Title:
"Dominoes"
Spoilers: After the season finale, "Graves". Set in the beginning
of season seven.
Rating: PG (so far)
Disclaimer: Joss, Mutant Enemy, Greenwolf, and UPN own the show and
it's characters. So there.
Summary: B/S indications and post-"Graves" fiasco, set in
season 7. My first fanfic. Ever.
*italic text indicates thought
Feedback: Depends on my reviews on whether or not I will continue after
the first installment. And I welcome constructive criticism. :D Thanks.
Spike was back from his soul-searching trip to Africa. It has been two months; summer was over.
Before he slumped into his crypt to get his thoughts straight, despite his still-bruised flesh and weary soul, he passed by the Summers' house on his way home.
He hadn't planned his to silently sulk in their front lawn, so the vamped Brit was lucky he stopped by post Slayer patrol (it was A.M. time). Not that she would stake him, it's just that he wasn't looking forward to the inevitably bitter confrontation.
In his torn clothing and ruffled hair, along with numerous contusions to boot.. he inched his way past the house. His red eyes drew the infancy of tears, as he recalled the incident in the bathroom. Spike snorted and willed himself to end them. The tears.
Spike: No ninny soul vamp here. Not this time. I'll be different.
Spike glanced at the sleeping household's upper floor.
Spike: "Different."
He blinked after a moment, and nudged on to his awaiting abode.
The Slayer corps was well in motion the next day; gathered at the Magic Box. A new big bad was needin' a reckon, and this one would be the hardest of all to defeat.
Buffy, Dawn, Xander, and Giles consorted in a huddle around the table.
Dawn: "Too far. The power of this madness has to end. Maybe if I start putting that roundhouse kick you taught me to use?"
Buffy: "This is beyond violence, Dawn. Besides, that mouth will snap you in two."
Xander: "Which would not be cool. I kinda like you. So Dawn-death not an option."
Giles: "Err.. yes yes. Indeed, I can't believe I took part of this in the very beginning. I apologize to you all."
They disperse their huddle once the pure evil notices their lackadaisical conversing.
Anya: "Um.. hi! As I was saying, we can't get any money if the store features shattered furniture and an intense lack of wall. And as fun as money is, I will have to urge you to continue doing those construction exertions. See? Willow is a fine worker!"
She finished with a conjured grin and a scurry to the new desk they brought in a week ago, now neatly accessorized with a number of files and papers.
Anya: "I'll be over here." --Simply continuing to grin.
Dawn: "How do we kill it?"
They all returned to their grunt work and mumbled curses under their breathes meant for the dastardly demon. Well, all except Willow.
Not that she was brooding, of course. She persisted working diligently at the wall, cheerfully obliging to Anya's request. Not to be misunderstood, as she did regret her actions. Willow slabbed another helping of mortar and piled a brick on top.
Willow: "That would be the last one for this half-wall! See?"
Anya: "I'm ecstatic about this, it looks great."
She lost concentration on her Abacus, and hesitated.. for a moment to say...
Anya: "It was a good idea, Xander."
Xander: "Heah.. well yeah. Now that we've merged the two rooms we can really cook up some wacky business-y business!"
Anya: "Don't get so giddy, Ty. You are in construction."
Buffy: "Anya, he does suck up an awful lot to you nowadays. How's about some healthy forgive and forget?"
Dawn mutters: " Yeah. 'Cause you're all about that."
Xander: Why is Dawn so blind about this? Spike tried to hit it and failed miserably. He left. He ain't coming back. Ow.. I knew this thought would be a whopper.
Xander: "Why are you so blind about this? Spike tried to hit it and failed miserably. He left. He's not coming back."
Buffy neglected thinking about the blood-sucking fiend over the summer. Whenever he's introduced into conversation, her feelings conflict as usual. She paused at the snide remark, yet hastily resumed sweeping afterward.
Dawn: "That's some furious sanitary work your doing there, Buffy. Are ya that desperate to compete against the Swiffer?"
Willow: "Here, let me get that Buffy. I have a feeling your superpower-y self could be more useful with moving in the rest of the furniture."
Willow moved from the now polished wood floor Buffy had taken to, and concentrated her brooming outside of the 2-foot radius. This provided her with plenty of dust and rubble to occupy her mind.
Willow: Great. Her brain automatically recalled the herb she saw amongst the debris. Lethe's Bramble. Forgive and forget, huh? Tara. Tara.
She picked it up.
Giles: "Willow? What is it you have there?"
He approaches her. Seeing the herb, he chuckles.
Giles: "Uh, oh. Hmm, well.. we must take note of this one, shant we? Lethe's Bramble, an herb specifically used for mind control and forgetting. Remember, they'll expect you to know all this once we're in Britain. They don't accept just anyone."
Night falls again. Spike lays on his floor in front of his TV, watching a tape of Passions. A knock on the door disrupts him. He doesn't forget his planned persona, as he awakens from his trance to open the door. With a deep breath, he opens the it. *He's noticed how his soul brought on human tendencies. Breathing. Saving people. Blah.
Clem: "Hi buddy! I know your busy broo-err.. resting, but I figured.. after some time of contemplative reflection.. that you'd be better off with some company!"
Spike: Brood? *snort*. Brood my arse. And of course it's not she doesn't knock. Well, doors anyway.
Spike: "Riiight flub, just come on in then."
He glances down and notes the extra company he'd brought along.
Spike: "Don't make me say it."
Clem: "Say what?"
He really didn't have a clue, despite his knowledge of Spike's shiny new spirit.
Spike: "No. I won't say it! Just.."
Clem is still seriously mystified. A shrug from his demon friend forced him to say ..
Spike: *sigh* "Let the kittens go."
Clem: "Ohhhhh! Okay, I got ya."
A lift of eyebrows folded on his visage indicated his enlightenment.
Clem: "No problem, you big softy!"
Spike: Clement is tougher than me now. Well, I did knew what I was getting into. Bloody Hell!
Spike: "Is that fur on your lip? I thought we went over this.."
Clem: "Hey! Just wait one minute here, carebear. You didn't mention anything against this kind of meal when you.. poured your soul out to me last night."
Clem scoffed.
Clem: "Phish.. geez. It's not like I knowingly took a jab at your soul or anything."
He was clearly hurt. Spike knew fine and well Clem's stance on the kitten meals. Humans eat lambs and dears.. etc. He rolled his eyes.
Spike: "Just come in already. My pause button's broken and I've already missed a few minutes."
Spike: Like I care. I need to see her. Eventually. Get this scrotty *sigh* ..brooding.. out of my system. Slayer. Slayers. 2. That makes it 13,1402 total. At least 3 innocents a night, for 43,800 days. And 2 slayers.
Clem: "So! I got dominoes..!! We could try beating my personal record."
