Pairing: Willow/Angel
Summary: Oz discovers that Angel has claimed Willow.
Warning: This fic has dealt with rape and will continue to deal with issues of sex and power dynamics.
Feedback: Please! I always appreciate it!
Distribution: If you have the previous stories in this series, you may have this. Otherwise, please ask first.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. It all belongs to Joss and a bunch of other people who are not now and have never been me.
Author's Notes: To Aaronlisa, who requested an update of this fic as a Christmas prezzie! And to Elisabeth and Emmy, the finest, most wondrous betas an author could ever ask for! I love you both dearly!
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She had finally learned that in life, like in the classroom, preparation was the key.
The night before, Angel had left without a word. But Willow knew what he had done. And she knew that Oz would be able to smell the claim. No matter how many showers she took. So, while she tried to avoid him, she knew that wouldn't work for very long. She decided to be ready for the inevitable and carefully concocted a plausible explanation. One she was certain would even satisfy Buffy and Xander if need be.
And it was a very good thing that she had done so. Because, after managing to avoid Oz for the entire school day, when Willow walked into the library that afternoon, Oz was there.with Faith.
Well, she thought, that explained Faith's odd expression yesterday. She wanted Oz for herself and wanted to be sure Willow was well out of the way. There was a time, not long ago at all, when Willow would have been upset at the idea of Oz with the slutty brunette Slayer she loathed. But now, well, she didn't feel much of anything. Not even relief. She just didn't care anymore. All she wanted was to be left alone and for no one to inquire too deeply into her life. Somewhere inside of her, where there had once been a heart filled with love for her friends, there was nothing. And though she knew she should care, Willow couldn't bring herself to cry for the part of herself that was lost forever. All she could do was try to pretend. and keep her own secrets safely locked away.
Walking into the center of the library, Willow plastered a sunny 'Willow-smile' on her face and hoped that, as always, no one would notice that it didn't reach her eyes.
"Hi, everybody," she caroled, her voice bright and cheery. Perhaps too cheery. Because now Buffy and Xander were looking at her curiously. 'Please let them think I'm overcompensating,' Willow prayed inwardly. And it seemed that, for once, luck was with her. For, if the pitying looks Buffy and Xander were casting at her meant what she hoped, they believed she was hurt by Oz's quick rebound with Faith. Good, let them think that, Willow thought, it made everything so much easier.
She sat down at her computer, hoping to get through the needed research and then head home without incident. In that regard, however, it seemed that her luck had run out. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Oz disentangle himself from Faith, who was draped all over him with a cocky expression of triumph on her face. It wasn't Faith's obvious delight in what she plainly saw as having scored a painful hit to Willow's feelings that bothered the young hacker, it was the fact that Oz was on his way over to talk to her.
"Hey, Willow. It doesn't bother you that I'm here with Faith, does it? 'Cause if it does, I."
Suddenly, the musician's nostrils flared and his jaw tightened.
"I think we need to go somewhere and talk," Oz said, clenching and unclenching his jaw.
"Sure, Oz, but."
"Now, Willow," Oz said, obviously struggling to keep his anger in check.
Willow schooled her expression into one of guileless confusion and curiosity as she followed Oz out of the library. Of course she knew what he wanted to talk about. But playing dumb was her best shot at making her cover story believable and hopefully keeping the claim a secret between her and Oz.
As she and Oz stepped out into the empty hallway, Willow mentally braced herself for the task ahead and prayed that she had the acting skills to pull this off. She had never really been a good liar, well, not until Spike had raped her. But now, she realized, she lied every day, and she got away with it. And that new awareness gave her confidence.
Oz grabbed Willow by the arm and spoke in a low voice filled with anger. "First me, then Xander, now Angel? What kind of slut are you? You let that vampire claim you? Aren't you at all concerned about the happiness clause? And what about Buffy? I thought she was your friend! You're involved with her boyfriend! Did you really think no one would find out?"
"Oz, wait, it's not what you think," Willow stammered, amazed at how much like her old, babbling self she sounded. "Angel was worried when he found out I was going off to Stanford. I mean, there are demons everywhere, not as many as in Sunnydale, but still.and these demons, they might know that I helped Buffy. And Angel wanted to do something to help keep me safe.to pay me back, you know, for the soul thing. So he said if he marked me, other demons would leave me alone 'cause they'd think I belonged to a powerful vampire. That's all this is Oz, I swear! But he asked me not to tell anyone, 'cause he didn't think Buffy or any of you would understand. And he was right, 'cause look, you took it the wrong way. Imagine what Buffy would think. And she'd probably not even listen to me and."
Oz put his finger to her lips, his expression much softer, and his eyes showing that Willow had convinced him that what she had told him was the truth.
"It's okay, Willow. I believe you. I should have known it was something like that. I know you're not that kind of person. And I shouldn't have brought up Xander, not after I already forgave you for that. It's just that.it's the werewolf in me, it makes me kinda territorial. And when I smelled Angel's claim, it made me a little crazy. I'm sorry. And I won't say anything to anybody about it, especially not to Buffy."
"What are you gonna say you needed to talk to me about then?" Willow asked.
"I'll just say that I wanted to talk to you about me dating Faith," Oz said. "By the way, are you okay with that?" Oz's expression and tone gave Willow all the cues she needed for how to play the rest of the scene.
"Of course I'm okay with it. I mean, I'm the one who said we shouldn't get back together and, really, you have every right to move on, so, yeah, I'm okay with it," Willow babbled, trying to convey reluctance and suppressed jealousy along with altruism in her voice and manner. And judging by the slight smile on Oz's face, she had played her part perfectly. So she patted him on the shoulder and said, "C'mon, we better get back to the library. I'm sure there's evil afoot that we need to help research. Besides, I don't want Faith to get jealous."
With that, Willow turned and headed back to the library with Oz at her side. She had succeeded, and she was safe, at least for a little while. That was all that mattered.
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