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ohnoitsshirleyAuthor: TopazAngel
Title: People Change
Rating: Eh. PG
Fandom: BtVS/Angel
Spoilers: May contain some for seasons 7/4. Season 5 slightly, but its not really brought up.
Pairing: Buffy/Wesley
Teaser: Buffy and Wesley meet again. Just a conversation piece really. Not really shippy.
Disclaimer: Not Mine.
Other Notes: Written for the Buffy FicAThon (organized by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
somefairytale and tablesex) for evemac, who wanted Buffy/Wes set in season 5 AtS where both visit the new council.
Buffy stood at the door of the large building and looked up. This was it. The new council. Giles had taken it upon him self to set it up after they all left Sunnydale. It had been months, but this was the first time Buffy had been there. She wasn’t thrilled either.
A few months ago when they destroyed the first (and the entire town of Sunnydale with it) she was sure she was done. Off the hook. Free. She just knew that was her chance to have a normal life.
She thought too soon.
Even with all of the other slayers there were now, she wasn’t free. She had to accept the fact that she never would be. Being the slayer would always be her life. No matter how much she thought she could get away. Even if she stopped fighting.
She still had the nightmares that came with it. The monsters still came. Even when she denied the title of slayer. They attacked her family. Her friends.
No. This was Buffy’s life. So here she was. Back at the council. At least she only had to deal with Giles this time. She didn’t think she could handle anyone else. None of the other watchers could ever understand why she was the way she was.
Why she needed her friends. Her family. Why they made her strong.
She finally walked through the large doors that lead into the lobby of the council. She saw a few people she recognized. Giles wasn’t around, but Andrew was. She was kind of hoping he wouldn’t see her.
She was lucky. He disappeared into a long hallway before he glanced her way. She was starting to think Giles was on some kind of drug when he decided Andrew should be a watcher. Of all people Andrew, who was sometimes evil.
She walked over to the desk where a youngish looking British woman was staring at a computer screen. Buffy couldn’t figure out how Giles had gotten this all set up and running so smoothly in such a short time. But she shrugged it off, coughing to get the woman’s attention.
The woman looked up at Buffy, slightly annoyed.
“Can I help you?”
“Buffy Summers. Mister Giles is expecting me.”
The woman looked back at whatever it was she was doing on the computer (which Buffy assumed had nothing to do with council business at all).
“He’s in a meeting. You’ll have to wait out here.”
“Gee, thanks,” Buffy rolled her eyes. Giles needed to learn how to hire secretaries who knew how to talk to people.
She walked over to the small set of chair sitting next to Giles’ office.
Who the hell could he possibly be talking to? As urgent as he had seemed on the phone, she was sure this wasn’t some random check in call, and she didn’t see a reason for him to make her wait. She hated waiting.
Buffy’s thoughts were interrupted when she saw a familiar face step inside the building. She rubbed her eyes. She had to be seeing things. There was no way on earth Giles would call him of all people. He was a horrible watcher. He was snotty and rude and everything Giles wasn’t.
He stopped at the desk and talked to the secretary (who, then, of course pointed to the chairs Buffy was sitting in for him to have a seat).
“Buffy?” he asked, looking at her with a soft smile.
“Wesley,” she forced a smile, “didn’t think I’d see you again.”
“I don’t suspect you thought you’d ever have a reason to,” he sat down in the chair to her right, “Mr. Giles called me in LA. We decided it best that I come have a look around the new office.”
“That’s great,” Buffy forced out. In reality, Wesley was the last person she was ever expecting or wanting to see again. In his time as watcher in Sunnydale he hadn’t done much more than be an annoyance. He was snooty and rude. And she had always partially blamed him for the way things had turned out with Faith. Not that he made Faith commit murder or try to cover it up, but he hadn’t exactly tried to help her either.
She glanced at him for a moment, not sure if he was going to continue to ramble on or not. There was a subtle change in his face. He didn’t just look older. There was more. He didn’t even look like the same Wesley. His features were softer, less harsh. There seemed to even be a hint of kindness there. It surprised her.
“I heard about what happened in Sunnydale. Of course, that must be obvious, as I am sitting here speaking to you,” Wesley let out a small laugh at himself.
Buffy smiled slightly. This time it wasn’t forced. The Wesley she had known before never would have laughed at himself. She wasn’t sure how or when this had happened, but it was a welcome change.
“Well, we survived, right? That’s the important thing. So the entire town got sucked into a hole in the ground in the process.”
“I suppose. I’m actually more amazed that a town being destroyed didn’t make the evening news than anything,” he smiled at his own joke.
“Was that a joke?” Buffy smirked, “The Wesley I remember from a few years ago didn’t make jokes.”
“Yes, well,” he paused, letting his smile fade slightly, “I suppose things happen that cause people to change.”
“Hey, you’re telling the wrong girl. I know a few things about life experience.”
“I suppose no one can say they’ve been through more than you. There aren’t many people that can say they’ve actually died twice,” a slight beat in his voice, “and lived to tell about it.”
“That’s for sure,” she hesitated for a moment, “So, why are you here? Giles offering you a job?”
“Me? Work for the council again? Don’t count on that happening anytime soon. I wasn’t exactly cut out for it if you couldn’t tell,” he paused, “As head of research for Angel in LA Mr. Giles and I both thought it a good idea that we develop an alliance. He has assets I can use and vice-versa. It seemed like the right thing to do.”
“Makes sense,” she nodded.
“I suppose you’re still on active slayer duty?”
“Well, I thought I was off the hook, but alas, this is my life,” she shrugged, “So to answer your question, yep! I’m still slay-girl. Guess there really isn’t away out of it. I mean, I’ve personally proved more than once that not even death could get me outta this one,” she laughed softly.
“Well, I suppose there is something to be said for having a destiny. At least you’re never bored,” he smiled widely at her.
“Ain’t that the truth. Sometimes I wish for boredom,” she laughed.
Someone walked out of Giles’ office. He stepped out behind the other man, shook his hand and then turned to Buffy.
“Buffy, I’m glad you could make it. Feel free to come in now,” he smiled.
She nodded back at him as he turned and went back into the office.
“Well Wes, it was nice seeing you again,” she grinned, “surprisingly.”
“You too Buffy. Perhaps if we ever happen to be in the same place again we can make arrangements.”
“Of course,” she smiled warmly and stepped into Giles’ office. To her surprise, she actually meant it.
End.
Title: People Change
Rating: Eh. PG
Fandom: BtVS/Angel
Spoilers: May contain some for seasons 7/4. Season 5 slightly, but its not really brought up.
Pairing: Buffy/Wesley
Teaser: Buffy and Wesley meet again. Just a conversation piece really. Not really shippy.
Disclaimer: Not Mine.
Other Notes: Written for the Buffy FicAThon (organized by
somefairytale and tablesex) for evemac, who wanted Buffy/Wes set in season 5 AtS where both visit the new council. Buffy stood at the door of the large building and looked up. This was it. The new council. Giles had taken it upon him self to set it up after they all left Sunnydale. It had been months, but this was the first time Buffy had been there. She wasn’t thrilled either.
A few months ago when they destroyed the first (and the entire town of Sunnydale with it) she was sure she was done. Off the hook. Free. She just knew that was her chance to have a normal life.
She thought too soon.
Even with all of the other slayers there were now, she wasn’t free. She had to accept the fact that she never would be. Being the slayer would always be her life. No matter how much she thought she could get away. Even if she stopped fighting.
She still had the nightmares that came with it. The monsters still came. Even when she denied the title of slayer. They attacked her family. Her friends.
No. This was Buffy’s life. So here she was. Back at the council. At least she only had to deal with Giles this time. She didn’t think she could handle anyone else. None of the other watchers could ever understand why she was the way she was.
Why she needed her friends. Her family. Why they made her strong.
She finally walked through the large doors that lead into the lobby of the council. She saw a few people she recognized. Giles wasn’t around, but Andrew was. She was kind of hoping he wouldn’t see her.
She was lucky. He disappeared into a long hallway before he glanced her way. She was starting to think Giles was on some kind of drug when he decided Andrew should be a watcher. Of all people Andrew, who was sometimes evil.
She walked over to the desk where a youngish looking British woman was staring at a computer screen. Buffy couldn’t figure out how Giles had gotten this all set up and running so smoothly in such a short time. But she shrugged it off, coughing to get the woman’s attention.
The woman looked up at Buffy, slightly annoyed.
“Can I help you?”
“Buffy Summers. Mister Giles is expecting me.”
The woman looked back at whatever it was she was doing on the computer (which Buffy assumed had nothing to do with council business at all).
“He’s in a meeting. You’ll have to wait out here.”
“Gee, thanks,” Buffy rolled her eyes. Giles needed to learn how to hire secretaries who knew how to talk to people.
She walked over to the small set of chair sitting next to Giles’ office.
Who the hell could he possibly be talking to? As urgent as he had seemed on the phone, she was sure this wasn’t some random check in call, and she didn’t see a reason for him to make her wait. She hated waiting.
Buffy’s thoughts were interrupted when she saw a familiar face step inside the building. She rubbed her eyes. She had to be seeing things. There was no way on earth Giles would call him of all people. He was a horrible watcher. He was snotty and rude and everything Giles wasn’t.
He stopped at the desk and talked to the secretary (who, then, of course pointed to the chairs Buffy was sitting in for him to have a seat).
“Buffy?” he asked, looking at her with a soft smile.
“Wesley,” she forced a smile, “didn’t think I’d see you again.”
“I don’t suspect you thought you’d ever have a reason to,” he sat down in the chair to her right, “Mr. Giles called me in LA. We decided it best that I come have a look around the new office.”
“That’s great,” Buffy forced out. In reality, Wesley was the last person she was ever expecting or wanting to see again. In his time as watcher in Sunnydale he hadn’t done much more than be an annoyance. He was snooty and rude. And she had always partially blamed him for the way things had turned out with Faith. Not that he made Faith commit murder or try to cover it up, but he hadn’t exactly tried to help her either.
She glanced at him for a moment, not sure if he was going to continue to ramble on or not. There was a subtle change in his face. He didn’t just look older. There was more. He didn’t even look like the same Wesley. His features were softer, less harsh. There seemed to even be a hint of kindness there. It surprised her.
“I heard about what happened in Sunnydale. Of course, that must be obvious, as I am sitting here speaking to you,” Wesley let out a small laugh at himself.
Buffy smiled slightly. This time it wasn’t forced. The Wesley she had known before never would have laughed at himself. She wasn’t sure how or when this had happened, but it was a welcome change.
“Well, we survived, right? That’s the important thing. So the entire town got sucked into a hole in the ground in the process.”
“I suppose. I’m actually more amazed that a town being destroyed didn’t make the evening news than anything,” he smiled at his own joke.
“Was that a joke?” Buffy smirked, “The Wesley I remember from a few years ago didn’t make jokes.”
“Yes, well,” he paused, letting his smile fade slightly, “I suppose things happen that cause people to change.”
“Hey, you’re telling the wrong girl. I know a few things about life experience.”
“I suppose no one can say they’ve been through more than you. There aren’t many people that can say they’ve actually died twice,” a slight beat in his voice, “and lived to tell about it.”
“That’s for sure,” she hesitated for a moment, “So, why are you here? Giles offering you a job?”
“Me? Work for the council again? Don’t count on that happening anytime soon. I wasn’t exactly cut out for it if you couldn’t tell,” he paused, “As head of research for Angel in LA Mr. Giles and I both thought it a good idea that we develop an alliance. He has assets I can use and vice-versa. It seemed like the right thing to do.”
“Makes sense,” she nodded.
“I suppose you’re still on active slayer duty?”
“Well, I thought I was off the hook, but alas, this is my life,” she shrugged, “So to answer your question, yep! I’m still slay-girl. Guess there really isn’t away out of it. I mean, I’ve personally proved more than once that not even death could get me outta this one,” she laughed softly.
“Well, I suppose there is something to be said for having a destiny. At least you’re never bored,” he smiled widely at her.
“Ain’t that the truth. Sometimes I wish for boredom,” she laughed.
Someone walked out of Giles’ office. He stepped out behind the other man, shook his hand and then turned to Buffy.
“Buffy, I’m glad you could make it. Feel free to come in now,” he smiled.
She nodded back at him as he turned and went back into the office.
“Well Wes, it was nice seeing you again,” she grinned, “surprisingly.”
“You too Buffy. Perhaps if we ever happen to be in the same place again we can make arrangements.”
“Of course,” she smiled warmly and stepped into Giles’ office. To her surprise, she actually meant it.
End.
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