What He Was, What She Deserves

Capitalist Superiority

AN: Here's chapter 2! This is a shortened version of the episode "All the Way" and probably the most canon chapter in the story. Enjoy!

Buffy trudged down the stairs recalling her last experience working retail. The hour that never ended had probably been a warning that Buffy and the customer service profession were strictly unmixy things, yet here she was again, fetching Mandrake root for an ex-demon. God, what she wouldn't do to go back to being carefree high school Buffy or even full-of-life college freshman Buffy. Heaven, ironically, ruined all hope for being anywhere near as happy as she used to be. It brought her to the reality that earth was in fact a living hell. How was she supposed to live knowing of how blissful the alternative was?

She continued muttering to herself as she stepped off the landing and became face to face with Spike. A gasp escaped her and she met him with an annoyed glare. "Bell. Neck. Look into it."

"Come with a nice leather collar does it?" He said suggestively. Somehow he always managed to think up quips even when he was lost for the words that actually needed to be heard. He'd been pacing in the Magic Shop's dusty storage area for the past 30 minutes, listening to the quirky ramblings of the scoobies and trying to get the courage to pull Buffy aside for a heart to heart. It had been 3 days since their last drunken adventure involving kitten poker and his confusing conversation with Faith. He'd finally been able to pinpoint what he needed to do and planned on giving Buffy a vague explanation on why he'd be gone for the next month or so.

"What are you doing lurking down here?" She shook her head with disapproval before continuing her current task. He watched her intently as she reached up to put a box of magic knickknacks on a high shelf. Everything she did was alluring to him. It was frustrating how she could never see him in the same light, however he planned to change that.

"Why does everyone always think I'm lurking about?"

"I don't know. Could have something to do with the lurking?" She did have a point there. His hand went to rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

Shrugging, he avoided her questioning tone. "What's your excuse? Thought you had it to the brim with customer disservice."

"One time deal to help out. And I mean straight time-- no loop de loop mummy hand repeato version. Where's the Mandrake root?"

Spike grabbed an odd looking jar of human like roots from a high shelf and stepped closer to her. "Three to a jar. They tend to go a bit wonky if you cram 'em to close." The air between them became suddenly tense.

Not sure where to take the conversation she just muttered, "Thanks."

"Feel like a bit of the rough and tumble?" She looked at him in shock.

"W-What?" He smirked to himself and inched a little further forward.

"Me. You." He said smoothly and took a beat. "Patrolling? Hello?" A look of relief painted over her face and he rolled his eyes.

"Oh, uh. I should stay. These Mandrake roots aren't gonna get up the stairs themselves."

"Might if you let them out." He eyed the jar with suspicion.

"Maybe tomorr-"

"Mind if I join you then?" He interrupted. "I can be helpful, lift heavy things and such." She thought about it for a moment, her first reaction being no. Spike did do well with lifting and killing demons, but socializing with impatient customers definitely didn't go on top of his list of skills. More fitting for his list of things to avoid at all costs. But they were swamped. Halloween meant big sales and plenty of magic fanatics, hyped up on sugar which was proving to be highly overwhelming. That mixed with Anya's bossiness equalled a very unhappy slayer. Not that she would be happy otherwise.