this is my first songfic, the son is Ringfinger; by Nine Inch Nails

they own the song, not me, just like Joss whendon owns buffy and spike and everyone, and i don't

well...onto the story

Well you've got me working so heard lately.
Working my hands until they bleed.

He hadn't always been like this, following her around like a lovesick puppy. No he had once been the baddest motherfucker Europe feared. However, even then he wasn't the leader, Angelus had been.

If I was twice the man I could be.
I'd still be half of what you need
still you lead me and I follow
anything you ask you know I'll do.

Angel, what was so good about that bastard anyway? Sure he had the soul first, but souls weren't all sugar and butterflies. They made you realize the shit you'd been doing for hundreds of years was wrong. And it all came back that one second in time, fucking overwhelming that's what it is. Spike still clung to her though, and part of him new she'd never really love him like she loved (hell, still loves) Angel. That's what he was always compared to, but she never voiced it. No he figured it out himself. He would never be enough for her.

But this one act of consecration is what I ask of you

It was one of the few things he had ever asked her in their years together. Just to marry him and be down with it.

Ringfinger.
Promise carved in stone.
Deeper than the sea.
Ringfinger.
Sever flesh and bone
and offer it to me.

A simplistic promise to him, just to always stay near him and not to leave. All he needed was to hear her in the morning, she would never love him but at least she would be "his" in a legal sense. That paper would be his ticket to wave in Angel's face.

You just left me nailed here.
Hanging like Jesus on the cross.
I'll be dying for your sins.
And aiding to the cause.

She left him! He had never thought in a million years that she would actually leave. Yes; she was not in love with him and yes; he was not an ideal partner, but why would that matter? It hadn't before. Or at least he thought it hadn't.

Ringfinger.
Promise carved in stone.
Deeper than the sea.
Ringfinger.
Sever flesh and bone
and offer it to me.

All he asked was for them to get hitched, but she couldn't do it. Even for him, for the one who had given up many things, all too just stay with her and be able to love her.

Wrap my eyes in bandages.
Confessions I see through.
I get everything I want.
When I get part of you.

He knew all the times she turned to him and said, "I love you," she had been lying. But he didn't mind, after all she still said it. Even if it didn't mean anything. If only she would agree to this one thing, it was only this one little thing that she had to agree to. He would be sated if only she would do it.

Ringfinger.
Promise carved in stone.
Deeper than the sea.
Ringfinger.
Devil's flesh and bone
do something for me.

She just had to agree with this decision he made. She was being selfish and egotistic, she HAD to do this, and if she didn't? He would make her.