![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Lost Soul. Chapter 1.
Since writing posts takes time (that I have very little of at the moment) and I don't have much to say anyway, I figured I could post my ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
summer_of_spike fic. This is mostly for my own sake, but if anyone feels like reading (I'm still trying to catch up on the second half of s_o_s myself. *sigh*) you're very welcome. :)
Now this fic was supposed to be short... it was a tiny little neglected plot-bunny at the back of the cupboard. But when I started to pay attention to it, it grew quite considerably and became much more interesting than I could have imagined. So I decided to split the story up into 8 (fairly short) chapters.
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
elisi
Summary: Spike loses his soul, AtS S5. Some wackiness ensues...
Setting: AU post-Smile Time. (Although the demon-bug hunt did take place.)
Rating: PG-13. Mostly because of the swearing.
Beta: The most wondrous and brilliantkathyh. She also made the banner and icon!
Genre: General, friendship, character-study.
Pairings: None really (except for those in canon at the time).
Disclaimer: I own nothing, Joss is the God-king of the Buffy-verse. Bow down before him!
Feedback: If you could find it in your hearts to bequeath me with such a gift I should dance with joy and forever treasure your name!
ETA: Total word count: 9000+ words.
Chapter 1
The words on the chart blurred together for the umpteenth time and Fred tiredly rubbed her eyes. She kept them closed for a moment, enjoying the blissful rest, but as she stood there an odd sort of feeling crept over her. Like someone was watching her. Looking around, she saw Spike hovering by the door.
He looked... strange somehow, as though unsure of something, wrapping his duster around himself protectively the way he’d done back in the early days. She frowned as she saw him, wondering what he was doing - usually he didn’t show up until the afternoon, spending the morning hours asleep. He smiled apologetically as he stuck his head round the corner and asked quietly: “Fred? Can I... talk to you?”
“Of course Spike! Just give me a moment. Would you like to sit in my office - it’s more comfortable than anything here,” she said, smiling, just before she heard her stomach growl. How long had it been since she’d eaten? She vaguely recalled having dinner the previous night, but it had been early since they were going bug-hunting.
He nodded and walked up the little stairs, and again she noted the lack of swagger. Seeing Spike so subdued worried her rather - he’d not acted like this since that time he’d been continually sucked into hell.
Staying up all night analysing the specimen they’d brought back had tired her out more than she thought, Fred realised, as she went up to the office a few minutes later, feeling strangely light-headed. She knew she should have left hours ago, and that Wesley would tell her off when he found out that she’d stayed up after sending everyone else home. But it was all just so fascinating... she rather wished that Spike hadn’t shown up, but he probably just thought that she’d come in early.
She found the vampire absentmindedly standing by the window, looking out over the city as the sun rose. It was an oddly haunting image, the night-creature watching the deadly day taking over his world. He seemed lost somehow, yet oddly enough she was more aware of him as a demon than she’d been for a long time. There was something uncompromising and feral in the way he stood and she felt a sudden pang of fear. What had happened?
He turned around when he heard her and did a not-quite smile. Trying to smile back she asked slightly nervously. “So... what’s the matter?”
He lowered his eyes, as though unsure, but after a small hesitation started talking. “Um - I suppose I’d better start from the beginning, right? ‘Cause it doesn’t make much sense. Last night... after the bug hunt... I went out to one of my favourite bars. Met this English bloke - right friendly fella and it’s always nice to hear a familiar accent, y’know? He got a bit spooked when I let slip that I was a vampire, so I told him about the soul. Not much, just that I was in that select group that broods instead of kills.” A wry smile, that vanished so quickly that she thought she might have imagined it.
A sigh and a shake of the head. “Things get hazy after that. Don’t remember much, until I woke up in my flat this morning - only...”
He took a deep breath and met her eyes for the first time. “When I woke up - there was something missing.”
Full of sympathy, she thought she understood: “You were burgled? How awful!”
He shook his head. “Oh, no love, got nothing there worth nicking. I don’t know how - I mean it shouldn’t be possible - but... the bloke took my soul!”
She stared at him horrified, as her mind was suddenly crowded with memories. Her friend - her saviour - locked in a cage. Attacking her. Threatening to rape and kill her...
The exhaustion, lack of food and sudden shock all combined in a flash and the world went black.
Chapter 2.
summer_of_spike fic. This is mostly for my own sake, but if anyone feels like reading (I'm still trying to catch up on the second half of s_o_s myself. *sigh*) you're very welcome. :)Now this fic was supposed to be short... it was a tiny little neglected plot-bunny at the back of the cupboard. But when I started to pay attention to it, it grew quite considerably and became much more interesting than I could have imagined. So I decided to split the story up into 8 (fairly short) chapters.
Author:
elisiSummary: Spike loses his soul, AtS S5. Some wackiness ensues...
Setting: AU post-Smile Time. (Although the demon-bug hunt did take place.)
Rating: PG-13. Mostly because of the swearing.
Beta: The most wondrous and brilliant
kathyh. She also made the banner and icon!Genre: General, friendship, character-study.
Pairings: None really (except for those in canon at the time).
Disclaimer: I own nothing, Joss is the God-king of the Buffy-verse. Bow down before him!
Feedback: If you could find it in your hearts to bequeath me with such a gift I should dance with joy and forever treasure your name!
ETA: Total word count: 9000+ words.
The words on the chart blurred together for the umpteenth time and Fred tiredly rubbed her eyes. She kept them closed for a moment, enjoying the blissful rest, but as she stood there an odd sort of feeling crept over her. Like someone was watching her. Looking around, she saw Spike hovering by the door.
He looked... strange somehow, as though unsure of something, wrapping his duster around himself protectively the way he’d done back in the early days. She frowned as she saw him, wondering what he was doing - usually he didn’t show up until the afternoon, spending the morning hours asleep. He smiled apologetically as he stuck his head round the corner and asked quietly: “Fred? Can I... talk to you?”
“Of course Spike! Just give me a moment. Would you like to sit in my office - it’s more comfortable than anything here,” she said, smiling, just before she heard her stomach growl. How long had it been since she’d eaten? She vaguely recalled having dinner the previous night, but it had been early since they were going bug-hunting.
He nodded and walked up the little stairs, and again she noted the lack of swagger. Seeing Spike so subdued worried her rather - he’d not acted like this since that time he’d been continually sucked into hell.
Staying up all night analysing the specimen they’d brought back had tired her out more than she thought, Fred realised, as she went up to the office a few minutes later, feeling strangely light-headed. She knew she should have left hours ago, and that Wesley would tell her off when he found out that she’d stayed up after sending everyone else home. But it was all just so fascinating... she rather wished that Spike hadn’t shown up, but he probably just thought that she’d come in early.
She found the vampire absentmindedly standing by the window, looking out over the city as the sun rose. It was an oddly haunting image, the night-creature watching the deadly day taking over his world. He seemed lost somehow, yet oddly enough she was more aware of him as a demon than she’d been for a long time. There was something uncompromising and feral in the way he stood and she felt a sudden pang of fear. What had happened?
He turned around when he heard her and did a not-quite smile. Trying to smile back she asked slightly nervously. “So... what’s the matter?”
He lowered his eyes, as though unsure, but after a small hesitation started talking. “Um - I suppose I’d better start from the beginning, right? ‘Cause it doesn’t make much sense. Last night... after the bug hunt... I went out to one of my favourite bars. Met this English bloke - right friendly fella and it’s always nice to hear a familiar accent, y’know? He got a bit spooked when I let slip that I was a vampire, so I told him about the soul. Not much, just that I was in that select group that broods instead of kills.” A wry smile, that vanished so quickly that she thought she might have imagined it.
A sigh and a shake of the head. “Things get hazy after that. Don’t remember much, until I woke up in my flat this morning - only...”
He took a deep breath and met her eyes for the first time. “When I woke up - there was something missing.”
Full of sympathy, she thought she understood: “You were burgled? How awful!”
He shook his head. “Oh, no love, got nothing there worth nicking. I don’t know how - I mean it shouldn’t be possible - but... the bloke took my soul!”
She stared at him horrified, as her mind was suddenly crowded with memories. Her friend - her saviour - locked in a cage. Attacking her. Threatening to rape and kill her...
The exhaustion, lack of food and sudden shock all combined in a flash and the world went black.
Chapter 2.