Title : A Second Pyrrhic Dance
Series: Samian Wine and Pyrrhic Dances Stories 04
Author: Surnia
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Giles/Willow
Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer was created by Joss
Whedon and is owned by 20th Century FOX. No
copyright infringement is intended
The morning following the disaster with Drusilla, Giles pottered in the kitchenette while Willow sat glumly on the sofa. Drusilla needed to be dealt with, not to mention other possible consequences of the ill-fated picnic. They had yet to discuss it. The truth was that Giles and Willow were unconsciously keeping a discreet distance from each other and were relieved by arrival of an irate Slayer.
Buffy marched through the door and declared, "Giles, Angel isn't at the mansion. We need to locate Drusilla. Where did she take you?" She saw Willow sitting on the sofa and exclaimed, "Willow, you're here early! Good, we can find out what's going on here." She paced around in nervous agitation and demanded, "So tell me exactly what happened last night."
Giles, hands in pockets, said, "As I said, Drusilla kidnapped us and demanded that one of us employ magic to bring Angelus back. I eventually agreed to perform a spell and hoped that Angel would have enough sense to play along with my charade and pretend to be Angelus. He did and she released us."
"And this spell was definitely a non-spell, right?"
"Absolutely. It was just a bit of show to impress Drusilla."
"So Angel is still Angel."
"As far as I know. He gave quite a convincing performance."
"So we need to find out if Angel is okay."
"No, we need to work out what to do about Drusilla. When she discovers that we've tricked her, she's bound to be extremely angry."
"Mental."
"She already is mental. She'll probably want to wreak her revenge and that puts us all in danger. You should warn your mother and we'll warn the others."
"She's not with Spike?"
"No, she's still not at all pleased with Spike. She's fixated on Angel."
"So she picked up the two of you because you know magic?"
He shrugged his shoulders as he said, "So it would appear."
Buffy said, "Okay, I'll go explain the sitch to Mom. Then I stake Miss Looney Tunes as soon as we locate her. We can meet at the library and come up with battle plans on how to locate her." She promptly left without a backward look.
Willow looked after Buffy with a worried expression, stood up and turned nervously to Giles, "Do you think that Angel will say anything - about us?"
"I hope not," he replied but without much conviction.
"And Drusilla?"
"She probably will."
"The sooner Buffy's stakes her, the better. Bitch."
"We got off lightly," he remarked, "and I don't even want to think about what could happen when Drusilla finds out that she's been tricked."
He went up and tried to put his arm around her but she pulled away. "I need time to digest this," she said. She looked him at him with uncertainty in her eyes, "Did you enjoy what Drusilla was doing?"
Shocked, he replied, "No, of course not! My mind was engaged trying to think of a way to get us out of there and how to keep her from hurting you."
"And you never told me about Angelus and ... you know."
"I haven't told anyone. It was part of the torture - a calculated move on his part."
She looked downward, "Sorry. And I can't believe how casually cruel and violent Angel could be."
"He's had a lot of practice, Willow. I'm just grateful that he realised what was happening and played along."
She looked a little unconvinced and said, "I'm going to walk home and think - a lot. I'll be at the library for the battle planning."
"Willow," he said, bending over to kiss her forehead, "I'm sorry. I really am."
"I know," she replied with a little smile. "Seeya later."
Once Willow was out the door, Giles leaned against it and closed his eyes. He had the distinct feeling that things were going to get extremely complicated. Camping was an appealing option. Except for Drusilla. He shook his head. Nothing was ever simple in this wretched place.
***
Back in the library that night, they were trying to work out what to do about Drusilla. Should they look for her? Wait for her to make a move? Angel still hadn't put in an appearance and Buffy was refusing to leave them alone undefended in the library - hence there was one very wound up Slayer stalking about the library. Neither Giles or Willow were certain where they had been taken because they had been unconscious when they were taken there and blindfolded when they left. Willow had compiled a list of possibilities - and there were several of them, which did not improve Buffy's mood. While they were debating the best course of action to follow, a whiff of cigarette smoke reached them and the doors swung open. Everyone froze. Buffy put her hands on her hips and glared. "Spike."
"Slayer! Good to see you too."
"Why can't you stay out of Sunnydale?" Buffy now had a stake posed menacingly in her hand.
Spike put his hands up in a gesture of peace. "I heard you had trouble with my ex."
"Your 'ex'. I thought she was your undying love. You were going to go find her and torture her to win her back?"
"I'm just not as good at it as Angelus was. She was still pining for that wanker. So they're back together, I hear. What's wrong, couldn't keep your legs together, Slayer?"
He didn't quite manage to dodge the full force of her punch and ended up on his ass on the floor. Rising to his feet, he rubbed his jaw gingerly and remarked, "Touch a nerve, did I, pet?"
She glared at him and declared, "He's putting on an act for your ho of a girlfriend."
"Ex-girlfriend."
"WHATEVER."
"Why?"
Trying to defuse the situation and unsure of Spike's intentions, Giles stepped up behind Buffy and explained, "Unfortunately Drusilla kidnapped Willow and me in an effort to get us to employ magic to desoul Angel. He played along so that she would release us."
"Well, he seems to be playing along with enthusiasm. Tosser never was one for half measures." He stepped back quickly before Buffy could punch him again. "So you've got a problem when she finds out he's still tamed."
"Precisely," Giles said, "I don't think that she'll be very pleased."
Spike grinned. "That's an understatement. Well," he said, taking another draw on his cigarette, "I guess I'll just have to pay Dru a visit."
"I'll go with you and stake her for you," Buffy said.
"Oh dear, the Slayer's jealous."
"I am NOT. You are such a pain!" she said. She turned around, "You all go home. I'm going with Spike to see what's happening."
"Be careful, Buffy," Giles said.
She gave him a dismissive toss of her head and went out. Giles turned around and said to the others, "She's right. Let's go. There's nothing more we can do here."
As he locked up, he heard Oz ask Willow if he could give her a lift. She said that she had some things to sort out with Giles and he could give her a lift. Giles kept his head down until he saw the others disappearing off into the night. He glanced over at Willow and she shrugged. They went to his car in silence. When they reached the car, he looked up and observed, "So you're still talking to me."
She gave him a little smile and said, "Guess so."
They didn't talk on the way there, but as soon as they entered the apartment and Giles had closed the door, Willow suddenly turned around, hooked one leg around his calf and pushed him. Caught off balance, Giles crashed to the floor. She pounced on him like a cat and said in exasperation, "Why is it impossible to stay mad with you?"
"Because there's nothing to be mad with me about?"
"You didn't tell me what you were going to do!"
"Someone might have been listening."
"Grrr, you're *so* aggravating."
He ran his hands up her thighs under her skirt, stroking her legs. "You mean like this?" he asked with a cheeky grin."
"Using sex in an argument is so not fair!"
"What argument?"
He grabbed her head and pulled her down into a kiss. As Willow relaxed into it, he rolled over with her. He staggered up, lifted her and deposited her on the sofa. Dropping his jacket on the floor he started kissing and nibbling her around her neck and ear as he unbuttoned her blouse. Having removed it and then her bra, he moved down and nibbled at her breasts, occasionally licking and sucking. He reached behind her, unzipped the skirt and pulled it down her legs, bringing her panties with it, finally removing her shoes.
She leaned back with her head against the back of the sofa as he parted her legs and knelt between them. Giving her a sexy smile, he slowly removed his tie and unbuttoned his shirt. "Are you going to do the Full Monty then?" she giggled.
"What do you think?" he asked with a grin. He stood up and slowly removed the rest of his clothes, flinging them about as he did so which made her giggle. When he finished he knelt between her legs again and pushed them wider, pulling her hips towards him. He bent forward and kissed her abdomen and then rang his tongue around her navel which elicited another giggle.
It was a different story, however, when his tongue moved further south and circled around her clitoris and probed her vagina. Arching her back, she groaned and wrapped a leg around him she ran her fingers through his hair. As he sucked harder, she started to moan and roll her head. She tried to buck her hips up, but he held her hips firmly in place and kept at it until she wailed as her orgasm washed over her.
When she could breathe again, she looked down at him, grinning up at her. He said, "I think we'd better stick to doing this sort of thing indoors - or if we must do so alfresco, in the daytime."
"Right," she said, "basic rule in Sunnydale. No sex outside after sunset."
"Definitely."
She reached down and took hold of his penis, stroking it appraisingly. "I think you're suffering a little there, Mr. Giles."
He winced and smiled. "Perhaps you need to administer some first aid - upstairs." He picked her up and carried her upstairs.
Much later they were comfortably asleep, enwrapped in each other's arms, when Buffy used her key to let herself in to inform Giles that there was no sign of Angel or Drusilla. She stopped stock-still when she saw the clothes strewn about the room. God, I hope he hasn't been drinking again, she thought. That's all we need now. I'd better check to make sure that he's okay.
She slipped off her shoes and crept up the stairs to check on him. Looking into the room, her jaw dropped when she saw Willow and Giles entwined on the bed. She tried to speak but no sound came out. Finally a sort of strangled., "G-g-giles?" emerged.
Giles woke up and saw Buffy staring at them in shock. "Oh fuck," he breathed.
Willow shifted and murmured sleepily, "Giles? What's happening?"
Giles swallowed hard and sat up, pulling the sheet up his chest, "Willow, we have company."
"Nice," she murmured.
"Buffy."
"Buffy, oh Buffy. BUFFY! Oh God! Buffy!" she sat up, also pulling the sheet around her and stared at Buffy. Silence reigned for a time.
Eventually an extremely shaken Buffy said, "I, um, I'm just going downstairs."
The moment she was out of the room, Giles leapt up, put on his robe and followed her downstairs. He found her standing in the middle of the room, turning around slowly, looking bewilderedly at the clothes thrown carelessly about.
"Buffy."
"Looks like you two were in a hurry."
"Buffy..."
"You're not going to tell me that it's not what it seems, are you?"
"No."
"So where did Drusilla capture you two? Lover's Lane?"
"The beach."
"The beach. Do you have this compulsion to screw people in public places?"
"Buffy, stop it.
"First my mother and then my best friend. What, is Cordelia next?" She was rapidly becoming shrill.
Willow came down the stairs wearing one of Giles' shirts. "Buffy, don't. That's not fair."
Buffy turned on her and said, "And you! How could you do this? My best friend! How could you take Giles!"
"I haven't taken him like that. He's still your Watcher."
Speechless with anger, Buffy headed for the door. 'Buffy," Giles said, "where are you going?"
"TO. KILL. SOMETHING," she hissed between gritted teeth and left, slamming the door behind her.
"Oh boy. Oh boy," Willow gulped, "I don't think that could've been worse."
"I should go after her," he said miserably.
"No, you might get killed or captured by Drusilla and that would be worse. Let her first take it out on some vamps."
"All right," he said with a sigh.
****
After leaving Giles' apartment, Buffy stormed through Sunnydale looking for vampires to slay. She only managed to find one which was not very satisfying. After beating him to a pulp and then staking him, she decided to head to the playground and take a turn there, hoping to find at least another one, preferably one of Drusilla's. She was gradually beginning to calm down a little. Willow's recent behaviour now seemed to be comprehensible - at least, on minor matters - like not coming to the Bronze or mooning on about Oz. But she was having a terrible time coming to terms with this whole thing with Giles. Giles and Willow? Giles with Willow? Smoochies? No, not just smoochies. More than smoochies. Way more. This was just too wiggy.
As she approached the playground, she froze as she was confronted by her second major shock of the night. Drusilla was sitting in the swing which was being pushed by Angel. She was giggling with delight and babbling on in Drusilla-speak about the stars, the moon, darkness and blood. As the swing came back, Angel caught the chains and, holding on to them, bent over and kissed her. Drusilla made little noises of delight as the kiss continued, reaching back to stroke his legs. Stifling a storm of sobs which threatened to burst forth, Buffy turned and ran all the way back to house. Still gasping for breath - and not because of the exertion - she dashed up the stairs and collapsed on her bed and cried herself to sleep.
***
Sunday. She didn't bother to answer the phone. There were messages from Willow and from Giles. There was a Xanderish message from Xander. She was feeling numb. Drusilla had taken Angel. Willow had taken Giles. Where did that leave her? Sacred duty. With vampires to slay. Demons to kill. Life sucks, she thought, big time.
She could rationalise the thing with Angel. Perhaps he was still acting - trying to convince Drusilla to leave, simply humouring her. After all, he blamed himself for her lunacy. And justifiably, a little voice echoed in her head. He was being kind to her because he was feeling guilty. And he was trying to protect them from her.
But Giles. And Willow. Now that really hurt. Why it hurt more than Angel she didn't understand, but it hurt. Really hurt. More than the business with the test and the drugs, which he hadn't wanted to do anyway. Trust. Maybe it came down to trust. She felt guilt starting to overwhelm her - she hadn't trusted him so he had turned to Willow. She had made fun of him - all the tweed jokes. Now he'll probably end up spending all his time teaching her magic and researching. God, this hurt. Giles was hers, dammit. Why was Willow trying to take him? Then she realised that she wasn't making sense and the whole cycle started over again.
Both Willow and Giles came by - separately. Buffy didn't answer the door. She stayed in her room. She went on the patrol later that night to distract herself and promptly ran into Spike. "Hello, pet," he said, "you aren't looking your usual cheery self."
Incensed at his cheerful tone, she stated, "Go away before I stake you, Spike. I have a very strong need to stake vampires right now."
"I ran into Angel."
"So?"
"Am I missing something here?"
"Other than your loopy ex-girlfriend? No, I don't think so."
"I spoke to him."
"Wonderful."
"He's still with Dru."
"I know. He's trying to 'humour' her. Guilt trip."
"Does that include screwing her?"
"Probably."
She suddenly spun around and punched him to the ground. He winced and said, "If I didn't know how you feel, I'd punch you back. We both want to be punching someone else."
"I hate men."
He looked at her in surprise and said, "Vampires or mortals or both?"
"BOTH!" she yelled.
"Maybe you should go talk to your Watcher."
"He's BUSY!"
"Oh, with the witch."
She spun around and kicked him in the chest. "Cor, pet. What is it that you Americans say? You've got issues." He grinned at her and said, "So who are you more pissed off about: your boyfriend or your Watcher?"
"Why don't I just stake you, Spike?"
"Why don't I go and do some violence to Dru while you sort out my sire for me? Get his priorities straight."
"Right. I'm going to the mansion."
"Ta, luv. I'll send him along."
**
Not long after she arrived in the mansion, Angel came in. "Buffy."
She looked at him, torn between hitting him and bursting into tears. She opted for sounding cold and formal, "So, how's Drusilla?"
"Insane."
"You're still with her."
"Buffy, I'm responsible for her mental state. I can't kill her and I can't let loose on my friends. I'm hoping I can somehow restore some balance and send her on her way - hopefully with Spike."
"And that includes screwing her."
"Buffy, you don't understand vampires."
"I understand vampires! I'm a vampire slayer!"
"You slay vampires. You don't understand them. Believe me, I'm not in love with Drusilla. I'm just doing what I have to do to resolve the situation."
She sat down and said, "I'm sorry. I'm just maxi-wigged about Giles and Willow." She froze a moment, "Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned that."
"I know about it."
"You KNOW about it? How long have you KNOWN about it? Am I the only one who didn't KNOW about it?"
"I only found out when Drusilla kidnapped them and I don't know how long it's been going on or even what's been going on."
"Sorry," she said.
"When did you find out?"
"Tonight."
"Why are you so bothered by it?"
"Because he's MY Watcher and she's my best friend!"
"And?"
"It's wrong!"
"Buffy, I really think you're overreacting. They're both adults."
"Oh, go back and pick dead daisies for Miss Looney!"
She stormed out, leaving a startled and somewhat baffled Angel.
*****
Buffy marched back to her house, head down, hoping for some unfortunate vampire to put an appearance. She didn't notice the ancient Citroen parked in front of her house when she arrived home. As she drudged up to the door, she heard a familiar voice behind her, "Buffy!"
"Go away, Giles. Go get cosy with Willow."
He grabbed her arm and she spun around and slapped him hard enough to knock him to the ground. Immediately realising what she'd done, she dropped down beside him and asked, "Are you okay?"
"Fine," he mumbled, "I'm beginning to get used to being hit by my Slayer - even though it wasn't mentioned in the handbook." He pushed himself to his feet and said, "Let's talk."
"About? Vampires? Thin on the ground. Angel? Says he's trying to humour Drusilla. Spike? Making annoying comments and being a pain in the butt. That cover it?"
She turned on her heel and headed for the door, but Giles was right behind her. "No, it doesn't. What about you avoiding Willow and me all day?"
"Just leave it, Giles. I'll just have to learn to deal."
She opened the door and went in but Giles persisted, "Just what is it that's bothering you so much? Me or Willow or both?"
"I DON'T KNOW!" she shouted, "It's all just ... wiggy. Ms Calendar was bad enough, but Willow!"
Surprised, he asked, "Is this about me then?"
"I DON'T KNOW! It just bothers me, all right? I need time to process it." She turned her back on him.
"Buffy..."
"Just go away."
"Buffy," he said more insistently, grabbing her arm, "do you want me to choose again?"
She felt like she'd been hit in the gut. "I'm not thinking straight. I can't talk now. I'll see Willow tomorrow."
"And me?"
"And you. I'll train."
"Good. Very good. Well, good night then," he said, feeling incredibly awkward.
Buffy stared at the door for a time after he left and then burst into tears. Giles was equally disconcerted when he got back into his car. Things just seemed to get more complicated. This certainly wasn't in the handbook.