AB/BtVS FF: Nightmares in Waking Life 45/?
TITLE: Nightmares in Waking Life
AUTHOR: 38gnihsurc
RATING: en.sea.xvii, overall
PAIRINGS: All the pairings from the previous two stories---and some new ones, too
SPOILERS: Up until Micah for AB; the whole TV series for the Buffyverse; Alive at Last and Living Underground.
WARNINGS: A little bit of fur... bdsm... the usuals for Anita's crazy, crazy world.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anyone---except for any original characters that I whip up to do my bidding ;)
NOTE: This story is a sequel to Living Underground. // I've been away for ages and I'm not back yet. I really needed a non-school break this week because I'm *this close* to cracking under the pressure, so I went back through some old fic. I found this chapter already-written, so I thought, as I chipped away at #46, that I should post this and see what it shakes loose. If you have any ideas, feel free to post 'em! Christmas break is coming soon, and if I'm not playing catch up with late school stuff, then, there's a good chance I could have some time to write.
Previous chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9-11, 12, 13, 14-5, 16-7, 18-9, 20-1, 22, 23, 24-5, 26-7, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32-3, 34-7, 38, 39-40, 41, 42, 43-44
PART FORTY-FIVE
"What does this mean for Asher?" Willow asked once she and Jean-Claude were alone in the suite she shared with the blond vampire in question. He had ducked into the bathroom to shower after Willow washed and changed to sleep, and Jean-Claude remained in the bedroom with the witch while he waited for Jason to return from work. Richard had left after Willow felt stronger---after she borrowed some energy from him as well as from Jean-Claude---because he had to go pick up Emily and reassure her that everyone was unharmed. When the Master of the City arched an eyebrow in silent question, Willow sighed and explained her inquiry. "I mean, the thing with Anita."
Jean-Claude shrugged.
"Jean-Claude."
"It is not the time to discuss such things, ma chérie," he told her.
"He's my---he's mine!" the witch exclaimed. "When is the time for me to know?"
"When I figure out what has been happening," he replied, "and when I decide it is time for you to know."
"So you care about me, but not enough to tell me---" she broke off and grunted. "You're a very frustrating friend to have."
"We are not friends."
Willow's eyes widened. Jean-Claude frowned and resumed speaking to explain his statement. "What I mean to say, ma chérie, is that we are close and I am glad for that. I value you and your place in our society," he said, "but I am still the Master of the City and you push the limits when I am not willing to yield them. I have not yet discussed everything with those whose flocks could be affected and until I do, I am in no position to share information with you."
The redhead glowered in his direction. "Does Anita get angry when you pull the Master of the City card?"
"Oui, toujours."
"Well, it sucks. Because we are friends. We're a bit more than friends, given everything we've shared, and you haven't quite figured that out yet. I know, I know, you live on rules and stuff and it's all very important for staying alive and under your own control, but this isn't Willy or Hannah we're talking about. This is our Asher and I love him too much to sit back and not know anything about what is happening!"
The master vampire frowned at her, but she could see a small smile glimmering in his dark blue eyes. "Later, ma chérie," he insisted, "when I have a few more pieces of information."
"There's a coalition meeting in a few days, right?" she asked.
Jean-Claude nodded. "Oui..."
Willow walked towards him, her hands on her hips. "I want to know as much as you can safely and surely tell me before the meeting," she stipulated. "And I want to go to the meeting, too."
"You often do---"
"But, sometimes, like when we're in the middle of a crisis, you ask some of us to stay behind and I'm usually one you ask," the witch said. "I want to be there. It's important for me to be there right now."
"Is something happening?" he inquired. "Something from your dreams?"
"When I know it's really happening, I will tell you," she promised. "If it's just a nightmare, I'll feel pretty silly."
The black-haired vampire's lips slowly curved into a smile. "D'accord," he agreed. "But, the instant you know---"
"Same goes for you," she bargained. "I want to know what's happening with Asher."
Jean-Claude nodded. "Very well. With what will we seal this promise?"
"Perhaps her blood?" Asher inquired from the bathroom door. Seeing the surprise on their faces, he chuckled. "You two can make quite a bit of noise. I do not like much about the times when you argue," hecommented. He came into the bedroom, wearing a towel around his waist so his chest's scars were entirely visible to them. "I'd prefer it if the noise came from other causes... but I suppose watching the two of you passionately discuss my future is enough to tide me over for now."
Willow rolled her eyes. "Nut."
"Mon colibri, I trust Jean-Claude to look out for my well-being in this mess. You should, as well," he said as he carefully combed out his wet, curly hair. "Do not spar with him on my account."
"But---"
"He is our master," Asher reminded her. "We do not adhere to all traditions, but, still, we are his."
Willow huffed. "I know, but---"
"He will take care of us---of all of us and you need to trust him to do that job."
"Since when are you all about following orders?" Willow asked.
Asher smirked. "I do not disobey his orders, mon colibri."
"And I do not order him around, strictly speaking," Jean-Claude said. His fingers reached out and trailed over her arm. Willow shivered but she didn't flinch away from him. "I do not order you around, either, strictly speaking," he said in a softer voice. He sighed and drew his hand away from her skin. "You sound more like Anita tonight than you have in a long time," he commented. "Perhaps we are not shielding as well as we should be."
"You'll tell me, though, right?"
"J'ai te promis que je te trouverai, quand je sais tout," he murmured, nodding.
Willow nodded back at him and took a step back. She found herself closer to Asher than she had been earlier; he had moved towards them when they had been talking. His hands claimed her waist and his face tucked into the side of her neck.
"Have you eaten since the... the thing?" she asked.
"Non," Asher whispered. "And I must say... j'ai faim, mon colibri." He kissed her neck, barely smothering a growl, and then it was as if his hunger and eagerness were a warning his brain could not ignore. He stiffened and lifted his head from her skin. "I... perhaps I should not this evening."
Jean-Claude looked over the witch's shoulder, into the blond vampire's eyes. "If you do not tonight, the hunger will be stronger tomorrow. Should I leave you to---"
"Non, s'il vous plaît," Asher interruped. "I do not feel... I do not feel as safe---"
"Or are you just worried?" Willow asked.
"Mostly the latter," Jean-Claude whispered. "I will stay. I will watch. I will keep you both safe... as I do upon countless other times."
Willow blushed. She turned to look at the Master of the City. "I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I know... I just---"
"Do not want to be shut out of any major decisions," he finished for her. "I know. I also know you are not as squeamish as ma petite... and perhaps... perhaps I am so used to keeping the day-to-day business from her and I have been doing similar things in my relations with you."
"Ah, more forgiveness, more apologies," Asher teased, "more discussing the same points with different words."
Willow rolled her eyes. "Can't you just let us sort it all out?"
"Well, it is rather pleasant to see the two of you playing so nicely together," he murmured. He kissed the witch's shoulder. "Would you allow me to feed from you before it is morning?"
She nodded. "Of course," she whispered. "Do you want Jean-Claude to stay?"
"Oui," the blond said, "because although I feel like myself, I am still... well, my hunger is strong."
She nodded again and turned around to face him. His hands resettled themselves on her hips once she stopped moving. "Let's sit on the bed, then," she murmured. "C'mon," she insisted quietly as she put her hands over his and started to move towards the piece of furniture in question.
"Shall I join you or sit on the chair?" Jean-Claude asked.
"Join us," Asher replied a moment before his human servant said the same thing.
Jean-Claude followed them, a smile on his face. He sat down on the foot of the bed and watched as Asher moved the redheaded woman into his arms while he reclined against the mattress and pillows. Willow closed her eyes as she become more comfortable; she had been lying down a lot recently but she felt so much more at ease when she was in their bed with Asher around her. She felt more at peace---away from the confrontations and accusations, fears and memories associated with her dreams---and even though she knew that in the coming days she and Dawn would be deep in research and discussion, she savoured the feeling and pretended as if there was none other in her future.
"You will tell me if it is too much?" Asher asked the witch.
She nodded. "Yes... yes. I promise."
Willow closed her eyes as he bit into her neck, but once he started drinking her blood, she lost herself to the sensations of his power and of hers reaching out to meet him. Her eyes fluttered open when she felt a cool breeze in front of her; Jean-Claude had moved closer, his fingers inches from her neck, but he hesitated when her eyes met his.
"Allez-y," she whispered.
The dark blue in Jean-Claude's eyes flared to life, glowing as his fingers dipped into the few rivulets of blood that leaked past Asher's lips. He brought his fingers to his mouth and licked them clean while holding Willow's gaze.
"Je te promets, ma chérie," he breathed.
She whimpered as she felt Asher's power pushing her closer and closer to the edge, calculating so many of her metaphysical shortcuts that it seemed like there was more power in the vampire than had been the last time he fed from her.
Jean-Claude dipped his fingers against her neck for another taste of her blood.
Willow cried out when her climax rushed her. She stiffened and called Asher's name and did her best to reach into the depths of him with her magical abilities to allow him to feel some of what she was experiencing, but she wasn't sure if she succeeded because she wasn't feeling her best, powers-wise, and because she was losing herself in Jean-Claude's stare.
As all of the most intense sensations passed, to be replaced by the prominent feeling of weak satisfaction, she slumped against Asher and moaned appreciatively. Her eyes closed; she felt Asher's fingers brushing along her cheek.
"Je t'aime," the blond vampire whispered. "Je vous aimes," he added as the fingers of his other hand slipped past Willow's hip and reached for the vampire in front of him.
Jean-Claude leaned over Willow and kissed Asher. They growled softly, sharing the taste of blood with the tastes of each other, and Willow whimpered as their arousal washed over her.
"Lemme go and you two can---"
"Non," Asher insisted. "We are only looking to enjoy the moment."
Willow snorted sleepily. She felt Jean-Claude recline next to her and Asher, his body stretched out against his male lover's form. Their kisses continued but they didn't increase in intensity. They slowed, they lingered, they seemed to be what Asher had described.
Their kisses were broken up by quiet words in French and Willow let it all wash over her as she drifted off in her afterglow.
TBC...
AUTHOR: 38gnihsurc
RATING: en.sea.xvii, overall
PAIRINGS: All the pairings from the previous two stories---and some new ones, too
SPOILERS: Up until Micah for AB; the whole TV series for the Buffyverse; Alive at Last and Living Underground.
WARNINGS: A little bit of fur... bdsm... the usuals for Anita's crazy, crazy world.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anyone---except for any original characters that I whip up to do my bidding ;)
NOTE: This story is a sequel to Living Underground. // I've been away for ages and I'm not back yet. I really needed a non-school break this week because I'm *this close* to cracking under the pressure, so I went back through some old fic. I found this chapter already-written, so I thought, as I chipped away at #46, that I should post this and see what it shakes loose. If you have any ideas, feel free to post 'em! Christmas break is coming soon, and if I'm not playing catch up with late school stuff, then, there's a good chance I could have some time to write.
Previous chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9-11, 12, 13, 14-5, 16-7, 18-9, 20-1, 22, 23, 24-5, 26-7, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32-3, 34-7, 38, 39-40, 41, 42, 43-44
PART FORTY-FIVE
"What does this mean for Asher?" Willow asked once she and Jean-Claude were alone in the suite she shared with the blond vampire in question. He had ducked into the bathroom to shower after Willow washed and changed to sleep, and Jean-Claude remained in the bedroom with the witch while he waited for Jason to return from work. Richard had left after Willow felt stronger---after she borrowed some energy from him as well as from Jean-Claude---because he had to go pick up Emily and reassure her that everyone was unharmed. When the Master of the City arched an eyebrow in silent question, Willow sighed and explained her inquiry. "I mean, the thing with Anita."
Jean-Claude shrugged.
"Jean-Claude."
"It is not the time to discuss such things, ma chérie," he told her.
"He's my---he's mine!" the witch exclaimed. "When is the time for me to know?"
"When I figure out what has been happening," he replied, "and when I decide it is time for you to know."
"So you care about me, but not enough to tell me---" she broke off and grunted. "You're a very frustrating friend to have."
"We are not friends."
Willow's eyes widened. Jean-Claude frowned and resumed speaking to explain his statement. "What I mean to say, ma chérie, is that we are close and I am glad for that. I value you and your place in our society," he said, "but I am still the Master of the City and you push the limits when I am not willing to yield them. I have not yet discussed everything with those whose flocks could be affected and until I do, I am in no position to share information with you."
The redhead glowered in his direction. "Does Anita get angry when you pull the Master of the City card?"
"Oui, toujours."
"Well, it sucks. Because we are friends. We're a bit more than friends, given everything we've shared, and you haven't quite figured that out yet. I know, I know, you live on rules and stuff and it's all very important for staying alive and under your own control, but this isn't Willy or Hannah we're talking about. This is our Asher and I love him too much to sit back and not know anything about what is happening!"
The master vampire frowned at her, but she could see a small smile glimmering in his dark blue eyes. "Later, ma chérie," he insisted, "when I have a few more pieces of information."
"There's a coalition meeting in a few days, right?" she asked.
Jean-Claude nodded. "Oui..."
Willow walked towards him, her hands on her hips. "I want to know as much as you can safely and surely tell me before the meeting," she stipulated. "And I want to go to the meeting, too."
"You often do---"
"But, sometimes, like when we're in the middle of a crisis, you ask some of us to stay behind and I'm usually one you ask," the witch said. "I want to be there. It's important for me to be there right now."
"Is something happening?" he inquired. "Something from your dreams?"
"When I know it's really happening, I will tell you," she promised. "If it's just a nightmare, I'll feel pretty silly."
The black-haired vampire's lips slowly curved into a smile. "D'accord," he agreed. "But, the instant you know---"
"Same goes for you," she bargained. "I want to know what's happening with Asher."
Jean-Claude nodded. "Very well. With what will we seal this promise?"
"Perhaps her blood?" Asher inquired from the bathroom door. Seeing the surprise on their faces, he chuckled. "You two can make quite a bit of noise. I do not like much about the times when you argue," hecommented. He came into the bedroom, wearing a towel around his waist so his chest's scars were entirely visible to them. "I'd prefer it if the noise came from other causes... but I suppose watching the two of you passionately discuss my future is enough to tide me over for now."
Willow rolled her eyes. "Nut."
"Mon colibri, I trust Jean-Claude to look out for my well-being in this mess. You should, as well," he said as he carefully combed out his wet, curly hair. "Do not spar with him on my account."
"But---"
"He is our master," Asher reminded her. "We do not adhere to all traditions, but, still, we are his."
Willow huffed. "I know, but---"
"He will take care of us---of all of us and you need to trust him to do that job."
"Since when are you all about following orders?" Willow asked.
Asher smirked. "I do not disobey his orders, mon colibri."
"And I do not order him around, strictly speaking," Jean-Claude said. His fingers reached out and trailed over her arm. Willow shivered but she didn't flinch away from him. "I do not order you around, either, strictly speaking," he said in a softer voice. He sighed and drew his hand away from her skin. "You sound more like Anita tonight than you have in a long time," he commented. "Perhaps we are not shielding as well as we should be."
"You'll tell me, though, right?"
"J'ai te promis que je te trouverai, quand je sais tout," he murmured, nodding.
Willow nodded back at him and took a step back. She found herself closer to Asher than she had been earlier; he had moved towards them when they had been talking. His hands claimed her waist and his face tucked into the side of her neck.
"Have you eaten since the... the thing?" she asked.
"Non," Asher whispered. "And I must say... j'ai faim, mon colibri." He kissed her neck, barely smothering a growl, and then it was as if his hunger and eagerness were a warning his brain could not ignore. He stiffened and lifted his head from her skin. "I... perhaps I should not this evening."
Jean-Claude looked over the witch's shoulder, into the blond vampire's eyes. "If you do not tonight, the hunger will be stronger tomorrow. Should I leave you to---"
"Non, s'il vous plaît," Asher interruped. "I do not feel... I do not feel as safe---"
"Or are you just worried?" Willow asked.
"Mostly the latter," Jean-Claude whispered. "I will stay. I will watch. I will keep you both safe... as I do upon countless other times."
Willow blushed. She turned to look at the Master of the City. "I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I know... I just---"
"Do not want to be shut out of any major decisions," he finished for her. "I know. I also know you are not as squeamish as ma petite... and perhaps... perhaps I am so used to keeping the day-to-day business from her and I have been doing similar things in my relations with you."
"Ah, more forgiveness, more apologies," Asher teased, "more discussing the same points with different words."
Willow rolled her eyes. "Can't you just let us sort it all out?"
"Well, it is rather pleasant to see the two of you playing so nicely together," he murmured. He kissed the witch's shoulder. "Would you allow me to feed from you before it is morning?"
She nodded. "Of course," she whispered. "Do you want Jean-Claude to stay?"
"Oui," the blond said, "because although I feel like myself, I am still... well, my hunger is strong."
She nodded again and turned around to face him. His hands resettled themselves on her hips once she stopped moving. "Let's sit on the bed, then," she murmured. "C'mon," she insisted quietly as she put her hands over his and started to move towards the piece of furniture in question.
"Shall I join you or sit on the chair?" Jean-Claude asked.
"Join us," Asher replied a moment before his human servant said the same thing.
Jean-Claude followed them, a smile on his face. He sat down on the foot of the bed and watched as Asher moved the redheaded woman into his arms while he reclined against the mattress and pillows. Willow closed her eyes as she become more comfortable; she had been lying down a lot recently but she felt so much more at ease when she was in their bed with Asher around her. She felt more at peace---away from the confrontations and accusations, fears and memories associated with her dreams---and even though she knew that in the coming days she and Dawn would be deep in research and discussion, she savoured the feeling and pretended as if there was none other in her future.
"You will tell me if it is too much?" Asher asked the witch.
She nodded. "Yes... yes. I promise."
Willow closed her eyes as he bit into her neck, but once he started drinking her blood, she lost herself to the sensations of his power and of hers reaching out to meet him. Her eyes fluttered open when she felt a cool breeze in front of her; Jean-Claude had moved closer, his fingers inches from her neck, but he hesitated when her eyes met his.
"Allez-y," she whispered.
The dark blue in Jean-Claude's eyes flared to life, glowing as his fingers dipped into the few rivulets of blood that leaked past Asher's lips. He brought his fingers to his mouth and licked them clean while holding Willow's gaze.
"Je te promets, ma chérie," he breathed.
She whimpered as she felt Asher's power pushing her closer and closer to the edge, calculating so many of her metaphysical shortcuts that it seemed like there was more power in the vampire than had been the last time he fed from her.
Jean-Claude dipped his fingers against her neck for another taste of her blood.
Willow cried out when her climax rushed her. She stiffened and called Asher's name and did her best to reach into the depths of him with her magical abilities to allow him to feel some of what she was experiencing, but she wasn't sure if she succeeded because she wasn't feeling her best, powers-wise, and because she was losing herself in Jean-Claude's stare.
As all of the most intense sensations passed, to be replaced by the prominent feeling of weak satisfaction, she slumped against Asher and moaned appreciatively. Her eyes closed; she felt Asher's fingers brushing along her cheek.
"Je t'aime," the blond vampire whispered. "Je vous aimes," he added as the fingers of his other hand slipped past Willow's hip and reached for the vampire in front of him.
Jean-Claude leaned over Willow and kissed Asher. They growled softly, sharing the taste of blood with the tastes of each other, and Willow whimpered as their arousal washed over her.
"Lemme go and you two can---"
"Non," Asher insisted. "We are only looking to enjoy the moment."
Willow snorted sleepily. She felt Jean-Claude recline next to her and Asher, his body stretched out against his male lover's form. Their kisses continued but they didn't increase in intensity. They slowed, they lingered, they seemed to be what Asher had described.
Their kisses were broken up by quiet words in French and Willow let it all wash over her as she drifted off in her afterglow.
TBC...