icemink: (Spangel by selene2)
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Title: The Guardian
Pairing: Spike/Angel and flashbacks to Angel/Darla
Rating: NC-17 (please read the warnings)
Summary: All human AU. It was eight years ago that Liam promised to protect Darla and be her angel. It's a promise he's done his best to keep, even if these days she can barely stand to be around him. Then one night he finds a young prostitute, William, getting beat up in an alley. But will helping William destroy the delicate balance of Angel's life, or will it be William who saves Angel from his own dark past?
Warning: This is a dark and angsty fic, mostly in conection to Angel's past with Darla. There's mention of non-con, a lot of this story is about prostitution, and there's a flashback to Angel and Darla when they are 17 that's very sexual in nature. And then of course there is some violence. I think that about covers it, but I'll add specific warnings for various chapters.
Thanks to [livejournal.com profile] spikeverse and [livejournal.com profile] slackerace for the beta.

The first chapter (newly betad) is here.


Chapter 2:

It was the smell of food cooking that woke Spike. He may have had a hard time feeling safe enough to fall asleep the night before, but once he was asleep very little could wake him.

A robe lay draped over the foot of the bed. Spike slipped it on and wandered into the kitchen where Angel was standing over the stove.

"What do you like in your omelet?" Angel asked.

"Uh, eggs?" Spike said. He couldn't recall any one ever making him omelets before, so he wasn't really sure what you put in them. Almost every breakfast in his life had come from boxes.

"Right," Angel said. "I'll just make you the house special."

Spike watched in amazement as Angel chopped up various vegetables and bits of meat and threw them in the frying pan. He couldn't recall the last time anyone had cooked for him, at least not real cooking like this.

When Angel was done Spike had a big omelet, some toast with three flavors of jam to choose from, and orange juice that he'd actually watched Angel squeeze himself. It made him wonder if the juice he'd been given last night had also been fresh squeezed as well.

"Well," Angel asked as he set his own plate down. "Aren't you going to eat?"

Spike stared at the food, his mouth watering. That awful cardboard tasting energy bar from the night before hadn't done much to fill his stomach. The food smelled so good, but why the hell was this guy cooking for him? It was probably drugged. The guy was obviously luring Spike into a false sense of security so that that he could do something really awful to him.

"You went to a lot of trouble," Spike said suspiciously.

"Not really, I was making myself breakfast," Angel said as he began to eat his omelet.

"So you what? Do this all the time?" Spike asked.

"Eat breakfast? Yep, pretty much every day." Angel took another few bites, and when he saw that Spike still wasn't eating he added, "Don't worry, though. You can do the dishes."

Spike snorted, "Not likely."

He used to do the dishes. Lots of other chores, too. He'd thought that if he was the perfect foster son, that maybe someone would adopt him. Or at least not turn him out on his ass the day he turned eighteen, but that hadn't really worked out, had it? He wasn't going to be someone else's maid.

Angel didn't move, and yet somehow he was suddenly looming over Spike. "You will," he said in a flat even voice.

Spike swallowed, suddenly remembering Jason lying beaten in the alley. He tried changing the subject. "Don't you have some high powered job to get to?"

Angel smiled and picked up a piece of toast, as if he was sure that Spike would do what he was told. "I work at night.

Watching Angel spread jam on the toast reminded Spike how hungry he was. He figured that if Angel was going to hurt him, he didn't need drugs to do it. So Spike began to eat his omelet. It was good, really good. And not just because Spike was so hungry.

"Was that work last night?" Spike finally asked.

"Yeah," Angel said quietly. "That was work."

Silence stretched between them for a few minutes and Spike tapped his fingers nervously on the kitchen table as he ate, trying to fill in the silence. He didn't notice the annoyed way Angel kept looking at his jittery hand.

"I already put your clothes in the wash," Angel finally said. "Although I'm not sure all the blood will come out." After thinking on it a moment he added, "We can get you some new ones later."

"'Cause I'm what? Staying here now?" Spike asked.

"Do you have somewhere better to be?" Angel asked.

The truth was Spike didn't. He'd stayed at a homeless shelter his first night, but most of his stuff had been stolen. Besides, you had to get there early in the evening to get a bed, and the only job he'd found so far require late hours.

He didn't want to tell Angel any of that. Didn't see how it was any of Angel's business, so he just remained quiet and finished his breakfast.

When he was done, he tried to get up from the table as if he didn't realize he'd left his dishes there.

Angel wasn't so easily fooled. A large hand gripped Spike's arm, pulling him back.

"I think you forgot something."

"Yeah, well see, the thing is, I have very delicate hands, and they get dry real easy, so-"

"I have lotion," Angel interrupted him.

Sighing, Spike grudgingly picked up the dishes and took them over to the sink. He made sure to continuously sulk as he washed the plates. He even considered breaking a dish to get out of it, but Angel actually had very nice plates that were obviously part of a set, so he refrained.

By the time Spike was done washing everything, Angel had gotten dressed in sweats and a wife-beater.

"Your clothes are on the bed," Angel told him.

Grateful to finally have something that fit him to wear, Spike hurried to change. He shut the bedroom door behind him for privacy. He didn't trust Angel not to try and sneak up behind him.

That was a mistake. A few moments after the door had shut, Spike heard the sound of something being propped up against the door.

His jeans only half on, he rushed to try the doorknob, which refused to give.

"Hey!" Spike yelled banging on the door. "Let me out you bastard!"

There was no response from the other side. A moment later Spike could hear the front door opening and closing. In the vain hope that Angel was just messing with him, he continued to pound on the door and yell.

Finally he accepted that for the time being he was locked in the room. He finished getting dressed, before trying to find another way out.

When he saw the telephone by the bed he mumbled "Idiot."

Then he realized that he had no one to call. He could call the cops, but that would mean answering all sorts of questions that Spike wasn't comfortable with. Spike wasn't even sure where he was, so even if he had had someone to call he couldn't have told them where he was.

Spike had no choice but to wait.

It was almost two hours before Spike heard the front door open again. "Angel?" a woman called out. "Are you home yet?"

Spike froze, wondering what he should do. Angel didn't really talk much, so Spike didn't think he could do a good enough impersonation to get the woman to let him out.

"Angel?" this time the woman's voice sounded worried, it was also closer to the bedroom door. "Angel, answer me. It's Darla, are you all right?"

Spike kept quiet, hoping she'd think Angel was in trouble so she'd open the door.

The door swung open and Spike found himself confronted by a small blond woman with what seemed to be a very large gun.

"Who the hell are you?" she demanded. "And where's Angel?"

Spike's hands shot up the air. He'd thought after the broken bottle his life might have hit its peak for danger. But now it looked as if this might be that peak and he might not come down.

"Look, lady, I don't know." Spike began to wish he had called the cops. "He locked me in here a couple hours ago and left. He didn't say where he was going."

"Don't be absurd," she said, the gun never wavering. "Why would Angel lock you up unless. . ." Her eyes ran over the cut above his eye. Whatever conclusion it was she came to, it didn't calm her down. Instead her voice turned a bit hysterical, and she advanced on him with the gun. "You're one of them aren't you? You have him. Where is he? Tell me where he is!"

Spike stumbled back until his back hit the wall. He was going to be shot by some crazy lady. He started to wonder if he would actually feel the bullet tear through layer after layer of his flesh, or would it be over before he knew it and he'd just suddenly be dead.

"Look, I don't know what you're talking about," he tried to reason with her even as panic crept into his voice.

To his relief at least she seemed to be listening. She looked him up and down as if she could discover what she wanted to know by just staring hard enough at him.

"I guess you're too young to have been one of the ones who took him," she said finally in a measured voice. "But you've seen him right? Is he okay? Where is he?" Her voice was pleading now, even as it filled up with frantic urgency. Spike was beginning to worry she'd pull the trigger on him.

Then the front door to the condo opened again.

"Angel?" Darla called out.

"Darla, what are you. . ." Angel's voice trailed off as he entered the bedroom and saw Darla holding the gun on Spike. "Did he hurt you?" Angel demanded angrily.

"No, I'm fine," she assured Angel.

"Hey!" Spike protested, feeling a tad braver now that Angel was back. "I'm the one being held at gun point by crazy-locks here. Shouldn't you check if I'm okay?"

Satisfied that Darla wasn't hurt, Angel put his hand over Darla's, trying to take the gun from her.

"He knows doesn't he?" Darla asked. "He knows where they took him? You said you would find them and-"

"Oh, baby," Angel interrupted her mournfully.

He pulled her against his chest with one arm, while he used the other one to pull her hand up so that the gun was pointed at the ceiling and not at Spike, who took a deep relieved breath.

"I'm so sorry." Angel said softly, his voice cracking with emotion. "He doesn't know anything. He's just some hustler I caught Jason beating up last night."

Darla struggled free of his embrace. As soon as he let go she took a deep breath, replacing her angry look with one of calm as if someone had switched off her emotions.

Angel gently took the gun from her. He checked the safety, regarding the weapon as if it was another man who he'd found in bed with his wife.

"So he's just a whore, hmm?" she asked examining Spike.

"Hey!" Spike protested. Now that she didn't have the gun, and had turned the crazy from a ten down to a mere two, Spike decided there wasn't anything so intimidating about her.

She ignored Spike. "And just what do you intend to do with him?"

"He doesn't concern you Darla," Angel said.

"Of course he does Angel," she said moving closer to Spike. "He's rather pretty. I can think of at least half a dozen clients who'd love to make his acquaintance."

"He got beat up pretty bad last night," Angel objected. "Look at that black eye, and it'll take a while for that cut to heal. You don't want anyone to see him like that."

"Well, I wouldn't want to undercut his value," she said ingenuously. "Maybe you can give him some pointers?" Her voice became venomously sweet, the politeness laced with jealousy. "Teach him to be a first class cock-sucker?"

"No one's teaching me anything," Spike spoke up. He didn't like the way they were talking about him as if they were his parents deciding whether to send him to summer camp or not.

Besides, hooking was just a temporary thing, until he could sort things out, get a real job, go to college. The last thing he needed was a pimp, or a madam, or whatever the hell Darla was. Something told Spike that once she got her claws into you she didn't let go.

"Well that's not very considerate of you," Darla said. "Don't you want to be the best bitch you can be?"

"Wouldn't want to put you out of a job," Spike retorted.

She only smiled, as if Spike had inadvertently insulted himself. He didn't understand until Angel slammed him back against the wall.

"Don't talk to her that way," Angel growled. Then he looked over his shoulder at Darla. "Your money's on counter. Is there anything else you want?"

Her eyes swept over Angel. "No, there's nothing else here I want." She picked up her gun, turned, and left.

Date: 2007-05-10 08:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com
ooooo *rubs hands together*

man, you had me snickering hard over the whole dishes thing. the way he tried to get out of it and the way he sulked, and then the non-sequitor of him not wanting to break the dish because it was part of a set. yeah, you're a real badass, honey. man, he's still such a kid. it's very wrong that that hits my kinks.

Darla with gun, eep! and "he"...Connor? *blind shot in the dark*

and now Angel's pissed at Spike. *holds her breath until you post more* I'm turning purple! better hurry!

Date: 2007-05-10 08:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] icemink.livejournal.com
he's still such a kid. it's very wrong that that hits my kinks.

lol you know the funny thing about this is that in my first draft of this story, Spike was a year younger, but instead of being kicked out the foster system he was a runaway and really was tough and street smart and everything. But then I went back and rewrote everything to make him more William like. Which I think works much better and is more interesting and probably hits your younger kink much better ;)

As for Darla's mysterious "he", you're just going to have to wait and see.

I can promise you there will be another chapter in a week, hopefully you won't be too purple by then. And thanks, it's great to know you're enjoying this story, cause I'm very excited about it myself.

Date: 2007-05-10 08:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dark-amia.livejournal.com
Great chapter! Loved Will sulking over the dishes but not breaking one because they were nice and part of a set. It’s adorable that he’s still so innocent.

So sad that he tried to be a perfect son so that he would be adopted but all he got was kicked out at 18.

Also really sad how all he wants to do is go to college but that's not going to happen if he doesn't go to school. Looks like Angel and Darla won't be letting him leave anytime soon.

Great chapter! Looking forward to the next.

Date: 2007-05-10 08:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] icemink.livejournal.com
Glad you liked the thing with the dishes. Poor Will really does just need a hug, he's had it pretty rough. Although as you'll see in the next chapter, things could be worse for him. And yeah, Darla and Angel do have plans, but at least they'll keep him well fed and with a roof over his head.

Thanks for the feedback :)

Date: 2007-05-10 10:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] spikesgurl.livejournal.com
Ooo, the plot thickens! I'm so curious as to where Angel went, and what exactly he plans to do with Spike. Really looking forward to more!

Date: 2007-05-10 11:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] icemink.livejournal.com
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoying it. And yes, there is much plot in this story and it will continue to thicken. As for what Angel plans to do with Spike, I don't think he's really figured that out yet.

Date: 2007-05-11 12:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] brunettepet.livejournal.com
This is an intriguing start. Is Angel taking Spike under his wing in order to pimp him out? I'm as anxious as Spike is. The mysterious back story between Angel and Darla has already ramped up the tension, and I can see throwing Spike into the mix is going to be entertaining.

I laughed out loud at: "Now that she didn't have the gun, and had turned the crazy from a ten down to a mere two, Spike decided there wasn't anything so intimidating about her."

This, too: "Don't you want to be the best bitch you can be?"

"Wouldn't want to put you out of a job," Spike retorted."

I'm looking forward to wherever this is going. Do you mind if I friend you to keep up?

Date: 2007-05-11 12:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] icemink.livejournal.com
Thanks, glad you're enjoying both the tension and the humor. I don't think Angel has really figured out what he's doing with Spike, although Darla is certainly more than happy to use Spike for monitary gain.

And please, you're more than welcome to friend me.

Date: 2007-05-11 03:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jans-intentions.livejournal.com
"Well that's not very considerate of you," Darla said. "Don't you want to be the best bitch you can be?"

"Wouldn't want to put you out of a job," Spike retorted.


hahaha, I'm totally hooked with this fic! It's fantastic.

Date: 2007-05-11 04:32 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] icemink.livejournal.com
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. And I couldn't resist letting Spike get a dig in at Darla.

Date: 2007-05-11 08:07 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] zoesmith.livejournal.com
I really like this series! The interactions between the boys are great. And Darla's apearence left me
very curious to see what’s coming next.

Date: 2007-05-11 03:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] icemink.livejournal.com
Thank you I'm glad you're enjoying it especially they way they are interacting. And Darla will be a source of much conflict in this story so I'm glad your curious about how she fits in.

Date: 2007-05-11 05:21 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] darkspace99.livejournal.com
Darla is certainly intriguing. The way she just switches off her emotions makes me wonder what happened to her to cause her to be like that. I loved the banter between her and Spike. But I felt so bad for Angel when she said, "No, there's nothing else here I want." Even now, he loves her and cares about her. Why is she so harsh with him? Poor Angel. Poor Spike too, for getting involved in this whole thing. All he wants is to go to school. *pets them both*

Date: 2007-05-12 09:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] icemink.livejournal.com
Thanks so much. I've been kinding of worrying myself over the next chapter, but your comments made me feel like I really do know what I'm doing, because it'll address a lot of the things you've mentioned.

And yeah, both Spike and Angel need a bit of comforting.

Date: 2007-05-11 06:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] of-too-minds.livejournal.com
hmmm... the plot thickens. Darla's lost someone important to her (Connor maybe?) and Angel is mixed up in it somehow. Angel obviously cares about her but she doesn't seem too concerned by the fact he had a hooker in his rooms. v. complicated relationship there. What a roller coaster.

Spike's such an innocent -- sulking because he has to wash the dishes but too much of a good boy to break anything. *snerk* Love that about him.

Poor Spike is in over his head. Angel seems a little unbalanced. He doesn't touch him but he clearly doesn't want to let him go. I mean, how many people bring a hooker home and lock him up in the bedroom if it's not for kinky fun?

Can't wait to see where this is going.

Date: 2007-05-12 09:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] icemink.livejournal.com
Thanks. Glad to see you are so interested by this. Angel and Darla both have their issues and a lot of their motivations will become clearer with the next chapter.

And yeah, Spike is rather innocent and that could get him into some trouble.

Date: 2007-05-11 11:27 pm (UTC)
lafemmedarla: (Default)
From: [personal profile] lafemmedarla
Oooh, update!

That bit with the dishes was priceless. And aww at the moment with Darla. The plot thickens. Looking forward to more.

Date: 2007-05-12 09:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] icemink.livejournal.com
lol I think you're the only one who would go 'awww' at Darla in this, but I love it. I actually expected people to be really angry at her for being mean to Spike, but most people are just curious about what's going on.

And thanks, I'm glad your liking it so far. You should especially like the next chapter, cause there's lots of Darla.

Date: 2007-05-12 11:48 pm (UTC)
lafemmedarla: (Default)
From: [personal profile] lafemmedarla
I do tend to have a soft spot for Darla. The whole bit with Spike actually made me grin because it was a "Just when things couldn't get worse..." situation. And yes, i am very very curious about what's going on like everybody else.

And lots of Darla on the next chapter? Wohoo!

Date: 2007-05-12 04:21 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dreamsofspike.livejournal.com
you've got darla's character down perfectly...i feel bad for spike cause he's so freaked out, but i think he's going to find that things are better for him now...at least i hope so...great chapter :)

Date: 2007-05-12 09:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] icemink.livejournal.com
Thank you. I love Darla so it's great to hear you think I'm writing her so well. As for Spike well, I wouldn't want to tell you too much about what his future holds. . .

The Guardian 2

Date: 2007-05-15 10:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] slashpuppy.livejournal.com
Very interesting premise. I think I like this 'verse! :-)

I like the way your Angel and Spike are together. I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for the next chapter.

Re: The Guardian 2

Date: 2007-05-17 07:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] icemink.livejournal.com
Thanks, I'm glad you're enjoying it. And I just posted the next chapter, which should give you some idea of the background of this 'verse.

Date: 2007-05-18 04:40 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] spikeslovebite.livejournal.com
dunno how i missed this...i think LJ hates me *grumbles*

anyways! still hopelessly hooked! i'm so looking forward to reading darla and angels backstory, and how their plans for spike

ooh! and i see 3 is up!!

*runs off to read*

Date: 2007-05-18 04:43 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] icemink.livejournal.com
Aw sorry that you didn't see this when I first posted it. But hey, you get two chapters at once, so that's good. And as you may have seen there's lots of Angel/Darla backstory in chapter 3, so I hope you enjoy that too. And thanks.

Date: 2007-05-22 04:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sunnyd-lite.livejournal.com
"I'm the one being held at gun point by crazy-locks here

Don't you want to be the best bitch you can be?"

"Wouldn't want to put you out of a job," Spike retorted.
so Spikish!

Date: 2007-05-28 04:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] icemink.livejournal.com
Thank you. I love good old fashioned Spike-snark. And although in cannon I don't subscribe to the idea that Spike and Darla don't get along, in this story they definitely got off on the wrong foot.

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