anythingdrabble | [Challenge #337] BtVS / Buffy, Dawn

Title: Drifting Away
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Author:

veronyxk84
Characters: Buffy, Dawn
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: none
Word count: 200 (Google Docs)
Spoilers/Setting: Set in S6, some time between ep. 6x12 “Doublemeat Palace” and 6x13 “Dead Things.”
Summary: Dawn is affected by Buffy’s estrangement.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction created for fun and no profit has been made. All rights belong to the respective owners.
Author note: Thank you to gwennie for untangling the timeline of BtVS S6.

Challenge: #337 - Soda
Also for prompt: Fairy Lights of World Book Night Bingo by

fandom-free-bingo
Crossposted:

drabble_zone, My journal, Sunnydale After Dark

—

Dawn padded to the living room and flopped on the sofa next to her sister with a yawn. “Here’s your soda,” she mumbled, handing it to Buffy.
“Thank you, Dawnie,” she said, fidgeting with her hands. “Um, you didn’t have to wait up. I… you know I’m working the swing shift this week and then I go for patrol right after.”
Dawn scoffed. “Better call it the hell shift, I almost never see you anymore. And to be exact you’ve been working this shift for two weeks now.”
“Oh, right…” murmured Buffy, taking a sip of soda. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s okay. I don’t have school tomorrow and I wanted to know what you think of my Christmas decorations,” said the teen, gesturing around. “I—I know they’re nothing like mom’s, but… when I opened her Christmas box I couldn’t stop crying. Fairy lights were Tara’s idea. Don’t they look nice?”
Buffy looked at the adorned windows, mantelpiece, and staircase with a pang of guilt. Dawn had been dealing with those heavy emotions alone, while she had been out all night, not patrolling with Spike.
“They’re lovely.”
Dawn hugged her. “Can’t you swap shifts? I miss you.”
“I’ll try,” she lied.