Eavesdropping Author: Isis FG Started: September 7, 2004 Completed: September 8, 2004 Feedback: vagabond_angel@comcast.net Disclaimer: not mine.

The end. Rating: R (language) Pairing: umm...lets just say the main characters are Angel, Connor, Wes, and Fred Summary: total AU...Angel does a little eavesdropping Spoilers: none Distribution: my site (Vagabond Soul), and if you already have any of my fics, you may take this one, if not, please ask first. Authors Notes: This fic was written for the Whedonverse AU Ficathon (run by myself and Stars) for doyle_sb4. The request will be posted at the end. AN2: This fic probably qualifies as complete silly!fic, but oh well. I just hope it doesnt totally suck. Warnings: sexual references (mild ones) <^>--<^>--<^> The apartment was dark when Angel returned home from work. It worried him just a bit. Connor should have been home. But unless he was sitting in the dark brooding, something that he himself was more likely to do, that was unlikely. That, then, meant Connor wasnt home. Which he was supposed to be. Damnit Angel cursed as he flicked on a couple lights. The boy had no concept of responsibility. He was supposed to be looking after his brother. That was the only way their parents had let the younger Holtz son live with the older one. If his father found out he was letting Connor run amuck, his ass was grass. Why couldnt Connor just do what he was supposed to do, Angel grumbled to himself. Not that this was the first time his brother hadnt been home when he was supposed to. This was an ongoing problem, one that Angel was beginning to get concerned about. Connor was constantly out somewhere, and he couldnt seem to tell Angel where exactly he was or what he was doing. Angel was starting to think Connor was involved in something he shouldnt be. The more he thought about it, the more Angel worried. If Connor had gotten himself into something illegal, then he needed to know. And he needed to stop it before either them got in trouble. The last thing Angel needed was the long reach of his fathers fist, in a literal sense. Wincing at the very thought, Angel rubbed at his jaw. Ignoring the wrongness of what he was about to do, Angel strode quickly down the hallway, coming to a stop in front of the closed door to his brothers room. There was an unsaid rule about not entering through a closed door, but he was going to have to break it. Just this one time. So without considering it further, Angel threw open the door and flipped the wall switch to turn on the ceiling light.

Jesus Christ, he muttered, shaking his head at the total disaster area inside. There were clothes. Everywhere. On the floor, on the bed, on the desk, and even hanging from the floor lamp next to the bed. Angel wondered how the hell Connor knew what was clean and what wasnt. Maybe he used the tried and true method of smell to figure it out. Wading carefully through the sea of clothes, he stopped in the center of the room and looked around. Typical teenage boys room, he supposed. A few posters adorned the walls; bands hed never heard of, some females in skimpy clothing, and one of a sleek, cherry red sportscar. The bed was unmade, and Angel suspected, the sheets probably hadnt been changed since his brother moved in eight months earlier. He wondered if he lifted up the mattress if he would find Playboy or two, but he really didnt want to know if they were there or not. There was such a thing as too much information. Down to business, Angel told himself. He poked around in Connors backpack, finding nothing more than a textbook or two, some notebooks, and what looked like chewed up gum wrapped in a scrap of paper. Gross. How the hell did Connor live like this? Moving over to the desk, he wrinkled his nose as he lifted a pair of boxer shorts by his fingertips. Underneath was an issue of Maxim magazine with some bleached blonde, bigchested woman on the cover. Okay, he ~really~ didnt want to know why Connors underwear was on top of the magazine. A shudder passed through him at the thought of his seventeen year old brother beating off to the magazine. Yes, definitely too much information. Carefully, Angel pushed it aside, looking around for anything suspicious. Nothing caught his eye. He pulled open the top drawer to the desk, but only found random school stuff inside. As he closed the drawer again, it caught the edge of the magazine and knocked to the floor. Cursing, he bent to pick it up. When he did, a small slip of paper fluttered to the ground. Crouching down, he reached for the paper. Morbid curiosity, he told himself. The side facing him was blank so Angel flipped it over. On the other side, Connors handwriting dotted the space. Wes 7pm his place What the hell? Angel mumbled in confusion. Why was Connor meeting with Wes, Angels own best friend? They knew each other, sure, but only through Angel. So why the hell was Connor meeting Wes at seven at his place? It didnt make any sense, and Angel was more than a little annoyed to find out the Connor was lying to him, and that his best friend didnt tell him he was hanging out with Connor. Deciding to get some answers from the two, Angel stalked out of the room. His destination: Wes apartment. <^>--<^>--<^> Angel was halfway to Wes apartment when it occurred to him that the note in Connors room may have been referring to another day. They may not even be there. Though he supposed that didnt matter. If Wes was home, Angel planned on having a little talk with

him to find out why he was hanging out with his brother behind his back. Normally, he wouldnt be worried about whatever Wes was doing with Connor. Wes had been acting strange lately, though. Ever since hed gotten out of the hospital after being hurt in a mugging, hed been...different. The seize the day attitude from Wes was still hard to swallow. Angel wasnt used to seeing his proper English friend cutting loose like he was. The leather pants hed worn to go out a few weeks ago had been weird enough, but seeing Wes getting completely smashed and singing karaoke had been downright freaky. Scowling over what his best friend might be getting Connor into, Angels foot pressed harder on the gas pedal of his black convertible. He certainly was not going to let Connor get involved in whatever the hell Wes was doing now. And he didnt even want to think about what they could be doing. If Wes was getting his baby brother drunk, though, hed be putting him back into the hospital. Angel pulled up to the curb in front of Wes building, grateful that he wouldnt have to parallel park. He was halfway to the front door when he remembered that this was Los Angeles and leaving his precious convertible with the top down and keys in the ignition was just asking for it to be stolen. It took him over five minutes to fumble with getting the top up and then locking all the doors. Pocketing the keys, he again headed for the front door. The elevator was on the fifteenth floor, so Angel took the stairs instead. Ten floors later, he was doubting that choice. Wes lived on the eighteenth floor. The elevator would have been smarter. Since he was over halfway there, he kept going until he reached the exit on the eighteenth floor. Stalking down the hallway, Angel came to a stop in front of Wes door. Not wasting any time, he raised his hand to knock, and quickly pulled it away when he heard voices coming from inside. Are we gonna do this or not? Connors voice echoed through the door. Despite knowing it was wrong, Angel leaned forward, pressing his ear to the door. I told you I wanted to do it, didnt I? Im just a little nervous. Ive never done this before, you know, he heard Wes answer. What were they doing? What hadnt Wes done before? Anger was spiking inside Angel. If they were doing drugs, he was going to strangle Wes. He kept listening though. Will you hold still! Connor said sternly. I cant get it in if youre squirming. Angel jumped backwards, his jaw dropping open. Get it in? What the fuck were they doing?!?! They couldnt possibly be... No Connor couldnt be... And Wes.... Oh God! He rushed back to the door, intent on barging in and stopping whatever lurid acts were going on inside, when Wes shriek stopped him dead. BLOODY HELL that hurt! Youre such a baby! Youre the one who wanted to do this! Connor shot back. Angels eyes darkened at the inference that Wes had dragged his brother into whatever they were doing. Well Wes was going to pay for that, was going to pay for corrupting his

baby brother. There was no doubt about that. Damnit, stop poking. Its bloody hurts! Wes shouted. Itll stop in a minute. Its not even bleeding anymore, Connor answered him. Poking? Bleeding? The very thought that they were....were....Angel couldnt even think it. His hand shot down to the door knob. Time to break up this little love nest, and wring Wes neck and lock his brother up for the rest of his life. Connor! a new voice drifted to Angels ears. You said youd do me next! A few seconds passed before Angel recognized the obviously female voice. It was Fred, Wes cousin who had moved up from Texas a few months earlier. And she wanted Connor to DO her too??? Good Lord! Angel thought; theyre having an orgy! Wesley was a dead man. Angel burst into the apartment, all the while trying to prepare himself for what hed find on the other side of the door. What the fuck is going on in here?!?! he shouted as he crossed the threshold. It took several long seconds for what Angel was seeing, or rather wasnt seeing, to register in his mind. No one was naked, nor engaging in various acts of debauchery. No liquor bottles littered the tables, and there didnt appear to be any drugs either. What he did see was Wes, fully clothed thank God, sitting on the couch, with Connor kneeling next to him, and Fred seated in a chair on the other side of the room. Angel was more than a little confused. None of the three said anything, all too stunned at Angels sudden, and enraged, appearance. They just stared at each other for a drawn-out minute. Angel...uh, hello, Wesley finally sputtered out. Are you spying on me? Connor tacked on, eyeing Angel suspiciously. Angel ignored the question, scowling dangerously at both Connor and Wesley. What is going on here? Im piercing Wes ear. What the hell does it look like Im doing? Connor shot back, turning Wes head so that Angel could see the reddened ear with a needle sticking out of it. Youre...but....I thought...what? Angel stuttered, his eyes drifting to Wes, then to Connor, and then glancing to Fred who was watching everything with wide eyes. Connor caught the speculative drift of Angels gaze and then burst out laughing, falling onto the couch cushions as he did so. You-You thought... he choked out before his laughter took over again. Catching on to the drift of things, Wesley leapt up from the couch and away from Connor. Good Lord, Angel! How could you think such a thing?! I...uh...Sorry? Angel offered, suddenly feeling like a real ass. Wait. Youre piercing Wes ear? he asked in shock. Connor shrugged. He asked me too. Angel shook his head, trying to clear out the conclusions hed come to. He was just glad

he hadnt walked in on some scandalous orgy. Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair. Is this where youve been coming when you HAVENT been telling me where you are? he questioned with an accusatory glance at his best friend Wesley. Uhh...not all the time, Connor answered vaguely. Seeing his brothers eyes drift toward Fred, Angel crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Connor. What am I not being told here? Ive, uh, been seeing Fred, mumbled Connor, knowing he was going to get hell for it. WHAT? Angel shouted, making everyone jump. Shes seven years older than you! So? Connor challenged. Angel turned a dangerous eye to Wesley. Were you helping him in this? Now, Angel, Wesley said placatingly. Stalking over to the couch, Angel grabbed Connor by the shirt and pulled him toward the door. Were going home. Now. You cant tell me what to do! Connor half-yelled, trying to get Angel to release his grip. Yes, I can, Angel disagreed. You are under eighteen, and youre living under my roof. That means Im in charge. Whatever, Connor shot back sarcastically. Out! Angel gave him a push out the door. Well talk about this at home. He paused in the doorway and turned back to stare hard at Wes. You and I will be talking about this as well. Without saying another word or waiting for a response, Angel stormed out into the hallway, slamming the door behind him. <^>--<^>--<^> THE END!