silverusagi

Between the lines drabbles (and half drabbles) for Blood Ties. Spike and Dawn: a box of chocolates, breaking and entering, and what happened after.

There turned out to be (predictably) more of these than I thought there would be. They're also less cute than I thought they would be, but I think they fit in better with the tone of the episode, so I'm pleased with them.

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CHOCOLATES

I. Prelude

He watched her as she carefully slipped out of her window and down the lattice, as she paused on the porch, checking the shadows of those inside.

She kept turning around to make sure they didn’t see her.

She nearly backed into him. It was funny when she almost screamed.


II. Chocolates

They walked. The paper on the box of chocolates crinkled.

“You were really going to give those to Buffy, weren’t you?”

“No.”

“So what were you going to do with them?”

He shifted the box. “Dunno.”

“Can I have some?”

“Thought chocolates were ‘lame.’”

“As a birthday present, yeah. But I’m hungry. I didn’t get any cake.”

“Poor you. I worked hard for these.”

Dawn snickered.

“You know how hard it is to get a box this big out under your coat?”

“Poor you.”

Spike made an exasperated noise and shoved the box in her direction. “You can have one.”


III. Breaking In

At the door, Dawn pulled out a nail file. She looked at Spike hopefully.

He raised an eyebrow.

“Fine, I will.” She stuck the file in and jiggled it around.

Spike watched her, smirking. “Know how, do you?”

“I saw it on TV.”

The knob just rattled.

“You’ll be out here all bloody night at this rate.”

“Then why don’t you do it?”

“It’s your caper, Platelet.”

But after another minute, a hand on her shoulder pulled her to the side.

“I almost had it,” she complained.

Spike snorted.

He crouched down, handing the chocolates to her. “Watch and learn.”


IV. Interlude

After she found the book, they sat down on the floor behind the counter. She lit some candles.

Spike smoked while she read, and occasionally ate a chocolate from the box.

He didn’t say anything when she reached across for one. Or anything about the ones she ate after that.


V. Knowledge

Dawn stood up without a word, stepping over the candles. One of them tipped over.

“Watch it,” he said.

“I’m leaving.”

“Just hold on a minute.”

She heard him blow out the candles, and then stand and pick things up. He moved beside her, holding the book out.

“I don’t want it,” Dawn said.

“I thought—”

“I don’t want it!” she shrieked.

Spike set the book on the counter.

He started after her as she walked out of the store.

“What’s the hurry, Bit?”

“What do you care? What’s it matter if something eats me? I’m not even real.”


VI. Perception

Outside, she started to run. She wanted to get away—away from the Magic Box, away from the book and what it said.

Dawn heard Spike’s footfalls behind her.

He caught her by the jacket.

“Let me go!”

“I may just be along for the ride, but I’m bloody well not gonna be the last one who saw you alive.”

“I don’t care!” Dawn didn’t look up. She knew she was about to cry. “I’m not human.”

“Yeah? Bet you’d taste human enough. Lots of nasties about.” He paused. “You’re not going off by yourself.”

“Fine,” she whispered. “Let’s just go.”


VII. Chocolates II

Dawn wrapped her arms around herself as they walked in silence.

Once back in her yard, Spike awkwardly turned to her.

“Being human’s not everything, right? Look at me.”

She smiled slightly.

“There, see?” He paused. “You want the chocolates, Niblet? Don’t have much use for them.”

“Yeah, okay.”

He handed her the box. Then he looked at the windows before he sighed. “See you, Bit.”

Spike vanished into the darkness.

Dawn went into the kitchen. She didn’t try to sneak in. Not like they’d care that she left.

She set the chocolates on the counter.

And she saw the knife.


VIII. After

“Dawn’s asleep.”

“Good. Hey, Mom? Where did these come from?”

“What, honey?”

“These with the disgusting box.”

“I don’t know. Not your party.”

Buffy made a face as she peeked inside. “Gross. Who would eat these?”

She looked at the box once more before she tossed it in the garbage.