RP LOG with gr8muppetyodin | Back to the land of the living
[Follows THIS]
Riley once again found himself back in his cammos and with Blaise not around to actually interact directly with, he had made good on his promise that Buffy could visit Rory if she kept her distance. The last thing anyone needed was Blaise to show up and him to sense Buffy all over Rory. She was purely a spectator here. As it was, Blaise hadn't been letting anyone, not even Juliette, near Rory. His brother, Logan, had been the only exception and Riley suspected that had something to do with a blood link any way. Luckily, there had still been no random appearances by the other brother, which gave Riley some breathing space.
But now he was standing in the corner like some sort of military bodyguard, making sure Buffy really didn't touch Rory. He didn't exactly expect her too, but you never really knew with Buffy. He was about to make some sort of small talk when the view they were getting was nothing but Rory asleep on a hospital bed, when his pager went off. Cursing softly, Riley unclipped it from his belt and read the message with a small roll of his eyes. "Some Christian is out near the Eiffel Tower screaming about vampire invasion and scaring the tourists. I've got to go. Hopefully they have them locked up by the time we have to step in..." He hesitated before he left. "Not even a finger, Buffy," he warned and pointed to Rory before he disappeared and left Buffy alone with the Scotsman.
Buffy had never felt more self-conscious about touching someone before than right now. She hadn't really even considered touching Rory while he was lying there unconscious, but now the seed was planted and the thought just kept growing and growing. She would have maybe held a hand. Just as a comfort thing. She was hardly going to start kissing Rory, or trying to ride him. That was behind her. She looked at him as she pulled her mouth to the side and snorted. "Now we're the old married couple where the wife has to get kept away by military restraint. Nice, huh? I don't know about you, buddy, but I'm just gonna be sitting here minding my own business and not touching you at all. No touching. Noooo touching."
"Bollocks... you so want to, lassie," came the hoarse, rough response as Rory cracked his eyes open a little and turned his head to smirk indulgently at her. "My god, I thought he would never leave. Talk about cramping a man's style," he added and pulled himself stiffly up on the pillows a little more and brushed the front of his hospital gown primly. "I cannae believe they have me in green."
Buffy's heart kick started, but she managed not to yelp in surprise at the sudden sound of the Scottish accent. She smirked back at him as she pointed. "Clearly they're under the impression all Celts are the same. You're Scottish, so that must mean you like green like the Irish. I mean, even I'm not that stupid. Also, so don't want to touch you. So you can put your own hand on your bollocks. How long have you been awake? Are you okay? Are you all... less with the angry? Oh, hey, maybe they put you in green because you kept Hulking out."
Rory gave her a Look. "All Celts are not the same, nor will we ever be the same. Scottish blood is far superior to Irish blood and we have been around longer. Our ancestors took down English royalty. Any country who invented Guinness should be universally steralised anyway." His head was fuzzy and he really wasn't exactly sure where he was. He had a vague recognition of it, and those army blokes really needed to get a life. No way would Rory be seen out in public dressed like this, so he wasn't going anywhere. He sniffed slightly. "I dinnae know what you're talking about," he said, raising an eyebrow at her.
Buffy's eyes narrowed slightly as she took in the way Rory moved and the way he spoke. He still sounded like Rory only... he was Blaise-ified. She raised her own eyebrow at him in return. "Don't know, or would prefer to distance yourself from such... common behaviour? Like I said, I know Scottish and Irish are different. I've been incredibly supportive of the Scots and all things kilted. You still didn't answer my questions, Rory. Are you okay? How long have you been awake? You really don't like Riley, do you?"
Rory was looking around for some sort of normal clothing. If he didn't get out of this cheap gown soon, he might need to strangle himself with the IV pole. His hand came up to his throat and his fingers traced along the vein there. Strange, that above all else, that was what he remembered the clearest. Being fed on by Kindred, it didn't hurt. Quite the opposite, in fact. Thank god they didn't leave unsighly scars, though. The skin on his throat was smooth, not a trace of evidence there. He started to peel the pads from the heart monitor off his chest as he sat up on the side of the bed. Probably not a good idea. Things hurt... a lot. But he was sick of lying in bed pretending to be half dead. "Why wouldnae I like him. He has an air of charm about him. Where's Blaise?" he asked casually, more than aware that the Kindred Prince wasn't in the room. "I'm fine. Where did you get that shirt from? It really does nothing for you, love."
"Now you're the fashion expert? I got it from your wardrobe," she teased with a smirk. "But feel free to take me out shopping when you're completely a hundred percent. I'm sure I'll really benefit from all your sudden knowledge. There's nothing wrong with my shirt, okay? At least it's not green and my ass isn't hanging out." Buffy got up to move over to the bedside drawers next to Rory and opened them up to see if some clothing was stashed in there. She couldn't even remember what had happened to his stuff. "You said he was cramping your style. How else was I suppose to take that comment? Blaise is off doing secret Blaise business. He doesn't exactly give me his itinerary."
"Are you saying something is wrong with my arse, Slayer?" Rory asked arrogantly. "It isnae like you havenae seen it all before. Oh, hallelujah I dinnae have amnesia with that. Some memories should just never be tainted." He watched her at the drawers. "They arenae going to be there. I was nearly torn apart. The clothing will be long gone. Nay a moment too soon, either. I'm sure I must have spent the last ten years of my life in a haze of horrific clothing choices. But that will get better. As soon as I figure out how to get out of here without causing a military orgy. Business. Hm. He's been here. Dinnae ask me how I know, I just do. I have no urge to suck your blood though, so we're already off to a good start."
Buffy snorted. "Well, that's good. Because as much as I know I annoy the shit out of him, I'm still not sure he's okay with the idea of others sucking on my blood. And you need to stop calling me Slayer. Pretty soon I'm retiring. I won't be the Slayer. Or a Slayer. No Slayer. Okay, Mr Buchanan? And no, nothing was ever wrong with your ass. I actually quite like your ass but I'm trying to stay out of trouble here. And hey, guess Blaise doesn't just suck and run after all. Here you go, one expensive care package..." Buffy tossed a label t-shirt, boxers and expensive looking sweatpants onto the bed next to Rory. "So now you're like a Blaise radar?"
Rory looked between her and the clothing and then back again. "I thought your lesbian BFF was the witch, now you're pulling CK's finest from thin air?" He picked up the shirt, studying it for a moment in scrutiny. It was new. That was a plus, to say the least. He had to stop though when the side of his chest throbbed with a bolt of pain. He pressed his hand against it with a soft hiss of pain that accompanied a small dizzy spell. He wasn't completely well, that much was evident. "Retiring, aye? Let me guess. You decided to become my bitch instead? Nay a radar, I can just feel that he has marked me. I can feel him inside me. Hell, that sounded totally gay. Still, if I was going to go cock for anyone, it would be Blaise."
"Because he's the best of the best, right? Blaise has already said he doesn't prefer cock. He's had sex with guys, but still prefers women. Still, the idea of you and him is totally hot. But you need to find your own tall, dark and handsome Kindred, okay? I'm still trying to prove that he's the one for me. Unless you are his true love... then I need to be able to step aside and let him be happy. At least that's what Riley said. Would you really have me as a bitch? Aren't you a lone Scottish wolf?" Buffy shrugged as she looked at Rory with concern to see if the pain was going to pass or not. "I'd help you but I'm under strict instructions not to touch."
"Are you saying you wouldnae step aside if he found his true love? That's just cruel. Laddie is already functioning with the whole fangy thing. There are people who want him dead to take his spot. I cannae imagine finding someone would be easy. And nay because he's the best of the best. I dinnae know why." It was honest. Rory really didn't know why, beyond the fact there was just some sort of connection there. A weird connection that he didn't understand, but he couldn't avoid it either. "Even the most awesome people need a good fuck, so aye, I'd have you as my bitch. At least you know your way around my cock. Strict instructions nay to touch? Oh-kayy then..." he said with a raise of his eyebrows as he wondered if she was the crazy one here.
Buffy pointed her thumb at the door behind her. "Ask Riley about that one. I'm not even supposed to be near you. No one is. Blaise won't even let Julie--" Buffy bit her lip before the name escaped completely. Truth was she wasn't entirely sure if Rory would hulk out or not. "Anyone in here. Just him, and maybe Riley. Oh, and Logan. Way to bury the lead, by the way. You have brothers and don't even tell us? It was a big shock." Not quite as big as finding out Logan also had a Kindred lover, but she wasn't going to be the one to share that surprise with Rory. "I said I would step out of the way, but I guess your new high class listening isn't actually any better than ordinary hearing. Just has a better label. I'd be your bitch any day, baby, but I really am just trying to stay out of trouble."
Rory caught the near slip of the name and he just looked at her, his expression unreadable. When she continued, his brothers being brought into the subject, his face didn't change even then. "You never asked," he said calmly and managed to stand up, even if he was leaning against the side of the bed as he still held his side. He felt like he had been hit by a rather large bus. Or was hungover without first being drunk. Lying down would probably be a good idea, only they would have to shove another needle in his arse to get him to lie in that hospital again. He needed nicer sheets and better decor. This just sucked. "Actually, you didnae say you would step out of the way, you said you would need to, not that you would. So dinnae be insulting my hearing, Summers."
"You picked that up, huh?" Buffy asked as she gave him a mischievous look. "But yeah, I would step aside. I'm not that much of a bitch to stop Blaise getting what he wants if he does find it elsewhere. He deserves to find his happy. I didn't ask about siblings because I thought it was a given. Or might have followed up after the me telling you I had a sister. You know, sharing the similar bits of information? He's hot, you know. Logan. Makes me wonder what number three looks like. You boys should've been locked up. No one is safe around all that hotness." This time she did step in and took the t-shirt out of his hand. "Alright, alright. I'll help. Not like I haven't seen it all before, right? Besides, pretty sure Blaise wouldn't forgive me either way. It's either not help and watch you face-plant the floor, or help and just risk him smelling me all over you."
"A's in Afghanistan. If he comes back withoot his face blown off, aye, 'course he'll be hot. He's a Buchanan," Rory replied stiffly. These injuries were really cramping his style. It was hard to be awesome when everything hurt. "Logan can deal with him-fucking-self. I dinnae care. I certainly dinnae want him here touching me. For the record, I dinnae want your sister here touching me either. You know, just to share like information." He had both hands resting on the side of the bed now, bracing his weight. His chest hurt and his head hurt. So did his arm, but this was easier than trying to stand for too long. He realised he wasn't aware of exactly what injuries he had, just that there was some.
Buffy was still watching him a little like she was scared he might break apart into separate body pieces at any second. "I don't want my sister here touching you either, so we're even on that front. Dawn is... eighteen, but still trouble. She's better off well away from all of this for now. Are you sure you're okay to get dressed, or even stand? That green tinge to your skin might not just be a reflection from the lovely hospital gown. You really wouldn't let your brother take care of you?"
Rory knew that getting out of the gown was an impossibility, let alone trying to get into the new clothing. If he tried to reach up to release the ties on the gown, he would be in more agony than he already was. "Dinnae worry. I'm nay going to barf on you. There willnae be anything in me to come oot." He really wanted to read those medical records of his at the end of his bed to find out what the hell had happened to him, but he knew he wasn't going to like what was in there. Not at all. "Nay, I wouldnae. He shouldnae even be here, and willnae be for too much longer once I speak to him."
Buffy pressed her lips together but kept quiet as she tried to focus on Rory's gown instead. She leaned over to find the ties for him and held one between her fingers as she arched her eyebrow. "Speak now, or forever hold your peace, Braveheart. Either you want out of this, or I'll leave you in it until the big men with guns come back and try and help you instead. Or I could get Airlie. Would she be better? And hey, I'm not scared about puke. I'm more scared of you just falling apart on me."
"Do it. Just take it easy. I have no fecking clue what is injured." Rory let out a slow breath. He had been in pain before, but this had to be taking the cake. "Why the hell is Airlie here? She's supposed to be back hame taking care of Wee Willy. She shouldnae be here. It's too intense for her. Those army arseholes can kiss my arse. Fucking military," he said, pressing his lips together in annoyance.
"There's the Rory Buchanan I know," Buffy murmured as she gave him a smile before tugging on the cord. "Now just close your eyes and think of big breasts, swords, and tartan. She's here because you nearly died, Rory. That's why. She's your best friend. She wanted to be with you. And I think Juliette has some kinda lady vampire school planned for her, but I'm not really sure. Did you know there was an Emmeline? I didn't. She's pretty intimidating. And a supermodel. So you make fun of my shirt now, but I bet she'd just set it on fire with her eyeballs. How am I supposed to... well, not compete. But stand next to these sorts of women and not feel like I just came from the latest Hobo Fashion Week?" Buffy took a step back again and gently gripped the edge of the gown so she could pull it down over Rory's arms. "Do you not remember anything?"
Rory glanced at her, his face scrunched up a little. "What the feck's an Emmeline? Just so long as Juliette isnae teaching Airlie how to treat laddies, I dinnae care." What he actually wanted to do was bitch out the person who had taken his underwear off. Couldn't a guy have a little modesty when he was comatose? It wasn't like they would have to defib his cock. Well, if the CCTV in his room was working, they were about to get a hell of a view. "I dinnae even know what you're talking aboot, but if you're referring to Juliette, you're a hundred times the woman she is. Trust me on that." He paused and exhaled sharply. "I remember everything."
Buffy set the gown on the bed before she tried not to look at Rory's naked body too much, but right then she was trying to work out the best way to help him into the silk boxers that had been provided. She took them in hand as she crouched down and opened them up for Rory to step into. All the while her head was slightly turned so she was just looking under the bed rather than right up at anything that could poke her eye out. "How can you say that when you know what I did? Everyone makes mistakes. What makes mine any better? Emmeline's like the closest thing Blaise has to a daughter, but Juliette sired her. You missed a lot while you were here. And just ignore me, I'm mostly rambling. It's not like I can ask you how your coma was, is it? And I wasn't sure if you'd want to talk about what happened."
"You're nay Kindred. Seriously. I'm fecking done. I cannae take anymore of it. Airlie aside, I've just... reached my Kindred quota. As lovely as I'm sure they can be, I dinnae need any of this. What I need is a new car, and maybe a new wardrobe, I think. I like Paris, too... I think. I feel like I like Paris." Rory was confused, and even as the words came out of his mouth, they felt weird. Right, but weird. "I like you, Buffy. I trust you. You havenae hurt me. That's what's different."
Buffy was listening as she tugged up Rory's boxers, careful to keep her hands near his hips. She figured he could always tuck himself in better if he needed to. She crouched down again, this time with the sweatpants. Even Buffy was tempted to steal them. They were soft, and light. They felt like they'd keep Rory warm without making him overheat. She was more careful about where the waistband of them sat, though. Making sure she didn't sit it across any wounds. "Well, at least you trust me. That's something. I know I'm not completely deficient at earning trust. Blaise saved you from yourself. He hasn't purposefully hurt you either. Well, okay. It probably was on purpose. I mean, you can't drain someone without hurting them, right? Although a Kindred bite isn't really much with the pain so maybe that's just the exception... Again, ignore me. You don't have the energy to go shopping for a new car and wardrobe right now. Maybe you can just go shopping online. Do you even have the money for a new car? This might also just be a phase for a while. So don't go doing anything too crazy. You're not feeling drawn back to Edinburgh?"
"He has bigger fish to fry than me," Rory replied, needing to pause in the dressing to catch his breath. This wasn't good. He was in quite a bad way, but having your blood sucked twice in as many days probably did that to a bloke. "Have you put on weight? There's something different aboot you, you know. Cannae put my finger on what it is, though. Besides, cannae say the bite sucked... pun intended... but it's still nay something I want to get used to. Nay my thing. Hit too close to hame. Fuck, my chest hurts." He paused and looked down at his torso, taking in all the yellowing bruises. He had to have been out for awhile. At least a week... maybe more. He had recollection of certain things, but no sense of time whatsoever. He carefully put his fingers on his chest and gritting his teeth, he felt along the sorest part of his chest. He had trained enough as a nurse to know the basics. "Fuck, I broke ribs," he said through a rushed exhalation of breath. "Nay feeling. Except maybe for shortbread and a cuppa."
Buffy didn't pick up the t-shirt as she just watched Rory, figuring he'd give her a signal when he wanted to continue. She wasn't trying to rush him, or cause him more pain. She'd probably be kicked out of the military facility a second time if she did hurt him. Riley had let her back in for the moment, but she didn't expect him to keep her around if she only caused trouble. She rest her hand on Rory's arm gently and gave it a soft squeeze. "Hey! No fat jokes. I haven't put on weight. I don't think. It's not like I've been gorging myself on pastries or anything. I also managed to find the gym in Blaise's mansion so it's not like I'm out of shape, either. I'm just feeling a bit off-colour that's all. You're just lucky you're too tender for me to beat up for asking if I've put on weight. Hopefully you'll never have to get bitten again. I also know you said you'd had your fill of Kindred, but you still need to go back to Blaise Central. It's the safest place for you to be."
Rory gave her a bland look. "I need to, do I? What are you, my wife? And that wasnae a fat joke, I was serious. I didnae say fat, just referenced additional inches. Which there is nothing wrong with. I like more to cuddle. Some lassies are too damn skinny these days. Real lassies, that's what we need more of." He cleared his throat softly and then looked up at the CCTV camera with a smirk and put his hand up to flip them the bird followed by a little wave. He knew they weren't being swarmed with soldiers because it was evident he was no danger to them. He could hardly move, it wasn't like he was going to take out soldiers single-handedly. "Where did these clothes come from? I know you didnae pull them oot your arse. Even you arenae that good."
"Is that why the top looks unflattering?" Buffy asked as she looked down at herself. She ran her hands over her stomach and frowned before she moved them up to cup her breasts. They were a little tender as she held them, but nothing she was concerned about. Until she realised they were a little bigger. "Oh... Maybe I am putting on weight? I don't know... Are you sure? Maybe you're just not used to seeing me. Or remembering me even skinnier than I am. I told you, they were a Blaise care package. At least that's what I assume. He's pretty much been the only one in here the whole time. I also thought we'd already established that I was your wife of fifty years, so yes. You need to. Where else are you going to go?"
Rory gave a slight, careful shrug. "I've had my blood drained twice and some sort of head injury. Maybe I was imagining you as Beach House Barbie, who knows?" He frowned a little, trying to wrap his head around the situation. He knew Blaise had drained him. He remembered having absolutely no time to prevent it, and he remembered the haze of rage he had been in. Just now that it was all over, he didn't completely understand why. One minute he had been furious and blinded with this weird anger and then the next, he had a Kindred Prince's fangs deep in his jugular. It was a harder hit than a tonne of bricks would have been. It was like he wasn't just sucking his blood, but every single emotion in him. It was the last thing Rory really remembered out of the whole ordeal, and overshadowed everything else. "Maybe the Paris Hilton... ha ha." He shook his head. "I dinnae know."
Buffy gave him a sympathetic look before she pulled herself up onto the bed to sit on it, her legs swinging. "Just as well you do have such a good excuse. I definitely like this you better than the last one. He was scary. He freaked a lot of people out. Gave Riley a huge blow to the head. Nearly attacked Juliette. Also didn't have the sweetest of mouths from what I heard. At least you're up, and at least you're moving even if it is ginger. It's okay to go slow, you know. Doesn't mean you have to get back into the bed. Since you don't know where to go just yet, I say you choose the land of plenty of fluffy pillows and big beds. Blaise's place will have everything you need. Also big enough to avoid anyone you don't want to see. We can get you back to Edinburgh when you're a bit better - in a new car - if it's what you want."
"I belted the shit oot of Logan too. Aye, I mind it all. Just nay how anyone else probably minds it. It's hazy. Like I was witnessing it, but it wasnae me. Cannae mind ever feeling that angry in my life. It's like a bad dream." Rory was holding his chest again, his lips pressed tightly together. He was going to need something for this pain before he could actually move anywhere. The small effort of dressing with Buffy's aid was even close to impossible. "Something's wrong with him. I heard your ex talking aboot it to someone before you arrived. I think I've been coming in and oot for awhile, just nay enough to really waken properly. Blaise is oot of action and uncontactable. That's why this solider team here is on some sort of red alert. Whatever that means. I want Egyptian Cotton sheets, and a spa bath."
Buffy touched his leg lightly with hers. "And again, the Egyptian Cotton sheets and spa baths... guess where you'll get those? You really do have Ventrue tastes right now, don't you? Sure you don't just want to sick down and take a break? Blaise, after he drained you, there was a fight with Juliette and he got caught up in a feeding frenzy. He fed on a woman with a blood disease. Only he didn't sense that she was diseased so of course he made himself sick. He also, ah... She died. He's going through a lot right now. That was just the latest," Buffy told him quietly.
"I'm wondering about the part of this tale where you think I want to go anywhere near the property I was attacked, to be honest," Rory admitted, raising an eyebrow. "I'm nay going to be able to go anywhere. As soon as I try to leave this room, I'll be pounced on like some sort of cammo orgy. I figure if I start now, by the time they get back, I'll be moving enough to actually let go of this bed. Right now, nay so sure. He didnae sense it? Kindred should always sense shit like that, especially him. He'd sense all sorts of freaky shit even normal Kindred couldnae, too. Nothing like a Kindred in a frenzy, though. Must have been quite a shit fight to set it off."
"You're not being held prisoner, Rory. You're just here because it was the best place at the time. And since Kindred are big on secrecy you couldn't just go to any ordinary hospital, could you? And alright, if you don't want to go there, then don't go there. If you have the money for a five star hotel then be my guest. I didn't even think about... I'm sorry, Rory. I should have realised you might not want to go back there because of that." Buffy shifted in her spot as she wet her lips and her shoulders drooped. "Blaise isn't feeling well. The fact that he's still lacking love... It's effecting him."
"I can sympathise..." Rory returned quietly as his eyes came to rest on the t-shirt lying beside his hand. The impact of everything washed over him heavily and he had to move to sit down in one of the chairs. It would have even taken too much out of him to try and climb back up on the bed. He should be feeling homesick by now, but strangely he didn't. Instead, he had an urge to remain in Paris, just not necessarily anywhere near Juliette. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to feel about that. Still rather like he had been booted in the nuts, apparently. "If he's poorly, he doesnae need me hanging 'roond. I'll go to a hotel. Nay bother. I'm sure I can find one with nice views."
Buffy shook her head slowly. "No, no. Rory, he still wants to protect you. I think he feels responsible for you, and maybe that's not such a bad thing. It'll give him something to focus on. But if you're set on a hotel, it's fine. Whatever makes you happy, right?" She fell quiet again as she thought about Juliette and about Blaise. "You know she only did it because of Blaise cutting me off, don't you? She's never stopped caring about you... wanting you."
"I'm pretty sure that makes the whole thing worse, but cheers for trying to soften the blow," Rory responded as he rested his head back against the wall. Thank god the room was heated or he would be a shivering mess by now. "Awfully fucking strange way of showing it. I would hate to see what she does to lovers she doesnae want or care aboot. These walls are seriously the worse fucking shade of blue I have ever seen. I swear I have vomited more interesting colours in my time. That camera in the corner is watching you, by the way. Every time you move, it does. I would suggest flashing them, but nay sure Blaise would appreciate it."
Buffy's gaze flicked up to look at the camera and gave it a little wave. "Probably Graham. He's still my biggest fan. He's no doubt waiting for proof to wave into Riley's face about how I shouldn't be back in here and how much better he is without me and blah, blah, blah. Well, he's just going to have to suck it up for the time being. And you're right about these walls. The whole place is like this, though. I'm sure this is as comfy as a military facility gets. I can't pretend what she did wasn't fucked up, but she's been beating herself up about it ever since. She even had the screaming match with Blaise because of it. She wanted to be the one that... ah, you know," she said as she pointed at her own neck, "... but Blaise knew you'd just hate her more for it."
Rory lifted his head with a frown. "Aye. Smart bloke that Prince," he murmured. If Juliette had done that to him after he had specifically requested she didn't, Rory would have been ropeable, Brujah or not. Just hearing she wanted to be the one sat strangely with him and his nose scrunched up briefly as he tried to work through it in his mind. He understood the whole Kindred game, but after losing the grip on his life for so long, he didn't want to be overpowered by anyone. He needed to know he had the control over himself. All of this disturbed him, but there was something within him keeping him calm. Some sort of sensation, like he had taken a hit of strong weed. He covered his neck with his palm again, a hint of a flashback of the whole thing streaking through his mind. Then he blinked, something suddenly dawning on him. "Logan was here."
Buffy tilted her head as she watched Rory. She had no idea what it was like for him, but he really did seem to be experiencing things differently. He was Rory, but with extra features. It was hard not to see the cogs turning even if his expression really wasn't giving away anything. She missed the Rory that smiled and was expressive. The artist. Right now it was Rory who was all business and apparently loved Egyptian Cotton and spa baths. "He is your brother."
"And?" Rory said pointedly, looking back at her now and holding her gaze. "Go on. Elaborate," he requested succinctly, managing to sound just like Blaise with a Scottish accent and not even realising it.
Buffy blinked at the change in Rory and tried not to think of Blaise, but it was hard. "And he found out you were here. He wanted to see you, to know you were okay. He's worried about you. Blood is still blood, Rory. I don't know what went on between you two, but he is still family."
"Nay a lot has gone on between us. That is my whole point. He has nay reason to be here." Rory wasn't sure he could stand to be in the same room as his brother without decking him. He knew for a period there he had struggled to remain in touch with his family, when he was going through the dark period in his life. But there had still been some contact on important dates. Until Logan cut if off completely. "Family? Aye, no. We have the same parents, but that's it."
"Rory..." Buffy took a breath and held his gaze before she just shook her head. "Just try and talk to him. Please. He needs to explain a couple of things. He was also ready to tear you out of here and take you back home because he thought you were in trouble. He didn't get the Brujah thing. No one warned him, and then they woke him up with you in the room. You scared the shit out of him, I think. Gave him a hell of a bruise."
"Warn him of what? He knows nothing of Kindred. Obviously he does now, though. Does anyone realise what information like that in his hands could do? He's a copper! In London!" Rory shook his head. If he got angry over this, he wouldn't be able to reign it in. He was just dumbfounded. He had realised Logan had been there, and witnessed what Blaise did, but Blaise could have done that memory suck thing and switched things back to normal. "He doesnae need to know this shit!"
Buffy leaned forward to catch Rory's gaze. "He's dating Kindred! Rory, your brother is in love with Kindred. The cat's already outta the hot bag. There's nothing for you to protect him from. He didn't need to see Blaise drain you, but it's done. And he did."
Rory's face was once again unreadable as he just looked at her. After a few long moments, he did actually manage to get to his feet again. "I'm getting the hell out of this place. I have no idea what the fecking hell you are talking about, but I'm not just going to sit here while you feed me pieces of information and expect me to react to them. Are you purposefully trying to piss me off, because I'll warn you, Summers, you are doing damn find job."
Buffy frowned at him before she slid from his bed with her hands held up. "No, I'm not. I'm sorry. That's why I was going to wait for Logan to tell you, but nevermind. Just ignore me. I'm the crazy one, remember? The Slayer that should just be ignored. I'm sorry, Rory."
"Is this some fucked up way of forcing me into talking to him? I couldnae care less if he was fucking the Queen! I dinnae want to talk to him, I dinnae want to see him. He can get on the next plane back to England and shove his head firmly up his copper arse, for all I care," Rory stated succinctly and reached to get the t-shirt in his hand again. It was going to be a marathon effort to get into it and he still didn't know what he was going to do once he was. "Slayer, huh? Thought you just said you were retiring? Very choosy with that whole notion, aye?"
Buffy raised her eyebrows. "Hey, fuck you, Buchanan. Don't get your panties in a twist with me, okay? I'm not trying to force anything. If you don't want to talk to him, that's fine. I was just trying to explain that he kinda already knew about this sort of world. Not this one specifically, but a Kindred world. And I'm not choosy. I was just saying... And I am retiring. Hence why I should be ignored as a Slayer. It's not me anymore," she said to try and backpedal and then wound up just throwing her hands up in the air. "Whatever. I'm just going to give up speaking."
Very slowly, Rory got the shirt over his head but stopped when it was just hanging around his neck so he could lean on the bed again. There was a stubborn determination in him, probably born of a mix of being Scottish and having Blaise's influence burning through his mind. "You know what, Buffy?" he began, looking down at the crumpled hospital sheets. "My brother could have had a sex change, been made the King of Sheeba, won an Emmy, had his cock sewn to his forehead with neat wee red stitches... and I wouldnae know aboot it. I last spoke to him more than two years ago. He changed his fecking mobile phone number and moved so I couldnae find him. I might look and sound stupid, but that doesnae mean I'm incapable of taking a fecking hint. The fact he is anywhere near me right now is just fecking laughable. Nothing is changing that. So cheers for trying to rescue my poor damsel self from emotional scarring, but I'm pretty sure it's a wee bit too late for that."
"I won't ask you to hug it out, then. Just figure you even breathing the same air as me is still approval enough." She stepped up to him and moved to slowly help him finish getting his shirt on. "I also will not risk telling you to take it easy when I know better than to argue with you, or Blaise. Even if it doesn't always stop me. Just right now I like having my friend back. I'm sorry for what happened to you. I missed you. Life's just not the same without your rough accent in my ear."
"We should just elope and tell the great fangy ones to go fuck themselves. Only, I have this weird non-sexual attraction to your other half right now. I would totally snog him if I needed to," Rory admitted with a small snort and a shake of his head. "And you would just have to watch," he added with a smug smirk. "He likes me better right now. I have a bigger cock than you."
Buffy laughed before she got his t-shirt all the way down and gave him a smack on the ass before she rubbed her hands over his short hair. "And now you just smell like me, so your cock might not be enough anymore. I would elope with you, but we both know you'd just get bored with me. Don't deny it. Besides, I'm damaged goods. My track record is terrible, and you deserve better than me."
Rory looked at her seriously for a moment, his blue eyes holding her gaze. "Maybe, but I reckon we'd made gorgeous bairns," he admitted with a small shrug and then sighed. "Stupid. Christ. I deserve a Kindred who cuts me off without word just because her mate has his knickers in a twist? Albeit nice knickers. My dick feels awesome in these."
Buffy slipped her arms around Rory in a light hug as she rest her head on his chest. "Hey, if I could give you babies you'd love as much as I know you would love your kids, and love your daughter... I'd be a pretty happy woman. And just sit there in awe. You're a total DILF. You really would just walk around in Blaise's underwear, wouldn't you? You so want his ass. I think you've crossed over from platonic. And no, you don't deserve that... but they are a package. We both have to realise that."
"Of course I would. Look at my body. I'm awesome. Ignore the bruises and weird sticking out rib bit, though," Rory said, glancing down at himself, scrunching his nose up. "I'd kiss his arse. He's a fecking Prince. It's a royal arse. I'm an honourary gay. I would proverbially fuck him. Technically, he has already proverbially fucked me. Those bites are a bigger hit than an orgasm. That shirt he was wearing, I totally want it. I can rock silk, aye? Just draw the line at eating fecking snails."
Buffy glanced down at the mention of the weird sticking out rib bit. She'd somehow missed that, but she assumed it was because she'd been so busy trying not to seem like she was perving on him. She was tempted to poke him, but she didn't. Instead she moved to lean back against the edge of the hospital bed and just looked at Rory with an amused smirk. "You could rock silk, but I can only take one man wearing a silver silk shirt. You should get something darker."
"Well, he has the whole silver eyeball thing happening, aye. It matches. Something they can totally keep, by the way. Last thing I saw before he got me were his eyes. Airlie's dinnae do that. Well, they do, they just stay green. Like a green-silver. The whole silver thing is full on. Jesus Fucking Christ, I hurt," Rory mumbled, nursing his side carefully. It was catching up with him. Leaving seemed like such a good idea at first, now he was tempted to crawl back into the bed and sleep for a month. "Did you sort things oot with your ex? Last I knew, he was stepping in when Blaise tried to pull the plug on anything to do with you."
Buffy shifted away from the bed to sit in the chair in case Rory did decide getting back into it was a good idea. She wasn't going to push him. Maybe just nudge him in the right direction. And the right direction seemed to be staying put until he could move without too much pain. Or at least waiting for big army guys that could lift him into a wheelchair. "Need me to get you some help so you can get some drugs? Airlie's still pretty scary when she's all protective of you. Even though I think she's more scared of this place than they are of her. Sort things out with Riley? Well, he let me back on the base. That's a start. He also laughed in my face when I asked him to teach me how to shoot. He's my friend now. That's all there was to sort out."
"Did they tell you what she did to Xander?" Rory asked, really not sure by this point how much he had missed or how long he had been out. It was a big blur. The last really clear thing he could actually remember was having sex with Buffy. Everything else was in scratchy hazes, even if he could still recall it. "No, just... Christ. I'll wait til they come on their own. Fecking wankers with sticks up their arses, I swear. Do I look like I'm going to be a hostile threat anymore? Why the hell do you want to know how to shoot? Cannae play with a stake anymore, so you figure you should find something else?"
Buffy nodded slowly. "Yeah, they did. But it was a mistake, right? She's a Childer and she's not as good with the restraint. Xander trusts her, and I think he's falling for her pretty quickly, so I'm hardly going to interfere. I know she'll keep Xander safe as much as possible. They're sweet together, you know? They have this look when they're looking at each other. It's... I'm jealous. No, you don't look like you're going to be a hostile threat. I want to know how to shoot so that I could get a job with the stick guys, or maybe a Kindred bodyguard or something. I have to open up my options. Plus getting over a hatred of guns would prove that I've moved beyond the Slayer thing."
Rory shrugged carefully and was now just about ten centimeters away from putting his head down on the bed, despite being still standing. He had an all-over weakness he wasn't enjoying at all. Thinking about the enormity of that was giving him a headache, too. To let Blaise take care of him, or Airlie. Or even Logan. The prospects just seemed to be pushing the whole scenario. "Personally never had an issue with guns. They've saved my arse more than I can count. My Dad's an ex cop and I have two brothers... one is a cop, and one is in the military. It's aboot being familiar with what you're dealing with than just assuming they're the big bad. Nay sure I buy that you can get over it, though, if you have been harbouring a hatred of it. That's a strong word."
"Well, getting shot at is a strong reason for strong words. I didn't exactly enjoy getting a bullet in me. I don't like guns, I can't help it. I never have done. But, I'm willing to open my mind. To try it. See? I can change. I'm changing. I'm now in the oven baking. I'm not just cookie dough. Maybe you can teach me how to shoot? Give you something to keep your mind off the pain. Surely yelling at me for holding a gun wrong can be fun, right?"
Rory just gave a small huff of a laugh and shook his head before he finally put it down on the mattress tiredly. "I know you. You think you can just pick it up and you'll suddenly have perfect skills to join the military and manage to be Kindred bodyguard. But if you have your knickers in a twist aboot getting a bullet in you... something a lot of us are pretty familiar with... you dinnae have a lot of hope. Buffy, I'm nay even sure I can piss withoot pain right now. You'll have to find another teacher. For the record? How is getting vampire fangs in you any different to getting a bullet in you?"
Buffy moved to help Rory get onto the bed, not sure she could stand watching him in such an awkward angle with his head on the pillow. "C'mon, Rory. You need to get back up on the bed horse. There's no green gown anymore. No guys with sticks up their asses. It's not a sign of weakness to give in and lie down. And I'm not that bad, so you don't know me all that well. One look at my ass does not get you the inside scoop on my mind. Can you really not piss without pain? It's... it just is. Why do you have such a bee in your bonnet about the bites, but you don't bat your eyelids at guns? Everyone has their thing, but some of us still need to get over it. Face the fear. But for the record... I can't stop a bullet. Theoretically I can stop a vampire from biting me."
"Is anyone ever going to get the inside scoop? Because life will be really boring for whoever you want to be with if they dinnae." Rory looked at her. "Are you seriously asking me that after I have just been bitten and drained by two different vampires who had me completely under their physical and psychological influence? Seriously? Are you really asking me that? Last I looked, a gun couldnae make you think your cock would look good in red satin. I'm nay deluded here. I dinnae want anyone fanging on my throat, and I'm nay changing that opinion any time soon." At this, he laughed, even if pain just shot through his chest. "Theoretically, you're talking oot your arse, lassie. Blaise could walk in here right now and sink his teeth into your throat and you wouldnae have a hope in hell of stopping him."
"Okay, so the fangs are something I would want in me... At least his fangs. Bullets I don't want in me. There is no wish to be shot again any time soon. And if Blaise did walk in here right now, pretty sure biting me would be the last thing on his mind. For the record though, yes someone will get the inside scoop. My friends do. Xander, Willow... You're getting close, but there's no pressure with you, you know? It's just us talking, hanging out. Our fights aren't serious. It's not about causing pain." Buffy gave a slight shrug before she kissed his forehead and pulled the covers up over him. "Personally I'll be happy if this is the last time you're bitten for a while. I don't need you scaring me again."
"So fecking glad they clean up after themselves right now," Rory mumbled, referencing the bites on his throat. He was scarred in other places enough as it was, he didn't need that as a talking point. "And that's nay the point. If he wanted to bite you, you couldnae stop him. I dinnae know. Maybe he'll never feed off you. Some Kindred dinnae feed off their lovers. Some lovers see that as a more important committment than even marriage and demand it in the relationship. Obviously Xander doesnae have an issue with it, even if Airlie took a wrong turn wiping his memory when she panicked. She'll have to live with the knowledge forever now that she wiped him of memories of their first time together. How would you feel it Blaise never wanted that off you, but kept getting it elsewhere?"
Buffy made a face before she grabbed the chair and yanked it closer so she could sit next to Rory as she tucked her feet up under herself. Riley was really not going to be happy when he realised there had been touching. "Probably how I feel now. I don't know. I know it's not everything, I know that some Kindred don't need to feed. I know that he might never need to feed on me. And the truth is... I get it. I mean, I have to get it. There's no choice. If I want Blaise, then I have to take the slutty biting with it. I mean, if you were still gonna be with Juliette and you knew she had to feed off others because you weren't letting her bite you, would you have been okay with it?"
Rory snorted. "Oh, aye. Then her fangs wouldnae need to be anywhere near me. I'd be very fine with it. I realise very much the hit of emotions that come with the fangy thing, but I can get a similar hit oot of taking an E, but that doesnae mean I'm going to go oot and do drugs. Hey, do you think lions or dogs are sluts for slipping cock to more than one lioness or dog in one week? Just curious, because I thought I explained to you that Kindred arenae sluts, it's a need to survive. You make me feel like I'm talking to a brick wall sometimes."
"I get that a lot, but I still say I'm more stylish than a brick wall," Buffy joked as she grinned at him. Then she cleared her throat and rest her head on the back of the chair. "Well, I get that it's a need. I get that he has to feed. He doesn't just survive on love. He survives on love and blood, but I suppose the thing that would not make me fee like I'm totally denying him is the fact that I could give him love. The others just give him the blood."
"Do you think you can love him?" Rory asked quietly as he rubbed a hand over his forehead. "You havenae managed it so far. Isnae like you've had a shortage of prospective lads, either. It's a fair question. I get a feeling, too, that he'd be a pretty awesome lover when the real deal happenened."
Buffy nodded. "Yeah, I do. I wouldn't be fighting this hard otherwise. With Riley there's just too much history. Even if I loved him, I know we could never get it to work. But I don't love him," she quickly clarified with a look to Rory. "I just need to be able to give Blaise some proof that I'm worth it. And it's hard not to want to make it work just to find out what he is like in bed. We haven't... He won't until it means something."
"Buffy, he already thinks you're worth it," Rory told her tiredly. "You wouldnae be here if he didnae think that. You certainly wouldnae be in his hame. Are you telling me you havenae even copped a feel? At all? Jesus. I didnae peg him for a totally hands-off sort of bloke."
Buffy pressed her lips together as she looked down at her knees. "I copped a feel... Then I ran off and got drunk with you. I haven't exactly copped a feel since. Just spent a night in his bed when he was throwing up ridiculous amounts of blood."
Rory blinked. "Nay wonder the bloke is wondering what your game is. You cop a feel then fuck two other lads? It's a wonder he doesnae have a lock and key on his bollocks. Maybe if you ask Juliette sweetly enough, she might give you nudie pics of him. She paints him, you know. She has nudie portraits," he said with a smirk.
Buffy's eyebrows went up. "You've seen them? How have you seen them, and I haven't? Has she done nudie portraits of herself?"
"Why the fuck would she paint nudie portraits of herself?" Rory asked in amusement. At least he was functioning a little better now he was lying again. "Aye, I saw them. She has an art room and it doesnae look like he has any issue being her subject."
"He's her mate. Why would he? He probably thinks no one will ever see the pictures. At least now I understand why you're so willing to kiss his royal ass. You know what it looks like," Buffy teased before she reached out to hit his arm lightly. "Would you have been her subject? Are you really done with her?"
Rory just shot her a smirk. "Aye, because being bitten by him totally made me gay that I want to be surrounded by paintings of his gigantic Kindred cock," he said with a snort. "There is very little I want to do with her right now. I dinnae know how I'm going to feel when I get oot of here, but right now, I dinnae even want to be in her presence. I didnae want to get on the dating scene again, but she convinced me to try. Then this. I dinnae need it, Buffy. I really dinnae need it. She wasnae even going to fucking tell me. I was met with guards. Guards, Buffy, like a common fecking criminal. You expect me to still be attracted to her after that?"
Buffy gave a shake of her head. "No, I don't. But I know what it's like to be the one to fuck up too, and still want the person you hurt." She fell quiet for a moment before she ran her tongue over her lips as her green eyes fixed back on his face. "He really does have a gigantic Kindred cock, doesn't he? I haven't just imagined that... And it's even better in the tight jeans."
"She should have thought about that before giving nay mind to my feelings at all to placate him. All I would have wanted was a fecking phone call, but I wasnae even worth that." Rory rolled back stiffly so he was half on his side and half on his back, his hand resting lightly on his sore ribs. "Aye, it is. Maybe for every century you hit, you get an extra inch or something. But nay one lives that long to test the theory and a mortal cock is all shrivelled by the time it hits that many years anyway. He's got to be at least eleven or twelve."
Buffy let out a soft sigh. "Of course you were. And you are. I mean, if I was going to dump your ass, I'd totally give you a phone call at least. You okay there, Braveheart?" She started to chew on her lip as she fell quiet, and contemplated the inch for every century. "Eleven or twelve? Oh my god... What if he doesn't fit?"
"He fits Juliette," Rory said flatly and pulled his lips to the side as he stared at the ceiling.
"Yeah, I kinda didn't miss that memo. Figured they weren't in their bedrooms just playing scrabble all these years." Buffy watched him curiously for a few moments. "Are you jealous?"
Rory gave a slight shake of his head. "Nay, I'm not. I'm just really tired. I dinnae know... maybe that's part of the whole thing. I'm a traditonal lad. Nay sure I want to share, even if I'm nay jealous. But it isnae even an issue, because I'm just really upset and hurt by what she did. All I keep wondering is what else she is capable of. I dinnae want to be Kindred roadkill."
Buffy bit down on her lip. "Well, I don't want you being Kindred roadkill either. That's the thing that was stopping me too. Not sure about sharing... But it's part of it, right? They're part of a package. What if I was part of a package? What if you and me were more than just friends and we had some crazy mate thing going on... Would he even want me then? But anyway, you don't have to worry about her. I'll keep her away from you. You don't need to see her if you want."
"It's not that, Buffy. I'm an adult. I can face this like an adult. Well, I can now. Obviously before I wanted to deal with it like an escaped mental patient, but I'm nay just going to avoid her. I cannae, for one. She's connected to Blaise and although it's really hard to wrap my head around, I can feel something inside that tells me I need to be in his vicinity right now. I also think that they'll both be good for Airlie. But as far as what I need and want to be happy, I'm just nay sure aboot anything anymore," Rory admitted and then closed his eyes when his chest started to hurt in a different sense that just physically.
Buffy brushed her fingers over his hair. "Well, don't think about it now, okay. Just get some rest. You're still healing, and right now you don't have the insane Brujah forces in your head telling you otherwise. It means you actually feel the aches and pains. You're still very much human, so you can want to be in Blaise's vicinity all you like, but just take it easy, okay? Airlie's in good hands with them. Maybe they're not so smooth with the dating scene, but they know their Kindred business."
Rory just let his eyes close and grunted softly in agreement. "I wish I could just Fast Foward through all this bullshit and not have to think about it. Then Fast Forward over Christmas too, because that's even bigger bullshit."
"Bah humbug," Buffy murmured with a soft chuckle. "Just sleep, okay? I'll hang around for a little while before I leave you to it. I'm sure Airlie would really like to see you."
"She'll wait. Nay like she's in any hurry, is it?" Rory replied and felt like pulling the covers up over his head. It wasn't like things could get any worse than they had been, but he wasn't about to say that out loud and jinx it.
Word Count | 10,408
Riley once again found himself back in his cammos and with Blaise not around to actually interact directly with, he had made good on his promise that Buffy could visit Rory if she kept her distance. The last thing anyone needed was Blaise to show up and him to sense Buffy all over Rory. She was purely a spectator here. As it was, Blaise hadn't been letting anyone, not even Juliette, near Rory. His brother, Logan, had been the only exception and Riley suspected that had something to do with a blood link any way. Luckily, there had still been no random appearances by the other brother, which gave Riley some breathing space.
But now he was standing in the corner like some sort of military bodyguard, making sure Buffy really didn't touch Rory. He didn't exactly expect her too, but you never really knew with Buffy. He was about to make some sort of small talk when the view they were getting was nothing but Rory asleep on a hospital bed, when his pager went off. Cursing softly, Riley unclipped it from his belt and read the message with a small roll of his eyes. "Some Christian is out near the Eiffel Tower screaming about vampire invasion and scaring the tourists. I've got to go. Hopefully they have them locked up by the time we have to step in..." He hesitated before he left. "Not even a finger, Buffy," he warned and pointed to Rory before he disappeared and left Buffy alone with the Scotsman.
Buffy had never felt more self-conscious about touching someone before than right now. She hadn't really even considered touching Rory while he was lying there unconscious, but now the seed was planted and the thought just kept growing and growing. She would have maybe held a hand. Just as a comfort thing. She was hardly going to start kissing Rory, or trying to ride him. That was behind her. She looked at him as she pulled her mouth to the side and snorted. "Now we're the old married couple where the wife has to get kept away by military restraint. Nice, huh? I don't know about you, buddy, but I'm just gonna be sitting here minding my own business and not touching you at all. No touching. Noooo touching."
"Bollocks... you so want to, lassie," came the hoarse, rough response as Rory cracked his eyes open a little and turned his head to smirk indulgently at her. "My god, I thought he would never leave. Talk about cramping a man's style," he added and pulled himself stiffly up on the pillows a little more and brushed the front of his hospital gown primly. "I cannae believe they have me in green."
Buffy's heart kick started, but she managed not to yelp in surprise at the sudden sound of the Scottish accent. She smirked back at him as she pointed. "Clearly they're under the impression all Celts are the same. You're Scottish, so that must mean you like green like the Irish. I mean, even I'm not that stupid. Also, so don't want to touch you. So you can put your own hand on your bollocks. How long have you been awake? Are you okay? Are you all... less with the angry? Oh, hey, maybe they put you in green because you kept Hulking out."
Rory gave her a Look. "All Celts are not the same, nor will we ever be the same. Scottish blood is far superior to Irish blood and we have been around longer. Our ancestors took down English royalty. Any country who invented Guinness should be universally steralised anyway." His head was fuzzy and he really wasn't exactly sure where he was. He had a vague recognition of it, and those army blokes really needed to get a life. No way would Rory be seen out in public dressed like this, so he wasn't going anywhere. He sniffed slightly. "I dinnae know what you're talking about," he said, raising an eyebrow at her.
Buffy's eyes narrowed slightly as she took in the way Rory moved and the way he spoke. He still sounded like Rory only... he was Blaise-ified. She raised her own eyebrow at him in return. "Don't know, or would prefer to distance yourself from such... common behaviour? Like I said, I know Scottish and Irish are different. I've been incredibly supportive of the Scots and all things kilted. You still didn't answer my questions, Rory. Are you okay? How long have you been awake? You really don't like Riley, do you?"
Rory was looking around for some sort of normal clothing. If he didn't get out of this cheap gown soon, he might need to strangle himself with the IV pole. His hand came up to his throat and his fingers traced along the vein there. Strange, that above all else, that was what he remembered the clearest. Being fed on by Kindred, it didn't hurt. Quite the opposite, in fact. Thank god they didn't leave unsighly scars, though. The skin on his throat was smooth, not a trace of evidence there. He started to peel the pads from the heart monitor off his chest as he sat up on the side of the bed. Probably not a good idea. Things hurt... a lot. But he was sick of lying in bed pretending to be half dead. "Why wouldnae I like him. He has an air of charm about him. Where's Blaise?" he asked casually, more than aware that the Kindred Prince wasn't in the room. "I'm fine. Where did you get that shirt from? It really does nothing for you, love."
"Now you're the fashion expert? I got it from your wardrobe," she teased with a smirk. "But feel free to take me out shopping when you're completely a hundred percent. I'm sure I'll really benefit from all your sudden knowledge. There's nothing wrong with my shirt, okay? At least it's not green and my ass isn't hanging out." Buffy got up to move over to the bedside drawers next to Rory and opened them up to see if some clothing was stashed in there. She couldn't even remember what had happened to his stuff. "You said he was cramping your style. How else was I suppose to take that comment? Blaise is off doing secret Blaise business. He doesn't exactly give me his itinerary."
"Are you saying something is wrong with my arse, Slayer?" Rory asked arrogantly. "It isnae like you havenae seen it all before. Oh, hallelujah I dinnae have amnesia with that. Some memories should just never be tainted." He watched her at the drawers. "They arenae going to be there. I was nearly torn apart. The clothing will be long gone. Nay a moment too soon, either. I'm sure I must have spent the last ten years of my life in a haze of horrific clothing choices. But that will get better. As soon as I figure out how to get out of here without causing a military orgy. Business. Hm. He's been here. Dinnae ask me how I know, I just do. I have no urge to suck your blood though, so we're already off to a good start."
Buffy snorted. "Well, that's good. Because as much as I know I annoy the shit out of him, I'm still not sure he's okay with the idea of others sucking on my blood. And you need to stop calling me Slayer. Pretty soon I'm retiring. I won't be the Slayer. Or a Slayer. No Slayer. Okay, Mr Buchanan? And no, nothing was ever wrong with your ass. I actually quite like your ass but I'm trying to stay out of trouble here. And hey, guess Blaise doesn't just suck and run after all. Here you go, one expensive care package..." Buffy tossed a label t-shirt, boxers and expensive looking sweatpants onto the bed next to Rory. "So now you're like a Blaise radar?"
Rory looked between her and the clothing and then back again. "I thought your lesbian BFF was the witch, now you're pulling CK's finest from thin air?" He picked up the shirt, studying it for a moment in scrutiny. It was new. That was a plus, to say the least. He had to stop though when the side of his chest throbbed with a bolt of pain. He pressed his hand against it with a soft hiss of pain that accompanied a small dizzy spell. He wasn't completely well, that much was evident. "Retiring, aye? Let me guess. You decided to become my bitch instead? Nay a radar, I can just feel that he has marked me. I can feel him inside me. Hell, that sounded totally gay. Still, if I was going to go cock for anyone, it would be Blaise."
"Because he's the best of the best, right? Blaise has already said he doesn't prefer cock. He's had sex with guys, but still prefers women. Still, the idea of you and him is totally hot. But you need to find your own tall, dark and handsome Kindred, okay? I'm still trying to prove that he's the one for me. Unless you are his true love... then I need to be able to step aside and let him be happy. At least that's what Riley said. Would you really have me as a bitch? Aren't you a lone Scottish wolf?" Buffy shrugged as she looked at Rory with concern to see if the pain was going to pass or not. "I'd help you but I'm under strict instructions not to touch."
"Are you saying you wouldnae step aside if he found his true love? That's just cruel. Laddie is already functioning with the whole fangy thing. There are people who want him dead to take his spot. I cannae imagine finding someone would be easy. And nay because he's the best of the best. I dinnae know why." It was honest. Rory really didn't know why, beyond the fact there was just some sort of connection there. A weird connection that he didn't understand, but he couldn't avoid it either. "Even the most awesome people need a good fuck, so aye, I'd have you as my bitch. At least you know your way around my cock. Strict instructions nay to touch? Oh-kayy then..." he said with a raise of his eyebrows as he wondered if she was the crazy one here.
Buffy pointed her thumb at the door behind her. "Ask Riley about that one. I'm not even supposed to be near you. No one is. Blaise won't even let Julie--" Buffy bit her lip before the name escaped completely. Truth was she wasn't entirely sure if Rory would hulk out or not. "Anyone in here. Just him, and maybe Riley. Oh, and Logan. Way to bury the lead, by the way. You have brothers and don't even tell us? It was a big shock." Not quite as big as finding out Logan also had a Kindred lover, but she wasn't going to be the one to share that surprise with Rory. "I said I would step out of the way, but I guess your new high class listening isn't actually any better than ordinary hearing. Just has a better label. I'd be your bitch any day, baby, but I really am just trying to stay out of trouble."
Rory caught the near slip of the name and he just looked at her, his expression unreadable. When she continued, his brothers being brought into the subject, his face didn't change even then. "You never asked," he said calmly and managed to stand up, even if he was leaning against the side of the bed as he still held his side. He felt like he had been hit by a rather large bus. Or was hungover without first being drunk. Lying down would probably be a good idea, only they would have to shove another needle in his arse to get him to lie in that hospital again. He needed nicer sheets and better decor. This just sucked. "Actually, you didnae say you would step out of the way, you said you would need to, not that you would. So dinnae be insulting my hearing, Summers."
"You picked that up, huh?" Buffy asked as she gave him a mischievous look. "But yeah, I would step aside. I'm not that much of a bitch to stop Blaise getting what he wants if he does find it elsewhere. He deserves to find his happy. I didn't ask about siblings because I thought it was a given. Or might have followed up after the me telling you I had a sister. You know, sharing the similar bits of information? He's hot, you know. Logan. Makes me wonder what number three looks like. You boys should've been locked up. No one is safe around all that hotness." This time she did step in and took the t-shirt out of his hand. "Alright, alright. I'll help. Not like I haven't seen it all before, right? Besides, pretty sure Blaise wouldn't forgive me either way. It's either not help and watch you face-plant the floor, or help and just risk him smelling me all over you."
"A's in Afghanistan. If he comes back withoot his face blown off, aye, 'course he'll be hot. He's a Buchanan," Rory replied stiffly. These injuries were really cramping his style. It was hard to be awesome when everything hurt. "Logan can deal with him-fucking-self. I dinnae care. I certainly dinnae want him here touching me. For the record, I dinnae want your sister here touching me either. You know, just to share like information." He had both hands resting on the side of the bed now, bracing his weight. His chest hurt and his head hurt. So did his arm, but this was easier than trying to stand for too long. He realised he wasn't aware of exactly what injuries he had, just that there was some.
Buffy was still watching him a little like she was scared he might break apart into separate body pieces at any second. "I don't want my sister here touching you either, so we're even on that front. Dawn is... eighteen, but still trouble. She's better off well away from all of this for now. Are you sure you're okay to get dressed, or even stand? That green tinge to your skin might not just be a reflection from the lovely hospital gown. You really wouldn't let your brother take care of you?"
Rory knew that getting out of the gown was an impossibility, let alone trying to get into the new clothing. If he tried to reach up to release the ties on the gown, he would be in more agony than he already was. "Dinnae worry. I'm nay going to barf on you. There willnae be anything in me to come oot." He really wanted to read those medical records of his at the end of his bed to find out what the hell had happened to him, but he knew he wasn't going to like what was in there. Not at all. "Nay, I wouldnae. He shouldnae even be here, and willnae be for too much longer once I speak to him."
Buffy pressed her lips together but kept quiet as she tried to focus on Rory's gown instead. She leaned over to find the ties for him and held one between her fingers as she arched her eyebrow. "Speak now, or forever hold your peace, Braveheart. Either you want out of this, or I'll leave you in it until the big men with guns come back and try and help you instead. Or I could get Airlie. Would she be better? And hey, I'm not scared about puke. I'm more scared of you just falling apart on me."
"Do it. Just take it easy. I have no fecking clue what is injured." Rory let out a slow breath. He had been in pain before, but this had to be taking the cake. "Why the hell is Airlie here? She's supposed to be back hame taking care of Wee Willy. She shouldnae be here. It's too intense for her. Those army arseholes can kiss my arse. Fucking military," he said, pressing his lips together in annoyance.
"There's the Rory Buchanan I know," Buffy murmured as she gave him a smile before tugging on the cord. "Now just close your eyes and think of big breasts, swords, and tartan. She's here because you nearly died, Rory. That's why. She's your best friend. She wanted to be with you. And I think Juliette has some kinda lady vampire school planned for her, but I'm not really sure. Did you know there was an Emmeline? I didn't. She's pretty intimidating. And a supermodel. So you make fun of my shirt now, but I bet she'd just set it on fire with her eyeballs. How am I supposed to... well, not compete. But stand next to these sorts of women and not feel like I just came from the latest Hobo Fashion Week?" Buffy took a step back again and gently gripped the edge of the gown so she could pull it down over Rory's arms. "Do you not remember anything?"
Rory glanced at her, his face scrunched up a little. "What the feck's an Emmeline? Just so long as Juliette isnae teaching Airlie how to treat laddies, I dinnae care." What he actually wanted to do was bitch out the person who had taken his underwear off. Couldn't a guy have a little modesty when he was comatose? It wasn't like they would have to defib his cock. Well, if the CCTV in his room was working, they were about to get a hell of a view. "I dinnae even know what you're talking aboot, but if you're referring to Juliette, you're a hundred times the woman she is. Trust me on that." He paused and exhaled sharply. "I remember everything."
Buffy set the gown on the bed before she tried not to look at Rory's naked body too much, but right then she was trying to work out the best way to help him into the silk boxers that had been provided. She took them in hand as she crouched down and opened them up for Rory to step into. All the while her head was slightly turned so she was just looking under the bed rather than right up at anything that could poke her eye out. "How can you say that when you know what I did? Everyone makes mistakes. What makes mine any better? Emmeline's like the closest thing Blaise has to a daughter, but Juliette sired her. You missed a lot while you were here. And just ignore me, I'm mostly rambling. It's not like I can ask you how your coma was, is it? And I wasn't sure if you'd want to talk about what happened."
"You're nay Kindred. Seriously. I'm fecking done. I cannae take anymore of it. Airlie aside, I've just... reached my Kindred quota. As lovely as I'm sure they can be, I dinnae need any of this. What I need is a new car, and maybe a new wardrobe, I think. I like Paris, too... I think. I feel like I like Paris." Rory was confused, and even as the words came out of his mouth, they felt weird. Right, but weird. "I like you, Buffy. I trust you. You havenae hurt me. That's what's different."
Buffy was listening as she tugged up Rory's boxers, careful to keep her hands near his hips. She figured he could always tuck himself in better if he needed to. She crouched down again, this time with the sweatpants. Even Buffy was tempted to steal them. They were soft, and light. They felt like they'd keep Rory warm without making him overheat. She was more careful about where the waistband of them sat, though. Making sure she didn't sit it across any wounds. "Well, at least you trust me. That's something. I know I'm not completely deficient at earning trust. Blaise saved you from yourself. He hasn't purposefully hurt you either. Well, okay. It probably was on purpose. I mean, you can't drain someone without hurting them, right? Although a Kindred bite isn't really much with the pain so maybe that's just the exception... Again, ignore me. You don't have the energy to go shopping for a new car and wardrobe right now. Maybe you can just go shopping online. Do you even have the money for a new car? This might also just be a phase for a while. So don't go doing anything too crazy. You're not feeling drawn back to Edinburgh?"
"He has bigger fish to fry than me," Rory replied, needing to pause in the dressing to catch his breath. This wasn't good. He was in quite a bad way, but having your blood sucked twice in as many days probably did that to a bloke. "Have you put on weight? There's something different aboot you, you know. Cannae put my finger on what it is, though. Besides, cannae say the bite sucked... pun intended... but it's still nay something I want to get used to. Nay my thing. Hit too close to hame. Fuck, my chest hurts." He paused and looked down at his torso, taking in all the yellowing bruises. He had to have been out for awhile. At least a week... maybe more. He had recollection of certain things, but no sense of time whatsoever. He carefully put his fingers on his chest and gritting his teeth, he felt along the sorest part of his chest. He had trained enough as a nurse to know the basics. "Fuck, I broke ribs," he said through a rushed exhalation of breath. "Nay feeling. Except maybe for shortbread and a cuppa."
Buffy didn't pick up the t-shirt as she just watched Rory, figuring he'd give her a signal when he wanted to continue. She wasn't trying to rush him, or cause him more pain. She'd probably be kicked out of the military facility a second time if she did hurt him. Riley had let her back in for the moment, but she didn't expect him to keep her around if she only caused trouble. She rest her hand on Rory's arm gently and gave it a soft squeeze. "Hey! No fat jokes. I haven't put on weight. I don't think. It's not like I've been gorging myself on pastries or anything. I also managed to find the gym in Blaise's mansion so it's not like I'm out of shape, either. I'm just feeling a bit off-colour that's all. You're just lucky you're too tender for me to beat up for asking if I've put on weight. Hopefully you'll never have to get bitten again. I also know you said you'd had your fill of Kindred, but you still need to go back to Blaise Central. It's the safest place for you to be."
Rory gave her a bland look. "I need to, do I? What are you, my wife? And that wasnae a fat joke, I was serious. I didnae say fat, just referenced additional inches. Which there is nothing wrong with. I like more to cuddle. Some lassies are too damn skinny these days. Real lassies, that's what we need more of." He cleared his throat softly and then looked up at the CCTV camera with a smirk and put his hand up to flip them the bird followed by a little wave. He knew they weren't being swarmed with soldiers because it was evident he was no danger to them. He could hardly move, it wasn't like he was going to take out soldiers single-handedly. "Where did these clothes come from? I know you didnae pull them oot your arse. Even you arenae that good."
"Is that why the top looks unflattering?" Buffy asked as she looked down at herself. She ran her hands over her stomach and frowned before she moved them up to cup her breasts. They were a little tender as she held them, but nothing she was concerned about. Until she realised they were a little bigger. "Oh... Maybe I am putting on weight? I don't know... Are you sure? Maybe you're just not used to seeing me. Or remembering me even skinnier than I am. I told you, they were a Blaise care package. At least that's what I assume. He's pretty much been the only one in here the whole time. I also thought we'd already established that I was your wife of fifty years, so yes. You need to. Where else are you going to go?"
Rory gave a slight, careful shrug. "I've had my blood drained twice and some sort of head injury. Maybe I was imagining you as Beach House Barbie, who knows?" He frowned a little, trying to wrap his head around the situation. He knew Blaise had drained him. He remembered having absolutely no time to prevent it, and he remembered the haze of rage he had been in. Just now that it was all over, he didn't completely understand why. One minute he had been furious and blinded with this weird anger and then the next, he had a Kindred Prince's fangs deep in his jugular. It was a harder hit than a tonne of bricks would have been. It was like he wasn't just sucking his blood, but every single emotion in him. It was the last thing Rory really remembered out of the whole ordeal, and overshadowed everything else. "Maybe the Paris Hilton... ha ha." He shook his head. "I dinnae know."
Buffy gave him a sympathetic look before she pulled herself up onto the bed to sit on it, her legs swinging. "Just as well you do have such a good excuse. I definitely like this you better than the last one. He was scary. He freaked a lot of people out. Gave Riley a huge blow to the head. Nearly attacked Juliette. Also didn't have the sweetest of mouths from what I heard. At least you're up, and at least you're moving even if it is ginger. It's okay to go slow, you know. Doesn't mean you have to get back into the bed. Since you don't know where to go just yet, I say you choose the land of plenty of fluffy pillows and big beds. Blaise's place will have everything you need. Also big enough to avoid anyone you don't want to see. We can get you back to Edinburgh when you're a bit better - in a new car - if it's what you want."
"I belted the shit oot of Logan too. Aye, I mind it all. Just nay how anyone else probably minds it. It's hazy. Like I was witnessing it, but it wasnae me. Cannae mind ever feeling that angry in my life. It's like a bad dream." Rory was holding his chest again, his lips pressed tightly together. He was going to need something for this pain before he could actually move anywhere. The small effort of dressing with Buffy's aid was even close to impossible. "Something's wrong with him. I heard your ex talking aboot it to someone before you arrived. I think I've been coming in and oot for awhile, just nay enough to really waken properly. Blaise is oot of action and uncontactable. That's why this solider team here is on some sort of red alert. Whatever that means. I want Egyptian Cotton sheets, and a spa bath."
Buffy touched his leg lightly with hers. "And again, the Egyptian Cotton sheets and spa baths... guess where you'll get those? You really do have Ventrue tastes right now, don't you? Sure you don't just want to sick down and take a break? Blaise, after he drained you, there was a fight with Juliette and he got caught up in a feeding frenzy. He fed on a woman with a blood disease. Only he didn't sense that she was diseased so of course he made himself sick. He also, ah... She died. He's going through a lot right now. That was just the latest," Buffy told him quietly.
"I'm wondering about the part of this tale where you think I want to go anywhere near the property I was attacked, to be honest," Rory admitted, raising an eyebrow. "I'm nay going to be able to go anywhere. As soon as I try to leave this room, I'll be pounced on like some sort of cammo orgy. I figure if I start now, by the time they get back, I'll be moving enough to actually let go of this bed. Right now, nay so sure. He didnae sense it? Kindred should always sense shit like that, especially him. He'd sense all sorts of freaky shit even normal Kindred couldnae, too. Nothing like a Kindred in a frenzy, though. Must have been quite a shit fight to set it off."
"You're not being held prisoner, Rory. You're just here because it was the best place at the time. And since Kindred are big on secrecy you couldn't just go to any ordinary hospital, could you? And alright, if you don't want to go there, then don't go there. If you have the money for a five star hotel then be my guest. I didn't even think about... I'm sorry, Rory. I should have realised you might not want to go back there because of that." Buffy shifted in her spot as she wet her lips and her shoulders drooped. "Blaise isn't feeling well. The fact that he's still lacking love... It's effecting him."
"I can sympathise..." Rory returned quietly as his eyes came to rest on the t-shirt lying beside his hand. The impact of everything washed over him heavily and he had to move to sit down in one of the chairs. It would have even taken too much out of him to try and climb back up on the bed. He should be feeling homesick by now, but strangely he didn't. Instead, he had an urge to remain in Paris, just not necessarily anywhere near Juliette. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to feel about that. Still rather like he had been booted in the nuts, apparently. "If he's poorly, he doesnae need me hanging 'roond. I'll go to a hotel. Nay bother. I'm sure I can find one with nice views."
Buffy shook her head slowly. "No, no. Rory, he still wants to protect you. I think he feels responsible for you, and maybe that's not such a bad thing. It'll give him something to focus on. But if you're set on a hotel, it's fine. Whatever makes you happy, right?" She fell quiet again as she thought about Juliette and about Blaise. "You know she only did it because of Blaise cutting me off, don't you? She's never stopped caring about you... wanting you."
"I'm pretty sure that makes the whole thing worse, but cheers for trying to soften the blow," Rory responded as he rested his head back against the wall. Thank god the room was heated or he would be a shivering mess by now. "Awfully fucking strange way of showing it. I would hate to see what she does to lovers she doesnae want or care aboot. These walls are seriously the worse fucking shade of blue I have ever seen. I swear I have vomited more interesting colours in my time. That camera in the corner is watching you, by the way. Every time you move, it does. I would suggest flashing them, but nay sure Blaise would appreciate it."
Buffy's gaze flicked up to look at the camera and gave it a little wave. "Probably Graham. He's still my biggest fan. He's no doubt waiting for proof to wave into Riley's face about how I shouldn't be back in here and how much better he is without me and blah, blah, blah. Well, he's just going to have to suck it up for the time being. And you're right about these walls. The whole place is like this, though. I'm sure this is as comfy as a military facility gets. I can't pretend what she did wasn't fucked up, but she's been beating herself up about it ever since. She even had the screaming match with Blaise because of it. She wanted to be the one that... ah, you know," she said as she pointed at her own neck, "... but Blaise knew you'd just hate her more for it."
Rory lifted his head with a frown. "Aye. Smart bloke that Prince," he murmured. If Juliette had done that to him after he had specifically requested she didn't, Rory would have been ropeable, Brujah or not. Just hearing she wanted to be the one sat strangely with him and his nose scrunched up briefly as he tried to work through it in his mind. He understood the whole Kindred game, but after losing the grip on his life for so long, he didn't want to be overpowered by anyone. He needed to know he had the control over himself. All of this disturbed him, but there was something within him keeping him calm. Some sort of sensation, like he had taken a hit of strong weed. He covered his neck with his palm again, a hint of a flashback of the whole thing streaking through his mind. Then he blinked, something suddenly dawning on him. "Logan was here."
Buffy tilted her head as she watched Rory. She had no idea what it was like for him, but he really did seem to be experiencing things differently. He was Rory, but with extra features. It was hard not to see the cogs turning even if his expression really wasn't giving away anything. She missed the Rory that smiled and was expressive. The artist. Right now it was Rory who was all business and apparently loved Egyptian Cotton and spa baths. "He is your brother."
"And?" Rory said pointedly, looking back at her now and holding her gaze. "Go on. Elaborate," he requested succinctly, managing to sound just like Blaise with a Scottish accent and not even realising it.
Buffy blinked at the change in Rory and tried not to think of Blaise, but it was hard. "And he found out you were here. He wanted to see you, to know you were okay. He's worried about you. Blood is still blood, Rory. I don't know what went on between you two, but he is still family."
"Nay a lot has gone on between us. That is my whole point. He has nay reason to be here." Rory wasn't sure he could stand to be in the same room as his brother without decking him. He knew for a period there he had struggled to remain in touch with his family, when he was going through the dark period in his life. But there had still been some contact on important dates. Until Logan cut if off completely. "Family? Aye, no. We have the same parents, but that's it."
"Rory..." Buffy took a breath and held his gaze before she just shook her head. "Just try and talk to him. Please. He needs to explain a couple of things. He was also ready to tear you out of here and take you back home because he thought you were in trouble. He didn't get the Brujah thing. No one warned him, and then they woke him up with you in the room. You scared the shit out of him, I think. Gave him a hell of a bruise."
"Warn him of what? He knows nothing of Kindred. Obviously he does now, though. Does anyone realise what information like that in his hands could do? He's a copper! In London!" Rory shook his head. If he got angry over this, he wouldn't be able to reign it in. He was just dumbfounded. He had realised Logan had been there, and witnessed what Blaise did, but Blaise could have done that memory suck thing and switched things back to normal. "He doesnae need to know this shit!"
Buffy leaned forward to catch Rory's gaze. "He's dating Kindred! Rory, your brother is in love with Kindred. The cat's already outta the hot bag. There's nothing for you to protect him from. He didn't need to see Blaise drain you, but it's done. And he did."
Rory's face was once again unreadable as he just looked at her. After a few long moments, he did actually manage to get to his feet again. "I'm getting the hell out of this place. I have no idea what the fecking hell you are talking about, but I'm not just going to sit here while you feed me pieces of information and expect me to react to them. Are you purposefully trying to piss me off, because I'll warn you, Summers, you are doing damn find job."
Buffy frowned at him before she slid from his bed with her hands held up. "No, I'm not. I'm sorry. That's why I was going to wait for Logan to tell you, but nevermind. Just ignore me. I'm the crazy one, remember? The Slayer that should just be ignored. I'm sorry, Rory."
"Is this some fucked up way of forcing me into talking to him? I couldnae care less if he was fucking the Queen! I dinnae want to talk to him, I dinnae want to see him. He can get on the next plane back to England and shove his head firmly up his copper arse, for all I care," Rory stated succinctly and reached to get the t-shirt in his hand again. It was going to be a marathon effort to get into it and he still didn't know what he was going to do once he was. "Slayer, huh? Thought you just said you were retiring? Very choosy with that whole notion, aye?"
Buffy raised her eyebrows. "Hey, fuck you, Buchanan. Don't get your panties in a twist with me, okay? I'm not trying to force anything. If you don't want to talk to him, that's fine. I was just trying to explain that he kinda already knew about this sort of world. Not this one specifically, but a Kindred world. And I'm not choosy. I was just saying... And I am retiring. Hence why I should be ignored as a Slayer. It's not me anymore," she said to try and backpedal and then wound up just throwing her hands up in the air. "Whatever. I'm just going to give up speaking."
Very slowly, Rory got the shirt over his head but stopped when it was just hanging around his neck so he could lean on the bed again. There was a stubborn determination in him, probably born of a mix of being Scottish and having Blaise's influence burning through his mind. "You know what, Buffy?" he began, looking down at the crumpled hospital sheets. "My brother could have had a sex change, been made the King of Sheeba, won an Emmy, had his cock sewn to his forehead with neat wee red stitches... and I wouldnae know aboot it. I last spoke to him more than two years ago. He changed his fecking mobile phone number and moved so I couldnae find him. I might look and sound stupid, but that doesnae mean I'm incapable of taking a fecking hint. The fact he is anywhere near me right now is just fecking laughable. Nothing is changing that. So cheers for trying to rescue my poor damsel self from emotional scarring, but I'm pretty sure it's a wee bit too late for that."
"I won't ask you to hug it out, then. Just figure you even breathing the same air as me is still approval enough." She stepped up to him and moved to slowly help him finish getting his shirt on. "I also will not risk telling you to take it easy when I know better than to argue with you, or Blaise. Even if it doesn't always stop me. Just right now I like having my friend back. I'm sorry for what happened to you. I missed you. Life's just not the same without your rough accent in my ear."
"We should just elope and tell the great fangy ones to go fuck themselves. Only, I have this weird non-sexual attraction to your other half right now. I would totally snog him if I needed to," Rory admitted with a small snort and a shake of his head. "And you would just have to watch," he added with a smug smirk. "He likes me better right now. I have a bigger cock than you."
Buffy laughed before she got his t-shirt all the way down and gave him a smack on the ass before she rubbed her hands over his short hair. "And now you just smell like me, so your cock might not be enough anymore. I would elope with you, but we both know you'd just get bored with me. Don't deny it. Besides, I'm damaged goods. My track record is terrible, and you deserve better than me."
Rory looked at her seriously for a moment, his blue eyes holding her gaze. "Maybe, but I reckon we'd made gorgeous bairns," he admitted with a small shrug and then sighed. "Stupid. Christ. I deserve a Kindred who cuts me off without word just because her mate has his knickers in a twist? Albeit nice knickers. My dick feels awesome in these."
Buffy slipped her arms around Rory in a light hug as she rest her head on his chest. "Hey, if I could give you babies you'd love as much as I know you would love your kids, and love your daughter... I'd be a pretty happy woman. And just sit there in awe. You're a total DILF. You really would just walk around in Blaise's underwear, wouldn't you? You so want his ass. I think you've crossed over from platonic. And no, you don't deserve that... but they are a package. We both have to realise that."
"Of course I would. Look at my body. I'm awesome. Ignore the bruises and weird sticking out rib bit, though," Rory said, glancing down at himself, scrunching his nose up. "I'd kiss his arse. He's a fecking Prince. It's a royal arse. I'm an honourary gay. I would proverbially fuck him. Technically, he has already proverbially fucked me. Those bites are a bigger hit than an orgasm. That shirt he was wearing, I totally want it. I can rock silk, aye? Just draw the line at eating fecking snails."
Buffy glanced down at the mention of the weird sticking out rib bit. She'd somehow missed that, but she assumed it was because she'd been so busy trying not to seem like she was perving on him. She was tempted to poke him, but she didn't. Instead she moved to lean back against the edge of the hospital bed and just looked at Rory with an amused smirk. "You could rock silk, but I can only take one man wearing a silver silk shirt. You should get something darker."
"Well, he has the whole silver eyeball thing happening, aye. It matches. Something they can totally keep, by the way. Last thing I saw before he got me were his eyes. Airlie's dinnae do that. Well, they do, they just stay green. Like a green-silver. The whole silver thing is full on. Jesus Fucking Christ, I hurt," Rory mumbled, nursing his side carefully. It was catching up with him. Leaving seemed like such a good idea at first, now he was tempted to crawl back into the bed and sleep for a month. "Did you sort things oot with your ex? Last I knew, he was stepping in when Blaise tried to pull the plug on anything to do with you."
Buffy shifted away from the bed to sit in the chair in case Rory did decide getting back into it was a good idea. She wasn't going to push him. Maybe just nudge him in the right direction. And the right direction seemed to be staying put until he could move without too much pain. Or at least waiting for big army guys that could lift him into a wheelchair. "Need me to get you some help so you can get some drugs? Airlie's still pretty scary when she's all protective of you. Even though I think she's more scared of this place than they are of her. Sort things out with Riley? Well, he let me back on the base. That's a start. He also laughed in my face when I asked him to teach me how to shoot. He's my friend now. That's all there was to sort out."
"Did they tell you what she did to Xander?" Rory asked, really not sure by this point how much he had missed or how long he had been out. It was a big blur. The last really clear thing he could actually remember was having sex with Buffy. Everything else was in scratchy hazes, even if he could still recall it. "No, just... Christ. I'll wait til they come on their own. Fecking wankers with sticks up their arses, I swear. Do I look like I'm going to be a hostile threat anymore? Why the hell do you want to know how to shoot? Cannae play with a stake anymore, so you figure you should find something else?"
Buffy nodded slowly. "Yeah, they did. But it was a mistake, right? She's a Childer and she's not as good with the restraint. Xander trusts her, and I think he's falling for her pretty quickly, so I'm hardly going to interfere. I know she'll keep Xander safe as much as possible. They're sweet together, you know? They have this look when they're looking at each other. It's... I'm jealous. No, you don't look like you're going to be a hostile threat. I want to know how to shoot so that I could get a job with the stick guys, or maybe a Kindred bodyguard or something. I have to open up my options. Plus getting over a hatred of guns would prove that I've moved beyond the Slayer thing."
Rory shrugged carefully and was now just about ten centimeters away from putting his head down on the bed, despite being still standing. He had an all-over weakness he wasn't enjoying at all. Thinking about the enormity of that was giving him a headache, too. To let Blaise take care of him, or Airlie. Or even Logan. The prospects just seemed to be pushing the whole scenario. "Personally never had an issue with guns. They've saved my arse more than I can count. My Dad's an ex cop and I have two brothers... one is a cop, and one is in the military. It's aboot being familiar with what you're dealing with than just assuming they're the big bad. Nay sure I buy that you can get over it, though, if you have been harbouring a hatred of it. That's a strong word."
"Well, getting shot at is a strong reason for strong words. I didn't exactly enjoy getting a bullet in me. I don't like guns, I can't help it. I never have done. But, I'm willing to open my mind. To try it. See? I can change. I'm changing. I'm now in the oven baking. I'm not just cookie dough. Maybe you can teach me how to shoot? Give you something to keep your mind off the pain. Surely yelling at me for holding a gun wrong can be fun, right?"
Rory just gave a small huff of a laugh and shook his head before he finally put it down on the mattress tiredly. "I know you. You think you can just pick it up and you'll suddenly have perfect skills to join the military and manage to be Kindred bodyguard. But if you have your knickers in a twist aboot getting a bullet in you... something a lot of us are pretty familiar with... you dinnae have a lot of hope. Buffy, I'm nay even sure I can piss withoot pain right now. You'll have to find another teacher. For the record? How is getting vampire fangs in you any different to getting a bullet in you?"
Buffy moved to help Rory get onto the bed, not sure she could stand watching him in such an awkward angle with his head on the pillow. "C'mon, Rory. You need to get back up on the bed horse. There's no green gown anymore. No guys with sticks up their asses. It's not a sign of weakness to give in and lie down. And I'm not that bad, so you don't know me all that well. One look at my ass does not get you the inside scoop on my mind. Can you really not piss without pain? It's... it just is. Why do you have such a bee in your bonnet about the bites, but you don't bat your eyelids at guns? Everyone has their thing, but some of us still need to get over it. Face the fear. But for the record... I can't stop a bullet. Theoretically I can stop a vampire from biting me."
"Is anyone ever going to get the inside scoop? Because life will be really boring for whoever you want to be with if they dinnae." Rory looked at her. "Are you seriously asking me that after I have just been bitten and drained by two different vampires who had me completely under their physical and psychological influence? Seriously? Are you really asking me that? Last I looked, a gun couldnae make you think your cock would look good in red satin. I'm nay deluded here. I dinnae want anyone fanging on my throat, and I'm nay changing that opinion any time soon." At this, he laughed, even if pain just shot through his chest. "Theoretically, you're talking oot your arse, lassie. Blaise could walk in here right now and sink his teeth into your throat and you wouldnae have a hope in hell of stopping him."
"Okay, so the fangs are something I would want in me... At least his fangs. Bullets I don't want in me. There is no wish to be shot again any time soon. And if Blaise did walk in here right now, pretty sure biting me would be the last thing on his mind. For the record though, yes someone will get the inside scoop. My friends do. Xander, Willow... You're getting close, but there's no pressure with you, you know? It's just us talking, hanging out. Our fights aren't serious. It's not about causing pain." Buffy gave a slight shrug before she kissed his forehead and pulled the covers up over him. "Personally I'll be happy if this is the last time you're bitten for a while. I don't need you scaring me again."
"So fecking glad they clean up after themselves right now," Rory mumbled, referencing the bites on his throat. He was scarred in other places enough as it was, he didn't need that as a talking point. "And that's nay the point. If he wanted to bite you, you couldnae stop him. I dinnae know. Maybe he'll never feed off you. Some Kindred dinnae feed off their lovers. Some lovers see that as a more important committment than even marriage and demand it in the relationship. Obviously Xander doesnae have an issue with it, even if Airlie took a wrong turn wiping his memory when she panicked. She'll have to live with the knowledge forever now that she wiped him of memories of their first time together. How would you feel it Blaise never wanted that off you, but kept getting it elsewhere?"
Buffy made a face before she grabbed the chair and yanked it closer so she could sit next to Rory as she tucked her feet up under herself. Riley was really not going to be happy when he realised there had been touching. "Probably how I feel now. I don't know. I know it's not everything, I know that some Kindred don't need to feed. I know that he might never need to feed on me. And the truth is... I get it. I mean, I have to get it. There's no choice. If I want Blaise, then I have to take the slutty biting with it. I mean, if you were still gonna be with Juliette and you knew she had to feed off others because you weren't letting her bite you, would you have been okay with it?"
Rory snorted. "Oh, aye. Then her fangs wouldnae need to be anywhere near me. I'd be very fine with it. I realise very much the hit of emotions that come with the fangy thing, but I can get a similar hit oot of taking an E, but that doesnae mean I'm going to go oot and do drugs. Hey, do you think lions or dogs are sluts for slipping cock to more than one lioness or dog in one week? Just curious, because I thought I explained to you that Kindred arenae sluts, it's a need to survive. You make me feel like I'm talking to a brick wall sometimes."
"I get that a lot, but I still say I'm more stylish than a brick wall," Buffy joked as she grinned at him. Then she cleared her throat and rest her head on the back of the chair. "Well, I get that it's a need. I get that he has to feed. He doesn't just survive on love. He survives on love and blood, but I suppose the thing that would not make me fee like I'm totally denying him is the fact that I could give him love. The others just give him the blood."
"Do you think you can love him?" Rory asked quietly as he rubbed a hand over his forehead. "You havenae managed it so far. Isnae like you've had a shortage of prospective lads, either. It's a fair question. I get a feeling, too, that he'd be a pretty awesome lover when the real deal happenened."
Buffy nodded. "Yeah, I do. I wouldn't be fighting this hard otherwise. With Riley there's just too much history. Even if I loved him, I know we could never get it to work. But I don't love him," she quickly clarified with a look to Rory. "I just need to be able to give Blaise some proof that I'm worth it. And it's hard not to want to make it work just to find out what he is like in bed. We haven't... He won't until it means something."
"Buffy, he already thinks you're worth it," Rory told her tiredly. "You wouldnae be here if he didnae think that. You certainly wouldnae be in his hame. Are you telling me you havenae even copped a feel? At all? Jesus. I didnae peg him for a totally hands-off sort of bloke."
Buffy pressed her lips together as she looked down at her knees. "I copped a feel... Then I ran off and got drunk with you. I haven't exactly copped a feel since. Just spent a night in his bed when he was throwing up ridiculous amounts of blood."
Rory blinked. "Nay wonder the bloke is wondering what your game is. You cop a feel then fuck two other lads? It's a wonder he doesnae have a lock and key on his bollocks. Maybe if you ask Juliette sweetly enough, she might give you nudie pics of him. She paints him, you know. She has nudie portraits," he said with a smirk.
Buffy's eyebrows went up. "You've seen them? How have you seen them, and I haven't? Has she done nudie portraits of herself?"
"Why the fuck would she paint nudie portraits of herself?" Rory asked in amusement. At least he was functioning a little better now he was lying again. "Aye, I saw them. She has an art room and it doesnae look like he has any issue being her subject."
"He's her mate. Why would he? He probably thinks no one will ever see the pictures. At least now I understand why you're so willing to kiss his royal ass. You know what it looks like," Buffy teased before she reached out to hit his arm lightly. "Would you have been her subject? Are you really done with her?"
Rory just shot her a smirk. "Aye, because being bitten by him totally made me gay that I want to be surrounded by paintings of his gigantic Kindred cock," he said with a snort. "There is very little I want to do with her right now. I dinnae know how I'm going to feel when I get oot of here, but right now, I dinnae even want to be in her presence. I didnae want to get on the dating scene again, but she convinced me to try. Then this. I dinnae need it, Buffy. I really dinnae need it. She wasnae even going to fucking tell me. I was met with guards. Guards, Buffy, like a common fecking criminal. You expect me to still be attracted to her after that?"
Buffy gave a shake of her head. "No, I don't. But I know what it's like to be the one to fuck up too, and still want the person you hurt." She fell quiet for a moment before she ran her tongue over her lips as her green eyes fixed back on his face. "He really does have a gigantic Kindred cock, doesn't he? I haven't just imagined that... And it's even better in the tight jeans."
"She should have thought about that before giving nay mind to my feelings at all to placate him. All I would have wanted was a fecking phone call, but I wasnae even worth that." Rory rolled back stiffly so he was half on his side and half on his back, his hand resting lightly on his sore ribs. "Aye, it is. Maybe for every century you hit, you get an extra inch or something. But nay one lives that long to test the theory and a mortal cock is all shrivelled by the time it hits that many years anyway. He's got to be at least eleven or twelve."
Buffy let out a soft sigh. "Of course you were. And you are. I mean, if I was going to dump your ass, I'd totally give you a phone call at least. You okay there, Braveheart?" She started to chew on her lip as she fell quiet, and contemplated the inch for every century. "Eleven or twelve? Oh my god... What if he doesn't fit?"
"He fits Juliette," Rory said flatly and pulled his lips to the side as he stared at the ceiling.
"Yeah, I kinda didn't miss that memo. Figured they weren't in their bedrooms just playing scrabble all these years." Buffy watched him curiously for a few moments. "Are you jealous?"
Rory gave a slight shake of his head. "Nay, I'm not. I'm just really tired. I dinnae know... maybe that's part of the whole thing. I'm a traditonal lad. Nay sure I want to share, even if I'm nay jealous. But it isnae even an issue, because I'm just really upset and hurt by what she did. All I keep wondering is what else she is capable of. I dinnae want to be Kindred roadkill."
Buffy bit down on her lip. "Well, I don't want you being Kindred roadkill either. That's the thing that was stopping me too. Not sure about sharing... But it's part of it, right? They're part of a package. What if I was part of a package? What if you and me were more than just friends and we had some crazy mate thing going on... Would he even want me then? But anyway, you don't have to worry about her. I'll keep her away from you. You don't need to see her if you want."
"It's not that, Buffy. I'm an adult. I can face this like an adult. Well, I can now. Obviously before I wanted to deal with it like an escaped mental patient, but I'm nay just going to avoid her. I cannae, for one. She's connected to Blaise and although it's really hard to wrap my head around, I can feel something inside that tells me I need to be in his vicinity right now. I also think that they'll both be good for Airlie. But as far as what I need and want to be happy, I'm just nay sure aboot anything anymore," Rory admitted and then closed his eyes when his chest started to hurt in a different sense that just physically.
Buffy brushed her fingers over his hair. "Well, don't think about it now, okay. Just get some rest. You're still healing, and right now you don't have the insane Brujah forces in your head telling you otherwise. It means you actually feel the aches and pains. You're still very much human, so you can want to be in Blaise's vicinity all you like, but just take it easy, okay? Airlie's in good hands with them. Maybe they're not so smooth with the dating scene, but they know their Kindred business."
Rory just let his eyes close and grunted softly in agreement. "I wish I could just Fast Foward through all this bullshit and not have to think about it. Then Fast Forward over Christmas too, because that's even bigger bullshit."
"Bah humbug," Buffy murmured with a soft chuckle. "Just sleep, okay? I'll hang around for a little while before I leave you to it. I'm sure Airlie would really like to see you."
"She'll wait. Nay like she's in any hurry, is it?" Rory replied and felt like pulling the covers up over his head. It wasn't like things could get any worse than they had been, but he wasn't about to say that out loud and jinx it.
Word Count | 10,408