012 [ accidental video | location: hyperion hotel ] a kick in the teeth is good for some

[breakmychest]

Spike is sitting on the floor in the Hyperion lobby hunched over and concentrating hard. He's holding a deck of cards, and several other piles are in front of him on a foot stool in the solitaire set-up. He moves an ace up and stares at the cards for a little while before flipping three down. Then he moves the cards around again. This continues for

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[ voice ]

[likeajoan]

[Buffy does not approve of this treatment of tables, even if they're not strictly speaking (or at all) hers.]

Spike, don't take it out on the furniture.

[ location: nondescript warehouse ] Always a delightful surprise, I find.

[likeajoan]

Buffy gives the place a good once-over herself as they enter, and comes to some very similar conclusions. "I'm ready," she confirms with a nod, though she can't help but sound a little uncertain - mostly because she's worried about accidentally damaging Spike with her ridiculous super-strength.

"I mean, if you are."

[ location: nondescript warehouse ]

[breakmychest]

Spike notices the uncertainty and frowns a bit. He goes over to Buffy and cups her face in his hands, then kisses her softly.

"My most frequent sparring partner lately has been a demon god-king, you know. And she doesn't love me." He tilts his head, frowning. "Though I think she does like me. Or at least tolerates... not the point. I can take a lot of damage, love. And I trust you." He leans his forehead against hers. "We both know the steps of this dance. Come on, Buffy." He grins. "You know you want to."

[ location: nondescript warehouse ]

[likeajoan]

"Okay, color me convinced," she replies, with the hint of a smile, as she takes a step back from him - her stance shifting from relaxed into something distinctly combative. She'll wait for him to make the first move, though. Still, to get the ball rolling, as he just reminded her:

"So, would this demon god-king be the same one you used to, oh, watch in the bath?"

Good luck with that, Spike!

[ location: nondescript warehouse ]

[breakmychest]

Spike sputters. "I-- that was-- I was making sure she didn't turn into Fred and endanger us all!" Or something similarly noble.

It's clearly time to start the fight, but for all he's been assuring Buffy that she won't hurt him and it'll be easy, he's got his own doubts. For so long now Buffy's been someone he refuses to hurt. Though he knows he can't hurt her, even trying goes against his instincts. Still, he throws a punch towards her at half speed.

[ location: nondescript warehouse ]

[likeajoan]

"Uhuh." Buffy's skeptical expression says it all - not that she's seriously annoyed at him, of course. She's evidently just messing with him. "So you're not her pet? I'm just checking."

She blocks the punch with ease, bringing one arm up to stave off the blow, and swinging a return punch with the other. Naturally, she can tell he's holding back, and she is too, going for somewhere near her regular Slayer strength.

[ location: nondescript warehouse ]

[breakmychest]

Spike rolls his eyes and blocks her punch, countering it with one of his own. This time, he swings a little harder, though he's still just getting warmed up. "She can say it as often as she wants. Doesn't make it true. Why?" He gives her a mischievous look. "Jealous?"

[ location: nondescript warehouse ]

[likeajoan]

That punch hits home - though she could've dodged it in a Neo-from-the-Matrix style, but where's the fun in that? It's sort of refreshing to be punched ...which, admittedly, is a little messed up, but it's been so long since she had a good fight. It's nice to feel the blood pumping in her veins, to be short of breath.

"Please," she retorts, dragging the back of her hand across her mouth, before launching another punch at Spike at a little faster than average speed. "She's gotta be too crazy even for you."

[ location: nondescript warehouse ]

[breakmychest]

Spike understands that feeling very well. He's always had a thing for violence, and seeing how she takes it is enough for him to stop holding back. Of course Buffy would be fine with it. It's fun.

But during the moment of hesitation that lets him make that decision, she gets her punch in. His head goes back with the hit, and he comes up grinning.

"And she's a living reminder of what happened to a good friend. Plus, I'm very much in love with someone else." With that he aims a sharp kick at her torso.

[ location: nondescript warehouse ]

[likeajoan]

"Huh. Is that why you're not even trying?" Buffy asks, teasingly, as she cheats and makes use of her super-speed to catch his leg mid-kick and swing, aiming to throw him off-balance.

[ location: nondescript warehouse ]

[breakmychest]

Spike feels his balance get away from him and tries to grab her as he goes down. "Oh, yeah. I could win easily, you know. I just don't want you feeling bad."

[ location: nondescript warehouse ]

[likeajoan]

Grabbing is successful, and she falls with him - though at least has the good sense to make sure she lands on top ...which is not unpleasant. "How very noble of you."

[ location: nondescript warehouse ]

[breakmychest]

"Mmm. Yeah, I'm a real gentleman." Not unpleasant at all. He steals a quick kiss, but he's not done fighting yet, so it was mostly an attempt to distract her from the hard shove that comes next.

[ location: nondescript warehouse ]

[likeajoan]

Ouch. Buffy is of the opinion that kiss distractions are unfair, and she makes a suitably disgruntled 'oof' sound as she rolls with the shove off of him. She's soon back on her feet however, stance defensive once again.

"That's cheating."

[ location: nondescript warehouse ]

[breakmychest]

Spike gets up as well and gives her a completely unrepentant grin. "Couldn't resist," he says. "You just looked so kissable." His tongue pokes out from between his teeth. "Plus, you know me, no respect for rules."

[ location: nondescript warehouse ]

[likeajoan]

"Two can play that game, you know." The 'no respect for rules' game, that is. Not that they even clarified any rules, but she's pretty sure that flying is an unfair advantage - though it does make for a pretty awesome roundhouse kick to the face.