Brave New World
Chapter Sixteen
The gentle knocking roused Buffy slowly. She stretched, fingers curling and flexing as her toes pointed and she yawned widely. When she realised that her fingers weren't meeting soft blankets, but warm, breathing flesh beneath cotton, she opened one eye with a frown. She opened the other eye, blinked and groaned.
She was spooned against Wes's side, head in the crook of his arm; one hand pressed against his side as the other slung across his chest. Her fingers were gently stroking the soft cotton of his shirt and she realised that his hand was pressed into the small of her back.
The knocking became more insistent and she felt his stir. His arm moved from the base of her spine and he opened his eyes slowly when he found his arm trapped beneath Buffy.
"Ah," he said, rubbing his eyes with his other hand.
"I second that," she answered, sitting up and shifting across the bed away from him.
"Are you there, Buffy?" Willow called through the door.
"We should go," Wes said softly.
"Uh-huh," Buffy nodded and waited for him to get up before sliding off the bed and crossing the room to open the door. "Hey, Will."
"Hi," Will replied brightly. "Everyone's up," she shot a look over Buffy's shoulder, saw Wes retrieving his glasses from the bedside table and putting them on. "The two of you could shower while we get the weapons out."
"Um, yeah, right. Ok, thanks," Buffy babbled. "Sorry I wasn't up already."
Willow smirked knowingly, pointedly looking from Buffy to Wes as Buffy lowered her face to hide her blush.
"Morning, Wes," Willow called.
"Yes, good morning, Willow," Wes answered.
"Y'know," Willow said, leaning to whisper to Buffy. "If you shared a shower, you'd be finished quicker."
Buffy couldn't fight the grin that crossed her face as her blush deepened. She poked her best friend in the arm.
"Willow!" she hissed, taking her friend's shoulder and turning her, giving her a push in the general direction of the stairs as Willow giggled.
"Are you going to shower, Buffy?"
"What?" Buffy yelped, spinning to stare at Wesley.
"Shower," he said slowly. "I'm going to use the one down the hall. Are you all right?"
"Fine," she forced out. "Just wondering if my plan's going to work."
"Of course it will," he grinned. "It's your plan."
She gave him a weak smile as he opened the door and she heard him walk down the hall, heard a muffled "Ow!" as he stumbled into the table in the pre-dawn darkness.
She shook her head and headed to the bathroom, grabbing a pair of jeans and a shirt from a chair as she passed.
"We go to war and I sleep with my friend," she muttered. "Ok, that sounded worse than it did in my head…"
They actually looked almost like an army, Buffy noted with a sting of pride as she stood before them a little while later. No one was sitting; they were all standing, holding weapons and waiting for her instructions.
"Ok, guys," Buffy raised her voice a little. "I want to tell you something, but can you not get all shocked and stuff, 'cause we really don't have time," she took a deep breath. "I saw Faith last night," she looked around at the group. There were shocked intakes of breath, but they heeded her words and didn't say another word. "She's… She's going to help us out."
"What?" Dawn cried.
"Buffy, um, not wanting to echo Dawn or anything, but what?" Willow said.
"She finally saw what the Mayor was really like after what he did last night," Wes said. "I was there. I happen to believe her. And Buffy thinks this has something to do with her dream about Angel."
"Oh?" Anya questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"He said Faith has always needed someone," Buffy said. "That was her human weakness. That's why I went after her. If I had a dream about it…"
"We should trust it," Doyle nodded. "So how's the firecracker going to help us out?"
"She's opened the basement for Spike," Buffy explained.
"Yay," he muttered.
"Then she's sticking with the Mayor until the fight, then she'll be fighting with us," Buffy finished.
"What about the Mayor?" Anya asked. "What are Willow and Tara going to do?"
"Well, we thought we'd do this spell Wes told us about," Tara told her. "It boosts everyone's strength. But that's your choice whether you want it or not. Then we'll be watching your backs in the fight."
"Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm full of the joys of bumping up the strength!" Dawn said, raising her hand to emphasise her point and there were murmurs of assent all round.
"And the Mayor?" Anya pressed.
"I've put a lot of thought into this and I was wondering if Wes and Doyle would help me out…?"
Spike ran his thumb along the edge of the axe he held and nodded to appease the Slayer. He had heard this twice already. He got it, he really did. But Buffy didn't seem to get that.
"Buffy, I get it," he sighed. "Look, can I go? Got vamps to kill, can't do that if I take a sunlit walk."
"I just want to make sure you really, really get it," Buffy said firmly.
"I get it. Go to the back of the Mayor's house, get in through the basement which L'il Miss Time Bomb will have unlocked. Wait 'til the Mayor's gone and then go to the back of the house and kill 'em all. I was excited about it, but then this whiny little voice took the edge off it."
"Get going," Buffy said, almost smiling at his sarcasm, but frowned instead.
"Yeah, yeah," he called after her as she left to give the final instructions to the rest of the group.
He put his axe on the bottom stair and heaved the barricade to one side. He tugged the heavy door open, grabbed his axe and started to leave.
"Spike!"
He turned slowly, took in a deep shuddering breath as he faced Willow. No, no, no, he resisted the urge to shake his head in time to his thoughts. She smiled nervously and took a hesitant step toward him.
"I've got to be going, Red," he said. "Y'know, sunrise and what not."
"Yeah, but I was thinking more about he impending doom. Y'know, war. You going into the Mayor's alone to fight loads of vampires. Not exactly filling me with the warm fuzzy optimism."
"Loving the support, Will, cheers for that."
"I just meant that…" she sighed. "Good people die. They die all the time and it's not fair. I don't want that to happen to you."
"Won't," he answered stubbornly. "As you pointed out, good people die. I'm not good."
She smiled at that, leaned her head back and came towards him. She stopped, close enough so that he count see the wayward strands of hair that didn't reach her ponytail. But far away enough so that he would have to take a step - one tiny little step - forward if he wanted to touch her. Which he didn't. If he did, he'd kiss her and not let her go until it was too late and he couldn't get to the Mayor's. Couldn't have that happening.
"Aren't you going to kiss me goodbye?" she asked softly.
"No," he answered.
"Oh," she took a step back, blushing. He took that one tiny little step forward and grabbed her wrist.
"I'm not saying goodbye, because I'm coming back and so are you," he said forcefully.
"You sound so sure," she smiled.
"'Cause I am," he replied. "We're all coming back. You and Tara will make sure of that with your spells and... stuff."
"We're gonna try," she said, and he almost grinned when she sparked with sudden determination.
"That's my girl."
He couldn't help it. Couldn't have stopped himself even if he wanted to. He bent down, brushing his lips lightly over hers. Leaving himself wanting more of those soft, warm lips and bright red hair.
"I'll see you later, Willow," he said and she nodded.
"See you later too," she answered as he pulled away from her, gripped his axe and strode out into the fading darkness. She stood for a moment, before whispering. "And you are a good guy. I only love the good guys."
"…Um, tuna. With ham. Maybe some pineapple."
"Eww! Dawn, that's disgusting," Andrew screwed his face up.
"Oh, and chicken and sweet-corn pizza isn't?" she accused.
"Strangely enough when compared to your favourite, I would have to say I'd prefer Andrew's topping," Wes said.
Andrew grinned in triumph as he asked, "So… what ya gonna watch? What's the first thing you're going to watch when we get outta here?"
"Friends," Dawn answered immediately. "If only to prove to Doyle that Ross and Chandler are not destined to be together."
"You're wrong, kid," Doyle told her.
"Hey, wanna see the X-Men movie?" Andrew asked. "I'm gonna get the DVD, and I'm gonna get the latest Star Wars too."
"Could be fun," Dawn nodded. "But how do you know that there is another Star Wars out?"
"I can feel it," Andrew said sagely.
"Right," Dawn answered slowly, before turning to Doyle. "So, what are you gonna do when we get out?"
"I dunno," he shrugged. "I guess I could blow my money on a hotel room and mini bar. Bit o' luxury after nearly two years slummin' it."
"That better be a double room," Anya said firmly.
"Of course it will be darlin'," Doyle said, nodding emphatically. "With champagne and those funny little heart shaped chocolates. And…"
"You?" she suggested.
"Well, that goes without saying."
"Yes, but whether you'll be naked and smeared with chocolate is something that needs saying."
The others looked toward Doyle, who blinked at Anya, reminded himself that this was one of the many reasons she was not the girl for him. He felt his cheeks burn and glared at Anya.
"Anya, how about we not go into this here, eh?" Doyle hissed.
The others chuckled as he glared at her, but when she prodded him in the stomach, he smiled too. But that might have been because he had just stumbled upon the idea of chocolate covered Anya.
"Wes?" Anya asked. "How about you? What are you going to do when you get out?"
"I'm not exactly sure," he admitted. "Though I thought I might treat myself."
"Oh yeah?" Dawn asked.
"To what?" Andrew added.
"A motorbike," he said. "A Harley Davidson. With the complete leather attire of course."
"Can you even ride a motorbike?" Doyle asked.
"I can as a matter of fact," Wes replied.
"I hear woman like a man in leather on a motorcycle. Is that how you learnt to kiss so well?" Anya asked.
Doyle didn't react for a moment, but then he seemed to register what that meant and turned to her, eyes wide. "You've kissed Wesley?" he asked her, shooting Wes a look. "You kissed Anya?"
"Well, she did force me," Wes muttered.
"No I didn't!" Anya protested. "You said that if I didn't admit I had feelings for Doyle, you'd kiss me."
"Yes," Wes nodded. "So Anya kissing me was really a good thing for you, Doyle."
"Uh-huh," Doyle answered doubtfully. "I guess I'll have to work out that logic after this damned battle."
"Of course," Wes nodded, shooting Anya a glare.
"Do you think they're nearly done?" Andrew asked, a bored note in his voice as he looked up at the ceiling.
"They will be soon," Wes assured him."It's a tricky spell to do. Especially when they're trying to boost the strength of a group this size. It should only be few more minutes. I'm going to find Buffy."
He stood up and strolled out of the room. When the door clicked closed behind them, Doyle grinned at the others.
"Did I have him scared or what?" he asked.
No one said anything and Anya shot him a frown.
"Um, Doyle, honey, you do realise that I did actually kiss him?"
Buffy was leaning over the balcony when Wes entered her room. He leant over the edge of the balcony beside her, staring across to the horizon where the sun was starting to rise.
"I don't want to disturb you," he started after a short silence. "But everyone downstairs is talking about what they're going to do when they get out. I couldn't bear it."
"Why not?" she asked, not looking at him.
"Forced normality," he replied. "They're trying to pretend there's not a war starting in just under an hour. Trying to pretend they're not terrified. It's commendable. But I'd rather be honest."
"And that means…?"
"That I'm terrified," he admitted frankly. "I think about what's going to happen in under an hour and I can't believe that I'm here, about to do this. In fact, I'm seriously considering taking a sick bucket with me onto the battlefield."
Buffy chuckled.
"Just as long as you share."
"You mean you're…"
"Scared?" she asked, turning to face him. "Yep. I've never walked into a battle when I've never been a little bit scared. But this… It's worse. Because this is the last chance we've got to stop this guy."
"We will," Wes stated.
"It's not just that," she went on. "It's this whole Faith thing. I don't know what to do. What if she's going to dust Spike? Willow will never forgive me for trusting her."
"He can handle himself," Wes said firmly. "And if she turns on us in battle, we can handle it. You don't have to worry," he glanced back into her room, looking for a way to lighten the mood. He suddenly understood why this line of conversation was to be avoided; it scared you far more than you were to begin with. He saw a few of her tops jumbled on a chair by her bed and asked. "Have you packed?"
"Packed?" she shot him a quizzical look.
"Your things," he elaborated. "Everyone else has put their things into bags for when we leave. Have you packed your things yet?"
"No," she answered with a shrug.
"Don't you want to pack anything, for when we leave?" he asked. "Shampoo? A hairbrush? Clean underwear?" he blinked, closed his eyes briefly and opened one eye before asking. "Did I just say underwear?"
"Yep," Buffy grinned.
"Well," he started, searching for a way to amend what he had said. "When I said underwear, I meant things you wear under sweaters. Y'know, t-shirts and… and -"
"Bras?" she suggested innocently.
"No!" he protested. "I was going to say vests because they, too, can be worn underneath."
"Put the shovel down, Wesley," Buffy said gently.
"Yes. Right," he nodded, turning away from her.
There was a silence as they turned back, leaning over the balcony rail to stare across the small grassy expanse behind the mansion to the dawn beyond.
"Wes?"
"Mmm?"
"About this morning…" she nibbled her lip. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you."
"It's not a -" he stopped suddenly, hands tightening around the balcony rail as though the wind had been knocked out of him.
"Wes?" Buffy asked concerned, grabbing his arms. "Wes, are you ok?"
"Fine," he said, taking a deep breath.
"Buffy!" Willow bounded into the room, pulling Tara after her. "We did it! We did the spell!"
"Yes," Wes said. "I wondered why I didn't feel such a weed anymore."
"So… that's it then," Buffy said, feeling her stomach lurch at the thought. "We're all set."
"Yeah," Tara said hesitantly. "We should… go now, right?"
"We should," Buffy nodded. "Yeah. C'mon, let's go."
"Kick some ass!" Willow added.
But they all knew her chirpy optimism was faked and she was as scared as the rest of them.
The intensity of colour that streaked across the sky was shocking. Golden, pink, purple, a Technicolor dawn. Like some kind of celebration. No one was entirely sure what was being celebrated, maybe the fact that they had actually stepped up to the plate against the Mayor.
They stood outside the mansion for a moment, gathered behind Buffy, weapons held by lax fingers as they all stared in awe at the beauty of sunrise.
Buffy was the first to shake herself out of her reverie. She cleared her throat, drawing the others attention to her. She smiled encouragingly at them.
"You all know what you're doing," she said. "You're all strong, thanks to Willow and Tara. We're going to get this town back, guys. You and me. We're a team, ok? Look out for each other, trust each other, know that we've got two powerful Wiccans watching our backs. We're that snake's worst nightmare, guys. Let's show him why.
"Let's go to war."