A Bit Of Rough & Tumble
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“Why oh why does God hate me so much that he wants my ex and his wife to live in Sunnydale?”

Spike just laughed at her outburst and they continued on their patrol.

“Seriously,” she continued, “Why couldn’t they just go back to South America? That’s where exes go right?” she added with a smile.

Spike glared at her but she smiled widely, finally forcing him into a reluctant smile.

“Maybe the Initiative’s setting up shop again round the Hellmouth,” he commented wryly.

“They better not! Didn’t they learn last time that this is my town?!”

“Your town, eh, Slayer?”

“Well, in a Slayerey-demon way,” she amended sheepishly as he grinned at her, shaking his head as they continued onwards.

They fell into a comfortable silence then, winding their way around the headstones of Highgate Cemetery.

“You seem to be taking it well though,” Spike spoke up after a few minutes of silence, just glancing at her.

“Taking what well?”

“Soldier Boy and his missus.”

“Not like I can complain, is it? I drove him away.”

“Now, love-“

“I know, I know. Multiple issues, not least my slaying and his vampire-bitey thing.”

They shared a smile and moved on, leaving the cemetery and heading for the next one.


They reached Restfield fifteen minutes and one vampire later and both vampire and slayer were itching for something more of a challenge.

“I want something to fight,” Buffy moaned, even throwing in a pout as she turned to Spike- and quickly suppressing it as his eyes latched on to her lips. He looked up guiltily and she gave him a shy smile.

“Could fight me.”

“Huh?”

“Bit of a rough and tumble…of the non-naughty variety, ‘course.”

“You’re on!” she exclaimed after less than a minute’s reflection.

Less than ten minutes later, she was letting them in the back door of the shop, eager to fight. Spike, seeing her enthusiasm, laughed and she smiled sheepishly as she shrugged out of her jacket.

“It’s been a while since I had a good rough and tumble,” she commented, smiling wickedly as she turned her back on Spike and bent to pull her boots off.


She turned back to find him leering at her and she shook her head, stepping forward and shoving him in the shoulder, forcing him into motion.

“Come on, slow poke. I wanna fight already!”

He laughed again at her eagerness, slipping off his duster and laying it down on a bench before taking up a defensive stance opposite her. She smiled and beckoned him with one finger, her other hand in a fist. He shook his head with a smile, beckoning her in turn. For a moment, she held out, not wanting to give in- but her eagerness to fight spurred her into motion and she flew at him, throwing a punch that he easily dodged.

And then they were off, moving quickly into the familiar steps of their dance: punch, dodge, kick, dodge. They were wearing matching grins as they sparred and she let out a laugh, truly enjoying the fight. No fight between them had ever been so lighthearted and it warmed her, making her every motion more playful. He spun, dodging a blow, and she took the opportunity to slap him on the backside with a laugh. He quickly spun back to face her, looking shocked for just a second before he smiled- a Cheshire cat grin- and began to stalk towards her, the vision of a deadly predator. She was laughing even as she backed away, her giggles tickling her throat as she watched him intently, waiting for him to make his move.


Before she realised it, she was backed up against the wall and her eyes went wide as she let out a nervous laugh.

“Now, now, Mr. Big Bad Vampire…” she got out, holding out her hands as she continued to giggle. He growled lowly, stepping even closer, his eyes dark.

“Fee fie foe fum…I smell the blood of a fresh little Slayer…” he murmured, stepping dangerously close, his hands coming to rest on either side of her head, pinning her to the wall.

With a giggle, she slipped under his arm and had almost escaped before he caught her around the waist, tugging her back against him as she let out a squeal, her hand wrapping around his arm as she tried to pry him away.

“Naughty naughty Slayer,” he growled, a low vibration in her ear that sent tingles right down her spine- very bad tingles that she made a desperate effort to ignore.

“No, good Slayer!” she replied, her giggling turning to a squeak as his fingers dug
into her side, “No!”

He laughed, one arm still restraining her as he tickled her and she squirmed, trying to break free from his grasp.

“Is this some sort of foreplay?”

Her head snapped up, her fingers still wrapped around Spike’s arm as wide eyes took in the questioning look of the new Mrs. Harris.

Righting herself quickly, Buffy felt the blood rushing to her cheeks.

“We were sparring,” she explained quickly, shooting a glance at Spike before turning back to Anya.

“Is that how you fight all vampires? Because I don’t think that would make you a very good Slayer, really. I’m sure it probably just gets them more excited, with all your blood pumping around.”

“Thanks for the tip, Anya.”

With a self-satisfied nod, the woman turned and left the training room again, leaving them in awkward silence.


“Well, I should be, err, heading home,” Buffy finally got out, not daring to meet his eyes as she moved to pull her boots on, “I’m practising this good-mom thing…not leaving Dawnie alone for too long, you know? I wouldn’t be surprised if she tried to set me a curfew. She’s getting big on family time…you should come some time-“

“Buffy,” he got out lowly, drawing her hesitant gaze to him from the zip of her
boot. Fully aware of the fact that she had been rambling to cover their awkwardness, she blushed again- simultaneously wondering why being around Spike seemed to involve a whole lot of blushing lately.

“I know, rambling,” she got out before he could speak and she smiled sheepishly, “New Buffy is very good at rambling to cover potentially awkward situations.”

“Old Buffy wasn’t so bad at it either,” he teased, offering her a hand and pulling
her to her feet. For a moment neither of them moved, their eyes locked and all she could think of was how close he was, how her fingers were itching to reach out and touch him, how long it had been since she had felt his cool lips against hers. He moved first, taking a step back, his eyes moving from hers as she let out a breath.

“Well, you better get back to the Bit.”

“Yeah,” she breathed, shaking her head and heading for the door, “Thanks for
tonight.”

“My pleasure,” he practically purred.

Their eyes met and it took all of her willpower to turn away and make her way out of the shop.