Genesis 9- Breakeven

Katherine stared at the mist her breathing created, her back against the wall of the small cafe she had reluctantly agreed to meet with David at. She glanced over her shoulder, seeing him look around the shop from outside the frosted window. She felt her breathing quicken. Her hands shook and her head felt as though it were pulsating.
Katherine quickly shook her head, dug her nails into her palms and stepped inside. David immediately stood with a grin plastered on his face. She walked straight to him, her eyes welled with tears, “I want to break up.”
David stared at her for a moment before laughing, “Kat, what are you talking about? We already were by most definitions.”
“You were right though,” She hung her head, pulling her hands up to her chest, “ I owe you a real break up.”
“I just wanted to see you.”
“And I want to make sure there are no misunderstandings,” Katherine grabbed one of his hands and sighed softly,”Yes I came, but this is not a rekindling and I need to know that you know that David.”
“I didn’t expect us to immediately pick back up,” David took a seat. He still held onto Katherine’s hand. He looked into her tear filled eyes, “And if we can’t pick things up, why are you crying? Wouldn’t that mean you don’t want to let go?”
“It’s because I don’t want to hurt you David,” She rubbed her sleeve against her eyes and took a deep breath, “I don’t love you the way you want me to, but I do still care for you.”
“Maybe it could turn into love though. You never know Katherine,” David edged his seat closer to her, “Maybe you don’t love me now, but you never know how things will change.”
Katherine shook her head, “That what I was trying to do before David. But I never felt right. I never felt the way they describe in books.”
“They’re just books. They’re exaggerated,” She looked into his hazel eyes to see that he too was holding back tears.
“So you’re saying what you’re feeling right now, that this real feeling of lost love, is nothing how it’s described?” Katherine released David’s hand and sat across from him.
David held his head in his hands.
He let out a half-hearted chuckle, “You can’t compare real life to fiction. It could never compare.”
“I don’t want you. I left you and I never felt the longing for you that you’re even now, feeling for me,” She sighed softly, “I don’t want you to stick around if you’re going to keep holding on to this. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“That’s my decision, Kat. I’m the only person that gets to decide what pain I do or do not endure,” His eyes grew distant as he whispered, “And it still hurts either way.”
“It’s Kitty now.”
He rolled his eyes at her. He tapped his fingers against the table and sighed, “You know I originally came into town to interview for an internship?”
“Why are you telling me?”
“I guess I just want to know if we can try to be friends, or if I should turn down this internship and avoid the problem entirely,” He rubbed his eyes with his sleeve before meeting her eyes again.
“Regardless of how things go here, David, you should do whatever is best for your future,” Katherine looked away from him, eyes on the window outside.
“I can’t stand the thought of being in a city where I could randomly run into you and am forced to treat you like a stranger,” He held his head in his hands, his voice began to shake, “My heart couldn’t take it.”
“David, we would never be anything more than friends,” Katherine attempted to plead with him.
“I’d prefer friends to strangers,” He shook his head, “Please just give me a chance to be friends. No promise of anything else. I just want my best friend back.”
Katherine bit down on her lip and stared at her hands in her lap. She took a deep breath of air before meeting his eyes again, “Have you told your parents that you ran into me?”
“After how weird you were acting, I thought it best not to,” He shrugged and tilted his head, “Why?”
“We can try this friends thing,” Katherine nodded, “But you have to promise you won’t tell anyone that you found me.”
“Why?”
“I’m still in witness protection so to speak,” She explained as she began to play with the ends of her hair, “And I was serious about wanting to get away. But if you can promise that you’ll never tell anyone I’m here then we can try to be friends again.”
David grinned, his eyes welled with tears. He reach out his hand towards her, “You have a deal, Kitty. Friends for now.”
“Only friends ever, David,” Katherine sighed and reached her hand to his.
He grinned as he shook her hand, “You never know what the future holds, Kitty.”
…

“Spikes would you quit spacing out?” Katherine cheered. She wrapped her arms around her best friend. Spikes rolled her eyes and twirled Katherine under her arm. The sunlight reflected and danced off of Katherine’s dress as she spun. Spikes laughed as she released her and ran her straight into Nadine.
“I’m so proud of you girls,” Nadine clapped her hands, and pulled both girls into a hug, “Who would have thought the girls who tore apart the courtyard last year would be graduating as best friends.”
“Definitely not me,” Spikes rolled her eyes as she took of the graduation gown. Her eyes scanned the crowd, but she couldn’t seem to find Xander.
“Let’s go get food,” Katherine wrapped her arm around Nadine’s, “I’m absolutely starving. I cannot believe they had us just sitting out there-”
Spikes toned out Katherine as they made their way towards the car. Spikes glanced around again and for a moment she thought she saw him walk behind one of the school buildings. Again she was brought back into the moment my Katherine’s unexpected hug.
“Is there anywhere you wanna go, Spikes?”
“Anything but sushi to be totally honest,” Spikes laughed as Katherine immediately began to pout, “I can do cooked fish. The raw is just too weird.”
Katherine rolled her eyes laughing as she ran to Nadine’s car. Spikes glanced back at where she thought she had seen Xander, but no one was there.
…

Katherine raised an eyebrow as she followed behind Spikes. It had been almost an hour ago since Spikes had barged into her room and begged for Katherine to join her into town, and now here they were on the outskirts of Bridgeport. A chill blew through the air and Katherine crossed her arms over her chest while Spikes adjusted the giant leather jacket she wore.
Katherine opened her mouth to protest against the trip when her eyes fell on the cemetery and she stopped in her tracks. Spikes took a couple more steps before she turned around, “Kitty I know how you are with cemeteries, but please come with me.”
Katherine shook her head and took another step back, “You know I hate these places, Spikes!”
“Please Kitty!” Spikes’s voice carried an unfamiliar strain to it and Katherine took another step forward, “I’ll never ask you to do this again, but this is really important to me right now.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” Katherine muttered under her breath as she walked past Spikes and through the cemetery gate. Spikes caught up to her and began to guide her deeper into the cemetery. Katherine’s breathing became more labored as they walked further in, her hands grew shaky and she could hear her heartbeat ring in her ears.
Katherine was so focused on her discomfort that she nearly tripped over Spikes when she came to an abrupt stop and knelt down. Katherine looked up and saw the tombstone they had stopped in front of. It was a plain unassuming slab of rock with “Takado Rovain” carved into it.
“Hey big brother,” Spikes spoke softly as she gingerly reached out to touch the tombstone, “I’m sorry it’s been so long since my last visit, but I wanted to introduce you to someone very special.”
Spikes smiled up at Katherine and gestured for her to sit beside her. She laughed at Katherine’s concerned face before she took a seat, “This is my best friend in the world, Kitty.”
Katherine wanted to roll her eyes when Spikes turned to smile at her expectantly. She took a deep breath and let out a nervous chuckle, “Hey Takado, that sounds kind of like Taco, anyways I’m Kitty and… well I guess Spikes said most of it.”
She looked up at Spikes as she pulled a flask from her jacket and dumped the contents in front of the tombstone, “It’s hard to get the good kind of rum he liked, but I manage every year for his birthday.”
“Well I hope Takado knows he doesn’t have to worry about you so much now that you have me,” Katherine giggled. She smiled at Spikes, who grinned in response, “I know how hard losing him was, but you’re never going to be alone again Spikes.”
Spikes rest her head on Katherine’s shoulder and sighed softly. She let a few tears fall and curled her fingers around Katherine’s hand, “Thank you. For coming with me, and for all the other amazing things you’ve done.”
“That’s what best friends are for Spikes,” Katherine ran a hand threw her hair, “Human, demon or otherwise.”
Spikes nodded and wrapped her arms around Katherine’s waist. They sat there for a few minutes longer before Katherine sighed with relief as Spikes agreed to them heading home. Katherine paused as they began to walk away. She glanced around briefly, spotting a patch of wildflowers she ran over and picked a few and gently set them down in front of Takado’s grave. Spikes wrapped Katherine in another hug when she caught up and they both quickly exited.

Genesis 8- I'm not an Angel

Katherine opened her eyes, shivering against the cold evening air. She lifted herself from the patio steps and looked towards the door. She rest her hand against her forehead, wincing when the small gesture caused some pain. Her breathing still felt rapid, as if she couldn’t catch her breath.
Katherine jumped at the sound of the front door opening. Spikes looked at her with a raised eyebrow, Damon’s leash in hand, “What the hell are you doing out here, Kitty?"
Katherine’s eyes filled with tears as she stood up, “I ran in to someone. Someone I thought I’d never have to see again.”
Spikes’s face softened as she took a step forward and wrapped her arms around Katherine’s shoulders, “Let’s get inside, Kitty.”
Katherine nodded and crossed her arms over her chest as she stepped into the house. Spikes followed behind her. She whistled after shutting the door. Katherine chuckled as Damon tripped on his way up the stairs, following behind the girls as the walked into the living room.
Katherine took a seat on the nearest couch and Spikes beside her.
“What happened, Kitty?” Spikes questioned. She reached her hand out and brushed a strand of Katherine’s hair behind her ear.
Katherine placed her face in her hands and began quietly mumbling. Spikes stared at her with an eyebrow raised as she went on. Spikes rolled her eyes and lightly poked Katherine’s temple, “You know, I can’t hear you when you mutter like that.”
Katherine looked up, tears in her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh, “Long story short, I ran into my ex.”
Katherine spoke quickly and grabbed one of the couch cushions a buried her face in it. Spikes stared at her with wide eyes. Katherine looked up at her when the silence continued, “What do you look so shocked for?”
“Well when we met you made a comment about how people don’t really interest you romantically. So it’s kind of a shock to discover you did have an interest at some point,” Spikes laughed, her cheeks gaining the smallest hint of red.
“Except I didn’t,” Katherine sighed and sat up straight. Her eyes were on the ceiling above her as she spoke, “David and I had been best friends practically since we were in diapers. When we were 15 he asked me out. He was my best friend and I enjoyed spending time with him so I said yes.”
“I thought you said you weren’t interested?” Spikes questioned, receiving a quick glare from Katherine.
“I didn’t know the difference then. Between romantic love, and friendship. I assumed they’d be easily transferrable or essentially the same,” Katherine sighed again, “But as time went on I realized that we weren’t like most couples. I didn’t like when he would try to kiss me. I didn’t like when he would try to touch me. He was always respectful. He always stopped. But it made me realize that… I wasn’t like everyone else.”
“So… You’re thinking you might be asexual?” Spikes cut in again.
“I didn’t even know what that was. I thought maybe it was because I didn’t love him the way books and movie describe love,” Katherine chuckled and pulled her knees up to her chest, “I know that’s pretty dumb since neither of those are real, but I just assumed that was the problem. So then I thought that… maybe the reason I didn’t love him was because I was lying to him… about what I am.”
Spikes stood from the couch, knocking pillows aside. Damon yelped as he moved away, tucking his tail in between his legs. Jynx jumped on the couches’ armrest and pressed her forehead to Katherine’s arm.
“Kitty… what did you do.” Katherine looked up at her best friend. Her hands were curled into fists, and her arms shook. Katherine’s eyes welled with tears once again.
“I told him that I’m not human. That maybe I didn’t feel the way I was supposed to because I’m a monster,” Katherine covered her eyes, “He pulled me into a hug, and he told me how grateful he was that I had trusted him with something so big. He said it was the soul that made the monster, not the species. He said it was okay that I didn’t love him yet and that he would always love me.”
“Then why did you break up?” Spikes questioned. She moved slowly as she made her way back to the couch. Her brows furrowed with concern as Katherine cried. She couldn’t even speak through the tears. Spikes sat back down on the couch and pulled Katherine’s hands from her face, “Why did you guys break up?”
“I was just a kid. I’d grown up with him my whole life, and I knew he told his parents everything. But they were our neighbors. We spent holidays together, went on vacations together,” Katherine hung her head, her voice quiet, “How the hell was I supposed to know that they were hunters?”
Katherine winced as Spikes’s grip on her hands tightened, her copper eye began to glow.
“Spikes, you’re hurting me,” Katherine tried to pull her hands out of Spikes’s grip, but she didn’t budge. Her eyes were far away, “I’m going to kill him.”
She released Katherine as she stood from the couch, reaching a hand up to her face as she made her way to the door.
“Spikes, you can’t!” Katherine screamed as she ran after her, “Spikes, he doesn’t know his parents are hunters. He doesn’t know what they did. You can’t persecute him for a crime he didn’t commit.”
“He knows what you are and that you’re here. What’s to stop him from telling his parents about this? What’s to stop them from hunting you down, and me with you this time?,” Spikes growled as she turned to face Katherine. She dropped the small clear lense from her hand. Her copper and amethyst eye glowedi with rage. “Besides, consider this revenge for your father.”
“You don’t think I haven’t considered that?” Katherine screamed and shoved Spikes’s shoulders, “You don’t think I haven’t dreamed about taking away what they treasure most like they took it from me? That I don’t spend every day thinking about how they deserve to suffer for what they did and haven’t?”
“Why not do it then?” Spikes shouted back.
“Because I’m better than them!” Katherine’s eyes shifted to slits and began to glow softly, “I may not be human, but I have more humanity than they could ever hope too. I am not letting you walk out that door unless you give me your word that you won’t hurt him.”
Spikes hesitated, her hand reaching for the door handle, “We have to make sure he won’t tell them that you’re here.”
Katherine nodded, “Set up a time for me to talk to him if you feel like you can’t persuade him without violence.”
“I give you my word I won’t hurt him,” Spikes rolled her eyes, but smiled softly at Katherine, “Now tell me where he is.”
…

David stared out over the cliff side at the bay and the city beyond it, the silver locket in his hands flailing wildly in the wind.
“New to the city?” A soft voice spoke from behind him, startling him slightly. He turned around and shoved the locket back into his pocket.
“New to this one at least,” He chuckled, “How’d you know?”
She walked up to him, leaning over the railing beside him, “Most of us locals don’t care for the romanticized view of the city we see everyday. This view is beautiful, but the reality of the city is not.”
David shrugged and returned to leaning against the railing, “When are things ever as pretty as they look?”
“So what brings you to town?”
“Just passing through,” He sighed softly, “I was on my way to go see a couple of colleges. I was only going to be here for one night, but…”
“But?” She asked as she nudged his shoulder.
“I found someone,” He smiled softly but he could feel tears form in his eyes, “Someone I thought I would never see again.”
“Let me guess, an ex-girlfriend?” She chuckled. She turned around and rest her back against the railing, “You must really care about her.”
“I didn’t realize it was quite that obvious, but yes,” He looked at her. He paused for a moment, startled by her two different colored eyes.
“And she left without saying anything to you didn’t she?” She inched closer to him, “Right after a tragedy, when all you wanted to do was comfort her.”
“How did you-”
“And for nearly two years now, those sapphire eyes have haunted you, haven’t they?” Spikes grinned as David began to step backwards and fell. He stared up at her with wide eyes.
“Who are you?”
“I’m your replacement,” Spikes growled, “I’m the person that helped Katherine pick up the pieces. I helped her grieve her late father. I am family to her, and unlike you I will protect her.”
“Protect her? What are you talking about?” David questioned as he stood back up, “I didn’t even know about the fire until the next day. She was already gone by then, there was nothing I could have done!”
“If you’re just here to hurt her again, I will destroy you,” Spikes growled and grabbed him by the front of his shirt. He grabbed her wrist, his grip around it almost caused her pain.
“I will take a lot, but don’t you ever say I’m trying to hurt her,” His voice was low and deep. He met her eyes with a glare as he spoke, “I love Katherine, I have always loved Katherine. Nothing in this world would ever make me intentionally hurt her.”
Spikes dropped her hand from his shirt, and he let her go. She crossed her arms over her chest, “She collapsed on the steps in front of the house sobbing. I hate seeing her cry.”
“You love her too, don’t you?”
Spikes’s face flushed bright crimson. She hung her head, hoping her hair would hide some of the redness, “Of course not! Kitty is my best friend… almost like a sister to me. It’s a familial love… that’s all it ever could be.”
David nodded, “Not sure if you’re trying to convince me or yourself, but I understand. She’s amazing, isn’t she?”
Spikes nodded, her arms tightened over her chest, “You really do love her, don’t you?”
“Yes,” His smile was soft, but sad, “I didn’t realize losing her father would change so much. It’s like the light of her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes anymore.”
Spikes ran a hand through her hair and sighed, “Before I came, she agreed to see you just one more time. She needs to talk to you.”
David stared at her and nodded.
“You can’t tell anyone though. You can’t tell anyone you’ve found her,” Spikes added. “That includes your parents. She’s in witness protection, no one can know.”
“Thank you,” David smiled halfheartedly.
Spikes shook her head as she began to talk away, “I wouldn’t thank me just yet.”