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Disclaimer: What do you people think the chances are that I actually have the legal right to use and profit from these characters and storylines? Pretty slim eh? Well considering that I'm not profiting from this story, nor do I have any more to begin with, nor am I particularly likely to buckle under litigation, if everyone involved could just not sue, that would be great, thanks.
Author's Notes: This story takes places pretty much anywhere in between Who's Line Is It Anyway? and the whole Angel\Angelus debacle. Sorry about that, but as a writer I can't be expected to keep up with every one of Joss' wacky little plot twists. Not to disrespect the great Jossmeister. Also feedback is greatly appreciated and encouraged, due the fact that getting e-mail is always good for one's ego (Kinda sad now that I think about it). Flames are also welcome, mainly because I'm always in need of an idiot or two to sharpen the verbal machete on. Alright, I think that's it. Let me check. Yup. Bye.
Angel's head snapped up at the sound of a rock striking water. He had been passing silently through the woods when he heard the impact. His eyes followed the sound to a small lake in the middle of the park, where a lone figure was sitting and tossing rocks. It took him a second to recognize the figure as that of Xander Harris. His first instinct was to pass by quickly. Angel didn't exactly relish their exchanges when he was in a good mood, and right now he certainly didn't feel like talking to him. Still, it occurred to him that Xander being alone wasn't the safest thing in the world. Granted Xander with a group of friends and an armory wasn't safe either, but he still figured he should check it out. Besides, it would give him chance to scare the little punk. His mouth split into a small grin.
Xander sat at the edge of the lake, semi-angrily throwing rocks into the water. His mind wandered back to the argument he and Cordelia had had just a few hours earlier. It progressed the way they usually do. They'd been making out in a closet somewhere. They'd broken for a moment to reestablish the oxygen level in their blood stream, when Xander had made the unfortunate mistake of asking her to go with him to the bronze. In response she'd made some sort of incredulous scoff and said that it would be a frosty day in hell that she'd be seen in public with him. She then tried to reestablish their kiss. Xander managed to pull together just enough dignity and blood flow to stalk out. Now he was standing at the edge of a lake, throwing rocks, and wondering how exactly he'd ended up in such a bizarre relationship.
<She's probably out with a 'Popular' guy right now.> He thought, whipping another rock into the water.
"Boo." At the relatively soft voice coming from behind him, Xander whirled around, all the dangers that living in Sunnydale entailed springing to mind. However, instead of the myriad of demons he had imagined, he was confronted with the rather smug visage of a grinning Angel. Xander's tenseness immediately dissipated, only to return at the thought of how Angel had scared him. Angel for his part merely continued grinning.
"Very sloppy Xander. If I were one of the bad guys you'd be dead right now."
"I knew you were their the whole time. I was just, uh, lulling you into a false sense of security." Covered Xander lamely. "Besides, what do you mean 'if '?"
Angels smile dropped a bit."Sure. Whatever. Anyways, what are you doing here. You know it's not safe to be out alone so late. You ought to be more careful."
"Yeah, like you care." Said Xander, half-joking, half bitter, as he turned his back to the vampire and reached down to pick up another rock to fling into the water.
"Yeah, not really. But Willow would kick my ass if I let anything happen to you." He said with a smile. Xander let out a small snicker at the image of the petite Willow trying to beat up Angel. "So what are you doing out here this late." Continued Angel as he bent down to pick up a stone to toss into the lake.
" Nothing, just thinking. Girl troubles." Said Xander, momentarily wondering what made him actually talk to the vampire beside him.
"Ah, troubles with Cordelia?" Said Angel as he threw another stone into the water, this time trying vainly to make it skip. Xander's head turned sharply to the side.
"What? But...How did you....?"
"Buffy told me. It seems you're not as good at hiding things as you'd like to think." Angel took a moment to enjoy the view of the now-annoyed Xander, then bent down to pick up some more stones. Xander grumbled to himself, annoyed that the secret was out, especially considering who now knew. He made a mental note to talk to Buffy before this got to Willow.
" Rassum Frassum. Yeah, well, just don't let it get around."
"Why do I get the feeling that Cordelia would be saying the same thing." Said Angel with a vaguely malicious smile, enjoying watching him squirm. Xander decided he should change the subject.
"What are you doing here anyway? I thought you had a date with everyone's favourite chosen one." Angel's smile died on his lips.
" We did. We,....,we had a disagreement." Said Angel hesitantly.
"Oh, really? What about?" Said Xander, inwardly happy at the thought of trouble in paradise.
"Oh, just usual Vamp-Human relations." He said as he flung another rock nearly clear to the other side of the lake. A sarcastic remark sprung to Xander's tongue, but it shriveled quickly when he chanced to see the anguished look that past briefly over Angel's face.
<Christ, he really doesn't look happy. Alright, I suppose I can't be jealous and mistrustful all the time.>
"Well I wouldn't worry about it. You two were made for each other." He said as he looked down at the rocks in his hands. Now it was Angel's turn to look incredulously at the young man beside him.
<Where did that come from. Usually the guy's got it in for me.>
"Well,...thanks."
"Yeah, whatever. Bet I can skip more than you." He said evenly, attempting to break the Kodak moment before it began.
"Yeah right." Said Angel, deciding to let the comment go for the moment. The two immediately started trying to skip stones, achieving mediocre success. After a few minutes of silently tallying scores Angel spoke up without looking at Xander. "You mind if I give you a little advice about Cordy?"
"Oh good, romance advice of the Nosferatu. What words of wisdom does Dr. Love have to impart?" Said Xander, sarcasm dripping from every pore. Angel, shrugged it off, refusing to rise to the bait.
"You can do better man."
"Yeah, right. I'll just go out with one of the hundreds of other women that I'm currently beating away with a stick."
"Alright, sarcasm duly noted. But believe me, life's short. You ought to spend it with someone who'll be seen in public with you. Somebody who loves you for who you are." He said as his thoughts drifted to Willow.
<The boy is so incredibly oblivious. He's off gallivanting around with some women who won't even give him the time of day outside of a broom closet, while Willow's right under his nose.>
"Right. Pull the other one, it's got bells on it. It might be easy to wait for true love when you're 250 years old, but for us mortals it's take what you can get time."
"Alright. Just think about it okay?" The two started skipping again, Xander's mind running over what Angel had said, and trying to rationalize his behaviour. After a second a small smile appeared on his face.
"Yeah well, whatever. True love's nice and all, but Cordelia's not that bad a consolation prize if you know what I mean. After all, you are still a guy, right?" Said Xander with a tinge a leer tugging at his mouth.
Angel shook his head ruefully at the teenager "Yeah, yeah. Alright. Just don't let it get back to Buffy, okay?" He said returning Xander's smile.
"Oh, heaven forbid." Said Xander, his eyes wide with innocence all the while stowing that little statement away for later use.
More rocks sailed through the air, shattering the crystalline surface of the lake. After a few more moments, Angel broke the mutual accepted silence, a vaguely unsettled tone creeping into his voice.
"We're not, like, bonding here, are we." Xander's eyes widened, frightened at the possibility.
"I don't know. Let's check. Blood-drinking, soulless freak."
"Obnoxious adolescent jackass."
"Nope, still felt pretty good.
"Same here."
The two of them grinned ferally at each other, eyes glinting. The smiles then mellowed and Xander tossed the last of his rocks.
"I'm heading home." He said as he began to turn on his heel.
"Need an escort?" Said Angel in a mocking tone.
"Yeah, right, like I need your help. No thanks , I'll be just fine dead boy."
"Right, see you later."
The two treaded off in opposite directions. After they were gone, the surface of the lake slowly smoothed out, allowed, finally, to return to it's state of calm reflection.