Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. At least that's what Tia thought as she walked into her new room. Suite really. Bedroom, bathroom, kitchen/livingroom. It was sweet really. Dark colors, things like that. She sighed. It was perfect. Except she didn't like perfect. She'd been shown around WRH. The training room. The everything. She'd met, Gunn, everyone. She was tired. And it was… frustrating for the small woman. She felt small here. She hated that. Hence her Daredevil ness. She needed to be in control.
With a curse she ripped open one of her bags with a quick movement to the zipper, and yanked out a black motorcycle helmet. She could feel that Wolfram and Hart was broken. In a way. They were recovering. Angel was dating Nina. That was obvious when she'd met the woman. There was sparks there. Illryia was… odd, at times the ex-goddess seemed almost human, though she refused to wear anything normal, or to dye her hair a normal color. Tia was needed. That she could see. She was the normal one. That was terrifying to the woman. She pulled her jacket back on, made sure her boots were tight and headed down to the box. She easily opened it with quick movements of her hands. Magic was wonderful.
When she was done, there was a pile of wood, and shavings on one side of the garage, and a pile of bags (about five), and a motorcycle. It was a lime green, with black stripes. Jap bike. She teleported the bags up to her room, and moved to touch her bike. "Hey baby." She whispered to it. There were deep scratches on it. She traced them through black gloved hands. Then suddenly she straddled the bike, yanking her helmet on. "Lets go for a ride babe. Show this here town what we're made of." She reved the engine, green eyes excited behind the dark visor. She shot forward and out of the garage with a great deal of speed. She didn't notice the shadowy figure, with white hair that watched her leave.
His blue eyes watched the small form on her green bike ride off. He could practically feel the anger coming off her. She was frustraited. Even he could tell that Wolfram and Hart wasn't doing great. At least the LA branch. Six months since that battle. They'd almost lost everyone. So close to it. So close. Gunn had been badly hurt, and even now he stayed behind his desk because it was safer. His legs still were shaky. Hell Spike himself had nearly ended up dead. Angel to. They hadn't seen much of Loren, who was mainly hiding from them. Everyone was broken to an extent. But they were surviving. Bairly. She was a new light. Spike himself had advised Angel to bring someone new in. He hadn't expected her. Pretty, smart, sexy, dangerous and in control. Compaired to everyone she was in compleat control. Powerful. Illryia had seen it. She was powerful. The daughter of a slayer. That he hadn't known. She had unknown depths, something he wanted to tap. If he could get her to help fix the Angel Team just maybe he'd feel better. He knew he couldn't fix it, but maybe this girl could. She had the fire that they needed. Loosing Wesley, and Fred had hurt them. They didn't like saying it but it had. They'd nearly lost everyone, and that hurt everyone. Bonds were broken, and they needed a new fire. Someone, something who can stand up to the kind of pain that his team had been put through.
Yeah. Spike had changed. Nearly loosing his life, and being picked back up by his friends had done that. He needed them whole again. Maybe no one else saw it, but he did. He hoped. He had hope, that this woman would do that for the team. Save them. Save the savers. Be the light for the light. Watch the Watchers. That sorta thing. She could do it to. She was bright, smart. And a Witch. He wondered if maybe she should have been a Slayer. He smiled at the memory of working with them, and dieing before them. Buffy. She couldn't hold a candle to this girl, and he'd only known her a few hours. The redhead was somethin'. He decided to follow her. Though a bit more discreetly than the goons Angel had put on her. Not that she'd needed it. She was Wolfram and Hart.
He moved to his car, got in, and started it. He'd gotten the awesome windows that are all over the building and had them put in his own car. He drove after her, following easily. She was smart, driving in the speed limit when she had to, but she was racing when there were no cops. He grinned as she went to a gas station. Then to the beach. At one point she turned, looked at him point blank and ignored him. He liked that. Finally she stopped. At the top of a cliff. Watching the sun set. He intentionally drove his car, and parked it next to hers.
She pulled her helmet off, letting the red hair fall down her back. "You've followed me today." She said after the window rolled down. The woman's eyes were accusing.
"I did. You looked worried. Wondered why. Couldn't get close. You know you drive well. Though that bike could be better. Scratched up a bit." He said softly, glancing at the long scratches. They were new. Well newish. She touched them lightly through her gloves. "So why'd you fly out of there like a well.. bat outta hell?"
She gave him a very long annoyed look. He grinned in response. "I am fine, Spike. The scratch was from a jump that I made but she didn't." she said patting the bike. "She came out all right, though these were mementos. I've been told I should get rid of Nimrod. I still refuse." She said with a slight smile. Spike watched her now. The bike was her family. He saw that instantly. She had brother's (he'd read her file at one point, when Illryia had taken her through the training rooms), she had family, hell her mother's watcher was still alive, and yet she was attached to… Nimrod.
"I think you are lying. I think your hiding." He said softly. She gave him a withering look, shoved her helmet back on. She started the bike up again.
"You don't know a thing about me, William the Bloody." She snarled as she backed the bike up and turned it around. He knew where she was going. Home. At least home for the angle gang. He sighed. He'd chased her off. His fault really. But she needed to be on her game. He couldn't afford to loose anyone else. Team Angel was too important. The hellmouth was right there. He was growing soft. He sighed as he started the car, watching the sun set, before he drove back. Parking in his normal spot. He looked for the green bike. There it was. He got out lighting a smoke. He headed towards it, looking it over. It was in good condition, just those scratches. He touched them lightly, pale fingers smudging it a bit. He turned and headed inside, flicking his cigarette off to the side when he entered. On the top floor he stepped off and was slammed into the wall by a small form. Felt like Buffy, only smaller. And didn't smell even a little like her. That would be Tiaris.
"Hello Pet. Miss me already?" he asked softly? A coy smile movin' to his eyes. She snarled softly, and the free hand suddenly flamed up with a blue tinged flame.
"No. I don't want you following me. Ever again. I will kill you. You may have a soul, but I am not so inclined to forget the stories, and the facts of what you did. I work with Angel, because I was explicitly told that I'm not aloud to hurt him, but you? You weren't on that list." She let him go, stepping back. He could see the helmet on the floor behind her. "I don't need to be followed. I will not have you following me around." She snapped before she turned, bent over, grabbed her helmet and stomped off to her room.
He couldn't let her leave it at that and followed her, grabbing her shoulder and spinning her around. "Hey. I didn't make myself a vampire. I just did the best with it that I could." He snarled, suddenly feeling entirely on the defensive. "I can't make what I did go away. You don't think I think about it every day? I can't forget. My bloody soul makes sure of that. I won't let you rage at me for being me!" he snarled, his face morphing half way through that. She stared at him, anger blazing in her green eyes. "And I won't have you flaring up at me because I'm a bloody vampire who can't go a night without dreaming about those I've killed, lives I've destroyed." His hands were balled on either side of his body. He hadn't been this worked up… in a while. He glared at her, wanting to do something to her. He hadn't realized how much she could hurt him.
"You are insufferable. How dare you talk about lives you've destroyed? I'm the daughter of a slayer. I know exactly what your kind does." Her voice was sharp, angry. He saw a tear. Ah. One of the demons that had killed her mother was a vampire. "I am only here because Wolfram and Hart needs me to be. I wouldn't be here otherwise." Her voice lowered. "It was a vampire who killed my mother. I killed that vampire, and the two demons he was working with. Magic makes it simple. Oh so simple. Now leave me alone. I can take care of myself. I don't need a damn Vampire watching my back. Soul or no Soul." She glared at him for only a moment before she turned and started again for her room. She slammed the door and leaned against it. She felt herself crying, and just let it happen. The silent tears that she'd learned a long time ago. What she hadn't mentioned was that her twin little brothers had been killed. Her mother wasn't thinking clearly. She'd just wanted to kill the vampire. She'd died. The watcher, and herself had survived. She was just as broken as they were.
Outside the door Spike stood still. She was crying. He could smell it, even hear it. She was quiet by human standards, but the smell of tears was easy to identify. He reached out and touched the door. She riled him up so easily. He had no idea why he'd reacted so angrily to her throwing him up against the wall. Which, if anyone else had done so, he would have laughed, but not with her. No… with her he was angry. Beyond angry. But now that anger was gone. He wanted to take back his words. "Bloody Hell." He muttered. He heard the silent sobs suddenly stop. He took a step back but it was a tad late as her door swung open.
"What the hell are you doing outside my door!" He could see the tear tracts down her face. Though the anger in her eyes was enough to make him stop. He watched her. "Well? Explain yourself. Before I stake you, and take the consequences." She was reaching for something on her belt. Damn Slayers. Everyone around them were trained for killing Vampires. He managed to make himself take a step back.
"Slow down there pet. I didn't mean to anger you. I promise you that." He said, arching his eyebrows for a second. "But you accused me. It was either I follow you out there, or Angel's goons do worse. They'd have stopped you when you got two miles above the speed limit. He's very much Lawful now. Rather peckish. Annoying really." He crossed his arms, tightening the jacket, giving it a soft creaking sound. Sexy really. She glared at him. "Though it was wrong of me to get angry at you. I'm sorry." She snorted.
"You. Sorry. That's a laugh. Go away Spike. Now. Your pity story doesn't really bother me. Go away." With that she slammed the door and walked away from it, turning the lock. She moved to the bags and crouched beside them, then stopped. She closed her eyes. Breath Tiaris. Breath. He isn't attacking you. He is not going to hurt you. Doubt he could. She stood up, and went to the bathroom, a small bag in her hand. Shower time.
