No person left behind ((tag fractured_agent))

[slayers_desire]

April was a little nervous, truth be told. She wasn't nervous about spending time with Jack Harkness again, as she considered him a good friend.

She was more nervous about bringing him to the Vampire Village to talk to Spike.

So much time had passed for Jack, since he last saw Spike. But it was a completely different story for Spike. And so much could go wrong.

April just hoped that things worked out...

Comments

[fractured_agent]

"I'm pretty sure most everyone does." Jack can't tell if he's helping, but Spike seems willing to talk, at least.

[buffyverse_npcs]

"He is always going to be in my heart. But, I can't help wonder... if I am missing something."

[fractured_agent]

"Something he was keeping from you?"

[buffyverse_npcs]

"No. Just missing another love in my life."

[fractured_agent]

Ah, and there's the hard part of all this. Jack gently squeezes Spike's hand in sympathy, and perhaps a tinge of regret. Maybe if things were different...

But they're not.

[buffyverse_npcs]

He can tell a lot from that simple squeeze. "April tells me that you have a lot of responsibilities. That you lead a group of people, who are doing good."

[fractured_agent]

"It's kind of a work in progress. But yeah. Defending the Earth from aliens, protecting the future of the planet and its citizens." He knows more about that future than anyone around.

"And... I'm kind of waiting for a friend."

[buffyverse_npcs]

"And your own love?" Spike is very aware of this types of situations.

[fractured_agent]

He's hit the nail on the head. "One-sided. I think. I'd always hoped, but it just never happened."

[buffyverse_npcs]

"I am very familiar with one-sided love, pet." Spike squeezes Jack's hand this time. "I was scared... for this... seeing you again. Feeling those emotions again."

"Aint you scared?"

[fractured_agent]

"I'm scared for a lot of things." Admitting fear isn't seen as weakness for men in Jack's original era, and he sees no shame in saying it out loud. "I don't want to hurt you." He often jokes about breaking hearts wherever he goes, but it's not as funny anymore when it really happens.

[buffyverse_npcs]

"You can't give, when you are thinking about someone else." Spike isn't the type of man to pressure things either.

"You just need to face him. And see how he feels."

((bed))

[fractured_agent]

Jack looks puzzled by that. He's been in plenty of relationships while he's waiting for the Doctor. And even once the Doctor returns, there's a good chance that Jack will continue to get involved with other people.

But he lets it go for now. Either way, he can't stay with Spike. "I intend to. I have a lot of questions that need answered. But it could take a while. Hopefully not another hundred years."

[buffyverse_npcs]

Spike turns slightly, placing his hand on Jack's cheek, with a small, sad smile. He knows that Jack can't stay. But hasn't asked him too either.

"I hope you get your answers soon."

[fractured_agent]

Jack closes his eyes for a moment. He really doesn't want to hurt Spike by rejecting him, but the way things are now... "I don't want you to wait for me. You deserve to be happy."

[buffyverse_npcs]

Spike lets out a low and deep breath. He frowns for several seconds. "You know, usually when people say... don't wait for me, it is because they don't want anything to happen."

"I will wait for people I bloody believe are worth it."

[fractured_agent]

"I've never been very good at happily ever after. I've lost almost everyone I've ever loved, and that won't ever stop." Sometimes he wonders if that's part of his curse, too. To live forever, and be doomed to fall in love with those he'll only know for a short time. "It might not ever work out."

[buffyverse_npcs]

"Then I guess, we should just accept what life has given us, right?"

[fractured_agent]

"Well it wouldn't be your typical long-distance relationship, I'll give you that."

[buffyverse_npcs]

"Times like this I wish I was more like Jash. He never worried about distance.... time... circumstances..."

"He just loved who he loved. And loved them passionately when he was with them."

[fractured_agent]

That sounds pretty familiar to Jack. It's what he has to do, to cope with the reality of his immortality. He needs people, and being alone forever is unbearable. And at the same time, he can never find anyone to grow old with. So he loves them while he has them, and says goodbye when he has no other option.

"It's not a bad way to love someone."

[buffyverse_npcs]

Spike is quiet for the longest time. Searching his soul and heart. He turns, leaning into kiss Jack.

"Not the best, but not the worst."

[fractured_agent]

Jack returns the kiss, regretting that he can't be here to support this gorgeous man more than just right now, but glad that he can help now. And there's something that he's dreading, but he has to know. "I've never asked how long your people live."

[buffyverse_npcs]

"We aren't quite immortal, as there are things that can kill us. Sunlight burns. A stake through the heart destroys us."

"I was born in the 1880s. And managed to avoid being staked this long..."

[fractured_agent]

That makes him far older than most people Jack has fallen for, save for the Doctor. And yet... "You're so young." Younger than Jack, wasn't even born yet when Jack was stranded on Earth.