Reveal
by DawnBTVS
Chapter 3
[reviews]
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Mutant Enemy, Fox, Joss, etc.
Rating: PG or PG-13
Time Frame: Early Season 2 around Some Assembly Required
A/N: Will likely turn more angsty and I'll try and stay somewhat in-canon but don't hold me to that, please.
"Ugh," grumbled Buffy, hanging her jacket on the coat rack at the base of the stairs before inspecting several tears in her shirt. She sighed, being careful to quietly move towards the kitchen phone. "Tuesdays... my favorite days of the week. At least Giles will enjoy the new material." Buffy picked the phone off the cradle and rapidly dialed the eleven numbers she had memorized.
Willow peered around her laptop and snatched the phone off the bedside table. She gazed at the phone for a couple minutes before bringing it to her ear as her eyes focused back on the bright monitor illuminating the room. "Hello?"
"No inflicting," Buffy greeted, shuffling towards the fridge. Willow grinned, pleased to hear from the blonde.
Fingers tapped on the keyboard as Buffy scoured the fridge. "Anything demony happen? Uh, I mean of course 'cause you went on patrol but like, anything non-vampiry. You know, something Giles could use?"
"Giles better use this. One dead demon of non-vampiric origin slayed although it treated my shirt like a puppy's chew toy," complained Buffy, pulling out a Diet Coke and taking a gulp. "I'm starting to run out of tops to choose from here."
"So, you're okay though, right? No bleeding or any internal injuries?"
Buffy didn't miss the worried tone and set her drink on the counter top. "I'm a peachy Buffy, though my top can't say the same. Are you okay? It's just... you seem to be more on edge around me and while I appreciate your concern over my well-being, you aren't usually that vocal, at least not in my presence."
Willow's fingers stopped tapping, now still over the keys. "Can't I be concerned?"
"Of course. You're my best friend and I would expect nothing less, um, not that you should only be concerned. I-I mean, you can be happy around me too."
"Buffy?"
Buffy took another sip and nodded her head. "Yeah?"
"Uh, nothing."
"You have a something voice. Something that is of importance and best friend handbooks say that I must demand out with the important subject."
Willow pushed the laptop away and leaned back against the headboard, exhaling. "I told you I dumped Oz and it was for somebody else, right?"
"Must be a real hottie," Buffy replied, lifting herself onto the counter next to the coffee pot, winding the cord around her finger.
"Much so, uh, on the hotness. It's just... w-well, if I told this person what I felt, then that person might freak and I don't want freak because I really like this person."
"Does this person like you back?"
"I don't know! Like, there will be some days where this person will hold my hand or just give me these looks, right? O-or they'll flash this adorable smile and... But... this person is kind of involved."
Buffy scrunched her eyebrows together in confusion. "Involved in a relationship? Will, you vixen!"
"It-it's a complicated relationship though and I... I've been doing some research on this person that my person likes."
"What?" asked Buffy, unable to hide her disbelief. Willow winced at the blonde's tone.
"Not to break them up but... just to know, ya know? Some of the stuff I found is... well, my person can't have, um, in-intim... with their person otherwise uh, badness happens."
Buffy pulled the phone away and stared, surprised and concerned at the length Willow was going to be with or tell this person how she felt. Buffy brought the phone back to her ear. "Will..."
"I-I know, Buffy. What I'm doing is horrible and I should be f-flogged and thrown in prison but... I think... I love this person."
"It's not Xander?"
"Buffy, get over Xander. It's not him and it's not Oz. It's-"
Buffy stared at the phone, confused why Willow would hang up just when she was about to clarify the object of her affection. 'The phone feels light' Buffy thought and glanced up, groaning. The cradle had been yanked slightly out of the wall and the phone cord was dragging on the floor of the kitchen. "Oops."
Willow stared at the phone in distress. "Hello? Buffy?" Willow frowned and placed the phone back on its cradle with a small slam. How could Buffy hang up on her like that? Right when she was going to reveal... Buffy wouldn't normally do something like that but maybe she thought Willow had crossed the line. Maybe Buffy thought Willow went too far and decided to show Willow what she thought. 'The nerve' thought Willow, closing the lid of her laptop in frustration.
~~~BTVS~~~
Buffy was seated on the edge of Angel's bed, kicking her legs off the mattress as Angel lifted himself into a sitting position against the headboard. "You don't usually drop by early in the morning like this."
"Willow's been acting really weird. She's been using that computer of hers to look up stuff on this person she likes... or the couple this person's involved with."
Buffy glanced back at Angel who stared back, slightly confused. "She can do that?"
"Oh. Uh, yeah. She said she was doing research and that um, this person she likes, well he's involved with somebody. However the person he's involved with um, they can't uh, do certain... things."
"Intimate things?"
Buffy nodded her head. "The most intimate," she confirmed. "What do I do, Angel? She's Willow and she is great but really needs a self-esteem boost and being with this person will definitely help. She's wigged the guy'll freak but the guy is with somebody and I can't let Willow sabotage that relationship just to make herself happy."
"Does this other person know how she feels or feel the same way?" Angel pushed the covers off himself and scooted up next to Buffy, wrapping an arm around her waist. Buffy shrugged.
"Willow said this person holds her hand or flashes her smiles. I've never seen anybody hold her hand in school though. Except Xander and..." Buffy trailed off, glancing at Angel in confusion. Angel just stared back, calm, and neutral. "I-I'm not always around her though so... ma-maybe Willow met somebody else who holds her hand and... gives her those looks."
"A possibility."
"Right, totally plausible. I have to get going but... it's not me, right?"
Angel just smiled. "Seems like you'll find out in an hour."
"Yeah," Buffy answered, hoisting her backpack onto her shoulder. She didn't look happy at the prospect of running into Willow though. Buffy pushed the door open, squeezing out to allow the least amount of sunlight in. Angel sighed and blinked wearily at the sun before scooting back onto the bed and yanking the covers over himself.