Title: Behind The Mask 6/8
Author: Sav
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Joss Owns All
Destitution: WHS
(Summer's home - Spare bedroom)
Giles sat on the bed wondering what Buffy was running off to do. It worried him that she wouldn't say what the emergency was. And it bothered him even more that she was going at the drop of a hat because Angel asked her to. He thought the day he spent with her was something special.
That they were finally able to admit through their actions, that they might have feelings for one another. She was about to kiss him in the kitchen before Dawn walked in. He was positive of that. She was leaning into him, allowed him to lean into her, and had Dawn not walked in, he was sure he would have kissed her.
Sighing, Giles laid back gently on the bed and covered his ribs lightly with his hand.
What was he going to do?
The singles she had been sending him all day were so mixed. Early that morning she was so attentive and concerned about him. And when he felt dizzy she caught him. Holding him before he fell as her eyes locked with his. He was sure they would have kissed then too if not for the younger summers girl, once again interrupting them.
And then the trip to the shop...
The whole time Buffy held his hand or touched him in some way. Joking with him, laughing as she helped him try on ridiculous outfits. He wasn't so old that he couldn't tell she was flirting with him the whole afternoon. Yet Angel calls and she dumps him faster than a hot potato.
"Giles?"
"Yes dawn?"
"Why is the door locked?"
"I'm changing"
"Oh, ok , cool. Um , where's Buffy?"
"She had an emergency she'll be back soon"
"Is everything ok?"
"I hope so" He whispered, then stood to get dressed.
**
(Buffy's room, Joyce's old room)
Buffy snuck in through the window and almost had a heart attack as willow came out of the bathroom.
"Geeze Will! Give me a heart attack why don't ya"
Giggling, Willow smiled.
"Sorry"
"It's ok. You seen Giles?"
"Yeah, before I came in here to borrow your lipstick"
"How'd he look?"
"Ok , I guess"
Sighing Buffy sat on the bed.
"I think I blew it"
"how?"
"The thing with Angel"
"Why? How he react?"
"Not well. I'd been flirting with him all afternoon then when I was about to kiss him in the kitchen, Dawn walked in"
"That kid as the worst timing"
"Tell me about it. And then angel calls and Giles looked all hurt cause he thinks I'm running off to my ex-demon lover"
"Oh no"
"Yeah. He looked so sad. I hurt him again Will"
"He'll understand once you get dressed and downstairs, Buffy"
"Will you check on him? Make sure he's ok?"
"Of course"
Willow hugged Buffy and stood up.
"Now you get dressed. I have a storm to call out and you have a seduction to pull off"
With a faint smile, Buffy answered.
"Let's hope I still can"
**
Giles was dressed and sitting on his bed. He felt absolutely ridiculous. The costume wasn't that of the old batman. In fact this one was as Buffy put it, the *in* one. It was black and skin tight on his body. The only good thing about it was the fact that you couldn't make out the actual shape of his body, thanks to that fake shapes of muscle along the costume.
Lord the children were going to laugh at him.
All though he had a mask that particularly covered his entire face; he knew some of them, probably Willow, would recognize his eyes and know it was him. Of course he could disguise his voice and put contacts in, but that seemed like a lot of effort....staying in the background, now that he could do. He could just sit on the couch, mind his own business, while resting his ribs --Thunder sounded outside his window, drawling Giles attention.
Soon heavy sheets of rain began to pour right after lighting crashed through the sky.
"That's strange. It was clear just a while ago" He mumbled as Willow knocked on his door.
"Giles?"
"yes?"
"Can I come in?"
"Of course"
He went to the door and opened it, forgetting how he was dressed till he saw Willow with a huge smile on her face.
"Wow, Giles. Is that a utility belt your wearing or-"
"Please, don't" He begged then sat on the bed.
"Hey, are you ok?" Her voice was softer now as she went to him an sat at his side.
"Of course" He answered. Keeping his eyes on the ground.
"Giles, this is me, remember? You can tell me"
She watched him sigh softly as his hand went to his side.
"Are you still in pain?"
"Some"
"Is that why you're so sad?"
A faint smile flashed across his lips.
"No"
"Then, what's wrong?"
He thought for a moment, wondering what to tell her. If he said the truth, he risked her going to Buffy.
"I'm all right, Willow. Thank you"
"I don't believe you" Laying a hand to his, Willow made him face her by squeezing his fingers. "I won't tell Buffy"
"What makes you think it's about Buffy?"
"When isn't it?"
Giles chuckled lightly.
"Good point"
"So come on, tell me?"
Looking down at their hands, Giles smiled.
"I think I may have miss read her feelings this afternoon"
"Why do you say that?"
"I stupidly thought she was....flirting with me"
"She wasn't?"
"Why would she?"
"I don't know. Cause she likes you?"
Giles made a sound deep in his throat that clearly stated to willow that, that wasn't it.
"What? Giles, Buffy, *does* like you"
"Yes I know. Just not in the way I thought." Sighing, Giles stood and went to the window. Watching the rain. "I'm very confused , Willow. I thought several times today she wanted me to kiss her. I thought she was flirting with me, wanting me to flirt back. But as soon as Angel calls..."
Willow felt bad for Giles. He really had no idea how much Buffy was in love with him.
"Did she say why she had to leave?"
"She said Angel needed her help"
"Oh. Well, what's wrong with that?"
"Nothing. All though she wouldn't tell me what the emergency was"
"Maybe she didn't want you going because she didn't want you to get hurt?"
"Or to see her and Angel kissing"
"Giles are you...jealous?"
When he didn't answer her, Willow stood and went him. Standing at his side she laid a hand to his arm.
"Please don't jump to conclusions Giles. You know Buffy. If she was acting like you said, then she isn't going to LA to shag Angel. Just to help him with whatever he asked of her"
Giles lowered his head.
"I know. I feel like a bloody fool for even doubting her, it's just...." Giles didn't know what to say as Willow stood in front of him.
"it's just hard for you to believe that she really likes you that way?"
Giles half laughed as he looked at her.
"how is it you got so smart so fast?"
"hey! I resent that. I've always been smart"
Laying a hand to her cheek, Giles smile.
"Yes, Yes you have. Thank you for listening Willow"
He pulled her into a hug as Willow wrapped her arms around his neck. It was then she saw Buffy in her catwoman costume, watching them from the doorway. She saw tears silently falling down her cheeks over the mask that covered her face. Willow pulled away from Giles.
"Hey, come on big guy. We're missing the party"
He smiled at her then frowned.
"Is that what you're wearing?"
Laughing she took his hand to lead him out. Buffy had all ready walked away.
"No, I need to get dressed still. And you need to go check on Dawn and make sure everything's ok downstairs"