Brotherly Advice
Spike. The wrapping around the little finger thereof.
“And that’s why I asked your opinion.” Dawn sat patiently, waiting for Spike’s response.
He got up from the couch and walked to the staircase. “How long you reckon big sis’ll be?” He looked up towards the top floor. “I mean, I’m just takin’ her to the movies. Not like she’s gettin’ ready for the prom.”
“You can’t avoid me that easily. Now come back, sit down, and answer my question.” She stared at him as he came back to the couch, and flopped down.
“Well, in my honest opinion, I think he’s too old for you.” He hated disagreeing with his Bit, but why did she feel obliged to put him in the position in the first place?
“I knew you’d say that.” She leaned forward, ready to make her defense. “But really, I’m the same age Buffy was when she dated...you know. And...you know, was much older. I mean, much, much older.”
“You don’t need to call him ‘you know’. I can hear Angel’s name without havin’ my head explode. Anyway, that’s different. He was a vampire. Is a vampire.”
“Right.” Dawn was prepared for this. “But he was older when he was turned, wasn’t he? So really, we’re much closer in age then Buffy and Angel were, even without the vampire thing.”
“And look how bloody well that turned out.” He narrowed his eyes. “Which is a damned good thing for me, so never mind.” He thought for a moment. “I know. He’s too short for you.”
“Spike!” Dawn was appalled. “That’s so, well, heightist. I mean, do I go around saying that Buffy’s too human for you? That’s just physical stuff. It’s not about the real person inside.” She smiled. “Besides, I think he’s cute.”
“Dawn, you’re so deep you’re shallow. What about all the things he did last year?” He was fighting a losing battle, and he knew it.
“And what about how he helped us when the chips were down? You should have seen him holding that sword. He looked so determined. And he would have gone to jail when he came back, if the police hadn’t wanted to pretend the whole ‘Willow blew a hole in the police station with her mind’ thing never happened.” She patted his leg. “Everyone else has forgiven him. Come on. You know I’m right.”
“Fine. I suppose the little git is harmless enough.” He threw his hands in the air, and slumped in defeat. “I won’t make a fuss if you go out with Jonathan.”
“Good,” she smiled in triumph. “Now help me convince Buffy.”