Chapter Text
Ch 1: Used Up
- - I've got my eye on the door / Just waiting for you to walk in - -
Impressive, Spike thought absently as he strolled through the heavy rain to the entrance of the Sunnydale Bison's Lodge, his steps slightly hampered by the high-heeled hussy under one arm. S'pose I'm not the only sun-sensitive demon on the guest list. Wonder which witch brought on the cloudburst... no, probably neither, seein' as Red's on sabbatical with the mojo and Glinda probably hasn't got the power for somethin' this intense. No, more likely one of Demon Bride's kith or kin worked it out.
He was rambling. Even inside his head, it sounded stupid. But he mustn't think of her, or he would spiral back down to that dark, empty place inside his heart... the inward embodiment of what his crypt now looked like, after she and Soldier Boy had blown it to blackened smithereens.
All along, he'd thought that letting her use him... making her feel... was good for her, was helping her survive in this horrible Hell that her supposed friends had dragged her back to. But he'd been wrong, so wrong that every time he thought of her words it felt like a stake was being twisted through his core.
"I'm using you. I can't love you. I'm just... being weak and selfish..."
"Really not complainin' here..."
"... And it's killing me. I have to be strong about this. I'm sorry... William."
She'd even used his Christian name, treated him like a person, a rare enough phenomenon itself... but it was rejection all the same. He had lain on the floor of his destroyed lower level for two days, curled into a fetal position, too shocked to even cry. It had taken all his inner strength to pull himself together and show up for this hoopla. Of course, to save face, he'd made a pit-stop at the seedy Fish Tank bar by the docks and found the sleaziest tart who'd made doe-eyes at him. All it had taken was a few kisses with his wicked, clever tongue and the promise of a good hard shag later tonight – which he really hoped he didn't have to uphold – to convince the skank to be his 'date' to the wedding.
Spike half-considered abandoning the Goth girl in the parking lot, his mouth going dry as they took the last few steps up to the door. Is this really what I want, for Buffy to see how low I've stooped to try to put her past me? Like anythin' in Heaven, Hell, or the Hellmouth could make me want her any less...
At least this bint and I don't stand out, was his only consoling thought as they crossed the threshold; plenty of the wedding guests were considerably more freaky than a pale man in a leather coat with a pierced-and-tatted bimbo beside him. He glanced around, hoping to slip into to some seats near the back, preferable behind some very tall demons, stay as invisible as possible...
"Spike!"
Oh bugger. Spotted already.
Dawn approached from the table of wedding gifts, wearing a dress that's color can be somewhat accurately described as 'little-green-men green'. Turning to face her – and wheeling around the Goth girl as he did so – Spike wrested his face into a look of casual indifference.
"Oh. Uh. Want you to meet my date."
Dawn offered her hand to 'the date', smiling politely, the spitting image of her ever-gracious mother.
"Hi, I'm Dawn."
"Uh-huh," was the only response from the hussy, her hand like a defrosted fish filet as she shook Dawn's. Spike internally bristled at her impoliteness to the girl he considered a younger sister, but tried to keep his cool.
"So, yeah. Anyway, that's my date. She's with me. My date for the wedding." Hell, please just open up your gob and swallow me. If I feel this stupid just from five seconds with her sister...
Dawn squinted at him, confused by the emphasis he was putting on 'my date'. "Yeah, okay. Well, nice meeting you."
"Oh, hold on..." Spike dug in a pocket and unearthed a twenty, which he pressed toward Dawn. "Here... for the couple. Didn't know what to get 'em, so I figured... Know it's impersonal or whatever, but figured somethin' was better th'n nothin'."
"It's okay, Spike," smiled Dawn, still looking perplexed by how awkward and nervous he was acting. "A bunch of people give money and gift cards at weddings, at least I think they do. I don't remember if we went to weddings in LA."
"Ta, Niblet," he said, trying to smile back but only managing a strained grimace. "Well, uh... don't want to keep you. Sure you've got bridesmaiding to do."
"Yep. Anya is a total Bride-zilla," she grinned, folding the twenty-dollar-bill in one hand. "I guess I'll... see you later?"
"Yeah. Reckon so."
"I'm glad you came, Spike," said Dawn genuinely, though her eyes narrowed as they flickered to the Goth girl now tugging lightly at the collar of Spike's black dress shirt, as though to expose more of his ivory chest.
He chuckled hollowly. "Pro'ly the only one who is. Toddle off now, Niblet. Maybe I can catch one dance at the reception, eh?"
"Counting on it! Bye, Spike."
As Dawn wandered off through the mixed crowd of humans and demons, the skanky girl stared after her with a simpering frown. "You didn't date her, did you?"
"No!" Spike retorted indignantly. Just her sister...
"Oh, good," the hussy giggled, tugging on Spike's ear lobe until he reluctant turned his head and plundered her expectant mouth...
"Now, let's go over the checklist one more time," Xander said stalwartly as he and Buffy emerged from the groom's quarters. "Number one..."
"... Don't let your dad near the bar," answered Buffy, closing the door behind them.
"Check. Number two..."
"...Don't let your mom near the bar."
"Hey, Buffy!" called Dawn, hurrying down the corridor toward them. "Spike's here, and he brought a total skank."
"A wh–"
"Skank!" Dawn repeated emphatically. "A manic-panicked who he's like totally macking with right in the middle of the room." She tugged on Buffy's arm, forcing her and Xander to stop their progress. "I saw him shove his tongue –"
"Spike brought a date?" Buffy interrupted.
"Yeah," Dawn snickered, rolling her eyes. "Wait 'till you see her."
Buffy swallowed, keeping her face as apathetic as she could manage. She hadn't expected him to come, hadn't heard... well duh, genius, you've been avoiding him. Kinda hard to expect an RSVP.... But now to hear that, after only two days since she'd walked out on him and ended their excuse-of-a-relationship, he was already shacking up with... another woman. He'd moved on. So why haven't I?
"Guys," Xander reminded them, "I'd better go meet and greet."
"Uh, just go ahead," nodded Buffy. "I'll... I'll be a second."
Dawn gave Xander a friendly punch on the arm as he walked past them, then slipped her hand into her sister's and squeezed it.
"You okay?"
"Fine," she lied. "Let's... go check on the bride."
To be continued…