Distro: Mystifying Dreams, WWOMB, WLS, RedsSoulmates and others
Spoilers: season 5
Pairing: Spike/Willow
Rating: PG
Summary: Spike is underappreciated...Willow counters
A/N: Thanks to Jennillu and Kat for the beta.
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The bell above the door of the Magic Box rings and we all look up, except Buffy. She probably can feel him, being the slayer and all. Xander and Anya look away without speaking; Xander never does, unless it's to be mean. Buffy doesn't even peek up from her book and Giles goes back to his hushed conversation with the council. I'm sure Spike can hear every word said.
We make eye contact and I smile at him, shifting over a little to make room for him at the table we've all gathered around, but he declines, with a slight nod, acknowledging me in a way that seems almost gentlemanly.
Dawn bounces in from the training room, Tara behind her. When she sees Spike, her eyes light up.
"Spike!" she squeals, rushing over to him, stopping short of hugging him. He appears ready to bolt if she does and I think she senses it. But she is bubbling nonetheless, her crush on him ever-present, as she talks about her day at school in a way that she refuses to open up to the rest of us anymore. Tara comes close. She mothers Dawn, which is probably what the child in her needs right now.
And Spike eats up the attention, giving as good as he gets, making Dawn feel special and grown up. He doesn't talk down to her. I'm guilty of that, bombarding her with something so close to babytalk that someone should really, really slap me silly. But I'm not great with kids, not bad, just not great. It's not a flaw in my character, but one in my parents. I never had little siblings or cousins to play with and therefore learn to manipulate without them knowing they were being.manipulated.
My parents think the majority of our family are a little uncouth and old worldy and expect them to taint me with their bad habits. And what would happen to the world should something despoil their precious project? It could end.or it could try, but Buffy would stop it.
"Spike." Giles is off the phone and addressing our favorite whipping boy. He doesn't make eye contact with the blond for long, his glances fleeting and purposeful. "I'm glad you stopped by."
The vampire's eyes move from Dawn, who is now frowning at sharing his attention and fast approaching sullen. Buffy finally looks up from her book and notices Dawn sitting on the stairs by her nemesis. I can just see the wheels turning in her head as she figures out how to get her sister away from him without causing a scene since Spike is actually behaving tonight.
Spike just looks skeptical, but waits for Giles to explain. He knows the watcher wants something. He always wants something if he's talking to Spike.
"The council has provided us with some rather useful information and a lead. I need you to go over to this address." Spike reluctantly rises from his perch and takes the paper as Dawn storms off to the back room again. Buffy's lips press together tightly and there is something dangerous in her eyes.
Giles goes on. "There's an older gentleman, not entirely human by all reports. He may know about Glory. According to my contact, he may be one of her worshippers, as ludicrous as that sounds."
He starts for the door and I am hit by an urge that I can't tamp down before I react.
"Wait."
All eyes turn to me. Since I didn't actually mean to act on my thoughts I am kinda lost now regarding what to say in response to the questioning eyes, and raised eyebrows.
"I, uh, just think that right now, none of us should be going off alone." I'm standing up. When did I stand up? And my book bag is over my shoulder.
"The evil undead can handle it alone, Wills." Xander replies, motioning for me sit again.
"Yeah, and if we're real lucky something will dust him, right Xander?" I stare at him, daring him to say it, before turning to Spike. "Let's go." Tara is giving me a look, one that tries to eat at my conscience because I know something is happening and so does she.
He's scowling a little, but opens the door, holding it as I step through and he follows.
I imagine Buffy will come running out behind us, but she doesn't. Spike lights a cigarette and stops a few doors away from the Magic Box.
"What are you doing?"
I frown and reach for the slip of paper containing the address. I don't recognize the street. "Nothing.which way?"
He points to the left and we start again, me hugging myself against the chill, him hugging himself because no one else does.
"No point in going there," he mumbles around his cigarette.
"Why?"
"Guy ain't human, but if he is a Glory groupie, then going there asking about the bitch will just tip him off.and her."
We keep walking, both knowing we won't be completing Giles' little mission.
"I miss her," he says. I nod sadly and the conversation goes from there, as he starts to talk about his various encounters with Buffy's mom. He was irritated by her at first, because she saved her daughter from certain death, but he admits to admiring her as well.
Somehow, I take over directing our movements and we end up in front of my parents' home. I figure I can get a good night's sleep here. They left two days ago and won't be back until summer.
His hands go into the front pockets of his jeans and he suddenly looks like a guy on a date who is debating whether to go for a goodnight kiss.
A startling surge of heat goes through me and I think I'm blushing. Stupid, stupid hormones. This is a guy, Willow. Okay so he's not a human guy, but he still has all the guy parts and I am sooo not into those.right?
"Well, I'll be off to my crypt then."
"No...I mean.you don't have to go. I'm not sending you away."
His eyes narrow and I am reminded of him telling me that he was going to kill me.no choice in that.
"Why?"
His voice is deep, absent of all pretenses. He just wants to know. Truthfully, so do I.
"Well," I say while unlocking the door. "I have hot chocolate.and tiny marshmallows." I grin at the smile he gives me. He doesn't smile like that often and I feel kinda gooey to have received it.
Walking in the house I call out behind me, "Come in, Spike."
The End