Title: Stargazing

Summary: Written for <lj user=still_my_girl>  Early Season 2 Btvs

Prompt: Prompt 28: Sunset, Stars, and Kisses

 

 

“And that’s Orion’s belt.  The only constellation I know” Buffy tilted her head slightly in the grass and pointed up to the line of three stars.

 

Angel nodded, his head tilting closer to Buffy in the grass to follow the line of her arm even though he knew she was correct.  He was full of excuses to get closer.  “I see it.”

 

A silence grew between them and then Buffy gave a small pout and a wine.  “Somehow I thought this would be full of the romance and fun.  But so far stargazing is boring.  Wanna go see a movie?”

 

“One of those eighties movies like the one you made me watch last time?”  Angel asked, only a hint of the worry he felt edging into his voice.

 

“Oh come on, E.T. is a classic.”  Buffy said.  “He’s cute and how could you not like a little Drew Barrymore?”

 

“You know stargazing isn’t boring.”  Angel countered the argument that loomed on the horizon with a switch back to the subject at hand.  “You just have to know what you’re looking for.”

 

“Avoider.”

 

“What?”

 

“You’re being avoidy about E.T.”  Buffy accused.

 

“Buffy, don’t you want to stargaze?”  Angel asked and then added honestly.  “You know I can’t possibly talk about E.T. without making you angry just like every other eighties movie you’ve made me watch.  Do you want tonight to end with a fight?”

 

“Fine fine…” Buffy rolled her eyes and gave Angel a sideways, wide-eyed look.  “Tell me about stargazing.”  When Angel scooted closer so that he was lying on his side directly beside Buffy in the grass, a large grin slipped over her lips.  “Stargazing is looking up… no pun intended.”  She furrowed her brow.  “Or maybe… pun intended.”

 

Angel chuckled lightly rested his hand over Buffy’s stomach.  He rested his head in his other hand, elbow in the grass.  “It’s April… soooo the sun is in the direction of Aires, which means you won’t see Aires in the night sky.  The main constellations you will see are Leo, Ursa Major, and Hydra.  They’ll be larger than the rest.”  Angel explained, then lifted his hand from Buffy’s stomach to lace his fingers with her hand closest to him.  He lifted them both up and outlined one star cluster.  “This… is Leo, the lion.”

 

“It looks like a triangle with a backwards question mark.”  Buffy quipped and then glanced to Angel with a small smile before looking back up at where their hands outlined the stars.  “Hello Leo.”

 

Angel lifted a corner of his lips in an almost smile and then outlined another constellation.  “And this is Hydra, the sea serpent.” 

 

“The squiggly line?”

 

Angel had ceased looking up and watched Buffy’s profile as she watched the stars.  “Hydra is a frightening creature in mythology.  A nine headed serpent that grew two more heads anytime one was cut off.  Hercules eventually slayed the serpent and gave her her place in the night sky.”

 

“Tell me more.”  Buffy said in a quiet whisper, suddenly interested in not only the stars, but also hearing Angel speak as he explained them.

 

Angel actually smiled before continuing, glad that he’d gotten Buffy’s attention on a subject that he knew something about.  “The centaur…” Angel outlined the stars with both his and Buffy’s hands.  “He’ll be larger in the sky next month.  Mystical creatures, half-man, half-horse that taught the ways of war and peace to the heroes of Greek mythology.  Beneath him there’s a cross that you can just barely see from here.  It’s only really visible from the most Southern parts of the US and below.  Some people call it the Southern Cross for that reason.”

 

“Like Mexico?”  Buffy asked quietly.

 

Angel nodded slightly.  “Or Hawaii.  And the Orion belt, the one everyone knows.  Orion is the giant.  The only place in the night sky where as many bright stars are so close together.  He’s also one of the only constellations that are visible from anywhere most of the year.”

 

“Hogging time, huh?”  Buffy finally looked to Angel, her features softened and a smile playing at her lips.  “Constellations are sexy.”

 

Angel tilted his head slightly, both his and Buffy’s hands resting at her stomach.  “You like them, huh?”

 

“Well, I like them when you’re talking about them.  But now I think there should be less talking and more kissing.”

 

The corners of Angel’s lips lifted into a small grin as he leaned down to let his lips hover just over Buffy’s.  “I told you that not fighting on a date was good.”  He said before taking her lips in his to remove any argument that could possibly make it’s way from her mind into words.  He mentally reminded himself to agree with her later.  Yes, constellations are sexy.

 

 

 

feedback