Drabble: This Above All

[littleotter73]

Title: This Above All
Author: littleotter73
Characters: Giles, Buffy, Riley
Setting: Early S5
Word Count: 100

In that deep, dark place he held in check within him, Giles hated the young Initiative soldier. Riley was a distraction at best - sulking when he didn't beat the Slayer in training, or match her kill ratio in battle, or hold her full attention. His fragile masculinity unwilling to accept her as she is.

Worse yet, Buffy tried compromising her nature to appease him.

Unable to watch the drama unfold any longer, Giles took her aside. "You are not a trophy for some insecure soldier from Iowa. You are the Slayer, Buffy, remember that. To thine own self be true."

Comments

[il_mio_capitano]

Cool. Riley was in danger of bringing Buffy down. This works very nicely.

[littleotter73]

Thank you!

[quaggy]

Good advice! Lovely drabble!

[littleotter73]

Thanks! :)

[lycomingst.livejournal.com]

Very nice! I always thought that Riley was the kind of guy that Buffy thought she was supposed to want. We all have those kind of voices in our heads. 8 ]

[littleotter73]

Thank you. And I agree. Buffy stayed with him for far too long because he was supposed to be the "normal" guy. He was supposed to be the anti-Angel. And yet, he ended up being as moody and broody as Angel ever was and just as much of a liability. She definitely stayed with him far too long. He should've accepted the offer from the military and made a quick exit after the fight with Adam. He was never cut out for a life that wasn't regimented in some way, either by livestock and crop needs on a farm or a strict daily military routine. Buffy's world was pretty much the complete opposite.