The black DeSoto careened wildly across the highway. The bleached blond at the steering wheel was unsuccessfully trying to simultaneously light a cigarette, swig whisky, sing ‘Anarchy in the UK’ and steer the vehicle. As the ‘Welcome to Sunnydale’ sign loomed ahead, he thought to himself ‘should I hit it or not?’ Deciding that on this occasion he wouldn’t, he attempted to avoid the potential impediment. Unfortunately for the Sunnydale Mayor’s discretionary funds, what had suffered the most during the brief attempt at multi-tasking was the steering. The sign was crushed beneath the vehicle.
Opening the door, he got out. To be more precise, he poured out of the car and looked at the scene of destruction around him. He started laughing helplessly, the thought running through his mind was ‘I guess this is how traditions begin!’
Like most drunken people he was subject to an emotional roller-coaster. The sight of the sign beneath the car immediately brought to mind his lost love, Drusilla, ‘She would’ve loved this.’ Thinking of Drusilla made the grief and sadness almost overwhelm him. With tears pouring down his cheeks he screamed “It should be you under there, you callous bitch!” He winced before continuing remorsefully, “I’m sorry luv, I didn’t mean that.”
He staggered around the car, trying to work out whether or not he could still drive it. Seeing that he could, he clambered back into the driver’s seat, and leaving the wreckage behind, erratically continued into the town.
* * * *
Spike parked the DeSoto rather cavalierly outside the only open shop he could see, “Ye Magick Box.” He knew if he didn’t eat someone soon, he’d pass out from the amount of liquor he had consumed. Being drunk, his mind was still wandering, and he thought again of Drusilla. ‘Need to get her out of my system. I don’t need her. She’s a bloody nutcase. A beautiful, evil bloody nutcase. No! I don’t need her!’ He thought as he wobbled into the magic shop.
The owner looked up with a smile. “Good evening, sir. Can I help you find ingredients for a spell?” She asked politely.
Spike growled. “I don’t need a bloody … a spell you said? You got anything to make me forget about a girl? Or curse her?” He asked hopefully.
The proprietor thought for a moment and then nodded. “Don’t forget that whatever you do comes back to you three times in magnitude. But I think I have something to make you forget,” she began to say, only to be interrupted by the phone. “Excuse me a moment, sir.”
Spike sighed loudly and rolled his eyes. Bored, he looked around the shop. ‘Who buys this junk?’ He asked himself as he picked up one end of a petrified newt. Dropping it back into the jar, he glanced at the shop owner. She was still on the phone. Spike’s ears perked up as he heard a somewhat familiar name.
“Sorry Willow, but I don’t think I have that book in stock. I can order it for you if you like,” Maeve offered.
‘Willow? Where have I heard that before?’ Spike wondered. His eyes widened as he realized it was the slayer’s redheaded friend.
‘So the little chit does spells? Well, well, well. That makes everything a bit easier.’ He grinned as Maeve hung up the phone and turned to him.
“Sir? I think I have what you are looking for,” she said with a smile.
Spike grinned and morphed into his demon face. “Oh I think you do too,” he said as he grabbed her and bit savagely into her neck, draining her within minutes
He smacked his lips together. “It’s good to be back,” he growled out as he dropped the woman to the floor and strode out.
* * * *
Spike slowly eased the library window open and glided inside in complete silence. He did not usually bother with what he contemptuously thought of as ‘the stealth thing’. He had to admit, however, that on occasion it proved useful.
He could hear the repetitive thud of impacts that indicated training, which meant the slayer was there. He moved silently up towards the stacks, keeping obstructions between himself and the sounds at all times. Entering the stacks, he moved cautiously towards the sounds he could hear on the main floor.
He moved several books out of the way to create a viewing window that looked out on the main floor. His eyes widened in surprise. The slayer wasn’t training--it was her little sidekicks who were, and they were going at it. The luscious brunette was delivering a series of snap kicks that looked surprisingly like lethal cheerleader kicks. The redhead, ‘Willow’ he remembered, was blocking a series of blows delivered by the watcher with ease. It was almost as if both girls were slayers. ‘Eh now. What’s going on here? Did the witch cast some spell?’
Then he saw the boy, the one he always thought of as the moron. And he was doing just as well. ‘He can’t be a bloody slayer too! Even if he is a great big girl!’
Xander was delivering repeated series of attacks at a wooden dummy, ‘At least he’s working at his own level’ drifted through Spike’s mind unbidden, as he watched. The sequences were savage, however, and exceptionally well co-ordinated.
‘What the bloody hell is going on here?’ They’re looking bloody dangerous all of a sudden. He then noticed a point of similarity between the three. ‘What’d they got there? Bracelets? Well that’s bloody ridiculous!’ He thought to himself. Then he watched as the brunette tried to give the redhead a punishing kick in the side with the redhead retaliating with a sweep kick. Neither girl landed their blows, but the ones they attempted showed their precision. ‘Or not so ridiculous if it lets them do that,’ Spike admitted to himself in chagrin.
He continued to watch as the training session continued. About fifteen minutes later, the watcher called a halt. All four were breathing hard and drenched in perspiration. “Well, I think we’ve established one thing,” Giles said between gasps. “The bracers seem to give the same kind of combat skills that a vampiric demon confers on the host body.”
‘Magic bracelets? With those I’d be bloody unbeatable. That’d bugger the slayer and her little mates,’ Spike mused, and briefly daydreamed of adding to his tally of slayers. Coming back to reality, he scanned the room. He saw the ironwood box, and from his vantage point, could also see two bracelets there, all alone and unwanted. He was sure he could give them a happy home. Chuckling to himself, he decided to wait until they left, and then liberate the remaining pair.
~Part: 7~
The three teenagers collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath as the training session ended. Giles opened his mouth to ask them how they felt when he was forestalled by a sound from behind him.
The library doors opened and Buffy breezed in. "So, can't take the heat, huh?" She asked cattily.
Giles looked over at Buffy and answered for the still prostrate Scoobies "Actually, they did very well. The bracers seem to give them some kind of inherent combat ability similar to what vampires receive when the demon takes over. They are all perfectly capable of assisting you."
"And they're lying there, gasping for breath why?"
"Because they've been training non-stop since the moment you left. They've worked themselves into the ground, Buffy, so they can help you! And all you can do is to make facile remarks. I'm really rather disappointed."
Buffy looked at her feet like a scolded child for a moment before looking with embarrassment at the three sprawled on the floor. "Um, sorry guys," she said softly.
Mentally shifting gears, Buffy asked, "So, you really think they could take on real vamps?"
Giles nodded. "Yes. Certainly the newly risen and the minions, although I think they'd be outclassed by someone like Spike or Angel."
"Have no fear Giles, your slayer is still here!" Buffy said happily relieved that she was still needed. "Do you think if we found any more bracers, I could have one too?" Buffy then asked.
"Buffy, your concentration really isn't a strong point today, is it? Is anything the matter?"
"You know me, non-sequitur girl." Buffy flashed Giles what she hoped was a winning smile before she continued. "I was thinking that slayer abilities added to one of those bracers would make me very close to unbeatable."
Willow looked over at Cordelia and raised an eyebrow interrogatively. Cordelia mouthed back "later" silently and both Willow and Xander nodded.
Willow slowly clambered to her feet. "Goddess I'm sore. I think I know the reason for slayer healing now. It's not for fighting, it's for recovering from training!"
"Oh yeah," came Cordelia's heartfelt agreement. "I hurt in places I didn't know I had places!"
"Cordy, when did you start channeling Xander?" Buffy asked caustically.
Cordelia glared at Buffy. "I have not, and never will, channel Xander Harris, Buffy. I do have my dignity!"
Buffy looked slightly taken aback.
Xander waved to catch everyone's attention. "Hello? Are we forgetting that I'm the one who was insulted here?"
The group looked at him in disbelief.
"Well I was!" Xander asserted.
Willow grinned at him slightly.
Xander sighed. "Fine. It's time to mosey, I think. Bronze anybody?"
"I don't think I'm up for it. Mom wanted to do some bonding over popcorn and Meg Ryan movies," Buffy said somewhat regretfully. "Next time?"
Xander nodded. "Definitely Buffster!"
"Xander, I can not possibly go to the Bronze sweaty and disgusting and in my workout clothes. I do have a reputation to maintain. Willow and I will meet you there in half an hour," Cordelia declared, gathering her belongings.
Willow looked at Cordelia in surprise and smiled when she saw the girl looking at her.
"Come on Xander, I'll drop you at your house to change and then Willow will come with me," Cordelia said, heading for the door.
Willow and Xander looked at each other smiling and shrugged. Sometimes it was just easier to go along Cordelia than fight her on it. Saying goodbye to Buffy and Giles, they followed the cheerleader out of the library.
Giles turned to Buffy. "And I suppose your Meg whomever night is starting soon?" He asked.
Buffy nodded. "Yup. Five minutes ago in fact so I got to scoot. See you tomorrow Giles!"
"Good bye, Buffy," he said as he watched the library doors swing shut.
Giles turned to his office. Gathering his manuscripts, he carefully shut the office door and locked it. Turning off the lights, he too headed out.
****
Spike looked down at the tableau playing out below and chuckled. 'So, trouble in paradise huh?' He thought to himself. He watched as all the little white hats left, first the slayer's three cronies, and then the slayer. 'Only that idiot watcher left now. As soon as he goes, I can check them out.'
Spike continued to watch as Giles turned out the lights and locked the library securely, before heading home. Once he was sure that the watcher had gone, Spike moved cautiously down from the stacks and towards Giles' office, where he had seen put the bracers.
As he moved inside, he looked around. The place, he observed was so cluttered that the damn watcher didn't need a burglar alarm, any human thief would break a leg stumbling over something in there. He surveyed the room carefully, and eventually saw the box the bracers were kept in tucked under the desk.
Spike dragged the box out and lifted it to the desktop. Noticing that the lid had been left open, he took out both bracers and compared them. They appeared identical. Taking one, he wrapped it around his forearm, and waited. Nothing happened however, and after a moment the bracer slid off. With a slightly puzzled look on his face, he tried the other, with exactly the same results. 'What the bloody hell's wrong with these bleedin' things?' He asked himself.
He sat at the desk and turned the reading light on, shoving papers and books to the floor so he could have free space to examine the bracer. Closely inspecting the mechanisms of the bracers, he saw that they were of a simple slip pin construction. He looked further and saw that there were marks where the slip pin's teeth used to be. 'They're fucking broken!' He thought in disgust, dropping the bracer with a thud back into the box. 'Well then, I'll just need to get a working one from one of the slayer's little chums.'
~Part: 8~
The throbbing heartbeat of the dance music filled the Bronze and the flashing lights of the display added to the surrealism of the scene. Cordelia and Xander were dancing close, almost writhing together as Willow watched from their table. 'I wish I had someone I could do that with, someone ... bad.' Willow thought wistfully. Willow blinked. 'Why'd I just think that? I don't want someone bad! Right?' She said to herself.
As the dance number ended, Xander and Cordelia both returned to the table. "I feel so ... alive. So energetic," Cordelia said to Willow.
"Oh yeah," Xander added. "Totally pumped."
Willow smiled. "I know, I can feel it too. I just don't have anyone to ... oooooooooooooh!" Willow trailed off and turned to watch the back of a tall, slender man as he moved through the club. All she could tell about him was that his hair had been gelled back tight and he had an ass to die for, but she definitely wanted to find out more. "Back in a little while guys." Willow slipped quickly from her seat and began to follow the man.
Xander looked at Cordelia, and blinked. "Willow chasing a guy? Okay, call Giles, it's the end of the world. Again."
"Xander," Cordelia playfully slapped her boyfriend's arm. "That's so mean just because she's usually kinda shy. 'Course, now she's being all assertive ... Stop watching her Xander!"
"I can't, it's like she's stalking her prey. It's scary. In a really kinky sorta way."
Cordelia huffed and folded her arms, causing her cleavage to become more evident. "Pay attention to these ... I mean me. Pay attention to me Xander." 'Oh my God! I can't believe I almost said something that skanky!' Cordelia thought as she self-consciously uncrossed her arms.
Willow saw the man who had so interested her going upstairs to the balcony level. As she tried to follow, but was cut off by a group of self-obsessed teens who cut in front of her. 'Self-obsessed teens. That's a bit redundant,' Willow thought idly as she eventually reached the head of the stairs. Looking around, she eventually saw the man who had so interested her. He was leaning casually against the rail and smoking as he looked down at the dance floor below. Willow saw now that his hair had been bleached platinum blond, and he appeared utterly self-assured.
She walked towards him and tapped him on the shoulder. "Wanna dance?" She asked.
He answered, in a North London accent "You want t' cut a rug with me, pet? You sure?" Turning towards her, Willow saw his face for the first time.
"Spike!" She squawked. "But, didn't you leave?
"Well, I did, but now I'm back. And, y'know, I think a dance'd be fun. Let's go." Spike took her firmly by the hand and led her down the stairs onto the crowded dance floor. 'Might as well. Can't take 'em all on at once, but maybe I can get her to take it off if I play my cards right,' he thought to himself.
Willow had no idea what to think or do. However, one thought repeatedly echoed in her mind 'Be careful what you wish for, you might get it!'
Spike maneuvered her into the approximate center of the floor and began to move sinuously as he picked up the beat.
Willow started to follow his moves, a part of her thrilled that he was dancing with her while the other part was screaming for her to run or yell-anything to get away from the homicidal vampire.
Willow found herself entering a strange state of mind. She was thoroughly enjoying the dance. Spike moved well and made sure she didn't get bustled on the floor. But at the same time she was amazed at her bravery in dancing, let alone dancing with a hottie like Spike. There was also a little part of her that was amused at Spike's actions. It was confident that whatever the vampire was going to dish out, Willow could handle it and more.
Cordelia looked over and saw glimpses of Willow dancing. "Oh look, Xand! Willow's found him, and he's gorgeous."
Xander peered over into the mass of dancing bodies. "How can you tell? I can't even see her," Xander complained.
"Xander, it's not that hard. Just look for the red hair."
Xander scowled at Cordelia, and then caught a glimpse of Willow. She was dancing with a tall blond. Suddenly Xander realized who it was. "Spike!" He yelled and leapt up from his chair, ready to head onto the floor and save Willow.
Cordelia reached out and forcefully pulled him back into his seat. "What's your problem? She's safe here. He can't hurt her in front of everyone. Anyway, she seems to be having fun."
"Fun? With a walking corpse? That's the kind of fun that shouldn't be," Xander asserted.
Cordelia glared. "Yes, fun. And if you're not careful you won't be having any of it tonight," she warned. "And don't pout Xander, it's unbecoming."
Xander gulped and glanced at the dance floor. At Cordelia's exasperated sigh he looked at her questioningly.
"Fine, would it make you feel better if we danced next to them?" She asked.
"Not better, but happier." Xander grumbled.
Cordelia grabbed his hand and led him to the dance floor. "And just because I'm doing this, don't think you won 'cause you didn't."
"I wouldn't dream of it, Cordy."
As Xander and Cordy moved out onto the dance floor, Willow saw them and appeared to wave enthusiastically. 'God, I hope they see me. Please see me,' Willow thought.
They eventually reached Willow and Spike, still moving and gyrating to the throbbing techno pounding from the speakers. Xander gave both a nervous wave, while Cordelia smiled and immediately picked up the rhythm.
Spike was grinning openly as they all danced to '21st Century Boy'. 'I haven't had this much fun since the Hammersmith Odeon back in seventy-six,' he thought to himself. 'Good cover of the original, a hot little redhead to dance with, lots of warm blood in her and a magical bracelet. Yes, life just gets better and better.'
"So what brought you back to Sunnydale?" Cordelia asked Spike over the music.
Spike turned to her, eyes wide in shock. "What?" He asked, almost losing the rhythm.
Cordelia frowned. "I said, what brought you back to the Hellmouth? You left in kinda a hurry."
Xander stared at Cordelia. 'Why is she talking to him? And it looks like he's going to answer! This is weird even for Sunnydale.'
Spike waited a moment before responding, thinking quickly. 'I'm gonna have to be nice if I want to get those damn bracelets. So I'll be Mr. Charm.' "Is it important now? I can tell ya later. Let's dance" Spike replied. 'Bloody hell. I'm gonna have to tell 'em about Dru.' As the song finished, and segued into a slow number, the four left the dance floor together. "Don't like slow music." Spike told them. "It was all I ever used to hear with the poof and Dru around."
"Why're you being all smooth?" Xander asked suspiciously.
Spike fixed Xander with a look. "Because I respect both of these chits. They're helping the slayer when really, they don't have to. You, on the other hand, just get in the way."
Willow looked at Spike with raised eyebrows. "You respect us?" She asked, disbelief clear in her voice. "And hey, that's not fair! Xander helps too. He and Cordy have got themselves a few vamps working together. And we all do research."
Spike looked at Willow. 'Well well. Looks like the little redhead is finally learning to stand up for herself.' He noted absently while smiling. "I stand corrected, ducks. I still don't respect him as much as I do you though."
As they made their way back to the table, Cordelia noticed Harmony and Aura going outside with two guys. 'That's funny, I thought Harmony was dating Brian,' she thought to herself. She began to turn back when she noticed something odd about the guys. They were incredibly pale. "Oh god, they're vampires," she whispered.
"Sorry to interrupt the Xander-bashing," Xander said urgently, "but a pair of vamps just took two girls outside."
Spike looked up. "Happy meals? Here? Some undead just have no class."
Willow frowned at Spike before turning to Cordelia and Xander. "We should call Buffy," she said, fumbling for a quarter for the payphone.
Cordelia looked at her. "Why? We can handle them. Besides, by the time Ms. I'm-the-Slayer-and-the-most-important gets here, Harm and Aura will be vamp food."
"And if you chits keep talking, they're going to be dinner before you get out there," Spike observed.
Xander nodded. "As much as it hurts me to admit this, Spike's right," he said, grabbing Cordy by the arm and hurrying her to the door. He glanced back and saw that Spike and Willow were following. 'I'll figure Deadboy junior out later,' he promised himself as they burst out the doors.
~Part: 9~
The doors swung shut behind the group as they rushed into the narrow alley that housed the Bronze. Looking around, they saw the two Cordettes struggling with the vampires. Harmony's voice could be heard, whining, "But can't we talk first? I don't even know your name. I'm not just some cheap slut!"
Xander smothered a wholly inappropriate giggle as he led the charge towards the vampires. Cordy and Willow were right behind and Spike only a pace behind them. Xander drew the stake he habitually carried and pulled the vampire away from Aura, who watched on terrified.
Cordelia joined her boyfriend and suddenly the vampire found himself confronted by two supercharged teenagers who delivered incredibly powerful blows at dizzying speed.
While Cordelia and Xander dealt with one vampire, Spike and Willow grabbed the other from behind. Willow dragged him backwards by the hair and Spike slammed a low scything kick into the vampire's kneecaps.
The bones shattered as the steel capped boots that Spike habitually wore drove home. The vampire screamed in agony and slumped to the ground. In a flash, Willow straddled his waist and drove the stake home so hard that she felt it hit the asphalt beneath the creature before it erupted into dust.
Xander had managed to grab the other vampire in a headlock and was slamming his fist repeatedly into the creature's head, while Cordelia hovered, waiting for an opening to allow her to stake the creature. Xander suddenly jerked the vampire up and twisted its neck, and Cordelia drove the stake home just as a sickening snap was heard as Xander broke its neck.
Aura looked up at Xander, amazed. "Xander Harris? My God, you saved my life!" She threw herself into his arms and attempted to shower him with kisses, as Cordelia watched on, fury mounting by the second. Xander was feebly and ineffectually trying to push Aura away, mumbling something about, "It's okay Aura, it's what I do ... secret identity ... better than Clark ..."
Cordelia decided that enough was enough and grabbed Aura by the hair. Dragging her bodily away from Xander, she snarled, "Keep your grubby little hands off my man!" Turning to Xander she fixed him with a look. "We'll talk about this. Later."
Harmony was looking at Spike. "You're a hero. A real hero. You saved me from that thing." Spike winced as Harmony's nasality assaulted his eardrums. She stepped forward and embraced him, elbowing Willow aside as she did so. "Someone like you deserves the best." Harmony giggled, "me." She began to press her body against Spike's as Willow watched, her jealousy beginning to grow.
Spike firmly pushed Harmony away. "Ducks, thanks but no thanks. Know what I mean? I was here with a lady, and I'm really a perfect gentleman." He flashed a wickedly mocking grin at Willow over Harmony's head. "And to be honest, you head off for a make-out session with someone you don't even know. That makes you a bit ... loose. Not my type at all."
Harmony looked in astonishment at the blond Englishman with the gorgeous voice. "Willow? You can't be serious! I mean ... Willow? No way! You want ... Willow? Are you some kind of pervert?"
Spike glared at the idiotic blonde. "Look, Red and I haul your arse out of the fire and you decide to thank me by calling me a pervert and insulting Willow. I should've let you be eaten!"
Harmony looked at Spike. "Well, I can see some people don't know a good thing when they see it. Later, loser." She turned and stalked off, with Aura trailing behind.
Willow looked at Spike. "Y-you chose me ... over her?"
"Sure did. She's a bleeding moron. I've always liked intelligent women. When she wasn't completely bonkers Dru ..." he trailed off sadly.
Willow looked at Spike. "What on earth happened to Dru? I thought you two were joined at the hip."
Spike looked at Willow, his grief etched on every line of his face. "She left me, pet. After my deal with the slayer, she said I wasn't demon enough for her any more. I found her one day with a Chaos demon. Ever seen a Chaos demon? They're all slime and antlers. Disgusting."
"Can I just say, far too much information, bleach boy," Xander said acerbically. "Why don't we head back inside?"
"Works for me," Spike concurred. As he spoke, he placed his hand lightly on Willow's back to guide her back into the Bronze.
The doors had hardly shut behind them when Spike turned to the others and said, "My round. I'm for a decent scotch. What about you pet? A gin 'n' tonic?"
Willow's eyes widened. 'Alcohol? I shouldn't ...' She thought to herself. She was surprised when she replied, "Actually, I'd prefer a Bloody Mary."
The others looked at her in shock. Spike grinned. "Well, I'm not sure what her name is but see that chit over there?" He asked pointing. "Bet she tastes-OW! What'd I say?" He looked at Willow with an overly innocent e-xpression.
Willow simply crossed her arms. "You know what I meant, Spike," she snarled.
Cordelia and Xander looked at her sharply before turning back to the vampire. "I'd love a grasshopper, please Spike."
Spike turned to Xander and looked at him expectantly. He was surprised when Xander shook his head.
"A Coke for me, Corpseboy," Xander answered, keeping one eye on Spike to see his reaction while the other eyed Cordelia.
Spike nodded once and turned to Willow. "Now don't miss me too much, luv," he said before heading to the bar.
The three made their way back to their table and sat down after insisting that Jonathan relocate.
It was Xander who spoke first. "So Will, what's with the naughty dancing with the walking corpse? I mean he's cute and all but ... um, Cordy help me out here." He implored.
"Who's cute?" Spike asked as he placed the drinks quietly on the table.
Xander shrieked. He stared at Spike with wide eyes. "Um, no one. No one's cute. And don't do that! You're almost as good as Deadboy in the stealth department!"
Spike huffed. "Almost as good? What do you mean almost as good? Bloody cheek!"
Cordelia also looked affronted. "No one's cute, Xander?" She asked with an offended e-xpression.
Xander swallowed. "Well, I meant ... um, you're gorgeous Cordy, not merely cute. So I wouldn't insult you by saying you're simply cute," he said quickly, trying to remedy the situation.
Cordelia appeared to accept the excuse though Xander could tell that his cover was inadequate.
"What do you mean? Isn't Red here cute? She's a little cracker! And I know that I'm considered passing tasty in some quarters."
Xander rolled his eyes at Spike's 'helpful' intervention. "Okay, we're all gorgeous. We're all nummy treats!"
Willow sipped her drink and pulled a small moue of distaste. "What's wrong with the tomato juice?"
Spike reached over and tasted it. "Nothing pet. Tomato juice and vodka. Although the vodka's a bit rough."
Willow looked at him, surprised. "Isn't vodka supposed to be tasteless?"
Spike laughed. "No pet. It's an urban myth. Try it again, now that you're prepared."
Willow gulped this time, rather than sipping. She felt the heat of the vodka heating her stomach, and she took another gulp to maintain the feeling. Meanwhile, Cordelia had been sipping her cocktail while eyeing Xander's coke and wondering idly about the reasons for his decision to not try something more adventurous.
~Part: 10~
Several drinks later, all provided by Spike, the two girls were getting somewhat tipsy. Xander had remained stoically silent while drinking glass after glass of coke, his expression betraying the worries and concerns that he felt.
Spike eventually decided that his curiosity had to be satisfied, so he simply asked Xander why he was steadfastly refusing alcohol. Xander grunted non-commitally in reply and looked at Willow to change the subject.
Willow smiled and pulled up the sleeve of her shirt and grinned drunkenly at Spike. “You like?” She asked, giggling as she showed Spike the bracer she wore. “I only got it today!”
“Pet, that’s really … neat.” Spike answered, smiling. “Where’dya buy it?”
“Didn’t buy it,” she told him, wagging a finger and giggling again. “Found it. In a box!”
“How’dya do that Red?”
“Sort of looked in, and there it was, all glittery and saying ‘wear me, wear me’!” Willow burst into laughter then, and couldn’t stop.
Xander sighed and shook his head. “I think it’s time to cut a certain redhead off,” he noted, glancing at his girlfriend. Seeing her drunkenly staring at the top of the table he added, “And Cordy too.” He glared at Spike.
“You’re going to cut me off?” Willow said, her eyes wide. “What parts?”
Xander blinked in confusion while Spike chuckled. “He meant stop you from having any more drinks, luv,” the vampire answered.
“Oh. But I don’t want to be cut off,” Willow pouted.
“Well, missy, you have drunk far too much tonight. Mr. Hangover will be visiting you tomorrow and you’ll be thankful that I’m taking this away!” Xander informed her, quickly picking up her drink and Cordelia’s and setting them on an adjoining table. He flagged down the waitress and asked for two waters. As she walked off, Xander fixed Spike with a glare.
Spike raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“What’s your deal?” Xander asked him suspiciously.
“What’dya mean?” Spike asked, leaning forward. Neither noticed that Willow was leaning precariously over on her chair, trying to reach her drink on the table behind Xander.
A crash alerted them to situation. Willow looked up from the floor with a sheepish expression on her face while Cordelia collapsed in gales of laughter. “I can’t reach my drink,” she whined.
Xander sighed and snatched the two glasses of water from the waitress thankfully. He handed one to his girlfriend and placed one on the table in front of Willow’s chair. “Your drink is in front of you,” Xander said firmly.
Cordelia sighed loudly. “You know, Xander. You can’t cut us off,” she stated as Spike helped Willow back into her chair. Cordelia stood up, holding onto the table to keep from swaying. “Willow and I will just go find some other guy to buy us drinks! Coming Willow?” Cordelia grabbed Willow’s arm and pulled the redhead to her feet.
Spike cleared his throat. “Now now, pet, let’s not be hasty,” he said, gently but firmly holding Willow in place. “Why don’t you sit back down and we can talk about this?” He suggested, tapping the bracer.
Xander took hold of Cordelia’s waist and guided her back into her seat. Silently, he held out the water glass and with a sigh, the cheerleader took it and gulped down a few swallows. Turning to Willow, Xander saw that Spike had done the same. Willow sipped at hers cautiously before taking greedier mouthfuls. Xander smiled his thanks at Spike who nodded in return.
The four sat in silence for a few minutes while Cordelia and Willow finished their water. The waitress brought over a pitcher with a knowing smile before departing. Xander poured both girls another glassful before sitting back down.
“You know Xander, since we have powers similar to those of the slayers, I think we should be able to make our own decisions about drinking and other adult issues,” Willow said, glaring at Xander.
Xander and Spike stared at her in shock.
“I agree! I mean, look at Buffy, she does what she wants! But Willow and I just want to have a few drinks, but nooooo, you have to go and butt in being all macho!” Cordelia said witheringly.
Xander and Spike turned their attention to the brunette with equal surprise evident on their faces. Xander leaned into Spike and said in a stage whisper, “Weren’t they drunk a minute ago?”
Spike nodded. “Yup. Must be those bracelets of yours, mucking with your metabolism,” the vampire noted.
Xander whipped around to look at Spike. “How’d you know about our powers?” He asked, his hand clenching on the vampire’s forearm.
Spike rolled his eyes. “Red just bloody told me! Now hands off, you’ll crease the leather,” he snapped.
“Oh,” Xander said, letting go. “I forgot about that,” he admitted. “Sorry.”
“No problem, Chubs,” Spike said in a cheerful tone of voice, turning his attention back to Willow. “So you’re all like slayers now?”
The three looked at each other quickly. Willow cleared her throat. “Promise you won’t tell anybody? ‘Cause it’ll be kind of silly if everybody knows. It’s supposed to be a whole ‘surprise attack’ kind of thing,” she told the vampire.
Spike grinned internally. “I promise, pet,” he said solemnly, looking Willow in the eyes. ‘It’s a promise I can keep too. I can work this trio so they like me and they’ll clobber some other mob of vamps instead. May even help ‘em just for the fun of it. And--bonus, if the slayer hears, she’ll be well pissed.’
Willow looked up and found the only clock in ‘The Bronze.’ She was shocked. “Goddess! It’s after midnight! C’mon guys, we have to go!”
“Hey,” Xander interjected, “we still have to figure out what we’re gonna do about Corpseboy here.”
“Wait a minute!” Spike protested. “First, what do you mean, ‘do about’; and second … ‘Corpseboy’?”
“Well,” Willow began tentatively, “he is sworn to secrecy about the bracers.”
“I guess we can make him pinky swear if you want,” Xander snapped.
“I promise I won’t mention it, scout’s honor,” Spike said.
“You were a boy scout?” Cordelia asked, shocked.
“No, but I ate one once,” Spike offered grinning engagingly.
In response to the three glares he received, Spike decided to cut off Xander before he could draw breath. “I’ll even promise only to eat muggers if that helps?”
“Hmmm … moral dilemmas, anyone?” Cordelia asked caustically.
The three sat and looked askance for a moment before Willow spoke up. “Okay, if you promise to only eat bad people, I guess I can live with that. Wanna start with Snyder?”
Xander and Cordelia broke into laughter that was half genuine and half shock at Willow’s suggestion. Spike smiled and asked, “Who’s Snyder, luv?”