What Was Lost

by SpikesKat

Chapter 13

“William.” 

“’gelus,” Spike replied somewhat warily. It had been a long time since he’d heard that particular tone of voice. It instantly put him on edge. 

“You want to tell me what you think you’re doing?” 

“Doing?” 

“With Xander.” 

“’m not doing anything with the boy.” 

Angel’s brows drew together in a frown. 

“So him moving here—?” 

“Look, I tried to get Harris to piss off. He wasn’t having it. What else was I gonna do?” 

“You tell me.” 

Spike opened his mouth to speak but Angel beat him to it. 

“Does he know?” 

There was no need to explain what Xander might know. 

“Course not. ‘m not bloody stupid.” 

“Actually…” Xander spoke from the shadows, startling both vampires. He stepped into the light, and there was no mistaking the frown he directed at Angel. Some sixth sense had told him to hold off on the shower. The hairs on the back of his neck had been standing on end as he’d shut and locked the door. He’d hastily pulled his shirt back on and hurried back out the door. Now he knew the source of his unease. “Angel, so not nice to see you,” he snapped. 

Spike bit back a smile seeing Angel’s frown of displeasure at the sarcastic greeting. Harris was the only one besides himself who could get under Angel’s skin. And took joy in it too. 

“Xander,” Angel growled. 

“What?”  

He fluttered his one eye at Angel and this time Spike did laugh. He couldn’t help it. Harris had more balls than common sense when it came to Angel. Come to think of it, he also had that in common with Harris. 

“Spike.” 

Angel’s growl was directed at him now. 

“What are you doing here?” Xander demanded of Angel before he had a chance to say anything else. 

“What am I doing here? What are you doing here?” 

“Uh, it’s called a job.” There was a pregnant pause at the end, in which any number of derogatory names could have been attached. Doofus, or maybe arsehole. Spike was rather surprised at the boy’s restraint. 

“Have you lost your mind? Spike’s—” 

Spike stiffened, waiting for the truth to come out. For Xander to look at him in horror and run back to the safety of his hotel room – not that it could actually keep a vampire out if one really wanted to get in. 

“Soulless,” Xander finished for Angel. “Yeah. Got the memo.” 

Spike astonished gaze shifted from Angel to Xander. 

Xander did a good impression of an eye roll. 

“Spike, subtle you are not. I got it about the fifth or so time you went out of your way claiming to be an evil, soulless demon.” Xander looked at Angel. “Any other enlightening news you have to share?” 

Angel wanted to wipe the smug look off Xander’s face by telling him about Buffy, how distraught she was because Spike’s things had gone missing. He couldn’t though. For one thing, it would kill the look of wonderment in Spike’s eyes.  

After all that Spike had been made to suffer, Angel just couldn’t bear to cause him any more pain. And knowing, truly knowing, how badly Buffy hurt would do that. For as much as Spike might protest, he still loved the Slayer. 

For now, he walked away. But they would talk – he and Xander – later, once Spike wasn’t around.  

~*~*~*~*~ 

“Wouldn’t have pegged you as being miss-ish,” Spike goaded as Xander paused before the building, eye wide in stunned surprise. There’d been no mistaking the demons coming and going in and out of the building, a few humans were thrown in for good measure.  

After the big reveal – or maybe not big reveal – of the previous night, Spike had still met up with Xander to look over the apartment, only somewhat warily, as if unsure of his welcome. When he had arrived, he’d waited for Xander to change his mind, but the boy had said nothing other than “Hey, Spike,” and a “Let me grab my keys”. The silence as they walked to the apartment complex wasn’t uncomfortable, not like last night, when Angel had just walked away leaving him and Spike staring at each other, before Harris had given him a half-smile, turned on his heel, and left.   

“I’m not being miss-ish,” Xander griped. “You could have told me I was going to have demons for neighbors though.” 

“Would you have come?” 

Prior to moving to Myrtle Beach, the answer would have been an emphatic no! Now, however… well, if Spike seemed okay with the place, who was he to stand on ceremony? He said as much. 

“Place is safe enough,” Spike replied evenly. That Harris seemed inclined to take his word was still pretty shocking. A part of him was still waiting for the other shoe to drop. 

“Well alright then.” Xander squared his shoulders and started up the walkway. Just before he reached the glass doorway, it opened, and Scott’s brother – it had to be him, given the family resemblance – greeted him. 

“You must be Xander. I’m Jason, by the way.” He shook hands with Xander then nodded at Spike. “Spike. How’s it going?” 

Spike muttered something that could have been “fine”.  

“Well, come in. I’ll show you around. As you can see, the front lobby has a keyed entry. There’s an intercom system too. Keeps out the riffraff.” Jason winked and kept walking. “The apartment is on the fourth floor. We can take the elevators or the stairs.” 

“The elevator is fine,” Xander replied. 

“Good. Good. There’s an indoor pool and a gym on the first floor. Laundromat is as well – have to pay for that though.” 

Xander nodded as he entered the elevator after Jason. Spike followed behind him. 

The apartment was surprisingly spacious for a single bedroom. Especially given the small amount of rent being asked. There was a huge living room, dining room, and kitchen; the appliances all looked fairly new. The bedroom was a decent size, large enough to hold a king-sized bed and still have room for a dresser and wardrobe and room to move around without constantly banging one’s foot against the furniture. The bathroom was in the bedroom, but there was also a half bath out in the main living area.  

In all, it was perfect. He said as much to Jason and they got down to particulars of rent and when Xander could plan on moving in. Given that the place was already vacant, it was just a matter of rent monies changing hands and keys being turned over. The deposit was waived given that he was a friend of Spike’s. 

~*~*~*~*~ 

Xander had just collapsed onto the couch when there was a knock at his door. Thinking that Spike had forgotten something he yelled out, “Come in, the door’s open.” 

He should have known better. He was a child of the hellmouth after all.  

“Xander.” 

Xander scrambled to his feet upon hearing Angel’s voice, tired muscles that had been pushed to their limit moving around his new furniture were but a distant memory as a rush of adrenaline flooded his body. He looked around wildly for something he could use as a stake.  

“What do you want?” Xander asked as he edged toward the dining room and the wooden table and chair set. He wondered if he could break off a chair leg before Angel was upon him. 

“We need to talk.” 

Angel seemed so serious that Xander gave up trying to find a weapon and instead headed towards the kitchen.  

“Something tells me I’m gonna need a drink for this. Want one?” 

Angel opened his mouth to reply in the negative, seemed to think better of it, and finally nodded. “Yeah. Sure.” 

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