A Mirage of Possibilities

Supernatural episode 313

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:42:13 GMT

I am buried under a load of stinky RL for months on months, but I just HAD to say this:

Might ruin the moment for those who hadn't seen the episode... so don't look down if you missed SN!

“You gotta sin him into the light.”

Ultimate line of the year! Courtesy of Supernatural 313 – Ghostfacers and their little ‘gay dead intern’ moment.

Angel: After The Fall #5 (SPOILERS)

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:23:43 GMT

Fred? So many cruel, cruel, cruel AMAZING things! Arggghh! I knew it was going to end all cliffy but really, is it a surprise that I was weak, didn’t do that unoriginal patient thing and read? Nope.

Brian Lynch you are my darling! I LOVE LORNE! *hugs her green non-lord* He’s a sweetie and a babe and I really want to see what happened previously to make his anger for Angel no-more. Or settle. He’s the heart of the group *sniff* I demand a group hug. Wesley can sit in the middle so he can pretend and Gunn… well, he stays back. He scares me. He’s planning something big that needs the gang and new-gangers in a meet.

The Lords' T-rex dialogue made me laugh, seeing as I was thinking the same thing lol

Oh, and I saved this for last. SPIKE (page22 P2-3-4) to ANGEL about LORNE:

He was slurring on and about “No matter where we are, if we’re not with those we care about, it’s not ever going to be right”

Anyway, he was right and I’m a champion and I – I – Besides, now you owe me.

SPIKE CARES ABOUT ANGEL!!! Nuff said. You know its true. Spider knows its true. Heck, even Brian knows its true:

"Here's a little piece of action that I thought worked really well: when Spike and Angel have their talk in the middle of the battle, check out how casually they switch enemies while they're fighting. They don't even have to say anything, they're just that good at working together. "

Again. I reiterate. My heart belongs to Brian right now. My heart is a fickle thing. So Joss might sweep it back up again. But as we speak, it is his. Take care of my heart, Mr. Lynch!

SPIKE: AFTER THE FALL!!!

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:51:51 GMT

Spike:After the Fall

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=149750

Nuff said.

*goes into a tizzy because Brian made us think he wasn't gonna do it while he was in fact bidding his time to blow our minds*

There's Spike. Then there's Lorne and Spike. Then there's Spike and Connor and Spike clearly finding out about Connor being Angel's son and Connor seeing Spike as a cool uncle/friend. There has to be! 'Cause now there's no reason for me to hunt down missing scene fics or write one myself. *wide grin* I love my fandom. *hugs Brian, Joss and Franco*

House fic recs

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 06:39:19 GMT

Something Else
Summary: In retribution for his deceit, Wilson becomes House’s servant and then his slave and then… something else entirely.
Warnings: Contains (relatively mild) BDSM themes.

Stay With Me
Summary: House has always depended on Wilson's friendship, but now he finds himself depending on him for his very life - and Wilson realizes that both mean more to him than he ever realized.
Review: Hurt/Comfort. Sick!house. Leaves you with a GUH feeling! And so in character you can literally close your eyes and see them act it out.

The White Flag
Summary/Review: After House (really) finishes his time in rehab (post-Tritter), he returns to find a present on his desk that holds more meaning than it seems. It's a story of how House and Wilson try to mend their broken friendship after 'betrayals' on both sides, and a sudden nightmarish realization from one on how it must've been for the other. W/H Friendship, but could be slash as well (and isn't that why we love these men?).

And If He Left Off Dreaming About You...
Review: a summary isn't needed, it is that short. You just need to read this. A twist on the usual House/Wilson scenarios we're used to. And… I LOVE IT. It's adorably wicked. Am I completely evil? Nah, I felt bad – a tad just because I've been there *sob*

House Crossovers:

Pain and Magic by violet_quill
Crossover: HP/House
Pairing: House/Snape (if you squint). Mostly gen.
Summary: House's latest patient has some interesting symptoms – one being that he thinks he's a wizard.
Review: Really. Even if you squint, and you are a slasher like I am, you might not see the slash. It is a short piece, no longer than 12 pages but it is amazing. So in character and… funny. Just think Severus Snape finding himself in a place where everyone thinks he's lying, and his only salvation might depend on one Gregory House! He tells them about magic and the shock, no one believes him. He tries to convince them that their so called symptom is a "side effect of a rather nasty curse" alas no one listens. However, seeing as our dear wizard is incapable of moving on his own to treat himself with his potions, he is left at the mercy of people that think he is a crazy British guy. Oh what is a wizard to do!

Challenge: House MD/Harry Potter by sam_storyteller
Summary: House has a weird coma case on his desk and a crazy guy in his clinic rounds. Also fantasies of a remote mute button for Foreman.
Characters: House, Snape, Lupin

That House/Scrubs Crossover By Riona
Review: JD is sick. Cox hates that House is trying to diagnose his newbie. House loves to mess with Cox. Really, what are you doing reading this dull review? Want a fic in character of two great shows? And you can read into it anything you want to because that is how the shows are? Then go read it!

Indulging the Voice ... ...

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 18:41:44 GMT

This vidder combined two favorites of mine. House/Wilson and Tim Curry's insatiable voice.

Of course, one song of Curry's cannot filfill me, so I had to check out the kid's flick that had me flushing with naughty thoughts. *shakes head* Only Tim Curry and that Voice.

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 12:52:21 GMT

Great House/Wilson vids. The first is hilarious (No way, no way. Hey hey. "Girlfriend" by Avril Lavigne) and the second is more angsty (9 crimes).

ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL #4 (Spoilers)

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:09:59 GMT

So I finished reading ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL issue four and I realized that now I have to write an author note under my Lorne Missing Scene “A Place Called Home” to denote it as contradictory. I won’t remove it as a missing scene seeing as I wrote it before the comics came out, but for honesty sake I have to mention that I’ve been retconned *giggle*

The following two paragraph are noted as me plagiarizing myself on Whedonesque. ;)

I don’t think 'Los Angelus' was transported into Hell, or a hell dimension. In this issue we see Angel transported, and when he changes locations, he’s on a building with skulls carved into it. I’ve had this theory for quite sometime but now I’m more convinced. I think the people were the ones who were transported to a parallel helly Los Angeles dimension, not the city.

I loved this issue. Lorne’s words were spot on! We all already knew Lorne was coming and had guesses that Groo will too, but it still made me squeal to see them (loved the black winged horse! So knighty. hee). Can’t wait for the next issue, maybe we’ll finally get a hint into the mystery of time travel blinks past/future that gave us Baby!Angel and *cough* uber-future yummy leather Slayer!Spike lol (I’m guessing Illyria is not feeling well) and what Gunn is up too. And poor Wes *pets him* he’s coming back, we know, but how will Angel react? Hmm.

Now, if the blinks through time are true (I think Spider and William the Bloody meeting in the past makes it so) then is Spike going to survive until such a time where cars are flying and he has the scythe that slayers wield? That would be interesting. Would it also mean that he ended up in the Fray timeline? I dunno, I’m really going to have to get out those issues that apparently have been collecting dust.

I really wish BrianL would realize that us fans are fanatic about our storyline. He said that he wouldn’t mind writing an issue telling us what happened to lead Spike to where he is now in the storyline – but he doesn’t think that the readers would be interested seeing as they already know how its gonna end with him. So not true. Heck, I read and write fan fiction for Spike, I think I would jump at a chance for someone to fill in the blanks all canon like for me and I’m sure I’m not alone. I would also love to see what happened to Lorne during his self-proclaimed “Gray” period. He had after all killed Lindsey in cold blood under Angel’s orders and claimed that he didn’t want to see Angel anymore. But he did. I have to wonder if Lorne’s now cheery attitude has to do with the pacifying songstress shielding their zone, I really hope so. I love me some Lorne angst.

Also, this weapon that Lone Shark gave Spike. Spider said that its used on Immortals and seeing as Angel is not mortal, I think that it would just be a very painful stick, and that the magic in it would not harm Angel none.

I have to end with Spider’s quote to Spike: “I know you have a bond with Angel. I know its deeper than you admit. But you’re not responsible for him.”

*giggle* Aw, now I have to go back to the issue where Spike props Angel up after Illyria roughs him up. I think Brain has a little spangel bunny inside of him.

Ficlet: "H17" - The Past Unlocked

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:32:20 GMT

Title: "H17" -The Past Unlocked

Author: lusciousspike

Feedback: lusciousspike@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: If I hold any claim over this Verse I would shout it off the rooftops. Seeing that I’ve yet to do that should indicate without contest that I own nothing but inane words that I incessantly spout.

Spoilers:S4 BtVS. S5 Ats "Why We Fight".

Summary: Willow is able to procure some computer files before the underground Initiative base in Sunnydale was shut down. She shares a discovery with Xander.

Characters: Willow, Xander (Spike and Angel mentioned).

Author notes: I’ve had this idea/query since the first time I saw season 4 and Spike was captured by the Initiative. “Why was Spike called ‘Hostile 17’, not a higher number?” It was only confirmed later when season five Angel aired. I don’t know if this could be considered a missing scene or not (I’m a bit iffy myself – it’s more of an explanation, which most of my MiSS are). It does also clarify one thing Xander mentioned near the end of a fic I wrote “The Odd Man Looking In” which you need not read (unless you’ve read that one and/or want to).

Thanks to lusciousxander for the quick beta read! *hugs*

To read the paragraph from “The Odd Man Looking In” (and since it’s a spoiler to the story) highlight the following:

A while back Willow had shown me files she had gotten before the underground Initiative base was sealed up. She told me not to tell Buffy. I didn’t understand until I found in them files about why the Initiative was so keen on capturing Spike. How he became Hostile-17 and not a higher number when the operation had been going on for a while. It seems that Spike was taken captive by them years ago in WWII, he was one of the first hostiles. There was something vague about a submarine that the U.S. government had needed to get back. But there was something else. A sort of work order with gray old pictures, but I could recognize them. Angel had saved him. Even then. I don’t know how or why I know this now, but it just seems like the way it should’ve been.

Now onto the real reason we’re here.

*~*~*~*~*~*

“Xander, why are you watching TV in Giles’ place, again?” Willow looked up from the computer screen at her friend who was ignoring her pleas for him to lower the volume.

“I told you, Dad was upset at something the TV said,” Xander answered her without turning around.

“So?”

“So, the TV saw the bad end of his beer bottle.”

“Um.” Willow bit her bottom lip. “Well, could you please… oh!”

“Oh?” This time Xander turned around. “What’s ‘oh’ worthy?”

Willow’s eyes were focused on the bright monitor. “I cracked it.”

Xander got up, walked around the couch, and came up behind Willow. “Will, you’re not really gonna put that professor of yours on the FBI’s most wanted list, are you? Because, I’d…”

Willow shook her head. “I was busy uploading all this information that was in Giles’ books for easy access.” Xander nodded at that. “So, I thought while I was doing that, I could maybe let this program try to crack some Initiative files I swiped from their database while we were down there.” She looked up at Xander. “I didn’t really think I could break the code.”

Xander looked impressed. “Never underestimate you.” He leaned forward. “So what did you get? Is it porn?” At Willow’s stare, he shrugged, awkwardly. “What? You don’t know what goes on with these underground government types.”

Willow sighed and clicked away at the flashing information. “Okay, this is the general list.” She narrowed her eyes. “It’s only one file.”

Xander pointed at the screen, wincing when Willow slapped his hand away after his finger left a smudge. “What’s all these numbers, then? And, ouch.”

Willow’s eyes scanned over the information. “They’re sub-files. Each file starts with an H.” She used the arrow to point out what she meant. “See. Here’s H0000001. Then H0000002, H0000003 and so forth.”

Neither said anything for a few seconds then Xander got a grim look on his face. He was careful this time when he raised his finger to the screen. “Click on that one.”

Willow followed his direction. “H0000017? Why…?” Her eyes widened when a recent picture of an unconscious Spike appeared on the top of the page. “Oh, my…”

“‘H’ must mean ‘Hostile’.”

Willow nodded, eyes still agape, failing to register the hard tone in Xander’s voice. “And the number… whoa.”

Xander glanced from the screen to her face and then back again. “What?”

“Xander, this dates all the way back to 1943,” she said in a shocked whisper.

“Huh?” he replied, taken aback. Leaning forward, he caught the numbers in the first log.

“I never really gave it much thought,” Willow seemed as if she was talked to herself. “They called Spike ‘Hostile 17’ and we never wondered why that is. I mean, the operation looked like it’s been going on a long time. It wouldn’t make sense to think that they were up to 16 before they got to Spike some time ago.”

“Unless, they got to him when they first started,” Xander finished her thought.

“All the way back to World War II.”

Xander rubbed his eyes when he tried to catch up with Willow’s fast scrolling while she moved the cursor every couple of seconds.

“My god. They were planning on using them in the war!” Willow said, quickly skimming over the information. “The SS had started a research about controlling vampires – but the dates. I think both sides were competing on who’s going to hold the control. An agency ‘Demon Research Initiative’ here wanted the same thing.”

Xander’s face reflected exactly how he felt about that. “The Initiative.”

Willow shook her head, disgusted. “This is a transcript. Three vampires were contained for transportation to some secret base with one of the German scientists, I guess the US wanted hold of that.”

“Spike was one of them.”

“He’s the only who survived, the report says.”

“Sounds like Spike,” Xander said with a nod.

“It seems that Spike was taken captive by some secret underground German-like Initiative, he was one of the first hostiles. There’s something vague about a submarine that the U.S. government had captured.”

Xander titled his head. “It looks like it says more than that.”

Willow rolled her eyes. “I’m summarizing.”

Xander grinned. “And I thank you for that.” He gestured at the monitor with a wave. “What’s more?”

Willow sighed and scrolled down past several technical material and stopped on a couple of paragraphs. The year jumped up at her, her expression troubled.

“Hostile 17 was recaptured in Sunnydale California,” she started, automatically reading from the screen.

“Spike.”

“Yeah, Spike,” Willow paused for a second, preparing to paraphrase what was written. “They classified him as a threat seeing as he took down a bunch of sailors who were on the sub with him all the way back then. The Initiative didn’t want to take the same risk again – even if they never planned to set him free…”

“So they loaded him up with a head-full of chip.”

“Behavior Modification.” Willow highlighted the term. “Yeah. It was experimental and…”

“I know the gist. More like a leash in the brain full of frying juice.” Xander crossed his arms. “They should’ve just staked him. It won’t ‘modify his behavior’ but make him angrier. He will have time to sharpen his teeth. If Spike ever got that chip out…” He snorted. “These people are going to have to watch out.”

“It started as an experiment to create soldier vampires…” Willow lowered her head. “It is silly to imagine that they were only in Sunnydale. I mean, deep down we knew…”

“Hey, there, Will, we really can’t afford to think outside our Hellmouthy box.” He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. She nodded and raised her head with a small smile.

“Xander,” her voice took on a harder tone. “We can’t tell Buffy about this.”

“Why?”

Willow rolled the page down to give him a better view. “Because,” she showed him an old picture of a black-haired Spike in chains.

“Because, Spike was a Nazi?” with confusion lacing his tone, Xander indicated to the uniform the vampire was wearing.

“Somehow I think those clothes aren’t really his.”

Xander scrunched his nose.

“And no. It’s because of this.” She pointed the little arrow on a smaller picture on the side. “Spike’s from the ship's cargo manifest, according to the photo copies attached. This other one isn’t.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Angel.” They both winced at the name spoken out loud. “This is some kind of work order carbon, the pictures are very gray. There’s something about them asking him for his service in retrieving the submarine.”

“How much you bet there wasn’t a ‘please’ anywhere in that request?” he said, sarcasm lacing his words.

Willow shared a sad smile with him. “He had a soul then. So maybe he was helping with the war?”

Xander moved his head in disagreement. “Doubt it. And not because I have issues with Brood of the Undead.” He ignored Willow’s look. “The Initiative would not ask help of a ‘sub-terrestrial’.”

“You think they held something against him?” Willow stared at the twin pictures on the screen as if they could answer that question.

Xander made a discontented sound. “Blackmail sounds government-y enough, even with the undead.”

“I wonder what happened.” Willow placed her cheek in her open palm, her elbow resting against the counter. “Did he know what the Initiative was doing? Did he meet Spike down there?”

Her eyes snapped open and turned to Xander excitedly. “You know we can ask Sp…”

“No,” Xander cut her off. “You’re right. Buffy doesn’t need to know and neither does Spike. I really doubt he would tell us anything true, anyway.” He raised a hand when she started again. “And Angel is triple!”

Willow pouted. She then exhaled, agreeing, “You’re right.” She turned back, feeling drained all of a sudden. “Guess I should delete this.”

“Keep it.” Xander leaned down next to her. “Information is power and all that crap.”

Willow let out a single laugh. Sardonically, she accused, “But you just said…”

“Hey, ‘Hypocritical’ is my middle name, despite rumors circulating that it is something unmanly.” He gave her a wide grin.

Xander watched as Willow saved the file on a disk. She made quick work with all the windows she had up before the computer was powered down and the screen flickered to black.

The End…

And for some more Missing Scenes,,,

Fic: Splinter - (Spike/Angel) - Part 28

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:22:22 GMT

It has been forever, and for that I am sorry! I'm not going to waste space and time that is better wasted writing *wink* to list all the reasons (a lot of you already know most of them). I am however going to thank everyone who had took the time to feedback this little baby of mine (not so little now, oh well) and guilt me with puppy eyes and threaten me with long detailed emails *love*... so thank you!! You made this girl who almost gave up because she lost everything she had jotted down on a half-dead pc, well, not give up. *snuggles*

Title: Splinter
Rating: 17
Pairing: Spike/Angel (eventually), Spike/Raven(OMC)
Summary: Spike decided to stay in L.A. and work with Angel and Co. in Wolfram and Hart now known as A.I and Co. However, Angel still has a bit of a grudge towards Spike. Spike gets hurt... Angel is somewhat responsible. Another vampire wants to give Spike what Angel isn't giving for some silly reason, but what it entitles is big. How will that work out I wonder?

Thanks to lusciousxanderand lexa4227for the great beta! *love* And a wink from Cordelia to uncouthbrkit whose poetic words I promised I'd snag. ;)

*~*~*~*~*~*

"Bloody son of a bitch long-haired pansy…"

Raven silently walked a little behind Spike as the vampire continued to rant, exiting the elevator and stepping into the underground parking lot.

"He thinks he can pull one over me, well, I’ll show him! Find his eerie castle and bloody mud and feed it to him."

"Really, William. You act like…" Raven smirked as he unlocked his car. "---your favorite mutt had been run over."

"Close enough." Spike pouted around an unlit cigarette. "You don’t know…" He frowned and with a sniff returned the cigarette into its full packet. "I could’ve made Harris do anything, anything. Vlad the Imp didn’t mention me having to recharge no naffing thrall. What do I know about mind control?" he said, slamming the door as he got in.

Raven winced at the abuse of his custom-made, modernized Austin Martin. He fought back the urge to slip out and make sure the black paint wasn't damaged by irate vampire acts. Instead, he started out of the building and chastised the youngling on something else.

“Might I remind you of your sire whom with you’d spent a century-plus time roaming the lands? Surely you could have picked up a thing or two from her, other than an immaculate way to apply kohl.”

Raven gave Spike a warning glance when he had made a move to play with his lighter. "What in the world did you plan to do with the boy? He seemed useless... even more so, tryingly verbose in a mindless manner."

"Well…" Spike trailed off with a dreamy look on his face, lighter completely forgotten. He let out a ragged breath that caused Raven to frown disgruntled.

"William," Raven said coolly to snap him out of his daze.

"Wha- oh." Spike had the dignity to look sheepish, unconsciously running his right hand over the leather interior. "Can't help but picture Droopy boy dropping to his knees, professing his utter love and insane lust then tackling a soggy one on ol’ Ripper’s lips before the spell breaks –on tape and copies to spare." He shrugged, twirling his finger in the air. "And placing an ocean between me and Harris is a plus – even if he's proven himself a tad less of an annoyance than before."

Raven let out an indignant, "Doubtful."

"Still, being around him brings back all kinds of memories I rather stay locked and buried in that torched coffin of a Hellmouth."

Raven took in the poignant pause with interest, but didn't press. He took a chance to note the look on Spike's face before the light turned green and he pressed the car forward. It wasn't ten minutes before they found themselves standing inside Raven's residence.

"Unless they fancy it!" Spike said out of the blue with a clear shudder. "Ugh, that’s nasty."

Raven proved that he retained the ability to look refined whilst rolling his eyes. "You are a strange one, Leif."

"So I’ve frequently been called." Spike walked towards the windows. He could see the dark sky and the colors of the bright city clear through the wide slick glass. The unmistakable light of a plane soaring somewhere he could not bother contemplating caught his eye, and he absentmindedly spoke, "But, not strange enough to chase away, eh?”

"Never," Raven said as if it were the thousandth time he asserted it today and it by no means weighed less in truth. He tilted his head to get a better look at that silent glass. If vampires had reflections, he knew he would be looking at one of a fair-haired vampire grinning in silent amusement. "If worst comes to pass none could label you as dull."

Spike lowered his head, still facing away. Raven made no attempt to move from where he stood and waited. Finally, Spike turned around - his head still inclined - and approached the blue-eyed brunet. Tilting his head up, he caught Raven's unwavering gaze, his own searching. Spike's palm found itself on a smooth pale cheek, but his eyes never left the ones in front of his, even when his thumb brushed lightly against the skin. Spike blinked and Raven found himself mimicking it, subsequently feeling as if he were freed from a trance.

"And here you said you don't know your way around thralls---"

Raven didn't continue, having been cut off by Spike's lips against his own - grazing softly before pulling away.

Spike held up a hand to stop Raven's words. "Let me have a go. You're thinking 'If I had a breath in me – it would've been swept away'," he mimicked Raven's accent exuberantly ending it with a snort. "You're such a poof."

Raven raised an amused eye brow. "Am I now?"

Spike nodded, exasperated. "You are. Bloody annoyingly romantic in the fairiest gestures." He threw his hands in the air. "And yet, I'm not run off. What does that say about me?"

"What?"

"Bloody hell if I know." Spike smiled.

Raven's lips were tugged into a matching grin.

A moment of joint reflection before Spike jumped into movement, startling his companion. "Well, I'm off." He headed towards the door but on his third step, he found himself turned around and caught in an iron hold.

"Indeed, tonight, you are." Raven bared sharp fangs and bit lightly at Spike's lips, hastily lapping at the twin drops of blood. He enjoyed the dark hue that the blue eyes had taken on before tugging Spike towards the bedroom. "And I am to make sure you partake in every second of it."

Spike let out a sigh as the door closed behind them. "Behold, Ray… Sovereign of the Fairies."

*~*~*~*~*

Angel groaned as he entered his office. Eleven-plus hours felt like a week. He not only spent all his time to and fro England, nervously looking out the plane window - awed and not a little anxious about a heavy block of metal with inanimate wings soaring thousands of feet above hard ground and depthless water - but he also had to fight relentless warriors who protected the tree gateway to the Deeper Well by himself. If it had not been for Drogyn intervening, Angel's wounds would have been more severe.

"I'd say that's enough."

"I could've taken them…" Angel said, biting back groan, and using a sword as a crutch. That smack against the tree must have bruised his ribs. He ignored the disappearance of the armored men, and instead nodded towards the man at the entrance of the Well. "So, you are the Keeper of the Well."

"You're here about Illyria. Walk in," Drogyn replied, nodding for Angel to enter. "You seem unsurprised to see me."

Angel threw the sword he held behind his back and raised his shoulder, popping it back in place. He sure had taken a beating. Nevertheless, the serene feeling that befell him after the fight had left him thinking that he had been under some kind of stress, needing a manner of release. Inside a dark passageway, Drogyn leading the way into the Deeper Well with a lit torch, Angel answered the earlier implicit question, "A friend of yours told me about your position."

Drogyn cocked an eyebrow and Angel elaborated, "Hrafen."

Giving Angel a tight smile, Drogyn replied, "Hrafen of Hravolen is no friend of mine."

After a short tour into the Well, a pause on a bridge that left Angel's chest aching for some obscure reason, a rather fruitless background check into what Raven had mentioned delicately accomplished without a single question to rouse Drogyn’s irritation, he knew his job was done. Angel had made sure his old friend replaced the sarcophagus and was ready to return to the jet and down useless tiny liquor bottles that only left him needing before the bruising started to show.

Other than returning a potential threat into its rightful place, Angel got one thing out of this trip. As he had been walking him out, Drogyn had casually motioned that Hrafen of Hravolen was a perfectionist. He didn’t regard Angel’s questioning look but spoke as if he was relating a tale. “Whilst some have a high regard for it, others chose to heed it. Before his death, his turning, Hrafen was the strategist of an undefeated army, or so the stories tell. Like many vampires long ago, he was fed the blood of the undead and left adrift to roam throughout the hours of darkness. Not long after his change – barely a century in time – the sect of Hravolen grew into a master Order.”

Angel knew better than to ask his friend. The fresh night greeted him as he stepped out of the hallowed tree. For some reason, perhaps his throbbing ribs, his shoulders felt the need to bend. He nodded to Drogyn before moving away.

Drogyn had parting words for Angel, "I know nothing more to tell you, old friend. But, Hrafen came and entered the Well in a manner of a man who was eyeing out the adversary. And it was not I he came to see."

With a painful hiss, Angel slid down into his leather chair, his hands bracing against his desk. He would wait a little before pulling himself up and taking a shower and dropping into bed - in that very particular order.

He needed to sort some things out.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Spike breathed hard, letting the air out of his dead lungs in gray smoke. He was looking out the window. Through it, he could see sure signs of the sun’s intent to great the still latent world. If he concentrated even a little, he could see in the glass the large bed in pale reflection; empty. But it wasn't empty. Not by the very least. Under the 100 count Egyptian silk sheets slept Raven. Spike knew he was asleep because there was no way he could have lit a cigarette without being castrated. Literally.

Spike smirked. He was nowhere near modesty - Raven's sated state was mostly thanks to his excellent performance. With a purse of his lips, Spike graciously acknowledged that Raven had something to do with that happening as well. He smirked once more, at least he knew Ray's limit to teasing now. Who knew a vampire's tolerance was stronger than a self-righteous Slayer's?

An internal snort reminded Spike of his current 'predicament'. He turned, leaning against the glass, naked backside not flinching from the cool glass, in fact, he found it fairly soothing. He gazed at the sleeping Raven, his smile gentling and gaining some amusement in its depth. Raven held himself with such refinement and coolness of demeanor that spoke strongly of his status on top of the stiff pole stuck up his arse. However, when he slept, his features—they changed. It wasn't as if in his conscious state he was frowning with an inseparable broodiness similar to he-who-would-not-be-named-less-all-the-fun-be-sucked-out-of-the-room. It was an air he carried with him. An air that was missing when he slumbered-- utterly relaxed. Spike was actually tickled that he was privy to what was clearly such a rarity.

Spike put out the cigarette in his palm without thought, a grin full blown on his lips when Raven shifted on the bed. ~ Who would've pegged Ray to be a huge cuddler? ~ He shook his head at the image of a vampire Line leader hugging his pillow.

Less than a minute later, Spike was fully dressed and out the door, nodding to a well-hidden Hravolen sentry in a corner. If he hurried, he could get halfway to his apartment before the sunlight forced him to take the underground route.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Angel awoke with a start, something in him screaming for him to getup. He blinked lazily, noticing that he had somehow slept on his desk and that the sun was brightly shinning in. He rubbed the back of his neck for a few moments, getting his bearings. He then picked up his phone and pressed a button. Two seconds later, Wesley's voice greeted him, and he replied, "It's done. Drogyn has it secure back in place."

"Ah, so Raven was telling the truth," Wesley commented into his ear. Angel could hear him sipping something. He guessed it was coffee. He wanted coffee. "Was there anything else worth noting at the Well?"

Angel vaguely thought back to Drogyn's last words. He shook his head even though he knew Wesley couldn't see him. He really hated it when people got ambiguous on him. "Other than standing at the pit of a hole in the world, and thousands of interred Old Ones waiting for a chance to wake up and terrorize the world…"

Wesley interrupted with a chuckle, "Very well, we'll make sure we keep an eye on the Deeper Well."

Angel sounded grateful, "Ten eyes would be better."

"Ten it is. Anything else?"

Angel scratched the back of his head and winced. "Yeah, find wherever Harmony is not being a secretary and have her bring me a couple of pints of blood. And coffee."

Wesley hummed. "That bad? Perhaps you should've taken along some backup. I'm sure Spike would've…"

Angel cut in, "It’s nothing. Scratches, really. I'm just hungry..."

"That won't do then!" Wesley said with a laugh. "I bet your assistant is conspiring some more with Cordelia, I'll let her know."

"Thanks, Wes." Angel placed the phone back in its cradle. He leaned back in his chair and swiveled towards the bright day outside the windows. It still amazed him that he could be bathed in sunlight and not feel a thing. He doubted he would ever be used to the experience. The demon inside of him was always more alert in such times, no doubt twitching at the absurdity of it all. It was how he woke up in the first place.

"A vampire sunbathing…" Angel, eyes half closed, murmured to himself.

"Wonder if you'll freckle…"

Angel abruptly turned towards the sudden intrusion, half angry at himself for letting his guard down and half angry at …

"Xander. What are you doing here?"

Ignoring him, Xander continued into the middle of the room. "I so owe Dawn for teaching me her signature sneak-age. I walk in on the weirdest things, although Andrew losing in strip-poker with a straight face and a handful of trainee slayers is both a thing to behold and fear." He grinned widely, clearly pleased at surprising Angel. His finger scratched over his patch – an unconscious habit he became prone to do in certain situations. "I bet she'd also have a kick at the thought of a vampire basking in the sun. Mind putting our Blade vs. Sun Block debate to rest?" Xander grinned helpfully.

Angel had no idea what the mouthy human was yapping about. He could not care less what Xander Harris thought. In fact, at this time, he could do without him all together. Cordelia would say he was "cranky" but he just – really – didn't like the boy.

"Leave."

"Well, as someone we both know would say 'rude much'. Woke up on the wrong side of the coffin?" Xander placed his hands on his hips and pretended to pout. "And here I was being all nice enough to come and say goodbye."

"Goodbye," Angel said, not missing a beat. He really couldn't believe how the years haven't lessened how much he resented this kid. He couldn't pinpoint 'exactly' what it was…

Xander continued as if he wasn't interrupted, "Willow and Faith secured the missing Slayer-slash-Witch running around L.A. But I think Witchy-slayer –her name's Sabrina can you believe that?!- could've handled being separated from her warlock boy toy better. Willow took a beating with that energy whatchamacallit pulse, but we make a good team." He puffed his chest. "And Willow's clothes look right off the rack, no singe-age or anything. Nifty what you could do with a wave." He chuckled. "Cordy would love it if she was so lucky! And Buffy, too… now she's focusing more on her tan than her nightly strolls through lively graveyards with her questionable undead company."

~ Oh, right. ~ Angel thought, laying his palms flat on his brand-new desk. It was all coming back to him now.

"I was all about sticking around after the girls leave, seeing what L.A. life is like. But I think I have everything I need for Giles' twenty questions."

Translation, it isn't working out with Cordelia. Angel snorted before that last part caught his attention. "You're involving the Council after all?"

Xander held up his hands. "Hey, I don't trust Crow as far as I can through him, which is two feet more than I could last year. But, if Willow has given it the three-over and found nothing suspicious other than Fangs 'R Us trying to cover their backs from a slayer’s times-a-thousand stake to the heart, then why not?"

"It will save lives," Angel said more to himself. He felt as he was repeating something he was being told.

"You certainly have nothing better to offer." Xander smirked. "Buff only trusted you in your move to corporate land only when Cordelia of all people vouched for you. And now, Armani vamp comes into town and steals it all from under you… I'm thinking justice here." He sniggered. "Karma does come in handy once in a blue moon and I think through the toxic air of Los A, last night's moon looked indigo-ish."

Angel leaned back against his chair and wondered where Harmony was with his drink. If she was going to take long, he might as will head up to his penthouse, clean up and maybe get some peaceful sleep in his bed. There was nothing worthwhile keeping him in this room. He should do that now before he started fantasizing about his stapler and Xander in various intimate situations.

"So, spill." Xander rested his hands against the back of a guest chair. "Did you always have a kink with the blonds?"

Angel felt something twitch on his face.

"There's Buff of course," Xander started ticking off on his fingers. "Darla, Cordelia but only after she tried blonde on for size –sniffing after Cordelia, tsk, tsk. Yeah, your people are big gossips – oh, and the pièce de résistance -" he said in a butchered French accent, throwing his hands up in the air before leaning in.

"Tell me - is this 'thing' between you and Spike just a bunch of fireless smoke?" Xander titled his head as if curious. "Saying ‘yes’ will be much appreciated."

*~*~*~*~*~*

"When are you going to stop playing hard to get and realize that emotionally constipated, grouchy old Angel needs bright scarlet signs to know what he wants?"

"Hm, even crank-callers know Angel’s finer qualities. Well, ta."

"Spike!"

"Stop bloody calling already! It's bedtime for some you know," Spike snapped into the phone. "And some are trying to decide what to pack and what to give to the destitute to throw in the gutter."

"Oh, don't mind me. I just thought you would've wanted to know that the Big Bad That Could've is back home to your old home an ocean far far away," Cordelia replied sarcastically with an angry edge to her voice.

Spike rolled his eyes.

"And that Willow and Faith have tracked down their missing recruit from a teenage sitcom and will be leaving tonight."

"Good on them." He pulled away the phone from his ear, intending on hanging up. Spike closed his eyes at her well-placed pitiful sigh, ringing clear through the distance. With a groan, he placed his ear back on the receiver.

"I'm hearing an 'and' at the end of that, pet. Out with it already."

"Xander's going with."

"My condolences for running another one off. Or is that congrats? Done?"

"Hilarious. I'm laughing so hard its above snarky self-tormenting bleached vampires' hearing," Cordelia countered icily. "They're leaving, Spike."

He exhaled noisily. "And what, there's a going away bash? Sign my name on your card."

"You know what that means. Other than Xander is a big yellow clucky chicken who's high on baby slayer worship."

"First love's candle can't be rekindled. Sad. How about you focus on that, eh? Maybe unearth some of those dusty country albums?" Spike hedged

"Pfft, like I care about that." Cordelia pressed on, "They're going to tell Giles about the Treaty. It'll be a done deal then."

Spike dropped his head. "It's already a done deal now." He knew it always came back to this. "I'm busy."

"You're packing," it was more of an accusation than a question. "To go to him."

"Yes."

"Buffy'll find out, one way or another, you know. No way can they keep 'the vamp in question' a blank for her – and she'll come running so hard that high kick is going to scar forever. And who’ll want you then?"

"Bringing her into this now?" he snarled back.

"She's always been in it. In between is where Buffy lives, she likes it there, she's subletting it as we speak until she gets back." He could see the firm nods. "She hurt him. She hurt you. He hurts you. You hurt him back. You hurt you. It's a cycle. I bet she's what's been keeping you and Angel apart and…"

"Bloody Hell, Cordelia, give it a rest!" He growled, having reached his limit with unsubtle interventions from an ex-prom queen. "There is nothing there but you OD-ing on one too many porny nancy-arse novels."

"Pa-lease! We all saw you two in the elevator cameras. Can you honestly tell me that you two never---?"

"Romped, shagged, fucked? Yeah, we did - shared a meal in between, too. Don’t catch your breath all offended, luv," he said, pointedly. "We’re vampires. It’s what we do. You think that me and ho Darla never had a go or six? Doesn’t mean that we are some legendary star-crossed lovers, one sinking into a watery abyss for the other. Got to live in the real blasted world, Delia." He growled. "The real world where you are the one kicked out into the watery abyss, racing the rising sun to the shore. In the real world where I won’t be remembered as the vampire who took out two slayers - as the vampire who torched the Anointed One without a blink at what his kind would think. The vampire who was neutered and degraded by humans. The unholy creature of the night, who helped a slayer, fell in love with her and willingly desecrated all that is unholy by fighting to get his soul back. And certainly not as the vampire who died in burning flames saving the world. No. I will be remembered as the vampire, who as headyboy says: one of the worst recorded second only to that by-default Master Angelus, who was renounced of blood. Not deserving so much as a stake through the heart, or a word of distaste before being cast out to another Order."

Steady breaths were the only thing he could hear from the other side of the line.

"So, you see, Kitten, the sooner you get that through your pretty little human head, the sooner you would give up this romantic notion of yours. The Titanic sank and it didn't even get to where it was going."

Spike relished the feel of sending his cell into the wall – it was a mistake to divulge that much and to the biggest mouth of them all. He felt shudders run through his body, not knowing what had brought it all to this breaking point and shocked himself at hearing such revelations. Twisting his hand around the cord, he jerked it out of the wall, causing plaster to fleck the floor then pulled the other end out of his phone cradle for good measure.

Packing could wait. He was insanely glad that he had restocked the JD in his fridge.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Xander took in the staggered look on Angel's face. He felt he had to explain.

"Three seconds after I cordially informed Cordy that I'll be heading back to Watcher HQ, she got this scary look in her eyes, I felt I owed myself as the Slayer's right-hand to make a quick exist. She reached for the phone…" He winced as if he remembered something painful. "Short story shorter, as I was safe behind slightly ajar doors, she was Marriage Counseling Spike on the phone. And your name came up… that’s when I ran away to hide at Wesley’s of all places."

Angel cut him off with a rumble. "Just because you can't go back to high school with your ex, doesn’t give you the right to nose in my affairs."

Xander snorted. He had seen things scarier than Angel's intimidating face. "Really, “affairs”? You could've just said 'no'. Not like I won't be haunted with the sight of Spike and his sugar-bumpy snogging."

"What Spike does…"

"Doesn't affect you? Apparently all anybody can talk about here is the office romance. I’m not as slow at catching up now." Xander puffed up his chest. "I work out. But, c’mon, going at it in the building? Shame, shame. The boss with the blond at work, and it's not his bubbly secretary. That's a violation of something." He shook his head. "Although, seeing as it is Harmony…"

It took Angel a few seconds to catch on. Did the boy always ramble on like that? "What?" He growled interrupting him, standing up. How the Hell did Xander know about what happened in Angel's bedroom?

"Hey, don't growl on the messenger. Apparently, there were cameras and tapes and everything. Was it the trapped in the elevator cliché?" Xander raised his hand. "No. I don’t want to know. Cordelia’s up-at-arms about Spike 'doing the move'; I could hear her from outside letting it out at her War Council. I think she's all about getting you together with Spike for some insane reason." Xander scratched the back of his head. "Wonder if this is a nightmare of Buffy's." His forehead knotted. "Or some fantasy, you know, I really need to stop talking…"

Angel jumped in Xander's personal space, his face halfway to its vampire visage. "*What tapes*?"

"Elevator cams. Ring any bells? Sure doesn't for me although now I'm temped to take the stairs down." Xander shrugged. "But that's just me."

Xander misinterpreted the reason behind Angel’s fiery glare for he explained, "Gunn was talking with Wes about this tomb thing needing a nanny, I was mentioning that we could have slayers on the watch, when Cordy came in dragging Fred and kicked me out. She was angry, saying that they should’ve kept the tapes for proof and that “Angel’s a jerk”… and since I knew all about that story, I came here." He shrugged.

"Get out," Angel snarled. ~ They know. ~ They knew what happened between himself and Spike, at least a small part of it. It was all making sense now, those weird glances and words he was getting from his people in addition to Cordelia's annoying zeal and manipulation regarding the two of them. To think he never even noticed. "NOW, Harris."

"Hey, don't get huffy on moi. I'm just letting you know what you apparently don't know about your friends. Sheesh." The functioning eye narrowed. "You know, Spike was never my favorite person, but I sure like him better than you… even without the soul. " Xander wasn't intimidated by Angel's obvious rage and instead got more into his face. "And to think I almost felt guilty for telling Buffy to kick your ass… having sent you to Hell and all. Almost."

Angel's eyes turned yellow with anger.

"Don't get me wrong, I don't mind it. Anything that keeps pointy-teeth cooties away from Buffy is good enough for me. I say have at it you two. Send me postcards from sunny Boca."

"You were always envious of me, whelp." Angel stepped even closer. "And now you're telling me how to live my life?"

Xander raised his finger. "Don't you mean unlife… 'Dead-boy'? "

Angel let out a vicious growl. If ever he was in the mood for this, it was not now. "So you constantly keep reminding me." He took hold of the lapels of Xander's coat. Out of the vampire's perception, Xander pulled a stake from his back pocket. Twisting his arm up and quickly pulling it down, he plunged forward.

"Separate!"

They turned their heads in time to see Lorne along with Faith and Willow crowding the open door. Willow's eyes had changed to black and her hair to a darker shade of red, heightened by the white stripes running through it.

Xander closed his eye, waiting for his body to fly across the room. He had been here before. He knew what to expect. After a few seconds, when nothing happened, he opened it to be greeted by the sight of a dazed Angel. He didn't know why that was until he saw the vampire reach towards him… and… through him?

"What the…?!"

"Now this is interesting."

Everyone had their gaping eyes glued to the source of the amused exclamation, for behind Angel stood another Angel. The second Angel looked at each of them before his eyes settled on his counterpart and his smile turned wicked.

"Ah, we meet again."

"Angelus," Angel spat but couldn't hide the hint of dread that it held.

"Oops," Willow cringed.

"Oops? No, no, no oops. Fix!" Lorne pointing a shaking finger at the grinning Angelus. "Change him back! Put Humpty Dumpty back together again, Glenda. Now!"

"Willow!" Angel gritted out.

"C'mon, Red. Do your Wicca thang!" Faith said. At the same time she took a couple of steps into the room, taking her fighting position but her eyes held a little hesitance. She still remembered her last encounter with Angelus, how it had almost killed her.

"I'm trying!!" Willow said her eyes closed as she tried to summon the power. Nevertheless, her concentration was wavering as memories of her youth and Angelus surfaced, her hair reversed already to its regular amber-red color and her complexion was a pale white.

"Oh, no, you don't, minx!" Angelus pushed forward but Faith knocked him back with a roundhouse kick, sending him head first through the desk. Out of the broken wood, Angelus - face fully transformed - jumped out and rushed forward this time dodging Faith's attempt at hindering his advance. Lorne was in the way of escape, therefore, he was promptly knocked out by getting flung at a wall, taking down Willow in his path. From behind, Faith came at him with a stake in one hand and a large shard from the desk in the other. She threw the shard at him, yet, with quick footing, Angelus swerved, landing a kick on her back causing her to drop the stake and twisting his arms on her neck, he started choking her.

Faith was trying to kick him off of her but her gaze was quickly being overcome by dark spots as Angelus squeezed harder. All a sudden, the weight off her was thrown off of her and she was coughing roughly, forcing breaths into her burning lungs. When the water from her eyes lessened enough, she noticed Xander standing over her with a stapler that had a distinct dent in it.

"Thanks," she said in a barely audible voice.

"Think of it as déjà vu but we've all been recast."

"I never said…" Faith said, her voice scratchy and weak. "I'm really sorry, Xander."

Xander smiled and shrugged, helping her up. "Nice to hear."

"Look out!" Angel's voice called in warning enough for them to duck as a chair was thrown into the glass frame. They barely caught the sight of Angelus jumping through the opening created, outside the office and into the building.

"What happened?!" Cordelia rushed into the office three seconds later quickly followed by a wide-eyed Fred, Gunn and Wesley.

"Willow, are you okay?" Wesley asked with concern, noticing the young girl slowly get up from the floor.

Willow nodded, rubbing her arm with a glowing palm. She repeated the treatment on Lorne's head. The green demon gradually came back to consciousness. "We came to say goodbye but this wasn’t our idea of a going away party, sorry." She moved forward to Faith who mumbled that she was fine but Willow healed her despite of her protests.

Gunn and Fred supported Lorne as he rose.

At the door, Harmony poked in her head, checking the scene. Lorne drew her attention. "Harmonica, spread the word… Angel has split… or well, Angelus has…"

Harmony gasped and stepped further into the office. Her face overwhelmed with horror and disbelief, a hand reaching up to her mouth. "Oh, God." She extended her other hand in a shaky gesture. "You broke the desk… again!"

*~*~*~*~*~*

TBC

Splinter

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 20:02:38 GMT

I've just finished Splinter 28 (Spike/Angel, Spike/Raven) and need someone to do a beta (the faster I get the bloopers out the faster it will be out of flock). Anyone up to it? :D