After he was done cleaning his glasses, Giles finally turned to me and
cleared his throat before speaking.
"I believe you were saying something about impending danger...?"
"Yes, but something tells me this wasn't it; nothing I did was anything the Slayer couldn't have done by herself. The other piece of bad news was that I'm not sure what that impending evil will be, unfortunately."
"I see. And, by the way, you are?" I'd almost forgotten that these people I'd just fought alongside didn't even know my name.
"Sorry. My name is Jake and I'm here to help." Buffy looked about to say something but Giles continued.
"It's a good thing that you are, too" Giles took his glasses off to clean them again as he continued speaking. "I think it's best for right now if we just move past what we did and most of what happened when we didn't know who we were. We need to begin reviewing anything we have access to searching for references to danger to the slayer." His leaving seemed to be forgotten for the moment as Tara told Buffy she'd be heading to the house to pack some things. Buffy nodded at her absently and I caught her looking at me a few times over the next ten minutes or so while willow announced she needed to take a walk and the rest of us started straightening up the shop and talking. Buffy was quiet for most of it, but she asked the most straightforward and serious question of me yet.
"So, not that I'm complaining, but why are you here to help exactly?"
"I don't know if you remember me, but you saved my life a little over a year and a half ago. In my book, that warrants repayment. More than that, though, I'm one of the few humans fighting in this war and I'm still new enough to know I need help myself."
"You need training?" Dawn stopped cleaning to ask her question.
"Everyone needs training and practice, even just to keep the skills they've got. No such thing as a free lunch." Xander took this opportunity to begin some kind of dialogue with Dawn that I didn't bother to try and follow, I could only stare at Buffy willing her to remember me.
"You don't remember me, do you?"
"Sorry, you'll have to be more specific. I tend to save a lot of people."
"Don't worry about it, it was a while ago. First I was getting shot at, and then I got attacked by two vampires, both of which you dusted for me, and thus saved my life; end of story." We finished up what we could do for the shop before most of us headed into the training room in the back so I could see what was available to the Slayer.
"I've changed a lot from the guy I was back then. I learned as much about the underworld I could, especially how few champions we have on our side. The way I see it, how can I not help out once I know this kind of problem exists."
"So how come you're all with the super strength yourself? The Slayer thing is kind of my bag."
"I did a lot, and I do mean a lot, of training; but I wouldn't call what I have 'super'. Some minor magic, more mind discipline, and a whole lot of hard work."
"You certainly have come a long way from the way you say you were if you can now do what I do."
"What do you say; want to see how far I've come along?" She seemed wary at first, but Xander prodded her by asking how it could possibly hurt. "Besides," he said, "he's asking for it." I don't think he liked me very much.
"You know, the last time I tried doing this with a regular guy, I kind of hurt him."
"Riley wasn't exactly a regular guy, buff. Remember they had him all pumped full of those performance enhancing drugs and stuff."
"That's right, maybe this really isn't such a good idea."
"So this guy shouldn't be a danger to you and you can keep yourself from hurting him, so what's the problem? All you have to do is not kill him." What Xander said seemed to put Buffy to rest about something and we faced off.
Buffy feinted a jab to the right, and then went for a reverse leg sweep. I simply jumped and avoided it, as if knowing that it was coming before it happened. I swung back with a left hook that was blocked too easily and got pushed back by blocking her counter attacking left hook. It was all moving so smoothly and quickly. Like a dance you never forget. I lifted my right leg which she ducked under and kicked to my left side and I took a hit, but turned with it to dissipate her force.
"You're not done already, are you?" I smiled as I took advantage of Buffy's quip to feint and hit her in the ribs. She quickly re-gathered herself and continued to pile on a fury of punches, left, right, right, and gut, all being successfully blocked by me, granted some were more difficult than others.
Xander stage whispered to the group watching in awe, "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all."
Giles countered with, "I haven't seen her fight someone like this since... Angel." Everyone present remembered why Giles didn't want to say that name.
We continued to circle around, weaving and bobbing. Both of us were keeping on our toes. Combinations of kicks and punches were being thrown at each other. It wasn't too long until Buffy started using high flying moves that you only see in some kind of Bruce Lee movie. She flew over the top of me and pushed / kicked me from behind. I hit the ground, but quickly rolled forward and onto my feet.
"Are you holding back?" She seemed surprised to be asking that question.
"Actually, I am. Are you?" She actually had a pleased expression on her face as she nodded eagerly and then she quirked a smile and tilted her head to the side.
"Wanna try full out?" She asked. I could have read her anticipation if I hadn't been receptive to her. Something in her begged for a good fight.
"Hell yes! I wouldn't have you- I mean it any other way." Her face kind of clouded slightly as I made my Freudian slip, but her eager smile returned after a quick glance at her friends to make sure they didn't notice. Uh oh, something about this slayer said bad girl to me. I idly wondered why what I'd said would make her smile like that before snapping back to myself; that kind of thinking wouldn't help me beat her.
Someone else came into the dojo, but I couldn't check to see who it was, all of my attention was focused entirely on Buffy and her next move. Suddenly as one, like a scene from a matrix movie or something, we both leaned back and swung a reverse round-house kick at each others chests, hers went below mine and we both grabbed each others foot by instinct. I leaned backwards and fell onto my left side, grabbing her closest forearm in my right hand and, as my thigh hit the ground, shifting my left foot to her right shin; I catapulted her over my head and she let go of my foot to hit the ground with her right hand and rolled to my right onto her feat as I still lay there on the ground. I dodged her dropping hammer kick by pulling my feet up over my head and rolling backwards into a back- handspring while she turned her right foot hammer kick into first a low spinning roundhouse kick with her left foot that missed under me and then a jumping spinning roundhouse as I kept moving backward and went from the handspring to a back-tuck that ended in a split as her foot went over my head. I pushed her in the back, sending her off balance and forcing her to move a few feet away before I pulled both feet behind me and rolled forward to launch myself directly at her. She planted her foot in my stomach (that hurt) and, grabbing my shoulders, launched me over her head, spinning one full turn end over end, to hit the far wall with my chest and falling to my back.
I heard a combined gasp from the assembled audience as I hit, but not giving anybody the chance to stop us, I quickly flipped sideways onto my feet and moved back in with a quick series of punch and kick combo's throwing in a few knee and elbow blocks for variety as she easily met me and sent a few back my way. It became a dangerous game as we hit each other full force, taunting ourselves and each other, trying to see how close we could let the blows come before blocking, dodging, or turning them aside.
Most fights I've been a part of or seen between two proficient combatants normally last about four minutes all out. By that time one opponent normally gets tired and makes a mistake. There would be no mistakes here; we played, like we trained, like we fight: life or death. You either go home at the end of the night and the other guy doesn't, or it's the other way around. There is no middle ground and there are no compromises. There was no sloppiness here, just the concentration of planting combinations of moves and blocking those moves. And it was by watching the two champions, heroes, whatever he called them, that he finally knew. Giles seemed to stay quiet with his eyes wide the entire length of the fight until he saw me take the full force of a hit to the head and keep fighting, then his eyes got even wider and he took off and started cleaning his glasses thinking to himself.
Our fight was in its twelfth minute before I could see a sudden determination in her face and decided to take my chance to end it as she launched a powerful right punch at where my head should have been. I grabbed her forearm with my left and my right arm snaked to around her neck and I planted my left foot inside her right foot forward stance at the same time before pointing my right toe and twisting to my right; surprise evident in her face and her aura as she found herself over-reached and falling at a right angle to her stance unable to recover. She did manage to grab the back of my head by the hair and my shoulder in her right hand to bring me down too; right on top of her.
We both froze there, looking up at each other and suddenly there was no one else in the room but us. And it was us, for in that moment I saw in her eyes the same thing I felt for myself; we were the same. The pungently sweet aroma of our exertion filled my nose and I don't think I've ever been this turned on by anyone before. We were frozen in a kind of new-age art sculpture kind of tableau, our legs entangled, and our faces inches apart; until the blood from my brow dripped down my nose and onto her face. She didn't even blink as the single crimson drop fell in slow motion to spread itself on her beautiful cheek. Even after it hit, it seemed almost like something from a fairy-tail ending to a classic and heroic fight scene. I blinked and shook my head to clear it and contain myself before I did something stupid in front of her friends. I could see her hesitate in uncertainty at what just happened as I broke eye contact, but as I half nodded toward her friends and then mouthed the words talk later, her smile returned; just in time for me to get to my feet and extend her my hand.
Finally I realized who had come in as we were turning our fight more serious. Dawn looked around a little uncertainly as Anya looked on at us almost eager with anticipation and, I guess, feeling a little unsure of what was going on as she turned from looking at Xander to looking back and forth from me to Buffy. Buffy turned away from the gaze of her younger sister and went to the bench to get us each a towel which she threw at me when I wasn't looking and still caught. I don't know why I was having trouble shutting down my link with Buffy; it seemed harder than it should be. Think about that later, dodge the accusing and anticipatory looks from Dawn now.
"Hey Dawn, how's it going?" Trying to sound nonchalant doesn't work very well with me and kid sisters I guess.
"What were you guys doing?"
"Sparring" Thankfully Giles answered for us.
"So when do I get to find some cute guy to spar with?" Dawn's eyes were focused on her sister in a very distinct 'I'm definitely old enough' / 'no you are not' competition as her sister answered.
"Considering the last cute guy you 'sparred' with was a vampire, I'm thinking not until you are never."
"I see, but you get to spar with vampires all the time, huh." She made a sort of hand wavey indicator in my direction as she spoke.
"He is not a vampire, Dawn. Besides I am the Slayer, it's sort of my job."
"If he's not a vampire, then how come he can move like that?"
"Dawn trust me, he's not a vampire; I think I would know. What's with you anyway?"
"He's no vamp, I'd smell him if he was." Spike spoke from the doorway to the dojo, still wearing that ridiculous brown pinstripe suit. I looked sharply at him wondering what else he could smell on me. I made a mental note that we'd have to speak about that a little later.
"Spike, so nice of you to join us, did you have fun feeding kittens to Mr. Sharky?" The slayer's voice was dripping sticky sweat and sarcastic. Looked to me like our little fight had helped out her mood.
"Very funny, pet, but now that that's all taken care of, I'll be going home to change now." He turned and started walking off, but still visible through the doorway. Xander took that opportunity to yell after the retreating figure.
"Wait, don't go yet; I've still got to get a picture of your wonderful wardrobe choice for today Spike!" Spike's middle finger was all he got in response, but somehow that didn't stop Xander from grinning in satisfaction.
"Actually that sounds like a good idea to me too."
"You think Spike changing clothes is a good idea? C'mon Buffy, that outfit was totally taunt-worthy."
"No, Xander; I think we could all use a good shower and a change of clothes, especially us. Did I just say that? God-"She stopped herself before going any further.
"Uh, not to be a bother, but does anyone have a shower I can use? I did just get in today." Okay, so I lied a little; I just wanted to be invited over to her house for the night, even if it was just to take a shower.
"Yeah, you can stay at my place tonight; everyone does." My prayers were answered. I grabbed my jacket and my bag on the way out of the shop with the rest of the crew and we started walking, me Dawn and Buffy, back to her house. We get there and they get the first showers, of course, while I do a few reps of my nightly exercises outside when I suddenly have a still lit cigarette butt thrown to the ground in front of my face. I continue doing push-ups while I greeted the severely blond vampire.
"Feel better Spike?"
"Why, am I supposed to feel better now that you're here to protect the slayer and her little bit tonight? Why did he send you here, anyway?" Oh shit, I was right about his sense of smell. Oh well, when in doubt, play dumb.
"I don't know who you're speaking of. I chanced by here this time for the same reason I was two years ago, only this time it's a different target. You haven't by any chance seen a skelarg demon around here lately, have you?"
"Very funny, mate, but I don't buy all of your rot as quickly as Buffy seems to, especially not after smelling angel on you. How much time did you spend with him in L.A.? You practically reek of him; I'm almost surprised Buffy can't smell it on you."
"This was his old jacket. He gave it to me after I tore mine up saving a friend of his. To answer your question, as there seems to be no getting around it, I was there for almost a month before I left again. Now there's only one thing else we need to talk about before continuing with the pleasantries of conversation."
"And that is...?"
"Now I get most of what happened between him and Buffy, but I don't know the whole story. The fact is that it's important that she not know he sent me to save her from whatever is on its way here; and I'm not just talking about a skelarg demon."
"Normally about this point, mate, I'd be telling you to sod off and walking in to tell Buffy about this strange angel-like scent about you. I'm not gonna do that for two reasons: first, it would put her in a sad state to be thinking about her old nancy-boy, and believe me, that's not something she needs right now; second, if Buffy's about to be in a danger serious enough for Angel to want someone like him to be here, then my philosophy becomes, the more people protecting her the better." He sat down beside me and lit another cigarette as I finished my set and sat on the front stoop.
"So you won't tell Buffy?" He was trying to offer me a cigarette, but I wanted to make sure he was serious. Not that I was willing to trust this vampire as far as Dawn could throw him, but maybe he at least wouldn't get in my way.
"Swear on my own mum's grave, I do. But don't think I'm doing this for Angel or for you, this is for her."
"Alright then, thank you. I'd better get inside now for my shower before everyone goes to bed." I stood up and nodded as I went in through the back door and around the corner to the stairs as Buffy, freshly out of the shower, stopped herself short as she was coming down the stairs.
"Oh, um. Willow's asleep now, Tara's gone. Dawn's already got her shower and is in bed. Towels are on the bar and you can use my shampoo and stuff if you need. Also there's medical stuff under the sink if your head starts bleeding again. Sorry about that by the way."
"Don't worry about it, babe; I've had much worse. Though few that were as enjoyable to acquire." I gave her a kind of half grin to let her know I was just joking. The look she gave me was her own half smile that I was growing to enjoy as she cocked her head a little to the side and said, "Why thank you, sir. It wasn't too bad for me either." Then more serious, "Where'd you learn how to fight like that anyway?"
"I learned from a lot of different teachers in a lot of different ways in a lot of different places. I started back home at the local Dojo, but I've studied in japan the art of boshido, kenpo in china, a few others. Most of my martial arts I actually had already learned by the time you saved me before, but that was when I realized that I was a little out-matched by the underworld. I learned to adapt, is all; my martial arts and combat skills with some magic and some mind tricks acquired at great length in Tibet. I may be able to beat you Slayer, if I worked hard enough at it, but your strength comes from a greater power; mine comes from myself and the things I've learned. If you had some of the tricks I do, that fight today would have easily been over in under a minute. You've got strength like I've never seen before."
"Then you're not looking closely enough. You matched me easily; almost too easily it seemed at times. I can't tell you how infuriating it was today when I couldn't land a blow because you weren't even there anymore. No matter where your ability comes from, it worked well today and gave me a pretty good run for my money."
"You know, it means a lot to hear you say that; especially when you were the reason I started training as hard as I did."
"Me? What did I do? Besides tell you my name after you hounded me for it a few times."
"Ah! I knew you remembered me when I looked at you in the Magic Box. You did more than save me; you showed me just how many people really need to be saved. I didn't become the way I am now because I wanted to be able to beat you or because I'm on some kind of macho male ego trip here. I did it because I can't expect anyone else to do something for me that I won't do myself for someone else. The other thing you showed me was how unprepared I was for that kind of a fight; I couldn't do it the way I was. So, I learned. That's all there is to it."
"You make it sound so simple. I remember when it used to be like that for me, but everything's so different now." Her eyes went distant as she seemed to think of times long past. "Come to think of it, things were never that simple. I don't get that." She was quiet for a minute before she asked me if we could talk.
"I thought we were talking." Not even a half smile; this was serious.
"About what happened today, between us?" Oh, that. She didn't sound too comfortable with it, either.
"I thought Giles said that it would probably be best to forget about what happened when we didn't know who we were. I think we might want to do this later."
"Right, but... I just wanted to make sure you know I'm not normally like that. I mean, I don't normally do that."
"I understand. We were all lost and you and I just got caught up in the moment. Don't worry about it."
"I'm not worried; I just wanted to make sure we understood each other." I nodded and she stood there for a minute as if waiting for me to say something else.
"I'm here to try and help you and to learn from you. I'd like to be your friend, especially since we've already saved each other's lives, but that's all. I admire you, Slayer, I'll admit it; but I'm here for a reason." She nodded slightly as I spoke and it seemed not quite what she wanted to hear, but it worked for now as she bid me goodnight and I went upstairs to shower and clean the cut on my head as well as I could on my own. On my way out I noticed Buffy's light was still on so I tapped on the door and then, when she said come in, I opened the door partially and leaned in to see Buffy sitting on her bed still fully clothed.
"Look, I know it's not really my business, but I wanted to let you know you can trust me and you can talk to me if you need to. Might be nice to get, you know, an outside perspective on things sometimes. I know you went through a lot, and I heard you today say it was just too much. I heard you say it felt like you were dying, and that's not the right way to feel no matter who you are." She was silent and watching me while I talked, but her expression didn't change. "Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I'm here to listen and help if I can. Goodnight." I closed the door behind me without a sound from her and made my way down the stairs. I was halfway down when I heard it open again and she came out and followed me down.
"Wait." I turned and looked at her as she came down a few more steps so we could see each other eye to eye. "I'm sorry. I know you didn't mean... well, I mean, uh, thank you." I was silent, but kept my aura receptive and tried to vibe soothingly. She took a breath and continued. "It's just so much, too much sometimes." She clouded up for a minute and it seemed like she might cry in just the next second. "Why can't things just be simple again!? Why did mom have to die? Why did I have to come back? Why do all these bills just keep showing up? Why does my sister enjoy being difficult? Why can't everything just get worked out by someone else for a change?!" She clasped her hands to her face and now she was crying and shaking too, leaving me standing there shocked for a second before I reacted in a way I didn't know I could anymore; I reached out and grabbed her to me and started whispering into her sweet smelling hair as we gently rocked back and forth.
I'm not sure what I said to her but I just kept whispering and humming as she burrowed even tighter into my embrace by hugging herself tightly to my chest. It was almost too tightly; I had to call upon mind control so I wouldn't miss the oxygen too much. She needed something real to hold onto right now, and I guess I was just the closest thing here. We sat there for a few minutes with me the only one of us talking until, slowly, her tears started to dry up and she stopped shaking; and still we sat there rocking. Finally she stopped rocking so I stopped whispering. We sat there, both of us waiting for the other to say something. Finally I started petting her hair and re-arranged us sitting together on the bottom stair but with her head resting on my right thigh and me still holding her and stroking her hair and back. Neither of us spoke for almost ten minutes as she would break into short sobs occasionally and each time I'd shush her softly and tell her that it's all okay. Finally she went to sit up and I held her to me as I spoke softy and made her a promise between us.
"My life is forfeit to you. You saved me and there's no way I can ever repay that except to be right there with you, and for you if you'll let me, no matter what that means I have to do, where I have to go to get it done or whoever gets in my way to do it. I'm gonna help you out when I can and be here for you when I can't. I can't protect you and I don't know if I can save you or even be anything but a hindrance to you, all I can do is that I will try; but I promise you I will try."
She was quiet for a moment after I stopped talking; assimilating all I'd just told her and working out if she could trust me. She pulled back from me a little bit and looked into my eyes for a second and then I sensed a change in her, as if she'd just decided to stop thinking. Next thing I knew we were kissing again, opening my mouth to try and take all of her in at once. She met me with an almost urgent passion. She moved to straddle me on the bottom stair and dug her fingers into my hair, pulling me into her. Our tongues were doing what our bodies were trying to do with our clothes on when suddenly I broke our kiss and held her first back looking at her face and then crushed her to my chest.
"Baby, as much as I want us to do this, we can't. It would be wrong of me to take advantage of you right now; not when all I am to you is a distraction. I think you deserve more than that." God, her face looked so fallen I almost stopped right then and there and kept kissing her. I could even hear her thought. 'Aren't I worth it? Don't I get to choose who and what I want for me?' But no, if we're gonna do this then I want it to be right and I want it to be for me being me. I sucked in a breath and soldiered on through what I had to say. What I had to make her understand. "You're worth more than that, I know you are; for all you've already done, let alone what you might do tomorrow. No, more than that; you're worth everything just for being yourself. I don't want to ruin this moment. I don't you to look back on this with regret. If and when this happens, I want it to be real. I want to be worthy of you. I want you to be happy and I definitely want you to see how you feel tomorrow before deciding if this is what you want with me. I'd rather be your friend than have you feel bad about us next week." As fallen as her face was before, I can only say I was nothing less than shocked when she started laughing. Okay, so she was chuckling, but it was a start. She picked her face up from my chest and moved off from on top of me but kept herself in my embrace.
"I'm sorry I'm so messed up, I'm not normally like this and I don't know why I am now. I shouldn't have expected that of you after tearing myself apart like that. Thank you for being here for me. God I must look a wreck!" She started wiping her face and I stopped her. Gently, gently I wiped the tears away one by one. Slowly tracing the lines of her face and moving my hand down the line of her jaw to brush a stray strand of hair back behind her ear where it belonged. Then I slowly moved my face closer to hers to kiss her gently on her forehead as she closed her eyes and she looked up at me her eyes shining as a slow smile worked its way onto her face. She looked up at me, "By the way, I made up the couch for you before I took my shower so you should be okay-"
"I'm sure I'll be just fine and thank you for your hospitality. Now, to bed with you, young lady. Young, beautiful, charming, and sometimes emotional lady." With a fake look of obedience and a half smile she stood up as I did and with a last hug and kiss on the cheek she headed up to bed. I stood there for a few seconds marveling at how easy it was to get her to open up to me. All it took was one little mental nudge to get her to almost break up her emotional resolve completely. I wondered what would have happened if she'd bottled that stress inside of her and away from the rest of the world.
Outside, unbeknownst to either me or Buffy, a shadowy yet blond figure stood on the outside looking in throughout the entire ordeal with a lit but un-smoked cigarette clenched in his fist burning his skin. As I headed up the stairs he threw the cigarette that bounced off the window with a spark and fell into the shadows to smolder out by itself. Spike, however, could not be as lucky as his cigarette. Being an old and experienced, if emotional, vampire he knew how to wait. Killing me now would only hurt the slayer even more. Besides, he knew that if he were to ever have Buffy for his own, it would truly have to be her decision. So he would let go of tonight and there was time enough tomorrow for him to think out the best dozen or so ways to kill me... after we saved Buffy.
"I believe you were saying something about impending danger...?"
"Yes, but something tells me this wasn't it; nothing I did was anything the Slayer couldn't have done by herself. The other piece of bad news was that I'm not sure what that impending evil will be, unfortunately."
"I see. And, by the way, you are?" I'd almost forgotten that these people I'd just fought alongside didn't even know my name.
"Sorry. My name is Jake and I'm here to help." Buffy looked about to say something but Giles continued.
"It's a good thing that you are, too" Giles took his glasses off to clean them again as he continued speaking. "I think it's best for right now if we just move past what we did and most of what happened when we didn't know who we were. We need to begin reviewing anything we have access to searching for references to danger to the slayer." His leaving seemed to be forgotten for the moment as Tara told Buffy she'd be heading to the house to pack some things. Buffy nodded at her absently and I caught her looking at me a few times over the next ten minutes or so while willow announced she needed to take a walk and the rest of us started straightening up the shop and talking. Buffy was quiet for most of it, but she asked the most straightforward and serious question of me yet.
"So, not that I'm complaining, but why are you here to help exactly?"
"I don't know if you remember me, but you saved my life a little over a year and a half ago. In my book, that warrants repayment. More than that, though, I'm one of the few humans fighting in this war and I'm still new enough to know I need help myself."
"You need training?" Dawn stopped cleaning to ask her question.
"Everyone needs training and practice, even just to keep the skills they've got. No such thing as a free lunch." Xander took this opportunity to begin some kind of dialogue with Dawn that I didn't bother to try and follow, I could only stare at Buffy willing her to remember me.
"You don't remember me, do you?"
"Sorry, you'll have to be more specific. I tend to save a lot of people."
"Don't worry about it, it was a while ago. First I was getting shot at, and then I got attacked by two vampires, both of which you dusted for me, and thus saved my life; end of story." We finished up what we could do for the shop before most of us headed into the training room in the back so I could see what was available to the Slayer.
"I've changed a lot from the guy I was back then. I learned as much about the underworld I could, especially how few champions we have on our side. The way I see it, how can I not help out once I know this kind of problem exists."
"So how come you're all with the super strength yourself? The Slayer thing is kind of my bag."
"I did a lot, and I do mean a lot, of training; but I wouldn't call what I have 'super'. Some minor magic, more mind discipline, and a whole lot of hard work."
"You certainly have come a long way from the way you say you were if you can now do what I do."
"What do you say; want to see how far I've come along?" She seemed wary at first, but Xander prodded her by asking how it could possibly hurt. "Besides," he said, "he's asking for it." I don't think he liked me very much.
"You know, the last time I tried doing this with a regular guy, I kind of hurt him."
"Riley wasn't exactly a regular guy, buff. Remember they had him all pumped full of those performance enhancing drugs and stuff."
"That's right, maybe this really isn't such a good idea."
"So this guy shouldn't be a danger to you and you can keep yourself from hurting him, so what's the problem? All you have to do is not kill him." What Xander said seemed to put Buffy to rest about something and we faced off.
Buffy feinted a jab to the right, and then went for a reverse leg sweep. I simply jumped and avoided it, as if knowing that it was coming before it happened. I swung back with a left hook that was blocked too easily and got pushed back by blocking her counter attacking left hook. It was all moving so smoothly and quickly. Like a dance you never forget. I lifted my right leg which she ducked under and kicked to my left side and I took a hit, but turned with it to dissipate her force.
"You're not done already, are you?" I smiled as I took advantage of Buffy's quip to feint and hit her in the ribs. She quickly re-gathered herself and continued to pile on a fury of punches, left, right, right, and gut, all being successfully blocked by me, granted some were more difficult than others.
Xander stage whispered to the group watching in awe, "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all."
Giles countered with, "I haven't seen her fight someone like this since... Angel." Everyone present remembered why Giles didn't want to say that name.
We continued to circle around, weaving and bobbing. Both of us were keeping on our toes. Combinations of kicks and punches were being thrown at each other. It wasn't too long until Buffy started using high flying moves that you only see in some kind of Bruce Lee movie. She flew over the top of me and pushed / kicked me from behind. I hit the ground, but quickly rolled forward and onto my feet.
"Are you holding back?" She seemed surprised to be asking that question.
"Actually, I am. Are you?" She actually had a pleased expression on her face as she nodded eagerly and then she quirked a smile and tilted her head to the side.
"Wanna try full out?" She asked. I could have read her anticipation if I hadn't been receptive to her. Something in her begged for a good fight.
"Hell yes! I wouldn't have you- I mean it any other way." Her face kind of clouded slightly as I made my Freudian slip, but her eager smile returned after a quick glance at her friends to make sure they didn't notice. Uh oh, something about this slayer said bad girl to me. I idly wondered why what I'd said would make her smile like that before snapping back to myself; that kind of thinking wouldn't help me beat her.
Someone else came into the dojo, but I couldn't check to see who it was, all of my attention was focused entirely on Buffy and her next move. Suddenly as one, like a scene from a matrix movie or something, we both leaned back and swung a reverse round-house kick at each others chests, hers went below mine and we both grabbed each others foot by instinct. I leaned backwards and fell onto my left side, grabbing her closest forearm in my right hand and, as my thigh hit the ground, shifting my left foot to her right shin; I catapulted her over my head and she let go of my foot to hit the ground with her right hand and rolled to my right onto her feat as I still lay there on the ground. I dodged her dropping hammer kick by pulling my feet up over my head and rolling backwards into a back- handspring while she turned her right foot hammer kick into first a low spinning roundhouse kick with her left foot that missed under me and then a jumping spinning roundhouse as I kept moving backward and went from the handspring to a back-tuck that ended in a split as her foot went over my head. I pushed her in the back, sending her off balance and forcing her to move a few feet away before I pulled both feet behind me and rolled forward to launch myself directly at her. She planted her foot in my stomach (that hurt) and, grabbing my shoulders, launched me over her head, spinning one full turn end over end, to hit the far wall with my chest and falling to my back.
I heard a combined gasp from the assembled audience as I hit, but not giving anybody the chance to stop us, I quickly flipped sideways onto my feet and moved back in with a quick series of punch and kick combo's throwing in a few knee and elbow blocks for variety as she easily met me and sent a few back my way. It became a dangerous game as we hit each other full force, taunting ourselves and each other, trying to see how close we could let the blows come before blocking, dodging, or turning them aside.
Most fights I've been a part of or seen between two proficient combatants normally last about four minutes all out. By that time one opponent normally gets tired and makes a mistake. There would be no mistakes here; we played, like we trained, like we fight: life or death. You either go home at the end of the night and the other guy doesn't, or it's the other way around. There is no middle ground and there are no compromises. There was no sloppiness here, just the concentration of planting combinations of moves and blocking those moves. And it was by watching the two champions, heroes, whatever he called them, that he finally knew. Giles seemed to stay quiet with his eyes wide the entire length of the fight until he saw me take the full force of a hit to the head and keep fighting, then his eyes got even wider and he took off and started cleaning his glasses thinking to himself.
Our fight was in its twelfth minute before I could see a sudden determination in her face and decided to take my chance to end it as she launched a powerful right punch at where my head should have been. I grabbed her forearm with my left and my right arm snaked to around her neck and I planted my left foot inside her right foot forward stance at the same time before pointing my right toe and twisting to my right; surprise evident in her face and her aura as she found herself over-reached and falling at a right angle to her stance unable to recover. She did manage to grab the back of my head by the hair and my shoulder in her right hand to bring me down too; right on top of her.
We both froze there, looking up at each other and suddenly there was no one else in the room but us. And it was us, for in that moment I saw in her eyes the same thing I felt for myself; we were the same. The pungently sweet aroma of our exertion filled my nose and I don't think I've ever been this turned on by anyone before. We were frozen in a kind of new-age art sculpture kind of tableau, our legs entangled, and our faces inches apart; until the blood from my brow dripped down my nose and onto her face. She didn't even blink as the single crimson drop fell in slow motion to spread itself on her beautiful cheek. Even after it hit, it seemed almost like something from a fairy-tail ending to a classic and heroic fight scene. I blinked and shook my head to clear it and contain myself before I did something stupid in front of her friends. I could see her hesitate in uncertainty at what just happened as I broke eye contact, but as I half nodded toward her friends and then mouthed the words talk later, her smile returned; just in time for me to get to my feet and extend her my hand.
Finally I realized who had come in as we were turning our fight more serious. Dawn looked around a little uncertainly as Anya looked on at us almost eager with anticipation and, I guess, feeling a little unsure of what was going on as she turned from looking at Xander to looking back and forth from me to Buffy. Buffy turned away from the gaze of her younger sister and went to the bench to get us each a towel which she threw at me when I wasn't looking and still caught. I don't know why I was having trouble shutting down my link with Buffy; it seemed harder than it should be. Think about that later, dodge the accusing and anticipatory looks from Dawn now.
"Hey Dawn, how's it going?" Trying to sound nonchalant doesn't work very well with me and kid sisters I guess.
"What were you guys doing?"
"Sparring" Thankfully Giles answered for us.
"So when do I get to find some cute guy to spar with?" Dawn's eyes were focused on her sister in a very distinct 'I'm definitely old enough' / 'no you are not' competition as her sister answered.
"Considering the last cute guy you 'sparred' with was a vampire, I'm thinking not until you are never."
"I see, but you get to spar with vampires all the time, huh." She made a sort of hand wavey indicator in my direction as she spoke.
"He is not a vampire, Dawn. Besides I am the Slayer, it's sort of my job."
"If he's not a vampire, then how come he can move like that?"
"Dawn trust me, he's not a vampire; I think I would know. What's with you anyway?"
"He's no vamp, I'd smell him if he was." Spike spoke from the doorway to the dojo, still wearing that ridiculous brown pinstripe suit. I looked sharply at him wondering what else he could smell on me. I made a mental note that we'd have to speak about that a little later.
"Spike, so nice of you to join us, did you have fun feeding kittens to Mr. Sharky?" The slayer's voice was dripping sticky sweat and sarcastic. Looked to me like our little fight had helped out her mood.
"Very funny, pet, but now that that's all taken care of, I'll be going home to change now." He turned and started walking off, but still visible through the doorway. Xander took that opportunity to yell after the retreating figure.
"Wait, don't go yet; I've still got to get a picture of your wonderful wardrobe choice for today Spike!" Spike's middle finger was all he got in response, but somehow that didn't stop Xander from grinning in satisfaction.
"Actually that sounds like a good idea to me too."
"You think Spike changing clothes is a good idea? C'mon Buffy, that outfit was totally taunt-worthy."
"No, Xander; I think we could all use a good shower and a change of clothes, especially us. Did I just say that? God-"She stopped herself before going any further.
"Uh, not to be a bother, but does anyone have a shower I can use? I did just get in today." Okay, so I lied a little; I just wanted to be invited over to her house for the night, even if it was just to take a shower.
"Yeah, you can stay at my place tonight; everyone does." My prayers were answered. I grabbed my jacket and my bag on the way out of the shop with the rest of the crew and we started walking, me Dawn and Buffy, back to her house. We get there and they get the first showers, of course, while I do a few reps of my nightly exercises outside when I suddenly have a still lit cigarette butt thrown to the ground in front of my face. I continue doing push-ups while I greeted the severely blond vampire.
"Feel better Spike?"
"Why, am I supposed to feel better now that you're here to protect the slayer and her little bit tonight? Why did he send you here, anyway?" Oh shit, I was right about his sense of smell. Oh well, when in doubt, play dumb.
"I don't know who you're speaking of. I chanced by here this time for the same reason I was two years ago, only this time it's a different target. You haven't by any chance seen a skelarg demon around here lately, have you?"
"Very funny, mate, but I don't buy all of your rot as quickly as Buffy seems to, especially not after smelling angel on you. How much time did you spend with him in L.A.? You practically reek of him; I'm almost surprised Buffy can't smell it on you."
"This was his old jacket. He gave it to me after I tore mine up saving a friend of his. To answer your question, as there seems to be no getting around it, I was there for almost a month before I left again. Now there's only one thing else we need to talk about before continuing with the pleasantries of conversation."
"And that is...?"
"Now I get most of what happened between him and Buffy, but I don't know the whole story. The fact is that it's important that she not know he sent me to save her from whatever is on its way here; and I'm not just talking about a skelarg demon."
"Normally about this point, mate, I'd be telling you to sod off and walking in to tell Buffy about this strange angel-like scent about you. I'm not gonna do that for two reasons: first, it would put her in a sad state to be thinking about her old nancy-boy, and believe me, that's not something she needs right now; second, if Buffy's about to be in a danger serious enough for Angel to want someone like him to be here, then my philosophy becomes, the more people protecting her the better." He sat down beside me and lit another cigarette as I finished my set and sat on the front stoop.
"So you won't tell Buffy?" He was trying to offer me a cigarette, but I wanted to make sure he was serious. Not that I was willing to trust this vampire as far as Dawn could throw him, but maybe he at least wouldn't get in my way.
"Swear on my own mum's grave, I do. But don't think I'm doing this for Angel or for you, this is for her."
"Alright then, thank you. I'd better get inside now for my shower before everyone goes to bed." I stood up and nodded as I went in through the back door and around the corner to the stairs as Buffy, freshly out of the shower, stopped herself short as she was coming down the stairs.
"Oh, um. Willow's asleep now, Tara's gone. Dawn's already got her shower and is in bed. Towels are on the bar and you can use my shampoo and stuff if you need. Also there's medical stuff under the sink if your head starts bleeding again. Sorry about that by the way."
"Don't worry about it, babe; I've had much worse. Though few that were as enjoyable to acquire." I gave her a kind of half grin to let her know I was just joking. The look she gave me was her own half smile that I was growing to enjoy as she cocked her head a little to the side and said, "Why thank you, sir. It wasn't too bad for me either." Then more serious, "Where'd you learn how to fight like that anyway?"
"I learned from a lot of different teachers in a lot of different ways in a lot of different places. I started back home at the local Dojo, but I've studied in japan the art of boshido, kenpo in china, a few others. Most of my martial arts I actually had already learned by the time you saved me before, but that was when I realized that I was a little out-matched by the underworld. I learned to adapt, is all; my martial arts and combat skills with some magic and some mind tricks acquired at great length in Tibet. I may be able to beat you Slayer, if I worked hard enough at it, but your strength comes from a greater power; mine comes from myself and the things I've learned. If you had some of the tricks I do, that fight today would have easily been over in under a minute. You've got strength like I've never seen before."
"Then you're not looking closely enough. You matched me easily; almost too easily it seemed at times. I can't tell you how infuriating it was today when I couldn't land a blow because you weren't even there anymore. No matter where your ability comes from, it worked well today and gave me a pretty good run for my money."
"You know, it means a lot to hear you say that; especially when you were the reason I started training as hard as I did."
"Me? What did I do? Besides tell you my name after you hounded me for it a few times."
"Ah! I knew you remembered me when I looked at you in the Magic Box. You did more than save me; you showed me just how many people really need to be saved. I didn't become the way I am now because I wanted to be able to beat you or because I'm on some kind of macho male ego trip here. I did it because I can't expect anyone else to do something for me that I won't do myself for someone else. The other thing you showed me was how unprepared I was for that kind of a fight; I couldn't do it the way I was. So, I learned. That's all there is to it."
"You make it sound so simple. I remember when it used to be like that for me, but everything's so different now." Her eyes went distant as she seemed to think of times long past. "Come to think of it, things were never that simple. I don't get that." She was quiet for a minute before she asked me if we could talk.
"I thought we were talking." Not even a half smile; this was serious.
"About what happened today, between us?" Oh, that. She didn't sound too comfortable with it, either.
"I thought Giles said that it would probably be best to forget about what happened when we didn't know who we were. I think we might want to do this later."
"Right, but... I just wanted to make sure you know I'm not normally like that. I mean, I don't normally do that."
"I understand. We were all lost and you and I just got caught up in the moment. Don't worry about it."
"I'm not worried; I just wanted to make sure we understood each other." I nodded and she stood there for a minute as if waiting for me to say something else.
"I'm here to try and help you and to learn from you. I'd like to be your friend, especially since we've already saved each other's lives, but that's all. I admire you, Slayer, I'll admit it; but I'm here for a reason." She nodded slightly as I spoke and it seemed not quite what she wanted to hear, but it worked for now as she bid me goodnight and I went upstairs to shower and clean the cut on my head as well as I could on my own. On my way out I noticed Buffy's light was still on so I tapped on the door and then, when she said come in, I opened the door partially and leaned in to see Buffy sitting on her bed still fully clothed.
"Look, I know it's not really my business, but I wanted to let you know you can trust me and you can talk to me if you need to. Might be nice to get, you know, an outside perspective on things sometimes. I know you went through a lot, and I heard you today say it was just too much. I heard you say it felt like you were dying, and that's not the right way to feel no matter who you are." She was silent and watching me while I talked, but her expression didn't change. "Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I'm here to listen and help if I can. Goodnight." I closed the door behind me without a sound from her and made my way down the stairs. I was halfway down when I heard it open again and she came out and followed me down.
"Wait." I turned and looked at her as she came down a few more steps so we could see each other eye to eye. "I'm sorry. I know you didn't mean... well, I mean, uh, thank you." I was silent, but kept my aura receptive and tried to vibe soothingly. She took a breath and continued. "It's just so much, too much sometimes." She clouded up for a minute and it seemed like she might cry in just the next second. "Why can't things just be simple again!? Why did mom have to die? Why did I have to come back? Why do all these bills just keep showing up? Why does my sister enjoy being difficult? Why can't everything just get worked out by someone else for a change?!" She clasped her hands to her face and now she was crying and shaking too, leaving me standing there shocked for a second before I reacted in a way I didn't know I could anymore; I reached out and grabbed her to me and started whispering into her sweet smelling hair as we gently rocked back and forth.
I'm not sure what I said to her but I just kept whispering and humming as she burrowed even tighter into my embrace by hugging herself tightly to my chest. It was almost too tightly; I had to call upon mind control so I wouldn't miss the oxygen too much. She needed something real to hold onto right now, and I guess I was just the closest thing here. We sat there for a few minutes with me the only one of us talking until, slowly, her tears started to dry up and she stopped shaking; and still we sat there rocking. Finally she stopped rocking so I stopped whispering. We sat there, both of us waiting for the other to say something. Finally I started petting her hair and re-arranged us sitting together on the bottom stair but with her head resting on my right thigh and me still holding her and stroking her hair and back. Neither of us spoke for almost ten minutes as she would break into short sobs occasionally and each time I'd shush her softly and tell her that it's all okay. Finally she went to sit up and I held her to me as I spoke softy and made her a promise between us.
"My life is forfeit to you. You saved me and there's no way I can ever repay that except to be right there with you, and for you if you'll let me, no matter what that means I have to do, where I have to go to get it done or whoever gets in my way to do it. I'm gonna help you out when I can and be here for you when I can't. I can't protect you and I don't know if I can save you or even be anything but a hindrance to you, all I can do is that I will try; but I promise you I will try."
She was quiet for a moment after I stopped talking; assimilating all I'd just told her and working out if she could trust me. She pulled back from me a little bit and looked into my eyes for a second and then I sensed a change in her, as if she'd just decided to stop thinking. Next thing I knew we were kissing again, opening my mouth to try and take all of her in at once. She met me with an almost urgent passion. She moved to straddle me on the bottom stair and dug her fingers into my hair, pulling me into her. Our tongues were doing what our bodies were trying to do with our clothes on when suddenly I broke our kiss and held her first back looking at her face and then crushed her to my chest.
"Baby, as much as I want us to do this, we can't. It would be wrong of me to take advantage of you right now; not when all I am to you is a distraction. I think you deserve more than that." God, her face looked so fallen I almost stopped right then and there and kept kissing her. I could even hear her thought. 'Aren't I worth it? Don't I get to choose who and what I want for me?' But no, if we're gonna do this then I want it to be right and I want it to be for me being me. I sucked in a breath and soldiered on through what I had to say. What I had to make her understand. "You're worth more than that, I know you are; for all you've already done, let alone what you might do tomorrow. No, more than that; you're worth everything just for being yourself. I don't want to ruin this moment. I don't you to look back on this with regret. If and when this happens, I want it to be real. I want to be worthy of you. I want you to be happy and I definitely want you to see how you feel tomorrow before deciding if this is what you want with me. I'd rather be your friend than have you feel bad about us next week." As fallen as her face was before, I can only say I was nothing less than shocked when she started laughing. Okay, so she was chuckling, but it was a start. She picked her face up from my chest and moved off from on top of me but kept herself in my embrace.
"I'm sorry I'm so messed up, I'm not normally like this and I don't know why I am now. I shouldn't have expected that of you after tearing myself apart like that. Thank you for being here for me. God I must look a wreck!" She started wiping her face and I stopped her. Gently, gently I wiped the tears away one by one. Slowly tracing the lines of her face and moving my hand down the line of her jaw to brush a stray strand of hair back behind her ear where it belonged. Then I slowly moved my face closer to hers to kiss her gently on her forehead as she closed her eyes and she looked up at me her eyes shining as a slow smile worked its way onto her face. She looked up at me, "By the way, I made up the couch for you before I took my shower so you should be okay-"
"I'm sure I'll be just fine and thank you for your hospitality. Now, to bed with you, young lady. Young, beautiful, charming, and sometimes emotional lady." With a fake look of obedience and a half smile she stood up as I did and with a last hug and kiss on the cheek she headed up to bed. I stood there for a few seconds marveling at how easy it was to get her to open up to me. All it took was one little mental nudge to get her to almost break up her emotional resolve completely. I wondered what would have happened if she'd bottled that stress inside of her and away from the rest of the world.
Outside, unbeknownst to either me or Buffy, a shadowy yet blond figure stood on the outside looking in throughout the entire ordeal with a lit but un-smoked cigarette clenched in his fist burning his skin. As I headed up the stairs he threw the cigarette that bounced off the window with a spark and fell into the shadows to smolder out by itself. Spike, however, could not be as lucky as his cigarette. Being an old and experienced, if emotional, vampire he knew how to wait. Killing me now would only hurt the slayer even more. Besides, he knew that if he were to ever have Buffy for his own, it would truly have to be her decision. So he would let go of tonight and there was time enough tomorrow for him to think out the best dozen or so ways to kill me... after we saved Buffy.