Title: BLOOD RED

Author: Alpha

email: userov@hotmail.com

Summary: Loneliness and love.

Spoilers: Random stuff up to mid-S6

Rating: PG

Notes: None yet ;_)

Distribution: Just take it. Drop me a line if you post it somewhere.

Disclaimer: It's harmless fanfic. Bugger off.

~`~

Slayer's house. The damn chit makes me feel so bloody unwanted. Yet she NEEDS me!

-Hey, Spike. Seen Buffy?

That's the witch. Or ex-witch now? Back to my most recent lay...the bitch NEEDS me! SHE came to me! SHE CAME TO ME!!!

Spike looked up. His gaze met green eyes rounded with shock. Yet nonetheless they contained something else, something he hadn't seen in a long time--concern. He realized he must have screamed out his last train of thought.

-Spike, are you OK?- she smiled uncertainly.

For me! She's concerned about me!

Cuz you're making Dru look bleedin' sane!

Sod off!

He smiled at her warmly. Then he ran.

~`~

Willow felt like running too. Everybody assumed that she wanted Tara, that she wanted magic, that she just needed time to get over both.

A husky British voice came from the stereo:

Don't want to see the sun before tomorrow

Annie's got to sleep, that's all i see

Anyone can stay but then who cares?

Who's got any time?

And i've got a cough and god bless you

It hurts when i laugh

And it hurts when i speak

And it hurts when i talk

And it hurts when i breathe yeah

She went upstairs to cry herself to sleep. It wasn't working too well.

I just want to feel loved. To forget.

She lay on her bed fully clothed and cried until the first rays of the sun briefly distracted her.

Too briefly.

She went downstairs and flicked on the stereo.

~`~

He ran. He had no idea where he was or where he was going. Sunrise found Spike sobbing in his crypt. Mentholated smoke rose into the dark corners of the room.

Screw the Slayer. Wait, did that already. I don't need her. Man, you loved her and she used you! You're bloody CONVENIENT for her. That's it. I won't be turned into the great poof.

-Wait, I'm brooding over the slayer--I AM a great poof!!!

He tossed the smoke into the darkness humming Metallica's Die Die My Darling. No more.

~`~

Having sightlessly grabbed something random from the fridge, Willow crashed onto the couch. Distorted chords rang from the kitchen.

You shut your mouth

How can you say

I go about things the wrong way

I am human and i need to be loved

Just like everybody else does

She wondered how she could be surrounded by friends and yet remain so alone. She snuggled to something lying discarded on the couch. She found herself crying into a very familiar leather duster.

When you say it's gonna happen now

When exactly do you mean?

See I've already waited too long

And all my hope is gone

She found an odd comfort in hugging Spike's duster.

Spike. He would understand.

~`~

He walked over to his stereo and turned up the volume. It had been playing for a while now but he wasn't paying much attention to it.

Don't know what I want

But I know how to get it

I wanna destroy...

Spike kicked the stereo across the room with a booted foot.

-Yeah, that about describes it!!!

-Tell me about it, Spike. You look like you could use a friend.- She smiled shyly.

He turned and saw red. No, not the outburst of anger that he expected. This was the color blood ought to have been. She was more beautiful than the essence of a thousand virgins. So sweet, so fragile, so sad and lonely.

She saw him staring and blushed.

-You left your duster and I, uh, decided, to, uh, bring it by.

He smiled. Not his sarcastic smirk, but a real smile. She was just so beautiful.

So alone.

All thoughts of the Slayer forgotten, forever, he stalked over to her, ignoring the proffered duster. He gathered her into his arms and tucked a lock of red behind her ear. Nothing else mattered. Then he kissed her.

So right.

~`~

That night Willow walked into the Magic Box wearing a smile and a leather duster. His duster. She was happy.

Somehow it felt so...right.

`~The End~`

The songs are 'It Hurts When I Laugh' by Love Spit Love, 'How Soon Is Now' by The Smiths (although Willow is probably listening to the Love Spit Love version), and 'Anarchy In The UK' by the Sex Pistols. Two songs by Metallica are also mentioned. I own none of these songs.