Title: Behind The Mask 7/8
Author: Sav
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Joss Owns All
Destitution: WHS
(Hallway)
Giles headed downstairs as Willow turned to go into Buffy's old room which was now hers and Tara's. As she walked in, she heard the door close behind her.
"Oh, sheesh, Buffy. Nice way to pay me back" She smiled as she held her hand to her chest.
"What's with the touchy feely?"
"What?"
"With Giles, Will. You don't usually touch him so much"
"Oh boy. Are you jealous to?"
Willow turned from her and grabbed her costume.
"Should I be?"
"No!" Willow turned to her and sighed. "You know if you two ever actually *talked* it be dangerous. He loves *YOU* Buffy. Not me. I was just comforting him, Plus, he's , uh, kinda not my type anymore"
After a moment, Buffy let out a deep sigh.
"God I'm sorry Will. I don't know what's wrong with me" Buffy bounced on the bed and looked utterly hopeless.
"I do. Your completely in love with a man who could destroy your heart in one second if he said he didn't fell the same. But you know what, Buffy? He does. So go down there and make him believe the same about you"
Buffy flashed her best friend a wide smile.
"Thanks Will"
"No problem, now go!"
Laughing, Buffy opened the door and headed downstairs.
**
(Summer's Home - Living room)
Giles watched from the couch as Dawn danced, if that's what you could call her movement, with a young man. He felt incredibly protective of her as he watched the young man lay a hand to Dawn's hip. She was still only 16 and remembering how he was at that age....Giles stood quickly and started to walk over them when the lights went out. He stopped and looked around. Thunder clapped outside and lighting flashed through the windows of the home.
"Giles?" Dawn was calling to him as he turned to her.
"Right here Dawn"
"Where?"
"I'm here, I'll be right back. Maybe it's just a fuse"
"Ok" She said trembling a little. Without Buffy there, she and the other's were at a greater risk of demons coming after them. Making her way to the front door, using the small light from the lighting to guide her, Dawn reached for the front door and locked it. Not that that would keep a demon out but at least it would slow them down.
Her friends seemed to take the power outage as a blessing. Most of them where cuddling and dancing close to their partners as Dawn called for Willow and Tara.
"Right here hun. Giles called up from the basement, he said it's just a fuse but he cant repair it till Xander gets back with Anya from the hardware store"
"Oh, ok" She smiled in relief then headed off to find her date. Buffy who was standing in the kitchen , near the sink, watched as the basement door opened and Giles came out. She smiled at his costume and noticed he had his mask down.
"Hey" Buffy said to him.
Showtime.
Her voice was low and she used a English accent.
"Hello" Giles couldn't see her clearly in the dark, but the light from the window gave him a good view of the shape of her body.
"Is...everything all right?"
"Oh yes. Just a fuse . It should be fixed shortly"
"Oh, good" She giggled as Giles wondered what was so funny.
"Something you would like to share?"
"Oh, no it's just, your batman and I'm, catwoman"
Giles smiled.
"So, uh, are you here with someone?"
Buffy watched Giles sigh softly.
"No"
"Oh. Then, would you mind if we hung out? I'm kinda of new in town"
"Of course not"
Giles noticed her accent an smiled a little.
"England?"
"Huh?"
"Your from England as well?"
"Oh! Oh, uh yeah. Yes. Yes I am"
Giles was sure there was something *off* about her but at the moment he didn't really care. Anything to take his mind off of Buffy was a blessing.
"Care to have a seat?" Giles asked as he gestured to the barstool at the island kitchen.
"Sure" Buffy smiled.
Neither noticed how many hours went by as they talked about Giles and his life. He had no idea why but he felt free enough to open up to this woman and tell her about his past. Well not all of it or about his time here in Sunnydale, but still, he was being share guy and that was something he wasn't use to.
He edited out the part about being a watcher and fighting evil, but he did talk about Buffy. A lot. Which made his Slayer smile. She sat watching him, listening to him talk of the *affection* and admiration held for his Buffy. And how very proud he was of her for all that she had to give up in her life, yet she didn't dwell on.
She just keep going....
Buffy meanwhile, couldn't believe how much Giles was smiling as he spoke about her. Or how his voice held such a tone of joy by just saying her name or telling stories about her.
Buffy knew without a doubt now, that Giles did care for her as she cared for him. Now she just needed to show him.
"Good lord , I'm sorry"
"Why?"
"I just, seem to be rambling on and on"
"No, it's ok. I ... like to listen to you"
Giles smiled at her.
"What did you say your name was?"
"Oh, uh, Natasha"
"Natasha? That's a lovely name"
"Thank you. So, this Buffy? Are you dating?"
Giles laughed.
"Lord no"
Buffy didn't know if she wanted to slap him or choke him. What was so wrong with dating her?!
"No? Why?"
"She...It's complicated"
"It helps to talk about it if you want?"
Giles smiled faintly as he went to the refrigerator an grabbed a bottle of water.
"Would you like one?"
"No thanks"
He leaned against the counter, touching his ribs lightly.
"Are you ok?"
"Yes. Just, a little sore"
"From a fight?"
"Mmmhmm" He took a drink of water as Buffy watched his hand on his side. He was in more pain than he was admitting.
"What kind of fight?"
"It's a long story actually. Wish it had a better outcome however"
"Yeah, getting hurt sucks"
"I don't mean me. Buffy...the lady I... my friend. She was hurt in the fight an as hard as I tried to make it to her, to take the blunt of the blow, I just couldn't run fast enough. My old legs just couldn't make it to her in time and she ...she got hurt"
Buffy felt her heart clenching, listening to him. He was so protective of her, so concerned, though she was all right and slayer healing all ready healed her, he was still upset because he couldn't reach her in time to take the blow for her. He didn't care that it would have undoubtedly hurt him more than it ever could have her.
"Is Buffy, ok?"
Giles held a large smile on his lips.
"Indeed she is. She's a tough one, my Slay-girl. My girl. She makes me so very proud, she has no idea how much she means to me"
"You mean a lot to me to Giles. More than you ever knew. But I'm going to make sure you know now"
Giles felt his heart skip a beat as Buffy came to him.
"Buffy?!"