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The Rules of the Game -- by Echo
Rating: R, for lots of swearing. SOMEONE sure loves the "F" word.
Description: There's a misunderstanding. Things get WAY out of hand, sequel to Sway.
Disclaimer: Characters property of Joss Whedon, Inc. Don't sue this girl. She barely has two pennies to rub together.
Spike had almost made it to the crypt when he heard the voice.
"What were you doing in her room for so long?" Spike turned and glared at Angel.
"Why is it suddenly your affair, Peaches?" Spike was amused. Willow was right. Angel had been timing him. He just loved seeing his sire all worked up.
"Because I care about Willow."
"I happen to care about her, too." Angel looked shocked. "What? Only the soul-having can care about someone? I cared for Dru, remember?"
"You can't treat her like you did Dru."
"I wasn't the one who was rough with Dru. That was your department, Daddy."
"What are you playing at with her?"
"What makes you think I'm playing at anything?"
"I know you."
"You KNEW me, Peaches. I'm not the vamp I used to be."
"Right. The chip defanged you. You've changed. Why don't I believe you?"
"Ask the slayer."
"What?"
"Ask Buffy. She knows me."
"Maybe I will." He turned and stalked off. Spike rolled his eyes. <Bloody drama queen>
Willow had nodded in her clothes as soon as Buffy left the room. She had drifted off into dreams of naked Spike before her head hit the pillow. She hadn't lied when she said she was tired. She woke to a constant pounding on the door. She got up slowly and shuffled to the door. She opened it as Angel's hand was set to start pounding again.
"Angel? What are you doing?"
"I want to talk to Buffy."
"She's not here, and what happened to staying away for her own good? Didn't I tell you to go back to LA? I could have swore I did."
"Where is she?"
"She's in the shower, and she'll be back any minute now. Go."
"No."
"Angel, I swear if you don't go I'll make you very sorry."
"I need to ask her some questions."
"And I know what about. It's none of your beeswax, Angel."
"Tell me there's nothing between you and Spike."
"Why do you need to know so badly?"
"Willow-"
"I mean what I say. You get gone before she sees you. You'll make her wig out and we need her thinking straight right now."
"Why?"
"Gang of demons. Long story. Go."
"I'm not dropping this."
"Gee, how did I know that was coming?"
Buffy was brushing her teeth and thinking about Willow. She'd been acting a little weird tonight. She'd rushed out of Giles' pretty quick saying she was tired, yet when Buffy finally got to their room, pajamas were nowhere to be seen. And Buffy could have swore there'd been someone else in the room earlier. Willow had been all flushed. Like she'd run a marathon or....<Oh my God. She'd been making out with somebody and I interrupted. But who?> A couple of girls walked into the bathroom.
"Hey, Buffy. Say, who's the four alarm fire Willow's talking to in the hall?"
"Really. He's about a ten on the hottie scale of male goodness."
Angel turned to walk away. Willow grabbed his arm.
"I didn't mean to be rude, Angel. Thank you for caring so much." She hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair. He loved this girl. She reminded him of his little sister. His long dead sister. She was a good friend to have. She was so angry with him, and she apologized for being rude.
"I'll always care for you, Willow. You're a good person. You've done a lot for me, and you didn't have to. I worry about you."
"I'm glad. You're good worrier. And doer. Good to be a doer. If I were really in trouble, I know you'd be there." He missed her babbles.
"In a heartbeat."
"If you had one, right?" He laughed.
Buffy peered around the corner and ducked back quickly. Willow had been in the embrace of someone tall and dark. That must be her secret honey. She hadn't really gotten a good look. Buffy stuck her head around the corner again, and that's when she heard him laugh. She froze. She knew that laugh. She felt like someone had punched her in the gut. Willow and Angel?
What in the hell had he been thinking? He must be out of his mind. It was not good. He'd given in to temptation, and he knew he'd pay for it. He just lost all reason around her. It had started with her looking at him in that way. She just made him feel so damn manly with her doe-eyed stare. And she really was a beautiful girl since he'd started looking. It needed to stop. Now. This was a complication he didn't need. But could he stop? Did he really want to stop? She set him on fire. He'd never been set aflame before. She invaded his head at every chance. It was made worst by his sire snooping about. He couldn't hide this from Angel. Not for long anyway. He had to form a plan. He was thinking and pacing when something disturbed his brainstorm.
Spike heard the sounds of a struggle. He walked out of his crypt ready to give someone hell for disturbing his mental dialogue.
Buffy had taken off when she saw them. She had just ran. She was barefooted, still had damp hair, in her nightgown - which covered not a lot, and without a weapon of any kind. Now she was in a cemetery. Not her most clever moment. She just didn't know she'd feel like that if she ever saw Angel with someone else. Willow had told her Angel had asked who Riley was when he was here last. Riley. She did love Riley. He was always so great, but there was this tiny part of her that Angel would always have. He was her first love, and to see him with her best friend, it was just an unexpected pain. She was so busy rationalizing her reaction she didn't even hear the vampire.
Spike was met with an image he'd never forget. The slayer was fighting a vampire in what looked like a T shirt and not much else. She had no stake. She didn't even have on shoes. And her hair was wet. <What the hell was she thinking?> He rolled his eyes and ducked back into his place to grab a stake.
"Slayer." He tossed the stake to her. She caught it easy and disposed of her attacker.
"Thanks."
"Are you bloody insane?" He rushed over to her removing his duster. He draped it over her shoulders. "What are you doing out here like that?"
"Like what?"
"All you have with you is that shirt."
"It's a nightgown."
"It's not much of one. It barely covers your parts." She burst into tears and threw herself at him. Spike was at a complete loss. She was sobbing and drooling all over him. He swept her up into his arms and carried her into the crypt. He set her in the hammock and started pacing.
"S-sorry." She sniffed and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. She looked just like a little girl. Spike was completely taken back by how vulnerable she looked at that moment. "If the vampires and demons of the world could see me now. How pathetic."
"What happened?"
"Angel-"
"You saw him? That bastard! I told him to go home!"
"You knew he was here?" She sounded so broken.
"What did he say, Pet?"
"I didn't.... He was with...... He and Willow..." She started crying again.
"He and Willow what?" Spike could feel himself getting upset.
"They're.... They're.....Doing stuff." She hiccupped.
"What sort of stuff?" He was having a hard time keeping control.
"You know. STUFF." She put her face in her hands.
"Are you sure?" His game face really wanted to appear.
"I saw them."
"When?" He growled.
"Just now."
"BLOODY FUCKING HELL!" He kicked the stone wall. It cracked.
Buffy's eyes were wide. "Spike?"
"I am the bloody fucking idiot of the world. FUCK!"
"Spike?"
"Fuckitty fuck fuck FUCK! Son of a bitch! SON OF A BLOODY BITCH! That ass! That rat bastard! That whoring, shagging, soul-having, nancyboy hair gel-wearing, rat BASTARD! DAMMIT! Dammit all the way to hell! FUCK!"
Buffy just stared at him. He seemed to be taking this worse than she was. She knew he didn't like Angel, but this was a bit much. He was stomping around and cursing up a storm.
"Spike, would you walk me to Riley's?" He looked at her. He felt ten times a fool for ever thinking Willow would like a soulless killer like him. She was the one playing at something - not him. He must have been practice. Why did he always have to play second to Angel's first?
"Of course I will, Cutie."
Willow had her back to the door again when it swung open. She was in a little nightgown similar to Buffy's. "That was a long shower." She turned to see Spike sifting through Buffy's closet. He pulled out a pair of jeans, socks and a pink button-up blouse. He grabbed her shoes form beside the bed. "Borrowing those? The shoes might be a little small, and I don't think pink is you color, Spike." He turned and glared at her so hard her breath caught in her throat. "What is it?"
"Don't play games with me, bitch."
"What?" Willow felt sick. She took a step towards him. He held up a hand to hold her off.
"You keep away."
Willow's lower lip started to tremble. "Spike, please tell me what's wrong."
"Your little game is over. The slayer knows."
"How could she? You left. She didn't see you. And why are you so mad that she knows?"
"Not me, you bloody bitch. You and HIM." He looked at her with all the venom he could muster.
Willow started crying. His voice had such hate in it. He was looking at her like he wanted to tear her throat out. "I don't understand. Why are being like this? Him who?" She tried to get to him and he shoved her away. She started crying in earnest. He walked towards the door. She rushed towards him again trying to grab his arm. He gave her a violent shove and clutched his head in pain. She stumbled back several steps and lost her footing. She fell. Her head hit the night stand with a sickening crack.
Riley was frustrated. She'd obviously been crying. Spike had brought her here in just her nightgown and his duster. She was a little banged up, so she'd been in a fight. But she hadn't said a word. Spike said she should stay with Riley. Riley agreed. Spike said he would go get her some clean clothes for tomorrow. Riley had thanked him. His girl was upset, and he didn't know how to fix it. It was driving him a little crazy. Then the phone rang.
Spike stared in horror. The sound had been so loud. And she wasn't moving. He walked over to her very slowly. His gut was twisting. His head was pounding. He sat Buffy's clothes on her bed and knelt over Willow. Her chest still rose and fell. He touched the pulse point on her throat. Still strong. He noticed his hands were shaking. He grabbed the phone and dialed Riley's number. "Riley, get Buffy back to her room. There's been an accident." He took an unneeded breath. "With Willow." He hung up in a daze. How could he have hurt her? He'd been so mad at her. He didn't realize how hard he shoved. His hands wouldn't stop shaking. He started thinking about her face, and the way she was crying. There had to be an explanation for all this. She had been real with him. There had been fire with them. You couldn't fake passion like that. She didn't play games like Dru did. He hadn't even come out and accused her. She was such a bad liar he'd have known what her intentions were. Maybe it wasn't what Buffy thought.
Willow opened her eyes, and they instantly filled with tears. She moaned, and Spike looked at her. "Baby?"
"I had this nightmare you were mad at me." She sounded so sweet. His gut twisted. She tried to sit up. Spike put his arm around her back to support her. Her head was swaying, and it looked like her eyes were having trouble focusing. She put a shaky hand to the back of her head. Her fingers came back bloody. Willow started sobbing. "Ouch. Ouch. Ouch."
Spike felt like someone had kicked him in the gut. "Baby, I'm so sorry. I'm a bad man."
"Don't talk at me as if I were Drusilla." She shoved away from him and tried to stand. She put one hand to the back of her head and stumbled just like a drunk. He caught her.
"Willow, stop it. You hit your head pretty hard. You need to sit down."
"Screw you." She slapped him. Hard. She left tiny, bloody fingerprints on his cheek.
"Willow!" He growled at her.
"What is it you think I did now?"
"What?"
"You were so angry you shoved me away rather than let me touch you, so I wanna know, WHAT DID I DO!" She was swaying. Her eyes had a glazed look to them. "WHAT!"
Spike was afraid. "Willow, I'll answer anything you ask, just please sit down."
She flew at him, her hands in claws. "WHY CAN'T YOU TRUST ME! I NEVER HURT YOU! I NEVER KIDNAPPED YOU! I NEVER TOLD YOU I WAS GONNA KILL YOU!" They fell back onto Buffy's bed. She was hitting him and crying furiously. He grabbed both her hands and rolled pinning her to Buffy's bed. She turned her head away and cried soundlessly. "You've done all those things and more to me, and I trust you. Why can't you trust me not to hurt you?"
"I trust you, Pet."
"No, you don't. You didn't even ask me. You just assumed. I don't even know what I'm accused of. What did Buffy see?"
"You and...... And..."
"Angel." Her voice had a dead quality to it. She looked right into his eyes. "Ask me." But he knew the answer. "ASK ME, DAMN YOU!"
"I don't have to. I know the answer."
"But I wanna hear you say it."
"No."
"SAY IT!"
"Willow please-"
"SAY IT, YOU BASTARD!"
"I thought you preferred him." It was mumbled. She almost didn't hear it. He got off of her and started pacing.
She sat up shakily. "Why?"
"Habit, I guess."
"Explain please."
"I was always second to Angel's first. Even with Dru."
"Not with me." He looked at her. She held his gaze. He could see everything she felt in those eyes. He was so very stupid. Old insecurities.
"What did Buffy see then?"
"She only saw two friends hugging if anything."
"That's all?" She stood and put a hand on his chest.
"He wanted to tell her about this. We fought a little. We parted as friends."
He stared at her for a long time. "Why do you want this?"
She looked at him. "I just do." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. He lowered her to her bed without breaking contact. The little nightgown had ridden up. She was soft all over. He started kissing her neck, and she squealed. She grabbed the bottom of his black T shirt and pulled it over his head with one swift jerk. His hand was traveling up the inside of her nightgown. When it closed over one of her breasts, Willow moaned. And that's when Buffy and Riley burst in the door.
Riley's mouth dropped open. Now he'd seen everything. Buffy shoved around him. "Will?" She froze for exactly two seconds. Then she screamed.
Spike rolled off of Willow and fell to the floor. Buffy had her hands over her eyes. Riley got an eyeful of Willow panties before she managed to yank her nightgown back down. Riley noticed people had come out of their rooms when Buffy screamed. He kicked the door closed. Buffy started to pace with her hands still over her eyes.
"No. No. No. Nononononononononononononononono."
"Buffy..." Buffy removed her hands to look at Willow.
"First I see you with.... And now with... No."
"What you saw earlier wasn't what you thought it was."
"Oh really? Well then who did I interrupt you with when I got back from patrol?
"That would be me, Slayer."
Buffy looked at him wide-eyed, "Oh my GOD!"
"Now, Slayer....."
"Shut up, Spike!"
"Buffy you saw me and Angel hugging?"
"Yes."
"Like friends sometimes do, huh?" Buffy turned red. She felt a little foolish.
"But, you and HIM!" She pointed at Spike.
Willow smiled at her. "Love makes you do the wacky."
Buffy face contorted. "Please tell me you haven't been doing THAT wacky." She pointed at Spike.
"Buffy."
Riley crossed his arms across his chest. "So what was the big accident? You tripped and your tongue fell in Willow's mouth?" He laughed at his own joke. Buffy glared at him.
They were gathered at Giles' apartment. They were supposed to be researching, but Buffy was looking at Willow and Spike. It had been two nights, and she hadn't told the others. And the slayer was very cranky. She snapped at everyone, even Riley. And Riley loved it. He knew she didn't mean to snap at him. He thought it was adorable when she got all irrational. He just grin at her when she unleashed her acid tongue on him. Willow turned beet-red every time Buffy glared at her. Riley just kept grinning at Willow which only made her blush harder. He even grinned at Spike. Spike had taken to sighing and rolling his eyes. The vampire knew it was only a matter of time before the others noticed how odd the four of them were acting. Especially since GI Joe had turned into an even bigger grinning idiot. Why were the rules of the game always changing?
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