Part: (27?)

Writer: Azure K Mello

Summery: Spike casts a spell on Angel to make him lose his soul. Things don't go as planned and instead Angel just opens up about his feelings towards Xander.

This chapter: Lazy day

Feedback: is adored slash

Xander slept in a big wooden bed. A woman's father had made the frame for her as a wedding present. He had carved it for weeks to make sure it was perfect. She had brought her children to bed with her when they were ill. They would rest between their mom and dad and get slowly better. He rested there feeling the ghost of a touch on his face and knew it was her essence soothing him.

Sighing happily in his sleep he was too comfortable to stir. Dreams washed over him; visions of beaches, mountains, holding Willow's hand while walking through the cemetery in a meaningless show of solidarity against the vampires, slow love, sweet tasting thick liquids, lunch period on sunny days that were spent tanning. He felt the bed dip next to him just as he was falling out of sleep. Opening his eyes he saw a broad back moving away from the bed. "Angel?" he asked feeling blurry.

The broad form turned back and smiled even though it was sporting a black eye, "I didn't mean to wake you. I just," Xander's hand moved and hit something cold and hard. Looking down he saw the can of Coke next to his hand, "wanted to make sure it was within reach when you woke up." He smiled as though the words were foolish.

Xander smiled and said, "Thanks, how long was I out?"

"Couple of hours."

"Did you guys find something to eat?" He couldn't smell any blood on the vampire and realized he must have showered to get rid of Buffy's. Pulling himself to sit upright he opened the soda and drank half the tin.

"Yeah, we broke into a blood bank. Stole some stores for later." Angel smiled, still feeling strange talking about feeding with a human. Xander was the first person he'd ever met who didn't seem the least bit phased by it. "You seem a bit clearer."

"This room is exactly what it looks like, there's nothing here to talk to me. And after the nap. . . until we leave the building I should be alright. Was breaking and entering fun?" asked Xander. He remembered asking Angel not to touch him earlier and, while he didn't regret the request, he wanted Angel to be near him now that the vampire was no longer seething. He patted the bed next to him and Angel instantly moved to sit down.

"Well, there was a security camera so Spike took the opportunity to waltz in front of it. And after watching him lead an invisible partner for a few minutes it got dull. So I hit him around the head and told him to get a move on. He hit me back, we had a knock down fight in front of a camera that couldn't record us, and then we fox-trotted."

"Less stressed?" he asked as he dropped his head to his lover's shoulder. He knew the answer just from touching Angel but he wanted to hear the words.

"Much," he said softly. "So is Spike, he's taking a shower."

"Okay, good, I'm glad you're both feeling a bit better. Once Spike's out can we get some form of dinner?" He looked at his watch and amended, "Pre-dawn meal. Maybe we could order something? I don't want to go out on the streets."

"We picked up Chinese. Spike picked the food out, because I don't know Chinese food. . . or food in general."

"Do you like food? I mean, it's not a vampire thing, Spike would be a fat kid if he had a metabolism. Why don't you eat?"

Angel thought and finally said, "I don't need it. It seems like a waste. I like food, but I don't see a point."

"But you like it?" asked Xander feeling anxious. Angel nodded. "And have you ever eaten Chinese food?" Angel shook his head. "Then try it for me, it's a waste if you don't eat it because I'm sure Spike over ordered and we'll throw stuff out. Please? Enjoy something that's not cuddling, or killing, or having sex. Just because you don't need it doesn't mean you shouldn't have it. Try it you might really like it."

"What is I really enjoy it?"

"Shrimp fried rice is great but it isn't going to steal your soul. . . Once we have Dru back, I'm going to focus on finding a way to make it permanent. I want to be book guy. . . I don't look good in tweed but I'm kinda smart."

"Very smart," corrected Angel and he went to the little kitchen to get the food.

They ate in bed and Angel did enjoy the food, it was sweet and spicy and Xander said, "They'll have to clean for MSG, refined sugar, and caffeine. Forget any evil activity, my happy foods aren't healthy to the room." He laughed slightly and hungrily watched Angel, forgetting his appetite for food in favour of studying his lover. The ancient vampire wasn't very good with chopsticks. Xander felt his voice break as he said, "I love you."

"Well, I love egg rolls," Angel announced jokingly, "so I guess it's a night of discovery."

Xander took a bite of the much lauded shrimp fried rice and nearly chocked. The food mitigated the vibes of the bed. The woman who'd cooked the rice was leaving her husband, he was fucking her sister, she also wanted to leave America. She'd come from Mexico and here she was three years later, still an illegal alien, working in a Chinese place. She wanted to smash her husband's face in and then sneak back over the border, it was time to go home. Feeling ill at the woman's rage he shook slightly. Xander felt the other emotions pouring in and set aside the container in favour of a second Coke, good old, machine produced Coke.

Angel watched the way his boy's eyes shut down, "Xander? Are you alright?"

"Yeah, just. . . eat this for me. It's really good," he said handing Angel the carton.

"Right, so good it made you go sweaty and pale?" asked Angel.

"No, it's really good. But I can feel the woman who made it. She's so bitter, and burnt, and crumbly." He gave Angel a shaky smile and said, "I'm going to make an omelet in that safe kitchen." He leaned forward to kiss Angel and smiled against his mates mouth, "You taste so good, honey," he whispered.

"What do I taste of?" asked Angel feeling confused.

"Egg roll," Xander replied and kissed Angel again, "and. . . worry."

"Well it's a really good egg roll."

"You're not gonna lose your soul to an egg roll. And we'll have Dru back with us so soon. I promise."

"Xander," he said softly.

"I know," the boy agreed with desperation he saw in his lover's eyes, "I know."

Spike came into the room draped in a towel and saw the empty grease-proof paper bag by Angel's thigh and asked, "Angel, did you eat all the egg rolls? Why are you eating food? Why are you eating the good stuff?"

"I made him," said Xander as he stood. As he passed he said, "Want anything from the kitchen?"

"More sodas?" asked Spike.

"Can do." As he walked into the kitchen the phone rang and he reluctantly lifted the receiver to his ear. "Hello?" he didn't want to feel waves come through the phone.

Instead he heard David, the bellhop saying, "Mr. Harris, this is David, I just wanted to be sure you'd settled in nicely."

"Yes, thank you, we're fine." He felt nothing from David and realized that even when he'd been in the man's presence he'd felt nothing coming from him. "What are you?" he asked and then thought perhaps that was rude.

But David answered promptly without hesitation understanding the question without needing it clarified, "I'm an android, sir."

"Like Data?"

"I do not know of a Data," David replied sounding slightly confused. "I am programmed to exude positive energy and assist the people staying in the master suite."

"Huh," Xander was surprised by the complete answer. He had been thinking David was some sort of a demon.

"So there is nothing you need, sir?"

"We don't need anything."

"If at any point you need me, press four and I'll be up like a shot."

"Thanks, David." They hung up and Xander shook his head, things just seemed to get stranger and stranger as time went by.

He made the omelet quickly and brought it back to bed. He handed Spike another soda and asked, "What do you think David is?" They looked at him expectantly and he added, "The guy who brought us up here."

"Didn't smell human," said Angel who was now eating chicken lo mein, "In fact he didn't seem to have a scent."

"He's an android," Xander replied, "sort of weird, right? I didn't think they were real, demons sure but human robots? It's a bit far fetched."

"Oi! You didn't give me time to guess," said Spike irritated, "I was gonna guess an android."

"Really?" asked Angel sounding impressed, "I wouldn't have."

"Maybe I would have," said Spike sounding too defensive.

Xander smiled and ate his omelet. The chickens who'd laid the eggs lived on a nice farm, the onions had been grown in fertilizer rich soil, and the cheese was great. And, as everyone knows, great cheese comes from happy cows. Happy cows come from California. Eating and supporting one's state at once seemed like a good thing in Xander's mind. After having disparaged the kitchen he was glad it was there.