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Rebel Prince by facingthesun
 
Chapter 18
 
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A/N: Some dialogue borrowed from the episode “The ‘I’ in Team.”

Chapter 18

The campfire continued to burn into the night and early morning. Articles of Buffy’s clothing were removed one by one until her naked skin was covered by nothing but Spike’s body. Heated kisses and touches were exchanged between the two until their passionate foreplay caused Buffy to reach all her limits, unable to handle mere centimeters of space separating her from Spike.

Spike’s unnecessary intakes of breath echoed Buffy’s quick pants as they rolled together, tumbling into the cushions of the worn sofa.

“Spike,” Buffy croaked, her voice raw with lust. “Need you.” She reached for him with open arms and legs spread wide. After letting out a soft grunt, she sighed in relief once he took advantage of her welcoming gesture by sinking into her deeply and interlocking their bodies together.

“Best present…ever,” she muttered into his ear along with other affectionate words. She lightly tugged and combed his hair with her fingers while she praised his ability to make her feel satisfied, wanted and adored. Spike didn’t reply, but Buffy could tell that he was pleased by the smirk that curved his mouth as he brought her closer to orgasm with each thrust of his hips.

Closing her eyes, Buffy waited for sparks to race through her body and she wasn’t surprised to feel Spike nuzzle her shoulder with his face as they rocked together. His pointed teeth slid smoothly into the tender holes on her neck, causing Buffy to reach her climax and involuntarily dig her nails into his lower back. Whispering that she was sorry, Buffy caressed the red moon-shaped dents that flawed his skin.

“That’s alright,” Spike said, after coming with a growl. Using the tip of his tongue, he licked up the last pearls of blood that gathered around her tiny wounds.

“You’re amazing,” Buffy purred as he began kissing down her arm after starting at the top of her shoulder.

“Got you warmed up, didn’t I?”

“Well…I think I’m actually bordering lukewarm,” she teased.

“Looks like you’re giving me a challenge. Let’s see what I can do for you, kitten.” Spike flashed her a mischievous grin before pouncing on Buffy for a second time.
***

“Ow,” Buffy groaned, rolling her head from side to side on her shoulders. She let out a loud yawn and lifted her arms above her head as she curved her back.

“Rough night?”

“No, it was very smooth. I just can’t say the same about our couch. It’s lumpy as hell. Will, it’s possible to bust a spring in a couch, right? Because not to brag, but my boyfriend’s a real….” Buffy turned to face Willow as she spoke, but became tongue-tied, seeing that Riley was standing next to her friend.

“So, I’m considered missing for a night and you have wild couch romps with some mystery man?” Riley joked. “Just how many pieces of furniture have you taken out?”

“Hey, Riley. I didn’t think you’d be back to school already,” Buffy said, changing the subject. “I want to say that you look good, but…” A little sympathetic smile tugged on her lips as she looked at the dark bruises on his face and the white bandage that covered the width of his nose. “Um, you at least feel better, right?”

“I feel like one big bruise, but other than that, the pain’s tolerable.”

“Does the Initiative know what happened to you?” Willow asked after sitting next to Buffy on the park bench.

Riley’s eyes grew sizes larger and he looked from Willow to Buffy in a panic. “You told her!?” he whispered frantically. “Who else knows?”

“Riley, I’ve really got to give you a refresher course because I’m positive that we’ve talked about this before. Too bad I didn’t record my ‘Slayer comma the’ lecture. Man, if I had that baby on tape--.”

“I know that you’re…the Slayer,” Riley revealed, looking from side to side nervously. “Professor Walsh filled me in and…wow. I can’t believe it, Buffy. You seem so…tiny—not that that’s a bad thing. I know that amazing things can come in small packages but…wow.”

Buffy tried to smile, but could only force a closed-lip smirk. “I’m just full of wows.”

“If you guys need to talk about the top secret, maybe I should--.”

“No!” Before Willow could leave her seat, Buffy grabbed her arm. ‘Stay, please!’ she mouthed.

“Maybe I should stay and help explain some things to Riley,” Willow finished, clearing her throat and settling back on the park bench.
***

“Willow’s a witch?”

“She prefers being known as magically gifted,” Buffy corrected.

“Yeah!” Willow agreed, “Witch is so Halloween-y. It’s horrible how we’re represented with the green ugly faces and wart-covered noses--.”

“Every year she tries to file a slander case against all of the major manufacturers,” Buffy joked, her face straight. They were sitting together in a fast food restaurant. Riley had made a point to scoot in next to Buffy and Willow sat across from them in the booth.

“So now’s not the time to ask if you ride on a broomstick?”

“Not unless you want to be turned into something small, hairy and with a pink nose. Will, tell him about our good friend, Amy the rat.”

“You turned someone into a rat?”

“It’s a long, yet exciting story.” Willow began the tale, “Once upon a time, in high school--.”

“But to make that long, yet exciting story short: Amy’s a rat and we can’t change her back. You don’t want to be another Stuart Little, right?”

“Riley Little does have a nice ring to it,” Willow grinned.

“Okay, I’ll make a note to always be extra nice to Willow.”

“And that’s why Will knows about everything. She helps me with my Slayer duties and I figure if I’m ever in a bind with my new commando duties, maybe I can give her a ring.” Buffy shrugged and searched Riley’s face, hoping that he’d give his approval. “And I know that she won’t tell a soul.”

“No one else knows?”

“Nope,” Buffy lied, keeping her expression as natural as possible.

“Alight, but keep it on a need-to-know basis. Professor Walsh will have my head if my secret is spread all around Sunnydale.” Riley opened his mouth to continue talking, but was interrupted by a beeping sound. Quickly, he reached under the table and glanced at his pager. “Buffy, aren’t you scheduled for a tour of the lab today?”

“As far as I know.”

“Professor Walsh is paging me now. After I give her a call and see what she wants, would you like to head down there with me?”

“Sure, that sounds great.”

“Alright, I’ll be outside,” Riley said, picking up his tray of crinkled up food wrappers.

“Maybe I can get this done sooner that I thought,” Buffy whispered to Willow once Riley was out of sight.

“Be careful, you’re already lying to him. You know how cranky he got when you betrayed him the last time.”

“You don’t have to remind me. I prefer this Riley, the other was a huge asshole.”

“You like him when he’s innocent and dumb as a doornail?”

“He is kinda sweet…”

“Should Spike be worried?” Willow teased. “I remember a time when you thought Riley was really sweet and quite the hottie…”

“And I also said that there weren’t any sparks between us. Spike finally told me that he trusts me with Riley and it’s a major step for us. I won’t hurt him—I can’t hurt him. Sure, maybe if Spike wasn’t in the picture, I would settle for some Riley loving, but I doubt that we’d ever be long term. He too…”

“Committed to the bad guys?”

“That’s exactly it and the worst part is: Riley, Forest, Graham and the rest of Maggie’s Dream Team have no idea that they are the bad guys.”

“Well, we’re not too certain ourselves. All we know is what they did to Spike--.”

“That’s enough proof for me,” Buffy broke in. “They’re sick and once I get in that lab, I’ll be so much closer.”

“To what?”

“Shutting them down for good.”
***

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I used to hide to get way from Dru. There was only so much of her talking to her dead Polly that I could handle. And then there was Miss bloody Edith...used to hide that sodding doll just for a cheap thrill on some days...”

“Renovating the crypt doesn’t take up your time?”

“Sometimes, but when my girl’s at school or when she’s frolicking about in the daylight I feel so….”

“Left out?”

“Like an abandoned puppy who’ll piss itself once his master gets home,” Spike admitted with a sigh.

“Awww, Spike. Hey, have you ever considered an exciting career in the real estate business? It’s really booming here in the Hellmouth! I sold three crypts and five sewer apartments last week!”

“No, no, Clem,” Spike laughed. “Real estate won’t do.” He sipped his drink through a bent straw as he lazily pressed buttons on the TV remote. “Can’t remember the last time I kept a job…that didn’t involve butchery and mayhem starting. Doubt I could handle a normal nine-to-five.”

“How about continuing your education?” the droopy skinned demon suggested. “I’m sure you could take classes in one building and avoid the sun completely. You and Buffy could be study buddies--.”

“It’s too late for that, mate.”

“Really?”

“Oh yeah. I read her textbooks during the day while she’s sleeping through class and we study at night. It’s quite a system and it gives me something to do rather than watching talk shows when the soaps are over and if it’ll help her pass…. Besides, way back in my breathing days I nearly became a school teacher,” he said while scratching his brow. “You do realize if you repeat any of this conversation, I’ll kill you, right?”

“Everything you say is safe with me, Spike,” Clem promised with a reassuring grin.
***

“Is your entire fraternity in on this?”

“It makes things more secure that way.”

“Oh. Gotcha.”

“Are you sure that you want to see it now? It’s getting a little late…that boyfriend of yours may miss you,” Riley commented, giving Buffy a quick glance as they walked through the building.

“Boyfriend? Did I say that I had a--.”

“A mystery man who breaks couches.”

“Oh, him! He’s…uh, out of town again. We’re a long-long distance kind of thing.”

“I’m sorry to hear about that.” When Buffy shot Riley a questioning glance, he continued, “I mean, you should have someone here all the time. Especially with the work that you do in the field.”

“But it doesn’t—it wouldn’t keep him safe if he were here. If I had a choice, I’d want my honey to get off the Hellmouth…even if he could handle himself in any situation….” Buffy’s eyes glazed over, thinking about Spike and his graceful fighting skills.

“Buffy, come in. Earth to Buffy,” Riley joked. “We’re here.”

Buffy’s brows furrowed, looking at a large mirror that reflected their bodies from head to toe. “We’re here?”

“Just stand still,” he whispered, opening a hidden panel and pressing a tiny button that was to the left of the mirror.

“What’s it doing?” Buffy asked, wrinkling her nose as a horizontal line scanned down her body.

“Recording your retinal scan.”

“Oh, I knew that.”
***

“Next time you’ll be able to get in by just talking. The elevator’s voice-activated.”

“That baby must’ve been fun during our bout of laryngitis.”

Once they had reached the basement floor, Riley grasped Buffy’s hand and gave it a warm squeeze. “Follow me,” he repeated, his voice soft as he led her into the main chamber of the lab.

“It’s huge,” Buffy whispered, taking in the new environment. As Riley pulled her across the catwalk, her eyes grew wide, seeing a number of men and women in surgical scrubs. Demons were tied down on tables and it was clear that they were not there by choice.

“What are they doing to them?”

“Our team is just performing some tests.”

“Oh,” Buffy said, still in a daze. “Riley, if I were a vampire that had been captured by-by the team, where would you keep me?”

“We have cells that house them.”

“Cells? Like cushy prison cells with movie night and a full gym that they can get toned with?”

“No,” Riley chuckled

“I didn’t think so,” Buffy mumbled.

“So, what do you think?” Riley beamed at her, full of pride. “How’s the lab?”

“It’s incredible.” Buffy turned back to the pit that was in the center. Sighing discreetly, she studied all the little walking lab coats and wondered if it was one of them who had handicapped her boyfriend. “It’s not like I thought it was some fly-by-night operation…unless it is. God, do you guys fly? With those jetpack things, do you have those?”

“I can’t really talk about that,” Riley said, playing coy.

“This is crazy. So unreal.”

"Does that mean that you like our little operation?"

Buffy jumped, letting go of Riley’s hand and finding Professor Walsh behind her. "Yeah-yes. It's very...clean."

“Cleanliness is important. Here’s your visitor’s badge and I’ve assembled some reading material to bring you up to speed.”

Buffy frowned, taking the papers and clipping the plastic badge to her jacket. “And here I thought you couldn’t give me homework out of class.”

“You can’t take that home. It’s classified material, highly sensitive. When you’re through reading those pages you’ll have to eat them.”

Not sure if she was serious, Buffy looked up at Riley.

“She’s joking, Buffy.”

“Don’t worry, it doesn’t happen very often and it probably won’t happen again,” Maggie Walsh assured. “Now, shall we?”
***

“Xenomorphic behavior modification? That’s a mouthful.”

“Yes, we’ve made significant advances in reconditioning the sub-terrestrials and bringing them to a point where they no longer pose a threat.”

“So I’ve seen,” Buffy said under her breath. After the long tour, Buffy felt that she’d seen everything except for one room that was clearly labeled with the number 314. “What’s over there?”

“Research area. Very restricted for security reasons,” Professor Walsh said, taking her attention away from the door. “Here is your security card and pager. We’re the only ones with the number and it stays that way. Lose either one of them and there’s hell to pay and down here we mean that literally.”

“Gotcha.”

“Welcome to the team, Buffy,” she said, smiling and shaking Buffy’s hand. “You’re in Riley’s hands now, for I’ve meetings to attend.”

“Um, thanks.” Buffy looked at the confidential items that filled her hands and grimaced at Riley. “Should I feel under pressure? Yesh, how much super secret stuff can you guys have?”

“All that and then some.” Riley put his hand on her shoulder, leading her to the door.
***

“Are you sure that this the place to be going over my paperwork?” Buffy asked, weaving through the people that filled the Bronze. “It seems a little on the crowded and loud side.”

“We’ll be fine,” Riley said, ushering her to a dark empty table in the back. “Here’s your diet.” He scooted the drink towards her before pulling out her chair.

“Thanks,” Buffy muttered, feeling a tad uncomfortable.

“I’m sure that you have a lot of questions about what you saw today. Not to knock Professor Walsh, but talking to a real person will be more helpful than those papers.” He leaned forward and gave her another handsome smile, “So, lay it on me. Ask me anything—well, within some reason.”

Buffy blinked, realizing that he was giving her a golden opportunity to get information from him in a painless way.

Must play it cool, she thought.

“Okay, a few questions come to mind. Like, why you? How did you get involved with the Initiative?”

“I was plucked out of special op training for this,” he answered, looking pleased that she asked a personal question.

“What did they tell you it was for?”

“Well, they didn’t. In the military you learn to follow orders, not ask questions.”

“Aren’t you curious about all the science and research stuff they’re doing? Doesn’t it wig you out just a smidge?”

“I know all that I need to know. I know that we’re doing good here and that we’re protecting the public by removing the sub-terrestrial threat. To me, it’s work worth doing.”

Buffy nodded and played with her drink as she contemplated her next set of questions. When she looked up at Riley again, over his shoulder, a very familiar silhouette caught her eye.

“Is something going on up there?” Riley asked, turning in his seat once he saw Buffy’s eyes widen.

“No!” She grabbed his face and pulled it away, stopping him from seeing the bar. Her mind blank of excuses for her actions, she decided to use her lips instead of words.

“Wow, I-I didn’t see that coming.” Riley pulled back from their kiss with goofy excitement written in all his features. “Now all I feel is this strange tingling feeling and my ears—do you hear humming?” he asked with a laugh.

Before Buffy could answer, she was pulled in for a longer and deeper kiss.

Please, she thought as she played along, don’t let….

Buffy opened her eyes and over Riley’s shoulder, there was Spike, staring at them as he stood near the bar.
***
 
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