Title: A Passing Shadow: Book II: Trick of the Light: Chapter 6
Author: VicNoir
Rating: R
Disclaimers, etc: please see previous chapters
"I don't get it, Buffy--why're you so mad at Spike all of a sudden?"
"I'm not mad, Dawn. I just think it's time he moved back to his crypt. It's not like he's still wounded--he's fine. Believe me, he's fine. He's just taking advantage of the situation now, which is SO like him. I bet Willow agrees with me, don't you Will?"
Mighty hard to catch a good day's sleep 'round that place. Must've slipped their minds that I can hear quite well through a hollow door at ten paces.
"I don't know, Buffy. I mean, think of everything that's happened to him there--the whole scratching out of the eyes and the staking of Drusilla. It might be cruel to--"
"Cruel? We're talking about Spike here, remember? He loves cruel. He lives for cruel. It'll probably give him a huge, rock-hard happy."
"Buffy!"
"Sorry. He goes."
An' they'd have listened to her, of course, 'cause she's the Slayer, the Chosen One, the Big Bloody Bollocks 'round here. But I didn't intend to give 'em the chance to throw me out on my arse.
"Well, OK, but tomorrow, all right? I mean, tonight's the big celebration!"
"Celebration?"
"Yeah! Xander's finally finished his court-ordered community service for the whole lewd conduct thing. I know I told you about it--we're watching videos, and Tara's making bean dip, and you were supposed to bring the sparkling cider--don't you remember?
"Sorry, Will. Guess I got a little too caught up in the trivia of trying to stay alive."
It was a treat to know I wasn't the only one on the receivin' end of her sharp little tongue. Girl can be a right bitch when she's a mind to.
"So we're agreed? Spike can stay for the party?"
"Yeah, fine, whatever. If it means that much to you, he can stay one more night. But then it's back to the boneyard with the rest of the dead guys. I gotta go. See you later."
I heard the front door slam.
It'd only been six hours since the Debacle of the Morning Stiffy, an' already she'd written me off. Hell hath no fury an' all that rot. It proved to me that all of her sudden sweetness an' light was really about gettin' her nut off with the handiest male about. Drusilla'd been right--I was bein' kept as a pet, an' my mistress was about to send me to the pound. But not if I slipped my leash first.
"Spike? You awake?"
It was the Niblet, lookin' none too cheerful.
"You heard what Buffy said, didn't you?"
"I expect that was her intention, pet."
"I don't get why she's being such a bitch--"
"Here! That's no way to talk about your big sis, luv, even if--"
"Even if it's true?"
I was gonna miss the little chit. She was the most forthright human I'd run across in a long time--assumin' you fancied her to be human at all, I suppose. But whatever she was, the monks did a right fine job on her, an' the thought of not seein' her on a regular basis was a bit jarrin'.
"S'OK, Platelet, the Slayer's right about this one. It's time I moved on."
"But I can still come visit you, right? I mean, once you're back in your crypt?"
"Hmmm...Buffy might have somethin' to say 'bout that, luv, what with all this new bollocks 'bout the dark forces risin'. Prob'ly best you stick close to home an' hearth."
"But--"
A knock at the door cut her off.
"Spike? I'd like to speak with you about what you experienced last night in the cemetery." It was the Watcher, in full 'let's-all-study-the-phenomena' mode. Just what I bloody well didn't need at that point.
"Which is my cue to leave, right?"
"Go on with you, Niblet. Shouldn't be wastin' a perfectly good Saturday hangin' about with geezers like us." She bussed me on the cheek on her way out, sayin' she'd see me later that night. I didn't bother to contradict her.
"Well, Rupert, what can I tell you that the Slayer didn't?"
"Buffy mentioned that at one point you seemed transfixed by something--something that she couldn't see at all. Is that accurate?"
"Yeah, it's true enough. She told you 'bout all those shadowy buggers flittin' 'round us, I take it?"
"Yes, and she mentioned a very strong odor as well. But I'm most interested in what you were able to see that was invisible to Buffy."
"I suspect it was a treat reserved just for me, Rupert, an' I doubt its havin' much meaning beyond the fact that whatever we're dealin' with can parse out what gives us the collywobbles an' use it against us."
"Hmmm...not a particularly comforting idea, that."
Watcher has a somethin' of a gift for understatement, don't he?
"I understand that you and Buffy have been training together of late."
"Yeah. But--"
"I think that's very wise. She needs to sharpen her skills against a worthy opponent. I hope you'll continue."
I almost told him that as much as I enjoyed sparrin' with the Slayer, I fancied those days to be over, courtesy of one badly timed hard-on.
Then he left me, an' I settled in to wait for sundown, figurin' I'd slip out with the light an' no one would notice until it was time for the whelp's party.
Can't say the hours exactly flew by. Tried to sleep, but my mind kept circlin' the trouble at hand: I loved the dozy bint an' she'd never love me. Not a new problem, but infinitely engagin' on a level that twisted my guts an' fucked with my head 'til Mr. Sunshine just beyond the back door started lookin' mighty appealing.
When the time came, I made it quick. Left with one bag of blood an' one blanket. Slipped out the back an' took the long way 'round to the cemetery on the chance that the Slayer or her mates might be about.
Was in the process of salvagin' what very little Dru hadn't managed to tear up when guess who kicked in the door an' stood there like she couldn't decide whether to stake me or fuck me?
Good on ya, luv. Got it in one.
"Slayer. To what do I owe--"
"Can the crap, Spike. Why aren't you at the party?"
"I got the feelin' I'd worn out my welcome, pet. Got that feelin' from you, as a matter of fact."
"Very perceptive. But now Dawn's having a fit because you left and she blames me, so we're going back and you're going to explain to her how none of this is my fault. Let's go."
"Cor, Slayer, you want me to tell little sis that you threw me out 'cause I wouldn't shag you? Don't you think she's a bit young--"
"Oh, you're just huge with the funny tonight, aren't you? And besides, I never threw you out--"
"Right. Just stood outside my door an' squalled like a bleedin' hellcat 'bout how it was time for me to move my sorry arse outta your domain. But I was supposed to hang about 'til you made it official, is that it?"
That shut her gob, briefly. Then: "We have to figure out a way to get along, Spike. Dawn and the others are fond of you--"
"An' you, Slayer? Aren't you FOND of me anymore? Or were you ever?"
"Look who's talking."
We stared each other down. I wanted nothin' more in the soddin' universe than to break an' tell her I loved her an' always would, an' then get to work shaggin' her lights out. But my pride was whisperin' in my ear, all in accents of Drusilla, tellin' me that she'd only use me 'til she found some bloke she could really love, some bloke with the undeniable advantage of possessin' a pulse-an' a soul, o' course.
Finally, she dropped her eyes an' I knew I'd won.
"Tell the Lil' Bit that she can come visit whenever she wants--the others too, if they've a mind to. But tell 'em to come by daylight, at least 'til we take out whatever's plaguin' this place."
"You...you'll keep working with us?"
Now, that stung a bit. She really fancied me quittin' the home team 'cause I'd lost my original incentive? Must've thought me quite the unreliable fellow. Might've had somethin' to do with all those times I'd tried to kill her, I s'pose.
"I promised to protect your little sis until the end of time, Slayer. Besides, wherever you are, there's bound to be a fight--an' who am I to turn down a nice spot of violence?"
That almost got a smile.
"Now toddle on back to your mates an' tell 'em I'm right as spring rain, an' they're welcome to pop over as soon as I get the place back in shape."
She looked 'round an' I could see the pity in her eyes.
"Spike--"
"Leave it, Slayer. That horse is dead."
She left without another word.
That night I brooded, wishin' hard for somethin' to take my mind off my troubles. When day came I slept, an' dreamt of me an' the Slayer dancin' to that soddin' tune that hadn't left my brain in weeks. When I woke, I could almost remember the name of it, an' a word or two of the lyrics, but then I forgot again when the distractions started flyin' thick an' fast.
Should be more careful what I wish for.
tbc
Author: VicNoir
Rating: R
Disclaimers, etc: please see previous chapters
"I don't get it, Buffy--why're you so mad at Spike all of a sudden?"
"I'm not mad, Dawn. I just think it's time he moved back to his crypt. It's not like he's still wounded--he's fine. Believe me, he's fine. He's just taking advantage of the situation now, which is SO like him. I bet Willow agrees with me, don't you Will?"
Mighty hard to catch a good day's sleep 'round that place. Must've slipped their minds that I can hear quite well through a hollow door at ten paces.
"I don't know, Buffy. I mean, think of everything that's happened to him there--the whole scratching out of the eyes and the staking of Drusilla. It might be cruel to--"
"Cruel? We're talking about Spike here, remember? He loves cruel. He lives for cruel. It'll probably give him a huge, rock-hard happy."
"Buffy!"
"Sorry. He goes."
An' they'd have listened to her, of course, 'cause she's the Slayer, the Chosen One, the Big Bloody Bollocks 'round here. But I didn't intend to give 'em the chance to throw me out on my arse.
"Well, OK, but tomorrow, all right? I mean, tonight's the big celebration!"
"Celebration?"
"Yeah! Xander's finally finished his court-ordered community service for the whole lewd conduct thing. I know I told you about it--we're watching videos, and Tara's making bean dip, and you were supposed to bring the sparkling cider--don't you remember?
"Sorry, Will. Guess I got a little too caught up in the trivia of trying to stay alive."
It was a treat to know I wasn't the only one on the receivin' end of her sharp little tongue. Girl can be a right bitch when she's a mind to.
"So we're agreed? Spike can stay for the party?"
"Yeah, fine, whatever. If it means that much to you, he can stay one more night. But then it's back to the boneyard with the rest of the dead guys. I gotta go. See you later."
I heard the front door slam.
It'd only been six hours since the Debacle of the Morning Stiffy, an' already she'd written me off. Hell hath no fury an' all that rot. It proved to me that all of her sudden sweetness an' light was really about gettin' her nut off with the handiest male about. Drusilla'd been right--I was bein' kept as a pet, an' my mistress was about to send me to the pound. But not if I slipped my leash first.
"Spike? You awake?"
It was the Niblet, lookin' none too cheerful.
"You heard what Buffy said, didn't you?"
"I expect that was her intention, pet."
"I don't get why she's being such a bitch--"
"Here! That's no way to talk about your big sis, luv, even if--"
"Even if it's true?"
I was gonna miss the little chit. She was the most forthright human I'd run across in a long time--assumin' you fancied her to be human at all, I suppose. But whatever she was, the monks did a right fine job on her, an' the thought of not seein' her on a regular basis was a bit jarrin'.
"S'OK, Platelet, the Slayer's right about this one. It's time I moved on."
"But I can still come visit you, right? I mean, once you're back in your crypt?"
"Hmmm...Buffy might have somethin' to say 'bout that, luv, what with all this new bollocks 'bout the dark forces risin'. Prob'ly best you stick close to home an' hearth."
"But--"
A knock at the door cut her off.
"Spike? I'd like to speak with you about what you experienced last night in the cemetery." It was the Watcher, in full 'let's-all-study-the-phenomena' mode. Just what I bloody well didn't need at that point.
"Which is my cue to leave, right?"
"Go on with you, Niblet. Shouldn't be wastin' a perfectly good Saturday hangin' about with geezers like us." She bussed me on the cheek on her way out, sayin' she'd see me later that night. I didn't bother to contradict her.
"Well, Rupert, what can I tell you that the Slayer didn't?"
"Buffy mentioned that at one point you seemed transfixed by something--something that she couldn't see at all. Is that accurate?"
"Yeah, it's true enough. She told you 'bout all those shadowy buggers flittin' 'round us, I take it?"
"Yes, and she mentioned a very strong odor as well. But I'm most interested in what you were able to see that was invisible to Buffy."
"I suspect it was a treat reserved just for me, Rupert, an' I doubt its havin' much meaning beyond the fact that whatever we're dealin' with can parse out what gives us the collywobbles an' use it against us."
"Hmmm...not a particularly comforting idea, that."
Watcher has a somethin' of a gift for understatement, don't he?
"I understand that you and Buffy have been training together of late."
"Yeah. But--"
"I think that's very wise. She needs to sharpen her skills against a worthy opponent. I hope you'll continue."
I almost told him that as much as I enjoyed sparrin' with the Slayer, I fancied those days to be over, courtesy of one badly timed hard-on.
Then he left me, an' I settled in to wait for sundown, figurin' I'd slip out with the light an' no one would notice until it was time for the whelp's party.
Can't say the hours exactly flew by. Tried to sleep, but my mind kept circlin' the trouble at hand: I loved the dozy bint an' she'd never love me. Not a new problem, but infinitely engagin' on a level that twisted my guts an' fucked with my head 'til Mr. Sunshine just beyond the back door started lookin' mighty appealing.
When the time came, I made it quick. Left with one bag of blood an' one blanket. Slipped out the back an' took the long way 'round to the cemetery on the chance that the Slayer or her mates might be about.
Was in the process of salvagin' what very little Dru hadn't managed to tear up when guess who kicked in the door an' stood there like she couldn't decide whether to stake me or fuck me?
Good on ya, luv. Got it in one.
"Slayer. To what do I owe--"
"Can the crap, Spike. Why aren't you at the party?"
"I got the feelin' I'd worn out my welcome, pet. Got that feelin' from you, as a matter of fact."
"Very perceptive. But now Dawn's having a fit because you left and she blames me, so we're going back and you're going to explain to her how none of this is my fault. Let's go."
"Cor, Slayer, you want me to tell little sis that you threw me out 'cause I wouldn't shag you? Don't you think she's a bit young--"
"Oh, you're just huge with the funny tonight, aren't you? And besides, I never threw you out--"
"Right. Just stood outside my door an' squalled like a bleedin' hellcat 'bout how it was time for me to move my sorry arse outta your domain. But I was supposed to hang about 'til you made it official, is that it?"
That shut her gob, briefly. Then: "We have to figure out a way to get along, Spike. Dawn and the others are fond of you--"
"An' you, Slayer? Aren't you FOND of me anymore? Or were you ever?"
"Look who's talking."
We stared each other down. I wanted nothin' more in the soddin' universe than to break an' tell her I loved her an' always would, an' then get to work shaggin' her lights out. But my pride was whisperin' in my ear, all in accents of Drusilla, tellin' me that she'd only use me 'til she found some bloke she could really love, some bloke with the undeniable advantage of possessin' a pulse-an' a soul, o' course.
Finally, she dropped her eyes an' I knew I'd won.
"Tell the Lil' Bit that she can come visit whenever she wants--the others too, if they've a mind to. But tell 'em to come by daylight, at least 'til we take out whatever's plaguin' this place."
"You...you'll keep working with us?"
Now, that stung a bit. She really fancied me quittin' the home team 'cause I'd lost my original incentive? Must've thought me quite the unreliable fellow. Might've had somethin' to do with all those times I'd tried to kill her, I s'pose.
"I promised to protect your little sis until the end of time, Slayer. Besides, wherever you are, there's bound to be a fight--an' who am I to turn down a nice spot of violence?"
That almost got a smile.
"Now toddle on back to your mates an' tell 'em I'm right as spring rain, an' they're welcome to pop over as soon as I get the place back in shape."
She looked 'round an' I could see the pity in her eyes.
"Spike--"
"Leave it, Slayer. That horse is dead."
She left without another word.
That night I brooded, wishin' hard for somethin' to take my mind off my troubles. When day came I slept, an' dreamt of me an' the Slayer dancin' to that soddin' tune that hadn't left my brain in weeks. When I woke, I could almost remember the name of it, an' a word or two of the lyrics, but then I forgot again when the distractions started flyin' thick an' fast.
Should be more careful what I wish for.
tbc