Blood Match: Chapter Two
Disclaimer: All characters related to Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the products of their creator, Joss Whedon and his company Mutant Enemy. I only own original characters and plot lines.
Gives You Hell:
Humans. Spike stared at the TV wishing the little brunette next to him would just say something. She had such wide green eyes and they were so unnerving. He’d been pretty surprised when she’d returned after the day he’d saved her, a week’s supply of pig’s blood in her hands. She’d wanted to repay him, the stupid notion of a little girl, but he wasn’t one to turn away free food. He’d taken it, expecting her to never come back again. But there she was one week later, carrying the same amount, with the same sad smile on her face. But this time she’d brought his brand of cigarettes, something that really threw him. Emma was an observant little human; he’d give her that.
“ Back again love? You know, you’re particularly stupid for a mortal” he’d only slightly enjoyed her smile falter.
“ Most would say rude too, but I’m working on that” She had handed him the bag and began to walk off.
“ Hold it, how much longer should I expect you to be comin’ round with gift baskets? This isn’t really how it’s supposed to work, you know.”
“ I guess I’ll stop coming when I stop feeling grateful” There that smile was again. He rolled his eyes at her.
“ Go on, get back to your little school. No time to be savin’ your ass today”
After about a month of her drop offs Spike picked up on her pattern and always managed to be around. As much as he hated to admit it, Emma was one of the few talking things, human or demon that he associated with. He rarely went to the local demon bar now a days. Not since he’d killed over 200 hundred of it’s usual customers from the time he had realized he could still hurt demons even with the chip in his head. Violence was what he lived for and he’d kill anything just to get his kicks, even if humans were his specialty.
This girl had a quirky little personality, nothing like the many women he’d met before. Emma always had something to say and even seemed to enjoy his biting sarcasm. It was refreshing. 100 years had gone by and some women still had trouble taking a joke. Emma was startlingly beautiful too, with rich brown hair that fell in soft waves and dark green eyes that never seemed to stop staring at him. She had a tiny frame and while she wasn’t as ‘well endowed’ as he normally liked, she was proportionate. There was something different about her. Something that he just couldn’t name. When he looked at Emma he had the strongest sensation she’d fit perfectly against his chest, her head resting trustingly under his chin. He couldn’t remember the last time he had just held someone close, let alone a human. Now here the little human was, spending the night in his crypt like he was her damn babysitter. If he’d been at peak condition she’d have been dead by then. The whole chip thing really was becoming more then he could bear.
“ Whatever happened to Drusilla?” Great Spike grumbled to himself. Why would she want to talk about Dru?
“ Left me. For a chaos demon.” There, that was all she was going to get out of him.
“ Why?” Now there’s the million-dollar question. How did she do that? How did she manage to continually unnerve him?
“ Dru didn’t love me I guess. Not the way I loved her. Always had a thing for Angel, God knows why” Spike couldn’t keep the venom out of his voice at the thought of that hair gelled poofter.
“Angel?” while the statement wasn’t actually a full question Spike knew what she was after.
“ Dru’s sire. Tortured her till she cracked, he did. Never could understand why. I always said he liked playin’ with his food too much” Emma flinched at his words making Spike feel just a little guilty. But not that much, really.
“What about you, love? What’s your story? If I’m going to sit through all your annoying questions I except somethin’ in return.” There had to be something else they could talk about besides his personal life.
“Not much to say really. Grew up in Illinois with both my parents. Went to school, got older and eventually went to the University of Chicago. I hated it though, something about the place just didn’t seem right. Everything was… well exactly the same as high school. I guess I assumed college would be different. That’s why I transferred here. U of S is where my mom’s sister graduated from.” She stopped talking after that, as if that concluded her entire life story. Now there has to be more to it then that, pet.
“ Is it better here?”
“ No” This caused Spike to smile outright
“ You really are an odd one, ducks. I’ve been alive over 100 hundred years and I’m only just beginning to realize that most things never change. All that bullshit about being an adult and things getting better is just that, bullshit.” Spike would never understand why adults told their children those kinds of lies; it was like Santa Claus, fun while it lasted but soul crushing when you found out. Makes one glad to be soulless.
“ Do you really believe that? Is it easier to grasp the concept now that wasting your life isn’t really an option?”
“ Can’t really waste you’re life if you don’t have one. Being a vampire doesn’t make you live longer, you just exist longer. Big difference there” Spike took another long drag of his cigarette, burning it down to the filter. God did time seem to go slowly the more of it you had. Yet at the same time, his mortal life felt like nothing but a dream.
“I thought you enjoyed being a vampire. What’s with all the bitching?”
“ Hey! Look here missy! I’ve got some blasted piece of machinery in my head. What’s your excuse? What gives you the right to walk ‘round here like some bloody martyr?” Spike glared at her, irritation evident in his pale features. Emma looked away from him.
“ You’re right.” She whispered, “I should be happy” She played with her pajama pants, while her now dejected manner caused Spike to let out an audible sigh
“ Yeah, but you’re not, right? I know how that goes. Had Dru, all the people I could eat, money and I still wasn’t happy. Started killing slayers just for the hell of it, thought maybe a little carnage was what I was missing”
“ Slayer?”
“ ‘Into each generation a slayer is born’. Some stupid little girl who’s destined to fight evil and kill vampires. Even comes equipped with super strength.” A scowl pinched his features, giving him the look of an irritated child as opposed to an ancient vampire.
Emma’s eyes were wide at the thought of such a girl. Someone with a destiny, someone who fought evil and, hell, got to kick ass everyday of her life.
“ That’s amazing” A broad grin replaced the childish scowl on Spike’s face rather quickly. He cracked his knuckles and put his linked fingers behind his head.
“ Yep, killed two of ‘em myself. They were pretty feisty but I drank them dry in the end”
“ No, not that. God you’re egotistical.” Emma gave him a slightly disgusted look “The Slayer, a girl with a destiny to fight evil. Sounds horrible and wonderful at the same time” To have a purpose would be frightening, yet wouldn’t there be comfort in knowing why you existed? Each day would always mean something and no matter how bad things got, it was your responsibility to live to see tomorrow.
“ No one wants that, pet. They always die and it never ends well.” He smirked again, but it was obvious that he was upset by her answer. “ You exist, fighting the good fight, until some big bad like me comes out a nowhere and guts you like a fish.” Leaning down Spike took her chin in his hands, forcing Emma to look him in the eyes. She could feel her cheeks heat as he drew closer to her. “ Vampires don’t just kill slayers, they torture them, bathe in their blood. Make them wish, no, beg for death. That’s…. not for you” Emma and Spike both didn’t know how long they stayed like that, there eyes locked, an air of lonely understanding and subtle attraction passing between them. How was it possible to feel a connection with someone so… cold blooded as Spike? They were more different then night and day. Emma pulled her chin away, and checked the clock on the television.
“It’s three in the morning. I should probably try to get some sleep” Emma stood up and collected her belongings, deciding that going back to her original corner was probably the best idea.
“ Come on. Got a couch down below you can sleep on” Spike stood up and stretched, flexing muscles underneath his black t-shirt. Emma quickly looked down at the ground. Nice.
“ Down below? This place has a second floor?”
“ Not in the original plans, but I managed it” Emma didn’t move from where she stood
“ Can’t I just stay up here? I’ll be leaving around 9:00 anyways. I have classes to get to”
“ Too many people want me dead. I always sleep downstairs with the stone coffin over the opening. Harder to get to.” He stalked over to the coffin he had mentioned and wrenched it to the side. Underneath it was a hole that had more or less been bashed into the floor.
“ You sleep during the night? Isn’t that a little human of you?” still she remained exactly where she was, her back almost against the wall.
“ All the good telly is on during the day. Can’t miss my shows.” Spike said as he started going down the ladder two rungs at a time, causing Emma to smile a little bit a vampire that likes TV? Interesting. After reminding herself that Spike was physically incapable of hurting her and that coming to him had been her only option Emma followed after.
The “second floor” as Spike had called it consisted of a small pull out bar, which looked like it had been stolen right out of the 70s, loaded with more alcohol than Emma had ever seen in one place. He had it all, Jack Daniels, tequila, vodka, gin, you name it and it was there. Against the wall to her right was a black leather couch that must have been stolen recently because it showed minimal signs of wear. Facing it on the opposite side was a large king size bed, which was made, surprisingly enough. Emma headed over to the couch, but quickly realized she couldn’t actually sit down due to a back leather duster that was occupying her spot. She picked it up and headed over to Spike, who stood next to a wooden chest of drawers.
“ Umm… where should I put this? Is there a place I can hang it up?” the jacket smelled really good, a mix of spice, leather and cigarette smoke. Emma was tempted to bury face in it and breathe deeply. Spike took it from her and smiled a little causing Emma to smile back. Spike really was decent for someone who enjoyed killing.
“ Thanks for not sittin’ on it pet, its pretty old. Took it from my second slayer” Spike said, watching as the smile faded from Emma’s face. She turned back around and went to situate herself on the couch.
“ How sentimental of you” She said after she had finished covering herself with the blanket she had brought.
“ That’s not why I keep it! It’s a bloody nice jacket.” He looked indignant as he set the jacket on a hook by his bed.
“ Well, I guess even serial killers have a tendency to collect souvenirs”
“ I am NOT a serial killer. I’m an evil vampire. Completely different” Spike kicked off his boots a little bit more forcefully then he should have, sending one careening into the wall.
“ Whatever” Emma said as she turned to face away from him “ Could you get the lights?”
“ Little snot. Could of killed you… no one would have noticed” She heard him mutter as the room went dark.
Gives You Hell:
Humans. Spike stared at the TV wishing the little brunette next to him would just say something. She had such wide green eyes and they were so unnerving. He’d been pretty surprised when she’d returned after the day he’d saved her, a week’s supply of pig’s blood in her hands. She’d wanted to repay him, the stupid notion of a little girl, but he wasn’t one to turn away free food. He’d taken it, expecting her to never come back again. But there she was one week later, carrying the same amount, with the same sad smile on her face. But this time she’d brought his brand of cigarettes, something that really threw him. Emma was an observant little human; he’d give her that.
“ Back again love? You know, you’re particularly stupid for a mortal” he’d only slightly enjoyed her smile falter.
“ Most would say rude too, but I’m working on that” She had handed him the bag and began to walk off.
“ Hold it, how much longer should I expect you to be comin’ round with gift baskets? This isn’t really how it’s supposed to work, you know.”
“ I guess I’ll stop coming when I stop feeling grateful” There that smile was again. He rolled his eyes at her.
“ Go on, get back to your little school. No time to be savin’ your ass today”
After about a month of her drop offs Spike picked up on her pattern and always managed to be around. As much as he hated to admit it, Emma was one of the few talking things, human or demon that he associated with. He rarely went to the local demon bar now a days. Not since he’d killed over 200 hundred of it’s usual customers from the time he had realized he could still hurt demons even with the chip in his head. Violence was what he lived for and he’d kill anything just to get his kicks, even if humans were his specialty.
This girl had a quirky little personality, nothing like the many women he’d met before. Emma always had something to say and even seemed to enjoy his biting sarcasm. It was refreshing. 100 years had gone by and some women still had trouble taking a joke. Emma was startlingly beautiful too, with rich brown hair that fell in soft waves and dark green eyes that never seemed to stop staring at him. She had a tiny frame and while she wasn’t as ‘well endowed’ as he normally liked, she was proportionate. There was something different about her. Something that he just couldn’t name. When he looked at Emma he had the strongest sensation she’d fit perfectly against his chest, her head resting trustingly under his chin. He couldn’t remember the last time he had just held someone close, let alone a human. Now here the little human was, spending the night in his crypt like he was her damn babysitter. If he’d been at peak condition she’d have been dead by then. The whole chip thing really was becoming more then he could bear.
“ Whatever happened to Drusilla?” Great Spike grumbled to himself. Why would she want to talk about Dru?
“ Left me. For a chaos demon.” There, that was all she was going to get out of him.
“ Why?” Now there’s the million-dollar question. How did she do that? How did she manage to continually unnerve him?
“ Dru didn’t love me I guess. Not the way I loved her. Always had a thing for Angel, God knows why” Spike couldn’t keep the venom out of his voice at the thought of that hair gelled poofter.
“Angel?” while the statement wasn’t actually a full question Spike knew what she was after.
“ Dru’s sire. Tortured her till she cracked, he did. Never could understand why. I always said he liked playin’ with his food too much” Emma flinched at his words making Spike feel just a little guilty. But not that much, really.
“What about you, love? What’s your story? If I’m going to sit through all your annoying questions I except somethin’ in return.” There had to be something else they could talk about besides his personal life.
“Not much to say really. Grew up in Illinois with both my parents. Went to school, got older and eventually went to the University of Chicago. I hated it though, something about the place just didn’t seem right. Everything was… well exactly the same as high school. I guess I assumed college would be different. That’s why I transferred here. U of S is where my mom’s sister graduated from.” She stopped talking after that, as if that concluded her entire life story. Now there has to be more to it then that, pet.
“ Is it better here?”
“ No” This caused Spike to smile outright
“ You really are an odd one, ducks. I’ve been alive over 100 hundred years and I’m only just beginning to realize that most things never change. All that bullshit about being an adult and things getting better is just that, bullshit.” Spike would never understand why adults told their children those kinds of lies; it was like Santa Claus, fun while it lasted but soul crushing when you found out. Makes one glad to be soulless.
“ Do you really believe that? Is it easier to grasp the concept now that wasting your life isn’t really an option?”
“ Can’t really waste you’re life if you don’t have one. Being a vampire doesn’t make you live longer, you just exist longer. Big difference there” Spike took another long drag of his cigarette, burning it down to the filter. God did time seem to go slowly the more of it you had. Yet at the same time, his mortal life felt like nothing but a dream.
“I thought you enjoyed being a vampire. What’s with all the bitching?”
“ Hey! Look here missy! I’ve got some blasted piece of machinery in my head. What’s your excuse? What gives you the right to walk ‘round here like some bloody martyr?” Spike glared at her, irritation evident in his pale features. Emma looked away from him.
“ You’re right.” She whispered, “I should be happy” She played with her pajama pants, while her now dejected manner caused Spike to let out an audible sigh
“ Yeah, but you’re not, right? I know how that goes. Had Dru, all the people I could eat, money and I still wasn’t happy. Started killing slayers just for the hell of it, thought maybe a little carnage was what I was missing”
“ Slayer?”
“ ‘Into each generation a slayer is born’. Some stupid little girl who’s destined to fight evil and kill vampires. Even comes equipped with super strength.” A scowl pinched his features, giving him the look of an irritated child as opposed to an ancient vampire.
Emma’s eyes were wide at the thought of such a girl. Someone with a destiny, someone who fought evil and, hell, got to kick ass everyday of her life.
“ That’s amazing” A broad grin replaced the childish scowl on Spike’s face rather quickly. He cracked his knuckles and put his linked fingers behind his head.
“ Yep, killed two of ‘em myself. They were pretty feisty but I drank them dry in the end”
“ No, not that. God you’re egotistical.” Emma gave him a slightly disgusted look “The Slayer, a girl with a destiny to fight evil. Sounds horrible and wonderful at the same time” To have a purpose would be frightening, yet wouldn’t there be comfort in knowing why you existed? Each day would always mean something and no matter how bad things got, it was your responsibility to live to see tomorrow.
“ No one wants that, pet. They always die and it never ends well.” He smirked again, but it was obvious that he was upset by her answer. “ You exist, fighting the good fight, until some big bad like me comes out a nowhere and guts you like a fish.” Leaning down Spike took her chin in his hands, forcing Emma to look him in the eyes. She could feel her cheeks heat as he drew closer to her. “ Vampires don’t just kill slayers, they torture them, bathe in their blood. Make them wish, no, beg for death. That’s…. not for you” Emma and Spike both didn’t know how long they stayed like that, there eyes locked, an air of lonely understanding and subtle attraction passing between them. How was it possible to feel a connection with someone so… cold blooded as Spike? They were more different then night and day. Emma pulled her chin away, and checked the clock on the television.
“It’s three in the morning. I should probably try to get some sleep” Emma stood up and collected her belongings, deciding that going back to her original corner was probably the best idea.
“ Come on. Got a couch down below you can sleep on” Spike stood up and stretched, flexing muscles underneath his black t-shirt. Emma quickly looked down at the ground. Nice.
“ Down below? This place has a second floor?”
“ Not in the original plans, but I managed it” Emma didn’t move from where she stood
“ Can’t I just stay up here? I’ll be leaving around 9:00 anyways. I have classes to get to”
“ Too many people want me dead. I always sleep downstairs with the stone coffin over the opening. Harder to get to.” He stalked over to the coffin he had mentioned and wrenched it to the side. Underneath it was a hole that had more or less been bashed into the floor.
“ You sleep during the night? Isn’t that a little human of you?” still she remained exactly where she was, her back almost against the wall.
“ All the good telly is on during the day. Can’t miss my shows.” Spike said as he started going down the ladder two rungs at a time, causing Emma to smile a little bit a vampire that likes TV? Interesting. After reminding herself that Spike was physically incapable of hurting her and that coming to him had been her only option Emma followed after.
The “second floor” as Spike had called it consisted of a small pull out bar, which looked like it had been stolen right out of the 70s, loaded with more alcohol than Emma had ever seen in one place. He had it all, Jack Daniels, tequila, vodka, gin, you name it and it was there. Against the wall to her right was a black leather couch that must have been stolen recently because it showed minimal signs of wear. Facing it on the opposite side was a large king size bed, which was made, surprisingly enough. Emma headed over to the couch, but quickly realized she couldn’t actually sit down due to a back leather duster that was occupying her spot. She picked it up and headed over to Spike, who stood next to a wooden chest of drawers.
“ Umm… where should I put this? Is there a place I can hang it up?” the jacket smelled really good, a mix of spice, leather and cigarette smoke. Emma was tempted to bury face in it and breathe deeply. Spike took it from her and smiled a little causing Emma to smile back. Spike really was decent for someone who enjoyed killing.
“ Thanks for not sittin’ on it pet, its pretty old. Took it from my second slayer” Spike said, watching as the smile faded from Emma’s face. She turned back around and went to situate herself on the couch.
“ How sentimental of you” She said after she had finished covering herself with the blanket she had brought.
“ That’s not why I keep it! It’s a bloody nice jacket.” He looked indignant as he set the jacket on a hook by his bed.
“ Well, I guess even serial killers have a tendency to collect souvenirs”
“ I am NOT a serial killer. I’m an evil vampire. Completely different” Spike kicked off his boots a little bit more forcefully then he should have, sending one careening into the wall.
“ Whatever” Emma said as she turned to face away from him “ Could you get the lights?”
“ Little snot. Could of killed you… no one would have noticed” She heard him mutter as the room went dark.