•••

Wil stretched lazily, still a bit groggy from the day’s sleep. He rolled over, searching for his bedmate even though he knew Angel wasn’t there. The elder vampire had left over an hour ago, determined to get some sort of paperwork done before Wesley arrived. Wil had declined to join him. After all, it wasn’t his fault Angel had slacked off.

Ignoring early-evening hunger pangs, Wil completed his ablutions and dressed, preparing for yet another day of crime-fighting and innocent-saving. He grumbled about it some, but over all it wasn’t a bad job. He could certainly see why Angel stuck to it. The rare moment when he succeeded more than balanced out all those times when he failed, or when the saved person accused him of some sort of nefarious act—something that had, luckily, decreased in frequency of late.

Stepping outside the room, he saw the other employees of Angel Investigations milling around the lobby. Taking a moment to study them, Wil leaned against the railing and watched. Xander, Cordelia and Oz were taking up one corner, while Gunn, Wesley and Fred occupied the front desk. The current arrangements had been in place for the last few weeks, ever since Oz, at their behest, had changed Cordelia.

The events that had occurred at the vampire-infested nursing home had haunted the group for some time. Actually, they were still pretty shook up about it. First, there was Cordelia getting changed, and Xander getting the visions. Everyone was ecstatic that Cordelia was still alive, if a bit…doggy, as Xander put it. Cordelia had snapped back that at least now she really was a bitch.

For a few days afterwards, they had worried a bit about the visions. After all, she’d given them to Xander. Could he handle them? Could he give them back? Did he even have them, since she didn’t die? They didn’t have to wait long for an answer. One evening, Xander collapsed right into his mu shu pork, screaming and clutching his head. A pack of some sort of scaly demons was going after indigents. Cordelia had spent the evening consoling Xander and offering tips and advice. She couldn’t really bring herself to feel guilty, however. She was damned grateful it wasn’t her.

At least, until she got her next vision. It had been only a few days later that Cordelia complained of a slight twinge—and a rather graphic hallucination of some vampires at a department store. They’d gone after the vamps, and then went home to work out what was going on. Did they now have two vision-people?

Apparently, that was the case. Cordelia was none too happy, and neither was Xander. They didn’t see the need for two of them. While Cordelia’s new werewolf status lent her some immunity against the visions, they were still unpleasant. Xander, however, was in a bad way. He was much more sensitive to them than Cordelia was, and each one brought on muscle spasms, nosebleeds, and terrible headaches. They were genuinely concerned for him.

Angel finally decided to go visit the Oracles. As usual, the oblique immortals were less-than-helpful. They gave him only one piece of direct, to-the-point information: Xander was now Wil’s seer. Cordelia had apparently been kept on as Angel’s seer. Angel asked if this meant that Wil was leaving. The Oracles had just smiled. He then asked what they should do about Xander’s headaches. The response he got was the standard, ‘work with what you’ve got.’

The group was, needless to say, unimpressed with the answers he brought back. Wil himself was frightened that this was some sort of omen regarding his leaving. Xander wanted the visions to go away, and Cordelia was still a bit shaken from being changed.

Wil shook himself out of his reverie and joined the group downstairs. Oz was busy guiding Xander and Cordelia in some meditations he’d picked up in Tibet. For Cordelia, they helped her get in touch with the wolf—something that seemed to come easier to her than to Oz. For Xander, the meditations helped him focus on the visions instead of the pain. He called them vision-lamaze.

He decided to join the Wesley-Fred-Gunn group, who were actively discussing, read-arguing, about some sort of purchase Gunn wanted the agency to make. Knowing Gunn, it was a weapon of some sort. Wesley argued ferociously, while Fred tried to mediate. The couple was a bit aggravated at Gunn anyway. He’d been hanging around them all the time since Cordelia’s changing; the turn of events had deeply troubled him, and while he worked out his issues he tried to stay away from the werewolf-seer. His avoidance hurt Cordelia, but she said nothing about it.

“We have one already,” Wil said, chipping in his two cents’ worth.

“We do not!” Gunn replied, pointing at a picture in a weapons catalogue. Wil grinned and walked over to a chest next to the weapons locker. Opening it, he pulled out the bronze and zinc bladed axe, good for beheading Wargouithim demons and a few other minor beasties. Gunn gaped and Wesley crowed, victorious for the moment.

“Where’d we get that?” Gunn asked, ogling the weapon.

“Rummage sale me an’ Angel went to last month. Got it for fifteen dollars, along with the toaster we used to replace the one Fred killed,” Wil replied, smirking.

“Fifteen…” Gunn whispered reverently. The axe normally sold for around two thousand dollars.

“Wargouithim demons?” Angel asked as he walked into the lobby. “Did somebody have a vision?”

“Thank gods, no,” Xander said firmly. “Gunn wanted to buy the big axe, but you and Wil already scored one at some yard sale last month.”

“Rummage sale,” Angel corrected idly. “And a toaster, too.”

“Mustn’t forget the toaster,” Wesley chimed in, grinning as Fred scowled at him.

“Oh, so there’s nothing to chop up?” Angel asked, looking fondly at the massive axe.

Wil shook his head. “Sorry, luv. No visions, no big bads.” Looking around at the group, who were either weary, wary, or just plain bored, he made a decision. “Of course, we could go to Caritas. Friday nights are two-for-one drinks.”

“Caritas?” Xander asked curiously. Oz grinned. He’d stopped by there once a long time ago.

Cordelia almost said something, but Wil cut her off. “Night club. Fun place, great host.”

“Cool! We should go. Nobody’s been getting out much around here,” Xander proclaimed, bouncing up and down. He’d been pinned in for most of the last month while learning about his new responsibilities.

•••

Xander was still groaning about having to sing in public when they got back to the hotel. Finally Cordelia walloped him on the head and told him that if he didn’t shut up, she’d lock him in a room with Fred and Wesley—after paying them to sing all of Patsy Cline’s hits. The young man fell silent at once.

Unfortunately, the loss of Xander’s prattling allowed the uneasiness that had followed the investigators home settle into the lobby with a resounding thump. At Angel’s insistence, everyone had sung for Lorne, and almost no one received good news. Only Oz was content; Xander’s reading hadn’t been bad, but he was so traumatized from the overall experience that he hadn’t quite grasped that his life was about to take a turn for the better.

Wil broke the silence. “Look, why don’t we all just get some rest? The world’s not going to end tonight.”

Cordelia just nodded her agreement and gathered her purse. Gunn looked like he was about to follow her, but instead hung back for a moment, pretending to ask Wesley a question. As soon as Cordelia had gone, he left as well, to wherever it was Gunn went to when he sulked about Cordelia.

Soon thereafter, Wesley left, with Fred in tow. Wil gave Xander a not-so-subtle look and the young man bounded up the stairs for his room, with Oz not far behind him. Xander heard the werewolf padding down the hallway, and was glad for the company. He was hyper and wired from the evening and needed company, and it looked as though the resident vampires wouldn’t be providing that.

“Proud of yourself?” Angel asked. “You managed to clear out the lobby, without the use of a weapon or a threat, in less than two minutes. I wanted to talk to Wesley.”

Wil jumped off the counter he’d perched on and leapt onto Angel, knocking him to the ground. “No,” He spat, bringing his face to within inches of Angel’s. The younger vampire straddled the elder, using his legs to pin him to the floor. Wil reached up and held Angel’s arms above his head, immobilizing him.

“In the last month, we have fucked exactly three times,” Wil said harshly, anger burning in his eyes. “I’ve woken up alone twenty seven evenings, and gone to bed alone twenty eight mornings. I see more of Xander than I do of you, and I would rather bed a warthog than baggy-britches.” Wil stopped talking for a moment, so he could focus solely on glaring at Angel.

“You’ve been obsessed with Cordelia, Xander and the vision situation the whole time. Do you know how many times I’ve walked right up to you, said something, only to have you walk away? Thirteen times! The only thing that keeps me from thinking you’re bedding someone else is that I can’t smell anyone else on you,” Wil added, clenching his hands cruelly on Angel’s arms for emphasis.

“Oh,” Angel said. Had it been that bad? Sure not. Still, when was the last time they’d spent any time together, even for a meal? He remembered the library, but not much after that. “I’m sorry, Wil. I didn’t realize we’d…”

“Yeah,” Wil said, relaxing his grip on Angel and sliding onto the floor beside him. “It’s like you’re not even here. “

Angel rolled onto his side and gathered Wil into his arms, turning the blonde until they were facing each other. After a moment, Wil tucked his head under Angel’s chin, relaxing into the embrace. “I’m not avoiding you, Wil. Things just got so…hectic and threatening, and for the first time in a while, the threats weren’t directed at me or you. They’re so fragile, Wil. And now, I’ve got what Lorne saw to deal with…”

Wil snorted. “I’m with you on that one. The only consolation I’ve got is that he didn’t actually say I’d die.”

Angel laughed weakly. Lorne had warned him that what he saw was bad, but not clear—and that it surrounded not just Angel, but the rest of the group as well. That had to cast a pall on the others as well. “I do love you, Wil, but I am most certainly not loving the floor right now,” Angel said, picking Wil up as he stood. Wil struggled to stand for a moment, but Angel refused to release him, choosing to carry him up the stairs instead. The blonde just rolled his eyes and snorted. If Angel wanted to play the dashing Romeo, so be it.

When they got to their room, Angel let Wil go, sliding him down his body until Wil gained his feet. Angel then proceeded to unbutton, unsnap and pull off Wil’s clothing, batting his lover’s hands away when Wil tried to return the favor. Once Wil was undressed, Angel picked him up again and laid him on the bed. Only then did he strip off his own clothes. By the time he was done, Wil was fidgeting anxiously, obviously aroused.

“Stop teasing, Angel,” Wil whined. He’d been without his lover for far too long.

Angel smiled and joined Wil on the bed. When Wil reached for him, however, he evaded those grasping hands, pulling them up to pin them above Wil’s head as he straddled him, in a mirror image of the position Wil had used on him in the lobby. This time, however, the grip was gentle and Angel’s face reflected love, not anger.

Angel’s smile widened as Wil realized what position he was in. Wil squirmed a bit, testing Angel’s grip to see if he could escape. Angel made sure that while Wil wasn’t uncomfortable, he couldn’t get away. After letting Wil play around for a few minutes, he bent down, until his mouth was nearly touching Wil’s.

“You have to know I will never forget about you, Wil. You’re too much a part of my soul now,” Angel whispered just before giving Wil a soft kiss. Wil moaned under his mouth, arching his body in response. Angel bore down, pressing him back onto the bed. When the kiss ended, Wil was panting breathlessly.

Angel bent his head back to Wil, ghosting his lips over Wil’s face, pressing his lips here and there in no identifiable pattern. Wil continued to struggle for a while, turning his head to capture Angel’s mouth. It was no use, though. Angel easily avoided him.

“Angel, please,” Wil said softly. At first it had just been teasing, but now Angel’s ministrations had definitely become torture.

Angel relented and released Wil’s hands. The blonde immediately reached up and clasped Angel’s shoulders, rolling them over until they were on their sides. Angel was surprised that Wil didn’t try to return the favor and play around with him, but he didn’t. Instead Wil drew Angel close and caught his lips in a deep, searching kiss. Angel returned it, sliding his tongue over Wil’s descending fangs even as his hands roamed over Wil’s ivory limbs.

Wil tasted every inch of Angel’s mouth, as though searching for signs of himself there, some trace of his place in Angel’s life. Angel reveled in the soft moans and growls Wil gave as they kissed and caressed, particularly when Angel pinched a nipple or pressed his fingers into the small of Wil’s back.

Wil broke the kiss, ducking his head down to run his tongue across the skin on Angel’s collarbone, letting his fangs scrape and catch there. Angel arched, pulling Wil closer as the sensation raced across his skin. Wil repeated it, almost but not quite breaking the skin.

At the same time, Wil’s hands swept up and down Angel’s spine, flickering here and there. Eventually Wil reached lower, pressing into the crevice at the base of Angel’s spine to tease the opening there. Angel hissed and pressed back, simultaneously trying to get Wil to either bite harder to quit.

Wil grinned at Angel’s motions and did not relent on either front. Angel rolled them over again, until he had Wil pressed back into the mattress once more. Wil quit teasing Angel’s throat, but continued to flutter his fingers across his hole. Angel pressed back again and Wil complied, pushing the tip of one finger just inside.

Angel growled and bent down to kiss Wil once more. Wil got the idea and continued stretching Angel, using his free hand to locate the lube in the nightstand. After applying it the task became significantly easier, and soon he had two fingers deep inside Angel, probing against his prostate and eliciting low moans.

Angel focused on devouring Wil’s mouth instead of his other ministrations. Wil was preparing him very carefully and slowly, and it was driving him insane. He jerked as Wil caught his prostate once again, rubbing his fingers just over the spot repeatedly. “Wil,” Angel growled deeply.

Wil quirked an eyebrow. “What?”

All he got was a hiss and a glare. Not wanting to test his luck, Wil withdrew his fingers and positioned his aching erection. Before he could move Angel into position, the older vampire moved back and sank down on him. They both howled softly as Angel’s body slowly encased Wil’s. Wil kept his hand on Angel’s opening, massaging the flesh as his body was consumed.

Once he had taken in all of Wil, Angel began a slow, stead pace, rocking up slightly, and then easing back down. Wil let his hips thrust up a little with each motion, increasing the sensation without speed up the motion. For all their hurry, neither wanted this to end. The feeling of being one was overwhelming.

Before very long, though, the sensations began to pool at the base of Angel’s spine, urging him on faster. Wil responded by grasping his hips tightly, keeping him from moving faster. Angel tried to fight him, struggling to move. Using his legs for leverage, Wil flipped them over, pressing Angel deep into the mattress. Now on top, Wil could more easily control Angel’s movements.

“Wil…” Angel warned, slipping into game face. Wil ceased moving and stared evenly at Angel until the brunette calmed slightly. Only then did he begin to move again, in almost imperceptible thrusts. Soon, however, they were back to their original, lazy pace.

Angel caught on and stopped trying to fight Wil. If his lover wanted to drag this out, he had no objections. He tried once to reach down and touch his weeping cock, but Wil batted his hands away, holding them above his head as he had earlier. Wil then distracted Angel by kissing him. Angel returned the kiss, drawing Wil’s tongue inside, caressing it with his own.

Wil continued the slow thrusting, kissing Angel all the while, until his lover was writhing under him in ecstasy. Angel resumed his struggle to increase the pace, trying to thrust harder. He must not have minded too much, because he could have easily pulled the maneuver Wil had and reversed their position.

Angel clenched himself around Wil, trying to get that last bit of pressure that would send him over the edge. Wil gave in and thrust hard. Angel screamed into Wil’s mouth as the movement proved sufficient to allow him to climax. Creamy liquid poured out between them as he convulsed around Wil, howling into the kiss they still shared. Wil thrust a few more times, then joined Angel in oblivion.

Wil collapsed on top of Angel, who rolled them to their sides once more, sighing as Wil slipped out of his body. He snagged a tissue and cleaned them up, smiling as Wil snuggled closer to him, not quite conscious yet.

By the time Angel had finished with the more mechanical aspects of post-sex cleanup, Wil was awake again. He nipped a couple of times at Angel’s neck, until Angel bent his head back slightly and allowed Wil to drink. Wil slipped into gameface and sank his fangs in very gently, letting the rich liquid glide over his tongue. After a few moments, he pulled back, lapping at the wounds. Angel bent down then and Wil returned the gesture, crying out softly as Angel drew deeply of his blood.

They curled around each other as Angel pulled the covers over them, seeking comfort in the close embrace. The last thing Angel heard before drifting off to sleep was a whispered, “Sire.”