Room 528 (Formerly Room 228), Monday evening

[fh_jackass]

Logan returned to his room, punched in his code and accepted the handful of M&M-like candies that the lock dispensed as it opened.

He closed the door, flopped down on his bed and pondered his DVD collection while munching on the candies.

Comments

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Angel stood outside of Logan's door with a laptop folded against his chest. Anyone passing by might notice that Angel stood there and stared at the door for a bit before knocking. They might also notice his lips moving, as though he was silently reciting something.

Then the knock came.

[fh_jackass]

"Come in!" Logan yelled. "It should be unlocked."

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Angel blinked. And blinked. And blinked some more.

"You know you of all people should know better," he said, not opening the door yet.

[fh_jackass]

Logan sighed, swung his feet off the bed and trudged over to the door. He pulled it open and said, "I knew it was you."

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Angel blinked. "How?"

[fh_jackass]

"I didn't hear you coming," Logan explained. "Everyone else here clomps around like a herd of elephants."

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"Oh. Um. Okay. I guess - I guess I'm kind of graceful." A smile touched Angel's lips. It almost immediately vanished. "You invited me in."

[fh_jackass]

"And yet you're still standing out there."

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"Oh. Um. Okay." Angel said, totally unaware he was repeating himself. He stepped over the threshhold, his eyes flickering with an undefinable emotion that was quickly hidden away. "Nice. Love what you've done with it."

[fh_jackass]

"I picked up a few tips from Better Homes and Shoeboxes," Logan said. "You got a movie preference?"

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"You're up for it?" Angel asked. "Movies, I mean. Because we don't have to. But it could be fun. If you wanted. Oh."

He belatedly remembered and held out the laptop.

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"Sure." Logan said. "Always up for a movie." He accepted the laptop from Angel. "Hope it was useful."

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"It was," Angel said. He hooked his thumbs in his front pockets. "Never really got the hang of the special features, but it was nice being able to watch stuff from my bed. Are - are you sure you wanted to invite me in?"

[fh_jackass]

Logan shrugged. "Yeah," he said. "We're friends, right?"

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"Well yeah," Angel said. "I mean you are to me. But I'd have understood. You didn't have to."

[fh_jackass]

"I don't generally do things I don't want to," Logan grinned. "Note my extreme absence from math lately."

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"Right. You're pretty good with - you'd better be at Campaigning tomorrow," Angel said. "I'll be in charge again. Got the all clear from Janet to go back to class."

[fh_jackass]

"For you, I'll show," Logan said, pointing at Angel. "At least it's not Rory again."

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"How'd she do?" he asked. "I never found out."

[fh_jackass]

Logan rolled his eyes. "Oh, she was great at it," he said with disgust.

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"Feel like venting? 'cause you could. If you wanted." Angel looked around, not sure if he should sit or stay standing.

[fh_jackass]

Logan sat down on the bed and gestured for Angel to sit. "Oh, she had a lecture and plans and everything and I had, you know, a movie." He shrugged. "That'll teach you to put me in charge of a class," he grinned. "Go to Rory first, next time."

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"Yeah, but you were the one making deathbed promises about helping with my coursework," Angel pointed out. He might've glanced around for a chair, but sat on the bed anyway. "See, you should've offered to walk my dog."

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"Yeah, but you wouldn't've been faking sick to get out of doing anything with Sean," Logan pointed out.

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"True. Besides John was taking good care of him." Angel quieted. "I can't believe how many people actually gave a damn."

[fh_jackass]

Logan gave Angel a small smile. "You care about other people. That kind of thing'll come back to haunt you."

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The smile echoed on Angel's lips. "Never had a problem caring too much before."

[fh_jackass]

Logan shrugged. "I'm sure it'll pass. Such things usually do."

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"What if I don't want it to?"

[fh_jackass]

Logan shook his head. "Then there's no hope for you, dude. Probably doomed to a life of disappointment and unfulfilled expectations."

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Angel gave a snort of laughter. "Yeah, what else is new? Kinda figured that out with the whole 'Can't actually be truly happy or else I die' thing."

That probably came out a bit more bitter than Angel intended it to.

[fh_jackass]

"Okay, that sucks," Logan nodded. "But most people are miserable their whole lives, anyway. At least you've got a good reason for it."

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"Not complaning about that," Angel said, holding up a hand. "Believe me. All me all the way. It's just weird getting used to the - I dunno. Levels? Spend a hundred years being totally miserable and then people wonder why you're not sure when to crack a smile."

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Continued here

[fh_jackass]

"Yeah, I can see how that'd suck," Logan said sympathetically.

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Angel tried to aim for a lighter tone. "Plus everybody makes fun when I don't wear bright colors. Like that'll work."

[fh_jackass]

"I don't know," Logan said. "Herb seemed like a rather cheerful guy."

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"Who?" Angel said, giving Logan an innocent look. "Seriously, though. I have it pretty good right now. I shouldn't complain. Especially when I've got friends like - "

And then it happened again. Just as Angel was about to say "you" his face turned. Ridges came out, eyes went gold, fangs appeared.

As before it lasted only for a moment.

Unlike before it happened while Logan was looking right at him.

[fh_jackass]

Logan jerked backwards. "What the hell?!"

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Angel was on his feet in a shot. "I gotta go."

[fh_jackass]

Logan stared at Angel, his heart pounding. Stakes in the desk drawer. Holy water in the flask in my jacket. Cross in the nightstand and... He fingered his necklace.

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Angel could smell the fear on Logan even without hearing the loud thunder of Logan's heartbeat. Instinctively Angel's right hand raised to try to comfort him -

Then Angel felt about ten kinds of stupid and a thousand kinds of ashamed.

"I'm sorry," he said, and left as quickly as he could.

[fh_jackass]

Logan stared at the door for a few minutes in stunned silence, then got up and activated the locks. He felt a twinge of guilt at that, remembering the look of shame on Angel's face. But better safe than dead.

He flopped back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. What the hell just happened?