Loved reading this; so well written, and you targeted so many of the reasons why this pairing fascinates me. The lack of canon is a crying shame - I so wish Spike had been in S3 of BtVS and got to meet Wes then, and of course more S/W in S5 of AtS would have been wonderful - but I really believe that doesn't matter when it comes to the fic; it's just a case of deciding if the characters fit - which these two do - and then creating an opportunity that's plausible.

Another shared trait is that they also both tend to take a supporting role to a stronger person; for Spike, it's Angel, Dru, and Buffy, and for Wesley it's Angel.

Very true ::nods:: As you say, Wes takes charge with more success than Spike but I think both prefer to be second in command.