Eleven
Twenty Three O Five: 7
by Josie_h
Notes
Though they had shared long evenings of beer and a chat before, Richard seemed to be relaxed far more after their comfort on the floor. The greatest change seemed to be his willingness to let them in to his life. Both vampires noticed him sharing his own life stories a lot more, where previously he quizzed them. There were certainly more hugs on a daily basis and a definite kiss on the lips for both his flat mates whenever he returned from work (but only after an obligatory shower) and yet it seemed there needed to be very little naughty touching to satisfy him. Richard was simply happier, cared about, caressed if he needed it and, happier.
As he began to speak of his past it was obvious to both Spike and his mate why the man was a white hat. He had been the quiet one at school apparently, not particularly good at sport or one of the ‘in’ crowd, he generally tagged on the end of a few groups over the years, never really feeling like he fitted. Suddenly Xander felt very lucky for the Scoobies, despite his missing eye and some very bizarre experiences at high school and beyond.
Like Spike, Richard had a loving family and grew up in a relatively wealthy area just outside Washington DC.
His father, a successful speech writer for the Secretary of State, died suddenly of a heart attack when out jogging one morning, he was fifty two. Richard had been in his first year of college and living in at the time, and though devastated, still managed to deliver the eulogy at a funeral that boasted an overflowing church; public tributes by a number of prominent government figures including the Vice President; and the obligatory press coverage. The ceremony over, others had forgotten but for the family and for the son it obviously still hurt. As a consequence he was extremely close to his mother and two sisters, and since moving away to study, then for work, had missed them all terribly. Spike empathized and both Xander and Richard were privy to a quiet, thoughtful and very private monologue regarding his love for his mother.
The tall slim brunette had realized his gender preference in his second year of college, but didn’t act on it for another year.
When he asked Xander and Spike when they had known they were gay, both vampires looked rather puzzled and Spike answered, “Not really a big deal for us pet… Why cut out fifty percent of the population… But then again the boy here ‘d turn anyone into a switch hitter I reckon.” Xander was lying with his head in Spike’s lap as they chatted and grinned, then purred and rubbed his cheek against Spike’s crotch until his Sire had to adjust his position a little.
“You love a person mate not a gender… bloody humans got it all upside down! One minute you’re complainin’ about the birth rate and makin’ women infertile, and the next you’re tellin’ blokes they can’t make love! Out-bloody-rageous!” Spike’s faux annoyance had brought a smile to their lovely friend’s face.
Richard’s coming out story, however, was one of unrequited love, indeed betrayal. He had found himself the favored student of his philosophy tutor, even moved in with him for a short while. He had been flattered by attentions of the older, more experienced man, and so involved in his own ‘coming out’, was blissfully unaware, then dreadfully hurt, to find that the relationship he thought to be long term and monogamous was utterly one-sided. His mentor consistently dated and brought home other men, and when questioned claimed it was to ‘test’ Richard’s commitment to an open relationship.
After the third pretty boy was discovered waltzing about the apartment nude on a Sunday morning after Richard had been left to find his own way home from a nightclub, he had become upset, threatened to do the same to his ‘swinger’ friend, and was summarily told to leave… or as Richard described it “thrown away”. The older man claimed that young Richard was ungrateful, and unfaithful after being ‘shown the ropes’, as it were. A number of disastrous one night stands had ensued, though it seemed had rarely progressed beyond kissing and a quick fondle.
He had consequently pulled out of the Philosophy and Literature courses and talked his way, rather late in the year, into Biology.
He had proved talented and quickly moved from Degree to Masters and was inline for a PhD scholarship when Wolfram and Hart had stepped in. The salary package had been extraordinary, though the consequent training rather odd, bordering on cultish in its tone and delivery. Once initiated howeve,r and upon seeing a variety of demons for the first time all controlled by miraculous new technology, he threw himself into his work, not suspecting in the least that many of his subjects had been human… recently.
He apologized to both Xander and Spike for almost a day regards their treatment at the hands of the W&H science team. So much so, that after insisting it was all OK at least seven times in the one evening Spike lost patience and fell into game face, storming out of the room claiming, “Lot of sodding rot … not your fault you silly bugger, wish you’d listen! ‘Twasn’t. Your. Bleedin’. Fault! Bahhh… I’m goin’ ta kill somethin’!”
Richard was extremely upset that he had angered Spike so much… but Xander patted him on the knee and simply said, “It’s OK… it’s OK… I’ll go after him… He’s just gets a bit antsy with the whole W&H thing. But you’ve got to know….we’re so grateful for what you’ve done for us… And you know in an odd sort of way they did us a favor… If it hadn’t been for the Wolfram and Hart folks, we wouldn’t be together would we! So stop fretting and organize us a beer or two… that always brings him around.” Xander grinned and Richard eventually smiled weakly as Xander nodded and headed out the door after his Sire.
On the anniversary of Richard’s father’s demise, his mother rang at five in the morning, mixing up the times as per usual. To date he had done the ringing, but had given his sister his details so was unsurprised. They had always tried to be together on this day of loss, even if only by phone.
She asked if he was happy, and he admitted that he really was, though was still ‘unattached’ and living with a couple to help cover the rent. She offered to send him money, which he declined, but did accept the home made sweater idea for his birthday and actively gave her the address again.
A second conversation with his younger sister when he returned from work was not so easy. The young woman had been chatting to her mother and drilled him about his job and his dating, and what nightclubs he went to and the men he was ‘hanging out’ with. She, like Spike and Xander had been privy to his seemingly destructive pattern in relationships. He slumped down on the chair after the event and was immediately surrounded by two preternaturally strong, cool bodies.
“C’mon pet. How’s about we go out together? The three of us, for a movie or a dance or some such…?”
“Thanks Spike but um… I just think I need to go sleep for now… Thanks anyway.” Spike nodded, it had been a hard day for everyone, Xander having nightmares of his incarceration and chipping throughout their normally quiet morning sleep time.
Richard’s paper regards the two vampires was written and though his intention was to send it to Wolfram and Hart’s science group to “give the guys the truth”, Spike dissuaded him *strongly*. And in the end a copy was sent to Giles, who, out of hospital and on the mend, was amazed by the thorough nature of Richard's research. Two hundred or so pages of data, analysis and commentary, very much an action research document, was valuable beyond belief to the Watchers and in no small way, an extraordinary comfort to the still convalescing Watcher. Two weeks later the Council sent Richard a commendation and grant for ten thousand pounds sterling to continue his research.
They celebrated together that night at the top of Grouse mountain, Richard taking the cable car up, while the vampires did their best to keep pace. Richard won and they all took the car down together at the end of the rather nice meal. Xander still couldn’t get used to his new taste buds, so he and Spike disappeared at one point, both returning looking rather flushed and Spike sporting a tightly bandaged wrist just visible under his jacket sleeve. Richard did not fail to notice two helpings of the double chocolate cheesecake and four beers disappear despite the young vampire’s taste problem however.
The following night the human went out with a new accountant from work. Spike took an instant dislike the ‘overly charming’ older man even before they had seen him, and even more so after Spike and Xander followed their friend on the second date and they witnessed the very proprietary behavior of the individual, yet apparent ‘wandering eye’ and hands as far as young men going past were concerned. The vampire casually queried Richard when he returned the next morning in a rather disheveled state but the questions were brushed off as the new beau was described in the too good to be true mode, so typical of their lovely friend at the beginning of any of his relationships.
A week later and the fourth evening Richard had headed out with Ron (said with a strong growl whenever Spike mentioned his name), he did not come home again. Spike and Xander were both a little annoyed but unsurprised and resolved to go for their country training run the following evening (Saturday) regardless of whether or not their friend promised to come with them.