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DISCLAIMER: No, no and no.
SUMMARY: Early S2. You don't believe they spent ALL their nights patrolling, do
you?
WORDCOUNT: 1352
NOTES: Written for the Rosebud Challenge at Blood Roses
FORTUNE TELLER
by Leni
Xander really acted like a toddler sometimes, Angel thought moodily as he watched the boy
squeal over every new game they found. For someone who came to this fair every year, it
seemed as if he'd never seen the place before.
On the other hand, Willow was exactly the opposite. She was whispering quietly with Buffy,
occasionally giggling about stuff Angel had decided to ignore fifteen minutes ago. He
liked Willow. He loved Buffy. But the constant use of his name before, after and sometimes
at the same time as Xander's wasn't particularly pleasant. He understood that girls would
talk about girly things, but did they need to do so while he was within earshot?
Eventually they calmed down, apparently concluding that it was a draw between their loves.
Angel shook his head upon overhearing the verdict. He watched covertly as Xander jumped up
and down when he discovered the kissing booth then frowned at the duo in front of him.
A draw?
But it was too late to protest. The girls had already chosen another topic to discuss.
Angel swore to himself that he didn't want to hear the word 'Titanic' anymore. It had been
bad enough in 1912, but the dreamy grin his girlfriend wore whenever she uttered the word
was driving him crazy.
Angel stepped resolutely between the girls, pointing at Xander's 'happy' dance. They
laughed. As a plus, his plan to distract Willow worked seamlessly. She forgot her
conversation with Buffy, looking at the silly boy longingly, clearly undecided between
chuckling at her best friend's behaviour and blushing brightly whenever Xander's antics
called a stranger's attention towards them.
Angel, with his arms now familiarly around Buffy's shoulders, watched the redheaded girl,
trying to think of a good reason for her obvious crush. Suddenly Xander came running
towards them, smiling brightly at Buffy. Angel immediately tightened his hold on her, he
could bet Xander wanted to convince her to play some aiming game again. When his
girlfriend declined, arguing that being the Slayer it'd be cheating, the boy just shrugged
and tugged at Willow's sleeve with such a pathetic expression that the girl was giggling
and agreeing to go with him to the darts booth in seconds.
"Why did we bring him?" Angel muttered when they were far off.
Buffy nudged him softly, even if she knew neither of her friends would hear him. "It
was his idea, remember?"
Angel sighed. They had met at the library earlier and it was then that Xander proposed a
patrol-free night. Even Giles had agreed, explaining that demon activity had been very low
enough in the last days for them to enjoy a free night. Angel privately suspected it had
something to do with the woman who had hid in his office just before the little group came
in.
He had tried to escape their plans then, fully prepared not to obey his girlfriend's wish.
Even now, surrounded by loud speakers and with Buffy firmly secured against his frame,
Angel wondered what had finally convinced him to accompany the teenagers to this fair. His
answer came in the form of Xander running back to them and offering Buffy a small plush
toy while Willow watched wistfully. His girl gave Willow a helpless look and accepted the
gift.
Angel sighed in relief when Xander left to look for another game, Willow trailing morosely
after him. No intelligent male could possibly miss Willow's signals. Angel shook his head
as he watched the girl's expression. Sometimes he really wanted to beat Alexander Harris.
"You okay?" Buffy asked as she opened her handbag and placed the toy within.
He shook his head and dropped a quick kiss on her hair. "I won't use Xander as a
target if I decide to play darts, if that's what you're asking."
Buffy rolled her eyes.
He glanced at the people running from booth to booth in search of an interesting amenity.
He wished them luck, so far the most remarkable moment had been when Buffy decided that he
was staring at the 'Kiss Me For A Dollar' girl and took matters in her hands by kissing
him herself. Angel was seriously considering to stare at that girl for real, who knew what
Buffy would do then? If whatever she did warranted half the jealous expression Xander had
worn as that kiss finished, he'd be a happy vampire.
He was about to lean down and kiss Buffy when Willow appeared from behind a family group.
A happy grin adorned her lips. Angel noticed a small plushie tightly held in her hand and
smiled too. Maybe he didn't understand it, but if that silly boy made her happy...
"Guess what we found!" the redhead said excitedly as she took Buffy's hand and
lead her through the maze of people and games. "Xander saw it first but I'm the one
who was looking for it. We have always visited it, even when we came with our
parents." Angel had tried to keep the hold on his girlfriend, but the fast pace
turned it uncomfortable. He tried to loosen his arms and when he did, Buffy immediately
grabbed his hand. Unaware, Willow kept talking, her voice as loud as possible to be heard
over the noise. "I thought you'd be interested. It's just what we need, don't you
think? I mean, I know it never works but... after vampires and Hellmouths, why couldn't
this be real too?"
Angel saw Buffy smiling amusedly. He couldn't help but smile too, it was amazing how the
usually quiet girl could babble when she was excited about something.
After many bumps and stepped-on toes, they finally stopped in front of a tent. Xander had
already bought the tickets and now was saving them a place in the rather long line.
'Fortune Teller', read the sign.
Angel chuckled.
"So, you wanna?" Willow asked.
It was a scam and he knew it, but Angel guessed it couldn't hurt to play along. He
shrugged noncommittally.
"No."
Both turned to Buffy.
Willow pouted. "No?"
"Sorry Wills."
"But it's fun," the redhead insisted.
"Yes, it is!" Xander called out.
Angel was immensely glad that the boy couldn't abandon his place in the queue. He mused
for a second that Buffy may be right, he could have some strong jealousy issues. His
girlfriend's hand leaving his made him immediately leave that line of thought. Buffy was
shaking her head, both hands at her hips signalling that she'd made up her mind. "I
have enough of people telling me my future, I really don't need another one."
Willow tried the Resolve Face she'd tried on him and Giles weeks ago but it was to no use.
"Hey, it's our turn!"
Willow pouted again and run back to best friend. "We'll go two times," Angel
heard her telling Xander when she reached him.
"Finally!" Buffy exclaimed as her friends disappeared inside the tent.
Suddenly Angel found himself surrounded by Buffy. He didn't mind her hand's absence
anymore, not when her arms were around his neck and her whole weight was leaning on him.
But he still looked down at her, sure that he was missing something in this picture.
"I love them, I do," Buffy began. Then she raised herself on her toes,
whispering into his ear as if it was a great secret. "But I thought they'd never
leave us alone." She grinned at him. "That should keep them busy for the next
ten minutes or so... Any ideas what we should do on our own during that time?"
Angel smiled slowly. He certainly had an idea or two, a kiss as a beginning point was not
a bad idea.
Buffy seemed to think that same.
"You sure you don't want to go with your friends?" He asked when their kiss
finished, hugging her as close to him as he could because, of course, with the crowd
around them they needed to occupy the less space possible.
"Nah," she said as she hugged him back. "Fortune tellers are lame.
Besides," she added just before kissing him again, "I know everything I need to
know."
The End
10/04/04
Feedback would be most welcome.
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