Title: Rebellious Desire (7/?)
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_carinae and aayesha_r
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purpledodah
Rebellious Desire Part 7
Instead of standing on his sore ankle, Xander decided a soak in the bath was in order. He settled into the hot water with bubbles up to his chin and tried not to think about his evening. Of course, that proved impossible, and his mind drifted again and again to the feeling of hands on his back, shoving him down the stairs.
Then there was Angel’s reaction. Xander had expected concern, not accusations. It seemed that the more he got to know Angel, the more he wasn’t sure he should continue getting to know him. The beginning of the evening had been wonderful. Angel was caring and considerate, and they’d had a wonderful time.
It was obvious that Angel had serious trust issues, and Xander wasn’t sure he was ready to deal with that. Xander was sure Angel had been hurt in the past, but that was no excuse to punish Xander for whatever had happened. Frankly, Xander didn’t feel like he should have to put up with Angel’s crap.
As if that wasn’t enough, Xander was still torn over what to do about Graham. He knew that the moment Andrew learned of Graham’s accident, his cousin would rush to Graham’s side professing his undying love. But after what Angel told them, Xander wasn’t sure that was the right approach.
No, from what Xander knew about Graham, that wouldn’t work at all. Graham would take it as pity, and he would shut Andrew out just like he had everyone else. Maybe, though, if Andrew didn’t approach him that way things would work out differently. It would be a challenge for Andrew. No one had a bigger heart than his cousin, especially when someone was hurt.
Xander couldn’t help but smile. He thought this plan just might work. If he could only convince Andrew. The hot water began to work on Xander’s aching body, and his busy mind finally started to calm. Just as he was starting to doze in the cooling water, Xander heard a tentative knock on his bathroom door.
“Xan? You in there?”
“I’m in the tub.”
Andrew opened the door and peeked around it to see Xander. “What happened?”
As much as Xander wanted to confess the reality of his fall, he knew that Andrew would freak out, so he stuck with his already concocted story. “I slipped on the stairs.”
“Oh, my god! Are you okay?” Andrew rushed over to the side of the tub. “Come on, let’s get you out.” Xander let Andrew tug him to his feet and heard his gasp when he saw the bruises already forming on Xander’s back. “Geez, Xan! This looks awful!”
“It doesn’t feel so hot, either. I’ll be okay. Don’t worry. I just need to take a couple pain killers and sleep it off. Help me get around, would you? I’ve got something I need to talk to you about.”
Once Xander was dressed in his most comfortable pair of pajama pants, which may or may not have been covered with Star Trek symbols, and was settled in bed with Andrew curled up beside him, Xander broke the news to his cousin that Angel had located Graham.
Andrew reacted just as Xander had predicted and wanted to go straight to Graham’s place to take care of his love. It took Xander some time to convince Andrew of his new plan, but once Andrew realized the wisdom of Xander’s approach, they both began to plot how to show Graham just what he was missing.
They fell asleep well past the time when they should have, and Xander woke the next morning with Andrew plastered up against his side, drooling on his neck. Xander carefully eased his way from the bed and slowly made his way to the shower. The second dose of hot water helped loosen his muscles even further.
Xander dressed quickly and headed downstairs, pleased that the tenderness in his ankle wasn’t as bad as he’d thought it would be. He wanted to talk to Gunn about the events of the previous night. Xander found his friend and bodyguard sitting at the breakfast table with his head in his hands. “Gunn? You okay?”
“Not really. Xander, I’m sorry to do this to you man, but I have to head home. My sister’s gotten herself into some trouble, and I really need to get back and get her on track again.”
Xander tried to hide his reaction to the news, and fortunately, Gunn was too distracted by his own problems to notice. “You go. Alana needs you. We’ll be fine, Gunn. Let me call the airline and get you a flight out. There’s no need for you to drive all the way back.”
Gunn looked relieved, and Xander patted his shoulder before heading to his father’s office to arrange for Gunn’s trip home. He forced the thoughts of his own problems out of his head, deciding that it must have been an accident. After all, no one here really had any reason to want to hurt him and when he’d fallen, they’d probably just been too scared to make sure he was okay.
By the time Andrew emerged from upstairs, having obviously taken great care with his appearance, Gunn was already packed and ready to leave. Xander walked him out and sighed when he saw Angel’s Viper pulling into the driveway. Just what he needed. Another confrontation to add to his mounting collection.
While Xander helped the driver load Gunn’s luggage into the trunk, Angel and Gunn had a whispered conversation that annoyed Xander. He was sure Gunn was asking Angel to look out for him, and by the smug look on Angel’s face, he was more than happy to agree. Gunn hugged both Xander and Andrew, making them promise to take care, before he climbed into the car and headed out.
Andrew was a little weepy, and Xander felt a little teary himself. He was going to miss Gunn, especially when he’d really wanted to get his opinion on things. Now, though, they needed to get over to Graham’s and let Andrew have a little chat with him.
“Andrew, go on and get your stuff together, and we’ll head out in a few. I’m just going to talk to Angel for a minute before we go.”
“Sure! I’ll be back in a jiffy.” Andrew bounded back into the house, probably making one last hair check. Xander shook his head and smiled at his cousin.
Angel watched Andrew go, shaking his head at the young man’s excitability. “So, where are you two off to?”
“We’re going to go see Graham. It’d probably be better if you didn’t come. You probably won’t like what’s going to happen.”
Angel frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. I’ll call you later, okay?”
“No, not okay. What are you planning?”
“None of your business.”
“Xander!”
“Angel!”
Angel sighed. This wasn’t going well. “Look, Xander. I’m sorry about last night. I’m just, well, I don’t…”
“Look, Angel, I appreciate that you have issues. We all do. But I’m not going to be your doormat to walk on or make assumptions about. You either decide to trust me and we go on, or you don’t, and this ends here. You have two strikes already, and I’m not really sure I want to give you a third.”
“Okay, I deserve that. I’ll work on it. But I’d really like to ride with you to Graham’s. It’s not in the best part of town, and I don’t want you guys to go on your own. And I promise I’ll be on my best behavior.” He smiled, trying to look like the innocent angels he was named for. “Please?”
“Whatever. Best behavior, though. And no interfering. No matter what. Got it?”
“Okay. But, um, what would I need to interfere with?”
“Nothing. That’s my point.” Andrew came bounding back out of the house, and Xander led them all to the garage where several cars were parked. He grabbed a set of keys off the hook and tossed them to Angel. “Here, you drive, since you know the area.”
Angel was right. Graham’s apartment wasn’t in the best part of town. That didn’t deter Xander and Andrew; in fact, it stirred them on and made them more determined than ever to help Graham. As soon as the car was parked, they were out and on their way inside. A nurse’s aide was exiting as they approached, and she tried to deny their entrance, stating that Graham had requested no visitors, but between Andrew, Xander and Angel flashing their most charming smiles, they soon convinced her to allow them just a moment with him.
Andrew waved cheerfully to the aide as she left, then he turned back towards Graham’s door and looked to Xander for reassurance. Xander put his hands on Andrew’s shoulders and gave them a squeeze. “You can do this. You have to do this. Remember what we talked about. No mercy.”
Andrew straightened his spine and nodded. “No mercy.” Then he went in the door, looking for the bedroom. The first crash happened approximately five seconds later, and Xander winced when he heard Graham’s outraged shout. Andrew threw something else, probably a vase from the sound of glass shattering, and started yelling.
“You no good sorry son of a…no, you know what. I’m not going to insult your mother. This is all about you. You are pond scum. No LOWER than pond scum…you’re, you’re an amoeba that feeds off pond scum. That’s how low you are. I can not believe you just left me.” Another crash and Xander couldn’t help but smile.
Angel looked worried. “Xander, are you sure this is…”
“Shh. I’m trying to listen.”
They could barely hear Graham speaking but they sure could tell when Andrew started in again. “Oh no, I don’t want to hear it. You have a phone right there and look! Ten perfectly good dialing fingers. You just don’t love me, do you? You should have told me. I deserved to hear it from you if you’d decided that you didn’t.”
Then Graham. “I DO LOVE YOU!”
“OBVIOUSLY NOT! DO YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED I’VE BEEN?”
“LOOK AT ME, ANDREW! HOW COULD YOU STILL LOVE ME LIKE THIS?”
“I SEE YOU JUST FINE! WHAT? DO YOU THINK I’M SO SHALLOW THAT I ONLY LOVED YOUR LOOKS?”
Xander heard Andrew start crying then. “That’s it, isn’t it? You think I’m shallow. You think that little of me. You really don’t love me, do you?”
“Andrew, please, baby, I do love you. I just didn’t want you to see me like this. I’m so sorry. I’m such an idiot.”
“You really love me?”
“Of course, baby. You mean the world to me. I just couldn’t stand the thought of you seeing me like this. They said plastic surgery won’t fix all the scarring on my face and my leg probably won’t heal right.”
Andrew was still crying. “I don’t love your face, Graham. I love you. Please don’t leave me again. Don’t make me leave.”
Their words became too quiet then for Xander to hear, and he let out a sigh of relief. Angel stepped closer to Xander and wrapped his arms around Xander’s waist. Xander, feeling relaxed now that things with Andrew were apparently going well, let him. “That was your big evil plan? For Andrew to shout Graham into submission.”
Xander put his hands on Angel’s back and looked up at him. “Well, you said that Graham wouldn’t see anyone. I figured he was ashamed. So I told Andrew that he couldn’t show pity, and I guess it worked.”
Angel kissed his forehead. “You.” His nose. “Are.” His lips. “Amazing.” And then they were kissing more deeply, and Xander melted into Angel’s touch, pulling himself more tightly against Angel’s body and letting himself get lost in the kiss. He didn’t stop to think that maybe, just maybe, he shouldn’t. He didn’t let himself think at all.
In fact, he was so lost in the kiss, that he didn’t even hear Andrew step out into the hallway. He and Angel only broke apart after Andrew discreetly, then not so discreetly, cleared his throat trying to get their attention.
Xander blushed and unwrapped himself from Angel, surprised to find that he was pushed back against the wall with one leg hitched up and wrapped around Angel. Andrew just grinned at them both as they broke apart.
“He still loves me.”
Xander grinned back. “Told ya.”
Andrew threw himself at Xander and hugged him tightly. “Thank you so much, Xan. You were right.” Andrew pulled away and looked at Angel briefly before checking his cousin’s face for any signs of distress. Finding none, he continued. “I’m going to stay here for a few hours. I can just get a cab back home later.”
Angel shook his head. “That’s not necessary. If you’d like, I can drive Xander home and send Rupert’s driver or one of my people back to get you. You can always call when you’re about ready.”
“That would be great. Thanks, Angel. You guys behave. And, well, don’t do what I’m about to do.” With a silly grin, Andrew went back into Graham’s apartment and shut the door.
Angel led Xander back out to the car and was tempted to pick up where they left off. But it really wasn’t the best part of town, and he’d much rather they had more privacy than the middle of Graham’s parking lot provided. Just as they were getting ready to leave, a familiar SUV pulled in next to them, and Riley climbed out.
“Angel? Xander? What are you guys doing here?”
“We’ve been visiting a guy who lives here. Well, Xander’s cousin, Andrew, is visiting Graham. We just stood in the hall and eavesdropped. What about you?”
“Oh, well, Graham is an old friend of mine. He hasn’t let me see him since his accident, but I’m hoping he’ll let me in to see him today.”
Xander snorted. “Uh, I wouldn’t try that if I were you. I think Graham’s going to be pretty busy for a while.”
Angel chuckled as well.
Riley’s eyes widened in amazement. “Your cousin is Graham’s Andrew? And Graham let him in?”
Xander nodded. “Well, let him in might not be the best way to describe it.”
“Ri, why don’t we all go grab some lunch, and we can tell you about it.” Angel looked at Xander, making sure the plan met with his approval and was glad to see Xander nod his acceptance. Angel and Riley discussed which restaurant to meet at, and Xander just looked back towards the window, smiling at the thought of Andrew finally finding Graham. It was enough to make him believe in happy endings.
Angel opened Xander’s door and guided him into the car when it became apparent that Xander was lost in dream land. As they left the parking lot, Angel reached over and grabbed Xander’s hand and settled it on his thigh. He was also feeling hopeful. Sometimes, things really did work out after all.
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*ggg*!
Andrew is such a sweety. Who thought I would really like him soooo much!
But I still think you are evil ;))), because this chapter was so little angsty and Angel so "goooood":)))! The big bang is coming, isn´t it??? *siiiigh*
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*squish*
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Gabrielle
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Thanks for letting me know!
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Gabrielle
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Congrats to you too! Was so flabbergasted I forgot to say that last time. *facepalm*
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Gabrielle
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*gigglesnort*
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G
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hee,hee!! *Snogs and naughty gropes you back*!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Andrew is so sweet! I love him there.
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I'm glad you're loving Andrew. I'm really loving him in this too.
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Good that Xander's not gonna let Angel treat him like shit with no consequences.
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