Title: Don’t Trust in Chariots
Author: shelley 
Rating: PG
Pairing: Giles/Xander, pre-relationship
Summary: Giles is there when Xander needs him.
Disclaimer: Giles, Xander, and all their assorted acquaintances belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.

Notes: Musesfool set out a call for fics inspired by specific Psalms. I was assigned Psalm 20 (following the fic), which is basically a plea for help. I was stumped by this assignment until I signed up for Soft_princess’s G/X drabble challenge. I took the word “steel,” and suddenly it all came together for me. This 500 word drabble is meant to answer both challenges.

Not all Slayers are happy to be found.

Xander knows this, has learned it the hard way far too many times, but this is the first time a Slayer has attacked him. Judging by the crazed look in this girl’s eyes, it will probably be his last.

He had suspected that Carmelita wasn’t happy about having a destiny, so he had asked Giles to come to Corsica and help him out. Do the whole “thousands of girls in all the world” speech. If he had known just *how* angry she was he would have waited for the Watcher. Hell, he would have let Giles just go in his place.

No. No he wouldn’t. Giles was too important to him. Giles was… Giles. Out of his reach, and way the hell out of his league. And *so* not what he needed to be thinking about right now.

She wields her sword awkwardly and inexpertly, compensating with Slayer strength. She swings at Xander’s head, the steel of the blade glinting in the sun and blinding his remaining eye. He rolls out of the way, but bad depth perception means he doesn’t roll far enough. The blade comes down hard and catches him on the side. He doesn’t think it has pierced any organs, but it hurts like a sonofabitch. And shit, but that’s a lot of blood.

He sends up a prayer to the only god he cares to know. “Where are you, Giles?”

A familiar voice floats towards him. “Sorry I’m late. The taxi driver got lost.”

“Imagine that,” Xander gasps weakly. “I thought this place topped the list of Corsican hot spots.”

Giles quickly and efficiently disarms the irrational Slayer. Yes, she is stronger than he, but she doesn’t know weapons. Not the way Giles does. Brute strength alone is no match for decades of experience. Xander had tried to tell her that she needed training; now Giles is showing her.

Giles tosses the girl’s sword towards Xander and starts talking to her. Xander stares at the weapon, mesmerized by the blue shine on the steel. How could something so exquisite have come so close to killing him? So cold, so perfect, so deadly beautiful.

He loses himself in contemplation of the sword, and is shocked when Giles starts shaking him. “Wake up, Xander. I didn’t come to this hellhole just to watch you die.”

“Who’s dying?” he asks. When he hears how woozy his voice is, he knows the answer to his question. He is.

Giles disagrees. “No one.” He props Xander up and drapes an arm around his shoulders. Although this isn’t the physical contact that he has dreamed of, Xander is happy at the closeness.

Giles starts walking Xander towards the town, and Xander realizes that he’s going to live after all. Giles wants him to live, and Xander is tired of disappointing the man. Besides, he wants to know why Giles is so worried about him.

Maybe Giles isn’t as unattainable as Xander had always assumed.

Pss.20
[1] The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
[2] Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
[3] Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
[4] Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
[5] We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.
[6] Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
[7] Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
[8] They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
[9] Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.

END