Owner	Pose
Spike	Spike turned, ready to leave. Buffy had told him to leave. It was just as he expected, so he didn't even fight it. He already had his coat on, since he rarely ever took it off. He was a vampire. He was always room temperature. He didn't feel the cold. He just liked the look of his favourite jacket. And then, he heard something. He wasn't even sure what that he had heard it correctly. Blinking as he looked up at Buffy, who already had two feet on the stairs. She had told him that he should probably, but that she didn't want him to, and she offered her his hand. He stared at the offered hand, dumbstruck, but after what seemed like minutes, it was actually barely a second, he took her hand in his, swallowing even though he didn't have anything to swallow. "Are you sure about this, Buffy?" He wanted it; oh he definitely wanted it with every fibre of his being. But it still, it just seemed somehow wrong. He was a vampire. She was a slayer. It just wasn't done.
Buffy Summers	"I'm not sure what this is yet but yes, I do want you to come upstairs with me," Buffy admits as she wraps her hand with his, fingers twining together. Then she turns and leads the way upstairs, down the hall, to her room. Once they are inside, she shuts the door quietly and flips the lock into place. No need to have Dawn or her mother come barging in and her having to explain Spike's presence in her bedroom. Spike. In her bedroom. She's lost her mind. A glimpse at his past doesn't change decades of evil deeds. Yet somehow, knowing his secret, it made him less monster and more human. It shouldn't. Logically, it didn't change a thing. Logic left the building about ten minutes ago and left no forwarding address. Once in the room, she moves toward the bed and sits on the edge, tugging him down to sit beside her. Now that they are there, she isn't quite as confident so she busies herself taking off her boots.
Spike	Spike is in Buffy's bedroom. She's not just invited him into her home, but into her bed, well, the room anyway. It was a sobering thought. And yes, he had dreamed of this. In fact, he might well be dreaming. Perhaps she staked him and ever since, he's been in hell, purgatory, or wherever he belongs. Had he done enough since getting that chip in his head to make amends? Did all the stuff he do without the soul not count as he had no soul at the time? He wasn't sure, but what he knew was he was glad to be here, happy to be there, and he took a seat, next to Buffy, on her bed. It was unbelievably girly. So pink, with unicorns and rainbows, and all the other stuff he'd come to expect of the modern teenage girl. And that fact was not lost on him. She was still young. She'd been with Angel. Practically everyone in Sunnydale knew that one. But she was still just an 18 year old girl. He decided to take off his own shoes, gently loosening and undoing them. He set them down by her bed. He would then get up, to take his jacket off, resting it on a nearby chair, before sitting back down on the bed beside her. He was so nervous. Was he sweating? Why was he sweating? Vampires don't need to sweat. But then, Spike was anything but a typical vampire. The room was quiet, with every movement being heard. It was a good thing that he had ditched his leather jacket.
Buffy Summers	As she sets her boots besides his, she can't help smiling a little. His combat boots that he always seems to wear, unlaced half the time. Her stylish designer boots that cost too much but her Mom had splurged and bought for her. Lined up together next to her bed. It was such a strange moment, seeing the difference but the sameness. Her jacket had been left downstairs. She leaned over to turn on the lamp beside the bed them rose up, padding on silent feet to the door and flipping off the overhead light. It made the room more cozy, slightly dimmer, which seemed right. Moving back to the bed, she sits then swings her legs up on top of the comforter. She stretches out there, looking to his face. She pats the bed beside her. "Lay with me for a little while?" She could use the comfort after what transpired downstairs. She suspects he could to.
Spike	He was born more than seventeen decades ago, and yet somehow, he had a lot in common with Buffy Summers. He was almost ten times her age, and yet, he felt young around her. He felt vulnerable. He felt. Moving on the bed, he scooted up to where she had patted. He rested his head on her pillow, laying beside her. He reached out with his side arm, trying to slip it underneath her if she'd let him. He liked being beside her. As close as they were, he could feel the warmth of her body. The beating of heart. "Thank you," he finally said, speaking up and breaking the silence. It was cosy. It was quiet. It could probably use some music, but he was content without it. He was beside her. The woman he loved. And, strange as it may be, might actually return some of his affections. She was treating him like a man. It was all he had ever wanted.
Buffy Summers	As he slips his arm around her, she rolls onto her side although there is a little space between their bodies. She uses his upper arm as a pillow, resting her cheek there and looking up at him. Her feelings are written there for him to read although she doesn't realize it. She cares about him. She even likes him on some level. She admires a lot about him, not that she'll admit that out loud. She quickly looks back down, cutting that glimpse into her off as quickly as it happened. Slowly, her arm slides forward, hand coming to rest on his midriff as she lets her eyes close. She finds herself feeling at peace, which she shouldn't with a vampire in her room. Especially this vampire. One of the worst of the worst. And yet... "Do we want to talk about what happened or just...be for a while?"
Spike	Spike saw it. He knew it. He was here. She was here. They were here. It wasn't by accident. She had invited him up to here. They were together, if only after a fashion. As much as he wanted more, he was content with what he had. He was a bad guy. He was a vampire. He didn't even have a soul. Sure, he had a chip. But that didn't really change things. He still wanted to feed. He wanted to consume human blood. But not hers, or her friends. He didn't want any harm to come to her. And that perplexed him. He cared about her. He protected her. Fought alongside her. He had done enough talking before, downstairs. "I think, I just want to be." He could lay like this forever. He was quite the talker. So it was strange when he kept quiet. But the reason he was so quiet was he didn't want to ruin this. He didn't want to end it prematurely. If he said how he really felt? She's stake him for sure. Or kick him out. But it'd end this sooner. So, he tried to remain silent, showing her with his body language how he felt, what he wanted. Looking down at her, he smiled faintly as he soaked in her radiance. Hers was a light he would most gladly burn in.
Buffy Summers	He will be able to feel her cheek sliding against his arm as she nods, even as she speaks. "Okay." It's as simple as that. There's no need for more. The words are unnecessary. It's there. Anyone can see it. His love for her. Her growing attraction toward him. She's not in love, that is too much of a stretch. The last few weeks of spending time with his has changed hatred to friendship to...whatever this was. It wasn't something she could define. She was almost scared to examine it too closely for fear it would just disappear like fog as the sun rishes. Peeking up at his face again, she gave a soft smile then shifted. Her body was pressed against his side now. Her arm slides over his stomach, upwards, coming to rest on his chest where his heart lay. There is no heartbeat to be felt yet, that wasn't strange to her. It should be. It should be setting off alarms like craze, reminding her that he isn't human. She shifts her head last, moving to rest her cheek on the front of his shoulder, cuddling in and accepting the comfort he is offering. She lets out a soft sigh, a content sound, as she lets her eyes drift closed.
Spike	Spike lay there. Vampires didn't really need sleep. They could, but it wasn't as fundamental as it was for humans. Buffy could probably stay up all night herself with her Slayer abilities. Spike liked this. The light was on, soft, illumining things, providing ambiance. The windows were open. In a few hours, that could be a problem. But Spike was content. He wrapped his arm closer around Buffy, and then tugged on the comforter, draping it partially on her, warming her as much as he could without pulling away. He let her sleep. He watched over her. He didn't say a word. He was just there. Come morning, the sun began to shine through the window. He was very much aware of the light. He was still a vampire. He wore socks. He wore jeans. So, he was fine for now. But as the sun continued to move, it warmed his legs. He could feel it pouring over his black jeans. He had kept his arm out of the light. If she didn't wake up soon, he would have to move to avoid being set on fire. Buffy probably wouldn't like that too much. But he was going to let her sleep until he had no choice but to wake her.
Buffy Summers	It isn't the sunlight that wakes her up. It's the door handle being touched. Immediately she's awake, eyes open and shifting to the door as he can feel her entire body go tense. Buffy doesn't move. She just glances to the door then refocuses on Spike, relaxing as she realizes who is outside. It's a second later that someone tries to turn the knob, to enter the room without knocking. When the door doesn't open. Then there is banging. "Buffy? Why's the door locked?" "Go away, Dawn. I'm trying to sleep." The only response is muttering, the sound getting further away as her baby sister heads off in the direction she came. Buffy focused again on Spike, watching the way the light played across his features. Light. Awfully light. "Oh Sh--" She doesn't finish the word as she's suddenly off the bed and running to the window. A moment later is is closed, the drapes pulled tight over it before she turns to look at him. "Are you okay? I don't smell bacon so I'm guessing so."
Spike	If Buffy tensed, Spike was rigid. He did not fancy having to explain his presence in Buffy's room, in broad daylight, to Dawn, or worse, Joyce. He liked Joyce. He respected Joyce. She was a nice lady. Even before he had his chip in his head, Joyce treated him with respect. He liked that. But it was still probably wrong for him to be alone, with her daughter, in bed... even if nothing had happened, and they both had their clothes on. Still painfully aware of the creeping light, he remained quiet as Buffy managed to deal with it. When she shifted and got out of the bed, he moved up a bit, so none of his skin was in direct light. Reflected light was one thing. Direct light was bad, very bad. So when the window was closed, he breathed a sigh of relief, trying to play it cool. "Awe, you'd miss me?" He spoke normally to her. He had good hearing, so he was reasonably certain Dawn wasn't, otherwise he might have whispered that. Then he asked, "does your hair usually look that perfect when you first wake up? Blimey, and I thought that only happened on the tele."
Buffy Summers	"What?" Her hand went to her hair, brushing it down self consciously. "Is it sticking up or something?" She is moving across the room to the adjoining bath, opening the door and taking a quick glance in the mirror. No, it wasn't sticking up. She grabbed a brush to quickly run through it anyway. Just in case her hair was flat in the back from having been sleeping on it. Although she'd still been on her side when she woke up, in the same position she'd been in when she dozed off. How had that happened? She expected to lay there a bit then he'd go on his way and that would be that. Instead, he'd spent the entire night in her bed. Holding her. That sank in. He had held her through the entire night and he hadn't woken her, even when the light was threatening to do harm to him. She comes back into the bedroom, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. "Why didn't you wake me up?"
Spike	"Nothing, it's perfect. You look radiant." She might have thought he was being snarky, but that was his genuine voice. She could see it in his eyes. He did smirk when she ran to the bathroom to check on it. She was such a girl at times. And he kind of loved that about her. Sure, she might be waist deep in demon blood from time to time, but she was still a girl. She was wonderful. He was like a moth to her flame. He couldn't get enough. Her little quips and idiosyncrasies only made him fancy her more. "I didn't really see a need to. You've got a lot on your plate, being the Slayer, student, and all that. I figured you deserved all the sleep you could get. Besides, I was going to move, any minute." He didn't want to burn in flames, but he wanted to delay leaving her until the last possible minute.
Buffy Summers	That gets a groan from her as she flings herself dramatically on the bed next to him. "I didn't go back out and patrol. I only meant to close my eyes for a minute." She reaches up a hand to rub at her eyes, annoyed with herself. She tilts her head up and backwards, eyeing him upside down as she frowns. "You shouldn't have let me sleep. Who knows what might have been out running around last night while I was here resting." Something occurs to her and, being who she is, the words are being spoken almost as soon as the thought forms. It just happens. "You have a really comfortable shoulder. A comfortable everything." Then she frowns and tilts her chin down so she breaks eye contact with him, feeling a rush of heat coming up to her cheeks which pinken slightly.
Spike	"You got me there." He had no defence on that one. "But, despite all your Slayer strength, speed, and stuff, you're still Buffy, still human. You need time for you. And sometimes, that time ought to be used sleeping." He might have gone out patrolling himself, if he could have managed to tear himself away from her. But he didn't want to. The world could burn as long as he was with her. "I'm glad you noticed." He winks, even if she might not see it. "And," he gestures towards the door, no doubt suggesting Joyce and Dawn, "that lot notwithstanding, I'm yours, anywhere, anytime, and for as long as you want me."
Buffy Summers	At least he can't really see her blushing. She hopes. She pushes up to a sitting position but doesn't turn toward him. Not until she feels her cheeks cool. "Well, that could be all day. No school. Mom is off. Unless they go out later. Or I can get them to go out of the house so you can get away. Otherwise, you go out a window. With a blanket over your head." He's crazy enough to do it. He does it rather often. Every other vampire in the planet huddles away in the dark during the daylight. He really is one of a kind. Now that her cheeks don't feel hot, she turns sideways, tucking one foot up under her while the other still rests on the floor. "I'd ask if you were hungry but I don't have any blood in the house anyway. I could call Giles, see if someone can deliver." The visual of a Dominos driver delivering a pint of blood makes her giggle.
Spike	"There's no place I'd rather be," he declares quite assuredly. Her bed is very comfortable. He could have fallen asleep if not for how much he enjoyed sensing her, hearing her breathing, her heartbeat, feeling her body warmth against him. It was intoxicating. But yes, he would have no problem going out with a blanket over his head. Other vampires hid from the sun. He went for drives in it. Sunlight was an inconvenience to him, no more, and no less. "And, now that you mention it, there actually is a place..." Bludhaven had a sizable vampire population. Many of them tried to live ordinary lives, if you could call it that, some depending on pig's blood, having deals with butchers, robbing blood banks, and the like. It didn't take long for one of the butchers to start up a delivery service. He and the people in his employ, most of them demons that could pass for human, knew that nobody would rob them. Do it once and you ruin it for everyone. So they operated with impunity. "Millington's Quality Butcher Shop delivers. The Steak and Guinness pie is not too bad either."
Buffy Summers	That sets off the laughter. She can't help it. The Dominos driver visual was right there then she finds out there is such a thing as blood delivery for vampires. Might be a good idea to try to get information on their customer base, so she could go hunting some night soon. Though if she did that, she'd be cutting off Spike's supplier. Suddenly, the idea of tracking them all down wasn't so appealing. Reaching into her back pocket, she pulls out her phone and offers it to him. "Give them a call. Order food for three and whatever you need." He likely has the number memorized. Out of her opposite pocket comes the credit card and she offers it just sa she had the phone. "Use this. I think I'm going to get a quick shower."
Spike	Spike had trusted Buffy with that. And really, should she be hunting vampires who pay for pig's blood? He didn't for one moment think she'd use that information to kill vampires who were more or less harmless and operating within the system, or at least what Bludhaven seemed to have found. There was a reason the army hadn't moved in and quarantined the city. An equilibrium had been found. Sure, there were a surprising number of Spontaneous Neck Rupture, or S.N.R., but it was more or less like any other city in America. At least from an outside perspective. Spike took the phone and the card, though he had his own mobile phone too. Spike was surprisingly tech savvy for a vampire. He even had credit cards... pre-paid ones anyway. Sometimes he could scare people into giving him money, or nick things and sell them to pawn shops. It kept him in beer, patrol, and blood. "Sure, Buffy, thank you." He was tempted to peek in on her when she showered, but he was a good little vampire, calling and arranging for two Steak and Guinness pies, one Steak pie for Dawn, blood for himself, as well as ready to bake, or fry, chips, or as she might call them, fries. It was an easy meal to cook as well.
Buffy Summers	She stopped by the dresser before heading into the bathroom, grabbing a change of clothes. Her quick shower takes no less than seventeen minutes. So much for quick. She only cut it that short because she knew the delivery would show up soon and she didn't want to have to explain to her family why she was ordering blood in addition to food. Best if she went downstairs and took care of it herself. "You want it when it gets here or later?" she asks as she comes back out of the bathroom. She's wearing a Sunnydale High tank top and a pair of black cotton stretchy shorts which fit snuggly. She has a towel and is drying her hair with it as she emerges. No makeup, no jewelry, no heels. Just her.
Spike	Spike uses some of the time while she's showering to explore a little bit. He casually checked to see if there was anything interesting in her nightstand drawers, under the bed, the places he figured most girls might hide things. He did find her diary, but didn't touch it, as that would be bad. By the time she's out, everything is back where it was, as if untouched, and he was on the bed, enjoying the comforter. "I could do with breakfast." She looked good, even without the makeup, and he told her so, "you look lovely, Buffy."
Buffy Summers	There are quite a few things hidden in her room. Mainly the wooden stake variety although there are a few other little charms and things meant to help keep her safe. That's what happens having witches for friends. As she continues to rub her hair with the towel, she smiles a little at the compliment. "Thank you. Not so sure I agree. Haven't put my face on yet." She glances at the clock on the bedside table. "They should be here in a minute. Don't move. Well, I mean you can move but don't come out of the bedroom cause I'd have a lot of explaining to do." She tosses the wet towel on the end of the bed (what a heathen) and flips the lock open on the door. With a last glance at him over her shoulder, she rushes downstairs just in time to beat the doorbell ringing. The boxes are toted to the kitchen and she quickly finds a mug to pour blood into. The cup is nuked. The food is tucked away to be heated up a little later as she takes the mug out of the microwave and rushes for the stairs, trying to ignore the smell. A moment later, she is slipping back into the bedroom. "Breakfast."
Spike	While she was getting the food and nuking his blood, Spike went into her bathroom to check his hair, that everything looked good, and nearly got caught, but he managed to get out of the bathroom before she returned to the bedroom. "Oh, ta," he said, when she offered him the cup of blood. Under different circumstances, he might have asked if she had any weetabix to give the blood some texture, but instead, he just sipped at it, as if it were coffee, and smiled, "thanks Buffy." Though he did consider explaining that a cup of warm blood isn't breakfast. Bacon, eggs, sausage, tomatoes, beans, hashbrowns, mushrooms, toast, and black pudding was breakfast. Instead, he set his mug down, finding something to use as a coaster, "but what about you? Aren't you hungry?"
Buffy Summers	"Not yet. Maybe in a little while. I never seem to be hungry when I first wake up. Now before I go on patrol, that's another story." Buffy is settling back on the edge of the bed as she talks, hands flat down on the comforter to either side of ehr hips. "I know I shouldn't eat a big meal before I fight but can't help it somedays. I need my fuel." She arches a brow as he pulls over a little notepad she keeps on the nightstand to use as a coaster. Him using a coaster at all is funny. It just doesn't fit with the Big Bad image he prefers to uphold. Her nose wrinkles a little as she sees the red smear on the interior of the cup where he had taken a sip and she has to look away from it before the idea has her gagging. It's just coffee. Just think of it as coffee.
Spike	Spike was doing everything he could to be on his best behaviour. But he couldn't entirely deny who he was. He was a vampire. Just as Angel is. She was used to this, or at least he thought she was. When she looks away, he looks down, licking his lips in case he had blood on them, and then sees the blood stain on the cup. From that point on he'd do his best to lick the cup before pulling away. "It's good to have protein before or after exercise. A bodybuilder mate o' mine told me that." Spike was strong, but he had vampire strength. He'd never go into a gym. But he probably knew a lot about it. Something about the sight of him punching a bag just seemed right. "Also good to fuel up before other things." He winked at her as he tested the waters.
Buffy Summers	"I wouldn't think so because all that bou--" She realizes that her mouth had engaged before her brain yet again, allowing her to shover her foot all the way in. Buffy shakes her head as she tries to think of a way to recover from the bouncing word she almost said. "Boundaries are important." Yeah, that so didn't work. Especially since she's blushing again. She hurriedly stands up, grabbing the wet towel off the end of the bed and carrying it to the hamper in the bathroom. Her mother would be so proud. She takes a few extra minutes in there until the blush has faded again. Or she thinks it has. There's still a bit of pink to her cheeks but not as bad.
Spike	He couldn't help but grin. She was so adorable when she was trying to cover her blushes, and she seemed to be blushing a lot around him. He liked it. It was a good sign. Maybe he had a chance. She had kissed him out in the yard. And he had gotten to spend the evening with her, even if it was clothed and above the covers. Things seemed to be going as well as he could have hoped. He took another sip of his blood, making sure to clean up the mug while she was off trying to toss the towel away, or whatever it was. She took longer than she should have to just toss a towel into a hamper. So he took a few more sips, again cleaning them up. When she returned, he smiled at her. His hand patted the bed next to him. He waited for her to sit beside him. His eyes locked onto hers, and he asks, straight faced and plain as day, "so, you've had a lot of practice... bouncing?"
Buffy Summers	Lulled into a sense of things-aren't-weird-after-all, Buffy had taken that offered seat, making sure she didn't sit too close to him. Just a little space apart though. As he speaks, she glances over at his face. Only to turn beet red instantly at the question. She tries to speak, sputters a little like an engine that won't crank, then clears her throat and tries again. The best thing to do, pretend she doesn't get what he means. "Of course I do. I'm a gymnast y'know." Oh Hell! That fed right into what he was implying. "Like on the mats." Not helping. "In competition." Now that just sounded kinky. "Oh nevermind!"
Spike	Spike had gotten the reaction he had wanted. The smile, the curious turn of his lips, the way his cheeks filled, that twinkle in his eye. They both knew what he meant. And they both knew what she meant. He didn't need to spike the ball. So he was magnanimous, and that might have been the worst part of it. He spoke softly. He reached out, with one hand, placing it atop her own. He was so tender, so gentle. He just rubbed her skin, running his index finger over it. He was pale, as was to be expected, but he had also painted his nails black, which gave him an odd look. But it worked on him. "It's okay. I like bouncing too. And gymnastics. But, there's only one person, in this world or any other, that I want to compete with. I know, she could never want to compete with me, but a guy has to hold out hope that maybe, someday, she will." He was speaking from the soul he didn't have.
Buffy Summers	Buffy peeks up at him through her lashes as he goes all nice again. It's disconcerting. She's used to him being, frankly, an ass. She finds herself touched by his words. Her first instinct is to comfort him and thus the words come tumbling out. "Don't sell yourself short. Things happen sometimes." But when she realizes what she said, she frowns a little. Because in truth? He's full of bull and it just occurred to her. "Don't lie to me, Spike. Or if you are going to, don't do it about something I already know better. I know you are more than willing to compete with Harmony so don't pretend that I'm the only one you want. Besides, you just want me because of what I am, the whole Slayer thing."
Spike	Seeing the way his spirits lifted and then fell was quite remarkable. Had there been a mirror, and vampires actually had a reflection, he might have gotten to see it for himself. But only Buffy would enjoy the sight of a man, approach greatness, and then tumble down into the cold, harsh reality. He got up, he was angry, but he kept his cool, not shouting, or balling. He knew Joyce or Dawn might be nearby. He paced and then whispered, "Buffy, you are so much more than a Slayer. I've killed two of them, back when I was the Big Bad. And I did it because it's what I was told to do. It's what I was supposed to do. When I first came to this two bit town, I wanted to make you number three. And I had my chances." He let that sink in for a moment. He wasn't sure if she understood, or accepted it. "You turned your back on me a couple of times. I could have ended it, right then, right there. Bang, new slayer activated somewhere. But I didn't. There's something about you. You're unlike anyone I've ever met. I can't get you out of my mind. You're all I bleeding think about. It don't matter where I am, or what I do. You're always in my thoughts. I got this chip in my head, yeah, right, now Spike doesn't like to go out and play like he used to. But it's not the chip that keeps me coming back here. It's you."
Buffy Summers	Already she was bristling at the perceived lie. As he expresses how he could've killed her had he wanted, she is about to throw a few choice words his way. Her expression is easily readable, brow furrowed, eyes narrowing, lips pressed tightly together. He continued and that expression faded. Disappeared. Replaced with confusion as she looks at his eyes, trying to see into that soul he didn't have. There had been times she could've killed him. She never did or they wouldn't be having this conversation. The question is why. Why had she not staked him all the chances she had before. For there had been opportunities. Quite a few. Yet, she had never done more than threaten him, talk a big game and let him go on his way. She worried her bottom lip between her teeth as she considered, forcing her gaze away from him and to the floor somewhere between the two of them. "I..." What? She has no idea what she was even going to say. "I'm so confused."
Spike	Moving back towards the bed, Spike sat down. "What a pair we are, I could have killed you, and you could have killed me. But we didn't. We're still here, and in your bedroom, no less. I got this chip in my head. Have you ever asked why it's still there?" Spike was incredibly smart. And he was about to show it once again. "I'm a vampire, but I like to treat sunlight as an inconvenience. It doesn't define me. I go for walks with a cloak over my head. I go for drives in the daylight. What's stopping me from driving out to Four Freedoms Plaza in Manhattan and kidnapping Reed Richards, or Tony Stark, or Lex Luthor, or Stephen Strange, or Michael Twoyoungmen, or Hank Pym, or any other genius doctor. Using something they cared about, a family member, or some random person of the street, and forcing them to remove this chip from my head?" "There are mystics, witches, shamans, maybe one of them could do it? Point is, there are ways around a problem if you really think about it." He then hit her shoulder, not a love tap, but an actual hit, not meant to hurt much, but meant to prove that the chip still functioned, as he immediately winced, clutching his head, "but as you can see, it's still doing what it says on the tin." "Now, you're a smart girl. Why don't you tell me why I haven't made it my life's ambition to get this thing out of my head?"
Buffy Summers	"I have no idea," Buffy answers immediately as she frowns. "Unless you don't want to be evil anymore." That doesn't fit him. He took pride in being the Big Bad, the slayer of Slayers. So for him to not want that back makes no sense at all. He can only survive on something that cannot be very yummy to him compared to his usual food source. He cannot be violent, something he is damn good at as well as reveling in. She fidgets her fingers atop the comforter as she tries to wade through the minefield of whys, coming up with no good reasons why he hasn't done it. "I have no idea unless you just like us trusting you. Since we know you can't hurt anyone." She says us but she means more herself. It's just easier to speak of the group, keeping it a little less personal.
Spike	Spike was far from the ordinary vampire. Even before he got the chip in his head, he had the most varied diet of any vampire that she, Giles, or likely anyone else knew of. He ate human food as often as possible. He liked the taste. He liked the texture. It felt good. It didn't sustain him, but he enjoyed it. "Hey now, I'm always going to be the Big Bad." If he had been wearing his jacket, he would have straightened the lapels. "Just, now it's the nasties who are on the wrong side of me." He was good at being bad and he did revel in it. So then, why didn't he want to go back to that life? Sure, he talked a good game, but why didn't he do it? As he had just explained, there were ways to go about it. "I like that you trust me. I like that you think I can be better than I have been. I like everything about it. I like being near you," and he looked at the small gap between them, only a few centimetres, but they were there, "even if it'll only ever be near..."
Buffy Summers	"With our history, near is pretty damn amazing." Even with a chip, it is hard to erase all the things that have happened between them. The fights, the conflicts, the plots. It's a lot to let be water under the bridge. But even when he didn't have the chip, there were a handful of times where he was on the side of the angels. Bad phrasing, brings the other vampire to mind. Spike had been on the side of the good guys at times. And now? Now he was one of those she trusted most at her back. With her family. She shifted her leg, bringing it up flush with his, thigh pressed to the length of his. She turns to look up at him, her shoulder brushing his own as she leans slightly in his direction. "You have been better. You've proven yourself to me. It's the reason you're here."
Spike	"I can't argue with you on that one, Buffy." He used to call her Slayer as a pet name, but somehow now, it just seemed wrong, and he wasn't going to call her Buff, so he went with Buffy. The symbolism of her leg going flush with his, thighs pressed together, her shoulder brushing against his own, is not lost on him. "I like it here. It's cosy. And uh, I love the wallpaper." He was bad at small talk. Fast talk he could do, small talk, right now, well, it was failing him. He decided to try something. Fortunate favour the bold and all that. He leaned in to kiss her. But would she allow it, or would she recoil in abject horror? There was only one way to find out.
Buffy Summers	The comment earns a small laugh from her, knowing that the wallpaper is the last thing on his mind. When he leans closer, she knows what is coming. He gives her plenty of time. She can lean away. She can turn her head. She can stand up and walk across the room to the curtains and fling them open to watch im poof. She does none of those. She watches him closely as he leans in, his lips coming toward hers. She does nothing but wait for him to close those scant inches. They had kissed not that long ago. And she'd liked it. What was the harm in one more. As his lips touched to hers, she allowed her eyes to close and tilted her head slightly to allow for a deeper kiss. For now, it's a soft press of lips to lips, tentative on her part.
Spike	Oh, Spike was surely thinking about the wallpaper. About it's colours, its patterns, it's texture, it's smell, and of course, at how well the seams were hidden. It front and centre in his mind as he brought his lips to bare against those of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. It was so wrong, what they were doing, and yet it felt so right. He closed his eyes, thankful that she hadn't pulled away, or killed him, with a stake, or sunlight, or anything else she could do to him. It was nice, feeling the warmth of her skin against his own. He reached out while kissing her, to bring his hand to her shoulder, wanting to pull her in closer, to continue the embrace, and to never let her go.