thatotherperv: (angel cum-face (by catvampcrazines))
[personal profile] thatotherperv
Title: Visibility
Author: Mel ([livejournal.com profile] btvslover82)
Pairing: Spangel
Rating: NC-17 slash
Summary: human AU, Liam Callaghan is a sad-sack in the city—lonely, depressed and errrmm…impotent, until a certain blond we know breezes into his life. Spike, of course, is cool and flip and fantastic in the sack…but he’s sketchy on the personal details, and there’s something about him that Liam can’t quite put his finger on.
Disclaimer: characters are Joss’s, I only make them do naughty things.
Feedback: love it.
Unbeta’d, at least for now.

Thanks to [livejournal.com profile] toobusy2write for all of her work consistency-checking what I have so far. You’re a great sounding board!

previous parts here







Previously:
“Why…me,” he said with exasperation. “I just don’t understand…You just came up to me out of nowhere…like, you just picked me. Why me?”

Spike studied him seriously and reached up to brush a knuckle against his jawline. “Because you’re beautiful.”

Liam didn’t know what to say to that. He didn’t think anyone had ever applied that word to him before. He opened his mouth to say so, when Spike pulled him down with a hand curled around his neck and seized his mouth. The firm full lips tugged and slid against his, and Liam’s eyes slid closed in pleasure. But he had no sooner closed them than the stolen moment was over and he found himself standing alone in the hall in front of his door. The elevator doors hushed closed and he realized he still knew absolutely nothing about the other man. Except that he tasted like whiskey and leather.




Liam thought about that brief kiss almost constantly until the next time he saw Spike. The kiss, and the coffee, and the conversation, and when those things might possibly happen again. So he was lucky that Spike decided not to keep him waiting long.

On Wednesday, he was on his way home from work when he spotted Spike, leaning against their building as he relished a cigarette. As soon as Liam came near, Spike pushed himself away from the building and walked toward him with that cocky swagger, so it was almost as though he’d been waiting. Almost, but that was impossible because Spike didn’t know his routine. The man in black flicked away his cigarette and exhaled a lungful of smoke.

“So pet, fancy a flick?”

“Um…a movie?” he asked dimly. That just earned him a smirk. “Uh, that sounds great, I just need to change.”

“Meet me down here, need another fag.”

Before his apartment door even had a chance to shut behind him, Liam was rushing around fretting over his hair and a choice of clothing. He wanted to look good but he didn’t want to look like he tried to look good. And he didn’t want to take too long. Liam was half afraid that he would get back downstairs and find that Spike had wandered off, tired of waiting and attention expired. He finally settled on a jewel-blue button-down and black slacks. On a whim, he rifled through a drawer and found a necklace he hadn’t worn since college, a thick round braid of wire that was untainted by his corporate life. It reminded him of days when he was confident in dating, and it felt like a lucky charm.

Spike was waiting where Liam had left him and dropped his cigarette to the pavement under his toe when Liam stepped out the door. His eyes wandered Liam’s body slowly from top to toe, and Liam felt his face grow hot. “Clean up good, luv.” He grinned. “C’mon then.”

They walked the five blocks to the theater, Spike bantering and Liam smiling at the appropriate intervals and trying not to embarrass himself. He felt as though he were having a second adolescence, complete with sweaty palms and self-consciousness and hero worship for the cool kid. And Spike was definitely the cool kid. Liam noticed that men and women alike gave him the eye as they passed. No one looked at Liam that way, but he felt proud to be with someone that drew all those hungry eyes. Proud that Spike ignored them and focused on him.

They bought their tickets and their popcorn and made their way into the theater. The movie was a little older, the theater more of an arthouse, the plot somewhere between action and romance with the charm that only older films pulled off. Selling optimism and not sex. It was actually one of Liam’s favorites, and he had seen it dozens of times, but Spike had suggested it, which surprised him. It didn’t seem like his kind of movie.

“Let’s sit in the back,” Spike suggested and ushered him into the second-to-last row. “Better for me to have my way with you.” Liam blushed as Spike waggled his eyebrows in mock lechery, and laughed a little nervously at the thought.

It was the middle of the week, but in the city there were always people who wanted to catch a flick, and the theater was scattered with couples and groups of friends. The movie cued up without any previews (another reason he loved this place) and the opening credits rolled with the sweeping strains of dramatic music he knew by heart.

Liam was quickly swept up in the story. It was exciting to see it on the big screen instead of his own tv, and he was engrossed in it, laughing a little too loudly at some parts and gasping at others. He slowly grew aware that Spike was watching him watch the movie, and he felt his cheeks grow hot in the dark. He knew he was a big dork for getting so involved like that, when he knew every line by heart. Spike dug around in the nearly-empty popcorn bag between Liam’s legs, and Liam threw him a sideways, self-conscious grin.

He turned back to the movie, but a moment later Spike was turning his face back with one finger and Liam got lost for a moment in the dark discs of his eyes, deceptively black in the flickering light from the screen. And then Spike was kissing him, soft and sweet and simple like a leading man would. Persuasively, though Liam wasn’t sure what he should be persuaded about. Except that he wanted to do this, forever.

“When’s the last time you necked in the back of a theater, Liam?” Spike was grinning mischief at him, and Good Lord, he was reliving his adolescence, and the thought made him want to laugh. Because if this was regression, sign him up. Liam thought of his years of kissing in dark corners, first with soft-haired, flowery-smelling girls and later with other young men, nervous as all hell and just as eager. He tried to recall the last time he’d wanted something so simple and warm. All he could do was shake his head and laugh softly.

Spike seized his lips again, demanding this time where they had previously asked. Liam moaned into the other mouth and Spike’s tongue snaked through, cool and slick. Long-boned fingers slid through his hair, petting his scalp, and he felt short of breath. Clever teeth nipped at his lips and he shuddered.

Liam realized, with a start, that he had an erection. A real, hard, full-on erection. He pulled back in surprise and was blinking with large eyes at Spike, but his mind was focused solely between his legs. Not comprehending the reason he was flabbergasted, Spike just smiled at his slack-jawed expression and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “Watch your film, pet.”

Liam turned back to the movie, but all he could think about was how a simple kiss and hands in his hair had given him his first woody in almost a year.

~*~*~*~

Spike left him at the door that night as chastely as a prom date being watched by an angry father. Much to Liam’s disappointment. But before Spike could slip away once again and leave Liam completely empty-handed, Liam had shouted after him and asked if he could cook for the gorgeous Brit sometime.

And that was how he had ended up here, at 7:55 on a Saturday evening, franticly trying to clean the kitchen while their meal warmed in the oven. He hadn’t showered or changed yet, and Spike was due any minute. He stood in the hall and fretted a moment.

He probably didn’t have time to take a shower, unless he wanted to chance missing Spike ringing the bell. And changing into the clothing he’d laid out when he was covered in flour seemed ridiculous. Probably weird for him to be dressed up in his own home anyway. He changed into a soft pair of blue jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt, warm and comfortable but presentable. As it turned out, he didn’t have time to second-guess himself or even wash his face because the bell was ringing.

Liam swung the door open and there was Spike looking. Perfect. Dammit. He felt frumpy and he hadn’t even had time to check his hair. It was probably poking up all over the place.

“Pet, you’ve got flour on your nose.” The matter-of-fact greeting was underlined with laughter. Liam scrubbed self-consciously at his face.

“Sorry, I’m running late, I didn’t have time to…” Spike leaned up and licked flour from the corner of Liam’s mouth. The apology died on his lips.

“’Sok, pet. Always knew you were edible.” He nibbled on Liam’s lips by way of illustration and Liam listed forward slightly. Suddenly Spike turned away and walked into the living room, leaving him at a loss for contact. “So, been slaving over a warm stove for me then? Nice place, luv,” he commented appraisingly.

Liam was suddenly grateful for his fanciful nesting a long time ago. “Thanks, it keeps me comfortable. Hungry?”

“Starving,” Spike agreed, turning his gaze. Liam felt hotly, for a moment, as though he were the one on the menu.

They settled down at the table in the cozy dining room and Liam served up the Italian meal he’d made from scratch. He had gone all out, as he hadn’t done for himself in a long time, with breaded chicken breasts and greens and pasta and garlic bread. He had even bought red wine, something he never indulged in these days.

“Pet, this is fantastic, really. I can hardly manage the microwave, but you’re really talented.” Liam blushed at the compliment as Spike finished cleaning his plate. The man certainly enjoyed eating. He was surprised to see that they’d killed most of the bottle of red, and Liam’s stomach felt pleasantly heavy with the meal. He felt warm and happy and good. Blue eyes were gazing lazily at him, and he decided he was better than good. Much better.

Spike stood and took him by the hand, wine bottle and glasses crammed in the other. “C’mon, show me the living room,” Spike said, and that was funny because Spike already knew everything there was to know about the living room, and he was leading the way, not Liam.

Spike nudged Liam towards the couch and he fell bonelessly against the cushions. The blond was sitting close, pressed up against his side, and the nearness made Liam’s heart beat faster, but he was too warm with wine to really be nervous when Spike kissed him. He closed his eyes because the kiss made his head spin a little, even more than the wine. It was their first kiss in private—Liam had always thought that was the important one, not the first-first. The first one in private was the one where you found out what it was all about, between you. And with Spike it was all about…

Spike could do this really fantastic thing with his tongue that made lust curl through Liam. The kiss was a little rough but unhurried, and Liam realized dimly that he was hard again. His erection felt reassuring, thick and solid and there, against the crotch of his pants. Spike was brushing light little shivery kisses along the sensitive column of his neck and beneath his ear. Liam moaned and his hips thrust up a little and he wished he could touch it, his hard-on…he hadn’t felt it in so long, but that would be pretty crude.

But then Spike took care of the dilemma for him, cupping his hand against Liam through the time-worn denim and squeezing, rubbing his fingers against the head. Liam drew in a shaky breath.

“What have we here,” Spike teased silkily against the flesh of his throat. He bit down lightly as he slid his hand inside Liam’s jeans and closed over his sensitive flesh. The combination made him whimper and arch up from the sofa.

Spike unfastened his jeans and slid them out of the way. He began fondling Liam again, almost too lightly to do any good, nibbling along his exposed throat as Liam lay with his head thrown back. It was surreal, this gorgeous man in his home, on his couch, playing with him when he hadn’t been touched in so long, and he had a hard time coming to grips that this was reality. But Spike’s body was solid and real against his side, and those were Spike’s lips teasing against his ear, and that was definitely Spike’s hand cupping his balls and running one finger teasingly close behind them to where Liam desperately wanted it to be. It was making him pant like a sprinter.

But the finger withdrew and the hand closed firmly over his cock and began to work him hard and fast, so good, and he was making embarrassingly shaky moaning sounds that he was unable to control. God, he was going to come just this quickly, it had been so long….

“Spike, I….”

“Shh, I’ve got you,” the other man interrupted, pressing one finger against Liam’s lips to seal them. Liam felt the orgasm swell up hot from his groin and Spike removed the hand at his mouth to work his balls, and Liam came with a whine. Afterwards he felt hot and cold and shaky with it, it had been so long—and emotional, relief and joy and uncertainty and for some reason, bittersweet sorrow. He clamped it all down, because if he didn’t he was either going to laugh or cry and he didn’t want Spike to think he was a nutcase.

Spike kissed him softly, pointlessly, the way you did after you were both cooling down from sex. He knew Spike hadn’t come yet, but the other man wasn’t signaling for anything. In fact, the opposite—as though they were done and he wanted nothing in return. Which was fine because Liam didn’t know if he could do anything right now without getting weird. He was still shaking and his eyes felt hot.

“Thanks,” he said finally, feeling awkward as the other man watched him. Self-conscious, he pulled his pants back up to cover himself.

Spike kissed the corner of his mouth. “My pleasure, luv.” He paused, looking momentarily uncertain. “Listen, I’m going to be away for a while, so don’t feel bad when I disappear, yeah?”

“Um…” Liam looked at Spike blankly, struggling with coherent thought. Was it ok to ask why, or was that too clingy? It occurred to him, with mortification, that he knew nothing about the man who had just jacked him off after a nice meal. They’d had what, three dates? and Spike always steered the conversation away from himself. Weird. Liam was not that interesting, and that wasn’t being too harsh. That was a fact

What did Liam know about this man…he knew he asked to be called Spike, and that he lived on one of the floors above Liam, since he always continued on the elevator after Liam got off. But it was a big building, and Liam lived on a lower floor, so that didn’t even narrow it by much. And that was it. That was literally all he knew. The thought made him uneasy.

“Um, where are you going?” Liam squelched the urge to ask when he’d be back. Too needy.

“Away on business.” Hrm. Well that was vague. He wrestled with what to say for a moment.

“How come you don’t talk about yourself? I mean, you’d think it would come up—“ The question twisted Liam’s stomach in knots, because he was afraid it would make Spike bolt. Things were so touchy, in these first stages….

But the other man just shrugged carelessly, unoffended. “Just not that interesting.” Somehow Liam doubted that, but he could understand how someone would feel that way.

“Well, tell me something about you. You just…did that to me, and I don’t know anything about you, it’s weird you know?” Liam was rambling. Nervous about making the blond mad.

“Something about me….” Spike contemplated. He leaned closer, looming in Liam’s field of vision. “I like the way you taste.” Spike’s tongue forced his lips apart in a searing kiss that nearly had Liam ready for round two. Nearly.

“Oh,” he said dazedly when Spike pulled back.

Spike grinned. “Oh, indeed. You’re delicious.”

Liam blushed, again. He did a lot of that around Spike. “Well is there a way I can get ahold of you?” he tried one last time.

Spike studied him with a face that was soft but distant, considering. It made Liam’s stomach warm and fluttery when Spike nodded once, small, as though he were not replying to the question so much as finding Liam worthy.

He wrote a number on a scrap of paper. “Pet, this is important, but I know I can trust you. This is a private cell number. No one is to know that you have this. No one is to find this.”

Liam felt uneasy at the stipulation, but he supposed the guy was big on privacy. Who wanted telemarketers, after all?

“In fact, Liam…don’t tell anyone anything about me. It’s important, do you promise?”

“Um…” Liam was stunned at the request. He gave a forced little laugh. “What are you, a spy or something?”

Spike laughed easily and stroked a hand through Liam’s hair. “Nope.”

Well, that cleared that up. For someone so chatty, Spike could be remarkably closed-mouthed at times. But it wasn’t a hard promise, he guessed, because who would he tell? And what would he tell them anyway?

“Ok, I promise.”

“Beautiful,” Spike praised, and rewarded him with a quick kiss. “Okay, I need to get going. But I would love to hear from you, luv, I really would. Best time is probably right after you get off work, not mornings or nights unless you call very late.” Liam followed him to the door as the other man put on his leather duster.

“So…I guess I’ll see you…when you get back.” Liam was standing with the door open, and he felt so very awkward. He was really no good at this any more.

Spike pressed him against the door. “Gonna miss me?” he smirked.

“Yes.” It was honest, though perhaps said too emphatic to be dignified.

“Good,” Spike murmured, and gave Liam a series of teasing, biting kisses that buoyed him up from the strangeness and impending self-pity. By the time Spike nipped at his chin and stepped away, Liam was smiling helplessly.

“Much better,” Spike declared, satisfied, and tapped one finger on his nose playfully before turning in a whirl of leather out the door. And then he was gone.

~*~*~*~
TBC

Date: 2006-06-11 02:06 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] shiny-n-new.livejournal.com
I somehow missed chapter one, so when I saw Visibility pt. 2, I had a "Bzuh?" moment, because I'm a dork :)

Squee! I feel so happy for Liam, and now I'm dying to know what the deal is with Spike. Update, pretty please?

Date: 2006-06-11 03:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com
glad you found me then :) happy to hear you're enjoying this.

Spike is indeed a bit of a mystery...

thanks for reading!

Date: 2006-06-11 06:45 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] angstpuppy.livejournal.com
This really has me interested, so much mystery. Looking forward to more!!

Date: 2006-06-11 01:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com
:) glad you're enjoying it so far! thanks for reading

Date: 2006-06-11 06:55 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] damnednforsaken.livejournal.com
You know you totally want to update right? Because this is just so awesome and I'll do anything for more. I love mysterious!Spike and shy!Angel. And I love this fic so pwetty pwease, update? -Puppy eyes-

Date: 2006-06-11 01:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com
heehee! greedy!

thanks, glad you love it. :)

Date: 2006-06-11 10:36 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] incasink.livejournal.com
"In fact, Liam... don't tell anyone anything about me."

Hmmm. INTERESTING. Possibly alarming - although not to Liam.

(I can't copy + paste parts of your story I just realised so excuse me if I mistype)

"Something about me... I like the way you taste..."

Uh... *ahem* Spike - that's still kinda about Liam.

Love it. UBER mysterious and eyebrow-cocking-worthy actions from Spike. He does make Liam feel awesome though ... so that's a plus!

Date: 2006-06-11 01:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com
heheheheh.
Possibly alarming - although not to Liam.
Uh... *ahem* Spike - that's still kinda about Liam.
noticed that, did you? yeah, Liam might possibly be alarmed, if his brain wasn't wholly in his dick at the moment.

but can you blame him? Spike is so pretty <pets him> utterly beguiling, to little lonely Liam.

anyway, glad you loved it!

Date: 2006-06-11 01:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/woman_of_/
I am delighted that for the first time in days I have been able to go through my flist, and find your fic!

Spike is being very mysterious. Wonder if it is good or bad! Those times could go either way. Undercover in some way....

Date: 2006-06-11 01:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com
yay, glad you enjoyed it!

Spike is a rather mysterious guy, isn't he? Verdict's still out on him, though Liam likes him just fine ;)

hey, just to let you know, since I know you were one of the people during Won't Back Down who expressed the desire for Faith to end up happy, she and Xander have their own ficlet now that I just posted.

thanks for reading!

Date: 2006-06-11 04:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lexa4227.livejournal.com
Loved this.

Date: 2006-06-13 04:05 pm (UTC)

Date: 2006-06-11 10:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ex-spikeswi.livejournal.com
Yay! And More! *am very greedy* Very, very sexy Spike in this one. I love Shy!Liam and Seducing!Spike and the fact that the plot is interesting too? Well that's just a bonus. *g* Thank you for coming back to this one, I'll keep my eyes peeled for updates and squee when I find 'em. Spike's not like "Mainline's" Spike is he? (I loved that story btw) I keep thinking he's either undercover, a dealer, or in the witness protection program. Of course, he could always just be a Vampire...

Date: 2006-06-13 08:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com
:) isn't Spike such a freakin hottie? <sighs> haha, is it bad that I'm in love with my own characterization? I probably shouldn't admit that.

I'm glad you're enjoying it. updates will come more frequently when I'm not sleeping in a tent and stealing internet access in the lobby of Comfort Inn *g*

Spike's not like "Mainline's" Spike is he?
first of all, I freaking love that story. hrm, I guess there is some similarity at first glance, eh?
<coughs> all I'm gonna say right now is that Spike has a secret. good, bad, or ugly, I'm not telling. because I'm evil. :)

Date: 2006-06-12 05:21 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] eyezrthewindows.livejournal.com
Wow. You've got me hooked. This whole mysterious Spike thing...Well, post more soon b/c the not knowing is killing me, lol.

Date: 2006-06-13 08:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com
heehee! glad I snagged you. I'll post...err...well, you see, I'm camping at the moment and stealing internet when I come into town, so the next update is hard for me to predict.

but, as soon as I can!

Date: 2006-06-13 08:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jans-intentions.livejournal.com
Loving this one too. So good, and wondering what Spike's secret is!

Date: 2006-06-13 08:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com
thanks! glad you like it. he's kind of a sketch-ball at the moment, huh?

Date: 2006-08-08 08:56 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gilesgirl.livejournal.com
This is good and yeah, I'm wondering what Spike's big secret is, too. ;)

More soon, please!

Date: 2006-08-08 11:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com
ohhhh don't get too attached to that one. it's on hiatus! I plan to go back to posting it eventually, but I'm not sure when

Date: 2007-11-13 06:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] carinas-carinae.livejournal.com
Just wandered across this while distracting myself from what I really should be doing. I'm sorry there isn't more. It would be fun to find out what Spike really is. Some kind of guardian angel maybe?

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