lirazel: An outdoor scene from the film Picnic at Hanging Rock ([btvs] utter trust)
lirazel ([personal profile] lirazel) wrote2011-01-20 09:58 am

fic: taking it slow

OMG IT'S SPUFFY FIC. COMICS-CANON EVEN. WHAT IS GOING OOOOON?

Written for:



Title: Taking It Slow
Fandom: Buffyverse
Characters/Pairing: Buffy/Spike
Rating: PG
Spoilers: of the vague variety for Season 8 #40
Genre: Fluffy beginning-ness
Summary: She doesn’t want to mess this up. Slowly, she reminds herself. A step at a time. It’s a new thing she’s trying.

She doesn’t actually have to be alone if she doesn’t want to, and, believe it or not, she knows this. She’s known it for a long time now, the tantalizing temptation of it racing around inside her head, bouncing back and forth like a pinball, but the one thing she knows for absolute certain is that she needs to take this slow. Decide if it’s the right thing, if it’s what she really wants. Because if there’s anything she’s learned in her life, it’s that rushing into the romancing? Not the best of plans for Buffy. Honestly, taking on a hellgod is easier than dealing of the consequences of jumping into the sexy stuff without thinking it through. Her instincts are usually—key word being “usually”—right when it comes to slaying, but when it comes to love they lead her to boyfriends turning into murderers and Parker telling her it was “fun” and, you know, the entire world almost being destroyed. So there’s that.

Besides, she wants to do it right this time because, well, they’ve both been through the ringer one too many times, and she doesn’t really crave the big drama anymore. It would just be nice to have someone—no, not someone. Him--to patrol with who she knows can keep up with her banter-wise and someone to fight over the remote and the covers with, and okay, someone she knows she has great sex with that, at most, destroys a bed or a table or something—not all life in this dimension. And someone who always has her back and knows what to say when she needs to hear it. That would be…really great.

So she doesn’t want to mess this up. Slowly, she reminds herself. A step at a time. It’s a new thing she’s trying.

She’s just settled this in her mind and plopped down on Dawn’s couch to watch some TV when her skin breaks out into goosebumps, the hair on the back of her neck standing up the way it always does when his “ship” sets down on the roof; it gives off this electricity or something, like a muted television with its hum just beyond hearing. She hurries over to the window. This is how they meet these days.

He’s got a few tips for her about trouble in the city, says he’s still chasing down the next Big Bad, whatever it will turn out to be, and that hopefully he’ll have news for her soon. But she has news of her own.

“I’m getting my own place,” she announces, settling down on the windowsill. He’s lounging loose-limbed against the bars of the fire escape in that way of his that manages to be both lazy and predatory at the same time. The familiarness of it—sexy and comforting all at once—makes her heart clench.

“Really,” he says. He’s pleased, she can tell, but not overly interested: he’s picking at the paint peeling off the iron bars and humming some horrible punk song under his breath.

“Yeah.” She finds that she’s twisting the sleeve of her shirt around and around and forces the next words out. She can’t just say things like this, not yet. Better to ease up to it. Sneak up from behind, even. “A place just for the Buffster. Where I can play my music as loud as I want and never find another one of Dawn’s concoctions in the fridge or—ugh—“ she shudders “—hear things no self-respecting sister should ever, ever have to hear…and where I can invite whoever I want in whenever I want.”

That gets him. He doesn’t move from his position, but he goes very still, except for his eyebrows, which have jumped up almost to his hairline. Ugh. Still peroxide. Maybe she can at least do something about the helmet hair. She’d never, ever have admitted it, but it always looked a lot better after it was ruffled, especially by her fingers. For all he’s been treating the heck out of it for decades, his hair’s a lot softer than it looks. “Really,” he says, almost-but-not-quite emotionlessly. He’s always failed badly at hiding his feelings. The opposite of her, really. Maybe that’s one reason they could be good together. And they could be. She knows it.

“Yup.” She pops the p.

He seems to be casting about for a way to phrase the next question that won’t crack this façade of casualness she’s constructed. Finally he settles on, “Got any ideas about who you’d want to…invite in?”

She shrugs, biting back a smile that desperately wants to erupt across her face. “Maybe just a few.”

“Well, that’s a good start then.” He’s not smiling, either, but he’s got that awed look in his eyes that she remembers so well, the one that always makes her feel like she can’t breathe but doesn’t really need to anyways. She’s pretty sure her eyes are shining with the smile she’s holding back.

“Yeah. It really is. A great start, even.”

He straightens hurriedly. “Guess I might have to pop around ones of these days, see how you’re settling in, make with the house-warming gifts and such.”

“Sounds good. But no plants, please. I kill them. My thumb is the opposite of green. More like black, really. Black and wilting.”

“Right. Nothing you have to keep alive. Maybe just…a bottle of wine or something?”

He sounds so tentative, trying desperately to be nonchalant, and it’s more than a little adorable. So is the thought of him with wine—he’s always been more of a whiskey type, more of flask kind of guy than one who drinks out of wine glasses. Still, she understands him.

Now she lets the smile steal slowly across her face. “It’s a date, then.”

It’s a good thing he isn’t smoking right now or he’d probably be choking. “Uh. Yeah. A…date.” He nearly stumbles over the word. “I guess I should—“ He awkwardly jerks his head towards the roof where he’s left that ridiculous Pokemon ball of his parked—again. Then he makes a half-formed gesture with his hand—like an aborted wave, maybe, or like he’s going to reach out to her but can’t quite convince himself to do it—and then leaps up onto the next level of the fire escape.

She smirks as he rapidly climbs up to the roof and hears him shouting orders to the bugs from above her. It’s kind of fun, leaving him flustered. If she knew just how much, she’d probably have done it before. And often. But for now, this is enough.

It’s a great start.

[identity profile] petzipellepingo.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 04:10 pm (UTC)(link)
She can’t just say things like this, not yet. Better to ease up to it. Sneak up from behind, even. “A place just for the Buffster. Where I can play my music as loud as I want and never find another one of Dawn’s concoctions in the fridge or—ugh—“ she shudders “—hear things no self-respecting sister should ever, ever have to hear…and where I can invite whoever I want in whenever I want.”


Eeee! Loves this to death.

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so glad! *big grin*

[identity profile] angearia.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 04:12 pm (UTC)(link)
OH GAH LAUREN YOU WROTE SEASON 8 SPUFFY FIC

It's so perfect. I just, I'm flailing here. My throat's all tight. I can't even talk right now, so thank God I don't have to because...

LOOK WHAT YOU DID

I WANT TO LIVE IN THIS FIC

THIS IS WHERE JOY LIVES AND I WANT TO GO TO THERE

She knows when he's coming, she's taking it slow, she's pursuing him, he's totally thrown off by it (he's just there for business and to check on her), and she's getting her own place where she can invite him in.

SHE MADE HIM FLUSTERED

That's my favorite thing ever!

Also when they were looking at each other, not smiling, but saying so much with their eyes, I thought of this:

Photobucket

♥ ♥ ♥ I LOVE YOU FOREVER AND EVER AMEN ♥ ♥ ♥
Edited 2011-01-20 16:15 (UTC)

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 04:17 pm (UTC)(link)
BWAHAHAHA! This is me being irrationally pleased by your response! *dances around with happiness*

What I wanted to do was to give them so reversals—to have her being the one pursuing and flustering and have him being all “WHAT WHAT WHAT?” So I’m glad that worked for you!

AND THAT WAS EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED YOU TO THINK OF! THAT SCENE! Also, when she gives him the amulet and looks up at him with those enormous eyes. And his death scene. Basically all those scenes where he’s blown away by her and her eyes are GINORMOUS AND FULL OF EMOTION. FAVORITE.

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[identity profile] angearia.livejournal.com - 2011-01-20 16:18 (UTC) - Expand

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[identity profile] angearia.livejournal.com - 2011-01-20 16:31 (UTC) - Expand

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[identity profile] angearia.livejournal.com - 2011-01-20 16:36 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] muneca-brava.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 04:47 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't read the comics but I don't even care, this was adorable! I know just enough about them to know what's going on, and the spuffyness speaks for itself.

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 04:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww! Thank you! That's lovely to hear, and I'm very pleased you enjoyed it despite your lack of comics knowledge. To be honestly, I've only read like the last five or six installments, so that's probably got a great deal to do with it. :D

[identity profile] francy-m79.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 05:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww, that was so cute! *Spuffy heart expands*

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 05:08 pm (UTC)(link)
They're the most precious, aren't they? Thanks!

[identity profile] louise39.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 05:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Now she lets the smile steal slowly across her face. “It’s a date, then.”

Ah, hope...

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 05:13 pm (UTC)(link)
The theme of the story! :D
ext_7259: (Default)

[identity profile] moscow-watcher.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 05:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Utterly adorable.


Now she lets the smile steal slowly across her face. “It’s a date, then.”

It’s a good thing he isn’t smoking right now or he’d probably be choking. “Uh. Yeah. A…date.” He nearly stumbles over the word.


Heeee! That's my couple!

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you!

Yay for our ship!

[identity profile] blackfrancine.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 05:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh my goodness! This is so adorable! I was all clenched with glee and love while reading this. I just... I love it. I love that she's twisting her shirt sleeve. And that she pops the p in "yup." And that Spike goes all still except for his eyebrows. That's so perfect. Just like in First Date, when he says "Is that right? What about the principal?" Or in Gift when she invites him in. Or in Touched when she asks him to lay next to her! Gah! My heart just exploded again.

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 05:44 pm (UTC)(link)
UM YES THOSE WERE ALL IN MY MIND WHILE I WAS WRITING THIS. THESE TWO I JUST LOVE THEM SO MUCH MY HEART MIGHT EXPLODE!

I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Yay yay yay! And yay for you loving all the little details I love! Yay!

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[identity profile] angearia.livejournal.com - 2011-01-20 18:07 (UTC) - Expand

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[identity profile] angearia.livejournal.com - 2011-01-20 18:37 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] laeria.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 06:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Brilliant! I'm not touching the comics with a ten-foot broomstick, but I like your posts on then (hee, you're such a rebel) and I really enjoyed this. Especially Buffy trying to be subtle. Also, Spike trying to be subtle. They both fail at it so delightfully. (Also, Spike-hair, gnyh!)

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 06:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay! Glad you liked it anyways. Subtle? These two? NEVAH! They really do fail at it miserably, don't think? It's why we love them! *huggles them both*

[identity profile] ladyofthelog.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 06:25 pm (UTC)(link)
I AM SO HAPPY FOR THIS FIC

I WANT TO HUG IT AND YOU AND THE WORLD

SO HOPEFUL AND AWWWWWWWWWWW I JUST LOVE IT AND CAN'T STOP CAPSLOCKING SO YOU KNOW MY LOVE IS ~TRUE~

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 06:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I LOVE YOUR CAPSLOCK LOVE! HUGS FOR EVERYONE! YAY FOR HAPPINESS!

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[identity profile] angearia.livejournal.com - 2011-01-20 18:39 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] pocochina.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 07:08 pm (UTC)(link)
ee! ♥

“Got any ideas about who you’d want to…invite in?”

OH BLONDIE-BEAR.

Nothing you have to keep alive.

heh.

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)


SHE TEASES HIM AND CALLS HIM BLONDIE-BEAR. I LOVE THEM!

[identity profile] ellievanna.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 07:09 pm (UTC)(link)
I love this so much, and from what I've read of S8 it's so them at this point. Everything about it is absolutely in character, from the dialog to the body language and the thoughts. It definitely made my day. ♥

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 07:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, thank you so much! That's so lovely to hear!

[identity profile] urania-calliope.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 07:11 pm (UTC)(link)
!!! Ooooh this was just so lovely! LOVED IT! This is the first Spuffy 'fic in a while I have just SQUEED over!

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay exclamation points! I'm absolutely delighted that you squeed!

[identity profile] bobthemole.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 07:13 pm (UTC)(link)
YOU CAN'T STOP IT THERE! THERE HAS TO BE MOAR SO WRITE IT NAO!!!!!!!


I mean, um, please?

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 07:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, you asked so nicely--and with a penguin! I might just have to see what I can do....

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[identity profile] bobthemole.livejournal.com - 2011-01-20 19:26 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] 2maggie2.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 07:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay for sweet S8 Spuffy fic. And it fits!

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 07:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, good! Since I haven't actually read all of the comics, I was basically going off of the last five or six issues. So it's good to know that it fits!

[identity profile] rebcake.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 07:52 pm (UTC)(link)
It would just be nice to have someone—no, not someone. Him--to patrol with who she knows can keep up with her banter-wise and someone to fight over the remote and the covers with, and okay, someone she knows she has great sex with that, at most, destroys a bed or a table or something—not all life in this dimension.

Awww. Not someone. Him. That's the stuff, Buffy!

Wonderful and happy-making, Lauren. Carry on!

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 08:07 pm (UTC)(link)
It can't be about just someone. That will never work. It's got to be about him. :D

Thanks so much! I'm thrilled that you liked it!

[identity profile] evangelin1202.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 08:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Perfect! This is officially my new canon. *g*

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 08:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, yay! What a lovely compliment!

[identity profile] kudagirl.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 10:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Here from a rec from [livejournal.com profile] angearia. This is just so sweet and so Spuffy. Love how careful they are being about not trying to be obvious. Baby steps since both of them have been hurt so badly. It's lovely.

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 11:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw, thank you! I've always thought they could be very good to each other if they just took their time.
ext_412536: (happy (claire) sfu)

[identity profile] thevera.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 10:55 pm (UTC)(link)
My kids. My kids.

This fills my heart with so much joy. ♥

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 11:53 pm (UTC)(link)
I KNOW! THESE KIDS! HOW I LOVE THEM!

I'm so glad you liked it! ♥

[identity profile] seapealsh.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
I just love this. Picturing Spike's face after Buffy said "it's a date". It's making me smile. Thanks!

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 11:53 pm (UTC)(link)
You're so welcome, and thank you!

[identity profile] slaymesoftly.livejournal.com 2011-01-20 11:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Awesome story of awesomeness. *sigh*

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-01-21 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, I earned a happy sigh! *is pleased*

[identity profile] norwie2010.livejournal.com 2011-01-21 12:02 am (UTC)(link)
Absolutely adorable! Ms. Pavlichenko smiles at You. :)

[identity profile] ever-neutral.livejournal.com 2011-01-21 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
OH MY GOD LAUREN. VOMITINGRAINBOWS.GIF

This fic is everything that is good and hopeful in the world. I love Buffy's nervousness and Spike's awkwardness and THEY MAKE ME VOMIT RAINBOWS. I LOVE THIS. THANK YOU. (And I think it fits the prompt great! It's all about the ~dance~)

She’d never, ever have admitted it, but it always looked a lot better after it was ruffled, especially by her fingers. For all he’s been treating the heck out of it for decades, his hair’s a lot softer than it looks.

HAHAHAH I LOVE THAT YOU PUT THIS IN.

♥ ♥ ♥

[identity profile] eilowyn.livejournal.com 2011-01-21 01:32 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, Lauren. Oh Lauren! OH LAUREN!! This is perfect, this is perfection. This is why I have hope for season 9. This is wonderful little details mixed with spot-on character interaction. This is Buffy in the exact place she is in the comics, where the characterization is so right that I have to keep on italicizing things.

Oh, honey, this is my happy place! FOUR FOR YOU, GLEN COCO LAUREN! YOU GO GLEN COCO LAUREN!

[identity profile] misskittydu34.livejournal.com 2011-01-21 03:54 am (UTC)(link)
This is SO adorable and perfect ! ♥ Thanks for writing this !

[identity profile] diamondtook862.livejournal.com 2011-01-21 04:12 am (UTC)(link)
Yay! Loverly, just loverly.

You've made me want to get back to work on my SS fic for this round, which is all about the tentatives and almosts (early AU season 7), and that's just where my Spuffy heart lives.

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