ext_76583 ([identity profile] lawyergirl15.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] summer_of_giles2009-06-08 10:48 pm

Fic: Journey (Giles/Faith, FRT) by Lawyergirl 15

Author: Kim
Rating: FRT
Pairing: Giles/Faith
Spoilers: These drabbles begin in Season 3 and go through the current Season 8 comics. Definitely spoilers up through Issue 24.
Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me. They belong to Joss, Mutant Enemy, Fox, and sundry others.

Warning: These have not been beta'd. Because, of course, I am running up against my deadline. I reserve the right to tweak them a little once they are. And, if you spot anything that needs to be fixed, constructive criticism is always welcome.

I would like to thank [livejournal.com profile] elizabuffy and [livejournal.com profile] katekat1010 for bringing us another summer of Giles goodness. I'm thrilled that there are still so many people who want to contribute their talents for everyone to enjoy!

Summary: This is a series of drabbles about Giles and Faith beginning in Season 3. It concludes with my interpretation of where things need to go from here. If you haven't been reading the Season 8 comics, all you need to know is that Giles and Faith are separate and apart from the others, working together as a team.



Season Three

Fire.

His first thought on seeing her was that she burned like a dark flame. She sat casually in the library, but he could see it, could sense the chaos in her. Like calls to like and something in her spoke of pain and darkness.

He shifted uncomfortably. He wore repression almost as well as tweed and today wasn’t the day to stop. So he shoved the fleeting question of how a Watcher would handle two Slayers away.

He was Buffy’s Watcher, he reminded himself. And something told him Slayers don’t play well together.

It wouldn’t do to get burned.


Season Four

He sat next to her bed, stroking her hair; a caress he could never offer when she was aware. She looked younger than she ever had, her face scrubbed of makeup and pale against the hospital pillow.

The regret bubbled up. Maybe if he had tried harder. If he hadn’t pushed her away to deny what he felt. But hadn’t he run just like she had, finding darkness preferable to nothing?

He struggled, reaching out with his senses, cursing just how rusty they were, trying to find that spark. To find her flame.

Instead, all he found were banked embers.

Season Five

It was horribly awkward to sit there, waiting, wondering if she would talk to him.

Her face when she saw him said suspicion, but he fancied under it he caught a glimmer of heat.

She picked up the phone, and his heart beat faster.

“G. Come to gloat?”

“I’d heard what you did. I came . . . I came to tell you…” What? That he was proud of her? That he understood? That if she needed to talk, he would listen?

For just a moment, her defenses dropped, and he saw the spark of who she could be.

“Thanks.”

Season Six

‘I wanted to tell you in person, but things were rather hectic.’

He scratched out the line, calling himself a coward.

‘I’ve moved back to England. I’d forgotten how often it rains.’

Crumpling the paper, he threw it in the fire.

‘Buffy died – and came back. I’ve moved back to England because, selfishly, I can’t bear to watch her die in pieces.’

Perhaps a tad too honest.

‘I’m sorry I haven’t been to see you in some time. Hopefully, you will forgive me. I had to leave. I think you of all people might understand why.’

It was a start.

Season Seven

The refrigerator’s open door cast a glow in the pitch black kitchen.

“Late night fridge raid?”

He startled, before standing and smiling a cautious smile.

“I’ll share my ice cream if you promise not to tell anyone it’s behind the broccoli.”

They sat on the back step, sharing a bowl with two spoons.

“Your letters…”

He kept his face neutral, encouraging her to go on.

“They helped. I just wanted ….Thanks.”

The look in her eyes sparked something deep inside. For just one moment, he let himself consider it, then pushed it away.

Perhaps. In time . If they survived.


Season 8 – No Future For You (Beginning)

He felt an absolute cad approaching her about the operation. They hadn’t spoken since Sunnydale and, with the fork she stabbed in his arm, he thought they might have done a little backsliding.

Still, she worked at the lessons, her remarks about the English and the sticks up their collective asses tempered with teasing smiles.

When she descended the stairs, his very own Eliza Doolittle, a surge of regret blazed up, that he was the one asking her to go back into that darkness he’d once seen in her.

The too-wise look in her eyes told him he was forgiven.

Season 8 – No Future For You (End)

She’d agreed. Frankly, he was amazed. Amazed even after they stood over the bodies of Lady Gigi and Roden that she would agree to let him help.

Steed to her Peel, he’d said. He ruthlessly stamped down the errant thought of whether he could convince her to wear a black leather catsuit.

He sighed. Her willingness to embark on this plan. To help other girls before they had to be put down like rabid dogs ignited a hope in him that had been sorely missing.

He needed this. Needed her.

No more Watcher to a Slayer.

Just Faith.

Just Giles.

Season Eight – Safe

They’d been together months before Hanselstadt. Criss-crossing the globe, offering girls a chance.

Slowly, they’d earned the other’s trust.

Neither spoke of the growing attraction, not wanting to disrupt their easy alliance.

But, after Fillworthe’s betrayal, and fighting a demon that fed on regret, Giles realized his regret had been that he might have to watch Faith die.

Vampires vanquished, they stood in the square, exhausted.

His approach gave her time to move. A smile curled her lips and the dark flame he remembered leapt into her eyes.

No doubt they’d get burnt, but this time, it would be together.

[identity profile] fairygothmum.livejournal.com 2009-06-09 08:25 am (UTC)(link)
Nice set of drabbles. You captured the essence of Giles and Faith very well.
ext_76909: (Default)

[identity profile] nothorse.livejournal.com 2009-06-09 01:28 pm (UTC)(link)
He ruthlessly stamped down the errant thought of whether he could convince her to wear a black leather catsuit.

He shouldn't. :)

Glad somebody picks up on Giles & Faith in S8. I don't see it as a pairing, but it's a beautiful partnership that should spark a legion of stories. :)
cmk418: (BtVS - Giles)

[personal profile] cmk418 2009-06-09 01:57 pm (UTC)(link)
This was very nice. I liked that Giles wouldn't let Faith slip away, no matter what she'd done. My favorite of these drabbles was the bedside vigil in Season Four. It's very moving in the way that you paint it with both tenderness and regret. Well done!
katekat: (faith - good to be bad [ntm])

[personal profile] katekat 2009-06-09 02:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh these are AWESOME darling! My favorite line is definitely this one: He wore repression almost as well as tweed and today wasn’t the day to stop. just so frigging perfect and a little haunting at the same time. You totally make it work, and I am a firm believer that something very similar to this TOTALLY happened!! :D And even though I don't know comics cannon very well, I still got this, which is a tribute to your writing it! Thank you!!

[identity profile] wide-rider.livejournal.com 2009-06-09 04:56 pm (UTC)(link)
I suck at giving detailed feedback, but I wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed these!! :)

[identity profile] lilruca.livejournal.com 2009-06-09 05:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Total love. I tend to be one of those nasty lurkers (though I did intend to go through and comment soon lol) I swear I nearly swooned with glee over the comics, though I stopped getting them after No Future For You. Any Giles necessary comics I should know about?

Uh back to the drabbles. I too suck at detailed feedback which is why I avoid giving it, but seriously, these were great. I was happy not to be the only Faith/Giles poster for one thing ;) For another, you captured the regret between them quite beautifully.

[identity profile] lilruca.livejournal.com 2010-02-14 02:29 am (UTC)(link)
FINALLY read it. Dude, she's out for the count, he cries her name and suddenly she's back in the fight killing that demon. hah!

But there's nothing between them ;) lol

[identity profile] wickedfox.livejournal.com 2009-06-09 11:25 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm afraid I haven't read the comic but even so, you're drabbles are brilliant and really delve well into the tension and strange evenness between Giles and Faith. In my mind, they've always had much more in common than Giles and Buffy. That one for season 4 is wonderfully touching. Poor G.

[identity profile] vala3.livejournal.com 2009-06-10 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
So glad you posted this. I am very fond of this pairing. It just seems to work. They resonate so well together. I wanna see them go into the flames together. Thanks for this fic.

[identity profile] obiwahn.livejournal.com 2009-06-12 01:01 am (UTC)(link)
These are really beautiful.

The too-wise look in her eyes told him he was forgiven.

Love that line. No Future For You definitely made me see the possibilities of a Faith/Giles ship - and you write them beautifully.

[identity profile] brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com 2009-06-14 04:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Very nicely done - good to see people remembering Faith in her offscreen time, and taking her forward with the comics. I really loved Giles's attempts at writing to Faith about going back to England.
snickfic: Buffy looking over her shoulder (Faith Giles)

[personal profile] snickfic 2010-05-02 04:40 pm (UTC)(link)
This is lovely. I've become a Faith/Giles fan solely because of the comics, and I like how you show here that embers of a relationship have been hot from the very beginning. Very nice!