Angel crawled out of bed to answer his door, hair rumpled and bleary-eyed.
It’s Buffy. “Hey.” She smiles. “Brought you a little something. Special remedy of Giles.” She hands him a questionable drink. “Thought you could use it for any, y'know, …. hangies.”
He wants to tell her he’s fine, even though he’s hungover. He takes it, awkward.
“Did some slaying!” Buffy starts to babble in the silence. “Me and Spike. With the sweeping. Was gonna do it with you, but Cave Buffy told me you could use some hibernation. N-n-not that Cave Buffy is anything like this or that there even ever was a Cave Buffy. I mean - Bad. Bad, bad, dream.”
‘Spike’? It’s almost enough to make him drink again.
“Sorry.” She smiles sheepishly. “Run-ons and concern. That’s me.” She tilts her head, scrunching her face at him adorably. “I don’t think I’d ever seen you drunk before last night.”
Almost. “Last night.” Horror paralyzes Angel.
Buffy walks in. “I think it’s one for the books. ‘Here is the worst vampire in history, everyone. Killing The Slayer with cuddles.” She laughs.
Hungover long gone now, Angel sets the remedy aside. Going catatonic with mortification.
“Need I go into the Shakespeare?” She raises his brow at him.
“I was … drunk. I wasn’t–”
“You mean I’m not your sunshine? The most beautiful, pure thing that’s ever entered your life?” She teases, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I’m the sun that doesn’t burn. The light in the dark and you would be nothing without me?” Her eyes sparkled, and she nuzzled his nose with hers.
Embarrassment flushed in Angel, but he couldn’t help but smile at her.
She gave a look. “Not even the–”
“Uh-huh.” She was amused. She sighed and leaned against him comfortably. “I always knew under all that dark, broody glower power, you were just a big, cuddly pile of mush.”
Memories of last night played in his head. Half-ashamed, he sighed and sank into her embrace. “Don’t tell anyone.” He smiled a bit despite himself.
“Mmm.” Buffy closed her eyes in comfort. They lapsed in quiet, enjoying each others closeness. “I think we should make this a thing. Get drinks in Angel again, get more of the teddy bear. And Buffy compliments.”
