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lonelybritRight, this was written somewhat in a rush, and it is pure indulgence. It is still mainly an AtS fic, it's just there are a few characters from Dr Who who crop up here and there to offer their support. Set post-NFA, it should come as no surprise that this ficlet has a decidedly fluffy outlook.
Title: Necessary Repairs
Author: lonelybrit
Rating: Gen
Content: Another quick look at a post ‘Not Fade Away’ LA. This time with a slight crossover from Dr Who, for no other reason than I felt like it. Angel ponders on the effects of some visitors to LA, and plot/background go out the window as LB yet again indulges away.
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made. And I don’t know who created the Dr Who characters, but they own it all, not me.
Notes: Posted with thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
eloise_bright for as always providing a wonderfully firm beta touch.
The rains cleared to leave behind humidity, rubble and a scorching sun. And of course a blue police box standing in the middle of the Hyperion lobby.
Angel had nothing against the newcomers other than he simply didn’t trust them. At least, not the two men. The one in the leather coat quipped and joked and had two heartbeats. He also had an easily chilling stare that he’d fixed on Angel and Spike when he learnt just what kind of creatures they used to be. That he only did so out of concern for his two companions didn’t lessen Angel’s conviction that the threat was completely genuine.
The other man was the kind of man Angel would have told his daughter to avoid. If he’d had a daughter. As it was, Angel was already resigning himself to risking pissing off this Doctor, because if this Jack ever hurt Wesley then Angel was quite prepared to shred him into seven pieces and stamp on them.
The problem was, that saving someone’s life does usually tend to put you in their good books in a big way. And the fact that Jack had only tripped over Wes by accident didn’t lessen the impact of him then using something called ‘nanobots’ to repair and in fact revive Wesley.
Angel had stumbled back into the Hyperion after the fight in the alley to find the blue phone box, a blonde girl perched on the sofa, and a dazed looking Wesley being given tea by the ever smiling Jack. That sight in particular, the teacup cupped by two pairs of hands, the softening gaze Wesley bestowed on his saviour, and the tone of Jack’s voice as he advised him to take it easy, set Angel’s teeth on edge.
And it only got worse.
“He’s a good looking bugger, isn’t he?” Spike grumbled as they watched yet another shop assistant crumble into blushes and schoolgirl giggles. “Bastard.”
“Come on, guys, smoothies all round,” Jack called out, scooping up their bags of shopping. “That charming young lady gave us a discount,” he added, once away from the counter. “This really is a lovely city.”
“Well, it’s dry certainly,” Wesley agreed and Angel’s eyes narrowed as he watched the two men distribute the bags between them.
“Well if you prefer wet then that’s your choice. And it sounds a good one to me.”
“Oh don’t worry, I’ll convince you.”
“Leave it,” Spike murmured as Angel bristled. They watched the two men vanish round the corner still chatting away.
“I don’t trust him.”
“You don’t say,” Spike said in bored tones.
“I mean, that whole Oklahoma farm boy thing he’s got going. All smiles and tan and toned arms. It’s got to mean something, right?”
“He thinks a lot of himself? Takes time over his hair in the mornings. Has a thing for leather. Not that I can think of anyone else like that.”
“I don’t trust him. He’s up to something.”
The Tardis, and honestly what kind of people name a phone box, was still in the lobby when they got back. The Doctor and Rose were inside fixing something with sonic screwdrivers. Jack and Wesley proceeded into the kitchen, still talking ten to the dozen.
As the evening progressed, Angel felt his mood grow darker and darker. The only person he saw experiencing something similar was Illyria.
“I am Illyria, god of the universe,” she said, dismissing him with a turn of the head. “My thoughts are beyond you, Angel.”
So that ended that chance of potential confidante.
Wesley seemed to wake up over the following days. Angel watched with something close to envy as Jack’s easy laughs, sly banter, and gentle pats drew something of the Wesley he remembered back into the world. The two of them shared knowledge of different kinds; trading technology for linguistics, and usually rounded off these sessions with a shared drink and laughter. Real laughter, with real smiles. Angel actively felt a pang when he saw Wesley give a proper grin for the first time in weeks. It seemed so unfair that this stranger could waltz in and do all this for Wesley when he, supposedly his friend of five years, could only stand back and watch.
It got worse when the smiles and snappy innuendos began to die back, and instead there were quiet earnest conversations. Jack and Wesley polishing the weapons and talking in low voices. And whenever Angel approached, the voices would rise in volume and they would be talking about the weather or the fundamental wrongs of the teabag.
Then one day, Angel came down to find Jack, Rose and the Doctor excitedly milling about in front of the Tardis.
“She’s ready to go,” Rose said, eyes glowing. “She’s all patched up and ready to roll.”
“Not before time either,” the Doctor added. “This humidity isn’t good for the respiration; honestly, it’s like inhaling a cloud of iron filings out there.”
“It’s not all bad,” Jack added pointedly, “I think I’m going to miss some things here.”
“Take a photo; we’ll put it in an album for you.”
“Or bring it with you,” Rose suggested brightly, oblivious to the Doctor’s expression, “you know, as long as it’s not something too big like an elephant or something that actually belongs to someone already.”
“I’ll go tell the others you’re going,” Angel said quickly, and retreated back upstairs.
He quickly found Illyria, who said that she would come solely because she was curious to see what physical object could punch through space and time. Gunn and Spike alternatively said ‘About time’ and ‘We’ll be right there’.
He couldn’t find Wesley.
They regrouped in the lobby, the Doctor promising Illyria he would make a note of any worlds they found inhabited with shelled sea life. Rose went misty-eyed over Gunn’s present of a CD of the year’s greatest hits.
Jack was nowhere to be seen.
“Remember to breathe,” Spike sighed, giving Angel a poke in the ribs. “And try not to look like you want to eat the lot of them.”
“Where are they?”
“Out in the garden, of course.” Spike pointed and sure enough, there were two familiar figures beyond the glass doors. “Been there a while and don’t look like that, they’ve been quite decent from what I can see.”
Jack and Wes were in the middle of a handshake that dissolved into a hug just as Angel pushed through the doors to stand at the top of the steps.
“Oh, hey there, big guy,” Jack said with that truly toe-curling flash of a grin, “I’m not holding them up, am I?” He turned back to Wesley. “You sure about this?”
“Well, yes, still a little nervous but other than that.”
“You?” Jack shook his head and patted Wesley on the shoulder. “Wes, you know it is entirely up to you.”
“That’s part of the problem,” Wesley muttered. He quickly turned to Angel and said brightly, “We’ll be right there.”
“Yeah, sure, they’re just,” Angel gestured vaguely over his shoulder, “they’re ready to go.”
Jack nodded, gave Wesley’s shoulder a final squeeze and a ‘I’ll be right inside’, took the steps in one bound and pushed past Angel into the hotel.
“You going somewhere?” Angel asked in what he hoped was a nonchalant tone.
“I’m not sure,” Wesley said slowly. He was staring straight ahead of him at the creeping ivy that covered the walls. “It depends. You know I spent my whole life training to do this and I can’t…” He blinked and the mood shattered and fled. When he trotted towards Angel, once again that easy smile was back, his eyes bright with a warmth that Angel had missed so much until recently. He stopped beside Angel who was still rigidly looking out over the garden. “You’re human now, Angel.”
“Yeah, I noticed.”
“You’re free to live any kind of life you want.”
“Yep.”
Wesley paused and this time the smile was more slight. “Yet you’re still here. I saw the order for more cards to be printed. You’re going to keep going, aren’t you?”
“Is there a reason why I shouldn’t,” Angel said, more tersely than he really intended. “Helping people isn’t just a penance, Wes; you can want to do it of your own free will.”
“Yes, yes you can. I do know that, Angel, it’s what I’ve been doing ever since I met you.”
Angel flexed his fingers, tightening his grip around the iron-wrought railing. Then he turned to face whatever was coming.
“I know what I’d like to do,” Wesley said with a frankness that was pure Harkness. “I’m not entirely sure whether you’ll see it the way I do, but sometimes you have to try, don’t you?”
Angel could see the shape of the Tardis out the corner of his eye. “I guess.”
Wesley nodded, and all of a sudden Angel realised just how close they were standing. Wesley’s own hand rested on the handrail, so nearly touching Angel’s, and Angel could see the way the eyes crinkled at the corners when Wesley smiled, the delicate curve at the corner of the lips.
And then there was no space between them, as cool as you like Wesley snaked one arm around Angel’s neck, the forearm a lovely light pressure over the shoulder that pulled them together, their mouths meeting. In the stunned seconds that followed, a small logical part of Angel’s mind marvelled that instead of just standing stiff as stone, Angel melted as easily into the embrace as if it were a normal everyday occurrence. To be kissing Wesley.
His hands moved to cover Wesley’s hips, fingers pressing to feel the smooth curve of muscle and bone beneath coarse denim. Their lips parted and then all of Angel’s mind was focussed on the kiss, on the taste of Wesley, the smell that rose up from the cotton and warm skin, the sight of those eyes smiling right back at him when they finally drew apart a few inches.
“Well, I guess I’m sticking with Plan A,” Wesley murmured.
“Plan A?”
“A complex plan, really quite daring,” and Wesley grinned like a schoolboy. “Stick around, see what happens, and deal with it as it comes.”
“That innuendo wasn’t accidental, was it?”
Wesley didn’t answer, instead one eyebrow quirked ever so slightly in a ‘Wouldn’t you like to know’ kind of way. And then he drew back completely, and turned towards the doors.
“Let’s go say our farewells then.”
“Aww, don’t you love a happy ending?” Jack said to the world in general.
“We’re not a travelling dating agency, you know,” the Doctor said. “There are serious problems out there we could be helping with right now.”
“Never said there weren’t, but sometimes the little things make it all worthwhile.”
The Doctor sighed and gave Jack a gentle push. “Get into that Tardis, you sap.”
“Do you think they’ll come back?” Gunn asked a few minutes later as they examined the lobby floor for any scratches or burns.
“Who cares,” said Spike as he played with a yo-yo he’d ‘found’ lying about the place. The fact it made the air shiver and silvery chimes to ring out was deemed to be unimportant.
Angel opened a small box that had been delivered earlier that morning. “I was going to announce it after dinner, you know, if you wanted it.” He handed one of the new cards over. “I talked it over with Gunn and he was fine and… well, seems oddly appropriate now.”
Wesley read the card once, smiled, and laid it down on the counter.
‘Angel Investigations.
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce – Partner.’
Title: Necessary Repairs
Author: lonelybrit
Rating: Gen
Content: Another quick look at a post ‘Not Fade Away’ LA. This time with a slight crossover from Dr Who, for no other reason than I felt like it. Angel ponders on the effects of some visitors to LA, and plot/background go out the window as LB yet again indulges away.
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made. And I don’t know who created the Dr Who characters, but they own it all, not me.
Notes: Posted with thanks to
eloise_bright for as always providing a wonderfully firm beta touch.The rains cleared to leave behind humidity, rubble and a scorching sun. And of course a blue police box standing in the middle of the Hyperion lobby.
Angel had nothing against the newcomers other than he simply didn’t trust them. At least, not the two men. The one in the leather coat quipped and joked and had two heartbeats. He also had an easily chilling stare that he’d fixed on Angel and Spike when he learnt just what kind of creatures they used to be. That he only did so out of concern for his two companions didn’t lessen Angel’s conviction that the threat was completely genuine.
The other man was the kind of man Angel would have told his daughter to avoid. If he’d had a daughter. As it was, Angel was already resigning himself to risking pissing off this Doctor, because if this Jack ever hurt Wesley then Angel was quite prepared to shred him into seven pieces and stamp on them.
The problem was, that saving someone’s life does usually tend to put you in their good books in a big way. And the fact that Jack had only tripped over Wes by accident didn’t lessen the impact of him then using something called ‘nanobots’ to repair and in fact revive Wesley.
Angel had stumbled back into the Hyperion after the fight in the alley to find the blue phone box, a blonde girl perched on the sofa, and a dazed looking Wesley being given tea by the ever smiling Jack. That sight in particular, the teacup cupped by two pairs of hands, the softening gaze Wesley bestowed on his saviour, and the tone of Jack’s voice as he advised him to take it easy, set Angel’s teeth on edge.
And it only got worse.
“He’s a good looking bugger, isn’t he?” Spike grumbled as they watched yet another shop assistant crumble into blushes and schoolgirl giggles. “Bastard.”
“Come on, guys, smoothies all round,” Jack called out, scooping up their bags of shopping. “That charming young lady gave us a discount,” he added, once away from the counter. “This really is a lovely city.”
“Well, it’s dry certainly,” Wesley agreed and Angel’s eyes narrowed as he watched the two men distribute the bags between them.
“Well if you prefer wet then that’s your choice. And it sounds a good one to me.”
“Oh don’t worry, I’ll convince you.”
“Leave it,” Spike murmured as Angel bristled. They watched the two men vanish round the corner still chatting away.
“I don’t trust him.”
“You don’t say,” Spike said in bored tones.
“I mean, that whole Oklahoma farm boy thing he’s got going. All smiles and tan and toned arms. It’s got to mean something, right?”
“He thinks a lot of himself? Takes time over his hair in the mornings. Has a thing for leather. Not that I can think of anyone else like that.”
“I don’t trust him. He’s up to something.”
The Tardis, and honestly what kind of people name a phone box, was still in the lobby when they got back. The Doctor and Rose were inside fixing something with sonic screwdrivers. Jack and Wesley proceeded into the kitchen, still talking ten to the dozen.
As the evening progressed, Angel felt his mood grow darker and darker. The only person he saw experiencing something similar was Illyria.
“I am Illyria, god of the universe,” she said, dismissing him with a turn of the head. “My thoughts are beyond you, Angel.”
So that ended that chance of potential confidante.
Wesley seemed to wake up over the following days. Angel watched with something close to envy as Jack’s easy laughs, sly banter, and gentle pats drew something of the Wesley he remembered back into the world. The two of them shared knowledge of different kinds; trading technology for linguistics, and usually rounded off these sessions with a shared drink and laughter. Real laughter, with real smiles. Angel actively felt a pang when he saw Wesley give a proper grin for the first time in weeks. It seemed so unfair that this stranger could waltz in and do all this for Wesley when he, supposedly his friend of five years, could only stand back and watch.
It got worse when the smiles and snappy innuendos began to die back, and instead there were quiet earnest conversations. Jack and Wesley polishing the weapons and talking in low voices. And whenever Angel approached, the voices would rise in volume and they would be talking about the weather or the fundamental wrongs of the teabag.
Then one day, Angel came down to find Jack, Rose and the Doctor excitedly milling about in front of the Tardis.
“She’s ready to go,” Rose said, eyes glowing. “She’s all patched up and ready to roll.”
“Not before time either,” the Doctor added. “This humidity isn’t good for the respiration; honestly, it’s like inhaling a cloud of iron filings out there.”
“It’s not all bad,” Jack added pointedly, “I think I’m going to miss some things here.”
“Take a photo; we’ll put it in an album for you.”
“Or bring it with you,” Rose suggested brightly, oblivious to the Doctor’s expression, “you know, as long as it’s not something too big like an elephant or something that actually belongs to someone already.”
“I’ll go tell the others you’re going,” Angel said quickly, and retreated back upstairs.
He quickly found Illyria, who said that she would come solely because she was curious to see what physical object could punch through space and time. Gunn and Spike alternatively said ‘About time’ and ‘We’ll be right there’.
He couldn’t find Wesley.
They regrouped in the lobby, the Doctor promising Illyria he would make a note of any worlds they found inhabited with shelled sea life. Rose went misty-eyed over Gunn’s present of a CD of the year’s greatest hits.
Jack was nowhere to be seen.
“Remember to breathe,” Spike sighed, giving Angel a poke in the ribs. “And try not to look like you want to eat the lot of them.”
“Where are they?”
“Out in the garden, of course.” Spike pointed and sure enough, there were two familiar figures beyond the glass doors. “Been there a while and don’t look like that, they’ve been quite decent from what I can see.”
Jack and Wes were in the middle of a handshake that dissolved into a hug just as Angel pushed through the doors to stand at the top of the steps.
“Oh, hey there, big guy,” Jack said with that truly toe-curling flash of a grin, “I’m not holding them up, am I?” He turned back to Wesley. “You sure about this?”
“Well, yes, still a little nervous but other than that.”
“You?” Jack shook his head and patted Wesley on the shoulder. “Wes, you know it is entirely up to you.”
“That’s part of the problem,” Wesley muttered. He quickly turned to Angel and said brightly, “We’ll be right there.”
“Yeah, sure, they’re just,” Angel gestured vaguely over his shoulder, “they’re ready to go.”
Jack nodded, gave Wesley’s shoulder a final squeeze and a ‘I’ll be right inside’, took the steps in one bound and pushed past Angel into the hotel.
“You going somewhere?” Angel asked in what he hoped was a nonchalant tone.
“I’m not sure,” Wesley said slowly. He was staring straight ahead of him at the creeping ivy that covered the walls. “It depends. You know I spent my whole life training to do this and I can’t…” He blinked and the mood shattered and fled. When he trotted towards Angel, once again that easy smile was back, his eyes bright with a warmth that Angel had missed so much until recently. He stopped beside Angel who was still rigidly looking out over the garden. “You’re human now, Angel.”
“Yeah, I noticed.”
“You’re free to live any kind of life you want.”
“Yep.”
Wesley paused and this time the smile was more slight. “Yet you’re still here. I saw the order for more cards to be printed. You’re going to keep going, aren’t you?”
“Is there a reason why I shouldn’t,” Angel said, more tersely than he really intended. “Helping people isn’t just a penance, Wes; you can want to do it of your own free will.”
“Yes, yes you can. I do know that, Angel, it’s what I’ve been doing ever since I met you.”
Angel flexed his fingers, tightening his grip around the iron-wrought railing. Then he turned to face whatever was coming.
“I know what I’d like to do,” Wesley said with a frankness that was pure Harkness. “I’m not entirely sure whether you’ll see it the way I do, but sometimes you have to try, don’t you?”
Angel could see the shape of the Tardis out the corner of his eye. “I guess.”
Wesley nodded, and all of a sudden Angel realised just how close they were standing. Wesley’s own hand rested on the handrail, so nearly touching Angel’s, and Angel could see the way the eyes crinkled at the corners when Wesley smiled, the delicate curve at the corner of the lips.
And then there was no space between them, as cool as you like Wesley snaked one arm around Angel’s neck, the forearm a lovely light pressure over the shoulder that pulled them together, their mouths meeting. In the stunned seconds that followed, a small logical part of Angel’s mind marvelled that instead of just standing stiff as stone, Angel melted as easily into the embrace as if it were a normal everyday occurrence. To be kissing Wesley.
His hands moved to cover Wesley’s hips, fingers pressing to feel the smooth curve of muscle and bone beneath coarse denim. Their lips parted and then all of Angel’s mind was focussed on the kiss, on the taste of Wesley, the smell that rose up from the cotton and warm skin, the sight of those eyes smiling right back at him when they finally drew apart a few inches.
“Well, I guess I’m sticking with Plan A,” Wesley murmured.
“Plan A?”
“A complex plan, really quite daring,” and Wesley grinned like a schoolboy. “Stick around, see what happens, and deal with it as it comes.”
“That innuendo wasn’t accidental, was it?”
Wesley didn’t answer, instead one eyebrow quirked ever so slightly in a ‘Wouldn’t you like to know’ kind of way. And then he drew back completely, and turned towards the doors.
“Let’s go say our farewells then.”
“Aww, don’t you love a happy ending?” Jack said to the world in general.
“We’re not a travelling dating agency, you know,” the Doctor said. “There are serious problems out there we could be helping with right now.”
“Never said there weren’t, but sometimes the little things make it all worthwhile.”
The Doctor sighed and gave Jack a gentle push. “Get into that Tardis, you sap.”
“Do you think they’ll come back?” Gunn asked a few minutes later as they examined the lobby floor for any scratches or burns.
“Who cares,” said Spike as he played with a yo-yo he’d ‘found’ lying about the place. The fact it made the air shiver and silvery chimes to ring out was deemed to be unimportant.
Angel opened a small box that had been delivered earlier that morning. “I was going to announce it after dinner, you know, if you wanted it.” He handed one of the new cards over. “I talked it over with Gunn and he was fine and… well, seems oddly appropriate now.”
Wesley read the card once, smiled, and laid it down on the counter.
‘Angel Investigations.
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce – Partner.’
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no subject
Date: 2005-06-12 06:16 pm (UTC)Which let Wesley out straight away, because while not elephant-size, it was quite obvious he already belonged to someone. *g*
Hurrah for nanobots, and alive!Wesley, and jealous!Angel, and just...everything. Including your icon.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-13 04:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-12 06:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-13 04:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-12 06:40 pm (UTC)Y'know, given Jack's proclivities, he probably should warn Connor as well. ;)
Cute story! :)
no subject
Date: 2005-06-13 04:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-12 07:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-13 04:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-12 10:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-13 04:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-12 10:12 pm (UTC)That was so sweet.
I admire Jack and Wesley's self control in not having a quick snog with each other (unless of course, there was a paragraph I missed somewhere *g*)
no subject
Date: 2005-06-13 04:48 pm (UTC)Thank you! *hugs*
no subject
Date: 2005-06-13 03:26 am (UTC)That was lovely ;) I love jealous Angel!
no subject
Date: 2005-06-13 04:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-13 04:15 am (UTC)*smooches you*
no subject
Date: 2005-06-13 04:49 pm (UTC)Thank you! I am a sucker for happy endings =)
So sweet!
Date: 2005-06-13 04:52 am (UTC)Re: So sweet!
Date: 2005-06-13 04:50 pm (UTC)*pets Jack* Thank you!
No kidding. :D
Date: 2005-06-13 05:05 pm (UTC)But at least I gots me a pretty pretty icon out of it. ;)
Re: No kidding. :D
Date: 2005-06-13 05:14 pm (UTC)**drools over your icon**
Oh, so very very pretty...
no subject
Date: 2005-06-13 10:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-13 04:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-13 03:30 pm (UTC)The last line in particular was perfection, with its gorgeously schmoopy double meaning. Jealous Angel was a joy to read, as was the eternally bored Spike. Love how you just threw in the Shanshu.
Hugs fic to death, and apologizes for the stern beating... erm, beta-ing.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-13 04:54 pm (UTC)I did think about trying to make it Wes/Jack - but it just didn't click with me. Wes is Angel's boy, end of story. And Jack is obviously sweet on the Doctor, and visa versa. So in the end I have to let them be :)
no subject
Date: 2005-06-14 04:03 am (UTC)I've read it twice. Might read it every day. *sniffle* Thank you!
no subject
Date: 2005-06-14 03:53 pm (UTC)It had to be Angel/Wes, my brain wouldn't let any other possibility be considered. And I do like Jack, and he does appreciate a sweet couple, and if anyone could point out to Wes where his heart obviously lies, it would be Jack. Possibly one day Angel might get around to thanking him for that, LOL!
no subject
Date: 2005-06-26 04:16 pm (UTC)inflictingsharing my fics with the archives :)no subject
Date: 2005-06-22 04:54 am (UTC)Can't wait to see Jack (I think we're up to episode 4).
Thanks!
no subject
Date: 2005-06-26 04:18 pm (UTC)Jack is a wonderfully fun character, you have to love him. Sadly he's only in it from ep 9, out of 13 eps total, but even so, just five eps and he seems to have created quite an impression :)
no subject
Date: 2005-06-24 12:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-26 04:20 pm (UTC)