Title: A Passing Shadow: Book II: A Trick of the Light: Chapter 3.
Author: VicNoir
Rating: R
Disclaimers, etc.: please see previous chapters
You remember a while back--must be near a year ago, now--when she came to me askin' 'bout how I did those other Slayers? Remember what I told her, 'bout how they had a death wish, an' how she had one too? An' how I was just waitin' for my one good day?
Rot. Every syllable. Girl never had a death wish-at least, not then. She wasn't anywhere near ready to dance, an' I knew it.
But a great bloody lot's happened since then, an' when Giles dropped it on her-no prelude, just "guess what, ducks, they're comin' for you"-I saw somethin' in her face I'd seen before, but not in her.
You'd be amazed how many seek it out, you know. Crikey, it's not like we can hunt at high noon in the middle of soddin' Epcot. Cover of darkness an' lonely, miserable spots are the way of it. An' yet there's never a shortage of folks amblin' by like they've all the time in the world an' no place better to spend it than in an alleyway at 3 AM on a moonless night. Can't tell me they're not lookin' for it.
I've seen such expressions of relief on the faces my meals. An' I'm not talkin' 'bout cancer patients, either. I mean young, pretty people with most everythin' to live for an' a death-jones so strong they were practically beggin' me to take 'em out. An' being the generous bloke I am, I never did disappoint.
Whatever boogedies chased 'em into my arms, they must've been a sight scarier than my grrr an' argh an' bumpy forehead deal.
An' that's what I saw in her face in that moment, when the Watcher told her. Just a flicker of it. I doubted it, at first, mostly 'cause my eyes were still a bit foggy, but with the way it played out...
But I'm gettin' ahead o' myself.
Except for that one little look of yearnin' I caught, the Slayer played it real cool. Didn't seem disturbed by the news at all. In fact, I got the idea she was lookin' forward to a nice spot of violence. I know I was.
Her Watcher did his bleedin' best to terrify her, of course, 'cause that's the job description: incite panic whenever possible. But she wasn't bitin' an' I was right proud of her for it.
"So tell me, Giles, does your book say whether the bad guys win this time? I mean, should I consider taking out some life insurance? But maybe not, huh? Bet the premiums would be huge, with my track record."
"This is hardly the time for humor, Buffy. You must be ready--"
"Bring it on. I just want to know where I stand. So tell me what the book says about my chances."
Watcher had his specs off again. "The prophecy is unclear as to the outcome of the battle. It states only that the legions of darkness will continue to rise against you until balance has been restored."
Rupert nattered on a bit more, but she wasn't hearing him.
"Buffy? I...I should go."
"Where? Back to England?"
"No! No, I meant I should go back to my hotel room. I'm expecting a call from the Council at any time with new information."
"Oh. The Council. Give them my love, won't you?"
"Er...yes, of course..." He backed out of the room, lookin' like maybe he'd had somethin' more to say.
An' then we were by ourselves, for the first time since the night I staked Dru. Made me a bit twitchy, bein' alone with her, but she didn't seem bothered by it.
"Slayer?"
She jumped an' that's when I realized she'd forgotten I was there.
Once upon a time, I was the Big Bad. No mortal ever forgot me--if he lived to recall encounterin' me in the first place. But right then I felt about as memorable as the soddin' sofa upon which she was resting her pretty arse.
"Yeah? I mean, what?" I forgave her, of course, 'cause she was lookin' a might pole-axed from the recent revelations.
"Tell me, pet, d'you ever get weary of hearin' the news of your imminent demise?" Tryin' to keep the atmosphere light, you understand. She gave me a half-smile that I couldn't read right off.
"Yeah, I do. Especially when there's nothing I can do but sit around and wait for them to come for me."
"Don't worry, Slayer--the Watcher an' the witches'll get it all sorted out. It's not like we haven't faced hell before."
"We? WE? When did WE face hell, Spike? Isn't it pretty much always just ME?"
Wasn't expectin' a temper tantrum, but it was a bloody sight better'n the pinin'-for-death routine, so I gave it a go.
"Feelin' sorry for yourself, Slayer? That's not like you. Must be gettin' soft."
"Oh, look who's talking--the Self Pity King. Feel sorry for me, take care of me, I can't bite, I can't see, I can't--"
"You wanna shut your soddin' mouth, Slayer." I had her by the arms an' dragged her up 'til we were nose to nose. Any second I was expectin' the bloody chip to fry me, but it barely squeaked. An' when I caught the scent of her, I knew why.
I dropped her an' backed away.
Sad, inn'it? How long have I been chasin' Slayer's tail? Longer than you might think. An' every instinct my demon ever had was screamin' at me to take what she was offering.
Couldn't do it. Felt wrong.
Now, I know what you're thinkin'. You're thinkin' that with all the time I've spent with the White Hats, an' playin' for the home team, I must be growing a soul or some such piffle. I'm not. I'd know if I was about to turn into some lame clone of the Great Pouf. I'd know--an' I'd stake myself.
Just so we're clear.
So I'm backin' away an' she starts comin' at me, an' for all that she smells like a cat in heat, she's comin' with a kick to my head. An' that's fine by me.
We ranged all 'round that room. Broke all but one lamp an' Buffy put a hole in the wall over the telly. 'Course, she kicked the shit outta me, an' I never put a hand on her, but that was fine.
It finished with me sprawled on my arse an' her with a stake at my heart--a favorite position of mine. She held it there for a count of three an'--match over.
"I'm out of shape. That wasn't as easy as it should've been."
"Gettin' old, Slayer. Past your prime." Got an elbow in the gut for that one.
"Do you want to--would you train with me? I mean, I've got to get ready for whatever's coming."
Speechless twice in two hours--a personal record. "Er...."
"I mean, you don't have to--but I thought you might want to start earning your keep around here."
"Right. As if my wit an' charm weren't compensation enough."
"Tomorrow? Sundown?"
"Where?"
"My basement. Be prepared to hurt, Spike." She gave me her best cheerleader smile an' then she was out the door.
"Hurt's all I do 'round you, pet."
She was right. I'd turned into quite the wanker--who else would actually say somethin' like that out loud?
tbc
Author: VicNoir
Rating: R
Disclaimers, etc.: please see previous chapters
You remember a while back--must be near a year ago, now--when she came to me askin' 'bout how I did those other Slayers? Remember what I told her, 'bout how they had a death wish, an' how she had one too? An' how I was just waitin' for my one good day?
Rot. Every syllable. Girl never had a death wish-at least, not then. She wasn't anywhere near ready to dance, an' I knew it.
But a great bloody lot's happened since then, an' when Giles dropped it on her-no prelude, just "guess what, ducks, they're comin' for you"-I saw somethin' in her face I'd seen before, but not in her.
You'd be amazed how many seek it out, you know. Crikey, it's not like we can hunt at high noon in the middle of soddin' Epcot. Cover of darkness an' lonely, miserable spots are the way of it. An' yet there's never a shortage of folks amblin' by like they've all the time in the world an' no place better to spend it than in an alleyway at 3 AM on a moonless night. Can't tell me they're not lookin' for it.
I've seen such expressions of relief on the faces my meals. An' I'm not talkin' 'bout cancer patients, either. I mean young, pretty people with most everythin' to live for an' a death-jones so strong they were practically beggin' me to take 'em out. An' being the generous bloke I am, I never did disappoint.
Whatever boogedies chased 'em into my arms, they must've been a sight scarier than my grrr an' argh an' bumpy forehead deal.
An' that's what I saw in her face in that moment, when the Watcher told her. Just a flicker of it. I doubted it, at first, mostly 'cause my eyes were still a bit foggy, but with the way it played out...
But I'm gettin' ahead o' myself.
Except for that one little look of yearnin' I caught, the Slayer played it real cool. Didn't seem disturbed by the news at all. In fact, I got the idea she was lookin' forward to a nice spot of violence. I know I was.
Her Watcher did his bleedin' best to terrify her, of course, 'cause that's the job description: incite panic whenever possible. But she wasn't bitin' an' I was right proud of her for it.
"So tell me, Giles, does your book say whether the bad guys win this time? I mean, should I consider taking out some life insurance? But maybe not, huh? Bet the premiums would be huge, with my track record."
"This is hardly the time for humor, Buffy. You must be ready--"
"Bring it on. I just want to know where I stand. So tell me what the book says about my chances."
Watcher had his specs off again. "The prophecy is unclear as to the outcome of the battle. It states only that the legions of darkness will continue to rise against you until balance has been restored."
Rupert nattered on a bit more, but she wasn't hearing him.
"Buffy? I...I should go."
"Where? Back to England?"
"No! No, I meant I should go back to my hotel room. I'm expecting a call from the Council at any time with new information."
"Oh. The Council. Give them my love, won't you?"
"Er...yes, of course..." He backed out of the room, lookin' like maybe he'd had somethin' more to say.
An' then we were by ourselves, for the first time since the night I staked Dru. Made me a bit twitchy, bein' alone with her, but she didn't seem bothered by it.
"Slayer?"
She jumped an' that's when I realized she'd forgotten I was there.
Once upon a time, I was the Big Bad. No mortal ever forgot me--if he lived to recall encounterin' me in the first place. But right then I felt about as memorable as the soddin' sofa upon which she was resting her pretty arse.
"Yeah? I mean, what?" I forgave her, of course, 'cause she was lookin' a might pole-axed from the recent revelations.
"Tell me, pet, d'you ever get weary of hearin' the news of your imminent demise?" Tryin' to keep the atmosphere light, you understand. She gave me a half-smile that I couldn't read right off.
"Yeah, I do. Especially when there's nothing I can do but sit around and wait for them to come for me."
"Don't worry, Slayer--the Watcher an' the witches'll get it all sorted out. It's not like we haven't faced hell before."
"We? WE? When did WE face hell, Spike? Isn't it pretty much always just ME?"
Wasn't expectin' a temper tantrum, but it was a bloody sight better'n the pinin'-for-death routine, so I gave it a go.
"Feelin' sorry for yourself, Slayer? That's not like you. Must be gettin' soft."
"Oh, look who's talking--the Self Pity King. Feel sorry for me, take care of me, I can't bite, I can't see, I can't--"
"You wanna shut your soddin' mouth, Slayer." I had her by the arms an' dragged her up 'til we were nose to nose. Any second I was expectin' the bloody chip to fry me, but it barely squeaked. An' when I caught the scent of her, I knew why.
I dropped her an' backed away.
Sad, inn'it? How long have I been chasin' Slayer's tail? Longer than you might think. An' every instinct my demon ever had was screamin' at me to take what she was offering.
Couldn't do it. Felt wrong.
Now, I know what you're thinkin'. You're thinkin' that with all the time I've spent with the White Hats, an' playin' for the home team, I must be growing a soul or some such piffle. I'm not. I'd know if I was about to turn into some lame clone of the Great Pouf. I'd know--an' I'd stake myself.
Just so we're clear.
So I'm backin' away an' she starts comin' at me, an' for all that she smells like a cat in heat, she's comin' with a kick to my head. An' that's fine by me.
We ranged all 'round that room. Broke all but one lamp an' Buffy put a hole in the wall over the telly. 'Course, she kicked the shit outta me, an' I never put a hand on her, but that was fine.
It finished with me sprawled on my arse an' her with a stake at my heart--a favorite position of mine. She held it there for a count of three an'--match over.
"I'm out of shape. That wasn't as easy as it should've been."
"Gettin' old, Slayer. Past your prime." Got an elbow in the gut for that one.
"Do you want to--would you train with me? I mean, I've got to get ready for whatever's coming."
Speechless twice in two hours--a personal record. "Er...."
"I mean, you don't have to--but I thought you might want to start earning your keep around here."
"Right. As if my wit an' charm weren't compensation enough."
"Tomorrow? Sundown?"
"Where?"
"My basement. Be prepared to hurt, Spike." She gave me her best cheerleader smile an' then she was out the door.
"Hurt's all I do 'round you, pet."
She was right. I'd turned into quite the wanker--who else would actually say somethin' like that out loud?
tbc