more fic dribbles
Apr. 12th, 2003 11:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thebratqueenOkay, still more of the cage stuff.
"You're shaking," Wesley said.
"Comes with the territory," Angel replied. He was sitting as far back in the cage as he was able to. His back was pressed against the solid stone wall. His legs were folded underneath him. His arms were crossed against his chest.
And he was trembling. Even through the dim light and the distance Wesley could see it. Were they able to touch Wesley was convinced that Angel would be practically vibrating.
It made him sick.
"They shouldn't do this to you," Wesley said.
Angel gave a sharp bark of laughter. "Lotta things shouldn't happen. Doesn't seem to stop them though."
"They should treat you better," Wesley insisted. He squatted down on the floor, at eye level with the vampire now. His gaze was obsessively drawn towards the blood stains that marked his shirt. With a start he realized that some of them were still fresh. "You haven't even healed."
"It's fine," Angel shifted his position. The chains connected to his wrists made harsh, clanking sounds.
Wesley shook his head. "No, it isn't. This is intolerable. You are - "
"A vampire, Wesley," Angel snapped, his eyes flashing. "That's all I am. That's all I'll ever be. A monster who did exactly what they're doing to me and worse to more people than you could ever meet in a lifetime."
"That's hardly the point."
"No, it's exactly the point," Angel said. He sighed, some of the anger leaving him. "What do you want, Wes? This is what I do. This is what I get. And it's either this or - " Another bitter laugh escaped him. "Let's face it. Right now you're the only one here who likes me for my mind."
"This is important work," Wesley said, not sure if he was reassuring the vampire or himself. "What you know - "
"Doesn't mean shit," Angel replied. He shifted position again, and Wesley realized he was trying to find a way to be comfortable in spite of the damage done to him. "Right now all I am is the strongest vamp they've ever laid hands on. The minute they get bored with me, the minute they're tired of all this 'research' - "
"I won't let them," Wesley said.
"I won't let them," Angel said. His eyes became dark, determined, and Wesley felt something unnamed stir inside of him at this promise. "I'm tough. I can handle this. Hell, I've handled much worse. Literally."
Still, Wesley shook his head. "This is torture."
Another shift of his body, this time with a painful wince as he stretched his right leg out in front of him. Wesley wondered if he was seeing the damage of broken bones. He could find out, he knew. Pull Angel's file, read what the others were doing to him, but he hadn't yet. He doubted he would. Somehow he felt that Angel needed this. These moments with one person who could help him pretend that these horrors had never happened, that the damage was due to some mysterious cause that never needed to be named.
"I can take it," Angel said, the words surprisingly firm in contrast to the tremors that made it impossible for his hands - or the chains connected to them - to keep still.
"Angel," Wesley said, quietly. "It's only going to get worse."
Again Angel met his eyes. The expression was so intense Wesley almost looked away. "It's worth it."
"You're shaking," Wesley said.
"Comes with the territory," Angel replied. He was sitting as far back in the cage as he was able to. His back was pressed against the solid stone wall. His legs were folded underneath him. His arms were crossed against his chest.
And he was trembling. Even through the dim light and the distance Wesley could see it. Were they able to touch Wesley was convinced that Angel would be practically vibrating.
It made him sick.
"They shouldn't do this to you," Wesley said.
Angel gave a sharp bark of laughter. "Lotta things shouldn't happen. Doesn't seem to stop them though."
"They should treat you better," Wesley insisted. He squatted down on the floor, at eye level with the vampire now. His gaze was obsessively drawn towards the blood stains that marked his shirt. With a start he realized that some of them were still fresh. "You haven't even healed."
"It's fine," Angel shifted his position. The chains connected to his wrists made harsh, clanking sounds.
Wesley shook his head. "No, it isn't. This is intolerable. You are - "
"A vampire, Wesley," Angel snapped, his eyes flashing. "That's all I am. That's all I'll ever be. A monster who did exactly what they're doing to me and worse to more people than you could ever meet in a lifetime."
"That's hardly the point."
"No, it's exactly the point," Angel said. He sighed, some of the anger leaving him. "What do you want, Wes? This is what I do. This is what I get. And it's either this or - " Another bitter laugh escaped him. "Let's face it. Right now you're the only one here who likes me for my mind."
"This is important work," Wesley said, not sure if he was reassuring the vampire or himself. "What you know - "
"Doesn't mean shit," Angel replied. He shifted position again, and Wesley realized he was trying to find a way to be comfortable in spite of the damage done to him. "Right now all I am is the strongest vamp they've ever laid hands on. The minute they get bored with me, the minute they're tired of all this 'research' - "
"I won't let them," Wesley said.
"I won't let them," Angel said. His eyes became dark, determined, and Wesley felt something unnamed stir inside of him at this promise. "I'm tough. I can handle this. Hell, I've handled much worse. Literally."
Still, Wesley shook his head. "This is torture."
Another shift of his body, this time with a painful wince as he stretched his right leg out in front of him. Wesley wondered if he was seeing the damage of broken bones. He could find out, he knew. Pull Angel's file, read what the others were doing to him, but he hadn't yet. He doubted he would. Somehow he felt that Angel needed this. These moments with one person who could help him pretend that these horrors had never happened, that the damage was due to some mysterious cause that never needed to be named.
"I can take it," Angel said, the words surprisingly firm in contrast to the tremors that made it impossible for his hands - or the chains connected to them - to keep still.
"Angel," Wesley said, quietly. "It's only going to get worse."
Again Angel met his eyes. The expression was so intense Wesley almost looked away. "It's worth it."
