Chapter 13
He couldn't believe it. She was actually kissing him again! The last time she kissed him, she was generally confused and very unhappy, and he had feared that that had been the only reason. Of course he had hoped, and tried to tell himself, that it had been more than that, but he hadn't been able to convince himself of it. But this time it was different.
Her arms were embracing his waist, and he was running his hands trough her hair that he had just let loose from the ponytail. But when his fingers started tracing the line of her jaw and then down her neck she suddenly pulled back and broke the kiss.
"What are we doing?" she gasped, but she didn't let go of him.
"What does it look like we're doing, pet?" he asked her sarcastically, but more to hide the hurt than because he was really annoyed with her.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, and without meeting his gaze she started to get up. But he wasn't going to let her get away that easy. He wanted her to stay, not to run off as she always did when she came face to face with the fact that there was something between them. Gently but firmly he grabbed her arm and searched for eye contact. She still refused to look at him, but she didn't try to get away. Slowly he let go of her arm and leaned back on the sofa in defeat.
"Is this the way it's going to be?" he asked her, suddenly very tired. "You telling me one thing, then doing the opposite, and then when you realize what you've done you try to forget it or run from it?"
Buffy didn't say anything.
With a deep sigh he reached out to put his hand under her jaw and turned her head gently in his direction.
"Do you hate me so much that you can't even look at me?" he asked, and this time the hurt was plain in his voice.
Finally he got some reaction from her. In disbelief she looked at him and frowned.
"Hate you?" she asked. "I don't hate you Spike. Sometimes -- No, most of the time I'm angry with you for some thing or another, but I don't hate you. You really think I would leave you alone with Dawn for a second if I did? Or tolerate to have you around?"
He shrugged sadly.
"You tolerated my presence before, when you truly did hate me, and when I wanted you dead. Because you needed my help."
Realizing that he was serious, he really did belief that some part of her still hated him, Buffy reached out and grabbed his hand.
"That was because we were dealing with things that were really, really dangerous, and I needed all the help I could get. But what Big Bad has been that bad since Glory? If you're aid in the fight against evil was the only reason why I let you stay in Sunnydale, I would've kicked you out as soon as I got back." When he didn't say anything, Buffy continued. "I don't hate you. But I don't love you either. Things are complicated as it is, and I don't want to make it any worse. That's what's going to happen if we keep on doing this. Giles, Xander and Willow would never be able to accept it, so I'd have to lie to them. They are my best friends, they're my family, and I don't want to do that. I'm sorry, but I wont be able to feel for you what you feel for me, I wont. So it isn't fair to either of us. Please understand that."
Spike kept quiet for a while longer, and then he stared her straight in the eyes and scowled.
"I think you're a coward," he said accusingly. "Fine, you don't love me. But you can't deny that there's something between us. And you say that you never will love me, but is that really because you can't, or because you won't let yourself? The Scoobies would accept it if you told them that it's what you truly want."
"But that's just the thing," Buffy answered him while trying to keep her patience. "It's not what I truly want." When he opened his mouth to reply, she rose determinedly and started walking away.
"I'm tired, and I'm going to sleep now." She entered her bedroom and turned back one last time to look at him as she closed the door. "Goodnight," she told the defiant looking vampire.
When the door was firmly shut, Spike rose too and stared at the wood for a long time. Then he took a deep, unnecessary breath and walked to his own bedroom.
Vin took a step back from the door and sighed. He wasn't sure he liked where things were going. He needed his two reluctant allies to keep together, not to fight. But there was nothing he could do about it. Even if he found a way there was no time, Dinah had been very clear on that.
The next morning it would happen.
She was awakened by a loud knock on the door. Half asleep Buffy crawled out of bed and walked trough her bedroom and out to the hallway. She opened the door to find Vin standing there with a frown.
"You left very sudden last night," he observed coldly. "The Master did not like it."
Buffy snorted and drew some of her hair back so it got stuck behind her ears.
"I can't say that I care," she replied dryly. "I guess you have some reason to be here, other than complaining about our manners." She stepped out of his way and coldly told him to enter.
"Yes, I have," he said. "But I think I should wait until Spike's joined us. I don't feel like repeating myself."
He barely had time to finish the sentence before Spike's door opened and a shirtless vampire walked out.
"Then please go on, we don't have all day," he mockingly said as a greeting, and practically threw himself on the sofa.
Vin smirked and sat down on the chair opposite the blonde.
"I couldn't have said it better myself." He leaned back and made himself comfortable. "Time is running out, it's time to really get started."
"What, exactly, are we going to get started? Our job description is a bit vague," Spike said and stared at the other vampire who scowled back at him.
"I think I've been pretty clear. You're job is to kill the Mayor. That's all."
"And then what? And how?" Buffy asked as she also sat down. "We're just support to attack him and put a stake trough his heart in front of everybody? Or should we do it a bit more subtle?"
Vin surprised them both by breaking out laughing, and he kept on laughing as he reached inside his jacket and took out a rolled up envelope. After he had smoothed it out he swallowed hard and just smiled while he handed it over to Buffy.
"You're a real comedian, Slayer," he said, but his eyes were cold. "Here is all the information you need. The Mayor likes to keep things continuos, so it's easy enough for us to know where he'll be and at which time. You choose when you want to make you're move. But it'll have to be before noon tomorrow."
Having said all he had planned to say, Vin got up from his chair and started making his way towards the door. But Spike wasn't going to let him get off so fast.
"Is that all? We just kill you're little mayor, and then we'll be sent home. Seems a bit too easy to me. What happens if we get caught? Will we be killed the too, or are you going to use you're new found power to free us?" It was clear in his voice that he strongly doubted to get any help whatsoever from the vampire.
And he was right.
"I wasn't aware that you were planning on getting caught," he said mockingly. "I thought you two were supposed to be skilled fighters, used to fight the forces of evil. One little vampire shouldn't be a problem."
"He's not just one little vampire!" Spike hissed trough gritted teeth. "And I'm not as sure about him not suspecting anything as you are. How do we know that we won't go straight into an ambush?"
Vin shook his head as if he was talking to a child and turned to the door again dismissively.
"You don't. But you have no choice but to trust me," he said as he walked out and closed the door behind him.
"If Vin is right about this it's not going to be very hard to do this," Buffy observed as she had finished reading the paper that Vin had given them. "There's many possible places. Which one do you think is best?"
Spike frowned and browses the words one more time. It was a very detailed schedule of the Master's comings and doings.
"Here," he said and pointed at a sentence at the center of the first paper. "If we're going to make it we're in a hurry, but the sooner the better. I don't want to stay here a second more than necessary."
Buffy nodded in agreement and read the sentence that Spike had pointed out.
"Yes, me too. But this might be too soon. I'm not even sure where in the building this is. And we don't have any weapons."
Spike grinned and rose from his chair. Without a second of hesitation he lifted it up in the air and slammed it down to the floor so that it shattered. Still grinning he picked up a wooden piece with a sharp end and held it like a trophy.
"You were saying?"
Buffy couldn't help but laugh. She should have known that he'd do that.
"Ok, so we've got weapons. But we need a plan. According to this he'll have at least one, probably two, vampires with him. I don't think that they'll just stand still and watch as we kill their boss."
"Well, then. I say you take care of them, and I turn the Master into ashes," Spike said, clearly enjoying that thought.
"Why should you get to kill him? I'm the Slayer, I should do it," protested Buffy. "He killed me once, you know."
Spike wasn't going to let her win the argument, so he took advantage fi the fact that he was standing and she wasn't. He placed himself in front of her so that she had to look up to meet his eyes.
"You've already done that, pet. Besides, I have my own reasons for wanting to kill him."
"And what is that?" Buffy snorted and rose from the sofa.
Spike shrugged and refused to answer.
"Well, I'm doing it, end of discussion," Buffy stated and started walking into her room.
"What makes you think that you've got the right to decide?" Spike called out after her. When she ignored him he continued. "You're acting like a baby."
This made her turn around and scowl at him.
"I'm acting like a baby?" she asked incredulously. "I thought you we're trying to make me like you. You're definitely not scoring any points right now, let me tell you."
"Oh, no--" Spike replied with a smirk. "That's not what I'm doing luv. Believe me. Besides, it's better if I kill the master, and you take care of the minions."
This made Buffy snort in disbelief.
"Better? Please tell me how you're thinking, because I'm having a very hard time getting your point."
"They won't be expecting you-- a human-- to attack them," he replied reasonably. "If they feel any threat whatsoever they'll direct their suspicions at me. You'll be able to kill them easily enough while I take care of the big boss."
Buffy just stared at him for a second, and then reached down and grabbed a stake.
"I'll kill him, and that's it, no more discussion." She stopped and pointed at Spike. "You take care of the minions."
He started to object, but knew that he'd lost. The way she stared at him showed clearly that she wasn't going to give in. So he sighed and looked at her sourly.
"Fine," he said coldly. "Have it your way."
"Yes I think I will," Buffy replied, barely keeping the smug grin off of her face. "So, it's all decided," she continued. "Tonight it'll happen. In less than two hours we'll be home."
He couldn't believe it. She was actually kissing him again! The last time she kissed him, she was generally confused and very unhappy, and he had feared that that had been the only reason. Of course he had hoped, and tried to tell himself, that it had been more than that, but he hadn't been able to convince himself of it. But this time it was different.
Her arms were embracing his waist, and he was running his hands trough her hair that he had just let loose from the ponytail. But when his fingers started tracing the line of her jaw and then down her neck she suddenly pulled back and broke the kiss.
"What are we doing?" she gasped, but she didn't let go of him.
"What does it look like we're doing, pet?" he asked her sarcastically, but more to hide the hurt than because he was really annoyed with her.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, and without meeting his gaze she started to get up. But he wasn't going to let her get away that easy. He wanted her to stay, not to run off as she always did when she came face to face with the fact that there was something between them. Gently but firmly he grabbed her arm and searched for eye contact. She still refused to look at him, but she didn't try to get away. Slowly he let go of her arm and leaned back on the sofa in defeat.
"Is this the way it's going to be?" he asked her, suddenly very tired. "You telling me one thing, then doing the opposite, and then when you realize what you've done you try to forget it or run from it?"
Buffy didn't say anything.
With a deep sigh he reached out to put his hand under her jaw and turned her head gently in his direction.
"Do you hate me so much that you can't even look at me?" he asked, and this time the hurt was plain in his voice.
Finally he got some reaction from her. In disbelief she looked at him and frowned.
"Hate you?" she asked. "I don't hate you Spike. Sometimes -- No, most of the time I'm angry with you for some thing or another, but I don't hate you. You really think I would leave you alone with Dawn for a second if I did? Or tolerate to have you around?"
He shrugged sadly.
"You tolerated my presence before, when you truly did hate me, and when I wanted you dead. Because you needed my help."
Realizing that he was serious, he really did belief that some part of her still hated him, Buffy reached out and grabbed his hand.
"That was because we were dealing with things that were really, really dangerous, and I needed all the help I could get. But what Big Bad has been that bad since Glory? If you're aid in the fight against evil was the only reason why I let you stay in Sunnydale, I would've kicked you out as soon as I got back." When he didn't say anything, Buffy continued. "I don't hate you. But I don't love you either. Things are complicated as it is, and I don't want to make it any worse. That's what's going to happen if we keep on doing this. Giles, Xander and Willow would never be able to accept it, so I'd have to lie to them. They are my best friends, they're my family, and I don't want to do that. I'm sorry, but I wont be able to feel for you what you feel for me, I wont. So it isn't fair to either of us. Please understand that."
Spike kept quiet for a while longer, and then he stared her straight in the eyes and scowled.
"I think you're a coward," he said accusingly. "Fine, you don't love me. But you can't deny that there's something between us. And you say that you never will love me, but is that really because you can't, or because you won't let yourself? The Scoobies would accept it if you told them that it's what you truly want."
"But that's just the thing," Buffy answered him while trying to keep her patience. "It's not what I truly want." When he opened his mouth to reply, she rose determinedly and started walking away.
"I'm tired, and I'm going to sleep now." She entered her bedroom and turned back one last time to look at him as she closed the door. "Goodnight," she told the defiant looking vampire.
When the door was firmly shut, Spike rose too and stared at the wood for a long time. Then he took a deep, unnecessary breath and walked to his own bedroom.
Vin took a step back from the door and sighed. He wasn't sure he liked where things were going. He needed his two reluctant allies to keep together, not to fight. But there was nothing he could do about it. Even if he found a way there was no time, Dinah had been very clear on that.
The next morning it would happen.
She was awakened by a loud knock on the door. Half asleep Buffy crawled out of bed and walked trough her bedroom and out to the hallway. She opened the door to find Vin standing there with a frown.
"You left very sudden last night," he observed coldly. "The Master did not like it."
Buffy snorted and drew some of her hair back so it got stuck behind her ears.
"I can't say that I care," she replied dryly. "I guess you have some reason to be here, other than complaining about our manners." She stepped out of his way and coldly told him to enter.
"Yes, I have," he said. "But I think I should wait until Spike's joined us. I don't feel like repeating myself."
He barely had time to finish the sentence before Spike's door opened and a shirtless vampire walked out.
"Then please go on, we don't have all day," he mockingly said as a greeting, and practically threw himself on the sofa.
Vin smirked and sat down on the chair opposite the blonde.
"I couldn't have said it better myself." He leaned back and made himself comfortable. "Time is running out, it's time to really get started."
"What, exactly, are we going to get started? Our job description is a bit vague," Spike said and stared at the other vampire who scowled back at him.
"I think I've been pretty clear. You're job is to kill the Mayor. That's all."
"And then what? And how?" Buffy asked as she also sat down. "We're just support to attack him and put a stake trough his heart in front of everybody? Or should we do it a bit more subtle?"
Vin surprised them both by breaking out laughing, and he kept on laughing as he reached inside his jacket and took out a rolled up envelope. After he had smoothed it out he swallowed hard and just smiled while he handed it over to Buffy.
"You're a real comedian, Slayer," he said, but his eyes were cold. "Here is all the information you need. The Mayor likes to keep things continuos, so it's easy enough for us to know where he'll be and at which time. You choose when you want to make you're move. But it'll have to be before noon tomorrow."
Having said all he had planned to say, Vin got up from his chair and started making his way towards the door. But Spike wasn't going to let him get off so fast.
"Is that all? We just kill you're little mayor, and then we'll be sent home. Seems a bit too easy to me. What happens if we get caught? Will we be killed the too, or are you going to use you're new found power to free us?" It was clear in his voice that he strongly doubted to get any help whatsoever from the vampire.
And he was right.
"I wasn't aware that you were planning on getting caught," he said mockingly. "I thought you two were supposed to be skilled fighters, used to fight the forces of evil. One little vampire shouldn't be a problem."
"He's not just one little vampire!" Spike hissed trough gritted teeth. "And I'm not as sure about him not suspecting anything as you are. How do we know that we won't go straight into an ambush?"
Vin shook his head as if he was talking to a child and turned to the door again dismissively.
"You don't. But you have no choice but to trust me," he said as he walked out and closed the door behind him.
"If Vin is right about this it's not going to be very hard to do this," Buffy observed as she had finished reading the paper that Vin had given them. "There's many possible places. Which one do you think is best?"
Spike frowned and browses the words one more time. It was a very detailed schedule of the Master's comings and doings.
"Here," he said and pointed at a sentence at the center of the first paper. "If we're going to make it we're in a hurry, but the sooner the better. I don't want to stay here a second more than necessary."
Buffy nodded in agreement and read the sentence that Spike had pointed out.
"Yes, me too. But this might be too soon. I'm not even sure where in the building this is. And we don't have any weapons."
Spike grinned and rose from his chair. Without a second of hesitation he lifted it up in the air and slammed it down to the floor so that it shattered. Still grinning he picked up a wooden piece with a sharp end and held it like a trophy.
"You were saying?"
Buffy couldn't help but laugh. She should have known that he'd do that.
"Ok, so we've got weapons. But we need a plan. According to this he'll have at least one, probably two, vampires with him. I don't think that they'll just stand still and watch as we kill their boss."
"Well, then. I say you take care of them, and I turn the Master into ashes," Spike said, clearly enjoying that thought.
"Why should you get to kill him? I'm the Slayer, I should do it," protested Buffy. "He killed me once, you know."
Spike wasn't going to let her win the argument, so he took advantage fi the fact that he was standing and she wasn't. He placed himself in front of her so that she had to look up to meet his eyes.
"You've already done that, pet. Besides, I have my own reasons for wanting to kill him."
"And what is that?" Buffy snorted and rose from the sofa.
Spike shrugged and refused to answer.
"Well, I'm doing it, end of discussion," Buffy stated and started walking into her room.
"What makes you think that you've got the right to decide?" Spike called out after her. When she ignored him he continued. "You're acting like a baby."
This made her turn around and scowl at him.
"I'm acting like a baby?" she asked incredulously. "I thought you we're trying to make me like you. You're definitely not scoring any points right now, let me tell you."
"Oh, no--" Spike replied with a smirk. "That's not what I'm doing luv. Believe me. Besides, it's better if I kill the master, and you take care of the minions."
This made Buffy snort in disbelief.
"Better? Please tell me how you're thinking, because I'm having a very hard time getting your point."
"They won't be expecting you-- a human-- to attack them," he replied reasonably. "If they feel any threat whatsoever they'll direct their suspicions at me. You'll be able to kill them easily enough while I take care of the big boss."
Buffy just stared at him for a second, and then reached down and grabbed a stake.
"I'll kill him, and that's it, no more discussion." She stopped and pointed at Spike. "You take care of the minions."
He started to object, but knew that he'd lost. The way she stared at him showed clearly that she wasn't going to give in. So he sighed and looked at her sourly.
"Fine," he said coldly. "Have it your way."
"Yes I think I will," Buffy replied, barely keeping the smug grin off of her face. "So, it's all decided," she continued. "Tonight it'll happen. In less than two hours we'll be home."
