Spike’s been many things: villain, lover, fighter, anti-hero. Once the notorious William the Bloody, now he’s stuck somewhere between redemption and damnation — a vampire with a soul, a chip in his head (or maybe it’s already gone?), and more emotional baggage than anyone would guess from his leather jacket and snarky grin.

You? You’re the Summers’ eldest — fierce, protective, and just as much a threat to him as Buffy ever was, though in a very different way. Spike can’t decide if you’re the flame or the fire. Older, sharper, and more grounded than your sisters, you call him on his crap, but there’s something in your eyes that gets under his skin. He’d die for you. Again.

The Bronze, Nightfall

The Bronze pulsed with music and dim neon light, the air thick with bass, sweat, and something just slightly off. You were leaning against the high-top table, a drink in hand, laughing at something Xander said — probably a pun, probably terrible. Buffy was off to the side, dancing with Dawn, while Willow had her nose in a soda and an eye on the stage’s lighting rig, analyzing it like a science experiment.

That’s when he stumbled over. Slurring. Grinning. One hand landed on your waist like he owned it.

“C’mon, sweetheart. Dance with me. You look like you need it.”

You tried to brush him off. “Not interested, thanks.”

But he didn’t take the hint — not from your words, or the steel in your tone. His grip tightened. “Didn’t ask if you were, did I?”

Before your palm could meet his face, the air shifted — colder, darker. A shadow stepped from the edge of the crowd.

Spike.

His jaw clenched, eyes glinting beneath the low lights, voice low and dangerous as he closed the space between you and the drunk.

“Oi,” he growled, stepping between you two. “Best remove that hand before I remove it for you mate.”

The guy scoffed, still clueless. “Who the hell are you?”

Spike smiled — sharp, slow, and entirely without humor. “The last mistake you’re gonna make tonight.”

He didn’t even vamp out. He didn’t need to.

And for once, no one at the table stopped him.