[James Norrington had learned a lot of useful things about Spike. He learned just how to weaken him, just how to niggle at him, and he gained a glimpse at what the man valued. He did not doubt that each of these points of data would prove to be assets, but more important than any of them was the tip, however abstract, into what Spike feared. Later he would nurse his damaged face with this knowledge. He had needed to know. He had needed to know in order to defend the people who he loved from this man. A vampire.
Norrington was fast. Fast enough to dodge a punch thrown by most people. Buffy Summers was faster. The admiral saved his cheek at the cost of his nose and the socket of his left eye. That tiny fist hit him like a thunderclap and he staggered back in shock. The momentum of his withdrawl was already carrying him, but his legs gave out and he dropped to one knee. He did not look up, but choked out a burst of laughter.]
Thank you, Spike.
[He spat the name, and with it, blood. Already his nose was bleeding. Over his lips, and backward, into his mouth. He did not dare investigate it with his fingers.]
no subject
Norrington was fast. Fast enough to dodge a punch thrown by most people. Buffy Summers was faster. The admiral saved his cheek at the cost of his nose and the socket of his left eye. That tiny fist hit him like a thunderclap and he staggered back in shock. The momentum of his withdrawl was already carrying him, but his legs gave out and he dropped to one knee. He did not look up, but choked out a burst of laughter.]
Thank you, Spike.
[He spat the name, and with it, blood. Already his nose was bleeding. Over his lips, and backward, into his mouth. He did not dare investigate it with his fingers.]