"Why did we have to come to the Bronze," Spike's date whined as she twirled
her hair.
"Because I wanted to."
"Well, can we dance?"
"No."
"I'm hungry."
"Then go get something to eat."
"Do you want anything?"
"No."
"Are you sure? Because I don't mind getting you something. It'll be a little extra work but."
"Harm! Will you shut up?"
"I'll just leave."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever."
Spike didn't pay any attention to the female vampire as she flounced out of the Bronze, angry and hurt. He didn't want to bring her, but he didn't want to show up to the Bronze alone after he had told Buffy that he had a date. And it didn't matter anyway, because Buffy was nowhere to be seen.
But her soldier boy was there, drinking a beer with his mates. Spike was careful to stay hidden in the shadows, out of their line of vision. Buffy had warned him more than once that she may not be able to stop Riley from trying to capture him again. He watched as the other commandos flirted with the girls, danced, and generally had a good time. But Riley seemed lost in thought, and dull as dishwater.
Finally, Buffy showed up, having changed her "ruined" pants. Spike rolled his eyes. If she would just wear regular jeans like a normal person, that wouldn't be an issue. But Buffy was far, far from normal. Even for a Slayer. She kissed Riley's cheek modestly, and Spike rolled his eyes again. They had all the passion of a couple of corpses. A girl has needs, but surely Captain Cardboard wasn't filling the bill.
The girl needed someone, like, well, like him. At one time, Spike would have been disgusted by the very thought. They were meant to kill each other, not shag like wild animals. But now the thought was extremely attractive. He could show her and teach her things that she never dreamed of. Things she certainly wouldn't learn if she stayed with Mr. Normal.
He watched them walk over to the bar and decided that it was time to refresh his drink.
"It's on me Slayer," he said, as Riley pulled his wallet out.
"Spike, what a surprise." Her voice indicated that it really wasn't. "Where's your date? Don't tell me she stood you up."
"Went home a bit early is all. Let me get that."
Riley was shooting daggers at him, "No thanks."
"What? I can't buy a drink for friends?"
"We're not your friends," Riley said tightly.
Spike shrugged, "Suit yourself. Though I wonder why kinda tosser turns down a free drink." Spike turned his attention to Buffy, ignoring her flushed paramour completely. "You going out for a second sweep tonight, Slayer?"
"Maybe. Why?"
"Thought I might join you."
"She doesn't need your help."
"Why is that? You going with her?"
"Yeah, I am. Got a problem with that?"
"Not my problem, but the Slayer probably doesn't need to have the added trouble of protecting your bony, white ass. She's busy enough as it is."
"You know," Riley said, taking a step closer, "my orders have changed."
"Really?" Spike sounded as though he was very, very interested in this new development.
"They're to kill Hostile 17 on sight. And look, I just happen to have a stake handy."
"Ok, boys, that's enough." Buffy had been watching the exchange with mild interest. She knew she should step in before things got too heated, but it wasn't like she was going to let them kill each other.
"Why do you keep protecting a hostile?" Riley demanded, clearly angry. Spike smirked. Maybe if he tried hard enough, this could be a full-fledged break-up fight.
"Because, you have made him harmless." "He's still a vampire."
"He's not hurting anybody!"
"But he killed people for hundreds of years," Riley was shouting now.
"Hey, hey, hey," Spike interrupted, "I'm not that old. Only 120."
Both of them ignored him. "Riley, I don't want to fight with you about this. I thought we were going to have some fun tonight."
"But it seems your work as followed you home, Buffy."
Spike held his hands up in mock surrender. "Look, I didn't mean to start a fight. Just offering the lady a drink, and being a gentleman."
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Go back to whatever hole in the ground you call home. I don't need your drinks or your help tonight."
"Suit yourself Slayer."
*** It might have been a memory; it might have been a dream. There was no sure way to tell. If it was real, than Spike knew it was the beginning of the end for Buffy and her pursuit of a normal life.
He suspected it was a memory though, and this lifted his spirits. If it had been a dream, he would have been able to clearly see the Slayer, her boyfriend, and this "harm" person, who he just couldn't place. But he couldn't see them, only hear their voices. That night was important for another reason, though, wasn't it? Something else happened that night, and he desperately tried to find the memory again.
He didn't go home that night, like the Slayer had told him to. Not immediately. Instead he went..somewhere else. Where? What happened? Spike felt like growling in frustration over the missing memory, but at the same time, he had the pressing reminder that it wouldn't do any good. Even if he managed to capture this one night and hold it tightly to his chest, it would be gone again when the mist returned.
Even so, he didn't give up. Maybe this time, it would be different. This time he could hear her voice clearly, and that was something, wasn't it?
***
"Are you still patrolling tonight?" Riley demanded.
"Yes."
"Alone?"
"Yes."
"Why can't I come with you? It isn't because of what Hostile 17 said, is it?"
"What? No, no. Nothing like that. You know you don't get in my way. Just sometimes I like to patrol alone."
"You aren't going to accidentally," Riley put the word in air quotes, "run into him, are you?"
Buffy sighed, "Riley, you have to stop this. Why would I want an undead, evil, vampire when I could have a sweet, normal, alive guy like you?" Why indeed, Buffy asked herself.
He smiled, "We still on for the movies tomorrow night."
"Absolutely." She reached up and gave him a peck on the cheek. "I'll see you then."
Buffy decided to start her sweeps in the old industrial area of Sunnydale, where all the factories (abandoned and otherwise) stood. For some reason she never understood, vampires really liked to nest there. But then she guessed that vampires liked gross, dirty, dilapidated buildings. Spike certainly didn't seem to mind.
She half expected to run into the evil undead, but apparently he had gone home like she told him to. Either that or he was doing the wise thing and staying the hell out of her way. She still couldn't believe the nerve he had to march up to the bar and announce he was buying her drink! Didn't she tell him to stay away from Riley?
What was his game? Did he just want to start a fight? That was the most likely scenario. Couldn't kill anymore, so might as well spend the evening with some stupid, male posturing. And what was the deal with Riley? Didn't he understand that **she** was the vampire slayer, and therefore, got to decide when it was time to slay vampires? He may be in the military but she was the **Chosen One**, and she was willing to bet that that held more weight in the grand scheme of things. Especially when it came to annoying, chipped, smoking, blonde vampires.
Buffy finished the factories and moved onto the cemeteries, but not with much enthusiasm. Between worrying about Riley's feelings, trying to figure out what feelings she had for Spike, and thinking about the test she was supposed to be studying for, she didn't have much energy left. Maybe that's why she didn't see the demon attack from..
*** ".behind."
Angel frowned, "You were blindsided?" "I probably would have seen him if I wasn't so distracted, or if I had brought someone along with me. It doesn't matter though, because someone did have my back."
"Spike?"
"Spike."
TBC
"Because I wanted to."
"Well, can we dance?"
"No."
"I'm hungry."
"Then go get something to eat."
"Do you want anything?"
"No."
"Are you sure? Because I don't mind getting you something. It'll be a little extra work but."
"Harm! Will you shut up?"
"I'll just leave."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever."
Spike didn't pay any attention to the female vampire as she flounced out of the Bronze, angry and hurt. He didn't want to bring her, but he didn't want to show up to the Bronze alone after he had told Buffy that he had a date. And it didn't matter anyway, because Buffy was nowhere to be seen.
But her soldier boy was there, drinking a beer with his mates. Spike was careful to stay hidden in the shadows, out of their line of vision. Buffy had warned him more than once that she may not be able to stop Riley from trying to capture him again. He watched as the other commandos flirted with the girls, danced, and generally had a good time. But Riley seemed lost in thought, and dull as dishwater.
Finally, Buffy showed up, having changed her "ruined" pants. Spike rolled his eyes. If she would just wear regular jeans like a normal person, that wouldn't be an issue. But Buffy was far, far from normal. Even for a Slayer. She kissed Riley's cheek modestly, and Spike rolled his eyes again. They had all the passion of a couple of corpses. A girl has needs, but surely Captain Cardboard wasn't filling the bill.
The girl needed someone, like, well, like him. At one time, Spike would have been disgusted by the very thought. They were meant to kill each other, not shag like wild animals. But now the thought was extremely attractive. He could show her and teach her things that she never dreamed of. Things she certainly wouldn't learn if she stayed with Mr. Normal.
He watched them walk over to the bar and decided that it was time to refresh his drink.
"It's on me Slayer," he said, as Riley pulled his wallet out.
"Spike, what a surprise." Her voice indicated that it really wasn't. "Where's your date? Don't tell me she stood you up."
"Went home a bit early is all. Let me get that."
Riley was shooting daggers at him, "No thanks."
"What? I can't buy a drink for friends?"
"We're not your friends," Riley said tightly.
Spike shrugged, "Suit yourself. Though I wonder why kinda tosser turns down a free drink." Spike turned his attention to Buffy, ignoring her flushed paramour completely. "You going out for a second sweep tonight, Slayer?"
"Maybe. Why?"
"Thought I might join you."
"She doesn't need your help."
"Why is that? You going with her?"
"Yeah, I am. Got a problem with that?"
"Not my problem, but the Slayer probably doesn't need to have the added trouble of protecting your bony, white ass. She's busy enough as it is."
"You know," Riley said, taking a step closer, "my orders have changed."
"Really?" Spike sounded as though he was very, very interested in this new development.
"They're to kill Hostile 17 on sight. And look, I just happen to have a stake handy."
"Ok, boys, that's enough." Buffy had been watching the exchange with mild interest. She knew she should step in before things got too heated, but it wasn't like she was going to let them kill each other.
"Why do you keep protecting a hostile?" Riley demanded, clearly angry. Spike smirked. Maybe if he tried hard enough, this could be a full-fledged break-up fight.
"Because, you have made him harmless." "He's still a vampire."
"He's not hurting anybody!"
"But he killed people for hundreds of years," Riley was shouting now.
"Hey, hey, hey," Spike interrupted, "I'm not that old. Only 120."
Both of them ignored him. "Riley, I don't want to fight with you about this. I thought we were going to have some fun tonight."
"But it seems your work as followed you home, Buffy."
Spike held his hands up in mock surrender. "Look, I didn't mean to start a fight. Just offering the lady a drink, and being a gentleman."
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Go back to whatever hole in the ground you call home. I don't need your drinks or your help tonight."
"Suit yourself Slayer."
*** It might have been a memory; it might have been a dream. There was no sure way to tell. If it was real, than Spike knew it was the beginning of the end for Buffy and her pursuit of a normal life.
He suspected it was a memory though, and this lifted his spirits. If it had been a dream, he would have been able to clearly see the Slayer, her boyfriend, and this "harm" person, who he just couldn't place. But he couldn't see them, only hear their voices. That night was important for another reason, though, wasn't it? Something else happened that night, and he desperately tried to find the memory again.
He didn't go home that night, like the Slayer had told him to. Not immediately. Instead he went..somewhere else. Where? What happened? Spike felt like growling in frustration over the missing memory, but at the same time, he had the pressing reminder that it wouldn't do any good. Even if he managed to capture this one night and hold it tightly to his chest, it would be gone again when the mist returned.
Even so, he didn't give up. Maybe this time, it would be different. This time he could hear her voice clearly, and that was something, wasn't it?
***
"Are you still patrolling tonight?" Riley demanded.
"Yes."
"Alone?"
"Yes."
"Why can't I come with you? It isn't because of what Hostile 17 said, is it?"
"What? No, no. Nothing like that. You know you don't get in my way. Just sometimes I like to patrol alone."
"You aren't going to accidentally," Riley put the word in air quotes, "run into him, are you?"
Buffy sighed, "Riley, you have to stop this. Why would I want an undead, evil, vampire when I could have a sweet, normal, alive guy like you?" Why indeed, Buffy asked herself.
He smiled, "We still on for the movies tomorrow night."
"Absolutely." She reached up and gave him a peck on the cheek. "I'll see you then."
Buffy decided to start her sweeps in the old industrial area of Sunnydale, where all the factories (abandoned and otherwise) stood. For some reason she never understood, vampires really liked to nest there. But then she guessed that vampires liked gross, dirty, dilapidated buildings. Spike certainly didn't seem to mind.
She half expected to run into the evil undead, but apparently he had gone home like she told him to. Either that or he was doing the wise thing and staying the hell out of her way. She still couldn't believe the nerve he had to march up to the bar and announce he was buying her drink! Didn't she tell him to stay away from Riley?
What was his game? Did he just want to start a fight? That was the most likely scenario. Couldn't kill anymore, so might as well spend the evening with some stupid, male posturing. And what was the deal with Riley? Didn't he understand that **she** was the vampire slayer, and therefore, got to decide when it was time to slay vampires? He may be in the military but she was the **Chosen One**, and she was willing to bet that that held more weight in the grand scheme of things. Especially when it came to annoying, chipped, smoking, blonde vampires.
Buffy finished the factories and moved onto the cemeteries, but not with much enthusiasm. Between worrying about Riley's feelings, trying to figure out what feelings she had for Spike, and thinking about the test she was supposed to be studying for, she didn't have much energy left. Maybe that's why she didn't see the demon attack from..
*** ".behind."
Angel frowned, "You were blindsided?" "I probably would have seen him if I wasn't so distracted, or if I had brought someone along with me. It doesn't matter though, because someone did have my back."
"Spike?"
"Spike."
TBC
