Fearful Symmetry Chapter 14
Aug. 11th, 2007 11:48 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iceminkTitle: Fearful Symmetry
Rating: NC-17
Paring: Darla/Spike/Angel
Summary: Sequal to Sinews of the Heart. Darla and Spike head to L.A. in the hopes that if they corrupt Angel, Wolfram & Hart will remove Spike's chip.
Previous chapter can be found here
Chapter 15:
"There's blood in the fridge in my room," Angel told Darla as she carried Spike's unconscious form into the hotel.
During the entire drive over, she had kept him cradled in her arms in the back seat. More than once Angel had caught himself trying to see the two of them in the rear view mirror, even though he knew they had no reflection. That may have been a blessing as it helped Angel keep a tight clamp on his emotions.
He absolutely refused to worry about Spike. Even if Spike had only been trying to save those teenagers, and even if he had been helpless to defend himself. Just as he refused to let himself be jealous of Spike and the way Darla was mothering him. There was no reason to be jealous. If Darla had never treated him that way, it was only because he had never been stupid enough to get himself that injured.
Angel moved behind the reception desk to fish out the first aid kit that Cordelia kept there. Thinking of Cordelia reminded him about the scent of blood and fear in the shelter, and that Wesley was probably very badly hurt.
By the time he got upstairs, Darla already had Spike laid out on the bed and was trying to get him to drink from a blood bag she'd retrieved from the fridge.
"Here," he said, depositing the first aid kit on the bed next to them.
He turned to leave. He didn't want to watch this, and he figured he would try and find what hospital Wes was at.
"You're leaving?" Darla asked, her voice filled with outrage.
He told himself he didn't owe her any explanations, he gave one anyway, although he didn't look back as he spoke to her. "That was Wesley's blood back there. I need to make sure he's alright."
"Will you turn him?" she asked quietly.
He turned to look at her in surprise. "What?"
"If he's dying, will you turn him," she repeated calmly, but her eyes flashed with anger.
He thought it was jealousy. "No, he would never want that." He's better than you, he finished silently.
"Then what can you do for him?" she asked desperately. "No matter how many people you've cut into, you're no surgeon. You can't help him." She finished with a plea. "But you can help Spike."
She didn't get it. Of course she didn't get it. How could she understand that it wasn't about helping, it was about being there. She didn't have a soul, she couldn't really care about anyone, so there was no point in trying to explain.
"I have to go," he said and turned to leave again.
"Fine," was all she said, and if it had been any one other than Darla, he would have thought he heard pain in her voice.
He had barely made it two steps when the scent of her blood reached out to him. Without looking he knew that she must have decided to give Spike her own blood to speed his healing. But as familiar and alluring as the scent of his sire's blood was, it had changed.
"That won't work," he told her quietly, afraid to look back and see the red on her pale skin. It was bad enough that he hungered for her blood however much he might want to deny it.
"I know what I'm doing," she shot back annoyed. "I'm not a fl-"
"Fledge? Yes you are," he corrected her. "What did you think would happen? You had Spike turn you. Did you think you would be a master vampire again? That you would have all your power back? You're blood is as weak any other fledge that just crawled out of his grave."
By the time he was finished, he was yelling. He was so angry. Angry that she had thrown away the thing he wanted most, to be human. Angry that he couldn't let himself care about her, and angry at how close she and Spike seemed, while he drifted further and further away from everyone.
"Well, my blood will have to do since I'm the only real vampire around," she sulked.
Angel wasn't sure why he moved back to the bed. It wasn't her taunt. He had long since stopped caring whether she thought he was a 'real' vampire or not. And he couldn't believe that it was concern for Spike, which meant that it was the siren song of Darla's blood that brought him back.
He lifted her bloody wrist to his mouth, kissing it, and licking away the trail of blood. Then he held his own wrist out to her as a piece offering. Her delicate features shifted, a stark reminder of what she was, as she cut his flesh on her fangs.
He watched the momentary look of bliss that she couldn't hide as his blood touched her lips, and he wondered if he had had the same look on his face when he tasted her blood.
But she didn't let her mouth linger. Soon she was cradling Spike's head, and encouraging him to drink from his grand-sire's wrist. At that moment there was no room left in Angel for any jealousy about the tender way Darla treated Spike, only the pleasure as Spike began to suck on the wound.
Angel closed his eyes, and ran his tongue over his lips to catch the last few drops of Darla's blood. Silently he wished that this quiet moment wouldn't end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sun had been down for a while when Darla woke. It was a subtle reminder that what Angel had said the night before was true. What ever she knew, however old she was, her body was that of a fledge, and she found she had to fight her natural desire to sleep when sun was up.
As she stretched she looked around the room. Spike was still sleeping, and he looked better than he had the night before. Most of his bruises had faded, and his cuts healed.
She got up to warm up some blood for herself and for Spike. Angel wasn't there, which worried her. After Angel shared his blood with Spike, they had talked. It hadn't been a conversation Darla was quite ready for. Angel had been upset that he hadn't known about Spike's chip. As if he'd expressed any interest in either of their well being. They had argued, and he had found out about her deal with Wolfram & Heart. It wasn't something she had meant to reveal, but he knew her to well and was able to put the pieces together. He'd stormed off after that, and it seemed he'd been out all day.
But there was nothing she could do about that now. The most important thing was to get Spike back on his feet. Then she could worry about whatever ground she might have lost with Angel.
By the time the blood was warmed, Spike was awake.
"How are you feeling?" she asked as she handed him a mug.
"Pride's more hurt than anything," he said sheepishly. "What are we doing here?"
That was a good question. Angel hadn't seemed to show concern for Spike's condition, and yet he had brought them here. And although he had talked of leaving, he had stayed long enough to give Spike the blood he needed to heal.
"Angel brought us here," she answered simply.
A series of emotions ranging from shame to hope flickered across Spike's face before he managed to look disinterested.
"And where is Mr. Broody-Pants?" Spike asked.
Darla only shrugged as she sipped her blood.
They chatted a bit as they finished their meal, but they both avoided bringing Angel back up. There was nothing to be done about him until he returned.
It was Darla who felt his presence first, and when she looked towards the door, Spike's eyes followed hers. As Angel walked in the door he was greeted by silence from both of them.
For a moment no one spoke, and then he asked Spike, "Are you well enough to move?"
"You're not throwing us out!" Darla said without thinking.
She was being worn thin by Angel's pretend indifference. It wasn't just that she had been in his dreams, but she also saw the glances he gave both of them when he thought no one was looking.
"I'm not kicking you out," Angel said. "I just thought. . ." He stopped and it was obvious that the next words were hard for him. "I was thinking and. . . we should get that chip removed."
"Yeah, well that's just brilliant, mate," Spike snapped, displeased that Angel knew about the chip. "But if you think I'm letting you dig around in my skull-"
"No," Angel stopped him. "We get Wolfram & Hart to do it."
"And how are we supposed to do that?" Spike asked.
"They want Angelus right?" Angel asked Darla, ignoring Spike. "So we give them Angelus."
"Angel," Darla began slowly. She was grateful that he wanted to help Spike, even if she didn't understand his change of heart. But she could also see that he was unsure, and she was afraid that the slightest thing could change his mind. "How are you. . . I mean you can't just pretend. . ."
"I won't be. I just need to know. . . You need to really want this Darla, because I'll need you to keep me. . . focused. It won't last long."
"What won't. . ?" she started to ask.
"Just, tell me that you'll make sure Spike gets the help he needs," he said quietly.
"Of course," she agreed, still confused about what he thought he was going to do. Wolfram & Hart wasn't full of fools and she didn't see how Angel thought he could trick them.
Whatever Angel's plan he seemed reluctant to share it. And the truth was that neither Darla nor Spike was going to push him too hard since he seemed willing to help them. Instead they simply followed along with him.
Soon they were piled into Angel's car. Darla curled herself into Angel's side. She could see how tense his body was. He was obviously so unsure about what he was doing, so she tried to reassure him the best way she knew how. As he drove, her fingers played with the hair at the back of his neck, something he'd always liked.
Spike meanwhile sat on the other side of her, tapping his fingers on the car door. If he refused to look at the two of them, at least he was able to keep his jealousy in check enough to remain quiet.
When Angel had parked the car outside of Wolfram & Hart's office, he just sat there for a moment, hands clutching the steering wheel.
"Well?" Spike asked impatiently, unable to stay quiet any longer.
Angel glared at him, but he got out of the car. Then he reached into his coat and pulled out a plastic bag which held several small white pills. He emptied four of the pills into his hand and then tossed them in his mouth and swallowed.
"That's it?" Spike asked disappointed. "Pills, you're brilliant plan is pills?"
"William," Darla hissed, worried that Spike was going to ruin this.Before she could say more, Spike had hit the ground hard and Angel was standing over him.
"I think it's time you remembered your place, boy."
The fact that Spike wasn't on his feet immediately to challenge Angel, was a sign that he hadn’t fully recovered from his beating the night before. Under other circumstances Darla would have let them resolve this on their own, but getting Spike's chip out was her first priority.
"Angel stop it," she said as she gripped his arm to try and pull him back.
He let her do it, another reminder that he was the stronger one now. As he turned to look at her his eyes glinted golden, the pupils large and she could tell that the drugs were working through his system.
"Not Angel," he corrected her. Before she could say anything more, he pulled her head back by her hair and kissed her, pressing her body against the door of his car. She could feel him growing hard as his other hand began to roam her body.
She could feel herself growing wet. She'd longed so much for this, to have him back and vibrant and alive. For a moment she toyed with the idea of letting him fuck her right there, after all it wouldn't have to take too long. Except she knew that wasn't true. Even if Spike didn't interfere, she rather doubted that after being restrained for so long Angelus would be satisfied with anything quick.
So she bit him hard enough to force him to pull back from the kiss. He smiled and laughed and tried to kiss her again, but she pushed him back.
"Spike, remember?" she asked. "His chip."
Angelus paused, and fixed his gaze on the Wolfram & Hart building. A large smile crossed his face as he licked away the blood from Darla's bite.
He chuckled and let her go. "Yeah, that'll be fun. Time to cry havoc."
And let slip the dogs of war, Darla silently finished the quote. A chill ran down her spine. She wasn't sure that war with Wolfram & Hart was what they needed.
Rating: NC-17
Paring: Darla/Spike/Angel
Summary: Sequal to Sinews of the Heart. Darla and Spike head to L.A. in the hopes that if they corrupt Angel, Wolfram & Hart will remove Spike's chip.
Previous chapter can be found here
Chapter 15:
"There's blood in the fridge in my room," Angel told Darla as she carried Spike's unconscious form into the hotel.
During the entire drive over, she had kept him cradled in her arms in the back seat. More than once Angel had caught himself trying to see the two of them in the rear view mirror, even though he knew they had no reflection. That may have been a blessing as it helped Angel keep a tight clamp on his emotions.
He absolutely refused to worry about Spike. Even if Spike had only been trying to save those teenagers, and even if he had been helpless to defend himself. Just as he refused to let himself be jealous of Spike and the way Darla was mothering him. There was no reason to be jealous. If Darla had never treated him that way, it was only because he had never been stupid enough to get himself that injured.
Angel moved behind the reception desk to fish out the first aid kit that Cordelia kept there. Thinking of Cordelia reminded him about the scent of blood and fear in the shelter, and that Wesley was probably very badly hurt.
By the time he got upstairs, Darla already had Spike laid out on the bed and was trying to get him to drink from a blood bag she'd retrieved from the fridge.
"Here," he said, depositing the first aid kit on the bed next to them.
He turned to leave. He didn't want to watch this, and he figured he would try and find what hospital Wes was at.
"You're leaving?" Darla asked, her voice filled with outrage.
He told himself he didn't owe her any explanations, he gave one anyway, although he didn't look back as he spoke to her. "That was Wesley's blood back there. I need to make sure he's alright."
"Will you turn him?" she asked quietly.
He turned to look at her in surprise. "What?"
"If he's dying, will you turn him," she repeated calmly, but her eyes flashed with anger.
He thought it was jealousy. "No, he would never want that." He's better than you, he finished silently.
"Then what can you do for him?" she asked desperately. "No matter how many people you've cut into, you're no surgeon. You can't help him." She finished with a plea. "But you can help Spike."
She didn't get it. Of course she didn't get it. How could she understand that it wasn't about helping, it was about being there. She didn't have a soul, she couldn't really care about anyone, so there was no point in trying to explain.
"I have to go," he said and turned to leave again.
"Fine," was all she said, and if it had been any one other than Darla, he would have thought he heard pain in her voice.
He had barely made it two steps when the scent of her blood reached out to him. Without looking he knew that she must have decided to give Spike her own blood to speed his healing. But as familiar and alluring as the scent of his sire's blood was, it had changed.
"That won't work," he told her quietly, afraid to look back and see the red on her pale skin. It was bad enough that he hungered for her blood however much he might want to deny it.
"I know what I'm doing," she shot back annoyed. "I'm not a fl-"
"Fledge? Yes you are," he corrected her. "What did you think would happen? You had Spike turn you. Did you think you would be a master vampire again? That you would have all your power back? You're blood is as weak any other fledge that just crawled out of his grave."
By the time he was finished, he was yelling. He was so angry. Angry that she had thrown away the thing he wanted most, to be human. Angry that he couldn't let himself care about her, and angry at how close she and Spike seemed, while he drifted further and further away from everyone.
"Well, my blood will have to do since I'm the only real vampire around," she sulked.
Angel wasn't sure why he moved back to the bed. It wasn't her taunt. He had long since stopped caring whether she thought he was a 'real' vampire or not. And he couldn't believe that it was concern for Spike, which meant that it was the siren song of Darla's blood that brought him back.
He lifted her bloody wrist to his mouth, kissing it, and licking away the trail of blood. Then he held his own wrist out to her as a piece offering. Her delicate features shifted, a stark reminder of what she was, as she cut his flesh on her fangs.
He watched the momentary look of bliss that she couldn't hide as his blood touched her lips, and he wondered if he had had the same look on his face when he tasted her blood.
But she didn't let her mouth linger. Soon she was cradling Spike's head, and encouraging him to drink from his grand-sire's wrist. At that moment there was no room left in Angel for any jealousy about the tender way Darla treated Spike, only the pleasure as Spike began to suck on the wound.
Angel closed his eyes, and ran his tongue over his lips to catch the last few drops of Darla's blood. Silently he wished that this quiet moment wouldn't end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sun had been down for a while when Darla woke. It was a subtle reminder that what Angel had said the night before was true. What ever she knew, however old she was, her body was that of a fledge, and she found she had to fight her natural desire to sleep when sun was up.
As she stretched she looked around the room. Spike was still sleeping, and he looked better than he had the night before. Most of his bruises had faded, and his cuts healed.
She got up to warm up some blood for herself and for Spike. Angel wasn't there, which worried her. After Angel shared his blood with Spike, they had talked. It hadn't been a conversation Darla was quite ready for. Angel had been upset that he hadn't known about Spike's chip. As if he'd expressed any interest in either of their well being. They had argued, and he had found out about her deal with Wolfram & Heart. It wasn't something she had meant to reveal, but he knew her to well and was able to put the pieces together. He'd stormed off after that, and it seemed he'd been out all day.
But there was nothing she could do about that now. The most important thing was to get Spike back on his feet. Then she could worry about whatever ground she might have lost with Angel.
By the time the blood was warmed, Spike was awake.
"How are you feeling?" she asked as she handed him a mug.
"Pride's more hurt than anything," he said sheepishly. "What are we doing here?"
That was a good question. Angel hadn't seemed to show concern for Spike's condition, and yet he had brought them here. And although he had talked of leaving, he had stayed long enough to give Spike the blood he needed to heal.
"Angel brought us here," she answered simply.
A series of emotions ranging from shame to hope flickered across Spike's face before he managed to look disinterested.
"And where is Mr. Broody-Pants?" Spike asked.
Darla only shrugged as she sipped her blood.
They chatted a bit as they finished their meal, but they both avoided bringing Angel back up. There was nothing to be done about him until he returned.
It was Darla who felt his presence first, and when she looked towards the door, Spike's eyes followed hers. As Angel walked in the door he was greeted by silence from both of them.
For a moment no one spoke, and then he asked Spike, "Are you well enough to move?"
"You're not throwing us out!" Darla said without thinking.
She was being worn thin by Angel's pretend indifference. It wasn't just that she had been in his dreams, but she also saw the glances he gave both of them when he thought no one was looking.
"I'm not kicking you out," Angel said. "I just thought. . ." He stopped and it was obvious that the next words were hard for him. "I was thinking and. . . we should get that chip removed."
"Yeah, well that's just brilliant, mate," Spike snapped, displeased that Angel knew about the chip. "But if you think I'm letting you dig around in my skull-"
"No," Angel stopped him. "We get Wolfram & Hart to do it."
"And how are we supposed to do that?" Spike asked.
"They want Angelus right?" Angel asked Darla, ignoring Spike. "So we give them Angelus."
"Angel," Darla began slowly. She was grateful that he wanted to help Spike, even if she didn't understand his change of heart. But she could also see that he was unsure, and she was afraid that the slightest thing could change his mind. "How are you. . . I mean you can't just pretend. . ."
"I won't be. I just need to know. . . You need to really want this Darla, because I'll need you to keep me. . . focused. It won't last long."
"What won't. . ?" she started to ask.
"Just, tell me that you'll make sure Spike gets the help he needs," he said quietly.
"Of course," she agreed, still confused about what he thought he was going to do. Wolfram & Hart wasn't full of fools and she didn't see how Angel thought he could trick them.
Whatever Angel's plan he seemed reluctant to share it. And the truth was that neither Darla nor Spike was going to push him too hard since he seemed willing to help them. Instead they simply followed along with him.
Soon they were piled into Angel's car. Darla curled herself into Angel's side. She could see how tense his body was. He was obviously so unsure about what he was doing, so she tried to reassure him the best way she knew how. As he drove, her fingers played with the hair at the back of his neck, something he'd always liked.
Spike meanwhile sat on the other side of her, tapping his fingers on the car door. If he refused to look at the two of them, at least he was able to keep his jealousy in check enough to remain quiet.
When Angel had parked the car outside of Wolfram & Hart's office, he just sat there for a moment, hands clutching the steering wheel.
"Well?" Spike asked impatiently, unable to stay quiet any longer.
Angel glared at him, but he got out of the car. Then he reached into his coat and pulled out a plastic bag which held several small white pills. He emptied four of the pills into his hand and then tossed them in his mouth and swallowed.
"That's it?" Spike asked disappointed. "Pills, you're brilliant plan is pills?"
"William," Darla hissed, worried that Spike was going to ruin this.Before she could say more, Spike had hit the ground hard and Angel was standing over him.
"I think it's time you remembered your place, boy."
The fact that Spike wasn't on his feet immediately to challenge Angel, was a sign that he hadn’t fully recovered from his beating the night before. Under other circumstances Darla would have let them resolve this on their own, but getting Spike's chip out was her first priority.
"Angel stop it," she said as she gripped his arm to try and pull him back.
He let her do it, another reminder that he was the stronger one now. As he turned to look at her his eyes glinted golden, the pupils large and she could tell that the drugs were working through his system.
"Not Angel," he corrected her. Before she could say anything more, he pulled her head back by her hair and kissed her, pressing her body against the door of his car. She could feel him growing hard as his other hand began to roam her body.
She could feel herself growing wet. She'd longed so much for this, to have him back and vibrant and alive. For a moment she toyed with the idea of letting him fuck her right there, after all it wouldn't have to take too long. Except she knew that wasn't true. Even if Spike didn't interfere, she rather doubted that after being restrained for so long Angelus would be satisfied with anything quick.
So she bit him hard enough to force him to pull back from the kiss. He smiled and laughed and tried to kiss her again, but she pushed him back.
"Spike, remember?" she asked. "His chip."
Angelus paused, and fixed his gaze on the Wolfram & Hart building. A large smile crossed his face as he licked away the blood from Darla's bite.
He chuckled and let her go. "Yeah, that'll be fun. Time to cry havoc."
And let slip the dogs of war, Darla silently finished the quote. A chill ran down her spine. She wasn't sure that war with Wolfram & Hart was what they needed.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-08-12 12:33 am (UTC)Angel really wants that chip off Spike, doesn't he? Must say having Angelus around, even for a short time, makes me worried for all three of them. Looking forward to more! :D
*goes make herself an Angel/Darla/Spike icon*
no subject
Date: 2007-09-13 08:17 pm (UTC)And yes Angelus could cause a lot of trouble, especially considering that he's high.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-13 09:08 pm (UTC)Angelus high... The possibilities are endless. And by "endless" I mean "They all end on oil wrestling in my head"
Randomly, Guaedian update and forgot to read! *runs*
no subject
Date: 2007-08-16 05:45 pm (UTC)Great update. I'm torn... On the one hand I'm really glad Angel (souled, champion, doesn't-give-a-damn-about-Spike Angel) felt it was necessary to get Spike's chip out, but on the other hand I worry about what W&H will do to them once they realize it was just a ploy. The plot thickens!
no subject
Date: 2007-09-13 08:18 pm (UTC)I'm glad you liked Angel's decision. As for W&H well. . .
no subject
Date: 2007-08-29 12:15 am (UTC)I also otta mention that I totally can't wait to read the next chap. :)
no subject
Date: 2007-09-13 08:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-14 01:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-14 06:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-18 06:06 am (UTC)The end of this chapter makes me think of Lorne's warnings. Hoo boy! This could get bad, couldn't it?
no subject
Date: 2009-02-19 04:58 am (UTC)