Two TO Go

Spike, shirtless and barefoot, is pacing in the demon's cave.

"You understand, then?" the demon asks.

"Yeah," Spike says. Been through this, mate... "Yeah, it's not like you haven't been clear about it, O Great Mysterious One. This is a test. I don't get what I want unless I pass said test. That about the size and shape?"

"Yes."

Spike keeps pacing, looking around the small chamber. "And since your pad is decked out Gladiator style, and no #2 pencils have been provided... Guess we're not startin' with the written." He looks a little uncertain, gives a deep sigh. Maybe wishing the test would start already, maybe wondering if this trip was really necessary. From the shadows behind him, a huge fellow steps out. He looks human, about the size of a pro wrestler, with muscles on his muscles and the thick neck of a fighting bull. He's about twice Spike's size. Spike turns, sees him, and immediately the hesitation is gone. He smiles.

"Oh, here we go, then," he says. "This being the walking action figure." He grins at the guy and turns back to the demon. "I'm venturing that this would be the kill or be killed situation, then?" he asks, nonchalant. As though it were a given and he's just making polite conversation.

"To the death," the demon says.

"Right." Didn't expect anything different. Spike turns back to the big guy. "Here we are, then," he says, spreading his hands. "Entertain us." Vamp versus human; this is gonna be a piece of cake.

The big guy bangs his fists together, and both fists blaze up, covered in fire. Uh-oh. Maybe not a piece of cake, after all. "Son of a ..." The big guy is on him punching, and knocks Spike down.

Spike, burns on his right bicep and the left side of his chest, one eye blackened, crashes into a column, slides to the ground. He struggles to his feet, bracing himself against the rock behind him. It's the elevator in Glory's building all over again--he's getting pounded, but he's damn well not giving up. "Had enough?" he gasps, wiping his mouth. The big guy swings at him, swings again, and Spike ducks around the pillar. The big guy rains blows on Spike, knocks him to the ground. He draws back for another blow, but Spike catches the guy's flaming fist in his hand, stopping him. He holds on for a second, then grimaces. "Ow," he says, and pushes the guy backward. "Bad move. Bad move, bad move," he says, shaking his burned hand. The big guy swings again, and Spike catches his arm and flips him, then immediately kicks him hard in the balls, flipping him over. Spike straddles the guy and snaps his neck.

He turns to the demon, exhausted. "Looks like Local Boy loses," he says.

"So it would appear."

"Good on me, then. I get what I came for. I passed, right?"

"Indeed. You have passed the first stage of the test."

Spike smiles. "Right. Get..." And then he really hears what the demon said. "Wait. First stage?"

The demon chuckles. Evilly.

Spike's face twists in disgust. "Bugger," he says.

Grave

Only a couple of scenes--still with the fighting, and he comes out with a couple of demon heads he's torn off.

Wants to know if he's done, demon says no, he says bring it on. And he's covered with beetles.

Last scene, follows from Buffy coming out of the ground. Song playing, and the lyric as we cut to Spike is something to the effect that you have to die so you can be reborn and have eternal life.

Spike is lying on the ground, eyes closed.

The demon says, you've endured all the trials.

"Bloody right I have," he says. And he tells the demon to give him what he asked for, so he can give Buffy what she deserves.

He wants to be as he was? Yes.

The demon puts a hand on his chest.

"All right," it says, "We will give you back your soul."

Bright light, Spike cries out, starts to fall, fade to black.

--

Dori

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