BTVS One Shots

Doublemeat Palace Alternate Scene

From Spike's Perspective: 

God this place smells as bad as it tastes. Soon as I walk in I can practically smell the grease emanating from the walls. Ugh. For lack of a better word, it's very stinky. Not of all of it though. There's a hint of fading strawberries and coconut shampoo. She has her back turned and I can still see that she's tense. Too tense. It's this bloody place, making her a mindless crony. Like this lady who's just ... just looking at me. Creepy. I glance up at the menu boards and set my eyes on the Double Meat Nuggets as I sense she turns. I can hear her murmur:

"Great now my day's complete. What?" 

"What's in the Doublemeat Nuggets?" I asked, looking away from the menu and at her breathtaking features, nearly hidden by the smell of mystery meats and fluorescent lighting.

"I'm working, go away." she grumbled miserably. This place is killing her.

"Yeah and you chose to be in the consumer service profession and I'm a consumer. Service me." I smirked at her. Not hard to see the blush rising to her cheeks but otherwise she remains cold and motionless.

"Order something or go. Go fast or else you're not getting out of here alive- Or undead." She retorted. I laugh at that.

"Give a bloke a chance for his eyes to adjust. Damn fluorescent lights make me look deader than I already am." I smile at her hoping for a reaction.

"Spike-' I stop her before she can get farther.

"There's a lot of demons that like them. The way they vibrate. Might wanna be on the lookout for some big nasty coming to order. Or maybe that's why you stay. You like the tinglies it gives you?" I smirk again.

"I'm not a demon. I don't know why you can hurt me. But I'm-" I stop her again.

"That's not what I meant, love. M'not saying you are one. You just like a lot of things demons do though." I mutter. ... That did not come out right. Oops.

"That didn't come out right-" I start again but she interrupts me.

" Get out." She firmly states. I heave my shoulders trying to relax some and lean over the counter.

" Buffy. You aren't happy here. Why do you do this to yourself?" I mentally begged her to say 'You're right' and run out with me. Maybe realize that she's too attracted to the dark, to me, to give up on those feelings now. Realize her place... and what you git? Is that place next to you? Soulless demon? She wouldn't be caught dead (again) with the likes of you. Yet she comes to me all the same. I think to myself. I silently scold my inner thoughts and return to Buffy's steel look.

"I'll be fine." Buffy assures me. Though I can see she's not. Not even close to being fine.

"Did you get this job to prove something? Normal job for a normal girl? The more you're on about that tune, the more it'll confuse you. You don't belong here." I fumed. She gains a softer expression now spreading across her features, making her look more tired than she already was. Still beautiful, this woman. Even cut down in her prime. This woman who can do anything. This woman who could throw you across the bloody room if you piss her off. Who's died twice. Who's saved the world countless times. And gets nothing in return for it.

"Please don't make this harder." She whispers and takes a small step forward.

"Slayer. This is beneath you." I glowered harshly. Why can't she see that?

"I need the money." She mumbled. Damn. I knew the medical bills for her mum must've gobbled up a lot. And with her being dead and all there was no income. Then again I can get money. She wouldn't take it of co-

"I can get money." I suggest. Bloody hell. My mouth moved faster than my mind.

"Don't do that." She complained.

"I'm just trying-"

"Well don't just!" She snapped. I know that tone all too well. "Do not act like you know what's good for me, and don't you dare offer something like that. Like your my bo-" she bites her lip to stop herself. "Spike, get out. Now." All sincerity is wiped from my mind. I scoff at her, roll my eyes, and take my hands off the counter.

"Sorry, love. Didn't mean to give you the wrong impression. I'll just get out of your hair then." I glare at her as I turn my back and stalk off, not waiting for her response. I'm not even three steps out the door when I hear her following me. I walk slower.

"Spike!" She yells. "Look, I'm sorry. I just-" I turn to see her face and she's about as confused as me. She's never said sorry before especially not in an argument. She would always win those. She always wins, period. A fight, a talk, in bed, even if it's for the last jelly donut.

"Look, pet. I get it you can do it yourself. Just don't like seeing you in such a dingey place." I sighed.

"And what? Graveyards and cemeteries are laughs of plenty?" she added.

"So you're saying my crypt is worse than this?" I'm thoroughly offended. I put much work into that heap of rubble. Turned out quite posh if I do say so myself. Even the skulls under the dirt fit in with the aesthetic of it.

"God, no. Your crypt is fine. Definitely better than this." She gestures to the building. "All I'm saying is, I need this job. It's not the best thing in the world to be but it gets the bills paid and keeps Dawn in school. So I have to keep it."

"I know that, luv. But you don't have to hurt yourself while doing it." I respond heartedly. She gives me that look. The look that means thank you for your heartfelt meaning but you need to leave.

"I need to do this. Prove that I can be... I can be somewhat normal for Dawn. I'm sorry." She states. I smile.

"Well... that's the first time you've said sorry, twice" I mock. She glares and I can't help but glare back. She gives up then chuckles slightly. I do the same. Almost like we're normal. Almost. But we're not are we?

"I have to uh..." she gestures to the restaurant. I nod and give her a mock salute.

"Go fry away, slayer." I say. I start walking off in the direction of Restfield. Who was I to think that we could be normal eh? We can't be. Never can never will. Soulless demon right? And vampire slayer? Couldn't possibly be normal, hell even happy. I hear the soft clatter of slayer feet behind me. As I turn she grabs me and hugs me. I stand there for a moment like an idiot trying to figure her out. Then I give in and wrap my arms around her. As she lets go I can see her eyes begin to water.

"Thanks really." She spouts as she leans in closer to my lips. She leaves a soft kiss that lingers more than any other kiss that we've had. She starts to step away but I grab her and bring her to my lips again. Not forcefully... just enough for her to know. I let go and she walks back to the Double Meat Palace. I stare at her until she disappears into the store. This whole thing we've had... never became something until now. I knew I was never going to let go even if she never actually loved me. Now? She seems different. Like she's not... like she knows what she wants rather than... ugh I don't bloody know it's a hard concept. But something has definitely changed. God, I want her. I need her. I wonder if she'll have the same feeling for me someday. All I can do is try to be better for her. That's all I can do right now. Try. And try I bloody will. Till the end of the world or when the sun finally turns me to dust. Whichever comes last.