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Dueling Hearts by Blood Faerie
 
Chapter Four
 
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Chapter Four


AN: Big thanks to Thianna, Just Sue, and Angelic Amy for their time and effort towards making me not suck ^.^ LoL


Spike convinced William that it was best to not push their luck where Buffy was concerned, since they had gotten off lightly by not getting dusted. Hopefully, she would eventually calm down, rather than deciding she should stake them after all. He wouldn’t mind letting William go get himself slain for the mess he had gotten them into, but he wasn’t so sure Buffy wouldn’t come after him next.

If William got them into any more trouble, Spike would stake him, weirdness be damned.

Spike came back from hunting a few nights after the incident, pretty pleased with himself for finding a way to feed on humans without pissing off the slayer. He could gorge himself on the slime of society all he wanted and no one gave a damn. In fact, the way he saw it, he was doing a service to the community. Also, didn’t have to kill his victims, even if they were bound to get themselves killed some other way eventually. And another plus, he didn’t have to rely on disgusting animal blood like Peaches.

Though, if things had gone as planned—and maybe they still could if William didn’t totally muck things up—he could be dining now and then on delicious slayer blood. Just the thought brought a tightening to his groin and he let out a low groan as he headed for his bedroom. He needed a good wank while thinking about sipping from the slayer’s neck and perhaps her thighs, the images like vivid memories because of the dreams he still had.

Now, though, he didn’t wake up frightened of the images. Nearly every day he woke up panting for unneeded breath with his hand gripping himself and a mess of spendings over his groin and arm. If William ever heard or sensed what happened, he thankfully never let on.

Spike was halfway to the blessed privacy he sought when the door he had just walked through swung open. He paused, thinking it was William, but then the sweet scent of flowers reached him and he slowly turned around, fearing the worst. She had finally come back to get her revenge on them. Maybe, that was a big maybe, she would let Spike off easy since he didn’t poison her and had watched over her when William had his “bright idea”. He just wasn’t sure he had that much favour with the powers.

“Slayer,” he said flatly.

“Where’s William?” Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips while eyes darted around nervously in search of the other vampire.

“Probably out feedin’,” he told her as he tried to pull on his ‘Big Bad’ persona. “I just got back myself.”

“Oh?” Her brows went up a fraction. “How many victims should I expect to hear about on the news?”

His eyes narrowed dangerously on her, sucking in his cheeks as he clenched his jaw. “For your lovely information, I’ve been more careful recently because I know how you are about me continuin’ my usual feedin’ habits. I feed on low-lifes an’ hardly ever kill them.”

“Want a medal?” She tilted her head and eyed him nonplussed.

He rolled his eyes and patted his pocket, pulling out a cigarette. After lighting it and taking a drag, he paced away from her. “What did you come here for, luv?”

“I was hoping both of you would be here for what I want to say.”

“You can sit an’ wait ‘til he gets back.” He took another slow drag, glancing towards the roof and thinking, William, hurry your sorry ass back here so we can find out our soddin’ fate.

As if hearing Spike’s thoughts, William shuffled in one of the side doors and gave a start when he noticed them, obviously having been deep in thought. He straightened and turned to face down Buffy. He had made the decision that he wouldn’t lower himself to begging her for his life. That was below the Big Bad.

“So the bird’s finally here t’ do away with us?” he asked Spike, slowly dragging his eyes to the other vampire.

“Been waitin’ for you t’ find out. She wanted us both here before she dropped the bomb.” Spike didn’t take his eyes off Buffy.

“Oh stop being such a drama queen,” she muttered with a roll of her eyes.

“I think we have a right t’ be takin’ this seriously, since as far as we know you you’re here t’ dust us.”

Her brows drew together and she looked from one vampire to the other. Well that explained why they were so antsy and why they had avoided her since the other night. She was a bit surprised as it was hardly the first time they had pissed her off enough to hit them. So why this time did they assume it meant she was going to go all Slayer on their asses? Seriously, if she was going to stake them for pissing her off, they would have been dust a long time ago.

“And since when are you shaking in your boots over lil’ ole me?” she demanded.

“Never,” William retorted petulantly and crossed his arms.

“Anyway, that’s not what I came here for. I came to talk to you about what I’ve decided about this. After I cooled down, I did some thinking and now I’m here to tell you what I’ve been thinking,” she told him, trying not to ramble.

“An’?”

“And have I ever told you how annoying you are?” she shot at William.

“All the time, now get t’ it an’ quit stallin’.”

“Fiiine,” she sighed, tapping her fingers on her legs nervously. “Well, of course I was really mad at you guys making a bet over me, at first. But really, you guys were bound to try to work out this situation somehow and seeing as you guys are of the evil soulless variety... ” She trailed off as she searched for the right words.

“I mean, it’s partly my fault for not sending William back. Though, it wouldn’t be fair to send you back now, against your will,” she punned, shaking her head at herself, “after being here for so long. Not unless you wanted to, and if you did you would’ve asked me to by now.”

She stopped herself as she realized she was starting to ramble again. “But anyway, I’m still a little mad you decided to plan my personal life behind my back. And what William did was incredibly stupid.”

“I know an’ you don’ know how sorry I am,” he admitted softly. “An’ no, don’ want t’ go back; though, I was afraid you’d send me even if you didn’ dust me.”

“For guys who claim not to be scared of me, you sure think the worst of me.” She crossed her arms and gave a little ‘humph’, pushing out her bottom lip in a pout.

“Now don’ be like that, pet.” Spike walked over to her and brushed his fingers over her arm.

“You know, could say the same ‘bout you. For a bird that seems stuck on how we’re evil an’ soulless, you don’ really seem all that concerned with it unless you’re holdin’ it against us,” William chimed in.

“Well you are...” she returned petulantly, lifting her chin. “And you’re going to make me change my mind if you keep that up.”

“Change your mind ‘bout what, luv?” Spike tried to pull attention back to him before William said something stupid.

“Well, what I started to say was that I was really mad at first and then after a bit I calmed down. So then I started thinking, and like I said you were both bound to try to work out this whole two of you thing... and well, I’m kinda surprised it didn’t end up with you both covered in bruises. Or one or both of you all dusty. But, since it didn’t and you actually came up with a less barbaric way to work it out, well, I guess I can give you both the chance to... you know, try to win me over.” She glanced between them, her cheeks colouring slightly. “I mean, I’m like win—win in this, right? I get you guys trying to be nice to me and do nice things for me, and possibly a cute guy to snuggle with.”

“You think we’re cute?” Spike gave her a devilish smirk.

She rolled her eyes as she found herself doing constantly when they were around then turned to walk out of the warehouse. She hoped she hadn’t made a very bonehead decision. As the saying went, give them an inch and they take a mile.

======

Over the next week, it became blatantly obvious to Buffy that she might have been right about them taking advantage of her acquiescence to the bet. When she returned to her dorm after class it was to piles of gifts and flowers. There was beautiful jewelry, but for all she knew was stolen. She wouldn’t put it past them. She tried to tell herself it was the thought that counted. But, if this got out of hand... What was she going to do, give them a slap on the wrist?

And also, they did know it would take more than just presents to get to her, right?

She needn’t have worried as they seemed to somehow figure that out. Either that or they were just stepping up their efforts to one up each other when they started showing up at her dorm. Spike would offer her a back massage after a long night of patrolling – which she so was not crazy enough to turn down – then the next night William showed up to give her a foot massage.

Then a couple of nights after that she arrived at her dorm to see Willow stuck outside with a grumpy look on her face and when she poked her head inside she saw the two doing major cleaning of their room.

“Can you make your two lapdogs hurry up? I’m kind of tired and there’s only so much even I can study,” Willow asked Buffy before stifling a yawn to emphasize the point.

“I’m sorry, Will,” the slayer gave her friend an embarrassed look before slipping into the room to get rid of her suitors.

Both vampires were hurriedly trying to finish putting everything back in its place as she stepped inside. They turned towards her looking like expectant children and she had to smile. She hated to be stern with them when they were doing something so nice and un-demon-y, but they had to be more considerate of poor Willow.

“It’s really nice in here, but you two should call it a night and get going. Willow’s too nice to kick you out herself and she can’t handle demon hours,” she told them gently.

“Oh, right. We should’ve thought of that,” Spike nodded and started for the door with William.

Buffy stepped into his path. “It really was nice of you to do this, even if it is just for a bet.”

“Not just for a bet,” he replied softly and looked down in her eyes for a moment before slipping out the door.

“We’ll make it up t’ Red,” William added with a nod to her before following Spike out.

Willow came in as soon as the vampires were gone and headed over to the closet to pull out her pajamas. She was quiet for a moment as she changed then looked over at her blonde friend, her face clearly showing she was thinking of how to put her thoughts into words before opening her mouth.

“Buffy, do you... trust their intentions?” she finally asked. “I mean, is it wise to let them continue with this bet?”

“As opposed to pissing them off so they go on a killing spree?” Buffy replied half-jokingly. “The way I see it, this is the better alternative to them causing trouble. And, well, is it so bad to let them do nice things for me?”

“As long as you’re not using them.” The redhead sat on her bed and looked up at her. “Even if they’re vampires and we probably shouldn’t care about hurting their feelings... do they have feelings?” She paused as she remembered the year before and chuckled. “Never mind. The way Spike felt for Drusilla when he demanded I do the love spell kind of answers my own question.”

“Yeah, no doubt about it, they’ve definitely got feelings.” Buffy remembered how the two had veritably quaked when they had thought she had come to dust them after finding out about the bet. “And really, you’re not saying anything I haven’t thought over myself.”

“So, you’d really date whoever wins that bet?” Willow eyed her friend closely.

“I... well, I guess. If they had really wooed me like the bet says,” Buffy replied, ducking her head to pick at her blanket. “I mean, they’re being really nice and everything.”

“Not sure how Xander and Giles would take that, I mean after Angel...” Willow shook her head. “Though, Spike and William have no soul to lose.”

“Well, they can’t tell me who I go out with and shouldn’t that make them better than Angel? The fact that they can, and do act better than Angel without even being cursed with souls.” She chewed on her lip in thought. “Anyway, the fact is Xander and Giles have no right to interfere in my personal life no matter what they think. As for using Spike and William, I didn’t tell them to do any of this; they’re doing it of their own volition.”

Willow looked like she still had things to say, but decided to let it drop for now. Buffy would have to straighten this out on her own and she wouldn’t interfere unless her friend asked for her help. She couldn’t speak for Xander and Giles, though, but she would try to set her example an them about it. Not that she really cared if Buffy used the vampires, except for if it backfired and led to them hurting someone. It was hard to get over the Angelus thing, which was still in the back of her mind and behind her apprehension no matter what Buffy thought about the two vampires being better.

======

There wasn’t much out and about as Buffy made her patrol of the cemetery. She paused when she sensed a young vampire just before it rushed at her from behind a mausoleum. She dropped and used its own momentum to throw it, then spun as she pulled out her stake. Before she got to where the vampire had fallen, a dark figure slipped out of the shadows and bent to do the staking for her.

“Spike,” she breathed, frozen mid strike when her intended target exploded into dust. “Why?”

“Well, had a better idea than last night.” He tilted his head as he approached her. “Figured you wouldn’ turn down some extra muscle on patrol.”

“Oh, but don’t you... I mean, isn’t it weird to dust your own kind?”

“You think I’ve never done in any vampires or demons before?” he asked with a smirk. “Don’ you know by now how much I enjoy a spot of violence an’ since killin’ humans is out of the question now, this’ll do.”

“Okay then,” she replied with a strange look on her face before she started down the path with him. “So where’s William?”

“He went t’ take some flowers t’ Red t’ apologize about last night.” He hoped that kept the moron away so he could have some time with the slayer.

“That was nice of you guys,” she told him with a small smile. She took a deep breath, her expression getting serious as she started to ask what had been on her mind since her talk with Willow the night before, “Spike, after the bet, what do you see happening?”

He stopped and looked at her, brows drawing together as he tried to figure out what had prompted her asking that question. What sort of answer was she looking for? He didn’t get a chance to reply because there was someone approaching. He turned as the slayer did, putting himself in front of her. But, it was only William and he gave a small growl of disappointment at the other vampire tagging along.

“William.” Buffy moved from behind Spike. “Did Willow like the flowers?”

“She wasn’ there so I left them on her desk with a note,” he said and lifted a shoulder, looking up at Spike to meet the hostile look boldly. “I figured I’d catch up with you guys an’ offer my help as well. I want t’ show I can change, too. I won’ kill humans either when I feed.”

“Hey, you can’ horde in on my idea,” Spike protested with a growl.

“I want t’ help her, too!”

“Stop!” Buffy held up her hands and shook her head. “You can both help, but after tonight maybe you guys can just take turns, okay? I don’t think I can deal with the constant bickering.”

“Sorry,” Spike muttered while still shooting nasty looks in his double’s direction.

After a moment, Buffy began walking again and they followed. Spike was worried that as it got quiet Buffy would pose the question again, to both of them this time. If he wasn’t sure how to answer it then he was even more worried about what William would say. The things that came out of the other vampire’s mouth tended to get them both thrown into the dog house. The silence continued as they walked and he thanked the Powers that she had seemingly forgotten her question.

“I’ve covered all the cemetery I can cover,” Buffy eventually announced and plopped onto a headstone. “It’s a bit early, though, so... just hang about here for a little bit and see if anything happens by? I don’t think I need to walk my complete circuit again.”

A grin played over William’s lips as he moved in behind Buffy, bending so that his lips were near her ear. “We can have a bit of a snog under the stars.”

“Snog?” Her nose wrinkled and she looked at him disgusted, “That is gross!”

“Pet, snog is kissin’,” Spike laughed. “Let me put this in your terms.” He affected a falsetto, “Like, he wants to make out with your totally hot body.”

Her eyes got even wider, completely creeped out at hearing that coming out of Spike’s mouth. “So never do that again, please.”

“Goin’ t’ give me a bit of incentive?” He curled his tongue behind his teeth as he sidled up in front of her.

She was suddenly the center of a bleached vampire sandwich, becoming flustered at the mental images that thought gave her. She stood, though Spike’s closeness didn’t give her much space to maneuver. Her pulse was beating so hard that is was nearly heard by her human ears. Gawd, they were doing this on purpose. They liked throwing her for a loop she was sure.

“Is there a problem, pet?” William prowled around the headstone.

“N-no,” she forced out around the lump in her throat.

“Then how ‘bout,” Spike started to say then lifted his head, all mirth gone from his eyes as he looked over his shoulder. “Bollocks.”

“Whatta?”

“We’ll have t’ get a rain check on that snog, luv. A demon’s approachin’.”

She gave him an apologetic look, but couldn’t help feeling grateful to the demon for giving her an out from an uncomfortable situation. Were they just doing their usual teasing or were they really expecting intimacy from her some time in the future? Oh dear, this was part of that whole epiphany she needed for where this was going to end up after the bet was over. Spike hadn’t answered her question and she was going to have to ask about it again once they got rid of this demon.

She moved around Spike to face the demon, sighing when they didn’t back off. “You said help, not do my job for me.”

William shot her a look as if he was going to argue but she made sure to give him her best Slayer look. He gave a growl but backed down and let her do her thing. The demon had finally spotted them and was heading in her direction, unconcerned by the two vampires behind her. It probably thought they were fighting her too and would be a distraction it could capitalize on. Stupid demons.

Letting the demon make the first move, she threw herself into the fight as a welcome distraction from the complicated mess that was her private life at the moment. It left her a bit off, though, as her mind was obviously not completely on the fight. Her distraction became more apparent when a meaty fist caught her in the chin and she went flying into the stone wall of a mausoleum.

To quote Spike, bloody hell that hurt! She sat up and rubbed at the side of her head where it had cracked against the wall. There was a faint smear of blood on her fingers when she brought her hand away and she shook her head in an attempt to clear it.

The two vampires had lunged forward the moment the fist had connected with her chin and were keeping the demon busy while she got rid of the stars dancing around her head. She got back to her feet, and once she felt she was steady she ran back into the fray. There was going to be a talk with the two after this, because they were going to need to be ground rules for them patrolling with her so that she didn’t end up one big bruise because she couldn’t keep her mind on the fight.

William was flung aside and she took up his position in the fight, swinging her leg around to connect her foot with the demon’s gut. The demon swung around to bat at her with his large hand but this time she was able to dodge in time. The other hand connected with Spike when he glanced in her direction to make sure she was okay.

Good to see I’m not the only one being distracted, she thought but didn’t feel any satisfaction in that as Spike was sent flying just like her and William.

She wouldn’t have made the same mistake of turning to check on him if it hadn’t been for the pained cry. It wrenched in her gut and she just had to turn to see how bad it was. It only drew her attention away from the fight for a fraction of a second, but it was long enough for the demon to make its attack. Only this time it didn’t just swat her away like a bug. Its claws dug gashes into her back while she was turned away and she screamed in pain.

Between that and the trauma to her head, Buffy found it hard to hold onto consciousness. The stars that had been dancing at the edges of her vision were now bigger and darker. They tried with all their might to press closer to each other and she fought the pull to go under. She did give in to the urge to slump against a headstone, lifting her head and watching the vampires dive back into the fight with renewed energy.

She must have passed out briefly, because the next she knew she was over someone’s shoulder, most likely one of the two vampires. They probably had to carry her like that to keep from aggravating the slashes on her back. She was being carried away from the cemetery and not in the direction of her home or dorm as far as she could tell with her fuzzy vision. Must be taking her to the warehouse just like when William had drugged her. And indeed, soon she found her swimming vision filled with the somewhat familiar sight.

They carefully laid her on her stomach on the same bed and one of them got a bowl of warm water and a rag to wash away the blood while the other one set about gently removing her shirt so that they could care for their wounds unimpeded. Thankfully her breasts were hidden from view beneath her.

But, that didn’t stop the embarrassment because it didn’t have anything to do with her state of partial undress. It was caused by the tender way they were treating her. Their gentle hands as they tended to her wounds. While one washed her delicately the other was stroking her hair, careful of the wound at her temple, and murmuring soothing words. It was... well, it was throwing her already scrambled brain into further turmoil.

Once again it drove the point home that they undoubtedly weren’t devoid of any emotion, just because they were soulless vampires, like the books she had been forced to read would lead you to believe. Spike had obviously loved Drusilla, as disgusting as it was to her to think about. And as she was coming to realize, in her own slow ass time, they cared for her in their own weird way. They were concerned when she was hurt and took care of her. They were comforting her and taking such great care with her.

This was answering her own question about where this was going beyond the bet. In fact, it really wasn’t a bet. They were truly trying to woo her and not just to win a bet, but to show her they were worthy of her. To prove they could be devoted to her. And how could she continue to think this was just some bet she could take advantage of for her own gain?

That was what was embarrassing her and causing her cheeks to flush. She turned her face into the pillow, feeling so low as she realized she couldn’t treat their feelings as something trivial. Willow was right. She was using these poor guys and it should be her proving she was worthy of them now. They may not be whitest of white knights, but their motives lately had been noble enough.

“Pet, you okay?” the one who had been stroking her hair asked, trying to lift her face from the pillow. “Does it hurt terribly bad?”

“Yes,” she said softly and looked up at William through her lashes. She vowed she would make up for her callousness to them, prove that she was worthy of their adoration and contest of ‘wooing’. She licked her lips and turned her attention from her thoughts. “Spike... wasn’t he hurt? I remember that’s why I turned my attention from the demon... is... he okay?”

The hands tending to her back stilled. “Broke a couple ribs I think. They’ll heal right quick once I’ve got myself some blood, but I’m more concerned ‘bout you right now.”

She started to sit up, worried and wanting to check on him herself. He gently pressed her back down with a soft warning growl. An impatient noise was her answer.

“Its only right I take care of you, too.” She pouted. “And I’m sure a bit of slayer blood would go a long way.”

“Slayer... you’re in no condition t’ offer me blood. You need blood more than I do, but thankfully your slayer healin’ should kick in.” He began carefully wrapping her up with bandages he had dug out of the first aid kit in his car.

“Just relax an’ rest,” William chimed in and ran his hand up and down her arm. “You can stay here a day or two ‘til you’re up t’ leavin’.”

“But... I... you have to let me do something,” she practically whined.

“You can be a good patient so we can relax an’ not worry ‘bout you as much.”

“Doesn’t seem like much helping.”

“Well, you still owe us that kiss, luv,” Spike added slyly as he tied off the bandage. He bent over her once he was done to waggle his brows at her, “So some kisses of gratitude would be a welcome payment.”

She rolled her eyes with a small smile. “Only fair, right?”

They both looked a bit surprised at her answer and glanced at each other. Before they could recover, Buffy caught William’s outstretched arm to pull him in for a slow kiss. She released him and turned her head to Spike expectantly. He didn’t look the gift horse in the mouth and quickly took his kiss, lingering over her before reluctantly pulling away. He told himself that though he wanted to go further, she was in no condition for that at the moment. Maybe once she was healed? He exchanged another look with William before smiling down at Buffy.

“Now get some rest so you can heal properly.” Spike shook a finger under the slayer’s nose then nodded towards the door. “Call if you need anythin’, right?”

Buffy nodded and gave them a soft smile. Well, she would sleep once she had thought about what she could do for them to make up for this whole fiasco. Show them how sorry she was for using them. Even if they had been more than willing to be used and didn’t realize what a royal brat she had been for taking advantage of their feelings.


tbc...
 
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