Title: Rebellious Desire (2/?)
Author: jasonsnene
Pairing: Angel/Xander
Rating: NC17
Warnings: AU, M/M, some violence , uh...maybe a bit of angst. Just a smidge really...kinda.
Summary: Modern, slashy version of a historical romance novel I read recently. Just, you know, cause I wanted to.
Summary: Modern, slashy version of a historical romance novel I read recently. Just, you know, cause I wanted to.
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carinas_carinaeand aayesha_r
Previous Parts
carinas_carinaeand aayesha_rPrevious Parts
Part 2:
Angel tried to force his thoughts back to the mountain of paperwork on his desk, but they kept drifting to Spike’s mysterious rescuer. There was something about him and Angel found himself smiling every time he remembered him. Xander. Even his name made Angel smile. It was ridiculous really; he never smiled this much. His staff was starting to think he was possessed, though, so Angel tried to school his expression and focus on the task at hand.
He really needed to find the people responsible for Spike’s shooting. It was difficult, as Spike didn’t want it in the news, and Angel had limited information to go on. Groo, Spike’s guard, didn’t remember much from that night. He had gotten out of the hospital only the day before and Angel had grilled him for nearly two hours before finally accepting that he didn’t have any new details.
It frustrated Angel. Spike trusted Angel’s security company to see to his safety and now Angel felt like that trust had been breached. Both Spike and Groo were convinced that it was just a random robbery. Groo seemed to think that they’d wanted to steal the limo for a joyride. Angel thought it was too big of a coincidence to ignore.
Then there was the pile of reports he was facing from his father’s business. Since his father’s and brother’s death in a car accident six month’s prior, Angel had been forced to step in and lead the company, just as his own was starting to take off. He was seriously considering selling. There was no way he could run the multi-million dollar franchise his father and brother had run as well as handle his own business.
Angel’s advisors had all told him to choose one or the other. He didn’t need the money. Hadn’t, in fact, needed the money even before he’d inherited the business from his father. But he felt honor bound to continue the legacy that his grandfather had started, that his father and brother had given so much of their lives to, and he was seriously considering closing Angel Investigations.
The thought tore him up though. AI was his baby, his dream. His father hadn’t understood him. He didn’t understand why Angel had joined the military right after high school and gone into the elite Special Forces training. He hadn’t wanted Angel to be in danger and hadn’t understood why Angel didn’t just accept the life on a silver platter that his father was so eager to provide.
The funny thing about it was that the life on a silver platter was exactly what Angel’s father had discouraged for so long. He’d taught both his sons to work hard for what they had and, although they enjoyed the amenities that having a large fortune allowed, they knew the value of a hard day’s work.
Work was all he had been doing for the past six months. Angel Investigations had just gotten its feet off the ground when the accident happened, and since then Angel had been pulling double duty. The pace was getting to him. So the fact that he was constantly distracted by thoughts of laughing brown eyes and floppy brown hair was as big of a shock to Angel as it would have been to anyone else.
Suddenly the thoughts of his work weren’t all consuming. There was something else there now, something that made him smile more than he had in a very long time. And just as suddenly, he wanted nothing more than to see Xander again.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his office door and his assistant stuck her head through. “Sir? Mr. Finn to see you.” Angel stood to greet his friend and Riley did a double take when he saw him.
“Well, I guess the rumors flying around about you are true.”
“Rumors?”
“Yes, I heard that you were actually caught smiling the other day. I knew it couldn’t be true so I had to get over here myself to check it out.”
Angel rolled his eyes and went back to his desk. He and Riley had been friends since basic training and, although they’d taken different career paths in the military, they’d remained in touch. Riley was now working as an investigator for AI.
“It’s nothing really. Just met someone who turned my head. I’m sure if I see him again I’ll get him out of my mind and be back to brooding as usual.”
Riley laughed and sat in one of the leather chairs opposite Angel’s desk. “So, who is this mysterious stranger and where did you meet him?”
Angel filled Riley in on the events of the previous week and Riley swore when told about the ambush on Spike’s vehicle. “Groo doing okay?”
It was no surprise to Angel that Riley’s first thought was to their friend and co-worker. “He’s fine. Had a pretty bad concussion, but he’s recovered.”
“Should I even bother asking about Spike? He always lands on his damn feet.” The animosity between Riley and Spike wasn’t a surprise to Angel. He secretly thought there was something between them, but had decided to keep his nose as far out of that mess as he could.
“Spike’s fine. Glad that it didn’t make the papers.”
“I’m sure he is. I’d hate to think what it would do to his he-man image. Of course, his people would probably spin it until he came out the hero, rescuing some damsel in distress.”
“Hey, go easy on Spike, okay?”
Riley shrugged. “So I take it Spike’s mystery rescuer is your mystery man?”
Angel couldn’t help but smile. “Yes. Xander. Here to visit his father from out of town.”
“Have you tracked him down yet?”
“No. But I’m working on it.”
Riley contemplated his friend for only a moment, noticing the smile that had been absent so long, and made up his mind. “What can I do to help?”
*********************************************************************
The past week had passed in a blur for Xander. His father hadn’t been home when they’d arrived in the middle of the night after the adventure with Mr. Smith. Andrew was distraught and worried about manners and had fluttered about nervously until his father’s butler had assured them all that they were expected and welcome.
Andrew, Gunn, and Xander settled into the Beverly Hills mansion with some trepidation. They were all farm boys at heart and being surrounded by this much luxury was unsettling for all of them. Gunn took his duties as Xander’s guard seriously and made sure the estate was as secure as it could be.
Xander thought all the precautions were unnecessary and wasn’t entirely sure why his uncle felt that he needed constant protection. At first, he’d assumed that it was simply worry over him and Andrew traveling so far from home and to a big city known for its unsavory element.
As he looked around the estate, however, Xander realized that his assumptions had been misguided. There was something more to his need for protection and Xander wanted to know what it was. Knowing that he wouldn’t get any answers until his father arrived, Xander finally fell into bed, exhausted.
Several hours later, he was woken by the sound of his bedroom door creeping open. He slowly slipped his hand under his pillow and gripped the knife he’d hidden there. Letting his eyes open just a sliver, he saw an older man standing at the door, leaning on the frame with tears in his eyes.
He knew in a moment that it was his father. The man was simply an older version of his uncle, Andrew’s father. He looked more world-weary though and Xander wondered if he should acknowledge that he was awake or let his father have his moment. Before he could make up his mind, his father straightened and wiped away the tears streaming down his face. He whispered, “Welcome home, son,” before retreating and closing the door quietly behind him.
Xander couldn’t get the image of his father crying out of his mind and slept fitfully for another couple hours before finally giving up the ruse and climbing out of bed. After a quick shower, he wandered downstairs and found his father sitting in the dining room reading the paper.
Xander studied his father unnoticed for several moments and felt his guilt multiply. His father obviously loved him, had obviously missed him, and Xander had made every excuse possible to avoid coming home for the past few years. The pain Xander had witnessed the previous night was still apparent on his father’s face.
Rupert Giles looked up from the paper and found his son standing at the door watching him. He couldn’t help the gasp of breath as he took in his son’s appearance. Xander wasn’t the fumbling six-year old he’d sent away so many years ago. He was a man now, who looked so much like his mother that Rupert felt his breath catch in his chest and his heart pound in remembered pain.
The paper fell from his hands and Rupert felt tears burning his eyes again. Xander had matching tears in his own eyes and finally crossed to his father’s chair. He knelt beside him and threw his arms around Rupert’s waist. Rupert returned the embrace and they sat there for several minutes just holding each other.
Finally Xander pulled away and looked up at his father with tear-filled eyes. Rupert brushed them away carefully before cradling Xander’s face in his hands. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Xander leaned his head into his father’s touch and whispered back, “I’ve missed you, too, Father.” Then he stood and both men wiped their faces as he settled at the table.
By the time Andrew and Gunn joined them, Xander and Rupert were deep in conversation about ancient history, which they both loved. The four men enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, chatting for several hours and as time passed, Rupert grew more and more comfortable around his son.
Andrew was excited to start making the rounds of the L.A. scene and Rupert ruefully confessed that he’d been out of touch for several years. He did, however, have an invitation to the famous Black and White charity ball which was being held the following week and decided to accept for all of them.
Gunn respectfully declined, his only interest in the social scene being how to keep Xander and Andrew safe, but Andrew practically bounced from his seat in excitement. Rupert made a few calls and found Xander and Andrew a stylist who would take them shopping and make sure they were properly outfitted for their debut.
As they were leaving the room, Rupert asked Xander to join him in his study. Andrew and Gunn returned to their rooms with Andrew still babbling excitedly about their upcoming shopping trip and Gunn making plans to coordinate with the security team at the location of the ball.
When they entered Rupert’s study, Xander was surprised to see that an entire wall was dedicated to photographs of himself. Every school year was acknowledged with a framed portrait and many candid shots were framed and hung along side them. Xander recognized the majority of significant events of his youth represented on the wall. His guilt multiplied when he realized that his father had been interested in his life, but he hadn’t taken the time to acknowledge his father at all.
Rupert stood beside Xander and tentatively placed an arm around his son’s shoulder. “I can’t believe how handsome you are. You look just like your mother, you know.” Xander smiled and let his eyes wander to the framed picture of the three of them taken while his mother was still pregnant with his brother.
He did look like his mother. Jenny had the same dark eyes and dark hair, but Xander thought his smile looked like his father’s. It was nice to make the connection and Xander found himself leaning into his father’s touch. He hadn’t realized how much he needed his father until he was here faced with the man himself.
“Xander, I have to go away for the day. There’s someone I need to tell of your return and I’d rather do it in person.”
Xander turned to his father and waited for more explanation.
“Your mother’s brother lives in Carmel. We haven’t spoken in fifteen years. He was furious with me for sending you away. Now that you’re back, I need to go to him and explain.”
“I have another uncle?” Xander had never heard much about his mother’s family from his aunt and uncle.
“You have two other uncles, Wesley and Lindsey, your mother’s brothers.”
Xander shook his head in wonder. He’d had no idea. “Can I meet them?”
Rupert smiled. “I know they’ll want to see you. Just let me talk to Wesley first, okay? I’ll be back tomorrow.”
Xander nodded and Rupert hugged him tightly before heading upstairs to pack for his overnight trip. He had a feeling Wesley would have a number of questions for him and that he would be quizzed late into the night. He didn’t mind, as nothing really mattered now that Xander was home and safe where he belonged.
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More tomorrow!!
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Lots more characters to come! More tomorrow!!
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More tomorrow.
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Just perfect. And Xander could so pass as Jenny Calendar's son.
I liked how people teased Angel about smiling, and how those smiles were because of Xander.
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Glad you liked Angel's smiling. I thought it would be fun for him to not be broody for once. Who better than our Xan to bring him out of his funk?
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Glad you're enjoying!!
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The thought of Giles as Xander's papa makes me happy too. :D
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Glad you're enjoying honey!!
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GILES... *siiiiiiigh* *ggg*
*rushes off to read more* *yaaaay*
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