Title: City of Night 2/? (Prompt: Devotee)
Apr. 5th, 2007 09:24 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
salustra.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
tamingthemuseTitle: City of Night 2/?
Fandom: Angel the Series
Prompt: Devotee
Warnings: Some implied slashiness
Rating: Adults only
Summary: This is about the period after Dru dumps Spike the second time, and what happens between the dumping and him arriving in Sunnydale with Harmony. I’ve alluded in several other fics about this period, and always meant to get around to writing it. In this chapter, Spike hangs out in Caritas and meets someone quite interesting.
The night was dragging on. Spike had polished off a couple of glasses of house red and was onto something Lorne had wandered by and pressed him to try.
“On the house, kitten. They’re a positive lift to the spirit, can’t get through the day without them,” Lorne had said.
He looked at the glass with the little umbrella. A Seabreeze. Ah, well, it was on the house. He sipped it and leaned against the bar, his brief amusement of earlier sinking back into the emptiness that had pulled him in here to begin with. After he finished this fruity drink he’d leave, go get a bottle or ten, and head back to the cathedral.
The noise of the club was beginning to fray his nerves. Usually he liked the noisiness of a good bar, liked the hum of people around him. But tonight it just made him long for some silence. Some peace. Made him realize how alone he was.
Then something caught his attention. It was the scent first. Human, in the midst of this demon crowd. The faint scent of expensive aftershave and bourbon and clove cigarettes. He looked up and saw him stalking through the crowd. Another predator, a shark. He was dressed in well-worn jeans, cowboy boots, and a loose cotton shirt completely at odds with the expensive scents he bore. Blue eyes, blondish-brown hair, and a full-lipped mouth. He was carrying a guitar case, moving toward the stage.
Lorne got up on stage. “All right, cats and kittens, an audience favorite for you tonight. Lindsey MacDonald.” There was a warm round of applause as the human takes the stage, taking out his guitar and settling on the stool. He started strumming and singing, the crowd falling mostly silent to listen.
Spike was listening as well, and watching. There was something about him that caught his eye. Maybe this was the ‘kindred spirit’ Lorne had referred to. Lindsey’s voice was a mix of honey and smoke, sweet with just a touch of roughness. Country. Fit the clothes but not the scents. He was a puzzle.
The song caught his attention as well. It was a heartbreak song, like so many country songs. A man whose woman left him in a motel because he wouldn’t say ‘I love you’. He was chasing her, checking every motel on the way to try to find her. But the end of the song, and the pain in his voice, made it clear the man wasn’t going to find his woman.
There was a thunderous roar of applause as he left the stage. Lindsey walked to the bar and settled in the empty seat next to Spike without looking at him. “Sebastian, my usual,” he said to the Satyrna demon. A glass was soon set in front of Lindsey. “T&T, your usual.”
Lorne came over to the bar. He patted Lindsey on the shoulder. “Fabulous pipes as usual, muffin. Work troubles again?”
Lindsey smiled. “Oh, you know, the usual. Competition is a killer.”
Lorne chuckled. “More like competition has killer legs. I’ve seen her.”
Lindsey rolled his eyes. “She hasn’t been in here, has she? Hate to think she’d invaded my sanctuary from work.”
“No worries there, cupcake. But she *does* get around a bit in demon circles. Anyhoo, I wanted to introduce you to someone. Lindsey, meet Spike.” He gestured to Spike.
Lindsey looked over, gave a little nod and an appraising look. Spike returned the look. Up close, there was something compelling in the eyes. A lot of pain and vulnerability behind that predator’s façade. A kindred spirit, all right. The silence drew out into a long moment before Spike decided to speak first. “You’ve got a good voice,” he said, and took a drag off his cigarette.
“Think so?” Lindsey replied, shrugging. “Thanks.”
Lorne patted them both on the shoulder. “I’m going to let you two boys get acquainted.” He moved away, and there was another long moment of silence. “So,” Spike said. “Lorne try to fix you up a lot?”
Lindsey barked a laugh at that, narrowly missing spitting out a mouthful of liquor. “No. This is the first time. Kinda surprised he picked you, though.”
“Why?” Spike’s lips quirked with amusement, despite himself. “Cause I’m a bloke?”
Lindsey snorted. “No. ‘Cause you’re a vamp.”
Spike raised an eyebrow at that. “You can tell?”
Lindsey nodded. “Yeah. I deal with demons full-time at my job. You get a feel for it. Nothing personal, I just don’t want to be on the menu of people I date.”
“Can’t blame you.” Spike gestured to Sebastian. “Shot of Jack,” he said. Turning back to Lindsey, he let the tip of his tongue dart out for a moment, brushing his upper lip. “You don’t know what you’re missing, though. I know a lot of people who pay to be bitten.”
“Well I’m not a devotee,” Lindsey replied dryly. “Not a donor either.” He looked at Spike again. “Not to say I’m not tempted.”
Spike tilted his head slightly. “Temptation. It’s delicious, isn’t it?” He couldn’t resist toying just a little. Getting a little rise from the handsome singer. “A little electricity riding on your skin, down your spine. A little jolt of almost-danger. You do wonder what it’s like, don’t you?” Spike’s eyes rested on Lindsey’s face. “Like I wonder what those soft lips would feel like wrapped around my cock.”
Lindsey moaned, his expression softening slightly, and then the wariness was back. “Damn…” He let out a breath. “You were just winding me up, right? I work at a law firm all day, I don’t need any more bloodsuckers around.” He tossed down the rest of his drink, and got up. “Nice meeting you.” His tone was tight and clipped. He grabbed his guitar case and headed out the door, pushing past Lorne without a word.
Lorne looked confused and came over to Spike. “What happened, kitten?”
Spike shrugged. “Apparently he doesn’t like vamps.”
Lorne shook his head. “I’m insulted. The man comes in here for advice, then ignores it. You’re what he needs right now, and vice versa.”
Spike let out a scoffing chuckle. “Is that right?”
Lorne put a hand on Spike’s upper arm. “Believe me, kitten, if I hadn’t read it, I’d be making my own play for you. It’s been a long dry spell for me. Though if Lindsey insists on being an idiot much longer, to hell with it.”
Spike had to laugh. “I’ll keep that in mind. Never had an anagogic before. Never even met one.”
Lorne grinned. “Well I’m pretty special.”
“I can see that.”
“You’re a flirt, kitten. I like that in a vamp. Gotta get back to my hosting duties. Catch you later. Sebastian, another Seabreeze for handsome here.” Lorne moved back into the crowd.
Spike watched him move off, but he found his mind was on Lindsey. There was something about him… Spike sipped the Seabreeze and pondered his next move. He was never one to back down from a challenge, and the pretty lawyer certainly seemed like one. Trying to land him might prove a worthy distraction. Certainly better than moping around feeling miserable. He raised the Seabreeze in a little toast to his new goal.
Fandom: Angel the Series
Prompt: Devotee
Warnings: Some implied slashiness
Rating: Adults only
Summary: This is about the period after Dru dumps Spike the second time, and what happens between the dumping and him arriving in Sunnydale with Harmony. I’ve alluded in several other fics about this period, and always meant to get around to writing it. In this chapter, Spike hangs out in Caritas and meets someone quite interesting.
The night was dragging on. Spike had polished off a couple of glasses of house red and was onto something Lorne had wandered by and pressed him to try.
“On the house, kitten. They’re a positive lift to the spirit, can’t get through the day without them,” Lorne had said.
He looked at the glass with the little umbrella. A Seabreeze. Ah, well, it was on the house. He sipped it and leaned against the bar, his brief amusement of earlier sinking back into the emptiness that had pulled him in here to begin with. After he finished this fruity drink he’d leave, go get a bottle or ten, and head back to the cathedral.
The noise of the club was beginning to fray his nerves. Usually he liked the noisiness of a good bar, liked the hum of people around him. But tonight it just made him long for some silence. Some peace. Made him realize how alone he was.
Then something caught his attention. It was the scent first. Human, in the midst of this demon crowd. The faint scent of expensive aftershave and bourbon and clove cigarettes. He looked up and saw him stalking through the crowd. Another predator, a shark. He was dressed in well-worn jeans, cowboy boots, and a loose cotton shirt completely at odds with the expensive scents he bore. Blue eyes, blondish-brown hair, and a full-lipped mouth. He was carrying a guitar case, moving toward the stage.
Lorne got up on stage. “All right, cats and kittens, an audience favorite for you tonight. Lindsey MacDonald.” There was a warm round of applause as the human takes the stage, taking out his guitar and settling on the stool. He started strumming and singing, the crowd falling mostly silent to listen.
Spike was listening as well, and watching. There was something about him that caught his eye. Maybe this was the ‘kindred spirit’ Lorne had referred to. Lindsey’s voice was a mix of honey and smoke, sweet with just a touch of roughness. Country. Fit the clothes but not the scents. He was a puzzle.
The song caught his attention as well. It was a heartbreak song, like so many country songs. A man whose woman left him in a motel because he wouldn’t say ‘I love you’. He was chasing her, checking every motel on the way to try to find her. But the end of the song, and the pain in his voice, made it clear the man wasn’t going to find his woman.
There was a thunderous roar of applause as he left the stage. Lindsey walked to the bar and settled in the empty seat next to Spike without looking at him. “Sebastian, my usual,” he said to the Satyrna demon. A glass was soon set in front of Lindsey. “T&T, your usual.”
Lorne came over to the bar. He patted Lindsey on the shoulder. “Fabulous pipes as usual, muffin. Work troubles again?”
Lindsey smiled. “Oh, you know, the usual. Competition is a killer.”
Lorne chuckled. “More like competition has killer legs. I’ve seen her.”
Lindsey rolled his eyes. “She hasn’t been in here, has she? Hate to think she’d invaded my sanctuary from work.”
“No worries there, cupcake. But she *does* get around a bit in demon circles. Anyhoo, I wanted to introduce you to someone. Lindsey, meet Spike.” He gestured to Spike.
Lindsey looked over, gave a little nod and an appraising look. Spike returned the look. Up close, there was something compelling in the eyes. A lot of pain and vulnerability behind that predator’s façade. A kindred spirit, all right. The silence drew out into a long moment before Spike decided to speak first. “You’ve got a good voice,” he said, and took a drag off his cigarette.
“Think so?” Lindsey replied, shrugging. “Thanks.”
Lorne patted them both on the shoulder. “I’m going to let you two boys get acquainted.” He moved away, and there was another long moment of silence. “So,” Spike said. “Lorne try to fix you up a lot?”
Lindsey barked a laugh at that, narrowly missing spitting out a mouthful of liquor. “No. This is the first time. Kinda surprised he picked you, though.”
“Why?” Spike’s lips quirked with amusement, despite himself. “Cause I’m a bloke?”
Lindsey snorted. “No. ‘Cause you’re a vamp.”
Spike raised an eyebrow at that. “You can tell?”
Lindsey nodded. “Yeah. I deal with demons full-time at my job. You get a feel for it. Nothing personal, I just don’t want to be on the menu of people I date.”
“Can’t blame you.” Spike gestured to Sebastian. “Shot of Jack,” he said. Turning back to Lindsey, he let the tip of his tongue dart out for a moment, brushing his upper lip. “You don’t know what you’re missing, though. I know a lot of people who pay to be bitten.”
“Well I’m not a devotee,” Lindsey replied dryly. “Not a donor either.” He looked at Spike again. “Not to say I’m not tempted.”
Spike tilted his head slightly. “Temptation. It’s delicious, isn’t it?” He couldn’t resist toying just a little. Getting a little rise from the handsome singer. “A little electricity riding on your skin, down your spine. A little jolt of almost-danger. You do wonder what it’s like, don’t you?” Spike’s eyes rested on Lindsey’s face. “Like I wonder what those soft lips would feel like wrapped around my cock.”
Lindsey moaned, his expression softening slightly, and then the wariness was back. “Damn…” He let out a breath. “You were just winding me up, right? I work at a law firm all day, I don’t need any more bloodsuckers around.” He tossed down the rest of his drink, and got up. “Nice meeting you.” His tone was tight and clipped. He grabbed his guitar case and headed out the door, pushing past Lorne without a word.
Lorne looked confused and came over to Spike. “What happened, kitten?”
Spike shrugged. “Apparently he doesn’t like vamps.”
Lorne shook his head. “I’m insulted. The man comes in here for advice, then ignores it. You’re what he needs right now, and vice versa.”
Spike let out a scoffing chuckle. “Is that right?”
Lorne put a hand on Spike’s upper arm. “Believe me, kitten, if I hadn’t read it, I’d be making my own play for you. It’s been a long dry spell for me. Though if Lindsey insists on being an idiot much longer, to hell with it.”
Spike had to laugh. “I’ll keep that in mind. Never had an anagogic before. Never even met one.”
Lorne grinned. “Well I’m pretty special.”
“I can see that.”
“You’re a flirt, kitten. I like that in a vamp. Gotta get back to my hosting duties. Catch you later. Sebastian, another Seabreeze for handsome here.” Lorne moved back into the crowd.
Spike watched him move off, but he found his mind was on Lindsey. There was something about him… Spike sipped the Seabreeze and pondered his next move. He was never one to back down from a challenge, and the pretty lawyer certainly seemed like one. Trying to land him might prove a worthy distraction. Certainly better than moping around feeling miserable. He raised the Seabreeze in a little toast to his new goal.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-05 11:59 pm (UTC)a challenge for Spike, that will keep him occupied and in trouble.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-07 06:38 am (UTC)And your icon- wow.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-07 07:51 am (UTC)Of course I could watch yours all day...
no subject
Date: 2007-04-06 06:32 am (UTC)You have Lorne down nicely. Still calling Spike 'Kitten' but back to the baked good for Lindsey *laughs*
And Lindsey's voice was great too - “Well I’m not a devotee,” Lindsey replied dryly. “Not a donor either.” Nice use of the prompt. The way he turned Spike down was just right. Very nice.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-07 07:00 am (UTC)First off, I adore Lorne. He doesn't get enough love in fics.
And second, I've been a fan of Spike/Lindsey chemistry since that scene in season 5 Ats when Lindsey first looks Spike up in that titty bar. When Spike pins him to the wall... damn.
This is set Season 3 BtVS, so Angel is still in Sunnydale. Mind you, this fic obviously changes Season 5 Ats canon, but hey...
no subject
Date: 2007-04-06 10:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-07 07:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-09 08:01 pm (UTC)Lindsey's voice was a mix of honey and smoke, sweet with just a touch of roughness. Country. Fit the clothes but not the scents. He was a puzzle. Spike does like a puzzle
Lindsey smiled. "Oh, you know, the usual. Competition is a killer."
Lorne chuckled. "More like competition has killer legs. I've seen her."
*Snerk*
And the thought of Spike face to face with the little umbrellas! *giggle*
Loved it