Role Reversal: Chapter Seven

[jesterladyfic]

Chapter Seven: In Which There is Misdirection

Spike slammed open the door of the bedroom he and Drusilla were residing in, cracking the wall, and stormed into the room.

“The storms have gathered,” Drusilla observed from her spot in the middle of the bed. Her pale skin looked paler than usual and her eyes, so enormous even normally, seemed to stretch out over her whole face. The sight of her seemed to ire Spike even more and he picked up a chair and flung it against the wall, dodging the wooden splinters as they came flying back at him.

“Bloody brilliant,” he shouted in frustration.

“Cat can’t play with you, Spike,” Drusilla told him. “He’s made out of a different colour.”

“I know, love,” he said growling. “But your time’s running out and the cat better play if he wants to keep his
head.”

“I’m going to make you have joy,” Drusilla said and started humming. “Run and catch, run and catch, the lamb
is caught in the blackb’ry patch.” Spike sent a sick smile her way, but continued to pace in frustration. “I’m strong
today,” Drusilla informed him, as if trying to cheer him up another way. “Come live in my house and you’ll feel
better.”

Spike’s mouth turned up and he started a slow smirk making his way to her side.

“Do you love me, Dru?”

“I love what I made,” she answered. “I love.” Then for no reason, Drusilla started to cry. “I love, I love, I love,” she whimpered. “Love is what I am but no one sees. They all think I’m a snake but I do love you!” she finally gasped out as if the effort to say something concrete had been almost too much for her to bear. But Spike’s face lit up as she said it and he pounced on her, raining kisses over her. Drusilla’s delighted laughter soon rang from the bed and all sounds of crying were lost.

Later that night Spike finished buckling up his jeans and stroked the back of the still naked Drusilla on the bed who had fallen asleep from exhaustion.

“I shouldn’t have pushed you so hard, baby,” he whispered. “But I’m going out to get you a nice meal so sleep
well while I’m gone.” With that Spike swung his duster over his shoulders and went out to hunt.

He avoided the Bronze knowing Buffy and her friends were planning on being there tonight. Instead, he went to
the mall where it would just be closing and all the young people who hung out there would be leaving. Snatching two
teenagers leaning against their car, Spike dragged them behind the building and drained one, reveling in the fresh kill
and the fear coming into his mouth along with the blood. The girls were young and that would be good for Drusilla.
He finished the one and gripping the other, started to take her back for his lady.

They were about a block away from the mansion when Faith’s voice rang out behind him. Spike wasn’t
startled, he’d noticed her following, but decided Drusilla needed to feed more than Buffy needed to catch Faith.

“Does B know you’re doing that?”

“She doesn’t ask and I don’t tell,” Spike said, turning around and keeping his grip on the girl who stared at Faith
with frightened eyes.

“Please help me!” she stammered out.

Faith rolled her eyes.

“Doesn’t anyone around here get that I’m actually evil?”

Spike scoffed at her.

“Please, pet. Don’t start that again. All you are is on your way.”

“I had enough of the mind trip last time, Blondie,” Faith said. “Not really in for a repeat lesson tonight.”

“Then I suppose you’re just here cause you missed me so much,” Spike asked sarcastically.

Faith chuckled at the idea, but started to move in closer to him.

“Well, you are pretty hot and I’ve always been rather curious to try out Buffy’s little obsession with the undead. See what all the fuss was, you know?” Faith started to move in closer. Spike didn’t move an inch. “I know you’re still tripping with the evil, Spike,” Faith said. She pointed to the girl. “She makes that pretty obvious.”

“Never denied it,” Spike replied, still not moving.

“Then why don’t you play it?” she asked. “I can hook you up with the best evil in this town and a lot of fun along
the way.” She reached up and slipped her hand inside his duster.

Spike laughed and taking her hand, put it off of his person.

“Nice try, luv. But I’ve got all the evil in a girl that I need. Bloody come up with something better than you if you
want me. Besides, I don’t play well with others.”

Faith looked like she’d been slapped but then a cruel smile lit her face and she made her way in the opposite
direction.

Spike turned and headed toward the mansion where he entered their bedroom with the girl and threw her across the room to land in Drusilla’s lap.

“Oh, Spike.” Drusilla leapt up and danced across the room to him, dragging the girl by her hair. “I get the best presents. It fills me with colours. You’re my knight who saves me.”

“Always,” he replied and kissed her deeply before snapping the girl’s neck, lighting up a cigarette and letting her enjoy her meal.

“Definitely all the evil I need,” he said softly, smiling at Drusilla as she flashed blood stained fangs at him.

***

“It’s a good plan, Faith,” the Mayor said approvingly. “My, but you’re an enterprising young woman, just the type I need.” He got up from his desk chair and absently wiped his hands with the moist towelettes he kept on a table in his office. “Now, I think I know just the right fellow to work this deal. I’ll have to summon him tonight and see what we can do. Too bad, I was going to practice my long shot tonight, but this does seem more important.”

The Mayor smiled at Faith and she tried her best to react well but she was still stinging from Spike’s words.

“What’s the matter, Faith? Someone with such a bright young future as you ought to be beaming at this
moment. You know, you have such a pretty smile.”

Faith did smile at that, a little.

“I just, well, why doesn’t anybody pick me?” she asked. “It’s always gotta be about somebody else.”

The Mayor pondered that for a little while and then squatted down next to her chair.

“Well, I don’t know about anybody else,” he said, “but I picked you and so far it’s the only choice any logical,
soulless man could have made!” He ended with a chuckle.

Faith ducked her head and when she lifted it again she truly smiled.

“Thanks, boss.”


***

I was patrolling through the cemetery and I bumped into a vamp. Normal right? I mean, Slayer, cemetery, it usually means vampire. But this one was terrified. Scary creatures of the night should only look that way when they’re looking at me.

“Leave me alone, Slayer,” he shouted. “I’m not harming anyone, in fact, I’m leaving.”

“Getting to be a little too much for ya?” I asked. “Living in the same town with the Slayer?”

“No, living in the town that’s got an Ascension planned!” he said, circling a tombstone.

“Ascens-a what?” I asked.

“Come on, don’t tell me you haven’t heard of it?” he asked unbelieving.

“Really haven’t,” I said. But why was that ringing a bell?

“I knew I was right to be more concerned about the Mayor than you,” he said. “He’s got you blinded!”

I cornered him against a mausoleum and rammed a stake through his heart.

“I guess you were wrong again,” I said to his dust.

“He might have had more info to share, pet,” Spike drawled in my ear.

“Spike, I am so not in the mood,” I said, walking away.

“You know,” he said, falling into step with me, “there’s one little word I keep hearing wherever I go in this town.
Can you imagine what that could be?”

“Ascension,” I said. I was taking a wild stab at it really. Must be Slayer intuition.

“Wonderful deduction, luv,” Spike praised. Praised in a totally not praising way, I mean.

“So?” I asked. “What’s that got to do with us?”

“Well, everyone’s scared to death of it, but funny thing is nobody will talk about it either. It’s the Mayor’s little
plan and I’m betting you’ll want to find out more about it.”

“Let’s talk to Giles,” I said, moving back toward the entrance of the cemetery.

“I got my own little talk to have with him,” Spike said in a low voice.

I glanced at him but didn’t ask. Some things I just really didn’t want to know.


***

I arrived at school next day to find Spike and Giles arguing. From the looks of it, it had been going on for some time.

“You got no respect for me and mine, Watcher!” Spike shouted. “Granted you’re not supposed to, but your
Slayer made this deal with me and you had better find a way to do this so that I keep on upholding my end of the
sodding bargain or you will wake up without a head tomorrow morning!”

“Maybe Giles isn’t always the best of men,” I said dryly, walking into the office, “but he’s still my not best man,
so hands off, Spike.”

“Your rules, Slayer,” Spike growled. “Just get those things and get them any bloody way possible!”

“What’s he all cranky about?” I asked.

“He’ll explain it to you, using way too big of words, I’m sure,” Spike said, actually flouncing out of the room.

I turned to Giles.

“Explain-y.”

Giles sighed.

“There are a number of things. Chiefly what Spike is so concerned about is that I have figured out the cure for
Drusilla.”

“Yay us with our bargain upholding,” I said.

“It’s not quite that simple,” Giles said, taking off his glasses.

“It never is,” I answered.

“Quite,” he agreed. “Our problem is that the ingredients required for the reversal spell are from a totally archaic
society which doesn’t exist anymore. The basic things I have, the slightly more exotic could be acquired from the
magic shop quite easily, but there are one or two items which simply aren’t around anymore. To put it frankly-“

“We can’t be bargain upholding,” I finished.

“Yes. Spike, understandably, is quite upset, but that isn’t the half of it. Events have occurred that require some
serious action. I have explained the matter to Spike, but I’ll relay them to you as well.”

I sat back with a sigh and prepared to listen. Well, try to anyway.


***

A couple of hours later the gang had all gathered in the library and we briefed them on what was going on.

“Serious action,” Xander said.

“No duh, Xander,” Cordelia said, obviously still a little ticked with him over the Faith incident.

“What do we do, Buffy?” Willow asked.

“Serious research mode, Will,” I told her. “We need to find out everything we possibly can on the Ascension
and what the Mayor is up to. Can you hack into his files or his records or anything of his?”

Willow shook her head.

“I tried doing that back when we first found out about him, but I guess Faith must’ve told him about me or
something because when I got through his encryptions there just weren’t any files there. Not sure if I’m supposed to
be proud about that or upset,” Willow frowned.

Oz took her hand.

“Be proud,” he advised.

She smiled at him.

“I can try again,” she told me.

I nodded.

“Do that. Also, be on the lookout for anything you can find about the

Ascension. Everyone else, let’s hit the books and see what an Ascension is, because apparently...” I turned to look
at Giles and Wesley who looked slightly embarrassed. “...the two Watchers here, have no idea what it means.

“It’s not exactly a very usual term in demonology,” Wesley protested.

“Whatever. Guys,” I said, “just keep looking. We’ve got a lot of stuff going on right now. Spike’s out trying to
get info from the local demons and I’ve got a chem test in fifteen minutes.” Wesley stopped me as I turned to go.

“You’re messing with powerful forces, Buffy. Are you certain you are doing the right thing?”

“I know nature will never be the same after my chem test, but, hey, I figure it’s better than demony things,” I
quipped.

Wesley’s face grew even more serious, if that was possible.

“That’s not quite what I meant, Buffy.”

“I know,” I said, turning and walking out. “Relax, Wes, Slayer knows best.”


***

Spike hated seeing Drusilla like this. She did look dead. She lay unmoving in the center of their bed dressed in what looked like a black shroud. Her chest did not rise and fall and her pale, thin arms were folded over her breast, her eyelids were closed in rest. But she was so thin and so pale and so weak. With the uttermost pain, Spike turned away from her and closed the door, locking it and going into the central part of the mansion.

He’d been idly sucking on some leftovers when Faith entered the mansion and threw a bottle of something at
him.

“Bloody hell!” he shouted as the liquid plastered itself to his skin. “What the hell is that?”

“Something better than me,” she answered and gave him a quick smile before fixing her attention over his
shoulder. Spike glanced around and Faith smiled with satisfaction as he looked horrified.

A figure had stepped into the room. It was dressed entirely in black with black cloth encircling the head and
mouth. Only bluish skin and glaring yellow eyes could be seen. Sparks danced from the pointed fingertips and they
flowed over to Spike and clung to him as the liquid did. Spike started to run, but found he couldn’t move. Faith
continued to grin as she watched him struggle.

The figure stepped forward and deep, sonorous words came from the mouth though they were
indistinguishable. Lights flooded from him and swirled around him before striking at Spike and flooding his brain. He
shouted again and then as suddenly as they started, the lights all went out. Spike dropped to the floor. The figure
melted away as it had come and Faith was alone with the vampire on the floor.

“Spike, can ya hear me?” she asked.

“I hear you,” Spike answered in a dull monotone.

“Stand up,” she said softly. He stood up. “Turn around,” she continued. He turned around. “Now that’s just a
bit more like it,” Faith exalted. “No more high and mighty undead, just a sorry looking punk who takes direct orders from me.” Faith circled around Spike who didn’t move a muscle and continued staring straight ahead. “I’m liking it,” Faith said again and prodded Spike on the shoulder. He didn’t move. “Okay, we’re going to get little Buffy over here and take care of the boss’ orders. Spike, listen to me very carefully because if you screw this up, it’s dust for your sorry ass.”

Spike still didn’t say anything, just stood there, listening to Faith.


***

I was in the kitchen grabbing some me and Mom time when Spike came barging into the house. Somehow whenever I’m doing something non-Slayer-y, he always comes in and brings bad news. One of these days I’m gonna stake the messenger.

“Got a little surprise for you at the mansion, pet,” he said, leaning against the counter like a cat. “Hello, Joyce.
Lovely hair.”

“Thank you, Spike,” Mom said, warming up to him like always. Sometimes I wonder where I get my brains.

“What is it, Spike?” I asked.

“Got a demon who’s all willing to spill about the Ascension problem we got. Figured you’d wanna be there
when it happens.”

Unfortunately, he figured right.

“Let’s go,” I sighed. “Bye, Mom.”

“Later, Joyce,” Spike said charmingly. Mom almost swooned. Remind me to interrogate Spike later about his
intentions toward my Mom seeing as how he flirts with her like he isn’t over a hundred and, oh yeah, dead.

Spike was irritating as ever on the walk over to the mansion and I fell into my habit of ignoring him until we got
there. We walked into an empty room.

“Where is he?” I asked, looking around for any signs of escape.

“Locked him in here,” Spike answered, pointing to a little room off the side. “Less chance of any funny
business.”

“It’s got brains,” I said to the air and opened the door. A hand holding a damp cloth covered my mouth and I
gasped for air as the unmistakable smell of chloroform flooded my senses and I couldn’t see anymore.

***

Wesley was heading up a small research meeting at the Hall of Records which Oz had suggested they visit for information on the Mayor, which had been unanimously agreed upon, and which Willow had grinned largely over because of the double pleasure of Oz’s brainy success and her own chance of discovery of something new.

Heading up might be an overstatement though considering that the others were mostly ignoring Wesley.

“This is the most boring way I can think of to spend my Saturday night.” Cordelia sighed.

“Cor, it’s important,” Xander reminded her.

“Not to me,” she said and reopened her book.

“Check it out,” Oz said coming over to the table.

“An interesting tidbit of helpful information?” Wesley asked eagerly.

Oz looked at him.

“Well, I’d call it interesting,” he answered. He showed them his book which had a photo from 1899 of the Mayor
of Sunnydale.

“Like father, like son,” Wesley whispered in amazement.

“Exact same guy, like exact same guy,” Oz corrected.

Willow nodded as they all stared at the photo which was the Mayor, but taken a hundred years ago.

“So...not human then?” Cordelia asked from her position at the table.

“Thinking so,” Xander replied. “Unless he got some extra health plan the rest of us didn’t get.”


***

It hurt to open my eyes. I knew I wouldn’t want to do it but I opened them anyway. I’m stupid that way.

“Morning, sunshine,” Faith greeted me.

Spike stepped back from the manacles he’d placed around my wrist.

“What a surprise,” I said. “Spike being evil. Guess I should’ve seen that one coming.”

“Don’t get your hopes up, B,” Faith assured me. “I don’t think Spike’s acting under his own ideas though
maybe he’s just into taking orders from hot chicks with superpowers.” Faith turned to Spike who had resumed his
position of standing still and staring straight ahead. “Spike, what can we have you do that will convince Buffy here
that you’re not evil and just doing what I tell you to do?”

“Well, he could drain you for starters,” I suggested cheerfully.

“Real cute,” Faith said. “Spike, give me twenty,” she said.

Spike dropped and started doing twenty pushups.

“Nice to watch, isn’t he?” Faith said. “I think after we’ve tortured you for some long hours I’ll make him stake
his undead bride and become my personal sex slave, but we’ll see what the Mayor says about that.”

“Do whatever you like to him,” I answered. “But why me, why this? Why, Faith?”

She turned away from me and picked up a long knife and walked over to me and trailed it down my face.

“You lock me up, I lock you up. I love returning favors.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it,” I told her.

Faith jammed the knife into the wall an inch from my face.

“It’s all about you, ain’t it, B? All about why poor little Buffy has things happen to her.” Faith turned away and
then punched me. My face stung, but I didn’t move. “Well, newsflash! It ain’t about you! I come to this town and I
do my job kicking ass better than anybody. But who do I hear about? Buffy. So, I play along, I’m the good girl; but
still everybody wants me to be like you!” Faith kicked me in the stomach and I hunched over from the blow. “But did
anybody ask if you couldn’t be more like me!” she screamed at me.

“Why would I lower myself that much?” I finally said, hurt to the core at the things she was saying to me. “I
was your friend, Faith. I was even jealous of you when you first came because you were the new exciting Slayer who
wrestled alligators and slept in the nude and didn’t have any responsibilities. But I was there for you, Faith, and I
thought you were there for me, but you refused to trust me and when I wanted to help you, you spat in my face!”

“Trust,” Faith said scornfully. “Now there’s a funny word. Why would I trust someone who doesn’t trust me?”

“Well, after all,” I said, “you’ve shown yourself so worthy of being trusted. Who does trust you? Who do you
trust? The Mayor? There’s an exhibition of brains for you!” I taunted her.

“Don’t you dare start on him,” Faith warned me. “I’ve never trusted anyone like I trust him and you can’t turn me
against him.”

“Oh, I’m done helping you,” I said. “You will be just as finished as he is when I’m done.”

“You can’t win here, B,” Faith told me smiling. “It’s all said and settled and you lost. Come Graduation Day,
your little friends are gonna be kibbles and bits and I will be at his right hand. Assuming he has hands after the
transformation,” she added as an afterthought. “I’m not too clear on that point. But now,” she said, “it’s playtime.”

Grabbing the knife out of the wall she unbuttoned my sleeve and readied for her first incision. I decided it was
time.

Before she could touch me, I pulled my hands free of the wall and punched her away from me.

“Spike, get her!” Faith shouted as she redoubled to face me.

“I could, but I’m paralyzed with not caring very much,” Spike informed her, leaning against the wall. “Oh and, by
the way, I think I’ll wear the pants from now on too.”

Faith glanced from me to Spike and back again.

“Psyche!” I said cheerfully.

“You played me!” she screamed.

“What should a player expect but to be played?” I asked.

Faith and I prepared for a knock down drag out fight and I flipped over her head to grab one of the wicked
looking instruments she had prepared for me. Turning back to face her, she swept out a leg and tripped me up and
on my way down I did the same for her. We landed with our knives held at each other’s throats.

We stared at each other for a long moment. We both had traces of tears on our cheeks.

“You kill me; you become me,” she said with a grin and, knocking my knife aside, ran out the door.

I straightened up and dropped the knife.

“Uh, thank you, Spike?” Spike prompted from beside me.

“Shut up, Spike,” I said instead and walked out the door myself.


***

Later on at the library, the gang all gathered and we exchanged the info we had learned on our separate missions. Nearing the end, I felt a strange tingle at the back of my neck and looked up. There was a black clad blue guy standing there who apparently had a nifty way of getting around.

“The debt between us is restored,” he informed Giles. “Do not call upon me again.”

“I won’t,” Giles assured him. “And thank you for coming to me. Peace be with you.”

“And with you, Rupert Giles,” Mystery Guy said and dissipated.

“What’d you do for him?” Willow asked, curious as always.

“I introduced him to his wife,” Giles answered.

Willow sat back, a new concept for her. I allowed myself a moment of Willow fondness before getting back to
the matter at hand. Or rather I was rudely brought back to the matter at hand by Spike barging in and asking for
news about Drusilla’s cure.

“Uh yes,” Giles fumbled around. “I have started collecting the required ingredients. The slightly more rare are
being shipped here but I still am having no luck in finding the items that I’m convinced no longer exist.”

“Well, look harder!” Spike growled. “I’m bloody sick and tired of playing this game with you children. You’re
lucky that mind control doesn’t work on vampires or I would’ve wiped all of you out gladly!”

So saying, he swept out. I was suddenly reminded that Spike was evil and had almost killed me several
times. Maybe I should really try to honor my deals with the devil before he turned on me. Just don’t tell any of that
to Spike. Cause, duh.


***

Spike unlocked Dru’s door and entered with two beautiful girls in his arms. Drusilla had not moved since he’d locked her in to keep her from giving up the game with Faith and to keep her safe. He hated having had to do that to her and hoped the two fresh girls would get her strength back up and help her forgive him.

“Spike’s been naughty,” she hissed from her position without opening her eyes. “I see into his endeavors.”

“Brought you playmates, Dru,” Spike enticed.

Dru sat up and walking slowly over to him, ran her nails over one of the girls’ face.

“You are pardoned,” she told him firmly, “but no cakes today.”

“All right, love.” Spike took his punishment and pushed the girls towards her. “Have a little playtime first before
dinner. I’ll supervise.”

“Who’s the older here?” Drusilla inquired idly.

The smaller of the girls started whimpering and Drusilla matched her whimper for whimper before laying her on
the ground and stabbing her idly with her nails. Small screams started to rise from the floor and Spike felt his
bloodlust rising with them. He could barely restrain himself from joining her and showing his ardor for her mad
games. He abstained, reminding himself these were for her and that she needed them. So he watched and Drusilla
played and the night dragged on.