Fic: Collide - Chapter 8/?
And, another chapter. :)
Also? You may notice silk_labyrinth is now listed as a beta too. Thanks for agreeing to handle the grammar side of things silk_labyrinth! *squish*
Collide
Pairing: S/A (eventually), S/others and A/others along the way
Rating: NC17 overall
Warning: Teenage high school kids doing things high school kids do.
Disclaimer: Not mine, not for profit … just borrowing them to get the plot bunny that invaded my brain to shut up already.
Beta'd: by thatotherperv and silk_labyrinth
Summary: Human AU. Growing up is difficult enough. Being yourself while doing it is damn near impossible.
Previous chapters in memories and at my site.
Chapter 8
Spike had been walking on cloud nine all week. Monday night had been … a revelation. He and Faith had had sex at her flat that night. Actual intercourse, and it had been everything he'd expected and more. A fucking lot more.
Now it was Thursday and Spike was looking forward to the weekend. When he got out of class he was going to call her, in fact. See if she wanted to go out Friday night.
Finally the bell rang and Spike gathered his things, heading for the door. Mr. Clemens, his calculus teacher, called his name to stay behind.
As the room emptied out, Spike walked up to his desk and asked, "You wanted something?"
Mr. Clemens nodded. "Are you aware of our tutoring program here at the school?"
Spike's eyebrows shot up. "Trying to tell me something?"
Mr. Clemens smiled. "Relax, William-"
"Spike, or Will, if you don't mind," Spike said somewhat stiffly.
Mr. Clemens nodded. "Of course. Sorry. Will. I wasn't suggesting you need tutoring. I'm in charge of the program, actually, and there's an opening on my staff. I was wondering if you'd be interested."
"In being a tutor?" Spike asked.
"Yes. I reviewed your grades from your last school, and from that and what I've seen so far here, I think you'd be a perfect candidate. If you stay on pace, you'll end up in the top one percent of the graduating class."
Spike stared at the teacher. He'd always enjoyed learning, and considering he'd had no social life until recently, had always thrown himself into his studies. The grades had made his mum proud and had been one of the only bright spots in his life. As far as percentages, though, he'd never really given them much thought. He'd had no clue he was doing that well, comparatively speaking.
Realizing Mr. Clemens was waiting for a response, Spike blinked and asked, "How soon do you need an answer?"
Smiling, Mr. Clemens said, "Monday's fine." Handing Spike a paper, he added, "Here are the details, along with the pay scale. Families that meet the financial burden guidelines are taken care of by an account set up by a benefactor of the school some time ago. The rest of our tutoring fees are provided by the students' families, although they pay the school instead of the tutors directly. We issue you a bi-weekly check."
Nodding, Spike said, "I'll let you know. Ta."
Spike read through the paper as he walked out of the room. Halfway to his locker, Xander fell in step with him. "Heard you got held up after last hour. What'd you do?"
"Nothing," Spike said distractedly, mind whirling as he tried to decide if tutoring was something he was interested in.
"What's this?" Xander asked, snatching the paper cleanly from Spike's hand. His eyes widened. "No shit? I knew you were smart, but tutor smart? Cool."
Spike quirked an eyebrow at him and grabbed his paper back. "Cool?"
Xander shrugged. "Yeah. I mean, you've got looks and brains. Usually it's one or the other." Xander paused and smirked. "And since my grades are in the toilet, I guess we all know where I fall on the scale."
"Yeah, in the category known as loser since you don't have either," Spike joked as they reached his locker.
"Hey!" Xander said, bringing his hand to his chest as he turned and leaned back against the locker next to Spike's. "I'm hurt. Truly hurt."
Spike glanced at him as he tossed his books in his locker and realized that, past the joking, there was a glint of hurt in Xander's eyes. Realizing he must have hit a sore spot and feeling like an arsehole because of it, Spike turned to Xander and leaned in.
Gaze locked on Xander's, Spike said in a low, sincere voice, "Come on, Xan. 'M only joking. You know I'm attracted, right? Just haven't done anything about it because we're mates."
The smile dropped from Xander's face and he stared back, asking softly, "Really?"
Suddenly the moment was way more intense than Spike had intended. Trying to regain his footing, Spike backed off and reached into his locker for his backpack. "Really. Anyway, think you're selling yourself short, mate."
"How's that?" Xander asked, pushing off the lockers when Spike closed his.
They started off down the hall together as Spike said, "Never took me up on the offer to help you with trig."
"Ah, yes. The bet in which I make you my bitch."
Just as Xander said the last part, Angel happened to walk around the corner.
He stopped short and looked from one to the other of them, then sneered at Xander, "I always knew you weren't as straight as you pretend." Spike sensed Xander stiffen beside him, and then Angel turned his gaze on him, expression disgusted. "I never pegged you as the type who'd lay back and take it like a girl, though. I probably should have after the way you acted in my car."
"What?" Xander asked, looking back and forth between them. "Huh? And hey! Who said I'm not straight. I wasn't talking about-"
"Save it, Xan," Spike said. "Let the plonker think what he wants."
Angel's eyes narrowed and he took a step toward Spike. "So I didn't just hear Xander tell you he was going to make you his bitch?"
Out of the corner of Spike's eye, he saw Xander take an answering step forward. Spike reached out to hold him off, not wanting the two of them to come to blows in the middle of the hallway. It wouldn't be good for any of them.
"What you heard, pillock, was half of a conversation you know nothing about." Spike tilted his head to the side and couldn't resist adding, "Know what I find interesting?"
"What's that?" Angel asked, tone dangerous.
Spike fought the urge to turn and flee in response to the violence in Angel's eyes and instead smirked. Leaning in, he said in a low voice, "The fact that you've been thinking about what I like in bed. Do that a lot, do you?"
Angel took another step in, fists balled, but before he could punch Spike-as Spike was fairly sure he was about to-Buffy walked up and asked, "Hey guys, is there a problem?"
Spike held Angel's gaze for a long moment before turning to Buffy and saying tightly, "No problem at all. Might want to talk to your boyfriend about the stupidity of listening in on half a conversation and jumping to conclusions, though."
Buffy looked back and forth between the two of them, then over to Xander, who was glaring at Angel too. "Xander? What's going on?"
"I'll call you later, Buff. Right now, I think it'd be a good idea for me and Spike to get out of here before something happens we'll all regret."
Buffy nodded. "O-kay. Talk to you later."
Stepping around them, Spike and Xander continued down the hall, not speaking until they reached Spike's car and climbed in. Spike had given Xander a ride to school that day because his car was in the shop.
As Spike shifted into gear, Xander commented, "Well, that was fun."
Spike glanced over at him. "Yeah. Sorry about that. Hope hanging out with me isn't causing you problems."
Xander looked at him, confused. "Problems?"
Spike shrugged and looked back at the road. "Yeah. You know. I'm out. Hadn't thought about the fact that it might come back on you. Make people whisper."
Xander waved a dismissive hand in the air. "Like I care what a bunch of idiots think. I know who I am and that's what matters. Besides, Oz is out too. It's never made a difference one way or the other. Angel's just an ass."
Spike glanced over at him as they pulled up to a stop light. "That's very enlightened of you."
Xander looked over and grinned at him. "Yeah, well, between you and Oz I didn't stand a chance. You're both so comfortable with it all, I guess it's rubbing off."
Spike studied him for a moment, then asked, "Can tell me to leave off if you want, but just out of curiosity, what are you?"
Xander swallowed hard and Spike looked back at the road, both because the light had turned green and because he sensed Xander needed that little bit of distance to say whatever he was about to say.
"I think…" Xander started, then trailed off.
When Xander didn't continue, Spike said, "You know you're safe with me, yeah? Can tell me whatever and I won't judge. Or take advantage."
"I know," Xander said. "It's just … saying it out loud makes it real, you know?"
Spike nodded. "Listen. Probably shouldn't have pushed. Don't have to say any more. Least not until you're ready."
Xander took a deep breath and said, "I don't know. It's mostly girls that do it for me, but every once in a while a guy comes along and makes me wonder."
Spike absorbed that and thought about asking if he was one of those blokes, but decided against it. It'd put them in a spot with each other where he was pretty sure neither of them wanted to be.
" 'S alright," Spike said instead. "You know that, right? Wondering? Doesn't have to mean anything or go anywhere you don't want it to. Could just … stay wondering forever, or you could try it out sometime in the future when you're ready."
Xander snorted. "Yeah. Tell that to my homophobic father. If he had a clue…"
Xander trailed off, looking visibly spooked by the idea. Spike's hands tightened on the wheel at the thought of Xander's father doing something to him just because he found guys attractive.
"That bad, huh?"
Xander nodded. "Yeah."
They pulled up in Xander's driveway and suddenly Spike didn't feel so good about dropping him off. "Listen. Maybe you could come back to my place for dinner. Maybe … spend the night? Have one of those air mattresses. Could blow it up and put it on the floor in my room. 'S comfortable enough. Slept on it myself before we found a bed for me.
Xander smiled, but shook his head. "Thanks, but I'm fine. Really. He's not violent or anything. It's just, if he found out…"
"He might be?" Spike finished for him.
Xander let out a long breath. "Yeah. He might. Let's just say I have no intention of telling him. Ever."
Spike watched as Xander climbed out of the car and headed up his drive, thankful his Uncle Rupert wasn't like that. He hadn't come out to him yet, although he hadn't been actively hiding it, either. The subject just hadn't come up. He actually had no idea where his uncle stood on the matter, but one thing he was fairly sure of was that Uncle Rupert wouldn't get violent with him no matter what Spike told him. It made him sad that Xander didn't have that same kind of security.
~*~
Friday night Faith took Spike to some party half the school was at. He didn't even know whose house it was. All he did know was that he'd been having fun until Angel ruined it by walking in the front door with his entourage after the varsity game.
The only bright spot was Buffy, who walked over immediately and said hi. He liked her. She had fire. He also liked that it pissed Angel off every time she ditched him to talk. Tonight was no different, and when Spike excused himself to find a bathroom five minutes later, he found himself shoved through the doorway and the door slammed shut behind him, a pissed off Angel crowding his space.
Looking for some kind of weapon to defend himself and yet trying not to look like he was looking, Spike said, "Oi! What's your problem?"
"You," Angel said, stepping closer and jabbing Spike in the chest with his finger. "You're my problem. I'm sick of this. Stay away from Buffy."
"Fuck you. She's a friend; that's it. I'm with Faith in case you haven't noticed," Spike said heatedly.
Angel made a sound of disbelief. "Yeah, like that'll last. As soon as she gets bored with you, she'll drop you. Faith's not a one-guy kind of girl, in case no one's clued you in yet."
Spike tensed. "You don't know anything about it."
Angel grinned and leaned in. "Is that what you think? What? She didn't tell you about the weekend I spent in her bed last year when Buffy and I took a break? Said I was the best she'd ever had."
Spike's gut tightened, but he forced a grin of his own onto his face. "Yeah, well she tells me that now, so I guess you're yesterday's news."
Angel's eyes flashed with anger and he poked Spike in the chest again. "I could have her back in a second if I wanted her."
A burst of anger gave Spike nerve he wouldn't have otherwise had. He grabbed Angel's finger and twisted, causing the other man to cry out and try to yank his hand away.
Grinning, Spike held on tight and twisted harder. "If I'm not mistaken, this is your throwing hand, yeah?"
"Let go, Spike. Now," Angel said, voice low in warning although Spike didn't miss the flash of worry in his eyes.
"Don't think so. Not until we get some things straight. Number one, you quit following me around and picking fights. Number two, I'll talk to whoever I want, whenever I want. Number three, you stay the hell away from Faith. Agree or I'll break your fucking finger, ponce."
Before Spike could get an answer, there was a knock on the door and Xander's voice drifted through. "Spike? You alright in there?"
Shuffling past Angel while continuing to hold on to his finger, Spike reached for the doorknob, not letting go of Angel until he had the door open.
Staring at Angel, Spike said to Xander, "Sure, Xan, I'm fine. Angel and I were just coming to an understanding, weren't we, Angel?"
Angel scowled, but Spike didn't miss the way he gingerly flexed his finger and rubbed it with his other hand. "Whatever. We'll pick this up later."
Spike turned and walked out, only to get dragged into another room by Xander. "What the hell was that about?" Xander asked.
Spike took a deep breath and sat on a nearby bed. "Fucker won't leave me alone. If I didn't know better, I'd say he was stalking me. Showed up here and the minute I was alone, he tried to threaten me. Told me to stay away from Buffy. Then we got into it about Faith somehow, and apparently they had a weekend fling at some point. Tried to tell me he could have her anytime he wanted. I got pissed and nearly broke his bloody finger."
Xander's eyes widened. "Jesus." Walking over, Xander sat down next to Spike. "Don't take this the wrong way, but maybe you should be careful around him. Piss him off enough and one of these times he's going to stop caring what Buffy thinks."
Spike let out a long breath. "Yeah, I know. He just … pushes all my soddin' buttons. Can't help it. The bloke makes me want to wrap my hands around his neck and just … squeeze."
They fell silent for a moment, then Xander said, "Uh, hey. Remember yesterday in the hall?"
"Yeah? What of it?"
"Angel said something I didn't pay much attention to at the time, but now I’m curious."
Spike mentally ran through what Angel had said and tensed, having a good idea of where Xander was going. "And?"
"And he said something about something that happened in his car. What happened in his car, Spike?"
Spike flopped back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. "You mean besides me ending up shirtless and hard as a rock from him touching my nipple? The one that's pierced."
Xander's jaw dropped and he seemed utterly gobsmacked for over a minute before he finally squeaked, "You … what? And he what?"
Spike chuckled humorlessly. "You heard me right."
"Start at the beginning," Xander said, flopping back on the bed next to Spike.
Spike told him everything, including how Angel had pretended he was going to kiss him only to taunt him.
After, Xander cursed. "What an asshole."
"Yeah."
They were quiet for a moment more, listening to the sounds of the party going on outside the door, until finally Spike jumped up and said, "Know what? Sod this. The fucker isn't going to ruin my night. I'm going to go find Faith and get out of here. Want to come?"
Xander got up and shook his head. "Nah. Cordelia just got here and everything. I'll come over tomorrow though, okay?"
Spike nodded. "Sure, mate."
Spike stepped out of the room and back into the chaos of the house party. Making his way back to the living room, he kept his eyes peeled for Faith, finally finding her dancing with Angel in the middle of the room. Spike's eyes narrowed. A quick perusal of the room showed that Buffy was nowhere in sight.
Gaze locking back on Angel and Faith, Spike started over but froze when Angel's eyes met his. Very deliberately, Angel slid his hands down Faith's back to her backside and squeezed, grinning cruelly.
Spike's eyes narrowed and he started over again, only to have Angel grab Faith's hand and drag her out of the room, Faith following him willingly. Spike was nearly to the hallway they'd disappeared down when Buffy suddenly appeared next to him.
"Hey, Spike. Any idea where Angel ran off to?"
Spike looked at her, half tempted to lie in order to spare her. The other half of him, though, wanted her to know what kind of arsehole she was involved with. Not to mention that if what he thought was going on was actually going on, it'd be sweet revenge-because there was no way Buffy would stay with Angel if she witnessed with her own eyes that he was cheating on her.
"Come on. If I'm right, there's something I think you need to see," Spike said, starting down the hall.
They walked past several rooms that were open until they reached one with the door mostly closed. Buffy made to knock, but Spike reached out and grabbed her wrist, shaking his head.
Frowning, she dropped her hand and Spike said quietly, "Trust me."
Buffy looked confused, but nodded her head. Not quite wanting to see what he suspected he was about to, Spike took a deep breath and reached for the door, pushing it open as he stepped into the doorway.
What Spike found was Angel and Faith sitting on a bed, Faith's back to the door. Looked like they might have been talking, but as soon as Angel glanced over and saw him, he leaned in and kissed her full on the mouth. Rage burned in Spike's gut, hot and bright.
With sick satisfaction, he stepped aside and smirked at Angel as Buffy gasped, then yelled Angel's name in fury. Instantly Angel was off the bed and headed toward her, trying to explain.
Spike tuned it out, though, instead finding himself staring at Faith, who sat staring back. He felt … empty. Hollowed out. Without a word, he turned and left.
Continued here.
Also? You may notice silk_labyrinth is now listed as a beta too. Thanks for agreeing to handle the grammar side of things silk_labyrinth! *squish*
Collide
Pairing: S/A (eventually), S/others and A/others along the way
Rating: NC17 overall
Warning: Teenage high school kids doing things high school kids do.
Disclaimer: Not mine, not for profit … just borrowing them to get the plot bunny that invaded my brain to shut up already.
Beta'd: by thatotherperv and silk_labyrinth
Summary: Human AU. Growing up is difficult enough. Being yourself while doing it is damn near impossible.
Previous chapters in memories and at my site.
Chapter 8
Spike had been walking on cloud nine all week. Monday night had been … a revelation. He and Faith had had sex at her flat that night. Actual intercourse, and it had been everything he'd expected and more. A fucking lot more.
Now it was Thursday and Spike was looking forward to the weekend. When he got out of class he was going to call her, in fact. See if she wanted to go out Friday night.
Finally the bell rang and Spike gathered his things, heading for the door. Mr. Clemens, his calculus teacher, called his name to stay behind.
As the room emptied out, Spike walked up to his desk and asked, "You wanted something?"
Mr. Clemens nodded. "Are you aware of our tutoring program here at the school?"
Spike's eyebrows shot up. "Trying to tell me something?"
Mr. Clemens smiled. "Relax, William-"
"Spike, or Will, if you don't mind," Spike said somewhat stiffly.
Mr. Clemens nodded. "Of course. Sorry. Will. I wasn't suggesting you need tutoring. I'm in charge of the program, actually, and there's an opening on my staff. I was wondering if you'd be interested."
"In being a tutor?" Spike asked.
"Yes. I reviewed your grades from your last school, and from that and what I've seen so far here, I think you'd be a perfect candidate. If you stay on pace, you'll end up in the top one percent of the graduating class."
Spike stared at the teacher. He'd always enjoyed learning, and considering he'd had no social life until recently, had always thrown himself into his studies. The grades had made his mum proud and had been one of the only bright spots in his life. As far as percentages, though, he'd never really given them much thought. He'd had no clue he was doing that well, comparatively speaking.
Realizing Mr. Clemens was waiting for a response, Spike blinked and asked, "How soon do you need an answer?"
Smiling, Mr. Clemens said, "Monday's fine." Handing Spike a paper, he added, "Here are the details, along with the pay scale. Families that meet the financial burden guidelines are taken care of by an account set up by a benefactor of the school some time ago. The rest of our tutoring fees are provided by the students' families, although they pay the school instead of the tutors directly. We issue you a bi-weekly check."
Nodding, Spike said, "I'll let you know. Ta."
Spike read through the paper as he walked out of the room. Halfway to his locker, Xander fell in step with him. "Heard you got held up after last hour. What'd you do?"
"Nothing," Spike said distractedly, mind whirling as he tried to decide if tutoring was something he was interested in.
"What's this?" Xander asked, snatching the paper cleanly from Spike's hand. His eyes widened. "No shit? I knew you were smart, but tutor smart? Cool."
Spike quirked an eyebrow at him and grabbed his paper back. "Cool?"
Xander shrugged. "Yeah. I mean, you've got looks and brains. Usually it's one or the other." Xander paused and smirked. "And since my grades are in the toilet, I guess we all know where I fall on the scale."
"Yeah, in the category known as loser since you don't have either," Spike joked as they reached his locker.
"Hey!" Xander said, bringing his hand to his chest as he turned and leaned back against the locker next to Spike's. "I'm hurt. Truly hurt."
Spike glanced at him as he tossed his books in his locker and realized that, past the joking, there was a glint of hurt in Xander's eyes. Realizing he must have hit a sore spot and feeling like an arsehole because of it, Spike turned to Xander and leaned in.
Gaze locked on Xander's, Spike said in a low, sincere voice, "Come on, Xan. 'M only joking. You know I'm attracted, right? Just haven't done anything about it because we're mates."
The smile dropped from Xander's face and he stared back, asking softly, "Really?"
Suddenly the moment was way more intense than Spike had intended. Trying to regain his footing, Spike backed off and reached into his locker for his backpack. "Really. Anyway, think you're selling yourself short, mate."
"How's that?" Xander asked, pushing off the lockers when Spike closed his.
They started off down the hall together as Spike said, "Never took me up on the offer to help you with trig."
"Ah, yes. The bet in which I make you my bitch."
Just as Xander said the last part, Angel happened to walk around the corner.
He stopped short and looked from one to the other of them, then sneered at Xander, "I always knew you weren't as straight as you pretend." Spike sensed Xander stiffen beside him, and then Angel turned his gaze on him, expression disgusted. "I never pegged you as the type who'd lay back and take it like a girl, though. I probably should have after the way you acted in my car."
"What?" Xander asked, looking back and forth between them. "Huh? And hey! Who said I'm not straight. I wasn't talking about-"
"Save it, Xan," Spike said. "Let the plonker think what he wants."
Angel's eyes narrowed and he took a step toward Spike. "So I didn't just hear Xander tell you he was going to make you his bitch?"
Out of the corner of Spike's eye, he saw Xander take an answering step forward. Spike reached out to hold him off, not wanting the two of them to come to blows in the middle of the hallway. It wouldn't be good for any of them.
"What you heard, pillock, was half of a conversation you know nothing about." Spike tilted his head to the side and couldn't resist adding, "Know what I find interesting?"
"What's that?" Angel asked, tone dangerous.
Spike fought the urge to turn and flee in response to the violence in Angel's eyes and instead smirked. Leaning in, he said in a low voice, "The fact that you've been thinking about what I like in bed. Do that a lot, do you?"
Angel took another step in, fists balled, but before he could punch Spike-as Spike was fairly sure he was about to-Buffy walked up and asked, "Hey guys, is there a problem?"
Spike held Angel's gaze for a long moment before turning to Buffy and saying tightly, "No problem at all. Might want to talk to your boyfriend about the stupidity of listening in on half a conversation and jumping to conclusions, though."
Buffy looked back and forth between the two of them, then over to Xander, who was glaring at Angel too. "Xander? What's going on?"
"I'll call you later, Buff. Right now, I think it'd be a good idea for me and Spike to get out of here before something happens we'll all regret."
Buffy nodded. "O-kay. Talk to you later."
Stepping around them, Spike and Xander continued down the hall, not speaking until they reached Spike's car and climbed in. Spike had given Xander a ride to school that day because his car was in the shop.
As Spike shifted into gear, Xander commented, "Well, that was fun."
Spike glanced over at him. "Yeah. Sorry about that. Hope hanging out with me isn't causing you problems."
Xander looked at him, confused. "Problems?"
Spike shrugged and looked back at the road. "Yeah. You know. I'm out. Hadn't thought about the fact that it might come back on you. Make people whisper."
Xander waved a dismissive hand in the air. "Like I care what a bunch of idiots think. I know who I am and that's what matters. Besides, Oz is out too. It's never made a difference one way or the other. Angel's just an ass."
Spike glanced over at him as they pulled up to a stop light. "That's very enlightened of you."
Xander looked over and grinned at him. "Yeah, well, between you and Oz I didn't stand a chance. You're both so comfortable with it all, I guess it's rubbing off."
Spike studied him for a moment, then asked, "Can tell me to leave off if you want, but just out of curiosity, what are you?"
Xander swallowed hard and Spike looked back at the road, both because the light had turned green and because he sensed Xander needed that little bit of distance to say whatever he was about to say.
"I think…" Xander started, then trailed off.
When Xander didn't continue, Spike said, "You know you're safe with me, yeah? Can tell me whatever and I won't judge. Or take advantage."
"I know," Xander said. "It's just … saying it out loud makes it real, you know?"
Spike nodded. "Listen. Probably shouldn't have pushed. Don't have to say any more. Least not until you're ready."
Xander took a deep breath and said, "I don't know. It's mostly girls that do it for me, but every once in a while a guy comes along and makes me wonder."
Spike absorbed that and thought about asking if he was one of those blokes, but decided against it. It'd put them in a spot with each other where he was pretty sure neither of them wanted to be.
" 'S alright," Spike said instead. "You know that, right? Wondering? Doesn't have to mean anything or go anywhere you don't want it to. Could just … stay wondering forever, or you could try it out sometime in the future when you're ready."
Xander snorted. "Yeah. Tell that to my homophobic father. If he had a clue…"
Xander trailed off, looking visibly spooked by the idea. Spike's hands tightened on the wheel at the thought of Xander's father doing something to him just because he found guys attractive.
"That bad, huh?"
Xander nodded. "Yeah."
They pulled up in Xander's driveway and suddenly Spike didn't feel so good about dropping him off. "Listen. Maybe you could come back to my place for dinner. Maybe … spend the night? Have one of those air mattresses. Could blow it up and put it on the floor in my room. 'S comfortable enough. Slept on it myself before we found a bed for me.
Xander smiled, but shook his head. "Thanks, but I'm fine. Really. He's not violent or anything. It's just, if he found out…"
"He might be?" Spike finished for him.
Xander let out a long breath. "Yeah. He might. Let's just say I have no intention of telling him. Ever."
Spike watched as Xander climbed out of the car and headed up his drive, thankful his Uncle Rupert wasn't like that. He hadn't come out to him yet, although he hadn't been actively hiding it, either. The subject just hadn't come up. He actually had no idea where his uncle stood on the matter, but one thing he was fairly sure of was that Uncle Rupert wouldn't get violent with him no matter what Spike told him. It made him sad that Xander didn't have that same kind of security.
~*~
Friday night Faith took Spike to some party half the school was at. He didn't even know whose house it was. All he did know was that he'd been having fun until Angel ruined it by walking in the front door with his entourage after the varsity game.
The only bright spot was Buffy, who walked over immediately and said hi. He liked her. She had fire. He also liked that it pissed Angel off every time she ditched him to talk. Tonight was no different, and when Spike excused himself to find a bathroom five minutes later, he found himself shoved through the doorway and the door slammed shut behind him, a pissed off Angel crowding his space.
Looking for some kind of weapon to defend himself and yet trying not to look like he was looking, Spike said, "Oi! What's your problem?"
"You," Angel said, stepping closer and jabbing Spike in the chest with his finger. "You're my problem. I'm sick of this. Stay away from Buffy."
"Fuck you. She's a friend; that's it. I'm with Faith in case you haven't noticed," Spike said heatedly.
Angel made a sound of disbelief. "Yeah, like that'll last. As soon as she gets bored with you, she'll drop you. Faith's not a one-guy kind of girl, in case no one's clued you in yet."
Spike tensed. "You don't know anything about it."
Angel grinned and leaned in. "Is that what you think? What? She didn't tell you about the weekend I spent in her bed last year when Buffy and I took a break? Said I was the best she'd ever had."
Spike's gut tightened, but he forced a grin of his own onto his face. "Yeah, well she tells me that now, so I guess you're yesterday's news."
Angel's eyes flashed with anger and he poked Spike in the chest again. "I could have her back in a second if I wanted her."
A burst of anger gave Spike nerve he wouldn't have otherwise had. He grabbed Angel's finger and twisted, causing the other man to cry out and try to yank his hand away.
Grinning, Spike held on tight and twisted harder. "If I'm not mistaken, this is your throwing hand, yeah?"
"Let go, Spike. Now," Angel said, voice low in warning although Spike didn't miss the flash of worry in his eyes.
"Don't think so. Not until we get some things straight. Number one, you quit following me around and picking fights. Number two, I'll talk to whoever I want, whenever I want. Number three, you stay the hell away from Faith. Agree or I'll break your fucking finger, ponce."
Before Spike could get an answer, there was a knock on the door and Xander's voice drifted through. "Spike? You alright in there?"
Shuffling past Angel while continuing to hold on to his finger, Spike reached for the doorknob, not letting go of Angel until he had the door open.
Staring at Angel, Spike said to Xander, "Sure, Xan, I'm fine. Angel and I were just coming to an understanding, weren't we, Angel?"
Angel scowled, but Spike didn't miss the way he gingerly flexed his finger and rubbed it with his other hand. "Whatever. We'll pick this up later."
Spike turned and walked out, only to get dragged into another room by Xander. "What the hell was that about?" Xander asked.
Spike took a deep breath and sat on a nearby bed. "Fucker won't leave me alone. If I didn't know better, I'd say he was stalking me. Showed up here and the minute I was alone, he tried to threaten me. Told me to stay away from Buffy. Then we got into it about Faith somehow, and apparently they had a weekend fling at some point. Tried to tell me he could have her anytime he wanted. I got pissed and nearly broke his bloody finger."
Xander's eyes widened. "Jesus." Walking over, Xander sat down next to Spike. "Don't take this the wrong way, but maybe you should be careful around him. Piss him off enough and one of these times he's going to stop caring what Buffy thinks."
Spike let out a long breath. "Yeah, I know. He just … pushes all my soddin' buttons. Can't help it. The bloke makes me want to wrap my hands around his neck and just … squeeze."
They fell silent for a moment, then Xander said, "Uh, hey. Remember yesterday in the hall?"
"Yeah? What of it?"
"Angel said something I didn't pay much attention to at the time, but now I’m curious."
Spike mentally ran through what Angel had said and tensed, having a good idea of where Xander was going. "And?"
"And he said something about something that happened in his car. What happened in his car, Spike?"
Spike flopped back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. "You mean besides me ending up shirtless and hard as a rock from him touching my nipple? The one that's pierced."
Xander's jaw dropped and he seemed utterly gobsmacked for over a minute before he finally squeaked, "You … what? And he what?"
Spike chuckled humorlessly. "You heard me right."
"Start at the beginning," Xander said, flopping back on the bed next to Spike.
Spike told him everything, including how Angel had pretended he was going to kiss him only to taunt him.
After, Xander cursed. "What an asshole."
"Yeah."
They were quiet for a moment more, listening to the sounds of the party going on outside the door, until finally Spike jumped up and said, "Know what? Sod this. The fucker isn't going to ruin my night. I'm going to go find Faith and get out of here. Want to come?"
Xander got up and shook his head. "Nah. Cordelia just got here and everything. I'll come over tomorrow though, okay?"
Spike nodded. "Sure, mate."
Spike stepped out of the room and back into the chaos of the house party. Making his way back to the living room, he kept his eyes peeled for Faith, finally finding her dancing with Angel in the middle of the room. Spike's eyes narrowed. A quick perusal of the room showed that Buffy was nowhere in sight.
Gaze locking back on Angel and Faith, Spike started over but froze when Angel's eyes met his. Very deliberately, Angel slid his hands down Faith's back to her backside and squeezed, grinning cruelly.
Spike's eyes narrowed and he started over again, only to have Angel grab Faith's hand and drag her out of the room, Faith following him willingly. Spike was nearly to the hallway they'd disappeared down when Buffy suddenly appeared next to him.
"Hey, Spike. Any idea where Angel ran off to?"
Spike looked at her, half tempted to lie in order to spare her. The other half of him, though, wanted her to know what kind of arsehole she was involved with. Not to mention that if what he thought was going on was actually going on, it'd be sweet revenge-because there was no way Buffy would stay with Angel if she witnessed with her own eyes that he was cheating on her.
"Come on. If I'm right, there's something I think you need to see," Spike said, starting down the hall.
They walked past several rooms that were open until they reached one with the door mostly closed. Buffy made to knock, but Spike reached out and grabbed her wrist, shaking his head.
Frowning, she dropped her hand and Spike said quietly, "Trust me."
Buffy looked confused, but nodded her head. Not quite wanting to see what he suspected he was about to, Spike took a deep breath and reached for the door, pushing it open as he stepped into the doorway.
What Spike found was Angel and Faith sitting on a bed, Faith's back to the door. Looked like they might have been talking, but as soon as Angel glanced over and saw him, he leaned in and kissed her full on the mouth. Rage burned in Spike's gut, hot and bright.
With sick satisfaction, he stepped aside and smirked at Angel as Buffy gasped, then yelled Angel's name in fury. Instantly Angel was off the bed and headed toward her, trying to explain.
Spike tuned it out, though, instead finding himself staring at Faith, who sat staring back. He felt … empty. Hollowed out. Without a word, he turned and left.
Continued here.