I'm a sucker for impossible challenges...

[electricalgwen]

So, _beetle_ apparently has a thing for Gunn/Andrew. Which I have to say, I couldn't see at all, ever, in any universe. EVAH. So of course, I took it as a challenge to write something for her.

Sorry, B, I couldn't manage Teh Hawtness on this one, but I think I managed to find an angle that (almost? maybe?) makes it make sense for me. I'd love to know what you think.

Rating: PG-13



Gunn’s always had a thing for the intellectually brilliant but practically challenged.

Take his sister, for instance – booksmart, street-dumb. He could still hear their mother’s exasperated voice: “Alonna, for someone as smart as you’re supposed to be, you sure are stupid at times!” She’d been ferociously intelligent, spending hours in their pathetic school library – but do things like walk obliviously home after dusk through a back alley. It had taken him years to hammer basic survival skills into her, and he’d hated having to do it. He’d opened her eyes to the monsters that lurked in the dark, and it had changed her; that easy smile and open, trusting expression were seen less and less often.

Ultimately, she’d been hard and brittle as frost. Before the end. Before he failed her.

Fred’s social difficulties had a more obvious external cause, but Gunn figured that even before Pylea she’d been a misfit genius. Here was a girl who could manipulate the fabric of the space-time continuum, cure plagues and corporealize ghosts, but somehow remain oblivious to signs of romantic interest. She’d face down demons with barely a flinch, but still get painfully shy and tongue-tied over calling for pizza. She knew how to kill, flawlessly and undetectably, but she hadn’t figured out that killing changed a person. That killing for her had changed him. He’d never know if he’d done the right thing, there. Probably hadn’t been a right thing to do by that point. He’d failed her long before.

And then. Then. The betrayal that still wakes him screaming at night. He can’t think too long on that. There will never be expiation.

Wes. The rogue demon-hunter, bumbling earnestly around with his books and scrolls and visions of a world where everything made sense. He meant well. But he’d had so much trouble looking beyond the printed word, into the hearts of his friends and allies. His insecurity made it easy to deceive him. Gunn’s often thought how things could have been, if Connor hadn’t been taken. If Wes had known when to trust, and accepted that others trusted him.

He thinks Wes learned, before the end. He didn’t begrudge him Fred – or Illyria. He wishes that Wes had made it to the alley, to see his pet prophecy fulfilled, but he thinks Wes probably knows.

He’s lost them one by one, the brilliant idiots he loved. But he thinks that really, he lost them when he tried to change them. They say you can’t change people, but Gunn pulled it off, and he’s regretted it every time. Their deaths were only the final and most obvious manifestations of the ways he failed them.

So when Andrew pads downstairs in the velvet dressing gown with “86” on the pocket, and says, “Any unusual activity on the vampyre front last night?” Gunn doesn’t cuff him upside the head and tell him not to be a pretentious freak. He’s too cognizant of his lousy track record. Andrew moves through a semi-imaginary world but maybe, just maybe, that’s what got him this far. Maybe that’s his survival technique.

After all, Andrew’s not your average guy. He’s a guy who invents stuff that makes the leftover Wolfram and Hart science equipment look like Fisher-Price toys. A guy who can channel magic and handle demons. A guy who finally grew up a little and chose a side, and is fiercely loyal once he gives his heart. He isn’t James Bond, epitome of suave, but if pretending that he could be keeps him warm and breathing? Gunn can live with it.

So Gunn doesn’t roll his eyes and tell him what a dumb-ass he is.

He rolls his eyes and puts the kettle on for Lapsang Souchong.

Comments

[iadorespike]

Wow! Introspective Gunn...you just don't see this type of thing...and so nicely done!

He’s lost them one by one, the brilliant idiots he loved. But he thinks that really, he lost them when he tried to change them.

This is really moving and powerful. I love the way you chose to examine his past relationships and the conclusions he's gathered along the way. Gunn/Andrew? Hmmm...maybe so, and it's intriguing. Good for you!

Anna *hugs you*

[spankspike.livejournal.com]

This really was just what you said, a character study - and a brilliant one at that! And Gunn was not the only character being commented on here either, you really got the roots of what made each of the characters Gunn was interacting with who they were.

[shinodabear.livejournal.com]

And I thought I thought of odd pairings. :) This was just . . . this was wonderful. I love the character study (of all the characters mentioned, really) and the sneaky bit of slash. It was a nice balance, and a very nice read. (Have I mentioned interesting pairing?) :)

[cordelianne.livejournal.com]

This is very cool, and really got me thinking about the characters. I loved reading from Gunn's perspective! The structure of this is really neat as well, with the paragraph about the person changing and then those couple of sentences that get to the heart of things.

I love this line, lovely imagery and really speaks to Gunn's continuing feelings about his role in his sister's death:
Ultimately, she’d been hard and brittle as frost. Before the end. Before he failed her.

With Fred I also love that kick-to-the gut line:
And then. Then. The betrayal that still wakes him screaming at night. He can’t think too long on that. There will never be expiation.

This is a very cool insight, that has me reflecting on Wes now:
If Wes had known when to trust, and accepted that others trusted him.

I think you've explored a key aspect of Gunn's character; taking responsibility for the people around him:
Their deaths were only the final and most obvious manifestations of the ways he failed them.
It makes me think of the episode right before they go to Pylea and he's wracked with guilt about his old crew member getting killed. And when he's in Pylea, he realizes he can't do what Wes does and take that responsibility of leading people who may die.

I like how all this builds to why Gunn is okay with who Andrew is and letting him be who he is. I admit that Gunn/Andrew is a difficult pairing to imagine, however I think you do an excellent job of setting up why they could work.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_beetle_/]

Love. I. You.

It's a riddle. Figure it out.
*hugs*
*loves fiercly*

I gotta return the favor. Name a weird pairning--any pairing, and I'll do my best to write it good-like.

This was just--I love it, I do. . . .

[apreludetoanend.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow! Why didn't you tell me about this before?

So when Andrew pads downstairs in the velvet dressing gown with “86” on the pocket, and says, “Any unusual activity on the vampyre front last night?” Gunn doesn’t cuff him upside the head and tell him not to be a pretentious freak. He’s too cognizant of his lousy track record. Andrew moves through a semi-imaginary world but maybe, just maybe, that’s what got him this far. Maybe that’s his survival technique.

This is just fantastic. I love his whole train of thought and then how he applies it to Andrew.

He isn’t James Bond, epitome of suave, but if pretending that he could be keeps him warm and breathing? Gunn can live with it.
So Gunn doesn’t roll his eyes and tell him what a dumb-ass he is.
He rolls his eyes and puts the kettle on for Lapsang Souchong.

Brilliant ending. I really, really loved this, especially the view of Andrew through Gunn's eyes.

[savoytruffle.livejournal.com]

it truly is amazing that you made this work. truly.

*is utterly impressed*

[ubiquirk.livejournal.com]

I really like this look at Gunn and the realizations he's come to on trying to change people.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_beetle_/]

Dude!!!! How did I forget this? I'm riddle with cancer of the smart.

OMG!!! But this means I get to read it again with fresh eyes and savor, and love and pimp in my journal!!!!!!
::hearts u::
::hearts Gunn/Andrew::

This night is just full of happy. Oh!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_beetle_/]

Gunn doesn’t cuff him upside the head and tell him not to be a pretentious freak. He’s too cognizant of his lousy track record. Andrew moves through a semi-imaginary world but maybe, just maybe, that’s what got him this far. Maybe that’s his survival technique.

I know a lot of people don't like Andrew, but of the characters on the show, I think he's traveled the longest road, in terms of who he was when we first met him, and who he is when we last see him. The facade is still the same, but the parts that matter have gone the full 180. He knows who he is, and is comfortable with the side he's chosen, and his place in it and the world

You capture that so well here, so subtly, but powerfully. Gunn and Andrew have both grown, and now they're gonna grow together and squee!

I heart you so freaking much.
::hearts::