Post by Jack Lupus on Jul 31, 2007 2:21:49 GMT -5
So, angsty fluff? Fluffy angst? Hmm.
I don't own Xander, I just like playing with him. ^_^ Plus, I wanted an excuse to quote athf...
--------
“You have to pass the Frank test.”
“The Frank test?” If Xander’s tone is a tad skeptical, it’s only because he’s absolutely certain Cass is f**k**g with his head for entertainment purposes only.
“Yes,” Her tone suggests that he should have known this, a ‘didn’t-you-read-the-fine-print?’ connotation that puts an emphasis on the vowels. She shrugs at his frown, taking responsibility for neither the creation nor enforcement of such absurdity. It has always been and therefore it is written in stone. Xander could strangle someone right about now. Namely Frank.
“So,” He says slowly, just to get it straight, and maybe to point out how ridiculous the whole thing is. “You won’t date me until Frank decides I’m worthy?”
“Those’re the rules.”
“You’re making this shit up as you go along.” The accusation lacks any real heat, but all these rules are just a little too convenient to be premeditated.
“Don’t be stupid.” She is. Making this shit up as she goes along, that is. “Jack had to do it too.” He didn’t. But he’s in Virginia and in no position to tell Xander otherwise.
And it’s not like she’s seeing anyone else or even that she wants to see anyone else, (Oh no, Xander takes care of her needs just fine.) but her mistrust of him is rooted deep in fear.
And it’s not like it would even hurt any less if he left her and they weren’t dating. No, she realizes she’s too far gone for that, but maybe, just maybe, one day he’ll get sick of the rules and the constant testing. A not so small part of her hopes not.
And really, she shouldn’t even be so paranoid. Carrie is a werewolf. She’s a pureblood, and therefore theoretically less likely to get dumped. But hadn’t Xand said he didn’t overly care about race? He sure as hell didn’t care about rank. Well, f**k.
“Wish I would’ve known I’d have to suck up to him earlier.” Xand grumbles in a resigned manner that has Cass grinning and kissing him and he forgets all about Frank for a good three and a half hours.
~
Frank’s house is down the street from Cassie’s, in one of those gated communities where the houses don’t dip below a million. Turns out he doesn’t need the address because Frank is sitting out in the driveway with a few pack members around a fold up table and, from the looks of things, Frank is losing whatever card game they’re playing.
“Hey.” Xand calls as he approaches, cutting through the unkempt lawn. “Deal me in?”
“Listen, Jennifer,” Frank growls, not looking up from his cards. “Why don’t you go paint your nails? The men are gambling.”
“That any way to talk to your brother?”
“You’re obviously an only child.” Frank grins and tosses away his cards. “It’s too fuckin’ hot to be outside.” He says as he stands and waves for Xand to follow.
“I want to date Cassandra.” Xander gets right to the point as soon as they’re in the door.
“Well, goody for you, boy-o.” Frank snorts like he saw that one coming from a mile away, and he did. Cass had called and informed him of the Frank test. He almost pissed himself laughing. “But ain’t that just a little greedy, wanting her all to yourself? Most guys would kill for a no strings relationship.”
“I don’t think we have can even be classified as a relationship. It’s just…”
“Sex?” Frank prompts, suddenly interested.
“Well, no,” Xand frowns, considers. “It’s not ‘just’ anything. I don’t know. But I love her, I want to be exclusive.”
“You just don’t want her f**k**g around with other guys.” Frank observes.
“No! I mean, of course I don’t want her… with other guys. But that’s not all.” Xander sighs, runs a hand through his hair. “I want her to be open with me, for her to not be so damn guarded all the time.”
“She doesn’t trust you.” Frank points out reasonably, feeling something akin to pity for the whelp.
“But why?” The question is obviously one he’s been struggling with for some time.
“Can you blame her?” Frank asks in turn with a cocked eyebrow. “After the way you dumped Carrie, the way you just randomly decided you were in love with her practically overnight after months of picking fights?”
“It wasn’t like that.” Xander growls defensively, the realization that Frank was the one Cassie went to with her problems making him insanely jealous. He wanted to be the one to sooth her fears, to solve her problems. He wanted her to turn to him.
Frank shrugs, managing to look smug and unconcerned at the same time. “I’m not the one you need to convince.”
“But the Frank test…” Xander frowns. “I knew it was a load.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Frank shrugs, selecting a beer from the fridge. “She’s Alpha, what she says goes.”
“So I do need your permission?”
“You honestly think that if you win her over anything I say will do shit to keep her away from you?” Frank condescends.
Xander doesn’t bother to answer before he turns to leave. He has work to do.
“You’re welcome!” Frank calls after him as he opens his beer.
~
Xander smiles gently as he brushes a stray hair off of Cassandra’s forehead, a thoughtful and caring gesture. These are some of his favorite moments, with Cass snuggled up against him with her head on his chest, dead asleep with a tiny smile on her lips. He could spend the rest of his life like this, just watching her.
“I’ll prove to you that you can trust me, somehow.” He whispers before kissing her forehead. Cass stays perfectly still, pretending to be asleep.
The problem is, she already does.
I don't own Xander, I just like playing with him. ^_^ Plus, I wanted an excuse to quote athf...
--------
“You have to pass the Frank test.”
“The Frank test?” If Xander’s tone is a tad skeptical, it’s only because he’s absolutely certain Cass is f**k**g with his head for entertainment purposes only.
“Yes,” Her tone suggests that he should have known this, a ‘didn’t-you-read-the-fine-print?’ connotation that puts an emphasis on the vowels. She shrugs at his frown, taking responsibility for neither the creation nor enforcement of such absurdity. It has always been and therefore it is written in stone. Xander could strangle someone right about now. Namely Frank.
“So,” He says slowly, just to get it straight, and maybe to point out how ridiculous the whole thing is. “You won’t date me until Frank decides I’m worthy?”
“Those’re the rules.”
“You’re making this shit up as you go along.” The accusation lacks any real heat, but all these rules are just a little too convenient to be premeditated.
“Don’t be stupid.” She is. Making this shit up as she goes along, that is. “Jack had to do it too.” He didn’t. But he’s in Virginia and in no position to tell Xander otherwise.
And it’s not like she’s seeing anyone else or even that she wants to see anyone else, (Oh no, Xander takes care of her needs just fine.) but her mistrust of him is rooted deep in fear.
And it’s not like it would even hurt any less if he left her and they weren’t dating. No, she realizes she’s too far gone for that, but maybe, just maybe, one day he’ll get sick of the rules and the constant testing. A not so small part of her hopes not.
And really, she shouldn’t even be so paranoid. Carrie is a werewolf. She’s a pureblood, and therefore theoretically less likely to get dumped. But hadn’t Xand said he didn’t overly care about race? He sure as hell didn’t care about rank. Well, f**k.
“Wish I would’ve known I’d have to suck up to him earlier.” Xand grumbles in a resigned manner that has Cass grinning and kissing him and he forgets all about Frank for a good three and a half hours.
~
Frank’s house is down the street from Cassie’s, in one of those gated communities where the houses don’t dip below a million. Turns out he doesn’t need the address because Frank is sitting out in the driveway with a few pack members around a fold up table and, from the looks of things, Frank is losing whatever card game they’re playing.
“Hey.” Xand calls as he approaches, cutting through the unkempt lawn. “Deal me in?”
“Listen, Jennifer,” Frank growls, not looking up from his cards. “Why don’t you go paint your nails? The men are gambling.”
“That any way to talk to your brother?”
“You’re obviously an only child.” Frank grins and tosses away his cards. “It’s too fuckin’ hot to be outside.” He says as he stands and waves for Xand to follow.
“I want to date Cassandra.” Xander gets right to the point as soon as they’re in the door.
“Well, goody for you, boy-o.” Frank snorts like he saw that one coming from a mile away, and he did. Cass had called and informed him of the Frank test. He almost pissed himself laughing. “But ain’t that just a little greedy, wanting her all to yourself? Most guys would kill for a no strings relationship.”
“I don’t think we have can even be classified as a relationship. It’s just…”
“Sex?” Frank prompts, suddenly interested.
“Well, no,” Xand frowns, considers. “It’s not ‘just’ anything. I don’t know. But I love her, I want to be exclusive.”
“You just don’t want her f**k**g around with other guys.” Frank observes.
“No! I mean, of course I don’t want her… with other guys. But that’s not all.” Xander sighs, runs a hand through his hair. “I want her to be open with me, for her to not be so damn guarded all the time.”
“She doesn’t trust you.” Frank points out reasonably, feeling something akin to pity for the whelp.
“But why?” The question is obviously one he’s been struggling with for some time.
“Can you blame her?” Frank asks in turn with a cocked eyebrow. “After the way you dumped Carrie, the way you just randomly decided you were in love with her practically overnight after months of picking fights?”
“It wasn’t like that.” Xander growls defensively, the realization that Frank was the one Cassie went to with her problems making him insanely jealous. He wanted to be the one to sooth her fears, to solve her problems. He wanted her to turn to him.
Frank shrugs, managing to look smug and unconcerned at the same time. “I’m not the one you need to convince.”
“But the Frank test…” Xander frowns. “I knew it was a load.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Frank shrugs, selecting a beer from the fridge. “She’s Alpha, what she says goes.”
“So I do need your permission?”
“You honestly think that if you win her over anything I say will do shit to keep her away from you?” Frank condescends.
Xander doesn’t bother to answer before he turns to leave. He has work to do.
“You’re welcome!” Frank calls after him as he opens his beer.
~
Xander smiles gently as he brushes a stray hair off of Cassandra’s forehead, a thoughtful and caring gesture. These are some of his favorite moments, with Cass snuggled up against him with her head on his chest, dead asleep with a tiny smile on her lips. He could spend the rest of his life like this, just watching her.
“I’ll prove to you that you can trust me, somehow.” He whispers before kissing her forehead. Cass stays perfectly still, pretending to be asleep.
The problem is, she already does.
