Title: Big Bad By The Bay 10/10
Author: Gileswench
Feedback: Constructive criticism always welcome. Praise abjectly
sought.
Disclaimer: It all belongs to Joss, Mutant Enemy, etc., etc., etc. I
just let them have all the fun Joss won't. I own nothing except my
twisted mind which you really don't want. Please don't sue. Oh, and I
don't own The Simpsons, Indigo girls, or San Francisco either, but I
promise to put them right back where I found them.
Later that night, three couples in three separate rooms savored their victory over evil in their own special ways.
Kate giggled helplessly as Lorne performed a striptease to the tune of Lady Marmalade.
"Hey, you didn't think my body was that amusing last night."
"Oh, it was amusing. It just didn't make me laugh."
The demon flopped onto the bed next to his lover.
"Laugh all you like, honeybunch. It's a nice sound; even when it's directed at me."
"I just wish we could have a repeat performance of last night, but I'm too sore."
"Don't you worry, sweetie, we'll have lots of encores of that. You just rest up and feel better for now."
He leaned over and kissed her.
"I like the sound of that," Kate said. "In fact, it's music to my
ears."
*****
"Pass the peanut butter, Cordy."
"What's the magic word?"
"Shanshu."
Cordelia swatted Angel playfully.
"Here you go," she said as she passed the jar. "So how are we going to tell them?"
"Tell who what?"
"Tell Wesley and Gunn about you and shanshu. And you and me."
"Do you think it would be too much to have me just walk into the office in the middle of the day and say I'm going out to get lunch for everybody? And then I do it?"
"You're just never going to get tired of the sun thing, are you?"
"Nope. And there's another thing I'll never get tired of."
"What's that?" Cordelia asked flirtatiously.
"Peanut butter and chocolate together. It's an incredible combination."
In the ensuing play struggle, a large glop of peanut butter and a bit of chocolate syrup landed on Cordelia's chest just above the neckline of her blouse. Angel leaned over and licked it off of her.
"Mmmmm, that's good. See? I'll never get tired of that."
"Is that a fact? I think we should experiment a little bit. Maybe try it on some other body parts."
Angel grinned wolfishly and reached for the spoon.
*****
Buffy stroked the crisp curls on Giles' chest as he dropped kisses across her brow and cheeks. At last his lips moved to capture hers softly. A few kisses later, she snuggled against his chest again listening to his heartbeat slow to its normal pace.
"That was amazing," Buffy purred. "Not quite sure the doc would approve, what with you being minorly concussed and all, but I think it was worth it."
"Well worth it, I would say."
"Rupert? How do you think they'll take this? Us?"
"I should imagine they'd be a bit surprised, at least at first. We'd best be prepared for some disapproval. In the long run, though, I think they'll give us the same sort of support as we've given them in their somewhat...unconventional relationships."
Buffy smiled and planted a kiss in the middle of Giles' chest.
"Was that Gilespeak for 'after bringing home a werewolf, a witch, Cordelia and a vengeance demon, they better mind their own beeswax'?"
"Something like that, yes."
The pair remained silent for a while, basking in the peace of an uncomplicated moment.
"Buffy?"
"Yeah?"
"I hesitate to bring this up, but what about Dawn?"
"Dawn." Buffy thought for a moment. "I think Dawn will deal. She likes you, y'know."
"I wasn't sure. She has an annoying tendancy to roll her eyes and make sarcastic remarks in my presence."
"She's fifteen, Giles. She does that with anybody over the age of twenty."
"Except Spike."
"Uh uh. Not going there tonight. I'm officially declaring this bed a Spike-free zone."
Giles chuckled and kissed her lightly.
"You stay right here, love."
Buffy took his arms.
"Where are you going?"
"Not far."
"You're coming right back?"
"Of course."
He kissed the tip of her nose softly. Buffy giggled and released him. As he padded quietly across the room, Buffy enjoyed the view of his firm backside.
"Nice free show!"
"Hmm?" Giles turned. "Oh. Well it would be rather silly to worry about that now when you've already seen everything. Unless..."
He trailed off, his gaze dropping to the floor. In a flash Buffy was beside him, enfolding him in her arms.
"No unlesses here. God, what made you think I wouldn't love every inch of you?"
"I - I...it's just that...Buffy, I'm not twenty anymore..."
"And I've never exactly let you forget that, have I? Look, I was a stupid kid when I met you. I was sixteen and scared to death of what I was supposed to be. I was fighting to live a normal life. I guess if there's one thing I've finally figured out, it's that normal isn't for me. But just because something is weird doesn't always mean it's bad, or ugly. So you're older. So you have wrinkles and scars and grey hairs even in some interesting places. I love you, and that makes you handsome to me."
Giles gripped her a bit tighter.
"Just when I think you can't amaze me any more..."
"Besides, observant guy, didn't you ever notice?"
"Notice what?"
"I only ever called you old and shudderworthy when there was some other girl hitting on you. Even before I thought about this, I knew I didn't want to share you."
She reached up to kiss him.
"Y'know, it's a whole lot easier for me to reach you when we're lying down."
"I'll make it easy in a minute. Now go back to bed. I'll be right there."
"Yes sir, Watcher-mine."
He smiled after her, then turned to the portable stereo he'd brought along on the trip. He inserted a CD, and returned to Buffy's side.
"This song always makes me think of you. It seems appropriate, somehow, to share it with you tonight."
Buffy's jaw dropped.
"What was that you said about amazing people? Giles, this is the Indigo Girls!"
"I listen to a few groups who are still recording."
They lay back and let the music wash over them.
for you
i would tattoo me
with lines crossing into a hand
and a heart that would never bleed
with the twilight
and the horse drawn on my arm
standing for an addiction
pray we go unharmed
Buffy reached out a finger to trace the black mark on Giles' forearm. She frowned slightly, then bent to kiss the tattoo.
here is my love and anger
you see now
these are my gods
these are my scars
here is my love and anger
well these arms are burning
but they're open wide
"Why did you do that?"
some things
i hold too tightly
some things
i'll never
i'll never touch
oh but i'm wearing down the stones
in the river
and you see all my life
i've painted with anger's brush
"Why didn't you ever get it removed?"
now, now could you
lift me through my love and anger
you see now
these are your gods
these are my scars
lift me through my love and anger
ah and my arms are burning
but they're open wide
"What good would it have done? Perhaps I should have it removed now."
oh
you precious kid
i have a motion
and it's just for you
i see a warrior
barefoot and dancing
oh with tears of pain and beauty
and all of this is true
"No." Buffy continued to touch the tattoo. "I think you should leave it."
for you
lift me through my love and anger
you see now these are my gods
these are your scars
lift me through my love and anger
oh and my arms are burning
and they're open wide
"Why?"
Buffy considered.
"When all that happened, it was the first time I knew."
pointing out the graveyards
i will be the reaper
if you will be
the keeper of my heart
"Knew what?"
"That you were a guy. Not just a Watcher, but really a human being. That you'd screwed up just as badly as I had, and you still turned out okay. It made me feel like maybe I'd be okay, too."
"Buffy, you are so very much more than okay."
"You are, too, y'know."
i will be the reaper
if you will be
the keeper of my heart
you are the keeper of this heart
of my heart
*****
Two days later, Cordelia strode into the lobby of the Hyperion Hotel. Wesley looked up from a thick tome and smiled broadly to see her.
"Cordelia! How was San Francisco?"
"Foggy, dangerous, and filled with great stores. I got some really terrific boots."
"And the demon?"
"Angel saved the day! Well, with a little help from Buffy and Giles and everybody. Oh, and you'll never believe this: Lorne isn't gay!"
"You're joking! Really?"
"Not only that, he's dating Kate now. How's that for weird?"
"Oh dear. It might be a sign of impending doom. I'd best check my books..."
"Ha ha. Where's Gunn?"
The man in question came down the stairs.
"Yo, Cordy! Good to see you back, girl. Where's his broody self?"
"Parking the car. Outside. In the street."
Wesley and Gunn shared a confused look as a huge smile spread itself across Cordelia's face.
"How is that possible? It's one thirty in the afternoon," Wesley objected.
Angel walked slowly up to the door, still raising his face to the warmth of the sun.
"That's how, Wesley. Shanshu."
"Shanshu," the Englishman breathed. "I don't believe it."
"What the hell's a shanshu?"asked Gunn. "And why isn't he on fire?"
"Oh, and I know we've never had a policy on this, but you'd better not have a problem with dating in the ranks, because we are."
"Who are? What?" Wesley was confused.
"Angel and me. Dating. In the ranks. No objections allowed, Wes."
"Well, so long as it doesn't affect your work negatively, I see no reason to object."
"Good. Now Angel and I are taking the rest of the day off. He needs less broody clothes if he's going to be seen with me. I wonder how he'd look in purple."
Cordelia raced out of the door and into Angel's waiting arms. He swept her up into his arms and kissed her, then laughed as he deposited her on the ground. Hand in hand, they left the hotel.
*****
"And while Giles kept it talking, Angel came up behind with a water bottle. Then it did the lightening finger trick again, and he threw the water and shorted it out. It was very Wicked Witch of the West, except it didn't melt. It just sort of changed shape until it looked like Krusty the Klown."
The Scoobygang had gathered around the tarot table in the Magic Box to discuss the events of the past few days.
"I'm not sure I like this whole looking like me thing," Willow said. "Why do things that want to destroy the world like to look like me?"
"Because you're so darn non-threatening, Will," Xander answered. "They're figuring anyone that attacks something that looks like you will feel like it's kicking a puppy and back off."
"I still don't like it. And I can be dangerous, too."
"Of course you can, honey," Tara assured her girlfriend. "We all know that, right guys?"
Everybody nodded and agreed.
"So what have you been doing ever since?" Anya asked.
"Huh? Ever since?" Buffy stalled.
"It's been two days since you destroyed the creature, and you just got home today. Where have you been all this time?"
Buffy and Giles looked at one another. A silent question and answer passed between them. Buffy took Giles' hand and took a deep breath.
"We sorta have an announcement to make."
*****
Half an hour later, Willow, Tara, Xander and Anya started home shaking their heads.
"Well that was unexpected," Willow said.
"I know. I was no way expecting that," Xander added.
"But is it really all that surprising?" Tara asked. "I mean with all the strange things we've seen, why shouldn't there be a forbidden donut for real?"
"And hey," Anya added, "at least it worked. Buffy and Giles are finally having orgasms together."
THE END