paradisalogs | you got trouble far behind you

Who: Spike (

huntersdaughter)
What: Taking someone up on an offer
When: After the masquerade
Where: Jo's place in town
Rating: PG

The leaves were falling. It was an inevitable occurrence, but Spike still found a way to be annoyed whenever one landed on his shoulder or flew past the edge of his vision. The fairies that had finally chased him away from the castle only added to his agitation, which seemed to be growing every time he had to deal with more of the same magic trickery bullshit. Couldn't even trust the weather in Paradisa.

Everything was getting to him lately, one way or another. Definitely more than it used to. He hadn't been sleeping well, so that was probably what it was. Regardless of why, all things led to him stalking down the quiet sidewalks to the one place that might let him in. With the seasonal mischief already starting, he decided that he should check up on a few people.

It was as good of an excuse as any.

He arrived at Jo's door and knocked, then froze as a leaf blew gently across his feet. Before she could answer, he made a point in stomping it into the ground.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Despite all the things Jo had done for him, he was still surprised that she would go along with the idea so easily. It was amazing what minimal effort could do.

"Well that's one thing out of the way."

"One thing, huh? What's the other?" To be fair, Jo already assumed that it was going to be something dangerous or stupid. Possibly both.

Ordinarily she'd be right. In fact, most of his ideas fell into one category or the other. So happened that today he'd run out of creativity.

"I'll save it for later." Another thin smile helped push the reassuring aspects of that statement. Then he went back to playing with the mug in his hand. "Good coffee."

"Later?" Jo wasn't sure that was the best plan.

"You realize that if later ends up being too late, I'm gonna be mad."

The subject of coffee obviously wasn't strong enough to pass for a diversion. He should have known Jo was too cunning for that.

"Fair enough," he said with a sigh. "The plan was to wait until it was too late to turn me away, then ask to sleep on your couch."

Jo smiled at him, "Spike, I have a spare room. You can stay there tonight if you need to. You don't have to try and fit on my couch."

He was actually pretty fond of the couch, but if she was going to insist, he wouldn't turn down a bed.

"Thanks. It's starting to get a little too cold out to be roughing it."

"It's not a problem, Spike. Even if I had someone in the guest room, I've got the couch and even if someone was on the couch, I've got blankets and a lot of floorspace."

"I'm surprised you don't, with an offer like that." He didn't want to take advantage, and hadn't for a good stretch, but just the idea of sleeping on a couch is enough to fantasize over compared to the past few weeks.

So he must be feeling better. "I owe you."

"You don't owe me."

Jo smiled at him, "I'm also very selective with who I offer space to."

If that was true, he doesn't know what he did to make that list. Dumb luck, like anything else.

"I'll try not to let that get to my head."

"Good, I'd hate for you to change because of something I did," she replied in earnest.

Jo took another sip of her coffee, glancing to him, "You're okay, right? There's no one trying to kill you, presently?"

He did like to surprise her every now and then by showing up when he wasn't in the middle of a suicidal plot. It kept her on her toes.

"If they are, they're being quiet about it."

"I'll take the quiet," Jo admitted. It was nice for a change and given everything that the castle opts to do she was just grateful for the break.

To be honest, Spike didn't know how to feel about it. Almost like he wasn't sure what to do with himself when there was nobody actively trying to ruin his life. But he knew better than to get used to it, so maybe it didn't matter.

"So everything has been fine with you and the doctor?" Innocent question. He figured he should ask about her life every now and then.

Jo smiled, glad that Spike was taking the option to change the conversation. "It's good. I mean, we both work a lot, but we manage to make time and it's... it's normal, which I think in this place is well-deserved."

"Sounds like a good match." Two people who wok too much to get into trouble. Must be working.

"It has its moments," Jo replied honestly.

"Wanna head to a bar?" Jo asked, because she didn't mind going to the one in the city. It was nice to have a beer brought to her, instead of getting it for herself.

He thought about that suggestion before finishing his coffee. It occurs to him that her doctor boyfriend probably wouldn't appreciate it, but if there's no dinner involved it's not like it could count as a date. So he nods.

"If you feel like it," he agreed. Then he smiled in afterthought. "And you don't mind supporting the competition."

To be honest, Jo wouldn't consider it a date even if there was food involved, which their might be depending on how she felt when she got there. It was nothing against Spike, but even with the castle shenanigans she considered him one of her best friends. That was just how it worked.

"I could use some air and trust me, they aren't the competition." She smirked a bit at that, rising to her feet and moving to grab her jacket.

"No, you've definitely got the location on your side." He smiled and stood up, feeling at least less worn down than he did when he first knocked on her door. Maybe there was a reason he hadn't thought of that brought him there.

"Just no karaoke." A joking afterthought, if also an important one. He'd do a lot of things for Jo, but singing off-key wasn't one of them.

"I wouldn't dream of it," she replied honestly.

Then they headed off to the bar and had some drinks!

you got trouble far behind you

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