dragonyphoenix

Summary: Rewrite of season 1 with Giles as the Big Bad.
Master List for In a Corner of My Soul (previous chapters / scenes)

Jenny, peering through the window in the door of the library, found Rupert lost in a dusty volume. Of course he was, she thought. He could be a real fuddy-duddy but then, rarely but it did happen, something in him switched on the sex appeal.

“Knock knock.” He slammed the book shut. That was rude. If he wanted to keep whatever it was that big a secret, he shouldn't be reading it at school. Hmm, so what did he want to keep secret? He hid the book away in a bag as she approached the table, but she'd seen enough. It was a book on demons. He had demon books scattered all about the library though. What made that one special?

“What do you want?”

Hmm, rude again. “Well, England, I thought I'd come and see you lording over your fief.”

“I'm not lording over anything.”

“Oh, come on. You think of this library as your fiefdom, which is why you don't want students in here. You seem to think books should be kept under lock and key.”

“I'll have you know that I take my duties as librarian seriously. Naturally books are to be shared. They're crucial to the propagation of knowledge. And of course I want students to visit the library. That's why it's here. That's why I'm here.”

They stared at each other for a long moment before bursting into laughter. Rupert handed over a handkerchief so Jenny could wipe the tears from her eyes.

“Fine,” he said. “I did hope this position would allow me to avoid students. You've got me there.” When he started wiping at his tears with his hands, Jenny returned the handkerchief. “But, just to be clear, I do not consider books too precious to be read. Well, some are obviously. Those that are rare should be protected, but I do believe that books, in general, should be available for public use.”

She'd been ready to drop it, but if he was going to push the subject. “Which is why you hid that book away the moment I entered the room.”

He brushed a hand through his hair, and damn but it was a sexy move. He knew it too. She could tell. Jenny crossed her arms and stared him down. “Merely a bit of private research,” he said. “Nothing I want to share until I've finished the work.”

When he asked, again, why she was there, it was an obvious attempt to get off the subject of the demon book, but she let him get away with it. “The Saint's showing at the Sun Cinema this weekend. I thought you might want to go. Granted it won't be up to Moore's version, but Val Kilmer isn't a bad bit of eye candy, which I'm just realizing isn't the best argument to convince you.”

“On the contrary, I'm perfectly happy spending a few hours goggling eye candy. I make time for you, don't I?”

“Just for that, you're buying the popcorn.”