Title: The Babysitter
Author: Azure K Mello
Part: 14?
Pairing: Angel/Spike
Rated: R
Type: AU
Summery: Will talks to his parents.
Thank you to snowpuppies for the plot bunny inspired by On the Other Side. I still want a happy ending damn it!
Disclaimer: I don't own BtVS.
Staring at the front of his house Will spoke softly, "Is there anyway I can convince you not to go out there?"
"I'll be fine," Angel tried to assure him.
"That's not what I asked," Will said tiredly. "You're an arse, ya know that?"
Through gritted teeth Angel said again, "I'll be fine."
"You could get hurt, or killed, or turned. How long have you been doing this?"
"Nine years, and if I haven't died yet why would I do it tonight?"
"The average life span of an active slayer is six years. These girls with super human powers die. You're living on borrowed time. All you have on your side is righteous anger over your parents. Righteousness can get you a long way. I know why you feel you need to do this, I do. But that anger will fail you."
"Well there is no slayer here and someone has to do it."
"Not you."
"Who then?"
Shaking his head Will said, "Someone else." He sighed, "Come inside and have some hot coco. Go home and get a good night's sleep before the test." Angel leaned over and kissed the boy. Beneath Angel's distinct flavor Will could taste the cookie dough fudge mint chip ice cream that Angel had eaten. The taste reminded him of someone else, someone he didn't like to think about. "So that would be a literal kiss off?" he asked against Angel's lips. "You promised you wouldn't hurt me."
"I haven't," Angel sounded a though he was ready to beg.
"There are many ways to hurt someone." He kissed Angel's cheek, "Goodnight." He left the car still shaking his head with disappointment. His shoulders were slumped and he looked so worn from where Angel was sitting. It was only once he reached the front door that Will realized he had left Angel sitting in his car. Angel was studying the boy from the passenger set of the DeSoto. It took all of Will's strength not to slam the front door closed behind himself. He didn't want to wake his siblings.
In the kitchen his parents were waiting for him. It was odd, they usually didn't hang around the kitchen, it made the conversation that was about to take place seem far too formal and planned, an intervention of sorts. He looked at his watch, "You aren't late," said his dad, "This isn't a curfew speech."
"Oh," Will poured himself a cup of hot chocolate from the kettle and threw a handful of mini-marshmallows on top. Sudden apprehension dawned on him as he realized what they were going to want to talk to him about. "Bugger. I should have stayed out ten more minutes, then I could have gotten the curfew speech." Rupert laughed, "I got the whole sex and disease talk at school. And, oddly enough, I don't think I'm in danger of getting anyone in a family way." Rupert laughed again. Sighing Will asked softly, "Did you both have to threaten him? Couldn't you have pulled lots or something."
"You threatened him too?" Giles asked his wife.
"God, you two are useless. You couldn't hold a piss-up in a brewery."
"Where is Angel?" Joyce asked with a slight smile.
Looking down Will addressed his words to his marshmallows, "You picked yourself a fine ward, Mum. He's been hunting vampires since he was thirteen. He's out there right now." He watched detachedly as a tear hit the surface of his drink. "We had a tift over it. And I got in a strop and he got all righteous."
"Did you tell him why you were worried?" asked Giles in a soothing voice. Will just shook his head. "Maybe you should."
Will nodded slightly, "But right now I'm gonna go to bed."
He turned to leave but Joyce called after him, "Oh, Will? Oz called twice."
Without turning around he nodded.
As he walked into his flat Angel threw his keys on the counter. "You're home early," Willow sounded shocked.
Angel nodded, not answering as he walked to the phone. He dialed Will's mobile number. Joyce had given him the number to use in case of an emergency. Angel considered this to be an emergency. The answering machine picked up. "Will, it's Angel. I didn't go hunting. I didn't go because you asked me not to. Please call me back."