"This is nice," she sighed, leaning against the bars beside her.
A hand snaked out between the bars to stroke her arm, creeping upward to run against her neck. "Yeah," Spike agreed quietly. "It is."
She turned to look him in the eyes, to really grasp where he was right then, and saw nothing but a soft, cool mask. "What's the matter?"
He shook his head. "Everything's fine." But he still seemed guarded, and it worried her. "How was your fight today?"
She shrugged. "It wasn't you, that's for sure. Some guy named Ty. I don't even think he was a master."
"Ty…" Spike frowned. "I think he was one of Knox's."
"Who's Knox?"
And again, that distant mask seemed to settle on his face. "Nobody you need to worry about, pet." And then he was moving to stand. "You should go now."
She stayed stubbornly seated, glaring up at him. "You don't get to tell me what to do."
"Kitten…"
"No!" She sagged against the side of the cell. "Look, Spike, everything's pretty crappy these days, and this is the only time that I'm actually…" She stopped.
Spike bent back down, his face darkening with concern. "Actually…?"
"Happy," she sighed. "You make me happy." It was more than she'd ever exposed to him before, and she looked up, suddenly afraid of his reaction. Really, Buffy wasn't the kind to reveal herself, even to her friends. She kept herself guarded by nature, letting only what was happening in the now affect her visibly and leaving the rest of her inner turmoil bottled up inside. And even admitting to Spike that he made her happy was a step further than she'd planned to go.
But instead of recoiling or laughing, a soft smile spread across Spike's features and his hands moved to cup her face and turn it to face him. "You make me happy, too. S'a fair exchange."
"Oh." She longed then to unlock the cage, more than ever before, and that urge frightened her, made her grateful that she'd given the key back. She'd never thought that the need to be close to Spike would trump the innate wariness she'd always had of him, but now, when all she wanted to do was kiss him against her, drink in that wonderful sensation of Spike that had been seared into her memory through passion alone, he was on the other side of a cage, of bars that wouldn't bend for even the strongest of demons.
And some of the devastation in her thoughts must have reached her eyes, because suddenly, Spike was even closer, his hands running down to her back, to hold her quietly. "I know, love," he crooned. "I know."
She closed her eyes for a moment. "What's wrong with us- with me?" she whispered. "You're a vampire."
"You could be slayer," Spike said softly. "This is just as buggered up for me."
"I won't be," she murmured. "And it's different for you. You just think of me as…as…" As a diversion. As someone fun to fight, but never to love. As an occasional substitute for your lover in the next cage. But she didn't say any of it, not when there was still the nagging fear that he'd confirm it all.
His brow was wrinkled in confusion. "Buffy, it's no different than it is for you. I…" And then he stopped, and she was hit by a realization, because he was just like her, wasn't he? They were a pair, so unsure of their own feelings and what they meant to each other that neither one of them could qualify it, could really explain what was going on for the other. This was alien territory. And Spike was afraid, too.
Afraid of giving her too much? Afraid of leading her on? Maybe. Afraid that she didn't reciprocate his feelings? Much less likely. But a girl could dream…
And then Spike was smiling again, his hands moving upward to rest at the back of her head, and he tugged her forward until she was up against the bars, half her face squashed between two of them. He leaned forward, angular cheekbones stopped by the same bars, and now they were close enough for Spike to press his lips to hers clumsily. It was the most unromantic kiss she'd ever been given. And it moved something inside of her so deeply that she nearly wept.
He backed away, grinning self-deprecatingly. "Well, that was pathetic."
She shrugged. "A little," she agreed, but her eyes were swimming with adoration and her hand was moving to touch Spike's again.
"I'd agree with the pathetic part," Angelus drawled, finally emerging from the back room where he'd been lurking since she'd arrived. Buffy had been wondering why he'd been so silent, though occasional murmurs and shrieks from the back of his cage had painted her a vivid enough picture.
And sure enough, she was answered moments later by an annoyed growl from the Aurelian matriarch. "Angelus! I told you to stay back here!"
Angelus shrugged. "Look at them," he said with disdain. "Nothing's going to keep her away now. Little Buffy's in love," he announced, and Buffy flushed scarlet.
"Just ignore him," Spike murmured when her hands stilled. "He's trying to get a rise out of you."
She stepped away from him. "He's succeeding," she muttered, stalking over to Angelus.
The vampire took a step back, too far away for her to reach. "You're adorable," he said, grinning. "Young, innocent…virginal…" He licked his lips. "Just my flavor."
Buffy didn't budge, unafraid. "So is that supposed to scare me?" she asked, eyebrows raised. "Because I spend all my time with teenage boys. And you and them? About the same."
Angelus smirked. "With a mouth on you, too." He moved a hand down to frame his bulging crotch. "When I get out of here, I'm going to take you as my own, chain you up naked and bleeding and fuck that pretty little mouth of yours until you choke on my come and-"
Spike flung himself against the neighboring cage with a roar of fury, fully vamped and clawing desperately at Angelus.
Angelus shrugged, not intimidated at all. "Oh, you're in deep, boy," he said calmly. "Darla, I think you've put too much faith in Willy here."
Buffy stared at him. "Too much faith for what?"
Spike growled again, yellow eyes hard and furious, and Buffy moved back to his cage, holding out a hand to him. He slowly, reluctantly, disentangled himself from the side bars of his cell and stalked over to Buffy, eyes still furious. "He's all talk," she said softly, moving to trace the lines of his face. Slowly, they relaxed again into his human face. "Okay? He's all talk."
Spike kissed her hand. "He isn't," he murmured, looking more disturbed than she'd ever seen him.
She smiled winningly, comfortingly. "I've got to go now," she announced, pressing a finger to his lips. "But I'll see you later, okay?"
"Yeah." He searched her face, still worried, but she kept it blank and calm, projecting a peaceful air.
Only once she'd left the vampire area of the basement and entered the little nook that led to the elevator up on one side and the scientists' base on the other did she sink to the floor, shaking with uncontrollable fear.
"Just my flavor… I'm going to chain you up naked and bleeding and fuck that pretty little mouth of yours until you choke on my come and-"
Oh, god. She was terrified of Angelus, more than she'd been even after what had happened to Faith. He was going to kill her, to kill them all, to "chain you up naked and bleeding and fuck that pretty little mouth of yours until you choke on my come and-"
She squeezed her eyes shut, suppressing the urge to cry. It didn't matter. He was locked up and harmless, and he'd never be able to touch her. It didn't matter.
She stood up reluctantly, made her way to the elevator, and went back upstairs. There was still some noise, even at this late hour; one of the potentials was turning twenty the next day and leaving the school, and her grade had thrown her a goodbye party in the training room that sounded like it was still going strong.
She walked down the hall and turned a corner just as two watchers emerged from the training room door behind her. "-And it's just not fun anymore," the watcher was saying. "Spike used to get into it, you know? He'd put on a show, look at us during the fights…he even winked at me once. Now he only fights that Buffy, and he barely even notices the rest of us. He's more interested in trying to make out with her under Gunn's nose than in the fight."
"It's true," the other watcher agreed. Buffy vaguely remembered her from her journey over to the Academy, six years before. Fred? "Spike really likes Buffy. I mean, aren't there rules against that sort of thing? Vampires and potentials aren't supposed to mix, and if they do-"
"It happened one time," the other watcher said, suddenly sober, and Buffy froze. If they knew about Faith… "Before you got here. I was really little, so I didn't hear much," the watcher continued, and Buffy breathed a sigh of relief. "But rumor has it that something happened between a potential and a vampire, and it didn't end well."
"Really?" Fred asked, interested. "No one's ever mentioned it before."
"It was just rumors, I think. No one knew the real story." The other watcher sighed. "Whatever. It doesn't matter. I'm just annoyed with this whole Spike thing."
"Maybe it's for the best," Fred suggested. "I mean, there are other people to crush on, right? Like… some of the teachers aren't half-bad."
The other watcher snorted. "Don't be gross, Fred." Her voice brightened. "Hey, how about that Angelus guy? He's a hottie. And he'd be into the whole adoring audience thing, too."
"He is pretty cute," Fred said, giggling.
The watchers turned the corner and came face-to-face with Buffy. "Oh. You," the other watcher said with disdain.
Buffy was silent, regarding them with weariness borne of knowledge. The second watcher sniffed and moved on, Fred just behind her.
Buffy watched them go, feeling suddenly old. They all looked at this like it was a game, the vampires like they were celebrities. She'd done that too, not too long ago. But hearing them talk about Angelus so casually, giggling about the monster who'd threatened her just minutes before…now she understood. The Academy was right to imprison creatures as twisted and evil as vampires.
Things like Angelus should never be allowed to roam free.
"You're upset," Spike observed later that week, the next time they fought.
She slid downward, kicking his feet out from under him and knocking him on top of her. "Why would you say that?"
"I'm not blind, Buffy. I know that Angelus got to you." He raised himself slightly, and she arched toward him, instinctively seeking more contact. "Buffy, he can't touch you."
"He's planning to get out of there," Buffy pointed out. "He almost succeeded last time, too." She glanced up at the bleachers, where Faith was sitting silently, her arms wrapped tightly around herself and her eyes on Xander, who was sitting with Anya a few levels down. Summer vacation had started two days before, and most of the other students were gone, so Buffy had managed to persuade Faith to leave her room and come watch a fight, but now she was regretting it. She hadn't thought that Xander would come, much less bring Anya, and Faith looked horribly jealous.
Well, maybe that was a good thing.
"He won't try again," Spike assured her. "He thinks he has a foolproof plan."
"What?" Buffy wriggled a bit, noticing with satisfaction that the area she was moving against was getting larger and larger as she pushed up against him. Mm. A sudden surge of pleasure shot through her.
Spike raised an eyebrow, looking pointedly at her. A cold fear ran through her. "Me?"
"You and me," Spike clarified. "Darla thinks that that's what this is."
"I get it." She shoved him off of her and stood up, forcing her face to remain calm. "Fine." She pulled out her stake and smashed it downward.
He rolled out of the way, rising again and heading toward her, knocking the stake aside. "That's not what I'm doing with you," he informed her, a hand on either side of her and against the barrier. "It's what Darla needs to believe so that they think they have a plan."
She looked up at him through lidded eyes. "And what are you doing with me?" she demanded.
"Keeping you safe," he said immediately. "Kitten, I'd spend the rest of my unlife in that cell if it meant that you were protected from Angelus."
"Oh." She stared at him wide-eyed, her lips parted in surprise and her heart pounding, and he bent to kiss her automatically, mouths fused and tongues battling for what was only seconds before Spike was thrown from her and her mouth was tingling with electricity.
Gunn stormed toward them, the barrier dropping as he approached, and slammed his fist into Spike's face. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" he spat, furious, and Buffy took a step forward, suddenly terrified for Spike. Gunn's eyes were dark, his voice low and crazed, and Buffy had never seen him look so livid. "Stay the fucking hell away from her, you bastard!"
In the stands, Faith was gasping for breath, rocking back and forth as panic overtook her, and Xander was suddenly at her side, supporting her, until she was finally calm again and stalked away.
"Gunn. Gunn, wait! Please!" She tried to grab him by the arm, but he swung backward, sending her flying, and she landed in a crouch and ran back to him. "It's fine! It's fine!"
Gunn pounded at Spike with the energy of a madman until the vampire was writhing on the ground helplessly, tattoos of blue and black erupting all over his beautiful face. Buffy recoiled. "Stop! Stop it!"
And finally, Spike saw the genuine fear in her eyes and threw Gunn off of him, rising unsteadily and staggering over to where she was standing. She stepped in front of him, holding a hand up as Gunn approached. "Wait! He's not…it wasn't…"
"It was just a diversionary thing," Spike supplied.
Gunn scowled, coming closer again. "Shut up, demon."
"It was!" Buffy took a deep breath. "I mean, Spike and I do stuff like that all the time to beat on each other. It's legitimate fighting, really."
Gunn was unconvinced, his eyes shifting back to Spike with hatred. "You. I told you I'd stake you if-"
Buffy thought fast, frantic. "But really, Spike? Kissing me? Um, ew?" She made a show of wiping off her mouth, disgusted. "I don't kiss vampires." She turned back to Gunn. "I don't want to fight him anymore."
"You don't?" Gunn stopped short, surprised.
"Buffy!" Spike sounded annoyed.
Buffy shrugged, shooting Spike a significant look. I'm saving your life, you idiot. Stop whining. "Well, not this often, anyway. I need to learn how to fight vamps for real, and all you do is fight dirty." She curled her lip in disgust. "I still haveSpike taste in my mouth. Gross." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Gunn calm by about a fraction of an inch.
She sighed expansively. "I'm done with this. See you around." She turned on her heel and walked out of the room, Anya and Xander trailing behind.
Xander spoke as soon as the doors closed behind them. "What-"
"Shh!" She moved back to the door, peeking through the double windows. Gunn was speaking to Spike in low, angry tones, and Spike was looking down in contrition so false that Buffy almost smiled, despite her worry. Almost.
But he only hit him one more time before they left the room together through the back door, and Buffy breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well, that was an understandable overreaction," Anya commented, shrugging.
"Understandable?" Buffy said, outraged. "What's understandable about beating up-"
"A vampire macking on one of his slayers?" Xander finished dryly. "Gee, I wonder."
Buffy sighed, her anger dissipating as quickly as it had come. "Yeah, I guess so. It's just...it wasn't like I didn't want it," she muttered, flushing.
"Yes, you were quite obvious about that," Anya agreed.
Xander laughed, but it didn't quite hide the troubled look on his face. "Yeah. I think the only reason Gunn let Spike go was because you said you didn't want to fight him anymore."
Buffy shrugged. "Well, I don't."
They both stared at her.
"For a week or two, anyway," she finished. "He needs time to heal. And maybe Gunn'll cool down by then."
"Probably not," Anya said helpfully. "He has good reason not to. I need to go make dinner for Rupert now. Goodbye!" And she was off before they could question her on her cryptic response. Which, in retrospect, might have been her goal all along.
Xander blinked. "That was odd."
"Yep."
"Want to go find Will and get some pizza?"
"Sounds good." She touched a hand to her lips and smiled. Mm…Spike taste...
