NOTE: I have no one but myself to beta this story so try not to let any spelling and grammar mistakes I've missed distract you from the story. Also, I'm Australian, so most spelling and grammar is spell-checked English (UK/Australia) not (US), except for words like "mom" of course.
--------
the type to…[Chapter 2]
"… Please make sure you have all your belonging before you make your way off the aircraft, thank you for flying with British Airways, and we hope you enjoy your stay in Los Angeles."
Oz stamped his foot trying to get the blood flowing again after having been seated for what seemed like an eternity on a hard, narrow, economy class seat that appeared to have the ability to stop all feeling on his left side completely.
The wolf's tired limbs groaned in protest as he hefted his only bag over his shoulder and patiently elbowed his way through the crowd off of the plane, or as patiently as he could with a good number of people pushing him from behind. He still needed to take a taxi from the airport into the inner city bus depot and from there, a bus that would take him to Sunnydale and he was definitely not relishing the idea of more uncomfortable, circulation inhibiting seats, but he didn't complain. He instead rubbed his eyes tiredly and made his way through customs and out into the area where all the happy families were waiting for their loved ones.
He had always loved this area of the airport.
It wasn't ever an especially beautiful section in any of the airports he visited. They were always pretty generic, had a basic functional design; the florescent lighting always unflattering for those new arrivals from distant lands as the sound of shuffling feet echoed off of the large airport walls. There was always a weird smell that came from years of people walking through the area, but there was also a sense of warmth that the anticipating families always brought with them.
There wasn't anyone Oz knew in LA that he could contact about his arrival if he wanted someone to pick him up and save him the bus ride to Sunnydale, and he had only told the absent-minded Devon about his travel details so he could crash at his former band mate's place until he found something more permanent, but a small smile played on his lips anyway as he scanned the area watching the people greet their loved ones with hugs and laughter.
He watched one family overwhelm two of his fellow passengers with hugs and kisses, balloons were given and luggage was unburned from the two as they smiled happily at the group around them. He watched them for a few more seconds but shifted his gaze elsewhere feeling that he was being slightly voyeuristic, his gaze falling on a slightly familiar figure.
He frowned as he searched his memory for a hint of who the figure could be as he watched her scan the crowd for, he guessed, her own loved one, his frown deepening when her gaze halted on him. He checked the people around him to see if they recognised the young brunette heading in their direction but the nagging feeling at the back of his mind made him turn his gaze back and scrutinise the teenager as she frantically waved her arms above her head.
"Oz!"
He blinked at the sound of his name on her lips, and watched her with a tilt of his head as she sidestep her way around people while still trying to keep his attention, but also trying to catch the attention of someone across the great expanse of people.
"Oz!" she shouted again as she launched herself at him. The warmth of the young girl's embrace startling the wolf, "Oh my god! We thought we'd missed you, you should have seen the way Buffy dodged her way through traffic, I think we're gonna need new handles on the car doors, I might have cracked the one I was holding I was that scared for my life."
She released the wolf and took a step back, her face beaming with happiness.
"And oh my god, you're hair! I remember you used to dye it but wow! Purple suits you by the way, I can't even believe you're here it's been so long, we were gonna get you one of those balloon things and I thought we should make a banner, but Buffy was driving life a maniac, so the one I was trying to make in the car, looks like it says "Welcomme bock Olz" so we thought we shouldn't use it cause who knows? There might have been some Swedish guy named Olz on your flight, and then there would be this whole awkward, 'I should know you 'cause you have a sign, but I don't really know you' situation," the brunette said without taking a breath, as Oz stood mutely watching her rant with large arm gestures. He definitely remembered those arm gestures, but he was still a little unsure.
Dawn, taking a long breath, finally stood back and watched the purple-haired wolf as he tried to gather his thoughts.
"Don't you recognise me?" she said suddenly with a slight frown and flick of her hair.
"D-Dawn?" he said uncertainly. This couldn't be Buffy's little sister; she was so… TALL.
Yet, she had the same long chocolate brown hair he remembered that always seemed too shiny and straight, and had the same habit of flicking said hair when she was annoyed. The same slight awkwardness that she had as a pre-teen, like she wasn't sure what to do with her arms and how to co-ordinate her legs that were a little too gangly, though now it seemed the awkwardness was better hidden as he watched the teen shoot him an annoyed glare, balling her fists and planting then on her hips. This was, Oz realised, the same Dawn Summers he remembered, only an older version.
"Dawn," he said with more certainty this time.
"Yeah," she replied as her face softened and she flashed him a tentative half smile that he was sure she had copied from her older sister.
Dawn.
Older sister.
Buffy.
Dawn mentioned Buffy… driving?
What?
"Dawn!" a familiar voice called out from nearby, "Have you found—" she trailed off when she saw Oz standing next to her sister with as close to a puzzled expression she had ever seen the wolf display.
If he was the type to scream in fright; he would've.
If he was the type to burst into tears; he would've.
If he was the type to faint; he would've.
Instead, he said, "Hey Buffy," with a tilt of his head.
Buffy in return, half smiled her half smile that Oz now realised Dawn hadn't yet perfected.
"Hey Oz."
--------