title: Knowing.
rating: PG-13... ish.
summary: Post-Grave. They know a lot of things.
dedication: *blinks* I've got no idea. But I don't own anything, so I'll dedicate this to Joss... God of all things Spike, Dawn, et al... *grumble*
The sheets whispered when he pulled them over her. Just the quiet noise of cotton rubbing on cotton. A whisper.
Everyone whispered now.
When anything had to be said, it was said in low tones, quietly, intensely. It was darker now, too. Even in California, in the blazing sunshine, everything was darker. Xander didn't have any jokes, and when he did, Willow would giggle, then look around, wondering if that was okay.
But all of that faded away when it was time for her to go to bed. Because even when he whispered, every word was meant to soothe her, and some things were just for them.
"You're getting fat," he'd whisper, pinching at a side, for no other reason than the cheap giggle it got out of her.
She'd turn, pinching at his stomach softly in return. "S'cause you keep feeding me oven pizzas. Those aren't healthy, ya know."
Spike knew. Spike knew a lot. But she liked them so much. He also knew, everyday, that when he let her walk out that door to school, out of his sight and supervision for six hours and twenty-three minutes-forty seven if she stopped off for a smoothie- that she had a sandwich, carrots or celery, and an apple tucked up in her backpack for lunch. He also knew that she knew he'd kick her ass if every nibble hadn't been properly nibbled.
Spike also knew that every day at school drained her. That she *was* doing a lot better at life in general, that being young and being... Dawn had kept her spirit alive. He also knew that he hated patrolling.
Yeah... there were times that going out, and ripping the shit out of something large, ugly and most likely evil was a good way to get his rocks off. He'd rather have stayed with Dawn, whatever TV series was her favorite this season -coincidentally, also the one with the hottest male character- watching it recharge her batteries, interfering with her getting her homework done, and sometimes even helping. She was a serious slacker when it came to math. Wasn't that the Bit wasn't smart enough, she just didn't like it.
Some things, Spike and Dawn both inherently knew, so they weren't spoken about in the light of day. Like now, Spike curled around her under the covers, legs tangled together. Dawn's toes played with the demin around his ankles, and her hand rested comfortably across his stomach. That he was there... That he loved her. That the threat posed to his person if he got caught here with her was great... It let Dawn sleep. It let her love. It let her giggle and feel safe. But they didn't talk about that.
So when Dawn's birthday came and went without a whisper from the others, and Dawn thought he had forgotten, or, for that matter, never known... her sandwich had sprinkles squashed into the bread for lunch, and a small silver charm for a necklace. They didn't talk about how much it meant when he tucked them both into bed.
Dawn mumbled into his chest, "You forgot my card."
He kissed her forehead absently, chiding her. "Little girl's bad as you, are lucky to get anythin' at all, you little shit."
Silently, Dawn agreed. She knew she was very lucky.
rating: PG-13... ish.
summary: Post-Grave. They know a lot of things.
dedication: *blinks* I've got no idea. But I don't own anything, so I'll dedicate this to Joss... God of all things Spike, Dawn, et al... *grumble*
The sheets whispered when he pulled them over her. Just the quiet noise of cotton rubbing on cotton. A whisper.
Everyone whispered now.
When anything had to be said, it was said in low tones, quietly, intensely. It was darker now, too. Even in California, in the blazing sunshine, everything was darker. Xander didn't have any jokes, and when he did, Willow would giggle, then look around, wondering if that was okay.
But all of that faded away when it was time for her to go to bed. Because even when he whispered, every word was meant to soothe her, and some things were just for them.
"You're getting fat," he'd whisper, pinching at a side, for no other reason than the cheap giggle it got out of her.
She'd turn, pinching at his stomach softly in return. "S'cause you keep feeding me oven pizzas. Those aren't healthy, ya know."
Spike knew. Spike knew a lot. But she liked them so much. He also knew, everyday, that when he let her walk out that door to school, out of his sight and supervision for six hours and twenty-three minutes-forty seven if she stopped off for a smoothie- that she had a sandwich, carrots or celery, and an apple tucked up in her backpack for lunch. He also knew that she knew he'd kick her ass if every nibble hadn't been properly nibbled.
Spike also knew that every day at school drained her. That she *was* doing a lot better at life in general, that being young and being... Dawn had kept her spirit alive. He also knew that he hated patrolling.
Yeah... there were times that going out, and ripping the shit out of something large, ugly and most likely evil was a good way to get his rocks off. He'd rather have stayed with Dawn, whatever TV series was her favorite this season -coincidentally, also the one with the hottest male character- watching it recharge her batteries, interfering with her getting her homework done, and sometimes even helping. She was a serious slacker when it came to math. Wasn't that the Bit wasn't smart enough, she just didn't like it.
Some things, Spike and Dawn both inherently knew, so they weren't spoken about in the light of day. Like now, Spike curled around her under the covers, legs tangled together. Dawn's toes played with the demin around his ankles, and her hand rested comfortably across his stomach. That he was there... That he loved her. That the threat posed to his person if he got caught here with her was great... It let Dawn sleep. It let her love. It let her giggle and feel safe. But they didn't talk about that.
So when Dawn's birthday came and went without a whisper from the others, and Dawn thought he had forgotten, or, for that matter, never known... her sandwich had sprinkles squashed into the bread for lunch, and a small silver charm for a necklace. They didn't talk about how much it meant when he tucked them both into bed.
Dawn mumbled into his chest, "You forgot my card."
He kissed her forehead absently, chiding her. "Little girl's bad as you, are lucky to get anythin' at all, you little shit."
Silently, Dawn agreed. She knew she was very lucky.