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SUMMARY: Buffy is forced into a prophecy involving Spike. Can they both survive it?
DIST/ARCHIVE: Ask first
DISCLAIMER: Buffy, Spike, and co. don't belong to me, they belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: This version has been toned down from it's original NC-17 version for the purpose of posting it on this site. However, it still uses bad language and mature subjects and so is rated PG-15, please read at your own discretion.
After convincing Spike to leave the room so she could get dressed, the two mortal enemies made their way out into the fading day. The plan was to retrieve Spike's things from the house before his minions were running around, then eat and go on patrol. Buffy really wasn't looking forward to the second thing.
As the two entered the bedroom, Buffy froze and stared at the handcuffs lying on the nightstand. This time, however, she didn't allow the feelings to overwhelm her. Instead, she pocketed the cuffs. They'd come in handy some day.
Spike began shoving his own clothes into a bag while Buffy snooped around the rest of the room. In the closet, she found a large amount of men's clothing that must have belonged to the owner of the house. She picked up another bag and packed it to bring with them. No sense in having Spike wear the same things every day.
He grabbed his car keys and cocked his head at her. "Ready, pet?"
"Let's fly," Buffy said, slinging the bag over her shoulder. The left, driving his car back to her house. The sun had just started to sink in the horizon and the vampires would be coming out of their hiding places soon. After dropping off his stuff, they went to eat at a fast food restaurant, where the Slayer had the combo meal and Spike had the person who took out the trash behind the building.
"How do you want to do this?" Buffy asked between bites. Spike sat across from her, drinking a Mountain Dew. She wondered if giving caffeine to a vampire who was normally wound up was a good idea.
"Do what, ducks?" Spike said.
"My patrol," she replied. "Are you going to help? Or just stand and watch?"
"The second, unless you get in trouble," he answered. "I'm not interested in becoming another Angelus."
"I figured as much," she said before changing the subject. "So, how was your first day in the sun?"
"Sunglasses are going to be a necessity," Spike replied. "And I didn't get to spend nearly as much time outside as I wanted to."
"Why not?"
"Because of this bloody bond," he said. "I was fine for about an hour, then the pain returned. It bites."
"Well I'm not Miss Merry Sunshine about this whole thing, either," Buffy said. "It's your fault we're in this mess, so deal."
Spike growled at her. "Whatever. Can we go?"
"Antsy much?"
"Piss off."
*****
After a non-eventful patrol, Buffy led Spike to the Bronze. They entered the semi-crowded teen hangout and the Slayer went immediately to Willow's side. Spike hung back, surveying the club. He noticed several females checking him out and he shot them a sexy grin.
"Hey, guys," Buffy said, sitting on the couch next to her two best friends.
"Buffster," Xander greeted. "Did you lose the stiff?"
"I wish," she replied. "He's probably terrorizing someone in the alley."
"And you're down with this?"
"No. But I can't stop him," she said. "If he dies, I die, remember? Ok, enough with the depressing talk. I'm here to have fun."
"This is a big change from this morning," Willow commented. "Not that change is bad...in fact, it's good as changes go."
"Willow, I'm repressing. Now, let's go dance." Buffy pulled on Willow and Xander's hands, dragging them to the dance floor. The jumped around for several songs before needing to take a break.
"Anyone want a drink?" Buffy asked. They both nodded and she went over to the counter. By the time she returned, she could feel the slight pain of the bond acting up. "This is going to get old, really fast," she said, unknowingly echoing Spike's sentiment from earlier in the day.
"What is?" Willow said.
"This bond thingy," Buffy replied. "Spike found out today that it's not only distance, but time that causes pain."
"How long?"
"About an hour, according to him," she answered. Willow nodded, sipping her drink.
"Does that mean Junior will show up and ruin our fun?" Xander said.
Buffy winced and rubbed her side. "Any minute now."
But it wasn't Spike who joined them. It was Faith. "Hey, guys!"
"Faith! How goes it?" Xander asked, moving his feet so she could sit on the table across from them.
"I'm five by five," Faith replied. "How about you three?"
"Same old, same old" Xander said. "Vampires, prophecies and death."
Faith arched her eyebrow at him. "Anything I should know?"
Buffy was about to reply when the pain in her side suddenly stopped. She looked over Faith's shoulder and saw Spike leaning casually against a support beam a few feet away, glaring at her. She noticed Faith tense up, then turn her head. She spotted Spike and was calculating how to get him outside when Buffy spoke.
"'Bout time you came back," Buffy said to him.
"You know, I once told Dru you were the thorn in my bloody side. I could have sworn I was speaking figuratively," Spike responded.
"Uh, B?" Faith said. "You know this guy?"
"Unfortunately," Buffy said. "Faith, Spike. Spike, Faith. Don't kill each other."
"Spike? William the Bloody? No shit," Faith said, returning her gaze to the vampire in question.
Spike grinned wickedly at her. "Why can't I kill her, pet?"
"Because if you do, I'll slice you open and use your spleen as a paperweight," Buffy said sweetly.
"And the glove is thrown, ladies and gents," he said with laugh. He shifted and let his eyes roam around the club again. His relaxed pose was belaying to the coiled hyperness inside. He was itching for some action. "Can we get out of here?"
"No," Buffy answered, then turned the conversation to her friends, ignoring him.
Spike growled, spinning on his heels to put distance between the two of them. This time, it would be her coming to him to relieve the pain from their bond. He left the Bronze and found one of his minions feeding in the alley. Smiling, Spike launched himself at the other vampire, glad for the distraction of a good fight. He didn't notice the second vampire watching him from the shadows.
*****
Buffy pressed a fist into her side, looking around for Spike. "He's doing this to be hateful," she said to her friends. After the vampire had left, she filled in Faith on the prophecy and got her promise not to kill him, but gave her permission to beat him as much as she liked.
Standing, she slid her coat on and said good-bye to her friends. "I'm going to find him, smack him around a little, then patrol. Faith, would you play escort?"
"Sure, B," Faith answered.
"Thanks. See you two in school tomorrow. Too bad Spike's not photogenic, because I'm betting even money that it's going to be a Kodak day," she said before leaving.
After a quick search of the club, Buffy went outside. Spike had to be nearby, or the pain would be a lot more severe because of the distance. This was a time pain. It was funny how easily she could tell the difference. She rounded the corner to see her unwanted partner fly through the air and hit the wall with a sickening thud.
"Spike!" Buffy exclaimed, running to his side. Blood coated the side of his face from several cuts.
He shook his head, grinned at her with his blue eyes dancing, then looked over her shoulder. "Scuse me, luv. I'm wanted."
Buffy whirled, coming up into her fighting position. She gasped when she saw who Spike's attacker was. "Angel!"
"Buffy, what are you doing?" Angel asked, his game face evident and also covered with blood.
Before she could answer, Spike leapt at his sire, returning to battle. "Spike! Stop it!" When he didn't listen, she tried to physically get in between the two. It wasn't until Angel hit her, sending her spinning to the ground that they halted the fight.
"Buffy!" Angel dropped immediately to her side.
"Good going, you stupid sod," Spike said, resting his hands on his knees. He was giddy from the good fight, and would love the chance to give it another go.
"Shut up, Spike," Angel hissed. His face morphed back to its human features as he touched Buffy's cheek where he'd hit her.
"That was fun," Buffy said, moving her jaw back and forth. "Not."
"What did you think you were doing?" Angel asked her.
"Stopping you guys before one of you got hurt," she replied, sitting up. "You can't kill him, and I don't want him to kill you."
"I wasn't about to kill your precious nancyboy," Spike told her, wiping his bloody mouth on his sleeve. "Just bloody him up a bit."
She ignored him and turned her attention to Angel. "I take it you heard."
"Willow told me," Angel answered.
"Then you know that you can't kill him."
"That doesn't mean I can't hurt him. Severely."
"With what army, you wanker?" Spike said.
"Measure it later," Buffy told them, climbing to her feet. "Now, I'm going on patrol. Angel, you're welcome to join me. Spike, you have no choice."
"Oh, I'm definitely coming along," Angel told her, giving Spike a disgusted look. Spike only laughed.
