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aimeeliciousI had kind of a crappy day. Still jetlagged beyond belief (shouldn't I be over that by now??), painfully reminded once more that a close friend and I at work are no longer actually close, and quite positive that I'll be alone forever.
Of course, that hopefully is not true, but you know how some days every little thing brings home the fact that you're alone? This was one of those days for me. Bleh. I just want everyone to love me and despair. Oh, and an icon would be nice too. Is that so wrong?
In conclusion, instead of being productive and doing my graphic design project that's due tomorrow which I will never complete in time, I wrote more Xandoz. Again with the weird.
Author note(s): I've no idea if Oz has/had a sister in canon, or if her name was Susan. If not, oh well, and if so, I completely took over her character for my own nefarious purposes. For now this continues to be rated PG-13 for potential bad language, but knowing me that won't last forever. Do not fear, you will be warned when it changes. There is also a plethora of dialog in this chapter. Sorry. *frowns at muse, who sticks his tongue out and says 'nah nah nah'*
**************************************************************
Over a surprising good dinner--Xander marveled once more, this time at Oz's previously hidden culinary skills--there was assorted small talk. Little bits about Dawn & Buffy, Giles and the international Slayer star-search, Oregon weather and a kid named Andrew. Nothing serious, and certainly nothing that helped Xander figure out what the hell was going on.
Sipping the last of his beer, he contemplated Oz over the bottle rim. Rumpled, looking...well, Xander wasn't sure what that expression was, or if it was much different than any of the others. Kind of reminded him of Angel--one face fits all. Except when Oz smiled, which he'd done exactly once since Xander arrived. That was truly a thing to behold.
He decided to start off with something easy.
"So, what's the with the brown hair? I remember lots of colors, but never one so...normal."
"Normal was the idea," stated Oz.
Xander squinted at him. "Since when do you actually attempt normal on purpose?" he asked.
"Need to look the part."
"Care to elaborate?"
"Got custody of my sister's kid." Oz waved a hand around vaguely. "Moved in here a few months ago to be with Paddy."
Xander widened his eyes at this news and looked around with fresh intent, this time noticing papers stuck to the fridge, a skateboard by the back door. Yeah, he could see a kid living here. But Oz as a parental role-model? That was far-fetched.
"Paddy? That short for something?"
"Padraic."
"Does anyone in your family have a regular name?"
"My sister's name was Susan," Oz pointed out, and gave him a look as if to say Xander certainly was in no position to throw stones on this subject. Xander ignored that and picked up on the past tense immediately.
"Did something happen to her? Is that why you're here?" He could have kicked himself as soon as the blunt words were out. "I'm sorry man, I shouldn't have asked that."
"S'ok Xander." What was it about that voice saying his name that was so distracting? He blinked and then managed to focus on what Oz was saying.
"She died in June. Cancer. Named me as legal guardian. Seems to be going alright."
"How old is he?"
"12." Their eyes met and they both winced in unison. Terrible age, neither one remembered it fondly.
"Is he around? Will I meet him?"
Oz glanced at the clock. "He has soccer practice on Thursdays, then the team gets pizza. Should be home soon. You're not going anywhere, so you'll definitely meet him."
Three sentences. It was the record so far. And it reminded Xander where he had originally been going with this questioning process.
"So the brown hair is to...what, be a better role model?"
"Something like that. They frown on green stripes at parent/teacher conferences."
"Why not just let it be red then?" Xander asked.
"Long story." Oz got up abruptly and started putting their dinner dishes in the sink, the subject clearly off limits. Xander filed that away for future reference, took the hint and moved on.
"Did Willow tell you she'd made up a whole story to get me to drive out here?"
"No details, but yeah, I knew she came up with something to convince you to make the trip."
"It sounded dire." Xander frowned, feeling irritated. He really didn't understand why Willow had made all this up, faked an imminent life-or-death situation. She knew how much he hated lies. "Why would she do that?" he said, more to himself than Oz.
The other man responded anyway, still with his back to Xander. "She knew you wouldn't leave otherwise."
Xander stood up to help load the dishwasher but Oz shooed his hands away, so he leaned against the counter instead, twirling the now empty beer bottle between his fingers. He was either really stupid or missing an important point, because the idea of him needing to leave Cleveland was ridiculous. He'd gotten a decent apartment, shabby but clean furniture, a carpentry job that paid ok and his life there was just fine, thank you very much.
The question couldn't be stopped. "Why would Willow think I should leave at all?"
Oz stopped, wiping his hands on a dishtowel and then gently took the bottle, label now half stripped off and shredded from agitated fingers, from Xander.
"Don't know. But you'll find the answer soon enough."
Before Xander could formulate a response to that even-more-cryptic-than-usual statement, the front door burst open and a boy he could only assume was Padraic bounded in.
"Hey Ozzer! I'm starting in Saturday's game, Coach Branchell said I could, and today Ms. Morton told me I could move up a level in math, and then Jimmy showed me his new mountain bike, it's really cool. Who's that?"
Xander had forgotten that even his powerful babble-skills could be surpassed by an excited kid, and felt a little overwhelmed by the onslaught.
"This is an old friend, Xander. He'll be staying with us for a bit."
"Kay." Paddy grinned openly at Xander and then turned his attention back to Oz. "So if I get my homework done by 9:00 can I watch CSI?"
"We'll all watch it."
Paddy ran off and headed up the stairs, sounding more like a herd of elephants than one child. Xander released a breath.
"So I'm staying for a bit...Ozzer?" Xander emphasized that last part, smirking at the nickname.
"Got a guest room set up for you. Wouldn't want to make me call Willow and try explaining that all her efforts were for nothing, would you?" Oz gazed at Xander slyly from under his lashes and suddenly Xander couldn't produce any more anger at the situation, nor could he ignore the odd curl in his belly at that look.
"Um, I guess not", he managed to get out.
"You're welcome here as long as you want to stay." Oz said, rather formally, and Xander was surprised at how comforting that sounded.
"I'll get my bag from the car."
They walked out of the kitchen together.
Of course, that hopefully is not true, but you know how some days every little thing brings home the fact that you're alone? This was one of those days for me. Bleh. I just want everyone to love me and despair. Oh, and an icon would be nice too. Is that so wrong?
In conclusion, instead of being productive and doing my graphic design project that's due tomorrow which I will never complete in time, I wrote more Xandoz. Again with the weird.
Author note(s): I've no idea if Oz has/had a sister in canon, or if her name was Susan. If not, oh well, and if so, I completely took over her character for my own nefarious purposes. For now this continues to be rated PG-13 for potential bad language, but knowing me that won't last forever. Do not fear, you will be warned when it changes. There is also a plethora of dialog in this chapter. Sorry. *frowns at muse, who sticks his tongue out and says 'nah nah nah'*
**************************************************************
Over a surprising good dinner--Xander marveled once more, this time at Oz's previously hidden culinary skills--there was assorted small talk. Little bits about Dawn & Buffy, Giles and the international Slayer star-search, Oregon weather and a kid named Andrew. Nothing serious, and certainly nothing that helped Xander figure out what the hell was going on.
Sipping the last of his beer, he contemplated Oz over the bottle rim. Rumpled, looking...well, Xander wasn't sure what that expression was, or if it was much different than any of the others. Kind of reminded him of Angel--one face fits all. Except when Oz smiled, which he'd done exactly once since Xander arrived. That was truly a thing to behold.
He decided to start off with something easy.
"So, what's the with the brown hair? I remember lots of colors, but never one so...normal."
"Normal was the idea," stated Oz.
Xander squinted at him. "Since when do you actually attempt normal on purpose?" he asked.
"Need to look the part."
"Care to elaborate?"
"Got custody of my sister's kid." Oz waved a hand around vaguely. "Moved in here a few months ago to be with Paddy."
Xander widened his eyes at this news and looked around with fresh intent, this time noticing papers stuck to the fridge, a skateboard by the back door. Yeah, he could see a kid living here. But Oz as a parental role-model? That was far-fetched.
"Paddy? That short for something?"
"Padraic."
"Does anyone in your family have a regular name?"
"My sister's name was Susan," Oz pointed out, and gave him a look as if to say Xander certainly was in no position to throw stones on this subject. Xander ignored that and picked up on the past tense immediately.
"Did something happen to her? Is that why you're here?" He could have kicked himself as soon as the blunt words were out. "I'm sorry man, I shouldn't have asked that."
"S'ok Xander." What was it about that voice saying his name that was so distracting? He blinked and then managed to focus on what Oz was saying.
"She died in June. Cancer. Named me as legal guardian. Seems to be going alright."
"How old is he?"
"12." Their eyes met and they both winced in unison. Terrible age, neither one remembered it fondly.
"Is he around? Will I meet him?"
Oz glanced at the clock. "He has soccer practice on Thursdays, then the team gets pizza. Should be home soon. You're not going anywhere, so you'll definitely meet him."
Three sentences. It was the record so far. And it reminded Xander where he had originally been going with this questioning process.
"So the brown hair is to...what, be a better role model?"
"Something like that. They frown on green stripes at parent/teacher conferences."
"Why not just let it be red then?" Xander asked.
"Long story." Oz got up abruptly and started putting their dinner dishes in the sink, the subject clearly off limits. Xander filed that away for future reference, took the hint and moved on.
"Did Willow tell you she'd made up a whole story to get me to drive out here?"
"No details, but yeah, I knew she came up with something to convince you to make the trip."
"It sounded dire." Xander frowned, feeling irritated. He really didn't understand why Willow had made all this up, faked an imminent life-or-death situation. She knew how much he hated lies. "Why would she do that?" he said, more to himself than Oz.
The other man responded anyway, still with his back to Xander. "She knew you wouldn't leave otherwise."
Xander stood up to help load the dishwasher but Oz shooed his hands away, so he leaned against the counter instead, twirling the now empty beer bottle between his fingers. He was either really stupid or missing an important point, because the idea of him needing to leave Cleveland was ridiculous. He'd gotten a decent apartment, shabby but clean furniture, a carpentry job that paid ok and his life there was just fine, thank you very much.
The question couldn't be stopped. "Why would Willow think I should leave at all?"
Oz stopped, wiping his hands on a dishtowel and then gently took the bottle, label now half stripped off and shredded from agitated fingers, from Xander.
"Don't know. But you'll find the answer soon enough."
Before Xander could formulate a response to that even-more-cryptic-than-usual statement, the front door burst open and a boy he could only assume was Padraic bounded in.
"Hey Ozzer! I'm starting in Saturday's game, Coach Branchell said I could, and today Ms. Morton told me I could move up a level in math, and then Jimmy showed me his new mountain bike, it's really cool. Who's that?"
Xander had forgotten that even his powerful babble-skills could be surpassed by an excited kid, and felt a little overwhelmed by the onslaught.
"This is an old friend, Xander. He'll be staying with us for a bit."
"Kay." Paddy grinned openly at Xander and then turned his attention back to Oz. "So if I get my homework done by 9:00 can I watch CSI?"
"We'll all watch it."
Paddy ran off and headed up the stairs, sounding more like a herd of elephants than one child. Xander released a breath.
"So I'm staying for a bit...Ozzer?" Xander emphasized that last part, smirking at the nickname.
"Got a guest room set up for you. Wouldn't want to make me call Willow and try explaining that all her efforts were for nothing, would you?" Oz gazed at Xander slyly from under his lashes and suddenly Xander couldn't produce any more anger at the situation, nor could he ignore the odd curl in his belly at that look.
"Um, I guess not", he managed to get out.
"You're welcome here as long as you want to stay." Oz said, rather formally, and Xander was surprised at how comforting that sounded.
"I'll get my bag from the car."
They walked out of the kitchen together.
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no subject
Date: 2004-03-10 07:59 am (UTC)I'm a loner by nature and fill up my time quite well so it's hard for me to understand aloneness. I'm thinking it's becasue I've always had at least one child with me since, damn, forever.
In the summer, when I AM alone, I just enjoy it. The peace, the quiet.
But, I also know the boys are coming back so....
I believe there are several people out there that are ideally suited for each person. I belive that Karma sets it up so that these people DO met us. Can happen at any age or time though so you have to be aware of the people around you.
I've loved a couple of times. Got my heart broken over them but wouldn't change it.
Not sure I'll ever revisit it either.
Sorry. Rambling here.
no subject
Date: 2004-03-10 12:02 pm (UTC)You know, it's not so much that I mind being alone. I have actually settled rather comfortably into living with just my kitties and I'm mostly fine with it (although I've developed a pretty bad habit of talking to myself that I need to curb before I become truly nutty!). But I miss touch. A lot. I don't think I ever realized how much those little bits of affection shared with a partner over the course of a day feed positive mood and state of being.
Anyway, I'll be fine, I know I will. Some days are just better than others, that's all.
I still can't believe I'm writing Oz/Xander. The weirdness factor is +10 on that.
no subject
Date: 2004-03-10 02:43 pm (UTC)Blue loves to stroke my hair when were watching a movie and nine times out of ten I end up purring, LOL.
no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 04:35 am (UTC)On the plus side, you're writing in-fucking-credible oz/xander. Seriously. You have a flair for this pairing. Keep writing, please!
Loved the international Slayer star-search, normal/parental/regular haired Oz (there's surely more of a story there than just the guardian responsibilities), and skateboarding-babbly-Paddy.
Silly Xander, not remembering that Oz indeed has a normal name -- Daniel. :P Sounds like Susan would have been quite a bit older, if she had a 12-year-old son and the boys are probably somewhere around 23/24. That would surely explain her being absent from canon. I like the idea of a sister--provides even more mystery for Oz, and it complicates our model of Sunnydale as a community of one-child families (Xander, Willow, Amy, Buffy ('til Dawn)).
My hope is that you'll give this some space in terms of installments -- no need to limit yourself to just a few if the story needs more. Also, I'm being greedy -- want more Xoz. ;)
no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 04:23 pm (UTC)I imagine Xander to forget details like that over time...Oz has been Oz for so long, Daniel seems like a vague memory. Although I'm all for the standard fic cliche that Xander is smarter than he seems, there are still goofy things about the character that shouldn't fade away completely. At least, that's my opinion.
On the plus side, you're writing in-fucking-credible oz/xander. Seriously. You have a flair for this pairing. Keep writing, please!
This is a hell of a compliment. I'm reeling, and can't resist the urge to... SQUEE!!
And now I'm trotting off to keep working on part 3. You're right, I'm just going to take it as it comes. I have a feeling this might be a longer story than I originally intended, which is not necessarily a bad thing. ;-)