Disclaimer: Own nothing
Summary: Just a look into various possible oneshots of different A suspects. Warning, girlxgirl relationships in some oneshots. Don't like, don't read.
This first episode has Spelison in it, get over it.
This first one-shot is completely inspired by "snowyspemily's" story "Temporary Bliss," especially the third chapter of the story inspired this.
*Spoiler alert for any who haven't seen many episodes*
The UsuAl suspects: One-shots
Alison DiLaurentis:
There were many things that Spencer Hastings could have told you why she should hate Alison DiLaurentis. Many reasons. Alison was by no means a good person. Narcissistic might be the correct phrase for her. But she knew Alison. Knew the blonde's soul, or so she liked to think.
Alison cared about the people that were close to her. She could pretend all she liked but she loved Spencer, and the other three girls. Spencer knew it. Alison never let anyone outside of the five of them make fun of Hanna, didn't let anyone pick on Aria's brother, and looked at Emily with nothing but kindness, even though the swimmer often wasn't aware of it.
Spencer had had her own type of protection with Alison too, didn't she? She always did. If Ian's death wasn't a pure declaration of protection then Spencer wasn't sure what was. She still remembered Alison meeting her eyes and retelling the story of just how easy it was to walk up those wooden stairs to the bell tower and toss Ian off the platform like a ragdoll.
She should have known. Someone so ruthless, so willing to protect her…..
Had Alison been lying about Emily being her favorite too on top of everything else? Spencer wondered if maybe she dared to hope more than she should (as if she even needed to wonder, hope was a bad emotion to have after all) but was Alison's favorite, really her?
Spencer's heart clenched, thinking about the last words she had spoken to Alison before the blonde managed to get her back to the barn that night that she had disappeared. She had wished the girl she loved and adored for years dead. She hadn't meant it, but she still said it. And that night had meant to be special too. She had meant to tell Alison that she was in love with the blonde.
Every time they had verbally sparred, each crossing another line they both knew they shouldn't, they had become closer. Spencer's heart would leap every single time Alison's blue eyes burned like fiery comets. She was the most beautiful girl in the world to Spencer when the blonde got like that. When Alison went missing, she had mourned. She suspected worse than any of them, even Emily. Emily at least had been able to cope through working in Haiti. Spencer had had her family, but in all their superficial lifestyles and arrogance, it was hollow comfort. They hadn't known Alison like Spencer did, or like she thought she did. They just saw her as a valuable contact, given the prestigious DiLaurentis name. A convenient connection for their youngest daughter.
Spencer stared, a helpless, broken laugh tearing from her throat. Somehow, she had always known. Somehow, she always knew that Alison was -A. Even in her deepest denial, a part of her, even after "Alison's" body had been found-unearthed from the depths of the gazebo she had held open the possibility, no matter how slim that Alison was the one sending those texts, playing games with them. Hurting them. Being malicious. Blackmailing them, playing those games that she loved so much.
Hanna, Emily, Aria, they all feared –A. For them, the brutal puppet master reveled at their fear, delighted in their pain, howled in glee as they were tormented. She could still recall Hanna being disgusted with herself after –A had forced her to eat those cupcakes to get some money back. She remembered how utterly terrified Emily had been after nearly being chopped in half by that elevator.
Spencer had always been afraid too. She knew what was on the line. But she kept playing Ali's games. She knew what the price was if she lost. But that wasn't why she kept playing the game. When she started playing those games, a fire was born. That fire that was stoked every time she and Alison clashed. A part of her always knew that –A was really Alison. Alison was the one playing those games. She had always known it.
So, seeing that dark hooded figure slowly turn around, revealing the smirking heart-shaped face and the golden locks spilling out onto her shoulders wasn't entirely a surprise for her like it should have been.
Spencer stared at Alison, watching the girl she loved and mourned for looking at the screens. Each monitor bearing videos of the girls. The top one has a video of Aria snuggling against Ezra's chest, the dark-haired teacher stroking her head gently. The lower right TV held the image of Hanna and Caleb in bed, clearly having sex and the lower left TV held the image of Emily doing the same with Paige. Cece stood behind Alison, piercing blue eyes fixated on Spencer. Shana sat on the windowsill, geared up in –A attire, fingering a gun and Noel was dressed the same, leaning against the wall, smirking at Spencer.
"So, what will it be, Spencer?" Cece sneered, grinning, "Are you in? Or are you out?"
Only then did Alison finally turn her head to where the brunette stood gaping.
That cock of the head and the alight smile. "Spencer, love," She purred, "Don't get too upset. It's always just been a game. But I knew you could catch up. Always one step ahead of everyone else, always thinking." That predatory smile widened, "That's why I chose you. For that, and for your passion. No matter how high the stakes, you have to be the one to figure out the endgame-the answers. I love that about you. Your fire. I love it more than anything else. That's why I saved you from Ian. Why do you think I told Mona to offer you a place at my side?"
Spencer felt the blood slowly drain as the pieces began to fit in that ever-growing puzzle that had strange pieces that just didn't fit before, but certainly did now. Why had Mona offered Spencer a place on the –A-Team? Then again, it had been more of a threat than anything else and both she and Mona had known it. And she hadn't been the first of the four of them to be "offered" that chance either. Emily had been the first.
The brunette choked back a realization. She had been waiting for Alison. For years. She had been waiting for this day. She had been waiting for Alison to come for her. Or to find her. Even after the body was found and the news proclaimed it to be Alison DiLaurentis's remains, she had been waiting for the face of Alison herself to be found under that black hood, stalking her and the girls. She had been hoping for it.
She had been hoping for that chance Alison had deprived her of almost three years ago at the barn. No matter what the danger, no matter what the peril, no matter what the blackmail, in the end Spencer knew, just knew, prayed even, though she knew hope and prayers were for masochists, that Alison was the one pulling the strings all this time, like she always was.
Alison watched Spencer. Never once averting her eyes, not once. "Mona really crossed the line though, when she almost drove you over that cliff at the masquerade ball," She chuckled, "It was hard enough making sure all my A-teammates were all in one place. But Mona, she really got close to screwing up. She's a loose end." She raised her head and looked behind Spencer, "And you know what we do with loose ends, don't you?"
Slowly, Spencer turned and saw Toby putting on a black hoodie, now gloved hand scooping up what was obviously a red switchblade from the table by the door. He looked at her regretfully, turned in Alison's direction and nodded, before turning around and walking out the door towards.
Spencer didn't need to take a wild guess to predict who he was going to use that switchblade on. The "loose end."
Every atom in Spencer's body felt numb. He had brought her here. Driven her here under commands. Right to his master's den. Like a dog. She wondered, with a grim smile, if Toby had ever really been free of Alison after she had sent him to jail. Then again, were any of them free of her?
When Toby closed the door behind him, Spencer felt her body twist almost numbly back to Alison. There were a thousand questions that were going to come out, she knew it. She was going to demand how long this had been going on, when had Alison first become –A, when had Alison first realized that she could put her and the other girls in danger as many times as she did and care nothing for the consequences, when did she gain power over so many people…
But in the end it was the same answer as before with Toby. Was there really a question of 'when?' This was Alison DiLaurentis. If she wanted power of someone, she would have it.
"Well," Alison said, still smirking, "I think I've finally done the impossible. I've silenced Spencer Hastings. Nothing to say? I find that very hard to believe. You've been looking for me for two and a half years. In some form or other. I'd have thought you'd be a little more verbal to the –A herself."
Finally, Spencer found the words sliding out, "You…..you're –A. You killed Maya."
"Maya?" Alison repeated, sounding amused, "No. Maya was killed by someone completely independent from me. I didn't order that. No, she was just killed by a sad, lonely man that thought women owed him for not sucking him off on the first date. Believe me, if I had ordered her death, I wouldn't have made it nearly so garish and ridiculously obvious." Alison cocked her head to the other side, "I do feel sorry for Em though, don't you? I mean to go from Maya to Pigskin? What a letdown."
The brainiac's throat went dry. Even after years of playing this game with –A/Alison, she wasn't prepared for this.
Alison quirked an eyebrow, chortling, "Are you going to tell me you really didn't know? Or at least suspect? Don't deny it. You knew it was me."
Spencer's insides clenched. Terrible how accurately the blonde had read her thoughts. She knew Spencer, knew her like she always did. But Spencer, Emily, Aria and Hanna had never known Ali. Not really. They knew her games, they knew her deceptions and ability to blackmail, but never counted on this. All Spencer had had was a deep seeded, even delusional hope in her gut that the stage that was set for them was a stage set by Alison herself. It just happened that she was right.
"You're –A." She repeated numbly. "Yep," Alison chuckled, "-A in the flesh, sweetheart. You made it this far and here's your prize." She walked closer, gloved hands reaching up and pulling back her hood, the rest of her luscious blonde locks spilling out, "Are you happy? I know you suspected it was me. Good work, Spence, you were right as usual. I'm sure that makes your ego swell. Now," Alison's narrowed her gaze on her once old friend, "About my offer? Are you going to trade those blazers, loafers and waist belts for a black hoodie? Ready to become the night?"
Everything fell away. Everything. Those TVs with her friends helplessly exposed without realizing it, the past two and a half years of grief and torment, the threats, the taunts, all of it just melted away. This was her reward. Alison. Finally. Alison would welcome her with open arms at last. They could be together. She had earned it, earned it like Mona had said that she needed to.
Completely ignoring that she was betraying her dearest friends that had risked their lives for her, Spencer walked close, wrapping her arms around Alison's waist, lips locking with the other girl's fiercely. She was embraced back and their tongues started struggling for dominance.
Noel and Cece's lewd snickers passed over them utterly and entirely. All that mattered in this world to Spencer right now was Alison and the blonde's embrace. Finally parting, Alison's glazed over blue eyes began to clear as a gleam of satisfaction could be seen. "Spencer," She teased, "I had no idea. What would Emily say?"
For a moment Spencer felt a pang of guilt. It didn't last long though. Her left hand traveled up, tangling in the gold hair at the back of Alison's head and pulling it back, revealing the girl's throat to the brunette. Spencer leaned in, kissing along the column of Alison's throat, knowing the girl she had been in love with for years would read the possession that was in those kisses.
An amused giggle bubbled out of Alison. "I see," she smirked again as she moaned, "How selfish." Despite her accelerating breath, she brought a gloved hand up and gripped Spencer under her chin, halting the older girl's actions. "Hold it, hold it," She commanded, "You have a job to do, Spence. Tempting as it is, I didn't bring you into the fold just so you could warm my bed." Her other hand grabbed one of Spencer's arms that was around her waist tugging for the brunette to release her. Spencer almost released a growl, but noticing the seriousness in Alison's eyes, she slowly let the other go, hand still in the blonde's hair though.
Noel walked over to the table, carrying a black hoodie, black leather gloves and black pants. Spencer finally tore her eyes away from Alison and followed Noel with the outfit. This was her new work gear. That hoodie, those pants and gloves were going to be her professional attire from now on.
"I'd hate to interrupt such a passionate moment," Alison said dryly, though her voice was deeper than usual, "But I'm sending you on your first errand as part of the A-Team. You ready?"
Spencer looked at the hoodie, Noel had in his hands and then back at Alison. Understanding she had so much to gain with Alison if she did this, as she always wanted, then yes, she was more than ready. Steel in her resolve, she nodded. Alison gave that smirk the brunette had always adored and turned to the TVs.
"Well then," She said, uncaring, blue eyes glimmering in amusement, "Shall we start? Big –A here has plans for you. So who should we start with? Sweet Emily? Loving Hanna? Or innocent little Aria?" Cocking her head to glance at Spencer, despite the hooked hand in her hair, that broad smile still on her face, "I want you to choose who we start with, Spencer. Your treat."
Spencer knew she should feel horror, dread, fury, betrayal. All she could feel was a thrill of excitement, a lust, a passion spilling out. She was part of Ali's games now. No longer just one of the minions or a plaything. She was one of the people closest to Big –A. For that, she would have to prove herself. Prove she was meant as Alison's lover and equal.
Proving to be Alison's equal was what she had always done in their arguing matches. It was no different when she had played all these games with –A, while just suspecting that Alison was behind it all.
Nodding, Spencer Hastings, the newest official member of the A-Team made her choice.
Hope you liked that chapter. While I'll definitely be putting in my own versions of who I think -A should be, I'll certainly take reviewers feedback into account. Who else do you think I should make into -A?
As I said at the beginning of this chapter, you have snowyspemily and her amazing story to thank completely for inspiring this chapter.
