Angel / Pet / Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVEN

The lights were dim in the penthouse-slash-honeymoon suite when Spike arrived the next morning. Not yet fully awake himself he navigated his way into the kitchen and began readying the coffee and blood. Those basic needs taken care of, he pillowed his head on the countertop and watched the coffee drip down into the pot. It was about as much as his brain felt capable of handling.

"Yeah, and?" Angel's voice was saying, and Spike didn't have to turn around to know that the person, demon or other that he was speaking to was on the other end of a cell phone. Da was using his boss voice. Plus the bloody piece of technology was never far from Angel's ears. Spike had visions of Angel having to bark out orders and take conference calls while in the middle of having a slash, save for the fact that vamps didn't need to use the toilet. Which left sex as the only other embarrassing thing to interrupt but Angel, much like Angelus, didn't stand for distractions during his leisure time. Granted, killing people who dared to bother them could *add* to the leisure time, but Spike imagined the souls made that not as much fun as the old days. Plus there was no telling what the new mortal of the family might think.

"Am I?" Angel asked, and Spike knew from *that* tone of voice that whoever was on the other end was about to have his wobbly bits handed over to him on a platter. You *never* told Da what he was going to do. Not even Angel at his sappiest put up with that crap. "Well tell you what, *Dick*, I'm going to love to watch you try. 'cause honestly, I didn't know that was possible without any money. You think so? No, no, here's the fun part. Not only *can* I do that to you, I can also take every bit of cash and assets I just swiped out of your accounts and use it to put a reward on your head which I fully intend to give to the person who manages to kill you in the most painful and comical way possible unless *you* stop screwing around and start making me happy. Right now? I'm downright cranky. So I suggest you take one hour to think about it and then get back to me. And in the meanwhile, be real careful around anybody carrying sardines. Trust me when I say it's a lousy way to go."

"Mornin'," Spike said, automatically handing over a mug of blood once Angel ended the call.

"That's one way to describe it," Angel said. He took a long swallow then speed-dialed the next victim, not even bothering with pleasantries before he launched into even more negotiations and posturings and meetings and other bollocks like that.

Spike tuned it out, sitting down on a stool by the island as he sucked down his own liquid breakfast. He watched Angel through half-lidded eyes, his grandsire's body turned into a blur of light and shadow - shadow from the dark trousers and fine blue shirt he wore, light from the pale skin of his face, hands, and currently exposed muscular chest. Apparently Angel couldn't be bothered to do up his shirt before coming out for breakfast. Or, more likely, the day's annoyances had kept him from it.

It was a half-hour later before Angel finally turned his phone off and tossed it onto the island. "That rings again, throw it into the fishtank."

"Yes, da," Spike said. They went through this every morning. Angel had to get his complaints out before putting a good face on for the company.

Angel checked the time. "All that and it's only 6 am. This has 'great day' written all over it."

Spike slid off his chair and fetched some more blood, this time bringing it over to Angel alongside a black cup of coffee. "Lovely day at the office?"

"And then some," Angel confirmed. He took the coffee first, caffeine addict that he was, and downed it greedily. Spike stayed nearby, ready to give a refill, but Angel stilled him with a touch, working strong fingers through Spike's hair and along the back of Spike's neck. It was not unlike being petted, and Spike knew that for Angel it held much the same purpose - thank the pet for being a good boy, and calm *yourself* a bit from the process.

To be honest, it wasn't a bad thing all around. Spike leaned into it, letting Angel's fingers work their magic on a few tensions of his own. "You'll do all right."

"Suppose so," Angel said.

Spike looked up at him. "You *can't* be second-guessing yourself now. I thought you didn't do that."

"Just thinking," Angel replied. He finished off the coffee and handed the mug over for more.

Spike filled it, this time adding a little sugar and milk. Angel didn't mind it doctored up once he had the first go-round. "Care to share?"

"Not particularly."

Which wasn't unusual for them. Spike handed the mug back, then took a seat beside him. "Fine. Stay stoic. You'll still do all right though."

"Thanks."

"You even paying attention to me?"

"Not really."

Spike hid his smirk. He hated letting Angel know he could actually be funny from time to time. Lead to Angel making more jokes on purpose and that was usually painful for all involved. "Right then, ignore me. But I'm proud of you and make no mistake."

*Now* Angel looked at him. "You're what?"

"*That* you hear?" Spike said, annoyed with himself for getting into this before he was fully awake in his own right. When Angel refused to back down he sighed. "Don't make me repeat it in front of others and if you *tell* anybody I'll do you in. But… yeah. I might be, you know, not as ashamed to be related to you as often as I once was. Maybe."

Angel folded his arms on the counter, leaning forward now. "Really?"

"Trust you to only pay attention when we're talking about your handsome self," Spike shot back. He downed some of Angel's coffee on general principle. "Yeah, all right? Been watching you deal with what it takes to be Mr. Hero and far as I'm concerned you can have it. 's no fun and you're better at it anyway."

"Thought you hated how cushy my job was," Angel said, taking the coffee back before Spike could finish it.

Spike shrugged, wiping his lips. "Before I knew how annoying your job was, wasn't it? People barking at you at all hours, trying to kill you, trying to blame you from everything from ultimate evil to the toner being out. But the hell of it is, you're good at it. Been watching you. Like a duck to bloody water you are. All take charge, do this, out of my way before I kill you. 's not bad."

"So what you're saying is I'm really good at being bossy and demanding," Angel said.

Spike thought about it. "Actually, yeah."

Angel chuckled. "Thanks."

"Anytime," Spike assured him, glad they were back on the insults again. Too much sincere conversation and -

Angel's hand was on the back of his neck, gripping his hair. There was kissing. Deep, warm, wet, *claiming* kissing. The kind where you packed it in and called it a day because you knew what you wanted to spend the rest of your hours doing, and every bit of it involved the mouth that was currently attached to your lips.

"Thanks, boy," Angel said, his voice doing that low, husky thing that only another vampire could hear.

"Right," Spike said, chasing after Angel's mouth with his own because why *talk* a thing to death?

"I'm proud of you too," Angel added.

"Right," Spike repeated, not really paying attention because Angel's hand was holding him still while Angel's tongue and teeth were doing interesting things to Spike's neck. Then the words sunk in. "Wait - what?"

"Shaddup, boy," Angel told him.

"Yes, da," Spike answered, automatically. He moved into Angel's lap as Angel pulled him closer. They kept going, kissing and touching each other, Angel's hands strong on his body, Spike's light and teasing as they explored that expanse of muscular chest.

Angel hauled him up onto the counter. It was only a bit of quick movement that allowed Spike to get the mugs out of the way - not out of a desire for a tidy kitchen so much as a desire to keep his own arse out of the a wet puddle - before they were tangled together, Spike's legs wrapped around Angel's waist, Angel's hands strong and possessive on Spike's body, and the kissing that went on and on, melting off the rest of the world until they were grasping and biting at each other, nuzzling closer as they whispered -

"Angel, I - "

"Spike, I - "

And then they locked eyes.

"Bloody - "

"Son of a - "

They pushed apart, immediately looking at everything but each other as they fussed with cups and clothing.

"That was - " Angel started, then gestured for Spike to help him out with the wording.

"Weird," Spike suggested, dumping mugs into the sink.

"Definitely weird." Angel agreed. He ran a hand through his mussed hair. "New rule: we don't talk before we're fully awake yet."

"Happy to second the motion," Spike told him.

"Good," Angel said. He smoothed out imaginary wrinkles in his pants. "Good. And we don't tell anybody."

"Bloody right we won't," Spike said, rising off spoons with more vigor than was necessary. "Vow of silence, right here, right now?"

"Does that include me?"

They both turned to see Wesley comfortably leaning against the doorway.

He grinned at them. "Good morning."

Angel immediately went over to his pet. "How long have you been there?"

"Long enough," Wesley replied. He settled into Angel's arms, sliding his hands along the inside of Angel's still-open shirt. "But don't worry. I promise I didn't see anything. Except - " And here Wes took on what Spike thought was a commendably pouty tone " - an empty bed. I woke up and you weren't there."

"That's because you got up too early," Angel told him. He mirrored Wesley's caresses, sliding a hand of his own up Wes's thigh until it was underneath the black silk robe he was wearing. A tiny smile on Angel's lips told Spike that Wes was wearing bugger all underneath. "I was going to wake you up. Make sure you had breakfast in bed."

Wesley tapped accusing fingers against Angel's chest. "And for that you needed to be dressed for work?"

"I've got work today, Wes," Angel told him.

"As do I," Wes said, not taking any of da's bullshit and Spike felt he could like Wes enough for that alone. "But you're not leaving here until you've had a proper morning."

"I've eaten," Angel defended himself, looking to Spike for backup.

Wes leaned in and said pointedly, "I haven't."

Spike saw desire go through Angel's eyes.

"It's not that I don't want to," Angel said. "*Believe* me. But today we don't have time."

"We'll make time," Wesley told him.

Angel shook his head, back into business mode again. "We can't. I've got meetings all day. Big stuff."

Wes frowned. "Should I be worried?"

"Not yet," Angel said. He steered Wes into a chair, motioning for Spike to supply coffee. "But we need a family meeting."

"Sounds serious," Wesley observed. He flashed a smile in Spike's direction once a cream and one sugar cup appeared. "Thank you, Spike."

"Welcome, pet," Spike said, sitting down himself.

"It is a little," Angel said. "I've got to be out all day, maybe into tomorrow. I'm going to be in the plane going up and down the coastline so I can meet with - " Angel looked up as he rattled the list off of his head " - two clients, a possible vendor, a rival company and some guy who really just annoys me but apparently needs face time." Angel looked down again. "That may end with me ripping his off. Not sure yet."

Wesley got up. "I'll get dressed, I can be ready in - "

Angel pushed him back down onto the chair. "You stay put."

"Angel, you're not going alone," Wesley told him.

"No, I'm not," Angel agreed. "But that doesn't mean you. I need you here." He addressed the both of them. "We're changing how things work around here. We have to. Last night Gunn found out about me and Wes - "

"Shoe finally dropped on that?" Spike asked, amazed it'd taken this long for anyone else to notice Angel and Wesley making goo eyes at each other.

"Seeing us having sex in the elevator probably helped," Angel answered. "Either way that means it's not a secret. I don't like not knowing who knows what and what they're going to tell so the best defense is a good offense. Wes, I told everybody."

Wesley paused as he stirred his cup. Whatever he might have felt about this giving away of his privacy he didn't betray with any outward emotion. Spike didn't know him well enough to know if that meant he was good at hiding it or if it really didn't matter to him. "I see."

"Everybody knows we're together, everybody knows how important you are to me," Angel continued. "And that a fast way to make me unhappy is to make *you* unhappy. At that point it was easier to stop dicking around and admit you're in charge of this place whenever I can't be."

"Thank you," Wesley said.

"Wouldn't do it if you weren't up for the job," Angel told him. "But don't bust out the party balloons for your promotion just yet. Because now everybody knows that if they want to get to me, there's a big target sign on your back." He turned to Spike. "That's where you come in. You're going to be Wes's shadow."

"Bodyguard duty?" Spike asked.

"That's part of it," Angel confirmed. "I want you taking care of him 24/7. If I'm not with him you sure as Hell better be. You watch his back, you make him eat, you take care of his needs, you - "

"Make sure he's back here by a decent hour all hot and randy just in time for when you get home," Spike finished, having been down a road much like this before.

"Bingo," Angel said.

Wes was already puzzling over the details. "Take care of my needs? Does that mean I'm in charge of Spike now?"

"Means he's there to help you but only because I said so," Angel said. "Think of it like us - out in the office I want to hear what you have to say but that doesn't give you your 'no' back. You still answer to me."

Wes smiled at that. "Yes, Angel."

Angel grinned back like the besotted fool he was. "Good lad." Just then his phone went off. Spike shoved it down to him. Angel made a face when he saw the caller ID, putting the phone in his pocket without answering. "All right, I've gotta go. Wes, sorry about the morning. We'll have to do breakfast in bed some other time."

"When you're not distracted by things you'd rather not speak of again," Wesley agreed. He helped Angel do up his shirt but he spared a smile in Spike's direction.

"Right," Angel told him. He buttoned up his cuffs, shrugged into a jacket, then pulled Wesley close for a good long kiss. Spike looked away, not much for the sappy stuff.

He got a hand scruffing through his hair for all his troubles. "Behave yourself. Do your job. Both of you call me direct if you need me."

"If you get yourself killed I'm going to be quite cross," Wesley told him.

"Can he give *me* a blowjob since he missed out on giving you one?" Spike called out, wondering if he'd found his own loophole in that 'taking care of Wes' bit.

"Nice try," Angel called back. There was the sound of the elevator doors opening, then sliding shut. "But fat chance."

Spike shrugged, grinning at Wes. "Worth a shot."