Flashfic-a-thon, Buffy Style
Title: Lenny Bruce is Not Afraid
Written for: wesleysgirl
Pairing: Wesley/Giles, spoilers through Home and Chosen
Rating: PG-13
Thanks: To meegzi31 for the quick beta run-through. And to marguerite_26 for the challenge invite.
Author's Note: The title comes from the REM song, "It's The End of the World As We Know it (and I Feel Fine)," lyrics found here.
It hadn't taken an Apocalypse or dire portents or even an earthquake. Merely a phone call, an invitation and a cup of proper English tea. Apologies were offered and refused. Tears were manfully repressed. And English murmurs were said over biscuits.
It wasn't even the end of the world.
Most reunions were due to the advent of something terrible. But after the 100th time the World Was In Peril (celebrated last Tuesday morning at 7:37GMT), apocalypses just weren't cause for more than a phone call. And being on the other side of the Atlantic, Rupert Giles didn't always get one of those.
The last "Big" Apocalypse destroyed Cleveland, the one before that L.A., and the one previous to that Sunnydale. In his last conversation with his slayer, she had referred to them as the Mystery Machine, version 6.66. Along with some slogan about Rapid Eye Movement that he's quite sure he didn't understand.
But with the destruction of every village, city and mini-mart in the contiguous United States, the world grew safer. Evil omens alone had diminished by half since the explosion at the hotel in L.A. Though four years later Angel still grumbled about his property losses, Giles knew he was glad to be free of the law firm. The closing of Cleveland's Hellmouth had necessitated the revival of the Watcher's Council. Too many untrained slayers were wandering around with no sense of their powers. After thirty-five had shown up at Wood's house, he had called Giles in quite a state. Seems a houseful of impressionable youngsters had put quite a strain on his "relationship" with his own slayer.
After much thought and debate, it was agreed that the new Council would also reside in England. Xander put it the best, "you can't just disregard hundreds of years of stuffed shirts sipping tea, for the high life in Vegas." And while the climate in Nevada might have proven more enjoyable, Giles did enjoy being among the spirits of the past. He felt the ghosts of the Watcher's previously bearing down upon him, and took great joy in tweaking the rules as he saw fit.
As he glanced at the man beside him, he began to schedule the week's events. Weapons practice for the 15s with Kennedy, computer basics for the 9s with Willow, crystal meditation for the 19s with Chao Ann, and gymnastics for the 6s with Xander. And he made a note that he needed to discuss revamping the demon curriculum with Andrew. Dawn's recent discoveries in the Texlar manuscripts had led to a new method of destroying the Kreiger demon. Plus he needed to consult with Faith and Wood about recent demon activities in Nebraska.
Looks like Wesley had been right.
~~~
"Hello?"
"Hello."
"May I help you..."
"Mr. Giles, it's Wesley." Pause. "Wesley Wyndam-Pryce"
"Good lord man, we thought you were dead."
"I seem to be very much alive I'm afraid."
"Wesley are you quite alright?
"I fear not, Mr. Giles. I seem to be lost."
Giles takes off his glasses and searches for his handkerchief, "Wes. How can I help?"
"Well you could find a bloody map that's accurate for one."
"Pardon?"
"I seem to have found myself in Nebraska with no way of leaving. I've decided that Kearney, Nebraska is one of the stops along the pathway to hell."
"Oh. I thought you meant--"
"No, I still have all my faculties about me, I just seem to--Bugger all, I've passed the freeway again!"
"Wesley, why are you in Nebraska?"
"Because Superman's looking out for Kansas?"
"Wes."
"I had to leave Mr. Giles, I just, well I couldn't stay, not after. Well, I just couldn't stay."
"After what? After the hotel? I thought you set the charges?"
"I did."
"Well then Wesley, I don't understand what caused you to disappear for six months without telling anyone. Especially Angel."
"And why would I tell Angel that I was leaving?"
"Outside of the fact that he was your business associate?"
"Yes."
"He's been terribly worried about you Wesley, we all have."
"Based on his ministrations toward William, I'm surprised he even noticed."
"Jealousy doesn't become you Wesley."
"Neither does Nebraska, it seems."
"Wes..."
"Eureka!"
"Pardon?"
"I just passed a mile maker for Kansas."
Giles sighs, "Wesley, come home."
"Home? I have no home Mr. Giles."
"England Wes. Come to England."
"Why?"
"Just come home Wes. Please." It slips out, like a prayer or a benediction.
~~~
Looking back, Giles was sure that it was the "please" that got him. Recognition of Wesley's skills and Giles' need for them in this ever-changing world they had created. A request that Wesley had not expected and a chance at success and acceptance he could not ignore.
He looked outside his window at a perfectly English type of day. Gloom and rain on the horizon with bits of sunlight peeking in. There was probably an apt metaphor in there, but Giles didn't feel like searching for it.
Instead he poked the lump beside him, “Wake up you sleepy fool.” Faint mumbles are heard from beneath the covers. “I speak Arabic you twit, and there is no need to take your hangover pains out on the spirits of my ancestors.”
A flash of sunlight elicited a groan from one man and a memory from the other.
~~~
Two drivers awaited Wesley at the luggage terminal, one held a sign reading "Wyndam-Pryce" and one "Wes." Ignoring the first, Wesley approached the man holding the second. Moments later he was pointed to the curb and a blue Cooper with a familiar driver.
“Hello Mr. Giles.”
“It's Rupert, Wes. Or Giles if you'd prefer.”
Names settled, Giles pulled away from the airport and began to explain the rudimentary conditions and basic hierarchy of the new Watcher's Council. Giles noticed that as he spoke, the tightly held control within Wesley seemed to relax.
“The coven's right up the road, London's less than a day trip away, and the ocean is within riding distance. I often take Mr. Fett out for a gallop along the shore."
"Mr. Fett?"
"Andrew and Dawn named him."
"Ah..." Wes regards the older man, trying to pinpoint what has changed in his demeanor.
“Yes?”
"I've just realized why you seem different. You've found peace Mr. Giles."
Giles thinks for a moment, and nods. He's found peace, purpose, laughter and companionship. "All I'm lacking is love."
"Love?"
Giles looks at him and smiles, "Love Wesley."
~~~
From then on they were inseparable, GilesandWesley or WesleyandGiles, but one was rarely seen without the other. They worked together, played together and most importantly learn to love together. Two men who had led such twin childhood's, yet vastly different adult lives; who had each trained a Slayer and been betrayed by a friend; who had suffered torture, pain and several concussions, these two men had finally found peace within themselves and with each other.
Giles looks down at the man beside him and kisses him tenderly. Damn the schedules, the apocalypses and all the giant snakes the Powers can throw at him. Right now, he just wants to be in love.
Written for: wesleysgirl
Pairing: Wesley/Giles, spoilers through Home and Chosen
Rating: PG-13
Thanks: To meegzi31 for the quick beta run-through. And to marguerite_26 for the challenge invite.
Author's Note: The title comes from the REM song, "It's The End of the World As We Know it (and I Feel Fine)," lyrics found here.
It hadn't taken an Apocalypse or dire portents or even an earthquake. Merely a phone call, an invitation and a cup of proper English tea. Apologies were offered and refused. Tears were manfully repressed. And English murmurs were said over biscuits.
It wasn't even the end of the world.
Most reunions were due to the advent of something terrible. But after the 100th time the World Was In Peril (celebrated last Tuesday morning at 7:37GMT), apocalypses just weren't cause for more than a phone call. And being on the other side of the Atlantic, Rupert Giles didn't always get one of those.
The last "Big" Apocalypse destroyed Cleveland, the one before that L.A., and the one previous to that Sunnydale. In his last conversation with his slayer, she had referred to them as the Mystery Machine, version 6.66. Along with some slogan about Rapid Eye Movement that he's quite sure he didn't understand.
But with the destruction of every village, city and mini-mart in the contiguous United States, the world grew safer. Evil omens alone had diminished by half since the explosion at the hotel in L.A. Though four years later Angel still grumbled about his property losses, Giles knew he was glad to be free of the law firm. The closing of Cleveland's Hellmouth had necessitated the revival of the Watcher's Council. Too many untrained slayers were wandering around with no sense of their powers. After thirty-five had shown up at Wood's house, he had called Giles in quite a state. Seems a houseful of impressionable youngsters had put quite a strain on his "relationship" with his own slayer.
After much thought and debate, it was agreed that the new Council would also reside in England. Xander put it the best, "you can't just disregard hundreds of years of stuffed shirts sipping tea, for the high life in Vegas." And while the climate in Nevada might have proven more enjoyable, Giles did enjoy being among the spirits of the past. He felt the ghosts of the Watcher's previously bearing down upon him, and took great joy in tweaking the rules as he saw fit.
As he glanced at the man beside him, he began to schedule the week's events. Weapons practice for the 15s with Kennedy, computer basics for the 9s with Willow, crystal meditation for the 19s with Chao Ann, and gymnastics for the 6s with Xander. And he made a note that he needed to discuss revamping the demon curriculum with Andrew. Dawn's recent discoveries in the Texlar manuscripts had led to a new method of destroying the Kreiger demon. Plus he needed to consult with Faith and Wood about recent demon activities in Nebraska.
Looks like Wesley had been right.
~~~
"Hello?"
"Hello."
"May I help you..."
"Mr. Giles, it's Wesley." Pause. "Wesley Wyndam-Pryce"
"Good lord man, we thought you were dead."
"I seem to be very much alive I'm afraid."
"Wesley are you quite alright?
"I fear not, Mr. Giles. I seem to be lost."
Giles takes off his glasses and searches for his handkerchief, "Wes. How can I help?"
"Well you could find a bloody map that's accurate for one."
"Pardon?"
"I seem to have found myself in Nebraska with no way of leaving. I've decided that Kearney, Nebraska is one of the stops along the pathway to hell."
"Oh. I thought you meant--"
"No, I still have all my faculties about me, I just seem to--Bugger all, I've passed the freeway again!"
"Wesley, why are you in Nebraska?"
"Because Superman's looking out for Kansas?"
"Wes."
"I had to leave Mr. Giles, I just, well I couldn't stay, not after. Well, I just couldn't stay."
"After what? After the hotel? I thought you set the charges?"
"I did."
"Well then Wesley, I don't understand what caused you to disappear for six months without telling anyone. Especially Angel."
"And why would I tell Angel that I was leaving?"
"Outside of the fact that he was your business associate?"
"Yes."
"He's been terribly worried about you Wesley, we all have."
"Based on his ministrations toward William, I'm surprised he even noticed."
"Jealousy doesn't become you Wesley."
"Neither does Nebraska, it seems."
"Wes..."
"Eureka!"
"Pardon?"
"I just passed a mile maker for Kansas."
Giles sighs, "Wesley, come home."
"Home? I have no home Mr. Giles."
"England Wes. Come to England."
"Why?"
"Just come home Wes. Please." It slips out, like a prayer or a benediction.
~~~
Looking back, Giles was sure that it was the "please" that got him. Recognition of Wesley's skills and Giles' need for them in this ever-changing world they had created. A request that Wesley had not expected and a chance at success and acceptance he could not ignore.
He looked outside his window at a perfectly English type of day. Gloom and rain on the horizon with bits of sunlight peeking in. There was probably an apt metaphor in there, but Giles didn't feel like searching for it.
Instead he poked the lump beside him, “Wake up you sleepy fool.” Faint mumbles are heard from beneath the covers. “I speak Arabic you twit, and there is no need to take your hangover pains out on the spirits of my ancestors.”
A flash of sunlight elicited a groan from one man and a memory from the other.
~~~
Two drivers awaited Wesley at the luggage terminal, one held a sign reading "Wyndam-Pryce" and one "Wes." Ignoring the first, Wesley approached the man holding the second. Moments later he was pointed to the curb and a blue Cooper with a familiar driver.
“Hello Mr. Giles.”
“It's Rupert, Wes. Or Giles if you'd prefer.”
Names settled, Giles pulled away from the airport and began to explain the rudimentary conditions and basic hierarchy of the new Watcher's Council. Giles noticed that as he spoke, the tightly held control within Wesley seemed to relax.
“The coven's right up the road, London's less than a day trip away, and the ocean is within riding distance. I often take Mr. Fett out for a gallop along the shore."
"Mr. Fett?"
"Andrew and Dawn named him."
"Ah..." Wes regards the older man, trying to pinpoint what has changed in his demeanor.
“Yes?”
"I've just realized why you seem different. You've found peace Mr. Giles."
Giles thinks for a moment, and nods. He's found peace, purpose, laughter and companionship. "All I'm lacking is love."
"Love?"
Giles looks at him and smiles, "Love Wesley."
~~~
From then on they were inseparable, GilesandWesley or WesleyandGiles, but one was rarely seen without the other. They worked together, played together and most importantly learn to love together. Two men who had led such twin childhood's, yet vastly different adult lives; who had each trained a Slayer and been betrayed by a friend; who had suffered torture, pain and several concussions, these two men had finally found peace within themselves and with each other.
Giles looks down at the man beside him and kisses him tenderly. Damn the schedules, the apocalypses and all the giant snakes the Powers can throw at him. Right now, he just wants to be in love.