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.
"You messed up my bloody head, you tosser!" Spike cursed as he turned around to lay a blow but unfortunate, the vampires were smarter than they looked. They read the situation pretty swiftly and they knew what Nicolas's weakness was. Grabbing Spike from behind in a tighter hold, one of the vampires held him in front like a human shield, the others not far back. Spike struggled in the hold, trying to break away by stomping on the arseholes feet but then he felt a set of fangs against his neck and he stopped. Oh God, this was perfect.
"Get rid of the fireball and back away or we'll kill your little friend."
"Oi, little? Fuck off." Spike exhaled slowly, not liking the way those teeth felt against his neck. Great, his first chance to have a go at vampires and he was a bloody hostage. This was so not going how he wanted tonight to go.
At least Spike still had a lot of spirit, because there was blood on his forehead and Nicolas had no way of telling if the wound was serious or even if it was his. Nicolas licked his lips with a quick flick of his tongue and slowly lowered his hands, the flames evaporating into nothing. Brilliant. What now? Three against one weren't even good odds if they didn't have a hostage. He should have known Spike wouldn't listen, he should have known better than to bring him here.
"You should let him go. You're so not ready for the trouble that will come your way if you don't."
Oh that was so it. Spike took a chance and swung his arm back, catching the one that was holding him right in the balls. Undead or not, that was always the worse spot to hit. When the vampire staggered back in pain, Spike yanked the stake from his pocket and swiftly jammed it into the vampire's chest.
Now, that would have been way cooler if he hadn't of been just a few inches to the right more than he needed and thus had missed the heart. "What?!" The vampire looked down at his chest and blinked a few times, probably as stunned as Spike that it hadn't worked. And then he proceeded to punch Spike once again in the face, hard enough that Spike dropped to the ground. Still, at least he was out of the way? That counted as a victory.
Victory, Nicolas wasn't sure about that. But at least it was an opportunity and not one he intended to waste. He jumped forward to actually put himself between the vampires and Spike, engulfing one of them in flames that were a lot more impressive than what he normally used.
It must have been the tension, hell, angry fear inside him at the talk of Spike being tortured, not only bringing up memories but also just worry for Spike, because Nicolas had promised him he'd keep him safe, he was his to keep safe and he'd not let him be taken, not even if he had to risk everything to make that happen. Turning a vampire into an undead torch was definitely proof of his conviction and he wasted no time with staking the other one, who was trying to make a run of it. Only the one who'd held Spike left and that was a fight. The oldest, the leader and the one Nicolas was most furious with.
Maybe it really was luck more than anything that he ultimately ended up on top, his stake entering the vampire's chest. He had hit his heart, he was dust within the second. It left Nicolas on a lot of dust and coughing. He hated when he breathed in vampire.
"How the fuck did I miss the heart? You two make it look so bloody easy." Spike lay on the floor, his head hurt and the world was a little spinny right now but nothing he couldn't handle. It was a bit like when he had too much to drink and reached that point in the night when he just had to lie down and be in pain. And here he was, doing just that. He lifted a hand and covered his eyes, exhaling in frustration. "I'm fine, just pissed off. I know, I know, you don't have to tell me off, I know I fucked it up."
He knew he'd been a total idiot and if Buffy had been here, she would have kicked his arse now but hell, what was he supposed to do? Stand on the sideline uselessly? No, he couldn't do that. He wasn't that kind of person, experience or not, he had to join in.
"But I knew those girls. Didn't like 'em much but I knew them. See their mates at school every day and one of their mom's teaches at school. How could I ever look any of them in the eye if I stood there and didn't help? Had to save the girls, it's how it is." And at least he did that almost competently. Pain in his head aside, he regretted nothing.
Nicolas rubbed his own face and ended up crawling over, until he was on his knees next to Spike. "I've missed the heart before. It happens." It could cost a life, but still. Accidents happened. There were no guarantees. Nicolas was careful when he inspected Spike's head, relieved to see that the blood seemed to just come from a surface wound. Nothing too bad, even if he was dazed right now.
He could kick his ass, scream at him, all of that, but he recognized too much of himself in Spike to think that it would be all that successful. So instead he just looked down at him and nodded. "I understand. I do. But I promised you I'd keep them safe. I'd rather die than ever break a promise I make to you. You got that?"
"How does that make me feel any better? I mean that's just bloody great, you either keep your promise or die trying and meanwhile I just watch? Fantastic. Look, mate, I know you're pissed but I'm never just going to stand back and watch. And if that means I can't come with you any more then fine but I can't. I'm not that guy." Spike looked at Nicolas and instantly regretted it. Looking into his eyes was such a fatal error, it always hit him right where it hurt. Why didn't Nicolas notice him? Or want him? Was it because he was a bloody awful hunter? Because he was sure he could change that. With a slight sigh, Spike pulled himself upright and wiped the blood off his head, trying to make himself presentable.
"I guess we should head back, huh? Or I can. You can stay out but I'm guessing now is a good time to retreat." He didn't want to get Nicki into trouble with Buffy, that was the last thing in the world he wanted. Rubbing his head, he closed his eyes and huffed a little. "How pissed off are you that I disobeyed then?"
"I'm not pissed off. Not at you. I wish I could have killed those vampires slower for threatening you." Wait. Did that sound creepy? Yes, it definitely did. Normal people didn't reference torture as a positive thing, but fuck it. They shouldn't have hurt Spike, they definitely shouldn't have threatened him. Nicolas looked at Spike and sighed, shaking his head.
"It wouldn't be you if you'd listened. Or if you wouldn't do what you can to take save those girls. It was stupid, because it could have gone even worse than it did." Carefully he touched the bit of blood he could still see, looking right at Spike. He didn't seem too panicked this time, at least that was something. "I knew what I was getting into when I took you along, Spike. This is why I do this. Not because I like killing monsters and pulling cool moves, but because I can't stand seeing people like those girls hurt. That's what makes the risk worth it."
Well, that was a creepy declaration but whatever, Spike chose to take it as romantic, accident or not. Once he was carefully and comfortably on his feet, Spike ruffled his head to get any dried blood out of it and adjusted his coat, double-checking for rips or tears. "Well, thanks, I'd do the same for you if I could. And it's only a matter of time, mate, sooner or later I'll do and you'll bloody well see just how strong I can be. I'm just out of my element is all."
Spike shoved his hands in his pockets and started to leave the crypt, it was way too creepy in there to just hang about. "I'm sorry I'm an idiot but I'll always be an idiot." Spike shrugged a little, turning around so he could shoot Nicolas a playful smile. "You'll learn to love it. Trust me. Sooner or later, you'll be adoring me because Nicki, I'm not going anywhere until I dust at least half the blighters you have."
"I already adore you, Spike." It was a true enough statement, even if a moment later he had to hurry a step forward and grab Spike by the lapels of his coat to keep him from falling over. Maybe he was meant to discourage Spike from taking up this path. He probably should. But Nicolas had been there. He'd been a victim and he'd wanted to do all he could to never be one again and to help others. Who was he to deny Spike the same? Even if he'd much rather see him far away from danger. "But you're on, isn't that how you say it? You're on. We'll see how long it takes you to catch up."
"That's how it's said," Spike snorted in amusement and tried to right himself, annoyed that he was walking like a total prat right now but his head did hurt still. Nothing like a good bash to the brain to get his head rattled. Feeling vastly more content now Nicolas 'adored' him, he threw his arm around Nicolas's shoulder. Partially for support, partially as an excuse to touch him. But hey, friendly touch, he could get away with that without being read into. "So fancy coming home to mine after all this action and helping me pack? I was supposed to be done tonight but I can't be arsed now. And I also feel kind of sick."
"You would. You're lucky you have a hard head or you might have a concussion." Nicolas wrapped his arm around Spike's waist and held him close that way, just in case he might fall over. A definite possibility, judging by how he was walking right now.
"Sure, I can help a little. Means I get to check out at all your things, eh?" Not really how he should be spending his time, but he supposed he could be excused for one evening spent with a friend instead of practising. "Hey, are you going to that school dance next week?"
"I don't have any decent stuff, you know? I left most of it behind in London, didn't fancy shipping it all. I got my clothes, my smokes and a few bits and pieces. Won't take long if you're up for it." Of course odds of Spike collapsing as soon as he came into his room were also likely but he'd try to stay awake for Nicki, he didn't fancy sleeping the first time the other was in his bedroom. Such a waste of a great opportunity too.
"School dance? Eh. I think so." Harmony had yelled at him this week to hurry up and get a tux that matched her dress but there was no way that he was both shopping for formal wear or going with her. "Depends if I can stand a night with Harmony following me around or not. I may show if I've got nothing better going on."
"Yeah. Buffy just wants me to go in case she can't talk Angel into it, which is immensely flattering. No idea what I'd even do there." Dance, he supposed, but it wasn't as if he really liked dancing the way the people at school did. But Buffy was his friend and he knew what it'd mean for her to have no one or, at least, as she put it, no one decent. Nicolas might not be in with the popular kids, but that was more his lack of interest in them rather than anything else. The only popular people he talked to were Cordelia and Spike, both for obvious reasons.
But he was in a band, French, good-looking and with an accent, of course he was an acceptable partner. "Things not going so well with Harmony?"
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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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"Get rid of the fireball and back away or we'll kill your little friend."
"Oi, little? Fuck off." Spike exhaled slowly, not liking the way those teeth felt against his neck. Great, his first chance to have a go at vampires and he was a bloody hostage. This was so not going how he wanted tonight to go.
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"You should let him go. You're so not ready for the trouble that will come your way if you don't."
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Oh that was so it. Spike took a chance and swung his arm back, catching the one that was holding him right in the balls. Undead or not, that was always the worse spot to hit. When the vampire staggered back in pain, Spike yanked the stake from his pocket and swiftly jammed it into the vampire's chest.
Now, that would have been way cooler if he hadn't of been just a few inches to the right more than he needed and thus had missed the heart. "What?!" The vampire looked down at his chest and blinked a few times, probably as stunned as Spike that it hadn't worked. And then he proceeded to punch Spike once again in the face, hard enough that Spike dropped to the ground. Still, at least he was out of the way? That counted as a victory.
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It must have been the tension, hell, angry fear inside him at the talk of Spike being tortured, not only bringing up memories but also just worry for Spike, because Nicolas had promised him he'd keep him safe, he was his to keep safe and he'd not let him be taken, not even if he had to risk everything to make that happen. Turning a vampire into an undead torch was definitely proof of his conviction and he wasted no time with staking the other one, who was trying to make a run of it. Only the one who'd held Spike left and that was a fight. The oldest, the leader and the one Nicolas was most furious with.
Maybe it really was luck more than anything that he ultimately ended up on top, his stake entering the vampire's chest. He had hit his heart, he was dust within the second. It left Nicolas on a lot of dust and coughing. He hated when he breathed in vampire.
"Are you hurt?" Priorities.
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He knew he'd been a total idiot and if Buffy had been here, she would have kicked his arse now but hell, what was he supposed to do? Stand on the sideline uselessly? No, he couldn't do that. He wasn't that kind of person, experience or not, he had to join in.
"But I knew those girls. Didn't like 'em much but I knew them. See their mates at school every day and one of their mom's teaches at school. How could I ever look any of them in the eye if I stood there and didn't help? Had to save the girls, it's how it is." And at least he did that almost competently. Pain in his head aside, he regretted nothing.
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He could kick his ass, scream at him, all of that, but he recognized too much of himself in Spike to think that it would be all that successful. So instead he just looked down at him and nodded. "I understand. I do. But I promised you I'd keep them safe. I'd rather die than ever break a promise I make to you. You got that?"
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"I guess we should head back, huh? Or I can. You can stay out but I'm guessing now is a good time to retreat." He didn't want to get Nicki into trouble with Buffy, that was the last thing in the world he wanted. Rubbing his head, he closed his eyes and huffed a little. "How pissed off are you that I disobeyed then?"
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"It wouldn't be you if you'd listened. Or if you wouldn't do what you can to take save those girls. It was stupid, because it could have gone even worse than it did." Carefully he touched the bit of blood he could still see, looking right at Spike. He didn't seem too panicked this time, at least that was something. "I knew what I was getting into when I took you along, Spike. This is why I do this. Not because I like killing monsters and pulling cool moves, but because I can't stand seeing people like those girls hurt. That's what makes the risk worth it."
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Spike shoved his hands in his pockets and started to leave the crypt, it was way too creepy in there to just hang about. "I'm sorry I'm an idiot but I'll always be an idiot." Spike shrugged a little, turning around so he could shoot Nicolas a playful smile. "You'll learn to love it. Trust me. Sooner or later, you'll be adoring me because Nicki, I'm not going anywhere until I dust at least half the blighters you have."
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"Sure, I can help a little. Means I get to check out at all your things, eh?" Not really how he should be spending his time, but he supposed he could be excused for one evening spent with a friend instead of practising. "Hey, are you going to that school dance next week?"
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"School dance? Eh. I think so." Harmony had yelled at him this week to hurry up and get a tux that matched her dress but there was no way that he was both shopping for formal wear or going with her. "Depends if I can stand a night with Harmony following me around or not. I may show if I've got nothing better going on."
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But he was in a band, French, good-looking and with an accent, of course he was an acceptable partner. "Things not going so well with Harmony?"
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