Prompt #8 - AtS - Spike, Fred, Wesley
Aug. 31st, 2006 09:08 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
lilithbint.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
tamingthemuseCricket
So I went to the dictionary for this prompt and found lots of meanings but as a member of the Commonwealth it all came back to cricket.
Author: Lilithangel
Email: abchainey@xtra.co.nz
Website: www.livejournal.com/users/lilithbint
Fandom: AtS
Genre: Gen
Rating: Gen
Characters: Spike, Fred, Wesley
Disclaimer: I own a small two bedroom house in a small town with two sets of traffic lights. Well the bank owns it really. So totally not worth suing for my ramblings.
Summary: Set sometime in Season Five before the whole Illyria thing, Spike tries to explain cricket to Fred.
“Thanks for inviting me to come over pet,” Spike said as he settled himself down on Fred’s couch.
“You’re welcome,” Fred said from the kitchen, “I’ll just get the snacks out and then join you.”
“You don’t have to watch with me,” Spike said as Fred returned laden with plates. He jumped up to take some of them off her.
“I want to,” she replied. Fred put down the plates and headed back to the kitchen.
“Bloody hell,” Spike surveyed the array of food Fred had made, “how many people are coming over tonight?”
“Just us,” Fred said returning with a tray of drinks, “I suppose it is a lot but you said the game goes on for a while,” she giggled.
“I really admire a woman with a good appetite,” Spike said with approval.
Fred giggled again and sat down next to him on the couch. “You know I would have thought you would have watched the game with Wes. What was that for?” she asked at Spike’s brief frown.
Spike shook his head, “Percy ain’t one of my fans.”
“He’s never said anything,” Fred said.
Spike shrugged, “at best he sees me as a tool to be used when necessary and I have had enough of being treated like that to last several lifetimes.”
“And at worst?” Fred was too smart not to see the omission.
“At worst he sees me as a threat that should be neutralised. Must be a watcher thing.”
“Well after that whole cup thing and all it sure looked like you were after Angel’s Shanshu,” Fred replied.
“Not really,” Spike confessed, “just wanted to take something off Angel for a change.” He reached over and snagged the bowl of popcorn from the table offering it to Fred.
Accepting the change of subject Fred turned to the television, “so what are they doing now?”
“It’s the toss to see which team gets to choose to bat or bowl first.”
They watched in silence for a few minutes as the teams sorted themselves out and play began.
“So that guy gets a run up to pitch,” Fred tried to make sense of the game.
“Bowl,” Spike interrupted, “he bowls, they play on the pitch.”
“And that guy tries to hit it. Boy, they wear a lot of protection.”
Spike laughed, “That guy is a fast bowler and the ball can be travelling at over one hundred miles an hour. They need the protection.”
“Gosh.” Fred watched the game for a bit longer. “Why did they stop running?” she asked as Spike let out a cheer.
“Bloke hit a six,” Spike said.
“But I only saw one ball,” Fred replied.
“If a batsman hits the ball over that line on the full it is worth six points. If it bounces or rolls over the line it counts as four,” Spike said.
“Why have they stopped now?” Fred asked.
“Bowler bowls six times then changes ends. He’s trying to either hit the stumps or pull a catch.” Spike watched in amazement as Fred constructed a sandwich bigger than her mouth.
He opened a beer and they watched the game as Fred consumed the sandwich. When she was finished she ducked into the kitchen returning in a few moments with a mug of blood.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Spike protested.
“It’s no big deal,” she pushed the mug into his hands, “I know you like human food and all, but you need to feed properly. I remember when Angel came back from being trapped in the ocean he was practically starving. You don’t have to turn away either,” she scolded him, “it’s just protein.”
Spike smiled at Fred, it still impressed him how easily she dealt with things around her. No panicking for this scientist, just an insatiable curiosity and an amazing capacity for caring. He had developed a soft spot for her early. The tireless way she tried to save him, in fact he probably fell in love with her the day she said he was worth saving.
It was a different feeling to how it had been with Dru and Buffy. Closer to how he felt about Dawn and that still didn’t quite fit. A friend that was it, she was his friend. His first friend since Clem, how pathetic was that?
Fred was watching the game intently now a look of comprehension on her face that Spike recognised from when she was working in her lab.
“So the batsmen try and hit between the guys on the pitch…”
“Field…”
“Field, and get the ball to the edge or failing that hit it far enough to run between the stick things. Its maths and geometry,” she said with excitement, “they have to calculate angles and trajectory, speed of the ball and distance. It really is incredibly complex.”
Spike grinned at her enthusiasm and snagged another handful of popcorn washing it down with another bottle of beer.
Two hours later Fred’s enthusiasm had waned somewhat and she had fallen asleep against Spike’s shoulder. Spike had moved only once to make her more comfortable and rescue the last of the buffalo wings she had been holding. He happily endured the discomfort of not being able to move for the knowledge that she felt safe enough around him to fall asleep.
A knock at the door woke them both up. Surreptitiously wiping the drool off the corner of her mouth Fred went to see who was there. Spike took the opportunity to shift position, check the score and wipe the drool off his shoulder. He cursed when he saw that England was losing and cursed again when he heard Wesley’s voice.
“I don’t mean to intrude but you mentioned wanting to learn about cricket,” Wesley said as he came into the living room and stopped when he saw Spike.
“Spike told me about the game today you had said that you were going to be busy so I asked him to come over,” Fred replied, “seems like this ashes match is really important although why anyone would want to fight over ashes I don’t know. Unless they are demons?” she asked not noticing the tension between the two men.
“Not last time I checked,” Spike said, “although those Aussie players may have made deals with some.”
“Well I won’t disturb you,” Wesley’s face revealed the lie.
“Don’t be silly come and join us,” Fred smiled, “sit down and I’ll get you something to drink.”
“Do as she says,” Spike forced a smile onto his own face, “you know she always gets her own way.”
“Don’t exaggerate,” Fred called from the kitchen.
Wesley sat at the far end of the couch looking at Spike with suspicion. Spike simply helped himself to another beer and turned back to the game.
Wesley opened his mouth to speak but Fred returned with more beer and he accepted one with thanks.
“There aren’t really any ashes are there?” she asked as she sat down between them.
“Course there are,” Spike replied, “just not human ones.”
“And you would know this how?” Wesley said.
“Was there wasn’t I,” Spike said casually, “couldn’t go to the match obviously, but followed the game in the papers.”
“You would have too,” Wesley looked at Spike with interest, “I sometimes forget how old you are.”
Spike hushed him before Wesley could ask any of the questions burning in his eyes, and turned their attention back to the game.
Fred started talking about maths again as the fielding team moved around, “it’s incredible how many calculations they must be making without even thinking about it. Just to be able to hit the ball requires several formulas.”
Knowing they both really like each other when Fred heads back into the kitchen for more food the vampire stands.
“Don’t want to queer your pitch Wes so I’ll be on my way,” he said.
“Don’t be ridiculous Spike,” Wesley replied, “You have more right to be here than I do.”
“You can both sit down,” Fred said to both of them from the kitchen, “you are my guests and I want you to stay. Besides,” she pulled a bottle out from behind her back, “it is now officially tequila night.”
She put down the bottle and frowned at Spike, “I said sit down.”
Spike smiled and did as he was told, “shots for every four and six then.”
“The Australians are at the crease aren’t they?” Wesley asked with a groan.
An hour later all three are very drunk and Fred is trying to understand some of the terms the Englishmen are using.
“So silly point is closer than silly mid off?”
“Opposite the short leg,” Spike added with a smirk.
Fred was now leaning against Spike with her feet in Wesley’s lap as they gazed fuzzily at the screen.
A faint noise from Wesley gave away the fact that he had fallen asleep and was snoring. Fred giggled and snuggled in closer to Spike who lifted up his arm to let her get comfortable.
“Was that a six?” Fred asked. “Who cares let’s drink anyway.” She shakily brought her glass up to her mouth only to be disappointed when it came up empty. Spike watched as her head continued to fall back and she joined Wesley in sleep.
Carefully Spike removed the glass from Fred’s hand and dropped it on the floor to join his and Wesley’s. Inhaling the fresh scent of her hair Spike looked over at his humans. They were his humans now whether they knew it or not. These two and the others at Wolfram & Hart were part of his family. Mainly because of Fred and partly because of Angel, but they were his to protect. He would watch over them and keep them from harm as best as he could.
He didn’t always like them, but for Fred he would look after them. They mattered to her and she mattered to him a lot. She believed in him; saw the soul and the vampire. Believed that he was worth saving so he would save her if it took his body and soul to do it.
END
So I went to the dictionary for this prompt and found lots of meanings but as a member of the Commonwealth it all came back to cricket.
Author: Lilithangel
Email: abchainey@xtra.co.nz
Website: www.livejournal.com/users/lilithbint
Fandom: AtS
Genre: Gen
Rating: Gen
Characters: Spike, Fred, Wesley
Disclaimer: I own a small two bedroom house in a small town with two sets of traffic lights. Well the bank owns it really. So totally not worth suing for my ramblings.
Summary: Set sometime in Season Five before the whole Illyria thing, Spike tries to explain cricket to Fred.
“Thanks for inviting me to come over pet,” Spike said as he settled himself down on Fred’s couch.
“You’re welcome,” Fred said from the kitchen, “I’ll just get the snacks out and then join you.”
“You don’t have to watch with me,” Spike said as Fred returned laden with plates. He jumped up to take some of them off her.
“I want to,” she replied. Fred put down the plates and headed back to the kitchen.
“Bloody hell,” Spike surveyed the array of food Fred had made, “how many people are coming over tonight?”
“Just us,” Fred said returning with a tray of drinks, “I suppose it is a lot but you said the game goes on for a while,” she giggled.
“I really admire a woman with a good appetite,” Spike said with approval.
Fred giggled again and sat down next to him on the couch. “You know I would have thought you would have watched the game with Wes. What was that for?” she asked at Spike’s brief frown.
Spike shook his head, “Percy ain’t one of my fans.”
“He’s never said anything,” Fred said.
Spike shrugged, “at best he sees me as a tool to be used when necessary and I have had enough of being treated like that to last several lifetimes.”
“And at worst?” Fred was too smart not to see the omission.
“At worst he sees me as a threat that should be neutralised. Must be a watcher thing.”
“Well after that whole cup thing and all it sure looked like you were after Angel’s Shanshu,” Fred replied.
“Not really,” Spike confessed, “just wanted to take something off Angel for a change.” He reached over and snagged the bowl of popcorn from the table offering it to Fred.
Accepting the change of subject Fred turned to the television, “so what are they doing now?”
“It’s the toss to see which team gets to choose to bat or bowl first.”
They watched in silence for a few minutes as the teams sorted themselves out and play began.
“So that guy gets a run up to pitch,” Fred tried to make sense of the game.
“Bowl,” Spike interrupted, “he bowls, they play on the pitch.”
“And that guy tries to hit it. Boy, they wear a lot of protection.”
Spike laughed, “That guy is a fast bowler and the ball can be travelling at over one hundred miles an hour. They need the protection.”
“Gosh.” Fred watched the game for a bit longer. “Why did they stop running?” she asked as Spike let out a cheer.
“Bloke hit a six,” Spike said.
“But I only saw one ball,” Fred replied.
“If a batsman hits the ball over that line on the full it is worth six points. If it bounces or rolls over the line it counts as four,” Spike said.
“Why have they stopped now?” Fred asked.
“Bowler bowls six times then changes ends. He’s trying to either hit the stumps or pull a catch.” Spike watched in amazement as Fred constructed a sandwich bigger than her mouth.
He opened a beer and they watched the game as Fred consumed the sandwich. When she was finished she ducked into the kitchen returning in a few moments with a mug of blood.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Spike protested.
“It’s no big deal,” she pushed the mug into his hands, “I know you like human food and all, but you need to feed properly. I remember when Angel came back from being trapped in the ocean he was practically starving. You don’t have to turn away either,” she scolded him, “it’s just protein.”
Spike smiled at Fred, it still impressed him how easily she dealt with things around her. No panicking for this scientist, just an insatiable curiosity and an amazing capacity for caring. He had developed a soft spot for her early. The tireless way she tried to save him, in fact he probably fell in love with her the day she said he was worth saving.
It was a different feeling to how it had been with Dru and Buffy. Closer to how he felt about Dawn and that still didn’t quite fit. A friend that was it, she was his friend. His first friend since Clem, how pathetic was that?
Fred was watching the game intently now a look of comprehension on her face that Spike recognised from when she was working in her lab.
“So the batsmen try and hit between the guys on the pitch…”
“Field…”
“Field, and get the ball to the edge or failing that hit it far enough to run between the stick things. Its maths and geometry,” she said with excitement, “they have to calculate angles and trajectory, speed of the ball and distance. It really is incredibly complex.”
Spike grinned at her enthusiasm and snagged another handful of popcorn washing it down with another bottle of beer.
Two hours later Fred’s enthusiasm had waned somewhat and she had fallen asleep against Spike’s shoulder. Spike had moved only once to make her more comfortable and rescue the last of the buffalo wings she had been holding. He happily endured the discomfort of not being able to move for the knowledge that she felt safe enough around him to fall asleep.
A knock at the door woke them both up. Surreptitiously wiping the drool off the corner of her mouth Fred went to see who was there. Spike took the opportunity to shift position, check the score and wipe the drool off his shoulder. He cursed when he saw that England was losing and cursed again when he heard Wesley’s voice.
“I don’t mean to intrude but you mentioned wanting to learn about cricket,” Wesley said as he came into the living room and stopped when he saw Spike.
“Spike told me about the game today you had said that you were going to be busy so I asked him to come over,” Fred replied, “seems like this ashes match is really important although why anyone would want to fight over ashes I don’t know. Unless they are demons?” she asked not noticing the tension between the two men.
“Not last time I checked,” Spike said, “although those Aussie players may have made deals with some.”
“Well I won’t disturb you,” Wesley’s face revealed the lie.
“Don’t be silly come and join us,” Fred smiled, “sit down and I’ll get you something to drink.”
“Do as she says,” Spike forced a smile onto his own face, “you know she always gets her own way.”
“Don’t exaggerate,” Fred called from the kitchen.
Wesley sat at the far end of the couch looking at Spike with suspicion. Spike simply helped himself to another beer and turned back to the game.
Wesley opened his mouth to speak but Fred returned with more beer and he accepted one with thanks.
“There aren’t really any ashes are there?” she asked as she sat down between them.
“Course there are,” Spike replied, “just not human ones.”
“And you would know this how?” Wesley said.
“Was there wasn’t I,” Spike said casually, “couldn’t go to the match obviously, but followed the game in the papers.”
“You would have too,” Wesley looked at Spike with interest, “I sometimes forget how old you are.”
Spike hushed him before Wesley could ask any of the questions burning in his eyes, and turned their attention back to the game.
Fred started talking about maths again as the fielding team moved around, “it’s incredible how many calculations they must be making without even thinking about it. Just to be able to hit the ball requires several formulas.”
Knowing they both really like each other when Fred heads back into the kitchen for more food the vampire stands.
“Don’t want to queer your pitch Wes so I’ll be on my way,” he said.
“Don’t be ridiculous Spike,” Wesley replied, “You have more right to be here than I do.”
“You can both sit down,” Fred said to both of them from the kitchen, “you are my guests and I want you to stay. Besides,” she pulled a bottle out from behind her back, “it is now officially tequila night.”
She put down the bottle and frowned at Spike, “I said sit down.”
Spike smiled and did as he was told, “shots for every four and six then.”
“The Australians are at the crease aren’t they?” Wesley asked with a groan.
An hour later all three are very drunk and Fred is trying to understand some of the terms the Englishmen are using.
“So silly point is closer than silly mid off?”
“Opposite the short leg,” Spike added with a smirk.
Fred was now leaning against Spike with her feet in Wesley’s lap as they gazed fuzzily at the screen.
A faint noise from Wesley gave away the fact that he had fallen asleep and was snoring. Fred giggled and snuggled in closer to Spike who lifted up his arm to let her get comfortable.
“Was that a six?” Fred asked. “Who cares let’s drink anyway.” She shakily brought her glass up to her mouth only to be disappointed when it came up empty. Spike watched as her head continued to fall back and she joined Wesley in sleep.
Carefully Spike removed the glass from Fred’s hand and dropped it on the floor to join his and Wesley’s. Inhaling the fresh scent of her hair Spike looked over at his humans. They were his humans now whether they knew it or not. These two and the others at Wolfram & Hart were part of his family. Mainly because of Fred and partly because of Angel, but they were his to protect. He would watch over them and keep them from harm as best as he could.
He didn’t always like them, but for Fred he would look after them. They mattered to her and she mattered to him a lot. She believed in him; saw the soul and the vampire. Believed that he was worth saving so he would save her if it took his body and soul to do it.
END
no subject
Date: 2006-09-03 11:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-04 04:46 am (UTC)I loved her in Spin the Bottle and wanted to show more of that, and always figured there had to be more to why Spike wanted to save her and the others beyond fighting the good fight.
glad you liked it.