Author: Mithril
E-mail: taptap2@gmail.com
Title: Most Favored
Pairing: Angel/Spike
Rating: Adult, Slash & Het
Summary: The Aurelius Clan chooses a new Master
Distribution: Various S/A friendly lists.
Spoilers:
Post NFA. Angel slays the dragon, and the battle is
won with
Disclaimer: I don't own Angel or Spike or anything else from ME.
Feedback: Always welcome.
Part 81:
That didn't mean he was going to push too hard or too fast – that would in all likelihood be disastrous. Baby steps was the plan, he reminded himself; little incursions that pressed lightly against Spike's barriers, not an outright assault that Spike would feel duty bound to protest for his honor. Angel knew all too well how sensitive William could be, and he knew, too, that William was still there, kept safely hidden behind Spike's tougher exterior. Illyria wasn't the only creature in this place that had a shell.
* * *
Struggle for Good
Protect the Helpless
Be Redeemed
Angel and Spike's eyes automatically went to the sign on the far wall upon entering the kitchen. After a pause none but another vampire would notice, Angel turned to the fridge and began foraging through it for the items that always constituted their first meal of the day. Without looking up he held out two bags of blood and they were taken from his hand. When he finally emerged, hands full of food, Spike already had the microwave going and the kettle on. His childe started the coffee maker just as Angel cracked his first egg, then lined up four mugs on the counter for blood and coffee, and two cups on saucers for tea. Angel didn't know why a mug couldn't be used for tea, and had said as much weeks before, but after receiving a blank stare from his English pet and a derisive eye-roll from his childe, he didn't bring it up again.
While Spike worked, Angel watched him, making sure he didn't seem to. It was always a pleasure watching his boy; he was grace incarnate, with a smooth economy of motion that was unearthly to behold. And the scent that rose off him...
Angel inhaled deeply, gripping the counter for a moment as his head swam dizzily. They had consciously skipped their start of day shower so that the scent of sex would be strong upon them and their pets, that sensory assault a key component to much of what would go forward toward their final claiming. It was for the pets, but Angel was in no way immune to it. The musky, funky scent of sex on his childe, the scent of his own seed and Spike's mingled together, was a heady brew that was irresistible to him.
At that instant the microwave beeped. Spike retrieved the bags, dropped his fangs, made a quick incision in one bag with his incisors, and poured the blood in a waiting mug without spilling a drop. Angel took it when offered, then pretended not to watch his childe repeat those actions on the second bag.
Perfection. This was his creation. Despite all the soul-driven angst over the misdeeds of his demon, Angel couldn't find it in his heart to regret William.
"Anything in particular you want them to focus on tonight?" Spike asked abruptly, his voice startling Angel from his introspection.
"We don't have much left to finish prior to the Masters' meeting, do we?" Angel asked in return.
Spike shook his head. "We'll have the rooms done fairly quickly, but we've got the time, so we'll take it. Unless you can think of anything else, all that's left is determining how and when to implement the last part of the group soul spell. Right now I think it's best to keep them focused on the physical. The last week can be dedicated to strategy – and continued training, of course. What about your paintings?"
Angel thought for a minute, reviewing the process in his head. "They'll be done in plenty of time," he said after a moment's thought.
"Okay, then we've got extra time. Do you want to break early for the next few days, like we did last night?"
"Let's return the weapons training to its original spot, then break after that, at least for the next week, then we can revise our schedule to focus on strategy. We'll incrementally shift the pets back to warrior and counselor mode again as we near the gathering. Hopefully by then they'll have become more comfortable with the servicing aspect, at least enough to satisfy the other Masters' assessment. You're right, though – for now, service should be their total focus. For the remainder of the week we'll split the day into two parts; preparing the hotel and hall from four until ten pm, and physical training from ten pm until dawn. Okay?"
"Yeah, sounds like a good balance," Spike agreed, pouring strong coffee, black, into his sire's now empty red-lined mug.
Angel nodded his thanks, took a sip of the blood-tinged coffee, and returned to his eggs, while Spike poured out two new mugs of coffee, one thick with cream, and two Earl Greys in delicate porcelain cups. He set all four on the table just as Wesley, Gunn and Illyria arrived, grabbed the plate of toast Angel handed off, and took a chair. Angel set the eggs and bacon down, and joined them at the table.
Wesley and Gunn quickly busied themselves with their food, and though Gunn's complexion didn't show it easily, both vampires could feel the tell-tales signs of a blush heating their cheeks. Illyria, however, was completely oblivious to these signs, or if she was aware of them, didn't realize their significance.
"When will you conclude the ritual with Wesley and Charles?" she asked Angel.
The two subjects of her question choked on the bites just taken and coughed to clear their suddenly congested airways, while an irrepressible smirk broke out on Spike's face. "It's hard to be patient, luv, isn't it?" he said. Despite the smirk his voice was gentle.
"Yes, although it is interesting to watch, as well," she admitted innocently.
Spike and Angel exchanged wry grins.
"You miss having them to yourself at night?" Angel asked.
Illyria thought for a minute, then nodded. "I understand that their primary allegiance is to you, and then to Spike, but I have grown accustomed to their presence while I recharge."
Angel's nodded, his smile fading. He understood all too well what she meant. Vampires were pack animals. Being alone, without his family near – especially when he slept – had been something he'd never really gotten used to during his years of solitude. "You'll have them back soon. A few more days until the ritual, and then a few more after that for additional training should be sufficient. For most of the last week leading up to the gathering, they'll be back with you."
Illyria inclined her head, the gesture clearly indicating both her understanding and her satisfaction with the answer.
Wesley and Gunn had watched the back and forth exchange like a tennis match, in wide-eyed silence, taking in the timeline with extreme interest. They fidgeted throughout the rest of the breakfast meeting, but luckily it was relatively short, with little new to add. Another day had started, bringing them that much closer to the Masters gathering and all it entailed.
* * *
When Angel entered the great hall at midnight, it was the first any of the others had seen of him since breakfast. Splotches of painted dotted his torso here and there, and his hair was disheveled. His eyes were intense and the first thought each of the others had was that Angelus was very close at hand. It was clear that he'd either had a very difficult or very productive day so far. The pets sank quickly into obeisance, fearing the first and its potential aftermath, but were quickly reassured by the gentle brush of the dark vampire's fingers along their shoulder and a softly murmured 'rise'. Productive it was.
As they rose Angel moved toward Spike who watched his approach with narrowed eyes and pursed lips. The taller vampire stepped up close – close enough to make the two humans watching uncomfortable – and reached around to close his fingers in the hair at the back of the blond vampire's head. He tugged back, forcing Spike's gaze upward, and stared intently down at his features, as though studying them to compare and contrast to the work done in the hours past. Turning his childe's face from one side to the other he inspected him closely, leaned in to sniff audibly at the curve of his neck, where his claiming bite-mark was still evident, though well over a hundred years old, then finally nodded, released him, and stepped casually away to begin the short tai chi ritual he usually employed prior to weapons training that was part stretching, part calming meditation.
After an almost imperceptible pause, Spike cleared his throat and called the others to order in a voice that was hoarser than normal, resolutely willing down the suddenly swelling erection in his pants. They moved quickly to range themselves in a loose line before him, taking a relaxed defensive posture, and a second later, just as Spike was successful in his objective, Angel completed his set and stepped forward to stand beside his childe.
Neither Wesley and Gunn knew exactly what would happen next. They were still naked, and they still wore their cock-rings from the previous training session, so both were fairly sure that weapons training would be pre-empted and they would be sent to Angel's room instead. That didn't happen.
"For the rest of the week your daily schedule will be split into two parts," Spike informed them. "We'll work on readying the hotel for the gathering during the first part of the day, and then from ten o'clock on we'll be training. Weapons training will resume its place from midnight until two. From ten o'clock on, you'll remain naked. As for the bands," he added, glancing down at their groins. "They'll stay on until I'm convinced that you can respond appropriately without them." Heat flashed from both human's flesh, easily discernible to the vampires. "You'll be tested on this response periodically during the first part of each day. Your objective is to eliminate the bands before the gathering."
The heat from the two humans intensified as they realized that the last statement was not a suggestion, but rather a command.
It was Illyria's turn this night, and she chose hand-to-hand combat. Spike paired Wesley with her and Gunn with Angel and sparring quickly commenced. At first the blond simply circled the others, correcting Wesley and Gunn's technique by word or touch. Illyria needed no correction whatsoever. Within twenty minutes, though, Spike had insinuated himself into the mix and the one-on-one pairings devolved into a free-for-all melee. Between the vampires and an ancient God, the humans had their hands full. They were pressed to the limit both physically and mentally but they rose to the task and Spike and Angel were very pleased with their response.
Wesley and Gunn were dripping with sweat, hard pants heaving through their lungs, when Spike finally called a halt to the session. Angel, Spike and Illyria appeared unchanged, except that the sharp light in Angel's eyes was diminished and he appeared far more calm than when he'd entered the room two hours before. He shook his shoulders once, and his muscles shifted from tense fighting readiness to perfect relaxation, then headed toward the door.
Spike tilted his head in the direction of the retreating figure, as though he heard something no one else in the room did, then nodded and returned his attention to the pets. "Upstairs," he commanded. "You have fifteen minutes to ready yourselves." He turned abruptly and followed Angel out of the hall. By the time the pets had reached the stairs, the vampires were out of sight.