Love and Folly (Were in Hell)
The heart asks pleasure first
And then, excuse from pain;
And then those little anodynes
That deaden suffering,
And then to go to sleep
And then, if it should be,
The will of its Inquisitor
The liberty to die!
The Heart Asks' by Emily Dickinson
Dru? Honey? What's the matter?
Spike grimaced at the term of endearment, but Drusilla crooned towards Angelus for his use of it. A moment before she had shuddered and been brought to a stop in the middle of one of her fanatical diatribes. She'd swayed on her feet and inclined her head up to the heavens. Now she was back to flirting with her two males. Everything normal.
Was it a vision Dru?
Mmmm... Voices inside...
What did they say, Dru? A message?
Dru chuckled coquettishly and leant up against her Sire. Normally Angelus would have taken advantage of any opportunity to make Spike jealous, but now he pushed Dru away roughly, only causing her to chuckle louder.
What did they say, Dru?
Feelings and Words... Dru said dreamily, All together and apart...
I don't think you're gonna get anything else out of her mate...
Shut up, Spike, go kill something and leave me alone with your girlfriend... I expect I can get something out of her...
To Angelus's surprise Spike turned on his heel and left the room. Spike taking orders? That was a new one. The bleached-Vampire really was bad at the undercover work.
Then he heard the sound of several things being smashed in the next room and smiled. He couldn't wait to capture that one and torture him into a very painful oblivion, every night. There was only one thing that confused him. Why Spike was working with the Slayer; because it had to be her that has ordered him back into the Lion's den.
He likes her.
Angelus turned around and eyed Dru wearily, sometimes she was insightful, and sometimes mad. It was hard to tell the difference.
Likes her? I don't think so.
Dru grinned silently and beckoned Angelus over to her. He refused to come and she pouted, lower lip jutting out and poking against enlarged canines.
He likes her?
She nodded and a grim smile came to his face. He settled into Drusilla's embrace and let her hands and lips wander over him as he stared at the door which Spike had exited out of.
Well, that puts a new spin on things. Angelus growled, and he couldn't keep the possessiveness out of his cold voice.
***
Well, Buffy... you see... I thought it would be nice if we could, you know, go out some time... Perhaps?
Buffy glanced around at her friends, Willow was grinning openly and Xander was glaring into his locker and pretending not to listen. She sighed.
Listen, Adam--
The boy in front of her corrected hopefully.
Sorry. Alex. I've just gotten out of a really serious.... thing... and I'm not really. Well, you see, I'm not...
The blonde's face fell and his eyes grew wide and disappointed. Buffy was sure that he was a really nice guy, and the sort that she would have fallen for before Angel. But now things were complicated. Too complicated for Sweet-Alex to handle.
I'm sorry... she amended guiltily, but Alex was already turning away and maintaining a macho facade as he walked around the corner of the lockers.
Buffy turned to look into the disappointed face of Willow. The redhead quickly turned and began fiddling with her locker combination in a way which indicated to Buffy that she might have had something to do with Alex's proposal. Willow never fiddled with her locker. She remembered stuff.
Look, Buffy, if a person wanted to cheer another person up and that didn't go well... Then its the thought that counts... And the other person should really forgive.. Willow garbled in response to the unasked question.
Its all right Willow. I know you meant... well. But I'm just not ready to get back on that horse again.
See, Will, no straddling for Buffy at the moment.
Buffy scowled and Xander and he shrugged noncommittally.
Besides. I already have a date tonight.
You do? Both friends chorused, one pleased and the other annoyed.
she wrinkled her nose, With Spike.
Ugh. Well, if I were you Buff, I'd have chosen Mr-Forgettable-Alex... But you do like them all pointy in the mouth...
Its work, Xander.
I know. I'm just teasing. I hope the bloodsucker has something useful to tell us otherwise he's gonna find himself on the sharp end of Mr Pointy.
Mmm hmm. Buffy iterated sceptically before registering everything that he said,
Yeah. Buff. Us. You thought we were going to let you smack Spike around alone? No. We're audience people.
Peanut Gallery more like. I... I want to do this alone.
Willow frowned and moved in on the conversation,
she asked, hoping that it was for none of the reasons she was thinking.
Its Spike. He won't talk if anyone else is around. And I don't want you guys to get.. hurt. I'll tell you everything he says.
Xander's brow wrinkled comically and he teased, I think I was right the first time. Buffy wants to be alone with Spike. On her date. Let me guess, you're just friends? Okay, but if I find you two necking behind the bushes then I'm just gonna be... Xander paused and considered, the image leaping to his mind, ...Projectile vomiting.
The two girls looked at each others and burst into fits of giggles. Xander shrugged and grinned, with no idea that it was not him they were laughing at.
***
Hey! Cordelia! How's the downgrade going?
Cordelia turned, flipping her hair over her shoulder perfectly. But her confidence fell a few marks when she saw who was talking to her.
Hello Harmony.
Uh... Dating a freak make you loose your sense of humour?
No. In fact I find that outfit particularly funny..
Hmm. You probably don't recognise style anymore unless it comes with its own geek-droolable-shoulder-pads...
Cordelia rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. The two girls behind Harmony looked a little nervous, but the blonde just stuck up her chin and stared at her ex-friend.
Firstly, shoulder pads? Please. And secondly, what's wrong? Bleach seeping into your head again Harmony and lowering your IQ even further so you feel like you have to pick a loosing fight against suspender abusers? I mean, what is that outfit?
Its natural blonde!! Harmony shrieked, stamping her foot against the floor in a typical tantrum moment.
Cordelia turned around and finished exchanging books in her locker. Harmony and the two other girls breezed past her, knocking her shoulder. When she looked up Harmony turned to get the last word.
Don't think we'll take you back once your little boyfriend has ploughed you and moved on. You'll be on your own.
Cordelia pushed the books into her bag and turned the other way, glad that her make-up would cover the blush on her cheeks. She walked down the nearly-empty corridor, the sound of her heels clacking rhythmically against the floor and her heart beating were the only things she could hear.
Xander wrapped his arms around his girlfriend's waist. She jumped at his touch, then grinned, then squirmed away. Cordelia slid her hand into Xander's and held on tightly. See, Harmony, he is still here. She thought, but the pounding in her chest grew louder.
***
Buffy walked in through the back door and dumped her bag on the partition in the kitchen. She then proceeded to pick up a banana from the fruit bowl and peel it as she tried to figure out how to avoid her mother now and tonight. When she had to sneak out to meet Spike.
She shuddered and after taking one bite of the yellow fruit didn't feel very hungry anymore. Homework that night had been extensive and Math related, so she decided to skip it and face the consequences. Or rather whine and plead until the consequences disappeared. Willow had said she'd do if for her. This once. Never again. Buffy felt guilty about taking advantage of her friend, but not guilty enough to object.
She walked through to the dining room and then snuck over to the stairs. It seemed that she was home and dry as far as avoiding mom came. Perhaps she was out. Yeah.
Buffy leapt down the few steps she had taken and went to fetch her school bag from downstairs, she swung it over her shoulder and began to skip happily upstairs, whistling a jingle from some cleaning product advert.
As the landing came into view she spotted the prone form lying on the floor. A thick stain of blood has seeped through the carpet around the body's neck. Its eyes were open and glassed, staring out at nothing. Buffy dropped her bag and was vaguely aware of it bouncing down the stairs loudly, scattering books. Her eyes widened and finally she found her voice.
***
Angelus stepped down from a chair, wiping blood from his mouth, a frown on his face. He was restless and usually that was cured by a kill, but not this time. He decided that perhaps a couple of verbal rounds with Spike might cheer him up. But first he listened to the argument that was going on in the next room. He could lurk when he needed to.
Dru, baby, please... We could leave tonight.
No Spike.
Why the hell not? Is it because of him?
Silence.
Of course it is. Everything's about bloody Angelus.
Angelus stepped in and the scowl that Spike had been wearing deepened.
Speak of the poofter... Have a nice kill did you peaches?
Angelus pulled Drusilla into his arms.
Yep. Really got the blood.. pumping... You should go and try it. Now.
Spike rolled his eyes to the ceiling and back, he wasn't going to be intimidated by Angelus. So instead he took on a conversational tone.
Who'd you kill? Young? Old? Male? Female?
Why do you care, Spike?
Just interested mate.
How nice. Angelus pushed Drusilla from his arms again, she got annoying very quickly, Slayer's mother.
That's who I killed. Satisfying enough for you?
Spike agreed as he glanced about the room, You know, mate, all this talk of killing has got me peckish after all...
He turned and walked out of the nearest doorway. The Slayer was going to kill him if she thought that he had anything to do with this. He hadn't warned her. And the stupid girl hadn't de-invited Angelus. What was she thinking?
When Spike was far enough away from the other Vampires he broke into a run.