Challenges

Chapter10

“Spike! Hello?”

“You won’t be getting my purse I tell you!” He mumbled to himself, sitting in the corner of the training room floor, asleep. His arms were folded over one another as he sat, rather cutely, to himself.

She smirked at him as the sun began to rise and flow down main street. The street pavement outside was shining and wet from the morning due, and the light from the sun reflected subtly off those puddles into the gym. It was 6am and the two of them had spent all night training. Spike has fallen asleep but Buffy was still alert, sitting next to him in the corner. She had stayed up and watched over him... not that HE needed the surveillance, but she couldn't help it. She has kept thinking about his kiss. Her initial reaction should have been to be repulsed by the thought of this villain kissing her, but she couldn't help but think, in the darkest parts of her subconscious... he was being genuine when he had told her he couldn't do it. He had actually admitted that he had been going against his orders, his instincts, his demon. Was he in love with her? He had made it sound that way.

Again the vampire fidgeted as he dreamt. Buffy smiled and put a hand on his shoulder. “ Spike, wake up!”

The bleach blond turned his head upward and looked up from the floor. He looked around once, realizing where he was. He must have dozed off.  The vampire rubbed the bridge of his nose with one hand, putting his feet to the ground from their crossed position and sat up, sore. He ground his teeth a moment, his muscles hurting like hell from all the practice.

Buffy scoffed.“ You look tired.”

He looked up at her, smiling, and then sat up to her eye level....remembering something. He turned his head directly towards her. "Look into my eyes." he said, staring into her orbs.

 A little weirded out, he turned her head, and darted her eyes away."Why?"

"Did you know, that a vampire can see his reflection only in the eyes of other creatures with souls? It's not like a mirror. When I look into a mirror I'm seeing the reflection of myself.... but through your eyes... the reflection is through you. I know it sounds stupid but it's the world of magic in vampire lore, I read it years ago. Would never work with another demon.... but it should work with someone who has a soul."

"Seriously? You sure this isn't a line?"

He grabbed her shoulders and made her face him. "Just do it, I want to see if it's true. I've never had the opportunity to try it."

She sighed and gave in, facing him and sitting Indian style, she opened her eyes as wide as she could and stared.

He stared back, and there, for the first time in a long while, saw an image of himself. It was fish bowled and disproportionate sure, but he could see his hair.... his own eyes..... his face to a certain extent. "There, there I am. Better then a bloody digital camera."

"Your such a liar." She smiled.

He smiled back. "Sometimes, but not this time."

"Spike?" She said, looking at him still in a daze. "If tomorrow.... I die.... would you do me a favor?"

He nodded, a little shocked that she would ask him to do anything for her.

She continued. "If I can't defeat this guy... I want you to protect my family, my mom, Giles, willow. Make sure he ends with me, and leaves after that....ok?"

Spike lifted his hand, wanting to cup her face, but he didn't.... he slowly put the hand back down and tilted his head back, looking away and unlocking there gaze to each other. He sat back and then looked to her again. "You won't die Buffy. I wouldn't allow it. If you and I.... fight together, I think we have a chance."

She nodded, standing up and folding her arms around herself, cold in the morning hours.

Seeing this, Spike stood too, then taking his black duster off and putting it around her shoulders to warm her.

She resisted. "I don't need...."

"Shut up slayer..." he said, forcing it onto her shoulder. "Your cold and I'm..... well I'm dead so...for me the coats just to look cool."

"Spike? can I tell you something?"

"Anything."

"Well..." She paused for a long moment, and then looked up at him innocently. "The thing is...you never looked cool." She smirked, joking.

He smiled back. "Liar."

"Sometimes."