Civilized
Physically, a living room seperated them. Emotionally, lifetimes that left them different men. And their hearts were the eons of a universe apart. They were two creatures divided by a hatred that was bred deep within their souls. Blue eyes stared deep into the brown ones, communication shared without words because they were past that now.
Spike refused to be the first to look away, to back down to the mere son of a Slayer, and more importantly to the asshole who tried to take away his existence. He had the right to be here, to stand beside these people who were considered good; he’d paid his dues and was now a part of them. Even if some of them didn’t agree. It had been years since he’d willingly killed for food or fun, love had changed him, even though he knew beneath it all he wasn’t now nor would ever be a civilized man.
The bruises he’d borne at the hands of Robin Woods were a victory, not a defeat because he hadn’t run away, hadn’t fallen, but instead he’d taken back his sanity, his self…his soul. William was his own man again and he would stay that way. Not only for himself but for her, too. Wasn’t that what a hero did? What a man did?
“You know you want to do it, man,” Robin said, invitingly. His fists were clenched by his side. His body prepared to fight. “Want to take me out…come on prove, Giles and me right. You’re nothing but an animal that deserves to be put down. And I think I’m just the man who can do it.”
Everyone was waiting to see what would happen, Giles, Dawn, the little Scoobie Gang, the SiTs, and of course, the two Slayers. Really, they were the only thing these two had in common at all. That and the battle at the end of the day. Spike shook his head. Buffy had been right. They didn’t have time for this. For her, he’d back down.
“Don’t think so,” Spike said. “Not today. Go back to your football game and leave it alone. Not worth it.”
And when he turned away, Buffy slipped her hand in his and walked with him.
~~~The End~~~
