Ficlet: Dancing in the Mirror (Willow/Angel) PG

[snogged]

Title: Dancing In The Mirror

Author: snogged

Parings: Angel/Willow, implied Angel/Buffy

Disclaimer: Joss Whedon and co. owns the characters. I own nothing. 

Rating/Warnings: PG/ fluff, romance, very little angst

Setting: Post-“Lie to Me”

Feedback: Yes, please.

Word Count: 577

A/N: Written forangelskuuipo who wanted an Angel/Willow drabble with the prompt “dancing.”  Many thanks to Gabrielle for the beta last night. 

 

 

Willow pressed her palms against her abdomen and stared in the full-length mirror that had appeared in her bedroom a few months ago after mom came back from one of her conferences.  Apparently, it was all the rage for teenage girls to examine every possible body flaw they could find so they could feel even more self-conscious.

 

She knew her body wasn’t as perfect as Buffy’s or Cordelia’s, but she could acknowledge that her abdomen was a part she liked.  She could see the muscles contracting underneath her skin and it made her feel like maybe the years of ballroom dancing lessons that mom had forced on her hadn’t been a total wash.

 

But with the latest high school dance coming up, she just felt nervous, not confident.  Being around the boys in her high school made her feel more like she was a dancing fool than a dancing queen. 

 

The music play list on her computer switched to a slower song and she sighed, moving to change it.  Buffy had thrown Jewel on her computer in an attempt to make Willow feel more hip, but the song “You Were Meant For Me” felt more like the singer was trying to drive a nail into her lonely heart.

 

“Don’t change it.”

 

Willow froze, recognizing the low voice of her best friend’s boyfriend.  “Need help with something else, Angel?  I can so be the research girl.”

 

“I’m here for you, Willow.  I could smell your tension and nerves from ten blocks away.  Wanted to make sure everything was all right.”

 

“Things are peachy keen,” Willow chirped, flashing him a cheerful smile.

 

Angel extended his hand, brushing his fingertips across her stomach.  Willow jumped from the contact.

 

“Would you care to dance with me?” Angel asked, shifting his weight slightly and running his hand through his tousled hair.  “Buffy invited me to this…”

 

“The school dance?” Willow asked, nervousness lacing her voice.

 

“That’s the one.  And being a vampire, I don’t go to many dances.  I’ve been told I’ve got two left feet.”

 

Willow hesitantly took a step forward, feeling suddenly compelled by the tempo and beat of the music.  She placed her hands on his broad shoulders and smiled.  “Me too.”

 

Angel’s lips crinkled into a half-smile and he wrapped his arms around her waist.  Willow wondered if he could feel her muscles contracting and relaxing too and what that felt like to him.

 

“So this is the popular music nowadays?” Angel whispered, as they swayed back and forth.

 

“Was it better in your day?” Willow asked.

 

“Not really,” Angel chuckled.  One of his hands moved from her waist and he threaded his fingers through hers.   He gave her waist a gentle shove and Willow felt her body move into a fluid spin.  No tripping, no blushing, no nerves.  When she returned to his arms, Angel caught her and dipped her backwards, leaning his face towards her.  Their lips were centimeters apart and seemed as if he wanted to kiss her.

 

Willow, whose brain felt fuzzy from the emotional turbulence closed the gap between them, daring to take the lead.  The kiss was brief, chaste, and completely unforgettable.  And it was no surprise when Angel disappeared back into the darkness moments later.

 

Willow turned to look at the mirror and her hands drifted down to her waist. She caressed the place where, minutes ago, Angel’s hands had been and beneath the skin, she could feel her muscles dancing.