Buffy leafed through the old spellbook madly, finding the page quickly. She
scanned it, looking for any qualifiers, one-time-only deals, or such
nonsense. Relief. So.... she could do it again. Cloak it, let him drink,
and his ribs would mend. Besides, until she figured out that 'truth and
light' crap, they were stuck bonded anyway...
"What are you reading, Buffy?", Giles asked suddenly. How long had he been behind her?!
She jumped. "Hey, Giles. Just... um.. ancient texts. It was laying out." She shrugged. "Didn't have a magazine..."
He looked over her shoulder. "Cloaking spells?"
She shrugged again. "Sounded cool. But not... 'I'd do the spell' cool... Just... spiffy."
Giles chuckled. "Buffy, you never cease to surprise me. But you don't need to read that. It's all about spells that involve blood. Some of them can be very powerful, even dangerous."
"Really? Wow. Hadn't gotten that far. Dangerous?"
"Certain blood oriented spells have things tied up in them. Bonds, mental links, things that are impossible to break. It could drive a person insane." He smiled at her. "But I suppose that I don't need to tell you this. After all, there wouldn't be any need to use such a spell around here."
"Right. And we know better than to mess around with magic now anyway."
Giles chuckled again. "Quite. I believe we've all had quite enough of that sort of thing for awhile." He walked past her, picking up another book on the way, a book on vampires. "Oh, and I thought you might want this. To help you with Spike."
She glanced at it. "The title is in... um... not English, Giles... How...?"
"Spike should be able to read it. It's in vampiric. But there is a way to translate it to English, if you don't want him to see how concerned you are."
She nodded. "That one."
Giles took the book back and headed for the back room. "I'll be right back."
"Ok." As he walked to the back, she sat in relief. Oh man... close close close....
A moment later, Giles returned, carrying two books. One was the old one, in vampiric, and the other one was in English. "An Encyclopedia of Vampires, and All Things Pertaining To Them", it said. "Here you go, Buffy. There's a lot of stuff that's mostly boring, but there's some parts on healing, and things that vampires like and dislike. Of course, it's impersonal, every vampire is different, but I hope it helps."
She smiled, and stood. She gave him a hug and a small kiss. "You're being really great."
She smiled, hugged him again. "That, I guess. Thanks, Dad. I'm gonna get crackin on my boyfriend wanna-be." She waved the text at him and walked out the door.
Giles waved back and watched her go.
==============================================
Spike sat on the couch, watching the last few minutes of Passions. It was a rerun, and not a particularly interesting episode, so he was fighting dozing off.
Buffy sounded a knock at the crypt door, wondering why she did when she barely ever got an answer.
Spike started and nearly fell off the couch. "Come in?", he said, resituating himself.
Buffy went to the stairs, made her way down. "Hey Gimpy."
"..grrr.. Don't call me that."
He shook his head. "A whole lot of nothing. You just missed Passions."
She shook her head. "Darn."
"Once more, with feeling. Make me believe it, Slayer."
She shuddered. "Why must you haunt me with that?"
He chuckled. "It wasn't exactly my idea of a fun week either, luv."
"Yeah, yeah. How's the ribs?"
He made a face. "Annoying. Making little grindy noises when I bend over. Hurts a bit, too."
She smacked his shoulder. "Hello? Not supposed to bend over."
"Ow!"
"Part of the whole, stay still so it'll heal, you sack of stupid!"
Spike gave her an indignant look, then laughed. "May I just say that your insults do not carry the sting that they once did?"
She stuck her nose in the air. "Whatever. You don't even sling them anymore."
"Thorn."
She snorted. "See? That sucked."
"It has sentimental value."
"I happen to remember one Chippy trying to bite someone." She made retarded sucking noises, then started chanting, "I think I can... I think I can..."
He growled. "Ok, I've got one, then." He paused for effect, also to weigh if the definite possibility of her hitting him was worth the insult. It fit. "Slutty the Vampire Layer."
She stopped, mid-retarded sucking noise, hand poised in the position. Blinked.
He grinned. "Ha. I win."
She pouted. "I hate you."
"I love you too, honey."
She glared, shoved a hand to his shoulder. Her eyes gleamed. "William the Bloody, one fourth the Scourge of Europe... at a tea-party with Ms. Edith...."
Spike stared at her. "I never attended tea parties with dolls."
She glanced at him thoughtfully. "Did Dru ever have you wear a dress to cake and a cuppa?"
Spike snarled. "You're pushing it, Slayer."
She tapped her chin. "Then I must be close.... Bonnet, maybe?"
He growled again. "Keep going, and you're going to regret it."
She snapped her fingers. "Pantyhose with garters? Cuz that's the stuff grudges are made of. Slip? Heels? Come on. Let me know."
Spike let out a roar and threw a leg over her lap, effectively pinning her to the couch. He quickly went for the spots that she had shown him the week before. The indents of her hips, both sides at once.
She squealed. "FISHNETS!!!!!!"
He snarled playfully. "I'll show you fishnets.." He continued his tickling, moving up to her ribs on one side, continuing on her hip with the other.
She squirmed helplessly, laughing.
"Now, say 'Spike doesn't wear girl clothes'.." He moved the hand that was on her ribs to her stomach, just above the bellybutton, a weak spot that they shared.
"Spike..." She snorted, tossed her hips. "Wears a girdle."
Spike didn't mean to laugh at that, but he did. "Spike... doesn't... wear... girl clothes... Say it, Slayer, or you'll die laughing." But he hadn't taken their bond into account. Even as he tickled, HE was beginning to feel it.
She tossed her hips again, laughing. "He..." Snicker. "doesn't...."
Spike laughed slightly, trying to concentrate despite the feeling of phantom fingers tickling his stomach. "Yeah? Come on."
"He.... wears..." She kept squirming, kind of forgetting their alignment. Laughed again. "Ladies clothes..."
Spike snorted, and moved his leg slightly, getting better leverage. "Try again..." This was followed by a snort of laughter.
She finally got it... she laid still and let him tickle her.
Spike was fighting hard now. With her not moving, it had gotten ten times worse. He snorted and laughed, trying to concentrate. It wouldn't take much to make him crack, and he hoped that she didn't see that.
She chose his indecisive moment to pounce. She rolled, switching their positions. Now she was straddling his lap. She had grabbed his hands in the transition, now pinning them at his sides. She moved them slowly up, so they were over his head. Easier to keep an eye on.
"HEY!", he yelped. "What're you doing?"
She laughed. "Winning." She leaned forward and nipped at his collarbone, hoping she had read the book correctly.
Spike's eyes got wide, and then crossed. What was she doing to him?
She recalled the text in her mind. 'Sensitive to medium stimulation in the neck, and collarbone. Hands, ribs.' She moved her thumbs where they were caught in his closed palms, massaging lightly.
Spike fought it for a moment, then began to purr, his body relaxing against his will.
She kept her thumbs moving, and nuzzled his neck, choosing to ignore his ribs until they healed.
Spike relaxed completely, and let out a strange chirping sound, like a baby bird.
She kissed across his collarbone, looked at him.
His eyes were closed, and the purr was coming from deep in his chest, along with more of those chirping/chittering sounds.
Buffy let his hands go, but brought one to her lips.
Spike cracked one eye, looking up at Buffy. "What's.. what're you doin'?", he slurred out. It was almost like he was drunk on the pleasure that she was giving him.
She started at his wrist, kissing it gently, moving over his hand, making his fingers straight. At the tip of his middle finger, she softly scraped her teeth down to the heel of his thumb. She nipped softly at it for a moment, then repeated her motions to his other hand.
Spike purred loudly, and attempted to grab her, to pull her closer. A happy moan escaped his lips.
She let him, liking being near him. She looked at her new position. Gracelessly hauled up against him, her face squished against his neck. She made the best of her situation, biting softly at it, licking and sucking at his neck gently.
He purred happily, and nuzzled her with his cheek. He moaned again. "Luv? If you have to win everytime... can you please do it like this? As opposed to tickling me senseless."
She laughed on an out-going breath, looked in his half-lidded eyes. She licked her lips, started to say something. Stopped, smiled softly.
He glanced at her, not opening his eyes anymore, so as not to remove the blissful mood he was in. "What?"
"I was gonna ask if you've been drinking, or if I really do that. But I don't care. I'm gonna think I do."
He chuckled. "Nope. I haven't had a drink in over two weeks. And I haven't smoked since I got my soul."
She nodded. "I know. It's missing from your scent..." She ran a finger down his chest thoughtfully. "Just me? Really?"
He shivered pleasurably at her touch. "Only you."
Her own eyes heated at his voice, but she steadied herself. "What's the other noise?"
"Other noise?"
She shrugged. "Cricket... baby-bird noise?"
He chuckled. "You won't believe me, but I was trying to talk to you. It was just coming out in vampiric."
She traced small patterns on the upper part of his chest, now shy and curious. "What were you saying?"
He closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of her fingers on his chest. "Just that I loved what you were doing, and that I didn't want you to stop. And that I love you. Just your basic love starved vampire stuff."
She inched up on his lap, closer to him. "Say my name."
"Huh? Buffy."
She shook her head, smiling. "Vampiric... and... slayer."
"Oh." Happy chirpy noise, followed by a snorting growl.
She laughed. "Say... I love you, don't stop touching me."
He chuckled, then let out a string of crossed purr/chirps, ending in a loud clicking noise.
She frowned. "You are mine. No one will have you but me."
He opened his eyes. "Uh, luv, that one ends in an action. I'd have to claim you to do it right. But here's the rest." Purring growl, followed by combined growling chirps.
She nodded. The sounds had echoed in her head when they'd slept together before. When he- She stopped her thoughts. "That's neat."
He laughed. "It's nothing. The whole language is instinctive. And it's different for the different families. Not so different that they can't understand each other, mind you, but different enough. Like an accent."
She nodded. "Oh."
"Anything else?"
She thought hard. Any other things he had murmured? "I hate loving you? Or... um.. I hate you."
He cocked his head to the side. "Huh? Why?"
She shrugged. "Just curious."
He looked at her. "Ok. Uh, the "I hate you" would go like this..." A long, deep growl, punctuated by multiple snorts.
She nodded. She had heard THAT in early fights from time to time.
He thought. " 'I hate loving you', hmm? I'm not even sure how to do that. It's kind of strange. I guess..." Deep growl, two snorts, high pitched purring chirp.
She jerked her head to the side. Vaguely familiar... but not from his lips. She shook her head. "I guess that's it."
He chuckled. "Writing a vampiric to English dictionary, luv?"
She grinned. "I just wanna know when you backtalk me."
He laughed. "Oh, believe me, if I had something mean to say about you, I would say it in English." He cocked his head. "Were you testing me? To see what I'd said before?"
She looked in his eyes. "I wanted to know what you've said."
He smiled. "And what did you find out?"
Jerky smile. "Enough."
He nodded. "Who said that they hated loving you? I caught a flash of recognition on that one."
She gave a careless smile. "Angel."
Spike snarled. "The bloody BASTARD!! I'll tear him apart." Followed by a string of vampiric curse words. All low growls and snorts.
She saw his forehead start to turn and his eyes flash yellow, so she nuzzled his neck gently.
Spike calmed slightly, but continued muttering in two languages. "How dare he.." Growl/snort. "Ever say anything to you like that.. the .." Loud snarling growl/snort.
She ran her hands over his arms. "It's all right... " Framed his face with her hands. "It doesn't matter anymore, Spike."
"Bloody.." Growl. ".. it doesn't." His eyes flashed again.
The thoughts pouring from him were a jumble, and they were confusing her. "Really.... Spike, stop. It doesn't matter." A high wave of violence rose in her. That was what the turning felt like....
"Yes it does.. He never EVER should have said that. Loving you is a privilege that he's not worthy of."
She smiled, slightly disoriented. "That's sweet."
He was vamped now, still muttering through his fangs. He paused, looked at her. "Sweet?"
Her eyes were quite filmed over, her brain felt fuzzy. "Hm?"
He shook his head, returning to normal. "Luv, are you okay?"
Everything was more sensitive now... hearing, smell, her own heart beat- it stopped. She took a deep breath. "Yeah. Fine."
He looked concerned. "What happened?"
She cocked her head to the side. "I... felt it..."
"Felt what?"
"The anger, and... and violence, and... I could smell my own blood, and hear my own blood..."
Spike drew in a breath. She had felt him vamp out, as if it had been her. "Sorry, luv. I won't do it again. Just got kind of mad there. Are you alright now?"
She looked at him. "I could smell you wanting me... and wanting Angel dead."
He swallowed. "You... smelled that? Luv, can I try something?"
She snapped herself out of the daze she was in. "Sure."
"Ok. Tell me if you don't want to do this. I'm gonna vamp out, and then say something in vampiric. I want you to tell me what I said, ok?"
She swallowed. "O-ok."
"You're sure that you want to do this? You can control it? The bloodlust, I mean. I don't want you trying to bite yourself."
She was confused. "Bite myself?"
"You're the only living thing in here, besides Harm, and I don't know where he is. If it gets strong, the instinct is to bite the closest living thing, in this case, you. I don't want you taking a chunk out of your arm."
She nodded. "Will you- hold my hands, just in case?"
"Good idea." He gently took her hands. "Ready?"
She licked her lips slowly. "Ok."
Spike took a deep breath, and changed. His teeth lengthening into fangs, his forehead going bumpy, his blue eyes changing to a glowing yellow/gold. "How you doin' so far, luv?"
Her senses were overloading. She could smell him, and her, and Dawn from yesterday, hear everything... Her blood, the dead blood in his veins...
"Come on, Slayer. Talk to me."
She whimpered softly. "Ok..."
"I can shake it off if you want to stop."
She shook her head. "Go."
He nodded, and released a string of highpitched chirp/purrs, trying to calm her. *It's ok, luv,* he said. *I'm still here. I love you.*
She swallowed. "Promise you love me?"
"*I promise with all my undead heart.*"
She panted slowly, her mouth hanging partway open. "Ok..." Her hands tightened into fists. "I'm hungry."
"*That's cause I'm hungry.*"
She sniffed. "I can smell me in you."
"*Me too, luv.*"
She bit her lip, hard. "How do you stand this? It's so much."
"*What in particular?*"
Her bottom lip started to bleed. "Smells. Sound... I can hear the fridge upstairs. I can smell the blood we didn't clean off the floor."
"*I know, luv. Try to focus.*"
She licked at the blood beading on her lip. "On what?"
He gently took both her hands in one of his and wiped her lip with the other. "*Remember, it's like this for me all the time. Not just when I'm vamped. What's different for you?*"
"There's so much... So many memories."
"*Memories?*" This was unexpected.
"And..." Her eyes crashed shut. "God. You did Harm on the couch??"
He chuckle/purred. "*Only once. It was convenient. I'm talking physical. For instance, can you see any better than before?*"
Her eyes opened, swung around the room. "Colors are sharper. Dark isn't so dark."
"*Look at your wrist.*"
Her lip was still bleeding. She licked at it again. Glanced at her wrist. Saw every vein in it, lightly clouded by her skin.
"*That's why vamps don't miss. You're a walking roadmap.*"
She took a deep breath, licked her lips again. "Tastes... not like copper."
"*Oh?*"
"Burns like.. whiskey... but... honeyed... sweet... warm...."
"*Yeah. Now you're getting it.*"
She leaned forward, licked at his neck.
"You taste different... Deeper."
Spike made a quiet gurgling sound. "*Oh?*"
She licked again, sniffed. "Me in you..."
"*Always,*" he replied instinctively.
She bit down sharply on his neck, lapped at the blood. "*You in me...*"
"*Forever,*" Spike replied, closing his eyes, completing the instinctively ingrained ceremony. She had claimed him.
She sucked at his neck, licking at the rapidly healing cut. "Better than me...." She took a deep breath. "Your blood tastes better than mine..."
Spike opened his eyes, looked at her. Had what he just thought happened actually happened? He shook off the vampire visage. "Are you okay, luv?"
Her eyes slowly took on their normal hue and size. Her senses slowly dulled, and she pulled in shallow breathes.
He rubbed her shoulders. "Hey, you in there, Slayer?"
She looked at him. "All the time? You're like this all the time?"
He chuckled ruefully. "Yep."
She licked her lips again, her blood still tasted different to her. "I'll never-" Her eyes riveted on his neck. "Oh my God. I bit you."
"Yeah. And? It's normal."
She was still shaky. "How is biting you normal? I'm... a person..."
"You've never seen a claiming before? Cause you did the ritual perfectly. Even spoke in vampiric for a moment."
Her stomach felt tight. Fluttery. "That- that's not how... you claim someone."
"For a vampire, it is."
She shook her head. "No. Angel claimed me. It.... it hurts, and it almost killed me." She didn't like that she liked the way her stomach was feeling.
Spike growled. "That wasn't a claim out of love. It was a claim out of necessity. He needed your blood to live."
She laid a hand on the scar she had left. "He didn't have to claim me to suck my blood."
"If a claim is out of love, not only does it not hurt, it feels good. For both parties." He looked at her. "You're right. He didn't. Don't know why he did, unless it was a reflex."
She ran her finger lightly over his scar. "I... claimed you."
"Yeah. I'm all yours, luv." He purred. "*Always and forever.*"
She shook her head. "I can't... I don't understand that unless your vamped out..." 'Always... f....ever' "Always, forever?" The translation was slower now to her, but there.
He cocked his head. "You understood that?"
"I... Yes... Parts...." She shook her head. "It wasn't as easy as before."
"Try this.." "*I love you, Buffy Anne Summers.*"
She puzzled. "I...love you." She smiled. "That's what my name sounds like?"
He grinned. "Yeah. That's you. Lots and lots of purring and chirping. Kind of how you make me feel inside. Like a little kitten."
She smiled wearily. "Spike..."
"Yeah?"
"What.. I don't understand everything about the claim... is it... dangerous?"
He shook his head. "Not for you. It just means that I will protect you with my life. So not much has changed. Apparently, it also allows you to understand my vampiric. Although I doubt that you'll understand anyone else's."
"Should... should we tell Giles?" She shook her head. "No."
He chuckled, then yawned. "Answering your own questions, huh, luv?"
"Do you... have to claim me?"
He thought. "I could. But it would give you a compulsion to be with me constantly, and that you'd protect me like I protect you. But I think you already do that."
She was weary. Being him for such a time had taken it all out of her. It hit her hard. The drain on her system. "Do we have to decide now?"
Spike yawned again. "I'd hope not. I'm liable to fall asleep in the middle. You want the bed?"
She stood and took his hand. "Can we share?"
He smiled. "If you want." They walked to the bed together and laid down. "Slayer?"
"Hm?"
"Do you snore?"
Her eyes were drooping, and it took all her strength to give him a half smile and snort at him. "You better hope not."
"What are you reading, Buffy?", Giles asked suddenly. How long had he been behind her?!
She jumped. "Hey, Giles. Just... um.. ancient texts. It was laying out." She shrugged. "Didn't have a magazine..."
He looked over her shoulder. "Cloaking spells?"
She shrugged again. "Sounded cool. But not... 'I'd do the spell' cool... Just... spiffy."
Giles chuckled. "Buffy, you never cease to surprise me. But you don't need to read that. It's all about spells that involve blood. Some of them can be very powerful, even dangerous."
"Really? Wow. Hadn't gotten that far. Dangerous?"
"Certain blood oriented spells have things tied up in them. Bonds, mental links, things that are impossible to break. It could drive a person insane." He smiled at her. "But I suppose that I don't need to tell you this. After all, there wouldn't be any need to use such a spell around here."
"Right. And we know better than to mess around with magic now anyway."
Giles chuckled again. "Quite. I believe we've all had quite enough of that sort of thing for awhile." He walked past her, picking up another book on the way, a book on vampires. "Oh, and I thought you might want this. To help you with Spike."
She glanced at it. "The title is in... um... not English, Giles... How...?"
"Spike should be able to read it. It's in vampiric. But there is a way to translate it to English, if you don't want him to see how concerned you are."
She nodded. "That one."
Giles took the book back and headed for the back room. "I'll be right back."
"Ok." As he walked to the back, she sat in relief. Oh man... close close close....
A moment later, Giles returned, carrying two books. One was the old one, in vampiric, and the other one was in English. "An Encyclopedia of Vampires, and All Things Pertaining To Them", it said. "Here you go, Buffy. There's a lot of stuff that's mostly boring, but there's some parts on healing, and things that vampires like and dislike. Of course, it's impersonal, every vampire is different, but I hope it helps."
She smiled, and stood. She gave him a hug and a small kiss. "You're being really great."
She smiled, hugged him again. "That, I guess. Thanks, Dad. I'm gonna get crackin on my boyfriend wanna-be." She waved the text at him and walked out the door.
Giles waved back and watched her go.
==============================================
Spike sat on the couch, watching the last few minutes of Passions. It was a rerun, and not a particularly interesting episode, so he was fighting dozing off.
Buffy sounded a knock at the crypt door, wondering why she did when she barely ever got an answer.
Spike started and nearly fell off the couch. "Come in?", he said, resituating himself.
Buffy went to the stairs, made her way down. "Hey Gimpy."
"..grrr.. Don't call me that."
He shook his head. "A whole lot of nothing. You just missed Passions."
She shook her head. "Darn."
"Once more, with feeling. Make me believe it, Slayer."
She shuddered. "Why must you haunt me with that?"
He chuckled. "It wasn't exactly my idea of a fun week either, luv."
"Yeah, yeah. How's the ribs?"
He made a face. "Annoying. Making little grindy noises when I bend over. Hurts a bit, too."
She smacked his shoulder. "Hello? Not supposed to bend over."
"Ow!"
"Part of the whole, stay still so it'll heal, you sack of stupid!"
Spike gave her an indignant look, then laughed. "May I just say that your insults do not carry the sting that they once did?"
She stuck her nose in the air. "Whatever. You don't even sling them anymore."
"Thorn."
She snorted. "See? That sucked."
"It has sentimental value."
"I happen to remember one Chippy trying to bite someone." She made retarded sucking noises, then started chanting, "I think I can... I think I can..."
He growled. "Ok, I've got one, then." He paused for effect, also to weigh if the definite possibility of her hitting him was worth the insult. It fit. "Slutty the Vampire Layer."
She stopped, mid-retarded sucking noise, hand poised in the position. Blinked.
He grinned. "Ha. I win."
She pouted. "I hate you."
"I love you too, honey."
She glared, shoved a hand to his shoulder. Her eyes gleamed. "William the Bloody, one fourth the Scourge of Europe... at a tea-party with Ms. Edith...."
Spike stared at her. "I never attended tea parties with dolls."
She glanced at him thoughtfully. "Did Dru ever have you wear a dress to cake and a cuppa?"
Spike snarled. "You're pushing it, Slayer."
She tapped her chin. "Then I must be close.... Bonnet, maybe?"
He growled again. "Keep going, and you're going to regret it."
She snapped her fingers. "Pantyhose with garters? Cuz that's the stuff grudges are made of. Slip? Heels? Come on. Let me know."
Spike let out a roar and threw a leg over her lap, effectively pinning her to the couch. He quickly went for the spots that she had shown him the week before. The indents of her hips, both sides at once.
She squealed. "FISHNETS!!!!!!"
He snarled playfully. "I'll show you fishnets.." He continued his tickling, moving up to her ribs on one side, continuing on her hip with the other.
She squirmed helplessly, laughing.
"Now, say 'Spike doesn't wear girl clothes'.." He moved the hand that was on her ribs to her stomach, just above the bellybutton, a weak spot that they shared.
"Spike..." She snorted, tossed her hips. "Wears a girdle."
Spike didn't mean to laugh at that, but he did. "Spike... doesn't... wear... girl clothes... Say it, Slayer, or you'll die laughing." But he hadn't taken their bond into account. Even as he tickled, HE was beginning to feel it.
She tossed her hips again, laughing. "He..." Snicker. "doesn't...."
Spike laughed slightly, trying to concentrate despite the feeling of phantom fingers tickling his stomach. "Yeah? Come on."
"He.... wears..." She kept squirming, kind of forgetting their alignment. Laughed again. "Ladies clothes..."
Spike snorted, and moved his leg slightly, getting better leverage. "Try again..." This was followed by a snort of laughter.
She finally got it... she laid still and let him tickle her.
Spike was fighting hard now. With her not moving, it had gotten ten times worse. He snorted and laughed, trying to concentrate. It wouldn't take much to make him crack, and he hoped that she didn't see that.
She chose his indecisive moment to pounce. She rolled, switching their positions. Now she was straddling his lap. She had grabbed his hands in the transition, now pinning them at his sides. She moved them slowly up, so they were over his head. Easier to keep an eye on.
"HEY!", he yelped. "What're you doing?"
She laughed. "Winning." She leaned forward and nipped at his collarbone, hoping she had read the book correctly.
Spike's eyes got wide, and then crossed. What was she doing to him?
She recalled the text in her mind. 'Sensitive to medium stimulation in the neck, and collarbone. Hands, ribs.' She moved her thumbs where they were caught in his closed palms, massaging lightly.
Spike fought it for a moment, then began to purr, his body relaxing against his will.
She kept her thumbs moving, and nuzzled his neck, choosing to ignore his ribs until they healed.
Spike relaxed completely, and let out a strange chirping sound, like a baby bird.
She kissed across his collarbone, looked at him.
His eyes were closed, and the purr was coming from deep in his chest, along with more of those chirping/chittering sounds.
Buffy let his hands go, but brought one to her lips.
Spike cracked one eye, looking up at Buffy. "What's.. what're you doin'?", he slurred out. It was almost like he was drunk on the pleasure that she was giving him.
She started at his wrist, kissing it gently, moving over his hand, making his fingers straight. At the tip of his middle finger, she softly scraped her teeth down to the heel of his thumb. She nipped softly at it for a moment, then repeated her motions to his other hand.
Spike purred loudly, and attempted to grab her, to pull her closer. A happy moan escaped his lips.
She let him, liking being near him. She looked at her new position. Gracelessly hauled up against him, her face squished against his neck. She made the best of her situation, biting softly at it, licking and sucking at his neck gently.
He purred happily, and nuzzled her with his cheek. He moaned again. "Luv? If you have to win everytime... can you please do it like this? As opposed to tickling me senseless."
She laughed on an out-going breath, looked in his half-lidded eyes. She licked her lips, started to say something. Stopped, smiled softly.
He glanced at her, not opening his eyes anymore, so as not to remove the blissful mood he was in. "What?"
"I was gonna ask if you've been drinking, or if I really do that. But I don't care. I'm gonna think I do."
He chuckled. "Nope. I haven't had a drink in over two weeks. And I haven't smoked since I got my soul."
She nodded. "I know. It's missing from your scent..." She ran a finger down his chest thoughtfully. "Just me? Really?"
He shivered pleasurably at her touch. "Only you."
Her own eyes heated at his voice, but she steadied herself. "What's the other noise?"
"Other noise?"
She shrugged. "Cricket... baby-bird noise?"
He chuckled. "You won't believe me, but I was trying to talk to you. It was just coming out in vampiric."
She traced small patterns on the upper part of his chest, now shy and curious. "What were you saying?"
He closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of her fingers on his chest. "Just that I loved what you were doing, and that I didn't want you to stop. And that I love you. Just your basic love starved vampire stuff."
She inched up on his lap, closer to him. "Say my name."
"Huh? Buffy."
She shook her head, smiling. "Vampiric... and... slayer."
"Oh." Happy chirpy noise, followed by a snorting growl.
She laughed. "Say... I love you, don't stop touching me."
He chuckled, then let out a string of crossed purr/chirps, ending in a loud clicking noise.
She frowned. "You are mine. No one will have you but me."
He opened his eyes. "Uh, luv, that one ends in an action. I'd have to claim you to do it right. But here's the rest." Purring growl, followed by combined growling chirps.
She nodded. The sounds had echoed in her head when they'd slept together before. When he- She stopped her thoughts. "That's neat."
He laughed. "It's nothing. The whole language is instinctive. And it's different for the different families. Not so different that they can't understand each other, mind you, but different enough. Like an accent."
She nodded. "Oh."
"Anything else?"
She thought hard. Any other things he had murmured? "I hate loving you? Or... um.. I hate you."
He cocked his head to the side. "Huh? Why?"
She shrugged. "Just curious."
He looked at her. "Ok. Uh, the "I hate you" would go like this..." A long, deep growl, punctuated by multiple snorts.
She nodded. She had heard THAT in early fights from time to time.
He thought. " 'I hate loving you', hmm? I'm not even sure how to do that. It's kind of strange. I guess..." Deep growl, two snorts, high pitched purring chirp.
She jerked her head to the side. Vaguely familiar... but not from his lips. She shook her head. "I guess that's it."
He chuckled. "Writing a vampiric to English dictionary, luv?"
She grinned. "I just wanna know when you backtalk me."
He laughed. "Oh, believe me, if I had something mean to say about you, I would say it in English." He cocked his head. "Were you testing me? To see what I'd said before?"
She looked in his eyes. "I wanted to know what you've said."
He smiled. "And what did you find out?"
Jerky smile. "Enough."
He nodded. "Who said that they hated loving you? I caught a flash of recognition on that one."
She gave a careless smile. "Angel."
Spike snarled. "The bloody BASTARD!! I'll tear him apart." Followed by a string of vampiric curse words. All low growls and snorts.
She saw his forehead start to turn and his eyes flash yellow, so she nuzzled his neck gently.
Spike calmed slightly, but continued muttering in two languages. "How dare he.." Growl/snort. "Ever say anything to you like that.. the .." Loud snarling growl/snort.
She ran her hands over his arms. "It's all right... " Framed his face with her hands. "It doesn't matter anymore, Spike."
"Bloody.." Growl. ".. it doesn't." His eyes flashed again.
The thoughts pouring from him were a jumble, and they were confusing her. "Really.... Spike, stop. It doesn't matter." A high wave of violence rose in her. That was what the turning felt like....
"Yes it does.. He never EVER should have said that. Loving you is a privilege that he's not worthy of."
She smiled, slightly disoriented. "That's sweet."
He was vamped now, still muttering through his fangs. He paused, looked at her. "Sweet?"
Her eyes were quite filmed over, her brain felt fuzzy. "Hm?"
He shook his head, returning to normal. "Luv, are you okay?"
Everything was more sensitive now... hearing, smell, her own heart beat- it stopped. She took a deep breath. "Yeah. Fine."
He looked concerned. "What happened?"
She cocked her head to the side. "I... felt it..."
"Felt what?"
"The anger, and... and violence, and... I could smell my own blood, and hear my own blood..."
Spike drew in a breath. She had felt him vamp out, as if it had been her. "Sorry, luv. I won't do it again. Just got kind of mad there. Are you alright now?"
She looked at him. "I could smell you wanting me... and wanting Angel dead."
He swallowed. "You... smelled that? Luv, can I try something?"
She snapped herself out of the daze she was in. "Sure."
"Ok. Tell me if you don't want to do this. I'm gonna vamp out, and then say something in vampiric. I want you to tell me what I said, ok?"
She swallowed. "O-ok."
"You're sure that you want to do this? You can control it? The bloodlust, I mean. I don't want you trying to bite yourself."
She was confused. "Bite myself?"
"You're the only living thing in here, besides Harm, and I don't know where he is. If it gets strong, the instinct is to bite the closest living thing, in this case, you. I don't want you taking a chunk out of your arm."
She nodded. "Will you- hold my hands, just in case?"
"Good idea." He gently took her hands. "Ready?"
She licked her lips slowly. "Ok."
Spike took a deep breath, and changed. His teeth lengthening into fangs, his forehead going bumpy, his blue eyes changing to a glowing yellow/gold. "How you doin' so far, luv?"
Her senses were overloading. She could smell him, and her, and Dawn from yesterday, hear everything... Her blood, the dead blood in his veins...
"Come on, Slayer. Talk to me."
She whimpered softly. "Ok..."
"I can shake it off if you want to stop."
She shook her head. "Go."
He nodded, and released a string of highpitched chirp/purrs, trying to calm her. *It's ok, luv,* he said. *I'm still here. I love you.*
She swallowed. "Promise you love me?"
"*I promise with all my undead heart.*"
She panted slowly, her mouth hanging partway open. "Ok..." Her hands tightened into fists. "I'm hungry."
"*That's cause I'm hungry.*"
She sniffed. "I can smell me in you."
"*Me too, luv.*"
She bit her lip, hard. "How do you stand this? It's so much."
"*What in particular?*"
Her bottom lip started to bleed. "Smells. Sound... I can hear the fridge upstairs. I can smell the blood we didn't clean off the floor."
"*I know, luv. Try to focus.*"
She licked at the blood beading on her lip. "On what?"
He gently took both her hands in one of his and wiped her lip with the other. "*Remember, it's like this for me all the time. Not just when I'm vamped. What's different for you?*"
"There's so much... So many memories."
"*Memories?*" This was unexpected.
"And..." Her eyes crashed shut. "God. You did Harm on the couch??"
He chuckle/purred. "*Only once. It was convenient. I'm talking physical. For instance, can you see any better than before?*"
Her eyes opened, swung around the room. "Colors are sharper. Dark isn't so dark."
"*Look at your wrist.*"
Her lip was still bleeding. She licked at it again. Glanced at her wrist. Saw every vein in it, lightly clouded by her skin.
"*That's why vamps don't miss. You're a walking roadmap.*"
She took a deep breath, licked her lips again. "Tastes... not like copper."
"*Oh?*"
"Burns like.. whiskey... but... honeyed... sweet... warm...."
"*Yeah. Now you're getting it.*"
She leaned forward, licked at his neck.
"You taste different... Deeper."
Spike made a quiet gurgling sound. "*Oh?*"
She licked again, sniffed. "Me in you..."
"*Always,*" he replied instinctively.
She bit down sharply on his neck, lapped at the blood. "*You in me...*"
"*Forever,*" Spike replied, closing his eyes, completing the instinctively ingrained ceremony. She had claimed him.
She sucked at his neck, licking at the rapidly healing cut. "Better than me...." She took a deep breath. "Your blood tastes better than mine..."
Spike opened his eyes, looked at her. Had what he just thought happened actually happened? He shook off the vampire visage. "Are you okay, luv?"
Her eyes slowly took on their normal hue and size. Her senses slowly dulled, and she pulled in shallow breathes.
He rubbed her shoulders. "Hey, you in there, Slayer?"
She looked at him. "All the time? You're like this all the time?"
He chuckled ruefully. "Yep."
She licked her lips again, her blood still tasted different to her. "I'll never-" Her eyes riveted on his neck. "Oh my God. I bit you."
"Yeah. And? It's normal."
She was still shaky. "How is biting you normal? I'm... a person..."
"You've never seen a claiming before? Cause you did the ritual perfectly. Even spoke in vampiric for a moment."
Her stomach felt tight. Fluttery. "That- that's not how... you claim someone."
"For a vampire, it is."
She shook her head. "No. Angel claimed me. It.... it hurts, and it almost killed me." She didn't like that she liked the way her stomach was feeling.
Spike growled. "That wasn't a claim out of love. It was a claim out of necessity. He needed your blood to live."
She laid a hand on the scar she had left. "He didn't have to claim me to suck my blood."
"If a claim is out of love, not only does it not hurt, it feels good. For both parties." He looked at her. "You're right. He didn't. Don't know why he did, unless it was a reflex."
She ran her finger lightly over his scar. "I... claimed you."
"Yeah. I'm all yours, luv." He purred. "*Always and forever.*"
She shook her head. "I can't... I don't understand that unless your vamped out..." 'Always... f....ever' "Always, forever?" The translation was slower now to her, but there.
He cocked his head. "You understood that?"
"I... Yes... Parts...." She shook her head. "It wasn't as easy as before."
"Try this.." "*I love you, Buffy Anne Summers.*"
She puzzled. "I...love you." She smiled. "That's what my name sounds like?"
He grinned. "Yeah. That's you. Lots and lots of purring and chirping. Kind of how you make me feel inside. Like a little kitten."
She smiled wearily. "Spike..."
"Yeah?"
"What.. I don't understand everything about the claim... is it... dangerous?"
He shook his head. "Not for you. It just means that I will protect you with my life. So not much has changed. Apparently, it also allows you to understand my vampiric. Although I doubt that you'll understand anyone else's."
"Should... should we tell Giles?" She shook her head. "No."
He chuckled, then yawned. "Answering your own questions, huh, luv?"
"Do you... have to claim me?"
He thought. "I could. But it would give you a compulsion to be with me constantly, and that you'd protect me like I protect you. But I think you already do that."
She was weary. Being him for such a time had taken it all out of her. It hit her hard. The drain on her system. "Do we have to decide now?"
Spike yawned again. "I'd hope not. I'm liable to fall asleep in the middle. You want the bed?"
She stood and took his hand. "Can we share?"
He smiled. "If you want." They walked to the bed together and laid down. "Slayer?"
"Hm?"
"Do you snore?"
Her eyes were drooping, and it took all her strength to give him a half smile and snort at him. "You better hope not."