Tough Love

Chapter 3: life is a battle

She wasn't hiding. So what if Hank kept asking her where she’d run off to yesterday? He’d been looking for her for hours, finally finding her that evening sitting next to the door because he hadn't given her a key and she really hadn't wanted to ask him for one.

She didn't want to be here in this stinky city. She knew he couldn’t afford a better location in L.A , but the valley? If ever she’d imagined hell on earth this sure would be its location. Right here, right under her feet, this was her own personal hell- mouth. But she didn't have any demons. No, she’d left them behind in Sunnydale the day she’d said goodbye to her friends. The day she’d let go of her mom and realized that she was gone forever.

Her whole life had been an insignificant struggle for peace, all this time she knew she was fighting a ghost, but it had taken years of pain, disappointment and death to bring her here to face the person who was the reason for all of this. Whatever this was...she wasn't hiding anymore, not from anyone so now she was heading to Hank's office not caring who might be there.

***

"Where have you been Hank? I thought we had work to do" Spike stood next to hank's chair.

"Sorry Spike, just have a few things to do this morning. And left Buffy at the house and…" he sighed.

"What is it?"

Spike sat in front of Hank as he ran his hands over his temples.

"Met someone today" Hank looked up at him. "I'm worried about the fight."

"Well I'm not." Spike sighed.Have other performances to be worried about He shifted in his chair.

"You okay Spike?" Hank noticed the young man’s discomfort.

"I’m fine. So, who was the man you met?'

"Buffy's ex. He's trouble. Said something about the fight."

"You met Angel?" The two men turned to look at the young woman standing in the doorway, interrupting their conversation.

"Angel?" Spike raised a brow what kind of a girly name is that?

"Yes I did." Hank looked directly at his daughter.

"How is he?" Buffy entered the room completely ignoring Spike.

"Oh… he's fine." Hank stood up. "He's more then fine actually. Making a lot of money. Hasn't change his ways though."

"And what's that supposed to mean Hank?"

Spike looked at the two glaring at each other and knew there was more to this than met the eye.

"Wait…your ex-boyfriend is a boxer?" he got up and looked at her.

"No." Hank intervened his eyes never leaving Buffy.

"He's just a crook who loves making easy money and now he's doing it at our expense."

"You never liked him." Buffy stated.

"And now I know I had good reason not to. This is what he left you for Buffy."

"Well Kudos Hank. I wonder what this says about you," she sneered.

"I just wanted a better life for you."

"You’re right, it was better, without you." Buffy turned to leave but stopped near the door

"At least he came for mom's funeral which is more then I can say about you."

She slammed the door loudly behind her.

***

Spike was looking for Buffy again, He didn't know why he was so drawn to her, just knew he was sick and tired of sitting in the dark, waiting for someone to tell him what the bloody hell was going on.

He always got what he wanted though, and if it was information he needed, he'd get it out of her no matter how many scolding gazes she sent his way. He spotted her sitting on the bench in the back yard and walked towards her. Just thinking about this girl being close to him again made him soften inside., Man, she's got issues… daddy leaving her, boyfriend turning out to be evil And why again was he getting so worked up about this?…

"You know pet…"

He took a few tentative steps and sat beside her. She looked as if she wasn't aware he was there.

"For someone who doesn’t like violence you sure made an impression."

"I do that" she muttered, but quickly realized what she’d said and glanced at him.

"I mean…"

"I know what you mean." He gave her an understanding smile.

"I'm sorry" She looked down her voice a whisper.

"What's that luv? Didn't quiet catch that." Spike smirked and moved closer to her.

Buffy frowned. Of course he's going to make it harder on me.

"I'm sorry." She raised her voice enough so that he could hear her.

"Alright then. But just so we’re clear, this is an apology?"

She gave him a cold glare.

"I guess I deserved it, in some way." Spike sighed and paused for a moment.

"So, what's the deal with that Angel fellow?" He gave in to his curiosity and risked a direct question.

"I don't want to talk about it." Buffy shrugged.

Spike look at her closely. Buffy looked sad. So sad that she hadn’t even bothered to send him away. She just shifted in her place and stared blankly into space.

"He sounds like a complete wanker."

That got Buffy's attention, she turned to him.

"You don't even know him." And what a wanker is anyway?

"Don't need to luv, my Spike senses tells me he's bad news."

"Yeah, well where were your Spike senses were when my knee hit your crotch?"

"Good point, but you see the problem pet, you hit them on their weak spot." He grinned.

Buffy couldn't help smiling at his remark.

"I knew I could get a gleam" Spike looked at her pleased.

Buffy realized what she’d done and turned her head away.

"So, aren't you going to scowl at me for my behaviour?" she said after a few second of silence.

"I think I've learned my lesson. Going to step back with my manhood still intact." Well most of it.

Spike got up as Buffy gave him a puzzled look.

"I'm going to ask Hank what he needs me to do, have workout and stuff..." He’d barely finished what he was about to say as he turn to leave when Buffy spoke.

"Spike"

She said my name. he turned back to look at her.

"Can we start over?"

"What do you mean luv?"

She just reached out her hand and he stared at it for a moment, then took it warily.

"Hi I'm Buffy."

He grinned and tightened his grip.


"Nice to meet you Buffy…I'm Spike."

"Heard a lot about you." she smiled.

"That's funny, he said. Haven’t heard a bloody thing about you."

***


He didn't know why he’d agreed to this but he should have known that this girl was the kind who didn't take no for an answer. And after all, he was the one who’d suggested the rough and tumble idea in the first place.

Buffy was standing in front of him wearing two black gloves, black shorts, black top. Her fists were close together in front on her face, ready for any attack.

"Need to go over the basics luv. It's not all about the punch and blows."

"Right." She dropped her hands. what am I doing? her mind screamed at her.

"First you learn how to duck."

"Okay." She took a long breath and shook her head in preparation.

Spike looked at her, she looked so vibrant with her hair bouncing around and fire in her eyes. So cute…did I just use the word "cute"?

"Give it to me." Okay that sounded too sexy, Buffy muttered.

Spike took a few swings above her head, carefully avoiding any contact as she ducked down.

"That didn't hurt," she stated, standing straight, panting slightly.

"Didn't have any intention of hurting you."

"Why not?" she asked, almost offended

"Because your dad would kill me."

"My dad wouldn't hurt you…he needs you too much."

"Maybe luv… But I think he needs you more." Spike looked at her as if he was trying to make her see something that she wasn't willing to confront.

"Hank’s got himself some fan."

"Just telling like I see it."

"Then you're blind."

Spike didn't say more, he looked at Buffy and knew the only thing she needed right now was time, she was still mourning her loss, and he knew well how angry she was.

"So…Are you going to teach me or what?"

"What do you want luv, a quick demo?" He started moving around her, scanning her.

"A blow-for-blow description you can map out and memorize? Doesn't work like that."

Spike faced her, looking at her with a glint in his eyes.

"Fine then, you train me." She gave him a sly smile.

Spike grinned at her frisky attitude. Who would have thought this was the same girl he’d talked to moments ago.

"Spike!" The sound of Hank's voice broke the spell between the two.

Spike turned around to face Hank who was standing a few feet away from the ring, his face harsh . Very obviously upset about something.

"We haven't finished our talk," he said as Spike approached to him.

"Wasn't my fault Hank, said you had to make a call."

"My office, now." Hank sent him a glare and turned around giving Spike no option but to follow.

Hank was pacing fretfully around his office when Spike came in. He tried to stay calm, but instead stood at the middle of the office and started rambling.

"This Angel guy, he runs all kinds of dirty deals in the boxing world. He has connections. He fixes bets by getting the inside info on the fight. Why was my daughter wearing your shorts?"

"She asked me for something comfortable to train in."

"Oh." Hank stared blankly at his desk.

"So what is the inside scoop Hank?" Spike asked expectantly.

"Did she ask to train?" Hank ignored his words and looked at him.

"Yeah." Spike raised an eyebrow looking at Hank's firm face.

"Think I should let her work here." Hank stated and went to his chair.

"W-wait , wait…you what?" Spike closed the distance between them.

"Don't know if you’ve noticed, but she's kinda pissed at me. Think some work in the office would be good for her."

Spike shook his head, not really following Hank’s train of thought.

"What about the fight?" He asked again.

"Oh, don't worry about that, just rumours that Angel guy’s spreading. You just focus on training okay."


"Alright."

Spike sighed as he closed the door behind him. Normally he wouldn’t have let things like this bother him, but Hank was definitely worried about something serious. Usually he wouldn’t have let him see that anything was wrong and that had always worked well for both of them so far. So, what had changed? A voice in the back of his mind told him to drop it, nothing mattered but focussing on training and getting in the best shape without any distractions.

"Hey! ready to teach me some moves?"

Spike looked at the girl standing before him. Buffy's tiny shirt was tight around her body, her skin was glistening from the hot summer day. , Her hair looked like a mop with a thick lock of it covering her face. She ran her hand around her neck and smiled at him.

He sighed.

Bugger.



tbc