The Way Love Works
Disclaimer: I own nothing. No Buffy, no Spike, no nothing.
Summary: Set a few days after Riley leaves. Buffy is upset, but is comforted by Spike. Their friendship quickly grows into more, but can Buffy admit it? Okay, that is a horrible summary. Most important thing to remember . . . Spuffy. This is a Spuffy fic. Romance/Fluff/angsty (but not too angsty). Oh, Spike loves Buffy but hasn't told her, yet.
A/N: I know in the beginning of the chapter it may seem a bit moping over Riley-centric but it's not. I would not put you through the torment that is Riley angst.
*****
"Go away, Spike." Buffy spoke as she stood, arms crossed, in front of him. She tried her best to put on her 'I hate you evil fiend' act, but to be honest with herself, she wasn't exactly put off by his presence yet she wasn't thrilled by it either. Ever since Riley had left a few days ago it seemed she always wanted someone around. It was easier when someone was there; it kept her mind off . . . him. Even though she hadn't loved him, she was upset that he left her. He was the third, and probably not the last, to leave. Having someone to distract her was a plus, even if that someone was Spike.
"I'm just here to help, Slayer." Spike explained.
"Exactly, Slayer. That's me. I -really- don't need your help." She spoke scornfully only to be tackled milliseconds later by a scrawny vampire. Buffy struggled under the vamp for some time as Spike watched. Finally his feelings got the best of him and he swiftly moved towards the two.
"Don't need my help." he mumbled under his breath as he threw the vampire off of the petite blonde, "Like hell you don't."
The vampire quickly regained his strength, though, and charged at Spike. Spike easily dodged the punch that was aimed for his head. He kicked the vamp in the stomach and sent a strong fist cramming into the vampire's jaw.
Buffy just lay on the ground, watching the fight. She didn't make any attempt to move or even say if she had been hurt or not. The vampire hadn't been strong, really. Not stronger than any she had fought before. He definitely wasn't stronger than Spike, seeing as he was beating the crap out of the vamp. But for some reason, Buffy had found herself not able to fight him. There was nothing there. No adrenaline rush, no readied quips, no sense of knowing she was going to win. As a matter of fact, the past few days had been just those, days. Her job as the slayer seemed just that, a job. Nothing seemed to have a point, anymore. She tried to convince herself that it was just a lack if training or just lack of evil that was worth her tiring herself out. But she knew what it really was; she just never wanted to admit. The shock of Riley leaving had been too much and she felt herself shut down. It wasn't the way she wanted it to be, she wanted to be happy. Bit he was her constant, the one thing that was always there, then suddenly, he wasn't.
Buffy was torn from her thoughts as the sound of her former attacker exploding into dust raged through the air. Buffy closed her eyes and swallowed hard. When she opened them a pale hand was extended out. Buffy willing took the hand and pulled herself up. Buffy stood for a moment, looking into the ice blue eyes of the man, or vampire, who had saved her life.
No, Riley wasn't her constant, Spike was. He might not have been a good constant, but she could always count on him being there with something annoying to say. She could count on him to help her kill the baddies, and when it was needed he had been there to help her.
"What happened there, pet." Spike said as he looked from where she had been laying to where she was standing.
Buffy noticed her hand was still resting in his and quickly pulled away. "Nothing." She said.
"Didn't look like nothing to me, luv. Looked like you were about to become that wanker's first meal." Spike told her.
"I don't wanna talk about it." She said as she began walking home. It hadn't been the truth, of course. She wanted to talk about it; she needed to talk about it. The emptiness she felt . . . she didn't know what to do. She needed so badly for someone to tell her what to do.
She turned to see Spike walking in the other direction and called out, "Spike?"
He stopped suddenly and turned around, concern plastered on his face. "Yeah, pet?"
"Walk me home?"
Buffy wasn't sure, but it seemed there was a hint of a smile on his face as he answered. "Of course."
****
Buffy turned her key in the lock and pushed open the door. She walked in, but stopped when she realized Spike wasn't following her. She turned to see him standing in the doorway, looking unsure of himself.
"Spike, you already have an invite." She told him.
"I know that, pet. I-I just wasn't sure if you wanted me to come in or not, that's all."
"Since when have you ever care whether I want you in here or not?" She asked, confused.
"Since . . . right, okay. I don't care." He said defensively. He stepped quickly into the house and Buffy rolled her eyes. She made her way into the kitchen and threw her keys on the counter. Spike followed and watched as she sat on a stool, propping herself up on both elbows. She wasn't looking at anything, really. Just staring with a far off look in her eye.
"So, the family is not home?" Spike asked, trying not to sound uncomfortable.
"Do you see them here?" She asked her voice cold and not removing her eyes from their current location.
"Right." He said softly. "I'll be off then. You look like you can . . . right. I'll just go." Spike walked towards the door when he heard Buffy begin to speak.
"So I'm wondering," She began softly. Spike looked around expecting to find someone else in the room, but failed to find anyone, "if this is how it is always going to be."
Spike walked towards her and stood behind her, being careful not to get to close.
"I mean, meet a guy, develop feelings for the guy, maybe fight evil side by side for some time then . . . gone. Is that how it's supposed to be? Because honestly, I can't see it going any other way. Can't seem to find a new pattern." Buffy spoke almost in a whisper.
"You know that's not how it's supposed to be, luv. You just haven't found the right guy, yet, s'all." He told her.
"Oh, and I suppose you know all about that, right? Finding the right one? Y'know, cause your so happy with Harmony." Buffy said.
"Hey, you're the one who wanted to talk to me. I could be off doin' better, more important things so I suggest you---"
"I'm sorry." Buffy cut him off. Spike stood there, silent for a while, but then spoke.
"It's not you, you know that, right?" He asked.
Buffy looked up at him, her eyes filled with pain, tears slowly forming.
"Oh no Buffy." He said softly, and without thinking, placed a hand on her back, "It could never be you. It's just . . . it's your job. No one can really accept you and the slayer as one person. Angel couldn't do it, not really anyways. Parker, well, he doesn't really count." Spike looked over at Buffy and saw her smile slightly. "And Captain Cardboard, well, it didn't seem like he could handle it at all. I would see you two together and it was always competition. Not on your part, but his. He felt inferior to you and that was just his problem, something he made up in his head, luv. If they can't accept the slayer in you, than honestly Buffy, they're not worth it.
Love doesn't just come to you. It takes time, lots of time. You could be in love right now, and not even know it. It's amazing, but you can work with, or hate, a person for years before realizing that you don't truly hate them. That everything you've felt was powered by love, everything you've done. It seems strange, but it's true. Buffy, when you find love . . . you'll know it."
"But what if I d---" Buffy was cut off.
"You will." He said sternly.
Neither of them had realized it, but in the moment he was speaking they had moved closer together. Spike was now sitting on the stool next to her, and they were both facing each other. Their hands were gripped tightly in each other's and they were only inches apart. Buffy looked into is eyes and saw something she had never seen before-him.
She reached up and brushed his cheek with her hand. "William." She whispered. She moved her hand to the back of his head and pulled him forward, pressing her lips on his. He was hesitant at first, but then relaxed into the kiss, letting her tongue invade his mouth.
"Buffy?" Willow called from the hallway.
Buffy immediately broke from Spike and covered her mouth. She was panting heavily but the groan of disgust at the realization of who she had been kissing had been unmistakable.
"Oh god." She whimpered.
*****
Do you like? Should I continue? Please review!
insert shameless plug for other fic below
And if you haven't already please check out my other fic "Close to You".
Disclaimer: I own nothing. No Buffy, no Spike, no nothing.
Summary: Set a few days after Riley leaves. Buffy is upset, but is comforted by Spike. Their friendship quickly grows into more, but can Buffy admit it? Okay, that is a horrible summary. Most important thing to remember . . . Spuffy. This is a Spuffy fic. Romance/Fluff/angsty (but not too angsty). Oh, Spike loves Buffy but hasn't told her, yet.
A/N: I know in the beginning of the chapter it may seem a bit moping over Riley-centric but it's not. I would not put you through the torment that is Riley angst.
*****
"Go away, Spike." Buffy spoke as she stood, arms crossed, in front of him. She tried her best to put on her 'I hate you evil fiend' act, but to be honest with herself, she wasn't exactly put off by his presence yet she wasn't thrilled by it either. Ever since Riley had left a few days ago it seemed she always wanted someone around. It was easier when someone was there; it kept her mind off . . . him. Even though she hadn't loved him, she was upset that he left her. He was the third, and probably not the last, to leave. Having someone to distract her was a plus, even if that someone was Spike.
"I'm just here to help, Slayer." Spike explained.
"Exactly, Slayer. That's me. I -really- don't need your help." She spoke scornfully only to be tackled milliseconds later by a scrawny vampire. Buffy struggled under the vamp for some time as Spike watched. Finally his feelings got the best of him and he swiftly moved towards the two.
"Don't need my help." he mumbled under his breath as he threw the vampire off of the petite blonde, "Like hell you don't."
The vampire quickly regained his strength, though, and charged at Spike. Spike easily dodged the punch that was aimed for his head. He kicked the vamp in the stomach and sent a strong fist cramming into the vampire's jaw.
Buffy just lay on the ground, watching the fight. She didn't make any attempt to move or even say if she had been hurt or not. The vampire hadn't been strong, really. Not stronger than any she had fought before. He definitely wasn't stronger than Spike, seeing as he was beating the crap out of the vamp. But for some reason, Buffy had found herself not able to fight him. There was nothing there. No adrenaline rush, no readied quips, no sense of knowing she was going to win. As a matter of fact, the past few days had been just those, days. Her job as the slayer seemed just that, a job. Nothing seemed to have a point, anymore. She tried to convince herself that it was just a lack if training or just lack of evil that was worth her tiring herself out. But she knew what it really was; she just never wanted to admit. The shock of Riley leaving had been too much and she felt herself shut down. It wasn't the way she wanted it to be, she wanted to be happy. Bit he was her constant, the one thing that was always there, then suddenly, he wasn't.
Buffy was torn from her thoughts as the sound of her former attacker exploding into dust raged through the air. Buffy closed her eyes and swallowed hard. When she opened them a pale hand was extended out. Buffy willing took the hand and pulled herself up. Buffy stood for a moment, looking into the ice blue eyes of the man, or vampire, who had saved her life.
No, Riley wasn't her constant, Spike was. He might not have been a good constant, but she could always count on him being there with something annoying to say. She could count on him to help her kill the baddies, and when it was needed he had been there to help her.
"What happened there, pet." Spike said as he looked from where she had been laying to where she was standing.
Buffy noticed her hand was still resting in his and quickly pulled away. "Nothing." She said.
"Didn't look like nothing to me, luv. Looked like you were about to become that wanker's first meal." Spike told her.
"I don't wanna talk about it." She said as she began walking home. It hadn't been the truth, of course. She wanted to talk about it; she needed to talk about it. The emptiness she felt . . . she didn't know what to do. She needed so badly for someone to tell her what to do.
She turned to see Spike walking in the other direction and called out, "Spike?"
He stopped suddenly and turned around, concern plastered on his face. "Yeah, pet?"
"Walk me home?"
Buffy wasn't sure, but it seemed there was a hint of a smile on his face as he answered. "Of course."
****
Buffy turned her key in the lock and pushed open the door. She walked in, but stopped when she realized Spike wasn't following her. She turned to see him standing in the doorway, looking unsure of himself.
"Spike, you already have an invite." She told him.
"I know that, pet. I-I just wasn't sure if you wanted me to come in or not, that's all."
"Since when have you ever care whether I want you in here or not?" She asked, confused.
"Since . . . right, okay. I don't care." He said defensively. He stepped quickly into the house and Buffy rolled her eyes. She made her way into the kitchen and threw her keys on the counter. Spike followed and watched as she sat on a stool, propping herself up on both elbows. She wasn't looking at anything, really. Just staring with a far off look in her eye.
"So, the family is not home?" Spike asked, trying not to sound uncomfortable.
"Do you see them here?" She asked her voice cold and not removing her eyes from their current location.
"Right." He said softly. "I'll be off then. You look like you can . . . right. I'll just go." Spike walked towards the door when he heard Buffy begin to speak.
"So I'm wondering," She began softly. Spike looked around expecting to find someone else in the room, but failed to find anyone, "if this is how it is always going to be."
Spike walked towards her and stood behind her, being careful not to get to close.
"I mean, meet a guy, develop feelings for the guy, maybe fight evil side by side for some time then . . . gone. Is that how it's supposed to be? Because honestly, I can't see it going any other way. Can't seem to find a new pattern." Buffy spoke almost in a whisper.
"You know that's not how it's supposed to be, luv. You just haven't found the right guy, yet, s'all." He told her.
"Oh, and I suppose you know all about that, right? Finding the right one? Y'know, cause your so happy with Harmony." Buffy said.
"Hey, you're the one who wanted to talk to me. I could be off doin' better, more important things so I suggest you---"
"I'm sorry." Buffy cut him off. Spike stood there, silent for a while, but then spoke.
"It's not you, you know that, right?" He asked.
Buffy looked up at him, her eyes filled with pain, tears slowly forming.
"Oh no Buffy." He said softly, and without thinking, placed a hand on her back, "It could never be you. It's just . . . it's your job. No one can really accept you and the slayer as one person. Angel couldn't do it, not really anyways. Parker, well, he doesn't really count." Spike looked over at Buffy and saw her smile slightly. "And Captain Cardboard, well, it didn't seem like he could handle it at all. I would see you two together and it was always competition. Not on your part, but his. He felt inferior to you and that was just his problem, something he made up in his head, luv. If they can't accept the slayer in you, than honestly Buffy, they're not worth it.
Love doesn't just come to you. It takes time, lots of time. You could be in love right now, and not even know it. It's amazing, but you can work with, or hate, a person for years before realizing that you don't truly hate them. That everything you've felt was powered by love, everything you've done. It seems strange, but it's true. Buffy, when you find love . . . you'll know it."
"But what if I d---" Buffy was cut off.
"You will." He said sternly.
Neither of them had realized it, but in the moment he was speaking they had moved closer together. Spike was now sitting on the stool next to her, and they were both facing each other. Their hands were gripped tightly in each other's and they were only inches apart. Buffy looked into is eyes and saw something she had never seen before-him.
She reached up and brushed his cheek with her hand. "William." She whispered. She moved her hand to the back of his head and pulled him forward, pressing her lips on his. He was hesitant at first, but then relaxed into the kiss, letting her tongue invade his mouth.
"Buffy?" Willow called from the hallway.
Buffy immediately broke from Spike and covered her mouth. She was panting heavily but the groan of disgust at the realization of who she had been kissing had been unmistakable.
"Oh god." She whimpered.
*****
Do you like? Should I continue? Please review!
insert shameless plug for other fic below
And if you haven't already please check out my other fic "Close to You".