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Title: Rivals (1/1)
"You were with Angel last night," Spike commented, accusation lacing his words. He forced himself to slip into a guise of indifference as Willow turned towards him, surprise flaring in her wide green eyes. "Me?" she squeaked. "Do you see anyone else here, pet?" Spike scowled, listening to the rapid pounding of her heart. "Uh, well, no... But I was surprised, I mean, it's not like you ever _talk_ to me or anything," Willow replied, her surprise fading as her voice took on an edge of irritation. "God forbid that the big, bad vampire speak to little ol' _me_ nicely." Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him. "And how do you know that I saw Angel, anyhow?" Spike shrugged, leaning back into the couch. He threw one arm over the back of the couch, his booted feet crossing at the ankles on the coffee table before him. He was the very image of casual indifference on the surface while he seethed inside. "I can smell the wanker," he said. "Oh... Oh!" Willow said. "I didn't think that worked unless you did, uh, something. Which we most assuredly did not!" she shook her head certainly. "And what does it matter to _you_?" 'It matters because I don't want him anywhere near you,' Spike grumbled silently. His sire seemed capable of upsetting all of his hard work without even trying. "I was just thrown -- I hadn't realized that Peaches and you were such good friends," he answered casually. Willow grinned wryly. "Well, I can emphasize with that. We aren't -- or weren't. Heck, I talked to you while you were our enemy more than I talked to Angel while he was with Buffy. I didn't even expect to see him while he came down to talk to Giles. I ran into him in front of Giles' apartment while he was leaving. It was strange, Angel just looked at me for a minute, like he was surprised, and the next minute, he's asking if I wanted to go get an ice cream." She giggled suddenly. "Talk about strange -- I'd never pictured Angel and ice cream. Not, of course, that I regularly picture Angel at all, in _any_ way." Spike fought back a scowl. Bloody aggravating poof was trying to move into _his_ territory. "That doesn't sound so bad," Spike commented casually. "For once, the wanker may have had a good idea. How about we go out and do something?" Willow's eyes went round. "We? As in you and me? That 'we'?" He grinned and nodded, enjoying the flush claiming her pale cheeks. "That's it, pet," he affirmed. "Hanging around with the Watcher all day gets mind numbing. And there's no way that I could stand the Slayer or the whelp without trying to strangle them, implant or not." "Well..." Willow murmured uncertainly. "Please, luv?" Spike added. "You wouldn't want to be guilty of letting me suffer untold boredom, would you?" She shook her head. "Fine, then." Willow held up her hand, "_but_ I have a condition -- no threats to me or my friends. There's nothing that ruins an evening quite like being told your diner companion wants to tear your throat out. Got it, mister?" "No threats," Spike confirmed. If Peaches was sniffing around, it was definitely time to speed things up with Willow. If it took keeping his distaste for her friends in check, so be it.
Willow opened the door to her dorm room and blinked in surprise. "Angel!" she gasped, suddenly wishing that she wasn't still wearing her oldest pair of jogging pants and an oversized Sunnydale University t-shirt. "Buffy isn't here, right now," she told the dark vampire. 'And if I go by previous experience, she won't be getting back to our room until sometime tomorrow afternoon,' Willow thought, wisely keeping that tidbit to herself. No need to inform Angel that the love of his unlife was busy in bed with Riley. "I actually came here to see you," Angel admitted, admiring the curve of her neck as she shifted her head. "May I come in?" "Come in," Willow nodded, waving him into her room. She watched Angel's movements with appreciation, guiltily jerking her eyes away from his rear as he settled onto the edge of her bed. "I'm afraid I don't have long to talk -- Spike and I are going out tonight." Willow blinked. For a moment, she thought she had seen an expression identical to that which she had seen upon Spike's face earlier that day. "Spike?" Angel echoed. "Out? Patrolling? Researching?" he offered hopefully. Willow flushed. "Uh, _out_ out. You know, venturing into the world beyond Giles' apartment? He's bored and lonely." And so am I, Willow thought. She had been thrown by Spike's unexpected proposal, but her excitement had been growing all day as she looked forward to their outing. She admitted to herself that spending time alone with Spike wasn't an unpleasant idea -- even though there was a great possibility that she could end up humiliating herself if he caught her staring at him lustfully. "And so are you," Angel said softly. "Since you're busy tonight, maybe we can do something tomorrow? I'd like to take this chance to get to know you better, Willow. You've been a good friend to me, and I'd like to be able to return the favour." 'And keep you out of Spike's hands,' he added. "I... Yes, that sounds nice, Angel." "Good," Angel answered, gracefully rising from her bed. "I'll stop by at eight to pick you up." He brushed a light kiss across her cheek and was gone. Willow's fingers lightly rested against the place Angel's lips had rested. "Down, girl," Willow chided herself. Angel and Spike... "Goddess," Willow sighed, flopping down onto her bed. She hugged her pillow to her chest as she stared up at the ceiling. For some strange reason, both men were suddenly interested in her company. It was nice. More than nice. "Just don't embarrass yourself," Willow said. She hadn't gone out with anyone, just two people, since Tara. Her body was enjoying the thought almost as much as her mind. "Get a grip on yourself. Even if you don't jump either of them, or stare, remember they have a good sense of smell. A friendly outing. Understood?" Her body tingled back at her rebelliously. "Damn it, I thought as much," Willow muttered darkly.
"Wow," Willow said softly, looking around. "This is nice. A nighttime picnic -- I haven't had one of these in years," she informed Spike as she settled down on the blanket he had spread out over the grass. She looked at him out of the corner of her eyes, watching the play of his muscles as he twisted open the top to a jar of beets. "I wouldn't have expected this from you." He grinned at her. "I'm full of surprises, pet." He sat in front of her, pressing the jar into her hands. He watched, rapt, as Willow stabbed at one of them with her fork, nibbling at it delicately. The dark red juice stained her lips, a trickle of it running from the corner of her lips. Spike leaned forward, catching the juice with his thumb. Willow jumped slightly but Spike had already fallen back onto his elbows, licking the captured juice from his thumb. 'Oh, Goddess,' Willow thought, briefly closing her eyes. 'I am calm. I am at ease. I am in no way attracted to him. I do not want him to touch me again. I don't want to--' She cut off that train of thought, shifting on the blanket. She was starting to think that this was a _very_ bad idea. They had been here less than five minutes, and she was already loosing her self-control. Spike watched Willow swallow. Her face was flushed even in the darkness. This had definitely been a good idea.
Willow was absolutely ravishing in a pair of black jeans and a dark green blouse. Her hair had been pinned back at the sides with barrettes, leaving her face free. Her eyes shone as she looked at Angel. "So, what are we off to do tonight?" she asked cheerfully. "But _please_ don't tell me it involves food." Angel's eyebrow arched. "Why not?" He watched in fascination as Willow's tongue darted out to lick her lower lip. "Ah..." Willow stalled, her eyes rolling slightly as she scrambled for a plausible explanation. "Traumatic food experience?" she concluded with a blush. Angel's lips tightened. 'Spike,' he thought sourly. "Just popcorn," he told Willow with a smile. "I thought we would watch movies at my place and talk. I meant what I said, Willow -- I want to get to know you better. I figured that it would be less stressful in a casual environment." 'Casual?' Willow's mind yelped. Alone, in the dark, with Angel, together on his couch? 'Oh, Goddess,' Willow thought despairingly. 'He is trying to be a good friend. I am calm. I am at ease. I am in no way attracted to him. I am _not_ hoping that it's a scary movie so that I have an excuse to snuggle into those strong arms--" This had definitely been a bad idea. Angel watched Willow's eyes dilate and smiled. This had definitely been a good idea.
"Spike," Angel acknowledged coolly. "Peaches," Spike said frostily. The two men glowered at each other from across the length of Giles' apartment, both wishing that the Watcher would hurry up with the book he was returning to Angel. "So," Spike drawled, his arms crossing over his chest as he leaned back into his chair, "I hear from Willow that you're leaving soon." He smirked at his sire. "Last night, when we went out, _again_." "I know. I called her after she got home. We talked right until she had to go to bed. Meaning, mine was the last voice she heard before she went to sleep," Angel countered. He couldn't believe that his childe was attempting to compete with him over Willow! Angel knew that _he_ himself was in no way being so childish. He was simply being a good friend to the red head. And had he been interested in more, Spike had to know that Angel would win the girl. Not that he was competitive, of course -- he just knew his strengths. "Wanker," Spike muttered. "Not these days," Angel answered. Spike scowled at him. "I'm sure that Willow be sure to call you on occasion while you're _miles_ away in L.A.," he said. "I'm sure she will. _When_ I leave. Which won't be for another week or so yet. Things have been quiet in L.A., and I could use the vacation." He smiled widely. "I'm sure Willow will be thrilled to hear that when I tell her tonight when we go out, _again_." "Because you're so much fun to be with," Spike said snidely. "Willow hasn't complained."
Willow fell onto her bed with a small moan. She felt as if she hadn't been alone in days. Angel and Spike had been eating up her time for the past week. Sometimes she almost thought that they were rotating her between them. It had been fun. And exhausting. In the past week she had been to more movies and restaurants, picnics and roller skating arenas, sightseeing and go-carting -- than she _ever_ had before in her life. And when they weren't _doing_ something, they were talking. Willow had been gently prodded for information about her past, her hobbies, her opinions, and the state of her love life by both vampires. She had learned a dizzying amount of information about them both, as well. She was informed, confused, and horny as hell. "Goddess," Willow breathed. "Oh, Tara, I _really_ wish you hadn't been required to transfer out of Sunnydale." Willow squirmed against the bed before flinging herself onto her back. She wriggled slightly, moving her long skirt up her hips. Never in her life had she been so glad to have their dorm room to herself most days. It wasn't as if either girl was unaware of what the other did at night occasionally under the safety of their bed sheets, but Willow definitely wasn't feeling brave enough to risk Buffy hearing the names on her lips that she cried past the hand she pressed against her mouth.
Willow couldn't recall how she had ended up on Angel's lap. At the moment, she really didn't care. She knew only that she had been teased and frustrated far too long, that she wanted him, and he most assuredly wanted her. Her legs rested on either side of Angel's thighs. One hand was clutching at his hair, holding his mouth against hers. The other was rubbing at the cool flesh exposed by his open shirt. She ground herself against him, whimpering pleas into his demanding mouth. Willow's head drew back as she gasped for air. "Angel?" she yelped as he rose. Her legs wound around his waist, one hand flying upwards to brace against his shoulder. He cupped her bottom, holding her firmly against him. "Bedroom," he gasped, watching her face with glazed eyes. Willow nodded. She collapsed onto her back on his bed. Angel's eyes were predatory as he followed her down. Buttons flew as he grasped the hem of Willow's shirt, tearing at it. Willow squirmed. "Don't just _look_," she gasped. He grinned at her and bent down to taste her skin. Willow's eyes rolled and she arched up into his mouth. 'He had a definite talent, there,' Willow's mind noted through a haze of lust. His hand had moved up beneath her skirt, and he was rubbing her through damp underwear. "_Fuck_" Willow hissed. And gasped as Angel pulled away from her suddenly. He was at the foot of his bed, his back turned towards her. Willow stared at him with wide, hurt eyes. Her face flaming, she drew her legs together, tugging at her skirt with shaking hands. She crawled to the edge of his large bed, her vision clouded by tears. Angel's words were like a blow when he spoke. "I'm sorry, Willow. I don't know what came over me. I didn't mean for this to happen--" Willow shook her head. "I know. Because we're _friends_, and you love Buffy, and this is just because it's been far too long since either of us got laid. I know. I _know_." She stumbled off the bed, holding her shirt closed in front of her. "Have a good ride back to L.A., Angel," Willow told his back before she turned on her heel and ran. "Damn it," Angel snarled as the door to his room shuddered shut behind Willow. He fell to the bed, rubbing at his head wearily. He had wanted her. He _still_ wanted her. But it wouldn't be fair to Willow to do anything about it while he was locked into an unspoken rivalry with Spike. 'How the hell did I let things get so complicated?'
Willow's voice had sounded tiny and lost over the telephone. "Spike, I'm sorry, but I'm not feeling so well. I'm staying in tonight." "Do you want me to come over--" "_No_!" Looking at her at that moment, Spike understood why she hadn't wanted to see him. She glared at him through red rimmed eyes, her tiny body blocking the doorway to her room. She looked angry and embarrassed, Angel's scent strong against her. "I said I didn't want any company tonight--" Willow gasped as Spike's hands clamped against her upper arms, pushing her into her room. He followed her in, kicking the door shut with his foot. "You were with Angel," he snarled, his demon fighting to surface upon his face. Willow swirled away from him, her eyes blazing. "I would have been if he hadn't chickened out. Don't look at me like that! I know -- I'm nothing but a big old hussy, lusting after you bloody vampires! Big deal. What woman _wouldn't_, huh? But then neither of you could leave it at that. You had to go _talk_ to me -- make me _like_ you! As if--" He grinned suddenly. "Who are we talking about now, pet?" "You're laughing at me!" Willow growled in outrage. "First Angel can't follow through with what he started, and now you're _laughing_ at me because I admitted what any woman with eyes could." She stomped her foot. "Get out of my room! _Now_!" Spike chuckled as he stalked towards her. "I don't think so, pet. But not to worry, I'm not all show, no follow through like the Pouf." "Who says I _want_ follow through with you?" Willow protested weakly. She was so not going to play this game twice in one night. She may not have been able to stop herself from caring about either vampire, but she certainly didn't have to _act_ on her emotions twice-- Her body told her mind to shut up as Spike's arms wound around her.
Angel didn't bother to knock at Willow's door. He looked at Spike, lounging comfortably on Willow's mussed bed, and snarled. "What are _you_ doing here, Spike?" he demanded. Angel was across the room in seconds, glaring down at his childe. "I'm finishing what you started," Spike sneered. He rose from the bed lazily, the sheet sliding off of him. There were angry red scratch marks running down his smooth back and over his ass. "Looks like I win, Pops." "Win?" Willow's voice snapped through both vampires. Her face was freshly scrubbed, red hair still damp from her shower. The softness in her eyes had faded and she looked at the two men with a hard, unreadable gaze. "What do you mean _win_?" "Never mind, luv," Spike said. "Angel was just leaving." Willow's eyes slammed into him. "Shut up, Spike. Angel is _not_ leaving until you tell me what you meant by that," a hard knot of knowledge was already forming within her. 'Idiot,' Willow thought bitterly. 'Did you think that they were both hanging around you for your sparkling conversational abilities?' "It wasn't like that, Willow," Angel tried to tell her. "Then why don't you tell me what it was like?" Spike stepped forward. "You are _mine_. When Angel showed up, I had to show you that." Angel swallowed. "I really did want to be your friend, Willow. I wasn't expecting anything else from you. But, things... they just got out of hand. You have no idea how intelligent, how beautiful you are..." Willow closed her eyes against her tears. "So what then? You'd decide to see who'd get me into bed first, is that it? First to fuck me wins?" "It wasn't a competition," Spike ground out. "Oh?" Willow laughed. "Tell me why both of you were always so damned eager to hear how things went with the other, then." Her shoulders stiffened, her head lifting proudly. "I should have stuck with women." Willow rounded on them, marching towards the door. "Pet--" "Willow!" Her voice was brittle when she spoke. "I've seen enough of both of you for a lifetime. Fuck whoever the hell you want, from now on, it's not going to be me. Tell Buffy that I'll get in touch with her." She didn't even bother to close the door as she stiffly walked out of the room. ~end~ Heh. Out of character, but fun.
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