Work Text:
Authors note at the end if you care. Disclaimer, I don't own or profit from Anita Blake or BtVS etc etc.
‘Never really known any cats. I’ve played poker for kittens. Does that count?’
Spike caught Willow turning towards him in his peripheral vision but stayed focused on Nathaniel.
‘Like a charity game for a cat shelter?’ Nathaniel gave him the softest look, like Spike had said the most adorable thing. This was going to be too much fun.
‘No. The kittens were the stakes. We bet with them.’
The were-leopard looked confused. ‘So what did you do with them if you won?’
Spike gave him a grin that was all teeth.
Willow gave an exasperated groan and threw a napkin at him from where she was sitting with Damien. ‘Spike, did you eat the kittens?’
‘Red, I was part of the Scourge of Europe. We maimed and murdered our way across a continent, and you’re giving me shit for what I may or may not have done to some cats?’
Nathaniel’s voice wavered as he spoke from his place on the floor at Spikes knee. ‘You killed kittens?’
Spike looked into wide, lilac eyes, brimming with sadness and surrendered. ‘No Pet, the kittens went to a farm where they lived long, happy lives killing mice and spiders and the occasional tiny fear demon.’
Damien snorted a laugh while Willow narrowed her eyes at him. ‘I’m choosing to believe that.’
‘Our choices are the only things we truly control, Love.’
Willow opened her mouth to respond, closed it, then graced him with an impressed smile. ‘That was actually really profound.’
He nodded. ‘Read it in a fortune cookie, after I ate this Chinese bint in San Francisco.’
Willow threw a tomato at him. He ducked and it hit the far wall.
‘Hey, she was an Aoyin demon. Totally had it coming.’
That brought her up short. ‘Are those the ones that eat brains?’
He nodded frantically, readying himself to avoid a further barrage of produce.
‘Oh. That’s alright then.’ She looked sheepish. ‘Sorry about the tomato.’
‘S'alright Love, honest mistake.’
He caught the leopard and vampire sharing a look he interpreted as “what have we gotten ourselves into?” and smiled to himself before he began braiding Nathaniel’s hair.
‘So, to get back to your question Pet. You’re the first cat I’ve really spent time with. So far, I’m a big fan.’