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DISCLAIMER: Sure, why not? *eyeroll*
SUMMARY: Angel and the Scoobies are supposed to be researching at the library.
'Supposed' being the key word.
RATING: G
WORDCOUNT: 1080
LONG WAY TO GO
by Leni
Angel looked down in amusement at the girl peacefully napping on his lap. She seemed
completely oblivious of her surroundings, her face relaxed and a content smile teasing her
lips now and then. He tried not to move, aware that the smallest disturbance could awake
her. He passed his fingers over her cheek, smiling a bit himself when her sleepy grin
widened. A soft thud startled him, his head raising in alert.
Angel looked around to find Willow softly blushing as she looked at them, one hand
discreetly placed on Xander's arm to stop him from anything stupid. In the absence of an
older figure - that the boy actually respected, Angel added - his comments had been
especially biting this evening. Not even Buffy's and Willow's combined efforts had managed
to tamper his 'advice'. Angel almost chuckled, that boy had deserved it when Buffy finally
swatted him with a book. Now he also deserved the half-moon marks Willow's nails were
leaving on his arm. Angel sighed, going back to his own book but the fingers of one hand
absently playing with Buffy's hair.
Giles was still out of town, going to L.A. to look for material he thought could be
useful. But he still had left the group to research about this new demon.
Of course, Buffy had soon forgotten about their assignment and began what she deemed a
'reasonably steamy make-out session, what with us alone in the library and no Watcher
watching us do it'. She'd been blushing when she finished that sentence, how could he not
kiss her then? They had only noticed her friends' arrival because of Xander's gasped
squeak and Willow whispering at him to calm down and breathe. Both kids were too obvious
in their affections, Angel thought amusedly. But as long as Xander didn't act on his,
everything was alright. Buffy had blushed too, muttered her hellos and then rushed to the
bathroom for some safety. Of course Willow had followed her to do that girl-bonding thing
Angel had never been able to understand.
He'd ignored at Xander until the kid chose a seat conveniently in front of his, probably
to watch his movements. Angel had retailated by glaring at him, unblinkingly, and enjoyed
the moment when the teen had lowered his eyes and hunched his shoulders in unconscious
submission. Some habits never died, and making an unwanted guest know his place was one of
them. Angel had reclined against the back of the chair, tapping his fingers against his
leg and looking at the door where the girls had disappeared. He wondered if he wanted to
know what they were gossiping about. From a few conversations Angel had overheard, neither
girl liked the tension between Xander and him. He shuddered at some of the ideas they'd
come up to make them 'bond'. Why they thought that he and Xander would be comfortable
doing any shape of bonding was beyond his comprehension.
They'd stayed in silence for a long time. Long enough for Angel to know it wouldn't last.
Indeed, Xander's nature shattered the blessed silence with his explanation about Giles
calling them for help. Of course the boy had to add "And just in the nick of
time" under his breath. Angel barely resisted the urge to knock out the little
trouble-maker. His expression must have had betrayed him because Xander had shot out of
his seat and rushed to the shelves, muttering about needing to get to work. Work, right,
Angel thought with a mental snort. Some excuse.
By the time the girls came back, he and Xander were sitting on opposite ends of the room,
each with a knee-high stack of books. Willow had looked at the scene, pursed her lips and
offered a silent apology to him and Buffy. Still, she had predictably made a bee-line to
her friend's side and silently sat next to him. Xander had looked at her in greeting and
smiled a bit before giving her the first book. Angel thought it was a shame that the girl
could blush so bright and smile so widely at such a nonsense gesture. She surely deserved
better.
Those thoughts stopped when Buffy came to sit at his side. She never bothered to grab a
book of her own, merely looked at his over his shoulder, claiming that two sets of eyes
were better than one. With her chin on his shoulder and one arm loosely drapped around
him, Angel couldn't deny her. Not a half hour later Buffy had already tired of that
position. He had looked up at her when she began squirming in discomfort. Her brow had
been furrowed, a sure sign of her unwillingness to move away from him even though there
was no option. She finally settled for pushing a chair against his and leaning against his
side, with her head carefully tucked against his shoulder blade so she could still read
the texts. Angel had said nothing when she fell asleep, just shifted cautiously until she
seemed more comfortable.
Two books and a half a page worth of notes later, Willow's and Xander's escalating voices
had interrupted his concentration. He'd made sure Buffy was still asleep, then turned to
the teenagers and coughed loudly, unknowingly imitating Giles' most telling gesture of
impatience. Both had turned to him, their expressions shifting from annoyance (Willow) and
stubbornness (Xander) to guilt when they noticed their friend's state. What their argument
had been about, Angel couldn't say, but judging Xander's awkward glances to the blonde on
his lap, he was sure he could guess the cause.
After that their conversation had been held in whispers. But one careless movement -
surely Willow stopping Xander from something he'd regret later - had made the high book
pile topple over. Willow's green eyes sent him an apology, then they hardened slightly as
she berated the boy at her side. Xander's expression softened somewhat at his friend's
words. If anything, Angel conceded, Xander was a better person when Willow was around. His
body went still when Buffy stirred in her sleep. He threw the pair a last annoyed look and
tried to settle his girlfriend back into sleep. He seemed to have succeeded until...
"Are we there yet?" she asked with a sleepy voice.
Angel looked at Xander's closed up expression and Willow's concerned look. His hand
caressed her cheek softly as he answered her. "No, not yet."
Buffy snuggled briefly against his fingers and smiled contentedly anyway.
The End
26/09/04
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