Angel took a step away from his desk and a step closer to Wesley at the same time. By the time he tried offering to take the book out of Wesley's hands, Wes had turned away from him, eyes squeezed tightly shut. He could almost hear the tremble of Wesley's breath and Angel certainly felt the tightening of Wesley's hand on the book when his own hand tried to take it from Wes.
"huh...huh, hah, h'TCH!" Half-held in, the sneeze turned Wesley's face sharply away from Angel and kept him turned away until another burst out. "hehTCHah!" Wesley sniffed once, cleared his throat, and faced Angel once more. "Excuse me. Now, let me show you Ionic translation of the incantation... I'm certain the Linear B text is incomplete..."
"Right, yeah. Thought that Linear B looked undependable..." Angel leaned over as Wesley placed the book atop the pile already on his desk. He glanced at the books of spells, but it only held his attention for a moment. Angel had never really learned to read Greek, much less any of the rarer, ancient dialects. Watching Wesley try to decipher the text was always more interesting. Watching Wesley try to decipher the text, frown of concentration on his face as his breath caught again was something more than interesting. "Wes? Everything all right?"
"I'm sorry... it's just..." Wesley nodded shakily, trying to smile, unable to keep his eyes from flittering shut. "eh�het! hehTSCHOO!" He caught the sneeze in cupped hands, sniffling from behind them after staying bent forward a few seconds after the sneeze. Embarrassment flashed in his eyes when he looked over his hands at Angel. "I'm sorry� couldn't help� huh, he-ehhelp�hetchuh, h'chuh, Chssshooh!" This time when Wesley sneezed, he tried to hold them in but ended up sneezing wetly and fully at the end. He directed another apologetic look toward Angel before turning away and carefully pulling a handkerchief from his trouser pocket.
Uncomfortable, Angel muttered a quick blessing. It was awkward when Wesley was so perfectly and inimitably human, so delicate and yet so strong at the same time. Awkward, because Angel felt attracted and uncertain at the same time. He longed for the growing closeness that had developed in the weeks since Wesley had come to LA. When Wesley's shoulders trembled, another series of smothered sneezes preceding an equally muffled nose-blow, Angel nearly took the step closer to place his hand between them. But it had been so long since Angel had breathed, let alone suffered a sneezing fit like this, he couldn't tell if Wesley really wanted to be left alone or if the offer of comfort and closeness would be accepted. Opting for another awkward blessing, Angel waited for Wesley to join him in front of the stack of books on his desk.
"Pardon me�" Wesley's eyes were bleary and his glasses had slipped down his nose. He blinked a few times, frowned, and gave his head a shake. Another frown appeared on his face and he lowered his eyes almost as soon as he noticed Angel looking at him.
The urge to see the hurt, insecure look erased from Wesley's eyes overcame awkwardness enough to let Angel rub Wesley's shoulder. "Are you all right? Wesley?" He felt warm. Angel rubbed a little more, realizing how easy it was to let all the awkward feelings disappear as Wes relaxed with the touch.
"I�I've been fighting a cold." There was resignation in Wesley's voice, a touch of congestion, and the beginnings of reassurance. "I could go�"
"Hey, vampire here. Germs don't have any effect on me." Gripping Wesley's shoulder, Angel pulled him in closer and rested the palm of his hand on Wesley's back. "Why don't you stay? I have tea�"
"Tea? Ah� that would�" Wesley smiled, faintly, but he smiled. And he moved into Angel's touch more easily than he had even a few moments before. "That would be a kindness."
"Hey, we find a box of tissues in Cordy's desk, you can stay as long as you like." Angel smiled. He liked how warm Wesley felt next to him; he liked not feeling strange and out of place. He really liked how Wesley looked, no longer unsure or lonely or too proud to admit he was unsure or lonely.
"I just might� hehh� eehHUSHH! USHHhhh!" Wesley muffled his sneezes into the handkerchief, gave his nose a quick, soft blow, and then sighed. "Oh, my� are you certain? I seem�"
"Wes� I wouldn't ask if I didn't want you �" Angel paused. "I want you to stay. Come on, tea, and then you can show me that Linear B again." He turned to Wesley as he picked up the book and headed for the elevator. "All right?"
"All right." For the first time that evening, Wesley sounded like he was. "And Angel? It's the Ionic we'll be looking at... I told you, the Linear B text is corrupt..."
Angel smiled. Definitely all right.
