dragonyphoenix (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dragonyphoenix) wrote2009-12-15 12:33 pm
dragonyphoenix) wrote2009-12-15 12:33 pm
The Very Heart of Me 5/8
Title: The Very Heart of Me
Fandom: BtVS
Characters/Pairing: Ethan/Giles, Xander
Rating: PG-13 overall
Concrit: Please, in comments
Disclaimer: They aren't mine, not yet, but the will be once I've taken over the world. Bwah-ha-ha.
Warnings/Squicks: None
Summary: “So we won't be training every day?” Xander asked, relief clear in his voice.
“Twice a week to begin with,” Rupert said. “Willow and I will spend one more day practicing magics and the rest will be free time, unless there's demonic activity, of course.” Ethan glanced at Rupert, wondering, not for the first time, if his lover didn't trust him alone with Xander.
Story index is here
As Xander and Buffy settled themselves on the couch at the back of Ethan's store, Willow was busy gazing at the shelves like a kid in a candy store. “A mummy's hand,” she said in awe reaching into the bowl. “Eeep,” she shouted as the hand grabbed at her finger. Willow, with as innocent a face as she could manage, joined the others on the couch.
“Why are we meeting at a magic shop? And you couldn't come up with a better name than the Magic Box?”
“Rupert suggested the name,” Ethan replied.
“Thank you, Buffy,” Rupert said, “but the shop does have some advantages over the library.”
“Not on top of a Hellmouth, that's a plus,” Xander said.
“Oh, and nobody will question why we have occult books here,” Willow said getting up again and walking over to the bookshelves. “Do you remember that time Mr. Phelps raised a commotion and almost got Giles fired?”
“Yes, thank you, Willow. That's very helpful,” Rupert said.
“And it's been warded to keep vampires and other harmful demons out,” Ethan said.
“I helped,” Willow said, practically bouncing as she turned away from the books. “It's like the spell that keeps a vampire out of a house but only more general because this is a store and not somebody's home.”
“So, no Angelus sneaking in while we're distracted by research,” Xander said.
“There's also a back room. Buffy, Rupert will be training you there from now on since it has more space than the library, can actually be set up with permanent equipment, and won't draw notice,” Ethan said.
“Like that time Mr. Robinson thought we'd set up a boxing club in the library. How'd you ever explain that?” Xander asked Rupert.
“It wasn't easy,” Rupert sighed.
“The real reference books are up on the second floor, right?” Willow asked.
At Ethan's nod, she started climbing up the circular staircase.
“And I'll be training you, Xander. We'll start Monday, after school,” Ethan added.
“What?” Xander bolted up straight in his seat. “Training? More work? You know, I do have schoolwork to do after school. I mean, I would if I didn't do it in my other classes.”
“Good,” Ethan replied unsympathetically. “You'll have plenty of time for training then. Rupert will train Buffy earlier in the afternoon, while the shop is still open and I'll start in with you once we close. By here by seven, Xander.”
“But what about my magical training?” Willows called down from the staircase.
“I'm taking over for Ethan,” Rupert told her. “We will meet here and work on theory while Ethan and Xander are working out and, on days when they aren't using it, we can ward the back room and use it to practice magic.”
“So we won't be training every day?” Xander asked, relief clear in his voice.
“Twice a week to begin with,” Rupert said. “Willow and I will spend one more day practicing magics and the rest will be free time, unless there's demonic activity, of course.” Ethan glanced at Rupert, wondering, not for the first time, if his lover didn't trust him alone with Xander.
“And that never happens,” Xander said sarcastically.
“Only once a week for practical exercises?” Willow looked crestfallen.
“Yes,” Rupert replied. “I'm aware Ethan had a more practical, rather than theoretical approach, but I plan to review the basic with you until I'm certain you have a firm foundation before moving on. In addition, I'm certain he's shortchanged you on magical ethics.” Rupert gave Ethan what was supposed to be a disapproving glare. Ethan twitched his lips slightly in response. “Oh behave,” Rupert added.
* * *
Ethan groaned as he gingerly eased himself down onto the couch. Rupert, rushing back in with an ice pack, looked lost for a moment before asking, “Where?”
“Anywhere, dear heart. I doubt there's even one inch of me not hurting,” Ethan replied.
As Rupert sat down on the couch next to him, Ethan grimaced in pain. “Sorry,” Rupert said, handing the ice pack to Ethan who, after looking at it for a moment, placed it over his left shoulder. “Perhaps you shouldn't train Xander,” he said tentatively.
“No,” Ethan replied, suddenly glad for his bruises. If he'd been feeling like himself, the sharpness of his denial would have left Rupert wondering what he was up to. On the other hand, if he hadn't been bruised sparring with Xander, Rupert wouldn't have an excuse to put a stop to it. “I know you disagree but he does need training.”
“I don't disagree, actually.” Startled by Rupert's words, Ethan gave him a sharp look, which he immediately regretted as he winced in pain. “But perhaps someone else would be better suited to it.”
“Nobody else has the time and I obviously need the practice,” Ethan said.
Rupert chuckled at that. “Something to ease your pain?” he asked as he walked over to the liquor cabinet.
“You're a lifesaver,” Ethan replied.
As he poured out two glasses, Rupert added, “I can't say I'm not concerned. Xander is rather clumsy and, given how he reacted today, I don't see how you're ever going to get him to stop apologizing long enough to get in any real training.”
“I've got that covered.” Rupert stopped pouring out a brandy, turned towards Ethan, and raised one eyebrow. “We're going to bond over the telly. While he's familiar with Dr. Who it's that Baker fellow only. I'm going to introduce him to The War Games.”
“Really?” Rupert asked with interest. “May I sit in?”
“Of course, dear heart. I wouldn't even consider watching it without you.” As Rupert put the brandy away, Ethan carefully added, “After that, Xander is going to introduce me to some American movies. I believe the first is some sort of excellent adventure?”
As Rupert joined him on the couch and handed over a brandy, he said, “I'll be busy that evening. Elsewhere.”
Ethan kept his smirk to himself. By the time they'd gotten through the Dr. Who episodes, Xander would be comfortable enough in their home to be alone with Ethan.
Fandom: BtVS
Characters/Pairing: Ethan/Giles, Xander
Rating: PG-13 overall
Concrit: Please, in comments
Disclaimer: They aren't mine, not yet, but the will be once I've taken over the world. Bwah-ha-ha.
Warnings/Squicks: None
Summary: “So we won't be training every day?” Xander asked, relief clear in his voice.
“Twice a week to begin with,” Rupert said. “Willow and I will spend one more day practicing magics and the rest will be free time, unless there's demonic activity, of course.” Ethan glanced at Rupert, wondering, not for the first time, if his lover didn't trust him alone with Xander.
Story index is here
As Xander and Buffy settled themselves on the couch at the back of Ethan's store, Willow was busy gazing at the shelves like a kid in a candy store. “A mummy's hand,” she said in awe reaching into the bowl. “Eeep,” she shouted as the hand grabbed at her finger. Willow, with as innocent a face as she could manage, joined the others on the couch.
“Why are we meeting at a magic shop? And you couldn't come up with a better name than the Magic Box?”
“Rupert suggested the name,” Ethan replied.
“Thank you, Buffy,” Rupert said, “but the shop does have some advantages over the library.”
“Not on top of a Hellmouth, that's a plus,” Xander said.
“Oh, and nobody will question why we have occult books here,” Willow said getting up again and walking over to the bookshelves. “Do you remember that time Mr. Phelps raised a commotion and almost got Giles fired?”
“Yes, thank you, Willow. That's very helpful,” Rupert said.
“And it's been warded to keep vampires and other harmful demons out,” Ethan said.
“I helped,” Willow said, practically bouncing as she turned away from the books. “It's like the spell that keeps a vampire out of a house but only more general because this is a store and not somebody's home.”
“So, no Angelus sneaking in while we're distracted by research,” Xander said.
“There's also a back room. Buffy, Rupert will be training you there from now on since it has more space than the library, can actually be set up with permanent equipment, and won't draw notice,” Ethan said.
“Like that time Mr. Robinson thought we'd set up a boxing club in the library. How'd you ever explain that?” Xander asked Rupert.
“It wasn't easy,” Rupert sighed.
“The real reference books are up on the second floor, right?” Willow asked.
At Ethan's nod, she started climbing up the circular staircase.
“And I'll be training you, Xander. We'll start Monday, after school,” Ethan added.
“What?” Xander bolted up straight in his seat. “Training? More work? You know, I do have schoolwork to do after school. I mean, I would if I didn't do it in my other classes.”
“Good,” Ethan replied unsympathetically. “You'll have plenty of time for training then. Rupert will train Buffy earlier in the afternoon, while the shop is still open and I'll start in with you once we close. By here by seven, Xander.”
“But what about my magical training?” Willows called down from the staircase.
“I'm taking over for Ethan,” Rupert told her. “We will meet here and work on theory while Ethan and Xander are working out and, on days when they aren't using it, we can ward the back room and use it to practice magic.”
“So we won't be training every day?” Xander asked, relief clear in his voice.
“Twice a week to begin with,” Rupert said. “Willow and I will spend one more day practicing magics and the rest will be free time, unless there's demonic activity, of course.” Ethan glanced at Rupert, wondering, not for the first time, if his lover didn't trust him alone with Xander.
“And that never happens,” Xander said sarcastically.
“Only once a week for practical exercises?” Willow looked crestfallen.
“Yes,” Rupert replied. “I'm aware Ethan had a more practical, rather than theoretical approach, but I plan to review the basic with you until I'm certain you have a firm foundation before moving on. In addition, I'm certain he's shortchanged you on magical ethics.” Rupert gave Ethan what was supposed to be a disapproving glare. Ethan twitched his lips slightly in response. “Oh behave,” Rupert added.
* * *
Ethan groaned as he gingerly eased himself down onto the couch. Rupert, rushing back in with an ice pack, looked lost for a moment before asking, “Where?”
“Anywhere, dear heart. I doubt there's even one inch of me not hurting,” Ethan replied.
As Rupert sat down on the couch next to him, Ethan grimaced in pain. “Sorry,” Rupert said, handing the ice pack to Ethan who, after looking at it for a moment, placed it over his left shoulder. “Perhaps you shouldn't train Xander,” he said tentatively.
“No,” Ethan replied, suddenly glad for his bruises. If he'd been feeling like himself, the sharpness of his denial would have left Rupert wondering what he was up to. On the other hand, if he hadn't been bruised sparring with Xander, Rupert wouldn't have an excuse to put a stop to it. “I know you disagree but he does need training.”
“I don't disagree, actually.” Startled by Rupert's words, Ethan gave him a sharp look, which he immediately regretted as he winced in pain. “But perhaps someone else would be better suited to it.”
“Nobody else has the time and I obviously need the practice,” Ethan said.
Rupert chuckled at that. “Something to ease your pain?” he asked as he walked over to the liquor cabinet.
“You're a lifesaver,” Ethan replied.
As he poured out two glasses, Rupert added, “I can't say I'm not concerned. Xander is rather clumsy and, given how he reacted today, I don't see how you're ever going to get him to stop apologizing long enough to get in any real training.”
“I've got that covered.” Rupert stopped pouring out a brandy, turned towards Ethan, and raised one eyebrow. “We're going to bond over the telly. While he's familiar with Dr. Who it's that Baker fellow only. I'm going to introduce him to The War Games.”
“Really?” Rupert asked with interest. “May I sit in?”
“Of course, dear heart. I wouldn't even consider watching it without you.” As Rupert put the brandy away, Ethan carefully added, “After that, Xander is going to introduce me to some American movies. I believe the first is some sort of excellent adventure?”
As Rupert joined him on the couch and handed over a brandy, he said, “I'll be busy that evening. Elsewhere.”
Ethan kept his smirk to himself. By the time they'd gotten through the Dr. Who episodes, Xander would be comfortable enough in their home to be alone with Ethan.