Brassed Off

For: priscellie:
Rating: R
Request: AU after "Hell Bound." Spike is still a ghost, but is learning how to touch, if he wants it enough. Buffy finds out he's not dust and comes to LA. Ghost sex?

Response: The fic matches what priscellie asked for, except the sexy bits are not actually in the fic, but occur afterwards.



“Where is he?!”

“Bu - Buffy? When did you get - ” Angel nearly tips his chair backwards as he frantically gets to his feet.

“Where. Is. He?” Buffy scowls, obviously not interested in chit-chat.

“’ey, big guy. Check this out. I’ve been practicing and I can...oh fuck.”

“Yeah, you could do that before, Spike. Back when you WERE NOT DEAD!” Buffy flies over to him. When she goes to shove him with both hands, she ends up across the room. “What the...?”

“Jesus, Angel. You could warn a guy! When did she get here?” Angel just stands and stares, unsure who to answer. “And Buffy, love, technically I was dead then too. Then, I got burned up and now I’m...” He swallows as Buffy returns to face him, eyes sparking. “...still dead. But less so.”

“That remains to be seen. And why the hell could I walk right through you? Are you the First? Angel, is he the First?”

Angel shakes his head, finally able to answer a question. “No, definitely not. We had him tested. Wolfram & Hart has very definitive tests...and stuff. He’s not...uh, that.”

“What is he, then? What did your fancy tests tell you about that?”

“Um, they didn’t. He’s just not corporeal. We’re working on it.”

“I’m standing right bloody here, Buffy. Why don’t you ask me?”

Buffy spins on one heel to face him and Spike backs up. “You are in so much trouble, mister. I thought you were...gone, dead, dust, ashes! And here you are, prancing around in L.A.!”

“I would hardly say I was prancing, pet...”

“Shut it! I’m not DONE!” Spike hesitates as he sees Buffy’s eyes start to well. “And you were dead and gone and I was trying to get on with my life. And I missed you and it sucked and you lied and he lied and you are here and...and I could have been here, too.” Buffy sniffles, the rage draining from her in a rush. Angel takes his cue and heads for his elevator.

“I’ll just go...upstairs for awhile. Let you catch up. Um, sorry, Buffy.”

For a solid minute after Angel leaves, they stare at each other. “Buffy...I’m really sorry. I was...well, look at me. I’m a soddin’ ghost. I couldn’t let you come and find me this way. I only just survived being sucked into hell.” Spike stops, takes a deep breath. “Christ, I did miss you, love. So full of fury and passion. So beautiful.”

Buffy sniffles harder. “Oh yeah, I look great. All weepy and red eyed.”

Spike reaches towards her, face focused in concentration. She jumps when his hand brushes her cheek. It’s like a kiss against her skin, light and barely there. “Beautiful.”

“Whoa! How the...how did you do that?” Buffy puts her hand to her cheek, where it is still slightly cold.

“Found out that if I concentrate really hard and want it very badly, I can touch people now. It’s better than nothing, eh?”

Buffy breaks into sudden sobs. Spike steps closer. “I’m really sorry, Buffy. I did really burn to a crisp, if that makes you feel any better.”

After a few more seconds of crying, Buffy actually lets out a choked laugh and looks up at him. “Yeah, it does. At least I wasn’t mourning a lie.”

“Mourning, huh? I don’t think anyone’s ever done that for me.” Spike bites his lip as he looks at his lovely Slayer, completely emotional and not a little brassed off. He missed her.

She cocks her head at Spike. “Sooooo...you can touch people if you really want to...very badly?”

His voice turns to silk at the look in her eyes. A look he has not seen in some time. “Yeah. Have to want it.” He steps closer still.

She holds up a finger. “I am still officially extremely pissed at you. For both dying and coming back. And not telling me. And...yeah.”

“I understand. And I am sorry, Buffy. You know I wanted nothing more than to see you. I was just...well, it was a bit of a mess. And you know, my hand goes right through the phone, so it was hard to call.” He grins at her and she grins right back.

With another step from Spike and one back from Buffy, she feels Angel’s desk against her thighs. In the next moment, Spike leans into her. And she feels it.

“Wow. I can feel you.” She reaches up and is able to lightly press his chest just as his lips take hers.

He murmurs to her through the kisses. “Told you, love. I just have to want to...very badly. And that’s just one of the many ways I want you.”

And when the elevator dings open to signal Angel’s return, he leaves again rather quickly. The sight of a ghost and the Slayer ruining his desk is one he won’t soon forget.