Title: Facets
Author: gleefulmusings (formerly xanzpet)
Betas: mysterious_daze and flamen_minore.
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Character: Xander Harris
Rating: M
Warning(s): Language; sexual situations.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, lyrics, etc. are the property of their respective owners. Snippets of dialogue may be incorporated from the original canonical episode(s) and belong to their respective authors/creators. The original characters and plot are the property of the author(s). The author(s) is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended, nor should any be inferred. No profit is being made.

Summary: A series of drabbles, all of which concern Xander Harris in some fashion or another. Het, slash, and gen. These are not necessarily canon explorations nor are they presented in any particular order.

Angel padded over to the front door, surprised by the mid-afternoon summons and somewhat dismayed to find a grimacing Xander on the threshold.

Xander sharply looked up when the door flew open and soured at seeing the vampire in a state of undress. "Could you put a shirt on? Thanks."

Angel sighed, not bothering to explain that Xander had disturbed him in the middle of a workout. To do so would invite a litany of questions which he didn't want to answer, like why did vampires need to exercise and did the pig's blood contain enough iron?

Wordlessly, Angel stalked away, assuming Xander would follow. As he strode back into the living room, he grabbed his wifebeater and threw it on.

"Better?"

He turned quickly turned around and was discombobulated by how close Xander was to him. Apparently, the boy had expected him to keep going.

Xander said nothing for a moment. "Buffy wants you to meet her at the Bronze tonight, around eight," he finally grumbled.

Angel blinked. Buffy was using her best friend to set up dates? That was callous. And a little pathetic.

He indicated his agreement to the plan with a nod of his head and waited for Xander to take his leave, annoyed and discomforted to feel Xander's eyes examining him.

"Was there something else?" he asked.

He watched Xander nervously lick his lips, refusing to make eye contact, before taking one step forward and closing any space which had remained between them. A whoosh of air expelled from his lungs when the boy wrapped his arms around him and laid his head on his chest.

"Do you ever wonder?" Xander whispered.

It was such an innocuous and seemingly harmless question, though it contained a litany of thoughts and feelings and regrets which Angel had desperately tried not to acknowledge.

He stood there unmoving for minute, feeling Xander's shaking arms, feeling their warmth leech into him. He reached up with a trembling hand and hesitantly stroked the back of the boy's head.

"All the time."

Xander just as suddenly released him, turned on his heel, and took his leave.

"I'll tell Buffy to expect you," he called out over his shoulder.