a/n-Not much happens in this chapter, just a warning! Unbeta'd chapter
Chapter 8
Willow dropped her text books on the research table with a profound sigh of relief, having found the sheer number of volumes she had insisted on carrying far too much for her slight frame. And she had aching arms to prove it.
"Is school over with already?" Giles asked walking out of his office, not even bothering to remove his nose from the book he had gripped in his hands.
"Already?" Xander complained, throwing himself into one of the chairs. "It's been the day without infernal end, and you have the nerve,the gall, the very gumption to say 'already' ?"
Giles ignored him, which surprised no one.
Chewing her bottom lip, Willow decided to voice her lingering concerns. "Giles... do you know what is bothering Buffy?"
Attention now properly diverted, Giles's head snapped up from his book. "Why on earth do you think there is something amiss with Buffy"
Willow played with a loose thread on the sleeve of her fluffy, green sweater. "Well, uh, because she's not acting like our Buffy. You know... with the usual perky goodness goodness and everything."
"I'll say," Xander agreed, then his eyes bulged from his head as he thought of something. "You don't think she's been possessed or something do you? Because demon possession? So not of the good."
"Really Xander, don't be ridiculous," Giles scolded, his brows settling into a firm line. "She appears right as rain to me. In fact, she hasn't even quarreled with me over patrolling duties or.... Oh good lord. How could I have missed this?"
Willow nodded in sympathy at the stricken look on Giles' face. "Yep. She's been all bummed out Buffy ever since she got back from visiting her dad in LA."
"Has it been that long?" Giles asked, pushing his glasses securely onto the bridge of his nose. "That was two weeks ago, if I remember correctly?"
Willow nodded. "I wonder if something happened down there."
Giles' brow furrowed just a fraction more. "I haven't the foggiest. My reports haven't indicated any unusual occurrences in Los Angeles. Well, aside from an increase in territorial issues, so I am inclined to believe it wasn't anything demon related. Besides, I do believe she would have informed me if it had been such. If anything, demon activity is at a low, which is an oddity in itself. Could she possibly be having issues with...er, Angel?"
"Not that I know. She is being all avoidy Buffy, and won't talk to me. I mean, I'm only her best friend," Willow uttered in a slightly hurt voice. "Maybe it's just the whole slaying gig that is getting her down. Or hey! Maybe it's because her dad is finally moving on and has a girlfriend now. That has to be weird."
"Yes, well, I shall talk to her and ask her what has her distracted."
"Not sure if that's the way to go, G-Man. You know how Buffy is," Xander pointed out.
"What would you suggest then?" Giles knew he had sunk to an all time low when he was seeking advice from Xander.
"Well, we're doing the whole Bronzing thing tonight. Maybe she just needs a nice slay-free evening," Xander commented, actually surprising Giles with his insight. "With her Watcher there in a un-Watcherly role."
"Yes, well, I shall take that into consideration." Giles grimaced as he realized that he would most likely be spending the evening at the Bronze.
**********
Buffy found herself getting ready that night with little enthusiasm. Sitting at home in full mope-mode was sounding better and better, but not something she knew she could get away with. She'd gotten a load of Willow's resolve face, knowing she'd be bad friend Buffy if she flaked out.
She hated being in mope mode. Because feeling all gloomy because she got the brush off from a vampire? Well, a DIFFERENT vampire? Buffy couldn't really see her friends getting a handle on that one.
She stood in front of her open closet as she perused its jumbled contents. What to wear.... Figuring she had better make an effort with her appearance, she grabbed one of her better outfits, not even realizing the significance of pairing a black leather mini with a blood-red, filmy see-through blouse, and a black crop top underneath. Her knee high ass-kicking boots completed her ensemble, giving her a decidedly 'Big Bad' look. Sweeping her hair up into an easy French twist, she was ready to go.
Her mood had not improved on the way to the Bronze. Having told her mother her evening plans, she'd had to endure the pained looks, the face filled with distrust and finally bore the "Buffy, please try not to get into any trouble. I worry about you."
Please. 'I'm not a trouble maker!!' , she wanted to shout.
'But you want to be...' the little voice decided to speak up in her ear.
Ok fine, yes, she did. And it made her do things like... calling Rebel Yell to talk to Spike. Of course she was such a badass chickenshit, she wound up slamming the phone down with a burst of nervous adrenaline every time someone answered the phone. Her mom was so going to wig when she saw the next phone bill. That's how bad she was.
Buffy wasn't aware of the scowl that had settled on her face when she met up with her friends in front of the Bronze.
"Hey Buff... what's with the bad moodies?" Xander asked, not so discreetly checking her out, deciding his friend look pretty hot.
"Huh?" Buffy asked, her eyes blinking as she was drawn out of her inner turmoil.
"You're all with the sad face," Willow told her.
"Oh, sorry. Kinda got into it with my mom before I left," Buffy answered somewhat truthfully.
They walked in after paying their cover charges and Buffy was hit with a sense of nostalgia. It suddenly occurred to her that Spike had his club modeled after the Bronze. What was up with that?
Finding their usual table free and unoccupied, Xander left the two girls to go secure beverages before the line got any longer.
"So...how are you doing, Buffy?" Willow asked.
"Me? Oh, I'm all with the good, " Buffy brazened out, playing with a cocktail napkin that was left on the table. "That's me. Good Girl Buffy." A snort escaped her at that statement that had Willow puzzled.
"Is Angel coming tonight?"
Buffy shrugged, her attention focused on the napkin she was shredding. "Dunno. Didn't get a chance to talk to him."
"Did something happen in LA?" Willow asked with a rush.
Buffy's head jerked up. "What? No," she immediately protested. "Ok well, my dad found out I was the Slayer, that was kind of a big."
"WHAT?" Willow exclaimed, hurt that Buffy hadn't shared this before now. "What happened?"
"Vamp attack. Couldn't exactly hide it when Buffy made vamp go poof, you know?" she answered, more or less speaking the truth.
"Did he totally wig? Does your mom know?"
"Oh he was all about the wiggage, let me tell you. And no, mom doesn't know yet. We're waiting to tell her."
"But this is good, right?" Willow asked, trying to figure out why Buffy hadn't disclosed this before and how it fit in with the Distractro girl routine.
"Yeah, it is." Buffy allowed a short bittersweet smile to grace her lips before shrugging off her morosity. She looked up perkily as Xander approached with drinks in hand.
"Hey check it out, drinks are half price tonight," Xander commented while setting down the glasses. "Diet coke for the Buffster, ShirleyTemple for Wills, and for myself... the manly rootbeer."
"Wow. Half price? What's the occasion?" Willow asked, taking a sip of her drink.
"I think The Bronze is under new ownership or something. Wasn't big on the why, just wanted to know for 'how long,' " Xander replied, eyeing Giles trudging his way uncomfortably through the crowd.
"Good evening," the Watcher greeted upon arriving at their table, looking his version of casual after trading in his usual tweed for a bulky sweater.
Buffy looked up at him with little surprise. "Ok, what needs to be killed?"
Giles looked slightly startled. "Pardon me? Oh, why, nothing, as a matter of fact. I just thought perhaps I would join you."
A suspicious spark was lit and Buffy narrowed her eyes. "Alright, what's going on?"
Giles and Xander looked hopelessly at Willow. The redhead slipped her resolve face firmly in place and replied, "Nothing is going on. Well, not in a going on sense. We just, uh, thought some bonding time might be of the good. Thought maybe it was lacking a little lately."
Buffy raised her eyebrows. "So you asked Giles to the Bronze?" She noticed the looks that they passed each other and sighed inwardly. They were trying... the least she could do is make the same effort.
"Yeah, well it's a good night for him to be here. Hey Giles, drink are half price at the bar."
A small glimmer of hope creased his face. "Half price, you say?" Without waiting for a reply, Giles was on his feet and heading for the bar, thankful that at least something was going his way tonight. The loud, crowded atmosphere of the Bronze was not his cup of tea in the slightest, and the live music hadn't even begun yet. Giles could only hope they had some grasp of the complexities of music, not sure he could stand to listen to truly bad artists.
Giles found a line at the bar and wondered if his night could get any worse.
tbc
As if on cue, activity began on the stage; signaling the beginning of the live portion of the evening. Giles knew there wasn't much hope for a semblance of an enjoyable evening, and just held on to the optimism that the allure of half-price beverages would make up somewhat for the club's obvious shortcomings.
Finally paying for his drinks, Giles walked back to the table, reminding himself along the way that this was for Buffy. His Slayer. He owed this to her.
"Bit thirsty there, G-man?"
Giles gave Xander a hard look. "If you think I am going to stand in that bloody line again, you are quite mistaken," he told the boy tersely to explain the four bottles of imported beer he placed on the table.
"And hey, can't beat half-price...." .
"Quite right," Giles muttered, pouring the first bottle primly into the mug he had also procured.
"So might I inquire what type of music this band plays?" Giles asked out of politeness.
"Here's me with the not knowingness," Willow replied. "I even asked Oz, but he hasn't heard about it either."
"When is the Oz-man getting back?" Xander questioned, trying to figure out a way to relieve Giles out of one of his bottles of beer.
"Tomorrow night," Willow answered with a happy smile.
When Buffy saw the increase in stage activity, she had some major stabbage of deja vu. With a determined look, she turned her chair around so that her back was presented to the stage.
'Take that, band guys,' she thought pettily. Pasting on another perky smile for her friends benefit, she thought longingly once more of being at home and not having to keep up this pretense of enjoyment.
"So Buffy," Giles began stiffly, unused to this mindless conversational aspect of Watching, "is there anything you care to discuss?"
'Huh? Discuss? Did he know something?' Buffy thought frantically, her eyes suddenly widening with barely veiled panic. "Um...not so much, no."
Looks were passed around as each of them caught Buffy's panicked reaction to Giles' vague questioning.
"Are you sure, Buffy? Because you know, we are your friends. You can tell us anything and we won't wig," Willow commented soothingly, her sense that something was amiss now truly escalated. Even though she had already asked her friend this same question, Willow was hoping that the group support might shake loose what was really bothering Buffy.
'Yeah, how about I have the major hots for Spike,' Buffy thought derisively, ' that'll go over so well.'
"Yep, I'm sure," Buffy lied. "Alls well in the world of Buffy."
The looks she received told her that she was fooling nobody, and she risked a glance over at Giles who had his patented 'worried' look on his face.
"Yes, well, be that as it may," Giles began, spooling up for what was sure to be a boring lecture, "If by chance you find yourself..."
His voice was cut off by the beginning chords of a guitar and Buffy leapt at the timely interruption.
"Oh look! The band is starting!" Buffy announced in a cheery tone, clearly stating the obvious. "Let's listen."
Then time seemed to stand still, her heart HAD to have stopped beating and she forgot to breath as she recognized the intro music. 'Oh my god...' she cried inwardly, afraid to turn around and face the stage. 'Coincidence. Just a coincidence... One really weird, Billy freaky coincidence...'
She squeezed her eyes shut, her emotions barreling out of control. Part of her rejoiced at the possibility, but the other part had her gut sinking in fear. Not here, not NOW!!
"Hey, isn't this a Billy Idol song?" Xander asked, watching the stage intently. "Oh great. Don't tell me we get to listen to a crappy cover band all night."
The suspense built as the singer stayed in the wings, the back up band extending the intro smoothly, looking nonplussed by the absence of their singer.
But Buffy didn't need to see the singer to know. She already knew. The tingling at the back of her neck was more than enough to clue her in that a powerful vampire was in the immediate vicinity. She looked at the table longingly, hoping it would swallow her up in the next, oh... minute. NO! Make that...second.
'I'm not turning around, I'm not turning around,' she fiercely told herself, finding her glass of diet coke suddenly fascinating.
She knew the moment he took the stage. She could practically feel him, his entire presence practically pulsating through the club, the same frenetic energy he brought to his LA act.
"What the..." Xander exclaimed in confusion, "How in the Holy frijole hot sauce did they get Billy Idol booked for the BRONZE?"
'oh my god, oh my god! This is sooo not happening!' Buffy thought frantically trying to work on preventing herself from hyperventilating, as she scooted down in her chair knowing the entire time what a wasted effort it was. One thing she knew with absolute certainty, she was NEVER sitting near a stage again, 'usual' table be damned.
"I don't think that is Billy Idol...." Willow observed, wearing the same perplexed look on her face that many in the club sported. "Is it?"
"Looks like Billy Idol to me," Xander commented. "What do you think Buffy? Billy, yah or nay?"
Buffy's eyes widened at the question as she tried to quell the anxiety rushing through her. "Oh yeah, that's totally Billy Idol." She nodded emphatically to get her point across. "Soo Billy."
Xander and Willow exchanged looks. "Well, gee Buffy. How can you even tell with your back to the stage and everything?" Xander prodded suspiciously.
Buffy tried for indignant. "What? I have to sit and watch him? Ew! I hate Billy Idol!"
"Uh, that's kind of the point of going to see a band," Willow added, becoming more and more suspicious by Buffy's bizarre refusal to turn around and look at the stage. "And haven't I heard you playing Billy Idol this week?"
"Ok, fine. Here's me being all Turn Around Girl," Buffy huffed, grabbing the arms of her chair and loudly scooting it so she was facing the stage.
And she forgot how to breath. Again.
Even though he was wearing dark sunglasses, she knew he was watching her, a knowing smirk on his face at her deliberate avoidance, and she couldn't help the drool that immediately pooled in her mouth as her eyes devoured him. DAMN HIM! He was wearing those leather pants again, slung low on his lean hips, held up by a chunky leather, silver studded belt that was threaded through the belt loops. Buffy found her eyes traveling south against her will, and she inwardly sighed with appreciation.
He had decked himself circa 80's Billy, complete with a thick, black leather studded bracelet around one wrist, and a lonely leather glove decorating the other hand. There was a huge ornate dagger necklace around his neck that seemed to caress the backdrop of his glistening, muscled chest, pulling all eyes to his spectacular body on display. His entire torso was bare, and Buffy could see the little dagger earrings dangling from his ears. Feminine? Not so much. Heavy use had been made of make up once more, even though Buffy couldn't see his eyes behind the black Ray Bans, and the platinum blonde hair was once again in a full upright position-and god help her if he wasn't the sexiest thing she had ever seen.
But WHAT was he doing?? God, couldn't he just... pick up the phone and call her like any normal guy?
And therein was the problem. He WASN'T any normal guy. This was SPIKE, seriously dangerous vampire who had killed her kind before.
Yeah, and the same vampire she couldn't stop thinking about either.
"Damn. Billy's gotten pretty buff," Xander commented with envy coloring his voice.
"Xander, I really don't think that is Billy. Isn't Billy...older?" Willow asked.
+++++++
Fondling the microphone stand with slow deliberate strokes, Spike just stood there, basking in the confusion his presence on this stage had brought. He could care less about that though, there was only one person whose reaction he cared about. His still heart seemed to squeeze with a now fully admittable emotion when he saw Buffy sitting with her group of friends, studiously attempting to ignore him. Christ, she was adorable.
And now she was giving him that patented plastic courtesy smile? Even better. Well, he'd just wipe that phony smile right off her face, now wouldn't he? Give her something to REALLY smile about. Just like last time...
Putting his mouth to the microphone, Spike announced with a sneer, "Let's get things started with a little rockin', shall we?" He ignored the confused looks he was getting. This was all about her, and he was damned well going to work it. God knows he'd gone to enough trouble and expense to get her right where he wanted her, and he wasn't letting her walk away this time.
"This song is for a girl I know," he smirked, allowing his eyes to settle on the girl in question.
tbc...
Spike gave a curt nod to his musicians, a new group that he had brought here to good ole Sunnyhell. He had left the other band members in Los Angeles, their expertise sorely needed now that his act had been removed from the club's billing.
Bringing the mic to his deliberately pouty lips, Spike began his opening number.
Hey little sister what have you done
Hey little sister who's the only one
Hey little sister who's your superman
Hey little sister who's the one you want
Hey little sister shot gun!
It's a nice day to start again
It's a nice day for a white wedding
It's a nice day to start again.
Buffy sat in absolute shock as his melodious voice began washing over her until everything else faded away; leaving only the vampire before her. WAIT! He was singing her WHITE WEDDING??? That in itself was cause for freakage of massive proportions. Because the thought of marriage and Buffy? She was only sixteen years old!
But once again, Spike managed to give new meaning to a song she had heard a million time before and never really listened to the words.
With the dark shades Spike wore, his penetrating gaze was known only to her as she felt the heat of it, filling her veins with sudden desire and she had wanted so badly to look into those beautiful eyes of his. Eyes that weren't much with the evil anymore, for whatever reason.
"See? I TOLD you it was Billy Idol!" Xander gloated, looking over at Giles who wore a peculiar look on his face. "Oh, you've probably never even heard of Billy Idol, have you? He was really big in the 80's."
Giles sent him a scornful look. "You little twat, I'll have you know I saw him live before he was even with Generation X. Back in the day when music was still music."
"Generation what?" Xander echoed, earning another disgusted glare from the Watcher.
"So, is it Billy Idol or not?" Willow asked, now finding herself torn. Because the voice and the moves? Total Billy.
A guy at the table next to theirs turned around and echoed the question. "Is it him? Because it really looks and sounds like him."
"Yeah, that's what we're trying to figure out. Sure glad they introduced the band and everything," Xander commented snidely over the loud music. A sadistic grin settled over his face as he thought of something. "Hey, speaking of Billy wannabe's, it's too bad Spike's not here. He'd be really jealous, I bet. Too bad he took his fruitcake and bailed out of town."
Hey little sister who is your with
Hey little sister what's your fasinish
Hey little sister shot gun (oh yeah)
Hey little sister who's your superman
Hey little sister shot gun!
It's a nice day to start again (come on)
It's a nice day for a white wedding
It's a nice day to start again.
(Pick it up)
Take me back home
Hey little sister what have you done
Hey little sister who's the only one
I've been away for so long (so long)
I've been away for so long (so long)
I let you go for so long
It's a nice day to start again (come on)
It's a nice day for a white wedding
It's a nice day to start again.
There is nothin' fair in this world
There is nothin' safe in this world
And there's nothin' sure in this world
And there's nothin' pure in this world
Look for something left in this world
Start again
And suddenly Buffy realized that Spike had picked this song for a reason, not merely to shake her up with words of weddings and stuff. He was asking her a question. In his own demented way, Spike had orchestrated this entire thing to ask her if she'd give him a chance.
But she could she risk it?
A small, feminine smile curved across her lips, genuine in its response this time as she found the answer within herself. Really, the only answer there could be, regardless of how insane or bizarre the whole thing was.
Xander noticed her change of demeanor. "Hey, I thought you didn't like Billy Idol," he asked suspiciously.
Buffy ignored him as the song drew to a close only to be met with a fascinated silence from the club, so different from his usual gigs in LA. Then a spontaneous burst of applause erupted, and Spike threw the crowd a sexy leer.
"God, I totally didn't even realize Billy Idol was so hot! Where have I been?" Buffy heard a teenage girl announce to her friend at a table behind them and a small surge of jealousy welled up inside of her.
This was HER Billy.
****
Spike had poured everything he had into that one song, knowing the significance of a White Wedding was probably asking for trouble, at least as far as this girl was concerned.
But she got it. He could tell the moment it dawned on her, what it was he was really asking. Asking, hell... practically begging for.
Just a chance. A mere crumb.
And he'd managed to get a real smile back on her face, life was good. He didn't even acknowledge the crowds response, they weren't important.
She was.
With a defiant shake of the head, he smirked at the crowd once more. "How 'bout we do another, eh?"
Spike didn't want for a response, merely signaled the band to begin the next set.
A very distinctive guitar riff was plucked, to be followed with a heated burst of the drums and Spike felt the music take him over. He raised his bent arm and shook his fist at the audience, his lips curled in the very picture of rebellious defiance. He thrust his hips forward and ran his hand slowly down his thigh, every move perfectly executed to add to the illusion of the pop star.
Rushing the microphone, he grabbed it in his hands, tucking the stand between his legs as his eyes once more found the girl who made all of his effort worth while.
Last night a little dancer
Came dancin’ to my door
Last night a little angel
Came pumping on the floor
She said a come baby
I’ve got a license for love
And if it expires
Pray help from above
Because
In the midnight hour
She cried more, more, more
With a rebel yell
She cried more, more, more
Owww
In the midnight hour, babe
More, more, more
With a rebel yell
More, more, more
More, more, more
She don’t like slavery
She won’t sit and beg
But when I’m tired and lonely
She sees me to bed
What set you free
And brought you to me, babe
What set you free
I need you here by me
Because
In the midnight hour
She cried more, more, more
With a rebel yell
She cried more, more, more
Wowww
Feeling the moisture pool between her legs at the seductive words and suggestive motions Spike was displaying on stage, Buffy knew without a doubt that there was no hidden question behind this song. No deep meaning that was concealed behind a veil of seemingly innocent lyrics.
This was foreplay.
And Buffy cursed him inwardly for it; for allowing all eyes of female persuasion to feast themselves on his scrumptious flesh while he was whipping HER into such a heated frenzy.
'Well, what do you expect, Buffy ?' she scolded herself. 'Hello? Evil vampire, you know.'
"Buffy... BUFFY."
Her name finally penetrated her lust-addled brain and she turned with a dazed look to face Willow. "What?"
"Are you ok? You look kinda... flushed."
"Oh, she's probably just lusting over the body of Billy Idol," Xander commented unnecessarily. "Like everyone else around here. Don't these people know he's OLD. He's got to be what? 40?"
Buffy had to work hard to contain the snort that wanted to follow Xander's comment.
"I beg your pardon," Giles interrupted, offended by the age comment.
"Oh uh.. sorry Giles," Xander mumbled, not really sure what he was apologizing for. "HEY! Why does Billy Idol keep staring at me?"
"What? No, he's not," Willow protested, then noticed the direction of Billy's focus. "Oh uh, maybe he is."
Xander started to squirm in his seat. "Oh I know how it is with these aging rock stars. They think a little young meat keeps them all youthful."
Buffy couldn't help giggling at that, then looked properly chagrined at the look Xander sent her. "Sorry Xander. I shouldn't mock your meaty appeal."
"Damn right you shouldn't!" Xander informed her, looking around nervously as he found Billy Idol's gaze focused once again in his direction. "Ok, now this is just freaking me out."
He lives in his own heaven
Collects it to go from the seven eleven
Well he’s out all night to collect a fare
Just so long, just so long it don’t mess up his hair
Oww ha
I walk the ward for you, babe
A thousand miles with you
I dried your tears of pain
A million times for you
I’d sell my soul for you, babe
For money to burn for you
I’d give you all and have none, babe
Just a, just a, just a, just a
To have you here by me
Because
In the midnight hour
She cried more, more, more
With a rebel yell
She cried more, more, more
Wowww
In the midnight hour, babe
More, more, more
With a rebel yell
She cried more, more, more
More, more, more
"Ok, that's it. He said 'he' not 'she' ," Xander accused. "As in, 'HE cried more more more. I am beyond grossed out here."
"Xander, I don't think he did," Willow tried to interrupt.
"Oh yes he did! He wants me to be his Oh Billy Butt Monkey."
That did it for Buffy. The laughter that had been suppressed for the last two weeks peaked and flowed in a torrential rush. Maintaining eye contact with Spike, she could see his eyebrow lifted in silent question at her amusement and just gave him a big smile.
Hesitantly, Spike extended his hand in her direction with a silent question; and while Xander continued to insist that Billy Idol was singing him homosexual lyrics, Buffy allowed herself to be pulled onto stage.
Again.
"Oh GOOD LORD!" Giles exclaimed, wondering what his Slayer was up to.
tbc..
Chapter 11
Well aware she was doing a Courtney Cox again but not much with the caring, Buffy braved being the subject of a whole lot of stare-age. Because she was with him again and for some reason, that made it all ok.
Oo yeah, a little baby
She want more
More, more, more, more, more
Oo yeah, a little angel
She want more
More, more, more, more, more
"OH MY GOD! Groupie much?" one of the teenage girls behind their table asked in a snotty tone watching the blatant flirting taking place.
"Wha? Huh?" Xander babbled, his mouth agape. "He was looking at ME! What is Buffy doing?"
"It would appear that er, she is dancing," Giles muttered, suddenly feeling very old.
"Dancing with Billy Idol... Wow. That's pretty deep." Willow announced as the intro music for the next song came on.
********
They circled each other on the stage, each moving in a instinctual rhythm of smooth movements; an orchestrated dance of raw, sexual innuendo. Their fights had given them this edge, this connection, and even with the sunglasses that Billy Idol continued to sport, everyone in the club could practically feel the heated looks that were exchanged.
Giles began to study the smooth, almost feral way Billy moved, and his sense of unease grew.
Then Spike picked up the mike and with a patented Billy smirk, his voice slid out seductively as he and Buffy continued their own private dance.
Well rock the cradle of love
Rock the cradle of love
Yes the cradle of love don’t rock easily it’s true
Well rock the cradle of love
I rocked the cradle of love
Yes the cradle of love don’t rock easily it’s true
Well now
It burned like a ball of fire
When the rebel took a little child bride
To tease yeah so go easy yeah
Cause love cuts a million ways
Shakes the devil when he misbehaves
I ain’t nobody’s fool
Come on shake it up
Whatever I do
Rock the cradle of love
Rock the cradle of love
Yes the cradle of love don’t rock easily it’s true
Sent from heaven above that’s right
To rob the cradle of love
Yes the pages of don’t talk decently it’s true
Yeah flesh for your romeo
Ah yeah baby
I hear you moan
It’s easy y’know how to please me yeah
'God, how much more musical foreplay could one girl take? ' Buffy thought with more than a small hint of frustration, her heart struggling to keep up with the flood of hormones that was unleashed in her body. The thinly veiled innuendo of her being jailbait was more provocative than anything, which should have been way icky, but wasn't. The fact they were on the stage again in front of everybody only added to Buffy's heightened sense of wickedness that she had recently found herself craving. Buffy had never felt so alive, so free. His voice had awakened her, and now she knew the words he sang were meant as promises of things to come.
And it made her burn.
Suddenly desperate to see his eyes, Buffy closed the distance they had deliberately maintained between their bodies and in one quick stroke, tore the sunglasses that hid him from her searching eyes, basking in the raw, primal hunger she found waiting for her.
Feeling that burning need to be bad screaming to be released -consequences be damned- she gave him a sexy, seductive smile and slowly raised her arms above her head and allowed the music to fill her, guide her, as her entire body moved in a seductive sway in front of him.
Spike watched her with a burning need, the memories of the first time he had laid eyes on her slamming into him. The way she had moved her body instinctively on the dance floor of this very club, she had been a tempting siren behind the guise of an innocent angel. He had sensed her need for release just by watching the way she moved. All those wankers watching her, thinking they really knew her. They would never even come close to tapping into what she really was.
It had scared him, his instant understanding of her need, and there was not much that had scared him in the 100+ plus years he had been alive. Or dead, whichever way you wanted to look at it.
So he did what any frightened animal does when faced with uncertainty, he reacted with violence; striking out brutally with the sole intent on wiping out the threat.
But that just made it worse. Each altercation only cementing the knowledge that he knew with blinding certainty just what it was that this girl really needed.
Him.
And what scared him even more was he knew with just as much certainty that he needed her too.
Now here she was, right where she belonged.
With a determined growl, he hauled her against him, desperate to feel her skin against his again; her back now flush against his bare chest and this time there was no hesitation or need for playground mentality. Buffy was fluid against him, instinctively falling into his rhythm as he continued the musical serenade
*****
Watching the spectacle on the stage, Giles's alarm grew, tendrils of suspicion began curling their way through his system and taking root. What was he missing here?
"Well. I guess the Buffster is going to his Oh Billy Butt Monkey," Xander complained with more bitterness than should have been present. A pained look crossed his face. "Ok, now that was just a disturbing visual."
"Oh do shut up, Xander," Giles finally snapped, sick of listening to Xander's delusional ranting. He pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger as he tried to work through this problem.
"Giles, I have a wicked case of suspicious about this," Willow whispered to him, stunned by her friend's wanton behavior on the stage.
"As do I," Giles admitted, catching sight of a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye. "If you'll excuse me," he said to Willow, getting up and heading in the direction of the front door.
The pure, murderous rage on Angel's face had Giles hurrying his steps, not sure what type of a spectacle the vampire was truly capable of. He knew quite well Angel considered Buffy his property, and seeing her dancing in such a manner was surely to be quite a blow.
As he drew close, Giles could see just how hard Angel was fighting with his demon; his fists were clenched tightly at his side and his eyes flickered from amber to brown and back again.
What truly surprised Giles, however, was the seething anger that was directed his way.
"How could you let her dance with him?" Angel growled in greeting.
Slightly taken aback, Giles ripped his glasses off as he glared at the vampire in front of him. "I beg your pardon, I did not LET her do anything. I'm not her bloody father, you know. If she wants to prance around on stage with... whoever that is," Giles gestured wildly to the stage, "there is not a whole lot I can do, you berk."
Angel tipped his head as he regarded Buffy Watcher. Surely he knew? "You do know that is Spike, don't you?"
"Spike?" Giles echoed, the wide eyes and sputtering clueing Angel to the fact that Spike's identity had not been known, a fact that truly amazed Angel.
"Yes, SPIKE. So yes, I think there IS a lot you can do," Angel bit out angrily. His eyes traveled to the stage, and his thirst for vengeance peaked when he witnessed the intimate way Spike held HIS girl, their bodies moving together with all the supernatural grace they both possessed.
"Good lord, how could I have been so stupid," Giles muttered, staring at the stage. "He is rather convincing, I must admit."
Angel threw him a black look. "You didn't actually think he was Billy Idol, did you?"
"What? No, no. Of course not," Giles replied with little conviction. "Uh, Angel,... I'd prefer it if we handled this discreetly. Can I trust you to do so?"
"What? You mean I can't go up on stage and stake the bastard?" Angel mocked sardonically.
Giles threw him a dark look. Sighing heavily, Angel replied, "Yes, we can do it discreetly, ok? I just want to get Buffy away from him."
"Quite right," Giles agreed, turning to head back to the table.
As far as Xander was concerned, he was feeling a keen sense of satisfaction in seeing Giles leading Angel over to their table. "Hey Angel. Did you come to see Billy Idol?" he greeted casually. "And Buffy? They're doing quite the dirty dancing, aren't they?"
"Xander!" Willow hissed, kicking him under the table.
Angel lowered himself into the seat that Buffy had vacated. At Xander's words, he growled menacingly.
"What?" Xander asked with false innocence, quite satisfied to see Buffy sticking it to the broody bloodsucker in such a public manner. Dead Boy was not his favorite person.
"That's not Billy Idol," Angel announced darkly, his mighty brow furrowing over his eyes.
"Yeah, that's what I've been trying to figure out," Willow replied, continuing to watch her friend. "But the looks, the voice? He's all about the credible, that's for sure. But doesn't Billy Idol have a tattoo on his arm?"
"It appears that it is, er, Spike," Giles said with a weary sigh, feeling out of sorts that he had missed that identification.
"SPIKE?" Xander yelped, his eyes also drawn to the stage once more. True, most of his dealings with Spike had been while the vampire had been in game face, but surely he SHOULD have known it was him, shouldn't he?
"Are you sure? Because Spike? I just don't know. I just can't see him doing the whole stage thing and everything," Willow commented.
The look Angel sent her had Willow looking away muttering, "Sheesh, I was just asking."
******
Spike felt Angel before he saw him and his hold on Buffy tightened. "What?" she asked.
"Your boyfriend is here."
tbc |
