Celebrating Victory - 1152 - Giles/Ardeth Bey

BtVS/The Mummy
#1152 – Giles/Ardeth Bey
Title – Celebrating Victory
Summary – Two fighters ponder on victory.

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Rupert Giles was utterly exhausted. So were his Slayers/children. But they preferred to celebrate their victory in a more… American fashion.
“You do not plan on attending with your Slayers?”
Giles looked up into the darkly complected face of the Egyptian Watcher. Ardeth Bey the Third survived the First Evil purge because he was first Medji, and second Slayer. He never followed the Council ideology regarding Slayers working alone.
“You aren’t attending the victory celebrations either.” Giles noted neutrally.
The Egyptian shook his head. “I see no point in celebrating a fight that simply delayed the outcome.”
“We stopped the cult from raising Imhotep. The wards that bind the Betrayer are intact.”
“For now.” Ardeth spoke in tired tones. “But we cannot ‘rest on our laurels’. There will be another insane human who believes Imhotep can give eternal life and power.”
Giles laughed. “Oh yes. And demons and allies turned enemies and enemies turned allies.” He spoke wryly. “But we cannot let that taint the victory we have earned.”
“Then why aren’t you celebrating?”
“Because I cannot stand modern music and the spasms todays youth call dancing.” Giles produced a dusty green bottle from his duffel bag. “Want some?” The Egyptian nodded and Giles produced two shot glasses and carefully filled it with the amber fluid from the green bottle. “This is part of my special stash. I only open it after we win a fight.”
Giles carefully re-sealed the old bottle and held out a shot glass to his companion.
“Here is to holding the line old friend.”
Ardeth Bey smiled slowly and tapped his glass against Giles’.
“To holding the line.”