Buffy cleared her throat, “So why did you go away right after you staked those vamps?”
“Why should I stay? Slayer, as tame as this sodding soul has made me it doesn't make me completely safe. I'm the one that gets the bulk of the demon so Will is all right. He's the one that should be out when there aren't any nasties running around. You don't have to worry about anything with Will, he's as safe as houses.”
“Why didn't you just come out when Giles asked you to?” Buffy continued, filing his answer to the previous question away for future reference.
“He didn't bloody well ask! He fucking ordered me! I don't take orders from anyone, mate!” He hissed, directing this at Giles, “I'll come out if and when I please.”
With that, his body went slack for a few seconds and the bold stance he had taken shrunk in on itself before their eyes.
A frightened bewildered expression took away the snarl that had curled the lip and Will was back.
His eyes immediately filled with tears and Buffy realized the last thing he remembered was Angel's attempted molestation.
Willow had apparently reached this conclusion seconds before and was already at his side, “Hey, Sweetie. Don't you worry, if that poophead touches you again we're gonna sic Buffy on him.” Willow put an arm gingerly around him and was pleased when he leaned against her with a sniff.
Buffy put an arm around his other side and brushed his wild platinum curls back, she was surprised at how soft it was despite the obvious chemical damage.
There was a groan from Angel's formerly unconscious shape on the floor and Will jumped, he hadn't noticed Angel's state of 'post ass-kicking' as Xander put it later.
“I hope you got what you wanted.” Angel remarked. This was darkly directed at Giles.
The Watcher looked up from his notebook where he was furiously scribbling, “Oh, indeed. Absolutely fascinating.”
Buffy and Willow glared at him. Xander was picking up the comic books that had fallen out of Will's bag and scattered across the floor, “Yeah, I'm glad all it takes is a little game of bad touch to turn you on, G-Man.”
“I believe I've asked you not to call me that.”
“I believe I asked you to stop!” Buffy said coldly.
“Buffy, you can't expect me, in good conscience, to allow a potentially dangerous force of nature like Spike to go unstudied.”
“I can expect you, in good conscience, not to hurt someone who's obviously already been hurt.” Buffy led Will to a chair by the table. He was obviously completely confused having no idea about the subject matter of the conversation, only feeling the effects of the earlier violation.
“I didn't know Angel would go that far-“
“But you aren't sorry!” Buffy shouted, making Will jump again, “He hurt him and you aren't sorry because it got you what you wanted!”
Giles didn't seem to have anything to say to that. Buffy turned away and focused on more important things. Even his other incarnation, Spike, had said Will was harmless, implying he needed to be taken care of. Buffy decided he meant she was the one for the job.
“Hey, Will, I have a great idea. Why don't you take me to where you live and we get some of your stuff and we can have a sleepover at my house?” Buffy smoothed his hair back and smiled when he did.
“Really? I've never had a sleepover before. I have-“
“I don't think that's a good idea, Buffy. He's a lot of trouble and what will your mother say?” Angel came over, still gingerly touching his broken nose.
Buffy glared at him, “I don't think he's any trouble at all. And let me deal with MY mother.”
Angel raised his hands in supplication and backed away again.
* * *
Buffy looked around the apartment as Will excited packed his backpack. Willow was helping him fold the clothes so they wouldn't wrinkle.
It was quite obvious who ruled the roost here and Buffy felt ever so slightly less angry with Angel. A huge television set took up one corner of the living room and it sported a stereo, a VCR, and three different game systems. Stacks of videos, CDs, and games took up the shelves. Xander was looking through those with the odd, 'He's got-!” Fill in name Buffy had never heard before.
There were band posters all over the walls and several sets of action figures on top of every surface.
Angel came out of the kitchen and handed her a paper bag, “You probably won't have any blood. He needs to be fed every few hours, his metabolism is pretty high, even for a vampire.”
“You packed him a lunch?” Buffy smiled slightly. O.K, she hated him a tiny bit less again.
Angel shifted uncomfortably, “I didn't want it to go that far either. I really didn't have a choice-“
“I'm ready!” Will announced, a grinning Willow taking up the rear.
Xander jogged up holding a stack of various entertainment sources, “Can I borrow these?”
“Uh huh,” Will nodded vigorously, “Want to see my comics? I have all the Sandman ones and Hellblazer and Preacher. But I'm not supposed to read Preacher because it gives me nightmares. Do they give you nightmares? There's a vampire in them! His name is Cassidy and he doesn't hurt people unless they deserve it.”
Will led Xander to his room and Buffy followed. A huge bookshelf crammed with comic books, graphic novels, and magazines took up one wall. The bed was unmade and had Star Wars sheets. A soccer ball, a skateboard, three pairs of Converse High Tops, and a remote controlled speedboat made the floor slightly hazardous. The dresser had a large aquarium on it and Buffy squinted to see what was inside. It was geckos, three of them. They blinked lazily at her.
Two gerbils resided in a cage on top of the nightstand, “What are their names?” She asked poking her fingers between the bars to pet their soft fur.
“Mulder and Scully. From The X-Files. It's my favourite show. After South Park. And The Simpsons. I like E.R, too, but Angel makes me cover my eyes sometimes.” Will dug through a stack of books determinedly and came out with nine volumes to hand to Xander, whose arms look too full to take them already. Willow helped him out.
* * *
They all got Slurpies on the way to Buffy's house. Will's turned his whole mouth blue and he chattered excitedly. When they got to the door Buffy stopped him.
“O.K, we're going to meet my mom. I'm going to tell her you're a friend from school and your staying over, so just don't bring up the vampire thing because she doesn't know about it, O.K?”
“O.K” He nodded obediently taking another suck on the straw. Buffy smiled and opened the door.
* * *
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