A/N: This is the sequel to 'Handling Loss', and if you haven't read that first you won't understand anything. For those of you who don't feel like reading the whole thing, a short condensed version- Angel Buffy and Spike went on a roadtrip to find the people who killed Drusilla. After finding them and disposing of them, Spike and Angel decided to go to England and bury her ashes, sending Buffy back to Sunnydale. They've both given up on the hating thing, but their friendship is really, really fragile. Will they survive the trip? Will they ever get out of the emotional mess I've got them into? I sure hope so. Enjoy.

Standard disclaimer: Not mine. Joss's, the WB's and UPN's respectively. I'm not making any profit, and this is done purely for my own enjoyment. This story features a M/M relationship with some kink elements- if you don't feel mature and open-minded enough to read it, get out.
  2. Spike's Night

((Hey all. This is my 'things I'd do to Angel were he in my control for one night' chapter. As you all know, though, he's not mine. Neither is Spike, or any of the movies and products mentioned herein. Is that lawyerly enough? Not mine. Have fun!))

Hours later Angel woke up alone again. "This is starting to happen more often than I like," He grumbled to himself, "He's gonna pay." He rose and looked around the room. The sun was still up, he sensed, and Spike was again endangering himself. Just before he started getting angry, Angel found the note propped against an empty cup. In Spike's surprisingly readable and flowing script he read You were asleep and I was bored. Went out to have some fun- it's my night, right? Will be back around six. Door's locked, but feel free to do whatever you want in here until then. After that, you're mine! And the small sketch of a long black nail Spike sometimes used as his signature.

Anger started bubbling in Angel's gut at Spike's insolence, but he shoved it down. It was Spike's night, after all, and he'd given him a free hand. He turned around and punched the pillow hard, then stopped again. What was wrong with him? Why was he feeling so defensive and violent? Was he that insecure? He knew that letting his Childe dictate to him went against all norms of vampire society, but he hadn't been a part of that society in a long time. Angel didn't mind, he told himself, but the demon was horrified and disgusted by this so-called submission. "Might as well admit it," Angel said out loud, trying to make it real, "You're scared he's gonna take revenge for years of abuse." He had maybe an hour before Spike returned.

Angel looked around their suite, searching for the bag Spike had carried earlier, but couldn't find it. He shrugged, hid every trace of vampire presence in the cupboard, and called housekeeping for a clean up. Then he got into the shower and stayed there until the cleaning ladies had left, just so he wouldn't have to see the looks on their faces when they mopped spilt cocoa, changed sheets stained with chocolate, cream, blood and semen. He just couldn't. Besides, the shower calmed him down a bit, and he felt some of his apprehension drop away. After the cleaning people had left, he came back out and settled down with his book and tried to stay calm. It didn't work very well.

Spike, meanwhile, was wandering around the inner corridors of the ship, his mind whirling with indecision. He was postponing going back to the suite simply because he wasn't sure of what he'd do once he got there. On one hand, he wanted to see Angel suffer as Angelus had made him suffer, but on the other hand the previous weeks, and especially the previous night, had affected him. He didn't want to start the cycle of abuse and hatred and revenge again. He had several options, all of which he would enjoy on some level, and all were doable, but the ones he'd originally considered just didn't seem as tempting anymore...

"Face it, you coward." He ranted to himself, "You don't want to hurt him. Breaking him, even if it were possible, would hurt you at least as much as it would hurt him. You're a spineless sap when it comes to him. Shame on you." Spike silenced that irritating voice and continued walking aimlessly. So what if he didn't want to hurt Angel? It made sense- the man was his Sire. Stiffening his resolve, he headed back. He found Angel shirtless, reading in an armchair.

"Welcome back, William." He said pleasantly, rising and putting his book down. He looked way too relaxed, and Spike immediately put all his senses on full alert.

"What's wrong?" He asked, scanning the room.

"Nothing." Angel replied. "Housekeeping was in. Well Childe- it's your night, and the sun is almost down. You did say we have a lot to do."

"We do. Alright." Spike braced himself and plunged in. "Put a shirt on, we're going out."

"Out where?" Angel asked, and Spike shook his head sharply.

"No questions, Peaches. You'll see." He left the bag he was still carrying by the bed. "Let's go or we'll miss it."

Angel stopped himself before asking what they were going to miss, and followed Spike out. They walked through the ship to the upper decks, and Angel realized they were heading for the entertainment section of the ship, which he hadn't spent too much time in on his exploration the day before. Spike stopped in front of a bar, decorated on the outside with neon palm trees and glowing wreathes of blinking lights. "I'm not going in there." Angel stated.

"Yes you are." Spike replied, giving him a slight shove. "You're so tense you'll break if you sit down. I wanna calm you down a bit first, and it's too hot for more cocoa. Come on, it's Happy Hour." He moved forward and pulled Angel along. "And leave your brooding outside, Peaches- Happy means happy."

Angel rolled his eyes and walked into the loud bar- loud in more than one sense- the music, the decor and the people were equally gaudy. The place was called, Angel noticed too late, "The Islands", and the theme was clear- wicker furniture, fake vegetation and scantily clad waitresses. Spike grabbed two barstools and pulled Angel down on one, settling on the other.

"I know there's no green demon for you to torture with your singing here, and they don't serve O neg, but we'll still enjoy." He grinned, bouncing with excitement.

"How do you know about Lorne?" Angel wondered aloud. The surrealism of sitting with his estranged Childe in an exotic bar finally hit him, and he smiled as well without meaning to, "And why here of all places? There's a nice English style pub as well, you know."

"Yeah, I know, but this is all new and exciting, at least for you. We'll have enough pubs when we reach merry old England. And I have my ways of finding out all your dirty little secrets. We'll go there when we get back, maybe, but you're not singing." Spike replied, opening a menu. "So what'll it be, Peaches? You're paying."

"I am?" Angel was momentarily surprised, then simply sighed and shrugged, scanning the menu himself. "Impressive selection."

"It's not a French restaurant, but it'll do." Spike mock-glared at him, " But you'll have a scotch no matter how early it is, anyway, so why bother reading it?" He smirked. "I want something nice and strong, myself, but it is a bit early and I don't want to let you out of my sight tonight."

"You haven't outdrank me yet, boy." Angel warned.

"I know, and I'm not even going to try. You and your Irish mouth can take anything. Anyway, I'll have a...White Russian..." Spike's eyes followed a tall blonde with Slavic features and a model's build and face as she walked by the bar, "Hmmm..."

"Spike..." The warning was clear in Angel's voice, "Stop that right now."

"Don't wanna and you can't make me." Spike replied, trying to look innocent and failing miserably. "I want ice-cream, too."

"Fine." Angel turned to the waitress who approached them, wearing mostly wreathes of grass and flowers, combined with a tiny dress. "We'll have a White Russian, whatever beer you have on tap, and-" Spike pointed to a picture on the menu, "An Islands special, please." The waitress nodded and scampered away, sending an appreciative look at them over her shoulder. Angel allowed himself to relax and look around him. Most of the others there were either youngsters in their twenties, or elderly people. Thankfully, there were no children. Children made him feel uncomfortable. He noticed that people were staring at them. "Why are people staring at us?"

"Because you stick out like a sore thumb, and I'm just too hot for words." Spike said, preening. "Those two girls are checking us out. Wanna play with 'em?"

Angel grimaced. "I'd rather not. Remember Buffy."

"I didn't mean those kind of games, mate. I meant-" And with no warning at all, Spike leaned forward and kissed Angel, keeping one hand on his shoulder to keep him immobile. Angel was stunned for a moment, then recovered and returned the kiss, biting Spike's lip lightly as revenge, pushing them both beyond human endurance. "Meant that." Spike gasped finally, when they separated. He looked behind him at all the shocked faces, unholy mirth shining in his eyes. "Wasn't that a fun game?"

"Yeah," Angel breathed, "But did we have to do it here of all places? I think we gave that poor lady a heart attack. They'll kick us out." He closed his eyes, feeling everybody's stares pressing down on him. He hated it when unwanted attention was fixed on him, and there was almost never a 'wanted' attention. He felt someone approach, and braced himself, but it was only the waitress with their drinks. She stared at him openly, wide-eyed, but said nothing as he paid and took the drinks off the tray for her.

"Oh, fuck her and everybody else. It got them off our backs, didn't it? Mmmm... ice cream!" Spike chortled and combined a gulp of his liquor with a large spoonful of fruit-flavored ice. He immediately started choking on it and making distressed noises about how cold it was. Angel, for the first time in a while, found himself laughing. Spike swallowed and half-smiled.

"Why do you always laugh when I'm in trouble? Sod that, my plan's working and you're not even smashed yet." He offered Angel some ice cream, and the older vampire shook his head. "Oh, go ahead. Eat, drink, get tipsy."

"I don't think so, William." Angel said. He tried the beer, which was surprisingly good. Spike glared at him for read this time.

"Stop calling me that. Bloody ponce died years ago."

"I don't think so. He's just been buried under the demon. I think you're more like him now than you've been in a long time, because of Buffy." Angel said seriously. Spike made a face.

"Bloody Slayer, wrecking my rep, ruining my unlife..." Spike groused around a mouthful of ice cream, "Don't wanna be him. He was pathetic." He stopped and swallowed. "Why are we talking about me, anyway? This is my sodding night- no talking." He drained his drink. "Finish your beer and we'll get back to the room."

"What's the big hurry?" Angel asked, wary again. He sipped slowly, and Spike scowled at him.

"Well, A. I'm bored, and B. we have an agenda tonight. Go on, then."

"Fine, fine. I'm drinking, but there'd better be something more substantial back in the suite, 'cause I'm still hungry." Angel replied, finishing his beer in two gulps. "Not bad. Let's go." They left the bar with curious looks following them.

Back in the suite, Spike shifted into high gear. "Blood in the nuke-box, Peaches." He ordered, "While I go through my little bag of tricks."

Angel glanced at the bag and at the packages Spike was pulling out, and wondered whether he'd need safe words as well that night. He placed two bags of chilled blood in the microwave and started the machine. Spike was waving a rectangular box, not large enough to be anything that would worry Angel- or so he thought.

"There it is." He said, bounding across the bed to the television/VCR set. "You are so lucky I'm a lot nicer than you are, and found a lovely way of making you suffer without getting the room dirty, and you'll get educated by it, too."

"Sex flicks, Spike?" Angel groaned. Bad karma was really a bitch. "How much lower can you go?" He emptied the heated bags into mugs and brought them over to the bedside table.

"Oh, get real Peaches. I have some style, you know." Spike gave him the finger behind his back, still working on the video. "No, it's not a sex flick. It's something a lot more fun- a real classic. If I have to admit that you're a relation, I have to show you the world first." He pressed the last button and bounced back to lean against the headboard. "Sit down, take a load off. Take your shirt off." He smirked.

"What are we watching, Spike?" Angel asked, a growing suspicion in his heart. "I've seen quite a bit of the world, you know."

"Not my world, luv. The real world. We're watching a very nice movie called-" Just then the movie started, and the words appeared on the screen: "The Princess Bride. You'll love it. And even if you won't, I will, and that's all that matters tonight, innit?"

He held Angel down with one hand when the other tried to stand. "Now now, we had an agreement, remember?"

"But it's a children's movie, Spike." Angel complained. Spike shushed him.

"It's starting. And stop whining- take the kids' movie like a man, and be glad that it won't leave scars, this time. I'm telling you, you'll like it if you give it a chance. Now shut the fuck up, it's starting."

Angel closed his mouth and set his lips, determined to bear the movie but not enjoy it. He immediately noticed that his attitude towards the story was rather similar to the child's in the movie, and the comparison irritated him. After a while, though, he was drawn into the tale, and couldn't help worrying when Westley disappeared and when Buttercup was kidnapped. He held his breath while Spike cheered during the swordfight. About halfway through the movie, Spike nudged him- "See, I told you it's good."

"Shhh. I'm watching." Angel didn't take his eyes away from the screen. The movie continued, and Angel was more and more interested in the plot. Spike, knowing that the older vampire didn't know the movie by heart as he did, refrained from his usual active participation in the dialogue and let Angel listen in peace. "Hey! That's not fair. He can't die now, he has to save Buttercup!" Angel complained, and it was Spike's turn to hush him again.

"Just wait and watch, Peaches." He said, smiling to himself. Finally, his Sire was being educated. He was happy that he hadn't gone with plan A. Pain and blood were all good, of course, but he could do that any night. Introducing Angel to the wonders of modern cinema was an event, a once in an unlifetime thing. He savored it. They both sighed in contentment when the movie ended. "Well?"

"It was ok." Angel nodded. "Better than ok. It was good. Not a children's' movie, by a longshot." He shifted position, realizing that he hadn't moved at all during the movie, and stretched. "Very nice, Childe, but why?"

"Because now you'll understand a few more cultural references that you didn't before, and that's good. You need to catch up with the 21st century, mate, and never mind when you were born or turned. Tell me, how long did it take you to notice that the music was changing? Or the clothes? Or the TV, and the food, and the people? For a vampire, you probably don't know much about the last fifty years or so." Spike replied, turning the TV off and stretching as well.

"Hey, I know stuff!" Angel protested. "I was there when the music changed, and when the first color TV's started, and I lived through the fifties and sixties just like you did." He frowned, "Although I can't quite remember what I did during the seventies. I think I was somewhere down south."

"Argentina?" Spike asked, smiling nostalgically.

"Mexico, I think. Someplace hot, that's for sure. Lots of sun- I remember I couldn't get out much during the day. Had no reason to, either." Angel shook his head to clear it of the memories, "But anyway, I usually knew what people liked or disliked, and where I should go to avoid them. And I knew where there were wars, for example, or revolutions- those were bad."

"I don't know...I had a blast during some wars. Well, the first war, the Great War, we were safely out of the way in South Africa, but the second, we were right in the middle of things, snacking on German soldiers and getting shot at and traveling all over the place. And all for Dru's stupid birthday gift, that she decided she didn't really want..." He checked his watch, ignoring Angel's Look, which said exactly how much he disapproved of his Childer risking themselves needlessly, or snacking on humans, and was startled to find that it was only ten or so. "We have time for another movie, and this one is definitely not for the kiddies." He slithered down to the TV again, shrugging out of his shirt. "I'm gonna join in this one, because you really can't watch it without- it's a bloody terrible movie otherwise. But it's a real cult classic. You'll like it, it has songs and dancing and shit. Best seen in a crowded theater, but we'll make do. I'll take you to see it on stage in London." He kept up a steady stream of chatter as he rewinded the tape, and Angel got the feeling that he wasn't as certain about this unknown movie as he had been about The Princess Bride. Still, he didn't ask any questions until a pair of lips filled the screen.

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Spike?" He asked disbelievingly, "Are you quite insane?"

"You've seen it?" Spike seemed pleased, although confused by his Sire's behavior.

"Yes. For some reason, Cordelia said we 'must', so we all went last year. We didn't like it. People were making fools of themselves all over the place, we didn't manage to get a single word of the movie, and I felt about a million years old." Angel sighed. "Everybody around me were bopping and doing silly dances that I didn't get, and people wanted to draw stuff on us."

Spike smacked his forehead. "You went, the three of you, alone?" He asked. At Angel's nod, he shook his head. "You missed out on something fun, Angelus old mate. You just need to go to the right place with the right person, and preferably know the story beforehand. Come on, please?" He gave Angel his best puppy eyes. Angel sighed and surrendered without a fight. Who knows, he thought, the second time might be better.

"Great. Let's watch, then." Spike pressed the 'play' button again, and the music started.

After the opening song Spike was as silent as Angel. Somehow, talking to the screen and yelling the responses just felt silly when he was doing it alone. Somewhere during the movie he found himself leaning his head on Angel's chest, and his Sire's arms around him comfortably, and thought that he hadn't felt that safe in longer than he could remember. So that's what it means to be a Childe, he mused. He was rather glad that no one saw them just then- his reputation would be ruined. Then he realized that he wouldn't mind- he just felt too comfortable. He had to force himself away when the movie ended. Angel tilted his head to one side and quirked his lips in a half-smile.

"That was one of the worst films I've ever seen, Spike." He said. "What do people find in it?"

"Mindless amusement? A night's release into pack mentality? I have no idea. I like it, myself. Music's good. You don't have to watch it ever again, but it's another part of that pop-culture thing you've been missing out on." Spike checked the time again. Midnight- the perfect time for his next plan. "And now, for the next item on tonight's list." He reached into the bag again, and saw Angel tense again. "Relax, Peaches. This won't hurt- unless you open your eyes, I guess. Listen, I'm not asking you to do anything I wouldn't do myself, and I do have some dignity. That's why we're both going night-swimming." He tossed a bunched up ball of fabric at Angel. "Here you go. Change into that."

"Swimming? Spike, it's the middle of the night!"

"Angelus, Angelus, Angelus," Spike sighed melodramatically, changing into a pair of blue Speedo's without bothering to leave the room or turn away, "We're vampires. The middle of the night is our time, remember? You taught me that. The pool's open all night, and it's probably empty at this hour. We'll have all the privacy we want to demonstrate what a 'good time' is."

"Fine. If the place really is empty." Angel shook out his new pair of swimming apparel and his jaw dropped. "I'm. Not. Wearing. This." He grated out.

"Fine by me, Peaches, if skinny-dipping's your thing. I'm not explaining anything to any other people we meet, though." Spike shrugged, holding back a smirk at the look on Angel's face. It had taken him a while to fine a rainbow-striped pair of briefs, but he had, and Angel was going to wear them, like it or not.

"They're...Striped." Angel said.

"Yes."

"And multicolored."

"Yes."

"This is my punishment for years of cruelty to children and small animals, isn't it?" Angel looked up at the unseen Heaven, then hung his head and started taking his pants off.

"Nah, just a bit of harmless fun. Don't get me involved in your so-called penance, alright?" Spike patted Angel shoulder happily. "Hell, I've been killing kids for years, and I'm still fine."

"Did you really?" Angel's face clouded, and Spike kicked himself mentally for his carelessness with words. Now the poof would be morose for the rest of the night. He sighed, forcing himself to stay calm.

"Yes. But I haven't for a long time, okay? Never liked it much- they're never big enough for a whole meal, anyway. They were fun to terrify, though. For fuck's sake, please don't get angsty on me. We've gone over it a million times." He said forcefully. The rest of the evening seemed rather uncertain.

"I'll try, but it's hard. The children are the worst, you know. So many of them..." Angel shuddered. Spike nodded, taking his hand and pulling him outside.

"I remember, mate. Let's swim this bad mood of your away, alright?" Why did he have to make such a fuss about things? And why couldn't Spike watch his mouth? Gods, dealing with his Sire could become tiring after a while. If Angel decided to stay depressed for the rest of the night, all of Spike's hard work would be wasted. He hated working for nothing. Trying for one of the only things that worked on Drusilla when she felt upset, he maximized the physical contact he had with his Sire, twining his fingers through Angel's and walking as close to him as he could without tripping them both up. To his surprise, Angel returned his attentions, and they walked most of the way to the pool in a half-embrace, which may have made the way longer, but improved it in their minds. Spike destroyed the mood intentionally by shoving Angel into the warmed pool with no warning, only seconds after they walked in. Angel let out an undignified shriek, followed by a stream of curses as he flailed about in the water. Spike grinned and dove in gracefully. Angel immediately caught him in a headlock and held him under the water. Spike shrugged and waited for Angel to get bored of the game and let him up. Angel, however, didn't quite let go as much as pull him up by the hair and glare at him.

"You irreverent pup, William." He growled. "I ought to-" He tried to think of something horrible enough to do, but couldn't find any punishment fitting for the horrendous crime. "You got my hair wet!" He settled on screeching, shaking Spike. "It's all messed up now, and it's your fault, you unartistic idiot!"

"Is that all you can say, Peaches?" Spike spat a mouthful of water into Angel's face, then swam away as fast as he could while Angel spluttered and blinking. He stood at the far corner of the pool, his body shaking with laughter. "Why don't you do something about it, then?"

"Oh, won't I!" Angel declared, cutting the water like a knife and tackling Spike around the knees, pushing them both to the floor of the shallow end of the pool. "You deserve the same!" With one hand he tousled Spike's hair roughly, while holding him down with the other. "There, see how it feels?"

"Bloody wonderful, Peaches." Spike replied, still laughing. He pushed Angel away and sat more comfortably, the water reaching his neck. "I told you you'd like it."

"Never said I wouldn't, Childe. I rather like swimming. It's just..." He looked down at himself, "They're atrocious."

"Aren't they, though? And you're such an obedient poof, wearing them without a complaint. I think you deserve a prize." Spike jumped at Angel, pushing hard off the floor and kissing him, landing them both in deeper water again. He moved lower and lower, then stopped and spat. "Ick. Chlorine. It's disgusting."

"Nobody asked you to do it, Spike." Angel said, offended.

"True. I wanted to, you idiot. I kinda like kissing you." Spike felt himself flush and ducked his head under the water to cool it. When he came up, Angel was smiling at him.

"I kinda like it when you kiss me, too. We should do it more often." So they did.

"I'm getting all wrinkly." Angel said after about an hour. They had both grown tired of the taste of pool water on each other's skin, and were simply lounging in the shallow water, enjoying the silence.

"Really? Let's check." Spike grabbed Angel's briefs and pulled them away from his body, looking down. "Cor, you are. We should get you out of here before something permanent happens." He sniggered when Angel blushed.

"I meant my hands, and you know it." He said, waving one hand to demonstrate. "But yeah, this is getting old."

"We could do something new..." Spike raised one eyebrow, but Angel shuddered.

"No we can't. This is a public pool, Spike- that would be so tacky. Besides, someone might come in." Angel said, then added hurriedly, "Not that I don't want to."

"Making up for lost time, Peaches? Right on. First to our room's on top!" He called, pulling himself out of the pool and reaching the door in two long strides. He slammed the door in Angel's face and ran as if the hounds of Hell were after him, leaving puddles in his wake. That was the only way to do what he kind of planned on doing, in his wildest dreams. It was his night, so he should get to be on top for once. Just for once, and fuck vampire laws. Angel would never agree, but if Spike won the right fair and square, he may yet have a chance. He had a strange fluttery feeling in his stomach- finally, to overpower the poof. About bloody time he showed him he wasn't the only master vampire around.

All these thoughts went through Spike's head as he reached their suite, then found that he didn't have the magnetic key card. Sheepishly, and with a mountain of doubts crashing on his head, he waited for Angel, who appeared seconds later.

"Did I really hear you say what I thought I did?" He gasped, holding out the card with a frown. Spike tried to sound way more confident than he was.

"Yep, and I was here first." He held the door for Angel, "On the bed, luv. Tonight, it's your bloody turn to get fucked but good."

Angel was stunned, to say the least. The temerity of it! What was the Childe thinking? How dare he even suggest it! He pushed the demon away and tried to think logically. It came with an effort, along with the realization that he should've been expecting that. After all, Spike could hold a grudge for almost as long as Angel himself could, and he did have a cause- in his view, at least. But he never imagined that Spike would actually act on it. Still, he figured he could handle it. It wouldn't be his first time- just his first with Spike. He shrugged as neutrally as he could, went into the bathroom and took two towels, throwing one at Spike. "In a second."

"I said now." Spike snapped impatiently, scrubbing himself, and pulling off the briefs. "I meant now." Who's the Master now, Angelus? He thought, a small glimmer of hope and triumph in his heart as Angel finished drying himself and lay on the bed wordlessly. "You know what to do." Excitement was rising in his throat, as well as in other parts of him, and he was glad to be out of the tight confinement of swimwear.

Now, what Angel really wanted to do was deep condition his hair and hope the chlorine didn't damage it too badly, but he knew what Spike wanted, and that was what mattered. He removed his own briefs and lay face down on the bed, waiting. He felt Spike move behind him, but there were no handcuffs or blindfolds.

"Good boy." Spike's gleeful voice reached him, but he also detected a note of uncertainty. They both knew that if Angel resisted, there would be no way for Spike to force him to obey. In Angel's mind it cheapened the whole thing- why prove your power over someone who didn't mind being subordinate? What was the point? For Spike, though, it would be a mark of acceptance from his Sire- admission into the 'inner circle' of Masters. Or so he thought, anyway.

"It's about time you felt what it's like, you know." Spike murmured as he stretched himself on the bed, running his hands along the length of Angel's body. He had had it all planned out earlier in the day- getting his Sire drunk enough or compliant enough to allow him- but no, he didn't want to be 'allowed'- he wanted to take it by force. He would've felt much better, to say the truth, if Angel had resisted just a tiny bit. Angel seemed completely resigned, even uncaring, and Spike felt the beginning of anger and apprehension. He pulled out a tube of lubricant he'd bought earlier in one of the more 'specialized' shops on the promenade, and used it on himself, parting Angel's butt-cheeks and spreading some of him as well. The lack of any reaction was unnerving. "Angelus, fucking say something!" He ordered, frustrated.

"What do you want me to say, Spike?" That tired voice- no fear, no anger, just acceptance and neutrality, brought up unpleasant memories of all the times he'd tried to get a rise out of Angel back in Sunnydale.

'I don't know! Something." Spike replied, finding to his dismay that he simply couldn't take it any further. It felt wrong on the deepest level to dominate Angel like that, and his silence was making it worse. It was as if he felt that he deserved it all. "I don't know." He pulled himself up and knelt by Angel's side, ready to give up on the whole thing, hampered only by his pride.

"Do you want me to resist? Yell at you, fight you? I'm not going to." Angel's voice was still neutral, showing no emotion. "If you need to do this, go ahead."

"I don't need anything, you poofy, thick-headed idiot, but I want to." Spike would've stamped his foot, but sitting down made that difficult. He got up and started stomping around the room instead, cursing and fuming.

"Is something wrong?" Some amusement crept into Angel's voice, infuriating Spike even more. He lunged at the bed, landing squarely on Angel and sinking his fangs into the older vampire's neck. The blood was bitter in his mouth, and he spat it out in disgust.

"What the fuck is wrong with me? What's wrong with you? Why can't I bloody do this?" He growled angrily. Angel tossed him off easily and turned, looking down at him.

"Because even if your mind disregards the Rules, your body and your demon can't. It's not allowed for a Childe to dominate his Sire, unless the Sire allows it." He explained.

"But Dru-" Spike protested.

"Did more than allow you, Childe. She asked for it- she enjoyed it." Angel gave Spike an appraising look. The younger vampire was flushed with something between excitement and shame, his cock limp and his eyes feverish. He said exactly what Angel expected him to say.

"You didn't resist! You allowed it."

"No I didn't. I may not have resisted actively, but I didn't want it to happen. You asked me not to involve you in my idea of atoning for past sins, and that counted, or would've had I allowed you to go through with it. I still didn't like it, but penance is rarely something one enjoys." He said calmly, taking in the desperate expression on Spike's face. "Don't look so heartbroken, Childe. It's okay."

"The hell it is" Spike snarled. "I blew it, didn't I? Things were going so well, and now I had to do something ruddy stupid and wrecked it all. I hate the world." Angel could see that he was confused, hurt and angry- mostly at himself. He moved closer and pulled Spike into a hug, which the younger vampire, for once, didn't resist in the least.

"You haven't wrecked anything. You finally pushed the envelope a bit too far, and now you know, at least vaguely, the lines you can't cross, so you don't have to try again, see?" He said gently. Spike shook his head. "William, how long has it been since you lived by conventional vampire rules?"

"Never. Hate the fucking rules."

"Exactly. And now your demon nature, and mine, to say the truth, are pretty much dictating our actions- at least when it comes to sex. We are allowed to do anything, pretty much, but there are some boundaries that can't be crossed. One of them is that a Childe-"

"Is not allowed to dominate his Sire. I got that, already, so stop harping on it." Spike raised his head. "I've broken every rule in the book but that one, I think- what makes it so special? I couldn't even drink from you!"

"Really? I wondered why you stopped."

"You tasted as foul as fish blood, is why. This is impossible! I won't let you control me like that, just because some stupid rule says you can." Spike crossed his arms and glared at Angel, as if it was all his fault.

"You can't do it because you don't really want to dominate me." Angel wasn't quite sure of that, but he gave it a try because it was the best option. He turned Spike around and started massaging his tense shoulders. "Relax- it's not the end of the world."

"I did too, and it fucking is. Sometimes I really hate you, Angelus." Spike sighed. It may have been true that he didn't want to dominate Angel, but he still wanted to prove himself. "This isn't fair, you know? I can probably take anybody else in the world, and you're the only one I'd really care about..." He trailed off when he realized what he'd just said, and flushed, pulling away. "Never mind."

"No, it's okay.  Felt the same about Darla- and about Buffy, to a certain extent." Angel said consolingly, secretly elated by Spike's words.

"Oh, I felt that about Buffy too, but now I don't have to." Spike said smugly. "I miss her already."

"So do I. Come on, Childe, it's getting late. Nearly three a.m.- do you have any other plans for us?" Angel lay back and looked at Spike through half-closed eyelids.

"Tons, but I don't feel like doing anything now." Spike glared at Angel again, then huffed and lay down again himself. "I was in such a good mood, and now it's gone."

"Let's see if I can improve it, hmm?" Angel whispered, reaching down to Spike's sleek cock, which rose to his attention rather gratifyingly.

"I guess." Spike gasped, "But-"

"You won't get to be on top, so don't ask. But I'll be as gentle as I can." Angel replied, putting one hand on Spike's mouth. "Now hush." He reached for the lubricant and squeezed some of it out. "Flavored, Spike?"

"Yeah...And I'm still covered in it..." The blond replied, smiling now, bad mood evaporated like summer dew.

"Oh? Getting ideas, Childe? They'll have to wait." Angel started rubbing himself against Spike's back and legs, causing him to shudder.

"Just do it already." Spike clenched his teeth, prepared for pain again, but to his surprise Angel managed to enter him so slowly and gradually that he barely felt any pain at all. Now there was only the delicious sensation of someone so intimately close to him, in him, that filled his mind. Angel started pumping in and out, slowly at first but the faster and faster, and Spike could only moan in pleasure.

"See, you like it." Angel said triumphantly, feeling the tension in his balls but drawing the moment as long as he could.

"Never said I didn't. I just- yeah, faster, you poof- wanted to see if I'd like the other side..." Spike bucked under Angel, pulling him closer to him and moving one cautious hand down. "May...I?" He asked.

"Of course." Angel smiled indulgently. "Not." He pushed one last time and came, exhaling a long sigh as he did. "Wait. Not until I tell you."

"That's not fair, again!" Spike whined, vamping out when Angel pulled out all the way and flipped him over. "I wanna, oh, oh, yeah...That's what you meant..." He shivered with pleasure when Angel took the whole length of his cock in his mouth. As he did the night before, Angel soon proved that he could give better head than anybody Spike had ever been with, seeming to anticipate his needs and answer them immediately. Spike nearly wailed when Angel pulled away just when he started coming, and the white liquid shot out all over the both of them. Angel ignored his Childe's irritation and kissed him, leaving his with bruised lips and the flavor of minty lubricant in his mouth. "You bastard."

"What? I wanted to keep the flavor. Not so bad. Happier, Childe?"

"I reckon." Spike pouted, turning on his side, "But I still didn't get to be top."

"Is it really that important?" Angel asked, knowing that he would eventually give in if Spike persisted, hoping that he wouldn't.

"Not really." Spike shrugged. "If you go on blowing me every night, I may forget about it completely in a while."

"Don't push it. What else is there in that bag?" Angel moved towards it curiously.

"A few toys, handcuffs, and two more movies. I'm not really in the mood now, but we can catch them later today- even you can't sleep more than twelve hours, and I know I can't handle more than six. Come on, I'm lonely here." Spike spread himself out on the bed, stretching his arms and legs to the corners. Angel looked at him, a wicked gleam in his eyes.

"I kinda like you in that position, Spike. I should remember it, for later. Tomorrow's my night again." He smirked when Spike drew in all his extremities immediately. "But until then, I suppose we should shower before we sleep. My hair's full of pool-water."

"I guess." Spike hopped up. "Is it big enough for two?"

"Let's check." Angel smiled and they both tried to squeeze through the bathroom door at the same time.

With a bit of squirming and shoving, they both eventually fit in the shower.