Title: Hand of Glory Author: Penemuel Posted: 9/5/01 Archive: Sure, just let me know where if other than list archive Part: 9/? (Work in Progress) [Sorry about the confusing numbering -- this is part 9 of the posted parts, but the part number below means it's part 8 of what's been posted after the "prologue"] Pairing: Angel/Lindsey Rating: R [this segment] Warnings: language, references to same-sex relationships Notes: I try to be consistent -- I might slip up, though. *words* are emphasised, _words_ are thoughts. Summary: Angel/Buffy crossover alternate universe. The first part was written in February, but I figure I'd better start posting *before* they aired Dead End, before someone says I stole ideas... Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, I'm just playing with them for a while and will give them back when done. They might be a little sticky, though. Hand of Glory by Penemuel Part 8 Colour drained from Lindsey's face and the pleasant buzz he'd been feeling disappeared abruptly. "I 'figure prominently'...?" he whispered, meeting Lorne's crimson gaze and swallowing hard. "What is it? What did you see?" "It's bad, Lindsey-love," Lorne warned, looking from him to Angel, then back. "I've seen it before, too: you're in the middle of a large group of them -- a bright spot in the middle of bad hair and boring suits. Then that old pervert you worked for steps up to you, passes his hand over your eyes and you slump into him..." He frowned and trailed off uncomfortably, then took a deep breath and continued, "This is where it differs from time to time -- sometimes the next thing I see is you stretched out on an altar, being offered up to something... unpleasant..." "And other times?" Lindsey asked, unsure he wanted to hear the answer. "Mr. Leather-Pants is there," he said, nodding at Angel, "except that he's not Angel any more..." "You mean he's Angelus?" Lindsey asked, looking at Angel for a moment and seeing the look in his eyes. Even Angel was worried... Lorne nodded, then whispered, "Now you see why I'm glad you're back on your path, Angelito?" "Hmmn..." "So, you're just going to let the Dreadful Duo run off and hide wherever they've gone, right?" Lorne pressed, "You're not going to go *hunting* them, are you? Things go badly if you do, I can promise you that..." "How bad?" Lindsey asked, curious despite his nervousness. "Bad. As in 'Tell them about the twinkie' Bad. Surest way to get the Growly Leather-Pants portion of what I just mentioned to come to pass..." "Oh. That *is* bad..." Lindsey said, looking up at Angel. "I won't hunt them," Angel said quietly. "But if they go after any of my friends, I'm not going to just sit by and let them..." "Angel, I don't think the Powers would ever expect you to sit by and let your friends be hurt -- they just don't want you going off on some revenge kick. And that was where you'd been heading, because you were neglecting the people who needed your help in order to hurt those you didn't like..." Angel frowned and looked away, knowing Lorne was right and feeling guilt weighing him down. As he opened his mouth to say something, Lorne cut in. "I know it's difficult, Angel-cakes. But I think that's the way it's supposed to be, if you know what I mean." Angel looked at Lindsey and quietly said, "'The righteous shall walk a thorny path'..." "Yeah, something like that," Lindsey answered with a grin. "So, any idea what we should do?" "Well, *yeah*," Lorne said, sounding frighteningly like Cordelia, "How about *staying away from Wolfram & Hart*..." "That's great in theory," Lindsey said, "except that if whatever this is goes off, they're going to come to us..." "And you still refuse to get rid of that thing..." Lorne said, shaking his head and gesturing at the prosthetic. "Okay, you all need to get back to the Batcave and set up a bunch of defensive spells or something like that, get a good night's -- or day's -- sleep, and hit the books tomorrow. Remind Giles to call his little Amazon friend about your money, Linds." Then he added with a wink, "And, uh -- you might want to buy some iron supplements..." Lindsey blushed and Angel covered his embarrassment by laughing quietly. "That's probably a good idea," he murmured, shooting Angel a sideways glance. "I gotta keep my strength up..." "Bad boy," Lorne chuckled. "Why don't you trot on downstairs and see if the rest of them are sober enough to travel -- I want to talk to Mr. Tall-Dark- and-Toothy for a moment..." "Okay," Lindsey said softly, standing and leaning over to kiss Lorne on the cheek. He headed back down the stairs, wishing he could hide out and eavesdrop, but knowing that both Lorne and Angel had better hearing than he did... Once he was sure Lindsey had rejoined the others, Lorne fixed Angel with his crimson gaze and said, "I'm not kidding, you know." Angel frowned, unsure about which part of the discussion Lorne was referring to. "About you taking care of him, I mean," Lorne explained. "That boy's got a beautiful, precious gift, despite the lengths those bastards went to to try and destroy it. He's beaten, battered, and damn-near was broken, but he's still hanging on. I will *not* allow you to complete the job they started." Angel blinked at him, the sudden fierceness a surprise considering the Host's usual attitude. "What makes you think I'd--" "Angelito, please... Just *remember* what I'm telling you right now: he's young, he's *going* to make mistakes. Now, believe me, he's already made the biggest one of his life -- that was taking their job offer in the first place, if you couldn't follow -- but he's going to make more. I just need you to *promise* me you'll try to be patient and please, *please* don't turn him away again. No matter *what* you find him in the middle of..." "Can't anyone tell the future without being vague?" Angel grumbled, rubbing a hand over his face. He looked back up at Lorne afterwards and said, "Okay, whatever happens, I will *try* not to react before thinking." "Thank you -- you're a prince," Lorne answered, smiling once more. Then he leaned closer and whispered, "And go a little easier on the blood, too -- you know he'd give you all that he is, without your even asking." With a look from Angel, he nodded and said, "Yes, I see you've already had to restrain yourself from that tasty offering... Thank the gods you're *not* Angelus!" "You can't imagine what it's like," Angel murmured. "He submits so completely..." "Easy, there, Big Boy," Lorne urged. "We don't do floor shows at Caritas." Angel cleared his throat and whispered, "Sorry." "This is all pretty new to you, isn't it -- someone you can bed without losing your soul, I mean..." Angel frowned at him for a moment, then sighed and said, "Yeah, it is. It's... been a while." "That's been more than obvious, Stud..." "Don't look now, Old Man, but I think you've been insulted," Spike's voice came from the entrance. His blond head popped into view and he continued, "Sorry to interrupt, but we're just about ready to go -- Giles' been dozing off in his chair..." "That's okay, we were about finished anyway," Lorne said, studying Spike as he stepped fully into view. "I don't suppose you'd like to give us a couple of bars of 'Eyes Without a Face' or something while you're here?" "I don't think so," Spike answered, frowning at Lorne. "Maybe some other time then." Lorne smiled and stood up, waiting for Angel to join him. "Go ahead and let them know we're on the way, Spike," he said, catching Angel's eye. Once Spike heaved a sigh and headed back down the stairs, he said, "Take good care of Lindsey, Angel. No matter how strong and independent he may seem, he really does need you..." "Yeah, I know. I've realized over the past day or two that he was always a lot more vulnerable than I thought he was... He hid it so well..." "He knew he couldn't afford to show you any weakness," Lorne said quietly. "Yeah, I would have torn him apart," Angel admitted uncomfortably. "Well, now you can make up for that," Lorne said, draping an arm around his shoulder. "Now get down there and take care of our boy." While Angel drove Ethan, Spike, and a dozing Giles back to the Hyperion, Lindsey dropped Wesley and Cordelia off at their respective apartments. At Cordelia's apartment, he carried most of her bags and boxes up the stairs to her place, coming in to drop it all off on her couch. "Pretty nice place," he observed, taking a moment to look around the living room. "Yeah -- it was a bit of a bargain," she said, smiling and looking around. An empty glass rose into the air from a small table, and floated past Lindsey's face and into the kitchen, and Cordelia smiled at the look of surprise he gave her. "On account of the invisible, dead roommate problem..." "Ah -- I see." "But as far as roommates go, Phantom Dennis is pretty easy to live with -- he doesn't get hair in the sink or use your deoderant or anything icky like that, and he's good for getting rid of unwanted salesmen..." "I'm sure he is," Lindsey answered. Then he yawned hugely and said, "I'm gonna have to get back to the Hyperion before I fall asleep at the wheel -- I'll see you tomorrow." "Yeah, no problem. Hey -- thanks for the shopping trip -- I'd be happy to accompany you any time you want." She saw him to the door and waved as he headed off to his car. Back at the Hyperion, he parked next to Angel's car and locked up, then jogged around to the entrance. When he tried the door it was locked, but he saw Angel stand up and hurry from the front desk as he tried to shake off the feeling that something was watching him. Angel unlocked the door and practically tugged him inside, then closed and locked the door behind him. "There's somethin' out there," he murmured, looking up to meet Angel's gaze. "I could feel it..." "Yeah, you're not the only one," Angel answered quietly, gently smoothing Lindsey's hair before leading him over to the front desk. "Ethan and Spike had to put Giles to bed, but they'll be back in a moment -- I think Lorne had some very good advice about those defensive spells." "When you took this place over, did you have anything done?" Lindsey asked, looking at the stack of old books on the counter. He could tell some of the older, more valuable volumes Ethan and Wesley were looking at earlier had been returned to the locked cabinet Wesley had taken them from. Most of the ones remaining were more recent volumes of spells -- recent, of course, being relative when one was dealing with ancient spells. "Actually, we did -- but I think it's definitely time to renew it," Angel answered, following his gaze. "I'm not sure it would be a good idea for you to help, though..." "I'm not sure how effective I'd be castin' a spell these days," Lindsey admitted, motioning towards the prosthetic. "I'm -- I *was* right handed. This *thing* isn't exactly what I'd want directing any kind of spell to keep them out..." "That leaves Ethan as the alternative, unless we wait until tomorrow when Wesley's back here and Giles is conscious," Angel said softly, leaning a little closer. Lindsey's scent had changed since he had entered the lobby, the tang of fear fading behind the warm musky scent he recognized as the beginning of Lindsey's arousal. _What did that? Just rubbing his hair? Or did the fear get him going -- I know it has before..._ Before he realized what he was doing, he reached out again and stroked Lindsey's cheek, drawing in a breath he didn't need when Lindsey leaned into his stroke. Full lips parted; blue eyes turned dark with desire as Lindsey looked up into Angel's eyes. When Angel leaned in to kiss him, he allowed the plundering invasion eagerly; backed up against a pillar next to the counter as Angel pressed into him. When Angel finally broke the kiss Lindsey whimpered, kiss-swollen lips forming a pout that made Angel want to nip and bite them -- especially when Lindsey whispered, "Y'know, I've done some sex magick before -- we could probably raise enough power to keep 'em out for the night." The innuendo and suggestiveness of his tone set Angel's borrowed blood on fire. Until he realized exactly what Lindsey had said. "*Sex* magick?" he asked, pulling back to look down at Lindsey. "Do I even *want* to know who with?" The stricken look Lindsey gave him reminded him of the Host's warning, and he stepped firmly on his initial reaction. It was in the past; there wasn't anything he could do about it now... "I'm sorry, Angel," Lindsey answered, the seductive mood gone. "There were things I did; things I had to do. You probably *don't* want to know who with..." He sighed and looked down again -- Angel still had him trapped between the pillar and counter but now he just wanted to get away. Part of him railed against the unfairness -- in his time, Angel had done far worse. But there was the part of him that was so ashamed of the things he had done for Wolfram & Hart -- the part that had come home every night and taken a shower to try to wash himself clean, although Darla had said he wasn't dirty... And Angel was still looking at him; studying him closely. Anger and concern warred in his handsome features, and Lindsey was surprised to see the concern win. "I'm sorry, Linds," he said softly, reaching up to rub a gentle thumb over his lips. Lindsey couldn't help it -- he opened his mouth and gently licked at Angel's thumb, feeling a shiver race through him as Angel's eyes flickered gold for a moment. "Stop that and let me think here, Lindsey..." He let go Angel's thumb and blinked up at him in feigned contrition. _Oh yeah, I definitely still have it..._ "Damn..." Angel breathed. "As I was going to say, I'm sorry for judging you -- I've got a little idea now what you were dealing with, and I'm about the last one who should be judging you for doing what you had to do to survive..." _God -- what did Lorne tell him?_ Lindsey thought, turning serious again. "Thanks," he said softly. "I really want -- need -- to talk to you about some stuff, but I'm scared of how you'll take it. Kinda dumb, huh?" "I'm not going to guarantee I won't get angry, Lindsey, but I won't turn you away again," Angel said quietly, looking down at Lindsey and seeing the fading fear in the depths of those beautiful blue eyes. He knew, now, how much he had hurt Lindsey before -- another sin piled on top of all of those Angelus had racked up; but one, hopefully, that would be easier to atone for... "Thanks..." "It's not easy, is it?" Angel asked, so quietly that Lindsey almost thought he had imagined it. He looked up at Angel, confused, and waited. Eventually, Angel continued, "To tell someone else all the things you're ashamed of having done, I mean. I used to have someone to talk to about it, but I never even told her everything... I thought that despite the way she felt about me, she'd decide I really was a monster and..." "And stake you," Lindsey said, realizing Angel was referring to the Slayer. He nodded, smiling ruefully. "Yeah, it's not easy. You, Lorne -- you're the only ones I've been able to talk to at all, you know. About the things we-- *they* did..." Angel nodded, understanding all too well. He said, "It's not exactly the kind of thing you can explain to a therapist." "Or a priest," Lindsey added, laughing slightly. _Yeah, telling a priest I helped a demon beat a murder rap, then let the demon fuck me through the mattress -- *that'd* work well..._ "At least the rosary wouldn't burn *your* hand," Angel chuckled quietly. "True," Lindsey answered. Before he could say anything else he heard footsteps coming down the stairs and Angel took a step back from him and turned to see Spike and Ethan coming down the stairs. "Is Giles okay?" Angel asked, relieved to see that they were not arguing about anything -- for the moment. "Yeah, he's sleepin' like a babe," Spike answered, glancing at Ethan. "We shouldn't have let him have that last pint..." "Thought he'd recovered more than that," Ethan added, *almost* apologetically. "So, I'm it for warding, eh?" "You don't really want me helping out," Lindsey said, lifting his right hand. "You don't want me directing energy with this." "Oh, I don't know, it might be interesting," Ethan said with a feral grin. Lindsey frowned, thinking that they really didn't want to deal with a chaos-worshipper's idea of "interesting", then shook his head. "I would help, but I was right handed and I'm *sure* this thing would screw with any energy flow, whether the curse would make a ward against them backfire or not..." "You're right," Ethan said. "I wouldn't want to be wasting my time and energy like that." With effort, Lindsey kept his expression neutral as Spike made faces behind Ethan's back. Even so, Ethan glanced back at the vampire as if he knew the blond was mocking him. "I think there may be some good warding spells in these books," Angel began, motioning at the stack of books on the counter. "Don't worry about it -- I have my own warding spells I use regularly," Ethan said. "I trust them, and I know them by heart." "Do you need anything?" Lindsey asked, unsure whether Ethan really understood how dangerous Wolfram & Hart could be. But then again, the sorceror was confident that his spell would keep him safe, so perhaps it wouldn't be a problem... "Well, you three could follow me around with the supplies I'll need -- except I'm not sure how consecrated salt would affect you vampires... Angel, why don't you take the incense, and Spike, you can handle the salt." "Fuck you, Ethan," Spike growled. Lindsey got the impression there wasn't as much venom behind it as Spike pretended there was, and not for the first time wondered about the relationship between the two of them and Giles. "What's Lindsey gonna carry?" "Blessed water -- unless you'd rather trade him for the salt," Ethan answered with a smirk. "Can we just get this started?" Angel asked testily, glancing at the door uncomfortably. "Give me a few minutes to get the supplies prepared, and I'll be back," Ethan said, heading off to the kitchen while they waited. "Are they still out there?" Spike asked, following Angel's gaze. "Actually, I think whoever or whatever it was just left," Angel answered. "What about you, Linds, you still feel it?" The awareness he had felt earlier was gone now; he couldn't tell if it was tiredness, lack of concentration, or that whoever it was had fled. "I can't tell -- sorry..." "Don't worry," Spike said, taking a couple of steps closer to them, "We'll keep you safe." He smiled at Lindsey, his gaze travelling up and down the muscular form until Angel cleared his throat and put his hand on Lindsey's shoulder. "That's right, Spike, we will," Angel said, glowering at him. _Brat!_ Lindsey leaned into Angel, but his gaze kept returning to Spike and travelling over his lean, hard form. At one point, Spike caught him staring at his crotch and gave him a smug smile. Lindsey blushed, trying to squash the shiver of arousal that ran through him because he knew Angel would smell it, then leaning harder into Angel's grasp so he could pretend it was closeness to his lover that caused it. "Okay, let's get this done," Ethan said, returning from the kitchen with a tray full of supplies. All three of them straightened and turned to look at him suddenly, acting like a group of guilty schoolboys. He raised an eyebrow and looked them over, cursing his timing because he had obviously missed something interesting... "So, Holland," the blonde vampire purred, perching on the corner of his desk and playing with his sparse bangs, "Are things still coming along nicely now that your boy is shacking up with Angel?" There was just the slightest edge of threat in her tone as she smiled sweetly down at him. "On the contrary, Darla, this... *relationship* will actually serve our purposes quite nicely. Lindsey will work his way under Angel's defenses, and when we retrieve him for the next stage of our plans Angel will be that much more vulnerable. It will be easy to keep him on that razor's edge..." "Holland, sweetheart, they called in reinforcements and they're shoring up their defenses right now -- how the hell do you plan to get Lindsey back?" The threat in her tone grew stronger as she ran a fingernail down his cheek hard enough to leave a mark. "The wolf's locked in the pen -- with the pretty little lamb..." Darla turned to glare sharply into the shadows where Drusilla's sing-song comment trailed off into nonsense, and opened her mouth to scold her grandchilde-turned-sire. Before she could speak, however, Holland said, "Yes, Drusilla, you're quite correct." Darla swung back to glare at him, and he continued, "Darla, don't worry about how we're going to get through their new defenses -- we gave Lindsey a little insurance policy that keeps him from escaping us completely, no matter *where* he runs to." He chuckled quietly as Darla's angry scowl transformed into a pleased smile. "Holland, that's devious. I *like* it..." "I thought you might. Now, girls, I need to go home -- I'm sure you have plans for the night. All I ask is that you not draw *too* much attention to yourselves yet -- we wouldn't want Angel distracted away from Lindsey's charms just now." "Hungry body, hungry heart... the Angel-beast wants to fill them both," Drusilla murmured, looking up at Darla. "But he's been empty for so long..." "Don't worry, Dru, darling," Darla said with a vicious smile. "Angel's probably filling him quite nicely." Then her voice lowered and she added, "The little *slut*..." Tossing her blonde hair back, she stood and walked to Drusilla, held out her hand. "Come on, Dru. Let's go find dinner." She turned back to Holland and winked, then said, just loud enough for him to hear, "I think I saw Lilah in her office..." "Oooh..." Drusilla cooed, then giggled like a schoolgirl, following Darla out of the office. Holland watched them go, debating whether he should have them watched and finally deciding that it wasn't worth risking more security personnel to deal with them. Lilah was pretty, and with some work could probably take Lindsey's place, but Darla and Drusilla had to be handled very carefully. Lilah was on her own. To be continued...