazing.
Angel cleared his throat once more before explaining himself, “You know that I sired both Spike and Dru, but what isn’t commonly known is that I sired Dru for Darla.”
“Darla had wanted a girl in the family and I gave her Dru as a gift. It was…it is, the worst thing I’d ever done…What I did to Dru,” Angel stopped and took a deep unneeded breath, “I made an insane monster with a bloodlust that matched Darla’s and my own.”
“Darla had been so pleased with the broken girl…I-I still have nightmares about what I did to Dru and…” he looked down at his hands and rubbed them together, “I deserve every one of those nightmares. When I think of Dru, I know I don’t deserve redemption.”
Wesley was frozen to his chair, never in all the years had he known Angel, had the vampire spook with such honesty and so deeply from his soul. Wes didn’t know what to feel, but honored was definitely at the top of the list.
“William, on the other hand,” Angel said looking up with a rare and beautiful smile that literally took Wes’s breath away.
“William was mine,” he said proudly, “I sired him for one reason and one reason only…”
Wes shuffled forward unconsciously as he gave Angel his full attention.
“To be with me forever, to be mine and mine alone--forever,” Angel said, his eyes unintentionally turning golden.
Wes looked deeply into those glowing, gold eyes and could see love radiating out of them. It was the first time Wes could honestly say he found demon eyes to be hauntingly beautiful.
“And you two were together for a hundred years?” Wes asked in awe. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be in a relationship that spanned a century.
“Yes,” Angel said, “and that’s the thing that makes this so hard to talk to you about, Wes.”
Wesley frowned, “you though I would judge you for being in a relationship with a man?”
Angel shook his head and gave the watcher a sad smile, “no, Wes, it’s not that…what I am trying to telling you, is that as much as I know I should look back at those hundred soulless years with disgust…I…I can’t,” he whispered not looking at Wesley, as if he was scared to see disgust and anger in the ex-demon hunter’s eyes.
“Angel,” Wesley said softly waiting for the vampire to look up. When Angel did Wes felt his heart break for the self loathing he saw there.
“Angel,” he repeated, “it’s perfectly understandable that you would look back at that time and not hate every moment of it. It’s only natural that in a hundred years of existence that you would have some good memories.”
Angel jumped up, “but don’t you see how wrong that is. Wesley. I was a soulless monster, I killed innocent people every night,” Angel looked at him pleadingly as if he needed Wesley’s reprimand, his hate.
“Yes, but you’re a hero now,” Wes said as he looked up at the tall vampire with warm, blue eyes.
Angel shook his head, “Wes, do you understand what I’m saying to you. I hate myself a little more each time I think about it. Each time I think about his smile…his blue eyes, his voice, because…oh Gods, help me, Wes. When I think about Spike I wish to be back in time. When I think about how much I love Spike all I want to do is be Angelus again.”
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Wesley threw his keys down on the coffee table as he flopped down on his couch. He thought briefly about putting on the telly before dismissing the idea. He took off his glasses and placed them gently on the coffee table next to his keys. He eyes felt heavy as he rubbed his hands up and down his face. He could feel his three day old stubble scratch his palms.
Tonight had been one of the longest of his life and one he would never in all his life forget.
Once Angel told him his fears, Wes had done the only thing he could think of doing. He stood up and softly kissed the vampire in front of him. Angel had stared at him in shock but a second later devoured Wesley’s mouth
Angel had moaned deeply when Wes had parted his lips and granted his friend access inside. Wesley had never kissed a vampire before but the experience had not been unpleasant. It had been nothing but comfort and Wes had been all but willing to give his heart broken friend anything he needed.
They had kissed passionately until Wes had to pull away for air and smiled at the awed and thankfulness in Angel’s eyes.
“After everything I just told you, how could you look at me, let alone let me kiss you, Wes?” Angel had asked as they had stared into each other’s eyes.
“Angel,” Wes had said touching the cool skin of Angel’s cheek. Wesley will never forget the purr that came from the vampire as he caressed that soft skin, “I have never felt more proud to be your friend.”
Angel had pulled away slowly and shook his head in denial, “I don’t understand.”
“Angel, what you just admitted to me took a lot of guts and shows just how amazing you are. You are begging for forgiveness for remembering someone you loved…someone you love, and no one should be expected to do that,” Wes said as he slowly pulled away.
“Yes, Angelus did horrible monstrous things,” Wesley continued, “but those aren’t the things you want to return to. The thought sickens you…don’t you see, Angel,” Wes said as he gave the vampire a small smile, “it’s only the love you’re missing. Only your love you want back.”
Angel’s smile was that of lost hope and defeat. He shook his head and said, “Wesley, I don’t think you understand at all. Demons like me and Spike--we don’t deserve love.”
Before Wesley could say anything else Angel walked out of the room leaving Wesley staring at the door at a loss for words.
A few minutes later he found him self walking to the elevator and mindlessly driving home in his old four door Sudan.
Wesley sighed as he rubbed his hand through his hair and pulled his feet up to get more comfortable on the couch. It had definitely been a remarkable night. Wes wasn’t sure how, but he was going to help Angel anyway he could.
Wesley’s eyes traveled over to were he had written down Giles number. He remembered the realization he’d had earlier as to why Giles had requested he talk to Angel. Wesley smiled as he picked up the number.
It seemed Rupert Giles was just the man to help him in this situation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Giles lit a fag as he watched the home shopping network. He smiled at the simple pleasures he hadn’t allowed himself a few years ago. The ex-watcher had changed a lot since retiring and had to admit the simplicity of watching late night telly was bloody wonderful.
He leaned over to get his half full beer when the phone began to ring. He looked over with a grimace and got up slowly. He muttered as he walked over to the phone, ‘Damn Spike and his distrust of cordless phones.’ Giles hated having to get up and walk over to the damn thing every time it rung.
“Bugger Spike, I’m picking one up tomorrow.”
“Rupert Giles,” he said shortly after he snatched up the receiver. He looked over at the telly and saw that they were showing that magic mop again. He was seriously considering ordering one.
“Giles, its Wyndam-Pryce.”
“Oh, good day Wes,” Giles said looking away from the TV and giving his full attention to the caller. “I trust your day went well.” Giles said sitting down on one of the stools by the kitchen island.
“It went well, Giles, thank you for the acquirement.”
Giles nodded his head impatiently, “good, good,” he said, impatient to get through the polite formality instilled in the both of them.
After a moment of silence Giles began to speak, “did you happen to talk to Angel as we had discussed yesterday?”
“Yes, I did, in fact that is why I have rung you up, you see…I have been thinking about what you said all night and well…may I be so bold as to say I know the real reason you asked me to talk to Angel”
Giles’s face broke out into a smile; Wesley’s intelligence was something he truly did admire in the younger man.
“I’m guessing you meeting with Angel proved to be enlightening then?” Giles asked, already knowing the answer.
“Yes, I would definitely call my meeting with Angel enlightening,” Wesley answered, “and I am assuming that Spike also…enlightened you?”
Giles smiled again, getting Wes’s help on this had been a fantastic idea.
“Yes, he has,” Giles answered.
“Good, good,” Wesley said then gave a small chuckle, “I have to admit, when I first walked into that meeting I still hadn’t figured it all out, but as soon as I asked Angel about his feeling towards Spike I suspected why you had called me.”
Giles nodded his head even though the other ex-watcher couldn’t see.
“So, what do we do?” Wes asked after a moment.
“You wish to get the two vampires’ together?” Giles asked just to clarify.
“Yes, Giles I…I think it is imperative...”
“Imperative,” Giles repeated questioningly.
“Yes, Angel is…well, let’s just say he needs this.”
Giles stayed silent thinking of how sad and lonely his friend was and nodded his head, “yes, I have to concur, it is imperative, to them both.”
“What are your suggestions, Giles?”
Giles looked over to the paintings sitting in the corner and smiled, “you think you could persuade Angel to visit London?”
“Yes, I believe I can, but there has to be more to your plan them getting them face to face?”
“Of course there is,” Giles said with a snort.
“Naturally, Giles, I didn’t mean to...”
“Its fine, Wesley, no harm.”
After an awkward pause Giles explained to Wesley about the paintings and having Angel come and see them.
“You believe if he sees the paintings that they will affect him?”
“Bloody hell, Wes,” Giles sighed, “once you see them you’ll understand.”
Wesley seemed to be thinking so hard that Giles could swear he could hear it an ocean away.
“It can’t be that simple.” Wesley said after a moment.
“It’s not Wesley, but really what more can we do. We can beg and plead but the rest...well, the rest is up to them.”
“Angel doesn’t believe he deserves love.” Wesley said abruptly like he was forcing himself to say it out loud.
“And Spike believes no one will ever really love him,” Giles said after a moment.
The two ex-watchers stayed silent before Giles began to chuckle loudly.
“What is it, Giles?”
“It’s just…who would have though that two watchers would be worried about the love life of the two most fearsome vampires to ever walk the earth.”
Wesley laughed out loud before answering, “Two watchers fired by the council, I wager.”
Giles smiled at that, “yes, I’m proud to say that I wasn’t all they expected. That I wasn’t a bloody mindless fool when it came to their black and white ideals.”
“I agree,” Wes said back, “best moment of my life was being kicked out of the council.”
Giles chuckled again, “not a prouder moment.”
They both remained quite as they both realized they were in the beginnings of a blossoming new friendship.
They both spent the next hour talking about the vampires. By the end they had both agreed that the best thing was to let the vampires’s met and not interfere past that.
“But, just one thing, Wes,” Giles said “Don’t let Angel walk away, when he sees Spike for the first time, insist he talks to him.”
Wesley was silent, he wasn’t the type of man to agree to anything without a moments pause and thought, “I’m unsure if I can, but I promise I will do my best, Giles. I assume you will do the same.”
“I will,” Giles said vowing to himself as well as Wes.
By the time Giles had hung up the phone he felt more of the weight on his shoulders melt away.
“This could really work,” he whispered as he walked back over to the couch.