Reveal
by DawnBTVS
Chapter 6
[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.
Buffy finally spotted the redhead seated at a red, flaking park bench. The area of benches was empty and Buffy frowned, wondering why Willow was sitting alone amidst all this fun that was the San Diego Sea World Park. Buffy sidled up to the table and stood across from Willow. Buffy ducked her head, finally getting Willow to lift her head from the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "In need of company?"
Willow looked around her, suddenly aware, and startled, that the area was empty. She looked back at Buffy with a small smile. "I-I was just, catching my breath from the last... ride," Willow finished lamely. Buffy took a seat on the other side of the bench, staring in concern at her friend.
"When you finish eating I have two tickets to the shark exhibit. Xander bailed on me and viewing the sharks through glass isn't any fun alone. Wanna join me?"
Willow stared at Buffy, unsure if she should be appreciating this offer or insulted that she was the second option. Rationality won out. "I'm not a big fan of sharks, you know, with the big teeth, and the fact they could swallow me in one gulp but... give me ten minutes."
Buffy smiled, pleased. "Cool. I wanted to look around a little, see if there was an easy game to win like those milk bottles or whatnot. If I win something..." Buffy trailed, noting the spark of curiosity and hope in the redhead's eyes. Buffy wasn't sure if she was doing this out of friendship or something deeper since her talk with Angel but the offer had been accepted.
"Okay," replied Willow, her smile broadening into a genuine Willow only flash of happiness. Buffy couldn't help but smile as she got up and gestured. Willow nodded her head as Buffy walked off with Willow gazing at the back of the blonde, hands wrapped around her sandwich.
~~~BTVS~~~
Buffy frowned, eyebrows creased in concentration as she stared at the stack of milk bottles that remained standing after two throws. She squeezed the baseball, undeterred that two of her throws had deflected harmlessly off the bottles in her attempt to not raise suspicion among the crowded gathering around her. "Okay... I'm winning that stuffed dolphin if I have to throw a vampire," Buffy growled. She pulled her arm back and whipped it forward, the ball flying off like a fastball, and smashing squarely in the middle of the bottles. Several shattered on impact with the others falling instantly. "Yay," Buffy exclaimed, clapping her hands.
"Lucky," grumbled the barker, grabbing the stuffed dolphin Buffy was pointing out, and handing it to her. She grinned, ignoring the scowl on the man's face, and turned, surprised to see Willow standing directly in front of her.
"Here," said Buffy, holding the dolphin out to Willow who stared down at the doll in disbelief. She flicked her gaze back to Buffy who shoved the grey dolphin into Willow's hands and began walking. Willow hurried to catch up with the blonde.
Willow glanced at Buffy with a bit of concern as the blonde frowned, silently asking what. "Did you have to be so obvious with the... bottle breaking?"
"Will, it was either breaking those bottles or not winning a stuffed dolphin. Just say thank you and we'll enjoy the concealed safety brought to us by glass."
"You have Mr. Gordo and now I have... uh... Mr. Delgado," Willow said, beaming a smile at Buffy on her ability to tie the name to the blonde. Buffy merely arched an eyebrow.
"Clever... so long as Mr. Delgado doesn't go insulting Mr. Gordo on his weight issues."
Willow shook her head and stared at the dolphin. "Mr. Delgado would be supportive of his best friend's overweight eating habits."
"Good," remarked Buffy, fishing the two tickets of her jeans pocket, and handing one to Willow as they came up on the entrance to the shark exhibit. Willow paused, staring at the blonde now with a slight look of terror. "Will?" Buffy asked, confused at the redhead's reaction.
"That music usually denotes terror and the death of the best friend. I've seen Jaws 3 ya know and well, you know."
Buffy stared at Willow with a quizzical look before grabbing her arm, yanking the redhead toward the entrance where a pierced brunette girl stood, staring at them in boredom. "Xander will not corrupt you into avoiding this. Remember? Alone equals boredom and I'm not having that. Winning stuffed animals only goes so far," Buffy stated, handing her ticket to the girl, and then handing Willow's ticket to the girl before pushing the redhead down the steps in front of her.
"Buffy," Willow started but the blonde swiftly cut her off.
"If a great white breaks through the glass, I'll stake it before it can nibble on Mr. Delgado, okay?"
"O-okay," stammered Willow, not quite believing the blonde but no longer needing the prodding down the steps. They joined the group of what looked to be twenty to thirty other people, standing at the back of the group. Willow let out a squeak of surprise as the moving belt walkway started up beneath their feet. Buffy was too busy leaning against the railing, eyes scanning over the variety of sharks.
The guide was busy pointing out sharks on the right but Willow was following the movement of a Mako shark in the pane in front of her with interest. It would dart away from the glass, then suddenly appear back again, casually swimming as if it was walking with them, before darting away again. Willow glanced over her shoulder, startled to see Buffy peeking over her shoulder, trying to figure out what the redhead was so interested in. "What'cha looking at?"
"The Mako there, see?" Willow asked, a finger pointing out the shark that was once again slowly swimming by the glass. Buffy cocked her head, then stared at the group of tourists a bit ahead.
"Is it just me or is that thing following us?"
Willow shook her head. "Me too," she confided, one hand clutching Mr. Delgado tightly to her chest, while her other hand swung lazily by her side. They continued walking in silence with Willow sneaking glances at the Mako who had decided not to take off this time. After the initial intrigue, Willow was getting a little concerned, and kept thinking about what she had seen with Xander.
"Wha?" Buffy asked when she suddenly felt Willow's hand grip hers. Another soft clank was heard as the Mako shark darted away. Buffy stared curiously at Willow who had now blanched white.
"It... I-it hit the glass," Willow whispered, stepping against Buffy. Buffy suppressed the smirk and nodded her head, trying to break the death grip the redhead had. Both because Willow was really hurting her hand and also because Buffy was too aware of the proximity and it was causing her brain to think thoughts that made her shiver in excitement and guilt.
Buffy finally managed to pull her hand away as Willow turned for support but her eyes drifted down to where their hands had been connected only moments before. Whatever whiteness was there was rapidly disappearing into red as Willow glanced at Buffy. Buffy was flexing her hand but also moving to catch up with the group. "Don't want to stay down here, do you, Will?"
Willow shook her head. "No." Willow stared at her hand for a moment, embarrassed at turning what was a friends only experience into something more. Willow jogged, catching up with Buffy, who flashed a tight smile at the redhead. "Sorry about... just with the glass..." Willow trailed off.
Buffy nodded her head. "I get it. If I weren't the Slayer and if I had ever seen Jaws 3, I'm sure I'd have that same fear." Buffy exhaled, noting the discomfort that Willow was now experiencing in her presence, and hating herself for making Willow feel that way. "I wish you'd smile," Buffy whispered. Willow stared at Buffy, surprised at the admittance.
"Smile?"
"Yeah. We are on a field trip and... when you smile it's like I'm no longer the Slayer. Just normal Buffy, sixteen year old girl."
Willow cracked a small smile. "Really?"
Buffy nodded her head. "As real as reality allows," Buffy answered, gazing at Willow. The redhead blushed a little but her smile grew a bit more.
"Normal yet?"
"I'll let you know," Buffy answered, glancing absently at the guide who was ushering them up the stone steps after the rest of the group.
"Wanna see what Xander's doing?" Willow asked, blocking her eyes from the blinding sun with one hand as the duo exited from the exhibit. Buffy shook her head.
"This won't be a true field trip until you get a prize for me. Only fair," Buffy said, gesturing towards the dolphin. Willow glanced down and glanced back up, confused, and a little weary.
"What am I supposed to do? I don't have super powers to help shatter bottles."
Buffy pretended to be in deep thought, then smiled. "I thought I saw a ring toss somewhere. Come on. Anybody can toss a ring, even somebody as athletically challenged as you," laughed Buffy, trotting off.
Willow scowled. "I'm not athletically challenged! I'm just not endowed with enhanced physical strength," she called out, dashing again to catch up to Buffy who was walking into the milling crowd.
"Excuses... excuses," Buffy called over her shoulder.
TBC