Giles as the Big Bad chapter: The Puppet Show

[dragonyphoenix]

I've posted The Puppet Show chapter of my Giles as the big bad of season 1 story titled In a Corner of My Soul. Here's a teaser: 

Giles had just sat down with his tea when Jenny stormed through the doors so forcefully that they swung behind her like branches in a strong wind. Gods but she was gorgeous when enraged, all passion and fire. He put his guard up, not against whatever little squall she was about to raise, but against her larger mission. Her knowledge, not only of the occult but of Watchers and Slayers as well, could not be a coincidence. He couldn’t be certain she’d been sent to spy on him, but a bit of prudence wouldn’t be out of place. In fact, he rather hoped she was a spy. It added a touch of spice to their relationship. Just how far could he push her before she dropped him and pursued other paths in search of whatever she’d been sent after?

“How’d you do it?”

Perhaps he could turn that passion down a darker path. He leaned back in his chair, imagining her in leather, pants so tight they might as well have been painted on, and a bodice. Surely handcuffs or a whip wouldn’t be enough to drive her off. Her little spy game required her to return to his bed to learn whatever she was after. “Do what?”

She played her part perfectly, becoming even more agitated at his amused tone. Oh, this was fun. “Guess who’s in charge of the Talent Show.”

“I take it that you have that honor.”

“Only because you somehow got out of it. What did you do, threaten to kill him?”

Giles hid his discomfort behind a sip of tea as he wondered how thorough a dossier she’d been given. He wasn’t above murder, not when it was necessary. Did she know or was she merely guessing? “Not at all. I merely suggested that cleaning up the detritus of the scanning project was keeping me too occupied to allow me to pursue other interests.”

“Don’t try to jive me. I tried a similar argument. He told me to make time.”

“Perhaps I’m more persuasive than you?”

Jenny took the chair across from him and leaned over the table. “What is it? Come on. You can tell me.”

Giles placed his teacup and saucer on the table before spreading his empty hands between them. “I’d ask what I might expect to receive in recompense but in fact I have nothing, as you’d say, on him.”

“You know something or you did something, and I’m not leaving until you tell me.”

“You know how much I enjoy your company, but unless you intend to miss your next class, you will, in fact, need to leave in, oh, about a half-hour or so.”

She stood and glared down at him. “You haven’t heard the last of this.” Oh, yes, he would definitely bring out the whip next time.

“I look forward to your next little chat on the subject.”