“Broken Silence”
I.
The world had changed. Demons weren’t a secret anymore. Vamps walked around in game face and most demons had dropped the old habit of taking human visages. They walked the earth, not without fear, but certainly without hiding it.
The game had changed. A nest of vampires wasn’t automatically marked for death, though they usually got dusted anyway. As a general rule, vampires didn’t have a whole lot of self-control when it came to feeding. It was because of this fact that a beautiful, dark-haired woman stalked the streets of a small suburb of San Francisco. She smirked at the irony that so many hellmouths were situated under sleepy little towns.
With a soft sigh, Faith took a piece of folded up paper from the back pocket of her tight jeans. Andrew had sent it to her before she’d left for California. It had directions to the bar a vampire gang was known to frequent along with a small notation.
If you find Spike, you know what to do.
Faith scowled a little. The ensouled vampire was known to often return to California despite the fact that he didn’t really stay any place for long. Spike had a tendency to fly under the radar despite his infamy. According to Buffy, it had always been that way. As she strolled down El Camino Real, Faith considered her last phone conversation with Buffy.
‘I don’t get it, B. Why not take this job yourself?’
‘I’m flying out to Tokyo tomorrow. You know that.’
‘So send Andrew or Xander. C’mon, you’ve been all business lately. Gettin’ your slay on could do ya some good.’
‘It’s just a vamp gang, Faith. Two elite Slayers would be overkill.’
‘Yeah and what if I run into Spike?’
‘You won’t. I heard he was last spotted in Paris.’
‘That was months ago! Why are you avoiding him anyway? You ain’t still pissed that he got mixed up with Angel, are you?’
‘No, it’s just…Listen, I’ve got to pack. Call me when the job’s done, okay?’
Faith shook her head. That girl was a bundle of issues. True she’d chilled out some over the past five years, but relationships would always be her Achilles’ heel. Faith could relate to a point but even she’d settled down and was actually digging the whole monogamy scene with Robin.
Andrew kept tabs on Spike in his spare time. He had a hell of a man-crush on the bleach blonde vamp and dreamed of having him working with them again. He’d never understood why Buffy didn’t seek Spike out herself and visa versa. Faith had the sneaking suspicion that Spike had bounced the ball into Buffy’s court. He’d spent three long years pursuing, courting, and trying to prove his worth to her. He’d made the ultimate sacrifice and she’d confessed love. Maybe he was giving her the chance to prove that point.
Pretty idea, but he should really know better. The only way she was going to face down her feelings for him was if she couldn’t dodge them any longer. Buffy was damned good at making excuses and Faith was hoping to put her in a situation in which she couldn’t make excuses anymore.
+++++
The jukebox was playing his song.
Little by little I've begun to see
Just why love don't come easily
One step forward and two behind
Waiting for the best chance just takes time
And they call you
Billy Billy bad bad bad bad breaks
All you ever do is make mistakes
Yeah, that sure was the truth. Spike hadn’t gotten a good break since he’d laid eyes on that sodding Slayer. Before Buffy, he’d lived a pretty charmed existence. Had his girl, a dangerous reputation, Angel had been out of the picture, and he’d made an exciting unlife of scamming demons, causing anarchic chaos, and snubbing the ritualistic bullshit so many vamps fell victim to. It had been a bloody good time and yet…kind of empty. He’d never admit it aloud but he was a lot more fulfilled now. Helping was…neat. Demons were right bastards, most of them, and Spike had never felt bad about killing them. Anyway the romantic in him enjoyed the cheesy dark heroism that went with being a creature that was usually aligned with evil fighting on the side of good.
And was there anything better than saving a damsel in distress. Sure, he liked his women strong and fearless but he didn’t deny the charge he got after dusting a vamp that was trying to attack a defenseless woman. She’d get all starry-eyed. ‘Oh how can I ever repay you?’
He’d pull a gruff anti-hero line and say something like, ‘You can be more careful for a start. Bloody dangerous for your kind at night and next time I might not be around to save you.’ Then he’d turn on his boot heel and walk away, duster swirling gracefully around his long legs. Sometimes she’d ask for his name but he’d just keep walking.
…But more often than not he’d dust the poor girl off, treat her to a cup of coffee, and talk her up for a few hours. Spike was, after all, terrible at the whole lone wolf thing. For most of his life and unlife, he’d rarely been alone. As a mortal man he’d lived with his mother, and after he’d been turned he’d run with Angelus, Dru, and Darla and then just Dru after Angelus was cursed with a soul.
After Dru had cut him loose, he’d quickly rebounded to Harmony. He honestly didn’t know what he’d been thinking when it came to her. Sure, she’d been a cute little bimbo of a girl, the eternal schoolgirl fantasy, and what red-blooded male could resist that? She’d been game for any perversion his dirty mind could dream up and had loved him desperately or at least whoever she’d thought he was. Harmony had been no Dru, though, and hadn’t taken a lot of interest in his various scams and certainly hadn’t shared his Slayer bloodlust.
After getting chipped, Spike had slowly wormed his way into Buffy’s little gang of white hats. Especially after he found out he could fight demons. At first he’d done it just for the chance to get his stones back. He’d bloody well have his bad ass reputation even if he had to betray his own kind. Then it had been all about supporting Buffy and protecting Dawn.
When he’d accidentally been transported to L.A. and Wolfram and Hart, Spike had often wondered why he stayed after becoming corporeal. If he were to be honest with himself, it was because he’d known he had a place there. Sort of.
He took a pull off his beer and nearly choked on it when he felt a hard shove to his shoulder. He rolled his eyes and thought, Finally....
“Hey! You’re Spike, aren’t you?” An angry male voice demanded.
He turned and smirked at the young vampire. “Who wants to know, mate?”
++++++
There was a fight going down when Faith arrived at the Mardi Gras. No surprise when it came to bars frequented by demons, but she was shocked when she saw the black clad figure at the center of it. It was too easy! She watched as Spike easily dispatched vampire after vampire. In fact, she was so distracted by the fight that she’d missed the vamp sneaking up on her. He grabbed her from behind and pressed a hand against her throat.
“Yo Spike!” He called out to him as Spike dusted another one of his buddies. “I’ve got a hostage now!” The vamp mimed his intent to kill by nipping at the side of Faith’s neck. “Pretty little thing too. Wanna keep her safe?”
Spike turned his attention to the hostage situation. He looked worried until he realized who the victim was. Faith smirked at him and couldn’t help jibing him a little bit.
“Yeah Spike, poor helpless me might get drained dry.”
His lips twisted with barely contained amusement. Spike’s posture relaxed into a slouchy, insolent pose as he lit a cigarette. “Go ahead and try it, mate. This should be good for a laugh.”
“What the fuck are you--”
Faith cut the vamp off with a hard jab to the ribs with her elbow. She heard bones crack and he let her go with a grunt of pain. In one quick motion, she flipped him onto his back and jammed a stake through his heart.
He dusted as Spike joined her with a laugh and surprising hug. “You’re a sight! What are you doing here?” He leaned invasively into her space and flirted playfully, “Come to ride me at that gallop, pet?”
Faith laughed as she pushed him away, “See now if you’d been down with it five years ago, you wouldn’t have kept me off you.”
“Still shacked up with Wood, are you?” Spike nodded knowingly and strangely without a hint of disdain.
Faith chuckled ruefully, “Yeah, maybe he’ll make an honest woman outta me. Wouldn’t that be a trip?”
Spike snorted as he took a drag off his cigarette. “Sure as hell wouldn’t be a white wedding.”
Faith made a face at him, “Hey thanks a lot. Bad enough that every time I look at you I end up with Rebel Yell stuck in my head.”
“Pfft,” Spike scoffed, “Billy Idol is a sodding fashion punk. Total wanker.”
“Then why’d you rip off his look?”
“Ya think?” Spike frowned a little, “I always fancied I looked more like David Vanian.”
Faith rolled her eyes, briefly thinking back to when she’d started slaying. She sure would have never imagined standing in the middle of a demon bar talking about punk rock and Billy Idol with a vampire.
“You're weird, Spike, but hey, it’s cool.” She almost added, ‘I’m weird, too’, but wasn't really in the mood to get touchy feely with him. Not in the emotional sense anyway.
The jukebox started playing a new song. It seemed to emphasize the serious expression that was spreading over Spike’s face. Slow, mean, and sinister, Faith thought she recognized the song from a movie.
“So you never answered my question, luv,” Spike pointed out gently. “What are you doing in my neck of the woods?”
“Got sent to take out a nest of vampires,” Faith replied.
“The ones I just took out?”
“Yeah.”
“Well,” Spike sniffed as he went back to the bar. “Guess you’ll be on your way then.”
He extinguished his cigarette in an ashtray and retrieved his beer even though the female bartender put a fresh one in front of him. Other than Faith and Spike, she was the only one left in the bar.
“Sure,” Faith drawled as she sat down on a stool next to him, “As soon as you agree to come with me.”
“Need another pair of fists, do you?” Spike snorted, “Why don’t I believe that? Oh right, you’ve got an army of Slayers at your disposal and a powerful witch. Cut to the chase, girl.”
Faith hated being called “girl” but held her tongue. Fighting with him wouldn’t accomplish her goal. “Listen, a lotta the girls are green. They got raw talent but that’s nothing compared to a century plus of fighting experience.”
Spike smirked, “Flattery will get you everywhere, you know.”
Faith narrowed her eyes at him. It couldn’t be this easy. “So...you’re on board?”
“On one condition,” Spike replied.
“Shoot.”
“This best not be about needing a vampire to stop some impending apocalypse. I’ve no desire to die again, and I ain’t stickin’ my neck out for a lot that hadn’t bothered contacting me in five years, understand?”
“You’re crystal, Spike,” Faith nodded as she snagged the untouched beer before him. She downed half of it in one pull. The bitter brew tasted like victory. She only hoped she was clever enough to make this all work out.
TBC....
squawks
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!