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DISCLAIMER: Look at me? Do I look Joss-like?
SUMMARY: In the S1-S2 summer, Angel watches her.
WORDCOUNT: 555
NOTES: Written for B/A
Themes
VIGILANT
by Leni
Angel didn’t like to do this often. In fact, he preferred to avoid it.
But avoidance wasn’t easy. Every night he had to fight the urge to go see her. Just a
couple hours, he told himself, just to make sure if she was alright. A minimal part of him
would object, reply that Buffy was completely safe under her father’s roof.
He had only needed that first visit to make sure of that, it would tell him sternly,
he’d seen with his own eyes how she avoided danger, ignored everything which could
have spelled ‘duty’ to her. Instead of the intrepid Slayer who’d faced the
Master, Angel had witnessed as she became Daddy’s little girl, drowning in his gifts
and wary of the dark. How many times had he heard her say in those trips to the mall:
“I wouldn’t dare come without you, Dad.” The worst was, Buffy wasn’t
lying.
And Angel was glad. That kept her safe. He didn’t care if she was denying part of
herself, there was time to work on that later. Later, when she was back in Sunnydale with
a prepared Watcher at her back and where he could keep an eye on her constantly.
But knowing that she was probably safe didn’t stop him from overriding that little
voice and going to L.A. anyway.
He usually hung around in her neighbourhood, making sure nothing would bother her.
Vampires were staked and demons disposed of before she had to acknowledge them. It was
alright, Angel had taken it as part of his life. After all, she'd given hers for the
world, it was only fair he returned some of the favour.
Sometimes, when Buffy did go out past sundown, he tried to keep up with her. Her father
usually drove her, or she called a cab to her doorstep. So far there weren’t any
signs that she had noticed him. Part of Angel was disappointed that the Slayer didn’t
sense her natural enemy so close to her home. She should. Buffy should turn around every
time his car turned the same corner as hers, flick her lights on whenever he passed down
her window.
But she didn’t.
And Angel was glad. It surely wasn’t the best course of action; but considering the
circumstances he could understand it. He only hoped Buffy understood denial could only
last her so long. Summer with her father wouldn’t take forever. Her everyday life,
school, mother and duty, were waiting for her in Sunnydale and she’d have to go back
in a few days.
But for now he was there to take care of things. Make sure her neighbours didn’t die
and that she wouldn’t have to remember her real life in her temporary sanctuary.
Angel didn’t like to do this often. In fact, he preferred to avoid it.
But days were spent wondering about her. Once he found his keys, he could only wonder
about her safety. Just a couple of hours, just enough... His own duty was stronger than
what he liked or what he preferred. It certainly was heavier than the little voice which
insisted she’d be alright.
He had to see it for himself.
And if Buffy ever asked he’d tell her that he had stayed in Sunnydale all along. It
was not as if she cared either way.
The End
14/07/04
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