Legacy (1/?)
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?
Author's Note: I've been kicking this idea around in my head for the last two years and figured it was time to actually write it. I know complete AU's aren't very common but it was the only way to make this idea work. Hopefully, everyone can look pass all that.
Author's Note 2: I'm not sure how long this fic will be but I plan to have a few more parts posted today.
England, 1983
“Alright, Rupert. This is it,” The eleven year old looked up at his father before looking back at his older brother, who was tied to one of the posts in their barn with a piece of cloth tied around his head in a makeshift gag. “From now on, you’re going to help me save this world. Starting with your brother.”
Rupert looked back at his brother with wide eyes. He had been warned that this day would come, but he didn’t think he would have to be the one to do it. After all, Declan was his brother and his best friend. He shook his head and took a step back.
“I can’t,” he whispered, watching his brother struggle to get the cloth from between his lips and over his chin.
“Rupert, you have to.” His father put a hand on his shoulder and kept him from retreating anymore. “If you let him go, then he’ll hurt innocent people.”
The boy opened his mouth to say something but stopped as he watched the gag give way to Declan’s efforts.
“Ru, don’t! Dad’s crazy and…”
“Shut up!” their father yelled, turning his attention to the tied up thirteen year old.
The older Giles walked over to Declan and kneeled in front of him. Rupert wasn’t sure what they were saying, more focused on trying to calm his rapidly beating heart. He flinched when his father threw his fist into Declan’s jaw, muttering something about him being a lying demon.
Rupert was rooted to his spot as his father walked back over, grabbing the axe that had been used to rid the world of the countless other vampires and demons his father had found.
“This is your destiny, son. Our family was chosen to do this.” The axe was placed in his hands, nearly causing him to buckle under the weight.
He stared at the weapon as his brother started begging him to ignore their father again. His fingers closed around the handle of the axe as the yelling continued, his father’s voice joining Declan’s. Rupert couldn’t understand what his father was saying, but he knew it wasn’t English.
“Ru, please! You don’t have to do this!”
“Rupert, don’t listen to him! This…creature isn’t your brother. He hasn’t been for a long time.”
The eleven year old stood still as his brother and father tried to convince him to do one thing over the other. He had been waiting for the day he could help his father rid the Earth of evil and now the day had come but he couldn’t do it. His brother wasn’t a demon. If he was then why hadn’t he tried to kill them?
But his father could see pass the human disguise and see the demons. Rupert closed his eyes as he tried to clear his head. He knew that if he didn’t slay Declan than his father would, and he wouldn’t be allowed to help every again.
“He’ll kill you too and I won’t be here to protect you!”
His eyes opened at that and he looked at his brother. Their father had taken a few steps closer to Declan, his back to his youngest son. “Ru, Dad’s insane. He doesn’t slay demons, he murders people.”
“God damn it, Rupert, slay this demon!” his father yelled. “Do it now!”
He tightened his grip on the axe and brought it up, letting it rest on his shoulder. Rupert took a deep breath and took a few steps forward as he swung the axe.
“No!”
Rupert shot up in bed, his eyes instantly locking on to his reflection in the mirror across from him. He breathed heavily as he looked at himself- he wasn’t eleven and swinging an axe, he wasn’t even in England. The thirty-three year old looked around him and let out a small sigh of relief once he completely assured himself that he was in his apartment in Sunnydale. He brought his trembling hands up and rubs his clammy face, taking deep breaths.
“It was just a nightmare,” he told himself. “I’m safe. He can’t hurt me,”
He looked over at the alarm clock on the bedside table and saw that it was half past seven in the morning, which meant he had slept in a good hour and a half than he was supposed to. So much for having his alarm set.
Rupert took one last deep breath before getting out of bed and making his way down the stairs and towards the bathroom. He needed to hurry up and get ready if he wanted to open the store on time. Hopefully the Espresso Pump wouldn’t be too busy.
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“That’ll be three seventy-nine.”
Rupert pulled a five dollar bill out of his wallet, telling the cashier to keep the change before walking over to the pick up counter. The Espresso Pump hadn’t been too busy when he had arrived and, looking at the rather lengthy line, it seemed he had gotten there just in time. He checked his watch as he waited for his coffee- not that he really needed to. He had about five minutes until he needed to open his store, and the store was right across the street.
He wasn’t checking his watch to see how much time he had left. He was checking it to try and keep from noticing the stares some of the other costumers were giving him. The staring didn’t bother him, not in the slightest. After all, he had learned to ignore the stares and whispers by the time he was twelve; he’d be a fool to expect people not to do that sort of thing after finding out what was connected to the Giles name.
He ran his fingers through his hair and looked back at the pickup counter, watching as his order was being made. He noted the lack of urgency with which his drink was being made, and clearly someone else had as well.
“You could hurry up with his drink, you know. There should be no way mine finishes before his,”
Rupert looked away from his in progress coffee to see a blonde young woman standing next to him. He had seen her before and while he couldn’t place her name, he knew she was a friend of his employee’s. She looked at him and gave him a smile.
“Having a good morning so far?” she asked, leaning against the counter as they waited for their orders.
“I suppose,” he shrugged.
He was only slightly confused as to why she was talking to him. No one in Sunnydale really talked to him, even if it was small talk. Then again, they did know the same person and that was mostly likely why the young woman was making small talk, to be able to tell Anya that she ran into him and had a brief conversation.
“Hope the rest of your day gets better,” she gave him another smile before picking up his drink and handing it to him. “I’ll see you later, Rupert.”
He just nodded before walking away from the pickup counter and out of the Espresso Pump. Stares and whispers were something he had grown use to, but Rupert wasn’t exactly sure how to handle someone being friendly without wanting something in return.
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The bell above the door echoed throughout the small bookshop. Rupert paused in restocking one of the shelves and looked at his watch, smiling slightly.
“You’re late,” he said as he put the small pile of books down, walking from the back of the room to the front.
“I know, but it’s not my fault this time.” Anya said. She made her way behind the counter and set her purse under it. “Xander woke up early this morning and made me breakfast in bed, and then one thing led to another and…”
“Stop, please.” Rupert closed his eyes and held up his hand slightly. “I don’t want to hear the rest of that sentence.”
She let out a small snort and proceeded to clock in for her shift, looking at her employer. Rupert had been lucky that the young woman wasn’t like the rest of the town when it came to him. She didn’t mind being alone with him or talking to him, in fact she was very comfortable around him. And despite her lack of a filter from time to time, he enjoyed having her around the shop- a small victory he had gladly taken considering his habit of keeping to himself.
“You wouldn’t mind so much if you got a girlfriend, or just someone to have sex with.” His eyes snapped open and he looked at her. “Don’t look at me like that, you know it’s true. You don’t want me talking about my sex life because you’re jealous you don’t have one.”
“Anya, I am not jealous of what you do with your personal life.” Rupert said as he walked over to the counter. “Besides, I don’t need a girlfriend. I’m perfectly happy by myself.”
“That’s what serial killers say.” She walked from behind the counter, stopping when she saw his look. “It’s a joke, Rupert. I don’t even know what serial killers say.”
He just stared at her for a moment before shaking his head and taking her place behind the counter. If anyone else had made that statement, they would have meant it. But having worked with Anya for the last year, he knew there was no ill motive behind the words. It was a joke, granted a twisted joke but still a joke.
“I’m going to get you a girlfriend.”
“No, you’re not. You’re going to go put away books and do your job.” He didn’t even have to look up from the list of books he needed to order to know Anya had rolled her eyes.
“Fine. I’ll do my job and then find you a girlfriend. Because the sooner you’re having orgasms, the sooner you’ll be relaxed and not completely alone.”
Rupert looked up just in time to watch her walk away. He shook his head and sighed.
“I’m not alone, Anya.” He told her retreating form.
“Having one friend you see only at work doesn’t count.” She yelled from the back of the store.
He shook his head again and laughed softly. The lingering feelings of terror and dread from his nightmare were being masked over now that he wasn’t able to think about it. He turned towards the door and gave the customer a brief smile before going into the back office to put in the new book orders. Anya could manage the store by herself for a few minutes.
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?
Author's Note: I've been kicking this idea around in my head for the last two years and figured it was time to actually write it. I know complete AU's aren't very common but it was the only way to make this idea work. Hopefully, everyone can look pass all that.
Author's Note 2: I'm not sure how long this fic will be but I plan to have a few more parts posted today.
England, 1983
“Alright, Rupert. This is it,” The eleven year old looked up at his father before looking back at his older brother, who was tied to one of the posts in their barn with a piece of cloth tied around his head in a makeshift gag. “From now on, you’re going to help me save this world. Starting with your brother.”
Rupert looked back at his brother with wide eyes. He had been warned that this day would come, but he didn’t think he would have to be the one to do it. After all, Declan was his brother and his best friend. He shook his head and took a step back.
“I can’t,” he whispered, watching his brother struggle to get the cloth from between his lips and over his chin.
“Rupert, you have to.” His father put a hand on his shoulder and kept him from retreating anymore. “If you let him go, then he’ll hurt innocent people.”
The boy opened his mouth to say something but stopped as he watched the gag give way to Declan’s efforts.
“Ru, don’t! Dad’s crazy and…”
“Shut up!” their father yelled, turning his attention to the tied up thirteen year old.
The older Giles walked over to Declan and kneeled in front of him. Rupert wasn’t sure what they were saying, more focused on trying to calm his rapidly beating heart. He flinched when his father threw his fist into Declan’s jaw, muttering something about him being a lying demon.
Rupert was rooted to his spot as his father walked back over, grabbing the axe that had been used to rid the world of the countless other vampires and demons his father had found.
“This is your destiny, son. Our family was chosen to do this.” The axe was placed in his hands, nearly causing him to buckle under the weight.
He stared at the weapon as his brother started begging him to ignore their father again. His fingers closed around the handle of the axe as the yelling continued, his father’s voice joining Declan’s. Rupert couldn’t understand what his father was saying, but he knew it wasn’t English.
“Ru, please! You don’t have to do this!”
“Rupert, don’t listen to him! This…creature isn’t your brother. He hasn’t been for a long time.”
The eleven year old stood still as his brother and father tried to convince him to do one thing over the other. He had been waiting for the day he could help his father rid the Earth of evil and now the day had come but he couldn’t do it. His brother wasn’t a demon. If he was then why hadn’t he tried to kill them?
But his father could see pass the human disguise and see the demons. Rupert closed his eyes as he tried to clear his head. He knew that if he didn’t slay Declan than his father would, and he wouldn’t be allowed to help every again.
“He’ll kill you too and I won’t be here to protect you!”
His eyes opened at that and he looked at his brother. Their father had taken a few steps closer to Declan, his back to his youngest son. “Ru, Dad’s insane. He doesn’t slay demons, he murders people.”
“God damn it, Rupert, slay this demon!” his father yelled. “Do it now!”
He tightened his grip on the axe and brought it up, letting it rest on his shoulder. Rupert took a deep breath and took a few steps forward as he swung the axe.
“No!”
Rupert shot up in bed, his eyes instantly locking on to his reflection in the mirror across from him. He breathed heavily as he looked at himself- he wasn’t eleven and swinging an axe, he wasn’t even in England. The thirty-three year old looked around him and let out a small sigh of relief once he completely assured himself that he was in his apartment in Sunnydale. He brought his trembling hands up and rubs his clammy face, taking deep breaths.
“It was just a nightmare,” he told himself. “I’m safe. He can’t hurt me,”
He looked over at the alarm clock on the bedside table and saw that it was half past seven in the morning, which meant he had slept in a good hour and a half than he was supposed to. So much for having his alarm set.
Rupert took one last deep breath before getting out of bed and making his way down the stairs and towards the bathroom. He needed to hurry up and get ready if he wanted to open the store on time. Hopefully the Espresso Pump wouldn’t be too busy.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
“That’ll be three seventy-nine.”
Rupert pulled a five dollar bill out of his wallet, telling the cashier to keep the change before walking over to the pick up counter. The Espresso Pump hadn’t been too busy when he had arrived and, looking at the rather lengthy line, it seemed he had gotten there just in time. He checked his watch as he waited for his coffee- not that he really needed to. He had about five minutes until he needed to open his store, and the store was right across the street.
He wasn’t checking his watch to see how much time he had left. He was checking it to try and keep from noticing the stares some of the other costumers were giving him. The staring didn’t bother him, not in the slightest. After all, he had learned to ignore the stares and whispers by the time he was twelve; he’d be a fool to expect people not to do that sort of thing after finding out what was connected to the Giles name.
He ran his fingers through his hair and looked back at the pickup counter, watching as his order was being made. He noted the lack of urgency with which his drink was being made, and clearly someone else had as well.
“You could hurry up with his drink, you know. There should be no way mine finishes before his,”
Rupert looked away from his in progress coffee to see a blonde young woman standing next to him. He had seen her before and while he couldn’t place her name, he knew she was a friend of his employee’s. She looked at him and gave him a smile.
“Having a good morning so far?” she asked, leaning against the counter as they waited for their orders.
“I suppose,” he shrugged.
He was only slightly confused as to why she was talking to him. No one in Sunnydale really talked to him, even if it was small talk. Then again, they did know the same person and that was mostly likely why the young woman was making small talk, to be able to tell Anya that she ran into him and had a brief conversation.
“Hope the rest of your day gets better,” she gave him another smile before picking up his drink and handing it to him. “I’ll see you later, Rupert.”
He just nodded before walking away from the pickup counter and out of the Espresso Pump. Stares and whispers were something he had grown use to, but Rupert wasn’t exactly sure how to handle someone being friendly without wanting something in return.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The bell above the door echoed throughout the small bookshop. Rupert paused in restocking one of the shelves and looked at his watch, smiling slightly.
“You’re late,” he said as he put the small pile of books down, walking from the back of the room to the front.
“I know, but it’s not my fault this time.” Anya said. She made her way behind the counter and set her purse under it. “Xander woke up early this morning and made me breakfast in bed, and then one thing led to another and…”
“Stop, please.” Rupert closed his eyes and held up his hand slightly. “I don’t want to hear the rest of that sentence.”
She let out a small snort and proceeded to clock in for her shift, looking at her employer. Rupert had been lucky that the young woman wasn’t like the rest of the town when it came to him. She didn’t mind being alone with him or talking to him, in fact she was very comfortable around him. And despite her lack of a filter from time to time, he enjoyed having her around the shop- a small victory he had gladly taken considering his habit of keeping to himself.
“You wouldn’t mind so much if you got a girlfriend, or just someone to have sex with.” His eyes snapped open and he looked at her. “Don’t look at me like that, you know it’s true. You don’t want me talking about my sex life because you’re jealous you don’t have one.”
“Anya, I am not jealous of what you do with your personal life.” Rupert said as he walked over to the counter. “Besides, I don’t need a girlfriend. I’m perfectly happy by myself.”
“That’s what serial killers say.” She walked from behind the counter, stopping when she saw his look. “It’s a joke, Rupert. I don’t even know what serial killers say.”
He just stared at her for a moment before shaking his head and taking her place behind the counter. If anyone else had made that statement, they would have meant it. But having worked with Anya for the last year, he knew there was no ill motive behind the words. It was a joke, granted a twisted joke but still a joke.
“I’m going to get you a girlfriend.”
“No, you’re not. You’re going to go put away books and do your job.” He didn’t even have to look up from the list of books he needed to order to know Anya had rolled her eyes.
“Fine. I’ll do my job and then find you a girlfriend. Because the sooner you’re having orgasms, the sooner you’ll be relaxed and not completely alone.”
Rupert looked up just in time to watch her walk away. He shook his head and sighed.
“I’m not alone, Anya.” He told her retreating form.
“Having one friend you see only at work doesn’t count.” She yelled from the back of the store.
He shook his head again and laughed softly. The lingering feelings of terror and dread from his nightmare were being masked over now that he wasn’t able to think about it. He turned towards the door and gave the customer a brief smile before going into the back office to put in the new book orders. Anya could manage the store by herself for a few minutes.