Title: The Game
The Misadventures of Spike and Miss Kitty Fantastico
Author: claudia6913
Paring: Spike
Rating: PG
Summary: It’s kitten poker time!
Disclaimer: I don’t own the characters, Joss and Co. do.
Distribution: If I sent it, post it. If not, let me know.
Feedback: Please. Claudia_6913@hotmail.com
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The demons around the table eyed her warily. She looked too intelligent for a cat. And Spike, while still keeping a poker face, looked almost smug. Something was up, but they just couldn’t figure out what.
“I’ll take two,” Spike said, discarding two cards from his hand.
The dealer, a putrid demon that looked no better than he smelled and had the unfortunate name of Chuck, took Spike’s cards and tossed two his way. They landed right next to the suspicious looking cat that hadn’t moved from its crouch since Spike placed it on the table for the ante.
Spike nodded a thank you to Chuck, trying hard to remember not to breath. It wasn’t as if he needed to anyways, but it had remained an occasional habit. As he reached out for the cards, Spike paused to pet the cat in one long stroke down its back. He must have hit a good spot because the cat’s leg kicked out, knocking his new cards onto the floor. Shrugging to his fellow poker mates, he bent down and retrieved the cards. Then, he sat back up and looked at his hand.
Calmly, Spike brought out a small mewling Calico, who shook in fright, and set it next to Miss Kitty. She knew what it was like to be on the table, so she tried to reassure the young Calico.
“I call,” Spike said. There was a bit of grumbling, a few sneers, and more then one hungry glance at the kittens on the table.
Clem, an odd demon who looked like a hairless dog with large floppy ears said, “You sure that one’s a kitten?” He was pointing at Miss Kitty. “It looks older or something.”
It was true. Miss Kitty Fantastico had grown up a bit. However, she was small enough to pass for a kitten, though not always acting like one.
“This’ll be her last game,” Spike said. Everyone nodded their approval.
Clem thought for another minute or so, then smiled sheepishly and folded like always. Chuck called, placing a small grey kitten on the table in front of him. Then, everyone turned to the last player. His skin had the color and texture of desert sand. He’d never told them his name though. So, they called him Father Time’s younger, lazy, unknown half-brother by marriage, or Bob for short.
“Oi,” Spike said, kicking Bob’s chair, “fold, or call you lazy bugger.”
The demon grunted, opening one eye and looked around the table before glancing down at his cards. He grunted again and lifted a Tabby kitten to the table.
“All right mates, lets see what you have,” Spike said, and laid down his cards. A straight flush looked out at the other players. Chuck swore and threw down his cards on the table.
Spike’s trademark smirk slid into place as he asked, “What ‘bout you Bob?”
Bob looked up at Spike, with one eye open still, and laid down his cards. Clem gasped then laughed. It was a royal flush. Even Chuck had to smile. It wasn’t often Spike lost, so they were enjoying the show. His smile slid slowly off his face as the facts registered.
Smiling faintly, Bob reached out and grabbed his Tabby, the grey kitten, and the Calico. Spike grabbed his hand when Bob reached for Miss Kitty. He wasn’t supposed to lose, he should have won.
“Give it up, Spike,” Chuck said, still smiling.
Shaking his head, Spike grabbed Miss Kitty and stood up quickly; disrupting the cards she had been laying on.
“You cheated!” Chuck yelled.
“Yeah,” Clem said, nodding his head in agreement which caused his ears to flop furiously.
Bob said nothing but he had opened his other eye. Now, one eye stared accusingly at Spike, while the other eye watched Miss Kitty hungrily.
“Right, well, keep the calico and I’ll be off then,” Spike said, taking a step backwards.
Chuck stood up, as did Bob. Clem made to stand up, but stopped in a half crouch, unsure of what to do. Clem just wasn’t much of a fighter and, frankly, he found all this terribly amusing. He tried to hold in his laughter, but every now and then a snort would escape.
“You are not leaving here with that cat,” Bob said. His voice was grainy and low. Everyone turned to him in amazement. Clem lost his balance and fell hard to the floor. No one had ever heard Bob speak before.
Spike floundered. He didn’t know if he should tell him off or ask why he never spoke until just now. Finally, he settled on a classic and said, “Yeah, well try and stop me.”
Apparently, that wasn’t what Bob wanted to hear because no sooner had the words left Spike’s mouth, then there was a low popping sound and a soft rush of air as Bob exhaled. Nothing moved in the small room, though everyone’s eyes could still move, and move they did to watch Bob. This was another part of him that they didn’t know, his ability to freeze everything around him. Slowly, Bob walked up to Spike.
“It is not that you cheated, for I won anyway, but why protect this cat?”
‘What does it matter?’ Spike thought.
“It matters because I am curious,” Bob said, seemingly reading his mind much to Spike’s surprise and disapproval. “You are a vampire, yet you risk a fight for a mere kitten. Why?”
Bob’s voice had dropped in timbre and quieted to a whisper. He looked between Spike and Miss Kitty, trying to figure it out.
Spike’s mind raced. Pictures made their way through his mind from the Initiative and the chip, to being tied in Giles’ tub and Xander’s basement. Then, his thoughts went to Drusilla. She’d left him for a chaos demon, all slimy and grotesque, all the while claiming Spike was not vampire enough for her anymore. His thoughts flashed on every woman that had ever rejected him and on every person or demon he had ever called friend, but who had then stabbed him in the back, sometimes literally.
Bob saw the look of loneliness make its way across Spike’s features and understood. He, too, knew loneliness and regret.
“I see,” he said. “You may keep your precious friend, but do not play with her again. The next one you try to cheat may not be as forgiving.”
As quick as the stillness had come, it left, and so did Spike. He ran out of the bar and into the alleyway, through the streets, only stopping when he came to the entrance of the cemetery that housed his crypt.
Pulling out a cigarette, Spike turned to Miss Kitty and said, “That’s the last time we play with Bob.” Miss Kitty meowed in agreement and they both sauntered off to the crypt.
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