Title: Incentive

Summary:  Takes place during Welcome to The Hell Mouth Btvs S1. Approaching a girl like her takes a lot of courage and a little incentive.

AN: Written for moviequoteminis. “You’re not perfect, Sport, and let me save you the suspense, this girl you’ve met, she’s not perfect either. But the question is whether or not you’re perfect for each other.” Sean in Good Will Hunting.

 

 

 

He was surprised by the knock on his door. He didn’t know anyone here other then Willy down at the demon bar and the butcher. He furrowed his brow trying to remember if he’d placed an order but certain he hadn’t. He always went to pick up his blood. He opened the door, warily skirting away from the fading sunlight that managed to make it through the open door. Confusion crinkled his features at the sight of his visitor, a man or demon rather that he’d never expected to see again.

 

“Whistler…”

 

“Angel, the vampire with a soul,” Whistler mused as he stepped inside the apartment, allowing Angel to close the door behind him. The demon glanced around the Spartan apartment and shrugged. “I woulda chosen a different decorator but this is nice I suppose.”

 

“I don’t want to dress like you and I’m betting I don’t want to decorate like you,” Angel almost chuckled. He shoved his hands in his pockets, his posture that of a whipped dog.  He expected Whistler to tell him it was mistake the Powers that Be didn’t have any use for him after all.

 

“The Big Bosses are a little worried, Sport.” Whistler dove right into the point. “Girl’s been here three days and you haven’t approached her.”

 

“I-I’ve been watching her…waiting for the right moment,” Angel offered. He knew it was a lame excuse but the truth was she was just so damn pretty and so incredibly alive, she intimidated him.

 

Whistler chuckled to himself, shaking his head. “You got any beer here?” he asked as he crossed the sparse room, opened the fridge and started rummaging around. “Figures, blood and more blood. You gotta get a little variety, it’s the spice of life.” He shut the fridge door and turned to face Angel, taking his hat off and holding it in one hand. “Here’s a tip. You’re not perfect, Sport, but neither is this girl.  I know you’ve got her up on this pedestal so high we’re gonna need a new slayer if she ever falls down, but she’s got her own flaws, her own insecurities and her own skeletons in her closet. Thing is, the Powers that be have decided you’re just about perfect to help her. Don’t know why they’ve taken an interest in this girl, but they have.”

 

Angel ducked his head, avoiding Whistler’s stare. Now that she was here in Sunnydale, he had no idea how to help her. He could barely save himself, how was he supposed to save anyone else.

 

Whistler dug around in his pockets until he came up with a box. He tossed it to Angel without warning expecting the vampire to catch it. Angel did and finally opened it at Whistler’s urging. Inside lay a simple, silver cross. He reached out, ghosting his fingers over the cross until they went numb from the tingle being that close to a holy object produced.

 

“Give her that, dress up a little, be charming. She’s just a girl, Sport.” He winked at Angel turned and walked to the door. He paused and looked over his shoulder at the vampire. “You know, maybe, just maybe she’s not the one needs helping,” he grinned before stepping outside, leaving Angel staring at the cross.  Eventually he shut the box and tucked it into the inside pocket of his jacket.  He still wasn’t sure he was the right demon for the job, nor was he sure about Whistler’s opinion of Buffy’s perfection, but he desperately wanted to see the way the silver gleamed against her skin.