Prompt 86 - Cause and effect - BtVS

[thismaz]

 Title: Cause and effect
 Fandom: BtVS
 Prompt: 86 - Juggling
 At: tamingthemuse
 Rating: Older Teen
 Summary: Part 25 of my pre-season one story.
 Word Count: 1,540
 Comments: Are greatly appreciated, loved and cherished.
 Previous parts:
 In reverse order, in tags here
 In my memories.
 Or, starting here with links to the next, at the end of each chapter.
 Disclaimer: here.
Now beta'd by the wonderful laazikaat

Warning (highlight the white area to see the warning text):

Demon Spike/Vamp Xander story

25. Cause and effect

Saturday evening

Biting carefully into Liam's neck was like coming home. The blood flowed freely and Angel had to resist the urge to drag it out faster. It slid over his tongue and down his throat, hot and vital, intoxicating in its promise of life, tinged with Liam's fear and the adrenalin that released. Instinctively, his arms clamped around Liam, trapping him and still the blood flowed. Angel closed his eyes blissfully. He felt the saliva with its natural anticoagulants burst free from the glands at the base of his fangs with an explosion akin to orgasm. His brain buzzed with it, like the white noise of a radio station after it has gone off the air or a soaring orchestral crescendo, blotting out everything else. The power flowed into him, sending surges of joy and loss and a gloating smugness throughout his whole body - through his torso and down his legs, causing sharp prickles of pleasure to alight his nerves, and into his arms where the flood of energy forced its way passed the broken bones and bruised tissue, sweeping away the blockages like a river in full flood, bringing healing in its wake.

Angel surrendered himself to sensation, glorying in a strength and richness he'd not felt in fifty years, not since his reluctant but essential turning of Lawson on a submarine in the Atlantic. With the arrival of that memory a feeling of unease began to tickle at the back of Angel's mind, intruding on the pleasure, creating discord in the music and he became dimly aware of movement, of hands batting weakly at his ribs. With a mental gasp he pulled himself back to full consciousness and dragged his fangs free of Liam's flesh, the back of his head hitting the wall behind him. Liam lay limp in his arms and frantically he searched for a pulse, breathing a sigh of relief when he found one, strong and steady on the other side of Liam's neck. The wound was still bleeding, so he bit through his own tongue, a new urgency replacing the abandon of moments before. The blood filled his mouth and he sealed his lips around the wound again, so the antidote to his saliva, the thing in the blood that gave vampires their ability to heal, sealed up the wound.

Drawing his head back, Angel inspected Liam's neck. Liam would always bear a scar, but it would not be ugly. He tried to calculate how much he'd taken. He'd meant it to be no more than a pint, as much as Liam might donate voluntarily to the Red Cross. But he'd lost himself in the experience and from the way the broken bones in his arms felt, it had to have been two pints, maybe more. That wouldn't normally be too serious, since Liam was a healthy, well fed American male in his prime, but he'd had nothing to eat since his imprisonment and had vomited up what he'd had in his stomach, so he was probably already dehydrated.

Angel berated himself for his carelessness as he gently laid Liam down on the floor. The boy had trusted him, had befriended him, even after he knew what Angel was. He'd had more conversation with Liam, more interaction, than the sum total of the last hundred years. He'd shared things with Liam that he'd never told a soul about before. And Liam had listened and sympathised and understood. Finally, in circumstances of adversity, Angel had met someone he felt he could really connect with, and he'd almost killed him.

Bending over Liam's prone body, looking down into vaguely fluttering eyes, Angel smoothed a curl of hair back from Liam's face. "Stay still, don't move," he said. "I'll try and get you some food, or at least some water. You'll be okay if you take it easy."

Liam nodded his understanding and whispered, "Sure, man. I'll be okay," adding ruefully, "Just don't expect me to do any housework around here for a while, yeah?" He smiled reassuringly up at Angel as he allowed himself to relax onto the hard ground.

Angel smiled back and once more smoothed one of those stubborn curls back on Liam's forehead. Then he got up, walked as near to the cage bars as his shackles would allow and started to yell for room service.

*****

Locating a trio from Luke's gang proved to be child's play. They were walking down the street, free and easy, as if they owned it. Anticipating their planned hunting ground and ambushing them in the alley leading up to the club Xander called The Bronze, was simple. Jumping in and having a good old scrap, was just plain fun. It also gave Spike an opportunity to see his childe and his sidekick in combat. That was not such fun.

Spike took on the leader of the hunting party himself, pouncing onto her back from their hiding place behind a stack of pallets and twisting her head until her neck broke, even as they both crashed to the floor. As they went down he brought up his left leg, so when they landed his knee came down hard on the small of her back. Grabbing a fistful of hair in his right hand, he yanked it back exposing her throat. He brought the stake in his left hand down hard, puncturing the ribs in her back and watched with satisfaction as her dust settled. After that he got to his feet, leant up against the pallets to study the continuing fracas.

Dru stepped out of the shadows to join him, her head tilted thoughtfully. "Pretty, kitty kitten," she observed. "He'll grow up to be a dragon."

Spike smiled at her, pride in both his sire and his child swelling his heart, before turning back to watch the 'kittens' at play. As he'd expected, Xander was timid, overly cautious, not yet at ease with his body and his new capabilities. His technique more resembled the kitten Dru had named him, playing with a ball on a string, than any serious combat. He was holding his own defensively with a set of instinctive swerves and ducks that suggested he had the potential to be light on his feet, but it was obvious to Spike that he would need to apply some serious effort to his training. It was a shame, because the vampire he was so singularly failing to engage was himself hampered by his refusal to let go of what appeared to be a bag of groceries. It was actually comical, there was Xander making ineffective swipes with his balled fists, while his opponent juggled the paper bag back and forth between his right arm and his left, as it threatened to spill its contents all over the floor, at the same time as he tried to kick and punch at Xander. Spike felt his grin threatening to turn into full laughter and frowned to suppress it, scratching his ear as he concentrated on watching his childe and sparing the occasional glance for Jesse.

Jesse was the opposite of Xander. He was overconfident and began his attack of a solidly built male with a clearly telegraphed head-down charge which his opponent deflected by simply taking one step to the side and shoving him off at a tangent. Jesse staggering onwards, carried by his own inertia, right towards Spike, who took his own evasive step, allowing Jesse to crash face first into the pallets. His opponent followed up immediately, grabbing Jesse by the shoulders and dragging him away, pausing for a moment to nod a polite greeting at Spike and Dru. Spike inclined his own head in reply as he returned to his former position of comfortable observation. Jesse's arms reached out to Spike as he was hauled back and he appeared to be trying to say something. He didn't get an opportunity to voice his plea as he was lifted bodily into the air and dropped, flat on his back in the dirt. His opponent pounced, pinning him down and clamped one hand around Jesse's throat, the other reaching into his jacket pocket. Spike pursed his lips in thought as he weighed the advantages and disadvantages of keeping Jesse. With a nod to himself, he came to his decision, took the two necessary steps and brought his own stake down into the minion's unprotected back. Jesse might be pretty worthless, but there was no point in wasting him. He'd provide a distraction, if nothing else, when they eventually headed underground.

Before the dust had even cleared or Jesse had managed to scramble back onto his feet, Dru stepped forward into the alley. She clapped her hands, the sharp sound echoing between the tall buildings on either side. "Now then, dearies," she called loudly, her voice cutting through the grunting and shuffling of feet on concrete. "That's enough play. It's time."

Xander's opponent jumped clear of Xander's last attempt at a punch, glancing wildly around, as if searching for his mates. His eyes fixed on a smear of ash on the oil stained ground, then he raised his head, took one look at Dru and Spike together, turned on his heels and ran. He was out of the alley and away before Spike could say 'jackrabbit'.




Note: The idea that vampire saliva contains an anticoagulant, to encourage the blood to flow, while vampire blood contains something to encourage healing, is not mine. I came across it in Twilight Time by Shadow, which can be found here: http://www.shadows-and-dust.co.uk/SDFA/Round9/twilightime1.htm
When I read that, back in 2002? 2003? I thought it was a beautifully logical idea. Much more logical than the common fanon theory that vampire saliva heals wounds, because, lets face it, that's sort of contradictory. I was always surprised that more people didn't pick up on it and use it. I do and always have, but I have to give the credit where it's due.

Continued here.

Comments

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

I adore your descriptions of Jesse and Xander as fledges: the one too confident and the one too unsure. But it's much easier to teach confidence that to train someone to have common sense, so Xander's definitely coming off as stronger. And not only Spike but also Dru will be coming to the rescue. Angel will have his whole family (plus one slightly worthless minion and a human) around him, and I really do wonder how he's going to handle it.

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

Angel is his own worst enemy. I was sure there for a moment we'd lost Liam. Breathing a sigh of relief here.

Spike's casual debate of whether or not Jesse is worth saving was wonderful as was Xander fighting a vampire juggling a grocery bag. *snort*

[sparrow2000.livejournal.com]

Lovely description of Angel's emotions as he drinks from Liam. After self denial for so long, it must taste like the richest, headiest wine you can imagine.

Love the idea of Spike standing back and watching his little, dysfunctional family in action. I've got this image of them sitting down together for Sunday lunch and bickering over who's going to get a leg or a breast - and there would be some point sap trussed up in the middle of the table! God, I get scared of my brain sometimes!

Very nice chapter hon. And now I realise why you were talking about Twilight Time!
s xx

[(Anonymous)]

That was a gorgeous picture you drew of Spike leaning back casually to appraise the action.

I checked Shadow on Spander Files and saw that for some reason I don't have her permission to archive, can't remember ever getting a refusal from her, so maybe I just didn't get around to writing to her (inarticulate, remember!) and the link I was using to Twilight Time is totally dead.

Thanks for bringing her to my attention, I've written to her today, and hopefully I'll have permission to archive Twilight Time and maybe more stories as well soon.

Is Angel falling for Liam just a little? They're sweet together. I know, you'll never tell, lol!

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

I am really playing with the idea that a childe is different from a minion in this story. Xander as a childe has more emotional depth, which leads him to think things through more, which in turn makes him cautious, because he thinks and acts like the human boy did, because he feels that way.
Jesse, as a minion is far less controlled, thinks less, so doesn't consider consequences. His Jesse-like actions are born of patterns of habit, rather than being motivated by feeling, or even true thought.
Wow, that was interesting. I had never actually tried to put that into words before, thank you.
Angel's reaction... hmm... *g* Yeah, that's the crunch, isn't it?
Thank you so much, I am so pleased you are enjoying this still.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Angel is his own worst enemy and he would have really hated himself if he'd killed Liam. This Angel is not as secure in his mission as the one we see on TV, he is buoyed up by the hope that Whistler told the truth, but he hasn't really had any experience that supports the hope yet.

And I'm pleased you enjoyed the fight. I love writing to tamingthemuse prompts, because I would never have thought of putting that in if I hadn't had the 'Juggling' prompt to work to. But once I did, the memory of Xander and Harmony having that crazy fight in 4.07 The Initiative came to mind and I couldn't banish it. *g*

Thank you.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

*laughs* You're scared of your brain? Think how the rest of us feel!
I love that image. You should write it.

Lovely description of Angel's emotions
Thank you so much.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Spike leaning back casually to appraise the action.
Thank you. Spike so often gets softened until he's basically human, I really don't want to let that happen here and since he can be soft, with the people he loves, I enjoy letting him show his more ruthless side too.

Is Angel falling for Liam just a little?
I think he may be. But you're right, I ain't saying anything more.

I went searching for Shadow's website to find a link to Twilight Time, but I had to use the wayback machine to find it. I was so glad to find a live link to that awards site. It is one of the classics, that story.

inarticulate, remember!
I've only got one thing to say in reply to that - Ha! *g*

btw - any reason you're all anonymous at the moment? *shrugs* Just being nosy here, you don't have to answer.

[smwright.livejournal.com]

Here I am again! Hoping beyond hope to begin catching up today. It's a wild hope though. *g*

I do like this chapter, both parts of it. They make a nice juxtaposition. You continue to do both Angel and Dru great justice.

Loved like the white noise of a radio station after it has gone off the air That was such a perfect description, though how I would know is beyond me. *chuckles*

Playing Angel's need against his guilt just works here. One of the things I really like about it in this chapter is that he pauses in the self-pitying aspects long enough at the end to be a little more masterful in the "I'll get you some food" bit. That's showing the same presence of mind as the previous chapter in waiting for Spike to rescue him. Very nice.

As for part two, I do like Dru's dialog, always do. *g* And the image of Xander and Jesse as kittens is such a great metaphor at this stage in their development. Loved that the last vamps fled when they saw Dru and Spike.

Great chapter all around, and now I'm off to the next...

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Hey, lovely to see you.
That was such a perfect description
You're not a vampire too, are you then? *g*
I'm so pleased you enjoyed all the characters. I was unable to resist Xander as a kitten, was was thinking of that crazy slap fight he had with vampire Harmony in season 4.
You are too kind, thank you.

[nikytti.livejournal.com]

That makes so much sense. Why I never caught on to it, I'll never know. Every where I've read if someone drinks vamp blood a person feels revitalized or grievous wounds are healed. So why not blood to heal bite marks and spit for something else. LOL Glad Angel didn't kill Liam.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

I love Shadow's theory. It makes so much sense to me. I really wish it were better known in fandom, so more people would use it.
Glad Angel didn't kill Liam.
I couldn't let that happen. The other main reason for writing this story was to see an Angel who was new to his mission and was struggling with his past. If he'd killed Liam he would have lost himself, entirely. And I wasn't ready to allow that to happen. *g*
Thank you for all your lovely comment. I'm sorry it takes me so long to reply to them, but weekends are the only times when I am properly on line.