Kat was confused. One moment Spike was consoling her and holding her in his arms and the next he was being an asshole again. She really didn't know what was going on. She knew something was up with him and she'd be a liar if she said it didn't hurt that he clearly felt he couldn't talk to her about it. But she knew what he was doing. She knew he was lashing out because of whatever he was dealing with and the fact he didn't know how to handle it. They were friends now and she would be a good friend. She wasn't about to fall back into old habits. She'd wait it out and once he felt better, things would go back to normal. She didn't want to think about what happened if they never went back to normal. She'd gotten used to having Spike in her life now, gotten used to his friendship. She wasn't sure what she'd do without it.
Heeding his words to leave him alone so she could give him space, she decided to go patrolling alone. Tara and Willow were supposed to be patrolling but Kat told them to take the night off and spend some time together. They presumed Spike would be with her and she hadn't corrected them knowing they would refuse if they knew she'd be alone. But she was feeling cooped up and staying home as she tried to not let Spike's words get to her was wearing her out. She needed to do something. She weaved through the headstones, the stake clutched in her hand as the light breeze ruffled her hair.
"Fee fi fo fum-" someone started, Kat whipping around to face the badly dressed man.
"Can we skip the boring villain monologue? I'm really not in the mood," she asked, sounding bored.
"Fine by me," the vamp shrugged, grinning as he lunged at her. She dodged out of the way just in time before kicking her leg and striking him across the chest. She didn't have Slayer strength so it didn't knock him over, but all she needed was to maneuver them so she'd be able to stake him. He ran at her, swinging his fist just as she twirled out of the way. He was fast though and he shoved her hard, causing her to smack into a broken headstone. She gasped as she felt pain and when she looked, she saw a deep gash near her collar bone. She rolled over with a groan just in time to see him dive at her. She thrust the stake upwards as he landed on her and he looked shocked before he poofed into a pile of dust.
She sputtered as she got up, dusting herself off frantically.
"Gross," she muttered, wincing when she moved her arm. She was bleeding pretty badly and she started to feel woozy and light headed. She blinked dumbly for a moment before making her way through the cemetery to Spike's crypt. He wanted her to leave him alone but surely he wouldn't mind her turning up injured. She wasn't sure she'd make it all the way home. His place was closer and she knew he had some medical supplies because she'd seen them. By the time she reached the crypt, she felt gross and blood had soaked through her t-shirt. As she lifted her hand to knock, the door swung open before she had the chance.
"What- bloody hell," Spike muttered upon seeing her, helping her inside and to his sofa.
"What happened?" He asked tensely, rushing to grab the med kit near the TV.
"A vamp shoved me while I was patrolling. I hit a broken gravestone," she sighed. He glared at her then, med kit in hand as he made his way back over.
"And why the bloody hell were you patrollin' alone?" He asked, sounding annoyed. He sat next to her on the sofa and got some supplies from the kit.
"You told me to leave you alone," she shrugged, grimacing as she did. He shot her a look as if she was stupid.
"Didn't mean I wanted you to go off patrollin' on your lonesome and get yourself killed, Kitten," he frowned. She couldn't look at him. She knew it was stupid and reckless and now she felt like an idiot. And it was worse knowing he didn't even really want her there.
There was a tense silence for a moment before Spike gestured to her shirt.
"Gonna need to take it off, pet. Need to stitch you up," he said quietly. She noticed then how he was avoiding looking at her wound, how his jaw was clenched. She knew it must be hard for him to be around human blood now he wasn't able to have it. He'd told her nothing compared to fresh human blood. She was surprised by his self control. It wasn't like he'd need to hurt her to get some in her current state. An idea formed in her mind then. He was clearly dealing with some heavy shit and maybe this might cheer him up a bit.
"You can have a taste, you know. Kinda feels like a waste," she snorted wryly. His eyes snapped to hers then, narrowed and wary.
"Funny," he muttered mirthlessly.
"Wasn't a joke. I don't mind, I'm already bleeding. I know it's been a while, maybe it'll cheer you up," she suggested, watching how his jaw clenched tighter.
"Absolutely bloody not," he bit out. But as she carefully eased her t-shirt off, she saw how his nostrils flared and how his eyes drifted to her wound.
"I'm just saying… it's not like you get a chance to have fresh human blood every day," she murmured. He licked his lower lip, eyes darting between her face and her bloodied collar bone.
"I'm not takin' advantage of you when you're injured," he muttered weakly. She could see his hands shaking. She felt bad for even suggesting it now seeing how hard he seemed to be fighting with himself with it. But she didn't like seeing him like this, knowing something was going on with him. If she could cheer him up then why shouldn't she? It wasn't like he was going to bite her.
"You're not. I'm offering. It's consensual, Spike. I really don't mind, I'm already bleeding," she said softly.
"Exactly, you're bleedin', your hurt and here you are offerin' yourself up to me," he huffed, moving her hair from her shoulder as he glanced at her wound again.
"Just doing a friend a favor," she smirked, causing him to chuckle and shake his head at her.
"You're sure?" He asked carefully, pinning her in place with his gaze.
"I wouldn't offer if I wasn't," she answered honestly. He looked like he was contemplating it for a moment before he started leaning down, glancing at her warily. She shot him a reassuring smile, leaning back on the sofa. His face changed, one of his arms moving behind her on the back of the sofa as the other rested on her bare side now her top half was only covered with her bra. His first lick seemed hesitant and when she didn't recoil, he seemed to relax.
It felt oddly more sensual than she'd expected it too and her body tingled as he lapped at her blood. She started to wonder if there was something wrong with her for seemingly enjoying it a little too much. Spike moaned and Kat gasped, his grip on her hip tightening a little as he greedily drank her blood. When he finally moved away a little, he was still in vamp face. He stared at her for a long moment and all she could do was blink at him, wondering just what was going on in his head. She'd always found vampires repulsive but Spike's vamp face didn't really make her feel the same way. She wasn't sure how he managed to still look attractive when he was all vamped out. His face finally changed and he licked at a little blood on the corner of his mouth. Clearing his throat, he moved to grab the medical supplies again. She feared she made it awkward now.
"So, was it everything you wanted and more?" She asked wryly, trying to dispel the weird tension between them. He chuckled, moving to face her better so he could stitch her up.
"Best damn blood I've ever tasted," he murmured, not looking at her. She felt her cheeks flush and she was unsure why, but her lips quirked up a little.
"Well, that's a unique compliment," she smirked, making him roll his eyes good naturedly. She sat still as he stitched her up, wincing occasionally as he apologized. Once she was patched up, he gave her a clean t-shirt as she sagged against the sofa. She was tired and drained and the past couple of days had been weird. Spike sat next to her silently for a long moment before he blew out an unneeded breath.
"I'm sorry," he muttered after a moment. She turned to face him more as she raised a brow.
"For what?" She asked tiredly. The blood loss left her feeling sleepy and her body ached like a bitch.
"For… how I acted yesterday. You're right, I am goin' through somethin'. And it wasn't fair to take it out on you, you didn't deserve it," he admitted, giving her a guilty look.
"It's fine-" she started, getting cut off by him.
"No, it's not. I treated you like shit and it's not okay. I won't let you sit there and act like it's fine. So I'm sorry. Won't happen again," he said sincerely. She smiled as she nodded. She wasn't holding it against him. She'd already known he was just lashing out because he was going through something.
"Apology accepted," she smiled. His body seemed to relax then as he gave her a little smile.
A large yawn took over her as she felt her sleepiness growing.
"You can stay here tonight… if you want. No use trudgin' home injured at this time," he suggested softly. She felt gratitude swell up inside of her. She didn't think she'd make it home with how tired she was.
"Thanks," she muttered, stifling another yawn.
"You can take the bed, I'll take the sofa," he got up and put the medical supplies away as she shook her head, taking the time he was off the sofa to lay down on it.
"I'll take the sofa. You've already done enough for me today. Besides, I don't think I'd even make it down there," she snorted tiredly. He smirked as he looked at her, watching her for a moment.
"Alright. Get some good rest, Kitten. You need it," he murmured. She nodded, getting comfy. She didn't need to tell Buffy she wouldn't be coming home. She was staying out and Dawn was with Xander and Anya. Her eyes fell shut as she drifted off, surrounded by the comforting scent of Spike as it lulled her into darkness.