Title: - Truthful Angel
Author donnaredmasters
Email jd009b9028@blueyonder.co.uk
Genre M/M
Pairings/Characters Angel/Spike
Rating NC17 (just to be safe, might not be)
Warnings M/M relationship, eventually, nothing graphic, some fighting of Demons. If you want graphic sex, violence, rape etc its Not here.
Notes this is my first fanfic, and I hope you like it. Nothing graphic as although I do read graphic stories my imagination does not go that may. Would not come naturally to me.
Acknowledgements For great beta-ing and support mandarin226 and stakeaclaim who heard the bare minimum of plot, and encouraged me to get on with it, but told me to give it a try.
Summary. Don't
want to give too much away but Angel has a plan and Spike is the centre
of it!
Buffy flew at Spike; only to find herself hurling through the air, landing on a chair in an ungainly heap.
"Ah, aggressive actions. I warned you about the anti-aggression spell." Delilah said a satisfied smile on her face.
"Why didn't you tell me you were alive? I grieved for you."
"Yes luv; I was in
Spike was dressed in a black leather biker jacket, black jeans and navy blue T-shirt, the biggest change was his hair. He had allowed it to become natural, with his curls and light brown colour, in a modern style. The look made him menacing, while Layla, at 5' 8" was the tallest female there. She had long straight blond hair tied back in a ponytail, wore a black leather all-in-one figure-hugging biker suit with black leather ankle length boots, which showed off her slim athletic build to good effect. Both were carrying biker's helmets. When Buffy had moved towards Spike Layla had gone into a fighting stance, observing her charm around her neck.
"Stand down Layla, this is Buffy. She's the one from the Sunnydale Hellmouth before it closed. She probably got a bit of a shock when she was told I was still alive, or at least walking the earth and not dust." Spike smiled at the tall girl, "Guess introductions are in order. Have you all met Delilah and Winslow?"
"Yes Spike I believe we are all acquainted with each other," Giles replied.
"Not I." Layla put down her bikers helmet and moved towards Buffy, "So you are the famous Buffy? " Layla looked Buffy up and down, unimpressed.
"I am Faith, the infamous slayer." Faith smiled, holding out her hand.
"You married Robin Wood, the son of the Slayer William killed in 1977? You must come and see the duster. It was getting old and, well come and see." Layla exclaimed.
"May I offer you my condence Faith? Robin Wood and I would never have been friends, but he was a sad loss. He fought well." Spike said, looking at Faith.
Faiths' eyes flashed fire, then she turned to Spike, "Thank you Spike, I will decide on that when I see what you have done to Niki Woods duster."
"Come along into the office, it is mounted in there."
Spike led the way behind the reception desk to a door. Opening the door to a large but well organised room, with three desks each with a computer, one with a bookcase behind it within which were a number of well used books. Behind another was a weapons case, which Layla went to and started putting stakes away. The other desk had a large glass display case formed onto a frame like a window, with the duster inside. Faith and Buffy moved towards the case and saw a brass plaque inscribed on which were the words 'Niki Wood, Slayer died 1977. A brave woman who fought well.'
The others stood back as both Buffy and Faith gave their sister slayer a minutes silence.
"I always thought of the duster as yours Spike I forgot what it stood for in the end." Buffy said softly.
Angel had been silent during these events. He knew he had got over the hurdle of getting to see Spike, now he had to make Spike understand that he must stay with him. The greeting Spike given him was his usual insult, so things did not seem to have changed much over the years. At least the situation had not got worse. Looking round Angel noticed that there were no seats in the office apart from the ones behind the desks. He shifted uncomfortably, while Giles walked over to Winslow's books, and both Faith and Buffy inspected Layla's weapon collection.
"You seem to be doing well Spike," Angel commented, still uncomfortable with the evidence of Spike's life, and, it seemed, success without either Buffy or himself.
"I think we would be more comfortable in the sitting room," Winslow began gathering the visitors, hurriedly, "we could all sit and discuss whatever brings you here. Perhaps you would like a drink, and I could offer a toast, I am sure."
"I had a very enjoyable Malt at Giles office, thank you," Angel replied. "Does your hospitality extent to an Irish Whiskey."
"Sorry we do have Malt, but no Irish Whiskey. I hear you sampled some exotic blood while CEO of Wolfram and Hart, we do have some otter which you may like. We have it delivered by a specialist supplier tracked down on the internet," Winslow replied.
Spike scowled at him, "We don't want to over do the hospitality, might make the welcome a bit too warm. He may want to stay at this rate, I don't remember my welcome being this warm at W&H."
Angel shifted towards a door Winslow was standing at, a faint smirk on his face. "Remembering old times together, and I thought we got along so well!" He shot a glance backward at Spike, and smiled at the deepening of the scowl he saw there.
Delilah and Layla moved towards Spike, each taking a hand in unspoken support, they had spent many nights with Spike as he recounted his past with both Buffy and Angel. Neither of them had good feelings towards these visitors, their body language defiantly giving the signal that their loyalty lay with Spike. Angel took in the scene, it seemed that he had more hurdles to overcome if he was to be successful in his plans.
"Spike I need to talk to you, I haven't discussed this with anyone else, but I have a reason to be here. It concerns you. I have researched and trained for a considerable time before coming here, but the timing means that we must prepare right now. We must prepare right now. We must prepare for what is happening to you."
Winslow looked suspiciously at Angel, "What do you know about what is happening to Spike? I have been researching for weeks and can find no reason to be overly worried, what do you know?" His face was strained, concern that this vampire, who from what he had heard did not have a friendly relationship with his friend and co-worker, knew more than he did, was a situation he did not care to be in.
Giles, Buffy and Faith all looked at Angel as well, they did not like this. It seemed that Angel had another reason apart from joining Spike in the fight he had not told about. They did not like the fact that he had withheld information. The room was beginning to become tense and strained.
Spike moved forward, but Layla and Delilah moved with him to continue flanking him, he smiled affectionatly at them and put a hand round each of their waists. "Come on there is an anti-aggression spell in force here, so no fighting. If you know something is happening to me and have information to share, then perhaps we should extend the hospitality Winslow was offering."
"Spike, you voice, what have you done to your voice. Is that what happened after the hellmouth!" Buffy was surprised at Spike's cultured tones, and the language he was using.
"No pet, that is Winslow, insisting I use my human voice to maintain a proper business aspect to Mavericks, don't you Winslow." Spike smiled at the watcher, who looked down but give a little smile as he did, happy that his friend had not slipped back to his old persona with the arrival of these people from his past.
"Do you still call yourself Spike, or have you reverted to William, Will?" Angel had an affectionate look on his face. The gentleman that Spike had been, the poet, had always been his favourite version of Spike. In that persona it might be easier to train Spike, or Will he thought still smiling.
"Not to you, you ponce. Only to the clients. I even wear a business suit sometimes, but don't get your knickers in a twist, I'm still Spike yeah? Just a little older and wiser. I'm through wearing my heart on my sleeve."
Spike gave an angry snort headed towards the door, and sprawled across a couch in the sitting room. The others followed him in and were surprised to find it comfortable and full of little human touches.
"You live here" Buffy turned to Layla, who nodded yes.
"We all do, we don't work office hours. We have rooms on the third floor, the second floor being for entertainment. Pool table, computers home entertainment centre, it makes sense to live and work here." Winslow answered defensively.
"The second floor doesn't have the vampire friendly glass." Angel looked shocked, "Where does Spike spend his time"
"Even if we do not work office hours we do not completely work vampire hours, Spike has everything he wants in the basement" Delilah explained. "That way he does not disturb us when we are sleeping, and we do not disturb him."
They all sat down, Spike made room on the couch for Delilah and Layla, while the rest found space for themselves round the room. Winslow continued his role as host and brought drinks for everyone, while Faith helped. She had hoped to get a chance to speak to him privately but that did not happen.
"What brings you to my little investigations agency Angel. You never tried to find me in over a hundred years, then suddenly here you are now?" Spike questioned.
"Can we talk privately Spike I have something I need to share with you, and would rather do it face-to-face." Angel shifted uncomfortably under everyone's gaze.
Spike sat back arms draped over each of his female co-workers companionably, they should all be safe here, with the spells in operation, and he was in no hurry to ease Angel's discomfort. Winslow had placed everyone's drinks out and settled on the floor beside Spike. Each one carefully positioned to emphasise where their allegiance lay. Giles looked displeased, and scowled over at Angel, aware that Angel had withheld information from him. He never liked to be any less than completely informed about any situation, and was angry at Angel and himself, realising he may have brought Angel to Spike without all the facts. This was not going to be a comfortable evening for anyone.
"If you know anything about the changes Spike is going through I would like all the information you have." Winslow stated, "I have been researching the matter, and have found little of help."
"Yes, tell everyone what you have found out Angel, no secrets in this little operation," Spike added, his look making it clear he was having a dig at Angel for his actions at W&H.
"If you want Spike, but you may wish you had learned this privately later." Angel had received the dig, and was making it clear the Spike would be the one uncomfortable with the information he had. "You are a seducer vampire, and are now coming into full power, this is a very dangerous time for a seducer, and not many survive the full awakening. I have researched the event and learned the training you require to control this talent. I have come to offer to train you, and teach you to control the powers you will receive." Angel sat back, but was surprised at the reaction from the room.
Most of the people in the room looked at him in disbelief, Winslow and Giles both looked outraged, Buffy and Faith moved closer to Angel, but unconvinced that he was right. Delilah and Layla just held Spikes hands, but did not move.
"How do you know about this?" Giles asked, "The watchers council has no record of any seducer gifts, it has never been recorded as a possibility."
"Spike was always telling me he loved me, but I never acted on it," stated Buffy.
"Yes the effect on Slayers is different; it attracts you but to fight. Spike fought and defeated two slayers while still young, but the seducer gift does allow Spike to influence the mind of the slayer in combat, it also brings out her death wish." Angel stated sure of himself, and the value of the research he had done.
Spike was the least concerned. The watchers were intrigued to find out if this was a new talent they should be aware of in vampires, while Layla just looked even more unconvinced, she had no death wish and had worked with Spike for a number of years now.
"What changes do you expect Spike to be experiencing at present?" asked Winslow.
"Well Spike always did attract attention, but he should attract even more now. It maybe that in battle you have to spend your time defending him, as the demons will be attracted and affected by his presence. They should also be easier to fight as they will try to attract Spike as well, but he cannot fight alone, he needs someone to watch his back." Angel was sure of himself and spoke with authority.
"So is this where you see yourself fitting in?" Layla held onto Spikes hand tighter. "Because I can watch his back, and have fought beside him for years now, we train together and have a good understanding of our strengths and weaknesses. I would say we are the best demon killing team in the world."
"I am not in any way trying to say that you are not a good team," Angel smoothed as best he could, "but Spike also has abilities to enter minds as well, and if trained can disorientate the opposition. I have learned the techniques needed."
"I do not trust him; I would like to know if he is telling the truth." Delilah said.
"Is there anyway we can do that?" Faith questioned "Without hurting Angel. I won't allow that, even with the anti-aggression spell I will find a way to protect him, I promise you."
Buffy folded her arms and moved to protect Angel as well, it seemed everyone was taking sides, Delilah laughed coldly, "I can easily make a spell where he will only be able to tell the truth, but it will only last for a short period of time. He will only be able to answer yes or no, and you will only be able to ask him questions about the time he arrived at this house. It is safe and he will have no ill effects, if he is willing."