InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "That is when he came along."

Spike (chipswiththat) wrote in marinanova,
@ 2017-01-30 21:25:00

Entry tags:

jack harkness, kitty pryde (aoa), spike

413 - action, open and closed
[ OPEN ACTION - AROUND THE DOME ]

[ It's an errand day. Nothing special, really, expect that today Spike's loading up on more than the usual cigarettes-whiskey-bloodbags that have become his usual shopping list. He can also be found at Bull's Eye, picking up extra linen and towels, stopping by the actual frozen food section of the grocery store where they keep the frozen food that isn't blood, adds a pack of coffee to the pile. Almost like he's preparing for less an overnight guest and more something permanent. Shit hit the fan and for once he's not the one to blame.

He'll take his time, so there's plenty of chances for people to stop and say hi. ]

[ CLOSED TO JACK ]

[ It's later that evening when he tracks down Jack at some bar. Maybe it's the first bar he checked, or the third, but there's an unmistakeable determination in this search. Almost like he's looking for someone to punch some sense into. ]

Figures I'd find you here.

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chipswiththat
2017-01-31 09:56 pm UTC (link)

That's too bad for Jack, because he's absolutely dealing with Spike right now. Hell, he was even kind enough to wait a day before he started digging into this mess in earnest, although he gave Ianto something of a talking to yesterday.

He strides forward, eyes sharp and locked on Jack, hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans in fake nonchalance. Oh, you're in for it now.

"You done being a big baby or should I fetch someone to change your nappy?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	foreverjack 2017-01-31 11:18 pm UTC (link)
	Just because something is inevitable, doesn't mean you have to like it. He scowls at Spike. "Fuck off, Spike. Why don't you just go home and enjoy your victory? It's you he wants, after all." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

chipswiththat
2017-01-31 11:42 pm UTC (link)

He scoffs, continuing on the slow saunter, closing the distance between them step by deliberate step.

"He's right, you know. You don't listen."

And just like that he lashes out with the lightning speed of someone who's dead sober, hand fisting in Jack's shirt in an attempt to pull him up and off his feet and damn if he isn't putting all he's got into it. Sometimes, you have to make a dramatic point. Surely Jack understands that.

"This isn't about winning, you big dolt. You think I would've gone through all that bollocks over the last few months if I wanted him for myself? No, I would've taken him and there wouldn't have been a single thing you could've done about it."

He snarls, shoving off Jack again.

"Again - are you going to act like a man or are you too busy feeling sorry for yourself?"

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foreverjack
2017-02-01 10:11 am UTC (link)

He wasn't expecting the grab and so he's barely even started to react by the time he's hauled to his feet and staring in surprise into the face of an angry vampire at close range.

And then he's being pushed away again, and he staggers back, putting a hand out to the bar to steady himself as he glares even harder at the third member of their little threeway 'marriage'.

It's starting to become hard to remember why he ever agreed to that. Why he didn't just let Ianto go at the time, since he so clearly wanted to.

"Why the fuck shouldn't I feel sorry for myself?" he growls. "I've been working my socks off to make this whole fucking thing work, but apparently nothing I do is ever going to be good enough and I'm impossible to talk to as well as being scary and intimidating to the one person I thought understood me, and what the fuck is the point of trying any more?"

By the end of it, he's no longer growling but yelling, hurt and furious and flailing. Kitty's talk yesterday did help, but he's had a long time since then to mope and drink and let everything fester, the whole thing going round and round and round in his mind.

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chipswiththat
2017-02-01 10:15 am UTC (link)

This is better, as far as Spike's concerned. You need to be angry. Angry is where the truth lies and although he's watching Jack carefully, senses on high alert in case this turns to blows, he's not trying to dissuade him. Be angry. Be fucking furious.

The response comes at much the same volume, yelling, roaring because wow is he ever tired of these two idiots he chained himself to and them having the focus of a five year old.

"Do you love him?"

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	foreverjack 2017-02-01 11:02 am UTC (link)
	It might well come to blows if he keeps yelling like that. "Of course I do!" Shouted right back at him, with a tinge of incredulity because duh. Of course he loves him; it's just that that doesn't seem to be enough any more. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	chipswiththat 2017-02-01 11:11 am UTC (link)
	"Good!" he shouts back, eyes locked on Jack. This is important. This is everything. "I'm going to tell you the same thing I told him yesterday — you're both idiots! If you love someone, you swallow your pride, you do the work and you don't let a bloody bump in the road break you because that's exactly what this was!" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

foreverjack
2017-02-01 11:18 am UTC (link)

It's not everything. What's the use of love if the other person won't listen (and also thinks you're not listening)?

"Fuck off!" he yells, because he's sick of being told to do the work when that's what he was fucking trying to do, and he lashes out, aiming his fist at that smug, infuriating face, furious with Spike for apparently having all the answers, for being perfect and instinctively getting everything while he's still floundering in the dark.

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chipswiththat
2017-02-01 11:23 am UTC (link)

Spike will never not be surprised at what people consider work and yes, in this particular scenario he does have the answers. Maybe it's tiresome to hear about that century long relationship of his but that's also his greatest strengths - he learned a lot during that time, about sacrificing and listening and looking after and sure, it wasn't exactly a balanced relationship but it worked and blossomed and thrived. If it hadn't been for Angelus, it wouldn't have ended, he's sure of it.

But that was then and this is now and he takes the punch, stumbles, snarls into game face as he turns back to Jack, aiming to get a grab on him and push him up against the bar.

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	foreverjack 2017-02-01 12:31 pm UTC (link)
	Jack has the disadvantage of being drunk and generally out of it and thus pretty easy to grab and shove, even though he's struggling and lashing out. He yells as the bar hits him in the back and glares at Spike, belatedly getting a forearm against his chest and using that to try and push him away. "Get off me!" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

chipswiththat
2017-02-01 03:27 pm UTC (link)

"What, so you can scurry off with your tail between your legs again? You soddin' coward!"

He holds on as hard as he can, pressing his shorter form against Jack's to keep him pinned but that's very much the extent of it. No punches yet, though he's certainly not above it. Hell, if he had a cellar or crypt on hand (why aren't there any good crypts in this place) he'd probably knock Jack the fuck out right now and lock him in with Ianto until they've worked out this stupid disagreement.

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foreverjack
2017-02-01 04:38 pm UTC (link)

"He's the one who scurried off! I was quite prepared to keep trying till we eventually got there!" Possibly. He was nearing the end of his tether too when Ianto walked out, but still he does have the moral high ground there, just about.

He pushes angrily against Spike's infuriatingly smug frame. "Why don't you make sure he's actually willing to talk to me before you come here accusing me of giving up!"

(Perhaps he should build a crypt, in lieu of that cell they're always talking about needing and never get round to sorting out!)

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chipswiththat
2017-02-01 04:58 pm UTC (link)

"He is!"

Jack is taller and (marginally) stronger so there's only so long Spike can hold on before he's pushed back. Rather than being knocked over he lets go and pushes off, finding his balance and staying within arm's reach of Jack.

"What the fuck do you think I was doing last night? Trying to save your relationship, that's what!"

And then he swings, aiming a hard punch for Jack's face.

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foreverjack
2017-02-01 07:42 pm UTC (link)

"Well, why isn't he here, then?" he demands, hating the fact that Spike can apparently make progress where he can't.

He wasn't expecting the punch (though he probably should have been) and it knocks him backwards against the bar. He roars, so furious he can hardly see, and rushes Spike, barrelling into him with all his formidable body weight, wanting to bash him into the wall, a table, the floor - he really doesn't care, as long as it hurts.

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	chipswiththat 2017-02-01 11:38 pm UTC (link)
	Spike doesn't make much of an effort to fight back, knowing that with Jack's bigger frame he doesn't stand too much of a chance either way. He goes down on the floor with a solid thud, hands grasping hard at Jack's coat to keep him from getting away. "Because he doesn't feel like you listen, you dolt!" Snarling up, still in game face. "He's bloody devastated." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

foreverjack
2017-02-02 08:17 am UTC (link)

"Stop calling me dolt!" he roars, struggling to get away.

"I was listening. He's the one who wasn't listening! I kept asking him how I could be what he wanted and he wouldn't give me any solid answer, so let's face it, I'm just not what he fucking wants!"

Getting away isn't happening so he takes second best which is pummelling at Spike's chest with his fists, just as much about taking out his frustration as actually trying to hurt.

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	chipswiththat 2017-02-02 09:55 am UTC (link)
	Probably a good thing that Spike can't be too hurt by punches alone, at least not in a way that leads to lasting damage. He grunts, bracing for impact and looking for an opening to give Jack a swift blow to the face. Should've known this is how it'd end up. "If you were actually listening you'd know you're spewing shit right now!" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

foreverjack
2017-02-02 02:42 pm UTC (link)

He can't even find words to respond to that, so he just lets out a furious yell, going at Spike like a crazed man, just letting it all out, all that anger and exasperation that he needs to let go of before he can even start to think about this rationally. He's hurt and he's despairing and he's drunk, and really this is what he needs.

Though Spike gets in his punch eventually and Jack goes rearing back, as far as he can with Spike's other hand still hanging onto his coat, groaning as pain blossoms in his jaw.

But he's a lot calmer as he sits up, blinking down at Spike as if he's not quite sure what just happened there. "Uh..."

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	chipswiththat 2017-02-02 03:22 pm UTC (link)
	Spike stays down, eyes trained on Jack and hand remaining clenched into a fist if he needs to do it again. He aches all over, suspects he might've cracked a couple of ribs but that's not important right now. He looks up at Jack in cautious defiance. "Done?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	foreverjack 2017-02-02 04:06 pm UTC (link)
	It's by far the worst damage he's done to Spike since the resouling, and remorse starts to filter through him as he gradually takes in the extent of it. He nods, silently, and bites his lip. "Sorry." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	chipswiththat 2017-02-02 04:45 pm UTC (link)
	"I'm not the one you should apologize to." He shifts under Jack, groaning as the movement brings his attention to the extent of it all. Yeah, he'll be feeling that for a bit. "Get off. I need a drink." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

foreverjack
2017-02-02 09:29 pm UTC (link)

"I didn't hit him," he points out, with a wry shrug, obligingly getting off Spike because at this point it's the least he can do. He's feeling a little bruised himself, from all the shoving, and the couple of fists to his face; he can only imagine how Spike feels.

With a groan, he pushes himself up to his feet and heads round the bar to the fridge for a bottle of water. He feels like he might have had enough alcohol over the last two days/twenty years.

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	chipswiththat 2017-02-02 09:45 pm UTC (link)
	"If you had, I would've ripped your fucking throat out." The threat doesn't have as much bite as it could. He pushes himself up on his feet with a grunt, stiffly straightening himself out and limping over to the bar. Whiskey sounds good. There's no such thing as enough alcohol. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

foreverjack
2017-02-03 08:13 am UTC (link)

"Charming." Not much bite there, either, because it's not something he can imagine happening. He can't ever remember actually hitting Ianto, not even when the red pearls were at their fullest effect, not even in that twenty-year future.

(Of course, once upon a time he held a gun to his head, which could be considered a lot worse, but there had been reasons behind that!)

And after all, he has a very different kind of relationship with Ianto than he does with Spike. He and Spike have always been very physical in their conversations. Right now, he's actually rather grateful for Spike's physical approach. It seems to have cut through the depressive haze he was in pretty well.

Behind the bar, he grabs his water and turns back to Spike, wincing at the way he's moving. He feels bad about that. "Whiskey?" he offers, by way of a peace offering, reaching for a bottle.

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chipswiththat
2017-02-03 09:14 am UTC (link)

Spike has an obligation to protect his partner tooth and nail, and that's all this is about whether that means talking to Jack about what a moron he is or beat the crap out of him when that doesn't work. Whatever it takes. It's the one thing that's always given him some sense of worth in his life, the main reason why he stayed with Dru for so long.

He motions for Jack to hand the bottle over, unscrewing the cork and taking a long pull from it. Fuck. That's better.

"Let's hear it, then."