A bunny got out and twitched its little nose at me. I don't have a plot, just a setting and some circumstances. And an opening ...
The shower was back along the corrider, around three corners, and over a pile of rubble. They didn't bother with a curtain or door or anything. Everybody had seen everything. Wes paused anyway in the gap of the wall to observe.
The sun shone down through the broken second story window, and by the steam, Harry had gotten the boiler running again. Light danced in the billows surrounding Xander Harris' body as he scrubbed his battered, scarred, lovely body.
"Save me some of that hot water, please," Wes said.
Xander tossed his shaggy hair out of his eyes and smiled over his shoulder. "Simpler to share."
"You know the rules. No screwing in the shower, it's wasteful of water."
Xander held a soapy hand to his chest and blinked large, innocent eyes. "Screwing? Did *I* suggest screwing? No, Mr. Wyndam-Pryce, you were the one mentioning screwing. For shame." He turned back into the water, virtuously soaping up every bit and rinsing quickly.
Wes slid the scabbarded longsword off his shoulder and leaned it against the wall, next to Xander's axe. The mini-crossbow, matched Glocks, and ammo belt were carefully piled on the floor. The clothes and boots were unceremoniously shucked. He crept across the broken tiles of the floor towards the shower corner. As he reached across Xander's shoulder for the soap, though, he heard the younger man counting.
"33 ... 34--35 seconds, Wes, a new record!"
Disobeying the rules for a moment, Wes kissed Xander quiet, then let the warmth seep into his muscles as he washed Xander's hair before letting the other man tend him. Shared showers were more efficient.
edit: silly typo
There's a whole big plot waiting to get out. However, V!Giles is tapping his foot, and you know how he gets.
Well, original!guy got stuck in his dream, and Oz/Angel started yelling at me. So here we go again- just a few bits of dialogue at the moment, Angel POV, and possibly more to come.
“Hey, man, you got an answer phone message.”
“It’s not important.” But he’s already rewinding it.
The machine squeals. He twists up the volume, and it speaks. Kate’s voice.
“You did it, didn't you? You bastard.. You made me trust you. - You made me believe. - No, it wasn't you. It was me, right? I couldn't take the heat.. That's what they're gonna say. Then you're gonna feel all bad - or you won't care. But then, then I won't care either. I won't feel a thing.”
“Who is she? She’s killing herself.” There’s genuine anguish in his eyes. “We’ve got to go and help her.”
“You’re welcome to try.”
“Angel?” He looks at me again and realisation dawns. “Angelus?”
“No. I’m still Angel. I just can’t help her.”
“Why not?”
“If I tried… we’d go together.”
“Angel- what’s wrong with you?”
“I want what I can’t have. You know what that’s like.”
“How do you know about Willow?”
“She left you?”
“For a girl. We’re wasting time- that woman on the answer machine!”
“Is dead by now. The message is half an hour old.”
“I don’t believe that. Let’s go.”
He starts towards the door but I block him, the speed of his movements only increasing my desire for him. “You aren’t leaving.”
“Angel, you have to help me. Help me to help her.”
“We can’t.”
“Yes, we can. We’re going to.”
“It’s impossible.”
“Look, just pull yourself out of this despair you’re in, will you? We’ll save her. Where does she live?”
“It doesn’t matter- I don’t have an invitation.”
“I don’t need one. Where?”
“I can give you directions.”
“Good- my van’s just outside.”
~~~
An hour’s passed since I bullied Angel into saving this woman. I never thought I’d have to do that. I’m still a little pleased that I could. “Kate, do you need us any more?”
“No, thanks. You can go, both of you.”
Angel seems pleased by that. “Good. We’ll leave you alone, then.” We walk down to the van in silence, until he asks, “Will you stay at the hotel tonight, Oz?”
“If you don’t mind.” I’d been hoping he would ask, though my motive is divided between wanting to be with him and thinking that he shouldn’t be left alone.
“Mind? Why should I mind?”
“I don’t want to be an unwelcome guest.”
“Would you ever be, Oz?” He turns those deep brown eyes on me, and- crazily- I wonder if he feels the same way about me. “You saved me tonight. Twice.”
My breath catches a little in my throat. Mentally, I thank Willow for teaching me not to show my nerves at times like this. “Guess I did. No big.”
The hotel looms in the darkness, and I carefully park the van outside again. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I fake a yawn. “Shall we go inside?”
“Okay.” Every word he speaks is making me harder. Slowly but surely, it’s getting painful.
He holds the door open for me as I was a lady. The silent hall is chilly, and coupled with what happened last time I came, it makes me shiver a little- most people wouldn’t notice.
“Are you cold?”
“Not really.”
“Then what is it?” His voice is deep, soft, and he stands closer to me than most people feel they can. “What can I do?”
He’s worried about me.
I hesitate- then decide to take the chance. “Kiss me.”
It pays off. Cool lips on mine, arm around me, hand in my hair.
Huh. Vampire fancies me.
