Safe Haven
by: Gileswench
Rated NC-17
Contact: gileswench@yahoo.com
Date: 1/17/02
Spoilers: Through Epiphany to be safe.
Summary: Wesley has questions. There's only one place to get them answered.
Rating: NC17
Pairing: Wes/Host
Distribution: If you've had my permission in the past, you have it now. All others, ask and ye shall receive.
Feedback: Constructive criticism always welcome. Praise abjectly sought.
Disclaimer: It all belongs to Joss, Mutant Enemy, etc., etc., etc. I just let them have all the fun Joss won't. I own nothing except my twisted mind which you really don't want. Please don't sue.
Note: This started life as part one of a five part series which never got written. The bulk of this was finished shortly after The Thin Dead Line aired, and it's set about then.
Dedication: To my Twistie. You may have lost your BtBS/AtS muse, but
"Bloody Mary. Hold the blood."
It was the same drink Wesley had ordered every night since he'd been coming into Caritas regularly. By now the bartender knew what he wanted. Still, he said the same thing each night as he approached the bar, knowing the drink would be in his hand almost before he could finish asking for it.
"So, are you going to grace us with a song tonight?"
"I don't sing well."
The Host snorted. "Please. How many times did I have to listen to Angel massacre Manilow while he worked out his little Darla obsession? And believe me, nothing's scary anymore once you've heard a Fyarl demon sing Girls Just Want To Have Fun. I don't know about him, but I had no fun that night."
Wesley smirked as he lifted his drink, but didn't answer. The Host decided to try a different tactic.
"Why are you here?"
"On the planet, or in this bar?"
"If you had the answers, you wouldn't be here. That means you must have questions."
"I simply wanted a drink."
"If that's all you wanted, there are plenty of bars in the neighborhood; not to mention the liquor stores. You keep coming here. It's not as if nobody else knows how to make a Bloody Mary. And most places you don't have to specify that you don't want real blood."
"Perhaps I enjoy the atmosphere. I fit in."
"Please! You're human. You can go anywhere you want and fit in. Name your Yuppie watering hole, and you wouldn't get noticed. The only places anyone is looking at you are biker bars and here. With your ride, you might even blend in at one of the less intense biker places. Here, you're the odd man out. Mainly because...well, you're a man. And don't try to tell me it's the entertainment. Half the demons that come in here couldn't carry a tune in a bucket if they had a Locksmith Imp guarding it."
"So why don't you tell me why I'm here."
"I can't do that. Not until you get up and sing."
"Then I suppose we'll never know, will we?"
The Host shook his head and handed his glass across the bar.
"Diego, another seabreeze. And let's just try to get it right this time, shall we? Use a real grapefruit." He turned back to Wesley as he waited for his drink. "We'll know. New house rule: no more drinks for you until you sing for your liquid supper."
"That's blackmail."
"Hey, those are the rules. If you don't like them, go somewhere else to get drunk. I'm not holding a gun to your head." He handed Wesley a sheet with the song choices listed. "Look, just pick a song, and I'll work you into the lineup. You're sober tonight, so you might even stay in tune."
With a final pat to Wesley's hand, the demon picked up his drink and left to begin the evening's round of music.
A brief glance at the list confirmed Wesley's worst suspicions. No Cat Stevens, and the only Queen song on the menu was We Are The Champions, which he'd already slaughtered with Cordelia and Gunn. He had no interest in reliving that experience. Besides, he was entirely too sober to imagine he was Freddie Mercury.
He flipped the card over to discover a selection of standards. Most of the songs held no interest for him. Too many of them were showtunes culled from plays he'd never seen. Finally, he saw one he knew he could sing.
Before he could lose his nerve, Wesley added his name to the list of performers.
He immediately ordered another Bloody Mary to steady his nerves.
He'd steadied his nerves twice more by the time his name was called. He took a deep breath before mounting the stage. There was a brief delay as the microphone was replaced and the stage mopped in the aftermath of the Chaos Demon who had gone before Wesley.
"Sorry, but things got a bit sticky up here, folks. Now I'm gonna have a chat with our horny friend over there while Wesley the not so demonic gives us a musical treat. S'wonderful to know there are still Gershwin fans out there!"
The Host handed the mic to Wesley with an encouraging smile and a nod of the head. Wesley returned the smile tightly and took a white- knuckled grip on the mic.
He swallowed hard as the first strains of the song filled the air. He'd never sung in public without the protection of other singers, drunkenness, or both. He knew he should have a been a bit tiddly after four Bloody Marys, but he was still clear-headed. He suspected the drinks had been watered after the first one. Oh dear. There was the cue.
Embrace me, My sweet embraceable you. Embrace me, You irreplaceable you. Just one look at you - my heart grew tipsy in me; You and you alone bring out the gypsy in me. I love all The many charms about you; Above all, I want my arms about you. Don't be a naughty baby - come to papa - do! My sweet embraceable you.
Embrace me, My sweet embraceable you. Embrace me, You irreplaceable you. In your arms I find love so delectable, dear, I'm afraid it isn't quite respectable, dear. But hang it! Come on let's glorify love! Ding dang it! You'll shout "Encore!" if I love. Don't be a naughty baby, Come to papa - come to papa - do! My sweet embraceable you.
Wesley never heard what The Host said as he was ushered off stage and sent to await his reading. The stagefright and all four Bloody Mary's decided to hit his brain at once.
*****
"So, Embraceable isn't what you're feeling, is it? Why'd she leave?"
"She knew what I was, what I did for a living...all of it. She had no trouble when I went slaying fire-farting demons in the sewers or when I was removing extraneous eyeballs from little girls' heads. It was when I was shot with an ordinary handgun that she decided my life was too dangerous for her."
"And now your place is haunted."
"Yes. That's it, precisely. In every room I expect to see her or hear her. Sometimes, I still smell her perfume."
"It hurts, doesn't it? To realize you never loved her."
Wesley opened his mouth to protest. Then he closed it without saying a word.
"Look, don't beat yourself up. You're not the first guy to be more in love with the image than the person. She opened up a glamorous world to you; one that you really liked. Now it's closed off, because she got the swanky parties in the breakup. Let go of that life, sweetie, it was never yours."
"I do miss her, though. She was a lovely girl. Charming company."
"But that's never been enough for you has it?"
"I'm not entirely certain I understand you."
The Host laughed.
"Oh please! Come out of the closet and into the light. These days Oscar Wilde could move in with Bosie and nobody would give a damn."
"I'm not gay."
"Bi, then. So you like girls, too, but I've seen you checking out butts when you think no one's looking. Tell me the truth; have you ever checked out mine? You can tell me."
"It looks very firm" Wesley replied, his eyes meeting those of his companion for the first time that night.
The demon gave a small smile as he rose.
"Come with me. I have a proposition for you. And you don't have to worry. I'm not coming on to you...unless you want me to."
He didn't even look to see if Wesley would follow. He knew the Englishman was too curious to resist.
The two went behind the club itself and up a flight of stairs until they reached a door. The Host removed a key from his pocket and opened the room.
"So, what do you think? All the comforts of home in one little room."
Wesley entered the studio. It was a comfortable room with a large bed, a desk and chair, a couple bookcases, and tiny kitchenette off to one side. With its dark decor and slightly Spartan aspect, it reminded him of the room he'd taken when he was at Oxford. He could feel stress he hadn't known he was carrying melt away from his muscles.
"Very nice. But what has it to do with me?"
The demon pressed the key into his hand.
"It's yours. If you want it, that is. No charge. You need a place to escape the ghosts and get some research done. Don't look so startled. I could see it was starting to affect your work."
"I have been somewhat...distracted of late, I'll admit. How much?"
"Nada. It's gratis."
"I can hardly accept that. I must pay you for it in some way."
Red eyes flickered over Wesley's form.
"What are you offering?"
Wesley nodded.
"I see. Well, that's too high a price. I won't be kept."
"That's not my style, sweetie. Karaoke is a harsh mistress - not that I object to the occasional extramarital affair. Look, if you do the odd piece of research for me, I'll call it even. That and never try to sing Queen in my bar again. Deal?"
"Deal."
They shook hands on the bargain. Both were slow to release the grip. Wesley moved his hand to the demon's shoulder.
"I'm sorry. About what I said earlier, about being kept. I'm a bit sensitive to that sort of thing."
"She paid your way and opened the doors, didn't she? Well, I'm not a trust fund baby and nobody knows me. Barbra Streisand never returns my calls."
Wesley smiled slightly.
"That must hurt."
"Devastates me. Still, it's not like I could keep you."
"But you'd like to borrow me, wouldn't you?"
The demon looked hard at Wesley's lips before moving to cover them with his own.
The kiss deepened quickly. As Wesley removed his glasses, he noted that the demon's tongue had a rougher texture than that of a human. In fact, it was almost feline. He was surprised how erotic he found it.
One kiss led to another as they maneuvered one another to the bed. Clothing was shed hurriedly so as to maximize groping time for both men.
At last, both were naked. They took a moment to simply enjoy the view.
"Interesting" Wesley murmured as he raked his eyes over the form of his companion. "I never would have guessed that you would have hair there."
"I know. You're used to hairy chests and legs and armpits and groins, but my people have hairy shoulders and that's all there is to it. But hey, I've got twice the nipples you do."
"And you're colored like a Christmas tree."
They both looked at the demon's glowing crimson erection.
"When it's soft, it's green like the rest of me."
"I like it red."
Wesley ran a hand up its hard length and leaned in to discover just how sensitive those extra nipples were. He ran his tongue over one after the other until all four stood at attention in sharp peaks. The demon encouraged his ministrations with tiny groans, running his hands through Wesley's hair. Finally, he pulled the Englishman up for a deep, soul searching kiss.
"My horns, baby, play with them," he whispered.
Wesley took the hint and ran his fingertips over the short red nubs. His demon lover crooned in delight and moved his hand to the human cock that bobbed so enticingly before him.
Moments later, Wesley lay on his back, the demon between his legs, running that wonderfully feline tongue up and down the shaft of his penis. Green hands caressed his balls as the human clutched the bedding and thrust wildly at the warm mouth that promised everything, but refused to take him all the way.
Finally combined relief and ecstasy mingled as the demon took his new lover's length completely into his mouth. Wesley bucked his hips and reached down to caress the red horns that gave the demon such pleasure. It only took a few minutes of expert deep throating before Wesley gave a loud cry and erupted down The Host's throat.
As soon as he'd finished licking Wesley's cock and belly clean of sperm, the demon moved up to kiss his lover. The human moved to caress the throbbing crimson pole.
When he took the shaft in his mouth, Wesley noted the difference in flavor from a human cock, the texture of the skin, and the fact that the demon's balls were a different weight. He almost laughed at himself for being so analytical even as he made love. Almost. One never knew when such information might come in handy.
Still, his primary concern was returning the pleasure he'd just experienced, and he did seem to be succeeding in that. The demon writhed in pleasure on the bed, panting and making tiny hungry sounds. Wesley squeezed the demon's firm buttocks and sucked harder, eliciting louder moans.
When Wesley reached up and tweaked all four pebbled nipples at once, the demon shouted and flooded Wesley's gullet with come. The Englishman swallowed enthusiastically. The fluid was sweeter than human come, and there seemed to be a great deal of it. It took some time to find and lick it all up.
At last the two crawled under the covers to cuddle. They touched softly and kissed lightly at intervals, but said very little for some time. At last, Wesley broke the relative silence.
"Thank you."
"Hey, anytime. I mean that. As long as you don't get heavy and want a big commitment from me."
"I wasn't planning on it."
"Good. Oh, and guests are welcome here as long as you're fairly discreet."
"Again, I thank you."
"Don't worry about it. Just go to sleep."
"I'm not sure I can."
The Host chuckled and began to sing.
Embrace me,
My sweet embraceable you.
Embrace me,
You irreplaceable you.
In your arms I find love so delectable, dear,
I'm afraid it isn't quite respectable, dear.
But hang it!
Come on let's glorify love!
Ding dang it!
You'll shout "Encore!" if I love.
Don't be a naughty baby,
Come to papa - come to papa - do!
My sweet embraceable you.
By the time he'd finished, Wesley was snoring softly in his arms.
The End