'Wilfully Oblivious', 1/5, for stagesoflove Round 2, Senses - #1 - Sight

[darkhavens]

Author: darkhavens
Title: Wilfully Oblivious, 1/5
Pairing: Spike/Xander
Fandom: Buffy
Rating: PG for now
Words: 299
Feedback/Concrit: darkhavens @ slashverse.com
Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be. No harm, no foul, no money made.
Summary: "There are none so blind, as those who would not see..."
Notes: Written for stagesoflove 2006, Round 2, 'Exploring the Relationship Through The Senses', challenge #1 - Sight.
Also posted here.




They weren't particularly subtle about any of it; anyone who cared to stop and look could clearly see what was going on. Only Giles and Tara actually noticed.

It was just small things at first - knees knocking together beneath the table during research sessions, elbows clashing in a battle for the final jelly donut. Even the way they couldn't manage to keep quiet for five consecutive minutes shifted to reflect their new communion.

Sniping insults turned to teasing, flirting pokes and prods. Demeaning nicknames either disappeared or were transmuted.

It was… almost sweet, Giles admitted once to Tara as they cleared away another meeting's rubble. Sweet and somehow mildly disturbing to watch a boy - a boy who stated often just how much he hated vampires - grow, and yes, bloom, beneath William the Bloody's careful care and muted courting and protection.

Eventually, neither could resist the urge to touch in earnest. Fingers brushed and caught under cover of trading weapons; hips bumped together as they walked out on patrol.

A close call with a pack of Rogash demons nearly threw their secret under the Buffy-Willow high-powered spotlight.

Xander bounced twice before he rolled to a halt at the foot of the Walburn-Williams family crypt, and lay there gasping, and Spike lost it.

Dropping the demon leg he'd been using as a viciously spined cudgel, Spike dodged easily though the milling, battling throng and checked on Xander. Once assured that he was still breathing and unbroken, Spike dove back in and let his inner psycho out to play.

Ten minutes and a dozen demons later, Spike had Xander patted down, each bruise and scratch and ego dent precisely catalogued by gentle fingertips.

Giles and Tara kept their charges looking elsewhere while Spike and Xander shared their first kiss.


Part Two

Comments

[literati.livejournal.com]

awwwwww!

I can't wait for the rest!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sweetie! More on the way! :D

[kaleecat]

::melts at the last line:: this packed such a wonderful emotional idea in a short time. However what is so wonderful is that we get to see this from Giles, and obliquely Tara's approving viewpoint. It strikes just the right tone, & wonderfully shows what i've always thought - of them all, Giles & Tara have the ability to be most accepting.

Loved Giles admitting to Tara that it was almost sweet to see Xander grow, and yes, bloom, beneath William the Bloody's careful care and muted courting and protection.

And then the pair protects them for that first kiss!

::is twelve & in love::

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *is twelve with you* *g*

I love looking at their relationship through other people's eyes - they often see things from a totally new angle.

[denied-heaven.livejournal.com]

aawwwww
that was awesome
so so sweet and just..
them
*happy sigh*

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

I think Spike would probably take exception to the word 'sweet', but what he doesn't know won't hurt us, right? ;)

[entrenous88.livejournal.com]

oh my god **LOVES**

yes, bloom, beneath William the Bloody's careful care and muted courting and protection.

That's...yes. I have such a kink for the slow burn unfolding romance when someone dangerous like Spike is involved.

Also, gah, to the first kiss.

Whare ees more of dees? Whare?

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Hee! Thank you! Spike is definitely the courting type - though I'm sure if Xander weren't quite so squeamish and human thre would be gifts like the hearts of his enemies, and the tongue of anyone who spoke out against their relationship. He's sweet like that. *g*

Part 4 is on it's way tomorrow or Tuesday. After that there's only one left. o.O

[piratepurple.livejournal.com]

*dies happily of schmoop*

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

*revives you for the upcoming parts* :D

Thanks!

[batmanvinnie.livejournal.com]

*swoons*
I like it. Very much. A gentle, sweet romance. With the silent, helpful consent of Giles and Tara. Who would probably start turning the girls onto Spike's finer points to soften the eventual blow. AT least in my poisoned mind. Great job

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

And yes, Tara definitely tried to get Willow to see the light, but the title of this piece speaks for itself - she and Buffy were Wilfully Oblivious. *g*

[auntyk.livejournal.com]

this subtle and oh so beautiful

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

[amejisuto.livejournal.com]

AWWW! That's just so good! And Giles and Tara know! AWWWW!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Yis!

And, as of the most recent chunk, so do Willow and Buffy. Oops! *g*

[twilightofmagic.livejournal.com]

Aww, I'm with Giles. Very sweet. Looking forward to more ;-)

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

More comgin very soon. :D

[eithnex.livejournal.com]

Oh, very nice indeed. I like an observant Giles and Tara those two can be a force to be reckoned with and help keep Buffy and Willow from doing too much fussing. I can't wait to see how this goes, thank you.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

I like an observant Giles and Tara those two can be a force to be reckoned with

So very true! They can both keep their wayward charges under control - most of the time. *g*

Thanks!

[geyer-fb.livejournal.com]

Excellent beginning, beautifully written. And I'm always happy when they get support from Giles or Tara or both.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

I love Tara and Giles being quietly supportive. Looking at the relationship through their eyes always shows me new things.

[outsideth3box.livejournal.com]

::gushes::

Oh this is just too sweet.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

*plugs the holes from which you are gushing* ;)

[ladycat777.livejournal.com]

Oh oh oh that was lovely!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you, darlin'! :D

[onlywayout27.livejournal.com]

Wonderful... as all of your work is. I love G-Man and Tar-Tar watching the slow progression from snark to tease to endearment between our boys. Eagerly awaiting the next bit!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

I was always certain that Tara saw and knew a lot more than she ever let on. It's always the quiet ones. ;)

[incoherenteye.livejournal.com]

glee.

i shouldn't be reading fanfic this late especially spander, because one word praises just shouldn't cut it.
tomorrow, maybe the brilliancy of this will be uncover but right now.

just glee.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Glee is good. I'm always happy with glee. :D

[inkingwords.livejournal.com]

That was sweet!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :D

[katbcoll.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'm firmly on the "awwwwwww" bandwagon.

You know, because I actually said it out loud.

Lovely beginning. *cackles* letting out his inner psycho. Loved that line!!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Hee! Thanks!

Spike loves to let out his inner psycho - it distracts attention from his not-so-inner romantic. *g*

[eyezrthewindows.livejournal.com]

*happy sigh*

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

:D Thankee.

[blue-icy-rose.livejournal.com]

Aww! *happy sigh* I just love the way you write these two. Yay for Giles and Tara knowing and for their first kiss!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

[nashmaveric.livejournal.com]

Awwwwwwwww ::makes aw face:: More of the pretty? Please?

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thankee! And yis! more! Part 4 will be appearing tomorrow or Tuesday. :D

[scififan151852.livejournal.com]

Short. Sweet. To the point. Perfect.


~Carl

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

[aimeelicious]

So sweet! I needed something just like this right now =)

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Always happy to cheer someone up. :D thanks!

[electricalgwen.livejournal.com]

Ohh, beautifully done. I love the highlight between William the Bloody's "inner psycho" and the gentle nurturing Spike gives Xander. Sweet!! Tara obviously the accepting one - I like that Giles is too, I wouldn't expect it to be honest, but it works here.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Sometimes I write Giles as disapproving, and other times I let him approve, or at the very least not disapprove. I think he could go either way. ;)

Chapter 1

[dreamerchaos.livejournal.com]

*squeals in glee*

First kiss, first kiss!!!!

Yea for Giles and Tara approving!!

And soon shall come Buffy and Willow.

*mutters sullenly*

Keep up the great work!! XD

Re: Chapter 1

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

[kitty-poker1.livejournal.com]

Spike had Xander patted down, each bruise and scratch and ego dent precisely catalogued by gentle fingertips.

How lovely is that? Especially Spike's care for the 'ego'dent'. :)

The last line is perfect. Good for Giles and Tara, letting the romance blossom without the harsh glare of Buffy's and Willow's disapproval.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sweetie!

I think Spike would have been extra gentle in the area of the ego dent. He knows how much they sting. ;)