He stepped through the front door of his home later that night, the foyer was wide in size and the walls a dark maroon color with brown molding.
Spike wasn’t affected by temperature, whether it be below zero or hitting southern highs in the summer, but he liked to keep his home warm. Warm in both degrees and atmosphere; though sometimes he felt that he could hardly call his place a home.
It was lonely, empty. Lacking in the living. However, he could at least call it his own. It was personalized and comfortable, filled with rich colors and area rugs. The kitchen was a golden yellow hue, the sturdy oak island and cabinets and counters he had built himself.
You learned a lot when you’d been around for as long as he had, and didn’t have anything really worthwhile to take up your time with. Some might say it was strange not having tile in the kitchen or new granite countertops, Spike didn’t really give a damn. And the large fireplace that he’d reopened and gotten working again, although no one but him enjoyed it, made his entire living room that much more welcoming. He did find it ironic sometimes how there was no one he’d want to welcome into his home though.
Well maybe that wasn’t quite true, the meowing furball at his feet said otherwise.
Shaking his head at himself the Brit bent down to pet the little thing. “How’d you get out a the kitchen ya little hairball?”
It purred in response, then turned around with its tail in the air and hopped back into the room Spike had thought she’d be set in for the night. And oh yes, he was guessing it was a she; had too much attitude to be male.
The big bad, creature of the night had set up an open box with a blanket in it as a bed for his new pet, as well as a water bowl and mushed up kitten food and a saucer of special formula. Spike had put a child gate in the doorway and hoped that the animal would’ve stayed put, considering he’d gone to a lot of work to kitten-proof his kitchen. However, it looked like she’d just jumped out.
If she’d gotten lost in his house somewhere he never would have been able to find her. “Naughty lil thing.” Spike said as he scooped the animal up, she was so small she fit right snugly in his hand, and started purring once again as he held her close.
Spike carried her over to her empty dishes and set her back in her box then refilled everything. He started contemplating ways of keeping her safely locked away in this one room while he was away from home. She started gobbling up her food and drink, unknowingly making the vampire smile at her.
Spike rolled his eyes at himself as he removed his coat. The little furball was just too damn… cute, all fluffy and purring all the time. What was he supposed to do, give her away?
After an hour or two of searching on the internet for how to properly tend to the animal, he didn’t feel like anyone else would take good enough care of her. Not when he knew he would.
Spike sighed as he opened up the refrigerator and tossed a blood bag into the microwave, waiting for it to beep. When it did he grabbed his dinner and emptied the blood into a mug. Taking a gulp he looked at the feline now rubbing against his booted foot. He would never understand why she took such a liking to him, but she did. As long as he kept her fed, of course.
The night he’d first brought her back with him she’d meowed for almost an hour before Spike had finally realized he would have to go into town and break into the closed pet shop and swipe some food for her. She was too little for anything he might have in the fridge, which wasn’t much to be honest. Just some left over buffalo wings, blood, and a frozen pizza. There was of course a lot of sugary frozen treats like ice cream as well, but even he knew that wasn’t very nutritional to a kitten… or a vampire for that matter.
So he’d gone and stolen all the things she would need. Formula, both dry and wet kitten food, a couple of little feeding bowls, some toys...
Okay he was completely whipped by her. Do you think he was happy about it?! A bloody cat and it already had him wrapped around its little paw! Believe him, Spike was not pleased with himself.
Though every time she looked up at him with those big green eyes he didn’t really care anymore.
Spike shook his head before taking another gulp of his meal, and picked up his now fully fed feline. She started purring again and he tried to stop the smile from forming on his face but failed. Miserably.
He swore it were those eyes of hers, they reminded him of his mystery girl’s…
Okay yes, strange things to compare. But every time Spike looked into the kitty’s eyes he swore they were the exact same shade of green as Buffy’s.
Buffy. God he couldn’t have guessed that name in a decade, but it was cute. Fit her somehow. After really talking to her for the first time tonight Spike thought he saw another side of the bird, not including the beautifully irritated version that had sparked after that bloke who’d been hitting on her left.
Spike was shown another side of Buffy tonight, one he hadn’t thought he’d ever be fortunate enough to see.
With as much as he watched the girl she always seemed desolate and sad. Alone. The only times he got to witness feeling lighten her face was when she was reading. She would cry or smile and sometimes even laugh when she had a book, but after that cover was closed she’d usually become quiet again. Not quiet in the sense where she didn’t talk, because Spike had never really talked to her to deem whether or not she was being strangely silent or just being herself.
No, without a story for her to read SHE became quiet. Her eyes dimmed to a dull albeit still gorgeous hue, and her shoulders sagged just a little. Spike couldn’t put his finger on it but without a book, Buffy was always quiet.
Except tonight she hadn’t needed a book. She’d talked with him, and he’d seen a whole different side of her. She was paying attention to him. When they chatted she listened and laughed, smiled and rolled her eyes a couple of times. She made little jokes once in a while and she actually became alive with him. A light surrounded her. She wasn’t just living a story while she flipped through pages, she had engaged with him and Spike saw a spark. She just had something about her that drew him in, that shone. Although it was a tempered light.
She’d unwound in a way Spike had never seen before unless she was lost to another world, but there was a shadow lining that light she carried. It was so… she just seemed not quite all there with him, like she was holding back without trying; if he could really describe it as such. Her light was dimmed. He had no idea why, but he knew there was… something hanging over her.
Don’t ask Spike how he knew all of this, because truthfully he didn’t. There was no proof. He hadn’t known her for too long, although he also felt that was a lie. He DID know her, he did understand this girl and he KNEW something was following her around and saddening her. He just didn’t know how he knew her so easily, he didn’t know why she called to him like a beacon and he didn’t know why he let her.
Spike had never, in over a century, noticed somebody like he did her. Sure sometimes, over the years he would see a person who had something special about them, who carried themselves in certain way or stood out to him. He had seen so many people over time, and yet none of them carried a signature like Buffy did. His mystery girl.
His mystery girl who Spike realized he had developed feelings for.
With a groan he quickly finished up his blood, bringing his pet with him into the living room where he set her down on the couch. Spike went to light the fire while grumbling to himself about the same person he’d been trying to get off his mind for a long while now.
He didn’t like this. Sure he didn’t like being alone either but getting closer to Buffy was both impossible and impossible to AVOID. Noticing her at Pretty Penny’s was one thing. Spike had figured he wouldn’t ever get to know her and had accepted the fate immediately; although she had been in his thoughts for a short time after first spotting her, sooner or later he would’ve been able to shake her memory easily enough. Then she’d been at the library, and now he was too attached. Spike wasn’t sure how much he liked that fact that he was finding himself worrying about her and mooning over her pretty eyes all the time, it was bloody frustrating!
He had been alone for many years now and getting closer to a human girl was not on his to-do list. People left and died all the time, he shouldn’t be this focused on the girl. Not to mention she’d run off in bloody terror if she ever found out what he was. Vampires after all didn’t exist.
Spike kindled the new flames a bit and watched sparks fly into the air. They lost their light and heat before his eyes, changing from yellow to black as they floated back down to the flames. A tiny meow from the kitty-cat behind him caught Spike’s attention and he moved the metal screen back in front of the fire before walking to her side. He petted her on the head for a moment before moving to his TV set and switching it on, hoping that maybe something was playing which could distract him from thoughts of Buffy. Someone who Spike had a feeling wasn’t going to stay such a mystery to him anymore.
Christ he was fucked.
><
“Grams!” Buffy yelled as she entered her home. “Grams where are you?!”
After walking home remembering her entire night at the library, certain topics that had been part of hers and Spike’s conversations resurfaced and the Summers girl was ready to ask her grandmother something important.
“Jesus now why’re you hollerin?!” She yelled back from the kitchen. “I may be old but m’not deaf get yer skinny butt in here!”
Buffy entered the kitchenette with her hands on her hips. “Now I want verification.” She said in the sternest voice she could muster. “Did you punch somebody about two months back?”
Anne frowned for a minute before she titled her head and nodded. “Yeah. I did, so?”
Buffy guffawed. “Are you joking?!”
“Now child why on Earth would I joke ‘bout somethin like that?” She asked as her hip stuck out and she set a hand on it. “An obviously you knew it happened or else you wouldn’t a come in here yellin about it.”
“I- I just-...”
“What? Thought an old lady like me couldn’t strike a man who don’t know how to keep his hands ta himself? Please, sugar Old Arnie ain’t the first I’ve decked in my time.”
“I- He-… Okay ya know what never mind, I just-” Buffy hung her bag over a chair and sat down with a slightly amused expression. “Now I know that we are definitely related.”
Grams went back to the pot she’d been stirring and smiled proudly. “Ya don’t mess with Summers Women, that’s what yer granddaddy always said. He taught me that right hook you know.”
Buffy was chuckling and bit her lip to try and stop, though it didn’t help much. “D’you ever use it on him?”
“Nope. Your gramps was a smart man. Always knew when ta keep his distance f’I was in a bad mood. Saved himself alotta headaches that way I’ll tell ya that.”
Buffy nodded before her grandma spoke again. “You know I don’t remember tellin you anything ‘bout punchin old Arnie. The folks in town still talkin ‘bout it?”
The girl reddened before she could even think to help it. Time to talk about stranger-guy now… “U-Um no. No I heard about the incident from someone else.”
“Who told you?”
Before Buffy could answer Grams said, “Get up for a minute darlin and come try this gumbo over here. It’s an old Cajun recipe, see f’you like it.”
Buffy did as was asked and walked to the tall black pot where Anne pulled out a filled wooden spoon. “Now who mentioned me punchin Arnie?”
The girl blew on the gumbo before tasting it and nodding in approval. “Well, I didn’t even know who you’d hit I was just told that you were seen- That you-” Buffy sighed. “Remember that weird guy I told you about? The one at the library with the- the bleach job and the attitude and the blue eyes? Well I finally talked to him today, like we actually had a conversation and um… When I told him I was your granddaughter he started laughing about when he saw you punch some guy. He thought I knew. He said that you had a hell of a right hook.” Buffy mumbled the rest.
Anne was silent for a minute before a proud grin appeared on her face. Then she just shook her head and went back to stirring the gumbo.
“Why are you smiling like that?”
“Like what?”
“Don’t give me that,” Buffy said. “I know that smile, I’ve seen that smile. Why do you look all… all…”
“All what, sugar?”
“All proud and like you know something. C’mon Grams, I know it’s not just cause you’re happy this guy complimented you on your fighting skills.” Buffy placed her hands on her hips.
Her Grams turned to her, the smile never wavering. “So you talked to him, huh?”
Buffy blushed again then nodded, avoiding eye contact. “Y-Yes. We talked.”
Anne nodded. “A’right. Now you just go on and wash up for dinner.”
“Wai- What?” Buffy frowned, confused by the abrupt change. “Go and-”
“Go put your things away and wash up for dinner. The gumbo’s just ‘bout done now, I’ll set the table.”
When the teenager didn’t move Anne took a hand towel and swatted her granddaughter’s butt a couple of times in lighthearted reprimand. “What’re ya just standing there for, put yer bag and jacket back in yer room. Go on now.”
Buffy left with her things, a frown still marring her features. She was sure her Grams would’ve asked more questions, grilled some details out of her about Spike. But the older woman hadn’t even asked his name.
Odd.
><
Anne finished setting the kitchen table and poured some spicy gumbo into the two bowls set out. She smiled to herself once again, thinking about what her granddaughter had told her.
She’d known Buffy had a crush, or at least an INTEREST in somebody, and Anne figured it was the strange man who lived in town and whose name was known by no one.
She also knew that if she asked too many questions about him, Buffy would shy away from her possible budding feelings and over think things. And while the girl might do that all on her own anyhow, Anne didn’t want to have a part in messing with anything.
She’d want Elizabeth to make her own choices, even if they were possibly risky, rather than scare her away from making any at all.
><
Buffy tore off her jeans and slipped into a heavy pair of sweat pants. She took her hair down and went to the bathroom, looking in the mirror at herself after she closed the door.
She looked less tired than usual. It was strange, seeing her reflection filled with just a day’s wear rather than exhaustion. The circles under her eyes weren’t as defined, and was that a little grin on her face?
No. Now that couldn’t be, could it? She was only thinking about her night, only remembering the time at the library, when she’d talked to stranger-guy. Someone who wasn’t much of a stranger anymore.
Buffy sighed and went to take off the little makeup she had on. She’d actually really enjoyed talking to Spike; she’d had fun tonight with someone again. It was nice. The conversations shared weren’t awkward and there had been no strain. His smile was infectious, his laugh warm and nice to listen to, his accent deadly.
There was something very different about Spike. Asides from all that black and the platinum hair, which okay Buffy had to admit looked pretty good on him. But no, that’s not what she was talking about. There was something unusual about him, he acted differently in ways. She couldn’t put her finger on it.
For one the guy never came in earlier than six o’clock, he always had the same books that he went over- Well, most of the time. Sometimes he grabbed something different but not usually, and then of course there was just an air of edge around him, something almost- No, not almost. Definitely. Something that was DEFINIETLY dangerous, and yet Buffy wasn’t the least bit afraid of him. And there was a layer of emotion so deep in his crystalline eyes whenever she looked at him that she knew he wasn’t like anyone she’d ever met before. She had a feeling that this man had lived lifetimes, and felt every emotion in the book.
Buffy sighed again as she dried her skin with a washcloth and applied some moisturizer. What she was feeling and why she kept thinking about him even now that she’d left the library, she didn’t know. All she knew was that she liked him, the rudeness she’d once seen in him wasn’t really there tonight. Well, just a little but that was only when John had been asking her out.
Funny how easily Spike had slipped in to help her out with that. She still remembered… “Darling I finally found that book you wanted.”
She smiled to herself. She owed him a thank you for that, even if he had blindsided her with his plan to get John to leave.
“Dinner’s ready, ‘Lizabeth!”
“Coming Grams!”
Buffy yawned and headed to the kitchen.
Maybe tomorrow she’d bring Spike a coffee or something.
[Reviews - 199]
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Chapter or Story |
Chapter or Story | 
Chapter or Story
Has been viewed 2639 times
- Text Size +
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Chapter or Story |
Chapter or Story | Chapter or Story - Text Size +
Author's Chapter Notes:
Hey i know it's been a while, unfortunately RL sucks and i cant manage my time... at all. Which has always been a huge problem for me. But here is chapter 8, and i promise I wont leave this story unfinished!
Chapter End Notes:
What did you think? Did I make you go AWWWW at Spike and his kitten? I hope so because i awwed a couple of times just at the image...
Review please! :)
Review please! :)