Life Without Love
Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to Joss Wedon and Mutant Enemy
"Leave me."
"No…I won't let you do this…"
"Yes. You will. Or I'll kill you."
"I don't care."
"You…of course you care. Because if you didn't, you'd already be dead."
"Maybe you'd just have killed me."
"No. You fight for your life, and for the love of life. Not with a death-wish."
"You're wrong there. Death…it fascinates me."
"Why?"
"To come so close to the edge…makes the adrenaline flow…better than drugs."
"Better than life?"
"Never."
"Well, the way I see it, anything's better than this….excuse for living. No-one can live without love."
"Listen to you! You are one of the most loved people I've ever met…look at your friends, your family, the LA idiot…"
"Bad example. He left."
"But you lived on.."
"And I found someone else. He left too. Or didn't you notice?"
"You know I did. Everyone….is abandoned."
"Then what is there to live for?"
"Let me finish! Hope. We live for the hope…that one day, there'll be a love that lasts…"
"Forever? Because I've thought that twice now, and I'm left with nothing…"
"So that's it? Two strikes and you're out? Means I've got less than no chance."
"You…wanted a chance?"
"Of course. Haven't you noticed how pathetic I've been lately, helping you, helping people…"
"I never notice you being pathetic. It's only when you're dangerous that I pay attention."
"I don't believe that."
"Well, believe it! You're nothing to me…sure, we help each other, and sometimes…you know, things, about what I feel…but you really are nothing. Never have been."
"I remember when I was everything to you."
"When? The stupid spell?"
"Yes."
"It disgusted me. You still disgusted me, even when we were in love."
"I don't believe that, either. Are you afraid, little girl? Of what we could be?"
"No…I am not a little girl!"
"You always will be to me."
"And we could never be anything."
"We could be enemies."
"You can't kill anyone…pretty crappy enemy, don't you think?"
"I can't kill anyone directly…but I can hire people…I can torch houses…"
"Who would you hire? Everyone hates you."
"I know."
"Why...why don't you 'torch' my house, then?"
"Thought it was obvious, by now."
"No."
"I love you."
"I…I don't even hate you. I feel nothing for you."
"Do you like inflicting pain? Because that…really…hurt…"
"Don't play with fire…"
"So, still gonna top yourself?"
"What?"
"Minute ago, you were gonna do yourself in…"
"You came to talk me out of it…guess you succeeded."
"I didn't follow you, you know."
"Why were you out here then?"
"Seemed like a nice place. I can see the stars."
"That's…that what I thought…it would be nice to see them one last time.."
"And….I mean nothing to you."
"We…I…you don't…I told you…."
"Just wanted to make sure you wouldn't miss me. Wouldn't want to hurt you…"
"What the…."
"Goodbye Slayer."
Dust.
And the stars looked down on a young girl. Her blonde hair blew around her pretty face. She stood perfectly still for a few seconds, then turned her head up to look at the stars. Her knees buckled underneath her body, and she fell to the floor, sobs wracking her small frame.
"You left me…they all left me…"
Hidden in her hand was a small switch blade. It flashed silver, the moonlight reflecting pale from its sharpened edge. The Slayer knew exactly how to find the heart. Exactly where it was. Her shaking hand moved the blade to her breast. It cut through her top, through her skin, and the blood stained the neatly clipped grass crimson red.
Red is the colour of passion. Red is the colour of hearts. Red is the colour of love.
No-one can live without love.
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