Happy Birthday Jane (and a ficlet)

[unfeathered]

Many many happy returns to janedavitt and er, here's a little something I wrote for you. I actually wrote it for your birthday last year but I hadn't posted any fic at that point and I lost my nerve.

So here you go. Better late than never, I guess. :-)

(Sorry I can't write Jim/Blair. But this is at least Giles/Spike, a pairing I will always associate with you!)

Title: Behind Blue Eyes
Fandom: Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Author: unfeathered
Pairing: A touch of Giles/Spike
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Word Count: 323
Spoilers: Season 4 of Buffy
Summary: Ever wondered what made Giles choose that song to sing at the Espresso Pump?
Beta: Unbeta'd
Author’s Note: Written for janedavitt's birthday.



“That your guitar?” Spike asks, charging across to it.

Giles’ hands flutter in protest, then fall helplessly to his sides. “Yes,” he says wearily, preparing himself for ridicule.

But Spike picks it up with respectful care and puts the strap round his own neck. Giles watches in astonishment as he plants a foot on the couch and starts to check the tuning. “You play?”

“A bit. I’m more of a singer, but I can manage a few chords when there’s no-one else around to play.”

This is so unexpected that Giles can only watch in stunned silence as Spike settles his fingers on the strings ready to play something. And when the first chords sound out, he’s a little staggered again. He expected the Sex Pistols; what he gets is the Who.

“No-one knows what it’s like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes”

Spike has a good voice, gravelly and rocky, and he sings with feeling.

“No-one knows what it’s like
To be hated
To be fated
To telling only lies”

He wonders if Spike knows how well the song suits him. Knowing Spike, he probably does.

“But my dreams they aren’t as empty
As my conscience seems to be”

Spike glances up in surprise when Giles joins in on the harmonies. His blue eyes sparkle playfully at Giles. “You got a nice voice there, Watcher. You should try this song, you know. It’d suit you.”

Giles doesn’t even dignify that with a response. Singing together is as far as he’s willing to go with Spike. But his eyes give away more than he knows.

And later, when Spike has gone, Giles sings the song again by himself. He hates to admit it, but Spike is right. It does suit his voice. He adds it to his set-list for the Espresso Pump.

But he doesn’t admit even to himself whom he’s picturing when he sings it.

Comments

[janedavitt.livejournal.com]

This pairing is one that's so very much a favorite of mine; these two together are just so fascinating and I adore this glimpse into a moment of common appreciation.

Thank you so much for the lovely fic and I'm very glad you were brave! ::hugs you tight::

[unfeathered]

I'm really glad you like it. I don't think it's the best thing I've ever written - I think I've improved a bit in the last year - but I'm still very fond of it and yeah, glad I've finally posted it.

[timeofchange.livejournal.com]

Lovely!

[unfeathered]

Thank you! :-)

[laurie-ky.livejournal.com]

I'm here by way of janedavitt's post. I liked this interaction story between them, Spike not trying for the big bad act and Giles being drawn into the music and looking at Spike, despite himself.
Laurie

[unfeathered]

Thank you - glad you liked it! There were some lovely moments between the two of them in S4, and it seems likely there would have been some more. :-)

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

*pets you for being brave*
This is lovely

[unfeathered]

Well, the really brave bit was posting Connection last August, but thanks!

Glad you liked it. :-)

[stretfordditto.livejournal.com]

Fabulous.

[unfeathered]

Thank you! :-)