Oz stopped by the library to make sure everything was set for the night, and found Buffy practicing defense moves with Giles. He watched her stumble and rushed forward to catch her. She fell into his chest and the ever-present burn in his body ceased. Her body went lax against his, and he wrapped one arm around her to help her get her feet.
"Enough practice for now, Buffy." Giles nodded to her. "We will practice meditation at your house tonight before moonrise."
"Thanks." Buffy and Oz both said and watched as he headed into his office and closed the door.
"He's not letting you off physical torment early. Why are you thanking him?" Buffy asked as she turned to face Oz without breaking his gentle hold.
Oz shrugged and fought down the urge to tell her every little thought that flew through his head. He was very aware of the hand resting on her hip and the other on her shoulder. Probably best not to tell her he would be happy to sit and smell her all day long.
Buffy stepped back from his grasp and smiled. It was her warm sunny full on California girl smile. He felt the breath leave his body like he had been punched.
"Mom thinks I need to eat better, so she made me a lunch. There's enough food for six want to eat it with me?" Buffy gestured to the table.
"Yes." Good, one word, not too much, nothing that would give him away. He sighed and followed her over to the table. She bent over and lifted a large cooler to the tabletop.
"We've got a fruit bowl. I call the banana. Can't get enough of those lately." She grinned at him.
"Going bananas, I see." He smiled slightly when she giggled.
"We've got veggie sticks and some sort of white dip with green flecks. Knowing Mom, it's dill. Do you like that?" She looked up at him and bit the side of her lower lip.
He nodded again. It didn't matter what she offered. He would sit beside her and eat. The room was quiet. Her scent filled the air. It was so rich without all the distance and the bustle of other people. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and sniff her neck until she was the only thing he could smell.
"Ah, the good stuff, sandwiches. Do you want ham and cheese on wheat, roast beef and cheese on rye, or chicken salad on a croissant?"
"Three sandwiches?" He raised one eyebrow.
"Yep, Mom wants me healthy and Giles lectured her on slayer nutritional requirements. She's over doing it a bit. Why don't we each take a half and try all three."
"Sounds good to me." He sat down katy-cornered to her and lost all ability to do more than feel as their legs pressed against each other.
Her heat seemed to sear through the denim of his jeans and burn him from the inside out. It felt like shifting without the painful reformation of his bones. He glanced at his hands half fearful that it was happening, but his hand appeared fully human.
She shifted and the contact broke. He nearly howled. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths until he smelled something new. It was still Buffy's scent but it had altered subtly. His eyes sprang open and he looked at her closely.
She was blushing and arranging sandwich halves on paper plates. Her hand trembled a bit as she slid his over to him. He leaned forward and pulled her chin up.
Her eyes were a glowing stormy blue. His mind flashed and he had one of those odd moments of synchronicity when he felt like a unified being. Her skin was soft under his fingers and he trailed his fingertips along her jaw.
"Your eyes glow when the wolf is rising." She reached up and touched his hand. "I'd noticed that before, but I never told you. I think it's pretty."
"Your eyes are glowing, too. Is that a slayer thing?" Oz sunk his fingers into her hair and felt her hand press his more closely to her.
"Maybe, there's some weird stuff going on in my life, might be that." She blinked and leaned back from him but she moved their hands so they could continue to keep contact. The glow faded from both sets of eyes slowly.
"We should eat." Buffy picked up a sandwich in her other hand and continued the physical link between them, lacing her fingers through his. He stared at their hands entwined on top of the table. The flash was stronger. He could see her hand gripping a white fur tightly. The serenity of the moment washed over him.
He ate without paying attention to the food. Her scent and her touch were the real meal for him. He looked at her in wonder. She wasn't running from him. She was just eating and holding his hand like it was the most natural thing in the world.
She passed him veggies and they shared the dip. It was seamless and quiet. Buffy had never been so quiet. Normally, she chattered and bustled. He smiled at her and caught her glancing at him as she grabbed the fruit bowl.
"Remember the banana is mine." She smiled. "Everything else is fair game though."
He chuckled and grabbed an apple. "Split the orange?" He grinned at her and she nodded. She pulled her hand from his to peel the banana and he fought the urge to snatch it back.
He didn't care what he had to do, what obstacles real and imagined he would face. He was going to spend a great deal more time holding Buffy's hand. He felt whole with her.
"Oz," she looked up at him. "We can't do this right now. There are lots of reasons, but I can't explain them now."
"What do you mean by this?"
"Us, a relationship." She shrugged and stared at the table.
"We have a relationship already. We are friends." He waited as her until she looked at him again. "So, we can have lunch together. It's okay."
"Yeah, I guess so."
"We will figure the rest out when we are ready." He said with certainty.
"What about Willow? And, well, there's other stuff." She blushed and wrapped one arm across her middle.
"We will figure it out." He stared at her until she smiled and nodded.
