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Bored Series - An Act of Desperation -- by Ruby
Rating: R
Description: Angel and Buffy try to reason with Willow. Willow isn't feeling very reasonable, sequel to Collusion.
Note: Dedication -- To everyone who included the word "more" in their feedback. You know you're forcing me to do this, don't you.
Disclaimer: Joss owns all. I own nothing. Never have. Never will.
"Is it true?"
"Oz!" Willow closed her locker door and turned to face him and Xander, who was standing beside him.
"Is it true, Willow? Are you and Spike--"
"Is he fucking you?" Xander asked bluntly.
Willow's mouth dropped open and a crimson blush stained her cheeks, "What the hell is this? Is Buffy running around the halls spreading the news to the entire student body?"
"Willow, I don't understand," Oz said with a mixture of pain and disgust. "How could you let him?"
"Oz, I'm sorry if you're hurting, but you know how things have been between us. It's always awkward when you and I are together, ever since--"
"You can't deal with living, breathing guys, so you're going after dead ones?" Xander asked. "What is it with you women and vampires, anyway? Is it their pearly white fangs, their pale complexions, their total lack of decency?"
"Shut up, Xander," Willow snapped. "You've been playing girls, like Oz plays guitar, for years. Why should you give a damn who I'm seeing? You passed me by long ago."
"This isn't you, Willow," Oz's voice was strained.
"Isn't it?" she argued. "I spent weeks trying to make things right between us. Every time I look at you, I see disappointment."
"That's your imagination," he told her.
"Really? I don't think so. I'm tired of should-have-beens. Oz, I'll always care about you, but we have to move past this."
"Move past it to what? That bastard?" Xander spoke.
"You know something, Xander? I've just realized I don't give a damn what you think of me. I don't care what any of you think. Spike doesn't judge me. He doesn't try to make me something that I'm not. He likes *me.*"
"Well, he likes part of you, anyway," Xander's eyes traveled down Willow's body.
"Screw you, Xander," she shot back.
Buffy heard their angry voices from the end of the hallway and quickly made her way over to the trio.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Nothing. I'm leaving," Willow brushed past the two men.
"Wait, Willow," Buffy fell into step beside her. "We need to talk."
"Oh," Willow moaned. "I don't think I can take any more talk. I've heard enough for one day."
"Please, Willow, for our friendship's sake."
Willow gave her a sideways glance.
"Just come with me tonight. Hear Angel and me out. If you still disagree, we'll drop it," Buffy said.
"Okay," the redhead sighed. "If it'll put an end to all of this."
"Thank you," Buffy smiled.
"You realize this is a waste of time," Willow said as she sat on the sofa in the mansion.
"Come on, Willow, don't be like that. At least give us the benefit of an open mind," Buffy asked.
Willow sighed, "I'm listening."
Buffy and Angel sat down on either side of her.
"I don't know what Spike's motivation is in all of this," Angel admitted. "But I do know that it isn't altruistic. He's after you for a reason, Willow, and you're going to find yourself in the middle of something you can't get out of."
"Why do you assume that?" Willow gave him a cold look. "He can't just want to be with me? I know I'm not the most beautiful person in the world, but I'm not that bad."
"That's not what I meant," Angel protested.
"I don't know what you do mean, and you don't seem to be able to express it. You just keep uttering the same, baseless warnings."
"Baseless!" Buffy replied. "This is Spike we're talking about! He threatened to hurt you last night."
"What do you expect him to do when you've backed him into a corner? Our relationship is our own business, and only ours. No one asked you to get involved."
Buffy ran a hand through her hair and stood up, "What the hell is wrong with you? I don't even recognize this person."
"Willow, would you consider a suggestion?" Angel asked.
"Depends."
"Stop seeing Spike for a couple of weeks, just to gain some perspective. Then see how you feel about him," Angel requested.
"No!" Willow refused emphatically. "My perspective is just fine. In fact, it's clearer than it's ever been. Our friendship is conditional. As long as I'm good, sweet, dependable little Willow, the stepping stone in the slayer's river, everything is fine. But the minute I decide to do something for myself, I'm scorned."
"That's not fair," Buffy told her.
"Like you should talk. I told you this would be a waste of time. You've had your say. I've listened. I'm leaving," Willow rose from the sofa.
Angel stood and put a restraining hand on her arm, "We're not finished."
"You're not? I am. Leave me alone, and leave Spike alone, too. I may not be able to fight like Buffy, but I will make you regret it if you try to interfere with us again," Willow threatened.
Relinquishing all hope of getting through to her, Buffy did something she never, even in her most bizarre dreams, imagined she would. She hit her best friend, hard. Willow collapsed against Angel, and he caught her up in his arms before she hit the floor.
The End
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