Distro: Mystifying Dreams, WWOMB, WLS, RedsSoulmates and others
Spoilers: season 5
Pairing: Spike/Willow
Rating: PG
Summary: Sometimes people surprise you.
A/N: Thanks to Jennillu and Kat for the beta.
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His crypt is better lit when I enter this time. He is standing there, jaw clenching, clearly disturbed by my presence.
"Um, here.some blood. They told me about the." I trail off as he takes the blood with a grunt, which I'll consider thanks, and heads to a microwave that he has set up in an area that he's designated as his kitchen.
I walk around while he heats it and ignores me. The place is not bad looking for a house of the dead. He has a sofa, a big soft chair, a few throw rugs, and a television. The kitchen has a small dorm refrigerator, a hot plate as well as the microwave.
"How do you get water?" I ask, my voice sounds particularly loud against the silence. Is it always this quiet here?
He takes his mug of blood and goes to the couch, which is where he was before I came in, I suppose. "Don't need water." He replies, resting his head on the back of the sofa. He is tired. Healing must take something out of him.
"Oh.how do you wash dishes?" I say, pointing to the mug that he is using. "Or shower? I mean, you never smell bad.I mean unless you and Buffy fought something stinky, then hey, you both are kinda down with the stinky, but normally.no, so I figure you, you know, needed water for that."
I don't like the look on his face. I'm sure he'll say something mean and kick me out soon. After all, he is grouchy vamp tonight.
"You did something."
I don't understand and am about to say so when he explains.
"That spell.you did something." His eyes narrow as mine widen. "Just before Giles gave me the okay to go in, I felt you.all over me and in my, stealing from me. What was it, witch?"
Downgraded back to a generic name. I sigh and take a seat that he hasn't offered me.
"It's just me, my magick. I needed more power to strip his away. Tara was already tapped. You were the next logical choice. I don't have any control over that, Spike."
I expect yelling and swearing, obnoxious vampire style, but he just sits there, sipping the blood, a strange look underneath the pleasant human features.
"What's wrong?" He's too darned agreeable.
"Nothing. Getting late. Best you go. Lot of nasties out there."
I nod and stand, but instead of going to the door, I lean over him and press my hand to his abdomen, touching the black cotton tee. It comes back stained a pinkish red.
"Gods, Spike," I gasp while lifting his shirt. Annoyed, he tries to pull away, but hurts himself more. "Stop it. Be still."
I don't let him push me from him and he doesn't exert much effort. Eventually, I have his shirt off, revealing a pale expanse of perfect solid muscle, marred by a deep angry wound, that presumably goes through him. The flesh around it is reddened and warm, totally not okay.
"Why aren't you healing?" My voice is a whisper and the question is rhetorical; I know he has no answers. But I wonder if the Hingdura is poisionous to vampires or if I took too much from him and his demon, the mystical, magical part of him, is just slowed down. A groan from him tells me where it's paining him most.
"Spike...I have some stuff in my bag. I wanna try to help you."
His eyes meet mine and I hope he finds what he's looking for so that he will let do.something. After nearly a minute of his silent interrogation, he relents and I go to work making a salve.
He remains still, only moving to light a cigarette.
"You know that second hand smoke kills." I tell him while debating whether to add some of my own blood.
"Boo, bloody hoo."
Nope.none of my own blood.
"Whatever, Mr Cranky." The mixture is done and I begin spreading it over the hole in him. He leans up to sitting so that I can get the back and then I wrap him up in gauge.
He seems more at ease already, his jaw is not so tightly clenched and he is not breathing which is normal for him.
"Better?" I smile at him.
"Yeah.You're a regular Marcus Welby."
I'm sure my eyebrow goes up. He says the weirdest things. British.
"I'll assume that's a good thing." I gather my goodies and clean up the mess as best I can as he watches. Something about him watching; I like it and find it unnerving in equal parts.
"Downstairs."
I stop what I'm doing and look at him. "Huh?"
"The water. I've a line for a shower and basin downstairs." He motions toward a large hole near the rear of the room. Its darkness is only slightly darker than the shadows there. A twinge of fear creeps over me and he smiles, smelling it I'm so sure.
I roll my eyes at him and grab the items that need washing along with a candle. "I'll be back."
"Thanks, Red.for this." He's done teasing. for the moment
"It's alright, Spike, you're welcome."
The End