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A frustrated Giles stormed out of his office with a huff of air that Wesley felt on the side of his cheek.
“Pretentious git,” Wesley muttered under his breath as the older man walked away.
Giles only briefly stopped his stride with his back to him at the insult, before deciding to pretend he didn’t hear it. Wesley shook his head at his exit and glanced at the empty canister on the desk that usually contained tea leaves. Evidently, after their latest argument, Giles had become so frustrated that he’d decided sourcing some was more palatable than being in the Watcher’s presence any longer.
Wesley wasn’t mad about it. In fact, he welcomed the quiet. He lumped himself into Giles' chair and turned a few pages of his book to try to distract himself, before he conceded and sat back in frustration, throwing his glasses dramatically to the desk. They really had hit a wall research-wise. They were no closer to discovering the Mayor’s plans. The added pressure of Faith turning evil left an uneasy, and slightly guilty feeling in his stomach. Buffy’s attitude towards him wasn’t helping things any further, and he scrunched his eyes and lolled his head backwards at the thought of facing her the next morning.
He put on his glasses and closed his book, walking out into the Library. He rolled his eyes as he saw Xander asleep at the desk, using the book he had been reading as a pillow. Wesley walked over to him, standing opposite, raised his arms and then dropped the heavy book he was holding to the table with a loud thump.
Xander awoke with a jump and a broken snore, frantically looking around as if they were under attack. Wesley watched on with a disappointed glare. As the boy calmed down, he looked up at him, jolting a little and wiping his chin of drool.
“Geez, Wes,” said Xander, elongating the word theatrically, leaning back in his chair and dropping his head back against it. His adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed.
“As usual, your adept skill of falling asleep gives great value to figuring out the Mayor’s ascension.” Sarcasm laced his tone. With a shake of his head, Wesley sat, opening his book stiffly and started to read. Xander huffed in response.
“Thanks,” Xander responded with an equal amount of sarcasm, lifting his head and wiping his hands down his face.
“Go home Xander,” Wesley deadpanned in response, not looking up at the younger man.
Xander shifted in his seat, but did not move. He cleared his throat discreetly and turned his head to his book, hunching forward. Wesley glared back up at that, raising an eyebrow.
“Xander, I just told you that you can leave. Why on earth are you still here?”
The boy shook his head and shrugged.
“Let me finish this chapter,” he mumbled.
“You can barely stay awake. Go home.”
“Just give me a few minutes, alright?” Xander’s voice was now slightly raised, and it took Wesley by surprise.
The silence lingered for a moment more as the young man lowered his head back to his book.
“What’s going on?” Wesley narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “What have you discovered?”
“Nothing.”
Wesley thinned his lips. If Xander were keeping something from him to reveal later to Giles and Buffy, he had to work quickly. After what had transpired with Faith, he feared history was repeating itself. He felt anger dwell. He stretched out his arms, putting his hands on the table either side of his book.
“Xander,” his tone turned serious, “it is extremely important that you reveal any leads you may have found.”
“I told you, I haven’t found anything,” replied Xander, a whine in his tone and not meeting his eyes.
“Xander -”
“Please just leave it,” replied Xander, trying to look at his book.
“If you think I will sit idly by while you hoard information to tell Mr Giles in secret -”
“I was dreaming, alright?!” Xander blurted out. He was bright red now, clutching the book in his hands tightly.
Wesley stopped for a beat and tilted his head.
“Dreaming?”
He thought he saw Xander’s eye twitch.
“Y’know,” Xander nervously looked around to make sure they were alone, before leaning forward, voice low. “One of those dreams.”
Wesley sat for a moment longer, before he furrowed his brows and leaned forward a touch. Xander tucked in his chair. The realisation dawned on him later than he cared to admit.
“Oh, for god's sake!” replied Wesley, raising his hands in frustration before one went to his forehead.
“Trust me, I’m not happy about it either!” Xander replied. He placed his hands out in front of him, as if he were trying to calm the Watcher down. “Like I said, just give me a few minutes.”
“This is ridiculous,” said Wesley. “We have no time for this.”
“I’ll just read some more. Nothing like a little heavy reading to get you out of the mood. Relax.”
“Relax? Oh please, you weren’t even reading in the first place.” He huffed as he continued off the adolescent’s offended stance. “Xander, time and time again you constantly prove to be-”
“Ok, I’mma stop you right there,” said Xander, putting a single finger up in the air, “I’m not gonna stick around for the Wesley Complains About Xander show.”
He grabbed the book he was reading and closed it with a sharp snap. Standing suddenly, he placed it over the front of his pants. Wesley made a sound between a croak and a gasp.
“What do you think you’re doing!?” He shouted, standing angrily. His voice went an octave too high for his own liking.
“Leaving,” said Xander. “Like you said.”
“That is a limited edition copy of Osbert’s Compendium!” Wesley, without thinking, went to grab the book from Xander’s grasp. The younger man dodged him.
“I’ll bring it back tomorrow!”
“Xander!” shouted Wesley.
The sound of the doors to the Library interrupted them. They both briskly looked up as Giles entered. He looked slightly confused and his steps slowed as he approached them. He had a box of tea leaves in his hand. Xander took a step back, as Wesley rushed to pull his hands back to his sides.
“Is everything alright?” asked Giles, tilting his head at Xander’s guilty expression.
“Peachy,” replied Xander, fingers tapping the book he was holding below his waist.
“Completely,” responded Wesley at the same time, adjusting his suit jacket. He cleared his throat nervously. “You, er, found the tea?”
Gile gaze didn’t leave them, but he did raise the box to his cheek.
“Teacher’s lounge,” Giles said, narrowing his eyes.
The ex-Watcher looked between the pair a few times and raised his eyebrows.
“Well,” Xander nodded, “I’ll just be going.”
He looked from Giles before turning to Wesley.
“And I will take care of this,” he added, gesturing to the book, before he realized his double entendre. He widened his eyes in mortification. Wesley narrowed his own in response, giving him a stare that could cut through glass. Xander averted it.
“I - will see you both tomorrow,” Xander finally said, breaking the silence.
He strolled past Giles, tilting his form away from the older man. Giles watched him go with a tilt of his head, before he turned back around to Wesley.
“Was that Osbert’s Compendium he was holding?” He put his thumb over his shoulder, gesturing to where Xander had just left. “Why is he taking it home?”
Wesley huffed, shaking his head as he sank back down into his chair.
“Believe me, you’d rather not know.”