Fic: The Fire Within, Chapter 13. AU Human. Liam/Spike. NC-17
Title: The Fire Within, chapter 13
Author: felisblanco
Pairing: Liam/Spike
Rating: NC-17
Word count: 2668 words this part
Author's note: Unbeta'd as usual. Again, a rather short one. Sorry.
Previous chapters are here
banner by mentalme85
The Fire Within, Chapter 13
Liam lifted his glass and took a sip of water before giving Fred a smile. “That was great, thank you.”
She smiled back and looked up at her husband who was clearing the table. “Not like I did much. Kept my feet up on the couch while my man slaved away in the kitchen.” She rubbed her belly and grimaced slightly. “Damn, they sure like their spicy food. Stop kicking so hard, you little monsters.”
Liam smiled as a hard kick stretched her t-shirt even further. “You all set for the big day?”
“As set as you can get. I still can’t believe it, you know? In one week I’m gonna have them in my arms. It seems so unreal.”
Liam nodded. He’d never considered having kids himself but he found himself looking forward to the birth of Gunn and Fred’s twins as if they were his own family. In a way he guessed they were. “Your mom coming up for the birth?”
She bit her lip and glanced at Gunn who reached out to stroke her hair before grabbing the used napkins, taking them out into the kitchen without a word.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“No. My momma… Well, she wanted to come but… daddy’s not exactly thrilled about this whole thing.”
Liam frowned. “Why? I’d thought he’d be excited to meet his grandchildren.”
She gave him a sad smile. “You’re not the only one that’s made life choices people don’t agree with. I mean, my sister down in Houston? She’s got three kids now and my daddy, he dotes on them like they’re the sun and the moon and all the stars in Heaven. But then again, she married a white man,” she added with a shrug, as if it was nothing.
“Oh.” He didn’t know what to say. He’d known them for years and somehow he’d never questioned their relationship at all or thought of what other people might think of it. He wasn’t completely unaware of the irony.
She nodded and he could clearly see the hurt she was trying to hide. “Yeah. Oh.”
She hesitated, but then they could hear the tabs being turned on in the kitchen and the sound of dishes in the sink and she turned serious. “Listen, Liam. I’m sorry about the other day. You were right, it was none of my business. It’s your life and…”
“He doesn’t trust me.” The words were out before he’d even thought them. “That’s what he told me. That he doesn’t trust me to have his back if anything happened to him. And he’s right. He shouldn’t trust me. And you were right, I shouldn’t expect him to be with someone like me.”
Her eyes turned soft. “Liam…”
“No. It’s alright. I’m not…” He averted his eyes, swallowing the bile in his throat. “I’ve had this last week to think and… I’m not making excuses anymore. I’m looking at the facts and they tell me I should let him go. That it will never work because he deserves better. Because I can never be the man he needs.”
“Don’t say that.”
“But the thing is…” he continued. “I want to be that man. The thought of losing him…” Liam took a deep breath and looked up at her. “It’s worse than the thought of people finding out.”
“Oh Liam.” She hitched her breath, tears in her eyes, and he reached out for her with worry as she wiped them away. “Damn hormones making me cry like a goddamn baby. Just ignore me, I’m fine.” She smiled proudly at him and he could feel himself blushing. “So what do you wanna do?”
“I don’t know.” He shook his head. “I wish I was there yet but I’m not ready to walk into the station with the rainbow flag, you know? But maybe I can start small. Just… I don’t know. You think he’d be okay with me taking him out on a date?”
“Kinda depends on where you’re planning on taking him.”
“No dark alley bars, I promise.”
She thought for a while. “Ok, how about this? Call him and ask him if he wants to go out for a drink. If he says yes tell him to come meet you at the firehouse when you get off your shift.”
Liam could feel his heart speed up and his stomach twisting into a knot. “Ok. I can do that. I think.”
“You don’t have to kiss him or anything. Just don’t hide that you’re friends.”
He blushed. “We’re not doing that anyway. We haven’t… we haven’t really done anything.”
She cocked her head. “You’re kidding, right? You sure he’s gay, honey? Because damn, I’d have you if I wasn’t married and pregnant and all.”
“I heard that!” came from the kitchen and she smiled wickedly before leaning forward as much as she could without pressing the edge of the table into her belly, and whispered, “That was the idea. Not that I didn’t mean it. Hell, I’d do him too. How the hell have you two been able to keep your hands off each other?”
He laughed. “Don’t ask me. He’s the one who set the rules. If it was up to me I’d have bent him over the couch the first time I set eyes on him.”
He snapped his mouth shut and blushed when he realised what he’d just said but she just laughed and rubbed a hand over her stomach. “Please stop. Do you know how long it’s been since we had sex? You say things like that and I might just explode.”
“Winifred!” Gunn came in from the kitchen, wearing pink rubber gloves covered in suds and holding a blue sponge that left a wet trail on the floor. “Will you just… You’re making me look bad! And you!” He pointed the sponge in Liam’s direction, mindless of the drops flying across the table. “Keep the gay porn away from my wife. She does not need another kink.”
She slapped his arm away, grinning. “Another? Who says it’s a new one?”
“Oh god.” Gunn turned around, flinging his hands in the air so soap and water sprayed on the walls. “I’m scarred for life!”
“This from the man who likes to wear women’s underwear!” she yelled back then laughed at Liam’s shocked expression. “I’m kidding! Although…” She smiled wickedly. “He does have a bit of a kink for leather.”
“Winifred Burkle!”
“Oops?”
Fred giggled insanely as she tried to ward of Gunn’s wet rubber-gloved hands tickling her mercilessly, until she grabbed her husband by the neck and pulled him down for a loving kiss.
Liam watched them with a huge grin on his face. He felt better than he had in a long time. Almost… hopeful.
-----------------------------
Spike stepped out of the cab and looked warily at the building in front of him. When Liam had called and asked if he’d like to have a drink after work his first instinct had been to say no. But something in Liam’s voice made him hesitate and when Liam told him where they should meet, he understood why. He still wasn’t sure how Liam wanted to play this. Was he supposed to wait out here until Liam got off his shift in about five minutes or should he walk in and ask for him? Or was that assuming too much?
Finally he decided to just walk in. He could always say he was just looking around. He glanced at his distorted reflection in the shiny red paintwork of the fire truck. He’d gone for jeans and a red shirt over a black t-shirt, hoping it looked casual enough and not too… well, gay. And how much did he hate himself for even thinking like that? For a moment he contemplated turning around and leaving but just then Gunn came out of a door on the left side of the big garage. As soon as he spotted Spike his face split in a huge grin.
“Yo! Spike! Long time no see. You looking for Liam? He’s in there.” He inclined his head back to from where he came.
Spike hesitated but then nodded curtly and walked to the door. At the last minute he paused and looked back. “How’s the wife? I hear she’s about to pop.”
Gunn grinned even wider but Spike could see worry creep into his eyes. “In ten days. Wish me luck.”
“All the luck in the world, mate.”
“Feel I’m gonna need it.”
“You’ll be fine. All of you.”
Spike gave him a reassuring smile before turning back and pushing the door open. Then stopped. Six guys were sitting at a big table, playing poker from the looks of it, all of them staring at him in surprise.
“Er… hi. Liam around?”
There was silence for half a heartbeat and then a tall dark-haired guy he remembered from the diner having lunch with Larry, pointed toward a door on the other side of the room. “He’s changing. Hey, Liam!! Someone’s looking for you!”
“I’m coming!” Liam’s voice sounded from the other side of the door. “Tell him to wait!”
Spike nodded and leaned against the wall. “Who’s winning?”
“I am,” answered the dark-haired guy with a grin, tapping the fingers of his free hand on top of the table. “I will rule you all!”
“Like hell you will,” said a lanky guy with a goatee who Spike guessed was Jesse. “I’m beating your ass.”
“Maybe we should keep the ass talk to a minimum, guys. Wouldn’t want to embarrass our guest.”
Spike looked up to see Larry standing in the doorway, the grin not matching the contempt in his eyes. “Speaking of asses…”
The grin turned into a scowl and Larry took a menacing step forward. “What did you say?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were talking about donkeys.”
“You little...”
Larry started to move across the room, the rest of the guys getting up from their chairs - whether to stop him or help him, Spike wasn’t sure - when he was swung around and slammed into the wall by a furious Liam.
“Didn’t I tell you to leave him the hell alone?”
“What?” Larry snarled. “He your boyfriend now?”
“Shut up! He’s a cop, and as such he deserves your respect.” Liam banged Larry’s head into the wall again, even harder this time. “I’ve told you and Lindsey’s told you and still you don’t seem to get it. You stupid, Larry? You that fucking stupid?”
“Get off me!”
Spike shook out of his stupor and crossed the room, grabbing Liam’s arm. “Come on. He’s not worth it.”
Liam ignored him, leaning forward until he was inches from Larry’s face. “Don’t think I don’t know who torched his car,” he hissed. “I’m watching you, Larry. I’m watching you like a fucking hawk. Remember that.”
He banged Larry into the wall one last time for good measure before letting go of him and then turned around to face his colleges. “That goes for the rest of you as well. Are we clear?”
“Chill, Liam. What the fuck has gotten into you?” Jesse stepped back as Liam shot him a glare. “Alright, alright. Not like we were gonna do anything anyway. What the hell do you take us for?”
Liam breathed out and then swooped down to grab his jacket that he’d dropped on the floor. “Let’s go,” he said to Spike who could only follow with a wary glance at Larry and an apologetic shrug to the rest.
Spike waited until they were a block away from the station before looking up at Liam. “Did you tell me to come here so you could put up a macho show for me in front of your mates? Because if you did it was foolish and I’m not impressed.”
“I didn’t…” Liam clenched his jaw. “He wasn’t supposed to be there. He swapped shifts, alright? But I’m not sorry anyway. He had it coming, the stupid asshole, and you might not like it but I’m glad I could do it in front of them. Not because of you being there but because he’s been disrespecting me and my authority and like hell if I was gonna give him an excuse to say I’d attacked him for no good reason.” He breathed out. “Plus it felt fucking good.”
Spike nodded. “Just as long as you didn’t set it up.”
“You really think I’d use you like bait just so I could show up like the big hero and save you?”
“Erm… yeah.” He raised his hands in defence as Liam glared at him. “I’m sorry but it wouldn’t surprise me if you had. I have a feeling you’re rather desperate for my approval.”
“I’m not desperate!”
“Ok. My mistake. Pining then.”
“I’m not…!” Liam took in the grin on Spike’s face and smiled sheepishly. “Ok. Maybe you’re right. I still wouldn’t have done that. I mean, if I hadn’t been fast enough he could have beaten the crap out of you. I’d never risk you like that.”
“Oi! I’m not a weakling. I can take care of myself, ta very much!”
“He bench presses over 300 pounds”
Spike hesitated. “Ok, maybe I could have used a little help.”
“That was all I meant.”
“You better have.” Spike gave him a smile. “So why did you ask me to meet you there then?”
Liam blushed. “It was Fred’s idea. She thought it would be a nice way to show you I’m not ashamed to be seen with you.” He took in the look on Spike’s face and quickly added, “I would have come up with it myself. It just might have taken a bit longer.”
Spike gave it a thought. “Alright. She was right. It was nice. So what? We’re best buddies now? I mean, that what you told them?”
“I didn’t tell them anything.” Liam worried his lip. “I mean… I wouldn’t have had to explain it if it was anyone else so why should I have to explain you?”
Spike wasn’t sure what to think of that.
“I mean, that’s what we’re aiming for, right? Acceptance. Right?”
“Of me or you?”
Liam swallowed and stared down at the pavement. “I thought we’d start with you and work our way to me.”
There was silence for a while and then Spike gave him a smile. “Sounds good to me.”
“Ok.”
They walked for a while and then Spike cleared his throat. “So… I was wondering… I have this gig with Lindsey’s band on Saturday. You want to come?”
Liam looked at him and Spike could see the old jealousy flare for a moment before it made way for confusion. “You’re singing? Wait… Lindsey sings?”
“Don’t sound so surprised. He’s pretty good in fact. And the music’s alright even if it’s a bit…”
He grimaced and Liam grinned. “Country?”
“Don’t rub my nose in it. Yes, country. Although it’s actually more rock and if you laugh I’ll bloody well punch you.”
Liam zipped his mouth shut but it still didn’t keep him from grinning. After a while he asked, “He won’t mind? Me coming, I mean.”
“He told me to invite you.”
Liam stopped and turned to look at him. “What did you tell him? About us.”
Spike rolled his eyes to hide his frustration. “I told him we’re friends. That’s all. Not that he would mind.”
Liam stood still for a moment before nodding and they resumed their walk. They were almost at the bar when he suddenly asked, “Are we?”
Spike gave him a confused look. “Are we what?”
“Friends. You and me. Are we friends?”
Spike watched him for a while and then he nodded. “I think we’re heading there.”
Liam breathed out, the smile he gave Spike filled with relief. “Good. That’s good.”
Continued (finally!) here.
Author: felisblanco
Pairing: Liam/Spike
Rating: NC-17
Word count: 2668 words this part
Author's note: Unbeta'd as usual. Again, a rather short one. Sorry.
Previous chapters are here
banner by mentalme85
The Fire Within, Chapter 13
Liam lifted his glass and took a sip of water before giving Fred a smile. “That was great, thank you.”
She smiled back and looked up at her husband who was clearing the table. “Not like I did much. Kept my feet up on the couch while my man slaved away in the kitchen.” She rubbed her belly and grimaced slightly. “Damn, they sure like their spicy food. Stop kicking so hard, you little monsters.”
Liam smiled as a hard kick stretched her t-shirt even further. “You all set for the big day?”
“As set as you can get. I still can’t believe it, you know? In one week I’m gonna have them in my arms. It seems so unreal.”
Liam nodded. He’d never considered having kids himself but he found himself looking forward to the birth of Gunn and Fred’s twins as if they were his own family. In a way he guessed they were. “Your mom coming up for the birth?”
She bit her lip and glanced at Gunn who reached out to stroke her hair before grabbing the used napkins, taking them out into the kitchen without a word.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“No. My momma… Well, she wanted to come but… daddy’s not exactly thrilled about this whole thing.”
Liam frowned. “Why? I’d thought he’d be excited to meet his grandchildren.”
She gave him a sad smile. “You’re not the only one that’s made life choices people don’t agree with. I mean, my sister down in Houston? She’s got three kids now and my daddy, he dotes on them like they’re the sun and the moon and all the stars in Heaven. But then again, she married a white man,” she added with a shrug, as if it was nothing.
“Oh.” He didn’t know what to say. He’d known them for years and somehow he’d never questioned their relationship at all or thought of what other people might think of it. He wasn’t completely unaware of the irony.
She nodded and he could clearly see the hurt she was trying to hide. “Yeah. Oh.”
She hesitated, but then they could hear the tabs being turned on in the kitchen and the sound of dishes in the sink and she turned serious. “Listen, Liam. I’m sorry about the other day. You were right, it was none of my business. It’s your life and…”
“He doesn’t trust me.” The words were out before he’d even thought them. “That’s what he told me. That he doesn’t trust me to have his back if anything happened to him. And he’s right. He shouldn’t trust me. And you were right, I shouldn’t expect him to be with someone like me.”
Her eyes turned soft. “Liam…”
“No. It’s alright. I’m not…” He averted his eyes, swallowing the bile in his throat. “I’ve had this last week to think and… I’m not making excuses anymore. I’m looking at the facts and they tell me I should let him go. That it will never work because he deserves better. Because I can never be the man he needs.”
“Don’t say that.”
“But the thing is…” he continued. “I want to be that man. The thought of losing him…” Liam took a deep breath and looked up at her. “It’s worse than the thought of people finding out.”
“Oh Liam.” She hitched her breath, tears in her eyes, and he reached out for her with worry as she wiped them away. “Damn hormones making me cry like a goddamn baby. Just ignore me, I’m fine.” She smiled proudly at him and he could feel himself blushing. “So what do you wanna do?”
“I don’t know.” He shook his head. “I wish I was there yet but I’m not ready to walk into the station with the rainbow flag, you know? But maybe I can start small. Just… I don’t know. You think he’d be okay with me taking him out on a date?”
“Kinda depends on where you’re planning on taking him.”
“No dark alley bars, I promise.”
She thought for a while. “Ok, how about this? Call him and ask him if he wants to go out for a drink. If he says yes tell him to come meet you at the firehouse when you get off your shift.”
Liam could feel his heart speed up and his stomach twisting into a knot. “Ok. I can do that. I think.”
“You don’t have to kiss him or anything. Just don’t hide that you’re friends.”
He blushed. “We’re not doing that anyway. We haven’t… we haven’t really done anything.”
She cocked her head. “You’re kidding, right? You sure he’s gay, honey? Because damn, I’d have you if I wasn’t married and pregnant and all.”
“I heard that!” came from the kitchen and she smiled wickedly before leaning forward as much as she could without pressing the edge of the table into her belly, and whispered, “That was the idea. Not that I didn’t mean it. Hell, I’d do him too. How the hell have you two been able to keep your hands off each other?”
He laughed. “Don’t ask me. He’s the one who set the rules. If it was up to me I’d have bent him over the couch the first time I set eyes on him.”
He snapped his mouth shut and blushed when he realised what he’d just said but she just laughed and rubbed a hand over her stomach. “Please stop. Do you know how long it’s been since we had sex? You say things like that and I might just explode.”
“Winifred!” Gunn came in from the kitchen, wearing pink rubber gloves covered in suds and holding a blue sponge that left a wet trail on the floor. “Will you just… You’re making me look bad! And you!” He pointed the sponge in Liam’s direction, mindless of the drops flying across the table. “Keep the gay porn away from my wife. She does not need another kink.”
She slapped his arm away, grinning. “Another? Who says it’s a new one?”
“Oh god.” Gunn turned around, flinging his hands in the air so soap and water sprayed on the walls. “I’m scarred for life!”
“This from the man who likes to wear women’s underwear!” she yelled back then laughed at Liam’s shocked expression. “I’m kidding! Although…” She smiled wickedly. “He does have a bit of a kink for leather.”
“Winifred Burkle!”
“Oops?”
Fred giggled insanely as she tried to ward of Gunn’s wet rubber-gloved hands tickling her mercilessly, until she grabbed her husband by the neck and pulled him down for a loving kiss.
Liam watched them with a huge grin on his face. He felt better than he had in a long time. Almost… hopeful.
-----------------------------
Spike stepped out of the cab and looked warily at the building in front of him. When Liam had called and asked if he’d like to have a drink after work his first instinct had been to say no. But something in Liam’s voice made him hesitate and when Liam told him where they should meet, he understood why. He still wasn’t sure how Liam wanted to play this. Was he supposed to wait out here until Liam got off his shift in about five minutes or should he walk in and ask for him? Or was that assuming too much?
Finally he decided to just walk in. He could always say he was just looking around. He glanced at his distorted reflection in the shiny red paintwork of the fire truck. He’d gone for jeans and a red shirt over a black t-shirt, hoping it looked casual enough and not too… well, gay. And how much did he hate himself for even thinking like that? For a moment he contemplated turning around and leaving but just then Gunn came out of a door on the left side of the big garage. As soon as he spotted Spike his face split in a huge grin.
“Yo! Spike! Long time no see. You looking for Liam? He’s in there.” He inclined his head back to from where he came.
Spike hesitated but then nodded curtly and walked to the door. At the last minute he paused and looked back. “How’s the wife? I hear she’s about to pop.”
Gunn grinned even wider but Spike could see worry creep into his eyes. “In ten days. Wish me luck.”
“All the luck in the world, mate.”
“Feel I’m gonna need it.”
“You’ll be fine. All of you.”
Spike gave him a reassuring smile before turning back and pushing the door open. Then stopped. Six guys were sitting at a big table, playing poker from the looks of it, all of them staring at him in surprise.
“Er… hi. Liam around?”
There was silence for half a heartbeat and then a tall dark-haired guy he remembered from the diner having lunch with Larry, pointed toward a door on the other side of the room. “He’s changing. Hey, Liam!! Someone’s looking for you!”
“I’m coming!” Liam’s voice sounded from the other side of the door. “Tell him to wait!”
Spike nodded and leaned against the wall. “Who’s winning?”
“I am,” answered the dark-haired guy with a grin, tapping the fingers of his free hand on top of the table. “I will rule you all!”
“Like hell you will,” said a lanky guy with a goatee who Spike guessed was Jesse. “I’m beating your ass.”
“Maybe we should keep the ass talk to a minimum, guys. Wouldn’t want to embarrass our guest.”
Spike looked up to see Larry standing in the doorway, the grin not matching the contempt in his eyes. “Speaking of asses…”
The grin turned into a scowl and Larry took a menacing step forward. “What did you say?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were talking about donkeys.”
“You little...”
Larry started to move across the room, the rest of the guys getting up from their chairs - whether to stop him or help him, Spike wasn’t sure - when he was swung around and slammed into the wall by a furious Liam.
“Didn’t I tell you to leave him the hell alone?”
“What?” Larry snarled. “He your boyfriend now?”
“Shut up! He’s a cop, and as such he deserves your respect.” Liam banged Larry’s head into the wall again, even harder this time. “I’ve told you and Lindsey’s told you and still you don’t seem to get it. You stupid, Larry? You that fucking stupid?”
“Get off me!”
Spike shook out of his stupor and crossed the room, grabbing Liam’s arm. “Come on. He’s not worth it.”
Liam ignored him, leaning forward until he was inches from Larry’s face. “Don’t think I don’t know who torched his car,” he hissed. “I’m watching you, Larry. I’m watching you like a fucking hawk. Remember that.”
He banged Larry into the wall one last time for good measure before letting go of him and then turned around to face his colleges. “That goes for the rest of you as well. Are we clear?”
“Chill, Liam. What the fuck has gotten into you?” Jesse stepped back as Liam shot him a glare. “Alright, alright. Not like we were gonna do anything anyway. What the hell do you take us for?”
Liam breathed out and then swooped down to grab his jacket that he’d dropped on the floor. “Let’s go,” he said to Spike who could only follow with a wary glance at Larry and an apologetic shrug to the rest.
Spike waited until they were a block away from the station before looking up at Liam. “Did you tell me to come here so you could put up a macho show for me in front of your mates? Because if you did it was foolish and I’m not impressed.”
“I didn’t…” Liam clenched his jaw. “He wasn’t supposed to be there. He swapped shifts, alright? But I’m not sorry anyway. He had it coming, the stupid asshole, and you might not like it but I’m glad I could do it in front of them. Not because of you being there but because he’s been disrespecting me and my authority and like hell if I was gonna give him an excuse to say I’d attacked him for no good reason.” He breathed out. “Plus it felt fucking good.”
Spike nodded. “Just as long as you didn’t set it up.”
“You really think I’d use you like bait just so I could show up like the big hero and save you?”
“Erm… yeah.” He raised his hands in defence as Liam glared at him. “I’m sorry but it wouldn’t surprise me if you had. I have a feeling you’re rather desperate for my approval.”
“I’m not desperate!”
“Ok. My mistake. Pining then.”
“I’m not…!” Liam took in the grin on Spike’s face and smiled sheepishly. “Ok. Maybe you’re right. I still wouldn’t have done that. I mean, if I hadn’t been fast enough he could have beaten the crap out of you. I’d never risk you like that.”
“Oi! I’m not a weakling. I can take care of myself, ta very much!”
“He bench presses over 300 pounds”
Spike hesitated. “Ok, maybe I could have used a little help.”
“That was all I meant.”
“You better have.” Spike gave him a smile. “So why did you ask me to meet you there then?”
Liam blushed. “It was Fred’s idea. She thought it would be a nice way to show you I’m not ashamed to be seen with you.” He took in the look on Spike’s face and quickly added, “I would have come up with it myself. It just might have taken a bit longer.”
Spike gave it a thought. “Alright. She was right. It was nice. So what? We’re best buddies now? I mean, that what you told them?”
“I didn’t tell them anything.” Liam worried his lip. “I mean… I wouldn’t have had to explain it if it was anyone else so why should I have to explain you?”
Spike wasn’t sure what to think of that.
“I mean, that’s what we’re aiming for, right? Acceptance. Right?”
“Of me or you?”
Liam swallowed and stared down at the pavement. “I thought we’d start with you and work our way to me.”
There was silence for a while and then Spike gave him a smile. “Sounds good to me.”
“Ok.”
They walked for a while and then Spike cleared his throat. “So… I was wondering… I have this gig with Lindsey’s band on Saturday. You want to come?”
Liam looked at him and Spike could see the old jealousy flare for a moment before it made way for confusion. “You’re singing? Wait… Lindsey sings?”
“Don’t sound so surprised. He’s pretty good in fact. And the music’s alright even if it’s a bit…”
He grimaced and Liam grinned. “Country?”
“Don’t rub my nose in it. Yes, country. Although it’s actually more rock and if you laugh I’ll bloody well punch you.”
Liam zipped his mouth shut but it still didn’t keep him from grinning. After a while he asked, “He won’t mind? Me coming, I mean.”
“He told me to invite you.”
Liam stopped and turned to look at him. “What did you tell him? About us.”
Spike rolled his eyes to hide his frustration. “I told him we’re friends. That’s all. Not that he would mind.”
Liam stood still for a moment before nodding and they resumed their walk. They were almost at the bar when he suddenly asked, “Are we?”
Spike gave him a confused look. “Are we what?”
“Friends. You and me. Are we friends?”
Spike watched him for a while and then he nodded. “I think we’re heading there.”
Liam breathed out, the smile he gave Spike filled with relief. “Good. That’s good.”
Continued (finally!) here.