Cocoon Crash Chapter 8
Mar. 8th, 2009 01:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iceminkTitle: Cocoon Crash
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Spuffy
Summary: Set five years after "Chosen". Buffy is married and living the normal life she always wanted until one day she sees Spike's picture and realizes that normal might be overrated.
Previous chapters can be found here
Thanks to Yani, who took the picture I used as the base for this.
Chapter 8: Faith
Who the fuck is calling at this hour?
Crap. It’s only 1 am. When did I start going to bed at a reasonable hour?
That’s me, Faith. Old fuddy-duddy slayer.
“Hello?” I ask, trying hard to sound like I wasn’t just woken up.
“Hey, Faith. I didn’t wake you did I?” Buffy’s familiar voice asks.
Crap, Buffy. Of all the people to catch me being boring, did it have to be Miss Goody-Two-Shoes?
“Nah, of course not.” Hey, I can’t be too boring if I can lie without a thought right?
“Good, I wouldn’t want to. . . I just wanted. . .”
I feel a big Buffy ramble coming. Best to head it off. And why is she calling me anyway?
“What’s up B? How was the concert. Not too boy-bandy I hope.”
“No, it wasn’t. . . it was okay. A little weird but okay.”
“Weird like you’ve forgotten how to have a good time weird, or supernatural weird?” Please don’t let this be an ‘I need help saving the day’ phone call. Not that she sounds panicked, just . . . off. “I heard those girls thought this John Doe guy was a vamp or something.”
“That’s the thing, he was, but now he’s not, if it even is him. I mean I think it’s him because there was no trap. I was sure there was going to be a trap but there wasn’t and-”
“Whoa, hold on.” I interrupt her before her babble can hit a full gallop. “So there was something supernatural? Or did you go in for a little chemical fun at the concert.”
“You think I’m high?” I can hear the Buffy indignation come on full force. Kind of grateful for it actually. I’ve no idea what this call is about or why she called me. But indignant self -righteous Buffy is a Buffy I know all too well. “I’m not high. But you’re so not going to believe me if I just tell you. Are you near a computer?”
“Buffy, as weird as our lives are, you really think you’re going to surprise me?” I ask.
“Yeah, look, can you just google this John Doe guy, look for a picture,” she asks.
“Fine, fine. Give me a second.”
I throw off the covers and cross the room to my laptop and wake it up. It wakes up a lot better than I do. My first search for ‘John Doe’ is crap, but then I just got up, and I’m not exactly Willow. Adding the work ‘singer’ narrows it down a bunch and I click on a likely link from some music site.
“Holy Fuck!” The words leave my lips before I’ve fully registered the image I’m looking at. It’s Spike, absolutely one hundred percent Spike. Not that I ever knew him that well. But the guy’s pretty distinctive. “It can’t really. . . I mean an entire town fell on the guy.”
“Actually I think it was more the being burned from the inside out that did him in. . . or didn’t I guess.” Buffy throws in. For the first time tonight her voice sounds normal, not a little crazy. But then, maybe her crazy just transferred to me.
“So what happened?” I ask, as my brain begins to connect the dots. “And feel free to include all the smutty details.”
“There weren’t any. . . you really think that . . . of course you do. It wasn’t like that. He didn’t even know me.” I can hear the disappointment in B’s voice.
While she’s been talking to me, I’ve been scanning the webpages, getting the sense that ‘John Doe’ is actually a pretty big deal. At least to the teenage girl crowd. “So did you talk to him? Or was he too busy rock godding it up to notice the mere mortals?”
“We talked, he um. . .”
“Come on B, you’re killing me. Details, I need details.” It’s only after the words leave my mouth that I realize we’re talking like girlfriends. Like back in high school before everything went badly, badly wrong.
"He kind if thinks I'm crazy," Buffy admits at last.
So many ways to tease her with that pass through my brain, but I like this friendliness and I don't want to risk it. Instead I ask, "What happened?"
"You see, it's just that I thought it was a trap. I mean he can't be back. So I sort of treated him like he was some evil conjure, and I don't think he knew who I was at all."
"Are you sure it really is him?" I have to ask.
"Yes!" she says definitely before continuing in a smaller voice. "At least I think so. Before I saw him I was sure it wasn't, couldn't be him. But then . . . And there was no trap. I mean if it's not him there must be a trap right?"
"Yeah probably," I agree. "But remember B, some people are actually better at long term planning than you and me. Maybe it's not a kill you right out trap but a get close to you trap, you know to like learn some sort of secret of something?"
"Maybe," Buffy says uncertainly. "But if that were the case why wouldn't he know me? Seems like it's hard for him to get info out of me. And it's not like I know any big secrets any way."
Except she does. I wasn't really buying my whole conspiracy theory before, I was just trying to play devil's advocate ‘cause I figured maybe that's why she called me. But suddenly things look a lot more sinister.
"You know where to find the Scythe," I say quietly.
After the first was defeated, the Scythe turned into a big problem. It was this big powerful weapon tied to the very source of Slayer power. While it was out in the world being used, every big bad started gunning for it. Once or twice we almost lost it. That's when it was decided that it needed to be hidden away again, at least until it was really needed. I wasn't part of that. Back then I was at best respected for my experience, but they didn't really trust me yet. So Buffy and Willow hid the Scythe, somewhere where supposedly only a Slayer could find it. At least that's what I've heard. Still not in the loop on that one, and until now I’ve never really worried about that.
“And maybe whoever did this,” I continue. “Didn’t give him any memories so he couldn't be tripped up. You know say something that gives him away as not being Spike.”
It’s the first time in this conversation I’ve said his name. And it kind of hits me. I never really knew Spike, but we were both on the outside. Both did things that meant we never could quite be trusted. Plus, who else in the Summers’ house was I going to bum cigarettes off of.
And I feel just a small portion of what Buffy must be feeling. I want it to be him, I want it to be real. But I knew she must be feeling way more than I am, and she’s probably not thinking straight. So I need to be cautious for both of us.
“You can’t trust him,” I conclude.
“But I know,” Buffy says, her voice drifting off a bit.
“You don’t know he’s real,” I interrupt.
“You right, thanks Faith, this is so much better,” she tells me and I can hear excitement in her voice. It scares me. Somehow I think I said the wrong thing.
“Buffy?” I ask.
“If he’s fake, we know what he wants. Or whoever’s behind him wants. So it’s okay. I know what not to talk to him about, and if he starts asking suspicious questions, I’ll know it’s not him. Not exactly like I go around talking about ancient mystical weapons much. So if he brings it up. . . I’ll know. I’ll be sure.”
“Buffy-” I try to interrupt, but she won’t let me.
“Thanks Faith. I know what I have to do now. I better get some sleep I’ve got a lot of shopping to do tomorrow.” With that she hangs up.
“Crap,” I say to the empty room. Somehow I doubt that Buffy’s as much on her guard as she thinks she is. And I don’t think she really thinks it’s not Spike. I kick myself for coming up with that whole Scythe thing, because what if I’m wrong. What if it’s something else. And worse, what if Buffy gets her hopes up too high and it all comes crashing down.
For a moment I think about going to talk to Giles, until I realize how stupid that would be. He’d have a Slayer hit squad after this guy before Buffy could blink. Willow and Xander both cross through my head. But Buffy trusted me, and I can’t remember the last time that happened. It’s sappy, and stupid, but I want to be her friend. I always did.
Besides, the way she sounded when she hung up, it’s already too late. She’s already sure it’s Spike. All I can do is be ready for whatever evil thing is coming our way, and be ready when she needs help.
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Spuffy
Summary: Set five years after "Chosen". Buffy is married and living the normal life she always wanted until one day she sees Spike's picture and realizes that normal might be overrated.
Previous chapters can be found here
Thanks to Yani, who took the picture I used as the base for this.
Chapter 8: Faith
Who the fuck is calling at this hour?
Crap. It’s only 1 am. When did I start going to bed at a reasonable hour?
That’s me, Faith. Old fuddy-duddy slayer.
“Hello?” I ask, trying hard to sound like I wasn’t just woken up.
“Hey, Faith. I didn’t wake you did I?” Buffy’s familiar voice asks.
Crap, Buffy. Of all the people to catch me being boring, did it have to be Miss Goody-Two-Shoes?
“Nah, of course not.” Hey, I can’t be too boring if I can lie without a thought right?
“Good, I wouldn’t want to. . . I just wanted. . .”
I feel a big Buffy ramble coming. Best to head it off. And why is she calling me anyway?
“What’s up B? How was the concert. Not too boy-bandy I hope.”
“No, it wasn’t. . . it was okay. A little weird but okay.”
“Weird like you’ve forgotten how to have a good time weird, or supernatural weird?” Please don’t let this be an ‘I need help saving the day’ phone call. Not that she sounds panicked, just . . . off. “I heard those girls thought this John Doe guy was a vamp or something.”
“That’s the thing, he was, but now he’s not, if it even is him. I mean I think it’s him because there was no trap. I was sure there was going to be a trap but there wasn’t and-”
“Whoa, hold on.” I interrupt her before her babble can hit a full gallop. “So there was something supernatural? Or did you go in for a little chemical fun at the concert.”
“You think I’m high?” I can hear the Buffy indignation come on full force. Kind of grateful for it actually. I’ve no idea what this call is about or why she called me. But indignant self -righteous Buffy is a Buffy I know all too well. “I’m not high. But you’re so not going to believe me if I just tell you. Are you near a computer?”
“Buffy, as weird as our lives are, you really think you’re going to surprise me?” I ask.
“Yeah, look, can you just google this John Doe guy, look for a picture,” she asks.
“Fine, fine. Give me a second.”
I throw off the covers and cross the room to my laptop and wake it up. It wakes up a lot better than I do. My first search for ‘John Doe’ is crap, but then I just got up, and I’m not exactly Willow. Adding the work ‘singer’ narrows it down a bunch and I click on a likely link from some music site.
“Holy Fuck!” The words leave my lips before I’ve fully registered the image I’m looking at. It’s Spike, absolutely one hundred percent Spike. Not that I ever knew him that well. But the guy’s pretty distinctive. “It can’t really. . . I mean an entire town fell on the guy.”
“Actually I think it was more the being burned from the inside out that did him in. . . or didn’t I guess.” Buffy throws in. For the first time tonight her voice sounds normal, not a little crazy. But then, maybe her crazy just transferred to me.
“So what happened?” I ask, as my brain begins to connect the dots. “And feel free to include all the smutty details.”
“There weren’t any. . . you really think that . . . of course you do. It wasn’t like that. He didn’t even know me.” I can hear the disappointment in B’s voice.
While she’s been talking to me, I’ve been scanning the webpages, getting the sense that ‘John Doe’ is actually a pretty big deal. At least to the teenage girl crowd. “So did you talk to him? Or was he too busy rock godding it up to notice the mere mortals?”
“We talked, he um. . .”
“Come on B, you’re killing me. Details, I need details.” It’s only after the words leave my mouth that I realize we’re talking like girlfriends. Like back in high school before everything went badly, badly wrong.
"He kind if thinks I'm crazy," Buffy admits at last.
So many ways to tease her with that pass through my brain, but I like this friendliness and I don't want to risk it. Instead I ask, "What happened?"
"You see, it's just that I thought it was a trap. I mean he can't be back. So I sort of treated him like he was some evil conjure, and I don't think he knew who I was at all."
"Are you sure it really is him?" I have to ask.
"Yes!" she says definitely before continuing in a smaller voice. "At least I think so. Before I saw him I was sure it wasn't, couldn't be him. But then . . . And there was no trap. I mean if it's not him there must be a trap right?"
"Yeah probably," I agree. "But remember B, some people are actually better at long term planning than you and me. Maybe it's not a kill you right out trap but a get close to you trap, you know to like learn some sort of secret of something?"
"Maybe," Buffy says uncertainly. "But if that were the case why wouldn't he know me? Seems like it's hard for him to get info out of me. And it's not like I know any big secrets any way."
Except she does. I wasn't really buying my whole conspiracy theory before, I was just trying to play devil's advocate ‘cause I figured maybe that's why she called me. But suddenly things look a lot more sinister.
"You know where to find the Scythe," I say quietly.
After the first was defeated, the Scythe turned into a big problem. It was this big powerful weapon tied to the very source of Slayer power. While it was out in the world being used, every big bad started gunning for it. Once or twice we almost lost it. That's when it was decided that it needed to be hidden away again, at least until it was really needed. I wasn't part of that. Back then I was at best respected for my experience, but they didn't really trust me yet. So Buffy and Willow hid the Scythe, somewhere where supposedly only a Slayer could find it. At least that's what I've heard. Still not in the loop on that one, and until now I’ve never really worried about that.
“And maybe whoever did this,” I continue. “Didn’t give him any memories so he couldn't be tripped up. You know say something that gives him away as not being Spike.”
It’s the first time in this conversation I’ve said his name. And it kind of hits me. I never really knew Spike, but we were both on the outside. Both did things that meant we never could quite be trusted. Plus, who else in the Summers’ house was I going to bum cigarettes off of.
And I feel just a small portion of what Buffy must be feeling. I want it to be him, I want it to be real. But I knew she must be feeling way more than I am, and she’s probably not thinking straight. So I need to be cautious for both of us.
“You can’t trust him,” I conclude.
“But I know,” Buffy says, her voice drifting off a bit.
“You don’t know he’s real,” I interrupt.
“You right, thanks Faith, this is so much better,” she tells me and I can hear excitement in her voice. It scares me. Somehow I think I said the wrong thing.
“Buffy?” I ask.
“If he’s fake, we know what he wants. Or whoever’s behind him wants. So it’s okay. I know what not to talk to him about, and if he starts asking suspicious questions, I’ll know it’s not him. Not exactly like I go around talking about ancient mystical weapons much. So if he brings it up. . . I’ll know. I’ll be sure.”
“Buffy-” I try to interrupt, but she won’t let me.
“Thanks Faith. I know what I have to do now. I better get some sleep I’ve got a lot of shopping to do tomorrow.” With that she hangs up.
“Crap,” I say to the empty room. Somehow I doubt that Buffy’s as much on her guard as she thinks she is. And I don’t think she really thinks it’s not Spike. I kick myself for coming up with that whole Scythe thing, because what if I’m wrong. What if it’s something else. And worse, what if Buffy gets her hopes up too high and it all comes crashing down.
For a moment I think about going to talk to Giles, until I realize how stupid that would be. He’d have a Slayer hit squad after this guy before Buffy could blink. Willow and Xander both cross through my head. But Buffy trusted me, and I can’t remember the last time that happened. It’s sappy, and stupid, but I want to be her friend. I always did.
Besides, the way she sounded when she hung up, it’s already too late. She’s already sure it’s Spike. All I can do is be ready for whatever evil thing is coming our way, and be ready when she needs help.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-03-08 09:42 pm (UTC)I'm really scared for Spike, now. Like Faith says, some people are actually better at long term planning than these two.
Loved the “And feel free to include all the smutty details.” From me to you: oh yes, please!
no subject
Date: 2009-03-09 04:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-08 10:44 pm (UTC)Oh, Buffy do you?
Glad to see more of this story and Faith as Buffy's friend.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-09 04:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-09 02:13 am (UTC)I like the tentative, almost-maybe friendship between Buffy and Faith.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-09 04:17 am (UTC)As for how well things will go with Buffy and Spike. . . well, you never know.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-09 05:27 pm (UTC)I enjoyed the tentative friendship between Faith and Buffy even though Faith pushed Buffy to the wrong conclusion.