Paradox
Buffy stood in the moonlight, blood running in a small river down her forehead, her shirt ripped in a couple of places. She held a slender sword in her hand, also covered in blood. She was breathing heavily, but she wasn't thinking of her injuries, though she was slightly worried one of her ribs might be broken. If the Powers That Be were in a nice mood, it might only have been bruised(which was a laugh, they always seemed to be in a pissy sort of mood). No, she was focused on the vampire in front of her, one of only two she had been unable to slay.
Spike.
He was slightly blood and ash splattered, but other than that looked no worse for wear. He was looking at the ground near Buffy's feet, knowing that to look in those deep brown eyes would only serve to weaken his resolve. He knew he had to say this, though. He couldn't keep it up anymore.
"We have to stop seeing each other." He said in a low tone of voice, still keeping his eyes firmly stuck to the ground, not wanting to see that confused, hurt look on her face.
"W-what? What did you say?" She said, her voice only wavering slightly. Spike glanced up, and sure enough, there was that look. That heart-wrenching expression he had tried so hard to avoid looking at.
"We have to stop seeing each other. It's not going to work." He said again, knowing it would have been more humane to simply kill her than to cause her more heartache. Physical pain is nothing compared to what he was doing to her now.
Buffy's eyes narrowed as she said, "What exactly do you mean, 'it's not going to work'? Why not? It's working just fine." She was beginning to get angry. Good. Better angry than that puzzled, pained tone. Better anything than that.
"Look, Buffy, I can't be what you need. You need someone you can be with all the time. Someone who can walk in the light with you. I can't...I can't do that." His gaze dropped to his own feet this time, unable to look at her anymore. He hated that he couldn't be the normalcy she needed.
"Spike, you better be kidding, because if I hear someone say to me what they think I need one more time, I'm going to scream."
He looked up sharply, and said, "Alright, love you want the truth? It's me. I'm tired of reaching for you when you're in the light and I can't follow. I'm tired of being stuck in the darkness while you sparkle and shine like some damn angel. And I will never ask you to stay in the dark with me. I couldn't stand that...because..."
Buffy's eyes narrowed into a complete glare this time as she cut him off, "So, it's basically damned if you do, damned if you don't, huh? Well, maybe you're right. Maybe I don't need you."
And with that, she turned and stormed from the cemetery, never letting go of the sword in her left hand. She made sure to keep her hands by her side, so he wouldn't see that she was crying.
Behind her, Spike was leaning on a nearby grave, quietly finishing his sentence.
"...Because I love you too much."
-fin-