I do remember what I said. The promise. To protect her. If I’d done that - even if I didn’t make it, you wouldn’t’ve had to jump. I want you to know I did save you. Not when it counted, of course. But after that. Every night after that. I’d see it all again, do something different. Faster or more clever, you know? Dozens of times, lots of different ways.
Every night I save you.
#yeah because what’s better than sharing a drink with your mortal enemy? #also i’d like to point the fact that riley could have totally killed spike in that scene #but he didn’t #he just gave him a scare #idk what it tells about his character #except that he cares so much about buffy that he wouldn’t hurt her in any way
And he could’ve tried to kill in him As You Were, but he wanted to know if Buffy had genuine feelings for Spike first. Riley is not Spike’s biggest fan by a long shot but they also have a certain camaraderie. They’re in love with the same woman, and understand what it’s like to be in that unique position to be with Buffy, and not really be with her. To feel like you have her and not have her, to hold and not feel like she’s completely there. Spike witnesses this firsthand in Season 6, and this scene, where he tosses the drink to Riley almost felt like a temporary peace offering. “Like you’ve been there. You know what’ it’s like.” You know what it’s like to love someone so much you’d lay your life on the line for her, but at what point do you call it quits? At what point do you make mistakes you can’t atone for?
