Title: Rebellious Desire (10/?)
Author: jasonsnene
Pairing: Angel/Xander, with Graham/Andrew and Spike/Riley
Rating: NC17
Betas: ![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
carinas_carinaeand aayesha_r
carinas_carinaeand aayesha_rWarnings: AU, M/M, some violence , uh...maybe a bit of angst. Just a smidge really...kinda.
Banner by:purpledodah
Summary: Modern, slashy version of a historical romance novel I read recently. Just, you know, cause I wanted to.
Banner by:
purpledodahSummary: Modern, slashy version of a historical romance novel I read recently. Just, you know, cause I wanted to.
Previous Parts
Andrew sighed and tried to shift a bit under the weight of Graham’s arm. His boyfriend obviously didn’t like the movement and tightened his grip around Andrew’s waist and hauled him back into position. This time, Andrew’s sigh was more of the ‘aww…he’s so cute’ variety.
Graham was cute. Cute, sexy, smart, and just about perfect. Graham wasn’t the reason for his sighs. Well, except for the ‘aww’ ones. No, Andrew was worried about his cousin. Xander was keeping secrets, and it just wasn’t like him. They’d been best friends and like brothers since they were both little, and Andrew liked to think that he knew Xander better than anybody.
Xander wasn’t happy, that much was obvious, but something else was going on and Andrew knew it. But Xander wasn’t talking. At first, Andrew had chalked it up to the rather public break up with Angel but now he was convinced that there was much more to Xander’s sudden change in behavior.
He’d noticed it most when they’d gone to visit Xander’s uncle right after the big break up. Xander hadn’t really been leaving the house much, but Andrew knew he wouldn’t disappoint Wesley by refusing to come. The first big clue to Andrew was that Xander asked him to come with him on the visit.
Taking one look at his cousin’s drawn and tired face, Andrew agreed and they’d set out. Once there, Xander pasted on a smile and was cheerfully entertaining his uncle with tales of their childhood adventures. Then, his other uncle had come in, and the entire mood had changed.
Andrew didn’t like Xander’s other uncle. Not one little bit. The man was…smarmy. He’d strolled into the breakfast room where they were sitting like he owned the place, which he clearly did not. Then he’d proceeded to make sure Xander knew all the latest gossip about Angel’s new night life. Xander tried to put on a brave front and shrug off the rumors, but Andrew could see just how hurt he was.
Then Lindsey had gone on at length about Rupert’s relationship with Catherine. The rumor mill was all aflutter with news that Rupert and Catherine were engaged, and Catherine was supposedly reporting that they would be moving to New York, just as soon as Xander’s visit was over.
After making sure his barbs had upset everyone in the room, Lindsey flounced out again, off to some big charity golf event where he was teamed with some “famous” person Andrew had never heard of. Xander spent the next half hour reassuring his Uncle Wesley that he wasn’t going anywhere and that the rumors were just that: rumors.
On the way back to Rupert’s, Xander was quiet, too quiet. Andrew tried to get him to talk, but Xander just shrugged off his concerns and kept changing the subject back to Graham and Andrew’s plans. Seeing the futility of pushing the issue, Andrew had let the subject be changed and rattled on about their upcoming union.
Now, though, Andrew was regretting not pushing further. He couldn’t really be happy when he knew that Xander was so far from it. Andrew sighed again, one of the unhappy ones, and tried again to slip from Graham’s embrace. Predictably, Graham’s arm tightened and this time, he shifted his braced leg over Andrew’s, keeping Andrew snug in his arms.
“Quit wiggling or I’m going to have to do something about it.” Graham whispered the words into Andrew’s neck, causing a delightful shiver.
“I thought I’d worn you out already?”
Graham wiggled his hips into Andrew’s backside and kissed along Andrew’s neck. “Never.”
Andrew smiled and settled, but his thoughts immediately went back to Xander, and he couldn’t help letting another sigh escape.
Graham lifted up and rolled Andrew over so he had a view of his face. “Hey, what’s going on?” His fingers drifted over the frown lines on Andrew’s forehead. “Talk to me, sweetie.”
Andrew teared up a bit. “I’m worried about Xander.”
“Okay, so what’s going on? Maybe I can help.”
Snuggling his face into Graham’s neck, Andrew held his lover close, absorbing his strength. “I don’t know. He won’t tell me. Something’s not right though, Graham. I know it.”
“Well, then, let’s get up and go visiting. You aren’t going to get any rest worrying, and I know Xander wouldn’t like that.” Graham slipped from the bed and held out a hand to Andrew. “Besides, I’ve got the sudden urge to go skinny dipping and surely your uncle’s pool will be empty this time of night. Just think, it’ll be therapy for my leg, but fun.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, and Andrew laughed, just as he’d intended.
Andrew accepted Graham’s hand, and they both got ready to go. “Thanks, Gray. I love you.”
Graham stopped and pulled Andrew into a hug. “Hey, he’s family and family comes first, right? You taught me that.”
****************************************
Xander rolled over and stretched, frowning when he realized the spot on the bed next to him was empty. He forced himself to stay calm. Angel was here. He’d probably just snuck downstairs for a glass of water or something.
Sure that he’d come up with the answer, Xander rolled back to his original position and snuggled up to his pillow. He couldn’t help but feel the familiar ache in his legs at his movements. The feeling brought a smile to his face. Angel loved him. He’d seen it in Angel’s eyes.
It was a powerful, heady feeling, and Xander hugged his pillow tighter as he thought back on their lovemaking. Angel was amazing and had made him feel things in a way that Xander had never felt before. There was a connection there that went so much deeper than simple sex.
The problem was, Xander wasn’t entirely sure Angel trusted him and that was bothering him more than he cared to admit. Why didn’t Angel just tell him what was going on instead of breaking his heart and cavorting around town with all his little rent boys? Just a few words of reassurance were all Xander would have needed.
The only thing he could think of was that Angel didn’t trust him to play the part of the broken-hearted lover convincingly. Either that, or he just didn’t trust him period. Xander was worried after Angel’s earlier behavior, that it was more the latter than the former.
Hearing the bedroom door creep open, Xander forced his body to remain still, and his breathing to stay calm. No need to let Angel know he was laying here worrying. At least they could have this one night without arguing. They could work out their problems tomorrow in the light of day.
Xander realized that the footsteps were coming around the bed towards his side and wondered what Angel was doing. He felt fingers brush over his face, smoothing his hair back, and just when he was going to open his eyes and smile at his lover, a cloth covered hand slapped down over his nose and mouth. He drew in a breath to scream and realized that it was exactly the wrong thing to do as the smell of chemicals filled his nose.
He struggled, trying to break free of the grip that held him, but he was weakening quickly. His last thought before blackness washed over him was to hope that Angel was really just downstairs and hadn’t left. Xander really didn’t want his father to find his body.
************************************
Andrew and Graham weren’t expecting to see lights on in Rupert’s house when they arrived. They decided on the way over that Andrew would check in on Xander and see if he was awake, and if he wasn’t, then they’d let him rest and just spend the night in Andrew’s room so Andrew could see his cousin first thing in the morning.
The lights on in the house and the cars parked out front gave them pause, but Andrew was determined to at least check on Xander so they quietly entered the house. Raised voices were coming from the library, and Andrew tiptoed over, pressing his ear to the door.
He then whispered to Graham. “That sounds like Angel and Uncle Rupert. But I don’t hear Xander.”
Graham listened for a brief moment before pulling Andrew away from the door. “Let’s not eavesdrop. You go on upstairs and see if Xander is up there, and I’ll wait here in case they come out.”
Andrew grinned and pressed a quick kiss to Graham’s cheek. “Sounds like a plan. Be back soon.” He went up the stairs quietly and moved down the darkened hall towards Xander’s room. The door was shut, but he wasn’t deterred. He’d just peek his head in and whisper Xander’s name. If his cousin was asleep, he hoped it wouldn’t wake him up.
He opened the door and knew right away that something was wrong. There was a shadow over the bed and his sixth sense started screaming danger. So Andrew listened, and screamed out for Graham.
The shadow moved at his scream and darted towards him. Before Andrew could react he was shoved out of the way. His head whacked on the door frame and Andrew could tell he was bleeding, but his first thought was to make sure Xander was okay.
Running to Xander’s bed with a hand pressed to his bleeding head, Andrew shook Xander’s should and screamed again when Xander didn’t rouse.
Graham started up the stairs the moment he heard Andrew’s voice, and he heard the library door open moments later and more pounding footsteps. A dark figure loomed at the top of the stairs, and Graham pushed his straining leg harder, knowing it was the danger that caused such a frightened scream from Andrew.
He tried to grab the person as they came towards him but his injuries held him back too much, and with one shove, he lost his balance and nearly tumbled back down the stairs. He watched the person turn and run the opposite direction, just as strong arms caught him from behind before he fell, and Graham balanced himself against the railing as Angel rushed past.
Spike, Riley and Rupert were steps behind. Riley and Rupert followed Angel, while Spike stopped to help Graham the rest of the way up the stairs. They limped in and found Angel leaning over Xander’s body, with Andrew frantically sobbing beside them.
Rupert was dialing the phone and Riley ran out, trying to get a trail on whomever had been in the room. Graham hobbled over to Andrew and slid down the wall beside his boyfriend. Pulling Andrew close and carefully checking on his bleeding head wound, he started running soothing hands over Andrew’s back, trying to calm him.
He knew that nothing would calm Andrew if something unthinkable had happened to Xander. Graham watched carefully and was relieved to see Xander’s chest rising and falling, however slightly. Xander was alive. It remained to be seen how hurt he really was.
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;)
Nice new chapter, btw...
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Thanks for reading. :D
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Glad you liked it! Hee! More next week!!
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BUT: YOU ARE EVIL!!! *lol* Who was there *pokes you*!!! *headdesk* *sniff*
Ok, Xanders alive! We say: "Wenigstens was!" :D
*waves*
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(I must find another Andrew icon cause the one I have, although hysterical, just doesn't suit the mood of this fic. But I use it here cause its the only one I have, just to share the love a bit!)
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poor graham for being too injured to help andrew!!
poor xander, period!!
and poor andrew for almost getting knocked out!!!
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Calling all Nenes to finish Rebellious Desire chapter 10!
Okay, in all seriousness... GRRRR. How could you cliffhanger that chapter? Who's after xander and what did they drug him with and how'd noone manage to see him? And if Angel were a vampire, he could sniff the intruder out! And...
Oh hell. I'm fizzling out. This was a great chapter. I loved the Graham/Andrew. And I'm all on pins and needles waiting for the next installment. Please, please post soon! I'm desperate for good smut that parodies bad romance novels :D
Thanks for the great chapter, darlin'
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Re: Calling all Nenes to finish Rebellious Desire chapter 10!
I'm glad you liked the Graham/Andrew. The more I write of them, the more fond of them I get. More soon!!
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