If asked, Buffy would admit readily that she wasn’t the pillar. That was Giles.
The fact that he gave these hugs so rarely made her appreciate them all the more, and she lets him rock her- not even feeling the slightest bit ridiculous about it as her resolve to not cry breaks down until she wonders if there was ever a resolve in the first place. Because Buffy can ‘deal’ with the best of them. She can shove issues away or stuff them inside herself until the cows come home.
But it’s a big like having something in a bottle under pressure. The slightest crack and she shatters. So, yeah. Buffy can say that she’s ‘alright’ and that she’s ‘really okay with Dawn’s leaving’, but she knows it’s a lie, and Giles does too.
“Only you would mention muggers during a heartfelt moment, Giles.” She gives a hiccoughy sort of laugh and wipes her eyes for a moment. “I know. Or I should know.” A pause, and then-
no subject
The fact that he gave these hugs so rarely made her appreciate them all the more, and she lets him rock her- not even feeling the slightest bit ridiculous about it as her resolve to not cry breaks down until she wonders if there was ever a resolve in the first place. Because Buffy can ‘deal’ with the best of them. She can shove issues away or stuff them inside herself until the cows come home.
But it’s a big like having something in a bottle under pressure. The slightest crack and she shatters. So, yeah. Buffy can say that she’s ‘alright’ and that she’s ‘really okay with Dawn’s leaving’, but she knows it’s a lie, and Giles does too.
“Only you would mention muggers during a heartfelt moment, Giles.” She gives a hiccoughy sort of laugh and wipes her eyes for a moment. “I know. Or I should know.” A pause, and then-
“But I’m not ready to do this without you.”