Buffy watched the Slayer carefully during their patrol. She was looking for signs of weakness as well as interest.
While waiting for Clem, they didn’t say much, both seemingly lost in thought. Both their minds were busy, thinking of the other.
Spike watched her graceful ways, dumbstruck by the simplest glance his way. Something in her eyes drew him in. He knew of vampires’ ability to place people under their thrall, but that wasn’t what this was. The flutter of her long lashes over her deep green eyes… She’s flirting with me! She can’t possibly be interested in me. I’m too young for her. Well, any human would be. She looks like she’s in her late teens, but she’s actually old enough to be my grandmother! What am I thinking, age isn’t the issue, her being a demon is! Come on, mate, quit thinking about her. Besides, you have a job to do.
The vampire watched the Slayer as he walked beside her. He had a slight bounce in his step, but that black leather obscured the real view. Noting that he wore his duster all the time, even as hot as she knew the air was.
“I have two questions for you, Spike,” Buffy said with a slightly commanding voice.
Her tone amused him. “Go on, then. Ask, and maybe I’ll answer.”
“What’s the story with the duster, and with the name Spike. Rumor has it your real name is William.”
Spike walked alongside her, deciding just how much to share. She was watching his expressions as he looked forward. He could feel her eyes on him, studying him.
Buffy jumped in front of him. “Come on, it can't be that big of a secret! Please tell me! Make you a deal. Answer my two, and you can ask me two, and I promise to answer.”
Spike halted his walk and threaded his thumbs through the front belt loops of his jeans. A cocky grin spread across his face as he replied.
“Any two questions? Well now, that sounds like a fair trade off. So, you want to know about the coat.”
Buffy returned to his side as they continued walking through the cemetery.
“This coat is a memento I took off a demon in Bedford. He claimed he took it off a Slayer he killed, so it seemed only right that it belong to me. Snapped his neck and took it back. That was the first time I’d ever heard of Slayers.” Spike was silent for a moment as he remembered the fight. It had been a difficult battle, but he had triumphed. He had assumed his role as Slayer that night.
Buffy watched as his mind obviously replayed the memory in his head. She watched his expressions change, until he finally settled on a slight grin, and spoke again.
“Now the name?” Buffy wasn’t about to let him forget to answer her second question.
Spike hesitated a minute, not wanting to go into too much detail. “My given name is William, but since I started slaying, I’ve been given a few names. William the Bloody was the first after I took out a nest of Drogak demons. Made a huge mess, but got them all. Not exactly a name I wanted, but what can you do? Spike was a name given to me by a reporter for a local paper in Bedford after he published an article about me using railroad spikes to kill people. Yeah, I did use spikes, but not on people. Came across a breed of demon that you could kill with iron through the head. Railroad spikes were on the ground during the fight, and as they say, history was made. I kinda liked it, so I kept it.”
“William is a nice name, but if you prefer Spike, so be it. My turn. Now, I know about Angel and his band of merry men in LA, but what I’d really like to know…” Spike stumbled on his words as a gentle pink blush rose in his cheeks.
Buffy watched, smiling at seeing his shyness for the first time. He is so cute. God, he is too young. What am I thinking?
“Well, what I’d like to know is if Angel is just your boss, or is he more?” There, he’d said it. Oh good Lord! Did I just ask that? Why? Why would I do that?
Buffy giggled and hooked her arm through his as they walked. “Why, Spike, if you wanted to know if I was single, all you had to do was ask. Didn’t need to waste one of your questions on that. To answer your question, he is my boss, but he is more too.”
Spike’s shoulders dropped and he pulled his arm away from hers. “I see.”
Buffy pulled him back. “No, I don’t think you do. Yeah, he’s my boss. And I am one of his merry ‘men’, but when I say he’s more, what I mean is that he’s family. He sired my sire, so he’s kinda like my grandfather. Does that make sense? But, if you're asking ‘cause you’re interested in me… just how old are you?”
“I-I’ll be seventeen in a few weeks. Legal in England I might add.” Did I just say LEGAL? I might as well have just dropped down to one knee.
“Seventeen, huh? Well, that is young.”
“Well, how old are you? I mean, well, I know you should never ask a lady her age, but since we’re on the topic…”
“I don’t mind saying my age, Spike. I will always look like this, so there’s no way for someone to really guess it. I was born in 1904, and Drusilla turned me in 1924, making me forever twenty, but in all actuality I am one hundred and five. Still interested? I suppose you could help me cross the street.” Buffy grinned as she started walking like she was elderly.
Spike pulled her closer. “Well, I don’t think you look a day over one o’four.”
Clem was almost to his crypt when he heard them laughing. They were walking arm in arm and looking like they were made for each other. Their features even complimented each other’s, but a Slayer and a vampire? I’ve heard of opposites attracting, but come on?! This spells trouble in everyway.
Buffy saw Clem and called out to him.
“Heya, Clem! Spike and I were just waiting on you.” Buffy walked them over to Clem.
“Me? Why me?” Clem looked confused. They seemed to be having a great time together, why would they want him around?
“Well, I’ve got some books on Watchers I thought Spike might like to see and I’d love you both to come to dinner.”
“Well, it’s kinda late for dinner, Buffy. It’s after midnight. And, I don’t think we’re on the same diet.” Clem tried to hide the gag that rose in his throat as he thought about drinking a big tall glass of blood with Buffy.
Laughing at his retching, “No blood or kittens. Don’t want to offend anyone here, but I make a mean plate of nachos. You up for it?”
Clem tried not to drool, and looked over at Spike, making sure he was ok with Clem being a third wheel.
“Um, yeah! Melty cheese works for me. Lead the way!”
At Buffy’s apartment, the guys had a seat on her couch. She had shown the journals to Spike, telling him he could look through them as she went to get them all drinks.
Spike picked up the one on the top of the stack. As soon as she was in the other room, Clem leaned over and whispered to him.
“Wow! You stud! Already got her to invite you to her place! I’m impressed!”
“SSh! It’s not like that! This is work related. Besides, Slayer and vampire? Please. Plus, slight age difference don’t you think?” Spike sounded disappointed as he said those words aloud.
Clem patted Spike’s thigh. “I don’t think any of that matters. Now, let’s get a good look at these books. Pass me one.”