A/N:Wasn't sure weather or not to include this part. It's not essential to
the plot so don't read it if you don't like the idea of Giles/Ethan.
PS: yes I know I'm evil taking so long with the updates and all. I'm kicking myself right now. Hard. ~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter XIII - Favor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The brown leather of the ancient looking chair creaked in protest as Giles sat down with a soft sigh. He took a sip from his brandy-pretending-to-be- tea and proceeded to polish his glasses. Thinking usually came easily to Rupert Giles. All he had to do was find a starting point: a way of approaching the situation and before he knew it all relevant information was sorted and store so conclusions could be drawn.
Not so today.
Or any other day fate decided to throw his past back at him. Repressing was a lot harder that way.
Restless, he stood and paced the length of his office. Mulling over the events of the last three days in his head he tried to get a handle on the price of their success. //Price? Was there something I had to give up?// he didn't think that what he had to offer mattered at all to Ethan. But it did. It mattered. //too much.// placing his glasses on the table next to the fine bone china cup he rubbed his eyes. Tired of thinking, wanting to let go every time he reminded himself why he couldn't. //didn't//. If only he didn't have to face this now. Face //you!//
"You."
Giles was quite unaware of being observed until Ethan chose to show his presence by scaring the living daylights out of him!
Ethan chuckled, a sound emanating from deep within his throat yet somehow managing to be light a airy. The sparkle in his eyes indicated that he was thoroughly entertained by having succeeded in creeping up on the watcher.
"Very good."
The smooth voice cooed mockingly.
"don't forget the 'I' and the 'O'. . ."
He stalked closer, waiting for the meaning behind the childish words to dawn on Rupert. He was taken aback by the confused heartbroken resignation the lingered on the other mans' face.
// I O U. how amusing. Why? What does he want from me?//
"No. We're even."
Giles noticed the hesitation, the calculating glance as Ethan reached for his cup of 'tea'.
A slow smile crept over his features finally.
The smug bastard knew exactly how he made him feel but wasn't going to call him on it. Giles was grateful for that. For a moment it seemed almost as though Ethan was going to want to talk. Show the emotions behind the mask that usually remained well hidden in his eyes. But he wasn't. He would just stand there and smile. Knowing. When had he gotten do close? The cup was back on the table and mere inches separated the two men. Giles could hear Ethans' every breath rush past his lips and realized he had said something. What? He didn't know. He was hearing the sound of the tea cup as it was placed back on the veneered surface of the desk. That happened a couple of seconds ago. Giles realized that in a couple more seconds he would know what was said to him.
"Even."
The word whispered against his ear, allowing him to feel the brush of Ethans' lips against his skin for a moment, was heard only after the soft click of the door, closing.
"Did it ever really change between us?"
True to form. A touch too late.
~~~~~~~
PS: yes I know I'm evil taking so long with the updates and all. I'm kicking myself right now. Hard. ~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter XIII - Favor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The brown leather of the ancient looking chair creaked in protest as Giles sat down with a soft sigh. He took a sip from his brandy-pretending-to-be- tea and proceeded to polish his glasses. Thinking usually came easily to Rupert Giles. All he had to do was find a starting point: a way of approaching the situation and before he knew it all relevant information was sorted and store so conclusions could be drawn.
Not so today.
Or any other day fate decided to throw his past back at him. Repressing was a lot harder that way.
Restless, he stood and paced the length of his office. Mulling over the events of the last three days in his head he tried to get a handle on the price of their success. //Price? Was there something I had to give up?// he didn't think that what he had to offer mattered at all to Ethan. But it did. It mattered. //too much.// placing his glasses on the table next to the fine bone china cup he rubbed his eyes. Tired of thinking, wanting to let go every time he reminded himself why he couldn't. //didn't//. If only he didn't have to face this now. Face //you!//
"You."
Giles was quite unaware of being observed until Ethan chose to show his presence by scaring the living daylights out of him!
Ethan chuckled, a sound emanating from deep within his throat yet somehow managing to be light a airy. The sparkle in his eyes indicated that he was thoroughly entertained by having succeeded in creeping up on the watcher.
"Very good."
The smooth voice cooed mockingly.
"don't forget the 'I' and the 'O'. . ."
He stalked closer, waiting for the meaning behind the childish words to dawn on Rupert. He was taken aback by the confused heartbroken resignation the lingered on the other mans' face.
// I O U. how amusing. Why? What does he want from me?//
"No. We're even."
Giles noticed the hesitation, the calculating glance as Ethan reached for his cup of 'tea'.
A slow smile crept over his features finally.
The smug bastard knew exactly how he made him feel but wasn't going to call him on it. Giles was grateful for that. For a moment it seemed almost as though Ethan was going to want to talk. Show the emotions behind the mask that usually remained well hidden in his eyes. But he wasn't. He would just stand there and smile. Knowing. When had he gotten do close? The cup was back on the table and mere inches separated the two men. Giles could hear Ethans' every breath rush past his lips and realized he had said something. What? He didn't know. He was hearing the sound of the tea cup as it was placed back on the veneered surface of the desk. That happened a couple of seconds ago. Giles realized that in a couple more seconds he would know what was said to him.
"Even."
The word whispered against his ear, allowing him to feel the brush of Ethans' lips against his skin for a moment, was heard only after the soft click of the door, closing.
"Did it ever really change between us?"
True to form. A touch too late.
~~~~~~~