aimeelicious (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
aimeelicious) wrote2004-04-23 09:34 pm
aimeelicious) wrote2004-04-23 09:34 pm
Grace, Oz/Xander part 11
Okay, fyi, there's a lot of introspection and rumination in this part, not so much of the hot sex. Sigh. I have too much plot. MY PLOT IZ PASTEDE ON YAY! Be grateful if you've no idea what I'm talking about, it's quite asinine. Hysterical, but ridiculous.
Anyway, just wanted to give the warning, as things look up, and then maybe not so much.
Grace, Oz/Xander part 11
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It was chilly, and Xander tugged his jacket closer around his neck. Sometimes he had the stupidest ideas, and this was a perfect example. Wandering about bumfuck Oregon in the dark with just a stake and a cell phone, not his best move. Except he'd basically just been going around and around a few blocks near Oz's house. God forbid he got lost as well as drunk, that would suck beyond suckage.
He checked the street sign and yes, it was time to make another right. This was kind of how Spike used to pace, except on a larger scale, and it felt very reassuring. Eighty sidewalk cracks, turn right. Sixty-three sidewalk cracks, turn right. Shit, maybe he was getting obsessive compulsive now. Another diagnosis to put next to 'one-eye' and 'panic attacks' and 'you can't handle the truth'.
Xander knew that alcohol had a lot to do with his current state of mind, but seriously, Oz had to be kidding. Except he wasn't, the look on his face had made that pretty clear. It just didn't all fit together in his head, the way things had been and now the way they were. Willow and Oz, Oz and Willow, Oz the werewolf, Oz leaving, Oz and Ver-whatever her name was, how was there room for anything else? There was no such thing as Oz and Xander, Xander and Oz. Although he had to admit, it kind of rolled off his tongue nicely. Xander and Oz, Oz and Xander, Xandoz, and what the fuck was he thinking? He could feel his heart rate increase and began taking deep breaths, matching them to the rhythm of his stride.
Better.
So. Oz liked him. Really liked him, like Sally Field at the Oscars. The question to be answered, then, was how he felt about Oz. Xander decided to do this like an adult, issue by issue. First and foremost, Oz was a guy, not a girl. Well, maybe that wasn't a valid talking point anymore, really, since they'd already done the rubbing bit and the sexual attraction clearly wasn't a figment of his Hellmouth imagination. Okay, Oz being a guy and him being a guy, it could be dealt with, there were manuals for that sort of thing. One for the positive column.
Next. Oz was...Oz. Who used to date Willow, and who had a werewolf problem. Except neither of those things were currently relevant, were they. What was next...yes, Ohio versus Oregon. That was a bit tougher. Not that life in Ohio was all that, but Willow, Giles, Buffy, the potentials factory, his job, they were there. The job wasn't important, but everything else was, even if he tried to pretend it wasn't. So, a geographic obstacle. That's one for the negative column.
Paddy. He couldn't even fathom whether that was a plus or a minus there, so Xander picked neutral. Kid seemed alright, as far as kids went. Maybe. What did he know about kids?
Check street sign, make another right. Step, breathe, step, breathe. Okay, Oz's job. Not liking it at all. Enough danger around every corner already, no need to seek it out. Definitely a negative. Oz's sweet, infrequent smile though? That had to be worth at least three checks in the plus column.
This system was getting complicated, and he was starting to sound slightly poetic. Fine. He liked Oz. Liked his strength, his humor and his heat, his way without words. There could be more talking, but whatever, Xander could always fill in the gaps. And silence was nice too, when shared. Maybe it was time.
Xander stopped walking and found himself back where he started. He looked at his own car parked in the driveway, and then the light shining invitingly from the house windows. Sure he could run away, or more accurately, just withdraw. Standard operating procedure when someone got too close. But...
Oz was sitting in the same chair, although he had a glass of water in front of him so he must have moved at some point. He didn't look up as Xander came in, took off his jacket and sat down on the opposite side of the table. But he did lift his head when Xander reached across the table and awkwardly patted one of Oz's hands before pulling his own back.
"I'll stay for a while. I like you too. And Oregon's cool. I mean, it's cold out but what I meant was that I didn't come across any vamps while I was out, it was nice. And Paddy's a neat kid, I think. So yeah, staying is good. Can't make any promises though, only have three weeks off. Wanna get a pizza?"
Oz hadn't budged, but smiled a little at that last bit and Xander felt inordinately pleased.
"No delivery at 2am."
Xander's face fell and Oz laughed out loud this time, quietly. It made Xander's pants feel tight.
"I can make some pasta," Oz offered.
"Nah, ordering pizza has just always been my answer to everything. Not really so hungry, which is kind of weird actually, since I'm always hungry. Too much beer, maybe. I should have some water."
Oz pushed the glass over. "Haven't touched it."
After drinking most of it without pausing for breath, Xander set the glass back down on the table and sighed.
"Bed?"
His eyes got big and he thought about flailing. Not ready for more man sex, not just yet. Needed one of those manuals first, yeah.
"Relax, Xander, didn't mean you had to sleep with me," Oz said with a hint of sadness, and Xander felt a now familiar tremor go down his spine, the one that happened whenever Oz said his name.
"But I want to." It slipped out before he could stop it, and then there couldn't be regret because the light in those eyes was just too beautiful for words.
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Once more, Xander opened his eye to Paddy staring at him. Except this time, Paddy was staring at them both, because Oz was wrapped securely in Xander's arms, pulled back tight against his chest and snoring quietly. Everyone stayed like that; Oz out cold, Paddy assessing the situation and Xander struck dumb with uncertainty, until Paddy shrugged and climbed into the bed too. He snuggled up with Oz, who did not stir, and seemed to settle down right away into sleep. Xander was too tired himself to ponder this odd new development for long, and concentrated instead on the warmth of Oz pressed against him until he drifted off again.
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When Xander woke up this time, he was alone, curled up on one side of the big bed. He felt slightly disoriented before it all clicked. Oregon, Oz, and oh yeah, his head hurt because of all the beer. Whoops. Beer bad. Bathroom now. Studiously avoiding the mirror as always, Xander took care of business and washed his face quickly in the sink. Not enough energy for more until there was coffee, which he could smell now that he was up. Throwing a t-shirt on over the sweats he wore to sleep, he double-checked the patch and his breath before being drawn irresistably to the kitchen, where he found a fresh pot of brew, two aspirin and a note.
Xan--Took Paddy to school, back soon.
It wasn't signed, but Xander stared at Oz's handwriting anyway. It was small and compact, like the man himself, and he was struck by the urge to save it for posterity. That happened a lot after they first left Sunnydale, he collected matchbooks and napkins, receipts and little touristy doodads...it felt at the time like he had to start all over again, and needed those things as concrete reminders that the past existed as they moved across the country. He still had the box with all that stuff in it tucked away in one of his half-empty closets.
He ended up throwing this note away in effort to go with the 'new start' concept, and poured a mug of coffee. The paper was on the table and he was about halfway through the comics when Oz returned. There was no time to react as a kiss was planted firmly on his lips, and Oz moved away to make his own cup of coffee. Only a quiet hiss broke the spell, setting Xander in motion reaching for the upper cabinet door.
"Sit, I'll get it. You shouldn't be moving around so much," he said.
Oz sank into a chair, with a murmured "Thanks."
Xander set the second mug down and tried not to think about the domestic harmony picture they were making, as both of them companionably perused the paper together, sipping their coffee in the morning light. He wanted to ask about Paddy, find out how he was doing and what the three of them all sleeping in the same bed meant other than 'weird', but it seemed by unspoken agreement they were holding off on that conversation. So he went back to reading.
"Damn," said Oz, who was checking out the local section.
"Problem?" Xander asked lightly, still chuckling at the comics. He looked up when there was no answer and found Oz staring at him. He flinched slightly, as the gaze was strong and questioning, and again, he was reminded of Spike, whose eyes had held much the same force. Finally, Oz nodded as if satisfied with what he saw, and shoved something at him.
Xander didn't have to read much further than the headline to see the problem.
Man Attacked, Killed by Unknown Wild Animal in Downtown North Bend.
Anyway, just wanted to give the warning, as things look up, and then maybe not so much.
Grace, Oz/Xander part 11
---------------------------------
It was chilly, and Xander tugged his jacket closer around his neck. Sometimes he had the stupidest ideas, and this was a perfect example. Wandering about bumfuck Oregon in the dark with just a stake and a cell phone, not his best move. Except he'd basically just been going around and around a few blocks near Oz's house. God forbid he got lost as well as drunk, that would suck beyond suckage.
He checked the street sign and yes, it was time to make another right. This was kind of how Spike used to pace, except on a larger scale, and it felt very reassuring. Eighty sidewalk cracks, turn right. Sixty-three sidewalk cracks, turn right. Shit, maybe he was getting obsessive compulsive now. Another diagnosis to put next to 'one-eye' and 'panic attacks' and 'you can't handle the truth'.
Xander knew that alcohol had a lot to do with his current state of mind, but seriously, Oz had to be kidding. Except he wasn't, the look on his face had made that pretty clear. It just didn't all fit together in his head, the way things had been and now the way they were. Willow and Oz, Oz and Willow, Oz the werewolf, Oz leaving, Oz and Ver-whatever her name was, how was there room for anything else? There was no such thing as Oz and Xander, Xander and Oz. Although he had to admit, it kind of rolled off his tongue nicely. Xander and Oz, Oz and Xander, Xandoz, and what the fuck was he thinking? He could feel his heart rate increase and began taking deep breaths, matching them to the rhythm of his stride.
Better.
So. Oz liked him. Really liked him, like Sally Field at the Oscars. The question to be answered, then, was how he felt about Oz. Xander decided to do this like an adult, issue by issue. First and foremost, Oz was a guy, not a girl. Well, maybe that wasn't a valid talking point anymore, really, since they'd already done the rubbing bit and the sexual attraction clearly wasn't a figment of his Hellmouth imagination. Okay, Oz being a guy and him being a guy, it could be dealt with, there were manuals for that sort of thing. One for the positive column.
Next. Oz was...Oz. Who used to date Willow, and who had a werewolf problem. Except neither of those things were currently relevant, were they. What was next...yes, Ohio versus Oregon. That was a bit tougher. Not that life in Ohio was all that, but Willow, Giles, Buffy, the potentials factory, his job, they were there. The job wasn't important, but everything else was, even if he tried to pretend it wasn't. So, a geographic obstacle. That's one for the negative column.
Paddy. He couldn't even fathom whether that was a plus or a minus there, so Xander picked neutral. Kid seemed alright, as far as kids went. Maybe. What did he know about kids?
Check street sign, make another right. Step, breathe, step, breathe. Okay, Oz's job. Not liking it at all. Enough danger around every corner already, no need to seek it out. Definitely a negative. Oz's sweet, infrequent smile though? That had to be worth at least three checks in the plus column.
This system was getting complicated, and he was starting to sound slightly poetic. Fine. He liked Oz. Liked his strength, his humor and his heat, his way without words. There could be more talking, but whatever, Xander could always fill in the gaps. And silence was nice too, when shared. Maybe it was time.
Xander stopped walking and found himself back where he started. He looked at his own car parked in the driveway, and then the light shining invitingly from the house windows. Sure he could run away, or more accurately, just withdraw. Standard operating procedure when someone got too close. But...
Oz was sitting in the same chair, although he had a glass of water in front of him so he must have moved at some point. He didn't look up as Xander came in, took off his jacket and sat down on the opposite side of the table. But he did lift his head when Xander reached across the table and awkwardly patted one of Oz's hands before pulling his own back.
"I'll stay for a while. I like you too. And Oregon's cool. I mean, it's cold out but what I meant was that I didn't come across any vamps while I was out, it was nice. And Paddy's a neat kid, I think. So yeah, staying is good. Can't make any promises though, only have three weeks off. Wanna get a pizza?"
Oz hadn't budged, but smiled a little at that last bit and Xander felt inordinately pleased.
"No delivery at 2am."
Xander's face fell and Oz laughed out loud this time, quietly. It made Xander's pants feel tight.
"I can make some pasta," Oz offered.
"Nah, ordering pizza has just always been my answer to everything. Not really so hungry, which is kind of weird actually, since I'm always hungry. Too much beer, maybe. I should have some water."
Oz pushed the glass over. "Haven't touched it."
After drinking most of it without pausing for breath, Xander set the glass back down on the table and sighed.
"Bed?"
His eyes got big and he thought about flailing. Not ready for more man sex, not just yet. Needed one of those manuals first, yeah.
"Relax, Xander, didn't mean you had to sleep with me," Oz said with a hint of sadness, and Xander felt a now familiar tremor go down his spine, the one that happened whenever Oz said his name.
"But I want to." It slipped out before he could stop it, and then there couldn't be regret because the light in those eyes was just too beautiful for words.
----------------------------------
Once more, Xander opened his eye to Paddy staring at him. Except this time, Paddy was staring at them both, because Oz was wrapped securely in Xander's arms, pulled back tight against his chest and snoring quietly. Everyone stayed like that; Oz out cold, Paddy assessing the situation and Xander struck dumb with uncertainty, until Paddy shrugged and climbed into the bed too. He snuggled up with Oz, who did not stir, and seemed to settle down right away into sleep. Xander was too tired himself to ponder this odd new development for long, and concentrated instead on the warmth of Oz pressed against him until he drifted off again.
-------------------------------------
When Xander woke up this time, he was alone, curled up on one side of the big bed. He felt slightly disoriented before it all clicked. Oregon, Oz, and oh yeah, his head hurt because of all the beer. Whoops. Beer bad. Bathroom now. Studiously avoiding the mirror as always, Xander took care of business and washed his face quickly in the sink. Not enough energy for more until there was coffee, which he could smell now that he was up. Throwing a t-shirt on over the sweats he wore to sleep, he double-checked the patch and his breath before being drawn irresistably to the kitchen, where he found a fresh pot of brew, two aspirin and a note.
Xan--Took Paddy to school, back soon.
It wasn't signed, but Xander stared at Oz's handwriting anyway. It was small and compact, like the man himself, and he was struck by the urge to save it for posterity. That happened a lot after they first left Sunnydale, he collected matchbooks and napkins, receipts and little touristy doodads...it felt at the time like he had to start all over again, and needed those things as concrete reminders that the past existed as they moved across the country. He still had the box with all that stuff in it tucked away in one of his half-empty closets.
He ended up throwing this note away in effort to go with the 'new start' concept, and poured a mug of coffee. The paper was on the table and he was about halfway through the comics when Oz returned. There was no time to react as a kiss was planted firmly on his lips, and Oz moved away to make his own cup of coffee. Only a quiet hiss broke the spell, setting Xander in motion reaching for the upper cabinet door.
"Sit, I'll get it. You shouldn't be moving around so much," he said.
Oz sank into a chair, with a murmured "Thanks."
Xander set the second mug down and tried not to think about the domestic harmony picture they were making, as both of them companionably perused the paper together, sipping their coffee in the morning light. He wanted to ask about Paddy, find out how he was doing and what the three of them all sleeping in the same bed meant other than 'weird', but it seemed by unspoken agreement they were holding off on that conversation. So he went back to reading.
"Damn," said Oz, who was checking out the local section.
"Problem?" Xander asked lightly, still chuckling at the comics. He looked up when there was no answer and found Oz staring at him. He flinched slightly, as the gaze was strong and questioning, and again, he was reminded of Spike, whose eyes had held much the same force. Finally, Oz nodded as if satisfied with what he saw, and shoved something at him.
Xander didn't have to read much further than the headline to see the problem.
Man Attacked, Killed by Unknown Wild Animal in Downtown North Bend.
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Love this part, love Xander trying to be all adult and decide what to do, love him thinking 'Xandoz', love them going to bed together and Paddy finding them and then just climbing in with them. Hell I love everything about this but most especially that it's set in North Bend. Not too many folks - none? - set stories there. Yay us Northwest people who actually know where the hell North Bend is, and have been there!
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Actually, sooper sekrit message: I've never been to Oregon, but I love all the people I know from there, and my cousin lives in North Bend. It sounds like a great place to be.. Shhh. Don't tell anyone.
Love that you love this! Thanks for the great feedback. =)
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Bwah.
I like this a lot; just running out the door to dinner, but I had to let you know.
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:: snergle ::
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I so love Oz, furry little thing. Just wanna cuddle him and kiss all over.
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>=)
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:: smoochies ::
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:: hugs ::
If I haven't commented lately on Lilac City, I'm continuing to love it. Your Xander is so complex and fascinating.
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"But I want to."
*Willamelt*
Gorgeous from start to stop, and as ever you leave me wanting more. I'm hooked on you. ;-)
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:: hugs ::
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Xander and Oz, Oz and Xander, Xandoz
And Xoz! ::she said helpfully to Xander.
And one of my emotional kinks of all time -- h/c sleeping in the same bed, wrapped tight around each other. :: sighs ::
That Paddy is a cool accepting kid. Though I think Xander might be just as surprised to find how much Paddy becomes attached to him (just as he couldn't get his head around the idea of Oz liking him since way back when).
Yay! Looking forward to more, whenever it turns up. :)