Rupert Giles bent as he added another chemical to the beaker in his hand. He’d raided the science labs earlier, trying to find the ingredients he needed for his spell. He had an idea on how to slow down, if not stop the Mayor. Unfortunately, a high school science department rarely stocks the sofisticated chemicals he needed, so he was making do. Some of the combinations were extremely volatile, however, and he had to be extra careful.
The smell of flowers invaded his nose, distracting him slightly. He sneered as he looked at the garish vase on the side of the table. Wesley had bought some flowers for Cordelia, and she’d insisted on displaying them here for all to see. Mainly for Xander to see. He was really going to have to have a word with the younger Watcher. He and Cordelia made another volatile mix.
Turning back to the task in hand, he finished pouring the chemical, then returned the vial to the storage rack on the table. Keeping his eye on the beaker, he misjudged the positioning of the tube, knocking it against the storage rack. The sound of breaking glass alerted him to his error.
“Shit!” Moving quickly, he carefully set the beaker on the table, then began to remove his clothing. He could feel and smell the acid as it started eating into the material. He was grateful he wore the tweed today, and for his many layers of clothing. It allowed him precious seconds before the liquid reached his skin. He hesitated when he reached his boxers, but knew he couldn’t take any chances. Luckily, nobody would be around to see him in all his ‘glory’.
After waiting a few precious moments to ensure there was no damage to his skin, he breathed a sigh of relief. That was close. He was lucky his carelessness hadn’t cost him his life or, at the least, severe disfigurement. He looked ruefully down at his now ruined clothing. A fair enough punishment for his lapse of concentration. Luckily, he kept a change of clothing in his office.
Giles headed toward his inner sanctum, when a sound halted him. He listened carefully, hoping he’d been wrong. When he heard the noise again, however, he knew his predicament was truly dire. Looking frantically around for some form of protection, he prayed that he might still, somehow, come out of this unscathed.
“Giles, you were right. There...was...a...” Buffy froze at the sight before her. “Giles, is this some sort of watcher fashion statement?”
There her watcher stood, his usual attire completely missing. In fact, any attire missing. The only thing protecting her virtuous eyes was the ugly vase with its large bunch of flowers strategically placed. She stared fascinated at the exposed chest before her. Who would have thought that Giles would be so well....well? The trail of hair running along his chest and down to his navel only emphasized the strength and manliness of his chest. His muscles, although not as well-defined as Angel’s, gave an indication of how fit their training sessions kept him. She almost wished the vase wasn’t there. She wouldn’t have minded a complete uninterrupted view of her watcher au natural.
“...spilled, and I had to remove my clothing before the acid touched my skin.” Giles noticed the unfocused look in his Slayer’s eyes, and the becoming blush on her cheeks. The direction of her gaze was the final hint for him to realise exactly what she was thinking. He couldn’t help his body’s natural responce to her obviously lavicious ideas. Clearing his throat, he tried to distract them both. “Buffy? Buffy!” Her eyes jerked up to his face. “I have a change of clothing in my office. I was about to retrieve them when you came in.” She nodded. “I’ll just get dressed and go home. You might as well go too.” She nodded again, not moving. He sighed in happy exasperation. “Buffy, I think you should leave.” When she made no effort to move. “Now!”
Buffy jumped, as if an electric charge had moved through her body. “Right. Leaving now.” Backing away, she risked one more glimpse at the glory before her, then turned and fled the library.
Giles sighed again, then took a moment to regain control of his errant body. Thank God the vase prevented her from seeing the responce she was getting. Straightening, he once again made his way to his office.
“Giles, Wesley needs that book...on....the....” Cordelia froze in almost the same spot as Buffy a few moments ago. Upon hearing the door open, Giles had scooted back to the safety of the table, and the vase of flowers. Now he waited for the other watcher to make his presence known. In the meantime, Cordelia continued her intense perusal of the naked librarian. “My flowers never looked that good before.”
Giles blushed as the implication set in. “Cordelia? Where is Mr Wyndham-Price?”
“Who? Oh, Buffy waylaid him outside the library, so I thought I’d just get the book. That way I’m not stuck in loserville any longer than I need to.” A look of enlightenment passed Cordelia’s face as the penny dropped. “She was trying to stop him coming in and seeing you.”
Giles ran his hand through his hair in frustration. At the change of expression in Cordelia’s face, he quickly dropped his arm, realising the tantalising view he’d given her. He accepted there was only one thing to do. “What book were you looking for?”
“Hmm? Oh, the book on the demon Whatemacallit, that the two of you were looking at earlier. Shall I fetch it?”
“No! No. It’s alright I’ll get it.” She continued to look at him. What was it with these girls? Did the sight of a naked man make them lose all their senses? “Close your eyes please Cordelia.”
After pouting, she did as he requested. A few moments later, she felt something pressed in her hand. With a great deal of fortitude, she overcame temptation and kept her eyes closed. For five more seconds. The sight of a well, toned rounded buttock retreating from her was her reward. She sighed happily, then closed her eyes once more.
Once he was safely ensconced behind the saving flowers, Giles looked back at the brunette, shaking his head. He had felt her eyes on him. You couldn’t trust anybody nowadays. “You may open your eyes now.” They stared at each other for a few moments longer. “Goodnight Cordelia.”
“Okay. Night.”
He relaxed as he was once again alone, but knew better than to move from his spot. Sure enough, a minute later the doors once again opened. “What did you do to Cordelia? And why did she wink at me?”
“Hello again Buffy. And I did nothing to Cordelia. I just gave her the book she was looking for.”
“Gave her? You mean you just galivanted around the library naked while she looked on?”
He quirked an eyebrow at her. “Jealous?”
“Yes damnit! You never galivant for me.”
Under such circumstances, what was a watcher to do? Carefully picking up the vase of flowers, he looked down at their garishness once more, then let go. Then, to the utter delight of his slayer, he proceeded to galavant the night away.