It wasn't that bad once you got used to it. Hooking. It hadn't been Buffy's first career choice upon ending up in this other world, but there weren't many other options for a human.

Oh, she had tried to go underground. Fight the good fight. The Slayer against a world full of demons. But even the strongest ant can't take over the house alone. There just weren't enough humans left. It took a while, but she had been caught.

It could have been worse. She could have been used as a chewtoy for a vamp. That would be the ultimate humiliation for the Vampire Slayer.

The other alternative was to be a working girl. It wasn't something she had volunteered for. The group of fellow humans she was with had been ambushed. The men had been killed. The women were sold to the brothel.

She hadn't made it easy for them. She'd fought so hard, but she couldn't escape. After a while, she felt herself drifting farther and farther away from who she had been. That made it easier. So did the drugs.

The drug thing. She hadn't sought them out. They were just all around her. Every day. And she'd watch the other girls free themselves of their misery by taking them. Buffy had wanted that freedom from herself. So when one of the girls had offered her some coke, she'd taken it. She erased herself.

Then Trevil had come and bought her. La Ratugabe was a massive improvement from the dive she'd been in before. Trevil had cared for her. Given her drugs for free. Made sure none of the clients had gotten too out of hand. Unlike the other place. With Trevil, she was the "premium girl". She was treated to every luxury available.

It was the best place the world had to offer her.

Buffy watched Spike as he slept. She hated him for taking her away from it. She wanted to go back; she needed to go back. She needed a fix. Her body ached. Every thought led her back to coke and how long it had been for her. Okay, not long, but longer than she'd gone for a while. She felt like she'd die if she didn't get anymore.

Damn vampire. She couldn't figure him out.

He mumbled to himself. She wasn't sure if he was even aware of it, but he did. She'd watch him sit with his notebook, talking under his breath. She didn't remember him doing that back in Sunnydale.

Though she didn't remember much from Sunnydale.

Occasionally, images would flash through her mind. Places, people. But her mind would shut it off.

She hadn't seriously thought about it in a long time. It almost felt like a dream. She felt like she'd always been here, in this world.

They would leave when the sun went down. Spike had some grand plan to get them "home". The thought terrified her.

She'd go with him for now. She wouldn't last long on her own in this world. She'd just have to wait for the right opening to get back to Trevil. Spike couldn't keep her on a leash all the time.

Moving slowly, Buffy walked over to the bed, crawling across to settle beside Spike's body. He'd annoyed her back in Sunnydale. She remembered that. He annoyed her now. He got mad at her for how she acted. He got mad because she wasn't like she had been.

She had to keep reminding him that she was different now.

Buffy pulled the sheet down, exposing Spike's body. She'd seen a lot of naked demons over the years. She had found it best to distance herself from the act. She wasn't fucking all those demons. Instead, she was watching through glass as they fucked her. It was detached, impersonal. It wasn't connected to her. It was the only way she had learned how to do it over and over again. Spike was no different. Except now, instead of for money, she was doing it to prove a point.

His limp dick jumped to life in her hand as she grasped it. He remained asleep as she moved down, lowering her mouth onto his cock. She sucked hard, knowing that he could take a rough blowjob. She heard him groan and shift in his sleep while his dick got firmer in her mouth.

Up and down, she bobbed, hand stroking in rhythm. She knew he was awake when she felt his hand in her hair, and he whispered "Fuck". She didn't stop. She looked up the length of his body. His head was tilted back, and she couldn't see his face from her angle. She smiled and hummed, swirling her tongue around the tip before taking in as much of him as she could.

Of course she knew how to give an expert blowjob. It's not like she was lacking in experience. Though Spike probably wouldn't have cared if she'd been a novice. She could tell from the day before that he hadn't had any in a while. He'd been so desperate and primal when he'd taken her. She'd almost actually enjoyed herself.

"Buffy." His hand gripped her hair harder as his hips jerks upward. "Gonna cum."

She pushed him back down onto the bed, stroking him faster. "Mmm-hmm," she replied, mouth still around him.

He groaned, crying another swear word before his hips rose and he came in her mouth. She swallowed on instinct, waiting for him to come down from his orgasm.

When he finally collapsed back onto the bed, Buffy released him and crawled back to the head of the bed to lie beside him. She hadn't even bothered with a robe this time.

Spike squinted at her for a few moments. "What was that for?"

She shrugged. "Had a craving."

He broke eye contact and looked down at her body. He stroked a bruise on her stomach gently, just barely touching it. "Where'd you get those bruises, pet?"

"Demons can get a little rough when they play."

He shook his head. "Bruises shouldn't last this long on a Slayer."

Point proven. She wasn't exactly the Slayer anymore, was she? After all, the Slayer wouldn't suck William the Bloody's cock while he slept.

When she didn't reply, he questioned further. "Did I bruise you before?"

Yes, when he'd dug his fingers into her hips as he pounded into her from behind. Did he actually care? "When we go out in the evening, can we stop to get me some stuff?" she asked hopefully.

"That what the blowjob was for?"

"That a yes or a no?"

He rolled his eyes, turning away from her. "You can spend the night here s'long as you don't wake me up again."

"Where are we going?"

"To get money."

That didn't really answer her question, but she leaned back against the pillows and closed her eyes anyway. Spike obviously wasn't eager to talk to her. Not surprising. He'd been alone a long time. He'd gotten used to it.

***

One would think that a world where humans weren't the reigning species would look very different. Well, it did so far as its population went. However, Buffy had found through the years that, given time, demons had invented many of the same things that humans had. Vehicles, cigarettes, fast food, bureaucracy, and drugs were just many of those similar items. They weren't identical, by any means. And demon civilization was noteworthy in that it had no organized government. However, there was a certain order to things.

Spike and Buffy sat in the cramped car of the train. They shared a small duffel of supplies, which was all Spike allowed them to take. He'd refused to tell Buffy where they were going; he'd only mentioned that it would be several hours before they reached their destination.

It would have been cheaper to just get a regular seat, but Spike hadn't wanted to be seen. A vampire and a human traveling together would draw attention. Vampires don't travel, generally. If they paid a bit more money, they could get a car to keep the onlookers away.

Buffy sighed. She missed Trevil. She glanced at Spike, who was scribbling in his journal while mumbling under his breath.

"Why are you so eager to get back to Sunnydale?" she asked.

His hand paused. "That a trick question?" He regarded her.

"It's a world full of demons. Thought you'd like it here," she said.

He shook his head. "The world's disgusting." He looked back down at his notebook. "I like humans. Not enough of them here. World's not any fun without them."

She had a memory jump to the front of her mind at his words. She laughed, suddenly seeing it again as if it had just happened a moment ago. Spike set the notebook down on his lap and frowned at her.

"What the fuck are you laughing at?"

"'Happy meals on legs.' That's what you called us once." She grinned.

He stared at her in disbelief for a few more seconds before a small grin formed on his face. "Yeah, I think I remember that."

She turned to face him, placing a hand on his thigh and slowly moving it up towards his crotch. She leaned forward to whisper in his ear. "Am I your happy meal on legs now?"

When she glanced at his face, his eyes were focused on the outline of her breasts through her shirt. "Suppose you are," he said.

"Then," she kissed his neck. "Once you get that money. You could keep me happy by buying me some - "

Spike growled and shoved her away from him, slamming her against the wall of the car.

"One-track mind with you, pet, isn't there? Either drugs, sex, or both."

She pouted, keeping from making eye contact. Dredging up old memories from Sunnydale was uncomfortable. She'd tried to use it to her advantage, but Spike was still too volatile. She had to be careful. Without the chip, he could hurt her. She didn't want to provoke him into that.

Buffy sighed, resting her head against the side of the car as Spike picked his notebook back up. She closed her eyes, listening to the hum of the train moving quickly and enjoying the gentle rocking motion that accompanied it.

Her mind was more clear now than it had been in a while, but Spike was right. There was only one thing on her mind. She had to get some drugs. Now that the haze had lifted, she started remembering things that she'd rather forget. Memories of Sunnydale and friends on the other side of that portal. She didn't want to think about them. The drugs would make sure that she didn't. They'd never failed her before.

Spike wouldn't let her get away. She didn't know why she was so important, but he said he needed her to open the portal. She'd have to find some way to leave him before he could get to that point.

***

It had been a long walk. Longer than Buffy had walked in a while. She was almost tempted to sit down and force Spike to carry her in protest, but she lacked the energy to even put up a tantrum.

Needless to say, she was grateful as they came around the hill and the large stone building came into view. She glanced at Spike, who was mumbling something to himself.

"So we're getting money here?" Buffy asked. "Doesn't look like a bank."

Spike shrugged. "Close enough."

"You're not gonna tell me anything, are you?"

"Not unless you stop acting like a bitch."

Buffy fell silent. Well, mainly because she had stumbled over a rock. The terrain was hilly with dying patches of grass scattered about. The scarce moonlight didn't make it any easier for her to see. At least it was warm. Spike's place was freezing.


As they approached the building, a demon came running out to meet them. Buffy didn't recognize the type. It had lots of loose skin and floppy ears. Whatever it was, she'd never seen one visit the brothel.

"Spike!" the demon said. "You're early. Very, very early."

"Yeh," Spike replied, continuing to walk towards the door. The demon sped up to follow. "Listen, Lowell, got a bit of a situation come up. Gonna need your contribution now."

They entered the building, coming into a large foyer with a staircase leading to a balcony and hallway. The room was lit by torches and there were old, ratty pieces of furniture lying around. Buffy was enjoying the sound of her shoes stepping on the stone floor when she noticed a human approaching from one of the rooms.

It was an adult man. He looked in fairly good health, as far as humans go. Buffy hadn't seen another one in a while, honestly. Well, she'd seen the other girls in the brothel, but men? No. Hadn't seen one of those. Must be a servant.

"It's too early, Spike," the demon, Lowell, said, moving to face Spike. "We don't have all the money yet."

Spike huffed a sigh of irritation. "You don't have all the money?"

"No."

"What money?" Buffy asked.

"Shut your gob," Spike said, barely glancing at her. "Not your business." He turned back to Lowell. "Let me see your coffers."

Lowell shook his head, floppy ears wagging as he did so. "Sorry, Spike, but - "

Spike went into vamp-face, stepping closer to the other demon. He growled, glancing at Lowell's neck. "I won't ask again."

The other demon was shaking, but he turned and motioned to the human. Buffy folded her arms, watching the tense scene with just a tiny bit of concern. She thought Spike was a goody-goody here. This was unexpected.

The human returned with a large wooden chest and set it down on an unvarnished table. Spike kept his game face on and stepped up to the chest, breaking the lock easily and tossing the lid open.

His eyes widened. "Been holding out on me, Lowell. Looks like you got my money right here."

"No!" Lowell ran to the chest, trying to put himself between it and Spike. "I mean, we do, but some of that has to go to our own. It's for food and clothing. We need it to keep this shelter going. We're expecting to bring in some more funds in two weeks time. That will go to you - "

"Or," Spike shoved Lowell aside and reached into the chest. He started gathering the money into the duffel. "I could take my share now and you lot will just have to figure out a way to deal with what's left for the next couple weeks."

"We'll have no food!"

Spike paused, grabbing Lowell by the collar. "Do you want me to tell the local slavers where your shelter is? I bet they'll pay me well for the information…"

Lowell shook his head. Spike released him and finished filling the duffel.

Right, so Spike wasn't a saint here. Buffy wasn't certain as to why, but she felt uncomfortable with this. She knew that there were a few shelters for humans run by sympathetic demons. They were well-hidden and hard to get to normally. She sometimes wished she'd been able to find one before she'd been taken into the brothel.

But the shelter was a safe place. It felt wrong to threaten to reveal their location to get money from them.

And Buffy could have laughed at herself, trying to pass moral judgment on a demon in this world. Still, she'd thought that Spike was, at least, sympathetic towards humans. Maybe he was just too self-centered to care now.

Spike was finally finished, and he turned back to Lowell. "Sun's coming up. We're taking the tunnels out." He raised the duffel. "Thanks for your contribution."

Lowell didn't look up. He just shook his head, looking into the chest to try to count what little remained of their money.

The tunnels were a typical, underground sprawl of a maze. They weren't sewers. No, demons weren't organized enough for a sewer system. But there were plenty of demons that lived underground, and they had built their own world underneath the surface. Spike's heavy boots echoed down the vast corridors, and Buffy heard the constant scutter of the inhabitants of the tunnels.

Spike was mumbling to himself again. Buffy sighed. "I thought you were better than that," she said. They were passing through the remnants of some demon's habitat. Debris cluttered the area.

He didn't stop walking. "Better than what?"

"Taking money from people who need it. Guess you are just like all the others." She didn't know why that disappointed her so much. She hadn't thought that she'd had any romantic notions about Spike.

"We need the money," he said.

She sniffed. "Right. To go 'home'."

He stopped abruptly, whipping around to face her. "Damn right. Know it's not what you want, pet, but I don't give a bloody fuck about your wants right now. I'm going home. I need the money and you to do it. So you might as well quit your whinging."

Spike continued walking again, acting as if that were the end of the conversation.

Buffy crossed her arms. "And if I refuse? If I sit down right here and refuse to move?"

"Then I kill you and drag your carcass around with me," he snarled. He turned slightly. "Don't get any delusions about me protecting you. You're only useful to me for one reason."

Spike kept walking, but Buffy stopped. He wouldn't protect her. He didn't give a damn one way or another. For some reason, he just needed her body to get the portal open.

Her reason for staying with him was suddenly rendered null and void. She'd be better off away from this insane vampire and his one-track mind.

There was a bar of piping off to the side. Buffy picked it up, hefting the weight. She closed the distance between her and Spike, swinging as hard as she could and bringing the pipe down across his back.

He yelped, stumbling and turning around quickly. Before she could even blink, the pipe was ripped from her hands and she was pinned to the tunnel wall, Spike's hand around her throat. He was crushing her windpipe, and she gasped for air, kicking her legs at him uselessly.

Black clouds swam in her vision, slowly covering the image of his angry expression. Then she was released. The wall behind her disappeared as she fell to her knees on the floor, hand to her throat as she took huge lungfuls of air in. All she could hear was her own blood pounding in her ears. It had been a long time since she'd looked death in the eye.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Spike's voice sounded like it was coming down a wind tunnel. Buffy ignored him, continuing to suck in as much air as possible. "Where's your Slayer strength?"

She closed her eyes but was unable to keep the images out. The storm covering the sky as she was forced onto the altar by demons. The ropes that bound her cut into her wrists. Candles dripped wax around her head, and the strong stench of magic overwhelmed her. Demons all around.

Buffy stopped breathing, but she didn't look up at Spike. "They took it," she told him.

The demons who'd captured her had been terrified of her power. They knew that the Slayer was a threat to their world. They wanted to get rid of her. But what they did had been worse than killing her.

The wax. Hot wax had dripped on her ear during the ritual. The mage stood over her head, reciting chants that would seal her powers, and all Buffy could think about at the time was the hot wax coating her ear. Until the spell kicked in. She felt as if a hole had been opened up in her, leaving a gaping, sucking wound. She'd screamed in pain. She'd screamed in fear. She'd screamed in anger. She grasped for her powers, but they folded in on themselves. Her body was weakened. The strength and power that she'd been bestowed with were gone after that. And to add insult to injury, the demons had turned her over to the brothel.

Buffy stood, refusing to look at Spike. "They took it," she repeated, more to herself than to him. She didn't often think back to that. She usually tried to avoid thinking about that.

"How?"

When she did finally look at him, he didn't look like he was making fun of her. She shrugged. "Sealing spell."

"So your powers are still there, right? Just sealed."


"Guess so." Not that it mattered.

"Right," he said. "This'll be easier if you can hold your own against any nasties that come our way. Once we meet with Dehevret, we'll track down some magic-doer who can undo the sealing spell."

She blinked, looking sharply at him. What he was talking about - getting her powers back - was something she'd given up on long ago. Just like going home. The thought never even occurred to her, not even as a fantasy or a dream. Instead, she'd learned to accept the reality of her situation. What he was proposing…it would change that. It would change everything.

She sniffed. "I still don't wanna go home."

"We'll deal with that later. Let's camp out for the day, get some rest, yeah?"

She nodded, looking behind her to carefully sit back down against the same wall he'd had her pinned against not a few minutes ago. She continued to look straight ahead as he sat next to her.

"Why don't you wanna go home?" he asked.

"I liked it at the brothel. It was safe." Her reality was changing, though. Thanks to Spike. He'd taken her out of the safety of that one place, and was forcing her to try to adapt again. She didn't want to. She wanted nothing more than to be back at the brothel.

She needed a fix. Her hands were shaky. Beside her, Spike had closed his eyes and was drifting off to sleep. He held the strap to the duffel bag loosely at his side.

She could take the money and leave. Find a dealer. Surrender herself back to that drug-induced bliss and forget about Spike's crazy schemes. It's the life she'd lived for the past several years. It was like an old, tattered blanket that she didn't want to let go of, despite the fact that it didn't really keep her warm.

But getting her powers back. Being strong again. Being Buffy again. Wouldn't that be worth it? To give up the comfort of her known world to be the Slayer again? She'd been brave once, long ago.

Spike lightly snored, his hand releasing the duffel strap in his sleep.

Buffy made a choice.

tbc...