Legacy (2/?)
Title: Legacy
Author: the_huffster
Pairing: Eventual Buffy/Giles
Rating: Overall R/ This chapter PG
Setting: Completely AU- no vampires, demons, slayers, watchers, etc; I've also fudged some ages more for plot than anything else
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Summary: When strange murders begin to appear in Sunnydale, all eyes are on loner Rupert Giles. Is Rupert's past repeating itself, or is there more than what's on the surface?
It had been a busy day at the store, especially when it came to buying used books, and Rupert was glad it was coming to an end. He was looking forward to going to his apartment and relaxing for a few hours before calling it a night; hopefully he’d be able to get the good night’s sleep he hadn’t the night before. He was trying to finish up cataloging the books customers had sold him when he felt a pair of eyes on him.
“The answer’s no.” his voice was tinged with a hint of amusement as he continued writing the condition of the small paperback in front of him.
“You don’t even know what I’m going to ask.” Anya huffed, glaring at him when he glanced up at her.
“I don’t need to know.”
She set the broom against the nearest bookcase and walked over to the front counter, setting her hands on the surface as she leaned forward slightly. Rupert set the pen down and looked up at her. He should’ve known that answering her unasked, and unanswered, question wouldn’t have any other effect than making his employee more determined to ask whatever was on her mind.
“You need to get out more and make more friends who aren’t me, Rupert.” He couldn’t help but chuckle at how she launched right into it. “So I want you to come to come over to my apartment tonight. Xander and I are having some friends over and you’re my friend, so you should come.”
He should’ve known that was coming. It seemed as if every month or so Anya would tell him that her and her boyfriend were having some sort of get together and that he was invited. And every time it was brought up, Rupert would tell her some reason why he couldn’t make it and that would be the end of that. He opened his mouth to tell her how he was exhausted and just wanted to go home when she stopped him before he could start.
“And don’t you dare tell me some story about how you need to get back home.”
“Anya,” he sighed.
“I’m not asking you to stay for the whole night. Just come and stop by for at least an hour.” She told him. “You’re my best friend, after Xander of course, and I don’t like knowing that you leave here every night and go sit in your apartment all by yourself. So as your friend, I’m asking you to come to my apartment and try to meet new people.”
He ran his fingers through his hair and looked at her. Anya meant well, and she thought the world of those she considered her friends. It was easy for her to see how others acted around him at the store and jump to his defense, but Rupert didn’t want to put her in the position of having to do that with the people she knew before him. He also knew how her boyfriend felt about him, and he didn’t want to come between the two of them.
“It’s really not a good idea for me to be there,” he finally said. “I make people uncomfortable and…”
“No, you’re coming. And once they get to know you, they’ll see that everyone in this town in full of shit. It doesn’t help that you don’t talk to anyone either so…”
“And if I don’t show up?”
“Then I’ll come to your apartment and drag you,” she gave him a sweet smile. “I’ll see you at seven, Rupert.”
He rolled his eyes as Anya left the store. He looked at his watch and sighed. He had about an hour and a half before it was seven, and he couldn’t use closing the store as an excuse not to show up. He briefly entertained the idea of seeing if she really would drag him to her home, but he knew Anya well enough to know that she would make good on her threat. He closed up the register and grabbed his keys.
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Rupert sighed and dragged his hand through his hair before knocking on the apartment door. He was nearly thirty minutes late to his employee’s get together, but it wasn’t as if he actually wanted to be there. The way he saw it, he didn’t need to be on time to something he didn’t want to go to. Plus the later he showed up, the less he would have to watch everyone avoid him and whisper behind his back.
“What are you doing here?” a dark haired young man asked.
“I invited him, Xander.” Anya said as she pushed passed her boyfriend and gave Rupert a smile. “I was starting to think I’d have to come drag you here.”
She ushered him into the apartment and closed the door behind him. He looked around and noticed only three young women there, and they had obviously noticed him as well. Two of them just looked at him, almost as if they were afraid to move with him watching. The other was the blonde from the Espresso Pump that morning. She gave him a smile before turning back to the other two and continuing their conversation.
“That’s Willow and her girlfriend Tara,” Anya pointed to the two young women who kept glancing over at him. “And that’s Buffy. Feel free to make yourself at home, Rupert. There are drinks in the kitchen and snacks.”
He turned to look at his employee and gave her a small smile. He was about to tell her that he was only going to stay for a few minutes when her boyfriend got her attention.
“An, can we talk for minute?” he asked, looking at Rupert. He hadn’t even been there for five minutes and it was already starting.
“I’ll be right back. And don’t you dare leave,” she said before following Xander towards the back of the apartment.
Rupert shoved his hands into his jeans and looked around. Even with only three others there, he felt very out of place. It was obvious that he wasn’t welcomed, and that the only other people in the rather spacious apartment didn’t seem comfortable with him there.
He gave a small sigh and looked around before making his way over to a nearby wall. He looked at the few pictures that hung there. The photos weren’t anything personal, just the usual art one would by at a store. He didn’t see the appeal of the certain photos he was looking at, but he could see how Anya would like them.
“Figured you could use a drink,” a voice said, pulling him out of his thoughts. Rupert turned to see the blonde from earlier that morning. “Don’t worry, its just water.”
He gave her a small smile and took one of the plastic cups she was holding, taking a sip.
“Thank you,” he said after a moment.
“No problem. I’m Buffy, by the way.”
“Rupert,” he replied, his gaze going to the two other young women who were still staring at him as they whispered. “You don’t have to keep me company. I’m sure you’d rather not be around me.”
“Anya talks about you all the time to me. I might as well get to know to you,”
He looked at her with wide eyes. A million ideas of what his employee had said went through his head, and none of them were better than the previous.
“I’m sure you’re a lovely young woman but…” he trailed off at the raised eyebrow. “Um…Anya did…did she try to…to set up a d-date?”
A silence hung between the two for a moment and Rupert realized that he might have just ruined the chance of a possible friendship. He swallowed and rubbed the back of his neck, looking down into the cup he held.
It was the small chuckle that brought his attention back to Buffy. There was amusement in her eyes as she looked at him.
“Yeah, that came up as soon as Anya told me you were coming here.” She smiled, taking a sip of her drink.
“I…I had nothing to do with that.” He said quickly. “She means well but she keeps trying to…set me up with women.”
Buffy let out another small chuckle and gave him a reassuring smile. “I figured that was all her and not you.”
Rupert nodded and finished his water. He was about to say something when he noticed movement from the other side of the room. He looked over to see Anya following her boyfriend as he made his way over. The older man sighed softly; he knew exactly what was about to happen.
“I’d like you to leave.” The young man said.
“Xander!” both Anya and Buffy exclaimed.
“What? He’s making Willow and Tara uncomfortable, and I don’t want him in my apartment.” Xander turned to look at his girlfriend. “I get that you consider him a friend, but he’s a nutcase, Anya.”
“No, he isn’t. If you just took the time to get to know him…”
Rupert cleared his throat and slowly made his way to the front door. There was no reason for him to be there, especially when Xander had openly expressed his feelings on him there. He only stopped when he heard Anya address him.
“Thank you for inviting me, Anya. I have to be going anyways.” He gave a weak smile as he opened the door behind him. “It was a pleasure to meet you all.”
He didn’t give anyone time to say anything before walking out of the apartment and quickly making his way down the hall. All he wanted was to go back to his apartment and have a drink or two before calling it a night.
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Something wasn’t right. Rupert had no idea what, but something seemed off. He slowly walked down the small flight of stairs and across the courtyard to his front door, which was barely cracked open. He narrowed his eyes and prepared himself to fight off any invader.
Pushing his front door open slowly, he looked around the living room. The small lamp on the desk behind the couch was turned on. He walked through the door and quietly shut it, listening for any movement in the loft. The sound of rustling in his kitchen caught his attention. He squared his shoulders and went into defensive mode, quietly walking towards the kitchen.
Whoever it was that was in his home had his back towards Rupert as he rummaged through the fridge. Knowing this was probably his only chance, Rupert quickly ran into the kitchen and towards the intruder. He was about to tackle him to the ground when the man quickly swung around and pinned him to the wall, his forearm pushing against Rupert’s throat.
“Jesus,” the man laughed after a moment. “Not as fast as you used to be, Ru.”
Rupert rubbed his throat once the forearm was pulled away. He narrowed his eyes as he looked at the intruder, his eyes instantly going wide when he heard his childhood nickname. He stared at the man in front of him, in complete shock.
“Declan?” Rupert whispered.
The man grinned before reaching forward and pulling Rupert towards him, hugging him tightly.
“It’s good to see you, Ru.”
Author: the_huffster
Pairing: Eventual Buffy/Giles
Rating: Overall R/ This chapter PG
Setting: Completely AU- no vampires, demons, slayers, watchers, etc; I've also fudged some ages more for plot than anything else
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Summary: When strange murders begin to appear in Sunnydale, all eyes are on loner Rupert Giles. Is Rupert's past repeating itself, or is there more than what's on the surface?
It had been a busy day at the store, especially when it came to buying used books, and Rupert was glad it was coming to an end. He was looking forward to going to his apartment and relaxing for a few hours before calling it a night; hopefully he’d be able to get the good night’s sleep he hadn’t the night before. He was trying to finish up cataloging the books customers had sold him when he felt a pair of eyes on him.
“The answer’s no.” his voice was tinged with a hint of amusement as he continued writing the condition of the small paperback in front of him.
“You don’t even know what I’m going to ask.” Anya huffed, glaring at him when he glanced up at her.
“I don’t need to know.”
She set the broom against the nearest bookcase and walked over to the front counter, setting her hands on the surface as she leaned forward slightly. Rupert set the pen down and looked up at her. He should’ve known that answering her unasked, and unanswered, question wouldn’t have any other effect than making his employee more determined to ask whatever was on her mind.
“You need to get out more and make more friends who aren’t me, Rupert.” He couldn’t help but chuckle at how she launched right into it. “So I want you to come to come over to my apartment tonight. Xander and I are having some friends over and you’re my friend, so you should come.”
He should’ve known that was coming. It seemed as if every month or so Anya would tell him that her and her boyfriend were having some sort of get together and that he was invited. And every time it was brought up, Rupert would tell her some reason why he couldn’t make it and that would be the end of that. He opened his mouth to tell her how he was exhausted and just wanted to go home when she stopped him before he could start.
“And don’t you dare tell me some story about how you need to get back home.”
“Anya,” he sighed.
“I’m not asking you to stay for the whole night. Just come and stop by for at least an hour.” She told him. “You’re my best friend, after Xander of course, and I don’t like knowing that you leave here every night and go sit in your apartment all by yourself. So as your friend, I’m asking you to come to my apartment and try to meet new people.”
He ran his fingers through his hair and looked at her. Anya meant well, and she thought the world of those she considered her friends. It was easy for her to see how others acted around him at the store and jump to his defense, but Rupert didn’t want to put her in the position of having to do that with the people she knew before him. He also knew how her boyfriend felt about him, and he didn’t want to come between the two of them.
“It’s really not a good idea for me to be there,” he finally said. “I make people uncomfortable and…”
“No, you’re coming. And once they get to know you, they’ll see that everyone in this town in full of shit. It doesn’t help that you don’t talk to anyone either so…”
“And if I don’t show up?”
“Then I’ll come to your apartment and drag you,” she gave him a sweet smile. “I’ll see you at seven, Rupert.”
He rolled his eyes as Anya left the store. He looked at his watch and sighed. He had about an hour and a half before it was seven, and he couldn’t use closing the store as an excuse not to show up. He briefly entertained the idea of seeing if she really would drag him to her home, but he knew Anya well enough to know that she would make good on her threat. He closed up the register and grabbed his keys.
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Rupert sighed and dragged his hand through his hair before knocking on the apartment door. He was nearly thirty minutes late to his employee’s get together, but it wasn’t as if he actually wanted to be there. The way he saw it, he didn’t need to be on time to something he didn’t want to go to. Plus the later he showed up, the less he would have to watch everyone avoid him and whisper behind his back.
“What are you doing here?” a dark haired young man asked.
“I invited him, Xander.” Anya said as she pushed passed her boyfriend and gave Rupert a smile. “I was starting to think I’d have to come drag you here.”
She ushered him into the apartment and closed the door behind him. He looked around and noticed only three young women there, and they had obviously noticed him as well. Two of them just looked at him, almost as if they were afraid to move with him watching. The other was the blonde from the Espresso Pump that morning. She gave him a smile before turning back to the other two and continuing their conversation.
“That’s Willow and her girlfriend Tara,” Anya pointed to the two young women who kept glancing over at him. “And that’s Buffy. Feel free to make yourself at home, Rupert. There are drinks in the kitchen and snacks.”
He turned to look at his employee and gave her a small smile. He was about to tell her that he was only going to stay for a few minutes when her boyfriend got her attention.
“An, can we talk for minute?” he asked, looking at Rupert. He hadn’t even been there for five minutes and it was already starting.
“I’ll be right back. And don’t you dare leave,” she said before following Xander towards the back of the apartment.
Rupert shoved his hands into his jeans and looked around. Even with only three others there, he felt very out of place. It was obvious that he wasn’t welcomed, and that the only other people in the rather spacious apartment didn’t seem comfortable with him there.
He gave a small sigh and looked around before making his way over to a nearby wall. He looked at the few pictures that hung there. The photos weren’t anything personal, just the usual art one would by at a store. He didn’t see the appeal of the certain photos he was looking at, but he could see how Anya would like them.
“Figured you could use a drink,” a voice said, pulling him out of his thoughts. Rupert turned to see the blonde from earlier that morning. “Don’t worry, its just water.”
He gave her a small smile and took one of the plastic cups she was holding, taking a sip.
“Thank you,” he said after a moment.
“No problem. I’m Buffy, by the way.”
“Rupert,” he replied, his gaze going to the two other young women who were still staring at him as they whispered. “You don’t have to keep me company. I’m sure you’d rather not be around me.”
“Anya talks about you all the time to me. I might as well get to know to you,”
He looked at her with wide eyes. A million ideas of what his employee had said went through his head, and none of them were better than the previous.
“I’m sure you’re a lovely young woman but…” he trailed off at the raised eyebrow. “Um…Anya did…did she try to…to set up a d-date?”
A silence hung between the two for a moment and Rupert realized that he might have just ruined the chance of a possible friendship. He swallowed and rubbed the back of his neck, looking down into the cup he held.
It was the small chuckle that brought his attention back to Buffy. There was amusement in her eyes as she looked at him.
“Yeah, that came up as soon as Anya told me you were coming here.” She smiled, taking a sip of her drink.
“I…I had nothing to do with that.” He said quickly. “She means well but she keeps trying to…set me up with women.”
Buffy let out another small chuckle and gave him a reassuring smile. “I figured that was all her and not you.”
Rupert nodded and finished his water. He was about to say something when he noticed movement from the other side of the room. He looked over to see Anya following her boyfriend as he made his way over. The older man sighed softly; he knew exactly what was about to happen.
“I’d like you to leave.” The young man said.
“Xander!” both Anya and Buffy exclaimed.
“What? He’s making Willow and Tara uncomfortable, and I don’t want him in my apartment.” Xander turned to look at his girlfriend. “I get that you consider him a friend, but he’s a nutcase, Anya.”
“No, he isn’t. If you just took the time to get to know him…”
Rupert cleared his throat and slowly made his way to the front door. There was no reason for him to be there, especially when Xander had openly expressed his feelings on him there. He only stopped when he heard Anya address him.
“Thank you for inviting me, Anya. I have to be going anyways.” He gave a weak smile as he opened the door behind him. “It was a pleasure to meet you all.”
He didn’t give anyone time to say anything before walking out of the apartment and quickly making his way down the hall. All he wanted was to go back to his apartment and have a drink or two before calling it a night.
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Something wasn’t right. Rupert had no idea what, but something seemed off. He slowly walked down the small flight of stairs and across the courtyard to his front door, which was barely cracked open. He narrowed his eyes and prepared himself to fight off any invader.
Pushing his front door open slowly, he looked around the living room. The small lamp on the desk behind the couch was turned on. He walked through the door and quietly shut it, listening for any movement in the loft. The sound of rustling in his kitchen caught his attention. He squared his shoulders and went into defensive mode, quietly walking towards the kitchen.
Whoever it was that was in his home had his back towards Rupert as he rummaged through the fridge. Knowing this was probably his only chance, Rupert quickly ran into the kitchen and towards the intruder. He was about to tackle him to the ground when the man quickly swung around and pinned him to the wall, his forearm pushing against Rupert’s throat.
“Jesus,” the man laughed after a moment. “Not as fast as you used to be, Ru.”
Rupert rubbed his throat once the forearm was pulled away. He narrowed his eyes as he looked at the intruder, his eyes instantly going wide when he heard his childhood nickname. He stared at the man in front of him, in complete shock.
“Declan?” Rupert whispered.
The man grinned before reaching forward and pulling Rupert towards him, hugging him tightly.
“It’s good to see you, Ru.”