Passing Time

Your skin like dawn
Mine like dusk

One paints the beginning
Of a certain end.

The other, the end of a
Sure beginning
Passing Time' by Maya Angelou

Plot: Sequel to 'Senses Of Insecurity'. Last year Angelus was sent to Hell, Dru fled town and Spike stayed to help Buffy. This year Buffy and Spike's relationship progresses worryingly, confusing both parties, but when they have to take a trip together to save the world things change permanently. B/S. WIP.
Disclaimer: Any characters you recognise belong to Joss, ME... you get the idea.
Author's Note: This is the R-rated version. For the chapters that are NC-17 I'll post the edited versions here and link to the unedited ones at the time.
Previously in Senses Of Insecurity: Angel was killed by Giles, Jenny was killed by Angelus, Dru escaped, Buffy and Spike defeated a big-bad and hooked up. Three, or so, months later...

Canto I

"Halfway along the road we have to go
I found myself obscured in a great forest,
Bewildered, and I knew I had lost the way..."
'The Divine Comedy' by Dante Alighier

The coupled walked through the cemetery curled around each other. The man's arm was draped around his date's waist, the hand creeping down to rest on her rear. It was a dangerous time to be walking amongst graves, but their destination demanded it. The girl snuggled up against the man, wrapping one arm around him, and whispered something that made them both smile.

In front of them on the dilapidated path a figure peeled away from the shadows. He was beautiful. Not a word usually used for men, but for this one their was no other description. The coupled stopped and stared at this stranger, waiting for him to speak. He didn't. Instead his face morphed into something horrible. From a nightmare. His smooth skin grew ridges and bumpy, his eyes flashed a dangerous gold and his teeth... Turned into something from a B-Movie. Vampires weren't supposed to be real though.

The woman cowered behind her date, hands supportive against his back. He seemed largely unfazed, stepping away from the woman behind him until she was left to hug herself in the middle of the pathway.

Nice date you've got there.. murmured the Vampire to the approaching man.

Yeah. That I've got. So get lost.

Don't think I can do that, mate. Feeling a bit hungry myself...

She's mine. hissed the man, more annoyed than angry.

How bout we let her choose, hmm?

The man laughed and reached backwards for his date. After a moment of hesitation she trotted forward and snaked her arm around his. He whispered something into her ear and she shot a frightened glance towards the Vampire before nodding.

All right. the man said, full of macho-pride and a little too much alcohol, Honey, which one of us do you fancy?

The girl stared from her date to the Vampire before her. The man at her side began to frown after she didn't answer immediately. Finally she turned to him, and he smiled at her decision, before the stake was rammed through his heart. He didn't even have time to shake off his human face before he exploded into dust.

The girl, the Slayer, Buffy, watched the monster she had been walking with crumble into ashes. And then watched those ashes fall to the floor. She breathed in deeply and tried to banish every second of his flesh on hers from her mind before she turned to the Vampire who was standing still at her side. He eyed her suspiciously for a moment before she advanced on him and placed a gentle kiss on his lips.

I think you enjoy this too much, Slayer. Spike complained, as the walked leisurely through the tombstones.

she inquired, shifting her shoulders a little under the weight of his arm.

Taking Vamps out here and killing them. Letting them drape themselves over you.

...Anyone would think you were jealous, Spike. Buffy said calmly, her eyes scanning the darkness.

Bloody right I am. he said, his voice mild as if this was a conversation they had experienced before, You're the Slayer, you should be able to kill them easily without having to tempt them outside. To me.

Its more fun this way.

More fun because torturing me is fun?

she grinned, Well, yes, but not just that. Its fun to give them hope then take it away.

Spike frowned, dropping the strand of her hair he'd been toying with. He was supposed to be the vindictive one, not her. He knew she'd been changing ever since she'd heard about Angelus's death, but he didn't think she'd become so cold. Then again maybe he was just jealous. Not one of those fledglings had the right to put their hands on his girl. The only thing that stopped him from ripping their heads off every night was the fact that his Slayer liked to do it. He felt whipped, though he knew it hadn't come that far yet. Oh no, because she didn't let him touch her more than those wankers did. She'd been touched by her Angel, intimately, and nothing else was good enough for her. Certainly not the demon walking next to her. If he sounded bitter it was because he was. Or perhaps he just wasn't used to being with a human. Touching her frustrated and aroused him all in one moment, but the things that they had done so far had all been very tame.

Yeah. But you still don't need to get so bloody close to them. he growled, obviously giving in.

I'll try not to... she said, her voice taking on that humouring-tone which he knew meant she wouldn't give it a second thought. He sighed. After the long kiss-n-groap of pre-battle a few months ago they had hardly been very intimate. They'd walked back to the Library together, arm-in-arm and grins plastered over their faces. Only to be confronted by her friends in a fluster over whether they were alive or dead -- whether Buffy was alive or dead -- and ready to go out in search for them -- her. It'd almost been funny until they'd heard the news of Angel's death. That was the moment that their relationship' had started waning.

You got school tomorrow, luv?

Yep... First day back.... she said, the distance in her voice indicating that she was not entirely focused on him.

Spike slowed to a stop and guided her around to face him. Her eyes only met his at the last moment after scouring the graveyard one final time. He watched her for a moment, eyes looking into eyes, his hand toyed with the material of her jacket where it puckered at her unfolded elbow. Under his scrutiny she finally broke the silence.

He seemed to consider for a second what he was about to say, almost always a sign that what was about to come from his mouth would be rude, or uncomfortable. To coax an answer out of him, and break the stare that was quickly making her nervous, Buffy leant forward and pressed her lips to his in a chaste kiss. As if snapping him out of a trance he moved lightening fast to wrap his arms around her and press their bodies together. She complied passively, not resisting, not encouraging. His embrace was tight and warming in the cool night, and slowly she moved her arms around him in a mirror of his own actions.

He forced his lips down onto hers in a bruising kiss, his tongue caressing her lower lip after a brief moment. She opened her mouth in compliance, but his tongue still drifted around her lips teasingly. Buffy angled her head a little more and brought their bodies tighter together. His tongue flitted into her mouth and then out again. With the faintest moan of giving in she reacted to the kiss violently, thrusting her tongue against his and pressing on the back of his neck with her hands as if she was trying to swallow him whole. He growled faintly, and she knew he liked it. He fisted the hair at the back of her head until strands pulled painfully on her scalp. And God help her, she liked it as well.

When they drew away from each other, it was not far, their bodies still entangled even as their lips parted. Spike cautiously gauged her reaction, and after a moment she flashed him a bright smile. Only then did he echo it with a smirk of his own, that could have flickered into a smile in a second if he had wanted to lose all dignity. Or more certainly, if she had wanted to lose all dignity. But he didn't think that a graveyard was the spot for her, even if she did like fucking the undead. Spike was broken from his train of thought by her tongue running out and over her kiss-swollen lips. He followed it with his eyes until she returned to grinning again, then he said.

Are you going to tell me what's wrong now?

Nothing's wrong. the smile faded a little, then flickered back into full wattage like a faulty light-bulb. But even as she fixed the wavering of her smile, she heard the slight fault in her voice. So she decided to strike first with the questions Why would you think there was?

You've been quiet all night. Or quieter, I should say.

I guess... she sighed, breaking down her problem perhaps too easily, I don't know... I'm just worried about going back to school. This is my final year, you know? And I don't know what I'm doing afterwards. What I want to be. What job I want. Do I go to college? I'd like to but I really don't think I'm that smart. Besides the fact that Principal Snyder is gunning for me.

Want me to eat him for you?

Buffy smiled softly at some private joke even as she said it. Spike tightened his grip around her middle and she leant her head against his shoulder. It was comfortable, if slightly too intimate to stop him from thinking other thoughts.

Well, luv, you could do any of those things if you really wanted to. You are that smart. But you already have a job. You're the Slayer. Or one of the Slayers.

Yeah. And wouldn't that just go down really well with mom. I don't need a job mom, I'm the Slayer' Buffy rose her voice a little as she imitated, Dose that come with a good dental package?', Only if you call getting your teeth kicked out good'. she sighed, Plus it really doesn't bring in the big money... Or any money at all for that matter.

Somewhere in the middle of speaking Buffy had pulled herself out of his arms and was now turned towards the direction of the path again. But instead of being fixed on the darkness as they were before, her eyes were cast downwards. Spike wrapped his arm around her middle, his hand resting just above her hip where his fingers rubbed at her flesh comfortingly through her T-shirt. The two started walking again.

Just work on getting through the week... Spike advised, his rebel attitude to most things not extending to school. At least until she wanted to skip to be with him, then he was all for it. He knew education was important to Buffy, and her mom, and to humans in general. He was also aware that he took his own, or William's, for granted sometimes. Spike shook his head slightly to shake away the horribly responsible thoughts he was having. To chase ideas of school from his mind he added, ...Unless you want to spend your days with me... alone... naked...

Buffy snorted, in a lady-like way. If he hadn't been expecting it then he might have been offended, as it was he simply said, Don't knock it til you've tried it.

Then do I have your permission to knock it' all I want?

The Vampire grinned, ...I wouldn't complain.

Buffy faux-frowned and prodded Spike in the side as they walked, houses beginning to peek through the tree-border of the cemetery. He pretended to flinch at her touch, and look hurt.

Stop it with the double-entendre. I don't want to think tonight. And I don't want to end up agreeing to something by accident.

Something like what? Spike prodded. Buffy wriggled from his grip and stepped in front of him. He paused, surprised, and she grinned up at him coyly, eyelashes fluttering.

Something that a good girl wouldn't do. she said, her voice a low murmur. As he grabbed for her she skipped backwards, then turned and sprinted off into the night. He watched her go for a split-second before taking up the invitation and chasing her. He knew that even if he caught her she wouldn't do any of the things she tempted him with. But it was almost worth it to see the look on her face when she saw -- felt -- what he expected. Almost.

***

Fingers ripped unintentionally at the bark of the tree. A woman sighed, and the sound was as if she were breathing out all of the worlds pain in one exhalation. She removed her hand from the tree, tucking it safely back inside her sleeve where it could do no damage. Sometimes she was stronger than she meant to be, this world had different limits to the one she was used to. She flipped her hair over her shoulder as if trying to look to her other side. Except all she was doing was enjoying the feeling of the hair tickling her back. Corporeal felt good.

When she did finally cast her gaze around a little more, her eyes were bored. Searching, but bored. She looked very much as if she was waiting for someone, or a bus, that was clearly not going to turn up. She twirled on the spot suddenly, disturbing dead leaves and twigs on the ground with the hem of her dress. Again she was enjoying the feeling of the world around her, in this case the air against her face, rather than looking for her purpose for being there.

Complacent she seated herself upon the tree's roots, not caring one bit that her dress was white and that they were moist with moss, and tilted her head upwards to the starry sky. She called out to it loudly with annoyance, as if she fully expected an answer,

So where's this Warrior then?