"Yeah, pretty much." Nicolas straightened back up and took a step closer to Spike, leaning in to whisper conspiratorially. "On slow nights I sometimes draw a protective circle and sit somewhere writing music or practising. Don't tell your uncle, he'd unleash his passive aggressive wrath.
But tonight he evidently hadn't brought an instrument or even just something to write. Everything else was quite enough to carry. He glanced at Spike and reached out to pull at the chains he could see vanishing into his shirt, just to make sure that he was indeed wearing the necklaces that could do a decent job of keeping him at least a bit safer.
"It might be a slower night this time. You never really know, but at least we don't think anything big is lurking, since Buffy took out the Master."
Whenever Nicolas got that close, Spike felt his stomach flutter away excitedly. He could smell the cigarettes on his breath and he could feel the warmth radiating from him. All he wanted to do was lean in and kiss him but he didn't fancy being rejected and trying to get home safely without upsetting the vampires. "I won't tell him, scouts honour. I don't tell the bastard much if I'm honest, I didn't even bother to tell him about tonight. He'd just worry and I don't fancy dealing with that."
Giles would have wanted to tag along and keep him safe and all Spike wanted was, well, Nicolas. Nicolas alone and all to himself. It felt nice.
"S'all right, we can kill the time." Spike pulled himself up onto a grave and balanced on it carefully so he could sit there, pulling out his pack of cigarettes and putting one in his mouth, offering the others out to Nicki. "So how many vamps have you dusted?"
"Around sixty. Seventy. Something like that. And I've twenty-four demon kills. They tend to be a bigger deal." Nicolas took a cigarette and waited for Spike to light it, turning to the side so he could have a better view of their surroundings. He hoped there'd be at least some action, so Spike wouldn't feel as if this was a complete waste, but obviously he also didn't want things to get out of control. A delicate balance when bringing a civilian along.
"I've done most of this since reaching Sunnydale. I don't think there's a place in the world with more demonic activity." Which made sense, between the slayer's presence and - obviously - the Hellmouth. There was a reason Nicolas had ended up here.
"Makes sense only dead things would want to be here. Sunnydale is such a dump compared to London, there's literally one place to go and even there, it's not that cool." Spike said as if he ever went out in London, which often he didn't. He was too young for most clubs and he rarely left the house without his mother unless it was to go to school but hell, he didn't have to tell Nicki that. He could pretend he was cooler, no one had seen him before he came here, no one knew what a dork he was.
"So sixty-seventy dead because of you? Huh. Think of all the lives you saved, plenty of good karma there. I mean you could work as a copper or a fire fighter and never hit those kind of numbers," Spike pointed out as he took a long drag from his cigarette. "Think you could ever get paid for it?"
Seemed like a pretty solid idea, charge people for saving their lives, he'd never have to invest in a career or even bother with school.
"You're telling me. I miss Paris." Not that he ever intended to return there, at least not for a long time to come, but for a while there, he had felt truly alive. Perhaps for the first time in his life. Alive and in love. No wonder that it felt as if it had been in another life. It didn't seem as if it could have happened to him, but life had been different before Lestat had vanished, before his world had been torn apart.
"I have a high number. Buffy's is higher, I'd have to compare with Angel some time. Well. Good number, that is, if we count Angel before he got his soul... I really don't want to know that number." Nicolas blew out some smoke and laughed, shaking his head. "Nah. Saving the world and saving people, pretty thankless job. Don't think I'll ever have much income."
"I don't know, Rupert gets paid for it so there's clearly a way." Spike pointed out with a playful smile, shrugging his shoulders a little and exhaling smoke into the air, curious as to what it took exactly to go from saving the world as a hobby to saving the world and being paid handsomely. Given where they lived, all the first editions he had and how Giles never lacked money, it was obvious that watchers got a pretty good pay. "I dunno, I don't think I could do it. Not for all my life. I like to be paid for my work, you know? I'd stop and charge for saving people."
Spike wasn't a big fan of free labour, being selfless, saving the day or doing anything that matters. As far as he was concerned, he didn't fancy the idea of doing this forever. He was just glad he wasn't Buffy, apparently she was doomed to do this kind of bullshit forever. "It's not much tonight, is it? Sod all to do. All the dead are staying dead tonight. Not that I'm complaining, it's just true."
"There is, if you want to be a watcher. Not really my kinda gig. Who knows, if I live past thirty. Or to twenty-five." Given Nicolas' smile, he clearly didn't think these options all that likely. "But you're better off doing just about anything else. Except for music of course, that's about as profitable." Clearly he made excellent life choices. "What would you like to be doing?"
Spike's words made Nicolas frown. Seriously, what a beginner. "Don't you go saying things like that. You're bound to..." Ah. Nicolas reached out to put his finger against Spike's lips, indicating that he should be quiet. Then he turned his back to him and a few seconds later, it was two against one, with two vampires jumping him at once.
However, it was only moments before one of them was dust and while the second one took longer, that was mostly because he might be showing off, just a bit. Nicolas actually ended him once he'd thrown him down on the ground and then sent fire ball straight to his chest. Hell yeah.
"Me? Dunno." Spike kind of figured he could handle all the awkward stuff later. Love, career, working out his life. Until then, he had plenty to worry about in the immediate future. Like passing his exams, moving house and finding a way to smoke in his room without anyone noticing. He was thinking candles, air freshener and opening the window a lot. It was possible that it could work but he'd have to be prepared to be cold a lot. Just his bloody luck to go somewhere that bans smoking inside.
With a frown, Spike followed Nicki's line of sight, hoping to his feet and watching as the other dealt with the two stray vampires. It was impressive, he couldn't deny that but hell, it was so easy that it was a little anti-climatic. He was hoping for something more... well, show stopping.
Though the fireball was an amazing touch. Spike pulled himself back into a sitting position and put his cigarette back in his mouth. "So... do you ever accidentally set fire to things or what?"
"Not so far. I've practised a lot, it actually takes concentration, hard to do accidentally." Nicolas crouched down next to Spike, holding his left hand palm up. He looked at it, a small flame gradually appearing. It didn't actually touch his skin, instead dancing a little bit above it. "I used to be terrified of fire. Traumatized, really. I was almost burned alive."
His first night had been as traumatic as could be expected, given the explicit goal had been to break him. But here he was, handling fire. "Fire's destructive, but it's cleansing. Most of the big bads need to be dowsed with fire just so you can be really sure they are gone and stay gone."
"I'm not really sure how the whole thing works but it's cool just don't burn shit down with it, yeah? Buffy did that and look where it got her." Spike watched curiously as held out his hand and watched Nicolas produce the flame, it was nice to have a little heat given the night chill. Though given this was supposed to be winter, it was still pretty warm. Bloody America. "I'm not a massive fan myself but bloody hell, that's remarkable. I don't even get how it works. Is it like what? Just totally magic or do you have lighter fluid stashed up your sleeve?"
What? Who believed in magic? Sounded like a load of bollocks frankly. "So fire good for bad guys but bad for us guys? Got it. Burn the bastards to the ground if you can." Perhaps he should learn how to summon fire. Or, better yet, buy a flame thrower. Seemed like a faster and easier plan.
"It's magic, yeah. But it's more complicated than that if you really want to know the rules and what not. Willow is good at explaining it. But Willow is pretty amazing on the whole, definitely more potential than I've ever had." Not that he was that concerned, he saw himself as more of a fighter than a magic user. Magic was good when he could use it for fighting. Further studies on it, well. So far it had rarely really caught his interest.
Nicolas turned his hand and let the flame vanish, then pulled up his sleeve to show the mark he'd etched into his skin. "I'm experimenting with this. Enhancing the magic. Maybe I'll actually get something like that tattooed some day."
Spike rolled his eyes and pulled up his sleeve as well, a playful smile on his face as he presented a little scar he had on his arm. "I got a burn mark from when I accidentally dropped my match on my shirt and it caught fire, burnt my arm, had to go into hospital. Very hardcore," he was joking of course but he didn't have much else to add to a conversation on magic outside of fiction and what he'd learned from taking magic mushrooms. It was something new, exciting and he had no idea how he was ever going to keep on top of all he was learning. All the input he had was kind of underwhelming so he might as well ride it as a joke so he had something to say to Nicki instead of staring at him like a moron.
"So my uncle can do this magic stuff too? Huh." It was annoying he'd never said before, especially given that he probably could have used magic a few times in his life. "Could magic be used to pack a load of boxes or what? Because I don't fancy doing it. Can we cheat?"
"Not really. Besides, unfortunately all the really powerful witches and warlocks tend to preach about not using magic for mundane tasks. Only for the greater good, all of that. Why do you think I live in a place the size of a shoe box?" Nicolas pulled his sleeve back down and put his hand on Spike's shoulder for just a few moment, hoping that his touch might be reassuring. "I know it's a lot, but really we just need to figure out how best to fight. At least that's how Buffy and I see it."
Oh God, he was getting a pity shoulder touch and that look, that one Nicolas gave him whenever he thought Spike was lost or scared. Fuck, he didn't want that. He swiftly shrugged Nicolas's hand off and put his cigarette back in his mouth. The worst thing about Buffy and, to a degree, Nicolas, was that they had this whole annoying attitude about slaying and they always spoke to him like he was in the wrong place and just sort of unable to cope with what they did. Fuck that. "Whatever, it's not that much. I mean if this is what you two do every night, it's not much." Yes, Spike had already leapt to the defensive but he didn't want Nicki talking to him like Buffy did or he'd never have a shot at proving himself, he'd just end up one of those pathetic cheerleaders like Xander or Cordelia. God no, he wasn't doing that. "Good for you and Buffy and all that but I don't give a stuff personally. Doesn't seem that difficult."
Ah. He'd have to remember not to touch Spike. It wasn't as if he could know for sure, but boys tended to get paranoid once they knew about the gay thing. Nicolas turned with a shrug. "It's not. Not really. It's just taking a proactive approach to surviving."
That said he readied his crossbow, muttering something under his breath to help him locate... Ha. He turned on his heels, eyes meeting Spike's for just a second. "Hold still."
No time to see whether his order would be followed, the arrow was already released, inches above Spike's head and hitting a vampire in hiding right in the chest. Another one bites the dust, so to say.
Spike ducked his head regardless and then looked back as the vampire exploded into dust, frowning slight as it just disappeared into nothing. That was it? That was all this job was? Didn't seem so hard. He did harder missions on his playstation than this. He turned around and raised an eyebrow at Nicolas, unsure what to make of this whole mess. "Next time, you could explain or give a heads up. What if I had moved the wrong way? Seriously, Rambo, give a bloke some warning."
Yes the whole cool badass lone hunter thing was a sexy vibe but that was no excuse for a bloke to shoot an arrow over his head without a heads up! He reached up to check his head in case it had skimmed him, it hadn't but he still didn't like it. He vastly preferred stakes, hand to hand, stuff that wasn't too close to him.
"It's no good being badass if you kill me because then Buffy will kill you and it'll be very embarrassing for all of us. Except me. I'll be dead."
"Buffy actually threatened me for today. I think she said something along the lines of: He's insufferable, but if you let anything happen to him, I'll make you suffer." Nothing more entertaining than these two reluctant siblings. Nicolas rolled his eyes at Spike's protests. He'd given him a warning, what else was he expecting? No time to waste and risk letting something actually get him.
"These three all came from the same direction. I should check it out." Nicolas hesitated. No way of telling what he might find. "Are you coming or do you want me to take you home first?"
"Why would I need to go home?" Spike protested as he hopped off the grave and started to move ahead so he didn't get dismissed and sent home. Fuck that shit, he came out for a reason and he wasn't about to let Buffy ruin that or Nicolas coddle him. Nothing was worse than when people acted like he couldn't handle himself. He could handle himself plenty, he was fine, he didn't need people worrying about him all the time. Hell, he even took one of those wooden pointy things with him just in case.
"And she'd just worried Rupert will be mad at her if she gets me killed, not because we're siblings. She doesn't much care for me and it's the same here," Spike found her annoying and she found him a massive pain. Together, they got on each others nerves. "Eh, whatever keeps me alive."
"Sounds like siblings to me." Fine, it was just fun to tease them both, Nicolas didn't bother resisting. He did however jog a few steps until he was at least on Spike's level, putting a finger to his own lips this time. "Keep it down. Might be a blood feast."
What was a blood feast? Seemed like the obvious question here, if also one that came with a very obvious and gruesome answer. Nicolas wasn't surprised when they came upon an open crypt soon, light shining inside. He made sure they were quiet when they moved closer, holding Spike back once they could peek inside.
Two girls from what he could see, all dressed up and tied up. Bloody vampires with their sense for dramatics. There might be more victims out of view, but also more vampires. Damn, what a night to be out on patrol alone. Spike hardly counted. He'd need a plan and quickly.
Well shit. Spike wasn't sure what exactly was going on, it was a confusing thing he had never seen before in his life, not often did people have 'blood feasts' where he came from. This was new, this was different and hell, it was terrifying. But those girls, they looked so scared. Slipped his hand hand into his pocket and grabbed his stake, glaring ahead at those bastards. He knew Nicki didn't consider him much help but he was prepared to try.
He didn't fancy the idea of being the reason some people died. He wasn't that weak anyway, he threw a mean punch, he wasn't totally worthless.
"Got a plan yet or what?" Hopefully a plan that Spike could be a part of. He refused to just be dismissed and tossed aside. He could help.
Nicolas glanced at Spike and while he might not know him that well, he definitely knew him well enough to realize that he was going to want to help. There were at least five vampires from what he could see and some of them might be old school, just judging by how they'd tied the girls. Usually new vampires didn't go fancy, at least not like this. More of a tendency to use handcuffs, really.
"The priority is to keep them from using the girls as hostages, so I'll keep them occupied with some fire and take them out as quickly as I can."
What could he tell Spike that he wouldn't just see as complete dismissal? "I want them contained, so you could take care if any of them try to make a run for it."
"Hey, I know that girl. Shit." Spike whispered as he caught sight of one of the girls crying out. She was one of Harmony's mates, bit on the dim side but she didn't exactly deserve to die. She was bloody sixteen, how was this even fair? "Shit, they're young. What kind of arsehole goes after young girls? I mean have some standards, go for a challenge." Spike dismissed with a glare, holding his stake out defensively and preparing to come and help Nicki if he had to. Fuck what he was told to do, he'd do it his own way to keep them both safe if he had to.
"Just don't accidentally burn the girls alive, would you?"
That was one thing he really didn't fancy seeing tonight. It was one thing to see the supernatural but to see innocent people dying? No, he couldn't do it. It wasn't fair to see them suffer like that.
"I'll keep them safe, Spike. I kept you safe too. Just trust me. I promise." Why did Spike always lure out these promises? Nicolas had seen innocent people die, an element of this that he was glad Spike hadn't asked about. He had no idea if these girls would make it, he had no idea if he'd make it. But he noticed the look on Spike's face and something inside him just made him want to tell him that all would be well.
The hell with it. Nicolas didn't hesitate any longer, he just entered the crypt, waiting until the last possible moment to reveal himself. He managed to take one vampire out right away, just as he also cut one of the girls free at least. He didn't watch her run, his focus was on stopping the vampires from following her.
Spike knew that his job was to try and keep the place guarded but he knew that it was never going to go that way. The moment the girl was free, Spike was rushing towards her, he didn't care if he accidentally got set on fire or got in the way, he wasn't going to stay outside when those girls needed help escaping. He grabbed the girl by her arm and shoved her outside, throwing a punch at the bastard vampire attempting to come after her. He didn't bother to check if the vampire was down or not, Spike didn't really have the best instincts when it came to a fight, not when he had people to protect. The urge to help overrode the urge to run.
Instead, he focused on untying the girls. Yes, it was reckless and not what he was told to do but he couldn't just leave some innocent girls to tie. He managed to undo three of them before one of the vampires grabbed him and tried to shove him away. There was just one more to get free, he wasn't about to lose at the final hurdle. He stomped on the bastards foot and elbowed him in the stomach, using that slight moment of freedom to loosen the last girls bindings. Hopefully she could get herself free, he really had to focus on not dying now. At least all the girls were making a fun for it, no one seemed to be giving chase. Yet.
Turning around, he faced the very pissed off vampire he'd just hit and he winced. "Aw shit." He'd never been punched in the face by a vampire before, it really bloody hurt.
Throwing a series of French curses Spike's way really wasn't helping matters, but how could he help it? Nicolas had managed to take out one more vampire, but then they'd gone after Spike, a more chaotic and hence easier target. Nicolas stood near the entrance, facing the vampires. At least that meant that the last of the girls was running past him into freedom. He had a ball of fire at the ready, but the three remaining vampires had judged the situation correctly and made sure to stay behind Spike, who looked obviously dazed from the blows he'd received, only held up by the vampires.
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But tonight he evidently hadn't brought an instrument or even just something to write. Everything else was quite enough to carry. He glanced at Spike and reached out to pull at the chains he could see vanishing into his shirt, just to make sure that he was indeed wearing the necklaces that could do a decent job of keeping him at least a bit safer.
"It might be a slower night this time. You never really know, but at least we don't think anything big is lurking, since Buffy took out the Master."
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Giles would have wanted to tag along and keep him safe and all Spike wanted was, well, Nicolas. Nicolas alone and all to himself. It felt nice.
"S'all right, we can kill the time." Spike pulled himself up onto a grave and balanced on it carefully so he could sit there, pulling out his pack of cigarettes and putting one in his mouth, offering the others out to Nicki. "So how many vamps have you dusted?"
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"I've done most of this since reaching Sunnydale. I don't think there's a place in the world with more demonic activity." Which made sense, between the slayer's presence and - obviously - the Hellmouth. There was a reason Nicolas had ended up here.
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"So sixty-seventy dead because of you? Huh. Think of all the lives you saved, plenty of good karma there. I mean you could work as a copper or a fire fighter and never hit those kind of numbers," Spike pointed out as he took a long drag from his cigarette. "Think you could ever get paid for it?"
Seemed like a pretty solid idea, charge people for saving their lives, he'd never have to invest in a career or even bother with school.
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"I have a high number. Buffy's is higher, I'd have to compare with Angel some time. Well. Good number, that is, if we count Angel before he got his soul... I really don't want to know that number." Nicolas blew out some smoke and laughed, shaking his head. "Nah. Saving the world and saving people, pretty thankless job. Don't think I'll ever have much income."
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Spike wasn't a big fan of free labour, being selfless, saving the day or doing anything that matters. As far as he was concerned, he didn't fancy the idea of doing this forever. He was just glad he wasn't Buffy, apparently she was doomed to do this kind of bullshit forever. "It's not much tonight, is it? Sod all to do. All the dead are staying dead tonight. Not that I'm complaining, it's just true."
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Spike's words made Nicolas frown. Seriously, what a beginner. "Don't you go saying things like that. You're bound to..." Ah. Nicolas reached out to put his finger against Spike's lips, indicating that he should be quiet. Then he turned his back to him and a few seconds later, it was two against one, with two vampires jumping him at once.
However, it was only moments before one of them was dust and while the second one took longer, that was mostly because he might be showing off, just a bit. Nicolas actually ended him once he'd thrown him down on the ground and then sent fire ball straight to his chest. Hell yeah.
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With a frown, Spike followed Nicki's line of sight, hoping to his feet and watching as the other dealt with the two stray vampires. It was impressive, he couldn't deny that but hell, it was so easy that it was a little anti-climatic. He was hoping for something more... well, show stopping.
Though the fireball was an amazing touch. Spike pulled himself back into a sitting position and put his cigarette back in his mouth. "So... do you ever accidentally set fire to things or what?"
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His first night had been as traumatic as could be expected, given the explicit goal had been to break him. But here he was, handling fire. "Fire's destructive, but it's cleansing. Most of the big bads need to be dowsed with fire just so you can be really sure they are gone and stay gone."
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What? Who believed in magic? Sounded like a load of bollocks frankly. "So fire good for bad guys but bad for us guys? Got it. Burn the bastards to the ground if you can." Perhaps he should learn how to summon fire. Or, better yet, buy a flame thrower. Seemed like a faster and easier plan.
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Nicolas turned his hand and let the flame vanish, then pulled up his sleeve to show the mark he'd etched into his skin. "I'm experimenting with this. Enhancing the magic. Maybe I'll actually get something like that tattooed some day."
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"So my uncle can do this magic stuff too? Huh." It was annoying he'd never said before, especially given that he probably could have used magic a few times in his life. "Could magic be used to pack a load of boxes or what? Because I don't fancy doing it. Can we cheat?"
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That said he readied his crossbow, muttering something under his breath to help him locate... Ha. He turned on his heels, eyes meeting Spike's for just a second. "Hold still."
No time to see whether his order would be followed, the arrow was already released, inches above Spike's head and hitting a vampire in hiding right in the chest. Another one bites the dust, so to say.
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Yes the whole cool badass lone hunter thing was a sexy vibe but that was no excuse for a bloke to shoot an arrow over his head without a heads up! He reached up to check his head in case it had skimmed him, it hadn't but he still didn't like it. He vastly preferred stakes, hand to hand, stuff that wasn't too close to him.
"It's no good being badass if you kill me because then Buffy will kill you and it'll be very embarrassing for all of us. Except me. I'll be dead."
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"These three all came from the same direction. I should check it out." Nicolas hesitated. No way of telling what he might find. "Are you coming or do you want me to take you home first?"
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"And she'd just worried Rupert will be mad at her if she gets me killed, not because we're siblings. She doesn't much care for me and it's the same here," Spike found her annoying and she found him a massive pain. Together, they got on each others nerves. "Eh, whatever keeps me alive."
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What was a blood feast? Seemed like the obvious question here, if also one that came with a very obvious and gruesome answer. Nicolas wasn't surprised when they came upon an open crypt soon, light shining inside. He made sure they were quiet when they moved closer, holding Spike back once they could peek inside.
Two girls from what he could see, all dressed up and tied up. Bloody vampires with their sense for dramatics. There might be more victims out of view, but also more vampires. Damn, what a night to be out on patrol alone. Spike hardly counted. He'd need a plan and quickly.
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He didn't fancy the idea of being the reason some people died. He wasn't that weak anyway, he threw a mean punch, he wasn't totally worthless.
"Got a plan yet or what?" Hopefully a plan that Spike could be a part of. He refused to just be dismissed and tossed aside. He could help.
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"The priority is to keep them from using the girls as hostages, so I'll keep them occupied with some fire and take them out as quickly as I can."
What could he tell Spike that he wouldn't just see as complete dismissal? "I want them contained, so you could take care if any of them try to make a run for it."
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"Just don't accidentally burn the girls alive, would you?"
That was one thing he really didn't fancy seeing tonight. It was one thing to see the supernatural but to see innocent people dying? No, he couldn't do it. It wasn't fair to see them suffer like that.
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The hell with it. Nicolas didn't hesitate any longer, he just entered the crypt, waiting until the last possible moment to reveal himself. He managed to take one vampire out right away, just as he also cut one of the girls free at least. He didn't watch her run, his focus was on stopping the vampires from following her.
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Instead, he focused on untying the girls. Yes, it was reckless and not what he was told to do but he couldn't just leave some innocent girls to tie. He managed to undo three of them before one of the vampires grabbed him and tried to shove him away. There was just one more to get free, he wasn't about to lose at the final hurdle. He stomped on the bastards foot and elbowed him in the stomach, using that slight moment of freedom to loosen the last girls bindings. Hopefully she could get herself free, he really had to focus on not dying now. At least all the girls were making a fun for it, no one seemed to be giving chase. Yet.
Turning around, he faced the very pissed off vampire he'd just hit and he winced. "Aw shit." He'd never been punched in the face by a vampire before, it really bloody hurt.
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Damn, Buffy would kill him if she heard of this.
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