A/N: It has always bothered me how they played down Spike's strength. Obviously, it's Buffy's show so she always has to be the hero and they actively showed her training to get stronger, but he has killed two slayers, so he is very close to her level. They also really never had a knock down drag out fight as there as always something that got in the way; Joyce, Drusilla, Harmony, sunlight, his undying love for her.
This also led to Riley thinking he would have had any chance against Spike. It makes sense to me that Buffy and the gang would play down Spike's strength with Riley's general mentality towards demons, and the way Buffy downplayed her strength to appease Riley. He is not in their league, and while that's not a bad thing, he was written to not be able to cope with it. I also think they then played Spike down in general, why can't Buffy be stronger than him and that not mean he is unconscious in a corner? So somehow this convoluted thinking led to this story, that as I sit to write, I haven't worked out the cause of but sometimes that's not important. Why did the Gentlemen need hearts? Why did Sweet leave when he seemed pretty firmly in control? Why would only women summon him? No one knows. Plot reasons.
This is set somewhere in the middle of Into the Woods. Few little tweaks of the timeline to allow for some jokes my brain has decided are infinitely necessary. Buffy isn't aware of Riley's little extracurricular activities, but Joyce has had her surgery and is home.
Implied Spuffy.
Buffy strolled through the main street of Sunnydale, one hand holding quite possibly the largest ice-cream she had ever seen: three scoops of creamy ice cream – cookies and cream, Nutella and double choc brownie, squashed into a crunchy waffle cone and topped with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, crushed peanuts and a chocolate shard, so crisp and shiny that she swore she could see her reflection in it. She licked the side carefully, getting just a hint of every aspect. It was delectable. She hummed happily and took another slow lick. She was pretty sure the shop was run by a demon but any demon who could make something as pure and heavenly as this was a good demon in her book.
"Buffy?" Riley's mildly annoyed voice cut through her ice-cream induced haze, "Are you even listening to me?" He squeezed her hand, the one that was clasped in his, lightly.
"What?" Buffy started. She looked up at him innocently, doing her best to give him her Bambi eyes. "I'm sorry, no," she admitted. "But have you seen this ice-cream? Like really looked at it. It's construction, the variances of textures and variety of chocolatey goodness. It is truly unparalleled in its beauty."
Riley smiled and rolled his eyes good naturedly. Buffy smiled satisfied she had quelled whatever annoyance was brewing. He had been touchy lately and, now that her Mum was home safe and sound, she was determined to be the best girlfriend ever. Evening stroll for ice cream was just what they needed. Nice, normal boyfriend-girlfriend type evening.
"I guess I can understand that," he smiled down at her. "But I can think of one thing that parallels its beauty."
Buffy raised herself to give him a quick kiss. She closed her eyes and lowered herself back down. He smiled happily and Buffy's heart swelled slightly. She liked making him smile.
"But I am all yours," she smiled. "After everything that has happened, I'm just happy to be able to spend some quality time with you."
Riley blushed slightly. "Me too." He squeezed her hand again and they continued walking happily, their hands swinging lightly between them and Buffy licking her ice-cream with reverence.
A breeze kicked up, and Buffy found herself eating as much hair as ice-cream. She dropped Riley's hands, pulling the strands from her mouth and trying to slick the ice-cream out of the strands.
"I just washed this," she muttered.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry, Slayer," a voice said suddenly, a figure moving to block their path. He wore light blue jeans and a black shirt held together with a variety of safety pins. His hair was platinum blonde and spiked up. Heavy silver jewellery sat between the lapels of his all too familiar black coat. "Be the least of your worries soon."
Buffy stared at him. He smirked and quirked an eyebrow.
"What are you doing here Spike?" Riley growled, his arms folding across his chest. He took a step forward, but Buffy reached out and pulled him back. He stumbled. He looked behind himself quickly, unused to Buffy pulling him quite so hard.
"Riley," she said slowly, her eyes never leaving Spike's. "That's not Spike."
"Funny," Spike said, sliding his hand down his chest. "Feel just like Spike."
Then he surged forward, his fist slamming down towards Buffy's face. She dropped her ice-cream, throwing both arms up to block the powerful blow and replied with her own punch to his jaw. Spike stumbled back, a smile burgeoning on his lips. She stared down at her ice cream now spread across the pavement the cone was cracked and she could see dirt in the cream. She frowned. So much for chocolatey goodness.
"God, I love fighting slayers," Spike purred. Buffy's eyes snapped back up to him. "You're always so feisty."
"Oh, come on Spike," Riley interrupted. His arms were still crossed and Buffy was pretty sure he was pushing out his biceps, making himself bigger. Buffy's eyes went wide. "Most you're getting out of this is a headache."
Spike turned his attention to Riley. He took a step forward and hugged his arms around himself, his jacket closing over the mesh and safety pins. "And who might this be?" he asked. Riley pulled himself up to his full height, towering over Spike. Spike looked back at Buffy. He shivered dramatically. "So manly."
"Don't-" Buffy started but it was too late. Spike threw a punch into Riley's stomach making him crumble, and fall to his knees, gasping for air. Riley made as if to stand and rush Spike, but the vampire pushed him back, Riley rolling back over the pavement. Buffy dashed forward putting herself in between them. She spared a quick glace and saw that Riley was already making his way to his hands and knees. She reached into her jacket pocket. Shit, no stake. "Oh, come on Spike," she said salaciously all the same. "You didn't come all this way to dance with him."
She walked slowly away, half circling Spike, pulling his attention as far as she could from the still prone Riley. He was gasping and holding his ribs but he was fine. She stopped when Spike had his back to Riley. Spike was mirroring her stance, walking in a small circle. Hunting her. He was still moving, bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet. His hands were held in loose fists, and he was grinning.
"No," he agreed. "I want to fight you."
Behind him, Riley was getting to his feet, clutching his side. He wanted back in the fight, she could tell, but she couldn't have that. She shook her head slightly at him and he had the gall to look hurt before she turned her full attention back to Spike. He raised a mocking eyebrow at her, clearly having seen her little 'chat' with Riley.
"You waiting for an invitation?" she taunted.
Spike shrugged and kicked out at her. She blocked again but didn't see the fist flying at her face. She went down hard, her back slamming against the concrete before a boot connected with her side and flung her towards a group at the Espresso Pump. She glared up at him and surged forward, the people behind her fleeing for safety. She heard yells and the scrapping of stools against the concrete floor but she didn't look back. He stormed forward, coat flaring, to meet her. She punched him once, twice, three times in the face before he finally replied, backhanding her almost boredly. He laughed as he stood across for her.
"You know the last slayer I killed, she begged for her life."
"So I've been told." Her right hook struck him across the jaw, before she kicked out, swiping at his legs but he jumped up and landed a stinging blow as he came back down. She punched up, slamming her fist into his stomach, before kicking him back and away from her. He rolled across the ground, jumping up with a grace that he didn't deserve.
"Honestly, not sure if I believe it," she spat. "You never scared me that much."
He growled, his lip curling up and his demon guise slipping down. He glared at her. "Guess I'll have to change that."
He whipped around, his coat flicking around him, momentarily distracting Buffy as she tried to follow his movement. She had seen this movement before, knew what was coming, knew he was going spin around and kick her, and yet he still managed to smash his boot into her back and send her careening to the ground.
She looked up, her face scrunched in pain. He hadn't hit her that hard in a while. She felt a bruise blooming across her back, she was going to be peeing blood for days, she just knew it. He always got the kidneys. Her lip curled. He was standing waiting for her to re-join the fight, giving her time to recover.
"So that's a slayer?" a second voice said from behind her, "Hardly see what all the bother is about. So small."
Buffy looked harshly behind her. This couldn't be happening. There was another one. He was standing in front of the Espresso Pump leaning casually against the curved arch of the entry. Her mouth dropped open. This one was clearly younger. His hair was brown and hung loosely around his face. He had no scar on his eyebrow, and he wore layers of crumpled brown with a brown scarf tied haphazardly around his neck.
What the hell was going on?
Safety pin Spike took advantage of her distraction, or maybe he just got bored, and tried to loom over her, his hands reaching for her neck, but she pulled her legs back, and kicked him square in the chest. He stumbled and Buffy pulled her body back, her hands hitting the pavement behind her head and legs rising into the air, before she jumped to her feet. It was her turn to kick him now, sending him spinning back and away from her. His back smashed into a nearby light post and the metal clanging reverberated around the now almost empty street. The metal bowed and he fell back down onto the street with a humph. She saw Riley making his way to her, his face intent. "Don't," she yelled, her hand held out as if that was going to be enough to stop him. She tilted her head to the side, out of the corner of her eye she saw Riley keep moving but behind her she heard him move, his feet oddly soft against the pavement, no heavy boots thumping on the concrete, but she still heard him. He moved forward, his fist cocked but Buffy jumped, her body flying out, and her hands crashed into this new Spike's shoulders, sending him screaming into the now thankfully empty, Espresso Pump. If there was anything the citizens of Sunnydale knew how to do, it was to flee the scene.
He was laying across a table, coffee and cream around him. He picked up his hand and licked it, looking her dead in the eye as he did so, eyebrow cocked.
Buffy stared at him. This Spike was young, she knew it. He wasn't nearly as strong as the other one. He went to sit up but Buffy's fist collided with his face, sending him onto his back. He was laughing as she hit him. God why did he always do that?
"Having fun?" she asked him, eyebrows raised.
"Well … yeah." His fist flung out clumsily and she caught his arm easily, slamming it down. He yelped but that didn't slow her down. Pinned to the table, she pounded her fist into his face, again and again, until his demon visage fell and he was on the brink of unconsciousness. Her armed reared back and was suddenly caught around the forearm. She pulled but couldn't dislodge it, and then she felt a hand in her hair pulling her backwards. The fingers on her arm tightened painfully, she reached back, trying desperately to scratch at the hand that tore at her scalp but she couldn't find her purchase. She heard the growl and then she was flying through the air, landing in the middle of the street.
She lay there for a second, seeing nothing but the pavement, before she looked up. One Spike was rolling off the table, landing on all fours and shaking his head. While another stood watching her. He was dressed similarly to the young one but he looked stronger, more powerful. His hair was dishevelled and there was fresh blood tracking down his face. His eyebrow was split and blood was splattered across his forehead and down his chin. He wore a long brown coat with a blood-stained white collared shirt, the first few buttons undone. His brown pants were held up with suspenders and his boots were a soft brown, not the heavy black he favoured. This new Spike licked his lips, savouring the blood there, salaciously. This one was wired and dangerous, bouncing lightly as he watched her. This one was wearing the blood of a slayer.
Buffy's heart was racing and she nearly hit out as Riley rushed to her side. He held her around her middle, his arm pressing just a little too hard into her bruised side. He helped her to his feet, his hand trying to grasp hers.
"The chip," he was muttering, breathless and angry, and not nearly enough fear for Buffy's liking. "He's done something to the chip."
Buffy grunted as she took to her feet fully. "What and duplicated himself?"
She didn't break eye contact with the new bloody Spike. Her breathing increasing as she watched the other two flank him. The fledge was sniffing back blood and then spitting it onto the pavement. His movements were slow and his eyes slightly glazed over but he was standing. He shook his head and looked up at her. The punk Spike cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders, a grin plastered to his face.
"Oh god," Buffy breathed. As all three of them rushed towards them.
It was a mess of fists and fangs. Buffy landed a few good punches but there were three of them. She couldn't stave them all off, she blocked one blow, a kick, a second blow, a third connected with her side. She fell. A boot connected with her chin and she felt her lip split. She coughed and tried to raise herself but a soft leather boot that felt decidedly the opposite of soft kicked the air from her lungs.
She heard Riley yell, and he tackled the Spike she had beaten in the coffee shop. She saw them wrestling out of the corner of her eye as a second boot came towards her but she was ready for this one. She caught it firmly and twisted the boot at the ankle, yanking the wearer down. It didn't stun him for long but it was enough. Buffy was on her feet, facing down two Spikes. Riley had the third, he punched him hard. The vampire went down, blood staining the cement beneath him.
Buffy jumped back, putting some distance between her and the two slayer killers in front of her. She took another step back and her back a wall.
Crap.
"Where are you going to run to now, Slayer?" the brown coated Spike called mockingly. He was leaning forward as he walked, tracking her movements lazily. Buffy looked around frantically. She couldn't take them both, hell one was a hard fight. Plus she needed to get Riley out of here. They would rip him apart.
"Please," she bit out. She just needed to distract him – them – for a moment. She just needed to move slightly, give herself a little more space. "The only thing that runs from you is Drusilla…straight into Angel's arms, right?" Her lip curled mockingly. "Not demon enough for her."
Both Spikes roared in tandem, anger surging through them. One rushed her sloppily, punching the wall as she ducked, while the second's fist glided ineffectually off her forearm. She punched the closest one and he stumbled back, not as far as she would have liked but he'd have to reach for her, while she slammed her opened palms against the linen of the other and he fell back, his back smacking into the bricks.
"Or was it a Chaos demon? Never can keep her dalliances straight."
Both were glaring at her but she had the space she needed. She reached out, the lapels of Spike's black coat offering great grip as she hurled him with all her strength away from her and straight into the brown clad version of himself. They both crumpled, pinning each other down against the wall.
She barely spared a glance behind her before she took off running, grabbing at Riley as she passed.
"What?" he choked out startled. His knuckles were red raw, and his chin was sporting the beginnings of a terrific bruise.
"Run!" she ordered. Her tone brokered no argument. He followed her, leaving a battered and bruised Spike at his feet. He looked behind him and saw the angry faces of the other two Spikes getting to their feet, pushing at each other, before he spun back around and followed her through the streets of Sunnydale. Suddenly he could hear the whoops and laughs of Spikes, calls for the Slayer to come back and play. They thought this was a game.
"We have to get to the house," she said, scaling up and over a fence quickly. He tried to follow her but he didn't quite get a hand hold and he had to climb, pushing himself up and over. She waited impatiently for him, tutting and looking around. The street was dark and far too exposed. "Come on."
She looked down the street. It was empty. But she could feel them. Her neck tingled, her senses overloaded. She couldn't tell which one was which or what direction they were coming from but she knew they were coming and when they got here it was not going to be pretty. She had to pick them off one by one. Riley was going to slow her down.
She turned to him. She had a cut above her eye and blood was mixing with sweat to give her hair a pink tinge. He could see a bruise forming around her eye, purple and black mottling on her cheek. Her lip was split and her shirt was dirtied beneath her open jacket. He thought he could even see the boot marks.
"We need to split up." She decided. Her voice was soft and harsh. "Get to a house, any house and call Giles."
"What?" he spluttered disbelievingly. "Spike attacked us. The last thing we need to do is split up."
"No," she said sharply, her eyes not even settling on him. "He wants me. He doesn't care about you. They'll follow me. I can go over," she said, more to herself than him. She didn't notice the look of hurt dismay on his face. "Take them on one on one. Lose them hopefully."
"Buffy," he interrupted her thoughts, voice almost pleading. "I can help you." He tried to reach for her hands, to be the thing she could hold onto in a crisis. She just had to see him.
She shook her head and pushed him in the chest. He thought she meant it to be light but in her heightened state, he stumbled back, his sternum aching. "Go," she told him. "Get somewhere safe – with a barrier."
Before he could argue she was off. Up and over the fence, and on the top of the building. He lost sight of her so fast he could barely believe it. There was no way he could catch her. He kicked the fence, the metal clanging softly, then turned and ran.
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