Title: Crush

Summary: S2 pre S/I Silliness written for SJ Smith for Christmas.

 

 

 

Dawn sat on the back porch, a pout firmly fixed on her mouth. Her chin rested in her hands and her elbows were propped on her knees. She didn’t see him walk in the yard. He noted the pre teen’s petulant demeanor and sat down next to her.

“Hey.”

She couldn’t help the smile that curved her lips. She gave him a sidelong glance. He was dressed in his black leather jacket. She loved the way it emphasized his broad shoulders. His hair was mussed, sticking out at various angles. It would look stupid on the boys at school. Angel made it look drool worthy. She knew from reading Buffy’s diary what kissing Angel was like. Buffy went on for pages and pages about it. Sometimes she closed her eyes, wrapped her arms around her pillow, kissed it and pretended it was Angel.

“Hi,” she finally managed.

“Have a fight with your mom?” He remembered all too well the fights he once had with his father, fights he’d give anything to have again.

Dawn shook her head. “No. Buffy’s stupid.” The words sounded harsh and venomous.

Angel cocked an eyebrow at her and a half grin spread slowly across his face.

“Oh, I know you’ll take her side because you looooooovvvvve her and everything, but its true, she’s stupid and mean and an awful sister.”

The beginnings of a real, wide smile teased at the corners of Angel’s mouth, but the half grin remained in place. “Just because I love Buffy doesn’t mean I always take her side. What did she do?”

Dawn pouted and sighed dramatically. She flopped against Angel. He hesitated and then patted her shoulder awkwardly. She took a deep breath. He smelled so good, like leather, outdoors and something else she could never define. Better then her dad, and Dawn hadn’t thought anyone could smell better then her dad.

“She won’t let me wear her cashmere sweater. It’s not like she can wear it slaying, one drop of blood or demon goo and it’d be ruined forever! Besides powder blue looks better on me anyway!”

That grin teased at the edges of Angel’s mouth again. “So Buffy’s stupid because she won’t let you borrow a sweater of hers?”

“Exactly! You’re the only adult who gets it!”

Angel nodded quietly and swallowed the laughter that threatened to spill out. “Alright, that’s it?”

Dawn pulled away from Angel, her pout back in place. She nodded and looked up at him with limpid, blue eyes. “Uh huh.”

“If I can get Buffy to let you wear her sweater, will things be better?”

Surprise widened Dawn’s eyes and a big smile replaced the pout. “Really? You’d do that for me?”

Angel shrugged. “I’ll try.”

Dawn threw her arms around Angel in an impulsive hug. He hugged her back stiffly. “It’s not fair that Buffy got you all to herself. There should be more boys like you.” She blushed. She hadn’t really intended to say that out loud.

Angel ducked his head and grinned. He pulled away from Dawn. “I’ll go see what I can do about that sweater.”