Disclaimer: I do not own BtVS
AN: I was reading a book by Francesca Lia Block at the time I was writing this so it's VERY influenced by her writing style.
Dawn is so lonely now.
She should be lonely.
She is alone.
Her sister saved the world.
But really just saved her.
To save her she left her alone.
The world still needs her sister.
Just as much as Dawn still needs her.
The world has a substitute.
She's cold, metal.
But she looks just like her.
Evil doesn't seem to notice the difference.
Dawn wonders if maybe she shouldn't either.
She studies the substitute.
She asks if she will brush her hair.
The substitute doesn't understand.
She complies anyway.
Dawn is caught up in memories.
They mix with the present.
She turns and holds the substitute.
Like a sister would.
Dawn cries a little and stops when her wrist hurts.
He's grabbed hold of it tightly.
His eyes are like steel but emotion flickers behind them.
He warns her.
Don't do that.
It's no consolation.
And you'll hurt even more when you finally convince yourself she's there for a moment.
She pulls away her wrist.
Part of her doesn't care.
Thinking that she's there might be worth the ache.
But Dawn looks at Spike and sees the flicker of emotion start to spark.
She believes him.
He knows what she's feeling.
Dawn walks out of the room quickly leaving him with the substitute.
He looks at the machine.
Longing to feel her overcomes him.
He holds out.
His lesson is learned.
The hard way.