cornerofmadness

Let's see if I can possibly get these to cut without losing all my formatting. I'm not sure what's up with that lately. All are PG-13 and as always, the characters aren't mine.

Giles (S2)
The scotch burned down his throat but it didn’t take away the look of horror on Buffy’s face when he told her one of his greatest secrets. Rupert shuddered, squeezing his eyes tight against the look of disappointment in the eyes on teen-aged girl. He now knew what it was to disappoint a daughter. The pain of her learning about Ripper, about the evil he hid deep inside him like a sick pearl, hurt too much. He had kept his past from view for a long time, until he could pretend it never happened. Some secrets should never be told.

Buffy (S3)
He still cried and moaned in his sleep but he was getting better. She kept telling herself that. Angel had the right to his madness. She had consigned him to hell. Oh, there had been no choice nad it damn neared killed her. She took care of him the best she could, bringing him blood, keeping him safe inside the mansion. She read to him and he seemed to like that the best, curling up next to her, sighing when he heard her voice. Buffy knew she couldn’t keep him secret forever but maybe for just a little while longer.

Ensemble (S7)
"It has to be fake," Buffy cried, looking at the photo Willow had.

"It’s not. I swear. I found it at Giles’ place when I was living in England with him," Willow protested.

"It’s just too weird," Dawn said.

"I so didn’t want to know this," Xander added.

"You didn’t want to know what?" Giles asked coming in.

"This!" Buffy brandished the photo. "Have something you want to confess to?’

Giles steeled his jaw. "I’m a closet Rocky Horror fan. I like to play Frank and I’m not ashamed."

"Any other secrets to confess to?" Buffy asked.

"None you’ll ever hear."

Willow/Tara (S4)
Willow stood in front of the mirror. "Guys, I have a secret. I feel really bad about it, because it makes me feel like I’m doing something wrong." She made a face. "That sounds so bad."

"What are you doing?" Tara looked up from her studying.

"I feel like I’m hiding you from my friends and I hate it...I just didn’t think it would be so hard to tell everyone I’m gay and we’re in love."

Tara hugged her. "It’s a big step, Willow. Those are always the hardest. Trust your friends."

"Thanks." Willow pulled her in for a kiss.

Doyle (S1)
Doyle had never been at a loss for words. Maybe it was his Irish gift of blarney. He usually just blurted out whatever he had on his mind, for better or worse. How could she not just look at him and know his secret? Even Angel didn’t really have to be told and there were times Angel couldn’t see the big E on the eye chart, metaphorically speaking.

Doyle steeled himself. "Cordy, I have a secret I have to tell you."

She looked at him with those big beautiful eyes and his resolve melted. "Yes?"

"Never mind. It’s nothing."

Buffy/Angel (Post Not Fade Away)
"No more secrets," Buffy said, "Not if we’re going to try being together again."

Angel nodded. "Agreed."

"And you know about the Immortal," she said, a nervous look in her eyes.

"I know. And I’ve told you I know how to get around the curse thanks to Nina." Angel looked every bit as apprehensive as she did.

"I’m still working on the whole vamp/wolf weirdness." Buffy’s eyes met his. "Any more secrets I need to know?"

"I haven’t told you about Connor yet, because his story is the longest."

"Who?"

"My son."

Buffy sat stunned listening to Angel’s biggest secret.

Holtz (S3)
"Son, sit down," Holtz said.

Steven obediently plopped down on a tree stump by the fire ring. "Yes, Father?"

"I’ve been keeping something from you, an awful secret."

"But you said secrets were bad."

"And they are, son but you were too young to understand this secret before but you’re big enough now. I’m not actually your father."

Steven stared at him. "I don’t understand."

"Angelus and Darla, the monsters I told you about."

"The ones who murdered our family."

"They’re your real parents, Steven."

Steven shook his head. "No!"

"I’m afraid so."

Steven ran tear-blind into the Quor-Tothian woods.

Angel/Connor (Post Not Fade Away)

Angel shook Connor. For the third night straight, since he and his son had moved in together in Boston, as far from the ruin left in by Black Thorn in L.A. as possible, Connor had been screaming in his dreams. "Connor, wake up."

Connor woke, tears running down his face.

"Son, what is it?"

"Bad memories..."

"Don’t keep them inside, son. You can tell me anything."

Connor curled up in the bed. "Did you ever wonder how Jasmine was born early?"

"Yes."

"I’ve kept this secret so long...Cordy murdered an innocent to do it. I helped."

Angel was speechless.

Connor/Faith (future)

"Sometimes I just like to be held," Faith said, cuddling up to Connor.

"That’s not a secret, Faith. Most people do." He kissed her gently.

Faith sighed. "I didn’t...not for a long time."

"Why?"

"That is a secret," she pressed her cheek against his chest.

"I’m good at keeping them."

Faith kissed his warm skin. "I hated myself for a long time because one of my mom’s boyfriends raped me when I was eight. I never could admit it until now. You’re the only person I ever told."

"No one’s ever going to hurt you like that again," he promised.

oh and a pimp. an award site (currently no-frills) for drabbles. The Short Stuff Awards