*********************************TRApPeD************************************
Twenty-Two: Warrior to Warrior
By Annie
2003-04-20
****************************************************************************
Day Fifteen.
9. 46 p.m.
What was this tremble of surprise?
What was this murmur of objection?
What in the name of anything sacred was this clear disappointment all about?
She couldn't have thought that the fact of him actually saving her life, for a reason to which she still found herself standing in complete puzzlement, would automatically transform him from a devil into an angel. That one unselfish act would have him crave the taste so badly that it would have him turn from that bitter one of doing evil... God, she couldn't have thought that. Not even the tiniest part of her could have believed that!
She couldn't... she just couldn't have hoped for it.
She swiped at the tears pooling in her eyes from the anger burning in her heart. At whom it was directed she couldn't tell and the fact that there was so much these days that came out a blurred bit of some sort of emotion had her feel exhausted and even more infuriated.
Confusion was a tiring companion - always one step ahead and dragging her along in its wake, desperate to catch up to it and try to cling to it, solve it, but always coming out the shaken looser.
An alliance? With that? With something that would slaughter them all in their sleep if he only was free of his bonds? Had she seriously thought it?
No.
Now that she gave it a very close look she discarded the implication that she ever had. Pushed it away, as so many other things related to him... That. Darn.
So why had he stepped in the other night? Why?! Why had he saved her? He had successfully convinced her that all he wanted was her dead - and some play in between the eye-for-an-eye and the stake-to-heart-fangs-to-neck bit. And now? What did he want? What did HE want? What did he really want?
He was so frustrating that she just wanted to...!
Scream. Cry it out. Beat it out of herself. Yes, all of those. But...she couldn't do any of them. Something held her back, and a large part of her was grateful. Grateful that the feelings stirred was somehow kept down, hushed and tucked away. She couldn't deal. It was like she had two animals within her, fighting a terrible battle and now and then she got scratched from the inside. She twitched, but didn't show it.
So what should she do? What could she do? Go to him, talk with him, reason with him?
She wanted to laugh.
There was no reasoning with THAT! He said SHE was stubborn? He truly was a riot. And his brain was too small for that distasteful excuse for a head he had between his shoulders, that was for sure. Just thinking about him made her want to...!
Take deep breaths, Buffy, she instructed calmingly. Deep, deep breaths.
And she did, coming to a stop and wrapping her arms around herself she bowed her head and closed her eyes - concentrating on the inhaling, exhaling formula.
Why couldn't he have let her die?
He would've spared her this. Spared her the constant struggle with these questions circling and circling. They never grew bored in their tormenting of her. How she hated them. How she hated this whole situation.
If they only hadn't been trapped in that basement this wouldn't have happened. It never would've come to this. Now the trap was slammed shut around her even though their prison had been taken away and she couldn't find her way out of it.
Perhaps that's because you need HIS help, something pointed out and she grumbled, opening her eyes and tilting her head back to look up at the sky.
No, I'm not going anywhere near him, she huffed, getting herself moving again. I can't do this anymore. It's breaking me in half... And I can't figure out why I...
Oh. Please.
"I won't listen to myself!" she muttered.
Slowing down once more as she reached a small playground and walked onto it. She could almost sense the children's laughter, the happy moments experienced in that very spot - now it lay deserted, abandoned.
"But never forgotten," she mumbled as she slid one finger over the cool steel of the swing-set.
She closed her eyes again and leaned forward, putting her forehead against the place she had just touched and then moved her head to rest her cheek there.
It was like a constant ache had been produced right beneath her skin from his fingertips as they slid over it, and now it called out for his touch, his caress... Her whole body longed, whispered to her, wanted her to forget everything else but what she knew she needed. Forget duties, forget what everybody else would think, forget the rumbling warning in the back of her head and just obey him, listen to the echo of his voice that she kept hearing in her mind - and give in.
She pushed away and stood straight, opening her eyes and shaking her head.
That's not how the world works, she told herself. You don't think there would be repercussions? Spike is not something you want crawling around in your bed. So let it go. Right now. Drop it and walk away. Do you hear?!
She did, and she turned to prove that she did - beginning to walk again.
He didn't want her. Not really. Just as she didn't really want him. Not all of him...
But there is no 'all', it's almost ironic how he actually just stated that himself! He has no soul, Buffy. No soul, just a demon in there. A demon! And...
"I know!" she exclaimed, running her hands through her hair. "He's nothing but a host," she mumbled, drawing a deep breath again. "His human form is nothing but a host."
***
10.14 p.m.
The end of the line.
Dead by the end of the week.
That was how he had felt not very long ago and now...
He huffed, bringing the bottle to his lips and taking a mouthful of whiskey before he sunk back in the armchair of his crypt. If he had only done way with her when he had the chance perhaps it never would've come to this. If something had pushed him on and he had taken her down, killed her - maybe this numbness inside would've died away with her. This maddening longing for her that had him on the third bottle for the evening.
Then he would've been somewhere with Dru - as happy as that crazy bird ever made him and without any of the war going on inside of him. He would've been sure of who he was, and he never would've had to...
But he wasn't.
No, he didn't care that he had thrown her headfirst out of his reality, out of his world. What she was beginning to do to him - it wasn't right. It was something only she would have the warped mind to ever think of doing and...it wasn't right. He wouldn't try to pretend for her. Why should he pretend to be something he never would be again?
Human.
He closed his eyes.
No, let her be happy with her little soldier boy. Let her have kiddies. Let her be alive. Let her be.
He suddenly chuckled to himself, reaching up a hand and catching the tear that had somehow escaped his left eye. Bringing his index finger to rest before his eyes he shook his head to himself - still smirking.
"Bloody enough of this," he muttered, putting the bottle down at his feet and then rising.
He needed to get his mind off of her.
So, to the Bronze it was.
***
10.38 p.m.
She watched the crowd move. The rhythm didn't capture her, merely heightened her concentration as she could feel the hunger surrounding her. The sexual yearnings of couples grinding on the dance floor, the methodical search for an easy target from those predators stalking the room. She had already pinpointed three of them, but she knew there were two more. Soon she spotted one and she shook her head to herself.
She had been doing this gig for what - four years now? And they still couldn't get passed the me-hungry-me-need-food stage to actually THINK before going out hunting on a turf so familiar to her. Well, not that she was complaining. Only went to show exactly how big of morons these beings actually were.
Tingles traveled up her spine and she frowned as she turned her head to try and see him through the crowd. What was he doing there tonight of all nights? She had come here because she had been close to certain that this would be the last place he'd visit. Very close to almost certain, anyways. Well, there was her proof. She had no way of foretelling exactly how he thought, so how would she be able to trust him? Ever.
Back to that again? You think he's here looking for you? Remember how your last encounter ended?
Why was it that whenever she threw a final, very heavy and harsh good-bye- forever line she seemed to forget about it in an hour or so?
Her eyes caught the shape of one of the vamps walking off with a won victim.
"Time to reclaim it," she murmured, following as the two exited the Bronze through the back door.
Stepping outside she brought out her stake, her gaze falling on the vampire about to sink teeth into flesh.
"Hey!" Buffy said and it looked up with a jerk of the head. "You sure she kisses on the first date?" she added and her opponent shoved the girl away from it before it squared its shoulders.
"Slayer," it grumbled.
"Ah, got the talk," she nodded, taking a step forward as she added: "Let's see if you got the walk."
It lashed out and she sidestepped it, putting her elbow in the nape of its neck and having it down on its knees.
"Sorry to make this short," she apologized dryly, kicking her foot up and hitting its chin - making it fall backwards onto the ground, "but I can feel company closing in."
She raised her arm and was about to bring it down when a strong hand grabbed her wrist and, in the surprise of the feeling, it was able to flip her over a muscular shoulder. She hit the asphalt with a low thud and bumped her head so hard that she saw stars. Blinking she quickly re-grouped and got to her feet.
What is this - Slayer-takes-a-beating week?! she muttered in her mind as she turned around and faced the large vampire, it being the clear cause of the growing lump in the back of her head.
"That's my brother," it said, pointing to the first vamp now rising to its feet and Buffy tilted her head slightly to one side as she blinked.
"Really?" she asked. "Meet my associate," she then shot, pointing to the stake in her right hand and the vamp raised its eyebrows, unimpressed.
"Come on, princess," it merely taunted. "I think you can give me a better introduction than that."
She gave it a look and then took the challenge. Moving forward she kicked her leg out, hit the "brother" vamp over the nose as she went - wanting to keep it out of the game for at least a little while - and then her foot connected with big brother's chest. It took three steps back and then caught her arm as she moved it forward, once more grasping her wrist in a tight grip its yellow eyes met hers and she stared at the burning fury and triumph in those orbs before it yelled:
"Now!"
She just turned her head when something hard connected with her neck and the black came swiveling around her as she felt her control over her own limbs slowly slip away from her.
"We heard about what our brother nearly managed to do to you the other night," she heard the vampire's voice hiss as its arms moved around her, holding her up. "Air - sucha big part of your world, sucha triviality when you're dead. I'll strangle you nice and slow, princess. Revenge for what you did to Merv."
"She didn't do a sodding thing to 'Merv'," Buffy now heard an angel sent voice reply and she felt her whole body start to fall back on auto pilot as it deemed itself safe.
The following was nothing but a mess. She hit the ground again; this time she came to lie on her side, and she began to come to just a few seconds later though her head wouldn't let her see straight for another fifteen of those. Once she felt her strength had returned she rolled over onto her back and turned her head to see Spike kick the big brother demon in the side of the head. She blinked, swallowed, then got to her feet.
There were two more, seemingly standing down for the time being. Cowards.
Suddenly two hands grabbed her upper arms and pulled them back behind her. She frowned, tried to throw her head back so that she could fend the vampire off, failed and instead decided on raw violence. Moving her right leg back and around the vampire's leg she turned around fast, getting herself out of its grip before bringing it to the ground by swiping its legs out from under it.
No time for punning, reaching out she grabbed a conveniently nearby lying and broken off piece of wood - since she couldn't spot her own stake anywhere - and then rammed it through the demon's heart.
Turning from the cloud of dust she moved up to where Spike was still fighting big brother and made eye contact with one of the other two. They both shared a glance and then moved around the bleached and the big to confront her.
She took the blow of the first, ducked as it tried to deliver a second and then put the wood through its chest. The baffled expression on its face made her shake her head at it. Then she was suddenly pushed to the ground with such force that she wasn't sure she didn't break anything. Her ribs sent out flashes of pain as she practically hit the asphalt with them first, to then go sliding a few feet on top of that.
She swirled around onto her back just as big brother towered over her.
Her mind screaming "Where's Spike?" and her heart going a thousand beats per second as the hostile vampire leaned forward, its eyes still bearing the glow of anger and disgust.
"You will die, Slayer," it hissed.
Then it let hear a growl of pain before it disintegrated into ashes as well.
"But not tonight," Spike said, eyes on the remains of his kill before he slowly lowered them into hers.
She tried to calm her breathing, but that had been close. Again. And the adrenaline let her know just how hard she had just fought for her life. And again...if he hadn't... She furrowed her brow, looking up at him questioningly.
He bit his jaws together, then moved his left hand forward and reached her stake out to her.
She moved her gaze out of his to rest it on her weapon. Slowly she then moved her left hand to take it and as she did she turned her eyes to meet his again, her expression once more wondering. He offered his right hand to her and she hesitated, then put her own in his and with his help she pulled herself to her feet.
They eyed each other in tight silence for a long minute and then he asked:
"Dare I?"
She cocked an eyebrow.
"You said if I even DARED to sodding talk to you..." he murmured and she interrupted him with:
"I know what I said."
He observed her again and she did the same.
"I thought YOU said it wouldn't work," she then remarked and he nodded.
"I'm bloody right too," he replied. "It really won't."
"Thought you agreed that we're too resentful towards one another for this to EVER work," she continued and he lifted one shoulder in a shrug. "I don't trust you," she stated and he smirked, bringing out a cigarette and placing it in one corner of his mouth before producing a flame with his lighter, which he had also retrieved.
"You think I bloody trust YOU, love?" he retorted and she gave him a look.
"Without trust... how can we have a relationship?" she asked and once more he arched one eyebrow, putting the lighter back in his duster as his smirk widened slightly and she rolled her eyes at him. "I mean - a partnership," she corrected, only that made the smirk grow into a meaningful grin and she glared at him. "Shut up," she muttered and he snickered, taking the fag from its place and exhaling the smoke slowly as he watched her.
"Not saying a buggering thing," he then assured. "But I think you'd better talk, pet," he added and she raised her eyebrows. "What's this side- choosing thing, and why now? For YOU to want ME on YOUR bloody team..."
"Hey, I never said I WANTED you on my team," she disagreed and he tilted his head to one side, making her cross her arms over her chest before he continued:
"I bet you have a sodding mind-blowing reason."
For just a split second he could have sworn her gaze graced his lips, but then it was in his again and she nodded.
"I do. I just don't feel like discussing that out here," she replied and he looked around them before giving her a quizzical look.
"Not comfy enough for you?" he inquired teasingly and she gave him an impatient scowl which had him smirking again. "Okay, so you wanna go back inside? Share a pint? Talk strategy?" he added and she shook her head at him.
"This isn't going to be easy on you, you know?" she asked and now he let his eyebrows rise as he looked at her. "You'll answer to me, you do realize that, don't you?"
"I'll answer to ME," he stated. "You'll just get to listen in on what I'm spilling."
She eyed him and then sighed, turning from him and beginning to walk out of the alley. He followed.
"This will never work," she muttered.
"That IS what we've been saying, yeah," he nodded, coming up to stroll by her side.
"I'm crazy. What am I thinking?!" she grumbled, shaking her head again and he smiled slightly.
"Fight-big-sodding-threat-thing-and-come-out-standing?" he then wondered and she stopped, turning to him. "Or...only-with-a-limp-at-least?" he tried and she bit her jaws together hard not to let herself actually smile over that.
"You listen," she then said. "I don't like this any more than you do, so let's make it easy for the both of us. I'll contact you when I need information, and the rest of the time we'll just stay the hell away from each other."
Turning she took a step forward, then stopped herself and turned back to him.
"And by the way - what the hell is this saving-my-life business all about?!" she demanded and his eyes grew a bit round at that.
"Rather be dead then?" he wondered, face extremely serious and voice extremely understanding and she wanted to stomp down hard on his toes just to make him understand that she needed him to listen and not come with these idiotic inputs.
"Twice!" she exclaimed and he smiled a little, throwing the stump of what was left of the cigarette to the ground and crushing it with one booted heel before saying:
"I guess being with you had some sorta profound impact on me."
She closed her eyes, but he could still see the twitch in either corner of her mouth and his own smile widened at the sight.
"Buffy," he then said and she opened her eyes again. "You have to tell me everything. And I'm officially at bloody war with the demonic world as of now - so even if there is no trust there'd better be some sorta code of sodding honor or whatever between us from this moment on..."
She met his gaze for a few moments, held it, and then nodded slowly.
"Warrior to warrior," she said, reaching out her right hand and he grabbed it around the wrist with his own, having her do the same to him.
"Warrior to warrior," he murmured with a small nod.
**************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** ******************
I'm so glad you liked those chapters! Really hope you enjoyed this as well! Oh, it's more than wonderful to read your thoughts - your support is key! Thank you!
Very special thanks to brey's master (I just didn't go there and hope this tasted well too) ;), Faith (*grin*), msu (luved the bunny!) ;), Shaelune ( *smile*), Heather (*lol* and of course) :), Juliya (*smile*), Ape18 (aw! And I dunno where the ideas come from...they're just there to be found, I guess...) ;), Ark (*wide grin*!) ;), Pine (hehe, luv it when you are. Talkative. Thanks a lot!) ;), Mary (apology's very much accepted, it's great to hear from you now... Thank you for those wonderful compliments!) :), Rachel (*smile*), Taz (*hug to you*) ;), Vanessa (merci! ;) Je suis...very happy about that!) ;), Von (*muahahahha*) ;P, Dees (thanks for that!) :), Renee' (it's cool, and great you like!) :), ship (*hug*!), Johanna (Thanks a lot for that and honestly, I have no idea how long this is gonna get...!) ;), VampiresKiss (*smile to that*) :) and charisma1525 (hehe, good to plant thoughts! Thanks, girl.)
Thanks a whole bunch to ALL of you and I hope Easter was good. Mine really was. :) And I hooooope you're still liking, enjoying, approving! ;)
A.M.L, Annie.
Twenty-Two: Warrior to Warrior
By Annie
2003-04-20
****************************************************************************
Day Fifteen.
9. 46 p.m.
What was this tremble of surprise?
What was this murmur of objection?
What in the name of anything sacred was this clear disappointment all about?
She couldn't have thought that the fact of him actually saving her life, for a reason to which she still found herself standing in complete puzzlement, would automatically transform him from a devil into an angel. That one unselfish act would have him crave the taste so badly that it would have him turn from that bitter one of doing evil... God, she couldn't have thought that. Not even the tiniest part of her could have believed that!
She couldn't... she just couldn't have hoped for it.
She swiped at the tears pooling in her eyes from the anger burning in her heart. At whom it was directed she couldn't tell and the fact that there was so much these days that came out a blurred bit of some sort of emotion had her feel exhausted and even more infuriated.
Confusion was a tiring companion - always one step ahead and dragging her along in its wake, desperate to catch up to it and try to cling to it, solve it, but always coming out the shaken looser.
An alliance? With that? With something that would slaughter them all in their sleep if he only was free of his bonds? Had she seriously thought it?
No.
Now that she gave it a very close look she discarded the implication that she ever had. Pushed it away, as so many other things related to him... That. Darn.
So why had he stepped in the other night? Why?! Why had he saved her? He had successfully convinced her that all he wanted was her dead - and some play in between the eye-for-an-eye and the stake-to-heart-fangs-to-neck bit. And now? What did he want? What did HE want? What did he really want?
He was so frustrating that she just wanted to...!
Scream. Cry it out. Beat it out of herself. Yes, all of those. But...she couldn't do any of them. Something held her back, and a large part of her was grateful. Grateful that the feelings stirred was somehow kept down, hushed and tucked away. She couldn't deal. It was like she had two animals within her, fighting a terrible battle and now and then she got scratched from the inside. She twitched, but didn't show it.
So what should she do? What could she do? Go to him, talk with him, reason with him?
She wanted to laugh.
There was no reasoning with THAT! He said SHE was stubborn? He truly was a riot. And his brain was too small for that distasteful excuse for a head he had between his shoulders, that was for sure. Just thinking about him made her want to...!
Take deep breaths, Buffy, she instructed calmingly. Deep, deep breaths.
And she did, coming to a stop and wrapping her arms around herself she bowed her head and closed her eyes - concentrating on the inhaling, exhaling formula.
Why couldn't he have let her die?
He would've spared her this. Spared her the constant struggle with these questions circling and circling. They never grew bored in their tormenting of her. How she hated them. How she hated this whole situation.
If they only hadn't been trapped in that basement this wouldn't have happened. It never would've come to this. Now the trap was slammed shut around her even though their prison had been taken away and she couldn't find her way out of it.
Perhaps that's because you need HIS help, something pointed out and she grumbled, opening her eyes and tilting her head back to look up at the sky.
No, I'm not going anywhere near him, she huffed, getting herself moving again. I can't do this anymore. It's breaking me in half... And I can't figure out why I...
Oh. Please.
"I won't listen to myself!" she muttered.
Slowing down once more as she reached a small playground and walked onto it. She could almost sense the children's laughter, the happy moments experienced in that very spot - now it lay deserted, abandoned.
"But never forgotten," she mumbled as she slid one finger over the cool steel of the swing-set.
She closed her eyes again and leaned forward, putting her forehead against the place she had just touched and then moved her head to rest her cheek there.
It was like a constant ache had been produced right beneath her skin from his fingertips as they slid over it, and now it called out for his touch, his caress... Her whole body longed, whispered to her, wanted her to forget everything else but what she knew she needed. Forget duties, forget what everybody else would think, forget the rumbling warning in the back of her head and just obey him, listen to the echo of his voice that she kept hearing in her mind - and give in.
She pushed away and stood straight, opening her eyes and shaking her head.
That's not how the world works, she told herself. You don't think there would be repercussions? Spike is not something you want crawling around in your bed. So let it go. Right now. Drop it and walk away. Do you hear?!
She did, and she turned to prove that she did - beginning to walk again.
He didn't want her. Not really. Just as she didn't really want him. Not all of him...
But there is no 'all', it's almost ironic how he actually just stated that himself! He has no soul, Buffy. No soul, just a demon in there. A demon! And...
"I know!" she exclaimed, running her hands through her hair. "He's nothing but a host," she mumbled, drawing a deep breath again. "His human form is nothing but a host."
***
10.14 p.m.
The end of the line.
Dead by the end of the week.
That was how he had felt not very long ago and now...
He huffed, bringing the bottle to his lips and taking a mouthful of whiskey before he sunk back in the armchair of his crypt. If he had only done way with her when he had the chance perhaps it never would've come to this. If something had pushed him on and he had taken her down, killed her - maybe this numbness inside would've died away with her. This maddening longing for her that had him on the third bottle for the evening.
Then he would've been somewhere with Dru - as happy as that crazy bird ever made him and without any of the war going on inside of him. He would've been sure of who he was, and he never would've had to...
But he wasn't.
No, he didn't care that he had thrown her headfirst out of his reality, out of his world. What she was beginning to do to him - it wasn't right. It was something only she would have the warped mind to ever think of doing and...it wasn't right. He wouldn't try to pretend for her. Why should he pretend to be something he never would be again?
Human.
He closed his eyes.
No, let her be happy with her little soldier boy. Let her have kiddies. Let her be alive. Let her be.
He suddenly chuckled to himself, reaching up a hand and catching the tear that had somehow escaped his left eye. Bringing his index finger to rest before his eyes he shook his head to himself - still smirking.
"Bloody enough of this," he muttered, putting the bottle down at his feet and then rising.
He needed to get his mind off of her.
So, to the Bronze it was.
***
10.38 p.m.
She watched the crowd move. The rhythm didn't capture her, merely heightened her concentration as she could feel the hunger surrounding her. The sexual yearnings of couples grinding on the dance floor, the methodical search for an easy target from those predators stalking the room. She had already pinpointed three of them, but she knew there were two more. Soon she spotted one and she shook her head to herself.
She had been doing this gig for what - four years now? And they still couldn't get passed the me-hungry-me-need-food stage to actually THINK before going out hunting on a turf so familiar to her. Well, not that she was complaining. Only went to show exactly how big of morons these beings actually were.
Tingles traveled up her spine and she frowned as she turned her head to try and see him through the crowd. What was he doing there tonight of all nights? She had come here because she had been close to certain that this would be the last place he'd visit. Very close to almost certain, anyways. Well, there was her proof. She had no way of foretelling exactly how he thought, so how would she be able to trust him? Ever.
Back to that again? You think he's here looking for you? Remember how your last encounter ended?
Why was it that whenever she threw a final, very heavy and harsh good-bye- forever line she seemed to forget about it in an hour or so?
Her eyes caught the shape of one of the vamps walking off with a won victim.
"Time to reclaim it," she murmured, following as the two exited the Bronze through the back door.
Stepping outside she brought out her stake, her gaze falling on the vampire about to sink teeth into flesh.
"Hey!" Buffy said and it looked up with a jerk of the head. "You sure she kisses on the first date?" she added and her opponent shoved the girl away from it before it squared its shoulders.
"Slayer," it grumbled.
"Ah, got the talk," she nodded, taking a step forward as she added: "Let's see if you got the walk."
It lashed out and she sidestepped it, putting her elbow in the nape of its neck and having it down on its knees.
"Sorry to make this short," she apologized dryly, kicking her foot up and hitting its chin - making it fall backwards onto the ground, "but I can feel company closing in."
She raised her arm and was about to bring it down when a strong hand grabbed her wrist and, in the surprise of the feeling, it was able to flip her over a muscular shoulder. She hit the asphalt with a low thud and bumped her head so hard that she saw stars. Blinking she quickly re-grouped and got to her feet.
What is this - Slayer-takes-a-beating week?! she muttered in her mind as she turned around and faced the large vampire, it being the clear cause of the growing lump in the back of her head.
"That's my brother," it said, pointing to the first vamp now rising to its feet and Buffy tilted her head slightly to one side as she blinked.
"Really?" she asked. "Meet my associate," she then shot, pointing to the stake in her right hand and the vamp raised its eyebrows, unimpressed.
"Come on, princess," it merely taunted. "I think you can give me a better introduction than that."
She gave it a look and then took the challenge. Moving forward she kicked her leg out, hit the "brother" vamp over the nose as she went - wanting to keep it out of the game for at least a little while - and then her foot connected with big brother's chest. It took three steps back and then caught her arm as she moved it forward, once more grasping her wrist in a tight grip its yellow eyes met hers and she stared at the burning fury and triumph in those orbs before it yelled:
"Now!"
She just turned her head when something hard connected with her neck and the black came swiveling around her as she felt her control over her own limbs slowly slip away from her.
"We heard about what our brother nearly managed to do to you the other night," she heard the vampire's voice hiss as its arms moved around her, holding her up. "Air - sucha big part of your world, sucha triviality when you're dead. I'll strangle you nice and slow, princess. Revenge for what you did to Merv."
"She didn't do a sodding thing to 'Merv'," Buffy now heard an angel sent voice reply and she felt her whole body start to fall back on auto pilot as it deemed itself safe.
The following was nothing but a mess. She hit the ground again; this time she came to lie on her side, and she began to come to just a few seconds later though her head wouldn't let her see straight for another fifteen of those. Once she felt her strength had returned she rolled over onto her back and turned her head to see Spike kick the big brother demon in the side of the head. She blinked, swallowed, then got to her feet.
There were two more, seemingly standing down for the time being. Cowards.
Suddenly two hands grabbed her upper arms and pulled them back behind her. She frowned, tried to throw her head back so that she could fend the vampire off, failed and instead decided on raw violence. Moving her right leg back and around the vampire's leg she turned around fast, getting herself out of its grip before bringing it to the ground by swiping its legs out from under it.
No time for punning, reaching out she grabbed a conveniently nearby lying and broken off piece of wood - since she couldn't spot her own stake anywhere - and then rammed it through the demon's heart.
Turning from the cloud of dust she moved up to where Spike was still fighting big brother and made eye contact with one of the other two. They both shared a glance and then moved around the bleached and the big to confront her.
She took the blow of the first, ducked as it tried to deliver a second and then put the wood through its chest. The baffled expression on its face made her shake her head at it. Then she was suddenly pushed to the ground with such force that she wasn't sure she didn't break anything. Her ribs sent out flashes of pain as she practically hit the asphalt with them first, to then go sliding a few feet on top of that.
She swirled around onto her back just as big brother towered over her.
Her mind screaming "Where's Spike?" and her heart going a thousand beats per second as the hostile vampire leaned forward, its eyes still bearing the glow of anger and disgust.
"You will die, Slayer," it hissed.
Then it let hear a growl of pain before it disintegrated into ashes as well.
"But not tonight," Spike said, eyes on the remains of his kill before he slowly lowered them into hers.
She tried to calm her breathing, but that had been close. Again. And the adrenaline let her know just how hard she had just fought for her life. And again...if he hadn't... She furrowed her brow, looking up at him questioningly.
He bit his jaws together, then moved his left hand forward and reached her stake out to her.
She moved her gaze out of his to rest it on her weapon. Slowly she then moved her left hand to take it and as she did she turned her eyes to meet his again, her expression once more wondering. He offered his right hand to her and she hesitated, then put her own in his and with his help she pulled herself to her feet.
They eyed each other in tight silence for a long minute and then he asked:
"Dare I?"
She cocked an eyebrow.
"You said if I even DARED to sodding talk to you..." he murmured and she interrupted him with:
"I know what I said."
He observed her again and she did the same.
"I thought YOU said it wouldn't work," she then remarked and he nodded.
"I'm bloody right too," he replied. "It really won't."
"Thought you agreed that we're too resentful towards one another for this to EVER work," she continued and he lifted one shoulder in a shrug. "I don't trust you," she stated and he smirked, bringing out a cigarette and placing it in one corner of his mouth before producing a flame with his lighter, which he had also retrieved.
"You think I bloody trust YOU, love?" he retorted and she gave him a look.
"Without trust... how can we have a relationship?" she asked and once more he arched one eyebrow, putting the lighter back in his duster as his smirk widened slightly and she rolled her eyes at him. "I mean - a partnership," she corrected, only that made the smirk grow into a meaningful grin and she glared at him. "Shut up," she muttered and he snickered, taking the fag from its place and exhaling the smoke slowly as he watched her.
"Not saying a buggering thing," he then assured. "But I think you'd better talk, pet," he added and she raised her eyebrows. "What's this side- choosing thing, and why now? For YOU to want ME on YOUR bloody team..."
"Hey, I never said I WANTED you on my team," she disagreed and he tilted his head to one side, making her cross her arms over her chest before he continued:
"I bet you have a sodding mind-blowing reason."
For just a split second he could have sworn her gaze graced his lips, but then it was in his again and she nodded.
"I do. I just don't feel like discussing that out here," she replied and he looked around them before giving her a quizzical look.
"Not comfy enough for you?" he inquired teasingly and she gave him an impatient scowl which had him smirking again. "Okay, so you wanna go back inside? Share a pint? Talk strategy?" he added and she shook her head at him.
"This isn't going to be easy on you, you know?" she asked and now he let his eyebrows rise as he looked at her. "You'll answer to me, you do realize that, don't you?"
"I'll answer to ME," he stated. "You'll just get to listen in on what I'm spilling."
She eyed him and then sighed, turning from him and beginning to walk out of the alley. He followed.
"This will never work," she muttered.
"That IS what we've been saying, yeah," he nodded, coming up to stroll by her side.
"I'm crazy. What am I thinking?!" she grumbled, shaking her head again and he smiled slightly.
"Fight-big-sodding-threat-thing-and-come-out-standing?" he then wondered and she stopped, turning to him. "Or...only-with-a-limp-at-least?" he tried and she bit her jaws together hard not to let herself actually smile over that.
"You listen," she then said. "I don't like this any more than you do, so let's make it easy for the both of us. I'll contact you when I need information, and the rest of the time we'll just stay the hell away from each other."
Turning she took a step forward, then stopped herself and turned back to him.
"And by the way - what the hell is this saving-my-life business all about?!" she demanded and his eyes grew a bit round at that.
"Rather be dead then?" he wondered, face extremely serious and voice extremely understanding and she wanted to stomp down hard on his toes just to make him understand that she needed him to listen and not come with these idiotic inputs.
"Twice!" she exclaimed and he smiled a little, throwing the stump of what was left of the cigarette to the ground and crushing it with one booted heel before saying:
"I guess being with you had some sorta profound impact on me."
She closed her eyes, but he could still see the twitch in either corner of her mouth and his own smile widened at the sight.
"Buffy," he then said and she opened her eyes again. "You have to tell me everything. And I'm officially at bloody war with the demonic world as of now - so even if there is no trust there'd better be some sorta code of sodding honor or whatever between us from this moment on..."
She met his gaze for a few moments, held it, and then nodded slowly.
"Warrior to warrior," she said, reaching out her right hand and he grabbed it around the wrist with his own, having her do the same to him.
"Warrior to warrior," he murmured with a small nod.
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I'm so glad you liked those chapters! Really hope you enjoyed this as well! Oh, it's more than wonderful to read your thoughts - your support is key! Thank you!
Very special thanks to brey's master (I just didn't go there and hope this tasted well too) ;), Faith (*grin*), msu (luved the bunny!) ;), Shaelune ( *smile*), Heather (*lol* and of course) :), Juliya (*smile*), Ape18 (aw! And I dunno where the ideas come from...they're just there to be found, I guess...) ;), Ark (*wide grin*!) ;), Pine (hehe, luv it when you are. Talkative. Thanks a lot!) ;), Mary (apology's very much accepted, it's great to hear from you now... Thank you for those wonderful compliments!) :), Rachel (*smile*), Taz (*hug to you*) ;), Vanessa (merci! ;) Je suis...very happy about that!) ;), Von (*muahahahha*) ;P, Dees (thanks for that!) :), Renee' (it's cool, and great you like!) :), ship (*hug*!), Johanna (Thanks a lot for that and honestly, I have no idea how long this is gonna get...!) ;), VampiresKiss (*smile to that*) :) and charisma1525 (hehe, good to plant thoughts! Thanks, girl.)
Thanks a whole bunch to ALL of you and I hope Easter was good. Mine really was. :) And I hooooope you're still liking, enjoying, approving! ;)
A.M.L, Annie.