C/G

A ballroom dance scope out provides some bonding and surprises for Giles
and Cordelia.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss the crackhead.

Notes - shamelessly based on a scene from “Strictly Ballroom”, that wonderful,
wonderful movie.
            Spoilers all the way to grad II,  a sequel/companion story to “One of These Days”, a short fic I wrote earlier.  The only thing you need to know is Rupert and Cordelia kissed once after graduation, and she moved to Los Angeles shortly after.

His eyes scanned the dance floor, searching for any sign of the human that the demon could have chosen to embody. It could have been anyone, and Giles sighed, aware that the chore was as bad as finding a needle in a hay stack.

Who the bloody hell had ever heard of a demon that feasted on dancers, of all things? Buffy and him had been tracking him down for months, finally finding him residing in Los Angeles of all places.

It left the “Scooby Gang”, as Xander referred to them, with no choice but to go to Los Angeles, just in time to attend the 50th annual ballroom dance championships. Willow, Oz, and Wesley had decided to keep things solid in Sunnydale, but Giles, Buffy and Xander had to come to Los Angeles, and join forces with the Los Angeles Mod Squad, as Xander had dubbed *them*.

The reunion had been awkward to say the least. Buffy’s attachment to Xander and her fondness for Angel had put them all in a very strange place. But Giles knew that Buffy was quite in love with Xander, not the deep, intense love she had felt for Angel, but a sweeter love, more tender, and he knew that Xander Harris, for all his jealous tendencies, had nothing to worry about.

The same could not be said for him.  The Mod Squad was comprised of Angel, some undead mentor named Doyle, which Rupert didn’t particularly like, and the  rather tactless Cordelia Chase.  Although him and the very intricate young woman had never been close, Rupert felt always tense, fond feelings whenever he laid eyes on her, quite a contrast from the annoyance and frustration he felt toward her before.  The reason was simple, when he was feeling his lowest, in the days after graduation, she had been the one there for him, made him feel like he was worth something.  They had shared an intimate conversation, sweet, honest, and then they shared a wonderful, very sweet kiss.

He knew that they had both mentally agreed not to mention it. When he saw her again, as she had come bounding into Angel’s office, she had frozen up immediately.  He could tell she was completely stunned, and put out of her element, Cordelia Chase simply had no way she could react. She was stuck in a room with her ex boyfriend, his new girlfriend, her ex boyfriend, and a  man more than twice her age who she had frenched. Twice.

To her credit,  Cordelia had revealed nothing of her surprise after the first five minutes. She merely raised an eyebrow, and waited for Angel to explain. Angel, apparently relieved to find his “gal Friday” had returned, and he was no longer alone in his awkwardness, did.

And it had ended them all up here. In this great crowd, Rupert could find none of his group, who had all spread out over the floor to try and find the demon.  Worming his way through the crowd, Rupert shouldered to the front, his eyes for a moment distracted on the A-class dancers who twirled around the shiny floor, their faces frozen in plastic smile, the sweat glistening from their bodies. A small smile of familiarity floated on Rupert’s face, he remembered the steps well. Mentally counting along with the dancers, he shook himself out of his reverie, reminding himself there was a demon to find.

A hand at his elbow forced him to look down, and Buffy Summers, in a beautiful evening gown, stared up at him, her face one of concentration.

“Found him.” she whispered. Rupert’s eyes widened immediately.

“Where?”

Buffy motioned with her eyes to one of the couples on the floor. “Couple number 35. His partner will be a goner by tonight.”

Rupert felt his chest tighten as he gazed on the one of the most spirited dancers. “Let’s hope they win, no?”

Buffy sighed, shrugging.  “Xander’s on one side, Angel’s on the other.” Following her gaze, he saw the two men staring daggers at each other, all the while keeping an eye on the dancers.  “But I can’t find Cordelia.”

His attention was immediately shifted. “What?”

“I told her to look backstage, but she hasn’t come back.”

Giles nodded, concern on his face.  “Keep an eye on our demon friend. I’ll go find her.”

“Right. I’ll meet you back here.”

Rupert nodded, jogging up the stairs and entering the door that said Backstage. Ducking away from the guards, he found the noise of the music had died down considerably, and instead was the clutter and bustle of tons upon tons of dancers, some half naked running around, practicing steps. Oh, yes. He remembered this well.

Shaking his head at the fear and anticipation on many of the performer’s faces, he could only grin, his mind not phasing from his primary assignment, finding the elusive Cordelia Chase.

She was nowhere backstage, and finally Giles eye’s floated up the backstage curtain, the one place hadn’t looked. The small, quiet area between the back of the theater and the curtain that led to the dance floor was deserted, except for one person.

Rupert smiled.  He had found her all right.  The young woman was in a dark gray sleeveless evening gown, the dress hugging her body perfectly, she leaned against the wall, her arms crossed, her back  to him as she gazed out through a small slit of the curtain.  Careful not to make a sound, he walked up to her, his hands behind his back as he studied her. Good Lord, this woman was absolutely beautiful, and how he had missed her. Although it had been months since they had talked, he still remembered his lips on hers, the smile on her face, and the twinkle in her eyes. Sunnydale hadn’t quite been the same since her departure, and Rupert was sure he wasn’t the only one that felt it.

His steps hit a creaking board, and she looked up, craning her neck back to see who had disturbed her. When she saw him, she merely smiled in greeting, turning her head back to what she was seeing.

Rupert walked up to her, his body inches from hers as he looked too. She opened the curtain slightly, allowing him to see the dancers swing past them. He smiled at the scene, and then studied her. Her face was that of wonderment, utterly transfixed on the grace and the beauty of the dancers.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” She whispered, her eyes twinkling.

He gazed at her.  “Yes it is.” She smiled, not quite catching his hidden meaning, before turning to him. Her eyes floated down appreciatively.

“You look good, Giles.” She remarked flippantly. “Didn’t have a chance to tell you before.”

“So do you.” He returned. “Los Angeles suits you.”

She rolled her eyes, sighing.  “Yeah, you’d think moving here would get me away from this stupid End of the World stuff, but NOOO. I have to hook up with Angel.”

His smile faltered slightly. “Exactly how hooked up are you?”

She gave him an incredulous look, before chuckling. “Not that hooked up. I draw the line at boinking vampires, Giles.” Silence fell between them, and Cordelia’s  gaze again drifted to the dancers.

“Did Buffy find the demon?”

He nodded.  “Yes, actually, it’s him... right there.”

Her eyes widened. “Him?!”

“Right-O.”

“Oh, damn.” She sighed, slumping her shoulders, her mouth forming into a pout.  “He was cute.”

He chuckled at her ability to sound so put out.

“Attracted to dancers, are you?” He teased.

She shrugged. “I think it’s more admiration.” She sucked in her breath when one couple executed a particular turn.  “Damn. That is so amazing.” She breathed.

“It’s not as hard as it looks.” He responded, his eyes twinkling.

“Yeah, right.” She muttered, grinning, dismissing his claim.  He smiled, feeling more content than he had in months, and straightened up, offering her his hand.

“Would you care for me to show you?”  A stunned look came into her pretty hazel eyes.

“What?”

He merely grinned.

“You’ve got to be kidding.” She retorted. “You can do that?”

He said nothing, simply taking her hand, and clasping it in his, pulled her firmly but gently to the middle of their tiny space.

Her form was perfect, and Giles had to smile as he quickly slid his hand around her waist, having to keep from chuckling when she shivered.  Apparently she hadn’t forgotten their kiss.  Letting his eyes twinkle at her, he took her other hand, raised it the appropriate position, and moved her slowly to the music.

He had been told by his instructors that he was a strong leader, and Cordelia was able to pick up the rhythm very quickly, following his lead with the natural grace of a dancer.  He twirled her, his eyes never leaving her as he pulled her back in, their bodies pressed together for one brief second before she was twirled out again.

The steps came back to him easily, and he found to his appreciation that she kept up. Her eyes were wide, her mouth had parted in a very dazzling grin, as he swung her around the tiny space.

The music changed to a seductive Latin beat, and he smiled, pausing to pull off his glasses, depositing them in his pocket.

“Rupert.” Her breath made his pulse quicken, the sultry note that accompanied it only increased his pleasure. “Where did you learn to dance like that?”

He slid his arms around her, his fingers brushing across the bare part of her back before, resting on her hip and pushing her away, one hand catching hers to reel her back in.

“It was quite the rage at my boarding school. Plus it was required.” He whispered, not wanting to lose this moment with words. He wanted the music to be conversation enough. He didn’t want to go through all the formalities of asking how she was. He didn’t want to be reminded of the cataclysmic age difference that they shared.  He didn’t want to know if she was seeing anyone, he only wanted that intimate feeling that they had shared that day by the pond to come back.  Because the truth was, Rupert had never felt that again with anyone in all these months, and he had missed it dreadfully.

And judging by the look , the sparkle of longing in his young partner’s eyes, she must have felt the same way. And so the words ceased, the language became the movements.  The dance was slow, seductive, and teasingly frustrating.  Their eyes focused on each other and nothing else, the two bodies lost in the music.

Touches created fire, and everytime his fingers brushed an area of her body, it was like a kiss. Her face became flushed, her eyes sparkled with depth and want, riveted on his eyes as every other coherent thought flew out the window.

They moved deliberately, playing the dance so it was tormenting as possible, no longer counting numbers, but dancing to the rhythm of the heartbeats that could be heard pounding above the din as every other sound slowly faded away.

And in that time, those few minutes where there was nothing but the dancing of heartbeats, they became one, the intimacy clear in the way the pair knew each other’s moves, dancing as if they had been partnered for years.

And the music that had wafted around them ended, and the clapping arose, floating through the curtain, as the pair stood stock still, chests heaving, eyes glittering. There was silence, neither wanting to break the spell that had been inadvertently created.

Cordelia could only stare, swallowing, before she whispered, “Damn, Rupert. What the hell was that?”

He could only smile back, one hand sliding through hers. “I’m not sure.”  The pressure of the hand increased, pulling her toward him, until her body was pressed up against his. His free hand reached up to cradle her face, soft and silken under his rough fingers.

She closed her eyes at the contact, leaning against the caress, before her eyes fluttered open. “So you haven’t forgotten either, huh?”

His throat full, he could only shake his head before tipping her head up, bending his head over hers, his breath tickling her lips as he hovered a mere half inch from them, staring at her perfect mouth.

She groaned, reaching up and pulling his head down to hers. Their lips were moving instantaneously, hungrily searching, and discovering, quite joyfully, that the electricity emerging from  those first two kisses shared hadn’t been mere chance.

They pulled apart, staring at each other in surprise, until Cordelia grinned, and he chuckled, their bodies pressing closer, their heads bending once more.

“Giles!”  The couple looked up, stepping away just as the curtain parted and Angel and Xander ran through.

“There you are.” Angel looked at Cordelia, who had recovered quickly.

“Did you guys get the demon?” She demanded. Xander nodded, his mind instantly occupied.

“Yeah. Buffy’s got him tied up in the car.”

Cordelia and Giles stared at each other.  “So, we’re done?” She asked warily.

Xander looked ready to skip for joy.  “Yes.”  Even Angel looked relieved as he slung an arm around his friend, pulling her to the exit.

“Thank God, Cor.” He whispered in her ear.  “If I keep having to see Buffy with that... that...”

She squeezed him gently, feeling his anxiousness. “It’s cool, Angel. They’re leaving, soon.” Too soon. Her eyes floated back to Giles, who was walking behind them. He looked up, their eyes locking.

He was going back to Sunnydale. Her place was here.  And the message was clear, as if it had been shouted.  It wasn’t time. Not yet.   She gave him a soft smile, before casting a well practiced glare at Xander, and tearing her gaze away, her mind drifting now on how hard Angel was going to be to work for the next month or so.  He would be brooding lovesick guy again, something she had managed to wean him away from, and her work was cut out for her. She sighed, leaning her head on Angel’s shoulder, patting him to let him know that he was going to be okay, even if he still loved Buffy with all his undead heart.

Rupert had understood her message, and he felt a pang of loss for a moment, just a
moment.  Then she had smiled at him, her own special smile, and he knew that it wasn’t over yet.  No matter that he was returning to Sunnydale very shortly, he knew that that day that she hadn’t talked about hadn’t quite come. But it would. One of these days, it would come.

"Glad this is over." Xander muttered, pulling at his bowtie. "This ballroom stuff if boring, and stiff, hey, G-man?"

Giles shook his head every so slightly. "There's nothing boring and strict about ballroom dancing, Xander." He admonished slightly.  "Nothing at all."

He smiled, ignoring Xander’s questioning look. Something had just told him he had found his soulmate, and he knew that that, was something that wasn’t lost very easily.

Not at all.