~*-*~
Spike was wandering the back streets of LA, searching to kill yet more evil things. The level of strangeness was as about as high as the city's buildings. Spike knew this too.
If someone had have told me last time I was here that I'd return to this city as a demon hunter, I probably would have laughed and then eaten them.
Which was true. He would. But now he couldn't. First he couldn't physically, cause of the chip, now he didn't even want to. Damned soul.
He wasn't a pathetic excuse for a demon. He was bloody fantastic. He was a pure demon. He was rebellious. Spike had known what it was to be a vampire and turned it on its head. All those years spent pretending to be the Big Bad, it was only now he'd finally become the Big Bad. Spike had spent the last 3 hours slaying vampires and killing demons that were preying on club goers, and for once he wasn't doing it for anyone. Not to make himself feel better, not to atone for his sins, and definitely not for the love of Buffy. He was destroying evil cause it was the right thing to do. Granted, he didn't kill everything he came across. There were darling little things running around LA that were harmless. But there were ones that weren't. And that's were Spikey came out to play. Eurgh, 'Spikey'. Where *has* Harmony been hiding these past few months? Not that it mattered anymore, but that girl had potential to really be something. Exactly what that something was is still a mystery to all but the gods.
Spike the Rebel. He liked the sound of that. The Slayer of Slayers now in love with one. A creature of the night who spends his nights destroying demons. A devil spawned from Hell who protects the world to stop it becoming one. Yep, rebel. Which really does make Spike the Big Bad. He'd already gained a name in LA as one not to cross paths with. Granted, it was mostly in a 'Angel's grandchilde, beware' sense, but it still meant that in just saying who he was, demons in the area stopped with the killing and maiming of innocents. A part of him was saying 'you're just living in your grandsire's glory' but he shut his jealousy off. He wouldn't let a petty emotion like envy get in way of his work.
"My God. I really am a sap."
And he was. Damned soul.
His mind turned back to the previous events of the day, and Spike was trying to piece together all that had gone on in Angel's life since he last saw him. They weren't exactly on the best of terms, but he knew that Angel wasn't the type to turn his back on his own family. Unless they were plotting with the enemy in order to release the demon within. *Spike* on the other hand, had no such desire so he doubted Angel would set him on fire. He liked Angel's family on the whole. Not the family he was a part of, but his surrogate family. Take Fred for example, she was such an adorable little thing. Quirky and upbeat, which was so refreshing after the intensity of the past few months. Unbelievable, considering all the events that had transpired in and around that hotel. If only there were more people like her in Sunnydale. If Dawn could lighten up a little. The Niblet, how he missed her. She was the one thing that made him regret his little safari; he hadn't been there to protect her. Spike didn't know if he'd be able to approach Buffy after what happened, but when Spike returned to Sunnydale, and he was certain he would, he made make sure he still kept an eye on Dawn.
That's probably why you like Fred so much. Reminds you of Dawn... and Vicky.
"Where did that come from?", Spike was forced to say aloud.
Spike heard what he'd said to himself, and pushed the mention of the girl to the back of his mind, under some cushions in the hope that it would sink to the bottom of the sofa in his subconscious, to join other memories of his past and some old coins.
Where was I? Ah yes. Fred. Nice girl...
Spike moved on with his analysis to Mr Charles Gunn.
A regular guy like all the rest. Snarky, presumptuous, self-righteous... Good Lord. He's Xander.
"Good Lord, I said Good Lord. Well that's just dandy isn't it? Get a soul and turn into Giles."
Fortunately, no one was around to hear Spike's slip up, so he just continued, mindlessly turning the battle axe in his hand.
Spike found that he'd strayed from the city and was now standing on a beautiful cliff edge. It was strange, as it was in such contrast to the place he could have sworn he just was. His mind had drifted off as had his walking, and now he was looking out into the Pacific, and not the Pacific Bar of the last hour's beheading incident. Why was he here of all places? There was something that drew him to this point, and Spike knew that this specific point held some sort of innate significance. Had he been there before? Nope. He hadn't been in LA long enough to see the sights. There was something else. He could feel it in his long unused veins that he was here for a reason. What reason?
Now, let's think. What would be the best course of action to discover what mystical activity was at work bringing me here? What would Angel do? Investigate. Solve clues and what not. Right then, let's get on with it.
There was a signpost close by.
Dume.
Err, right. How bloody helpful.
I really can't do what he does.
So Spike gave up, when he really shouldn't have, because in giving up he slipped up. Literally. He fell over the cliff edge and landed flat on his back on the sands below... then quickly rolling out of the way of the falling battle axe that had previously been in his hand at the top of the cliff.
Ouch.
Ouch was an under statement. This was beyond ouch. This was... pain. Real pain.
Note to self: Don't fall off cliffs.
If Spike weren't already dead, he would be.
Arse.
Wait... something was here. Spike quickly renounced his retirement from playing vampire detective as he got up. Now that he was closer to the sea, he could tell what had lifted the hairs on the back of his neck. Angel. He'd either been here, or still was. He could smell him. Faintly, but he could. And Darla too... she had a scent you couldn't forget. But that was impossible, unless she was brought back yet again.
Oh, for God's sake Spike, you *are* an idiot. Wake up and smell the sires. Angel + Darla = Connor.
It all led to the same person. Connor. He had something to do with this. He could smell him here, and Angel was here too. Which meant that Connor had something to do with his disappearance. He was certain of it from the moment he met the boy.
Score one for new vampire in town!
It's official. Spike hung out with Xander *far* too much...
Wait. There was another thing that Spike could sense was close. Sunrise. And Spike wasn't exactly omniscient when it came to the sewer systems in this city. If he ran he could make it back to the Hyperion and have a small chat later with his new uncle.
~*-*~
Author's Note: Oh, I'm aware of the change from the Spike POV of the past chapters to speaking in the 3rd person, before anyone points it out. When I wrote it, I had a good reason for the change, although I don't quite remember that reasoning anymore. Not that it matters. The story still makes sense.
To my loyal fans: Thanks for the reviews again, you have no idea how much it means to me. I do actually jump about the house doing my happy dance. One of these days I'll have someone take pictures and post them up. "JSlayerUK Feedback Happy Dance". Answering a few comments:- I don't particularly like the name William either, but it's just for the time being. My vision for Soul!Spike was basically someone like Randy. There are loads of "Woe-Is-Me" Spikes in the realm of fanfic, thought I might as well get back to the witty Spike I fell in love with. And I totally agree about the Fred/Spike thing. I started and nearly went off into Fred/Spike shippy land.
But I have one request of you. Please, if you see a mistake, point it out! Distinct lack of a beta...
