Mordred and Vortigern
Mordred rolled over in bed and felt like crying. He didn't want to get up. He never wanted to move again. Since he'd got back, he'd gotten very good at ignoring people. Holed himself up in his room and crept away into his bed to hide away in the dark.
Wolf, please.
He ignored his twin. Xavier had put a block on his power so he culdn't go find Gwen, and so he couldn't port himself into nothing the way he wanted. He wanted to die. He felt like his heart had been ripped right out of him. He curled around the burning ache and keened softly. He hadn't shaved or showered since he'd been in the hospital and by now his face was rough with stubble. He hadn't eaten either.
Please eat something. He shut his eyes tighter and resolutely shoved Vortigern from his head, throwing up shields behind him. He cowered in his own mind, wailing endlessly in a mindscape full of snow and ice.
Vortigern cried on Spike's shoulder. "I can't reach him, he won't let me. Won't let me in. Because he wants to protect me from himself, and he's hurting so bad he knows I'd hurt too. We need to find Gwen. Convince her to come back. He *needs* her."
"Can't make anyone do anything they don't want. And we don't know where she went, pet."
"I'll put Tav on it. He's the computer expert. Everyone in this day and age leaves some trail behind them in the computer. And then Dem can help me find her mind wise." Vortigern's voice went hard. "She didn't get the talk from me, but I didn't think I had to give it. She's gonna face up to this. She made a mistake, yeah, so did he. He wanted to work this through. She ran. You don't run from those you love when they hurt."
"I'll ring peaches. Leave her a message in case she checks in with him."
"Thanks, Spike." Vortigern left to get the other Mavericks started on finding Gwen. Spike went and found a phone.
"Hello, Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless," Cordelia answered.
"May Queen, how ya been?"
"I've been fine, Spike. What do ya want?"
Spike stubbed out his cigarette in an ashtray. "I need to talk to peaches."
"What for?"
"None of your bloody business. Just get him for me." An outraged huff on the other end, and then the click as the phone was set down.
"What do you want, Spike?"
"If Gwen calls, tell her the wolf isn't eating, he isn't sleeping and we're keeping sharp objects far away from him. Xavier's put a block on his teleportation so he can't jump himself into nothingness," Spike said bluntly. "He won't let his twin in, he won't let anyone in. Tell her he doesn't forgive himself. If she wants to help, tell her to come to the mansion."
"And why should I do this?"
"Beacuse I'm guessing she's hurting just as bad as he is. Just tell her, orright mate?"
"I don't know what good it will do, but I'll tell her."
"Ta." Spike hung up and then rubbed his eyes tiredly.
In his bed, Mordred shook with nightmares and loneliness. Gwen, don't leave me! But she always did, and the nightmares turned into sparking flares of electricity burning him alive. Inside his head, he screamed.