Dawn reappeared and found Spike standing in the doorway, smoking a cigarette. She stepped out after him. She was wearing the leather pants and halter-top from the night before but was ignorant to Spike's few admiring glances.
"So, do you want to tell me where you are? Considering you did knock me out and kidnap me last night." He grunted in response and muttered something about downtown.
"Not too much help, are we? Well, it's a good job I know where the hell I am." Dawn pointed left and they both turned a corner. After following several of Dawn's directions they came across a run-down building that had large panelled, landscaper windows that Spike presumed looked over the whole city. Dawn led them round the back and through a banged up old door.
"No-one lives here?" Spike asked.
"Nah, I own it. I have somewhere like this in every city I've come across. I have a lot of money left from everyone. Most of it I've tied up, we're talking mega bucks. But in most of the new cities I buy somewhere like this. Maybe if I ever live to be old and wrinkly I'll do them up or something."
"Way you're going it's doubtful you'll live another week." It was meant to be an insult, but Dawn didn't rear up about being able to look after herself, nor did she really day anything. After it had been spoke out loud it was almost haunting. With the life she led, one of darkness, there was always the possibility that she wouldn't live to see another day. Thing was, it didn't really bother her all that much, it saddened her more, because no matter how much she joked about it she didn't actually have a choice, she was immortal. And that was that. They were both silent whilst Dawn picked her way throughout the hazardous building to the top floor.
Up there Spike was surprised to see it was almost homely. There were several of her belongings and it was reasonably furnished, but nothing looked too personal. She stepped into her 'apartment' and went to a rail that a selection of clothes was hanging from. Everything really was designed for fighting. There were several pairs of slacks and tank tops for training and an assortment of leather trousers, skirts and tops and a few dark cord pieces as well as a variety of Lycra and cotton tops that weren't made of leather. Nearly everything was darkly coloured apart from a few white garments and there was a small selection of shoes. Some knee-high leather boots of various colours and a few heeled shoes in different styles. She grabbed all of these and stuffed them into travelling rucksack, removing an outfit from the pile first.
"Make yourself comfortable..." With that Dawn disappeared into another room and Spike heard the unmistakeable sound of a shower running. He looked around; her apartment was actually quite hospitable. Not that that was an issue with him, he'd lived in a hell of a lot worse. The sofa was a rustic iron frame with a cream cushion and a plain wooden table. There was an art nouveau lamp made from wrought iron, without a shade on the left of the sofa and that was about it. Everything was very basic and simple. If it suited her, then fine by him. Eventually she emerged wrapped in a towel that fell just below her waist and her skin glistened with water droplets. Her hair was wet and wild and Spike couldn't help but lose himself in her for a minute, until he finally came to his senses.
"You just going to stand there the whole time or actually be remotely social and take a seat." Spike huffed his famous huff in response but grudgingly took a seat anyway. Dawn rolled her eyes and disappeared into another room. Spike sat in wonder for several minutes, what the hell was he thinking, Christ, it was Dawnie for God's sake.
When she was in her bedroom Dawn dropped the towel and ran a hand through her wet hair. Pulling underwear on Dawn picked up the outfit she had chosen earlier. She fastened a denim skirt around her waist. It was incredible short, almost non-existent and was frayed at the bottom. It had been dyed a deep burgundy colour and contrasted her skin and hair well. Dawn wrapped a black satin corset around her lithe frame and pulled it tight. After that she slipped on matching sleeves that finished just above her elbow and locked a simple black rope choker around her neck that had a tiny silver cross dangling from it. Dawn fitted her feet into a pair of black leather knee high boots on and left her room. She saw spike sprawled out on her sofa and strode past him.
Dawn grabbed a few things from the tabletop and stuffed them into the rucksack along with a handful of items she had brought from the bathroom. Spike simply stared at her. She picked up a bobble from the table and pulled her hair into a loose bun that various pieces escaped from and hung around her neck and face.
"You're not going out like that." Spike said simply. Dawn slowly turned on her heel.
"Excuse me?" She stared at the now standing Spike.
"You heard me, you are not leaving this building looking like that."
"There is absolutely nothing wrong with the way I look."
"No, you're right. But as long as I'm with you you're not going out looking like that so as every spotty gangly teenager and old perverted man can drool over you." He was extremely adamant and Dawn just looked at him and smiled.
"Well then, you better not be here in the next two seconds because I'm leaving like this whether you like it or not." As she turned, picked up her bag and made to go Spike gripped her arm firmly. What she was wearing was the sort of thing he liked to see on a woman, and there was no way he was letting Dawn fall into that category. That was not the right category for her. Whatever happened to the jeans and baby pink tees? Dawn looked down at the hand wrapped around her arm and looked back at Spike, saying sweetly,
"I don't think Angel will be too pleased if you bruise me." Spike leant in extremely close to Dawn.
"I doubt you bruise easily little girl. Besides, when did I ever give a toss what Angel thinks." His tone was almost chilling and she wanted so desperately to recoil, but there was not a chance in hell she was going to let that happen.
"Look Spike. I'm leaving here wearing this whether you like it or not, and honestly, I'm getting tired of your bullshit." With that Dawn yanked her arm free and pushed past him and out of the door. Spike followed her, banging into every item between him and the door, and slamming that offending object with an almighty 'thud'.
When they got to the street Dawn started walking in the opposite direction to which they had come and before Spike could question this, he saw her unlock the doors to a vintage Mercedes convertible in midnight blue. He climbed in after her and she started up the car. He looked around it admiringly, but still in silence.
They were driving through the city and at the same time, both parties noticed a young man being dragged into an alley by a somewhat stronger woman. Dawn immediately pulled the car over and they both got out. Spike started into the alley, but didn't realise that Dawn had not followed him. Going on instinct he made himself known to the other vampire as a fellow creature of the night, and instead of returning to drain the man she let him drop to the ground from the wall she had him held against and showed relative interest in Spike. She started to stalk towards him when he noticed a shadow drop from the fire escape behind her. Damn, girls good, he thought. Spike deducted that Dawn had gone up the fire escape at the entrance to the alley and jumped between them until she was above said vampire, and then come down to drop to the ground. He smirked at the girl approaching him and started towards her. When he reached her he pulled her into a fierce kiss, just as their tongues met she exploded into dust beneath his hands. Dawn raised an eyebrow at him.
"Always so friendly with your prey?" He just smirked back.
"Depends what I'm hungry for." With that Dawn rolled her eyes as he continued to smirk relentlessly and turned to the man slumped on the ground. As she was going over to him he managed to clamber to an upright position. When he saw Dawn his mouth dropped open, his eyes devoured her from head to toe and he managed to breathe,
"You saved me, however can I repay you?" She smiled back at him, muttering, 'such a cliché' and shook her head. He immediately took a step closer and traced her hairline.
"Oh no. You don't get away that easily, at least let me take you for a drink?" There was a low growl from behind Dawn and when the nameless man looked over her shoulder he saw Spike scowling at him. He turned back to Dawn,
"Boyfriend?" She shook her head, still smiling at the man. He was seriously good looking!
"Now about that drink?" Dawn asked, returning her attention to the man in front of her, smiling invitingly.
"Yes, I'm her ruddy boyfriend, now sod off!"
"Spike!" He picked up the man by the scruff of the neck, led him to the end of the alleyway and shoved him into the street.
"Okay, okay! I get it!" He threw another enticing grin at Dawn before turning and disappearing into the night.
"Spike, what the hell do you think you're doing?!"
"I'm not having you going around acting like a bloody harlot!"
"Harlot?! Harlot! At least I don't go around making with the tingle kisses with every vampdyke I see!"
"Vampdyke?!! Tingle kisses?"
"Yeah, you know, kisses that send a tingle to the pit of your stomach, kisses that scream throw me up against a wall and fu-"
"Don't you use that word young lady! I'm over two hundred, I can do whatever I bloody well please." Dawn's arms flew into the air in exasperation and she stormed into the street, walking in the opposite direction to the car. Running to catch up with her Spike shouted,
"Hey! Hey, where the hell are you going now?"
"To a phone box." Dawn replied simply.
"Oh." Spike had fallen into step with her now, "Wait, a phone box?" The duo stepped into a small booth on the dark street and from the middle of nowhere Dawn produced a wallet from which she pulled Angel's business card. Spike watched her do this and then proceeded to watch her punch the numbers into the phone. He recognised that wallet. Shit! That was Wesley's! He was impressed, that was for sure.
"Make a habit of stealing wallets, do you?" Dawn shrugged.
"When I need to. Figured it would come in handy, besides I'm only borrowing it." Spike scoffed and lit up a cigarette. Dawn listened to the receiver that was pressed to her ear; the answer machine kicked in and she heard Wesley's unmistakeable voice.
"Angel, it's Dawn. Listen, we picked up my stuff but ran into a vamp on the way home. We won't be back for a bit, but don't worry. We'll see you later, okay? Don't worry; I won't bring Spike back in an urn, well I'm not promising anything! Ouch! Hey! Anyway, talk to you later." Dawn replaced the receiver and turned out of the booth.
"What do you mean, we won't be back for awhile. Where do you think we are going?" The two were walking down the street and Dawn turned, leading them into a dark alley. There was a low beat emitting from the depths of the alley and Dawn walked towards it.
"So, do you want to tell me where you are? Considering you did knock me out and kidnap me last night." He grunted in response and muttered something about downtown.
"Not too much help, are we? Well, it's a good job I know where the hell I am." Dawn pointed left and they both turned a corner. After following several of Dawn's directions they came across a run-down building that had large panelled, landscaper windows that Spike presumed looked over the whole city. Dawn led them round the back and through a banged up old door.
"No-one lives here?" Spike asked.
"Nah, I own it. I have somewhere like this in every city I've come across. I have a lot of money left from everyone. Most of it I've tied up, we're talking mega bucks. But in most of the new cities I buy somewhere like this. Maybe if I ever live to be old and wrinkly I'll do them up or something."
"Way you're going it's doubtful you'll live another week." It was meant to be an insult, but Dawn didn't rear up about being able to look after herself, nor did she really day anything. After it had been spoke out loud it was almost haunting. With the life she led, one of darkness, there was always the possibility that she wouldn't live to see another day. Thing was, it didn't really bother her all that much, it saddened her more, because no matter how much she joked about it she didn't actually have a choice, she was immortal. And that was that. They were both silent whilst Dawn picked her way throughout the hazardous building to the top floor.
Up there Spike was surprised to see it was almost homely. There were several of her belongings and it was reasonably furnished, but nothing looked too personal. She stepped into her 'apartment' and went to a rail that a selection of clothes was hanging from. Everything really was designed for fighting. There were several pairs of slacks and tank tops for training and an assortment of leather trousers, skirts and tops and a few dark cord pieces as well as a variety of Lycra and cotton tops that weren't made of leather. Nearly everything was darkly coloured apart from a few white garments and there was a small selection of shoes. Some knee-high leather boots of various colours and a few heeled shoes in different styles. She grabbed all of these and stuffed them into travelling rucksack, removing an outfit from the pile first.
"Make yourself comfortable..." With that Dawn disappeared into another room and Spike heard the unmistakeable sound of a shower running. He looked around; her apartment was actually quite hospitable. Not that that was an issue with him, he'd lived in a hell of a lot worse. The sofa was a rustic iron frame with a cream cushion and a plain wooden table. There was an art nouveau lamp made from wrought iron, without a shade on the left of the sofa and that was about it. Everything was very basic and simple. If it suited her, then fine by him. Eventually she emerged wrapped in a towel that fell just below her waist and her skin glistened with water droplets. Her hair was wet and wild and Spike couldn't help but lose himself in her for a minute, until he finally came to his senses.
"You just going to stand there the whole time or actually be remotely social and take a seat." Spike huffed his famous huff in response but grudgingly took a seat anyway. Dawn rolled her eyes and disappeared into another room. Spike sat in wonder for several minutes, what the hell was he thinking, Christ, it was Dawnie for God's sake.
When she was in her bedroom Dawn dropped the towel and ran a hand through her wet hair. Pulling underwear on Dawn picked up the outfit she had chosen earlier. She fastened a denim skirt around her waist. It was incredible short, almost non-existent and was frayed at the bottom. It had been dyed a deep burgundy colour and contrasted her skin and hair well. Dawn wrapped a black satin corset around her lithe frame and pulled it tight. After that she slipped on matching sleeves that finished just above her elbow and locked a simple black rope choker around her neck that had a tiny silver cross dangling from it. Dawn fitted her feet into a pair of black leather knee high boots on and left her room. She saw spike sprawled out on her sofa and strode past him.
Dawn grabbed a few things from the tabletop and stuffed them into the rucksack along with a handful of items she had brought from the bathroom. Spike simply stared at her. She picked up a bobble from the table and pulled her hair into a loose bun that various pieces escaped from and hung around her neck and face.
"You're not going out like that." Spike said simply. Dawn slowly turned on her heel.
"Excuse me?" She stared at the now standing Spike.
"You heard me, you are not leaving this building looking like that."
"There is absolutely nothing wrong with the way I look."
"No, you're right. But as long as I'm with you you're not going out looking like that so as every spotty gangly teenager and old perverted man can drool over you." He was extremely adamant and Dawn just looked at him and smiled.
"Well then, you better not be here in the next two seconds because I'm leaving like this whether you like it or not." As she turned, picked up her bag and made to go Spike gripped her arm firmly. What she was wearing was the sort of thing he liked to see on a woman, and there was no way he was letting Dawn fall into that category. That was not the right category for her. Whatever happened to the jeans and baby pink tees? Dawn looked down at the hand wrapped around her arm and looked back at Spike, saying sweetly,
"I don't think Angel will be too pleased if you bruise me." Spike leant in extremely close to Dawn.
"I doubt you bruise easily little girl. Besides, when did I ever give a toss what Angel thinks." His tone was almost chilling and she wanted so desperately to recoil, but there was not a chance in hell she was going to let that happen.
"Look Spike. I'm leaving here wearing this whether you like it or not, and honestly, I'm getting tired of your bullshit." With that Dawn yanked her arm free and pushed past him and out of the door. Spike followed her, banging into every item between him and the door, and slamming that offending object with an almighty 'thud'.
When they got to the street Dawn started walking in the opposite direction to which they had come and before Spike could question this, he saw her unlock the doors to a vintage Mercedes convertible in midnight blue. He climbed in after her and she started up the car. He looked around it admiringly, but still in silence.
They were driving through the city and at the same time, both parties noticed a young man being dragged into an alley by a somewhat stronger woman. Dawn immediately pulled the car over and they both got out. Spike started into the alley, but didn't realise that Dawn had not followed him. Going on instinct he made himself known to the other vampire as a fellow creature of the night, and instead of returning to drain the man she let him drop to the ground from the wall she had him held against and showed relative interest in Spike. She started to stalk towards him when he noticed a shadow drop from the fire escape behind her. Damn, girls good, he thought. Spike deducted that Dawn had gone up the fire escape at the entrance to the alley and jumped between them until she was above said vampire, and then come down to drop to the ground. He smirked at the girl approaching him and started towards her. When he reached her he pulled her into a fierce kiss, just as their tongues met she exploded into dust beneath his hands. Dawn raised an eyebrow at him.
"Always so friendly with your prey?" He just smirked back.
"Depends what I'm hungry for." With that Dawn rolled her eyes as he continued to smirk relentlessly and turned to the man slumped on the ground. As she was going over to him he managed to clamber to an upright position. When he saw Dawn his mouth dropped open, his eyes devoured her from head to toe and he managed to breathe,
"You saved me, however can I repay you?" She smiled back at him, muttering, 'such a cliché' and shook her head. He immediately took a step closer and traced her hairline.
"Oh no. You don't get away that easily, at least let me take you for a drink?" There was a low growl from behind Dawn and when the nameless man looked over her shoulder he saw Spike scowling at him. He turned back to Dawn,
"Boyfriend?" She shook her head, still smiling at the man. He was seriously good looking!
"Now about that drink?" Dawn asked, returning her attention to the man in front of her, smiling invitingly.
"Yes, I'm her ruddy boyfriend, now sod off!"
"Spike!" He picked up the man by the scruff of the neck, led him to the end of the alleyway and shoved him into the street.
"Okay, okay! I get it!" He threw another enticing grin at Dawn before turning and disappearing into the night.
"Spike, what the hell do you think you're doing?!"
"I'm not having you going around acting like a bloody harlot!"
"Harlot?! Harlot! At least I don't go around making with the tingle kisses with every vampdyke I see!"
"Vampdyke?!! Tingle kisses?"
"Yeah, you know, kisses that send a tingle to the pit of your stomach, kisses that scream throw me up against a wall and fu-"
"Don't you use that word young lady! I'm over two hundred, I can do whatever I bloody well please." Dawn's arms flew into the air in exasperation and she stormed into the street, walking in the opposite direction to the car. Running to catch up with her Spike shouted,
"Hey! Hey, where the hell are you going now?"
"To a phone box." Dawn replied simply.
"Oh." Spike had fallen into step with her now, "Wait, a phone box?" The duo stepped into a small booth on the dark street and from the middle of nowhere Dawn produced a wallet from which she pulled Angel's business card. Spike watched her do this and then proceeded to watch her punch the numbers into the phone. He recognised that wallet. Shit! That was Wesley's! He was impressed, that was for sure.
"Make a habit of stealing wallets, do you?" Dawn shrugged.
"When I need to. Figured it would come in handy, besides I'm only borrowing it." Spike scoffed and lit up a cigarette. Dawn listened to the receiver that was pressed to her ear; the answer machine kicked in and she heard Wesley's unmistakeable voice.
"Angel, it's Dawn. Listen, we picked up my stuff but ran into a vamp on the way home. We won't be back for a bit, but don't worry. We'll see you later, okay? Don't worry; I won't bring Spike back in an urn, well I'm not promising anything! Ouch! Hey! Anyway, talk to you later." Dawn replaced the receiver and turned out of the booth.
"What do you mean, we won't be back for awhile. Where do you think we are going?" The two were walking down the street and Dawn turned, leading them into a dark alley. There was a low beat emitting from the depths of the alley and Dawn walked towards it.