Blood of Enemies, Blood of Friends
Chapter 27 – Working It Out
Buffy woke early the morning after Thanksgiving. She had been dreaming about Angel and Spike fighting in a wrestling ring in front of thousands of screaming spectators. She smiled to herself, remembering her two ex-lovers all oily and shirtless as they fought. 'Bad, Buffy," she chastised herself. 'This isn't getting you anywhere.'
During breakfast, Buffy still couldn't shake the images from her dream. "Buffy, are you ok?" asked Willow. She had noticed that her best friend was distracted.
"I just got an idea about what to do with Angel and Spike. I have to talk to Professor Dumbledore." Buffy got up from the table and ran to find Dumbledore. Willow just shook her head.
"What was that all about?" Xander asked her.
"I have no idea," replied Willow.
"She was thinking about sex with Angel and Spike," said Anya.
"Honey, we really shouldn't talk about sex in the Great Hall where the students can hear us," commented Xander. Anya shrugged her shoulders in reply.
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During lunch, Buffy had an opportunity to discuss her plan with her friends. She called Dawn to the teacher's table, figuring that her sister would have a fit if she weren't informed. Buffy would also need Dawn's help.
"Ok, I think we can all agree that something has to be done about Angel and Spike. Those two have some obvious issues to work out. Anyway, Professor Dumbledore has been kind enough to arrange for Angel and Spike to be locked up together in one of the dungeons for 24 hours," said Buffy.
"Are you sure that is a good idea?" asked Wesley with concern.
"Don't worry, Wes. I wouldn't let them kill each other. There will be nothing made of Robin nor any sharp objects in the room with them. I am hoping that they will eventually get tired of beating on each other and work out whatever their problem is." Buffy replied.
"Right, Buffy, because you have no idea what their problem is. It couldn't possibly be that they are both in love with you or anything." Dawn quipped.
"It goes much deeper than that, Dawnie. When Angel lost his soul and Spike was still evil, they still had big time issues with each other." Buffy replied.
Faith didn't believe Buffy for a second. "Come on, B., admit it. It is kind of cool to have two hot guys fighting over you."
"You should oil them both us before the fight," commented Anya.
"Well, I did debate asking Dumbledore if I could," replied Buffy.
"Mmmm, I wouldn't mind seeing that," added Willow. The Scoobies all stared at her. "What, just because I'm gay doesn't mean that I don't appreciate two muscular bodies slippery with oil, sliding. . . And, I am so going to shut up now."
Xander wanted to rescue Willow from herself; so he interjected, "I really am looking forward to seeing Angel and Spike going at it." Everyone's attention turned from Willow to Xander. "Ok, that really didn't come out right. I just want to watch in case one of them actually succeeds in killing the other."
"Again, Xander, there will be no killing," corrected Buffy.
"I for one do not understand why Professor Dumbledore would agree to such a thing," commented Giles.
"Well, I did kind of convince him that it would be a great illustration of techniques that the students have been learning in my class," Buffy added.
"But if they are in a dungeon room, how will we see them?" asked Dawn.
"Professor Dumbledore will enchant one of the walls so we can see and hear everything, kind of like a one way mirror," answered Buffy.
Robin spoke, "Great, so that means I get to see someone pound on Spike. I like this idea."
Before anyone else could interject, Buffy ended the conversation. "So, it's settled. The fight will take place beginning at sunset tonight. We will tell our students during classes this afternoon."
As the faculty members returned to their lunches, Buffy asked Dawn to take a quick walk with her. When they were out of earshot, Buffy spoke. "Dawnie, I need a big favor from you to make this work."
"Anything," said Dawn.
Buffy smiled at her sister, and told her the details of the plan.
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Shannon, Andrew, Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting at the Gryffindor table having their dinner. "Where's Dawn?" Hermione asked.
"Don't know," replied Shannon. "She said that she had something important to do."
"Probably snogging Malfoy," commented Ron between mouthfuls.
Hermione slapped her boyfriend's arm hard. "Don't be rude, Ron."
"Besides," added Harry, "Malfoy is sitting over there." Harry motioned to the Slytherin table, where Malfoy was eating dinner with some of his quidditch teammates.
"Maybe it has something to do with the Spike and Angel thing tonight?" commented Andrew.
"That makes sense," Ginny agreed.
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At sunset, Spike left his room to find Dawn waiting for him in the hallway.
"Hey, Nibblet, what's up?"
"Buffy sent me to get you," answered Dawn. "She wanted to talk to you privately."
"Why didn't she come down here herself?" asked Spike.
"She was trying to shake Angel," answered Dawn.
Dawn led Spike down the corridor. They chatted about Dawn's love life as they walked. Spike was secretly flattered, that Dawn had fallen for a boy who looked a lot like him. Dawn stopped them in front of a portrait of an ancient battle. She said the words, "Fight Club," and the portrait opened. Dawn turned to Spike. "Buffy said to wait for her in there. She should be down in a few minutes. Spike nodded to Dawn and entered the dungeon room. The room was pretty much empty with the exception of several large cushions on the floor. Spike took a seat on one of the cushions and waited.
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Dawn entered the Great Hall and spotted Draco talking to one of his quidditch teammates.
"Malfoy, I still cannot believe that you of all people would be dating a mudblood. Pansy Parkinson has been having fits about it."
"I have my reasons," said Draco with a sneer.
"And what would those reasons be?" asked Dawn. She had come up behind him during the conversation.
Without missing a beat Draco turned to her. "That you are bloody beautiful."
Dawn giggled and sat beside Draco. "So, after dinner do you want to go with me to see the vamp fight?"
"Absolutely," Draco answered. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Dawn agreed to meet him outside of the Great Hall after she finished dinner. She got up from the Slytherin table and walked over to her Gryffindor friends.
"You are blood beautiful," said one of the Slytherins teasingly to Draco.
Draco rolled his eyes. "As I was saying, dating the little mudblood is simply a means to an end." Draco broke out into an evil grin.
His teammates laughed and returned to discussing quidditch strategy. Draco let out a sigh of relief. He had figured that he would eventually be questioned about his relationship with Dawn and had been worried about sounding convincing about using her. Draco had to admit to himself that he was damn good actor.
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Buffy knocked on Angel's door. He answered and smiled at her. He was secretly pleased that she had come to see him instead of Spike. "I was wondering if we could talk for a bit," said Buffy. Angel invited her in, but Buffy explained that she would rather go somewhere else. She claimed to be worried that Spike would barge in on the middle of their conversation. "Why don't we go to one of my training rooms?" Buffy suggested. Angel agreed and Buffy led him down the corridor.
They came to a portrait of an ancient battle, and Buffy spoke the words, "Fight Club." When the portrait opened, Buffy indicated for Angel to enter first. The portrait closed behind Angel. Professor Dumbledore stepped out of the shadows and placed a locking charm on the portrait; so, that the occupants would be unable to leave the room for 24 hours. He then placed a charm on the wall; so that anyone in the corridor could see and hear what occurred in the interior of the dungeon room.
"Showtime," said Buffy, as she smiled at Dumbledore.
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Spike looked up, when he heard the portrait door open. "Buffy? . . . Peaches? What the bloody hell are you doing here?"
"Oh look, it's Captain Peroxide," commented Angel as he turned to leave. He was not happy to find that the door would not open.
"What's wrong, Poof, to weak to open a door?" sneered Spike.
"It's locked," Angel stated matter-of-factly.
Spike sighed as he got up and walked to the door. "Let a real man have at it." Spike couldn't get the door to budge; so, he rammed it several times.
Angel just laughed. "Go ahead and knock yourself out. It will be far more tolerable being trapped in here if you are just lying like a heap on the floor."
"Bite me, Peaches," replied Spike, though he realized that Angel did have a point.
"She did this on purpose," said Angel.
Spike had to agree. "She is just evil enough to do this to us."
The two vampires sat down on the cushions in the middle of the floor. "This is going to be one hell of long night," commented Angel. Spike was forced to agree.
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By the time the students had arrived in the dungeon corridor after their dinner, Angel and Spike had begun arguing again.
"And you think my language is bad?" commented Ron to Hermione.
"You do have to admit that they are rather creative in their insults," commented Draco. "You could learn something from them, Weasley."
Hermione was not happy with the prospect of Ron learning new ways to swear. Buffy was not happy with the prospect either. While Buffy was requesting that Dumbledore mute the wall, Hermione was giving Ron a warning. "Ron, if you ever reach hundreds of years old and are locked in a room with your worst enemy, then you have my permission to curse like that. Otherwise, I don't expect to hear any of those words coming out of your mouth."
"I'm actually impressed," Shannon said to Dawn. "I would have expected them to be beating on each other by now."
"Looks like you weren't too far off," Dawn replied, as Spike took a swing at Angel.
As the vampires began to fight, Buffy called her students' attention. She began to explain various techniques that Angel and Spike were employing during the fight. The students watched the fight in awe for several hours. When it became close to curfew, Buffy dismissed them, though she stayed to continue watching.
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Late in the night, Giles went down to the dungeon to check on Buffy. She was sitting on the cold stone floor half-asleep. "Hey, Giles" said Buffy, as she looked up at him.
"I thought you could use some company and some warming up." Buffy nodded, as Giles handed her a large mug of cocoa and wrapped a heavy cloak around her shoulders. He sat beside her.
"So, are those two making any progress?" Giles asked.
"Well they appear to be talking now. I had to ask Professor Dumbledore to get rid of the sound, because of all the colorful cursing. Besides, whatever their issues are, it isn't really any of our business."
"That is true," agreed Giles.
"Maybe I spoke too soon," said Buffy, as she looked up and saw Angel launch himself at Spike yet again.
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Dawn arose very early for a Saturday morning. She hadn't slept very well, because she was worried about Spike and Angel. She quietly dressed and slipped out of her room.
Dawn entered the dungeon corridor to find Buffy and Giles asleep. Giles was sleeping in a seated position with his back against the wall, while Buffy was curled up in a heavy cloak with her head resting on Giles' lap. Angel and Spike were both alive and appeared to be talking seriously.
Dawn decided that it would be best if she went to breakfast and gave her sister and Giles a chance to wake up on their own.
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Throughout the day, faculty and students came and went from the dungeon corridor. Spike and Angel had spent most of the day just talking, though there were occasional punches thrown. Buffy was the only person who had stayed in the corridor for nearly the entire 24 hours, though Faith had taken over a few times to give Buffy a break.
When the 24 hours came to an end at sunset on Saturday, the portrait door opened and Buffy entered the room. "I'm impressed," she said to the vampires.
"That was down right mean of you to lock us in here together," commented Spike.
"I can't believe that I am agreeing with him, but he's right. It was mean," added Angel.
"So have you two worked out your differences?" Buffy asked.
"No, but we figured that we could help each other out some," mumbled Spike.
"And how is that exactly?" Buffy asked.
"Spike is coming back with me to LA. He is going to work for Angel Investigations," answered Angel.
Buffy raised her eyebrows questioningly toward Spike. "Well working with you lot, I got pretty good at fighting evil. Figure I might as well do what I am good at," said Spike.
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"So, Angel and Spike are planning on working together in LA?" Dawn asked her sister for about the tenth time.
"Yes, Dawnie. They left for LA together with Gunn and Fred about an hour ago."
"And you are sure they won't kill each other?" asked Dawn.
"As long as they are working on killing other things, I am sure they won't have the time or energy to kill each other," replied Buffy.
"I still can't believe it," said Dawn.
"Actually, neither can I," agree Buffy.