Jan 24, 2008 10:32
Season 5
Spuffy, of course
Buffy finds answers in the handbook.
Unbeated
Buffy grabbed the Slayer handbook from where Giles had left it on the table. Maybe in there she would find the answers she was looking for to defeat Glory. Buffy opened the book, and she started to leaf through the pages.
Buffy shook her head to clear it when the thought of her blond pain in the ass vampire flitted through her mind. She knew her feelings towards Spike were slowly changing. Ever since he'd shown her Riley with the vamp whores she had felt a kinship with the bleached blond.
Enough of that, Buffy thought. Concentrate on Glory.
A glint of light further along in the handbook caught the Slayer's attention. She turned to the page, and she was surprised to find what looked like a diary entry from the last year in the fourteenth century.
The Slayer Sabina in Krostoma, Russia. Watcher: William Winters.
Every All Hallow's Eve our village performs the Dance of the Blue Cat. Nana always said a girl dancing this dance might get lucky enough to meet her true love. I certainly did, but there's one huge problem...
He's a vampire!!
My dancing was interrupted with the need to go fight a demon terrorizing one of the sheep herds. Near the end of the battle, a man stepped out of the shadows. Even as my senses told me his true nature, my breath stopped and my heart raced at his beauty.
He complimented me on my fighting, and then he issued a death threat. He informed me that he was Marcus of Aurelius, like that was supposed to mean something to me.
Buffy gasped at the clan name. She had studied the Aurelian clan history with Giles because of her close association with so many members of said clan. She didn't remember a Marcus, but there was that blackened spot in the records that Giles had been puzzled about. Buffy went back to her reading.
November 12, 1399
I'm still alive despite Marcus' attempts on my life. Two since we've met on All Hallow's Eve. He's unlike any demon I've ever met. He's brash, impulsive, and is the best fighter I've ever seen. He could have taken me in our first fight. I certainly faltered, but William showed up with a weapon. Marcus chose to run away rather than continue fighting. It was all very confusing.
Sounds familiar. Buffy smiled to herself. But how did she know he was her true love. He's an evil vampire. She continued to read with fascination despite the fact that what she was reading had nothing to do with defeating Glory.
November 30, 1399
Today was the day the girls that participated in the Dance of the Blue Cat discussed with the village priestess who their true love seemed to be. I was apprehensive about telling my Nana about Marcus, but she didn't seem all that surprised. I soon learned that Nana knew things about the Slayers that William never even hinted at.
It seems that while most vampires avoid the Slayer at all costs, there are a select few that seek her out. Usually to fight, but sometimes it ends up being more. I wanted to learn more, but my attentions were distracted by my duty. I had to travel that night to a Hellmouth several hundred miles away. I never saw my Nana again.
"I want to know more too," Buffy whispered. "Pretty sure Giles would have mentioned Slayer/vamp relationships if the Council approved." She remembered their disapproval of her affair with Angel, and he had a soul. Travers would have a cow if she got together with Spike.
February 23, 1400 The Hungarian Hellmouth
Marcus is the most persistent of vampires. He followed me here, and we've fought several more times. Yes, he continues to be quite undusty, just as I continue to be quite alive. One of the fights was interrupted by a huge demon with poisonous spikes in its knuckles. It was an easy battle with Marcus by my side.
Another time Marcus seemed so sad, I didn't have the heart to stake him. I found out that he when was turned, his sire killed all that remained of his human family. I found it odd yet exhilarating to realized that vampires can still love. Maybe there's hope for us after all.
Of course, soon after that we fought again. This time I didn't miss my mark, but he didn't dust. He healed instantly because he was wearing some special ring which I took from him. William sent it to the Hellmouth in California, where it'll be hidden away. William said the Council couldn't be trusted with this knowledge, but he did make reference to the ring in a manuscript.
Gem of Amara. So that's how it got here to Sunnydale. Buffy rolled her eyes at the memory of Spike's jaunt in the sunshine.
April 2, 1400
Marcus kissed me today. It was like heaven and hell. I am still confused. He is not normal! There will be no children with him, but the passion I feel makes that all seem unimportant. All I want to do is crawl on his lap to plan our marriage ceremony.
William is disappointed in me. He told me to read my handbook. Imagine my surprise when I turned to a certain page and found what appeared to be diary entries by a Slayer that lived centuries ago. These entries chronicled her epic love affair with a vampire. Their tale sounded so similar to Marcus and myself it could have been our story. What started out as mortal enemies has become reluctant allies. I'm sure that soon we will be lovers.
"Hey, Slayer. Whatcha readin'?" Spike's voice sounded beside Buffy's ear.
"Don't sneak up on me like that." Buffy put one hand on her heart. "You risk getting up close and personal with Mr. Pointy when you do.
"Promises, promises, luv." Spike sat across the table from Buffy. "Now, whatcha readin'?"
Buffy gave a huff. "The Slayer's handbook. Giles thought there might be something that could help with Glory."
"What the bloody hell did the the Wankers tell you?"
Buffy studied the bleached blond vampire for a moment before she decided to trust him. If he was going to help protect her mom and Dawn, he needed to understand what they were dealing with. Even as she opened her mouth to speak, Buffy wondered if she should let him know about Dawn, too. "Glory's a Hell-God. That's how she beat the crap out of me."
"What?" Spike's jaw dropped quite literally. He leaned forward. "Buffy, how can you defeat a god? I admit you're the best Slayer I've ever met, but you're still only human."
"I know that, Spike," Buffy snapped. She felt sorry the minute the words left her mouth. "Sorry," she mumbled.
Spike raised an eyebrow in astonishment. Had the Slayer just apologized to him? For a change, he sat back, and didn't push like he normally would. He waited patiently for Buffy to tell him more about what she was reading.
"Giles had me read the Slayer handbook." Buffy held the book up. "He thought there might be something to help us, but all I've found so far is about a Slayer from 1400 talking about some relative of yours called Marcus." She wasn't sure she wanted to tell Spike how Sabina was talking about Marcus though.
"1400, you say?" Spike rubbed his lips with one finger as he thought.
Buffy watched as the finger in question stroked back and forth across the vampire's mouth. She remembered how soft and cool Spike's lips had felt while under Willow's spell.
"When I was a fledge, I heard a rumor, legend of sorts," Spike said thoughtfully. "I was gatherin' anything I could find on Slayers, and one of the bat-faced gits' oldest minions mentioned that an Aurelian vamp named Marcus died closing a Hellmouth with a Slayer. I always figured he tried to open it, and she stopped him."
"I don't think so," Buffy replied. "I think they were involved." She blushed. She couldn't believe she was having this kind of conversation with Spike after all.
Spike moved a chair closer to Buffy. "Involved how, pet?"
"Involved involved." Buffy glanced down at the book. "The 'parting of dimpled knees for a second go' involved."
"Interesting," Spike chuckled. He couldn't believe Buffy would voluntarily say anything about the whold Amara fiasco. "How'd they meet?"
"Nice work, luv. Kill you on Saturday." Buffy gave a wary chuckle. "Apparently Marcus was as bad on the follow through as you."
Inwardly Spike lifted his fist in triumph at the Slayer's teasing. Maybe he could get a bit closer without any damage to his body or his psyche.
"He had the Gem, but she took it away. Sound familiar?"
"Yeah." Spike moved another chair closer to Buffy. "So, they down and dirty yet, luv?" he asked in a suggestive voice.
"No! God, you have a dirty mind." Buffy tapped the book. "Sabina just found a reference to an older Slayer and vamp couple when you interrupted."
"Keep reading, Slayer." Spike inched closer.
Buffy rolled her eyes again, but went ahead and spoke aloud.
April 2, 1400 continued
The Slayer's name was Diane, and the vampire went by Claudius. It appears he too was an Aurelian. They met, they fought, they became allies over a common enemy, and eventually they became more. They lived for several years as lovers before the faced an opponent they couldn't beat. Together they lured their foe into the Hellmouth, closing it behind them, thus stopping the apocalypse.
"Why couldn't we lure Glory into the Hellmouth?" Buffy asked. "She knows I have her Key, but she doesn't know what it is. We could pretend to be guarding it. Then, drop the fake into the Hellmouth."
"A Key?" Spike asked in surprise
Buffy looked up to find Spike sitting very close to her. "Yes, monks gave it to me." Her eyes darted around the deserted Magic box. "It's something very precious to me. I will die before I let Glory have her."
Spike noticed Buffy's slip, came to his own right conclusions, and silently vowed to protect the Key at the cost of his own life too. "Call the Scoobs, luv. We have some plannin' to do and a key to protect."
"Spike?" Buffy licked her dry lips. "Thanks..." She reached out to cup his face. "...for everything."
Spike couldn't stop himself from kissing Buffy. He closed the distance between them, and he covered her mouth with his own. Spike felt masculine pride when Buffy gave him a moan of aroused contentment.
"Bloody Hell. Do I need to worry about my eyes again?"
Buffy pulled away from Spike slowly. "It's okay, Giles. You're safe from mystical blindness. The handbook was a real help. Spike and I have a plan."
"To snog until the apocalypse?" Giles pulled his glasses off, and he squeezed the bridge of his nose.
"No, silly." Buffy giggled. "Although that sounds like fun. I meant how to get rid of Glory, and protect the Key. Call the Scoobies, Giles. We need to talk. She turned back to the silent Spike. "Can we kiss till they get here?"
Spike nodded his head in mute surprise. He didn't know what was happening exactly, but he wasn't going to jinx it by talking. Snogging was a much better idea anyway.