"You're thin," I repeated, meeting his confused eyes. "And yeah, you are." I shot him a half-smile to let him know that I wasn't trying to make fun of him or anything, and reached for the sweats next.
As I worked to get those on him, I looked up at Wesley, and asked, "Are we going to tell the others about this?" I didn't think Wesley would want to, but we would have to at least tell them a little bit about what happened... after all, it would probably come up some other time as well, and Cordelia had a habit of finding things out pretty easily, as well as making sure that we never forgot that we hadn't told her.
"I mean, we're not going to tell them everything, obviously," I added after a second, "But... we have to tell them something, I guess, because if Cordelia finds out that something happened and we didn't tell her..." I trailed off, knowing that Wesley would know exactly what I meant.
I finished with the sweatpants, then reached for the shirt. Almost done... As I moved up to sit closer to Wesley, I slipped an arm under his shoulders, lifitng him up so I could slip the shirt on him. I paused, wondering briefly how this was going to work... the shirt was going to be a bit harder than the pants, wasn't it?
"Hope you don't mind if your hair gets a bit messed up," I said casually, looking at him. I knew how much he and Cordelia commented about my hair... now it was my turn. Unless he didn't care... then it really didn't matter, did it?
"I'm not thin," I protested again, surprised at how angry I managed to sound despite everything. What was with that? First it was Cordelia's 'skin and bones' remark. Then it was Gunn making jabs at how 'thin' I was. Of course he did it toward Cordelia as well, but still. And now Angel. Next Fred would start to, and really. She had *no* room to talk.
I sighed and looked up at the ceiling as he slid on boxes and then the sweatpants. Even though I thought for a moment that I was going to explode with shame, I did feel a whole lot better once they were on. And warm. Very warm still. Even warmer actually. Not really surprising, but at least now I could keep those covers off of me.
Startled, I blinked when Angel suddenly lifted me up into a sitting position. Which was also when his question registered. Would we tell the others? Why? What would be the use? They couldn't do anything. Other then scold me and then make fun of me. I don't think so. "I'd rather...not." I told him, narrowing my eyes when I noticed just how close his face was to mine.
"Do I what?" I could actually feel the corners of my mouth twitch a little. Do I look like you Angel? I thought. "My hair, according to the fare Cordelia...is a mess anyway. I doubt-doubt it could get...any worse."
I picked up the shirt, then looked from the shirt to Wesley, then back again. I briefly wondered how I was going to get this on him, with the arms and all... I blinked, then sighed slightly.
"We have to tell them something, don't we?" I asked him as I rolled the shirt up, starting to open the neck hole. I could put it on over his head that way, then get his arms through, right? "I mean, Cordelia's going to be asking about it." And when Cordy started asking about things, she didn't stop until she got answers.
I stopped rolling the shirt up to study Wes seriously for a moment, looking at his face, then his hair, then back to his eyes. I tilted my head slightly, then said teasingly, "You never know... I mean, everything can always get worse, isn't that what they say?" I contemplating purposely messing up his hair for a moment, then decided against it. Just because they all teased me about my hair didn't mean I had to return the favor, right? For all I knew, it was just giving them more ammo.
I shifted Wesley for a moment, leaning him against me as I said, "Um, let me know if this hurts or anything, okay?" I held up the shirt, then braced Wesley against my side and shoulder as I began to pull the shirt over his head, trying to be careful.
"No we don't," I insisted. I'm the bloody boss around here am I not? Why is it that on one ever listens to me then? If I say I don't wish to tell them anything then I don't wish to tell them anything. How bloody hard can that be?
"I'll handle Cordelia," I sighed, feeling like an utter fool as he lifted me up again. As for Cordelia? I was used to dealing with her. I knew why she'd wanted to know, but it wasn't as though she could actually do anything about it. The bloody end. And I most certainly didn't need the teasing I knew was going to follow. Thank you very much.
By now I felt like a ragdol the way Angel was shifting me around. I wasn't able to do anything about it. Though I was glad to notice some of the feeling in my upper body seemed to be coming back. My legs still hurt though. I've no sodding clue why. I can't wait to research this damn demon properly. "Thank you ever so much...for pointing that out," I replied dryly to his statement that thing always could get worse. That was just the little pick me up I needed at the moment. Except not.
"You wont hurt me," I sighed again, wondering when he was going to stop worrying about that. As careful and gentle as he was doing things, and may I add not at all vampire like, he couldn't hurt a fly. Closing my eyes, I just let him do whatever he thought he needed to do to get my shirt on.
I nodded shortly, slipping the shirt as carefully as I could over his face, easing it over his head. I was just wondering that since he had been hurting only a minute ago from the poison, if this would hurt him too.
As I leaned across Wesley, taking his arm and hand in mine, I began to thread his arm through the shirt and sleeve. As I did, I noted that the shirt was going to be a little too big for him, but then again, all my clothes were going to be...
I finished with the first arm, then silently took his other arm and hand, shifting slightly so that I could thread his other arm into the sleeve. As I did, I said, "I hurt you all before... how can you think I won't now?"
I wanted to know... I had hurt them by firing them, I had hurt them when I had reverted to Angelus (courtesy of Rebecca Lowell), when Vocah had come for the scroll...and I was a vampire. Things had changed and moved on, but... I still marvelled at how they trusted me. Before Wesley could answer, though, I added, "No, don't answer that. Stupid question." I didn't want to know- for some reason, I just didn't want to know. I knew they trusted me, but I didn't deserve it, not after everything I had done, not least of all, leaving them to handle the whole summer on their own.
My legs were starting to tremble from the sitting position I was in. Sharp pains shot up again, but I ignored it. For some reason that was very easy to do with Angel so close by. Touching me, cool hands on my skin. Focus you git!
I couldn't look at him while he put on my shirt. Just as I couldn't look at him when he'd put on my boxes and sweats. But this was even worse. He was just so close by and those cool hands kept touching. I noticed that I was getting more and more damp from sweat. I'd like to believe it was the poison leaving my body, but I knew deep down it was more then that.
But, I wasn't going there again. I had finally let it go when he fired us. And I wasn't going to fall into that same trap again dammit.
"I'd like to believe you've learned your lesson," mumbled when he pulled the shirt over my head. I winced when a sharp pain shot up my leg, but quickly schooled my face when the shirt was pulled down. "I don't think you want to hurt us. Therefor I believe you'll not hurt me or us again." At least not intentionally. Swallowing hard, I looked at him when I was finally dressed up.
I should feel better now, but oddly enough? I didn't. There was now this unrecognizable feeling inside of me. And it had to do with Angel being so close by, touching me. I could bloody smell him clearly. And for the fist time since this happened, I was *very* glad my body was paralyzed. Or...errr...certain parts of it.
I carefully pulled away when I was finished pulling the shirt on, letting Wesley lean back against the pillows, and I studied him carefully. I nodded slightly, and offered a small smile.
"There, all done." I nodded again, then focused more seriously. He had to know that sometimes I had no control over it... I was more of a hit first, ask questions later kind of guy. I wasn't real good with emotions or anything, meaning, half the time, I didn't even know I was hurting someone's feelings or anything. I mean, I knew, but sometimes, there wasn't much I could do about it... sometimes, I had to take care of something else first, then by the time I realized I needed to fix something, it was too late. And i wasn't that good with words, either, most of the time.
"I don't want to hurt you," I said softly, looking up at Wes. "I just... can't promise that I won't." And I couldn't, short of chaining myself up permanently or something. But that wasn't going to happen.
"I don't want to hurt anyone," I finally repeated. "But I can try." But who knew if that would be good enough? I wished I could trust myself as much as Wesley seemed to be able to. But at least one of us seemed to be sure that I wouldn't hurt them. On the other hand, though, that could be a bad thing, if something happened and I turned back into Angelus... because then, what was that belief that I wouldn't hurt them going to do? It wouldn't help them at all, I knew that much.
"Thank you. Letting out a relieved sigh, I managed a smile when he lowered me back against the pillows. I let my eyes close for a moment, trying to calm down. Which was hard to do when Angel went on with his guilt trip again.
Doesn't that get terribly trying after a decade? He's been doing it for how long now? Close to a hundred years. Making an annoyed sound in the back of my throat, I opened my eyes again and looked at him tiredly.
"I know that Angel," I sighed. I seem to be doing that a lot today. Then again, it was a day for sighing. Everything that might go wrong, did go wrong. "You're no different then anyone else...when it comes to that matter." Just another human being. Only he's dead and eats blood. But when it comes to not hurting people? He is at least trying, just like most everyone else.
Taking a deep breath, I gritted my teeth again when that sharp pain shot up my leg again. Both of them this time. They seemed to come closer together those flashes. I've no idea what it means, but they're getting worse. What as that saying again? It needs to get worse before it gets better? That has to be the most stupidest saying I've ever heard.
I was about to tell Angel that he could go now, again. That I'd be fine. But I never got that far. The door was thrown open and Cordelia strode in. Looking quite surprised and then obviously upset.
"Oh my god!" She squeaked. "What's going on here? Angel! Why is Wesley in your bed and you bend over him. What are you doing?!" I could see her eyes dart around the room, obviously trying to find a weapon. "Get away from him! Wes? Are you okay?"
I'd roll my eyes if I had the energy. "Cordelia...I'm fine, really." Dammit, so much for not telling anyone about this.
I started to open my mouth to speak, then I frowned, leaning forward as I noticed Wesley's jawmuscles clench as he gritted his teeth. What was happening now?
"Wes?" I asked, concerned. "What's wrong now? Tell me." I was about to say more, when suddenly my doors were flung open, and Cordelia appeared. I jumped as she demanded what I was doing, and my eyes widened.
"What am I doing? I'm helping him," I protested, even as Cordelia stormed toward the bed, pushing me aside. "Wes, tell her! I didn't hurt you-"
"Which is why he's in your bed." Cordelia's eyes widened, and she turned to me, poking me violently in the chest. "Ohmigod. He was sick earlier... are you trying to seduce him? He's got his own room, and you're trying to-"
"What?" I exclaimed again, then, "No! I'm not doing anything, Cordy!" I looked at Wesley, begging for assistance, as Cordelia whirled on him.
"Fine, then. Wesley?" She asked, pointing at me. "Why are you in his bed?" I flinched, remembering how he hadn't wanted anyone to know... what else was he going to use as an excuse for being in my bed, other than he had become paralyzed? That what, we were role playing? Or that he wanted me to seduce him? Somehow, I thought that would go over even worse with Cordy than things were going now, and that was saying something.
Staring up at Cordelia, I opened and closed my mouth several times. But I couldn't get a word in edgewise, as per usual. Why again, had I been so delusional to think I could handle her? Well, I could handle her. Under normal circumstances. But now that I was...am paralyzed, I had very little energy to do anything about it.
I notice Angel shooting me a helpless look, panic in his eyes as he tried to stammer an explanation. Poor sod, all he did was make it worse. Cordy looked at him with wide eyes, poking a finely manicured fingernail in his chest. That must've hurt. At least I hope it did, why should I be the only one to get on the receiving end of those? Gunn always seemed to be able to avoid the nails of doom for some reason.
"Cordelia," I sighed again, for about the tenth time. "Dammit," I muttered under my breath, making Cordelia stop in mid rant and wiping her head around.
"You're cursing," she announced and glared at Angel. "Why is he cursing! He never curses, unless it's that infamous 'bloody hell' of his! Why is he cursing?!"
Oh for...
"Cordelia, can I please...speak now?" I said quietly. And that worked. My theory was that the softer you talked to Cordy, the better she was paying attention. Because she was afraid she'd miss something you were saying.
"Well?" Crossing her arms over her chest, she tapped her feet, the sound filtering thought my ears extra loud. As if the shouting hadn't given me a headache. "I'm waiting wooly boy."
Clearing my throat, I tried to figure out a way to get out from under telling her I'd been effected by that demon poison and been paralyzed for the last few hours. Naked, in Angel's bed. "I...Angel borrowed me some clothes...and...I took a shower while I was here any...way...and..." I took a deep breath, my mind feverishly working on overdrive.
"Yeah?" Cordy thew another venomous glare at Angel. "...And?"
And suddenly I was very glad I was dressed. "I slipped under...the shower?" Oh good god, that was the best I could come up with?
I held up my hands in surrender as Cordelia continued poking me, before she whirled on Wesley. As she did, it registered what time it was, and I frowned. It had only been three hours or so since we had dropped her off... why was she here? Had she had a vision?
Cordelia's attention was on Wesley now, looking at him incredulously. "What do you mean, you slipped under the shower? We all knew how much of a klutz you are, but what, did you fall into Angel's clothes and bed while you were at it?"
I stepped in, before Cordelia could intimidate Wesley any further. Well, now that she had started... I stepped in, "Cordelia, everything's fine, okay? Wesley didn't have any more clean clothes here, so I lent him mine, and you said it yourself, he was sick earlier- my bed was closer." I shrugged, hoping that Cordelia would just let it drop, that Wesley would just play along.
"Okay," she said slowly. "But he looks fine now, why can't he go to his own room?"
I looked pointedly at the bedroom doors, and said mildly, "Well, you woke him up with the slamming door routine, and before that, I was giving him water. See?" I pointed to the glass as proof. She crossed her arms, and I asked, "What are you doing here this late, Cordy? Is something wrong?"
"What?" Cordelia whirled around to face Angel again. For which I was quite glad, it gave me a few more moments to get my story together. As much as there was something to get together. I had no idea what to do or what to tell her. Not and be terribly embarrassed. She had already her doubts about *how* Angel had fished me out of the shower.
Maybe I should just faint. But then they'd both be worried. I was feeling very lightheaded by now though.
"I can't come over and check on my friends anymore!" She poked that lethal nail of hers in his chest again, giving him quite an impressive glare. One had to wonder though, what mad her come over here in the first place.
"Did...you have a vision? Are you alright?" I asked, swallowing hard to wet my throat. I could feel another stab of pain in my leg and quickly tensed my jaws to keep her from noticing anything.
"NO!" She shook her head frantically, and gave me an apologetic look. "No,no, I'm fine, Wes." Automatically she reached out and brushed her hand over my arms. I glanced back at Angel quite relieved. after returning her smile as best as I could at the moment.
Suddenly she narrowed her eyes at me and then glanced over at Angel. "He's in pain," she announced. "He has that 'I'm in pain but I'm hiding it so don't even bother asking me' face! Do something, Angel!"
I looked at her confused and at Angel. "I've a face like...that? I don't have...a face like that!" I protested. And it was a good thing I couldn't move, or my hand would've been touching my face now. Thank god Cordy hadn't noticed that I couldn't move...yet.
Check on her friends? She had seemed all too anxious to get home and relax, earlier... I wonder why she had come. She could just as easily have called, and it was pretty late... shouldn't she have been sleeping?
"I... do what, Cordelia?" I asked blankly. I didn't even know what was hurting Wesley, and I wondered what Cordelia was expecting me to do. "Wesley?" I asked, looking at him to see is he knew what I was supposed to be doing or not.
As Cordelia began demanding to know why he was hurting, I looked at Cordelia, then back at Wesley, and commented, "Yes, you do have that face." I had noticed before, but right now wasn't a time for one of the sibling squabbles between them. it was late, Wesley was paralyzed and hurting, and Cordelia... should have been sleeping, but for some reason had come here in the middle of the night. Suddenly, I remembered the times I had had to call her over to the office out of sleep, and how much she had complained then... so what had happened now?
"See? Even One Expression Man sees that you have a Look," Cordelia pointed out to Wesley, sitting on the edge of the bed. Then, turning to look at me, she said, "I knew that you guys wouldn't be able to stay out of trouble... I couldn't sleep, and there was nothing on television, so I decided to check on Angel to make sure he didn't decide to go off the deep end about Buffy again." She waved her hand carelessly, and I flinched. I wasn't going to go off the deep end... and it had been different when I had 'gone off the deep end' after Darla; I doubted they would ever really understand.
"We're not in trouble..." I said weakly, ignoring the rest of that conversation. There were times to call Cordelia Chase on her mistakes and assumption, but right now, I didn't think this was the time, mostly because she was going into 'protective mother hen' mode with Wes right now, and I wondered what had brought that about. Then, I wondered what she was going to blame me for next. "Wait, are we?"
"You are always in some sort of trouble, Angel," Cordelia informed me loftily. "Where would you be without me?" I smiled at her, and relaxed slightly.
What? What are they on about? I do not have a face like that. I might have a surprised face and the likes, but I do *not* have a face like that. I pride myself in actually being able to hide it dammit. I know I can from the numerous time neither Angel nor Cordelia noticed anything.
Unless they were faking. Which I doubt, because Cordelia can never shut up. Much like she's doing now. And Angel is making even less sense. It was like watching a tennis match without definition. Quite a tiring one at that. The only part of my body to look at them were my eyes.
This entire bickering match went right over my head. It made even less sense to me then the ones Cordy and I have. Used to have, we hardly have them these days. Sometimes I miss that.
Sighing, I closed my eyes, and waited for the pain in my leg to go away. And for them to shut up. Which didn't seem to happen anytime soon. I'll just feign sleep and maybe they'll both go away and leave me to be embarrassed in peace.
As I worked to get those on him, I looked up at Wesley, and asked, "Are we going to tell the others about this?" I didn't think Wesley would want to, but we would have to at least tell them a little bit about what happened... after all, it would probably come up some other time as well, and Cordelia had a habit of finding things out pretty easily, as well as making sure that we never forgot that we hadn't told her.
"I mean, we're not going to tell them everything, obviously," I added after a second, "But... we have to tell them something, I guess, because if Cordelia finds out that something happened and we didn't tell her..." I trailed off, knowing that Wesley would know exactly what I meant.
I finished with the sweatpants, then reached for the shirt. Almost done... As I moved up to sit closer to Wesley, I slipped an arm under his shoulders, lifitng him up so I could slip the shirt on him. I paused, wondering briefly how this was going to work... the shirt was going to be a bit harder than the pants, wasn't it?
"Hope you don't mind if your hair gets a bit messed up," I said casually, looking at him. I knew how much he and Cordelia commented about my hair... now it was my turn. Unless he didn't care... then it really didn't matter, did it?
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I sighed and looked up at the ceiling as he slid on boxes and then the sweatpants. Even though I thought for a moment that I was going to explode with shame, I did feel a whole lot better once they were on. And warm. Very warm still. Even warmer actually. Not really surprising, but at least now I could keep those covers off of me.
Startled, I blinked when Angel suddenly lifted me up into a sitting position. Which was also when his question registered. Would we tell the others? Why? What would be the use? They couldn't do anything. Other then scold me and then make fun of me. I don't think so. "I'd rather...not." I told him, narrowing my eyes when I noticed just how close his face was to mine.
"Do I what?" I could actually feel the corners of my mouth twitch a little. Do I look like you Angel? I thought. "My hair, according to the fare Cordelia...is a mess anyway. I doubt-doubt it could get...any worse."
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"We have to tell them something, don't we?" I asked him as I rolled the shirt up, starting to open the neck hole. I could put it on over his head that way, then get his arms through, right? "I mean, Cordelia's going to be asking about it." And when Cordy started asking about things, she didn't stop until she got answers.
I stopped rolling the shirt up to study Wes seriously for a moment, looking at his face, then his hair, then back to his eyes. I tilted my head slightly, then said teasingly, "You never know... I mean, everything can always get worse, isn't that what they say?" I contemplating purposely messing up his hair for a moment, then decided against it. Just because they all teased me about my hair didn't mean I had to return the favor, right? For all I knew, it was just giving them more ammo.
I shifted Wesley for a moment, leaning him against me as I said, "Um, let me know if this hurts or anything, okay?" I held up the shirt, then braced Wesley against my side and shoulder as I began to pull the shirt over his head, trying to be careful.
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"I'll handle Cordelia," I sighed, feeling like an utter fool as he lifted me up again. As for Cordelia? I was used to dealing with her. I knew why she'd wanted to know, but it wasn't as though she could actually do anything about it. The bloody end. And I most certainly didn't need the teasing I knew was going to follow. Thank you very much.
By now I felt like a ragdol the way Angel was shifting me around. I wasn't able to do anything about it. Though I was glad to notice some of the feeling in my upper body seemed to be coming back. My legs still hurt though. I've no sodding clue why. I can't wait to research this damn demon properly. "Thank you ever so much...for pointing that out," I replied dryly to his statement that thing always could get worse. That was just the little pick me up I needed at the moment. Except not.
"You wont hurt me," I sighed again, wondering when he was going to stop worrying about that. As careful and gentle as he was doing things, and may I add not at all vampire like, he couldn't hurt a fly. Closing my eyes, I just let him do whatever he thought he needed to do to get my shirt on.
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As I leaned across Wesley, taking his arm and hand in mine, I began to thread his arm through the shirt and sleeve. As I did, I noted that the shirt was going to be a little too big for him, but then again, all my clothes were going to be...
I finished with the first arm, then silently took his other arm and hand, shifting slightly so that I could thread his other arm into the sleeve. As I did, I said, "I hurt you all before... how can you think I won't now?"
I wanted to know... I had hurt them by firing them, I had hurt them when I had reverted to Angelus (courtesy of Rebecca Lowell), when Vocah had come for the scroll...and I was a vampire. Things had changed and moved on, but... I still marvelled at how they trusted me. Before Wesley could answer, though, I added, "No, don't answer that. Stupid question." I didn't want to know- for some reason, I just didn't want to know. I knew they trusted me, but I didn't deserve it, not after everything I had done, not least of all, leaving them to handle the whole summer on their own.
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I couldn't look at him while he put on my shirt. Just as I couldn't look at him when he'd put on my boxes and sweats. But this was even worse. He was just so close by and those cool hands kept touching. I noticed that I was getting more and more damp from sweat. I'd like to believe it was the poison leaving my body, but I knew deep down it was more then that.
But, I wasn't going there again. I had finally let it go when he fired us. And I wasn't going to fall into that same trap again dammit.
"I'd like to believe you've learned your lesson," mumbled when he pulled the shirt over my head. I winced when a sharp pain shot up my leg, but quickly schooled my face when the shirt was pulled down. "I don't think you want to hurt us. Therefor I believe you'll not hurt me or us again." At least not intentionally. Swallowing hard, I looked at him when I was finally dressed up.
I should feel better now, but oddly enough? I didn't. There was now this unrecognizable feeling inside of me. And it had to do with Angel being so close by, touching me. I could bloody smell him clearly. And for the fist time since this happened, I was *very* glad my body was paralyzed. Or...errr...certain parts of it.
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"There, all done." I nodded again, then focused more seriously. He had to know that sometimes I had no control over it... I was more of a hit first, ask questions later kind of guy. I wasn't real good with emotions or anything, meaning, half the time, I didn't even know I was hurting someone's feelings or anything. I mean, I knew, but sometimes, there wasn't much I could do about it... sometimes, I had to take care of something else first, then by the time I realized I needed to fix something, it was too late. And i wasn't that good with words, either, most of the time.
"I don't want to hurt you," I said softly, looking up at Wes. "I just... can't promise that I won't." And I couldn't, short of chaining myself up permanently or something. But that wasn't going to happen.
"I don't want to hurt anyone," I finally repeated. "But I can try." But who knew if that would be good enough? I wished I could trust myself as much as Wesley seemed to be able to. But at least one of us seemed to be sure that I wouldn't hurt them. On the other hand, though, that could be a bad thing, if something happened and I turned back into Angelus... because then, what was that belief that I wouldn't hurt them going to do? It wouldn't help them at all, I knew that much.
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Doesn't that get terribly trying after a decade? He's been doing it for how long now? Close to a hundred years. Making an annoyed sound in the back of my throat, I opened my eyes again and looked at him tiredly.
"I know that Angel," I sighed. I seem to be doing that a lot today. Then again, it was a day for sighing. Everything that might go wrong, did go wrong. "You're no different then anyone else...when it comes to that matter." Just another human being. Only he's dead and eats blood. But when it comes to not hurting people? He is at least trying, just like most everyone else.
Taking a deep breath, I gritted my teeth again when that sharp pain shot up my leg again. Both of them this time. They seemed to come closer together those flashes. I've no idea what it means, but they're getting worse. What as that saying again? It needs to get worse before it gets better? That has to be the most stupidest saying I've ever heard.
I was about to tell Angel that he could go now, again. That I'd be fine. But I never got that far. The door was thrown open and Cordelia strode in. Looking quite surprised and then obviously upset.
"Oh my god!" She squeaked. "What's going on here? Angel! Why is Wesley in your bed and you bend over him. What are you doing?!" I could see her eyes dart around the room, obviously trying to find a weapon. "Get away from him! Wes? Are you okay?"
I'd roll my eyes if I had the energy. "Cordelia...I'm fine, really." Dammit, so much for not telling anyone about this.
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"Wes?" I asked, concerned. "What's wrong now? Tell me." I was about to say more, when suddenly my doors were flung open, and Cordelia appeared. I jumped as she demanded what I was doing, and my eyes widened.
"What am I doing? I'm helping him," I protested, even as Cordelia stormed toward the bed, pushing me aside. "Wes, tell her! I didn't hurt you-"
"Which is why he's in your bed." Cordelia's eyes widened, and she turned to me, poking me violently in the chest. "Ohmigod. He was sick earlier... are you trying to seduce him? He's got his own room, and you're trying to-"
"What?" I exclaimed again, then, "No! I'm not doing anything, Cordy!" I looked at Wesley, begging for assistance, as Cordelia whirled on him.
"Fine, then. Wesley?" She asked, pointing at me. "Why are you in his bed?" I flinched, remembering how he hadn't wanted anyone to know... what else was he going to use as an excuse for being in my bed, other than he had become paralyzed? That what, we were role playing? Or that he wanted me to seduce him? Somehow, I thought that would go over even worse with Cordy than things were going now, and that was saying something.
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I notice Angel shooting me a helpless look, panic in his eyes as he tried to stammer an explanation. Poor sod, all he did was make it worse. Cordy looked at him with wide eyes, poking a finely manicured fingernail in his chest. That must've hurt. At least I hope it did, why should I be the only one to get on the receiving end of those? Gunn always seemed to be able to avoid the nails of doom for some reason.
"Cordelia," I sighed again, for about the tenth time. "Dammit," I muttered under my breath, making Cordelia stop in mid rant and wiping her head around.
"You're cursing," she announced and glared at Angel. "Why is he cursing! He never curses, unless it's that infamous 'bloody hell' of his! Why is he cursing?!"
Oh for...
"Cordelia, can I please...speak now?" I said quietly. And that worked. My theory was that the softer you talked to Cordy, the better she was paying attention. Because she was afraid she'd miss something you were saying.
"Well?" Crossing her arms over her chest, she tapped her feet, the sound filtering thought my ears extra loud. As if the shouting hadn't given me a headache. "I'm waiting wooly boy."
Clearing my throat, I tried to figure out a way to get out from under telling her I'd been effected by that demon poison and been paralyzed for the last few hours. Naked, in Angel's bed. "I...Angel borrowed me some clothes...and...I took a shower while I was here any...way...and..." I took a deep breath, my mind feverishly working on overdrive.
"Yeah?" Cordy thew another venomous glare at Angel. "...And?"
And suddenly I was very glad I was dressed. "I slipped under...the shower?" Oh good god, that was the best I could come up with?
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Cordelia's attention was on Wesley now, looking at him incredulously. "What do you mean, you slipped under the shower? We all knew how much of a klutz you are, but what, did you fall into Angel's clothes and bed while you were at it?"
I stepped in, before Cordelia could intimidate Wesley any further. Well, now that she had started... I stepped in, "Cordelia, everything's fine, okay? Wesley didn't have any more clean clothes here, so I lent him mine, and you said it yourself, he was sick earlier- my bed was closer." I shrugged, hoping that Cordelia would just let it drop, that Wesley would just play along.
"Okay," she said slowly. "But he looks fine now, why can't he go to his own room?"
I looked pointedly at the bedroom doors, and said mildly, "Well, you woke him up with the slamming door routine, and before that, I was giving him water. See?" I pointed to the glass as proof. She crossed her arms, and I asked, "What are you doing here this late, Cordy? Is something wrong?"
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Maybe I should just faint. But then they'd both be worried. I was feeling very lightheaded by now though.
"I can't come over and check on my friends anymore!" She poked that lethal nail of hers in his chest again, giving him quite an impressive glare. One had to wonder though, what mad her come over here in the first place.
"Did...you have a vision? Are you alright?" I asked, swallowing hard to wet my throat. I could feel another stab of pain in my leg and quickly tensed my jaws to keep her from noticing anything.
"NO!" She shook her head frantically, and gave me an apologetic look. "No,no, I'm fine, Wes." Automatically she reached out and brushed her hand over my arms. I glanced back at Angel quite relieved. after returning her smile as best as I could at the moment.
Suddenly she narrowed her eyes at me and then glanced over at Angel. "He's in pain," she announced. "He has that 'I'm in pain but I'm hiding it so don't even bother asking me' face! Do something, Angel!"
I looked at her confused and at Angel. "I've a face like...that? I don't have...a face like that!" I protested. And it was a good thing I couldn't move, or my hand would've been touching my face now. Thank god Cordy hadn't noticed that I couldn't move...yet.
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"I... do what, Cordelia?" I asked blankly. I didn't even know what was hurting Wesley, and I wondered what Cordelia was expecting me to do. "Wesley?" I asked, looking at him to see is he knew what I was supposed to be doing or not.
As Cordelia began demanding to know why he was hurting, I looked at Cordelia, then back at Wesley, and commented, "Yes, you do have that face." I had noticed before, but right now wasn't a time for one of the sibling squabbles between them. it was late, Wesley was paralyzed and hurting, and Cordelia... should have been sleeping, but for some reason had come here in the middle of the night. Suddenly, I remembered the times I had had to call her over to the office out of sleep, and how much she had complained then... so what had happened now?
"See? Even One Expression Man sees that you have a Look," Cordelia pointed out to Wesley, sitting on the edge of the bed. Then, turning to look at me, she said, "I knew that you guys wouldn't be able to stay out of trouble... I couldn't sleep, and there was nothing on television, so I decided to check on Angel to make sure he didn't decide to go off the deep end about Buffy again." She waved her hand carelessly, and I flinched. I wasn't going to go off the deep end... and it had been different when I had 'gone off the deep end' after Darla; I doubted they would ever really understand.
"We're not in trouble..." I said weakly, ignoring the rest of that conversation. There were times to call Cordelia Chase on her mistakes and assumption, but right now, I didn't think this was the time, mostly because she was going into 'protective mother hen' mode with Wes right now, and I wondered what had brought that about. Then, I wondered what she was going to blame me for next. "Wait, are we?"
"You are always in some sort of trouble, Angel," Cordelia informed me loftily. "Where would you be without me?" I smiled at her, and relaxed slightly.
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Unless they were faking. Which I doubt, because Cordelia can never shut up. Much like she's doing now. And Angel is making even less sense. It was like watching a tennis match without definition. Quite a tiring one at that. The only part of my body to look at them were my eyes.
This entire bickering match went right over my head. It made even less sense to me then the ones Cordy and I have. Used to have, we hardly have them these days. Sometimes I miss that.
Sighing, I closed my eyes, and waited for the pain in my leg to go away. And for them to shut up. Which didn't seem to happen anytime soon. I'll just feign sleep and maybe they'll both go away and leave me to be embarrassed in peace.
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