Spike and Nina

Tales of the Puppet: The Breakfast

Part Three

By Marie Nomad

Nina had dreamt of this day for a long time. Of course, she dreamt of Angel and she eating together but she never dreamt that he would be three feet tall and made out of felt.

"So, all of the children are back to normal?"

"Looks like it." Angel sighed as he tried to drink some blood and then grimaced. He coughed as he put it away. "Okay, I can't drink blood which is an improvement."

"I suppose. I'm sure you will think of something before you starve to death. Do vampires starve to death?"

"Nah, once I had been forced to go without blood for three months. When I was rescued, I was delirious, mad, and starving but after I got some blood in my system, I'm normal." Angel shuddered as he remembered that summer. He looked at Nina and looked down. "Sorry, I shouldn't bring that up."

"No, I like hearing about your past. You are so mysterious but that is kinda sexy too."

"Yeah, Nina… there's something I have to tell you. Something that I have to warn you about before we go further." Angel looked as serious as a vampire puppet cursed with a soul could be. "You know that vampires normally don't have souls right?"

"Yes, only you and Spike have souls. Why?"

"Mine was because of a gypsy curse and… there's a loophole. If I ever experience a moment of perfect happiness, I will become evil. I mean, Angelus, that's me without the soul, he's evil. He is evil. He makes Hannibal Lector look like a girl scout. What makes things worse is that Angelus knows everything that I know, including who I love. If I become evil, you must promise me to kill me if you have to."

Nina's jaw dropped. "Kill you? Can't we just recurse you with a new soul?"

"Yes, but it's too risky. Only one woman I know could do it and I don't know where she is or if she would help me again. It would be better if you run away as fast as possible or kill me if Angelus threaten you. Better yet, if you suspect that I had become Angelus, kill me right away."

Nina shook her head. She had met some strange men in her life (being an art student does that) but she never met anyone who wants her to kill him if he gets perfectly happy. Still, she could tell that he was being serious. No wonder Angel was so nervous about dating anyone, if she could turn evil from being in love, she would be scared to commit too. "How can I tell if you become Angelus?"

Angel pondered. "Well, if I act evil. Let's see… if I start wearing leather pants for one thing. Spike and the others could obviously tell but if I start acting strange, sadistic, anything like that, kill me."

"All right, I promise, if you become evil, I will kill you." Nina said seriously.

"Good."

"Angel, I'm sorry I nearly… ripped you to shreds last night." Nina looked at Angel's fading scars.

"Oh. I'm okay. You weren't yourself and I've been through worse. My ex-girlfriend sent me to Hell for a hundred years."

"Oh."

"But, I'm much better now." Angel waved away.

"Good."

XXX

Spike came into the office just as Nina and Angel walked out hand in hand. "I better go and work and try to deal with my employees like this."

"Yeah, I better go and face my sister." Nina kissed Angel on the forehead and the workers stared and then rushed away except for Spike.

Angel went to his office looking happy but not too happy and Nina walked up to Spike. "The date went well?"

"Very well." Nina smiled, "It was a little strange dating a vampire puppet cursed with a soul but I enjoyed it and I want to thank you for it. But, what I want to know is why?"

Spike pondered. "I'm a champion, it's what I do. You know, doing good, spreading love, and all that."

Nina nodded. "Well, thank you very much for all your help." She walked off and nearly skipped as she left the building.

"I bet that's not the only reason." Harmony said as from her desk. "Admit it, you want Angel out of the way so when you get the courage, you can get your little slayer."

"Well, true." Spike smirked as he walked to the garage for his latest car to destroy.

The End