Grimbold itched to shake the boy and make him see sense, but nothing would be gained by that approach. “We'll discuss this more, but later. For now, let's watch this program you admire so much.Buffy the Slayer. With this Miles person.” He deliberately said the title and character's name wrong, wondering if the boy would correct him, or let it slide.
The boy looked at Grimbold with clear dismay. “Buffy theVampireSlayer.And it's Giles, not Miles. This is important.” Walter quickly flipped through menu options then selected what he wanted to see. “Pay attention. This is a good episode.” After a few seconds he added a distracted, “Sir.”
The story the program told was inconsequential. Grimbold could see at once what the monster of the week was supposed to be. But the mystery didn't seem to be the appeal for Walter, so instead Grimbold studied the actors and the roles they played, especially the alpha, Giles, since he was the one Walter was obsessed with.
The characters did seem to revolve around that Giles person, as was proper, since he was the mentor, and his young charges often went to him for help and advice. Giles was kind and soft-spoken, but wickedly intelligent and skilled at what he did. Grimbold could see as well how, and perhaps why, the program held Walter in its thrall. He'd have to discuss it with Ingrid and get her thoughts on it after she'd seen the boy, but in the meantime, Grimbold thought he knew how he should proceed.
When the credits rolled, Grimbold told Walter to push pause. The boy at first looked mulish, then he bowed his head and pushed a button on the remote, pausing the video.
“So that's the man you wish to live with? Rupert Giles?”
“Just Giles,” Walter said. He sat very still, but Grimbold detected his right foot jiggling slightly, likely from nerves.
“And if you were on the show, who would you be?”
“Oh, Buffy, definitely.” Walter's cheeks pinked sweetly. “I ship them. I know I shouldn't, because he’s her Watcher and cares about her like he would a daughter, but I don't care. I think she wants Giles to be her alpha.”
“You ship them? Where?”
The boy laughed, and Grimbold marveled at the sound. It was the first time he'd heard it. “No. ‘Ship’ as in relationship. I want them to end up together, even if I know they won't. It's like, a wish. A dream, you could say.”
Interesting. “And how does Giles feel about Buffy?”
“In the show, or in my imagination?”
“Both.”
Walter shrugged. “Giles feels responsible for Buffy. Worries about her. And I think he's lonely.”
That resonated uncomfortably.
“And in your wishes and dreams, what does he feel?”
“All that, plus…”
“Yes?” Grimbold asked, feeling his heart beat heavily in his chest.
“He wants me,” Walter whispered, then licked his lips nervously. “He wants to keep me. I mean Buffy. Not me. Of course.” He hunched in on himself in obvious embarrassed misery. It made Grimbold want to taste the boy, and then claim him, which was… a bad idea. Of course. And yet…
Mine,demanded his dragon.Want. Take. Possess.
Interesting. Very interesting indeed.
“Do you wish to watch another episode?” Grimbold asked Walter.
The boy was silent. He looked at Grimbold with rosy cheeks, uneasy confusion in his eyes.
“I asked you a question. Do me the courtesy of answering it. Honestly. I'll know if you lie.”
Walter stared at him for several seconds, wide-eyed, then nodded.
“Use your words.”
Walter swallowed visibly, then said, “Yes, sir.”
“Good boy. I appreciate manners. Angela made those éclairs just for you. If you don't eat them, it'll upset her. Do you want to upset Angela?”
“No!” Walter picked up the pale blue éclair and took another bite. He hummed with honest appreciation. Grimbold couldn't help but imagine that humming around his own cock and had to cross his legs for modesty's sake. By the time the omega had finished the éclair, a dreamy smile on his face, Grimbold's cock ached and his dragon paced restlessly within his mind.
