The blonde raised an eyebrow. "What got up your ass, Peaches?"
"Just tell me where they are!" he yelled impatiently.
Faith sauntered out of the training room, panting slightly from her workout. "What the hell is going on out here?"
Angel's face collapsed. "You and Buffy aren't fighting?"
"Well, not now. We sparred a bit, but she got all hot when she thought I was hitting on Junior over there, and took off. Haven't seen her since." The brunette smirked at Spike, and he grinned.
"This bird's got a mouth of her that would make sailors blush. I could hear her talking to the punching bag from out here," he said to Angel. Turning to Faith, he spoke more softly. "Thanks for the heads up, pet. Means a lot to me."
She nodded abruptly, not sure how to take sincere gratitude. "No problem, Billy. Mind if I call you Billy?" she asked, teasing him.
Spike noticed how unsure she seemed about joining in the joking that was prevalent in the Scooby gang. Cutting her a break, he replied, "If you do, I'd better be on the ground whimpering. Otherwise, you might get your ass kicked for it." He winked, letting her know it was cool between them.
Cordy and the rest of the gang filed in, talking to Lorne as they entered. Cordy turned to Angel and giggled. "Lorne is so excited about this singing deal. He can't wait to give everyone a good talking to."
Angel groaned. "That is so unethical, Lorne."
The demon shrugged, giving the crowd a beatific smile. "Maybe it's why I was sent here. The people upstairs always have their reasons, folks. And Angel, it would better for all of us if you just kept your mouth closed for a few days, capiche?"
Angel gave his friend a murderous look before turning to the others. "Then where's Buffy?"
Faith grinned. "She's in the training room acting like a loon. After she stormed out, she musta found some wacky sauce, cause when she came back, in her place was a B I've never seen before."
He growled. "I thought you didn't know where she was, Faith."
"I lied. Guess the road to redemption is a bit rockier than I let on," she said winking. "And if you're done with macho posturing, Daddy, I'm going back in to dish with B. The stories she's telling would make a vampire blush." Grinning evilly, she left.
Spike blanched. He knew exactly which vampire would be blushing if he heard those stories. Sinking lower in his chair, he avoided eye contact with his Sire. Only Angel had more embarrassing stories than Buffy, and he sure as hell didn't want to get him started as well.
Angel clamped a hand on his shoulder and whispered in a voice low enough that only Spike could hear, "Just be glad I'm keeping my mouth shut for Lorne. Or you'd be eighty shades of red by the time Buffy and I got done." A smile quirked at the corners of his mouth and Spike groaned again.
"Speaking of Buffy, let's go find the little traitor. I'm up for a bit of the old rough and tumble about now, how about you, Peaches?"
"Of course. What with you and Buffy slaying everything in sight to show tunes, the rest of us didn't get much of workout."
Gunn cleared his throat. "I second that, man. Maybe we should go out and patrol again or something. I feel kinda…restless myself. But that don't mean I'm throwing myself in the ring with you four. I'm not suicidal."
Willow spoke up from the stacks, her voice eerily disembodied. "If you
go, leave Wesley with us…we need him to help with the research. Cordy says
he's really good with that stuff. Take Lorne instead. You know, in case someone
sings."
Lorne blanched. "Oh, honey, I'm a lover, not a fighter. I think looking for trouble is one thing I'm through with for this lifetime."
"Then you should definitely quit hanging out with Angel," Willow replied. "He's trouble on wheels, just like Buffy."
Angel glared at the stacks. "Thanks so much, Willow."
"No problem, Angel," she sing-songed.
He raked his hand through his hair in agitation. "She's right though. Wes, you stay, and Lorne, you'll come. Will, my boy, let's go box with some Slayers."
Spike grimaced. "Only this time, no blood, right?" he asked innocently.
"You fought Slayers together before? With blood?" Tara asked, her eyes widening is fright.
Angel sighed. "A long time ago. In China. Well, and Russia. And France. Okay, just before my soul, okay? I don't want to talk about it." His eyes shot daggers at Spike, who just stuck his tongue out.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Wesley asked rhetorically.
************************************************************************
Gunn looked at his watch. "Okay, they've been in there for over two hours.
When the hell are they gonna quit?"
Wesley looked up from his book distractedly. "I don't know, Charles. Go join them, if you're so concerned."
"Yeah. I'm sure they won't hurt you… Well, I'm sure Buffy won't," Willow added.
"Um, I think I'd rather keep all my parts intact. Hey Fred, you wanna go check on 'em with me?"
Looking up nervously, Fred shut her book. "Well, if you need me, I guess I can come."
"I knew you were my favorite for a reason," he said, putting his arm around her.
"Just cause I lived in a cave for five years doesn't mean I live in one now," she muttered.
He rolled his eyes, pushing her in front of him. "Ladies, first."
"Then why are you going last?" Wesley replied.
Fred opened the door, peeking in timidly. Her gasp caused the whole room to move behind her in a flash. Blushing, she stammered, "It's not… I didn't mean for everyone to get upset. It's just… look. It's beautiful."
Buffy and Spike were dancing, singing to each other softly as they practically floated across the mats. Faith and Angel were dancing similarly, singing something totally different. Both couples were covered in a sheen of sweat that made their bodies glisten, and the men had taken off their shirts and shoes. Buffy and Faith were similarly stripped down to tiny tank tops and workout shorts. The dance they were doing was obviously some sort of ballroom style that both Angel and Spike were very familiar with. The air was charged with electricity that both warmed and comforted the people watching.
"What is going on?" Gunn asked incredulously.
"And what is Angel doing with that tramp?" Cordy interjected. Everyone turned to look at her, and she blushed. "Sorry. Old habits die hard, I guess."
Lorne listened for a moment, and shook his head. "Man, I tell you what. Angel's boy and that Slayer are some of the most soulful lovers I've ever heard. They are hot, and it's not likely to cool down soon. As for Angel and his reformee, they're singing a different tune altogether. She's very grateful to him for showing her how to change. Nothing to worry about, Queen C."
The music stopped, and the dancers looked at each other in confusion. Faith moved away from Angel, turning and rubbing her arms in embarrassment. Angel cocked his head to the side, watching Buffy and Spike whisper like kids. He turned to Faith and held his hand out. She took it shyly, and he hugged her. The shock that reflected in her eyes was enough to melt even Cordy's heart.
Spike leaned down and kissed Buffy deeply, dipping her over his arm. Buffy kissed back eagerly, bending to the point where they crashed to the ground in a heap. Still kissing her, Spike rubbed his hips against hers. A loud cough finally broke them out of their trance, and Buffy smiled sheepishly at Faith.
"Whoo boy, B! You almost gave us a free show. Do I need to get some ice water or something?"
Angel grinned. "Sounds like a good idea to me. You'll want to even more once you shack up at Buffy's and get to hear them every night. By the way, Buffy, your bed frame squeaks, and a little seltzer will get blood out of your sheets."
Buffy turned beet red and got up, mumbling something about the bathroom as she scrambled out of the room.
"Oh, great, Peaches. Just because you're not getting any yet doesn't mean you have to ruin it for the rest of us," Spike grumbled, walking over to the supply chest and grabbing a towel.
Faith grinned. "Ten dollars says you get some tonight anyways, Blondie. I always pegged B as repressed, and since you've entered her life, my bet is she works it out every chance she gets."
Angel snickered. "You know what, Faith? I think having you around again will do Spike a world of good."
Spike gave them both a look that could wither flowers and stalked out front, wiping his face with the towel. "So once you voyeurs get over the dance number, can we go patrol? I've had enough of being humiliated for today."
He turned and noted the people gaping at him. "What? I'm not a poof… just cause I happen to know how to dance…"
Willow shook her head. "What happened to your back? And your neck? Look at all the marks, it looks like someone attacked you, Spike."
The vampire's face flushed for a fleeting moment, and he muttered something about a cat.
Cordy raised an eyebrow. "A cat, huh? More like a small, blond Sl…"
Spike's hand over her mouth stifled the comment she was making. "Nasty cat. Mean. It spit at me, I think." Cordy bit his hand and he yelped. "Careful, pet. I like it when they bite."
"You pig!" she said, stomping off to find Angel.
Buffy walked up behind him and goosed him. "Quit pissing off my friends. Behave or you can sleep on the couch tonight."
"Luv, the house is full to the brim, and we just earned two more guests. My guess is your bed is the only place I'll fit, unless you want the green guy to take my place," he joked. When she seemed to be considering it, he growled. "And I wouldn't take very kindly to that. Might have to find a friendly port to stay m'self."
"If you do, you better sleep armed."
"Hey, are we gonna patrol or what?" Gunn asked impatiently
Faith emerged from the bathroom, re-clad in her leather pants and tank. "Let's
rumble, baby. B, you ready to rock?"
Buffy grinned. "I am so ready. Spike, get Angel and the green guy. It's time to kick some ass." She followed Faith out the front door, waiting to see what the brunette Slayer would do.
Faith took a deep breath and howled at the moon. "Man, have I missed patrolling, kicking demon ass, you know, the usual."
Buffy nodded. "It's a great release." She winked and Faith laughed throatily.
"Hey, B, I feel this weird urge to sing again. Is this crap ever gonna end?"
"I dunno. I'm hoping the brains of the outfit can figure it out. It can't be the Sweet demon again, cause so far, only the Scoobs are singing."
Faith jumped on top of a mailbox and beat her chest like Tarzan. "That's it. I'm unleashing the song, B. Get ready."
"Oh, God. Just make it short, Faith. This singing thing is really wearing thin."
Faith grinned and opened her mouth. "I'm comin' up so you better get this party started. Get this party started on a Saturday night; everybody's waitin' for me to arrive. I can go for miles if you know what I mean."
Buffy groaned. "I should have known you'd be singing something like this."
"Pumpin up the volume breakin down' to the beat. Cruisin' through the west side, we'll be checkin' the scene.Boulevard is freakin' as I'm comin' up fast and I'll be burnin' rubber you'll be kissin' my ass," Faith sang, jumping down from the mailbox and swinging around the nearest lightpost.
"Faith, are you nuts? Get down!" Buffy hissed, watching Faith climb the pole and hang from the arm by her knees.
Faith grinned, doing a back flip off the light and landing on her feet. "Pumpin' up the volume with this brand new beat. Everybody's dancin' and their dancin' for me. I'm your operator you can call anytime and I'll be your connection to the party line! I'm comin' up so you better get this party started…"
Spike and Angel came out with Gunn, their faces mirroring confusion as they watched Buffy chasing Faith as they ran from car to car down the street. The men looked at each other and shrugged.
"Ever get the feeling we have the weirdest unlives of anyone we know?" Spike asked.
"All the time," Angel sighed. "All the time."