He stood there surrounded by slayers as he watched her try to pick her way through the corpse ridden alley. Body parts and flaming bodies lying everywhere. The building next to him was practically reduced to rubble. The dragon destroyed part of the block when it came crashing down. Once on the ground it’s threat had been reduced and it had caused chaos in the demon ranks. The horde had panicked but hadn’t broken and run. Most of them continued to fight.
The fact that it was such a compact space had worked against the legion. On an open playing field they would have slaughtered everyone just by sheer numbers alone. But in this terrain the enemy had to fight them in smaller packs... and on more even terms. He hadn’t really thought that they would make it through but she came in saving everyone as always. ‘For him...’ he thought bitterly.
‘Why would she chose him? There was nothing good about him. Nothing special. Nothing redeeming. He didn’t dwell on what he had done in his past! And he had done some really despicable things... Maybe he should let Buffy know about some of them.’
‘No. He would just tell her some of the even more creative ways that I tortured people in MY past. See just another point that he will always be second best to me. I was more evil. But I repented more. He just went crazy in a basement or something like that...’
‘Plus The Powers That Be chose ME to wear the amulet... He wore it by default. I am the champion...’ His thoughts flitted back to Rona and what he had done. He felt shame fill him but it was tinged with a healthy dose of satisfaction mixed with hopelessness.
Why bother? Nothing was ever going to redeem him in the eyes of others and in his own eyes. He had to make different plans now. It was clear that the path to redemption was gone for him. He had killed over and over and even the presence of his soul couldn’t stop it. His soul liked it... Craved it. The feeling of power and control it gave to him. To make another feel the pain that he lived with everyday. He felt euphoric and then it would come creeping in the thoughts of guilt and remorse and they made him hurt more until he lashed out and did it again.
‘I was the champion... now I am my own man. I am going to make my own destiny. I refuse to be a pawn piece anymore. Now that the board has been wiped clean I will be crowned king.’
He was so tired of trying to fight his nature. He wanted to rip out the throat of everyone standing around him. Everyday at Angel Investigations and even at Wolfram & Hart he had wanted to bash someone's brains in. The people that he was surrounded by were so stupid. They never saw the big picture. They were so wrapped up in the here and now of their pathetic lives that they never saw that nothing they did would matter.
The only thing that mattered was power. Power that they had help make a vacuum for him to fill. There was nothing left for him. Nothing that made him want to fight against what he was anymore. It wouldn’t matter in the end anyways. He was a sinner and he would go to hell. If that is where he was bound he would make hell wait as long as he could and not go without some kind of power to be wielded there too.
The thought of Buffy and Spike together sent white hot jolt of rage pouring through him. After all he had given up for her best interest. He had let her go so she could have a normal life and she was going to throw it all away. Waste it on him. He could tell what was coming. It made him sick. He was all but choking on his anger. He was going to make them pay...
His pact was made. It was made the moment he accepted the reigns at Wolfram and Hart and he had known then what he was giving up. That really didn’t matter to him. He had a son and he was going to do anything to keep him happy and safe. He was the only thing left that he cared about. And Connor was gone from him now too. Out of his reach. Everything that he touched was tainted and fell apart. There would be no redemption in the future. But it would hold joy of its own kind. He could remember the things that he had done. The things that he had denied himself for so long. The taste of blood he had already reacquainted himself to. It was time to plan something grand. Something fitting for the Slayer. She was Buffy to him no more.
The slayers around him paid him little attention. They would send questioning glances at him but they were more full of awe than anything else. They had heard all of the whispered stories about him. Most of it was probably true... The fact that he had taken on the dragon and barely had a scratch elevated him instantly to Oh my God status and the girls were embarrassed and didn’t know what to say to him. His normal broody demeanor just added to his mystique.
They helped the wounded and moved Rona the only casualty of the fight. Angel almost snorted out loud. The only one down is because of me. I guess Wolfram & Hart really knew what they were doing when they put me in charge. Faith’s group had meandered toward them most of them wound free. When they found out about Rona they gathered around and started to cry. A couple of girls kicked the dead bodies of the demons that were scattered around them. Angel watched all of this inwardly amused. Outwardly broody.
Willow and Giles had slid to the ground. The after effects of the spell were lingering and once in a while a glimmer of energy would outline their bodies. Willow’s eyes were shut and her arms had snaked around Giles shoulders and he cradled her in his lap. Everyone in the group left them alone too uncomfortable to break up something that was so obviously tender and intimate. The outpouring of energy should have left them exhausted but Willow felt full of energy. The good kind. It was just... right. She couldn’t understand it. It was so weird the feelings she was having and what was going on with her powers. She opened her eyes and saw Giles looking down at her with such wonder in his eyes that her heart skipped a beat.
“Is this normal?” she asked in a small voice. Relying on him to know the answers. For reassurance.
“Most definitely not...” The shaken tone of his voice sent an answering thrill down her spine. It made her realize that maybe this meant something to him too. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against his chest. She knew that normally she would have been all awkward around him and anything that resembled physical contact would have sent them both running in the other direction. But after what they had both gone through. What they had both shared there was nothing to feel embarrassed about. No barriers. They felt so comfortable in each others arms like it was natural.
Willow felt hands clamp down on her shoulder and haul up and off of Giles’ lap. Shocked wasn’t the right word for it. Appalled was the look that she saw on Giles’ face and she was sure reflected in her own. Kennedy stood holding Willow up by the back of her collar and demanded, “What the hell is going on with you? You two? What gives huh?”
Willow looked around embarrassed but all of the other slayers pretended not to be hanging on their every word. “Uhh... Kennedy can we talk about this somewhere a little more private?”
“Well privacy wasn’t first and foremost on your mind when you and Grandpa were spooning over there. Was it?”
Giles had risen to his feet and looked at Willow in askance. Willow barely shook her head no. At her insistence he backed down allowing her to handle this as she saw fit. It really wasn’t any of his business. He rationalized. While trying to not make a move on the irritating chit who had ahold of his Willow.
Willow felt bad for hurting Kennedy’s feeling and tried to apologize, “Kennedy... I am so sorry. I just don’t know what’s going on. The magic. It was the magic. I felt something... I’m sorry but I couldn’t help myself.” Willow saw the crestfallen look on Giles face and felt even worse. The great feeling was gone leaving only an echo in its place. She looked at Giles with tears brimming in her eyes hoping that he would understand.
Kennedy looked at Giles with hate burning in her eyes. She had caught the look that Willow had shot at Giles. She brought her hand up and was about to smash his face in when he uttered one word. “desino.” Her hand froze in midair. All of the slayers that had pretended not to be listening shot angry looks in Giles direction not sure if they should stand up for Kennedy or not. Giles could sense the tension in the air and sidestepped the blow and muttered, “dissolvo.” Her hand continued in its path but with nothing solid to connect with she lost her balance and stumbled.
Giles looked at her and with a carefully controlled voice told her, “Kennedy, you foolish girl, if you ever try something so stupid again I may be forced to hurt you.” He stalked off trying to regain his composure. Trying not to let what Willow had said affect him in any way.
Willow was left with one pissed off slayer and no real way to explain what had happened since she didn’t understand it herself.
Angel looked on very satisfied with today's events. Who knew Giles had a pair? And Willow... She must be amazing if she had them fighting over her like this. Maybe she would give him a moment of happiness before he killed her... Inwardly he grinned.
A loud static noise filled the air followed by, “That was frickin’ awesome guys! Great fight! And fireworks like that! Giles old boy I didn’t know you had it in you! And Will you are the best! Dawnie and I are on our way down to congratulate you in person! Hey, has anyone heard from Andrew?”
Dawn’s loud voice filled the air, “Has anyone found him? Buffy is he okay?” In her anxiety Dawn forgets to let go of the button.
“Dawnie I thought that you aren’t supposed to be the one talking... Are you usurping my authority?”
“Xander the battle is over... Duh! I am so not waiting till I get over there to find out what’s going on...”
“Dawn if there was anything to tell I am sure you would hear right away... Your sister would let you know. It’s not a good sign that you haven’t heard anything...”
“Don’t say that! You don’t know anything like that. Why isn’t anyone answering me? Oh shit I was holding the button down... Ooooppps! Sorry guys.”
Faith pressed the button, “Hey Dawn, Your sis is looking for him now so chill. Why don’t you and the hunk get your asses down here and help out.”
Xander nudged Dawn in the ribs, “Did you hear that? She called me a hunk... We really should be getting down there to help out.” He groaned and slapped his forehead. “Wait! I better go check up on Andrew. I mean he should have checked in by now. He would have definitely checked in cause he sooo loves the 007 like two-way action.”
He reached for his two-way depressing the button, “Umm... Faith, Dawn and I are going to go check up on Andrew... It really isn’t like him to not be playing around with his shiny new gadget...”
Faith started to laugh and told him exactly what she thought he was playing with. Faith needled him about his concern over his special friend and Dawn saw Xander blush and stammer until Faith let him off the hook and laughed her ass of at him. “Go and check up on the chump and then get your sorry ass down here for clean up. We have wounded down here y’know?!”
Xander found himself saying that he would hurry up and get down there. Dawn was looking at him with something like pity. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Dawn just shook her head and started to grab her gear. A few seconds later they were on their way to the building kitty corner to them. Xander didn’t let the subject die and had hammered Dawn until she finally ground out... “You like her don’t you?”
“Well yeah... She’s nice.”
“No I mean like - like...”
Xander looked at her with a dull look in his eyes, “Well I already told you that I like, like her, whatever that means...”
Dawn rolled her eyes , “Are you always this dense? Do ... You... Have... Romantic... Feelings... For ... Faith? Does that spell it out for you enough?
Xander blushed and shuffled his feet a little. Sure sign Dawn thought. She looked down at his feet trying to think of a way to try and warn him off Faith and saw the shattered two-way. Panic shot through her. “Oh shit...”
Xander thought, ‘She’s becoming a regular little potty mouth. I guess I can’t really say anything to her anymore. Dawnie’s almost all grown up and all.’ Then he registered the pale face and scared eyes and looked at what she was staring at. The two-way. Andrew’s most treasured item of this excursion. It had been his brain child to use them in training and for him to drop it on his first real trial run was a bad sign.
“Oh shit...” The two of them looked at each other and bolted for the stairs.
Buffy tried to maneuver her way through the dead while keeping her eyes peeled for Spike. She was feeling desperate and listening to Xander and Dawn bicker had done nothing to alleviate her fears. Then all at once she spotted him. He was leaning against the wall one of his arms was in a curled position like he had been hurt. She started to scramble over there going as fast as she could. She was about fifteen feet away from him when he turned and opened his eyes and saw her standing there. It was like time had stopped.
She didn’t notice the others around them. Wesley had been hurt and the woman there was holding him and Gunn was making a bandage for him.
Spike saw her and didn’t dare blink. He felt the same overpowering joy he always felt when he saw her. When that shockwave had hit the enemy - and only the enemy - he should have known it was her. Bringing the big guns to come save... Angel. She hadn’t known he was here so she had come for him as always. He tried hard not to let it bother him. The history that they had shared was so tangled.
It was so good just to see her again. It didn’t matter.
She took another step towards him. Afraid to say anything. Afraid that whatever she said would be wrong. Every time she opened her mouth around him she just screwed things up. Taking a deep breath she closed the space in between them and put her hands on either side of his face. Kissing him with every tender emotion that she possessed.
She heard him groan against her mouth and couldn’t help but deepen the kiss and press her body in tighter against him. He groaned again this time in pain. She backed up and he tried to recapture her. She ducked away.
“Are you hurt? Please tell me you aren’t hurt...”
Spike grimaced and pulled away his hand from his side a deep gash ran round his ribs. If he had needed to breath he would have been dead a long time ago. Since he was already dead it just curtailed his need for unnecessary breaths.
She took one look at him and all color left her face. “No... No! You aren’t going to leave me again!” She shoved him against the wall her hands buried in his shirt. Her palms flat against his chest. Her grief and sorrow plain to see.
He put one finger to the tears that had started to trail down and asked, “Buffy?” The one word echoing all of the need and longing that he had for her. He started to hope that maybe she had some feeling for him. That what had started between them during the battle with the First had left his mark upon her. That it had meant something to her as well.
“Oh God, Spike. I can’t believe that you are here. That I can... That we can... I want to...” She leaned in again and started kissing him fervently.
He groaned again. She stilled instantly mistaking it for pain and looked at him with big glowing eyes.
“Will you.. Will...” Not being able to express how she felt she just lifted her hair and unbuttoned her collar revealing the tan column of her neck to him.
He watched the blood pump in her neck for a second and was tempted by her offer. Realizing everything that she was offering in that gesture. Trust. Compassion. Love. He leaned back and removed himself from the temptation a little. “I’m sorry luv. I can’t do that to you.” Every fibre of his being wanted to.
Her eyes narrowed. “You listen to me. I will NOT lose you again! I need you. You are not going to suffer when you don’t need to. I know that this will help you. Take it and take me.” She reached down into her belt and brought up a small knife and ran it across her neck. Blood started to flow immediately.
He was furious. She could have killed herself. What if she had nicked her jugular. He vamped out intending to lick her wound closed. She grasped the back of his head and guided him down to where she had cut herself. The old scar where the Master and then Angel had drank from her. He felt something in him responded to this. He wanted to taste her. To mark her as his. His fangs sunk in...
A/N: Please review... I wanted to make this nice and tender. I don’t know how it always gets away from me and becomes something different. But here it is... Let me know what you think. Good or bad.
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