AN: Once again, I borrowed a very brief Buffy comment from "Welcome to the Hellmouth" at the beginning of this chapter ( I couldn't resist. You'll see why.) I own nothing BtVS. I'm just borrowing. Don't sue, much thanks!
Chapter 8
Intervention
"The black one!"
"I say go with the blue!"
Buffy held up the short black dress and examined herself in the mirror, "Hi! I'm an enormous slut!" she mimed as she flung the black number to the ground and imagined the long billowy blue one.
"Hello," she yawned, "Would you like a copy of the Watchtower?" she groaned; throwing that too on the floor before collapsing back onto the bed alongside Willow and Dawn.
"I used to be so good at this," the blonde pouted as Dawn absently played with her sister's hair.
Willow stood up and crossed over to the closet, "We'll help you, Buffy," the redhead said determinedly, "And when we do, Riley's gonna drown in his own drool!"
Buffy giggled as Dawn grimaced, "Eww."
"You're gonna love the Dingoes, Dawnie," Willow continued on, still flipping through the catalogue of Buffy's wardrobe.
"I'm just glad I get to go!" the girl emphasized, looking pointedly at her sister who merely shrugged.
"What?" Buffy defended, "I never said you couldn't go The Bronze!" She insisted, standing back up to join Willow and resume her dress hunt.
Dawn swung her legs over the bed and sat up, watching the two older women, "No, but you never sounded like you wanted me there, either!"
Buffy sighed, "Dawn, please don't start in on me, okay? You're coming with us tomorrow, aren't you? And when I have a date no less! So, stop whining!" Buffy glowered at the girl, tossing another unlikely dress-candidate at the teen.
"Hey!" Dawn cried as she dodged the flying fabric; all three girls laughing giddily.
"Buffy?" Spike's voice called out as he entered the apartment.
"We're up here!" Buffy called out as she and Willow argued over another ensemble. Dawn ran over to the railing and smiled down as Spike started for the stairs.
"Hey Spike, come on up! We're just helping Buffy try on clothes!"
Spike smirked as he ascended further, "Is that right? Everybody's decent I hope?" He half joked as he finally reached the landing.
Willow and Buffy spun around to greet the man as Dawn jumped back onto the bed.
"Hey Spike," Willow said.
"'Lo Red," he returned as he tentatively stood at the edge of the space. Though he'd been given an informal tour of the apartment when Buffy had suggested he move in, he hadn't ever actually been in the girl's personal space. And now, what with certain feelings he may or may not be having…actually setting foot in her bedroom took on a whole new context.
"Hey," Buffy smiled as she finally took notice, "Come on in, stay awhile."
Gladly, he thought to himself as he smiled back; slowly stepping forth and assessing the open-aired area.
"Yeah, actually…" Willow considered, "Maybe you could help us."
"I know what it looks like," he said, "But I only wore the nail polish and eye liner to impress the bird when she thought I didn't have the stones," he insisted self-effacingly.
"What?" Buffy snickered as Willow scowled.
"Umm…that's….okay…" the redhead pressed on, "No, I was actually thinking we could get your opinion on something."
"Ooh, yeah!" Dawn agreed, nodding fervently as she rose to her knees on the bed. "A guy's opinion is totally necessary here."
Spike chuckled, "Sure, what's all this about then?" He wondered amusedly.
Buffy wasn't exactly sure why she suddenly felt embarrassed but she did. She gave him a bashful smile and bit her lip, "I have a…a date, tomorrow."
Spike's face fell slightly at this, though apparently no one seemed to catch it. "Is that so?" He finally said; a forced smile creeping back onto his face.
"Yeah, totally important event with this guy Buffy's been in love with forever!"
"Dawn!" Buffy scolded.
"Even before Angel!" Dawn added gleefully.
Spike snickered as he turned back to face the blonde; who right at this moment looked strangely less like a girl who'd just been asked out by her longtime crush, and more like a girl who's just been told her dog had died.
For whatever reason; Willow suddenly sensed the tension and cleared her throat, shooting a bright smile at the man.
"We've narrowed it down to a few contenders," the redhead explained. "But Buffy just can't seem to decide."
Spike shrugged, "I'm sure your bloke's gonna like you in whatever you're wearing." He said; shoving his hands inside his pockets.
Buffy feigned appreciation before spinning back around to gather up her final options; Willow helping.
"Show him the black one, first!" Dawn insisted as Willow came to sit back on the bed. Spike was standing beside them as Buffy stood across the room and held the garment up to her once more.
"What do you think?" She asked more to him than any other. She had a strange feeling he'd know what would make her appear desirable.
"I'm still not sure about this one," Willow frowned.
"I like it," Dawn chimed in, "I think it's sexy."
Buffy dropped the dress and stared at her sister, "And what would you know about that?" she asked the girl incredulously, her melancholy somewhat forgotten.
Spike managed a smirk at the sisterly exchange as Dawn scoffed at her sibling's accusations.
"I'm sixteen, Buffy! I know all about that stuff!"
"Oh really?" She checked; a raised eyebrow swiftly landing on Spike, "And how would you know about that, hmm?"
Spike's eyes grew wide as he opened his mouth to protest before Dawn interjected.
"Eww! As if!" Dawn blushed furiously red. "Spike's like…your age! No offence," she shot a quick look of apology to the man.
"I hear about it all the time at school. And it's not like I don't watch movies or T.V.! Or read stuff on the internet or—"
"Okay, okay, I get it!" Buffy snapped and held the black dress back up to her frame one more time, "Spike? What do you think, yea or nay?"
Spike pursed his lips and considered the dress. It was sexy…skin tight by the looks of it and short; a deep décolletage in the front and cut out in the back. Very sexy….too sexy!
"Nope," he sniffed, "Don't like it," he said flatly, remembering suddenly why she'd be wearing said dress.
Buffy frowned and tossed the dress aside; holding up the long, billowy blue one that Willow had chosen.
Dawn made a gagging sound as Willow shoved her playfully, "Hey! Be nice."
Spike laughed at the exchange as Buffy looked at him expectantly. She didn't look like she cared much for the dress either. He couldn't blame her. God Bless the redhead, but her idea of seduction by wardrobe left something to be desired. He gave Buffy a smirk and shook his head; pleased when she silently mouthed "thank you" before moving on to the next contestant.
"Okay, I'm not even sure why I kept—"
"That one," Spike said emphatically.
"What?" Buffy's head shot up to look at him as he approached her, holding the garment up for her as Willow and Dawn sat on the bed; staring thoughtfully.
Buffy's breath left her for a moment as she looked nervously every which way but at Spike; who was now right up against her still holding the dress flush to her figure.
It wasn't anything particularly special; though Buffy supposed the color was nice; a soft buttery yellow that complimented her hair and skin tone. And she'd liked the dress when she bought it. But in all honesty, she hadn't worn it since her first date with Angel. And it had since been relegated to the back of her closet; a keepsake for posterity.
"This one," Spike repeated; daring to look into her face as he spoke, "You'll…this one."
He handed off the dress to her once more as he stepped back and cleared his throat, remembering suddenly that other people were in the room with them.
Willow and Dawn knew the dress; remembered it well. It was really stunning on Buffy; the pale yellow seemed to make the blonde simply glow. And the cut was neither slutty nor matronly; hitting her mid calf in length while the front dipped conservatively in a cowl neck. The back dipped low but not obscenely, and the straps were thin and delicate.
"Your fella's gonna have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to notice you in that, pet."
"I agree," Willow nodded bashfully.
"Totally," Dawn added.
***
"So, Dawnie looks like she's having fun, yeah?" Xander shouted over the music.
Willow reluctantly broke her gaze from her boyfriend on stage and smiled back at her friend, "Yeah," the redhead agreed, glancing over to see the young girl dancing with Spike. "I think she's still crushin' on Spike."
Xander's eyes went wide, "What?"
"It's kind of sweet of him to humor her the way he does," she added.
Xander remained incredulous, "Dawn has a crush on Spike?"
"Well, duh!" Willow snorted as she resumed watching Oz perform.
"But…but…I'm the older man Dawn is supposed to have a crush on! I'm older, goofy but lovable Xander!"
"Get over it, Xand," Willow said distractedly as Buffy and Riley wandered over to the table.
"Another round of sodas for the ladies," Riley proclaimed as he set the drinks down, "And another round of beer for the guys."
"Thanks Riley," Willow beamed as the boy nodded.
"Yeah, thanks, man," Xander said glumly; grabbing the glass bottle.
"Not a problem," he assured them before turning back to Buffy and handing her the drink. "And here you are," he smiled.
Buffy blushed, "Thanks for treating everyone," she cooed as he took a swig of his beer; making Buffy grimace. "Do people actually enjoy drinking beer?"
Riley chuckled as Xander shot her a serious look, "Oh, Buffster. Beer is the foundation on which every lonely college male has made his home. You're too young to understand this but—"
"You're two months older than me, whacko!" She jeered playfully; throwing a balled up napkin at his head.
Xander let the paper him without much protest, "And therein lay my point," he sighed.
The surrounding group laughed as Riley shot Buffy an approving glance. "You look great tonight. If I haven't said that already," he blushed.
Buffy bit her lip and smiled, "You may have," she teased, "But it never hurts to hear it again."
Riley smiled as she deposited her glass on the table and reached for his hand; pulling him onto the dance floor. "Come on," she directed.
Spike still maintained that The Bronze was sub par; but he gave the group the benefit of the doubt seeing as they'd probably been going here a lot longer than he had. And Dawn had expressed her want for him to join them this evening. He almost declined; even with the Nibblet's pleading. And Buffy would be on a date tonight, boy was he a glutton for punishment.
But Red's blokes' band was halfway decent entertainment, and despite a rather quick round of introduction in which Spike had safely managed to avoid the need to punch Buffy's date as a matter of principle; the night was actually going great.
The Dingoes ended their first set as the evermore infamous techno drabble came on; Dawn expressing the want to keep dancing. Spike indulged her and he kept her laughing as he mocked their surrounding companions with spastic rave-like dance moves. Buffy and Riley remained on the floor as well, having only gotten up for the tail end of the previous song. Buffy was a more fluid dancer than Riley; though she chalked that off to his imposing stature. The thumping beat was a natural stimulant; causing an assortment of flailing limbs and crashing bodies. Buffy stretched her arms high above her head as Riley tentatively held her hips as they snaked back and forth against the music.
Dawn was finally succumbing to the need for oxygen and alerted Spike to such. He complied and started escorting the girl out of the crowd when something caught his eye. That hair, those arms, that back and hips…all golden and sun kissed and deliciously sensual…it was her! The goddess he'd spied a few months back. And here she was again…dancing just as seductively as she before….a lumbering oaf clawing at her waist like…Riley?!
Spike blinked back his rage at seeing Buffy's date snogging another chit along the dance floor until the realization hit him and the girl spun around. Buffy?!
Buffy was the faceless golden goddess he'd been so effusively turned on by. Of course she was, stupid git.
"Spike!" Dawn shouted again; tugging on his jacket sleeve.
He shook off his trance to face the younger girl and nodded distractedly before letting her pull them off the dance floor.
The Dingoes returned for their final set; Xander reluctantly agreeing to stand near the stage with Willow as Dawn and Buffy excused themselves to the restroom to freshen up.
Spike and Riley exchanged an awkward nod and smile; the former tapping his fingertips nervously along the table top as Riley shifted in his chair.
"So," Riley offered first, "You're the roommate?"
"Yep," Spike nodded with a curt smile, "I'm the roommate."
Riley nodded, "Buffy tells me you're from England."
Spike groaned inwardly but nodded affirmatively.
"How do you like America?" Riley continued, speaking somewhat pedantically as one might ignorantly do with a deaf man or a child.
Spike shrugged, "S'fine."
"You're in the English department?" Riley shouted; the music growing louder. Spike reckoned if it had been anybody else, they'd have taken this as a sign to stop talking. But God Bless the dolt, he kept on truckin'.
Spike nodded with a slight smirk; knowing that with the surrounding din it would probably be more helpful to the boy if he'd answer him vocally. But Spike was enjoying watching him struggle.
"You know Mr. Giles?" Riley yelled again.
Spike held a hand up to his ear, feigning complete deafness and apology as he indicated his ear and then the music as Buffy and Dawn returned to the table.
"God, is this loud enough for ya?" Buffy shouted with a laugh as Dawn cupped her ears.
"I don't like this anymore," Dawn frowned.
Spike rolled his eyes when Buffy saddled up beside Riley and leaned in; the pillock's clumsy arm wrapping around her shoulder as he lowered his face to ear and whispered something sweet enough to garner a patented Buffy giggle.
Spike once again avoided talking and pantomimed leaving for a cigarette. He growled in annoyance when Buffy and Riley barely took notice; though he managed to muster an affectionate smile at Dawn before exiting.
The sudden silence the outside offered made his ears popped. Spike shook his head to let loose the pinching sensation and reached into his pocket for a cigarette. As the first drag came and went, Spike collapsed against the brick wall behind him and shut his eyes, trying desperately to forget how he'd ended up in any of his current situation.
Suddenly a slight coughing sound and then a giggle infiltrated his solace. He blinked open his eyes and saw a buxom but cute enough blonde girl standing before him. He raised his eyebrows in silent wonderment as she held her own lit cigarette between two pristinely manicured fingertips.
"Needed a break from the party, huh?" the girl asked as she awkwardly sucked on the cigarette.
Spike gave a small but genuinely amused chuckle as the girl seemed to yet again choke on the inhale as he took another drag of his own fag.
"Gets a bit loud for the old fogies like myself," he said dryly.
The girl squeaked as her eyes widened, "You're British?"
"Yep," Spike agreed, thoroughly bored. Why was that everyone's first reaction to him when he opened his soddin' mouth?
"Your accent's way sexy," the blonde girl cooed.
"What's your name, pet?" Spike asked abruptly, getting to the gist of the trampy girl's obvious comings on.
"Harmony," she replied obediently but proudly. "And you are?"
"Spike," he drawled, flicking his cigarette away before standing up right once more.
"Spike, huh?" Harmony bit her lip in approval.
Spike sucked his teeth in consideration of the blonde before him. She had a great body, sexy in that dumb, coquettish sort of way. Though Spike had a feeling this girl knew her way around sexually, despite her obvious lack of practical sense.
"Are you here with anybody?" Harmony asked.
Spike bit his bottom lip, thoroughly charmed by the audacity of this young woman. He momentarily considered telling her he wasn't, dragging the bird off somewhere and having a pleasant, if not poorly timed and inappropriate snog, and then catch up to Buffy and the gang later.
But Dawn was there. And Buffy was on her date, and Oz and Willow would surely be occupied after the boy's band was finished…and Xander was hopeless. The latter boy was far too busy scanning the crowd for prospects….Spike couldn't leave the girl. Or, technically….he couldn't leave without her, seeing as she'd driven them to The Bronze tonight. The young chit had been so enthused at the invite she'd offered him a ride in the haze of excitement. He'd agreed, as Willow and Xander had gone with Buffy and her giant hall monitor of a date in his vehicle.
He had his own bleedin' car now, for fuck's sake! Why, oh why, had he allowed a sixteen year old, bubbly little twig convince him to abandon his own mode of transportation?
Because Buffy was pleased at how attentive he was to Dawn. Because Buffy appreciated everything he did for her little sister. Buffy: who was at once shaken at Dawn and Spike's closeness yet satisfied enough to wander off with a lumbering blockhead on her own.
His world was wrong. Despite getting almost all of his life back on track, he was still a prattling romantic ponce who repeatedly offered olive branches to women he never saw anything from in return, save for an occasional smile perhaps. And what was worse, sometimes that was enough. And this feeling, this "olive branch" had been offered quickly. Very quickly. Some bad-ass alter ego "Spike" was; reasoning what he was sure would be a sufficiently good shag over the possibility of his roommate-cum-crush's baby sister being left unattended?
"Yeah," he said after an ungodly long pause, "Probably should head back."
Harmony was undoubtedly miffed at his rebuttal, but smiled anyway. "Well, maybe next time, huh?"
Spike snickered as he disappeared back inside the club.
To Be Continued...