Oz watched, his eyes wide as his three friends sparred. They were so good. It was the first time he had seen them in action and he was entranced. They were so graceful, making the fight look almost like a dance. Then he looked at Willow, and couldn't help smiling at the difference.
Willow had recently taken up the same lessons as her friends. She had insisted she could do it, and badgered Giles about it until he gave in.
Willow tried as hard as she could, but still cast a comical figure. She just wasn't made for fighting. She was more a books type girl. Oz looked at her fondly. She looked so funny, dancing around, attempting to duplicate the moves she was being shown.
He couldn't help letting a small chuckle escape. As one the three potentials turned and gave him a glare. How on earth had they heard him? He shrugged it off. Oh well, those three were always weird. He was getting used to it.
Oz wished he could join in the sparring. It looked like fun. But Wesley had forbidden it. He said that Oz had to learn scholarly pursuits before he was allowed to try fighting.
Oz was not happy about this, but there wasn't a lot he could do, short of openly defying his guardian. And that would just prove Wes' views on his new friends.
Wes insisted that the three young Potentials were a bad influence on Oz. He was just waiting for Oz to do something wrong. Oz was fairly sure that would mean the end of his being allowed to play with the Potentials.
Willow he wasn't sure about. Wes seemed to like Willow somewhat. He obviously thought that because she was sweet looking, and liked books she was a young angel. He supposed compared to the others she was.
But then there was the stuff Wes didn't know about. The use of magick to assist her friends in their misadventures for one. But Oz was fairly sure no-one but him and the other four knew about that.
It was not unknown for Willow to cast some small spell or another, just to help her friends. Of course she normally only did it through peer pressure. But still.
Sobbing brought his mind back to the sparring field. Willow was on her back, crying and clutching her ankle.
He ran over to his little friend. The older student she had been sparring, who had been going easy on Willow looked sheepish. The teacher came over.
"Willow, go and sit this one out Okay?" He said tiredly. He was used to Willow having problems. She tended to be a bit clumsy, at both striking and defending. Obviously, this sometimes led to accidents. Of course the child tried, but she just didn't have the right skills.
Oz gave his friend a hand up, and helped her over to the edge of the training fields, where he had been sitting previously.
"You OK?" He asked her, once they were sitting down, watching the rest of the class. She nodded, smiling at him. But there was a wince in her smile.
On a whim he put his arm around her to comfort her. He was surprised at how natural it felt.
Willow was surprised. Oz had put his arm around her. And it felt nice, comfortable. Oz was a nice boy, she really liked him. And he understood her it seemed. He was quiet at times too. Understood that sometimes you just wanted to be on your own.
Buffy looked over at Willow, wondering if she should go and sit with her friend. When she saw how Oz and Willow were sitting she grinned to herself. Willow was fine. Oz would look after her. And that meant Buffy was free to continue sparring. She turned to her opponent and started again, like a little whirlwind.
Giles came over from their home to watch his charges. He liked to see how they were progressing. And to help avoid any situations which could arise, like Faith with the hand on hand. He didn't want to have to train any of them in staff fighting. They were excellent at it, and he was not sure that he would be able to beat them.
He sighted the three Potentials. But where was Willow? When he saw her he smiled. Her and the little werewolf looked so sweet together, with Oz with his arm around Willow's shoulder. They were good for each other. Oz was more sedate for than the little potentials, and it was nice for Willow to have someone who would listen to her.
He looked at the two little friends again and smiled. He felt that these two would be close for ever, and someday, maybe more than just friends. But not for many years, he thought protectively.