Kat shuffled the cards of her tarot deck as she sat alone at the table in the Magic Box. She was working alone today and it had been slow. She'd only had one customer come in, so she decided to practice her reading skills. She'd been using them on herself since Spike gifted her the cards and she'd started to get familiar with the meanings and the symbolism. It was quiet as she shuffled the cards but the silence was broken by the bell chiming on the door. Thinking it was a customer, she turned around to see Spike walking in.
"Hey," she smiled, glad for the company. It had been a week since their weird moment in the cemetery and she'd come to the conclusion it had been in her head. Things had been normal between them since and he hadn't acted weird about the stuff she'd said either, so she decided to just pretend it hadn't happened.
"Hello to you too, Kitten. All on your lonesome tonight?" He asked as he sauntered over, plonking down in the chair next to her.
"Yep. Just me, myself and I," she snorted ruefully. He chuckled, eyes darting to the cards.
"How you been gettin' on then? Done any readings for the rest of the Scoobies?" He asked curiously. She fiddled with the cards in her hand, shuffling them absentmindedly.
"Not yet. Buffy's still a little weirded out by it. Dawn thinks it's cool but I'm scared what the cards might say for her. And I'm way too anxious to read for Willow and Tara. They're pros at this kinda stuff," she shrugged.
"Could always read for me," he suggested, his fingers drumming on the table. Her eyes widened a little as she licked her lower lip.
"I uh… I'm not that good," she said sheepishly. The idea of reading for someone else made her nervous. She was still new at this.
"All the more reason to practice then, right?" he smirked at her. She huffed as she nodded. She knew he wouldn't let it go. What could one reading hurt?
"Anything you wanna know?" She asked as she started to shuffle the cards once more.
"Just a general reading's fine," he replied. She nodded, calming her mind as she shuffled the cards. She focused on Spike, making the reading target him. Feeling like she was good to go, she started pulling cards. The first card she set down was the Lovers and her stomach tightened as she looked at it. She quickly pulled another card; the Two of Cups. She blinked at them for a moment, her dream flashing behind her eyes as she drew the last card. The Tower. A feeling of dread settled over her as she stared at them and she wasn't paying attention to Spike asking her what they meant.
"Kat? What is it? Look like you've seen a ghost," he frowned at her. She cleared her throat and shook her head quickly.
"Nothing. I'm fine. Um… the Lovers mean a cohesiveness and balance of forces, indicating complimentary energies. This card represents a pair that works well together. On the other hand, because this card also symbolizes choice, and the choice of commitment, it also raises questions of how committed you are to love. This doesn't have to refer exclusively to another person, but can also indicate a choice between love or work, love or family, love or friendship, or even sometimes love and your entire lifestyle. The idea here is that there may be a sacrifice that you must make in order to have this love. In some ways, all commitment is a sacrifice, but one made for the right person can help you grow as an individual. The choices and sacrifices that need to be made can apply to both you, a potential or existing partner," she said monotonously, practically reciting the meaning from the book since she'd read it so much with her dream.
"So it's a good card, then?" He asked slowly, his face looking a little confused.
"I guess," she mumbled, still feeling shaken about the cards.
"And what's that one mean?" He asked, tapping the Two of Cups with his index finger.
"It's an indication of a partnership that's built on the union of forces, a strong connection and a balanced and equal partnership. The exchange of cups suggests that each party's emotions are intertwined with the other's, and each participant's feelings have profound effects on the other. A strong pair is indicated, the joy of two becoming one. Attraction and coming together is signaled by the two of Cups tarot meaning. This card encourages the beginnings of partnerships of any kind, and the harmony that arises when two people come together to work in unity. This card also suggests a relationship that is mutually beneficial, one where the partners encourage one another to do their very best," she murmured softly. He had a weird look on his face as his eyes went from the cards and then to her face.
"And the last one?" He asked quietly. Her heart squeezed, flashes of Spike bursting into flames right in front of her consuming her. She knew her elevated heart rate hadn't gone unnoticed by him when he glanced to her chest, brows furrowed slightly.
"This one isn't so sunshine and rainbows. When the Tower card appears in a Tarot reading, expect the unexpected; massive change, upheaval, destruction and chaos. It may be a divorce, death of a loved one, financial failure, health problems, natural disaster, job loss or any event that shakes you to your core, affecting you spiritually, mentally and physically. There's no escaping it. Change is here to tear things up, create chaos and destroy everything in its path, but it's for your Highest Good," she recited again. He nodded dumbly for a moment, leaning back in his chair.
"Sounds fun," he muttered with a wry smirk. Her frown deepened then, wondering why the cards from her dream came up with Spike. She figured the cards were messing with her. She quickly swiped them off the table and shuffled the deck furiously. Spike watched her for a moment warily before he plucked the deck from her hands.
"Alright, my turn," he smirked devilishly. She felt that tickle of dread in her stomach again as she watched him shuffle the cards almost expertly. When he quickly picked three cards and put them on the table, her hands started shaking as the same three cards glared at her.
"Sure these aren't trick cards or somethin', Kitten?" Spike snorted, not seeing the spooked look on her face. She snatched the cards roughly, shuffling so hard she was surprised she didn't crumple the cards.
"Kat?" He asked hesitantly. She didn't answer though as she pulled three cards and a small whimper left her lips as the same three cards laying on the table.
"Wanna tell me what's goin' on?" He asked firmly, grabbing her hand when she went to grab the deck.
"You look paler than usual and your hearts beatin' like a hummingbird's bloody wings. What is it?" He asked seriously, making her look at him.
"I uh… I dreamt of these cards. Remember I told you about my nightmares, it has these cards in every time. I have it… every goddamn night and it's just…" she trailed off, her voice getting higher as it cracked.
"I know what they mean but I don't know why they keep coming up. Or why with you now. I don't know what they're trying to tell me or what's coming for me," fear laced her tone and Spike's grip on her hand tightened.
"You're scared," he muttered. It wasn't a question, it was an observation. A very obvious one with her current state.
"It's awful, Spike. Every night it just haunts me and these fucking cards," she sneered, shaking her head. She felt like the Powers That Be were messing with her or something. Knowing the card meanings didn't make anything clearer and she had no idea what they meant.
"You don't have to be scared, Kitty. I'm here, won't let anything happen to you," he murmured fervently. It reminded of her dream so much, she felt a stab in her chest.
"It probably doesn't even mean anything. I'm just being dramatic," she frowned, pulling her hand from his before gathering the cards and standing up. She put the cards back in the box and stuffed them in her bag. She'd had enough for one day with them. She wasn't sure she wanted to get them back out again if they were just going to taunt her like this. She felt Spike's careful eyes on her before she came back to the table. He knew her well enough that the matter was closed and she was thankful when he changed the topic. She didn't want to talk about it. Didn't want to think about it. She swept it under the rug with the rest of her problems. Out of sight, out of mind.
The next day, Spike wandered into the magic shop with purpose. He knew Kat wasn't going to be there, she was spending time with Dawn and Buffy. But he was here for other reasons. Before anyone could talk to him, he made a beeline for Tara who was browsing the bookshelf casually.
"Oh, h-h-hey, Spike," she murmured awkwardly. He didn't really have much one on one time with her but he liked her well enough. He felt more comfortable going to her with his questions than Red. The incident with the cards had been burned into his brain and he was desperate to figure out what it meant. Not only for Kat and her dream, but why the cards had also come up for him. He didn't know too much about the cards but Dru used to read. He knew enough to know it all meant something. There were no coincidences when it came to the cards. There was a reason he got the same cards she did, and he was eager to find out why.
"Glinda… could I have a word?" He asked softly, flashing her a charming smile. She seemed nervous as she glanced around. Almost like she was seeking out her girlfriend to step in and save her.
"S-Sure," she nodded, giving him a small smile.
"So… I have this friend, and his friend reads the cards. She's not a pro at it by any means, but she's decent enough. She did a readin' for him and pulled three cards. The Lovers, Two of Cups and The Tower. But she got all spooked and acted weird. So then I- … the friend, he decided to cheer her up a bit, you know, make her laugh. Does a readin' for her. But the same cards come up again. She freaks out and shuffles again, pulls out the same three soddin' cards. Then she tells him that she dreamt of the cards. Prolly why she started readin' in the first place. He asked me to see if I could find out what it meant and all. Why he got the same cards and all that," he said casually, trying to act like it was no big deal. Like it hadn't been on a loop in his mind since the day before.
The witch looked thoughtful for a moment before she nodded to herself.
"I might be wrong b-but… it seems important that they got the same cards. The first two… it indicates they will probably get t-together, fall in love. With the Tower, I-I think it's meant for her. But him getting the card too means he will play an important role in whatever happens to her. I think they're connected," she explained somewhat shyly. He blinked at her for a moment. He hadn't really known what to expect but he hadn't expected that. Was she right? Did this mean they had a connection? They'd fall in love? It felt too good to be true yet his sodding romantic heart ran away with itself anyway. Despite his better instincts, hope consumed him. Maybe he had a chance after all. And no matter what it was that Kat was about to face, he'd be there for her. Help her through it.
He'd acknowledged his feelings, since trying to ignore them didn't go well. He knew they were there but had told himself it was pointless. That there was no way it would ever happen so he should just focus on being her friend. At least that way, he had her in his life. But he wasn't fooling himself. Sometimes he found himself in bed writing poetry, only to realize they were about her. He was madly in love with her and now he knew there might just be a chance with them. It only solidified the deep need he had to be a better man. She didn't deserve some soulless monster. She deserved someone with a heart. Someone that would worship her like the bloody goddess she was. Maybe he could be that man. He needed to change. Needed her to see he'd changed so she'd love him back. He'd do whatever it took to make that happen.