School grounds, Thursday afternoon

[demonbelthazor]

Bel was feeling restless for no good reason, so he'd wandered off by himself, walking around the school with no real purpose. He still had a couple months here, and he was reluctant to think about leaving at the end of summer. Leaving sucked. Other people leaving sucked. Not knowing what he wanted to do with himself when he left sucked. At least he had a real identity now in the outside world, thanks to Veronica and Phale, but that didn't help him figure out just what he was going to do with it. Go to college? Take courses in calculus or chemistry or psychology? Yeah, right.

With a sigh, he light a cigarette with a conjured fireball and leaned against the dorms, staring at the smoke like it would somehow reveal the answers.


[For futurebucs_star.

ETA: Now heading NWS-ward. SHOCK!]

Comments

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Not much." Anders lit his cigarette off the fireball and leaned against the wall beside Bel. "Just packing for the trip this weekend, doing a little detailing work on the Glider, that's about it."

He tilted his head and examined Bel's expression. "Everything okay?"

[demonbelthazor]

Bel closed his hand and extinguished the fireball. "Yeah," he said. "Just thinking about things."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"You thinking about things usually means you get broody," Anders noted. "I kind of know you by now. Wanna share? I am here to listen, you know."

[demonbelthazor]

"I only brood on the roof," Bel said evasively. Because expecting a straight answer out of him would be like expecting Angel to enjoy the beach at high noon in July.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Right," Anders said with a snort. "So what you're doing now isn't actual brooding. Just being serious and practicing your broody expression for when you hit the roof next time. Come on, talk to me? Please?"

[demonbelthazor]

Bel shrugged. "Just thinking about what's going to happen at the end of summer," he said.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Oh. That topic. Anders was silent for a few moments as he smoked.

"What are you gonna do when you go?" he asked finally, his voice much softer.

[demonbelthazor]

Another shrug. "Dunno," he said. "Phoebe's got college. I guess I could try for late admission, but what the hell is somebody like me going to study out there in the real world?"

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"There's gotta be something," Anders replied. "I mean, there's so much you can do, you know?"

[demonbelthazor]

"Oh, sure, be a hired thug," Bel said. "I'm sure there's a booming market for those in California."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Dumbass." Anders smacked him lightly on the arm with his free hand. "You know you could do so much more than that. Don't go limiting yourself. Hired thug, my ass . . . seriously, the least you could do is shoot for elite bodyguard status. You'd get cool sunglasses."

[demonbelthazor]

"What do you think, demon bodyguard to the stars?" Bel said, smirking a little. "Beating up stalkers and photographers."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders laughed. "That's got a ring to it. Besides, that way maybe . . . I dunno, I'll get a crazy stalker fan and then I might need your services someday. Give you an excuse to come visit or something."

Not that he sounded at all hopeful or wistful when he said it, really.

[demonbelthazor]

Bel looked Anders over. "Don't know if I can shimmer into outer space," he said, dropping his cigarette to the ground and grinding it out.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders looked at the ground, kicking at a tuft of grass. "I'd totally pay for the portal and everything, you know. I'd kinda like to see you again someday, is all. You know, before my planet explodes."

[demonbelthazor]

"Wouldn't mind it myself," Bel admitted. "I just wasn't sure there would really be a way."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"There's gotta be a way, right?" asked Anders. "I've gotten here and back a couple of times by now. I'm gonna miss you, you know. Don't really want it to be permanent. Saying --"

He faltered. "Saying goodbye."

[demonbelthazor]

Bel closed his eyes and dropped his head. "Yeah," he said. "Me neither."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"I'm gonna miss you when you go." Anders moved in front of Bel and leaned forward, resting his forehead against Bel's and wrapping a hand around the back of his neck. "A hell of a lot."

[demonbelthazor]

"I'll miss you, too," Bel said quietly.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders kissed him briefly, but hard. "Wish I could go with you guys," he said. He knew it was a pretty futile wish, but that didn't stop him.

[demonbelthazor]

"Instead of going home?" Bel said. "You don't wanna do that. And you gotta finish school, too."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"I know," Anders replied, slumping against him. "And there's totally no place for me in you guys's world. I just wish, that's all."

[demonbelthazor]

"No place for me, either," Bel said a little glumly.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"More for you than for me," Anders insisted. "At least you're cut out to help Phoebe fight demons and stuff. Besides, all the word games we've played? You'd make a pretty good lawyer, I bet. Only thing I'm good at, I can't even do on this planet."

He pulled back and placed one hand on either side of Bel's head. "Look at me, will you?"