A Momentary Respite

[madimpossibledreamer]

Main Points:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/SMT Devil Summoner Raidou Kuzunoha (Will of the Yatagarasu)
Summary: Xander gets some support during lunch.
Word Count: 530
Rating: Teen
 

        Xander has only once seen Oz exist in school since they started talking and he learned the dude’s name, so the fact that he goes to school has mostly remained somewhat of a theoretical, but given that the dude’s made kind of a habit of materializing silently next to him, he manages to mostly keep his cool. He was kind of hoping Giles would show up during lunch so he could pass along his demon’s latest intel sooner rather than later, but the librarian is, kind of the opposite of Oz, somehow not present in the library, and given how late it’s getting, he might not make an appearance at all, either. 
        It’s...kind of pathetic, really, the differences between them, though maybe that’s also more than a little symbolic. Sure, his lunches have improved since he wasn’t staying at home anymore, but compared to Oz’s leftover pizza, a cheese stick and some jerky is not exactly the feast. He hadn’t had the time to grab anything else this morning, too worried about whatever the Dark Watcher had been trying to communicate by silently staring, before Al Karisi had managed to translate. Maybe it was missing the morning jog that had the senior seek him out in the same place, now that he knew how dangerous it was. And then the guy just silently slides over one of his slices of pizza.
        “I can’t take this, man.” Though his stomach growls a little at the sight.
        “Sure you can. That’s a gift. It’s its whole purpose in life. You’re going to deny it its purpose in life?” Xander’s stomach wars with his sense of pride. The idea that he might be seen as a charity case rankles. “Devon’s mom is making us brownies later.” 
        Oh. Well, if he’s wanting more room for that later...maybe eating this is more of a favor. It’s probably just an excuse, but it’s a good enough one for Xander to actually take it and practically inhale it. Oz watches him with slightly wide eyes, probably checking to make sure he won’t choke, eating at a slower pace that fits him, honestly. Even for a fellow teenager with a fellow teenager appetite.
        He finishes and feels like maybe it’s time to mention it, especially if Oz is going to get involved soon. And it’s quiet, with no one around. He lowers his voice, just in case. “My name’s not Raidou.” Though as a Kuzunoha, he definitely feels more deserving of the Kyouji than the Raidou, with all the dirty tricks that line entails.
        Oz is looking, a question he doesn’t voice in his eyes.
        It’s far from adequate thanks, but it’s what he has to give. “That’s a title. I’m Xander. Don’t go using it at school, or anything—actually getting it to stick in everybody’s heads was a pain as it is, but.”
        Oz smiles and holds out a hand for a handshake. “Nice to meet you, Xander. Technically, I’m Daniel, but nobody calls me that.” It’s...not quite the same as a nickname, but it’s probably the closest Xander’s new friend can come to be able to relate, and he gets what Oz is going for.