Summary: A response to a challenge by LexiAnnMalfoy:
Buffy lives in a world where almost everyone is born with a tattoo on their body, rumored to be the first words their soulmate will say to them. Buffy's is "Nice work, love," in blood red. 
Spike's is "Who are you?" In black 
When she meets Spike in School Hard, she realizes who her mate is - But she has no idea what to do about it.
 
[Note: rating has been increased to R because of some potentially overly graphic descriptions of violence + sensuality]
 
/// 
  
Beta and Sensitivity Readers: None
Artists: None
Categories: Season 2, Season 3, Episode Rewrite, Challenge Response
Characters: None
Genres: Angst, Dramedy
Warnings: Adult Language, Blood Play, Spike/Other (Temp), Violence
Challenges: The Mark of a Mate
Completed: No Chapters: 30
Word count: 42,830 Hit Count: 49,463 ePub Downloads: 291
Published: April 30, 2017 Updated: February 25, 2019


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Story Notes: Disclaimer: Does not belong to me, everything belongs to Joss Whedon, and I just write this for fun 

1. Chapter 1 by halincandenza - Likes: 42 Comments: 37 Word Count: 1,431 Hit Count: 6,092 Published: April 30, 2017

Starts immediately after "School Hard"

2. Chapter 2 by halincandenza - Likes: 32 Comments: 18 Word Count: 1,291 Hit Count: 2,691 Published: May 01, 2017

So this chapter is all with Buffy, because she has important things to figure out... also, I usually don't update so fast, but I have so much of this story mapped out! Thank you all so much for the reviews, they really do help inspire me! 

3. Chapter 3 by halincandenza - Likes: 18 Comments: 13 Word Count: 1,898 Hit Count: 2,529 Published: May 02, 2017

I appreciate how many reviewers are on Giles' side in the last chapter - our scoobies don't always make the best decisions, especially when stressed!

 

5/3/2017: I updated this chapter, because people seemed a bit confused, so added in a new paragraph

4. Chapter 4 by halincandenza - Likes: 22 Comments: 13 Word Count: 1,546 Hit Count: 2,199 Published: May 03, 2017

Thanks to all the readers so far! I really appreciate it, and all the feedback is helping me improve my writing!

5. Chapter 5 by halincandenza - Likes: 21 Comments: 14 Word Count: 1,053 Hit Count: 2,086 Published: May 06, 2017

6. Chapter 6 by halincandenza - Likes: 20 Comments: 12 Word Count: 946 Hit Count: 1,848 Published: May 08, 2017

7. Chapter 7 by halincandenza - Likes: 25 Comments: 10 Word Count: 1,296 Hit Count: 1,897 Published: May 09, 2017

8. Chapter 8 by halincandenza - Likes: 22 Comments: 13 Word Count: 1,144 Hit Count: 1,784 Published: May 12, 2017

9. Chapter 9 by halincandenza - Likes: 21 Comments: 11 Word Count: 1,115 Hit Count: 1,673 Published: May 14, 2017

10. Chapter 10 by halincandenza - Likes: 28 Comments: 16 Word Count: 1,539 Hit Count: 1,729 Published: May 15, 2017

11. Chapter 11 by halincandenza - Likes: 21 Comments: 11 Word Count: 1,622 Hit Count: 1,778 Published: May 17, 2017

12. Chapter 12 by halincandenza - Likes: 22 Comments: 11 Word Count: 2,746 Hit Count: 1,729 Published: May 22, 2017

Woo, a longer chapter than usual! And hopefully better written, as I now have the help of the incredible beta Booksquirm!! 

13. Chapter 13 by halincandenza - Likes: 18 Comments: 15 Word Count: 1,862 Hit Count: 1,600 Published: May 25, 2017

Again, all credit for incredible betaing goes to Booksquirm!!!

14. Chapter 14 by halincandenza - Likes: 22 Comments: 12 Word Count: 1,466 Hit Count: 1,519 Published: May 30, 2017

Beta credit goes go Booksquirm!!!

15. Chapter 15 by halincandenza - Likes: 18 Comments: 12 Word Count: 1,467 Hit Count: 1,486 Published: June 02, 2017

Beta credit, as always, goes to Booksquirm!

16. Chapter 16 by halincandenza - Likes: 20 Comments: 14 Word Count: 1,667 Hit Count: 1,421 Published: June 06, 2017

Beta credit goes to Booksquirm and also thanks so much to whoever nominated me for author of the month, it made me feel all fuzzy! 

17. Chapter 17 by halincandenza - Likes: 19 Comments: 14 Word Count: 1,170 Hit Count: 1,432 Published: June 12, 2017

18. Chapter 18 by halincandenza - Likes: 19 Comments: 14 Word Count: 3,538 Hit Count: 1,370 Published: June 20, 2017

Beta credit goes to Booksquirm! I upped the rating because I was starting to push hard pg-13, wanted to be on the safe side

19. Chapter 19 by halincandenza - Likes: 20 Comments: 16 Word Count: 1,301 Hit Count: 1,229 Published: June 24, 2017

Beta credit goes to Booksquirml! Short chapter this time but lots of info!

20. Chapter 20 by halincandenza - Likes: 19 Comments: 12 Word Count: 1,439 Hit Count: 1,131 Published: July 03, 2017

Beta credit to Booksquirm! Sorry about delays, life has been chaotic... 

21. Chapter 21 by halincandenza - Likes: 22 Comments: 12 Word Count: 1,411 Hit Count: 1,112 Published: July 14, 2017

Beta credit goes to Booksquirm! 

22. Chapter 22 by halincandenza - Likes: 17 Comments: 13 Word Count: 940 Hit Count: 1,206 Published: July 24, 2017

Beta credit to Booksquirm!

23. Chapter 23 by halincandenza - Likes: 18 Comments: 15 Word Count: 1,126 Hit Count: 1,037 Published: August 02, 2017

Sorry about delays in updating! I have a bit more of the story mapped out so hopefully future updates will be a bit faster! Beta credit to Booksquirm!

24. Chapter 24 by halincandenza - Likes: 17 Comments: 11 Word Count: 1,420 Hit Count: 1,054 Published: August 10, 2017

Beta credit goes to booksquirm!!

25. Chapter 25 by halincandenza - Likes: 18 Comments: 14 Word Count: 1,234 Hit Count: 1,098 Published: August 24, 2017

Unbetaed to get it out faster 

26. Chapter 26 by halincandenza - Likes: 16 Comments: 10 Word Count: 1,027 Hit Count: 1,068 Published: September 12, 2017

Sorry about the slow updates! Big test in T-4 days! 

27. Chapter 27 by halincandenza - Likes: 15 Comments: 7 Word Count: 1,183 Hit Count: 964 Published: October 19, 2017

I live! Major apologies for the delay! 

28. Chapter 28 by halincandenza - Likes: 14 Comments: 9 Word Count: 1,018 Hit Count: 915 Published: November 10, 2017

Thanks everyone for your patience! We are actually nearing the end, and I 100% promise I will finish this fic

29. Chapter 29 by halincandenza - Likes: 15 Comments: 8 Word Count: 1,085 Hit Count: 914 Published: December 10, 2017

Sorry about the delays! I promise I am working on getting this done! Thanks for all the support!

30. Chapter 30 by halincandenza - Likes: 19 Comments: 13 Word Count: 849 Hit Count: 872 Published: February 25, 2019

Hi everyone! Apologies for the massive delay, I just started graduate school, everything is chaos, but I promised I would finish it, and, well, I will!