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]

"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?"

[demonbelthazor]

"What?" Bel said, looking Anders in the eyes.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Make something awesome of yourself," Anders told him seriously. "I know you can. Because dammit, if this is going to have to end, I at least want to get to be proud of you later, okay?"

[demonbelthazor]

"I'll try," Bel said. "I'll try. I just don't know how to do much more than fight and kill."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Dude," Anders replied, "you've been going to school here for two years now? That is so not gonna wash. I know you can do it. Phoebe knows you can do it. You gonna let us down?"

[demonbelthazor]

Bel chuckled and shook his head. "Don't try to guilt trip me," he said good-naturedly.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Would I do that?" Anders laughed, and kissed him again. "I mean it though. And I love you, you dork."

[demonbelthazor]

"You're just saying that to get into my pants," Bel said.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, that's the only reason I ever say it," Anders retorted, poking him in the stomach.

[demonbelthazor]

Bel squirmed. "Stop that!" he protested.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders grinned and tickled him a little bit. "You're gonna miss me, huh?" he teased.

Because joking about it was easier.

[demonbelthazor]

"I won't miss this!" Bel growled, trying to bat Anders's hands away.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, you will," Anders replied, although he did stop tickling in favor of sliding his hands up Bel's chest to wrap his arms around Bel's neck. "Admit it. You like my hands on you."

[demonbelthazor]

"It's not bad," Bel said gruffly.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"I recognize that tone of voice," Anders told him. "You're totally trying not to let on that you like it."

[demonbelthazor]

"You think you know me that well, huh?" Bel said.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Not as well as I want to," Anders told him honestly. "But you get like that every time I try and get cute and schmoopy with you."

[demonbelthazor]

"I do not," Bel said reflexively.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Do too." Anders leaned in to lick Bel's ear, and just to try and prove his point, drawled, "Love you . . . baby."