Chapter 14
Spike wiped the blood from his nose, an angry scowl on his face. The others were gone, Lydia giving him a sympathetic look before joining them. Spike hardly noticed, his attention solely focused on the fuming blonde girl who had stormed off by herself, sword swinging at her side.
What the bloody fucking hell was that? What did I do to get punched in the face this time? Wankers weren’t suspicious of anythin’. No bloody need to go an’ do that now was there?
He cracked his neck, letting the tension ease out of his shoulders and with a backward glance in the direction of Restfield, set off after Buffy.
Goin’ to get an answer one way or another. She’s got some explainin’ to do.
***
Buffy grumbled to herself as she made her way home. She hadn’t even waited for Giles to offer her a lift before walking off.
Okay so maybe hitting him was going a little overboard but he clearly wasn’t getting the hint that I just wanted to be left alone. Thinks I’m gonna run off and patrol (yeah right, that’s what he had in mind) with him after that little show in front of the Council.
Buffy kicked the sidewalk, recalling the scene in the cemetery.
Delicate thing like you. Interested in the Big Bad. Stupid flirty vampire. Oh God.
Buffy stopped in her tracks when a thought struck her.
Oh God I’m jealous! Of the Watcher girl. How can I be jealous of her? No wait it’s not her it’s Spike. Spike and his stupid winking and smiling and calling her luv. I couldn’t stand seeing him flirting with her like that. Since when does his typical Spikeness bring out the green eyed monster in me?
Well since you started dating him maybe. Or maybe since the winks and smirks and leers were directed in someone else’s direction instead of yours for a change.
I have to apologise to him don’t I?
Buffy groaned, her temper dissolving. She’d been upset seeing Spike acting like his usual flirty self and ended up punching him in the nose when he didn’t deserve it. She just had to find some way to make up for it without telling him the reason she flipped out. No way was she adding to that ego of his.
A tingle crept up her back and Buffy yelped in surprise when Spike appeared in front of her. A very pissed off Spike.
Crap.
***
Spike saw with some satisfaction that Buffy had lost the anger she’d had in the cemetery, it was now replaced with nervousness.
“Care to explain to me what I did to earn a punch to the face back there and why you’re suddenly against me callin’ you pet?”
He raised his eyebrows, lips pursed expectantly.
Buffy fidgeted with the sword in her hand, not quite looking him in the eye. He continued to wait, the silence thick between them until she couldn’t take it anymore and she sighed, finally meeting his eyes.
“I’m sorry okay? I shouldn’t have punched you. I was annoyed and I took it out on you and I shouldn’t have.”
“Damn right you shouldn’ have. What was that all about anyway? All I did was ask you to patrol, to spend some time alone together since the Council were leavin’ an’ you nearly broke my nose!”
“I said I’m sorry.”
“No no no, sorry ain’ gonna cut it luv. You better tell me why you got so pissed off at me, an’ don’ blame it on the wankers, they were already leavin’.”
Buffy rolled her eyes. He just wasn’t going to let it go until she told him.
“It’s just…you…I didn’t know they were gonna observe you too, it threw me. As far as I knew they had no idea you were even still in Sunnydale and then I see you chatting with that librarian girl about some paper she wrote on you. I was…surprised.”
“Surprised? That’s what set you off? Pardon me if I don’ quite believe you. Somethin’ else had to have…”
Buffy frowned as he trailed off. A thought seemed to have struck him as he stared blankly at her. Suddenly his eyes lit up and a grin spread across his face.
Oh no. This can’t be good.
“Well, well, well. That’s it innit it pet?”
“What Spike? What’s it? What are you on about?”
Spike smirked and hooked his thumbs into his belt loops, hands framing his crotch and drawing Buffy’s eye involuntarily towards it. She shook her head to regain focus on his still smirking face.
“You’re jealous.”
Knew it. Not good. He’ll be impossible now.
Buffy scoffed as if it was the most ridiculous thing she’d ever heard.
“Pfft. Jealous, me? Shyeah, right.”
“No use denyin’ it pet, got you all figured out now Summers. Saw me chattin’ with that Watcher bird and got your feathers ruffled. Didn’ like the way she was flirtin’ with the Big Bad. ‘Fraid my attention was on her instead o’ you.”
“Like I’d be jealous of Madam Tweed, Spike, really. I was so not jealous.”
Spike just curled his tongue up to his teeth and wagged his eyebrows, not believing her for a minute.
“I wasn’t! It was you…you and…y.y..your winking and pet names. You’re supposed to be my boyfriend but you were flirting with her right in front of me. I should be the only one you call luv or pet or kitten.”
Buffy’s shoulders slumped. So much for hiding it from him. She had been jealous and annoyed at him and now she’d never hear the end of it. She was just waiting for him to laugh and tease her about it. He didn’t. Instead she felt his arm slip around her waist and pull him to her. He tilted her chin up with his other hand so she was looking at him, a playful pout on his face.
“Oh Buffy, you know you’re the only girl I care about. The nicknames are just a habit I’ve had for years, I won’ use ‘em on anyone but you from now on if you don’ like it but you’re my only kitten. The flirtin’, it’s in my nature, yeah, an’ as far as those Council people are concerned you an’ me are reluctant allies. Can’t exactly have my eyes on you the whole time when they’re around. Not if you want to keep it secret ‘til they’re gone.”
He gave her a reassuring smile and hugged her closer, moving a stray strand of hair out of her face. Buffy couldn’t help smiling back and relaxing against him. She was being silly, getting so upset before. Spike was with her and nothing was going to change that. He was hot and she couldn’t let other women taking notice of the fact get to her. She was the one he wanted, the one he loved.
“I’m sorry about before. I know I shouldn’t have let it get to me. I’m just not used to feeling like that. Knowing I can’t say anything because we have to keep it a secret and watching her practically throw herself at you. You don’t have to drop the nicknames…as long as it’s just the Scobies, friends we know, not other women checking you out, and I get the kitten one to myself.”
Spike kissed her forehead and rubbed her back gently.
“It’s all yours kitten. Don’ worry, it’s refreshin’ seein’ you get all jealous and territorial over me, jus’ try not to take it out on my nose or any other part of me for that matter.”
Buffy smiled and nodded her agreement before they decided to walk together back to her house. Dawn was approaching and Spike wouldn’t be able to stay too much longer and Buffy really needed the rest. They said their goodbyes by the tree at her house and it was a monumental effort to pull away from each other so Buffy could go inside and go to bed. She was happy she’d gotten to see him tonight and that they hadn’t left things like that in the cemetery. Knowing she could get jealous over Spike, it made them closer somehow, more like a real couple.
Spike remained outside below her window for a while, smoking, before finally heading home to his crypt. A grin permanently fixed on his face as he thought about Buffy, his girl. He never noticed the shadowy figure hiding in some bushes across the street watching him.
The mysterious figure pulled a walkie talkie from his belt and spoke quietly into it.
“He’s leaving. Do you want me to follow?”
A staticy male voice answered.
“Negative. Report back to base. He won’t be going anywhere else tonight.”
After signing off, with a final look in the direction Spike had gone, the observer slipped away into the night.
***
The next day for the Scoobies was pretty much the same as the first, being constantly plagued by Watchers. Buffy had been put through some more special training exercises that were again, specially designed to be as confusing and difficult as possible for her. She was beginning to hate Travers even more, if that were possible. She also noticed with a scowl that Lydia wasn’t present again today.
It only takes one guess to know where she is. I can’t believe Travers is allowing one of his own team to spend her time with a soulless vampire she obviously idolises. Shouldn’t he be reprimanding her for that or something? He certainly wouldn’t let me away with it. Not that he could stop me of course.
Her anger did do her some good in the training room, at least from her point of view, when her patience ran out and she used her own tactics to hit the weasely Watcher she was sparring with extra hard and sent him flying across the room. Of course she had to apologise and she wouldn’t get any marks for abandoning their specially designed technique but it cheered her up and made her feel better. A slight smile that was quickly hidden by Giles suggested it had cheered him up too.
Once again they found themselves gathered in the shop as night fell and the Council met in their little corner speaking in hushed tones. What they could have learned in another day of Scoobie tracking the same as the last Buffy couldn’t fathom. Lydia had yet to arrive which added to her irritation. She sat at the table tapping her foot until she caught a questioning glance from Xander. She smiled and rolled her eyes, glancing at Travers to let him know she was just annoyed by the current state of affairs and he nodded before turning back to a conversation with Anya.
Pacing the room, Buffy thought she heard a noise outside in the alley. She was making her way over to the door by the counter when it suddenly flew open and several men dressed as knights wielding swords rushed in, heading straight for her.
Buffy ducked as a sword came flying at her head and when she straightened up, realised she’d been surrounded.
The others had all leaped to their feet and backed away from the door at the sudden attack.
Buffy did her best to fend her medieval enemies off, avoiding their weapons and kicking and punching them back out of range.
Realising she was unarmed, Giles rushed towards the training room but found his way blocked by another knight. He was forced back with Travers and his team into a far corner while the Scoobies were trapped against a wall by two more men with swords.
Buffy successfully kicked one of her opponents into two of his comrades, giving her time to disarm another, twisting his arm and snapping it, making him cry out in pain. Grabbing the fallen weapon, she now stood a greater chance at defending herself.
The knights weren’t giving up and continued to battle fiercely with her, clearly well experienced in sword fighting so that, despite her best efforts, she was being pushed back towards the counter and getting blocked in.
Suddenly the main door swung open and Spike charged in, Lydia and her team following. He took one look around, saw the predicament Buffy was in and rushed to her aid.
“Buffy!”
He appeared behind one of the attacking men, grabbing him by his chain mail vest.
“Spike wait! Don’t!”
Her warning was too late and Spike sent the man flying through the air until he hit the wall hard. The chip fired and he cried out in pain clutching his head.
The move had distracted the rest of her opponents and when they turned to the injured vamp Buffy took advantage of the situation landing a powerful blow with her fist to the back of one man’s head and a swift kick to another’s back, sending him face first into a wall, effectively knocking them out.
“They’re human you can’t fight them.”
“Yeah I figured, what with the blinding pain an’ all,” Spike answered, rising up to his full height and shaking his head.
Buffy had no time to respond as another sword slashed at her and she was pulled back into the fight. Noticing their fallen comrades, the men who had been guarding her friends and the Watchers decided to join in and attack Buffy, aiming to kill.
Now free to get to the training room Giles ran over, followed by Xander to grab weapons to join the fight and even things out. Willow and Tara started chanting and some of the knights’ weapons floated up out of their hands and were pointed towards them, forcing them back.
“Witches!” one of them cried as his sword pushed him away from Buffy and one of the knights nearby ran at them, sword raised.
Surprised by the oncoming attack, the wiccans gasped and their concentration was broken, the floating swords dropping to the floor. Giles had come back and intercepted the attacker with an axe, engaging him in battle.
Buffy was holding her own and caught sight of Xander stopping the men trying to get their weapons back from the corner of her eye. She parried and struck at her opponent, sending his weapon clattering to the floor and punched him, knocking him out.
“Slayer!”
The sound of a blade slicing through the air close by startled her and she spun around quickly to find a sword inches from her face. Spike was beside her, his hands gripping the steel blade tightly, blood running from his palms and dripping down the sharp edges of the sword. He grimaced at the pain but maintained his hold on the weapon that would have decapitated her if he hadn’t stopped it.
Buffy’s eyes were wide with shock and she watched as the frustrated knight kicked at Spike, pulling his sword back. Spike yelped in pain as the blade sliced his hands and fell backwards. The man raised his weapon at her again and Buffy went back into fight mode. He was the last one left and it didn’t take long to disarm him and send him sprawling on the floor on his back, her own sword poised inches from his throat as she held him down and knelt above him.
“Who are you?”
The man just stared at her, anger and contempt in his eyes.
She put more pressure on the hand holding him down and poked the tip of the sword into the hollow of his throat.
“Who are you? What are you doing here? Answer me.”
“It is better you kill me now. I will never answer your questions.”
“We’ll just have to see about that won’t we? And if you don’t talk I’m sure one of your friends will.”
“There’s really no need for that,” Travers spoke up as he approached, “I know who they are. Knights of Byzantium. They fight against Glory, or as they call her, the Beast.”
“Really? Well if they’re fighting against her why are they attacking me? Shouldn’t we be on the same side?”
“We do not fight with those who seek to protect that which must be destroyed. You stand in our way and so we are enemies.”
“What? I’m not protecting Glory.”
“Not the Beast. The Key. It must be destroyed. It is the only way to prevent the Beast from destroying our world.”
A feeling of dread swept over her as she realised what he meant. Not only did she have Glory to worry about, now these Knights of Byzantium were after her sister as well.
“Yeah well sorry to disappoint you medieval guy but Buffy doesn’t have the key. We don’t even know what or where it is,” Xander spoke up.
“Even so. When she does find it she will protect it. She cannot hope to defeat the Beast. Better to kill you and keep you out of our way while we search for the Key than to let it fall into your hands.”
Relief washed over her, knowing that at least they didn’t know about Dawn. Her sister was safe, for now, but Buffy would have to be extra careful. For now they were just after her. She stood and removed her sword from the man’s throat, staring him down with her best Slayer look.
“You lost. Take your men and go. I don’t kill humans. You attack me or mine again, however, and I won’t think twice about ending you. Now leave.”
The man stood, his conscious comrades helped carry those who were still knocked out, out the door. He turned before leaving, facing her with a cold and stony stare of his own.
“This is not over Slayer. I am merely a small part of an army. Destroy the key or we will be forced to kill you and all others who stand in our way.”
Buffy watched as he left, keeping her eyes on the door until she was sure he wasn’t coming back.
“Do you think that was wise? They will certainly be back again, with even more men next time.”
Buffy looked at Travers, Slayer face still firmly in place.
“What do you suggest I do, kill them? Not in my job description. Besides, they’re going to focus on getting the key before I do now. I won’t have to worry about them for a while.”
“So you really don’t have it then?”
“Do you really think I’d tell you if I did?”
The head of the Council and the Slayer stared each other down, tension thick in the air. If there was ever any doubt as to how little trust and how much bitterness lay between the two it would have evaporated from the current scene.
“Yes well, I think perhaps we should put off patrol for tonight. That was more than enough action for one day and it’s certainly given us much to think about. Quentin if you have information on these knights perhaps you could share what you know about them?” Giles stepped in, trying to diffuse the situation.
Travers looked away from Buffy, clasping his hands behind his back as he considered Giles.
“It is time to call it a night. We can forego patrolling this time. I will be more than happy to share the information with you…” he paused, regarding them both before continuing, “…once Miss Summers has passed her evaluation.”
Buffy felt her temper flare and had quite a few choice words rushing to spring free from her mouth about where he could shove his evaluation when Lydia’s voice caught her attention.
“Oh you poor thing! Here let me see.”
Buffy turned to see the bookish woman squatting beside Spike on the floor, reaching out to his injured hands as he winced in pain. Suddenly all her rage was replaced by that growling monster in the pit of her stomach whose possessiveness rose up screaming ‘Mine!’
She strode purposefully toward the pair and squatted down in front of Spike, who looked up at her warily as she took his hands in hers before Lydia could reach them. Flattening them out, ignoring his little hiss of pain, she inspected the gashes carefully.
“You’ll be fine. They’re pretty deep but you’ll heal fast. We should clean them up and get them bandaged though. We have a first aid kit in back, come on.”
She stood up and without a backwards glance, made her way to the training room where a first aid kit was kept in case she got a little too carried away during her work out. It was really more for Giles or whoever else she was sparring with than her. Watching as she walked away, confusion evident on his face, Spike eventually got up and followed her, nursing his injured hands and leaving Lydia squatting on the floor a little dazed.
The Scoobies stared after them, all a bit puzzled at her concern for the annoying bleached menace, if you could call it that. She hadn’t sounded very concerned but it was unusual for her to even notice if Spike got hurt. Usually she was the one hurting him.
Buffy ignored them all and walked into the training room heading straight for where the first aid kit was kept. She was pulling out gauze and iodine when Spike came in. She looked up and gestured for him to sit on the nearby bench before ducking her head and continuing to gather up what she’d need.
Spike sat where she’d told him and observed her, listening to the muffled voices floating through the door. The wankers were getting ready to leave and the others were discussing a number of things in little groups, from the knights, to the key, to why Buffy had brought him in back to tend to his hands. He had an idea why but he never for one second expected her to show any worry for him in front of the others. Granted she hadn’t exactly gushed and fretted over him the way the Watcher bird had but it was more than she’d ever done before.
Buffy came towards him and began the rather painful process of cleaning off the wounds, applying pressure and tightly bandaging them up with the gauze. Spike watched her as she worked, her blonde hair falling over her face as she concentrated on his hands. He felt a lump form in his throat at her gentle treatment, not even minding the occasional sting as she cleaned his wounds. They wouldn’t get infected what with him being a vampire and all but she wanted to be thorough and it warmed his unbeating heart to see how much she cared about him.
When she was done she looked up into his eyes and smiled.
“There. All done. You’ll heal in no time.”
“Buffy…”
She was caught in the intensity of his gaze, so full of love and adoration. She wanted to look away but she couldn’t. Her heart was pounding and her breathing was coming in short gasps. He really did wear his heart on his sleeve and she could feel herself falling as she stared back into his deep blue eyes.
They were frozen, staring at each other only inches apart, his hands still in hers, her thumbs caressing his bandaged palms without her even noticing.
“Buffy? Travers and his team left, are you heading home? Oh, is…um…Spike…okay?”
Buffy whipped around to see Willow standing in the doorway looking at them, her brow furrowed. She was about to say something else but the shock of being caught by one of her friends while she was looking all goo-goo eyes at Spike set in and Buffy flinched, pressing her thumbs into Spike’s sore palms, making him cry out.
“Ow! Bloody hell Slayer!”
Realising what she done Buffy turned wide eyes towards him and dropped his hands, jumping back a little.
“Oops, sorry.”
“Some bleedin’ Florence Nightingale you are luv. Slayer’s weren’t meant to be nurses obviously.”
“Hey I said I was sorry. Fine, just bleed all over the place next time you big jerk.”
Willow rolled her eyes but seemed to relax at the more familiar scene before her. It was weird that Buffy had even done anything for Spike in the first place but it was obviously nothing if she still managed to hurt him and end up bickering like they always did. She probably just wanted to look good helping an injured ally for the evaluation.
“Okay well, we’re all leaving now too, so, see you tomorrow?”
“Yeah, bye Wills. Tell Giles I’ll walk. I could use the fresh air.”
Willow left and Buffy released the breath she’d been holding and turned back to Spike who was scowling.
“What? I said I was sorry. It was just a reaction, I couldn’t help it. It’s not like I meant to hurt you that time.”
“Beginning to think your carin’ side might do more damage than when you actually mean to hurt me.”
Buffy crossed her arms and scowled back at him, then she turned the scowl into a pout.
“So I shouldn’t try to look after you anymore then?”
Spike rolled his eyes and let out a frustrated sigh. God help him but he was powerless against that pout.
“Course you should luv. Sorry I snapped at you. C’mon, let’s get you home then.”
He stood and walked over to her, placing his arm around her shoulders he led her to the door at the back of the training room and she leaned into him, wrapping one arm around his waist.
“Great, and on the way you can tell me all about what you did with your Watcher entourage all day and how you happened to turn up with them.”
“Jus’ wanted to see you so I decided to tag along since they know about me an’ all. Not much to tell otherwise. Watched Passions for most of it.”
She laughed. That was so like Spike. She could picture it now, all crowded around watching his favourite soap. That would be something for their Watcher diaries.
***
They had another pleasant walk back to her house and stopped in their usual spot by the tree when they got there. Spike leaned in for a kiss and Buffy happily returned it, tangling her fingers in his hair and pulling him closer. Things were getting pretty heated and it wasn’t long before Buffy had to pull back for breath.
“This is killin’ me you know, havin’ to say goodbye to you every night when all I want is to haul you off to my crypt and keep you in my bed for days.”
“Me too,” Buffy agreed, “you know, I’m really not that tired. Maybe you could, I dunno, come in for a while? If you’re quiet. Everyone will be asleep by now.”
She ran a finger up his chest and licked her bottom lip seductively. Spike grinned, clearly delighted with her suggestion.
“I like that idea, but I won’t be the one that’ll have to keep quiet luv.”
He curled his tongue behind his teeth and Buffy was very eager to get him inside.
“I’ll do my best. Well come on then.”
She grabbed his arm and pulled him to the door but they didn’t even make it to the front step before falling into another passionate kiss. Buffy fumbled around, searching for her key but was forced to give up and pull away from Spike to see what she was doing. Eventually she found it and hurried to put it in the lock while Spike nuzzled her neck from behind, making her hands shake and struggle to coordinate and open the door. Suddenly he pulled back and Buffy whimpered at the sudden loss.
“Spike what are you…?”
“Shh pet.”
He was staring off intently to the side of her house at the bushes. Buffy watched as he concentrated for a minute before a growl erupted from his throat.
“Spike what is it?”
“We’re being watched.”
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Author's Chapter Notes:
Now to find out how Spike reacted to that punch to the face. If you don't know what I'm talking about you missed chapter 13 and should read that first.