Romany ([info]romanyg) wrote,
@ 2004-11-21 09:43:00
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Current mood: busy
Current music:my kids playing
Entry tags:ats/btvs fic, fic, jossverse fic

Ficlet: Familiar, Spike/Angel, R
Okay, before anyone starts thinking that I've left Jossverse fandom, I've decided to post another little snippet. Right now, I'm suffering from a little bit of ack!-everything-I-write-is-so-mediocre. Oh well. I kinda like this little piece though.

Header stuff

Title: Familiar
Rating: NC-17
Length: ficlet/758 words
Pairing: Spike/Angel
Spoilers: set AtS s5, no specific spoilers
Warnings: m/m slash, attempt at humour
Disclaimer: All belongs to Joss, ME and such; all for fun, not for profit.
A/N: Thanks to [info]netweight for the look-over. Not done with the beta though so any mistakes are mine. This is part of my epic that I may never post, but it works as a stand-alone.


Spike sat at the bar nursing a pint at some demon dive down off the Strip. And lord, it was karaoke night of all things. Thought he’d go deaf if he had to listen to another Ixnar butcher “My Immortal”. Crap, all of it. But the drinks were cheap.

Besides, not exactly walking distance from a certain law firm. Could drink in peace. Nice, yeah?

“Hey,” Angel said, sitting next to him.

“Slumming, Angel? Come down from your mighty tower to see how the lower half lives?” Spike rapped the bar to get the tab.

“You don’t exactly drink at the Ritz, Spike. Why start there?” He motioned to the bartender. “I’ll have a Jameson’s, straight up. Pour him one while you’re at it.”

“You buying, Angel? That’s right generous of you.” Spike finished his beer. He hadn’t looked the bugger in the eye yet. Looked at the bottles lining the bar instead.

“Fred’s been asking about you.” Spike had made himself scarce for three days. So yeah, the bird might have asked. Could be true.

“I’ll be sure to stop round to see her then,” Spike said to a particularly well-lit bottle of Louis Treize.

Behind them a Qu’at’lix roared out “Danny Boy.”

“Nice place, Spike. Pick it for the atmosphere?” Angel said to his shotglass before he downed it.

“Has its charms.” Liked the bobblehead collection in particular.

Angel played with the rim of the shotglass. “Okay, this is going to go one of two ways. Either I drag your ass to the car... brought the Bentley, roomy, but still a little cramped in the backseat... or we could just go in the back. I’m not gonna wait until we get home.” He paused, looked at Spike for the first time. “And if you run, I’ll still do it.”

“Tiger or the lady, is it? Alright then, I pick the lady.”

“No cigar, Spike. Guess again.”

Spike downed his shot, “Back works for me.”

Angel motioned for the bartender again, put two one-hundred dollar bills on the bar. “Is the back open?”

“Keep it in your pants, vampire. Not that kind of place.” Heavy set fellow, had some brass. Spike took a shine to him right there.

Angel looked him cooly in the eye. “The name’s not vampire, it’s Angelus.” And with that he took one of those hundreds and put it back in his wallet. “I’ll ask again. Is the back open?”

Oh, listen to the old man with the name-dropping. Spike had to roll his eyes at that one.

“Fuck me,” the bartender whispered. But being a serious proprietor, he took that hundred and said, “Looks like you boys have a room.”

Grabbing a baseball bat, he came around the counter and indicated that they should follow him down a narrow corridor past the loo. The barman opened a door that led to the inevitable poker game. Serious stakes, by the look of it. Spike counted five Russian Blues alone. “Sorry guys, we’ve booked a private party. Finish the hand and get out.” He raised his bat to put the exclamation point on his statement.

After all the kittens were stowed in baskets and the demons cleared out, the barman said, “Alright boys, you’ve got twenty minutes.”

“Forty,” Angel said with just a hint of fang.

The bartender nodded and left. Sad little room by the look of it. Spike thought maybe he should have picked the Bentley. “You heard the man, Spike. Clock’s ticking.” And Angel started to undo his belt.

“Believe I know the drill.” He pushed down his jeans and bent over the table.

Angel jabbed three fingers in at once. Kindly used a bit of lube. Spike refused to wince.

“You know, Spike, I don’t have time for this crap. I’ve got a business to run.” He replaced his fingers with his cock. “I can’t be dragging your ass out of every sorry little demon bar you decide to crawl into.”

Spike gripped the table that much harder. “Why don’t you just leave off then?”

Angel slowed. His hand slid under Spike’s shirt, stroked his back. “You know...you know I can’t.” And with that he wrapped one arm underneath Spike’s chest and pulled him up. He mouthed his neck, his ear. “Fuck you, you know I can’t.”

What had started as hard and punishing turned into something else entirely. Couldn’t say what exactly since there were no more words. Just the rhythm of the two of them, familiar--as familiar as a breath, as a heartbeat, used to be.



(Post a new comment)


[info]sottovoce10
2004-11-21 10:30 am UTC (link)
Woaaa, Romany! You know I've had a hard time lately finding the hot, but you just did it in spades. Kind of made me misty eyed 'n all. Thank you. And for goodness sake, try to find opps to write. Your stuff always makes me perk up and pay attention. And I don't mean just that, though that too. It's the writing.

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[info]romanyg
2004-11-21 10:55 am UTC (link)
Thank you, Sottovoce. It's not just the lack of opportunity, it's kinda a crisis of faith right now. *sigh* But I'm glad that you liked. You know that I always value your feedback.

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[info]sottovoce10
2004-11-21 11:17 am UTC (link)
Well, if it's a crisis of faith about writing, please let me reassure you of your talent. There are stories that work well enough, even work well, but there are other writers whose feel for language, pacing, character is on a different plane and yours is. Your story One of Them gave me a thrill of pleasure that was purely aesthetic, the characterization was so powerful and beautifully rendered. I'd love to be able to read more from you.

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[info]maybedarkpink
2004-11-21 10:39 am UTC (link)
Oh, my, that was... Don't ever get down about your talents! This is completely fabulous, as is everything you write. And it's so Angel/Spike. Especially the last part, about the familiarity and the breathing? *dies* Great, great job.

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[info]romanyg
2004-11-21 10:57 am UTC (link)
*blushes*

Thank you, Mar. And can I say that I'm glad that you're writing again?

And yeah, I kinda like the breath line too. *g*

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[info]maybedarkpink
2004-11-21 11:34 am UTC (link)
Aw, *blushes back*. I'm glad to be writing again, too, I missed it!

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[info]neverneverfic
2004-11-21 10:41 am UTC (link)
As familiar as a breath, as a heartbeat, used to be.

hell yeah.


love this. love you. now i have a serious yen for the rest of the epic.

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[info]romanyg
2004-11-21 11:02 am UTC (link)
Thank you, Meg.

It's all about the breath for these two, isn't it? How Angel yearns for it. How Spike breathes even though he doesn't need it. I just heart the gay breathy vampires. *g*

Rest of the epic? It seems to be getting posted in bits and pieces. Heh.

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[info]kitty_poker1
2004-11-21 10:42 am UTC (link)
Very nice! This is a universe away from mediocre and I'd like to see more. Spike and Angel's relationship seems to be a thing of tortured contradictions.

Just the rhythm of the two of them, familiar. As familiar as a breath, as a heartbeat, used to be.

That's such a good image.

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[info]romanyg
2004-11-21 11:05 am UTC (link)
Kiiiittttyyy! Hi!

Thank you. Yes, I seem to be obsessed with the tortured vampires and their contradictions. Never meaning what they say, never saying what they mean. Hee!

Thanks again.

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[info]kitty_poker1
2004-11-21 11:12 am UTC (link)
Hi, babe! I've been neglecting my flist horribly but I just *had* to read this and I'm so glad I did. :))

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[info]herself_nyc
2004-11-21 11:56 am UTC (link)
Ohhhhhh.

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[info]romanyg
2004-11-22 12:11 am UTC (link)
I made you emit a small noise! My job here is done. *g*

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[info]tesla321
2004-11-21 12:17 pm UTC (link)
Holy cats. You are a dreadful, dreadful tease, and just give in and start postin' the epic. All the rest of us do. And your Angel/Spike? Fucking hot.

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[info]romanyg
2004-11-22 12:35 am UTC (link)
Me? Tease? Never. *g*

I just get a tad insecure when I read what y'all are posting.

But thank you for the compliment! Maybe I was,um, fishing a bit.

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[info]dodyskin
2004-11-21 12:52 pm UTC (link)
This is marvellous. Such a feel for pacing, language, and such a killer last line. A killer.

This is so harsh, and dirty, and hot, and completely right. I love it.

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[info]romanyg
2004-11-22 01:03 am UTC (link)
Wow. *blinks* I'm desperately trying to think of an adequate response to your feedback. But I can't quite get over being bowled over. Nope. Can't think of anything to say but thank you.

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[info]amerella
2004-11-21 01:01 pm UTC (link)
“You know...you know I can’t.” And with that he wrapped one arm underneath Spike’s chest and pulled him up. He mouthed his neck, his ear. “Fuck you, you know I can’t.”

This is the hottest line, for me. The "I can't" kills me, the dynamic that it represents. But I loved everything. Great job.

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[info]romanyg
2004-11-22 01:11 am UTC (link)
Thank you! I like that line too. When I heard Angel say that in my head, I felt that sucker punch to the gut. That's when I knew that line was a linchpin.

Um, I'm not the only who hears voices in my head and has bodily reactions to them? Eep! I am! *hides*

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[info]sangpassionne
2004-11-21 01:10 pm UTC (link)
That works on so many levels. But best of all on how wonderfully understated it is. Just right. Thanks.

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[info]romanyg
2004-11-22 01:32 am UTC (link)
You're welcome. Thank *you*. I adore understatement in other fics so I'm glad you saw it here.

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[info]redbrickrose
2004-11-21 04:02 pm UTC (link)
Nice. Great last line.

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[info]romanyg
2004-11-22 01:40 am UTC (link)
Thanks! I kinda like it too. Is that a bad thing?

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[info]kita0610
2004-11-21 04:13 pm UTC (link)
LARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

StA?

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[info]romanyg
2004-11-22 01:50 am UTC (link)
Hee! I seem to make you say LARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH a bit.

StA?

Sure! Do you want me to clean up the header?

I'm really flattered. Thank you.

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[info]violethamster
2004-11-21 04:24 pm UTC (link)
Love this. Please get over your crisis, because nothing you write is mediocre and you're depriving us of reading it!

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[info]romanyg
2004-11-22 02:00 am UTC (link)
*blushes* Thank you. Reading my own fic is like listening to my voice on voicemail. I cringe a bit and think, "Do I really sound like that?" I also have a biased opinion. *sigh*

But thank you.

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[info]viciouswishes
2004-11-21 08:31 pm UTC (link)
Nice, hot, and precise. *smooches you*

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[info]romanyg
2004-11-22 02:01 am UTC (link)
Thank you! *smooches you back*

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[info]lynnenne
2004-11-21 08:45 pm UTC (link)
He mouthed his neck, his ear. “Fuck you, you know I can’t.”

GAH! The hotness!

As familiar as a breath, as a heartbeat, used to be.

*sniffles*

Our beautiful, fucked up boys. How wonderfully you write them. You *must* do it more often. Please? *bats eyes*

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[info]romanyg
2004-11-22 02:11 am UTC (link)
Oh no! Not the batting eyes! Must resist...*g*

Thank you. The "I can't" line struck a kink chord for me too. You know, how certain lines just seem to fit? That's not always the case for me so I cling desperately to them when they sashay my way.

And how wonderfully you write them as well!

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[info]eyezrthewindows
2004-11-21 09:42 pm UTC (link)
Wow, that was nice and bittersweet. Me likey lots *g*.

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[info]romanyg
2004-11-22 02:13 am UTC (link)
Thanks! Bittersweet's my favorite flavour. Truly.*g*

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[info]desoto_hia873
2004-11-22 12:26 pm UTC (link)
Wow. Love that last line!

Friending you now. 'Cause Spike, skating, and Katharine Hepburn! You rock.

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[info]romanyg
2004-11-22 01:07 pm UTC (link)
Wow. Feedback *and* a new friend? Yay! Life is good. *g*

I don't know about the rocking part, but I can amble with the best of 'em.

Welcome aboard.

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[info]silverjaime
2004-11-22 02:17 pm UTC (link)
oh WOW! epic?? where's the epic? if it's anything like this I can't wait... Both of them so cold to each other at first, then the last few lines do something inside my chest and I just .......melt....
More please!

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[info]romanyg
2004-11-22 03:28 pm UTC (link)
Thanks! The concensus seems to be that those last lines are the clincher.

I posted three other parts to this back in July (I do appreciate your feedback from those as well). Maybe if I just post a little bit at a time the whole thing will sneak in. Instant epic! Nah. I'm not sure what I'm going to do. But thanks for the feedback and the encouragement!

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[info]nihilistbear
2004-11-24 10:40 am UTC (link)
BEAUTIFUL! I LOVE IT!

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[info]romanyg
2004-11-25 12:10 am UTC (link)
Hee! Are you shouting at me, Alice? Glad you liked it. *g* *snuggles you*

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[info]rainkatt
2004-11-24 08:11 pm UTC (link)
Oohhh. Which is exactly the sound I made at the end of this.

Another voice chiming in with love for the last line, and “Fuck you, you know I can’t.” I can hear that. Ah, my darling fucked-up boys...

This is very good, and I'd love to see more of it.

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[info]romanyg
2004-11-25 12:16 am UTC (link)
Yes, they are gloriously fucked-up, aren't they? Wonder what that says about me since I tend to write them. Hmmmm. *g* Thanks for chiming in!

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[info]chrisleeoctaves
2007-03-31 01:29 am UTC (link)
Yeah, I'm just wandering around...looking for stuff to read. I thought I'd read all your Angel stuff- but apparently not. Because I've never read this. And reading it makes me sad because you're not writing it anymore.

pouts

I love the way you write Spike. I can hear everything he says, see his mind turn over. And I love the way you write Spike and Angel together- so much darkness and history- so much lust.

Just yummy.

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[info]romanyg
2007-03-31 05:27 am UTC (link)
Thank you! I never did send this to you for the site because it's part of the epic, actually a *lot* of the A/S I've posted on LJ is part of the (unfinised) epic.

I'm sorry that I've been harping on (and writing) Smallville these past months; it must seem like I've deserted the ranks. But I have been writing Jossverse since I at least owe a story for the Lynnevitational. And I'm still reading.

Spike still yammers in my head. I think he's there to stay.

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[info]chrisleeoctaves
2007-03-31 11:30 am UTC (link)
You don't have to apologize for not writing Jossverse. You have to follow your muse...

And I look forward to this epic when its complete.

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[info]romanyg
2007-03-31 05:58 pm UTC (link)
*relief* My muse is certainly the wearing the pants in this family. *g* Occasionally, I can coerce her into working on what *I* need to work on.

Ah, yes, the epic...*fingers crossed*

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[info]a2zmom
2007-03-31 10:57 pm UTC (link)
Oh beautiful. So short, yet it gets to the heart of the Angel/Spike relationship.

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[info]romanyg
2007-04-01 07:47 pm UTC (link)
Thank you! I think I only ever do short. *g*

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