Bookends: Something Familiar
Title: Something Familiar
Author: il_mio_capitano
Rating: 15+
Characters Giles, Ethan this one. Post Chosen. Giles has a new life. Buffy won't let go.
Length 1300
Life in this series yet...
Series: Bookends. All the Companion pieces in the series are listed here...
It had started as a rather promising night for Ethan. He was in a pub he’d grown familiar with and most importantly, a pub that had grown familiar with him. It wasn’t a rowdy student place in the centre of town, but rather quieter and out of the way, the sort frequented by middle aged women of various marital states, looking for a good time. Ethan had established himself as charming and debonair and above all, safe, for some weeks but then, middle-aged women, as any good predator knows, always hang out in pairs. However, he had that night, brought something of a trump card in his pocket, for Rupert, whether he realised it or not, brought out the maternal side in middle-aged women. The two of them on the town promised to be quite devastating among the pre-menopausal set.
They had immediately attracted a pair of fun loving ladies within an hour of their arrival. Ethan had made an excuse to go to the bar with his date and let nature take its course with Rupert and her friend. He bought a ridiculous blue cocktail and a packet of nuts at the bar, and spouted gallant nonsense in his best seductive tone, conscious of her body already familiarly close to his and her hand, so near to his waist.
And then it happened.
A shriek followed by angry words at the table they had left. Ethan turned in time to see the woman slap Rupert’s face and then throw her drink at him. She angrily gathered her things and Ethan became aware his own date had withdrawn her proximity from him and was rushing to her friend’s side. Bags and coats whipped to shoulders and they were gone, out the pub, slamming into bemused drinkers and out into the night.
Ethan picked up some paper towels from the bar and his bag of nuts and casually sat down next to Rupert who was still dripping gin and vermouth to a small puddle on the table.
“I do hope that was something deliciously salacious you said.”
“I said I wasn’t going to sleep with her.”
Ethan considered his reply. “A tad blunt.”
“It was the truth but she seemed to take it as a challenge. I may have added ‘not even if you were the last woman on Earth’ at that point.”
“That would account for the martini shower-bath, certainly,” Ethan added breezily. Rupert dropped his head.
“I can’t ...not with anyone else.”
“Olivia?”
His friend seemed to take a while to process her name before nodding. Ethan hadn’t thought their relationship to have been particularly deep, but he wasn’t stupid, Olivia’s death and deaths of Giles’ close family had taken a toll on Rupert that he didn’t want the world to see. Ethan was above the world of course, but he seemed to have opened up a fissure of pain and he found himself regretting his foolish attempt to get Rupert laid as a form of therapy.
“Her parents have been trying to trace me,” Rupert added with his eyes fixed firmly on the empty martini glass.
“Probably best to lay low from them. I mean, awful for them, but you can’t give them any more details.”
Rupert rose swiftly. “This was a mistake.”
“Alright.” Ethan stood too. “Where do you want to go?”
“St Peter’s Church.” Rupert was already out of the pub and Ethan had to rush to catch up.
“It’s a little late for services,” he reasoned as they hit the night air.
“I can walk there.” Rupert shrugged. “I’ve done it before.”
“No, get in the car. I’ll drive us.”
---
Ethan’s night was rapidly due to become morning, but he sat on a bench in the churchyard, his chin propped by his elbow, and waited patiently. They had toured the church and walked the paths in the graveyard silently. He had assumed it to be the church of Olivia’s final resting place but Rupert had made no attempt to acknowledge any single grave. He had simply walked until he they came to a large mausoleum that dominated a small earthwork, and then he’d sat on the bench and studied the skyline.
The hours had passed with Rupert waiting and Ethan waiting on him in turn. It wasn’t the most thrilling night he’d spent in the latter’s company but if he were honest, possibly not the most boring either. A lot of Ethan’s existence required patience. Rupert’s Slayer regarded him as shallow and needing instant gratification, but Ethan had helped that misperception grow and blossom as he did all opinions of himself. After all what right had anyone to judge him, to understand him? He knew the secret to any soul was to know what it truly desires and he wasn’t going to share that with anyone. When someone else gains that knowledge, the soul is exposed and vulnerable and Ethan knew this because he himself had profited by it in the past. What he needed now was to be patient and to understand what Rupert wanted. And because he had a sentimental streak for the big idiot, Ethan was going to help him get it.
The sky lightened in the East and the trees gained more contrast in the gloom. Ethan yawned and was wondering if this vigil of sorts was going to mean him missing breakfast, when Rupert bolted to his feet.
“Stay behind me,” he said softly. Ethan looked about in confusion until he saw three men coming towards them. They were big and half running towards them, and when they grew close, Ethan could see the tell-tale ridged foreheads and flashing yellow eyes.
“Bloody hell, Ripper,” he gasped.
“Stay behind me,” Rupert barked again as he produced a stake from his pocket and rushed towards the three vampires.
Ethan was no coward but he was not heroically suicidal either. He remained seated and watched the battle unfold. The vampires were surprised by the assault and the first was killed easily but the other two instinctively separated to take their attacker in a pincer movement. There was growling and the crunch of bodies against solid gravestones. Ethan could see the sun was starting to rise and fill the ground with light. The vampires were torn between wanting to finish Rupert off and needing to shelter from the sun’s rays. The indecision gave him time to slip another death hold and stake the taller one in the back and through the heart. His companion chose discretion and made to run towards Ethan but Rupert sprang on him too and there was a third explosion of dust and then all was silent.
Ethan turned his head to appreciate the old mausoleum behind him. It was an entrance way to underground caves and crypts he presumed, the three vampires had left it rather late to return home before sunrise and that had been their downfall. He took a considered breath as he realised it was not by accident that Rupert had been waiting at this spot.
Stretching indolently from his long hours of vigil, Ethan wandered to where Rupert was coughing up some blood on a lichen stained headstone.
“Didn’t you used to keep a Slayer handy for this sort of thing?” he asked casually.
Rupert grinned up him, his eyes sparkling with adrenaline.
“Never one about when you need one,” he answered, coughing again but his pleasure at killing three vampires was apparent, it radiated from his whole body like a beacon. His happiness was warm and intoxicating, and Ethan revelled in the old familiar feelings it stirred in him too.
“Well, if this is your idea of how to end a perfect evening, Ripper,” he began, offering his hand to his friend, “I’m sure I can help you find even more fun next time.”