Inhuman Hearts

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~*Inhuman
Hearts*~

Part III - Moving In
The familiar sound of a door being
kicked open woke Spike from his dream. He wasn’t used to it anymore. It had been
weeks since she had stormed into his crypt. He realised just how much he missed
it.
“What do you want Slayer?” he asked
without even bothering to turn to look at her.
“You.” She said.
Spike was startled by the response,
and for a few fleeting moments he thought his one prayer had been answered. But
as he turned around he saw the cold and lifeless look in her eyes and knew that,
once more, his request to a higher being had been denied.
“What, need old Spike’s help, do
ya?” he asked with a bitter tone.
“Nop, just you. You’re coming with
me.” She continued, indifference still graced her steely features.
“Explain.” As he noticed her “so do
not care about what happens to you, but unfortunately I need to be here” look,
he decided to play it her way and assumed the same tone of apathy.
“You have something the bad guy
wants. I have you, I have the bad guy.”
“You don’t have me Slayer, not
anymore.” Spike spat out.
An uncomfortable silence settled
between them. Was that hurt in her eyes? No, it couldn’t be. She had made it
very clear that he meant nothing to her, he was just… convenient.
She stared at him, for a second the
hard mask of indifference fell.
“Someone wants to summon the First
Slayer and that someone needs your heart to do it.” She sighed.
“Huh?”
“Willow translated a passage on a
book that an inhuman heart which had tasted the Slayer’s blood was needed to
summon the spirit of the First Slayer.” She explained.
“I’m sticking with huh.”
Spike repeated with a frown.
“Look, I don’t understand it
either. I just know that you can’t be left here.”
“Wha? Afraid something might happen
to me?” Spike grinned, taking a few steps forward until he stood right in front
of her.
“No… no…” she was caught off guard
by his proximity, taking a few steps back.
“Afraid someone might hurt me?” he
continued closing the distance between them until she was backed against a wall.

“No…” the feel of the cold stone on
her back broke the thrall he had her under and she was able to push him away. “I
don’t care what happens to you, all I want is to avoid the comeback of the First
Slayer. I had a run in with her a couple of years ago and I don’t wish to repeat
it so soon.” She hissed moving as far away from him as she could.
Spike sighed and turned around to
face her once more. He brought his hand to the bridge of his nose:
“What’s your plan, Slayer?”
“You stay with me until this bad
guy comes for you.” She stated nonchalantly.
“And what if this guy takes his
time? What are you gonna do? Move in?” he asked with an annoying grin plastered
on his lips.
“No. You move into my place.” She
tried to sound casual about it, but deep inside her heart threatened to juut ut
of her chest. She calmed herself down, trying very hard not to stutter or have
her speech falter, and continued: “We don’t have any spare rooms; you can sleep
on the couch.”
“Thanks for the tempting offer, but
I’d prefer to stay here.” He stated as he took a pack of cigarettes from his
jeans’ back pocket.
“You’re coming with me and…” she
moved towards him and grabbed the cigarette, which was now hanging from his
mouth, crushed it in her hand and threw it to the floor. “…there will be no
smoking in the house.”
 “And what makes you think I’ll
come with you?” he asked taking another cigarette from his pack.
Once more silence fell around them.
looklooked at him as he lit the cigarette and after a few moments of gazing at
each other she replied:
“Because I’m asking you to.”
He looked at her. She knew him all
too well. He would do anything she asked of him. Pressing his lips together, he
nodded taking out the cigarette, throwing it to the floor and putting it out
with his right foot.

*********************************************
“Buffy? Where have you been?”
Willow asked as she saw Buffy opening the front door. “And what is Spike doing
here?”
“He’s the one with the inhuman
heart.” She answered going into the kitchen, Willow, Dawn and Spike followed
her.
Everyone looked at her
inquisitively.
“The book spoke of an inhuman heart
which has had the blood of a Slayer. Spike here is a demon and has drained two
Slayers dry. I figure he’s the one they are talking about.” Buffy explained.
“Ah! Wow, you figured that out in
seconds back at the Magic Shop; quick thinking Buffy!” Willow congratulated.
“That’s me, quick thinking girl!”
Buffy quipped shrugging as she helped herself to a glass of milk.
“So why is he here?” Dawn asked.

“He’s going to stay here until we
fint mot more about little ET and his master.”
“Cool!” Dawn replied with a wide
smile. Spike smiled back at her.
“Uh! Talking about finding out
stuff. There is something you should know about the Khind’Ara. Their slime is
kinda toxic. Makes you sort of drunk and hypersensitive.” Willow explained.
“Now you tell me.” Buffy said
between clenched teeth.
Spike was the only one that heard
it and smirked at her.

**************************************
“There! This should make it more
comfy.” Willow said as she finished turning the living room couch into Spike’s
new bed.
“Don’t worry Red; I’ve slept in
worst places than a couch.” Spike tried to reassure her.
“This is so cool.” Dawn exclaimed
as she entered the room carrying three or four DVD’s under her arm. “We have
Moulin Rouge, Ever After, Playing by heart…”
“Don’t you have anything
less estrogen oriented?” Spike joked as he sat down.
“…and Deep Throat? Huh?”
Dawn frowned as she looked at the cover of the DVD.
Spike immediately jumped off the
sofa and snatched the DVD from the girl’s hands.
“Moulin Rouge will do just fine!”

“Spike, when I told you to pack, I
meant to get some clothes, not get your kinky toys.” Buffy spat out, her arms
crossed over her chest as she leaned against the wall.
“Wha? It’s a classic.” He
protested.
“And you young lady, it’s a school
night, you can watch the movie tomorrow.” Buffy continued ignoring the vampires
comment.
“Oh! Come on Buffy! It’s just so
cool having Spike over. It’s like a slumber party.” Dawn argued.
“This is not a slumber party,
Dawn.” Buffy disagreed. “And Spike is not one of you’re girlfriends, he’s a
vampire.”
“Yeah, that’s what you keep saying.
But he’s different, his chipped.” Dawn continued.
“He is…”
Buffy was cut off by Spike’s
protest:
“Hey! Do you mind? I’m in the room.
You do realise that.”
“Go to bed Dawn.”
The teenager was about to retort
but Buffy order:
“Bed. Now. And not another word.”

Dawn had no choice. With a sharp
sigh she started up the stairs. Sensing the tension in the room Willow quickly
followed her.
“That was a little harsh.” Spike
said when they where left alone.
“Maybe, but I’m the one who takes
care of her. I know what’s best for her.” She snarled, turning around towards
the stairs.
“Tell yourself that long enough you
might actually believe it.” Spike uttered sprawling on the couch.
“And what does that mean?” Buffy
asked turning to face him.
“You don’t even know what’s good
for yourself, let alone a fifteen year old. You live your life worrying about
what other people think. Your every action is guided by what you think other
people think is the best for you.” Spike argued with both hands behind his neck.

“I do what I think is best for me.”

“Do you, really? Then why does
doing what is best for you hurt so much?” he asked. The smugness was gone from
his voice and was replaced by a sincere worry.
“I don’t know what you’re talking
about.” She lied.
Her answer brought rage to Spike’s
eyes, in an instant he was in front of her, backing her up against the wall.
“You want to fool yourself? Fine,
that’s your problem, but don’t lie to me.” He snapped.
Buffy’s mind raced, telling her she
had to push him away, but her body failed her. All she could do was stare at
him, eyes welling up with tears.
The sight of her watery eyes calmed
Spike and he continued with a softer tone.
“Why does everything have to be so
bloody hard with you?” he asked as his hand came to rest on the nape of her
neck. “Just tell me that. Why?”
They stared at each other in
silence. Spike’s voice was barely a whisper as he closed the distance between
their mouths:
“Why? Why do you worry so much
about what other people wanhy chy can’t you just do what you…” his lips brushed
over hers “…want?” He brought his mouth over hers but this time for a deeper
kiss.
She closed her eyes and savoured
the kiss as if it was the last. God, she missed the taste of him, the feel of
his chest against hers, the…
Crack! The sound of footsteps on
the top floor brought her back to reality.  
“No. I do what I want.” She
whispered, breaking the kiss and stepping away from him, the tears threatened to
overflow. Silently she continued backing away from him, never breaking eye
contact.
Spike felt as if someone had just
punched him in the gut and the pain was spreading straight to his throat, as he
stood there watching her go.

*************************************
Buffy couldn’t stop tossing and
turning in her bed. It was the third time that night she had woken up from the
same dream. Sitting up between her sheets, cradling a pillow between her strong
hands she recalled the gruesome details. Her face was bathed in blue moonlight
as small beads of sweat ran down the sides of her checks.
“Stupid dream!” She thought
as flashes of Spike’s tortured body laying motionless on a ritual tomb assaulted
her. A hooded figure buried its claws in vampire’s ivory chest. Buffy squeezed
her eyes shut, whishing away the images of Spike’s heart being dug out and his
body turning to dust.
She laid back in bed, willing
herself to sleep. But it was helpless; she had to go check on him.
************************
The wooden stairs screeched beneath
her bare feet as she made her way to the living room. She squinted hard, her
eyes still adjusting to the darkness around her.
As the couch came into view her
heart jumped. It was empty and the sheets were carelessly left on the floor. She
desperately scanned the room for the missing vampire. A strange noise coming
from the kitchen broke her moment of panic. Immediately the Slayer in her took
over. She hid behind the wall that separated the hall from the living room,
silently waiting for the intruder. As a tall figure walked into the room, Buffy
lunged at it, both tumbling to the floor from the impact. They wrestled for a
few instants, but havihe ehe element of surprise she easily overpowered him and
ended up on top, straddling the stranger’s waist and pinning its arms over its
head.
“Where. Is. He?” Her tone was sharp
and threatening. As each word came out of her mouth she tightened the grasp
around his wrists.
“Bloody hell, woman!” a familiar
voice came from her opponent, who lay helpless under her. “What did I do now?”
“Spike?” Buffy asked.
Automatically she loosened her hold
on him, but her arms remained resting over his wrists.
“Who else would it be?” he spat out
annoyed. “Have you lost your marbles for good this time?”
“What are you doing up?” she tried
to act casually as their compromising position dawned on her but, instead of
standing up, she remained hovering over him. She missed the feel of him under
her too much.
“A bloke can’t even get a sweet
tooth in the middle of the night without getting attacked.”
“I thought someone had broken in
and taken you with them. And…” her voice trailed off as she didn’t know how to
say the words without revealing her foolish worries over his well being.
As he stared at her, he noticed a
strange look in her eyes. Was that concern?
“…and…” she repeated.
“Bloody hell, Buffy, just say
it. Tell me you were worried about me.” Spike wished, but as the words
formed in his mind he saw the change in her face. That change he had long become
used to. The sudden cold indifference in her eyes told him the moment was lost.
In a flash she was on her feet and
the poisonous words coming from her mouth hurled towards him:
“And I really don’t need to be
worrying about the First Slayer coming to hunt me down. Once was enough.”
A dangerous melting pot of anger
and hurt boiled in Spike’s chest as he stood up.
“Right, we wouldn’t want that to
happen, now would we?” he snapped, walking towards the sofa and throwing himself
on it.
“You just stay right here and don’t
go anywhere. I don’t want to be… bothered in the middle of my beauty sleep.” She
spat out as she turned on her heels and started up the stairs.
“Beauty sleep, that’s something you
need… a lot!” he hissed in a low voice.
Even though she was half way up the
stairs, her Slayer senses easily picked up that last remark. She didn’t know
why, but it brought a sudden bruising weight to her chest. “Does he think I’m
ugly?” she thought as she cuddled herself between her sheets.
*****************************