Title: Full Of Love 6/10
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.
Spike slumped back on his cot. He pulled out his lighter and rummaged around for his cigarette pack. When he found it, he shook it only to find it empty. With a disgusted snort, he lobbed it across the room, then sent the lighter flying after it.
"Careful," came a pouty voice from the shadows. "If I was solid, that would have been painful."
"Sorry, Pet," he muttered insincerely. "I didn't mean to not hurt you."
Buffy's giggle bubbled up in the dark corner.
"I always liked the pain, Spike. Giving it...receiving it...the pain turned me on more than you can imagine. That's why you're here. Hurt me some more, Spike. I want it."
"You sure you shouldn't be Dru about now?" he asked sardonically. "That really sounded more her line."
The being sauntered into the light. It still wore Buffy's face.
"But it's true," it said. "You know it's what I wanted. Even when I fought, I wanted it. All women want to be dominated."
"Look, I'm not completely stupid," he retorted. "I do know Buffy is out tonight. And if you think ol' Rupes is going to dominate her...well..." he began to chuckle. "That's just too funny."
"She's out?" the ersatz Buffy demanded. "With him?"
"Never thought it would happen, but it seems she's finally taken off the bloody blinders. Not that he'll get lucky tonight. She's a right tease when she wants to be." When there was no reply, the vampire looked about himself. He shook his head in disgust. "So glad you could drop in," he muttered. "Come back when you can stay for a cup of tea, why don't you?"
He double-checked the space under his cot for more cigarettes.
*****
"Don't do this," Giles said quietly, "unless you're absolutely certain it's what you want. If you're going to regret kissing me in the morning, then go back to your room, and we'll forget anything was said."
She looked at him seriously. As if compelled, she trailed her fingers gently down his cheek.
"Stubbly," she observed with a small smile. "But nice."
Her fingers continued their exploration, discovering the shape of his lips, the slight crook in the bridge of his nose, skimming softly over the furrows of his forehead. At last, she traced the shape of his eyebrows and smiled at him. He let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. She leaned toward him.
"I want it," she said finally. "But not now. Not like this. If we did this now, there would always be this question of whether we were doing it because we want to or because this is what some cosmic Pooh-Bah has wanted us to do all along. I want my free will back. When I kiss you, I want you to know it's really me, for all the right reasons."
His lips twitched slightly, despite his disappointment. Suddenly, he realized that he was feeling something else: gratitude. He was touched that she wanted to wait for it to be indisputably right. His hand reached up to caress her cheek.
"You truly are a miracle," he said.
She ducked her head to hide her blush. When she looked up, her expression was nervous.
"Could I...maybe stay here, even if all we do is sleep?" she asked hesitantly. "I know it's sort of a lot to ask, but I feel like I've been alone so long. Even with that whole houseful of people...I know it's stupid, but I kept feeling like I was alone no matter what I did or who I was with. So could we just sort of be here together? Or will you be all frustrated and snarky if we do that?"
With a small smile, he nodded.
"I'll just turn out the light," he said. "I might get frustrated, but I'll do my best not to be snarky."
He got up and took care of the aforementioned light. As he lay down next to Buffy, she looked at him with a smile.
"You know", she said, "you don't have to keep all your clothes on, if you don't want. I promise not to peek, even."
"I don't mind," he said a bit stiffly.
"Maybe not, but I do. More togetherness is better, Giles. And from what I've seen tonight, you don't have much to be ashamed of in the body department. Come on. It can't be comfortable to sleep in your pants. Anyway, you'll get them all wrinkly."
Giles almost protested, but then he decided that sleeping in his trousers would, indeed, be uncomfortable, and slipped them off. His fingers hesitated at his shirt buttons.
"I've seen chests before," Buffy said sleepily. "Just take it off and come to bed."
"Why this sudden fetish for undressing me?"
"Consider it a preview of coming attractions."
"You're getting all the previews."
"Too sleepy for this talk. Come lie down with me and shut up."
He shrugged the shirt off his shoulders, lay down next to her, and closed his eyes. A moment later, a warm, female form pressed against him.
"Giles?"
"Yes, Buffy."
"You know I love you, right?"
"Of course I do," he said. "And you know the feeling is mutual, don't you?"
"Yeah. I know." She rolled over and wrapped an arm around his bare abdomen. "Apart from being a little weird...it's not too bad."
He chuckled and took her in his arms.
"It's not bad at all," he said. "In fact, I'm rather pleased."
They gave one another a light squeeze and settled down to go to sleep.
*****
"...and I like watermelon Jolly Ranchers, and my favorite TV show is Survivor...but my Watcher hated it. He used to tell me it was sapping out my brains," Kennedy said. "I miss him," she added quietly after a moment. "He was my whole family from as far back as I can remember. I guess that's about it."
She sat back down. Everyone was quiet at first. It felt a bit to Dawn like introductions at summer camp, when nobody was quite sure what to do afterwards. She guessed somebody had to be the cousellor and come up with the next game.
"Anybody want to play Truth or Dare?" she asked.
A figure in the hall came to a halt.
"Oooh, I love that game," Andrew said popping into the doorway. "Can I play too?"
The Potentials eyed one another. For the first time ever, they all seemed to be sharing one thought.
"Sure," Molly said a little too brightly. "We'd love you to come play. Who goes first?"
"Can I?" Amanda asked. When the others nodded, she turned on Andrew. "Truth or Dare?"
"Ummm...Truth," he chose.
"Are you gay?"
*****
"The sorority at the top of the stairs has been awfully quiet," Xander observed as he flipped through the book Willow had handed him.
"Kennedy's up there," she shrugged. "She'll keep it under control."
He nodded and went back to his reading. A minute later, he looked up again.
"Will? Do you really think we'll find anything in the notes?"
"I'm not sure," she admitted. "It's sort of all I could think of to do about our breakthrough theory...look stuff up...try to find some proof before Buffy and Giles get back so we can make 'em listen. If they'll listen. Buffy hasn't been really open to suggestions for a while."
"And Giles hasn't exactly been open-minded man, either. Not that we've been saying a whole lot worth hearing."
"Stop beating yourself up, Xand. We can mentally berate ourselves later. Right now, I think we should probably make with the helpful."
"I'm making. I'm helping. I'm starving. Think there are any cheesy chips left?"
"I ate the last ones this afternoon. Sorry. What time is it?"
Xander checked his watch.
"Two-fifteen. Why?"
"Shouldn't Buffy and Giles be...y'know...back by now?"
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Giles called. They're not coming back tonight. And that's what I call a successful first date."
"So you think they're...y'know...doing it?"
"Will, we're all grown up now. I think we can say the words. They're doing the horizontal bop."
"Rockin' the casbah?" she giggled.
"Makin' bacon," he grinned.
"Making love like crazed weasels."
They stopped laughing and grimaced slightly.
"We're sick for thinking about this, aren't we?" Xander asked.
"Maybe just a little. But it's been so long since there's been a real good, maybe it's not so sick to be happy for them. I miss laughing with Buffy."
"Yeah. And I sorta miss teasing Giles until he stops being stuffy and zings me good. I want our friends back."
Willow reached out and took his hand.
"Me, too," she said seriously. "And I think maybe we should tell them that when they get here."
"Want to lay off the research and see if there's a really dumb infomercial on?"
"Sure. I don't think we're gonna find the answers between the covers. The...book covers."
"Only covers I was thinking of, Will," he said quickly. "And has anyone ever told you what a crime it is to bogart the cheesy chips? Infomercials just aren't the same without 'em."
They closed their books and headed for the sofa. As Xander picked up the remote, he turned to Willow.
"Y'know," he said, "I could get used to a life like this. My best friend sharing the tacky with me while our best friends get happy. Give me a love life and a toilet that isn't constantly threatening to overflow, and I'd be one happy guy."
"Maybe some living room windows that don't need replacing every couple weeks would be nice, too," she added.
Xander stopped flipping channels.
"Oooh!" he exclaimed. "Exercise equipment we'll never use. Wanna watch this one?"
"If we can't find Ginzu knives, yeah."
Willow pulled the comforter over herself and her best friend as they giggled at the overblown sales pitch.