This was meant to be for the Old Challenges Revisited prompt at slashthedrabble - challenge #012: 'Switch'.

I went over 500 words and didn't want to cut any further... But I like it all the same :) Tell me if you agree.

Title: Shift
Fandom: AtS AU (Wes/Angel... sorta;)
Rated: PG
Disclaimer: All hail the Joss.



There are ashes in the passenger seat that used to be a person. The top of the convertible lies several feet in front of the Porsche, torn and tangled.

Liam’s gun is sitting on the dashboard, twisted by non-human hands into a lump of useless metal, and his whole world-view has just shifted.

He’s less surprised than he ought to be, sitting on the curb and bleeding. Maybe the blood loss and the forty-eight hours he’s gone without sleep have something to do with it, but maybe not. He’s worked longer cases and suffered worse injuries. Never an injury like a vampire bite, but-

“So I’m not, you know… Infected? Like one of-”

“Me?” Wesley asks, smiling one of those all-knowing smiles that Liam has grown used to. Makes a lot more sense now, actually – if the guy’s been around for over a hundred years, he ought to know a thing or two.

Liam doesn’t have the chance to be apologetic for his bluntness. Wesley is answering, no offense taken visible in his expression or tone of voice.

“No. To turn you, she would have had to make you drink before you died. You did not drink from her, nor are you dead, so your humanity is safe.”

Liam breathes the breath of relief he hadn’t realized he was holding. Not that, you know, Wes doesn’t work the whole vampire thing nicely, but Liam isn’t sure that the lifestyle would quite fit him.

Wesley, on the other hand…

Liam considers. He does an internal check to see if the knowledge of who (what) Wesley really is has effected the way he’s begun to feel about the other man (the vampire).

He’s still intrigued – even more so – by Wes’s past. He still feels an awareness when Wes steps nearer that Liam has learned to associate with only one thing.

Wesley raises one eyebrow, smiling softly, and asks, “Alright?”

And – yeah. The accent, the eyes- Liam is still as turned on by the other guy’s presence as he’s ever been. The only difference is in the source of the attraction. Liam’s been told that he has an almost predatory approach to romance – identify, seek and demand attention. Liam likes to chalk it up to his military training rather than a “cave man mentality”, as Darla liked to say. But with Wes… Liam finally knows why things have felt different with him. With them, Wes is the predator. Whether he chooses to act like one or not. The idea gives Liam pause and he’s certain that he probably shouldn’t but-

He likes it.

“Great,” Liam answers finally, starting to smile. He stands, trying not to favor the knee Faith had nearly busted right before she bit him. Vampire. That means super strength, right? No way is Liam gonna go all weak and limpy in front of Wes now. “Just wondering if I can cash in on that beer or if you’re gonna make me see a doctor.”

Unmistakeable surprise crosses Wes’s face. Liam feels steadier on his feet – vampires don’t know everything. Liam thinks that’s good to know.

“I can patch you up, if you’d like,” Wes offers, recovering his usual enigmatic expression. Tinged now with amusement. “Then… we’ll see.”

Liam isn’t sure why he reads so much promise into those words, but he does. He’s chuckling as they walk away from the crime scene.

“Something funny?” Wes asks him, brow rising again.

Liam shakes his head. “Just wondering how I’m gonna explain to Will what happened to his car.”

Wes looks at him. Then back at the car. He throws back his head and laughs.

[e.]


And this is just random, but... Look at my icon. Mini!Booth is blonde... like Darla. It's not such a task to imagine that this is Angel with a young Connor, is it?

Only a thought :p