The Crypt: A Different Path by Salustra and Cathelin

This chapter is completely new, the co-product of my collaboration with Cathelin. There is an almost-connection between Wesley and William this chapter, but I promise it's just in pursuit of pushing our two vamps closer together.

A Different Path 3/?

William can hear the shower starting in the room next door. He sighs. Perhaps he should find some physical company while he was here. Perhaps Cordelia. She seemed eager enough. He wasn't used to sleeping alone any more than necessary, and the brief contact with his grandsire had left him hard and aching.

Leaning his arms on the wall of the shower, Angel presses his forehead against the cold tile and tells himself he's not going to touch himself, he's not.

William gets up, pulling his clothes back on and wandering downstairs to see if anyone is there.

Mumbling to himself, Wesley walks out of the office, his nose buried in a heavy tome.

William looks over at the slender, attractive man walking out of the office. "Hello," he says quietly, so as not to startle him.

Wesley looks up at the unfamiliar voice. His mouth drops open as he takes in the sight of the gorgeous young man in front of him, his arms going slack until the book falls to the floor, landing on his foot. "OW. Oh um, I mean hello. Um, welcome to Angel Investigations, how can we be of assistance?"

"I'm staying here, actually. I take it you work for Angel?"

"Um." Wesley blinks, surprised, before holding out his hand. "Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, I am Angel's...associate. May I inquire who you are?"

William takes his hand, shaking it, smiling winningly at him, his fingers stroking lightly against the palm of Wesley's hand. "I'm William. Drusilla's childe. Angel has invited me to stay for a while."

Gasping quietly, Wesley shivers at the smile and light touch. As the words penetrate however, his eyes widen and he stumbles back a little. "D...Drusilla's childe?" Reaching into his pocket he fumbles for the small cross he keeps in there.

"Don't worry. I have a soul. I'm quite certain he wouldn't have invited me to stay otherwise."

Spluttering for a few moments, Wesley manages to stutter out "A...a...soul? H...how? What?"

"I'd be delighted to explain, and answer all your questions. A fellow Englishman, and educated as well. It's been a while." William kneels to pick up the book Wesley dropped, looking up, blue eyes to blue. "Though perhaps we could go somewhere more comfortable than standing in the lobby?"

"Oh...Oh yes. We can go through to the office. I'm sure Angel won't mind." Wesley blinks, looking down into William's eyes and swallowing harshly - he found himself wishing idly that his eyes could be so very very blue.

William stands back up, handing the book to Wesley. "Sounds marvelous."

Clearing his throat Wesley gestures for William to precede him into the office. William walks ahead of Wesley. He can catch just the faintest whiff of attraction, and he smiles a bit to himself. Men are more to his taste than women anyway, and Wesley is *quite* handsome.

Wesley flushes brightly when he finds himself staring at William's arse as he follows him. "Um." cough "Why don't you take as seat?"

William moves to one of the chairs, draping himself over it more than sitting. "Thank you."

Swallowing again, a little uncomfortable at his reaction to the other man, Wesley takes a seat behind the large desk. "Now then. You said you were Drusilla's childe? I wasn't aware she'd sired anyone, when did she sire you?"

"In 1880, London. It was a surprise to Angel, as well. Drusilla sent me away immediately, with a letter warning me to stay away from her and especially away from Angelus."

Wesley's eyes widen in shock and he stutters incoherently for a few moments, "1880! That's impossible!"

"Why is that impossible?"

"The Watchers would have known. The Aurelians have always been under close observation. If Drusilla had made a childe so long ago, they would have known." Wesley's voice is firm, confident despite all that the Watchers have done to him, he still believes in their infallibility as to factual documentation. "You could not have escaped notice for over a century."

"I haven't *been* around the Aurelians, except for Penn."

"Ah yes Penn." Wesley clears his throat awkwardly, remembering the appearance of Angelus' eldest progeny soon after he joined the agency.

"He took care of me, raised me. We parted ways after he killed that Slayer in New York."

Back on firmer ground, Wesley nods sagely, "Nikki Wood, his second slayer. May I inquire as to why you parted ways?"

"Because he had promised not to kill innocents while I was with him. And it wasn't his second Slayer, it was his first."

Frowning at the idea of a vampire promising not to kill innocents, Wesley is stunned by William's last comment. "His first?"

"Yes. I killed the slayer in China in 1900. I had to, she was going to kill Penn and I couldn't get her to stop."

"You? But...the Watchers...you...but your soul? Get her to stop?" Wesley stutters again, his face paling with confusion and shock.

"Yes, I have a soul. But I loved him, and I was young, and he was my whole world. If I could have stopped her short of killing her, I would have."

"..." Wesley blinks.

William looks at him and sighs. "I'm sorry. I've offended you."

"Pardon?"

"Your expression. You seem to be distressed."

"Distressed? N...not at all, just very...very...surprised." Wesley shifts awkwardly in his chair, dropping his eyes to where he's begun to twist his hands together. Automatically, he pulls his hands apart and rests them on the desktop, his father's voice echoing in his head along with the sound of a ruler smacking down.

William rises from the chair, coming over next to Wesley. He can feel the echoed pain in Wesley, and his hands move to gently stroke over the Watcher's. "It's all right. Whoever did that isn't here."

Freezing, Wesley looks up at him wide-eyed, "Wh...what? H...how?"

"I'm a Seducer. Quite possibly one of the more powerful ones in the world. I don't kill to feed, I Seduce, always have. So among other things I can sense emotions."

"A Seducer? With a soul?" Wesley's eyes light up, utterly distracted from his past. "How fascinating. When did you get your soul? Was it a curse? How does it affect your gifts? How do you know that you're so powerful? If you don't kill, how do you get enough to eat? Do you feed on sexual energy? Is it true that Seducers are incubi? And you're empathic?" Wesley starts to fire questions rapidly and excitedly at the brown-haired vampire.

William chuckles. "All right, in order. A few months after I was turned, I don't know how I got it, I'm not certain how it affects my gifts. As to how I know how powerful I am, Penn told me, and I've been able to enthrall even master vampires far older than I am. Vampires need much less blood than they generally take. And having the blood charged with sexual energy makes it more powerful. As for incubi..." William smiles. "Depends on your definition of the term. And yes, I am empathic."

Pausing only a few moments to take in William's answers, Wesley continues his questioning. "A few months after you were turned? Well that certainly explains why you seem so much more comfortable with it. But how is it that you were raised by a fellow Aurelian?"

"How do you mean?"

Wesley frowns "Well, your soul?"

"Like I said...he agreed not to kill innocents. We hunted criminals together. He loved me, he wanted to be with me, so he 'indulged' me, as he put it."

"Oh." Not sure how to answer that, Wesley flushes, hearing the slight bitterness in William's tone and realizing he may have upset the vampire.

William smiles and makes himself relax. "It's nothing you said. I'm still rather upset from finding out he's dead, and how he died. We may have parted ways, but I never really stopped loving him."

"Ah." Wesley nods a little. "May I ask how it was that you heard? I know that Angel went to great pains to make sure the demon community did not hear what happened."

William sucks in a little breath. Angel hadn't told him that. Then he lets out the breath, slowly, and answers. "Drusilla found me. She must have seen it in one of her visions."

"Oh of course." Wesley berates himself mentally for not realizing that sooner.

"So what is it you do for Angel?" William tries to change the subject. Talking about Penn was bringing up raw ugly emotions he wasn't ready to deal with yet.

"I am his associate here at Angel Investigations." Wesley replies, unaware exactly how prim he sounded. "My main role is as a researcher, however I often assist in a more physical capacity."

William's lips can't help but quirk at that. "A more *physical* capacity?" His tone is slightly suggestive.

"Yes, I often go on patrol with him or to clients premises to help him...oh!" The other man flushes as he picks up on the innuendo. 'Don't I just wish?" He thinks to himself.

"Sorry, I shouldn't tease you. I'm afraid, as a Seducer, that subject is rather foremost on my mind most of the time." He lets his eyes wander down Wes' body, as much as shows from behind the desk, and then back up to his eyes.

Wesley flushes deeply at the perusal, feeling his body react slightly. "I see."

William can feel and smell the reaction. "You mentioned the Watchers. How is it you would know what information they do or don't have?" He steers the subject back onto safer ground. Someone this uptight would require careful hooking. Slowly draw him in. Cordelia would no doubt have been a much easier conquest, but what was the fun in that?

"I come from a family long associated with the Watcher's Council."

"And you work with a vampire? I imagine your family doesn't approve."

"Um no. They don't at all. But they can't really do much about it."

"So how did you start working with Angel to begin with?"

"I first met Angel in Sunnydale before...well before." Wesley coughed to clear his throat. "But then I came to LA on the trail of a dangerous demon. After I worked with he and Cordelia on resolving that case, they invited me to stay a while. Things developed from there."

William nods. "So you're friendly with him, then. What's he like? I've only heard from Penn, and that of course was about what he was like without a soul."

"Oh well, he's very dedicated to his cause of course..." Wesley begins a little awkwardly.

"And what cause is that?"

"Of redeeming his soul. By helping the helpless."

William considers. "Sounds like a lofty goal. But what's he like *personally*?"

"Personally? Very quiet, he enjoys his solitude, though I believe he enjoys both my company and that of Cordelia..."

"Hmmm. Odd then, that he invited me to stay. So...what is the fair Cordelia like? She seemed quite... taken... with me."

'I'm not at all surprised.' Wesley thinks to himself, finding his eyes involuntarily starting to slide down William's form. He quickly arrests the movement and returns his eyes to William's face. "Cordelia is very...well...Cordelia. She's very opinionated, clever, stubborn, caring and a bit, well, bossy for want of a better term." Wesley flushes a little at talking about Cordelia in such a way, but if the vampire is to be staying, he'll need to be aware of how she works.

William nods. "Ah." He's noticed the movement of Wesley's eyes, and he languidly stretches, letting his muscles ripple under the thin silk shirt.

Swallowing heavily, Wesley refuses to let himself look down. "You say she seemed taken with you? Did you have your...aura is it?...on?"

"No. It would be rude to use my aura on you, and I'm sure that Angel would object." William smiles at him. "Would you like to feel what it's like? Purely as an experiment, of course."

"Really? Well, yes, as an experiment." Wesley nods, trying to appear as if he's considering it as a scientific demonstration.

William stands up and walks over, leaning against the edge of the desk. "There are levels of the aura. The first one is to get your attention, to make you focus on me, to draw your interest." William focuses it slightly, pulling on the tendrils of attraction that are already there, making it just strong enough to be noticeable.

Wesley finds himself staring intently at the vampire. His mind working to analyze the situation compares it to something like a reverse 'look-away' glamour.

"Having gotten your attention, I would move in closer, interact, look into your eyes. Start to build an attraction that I can intensify." William touches those bits of attraction and fans them in Wesley. His aura tingles as he can feel the reaction in the handsome slender man.

Breath catching, Wesley can feel more than his gaze focusing on him. His body starts to feel warmer, slowly building until he feels decidedly over-heated, his face flushes and eyes dilate as he looks up at the man stood before him.

"Then I'd move in for physical contact, and intensify again." William reaches out a hand to delicately stroke fingertips down Wesley's cheek. The aura crackles, sending invisible flickers to wander over Wesley's body, like little lustful tongues making his nerves sing.

His reaction is a loud gulp as his breathing starts to speed up. Shifting uncomfortably, he tries to ignore his hardening prick. "Ah, y...yes, I see."

William can't resist. He rubs his thumb over Wesley's lips, and then leans in for a soft, lingering kiss.

Whimpering almost inaudibly, Wesley leans into this kiss. William pulls back the aura, but continues the kiss. He wants to see if Wesley will continue it without the prod of the aura.

Still caught up, Wesley doesn't immediately realize that the sparks on his nerves have ceased. He tilts his head to deepen the kiss, one hand coming up to hover beside William's cheek. William takes his other hand and presses Wesley's hand to his cheek. Wesley tastes smoky and sweet all at once.

Moaning Wesley strokes his fingers over the silky soft skin of the vampire's jaw. William shifts on the desk so that he is all but straddling Wesley's chair. His other hand slides to cup the nape of Wesley's neck.

His free hand moving up to rest on William's hip, Wesley slides the fingers of his other hand into his hair to pull him closer. William slides off the desk, settling astride Wesley's lap. His own hard cock, covered only with the thin fabric of his raw silk pants, presses against Wesley's own stiffened shaft.

Gasping at the contact, Wesley pulls away from the kiss, breathing deeply for air. His eyes fly open and he stares up at the other man. "Oh! Oh I'm sorry I..."

"Why are you sorry?" William's voice is a sensual, welcoming caress.

"I...I..." Wesley shudders a little in reaction to his tone. "I shouldn't have..."

"Why not?" William's hand kneads gently on the nape of Wesley's neck. "You started to be attracted to me a few minutes after we met, and I fancied you almost immediately. Or are you involved with someone else?"

"I...um...no I'm not seeing anyone, right now I mean." Wesley replies, arching his head back into his hand. "B...but Angel..."

"What about Angel?"

A little weakly, Wesley explains, "Well, he might not be very pleased. What with you being family."

"Ah. So do you want me to stop?"

"Um, y...yes?"

William sighs with obvious disappointment. "Are you certain? Because your body doesn't seem to agree."

"I...I should be getting on with my work." Wesley's tone is still weak, "Angel will be along soon and I need to get a translation finished for him."

"Angel went to bed, to sleep." William keeps staring into Wesley's eyes.

"Oh?" Distracted, Wesley frowns, "He has?"

"Yes. We had a discussion and he ended it by saying he needed some rest. I heard him taking a shower before I came down here."

"Hmm. Well maybe he intends to go out a little later than I thought. Or maybe via the sewers." The younger man is thoroughly distracted now, already looking across the room at his books, his Watcher training allowing him to ignore both his erection and the proximity of the vampire in his lap - at least with his aura 'switched off'.

William shifts, rubbing his erection against Wesley's to get his attention back.

Gasping, Wesley finds his attention being drawn inexorably back to the other man. "Umm..." He swallows harshly and flushes at William's actions.

"I don't think you want me to stop," William says, in that honey-soft voice. "I think you want me to keep doing this. Keep touching you, kissing you." He lets one hand trail over Wesley's chest, fingertips brushing over a hardening nipple through the cotton fabric.

"I...I..." Wesley stares into his eyes, his own eyes wide and dilated. His breathing is starting to speed up slightly as he shivers lightly. "B...but the demonstration...Angel...I..."

"I haven't been using my aura on you since I started kissing you. Or is the problem that you *want* my grandsire?"

"Wh...what? I don't know what you mean!" Wesley manages to look affronted, flustered and caught out all at once. "Angel and I have a purely professional relationship."

"Then why would you be concerned about us having relations? Why would he care?" William keeps rocking his crotch against Wesley's, his hands continuing to wander over the ex-Watcher's slender body. He's not intending to let this one get away.

Wesley splutters quietly for a few seconds before slumping back in his chair. "But I'm supposed to be working, you're his family..." He argues, rather weakly.

"Yes, exactly. He's offered me hospitality. Well, I'm certain he'd like me to feel welcome. Don't you want me to feel welcome, Wesley?" William leans in closer, brushing lips across Wesley's.

Whimpering quietly, Wesley gives the tiniest nod. William presses closer, kissing Wesley again, capturing his lips. He moves a hand to slide into Wesley's sandy hair. Shivering, Wesley moans and gives in, parting his lips to William's insistent kiss. William feels that little surrender and he purrs as he presses his tongue in to plunder Wesley's mouth, tasting him. His other hand starts unbuttoning Wesley's shirt.

Hands coming up to rest on the other man's hips, Wesley starts to return kiss. Having given in, he can't stop himself reacting more and more strongly. William moans softly as he feels Wesley respond in earnest. He can smell the arousal and need heavy in the air and he very much wants Wesley. He finishes unbuttoning the shirt, pushing it open, hands sliding over his chest and abs.

"Oh god." Mumbling into the kiss, Wesley moans at the touch on his bare skin. William pulls back from the kiss and lowers his mouth to lick and suck on one dusky peaked nipple. Gasping, Wes threads his fingers through William's curls. William's fingers are starting to work the buckle on Wesley's belt.

Rolling over from where he's lying with his head buried in his pillows, Angel glances at the clock on his bedside table. It takes a few moments of squinting to for the time to sink in. "Shit!" He cusses, jumping up and heading for the wardrobe, he's late.

Wesley's hips buck as William's fingers brush against his hard cock through his pants. William purrs as he keeps licking and sucking at Wesley's nipple. He eases the belt out and then starts to unzip the trousers.

Rubbing lightly at the other man's scalp, Wes watches through heavy lids as pale hands work to release him from the confining fabric.

Dressing hurriedly, Angel then spends moments faffing with his hair, wishing for the millionth time that he could see himself in the mirror to be sure that his hair doesn't look...well, stupid.

William lifts his mouth to claim Wesley's again as long fingers stroke along freshly revealed flesh. The other man whimpers quietly at his touch, returning the kiss eagerly. William breaks the kiss at last, sliding off his lap to kneel between his legs. He looks up at Wesley as his long tongue flicks out to lick around the sensitive head of Wesley's cock.

Finally deciding his hair is probably as done as it can be, Angel leaves the room. He just knows that Wes is going to be annoyed that he's late down to 'work'. He just hopes he won't look at him in that stern way that makes his demon whisper in his ear about teaching the disrespectful human a lesson - with the help of a handy cane.

"Oh G..god," Wesley moans.

William takes the head of his cock into his mouth, flicking across the head, tasting the little pearl of pre-cum already formed there. Wesley was certainly eager enough.

Letting go of William's hair, Wesley wraps his hands around the arms of his chair in an attempt to make himself stay still at the torturously teasing actions.

Shaking his head to dislodge those thoughts of his employee, Angel descends the stairs down into the lobby.

Intent on his seduction of Wesley, William doesn't hear the approaching footsteps. He lowers his mouth more, taking Wesley's cock deeper into his mouth, sucking and licking.

Angel freezes as he passes the front counter as waves of human, and vampire, arousal hit his senses. 'Huh?' he thinks, frowning in confusion. Slowly he moves on towards the door to office - the place from which the scents emanate, telling himself that his newly found grandchilde can't really be having sex with one of his humans, can he? Hearing Wesley groan, he shudders. Standing in the doorway, he stares in disbelief.

William senses Angel's approach now, he can feel him clearly. He lifts his head briefly to look at Angel, eyes glittering.

Moaning at the sudden end of what was turning into the best blowjob of his life, Wesley follows William's movement. He freezes as he realizes the vampire is looking towards the door. Slowly he follows his gaze. "Oh God." He groans in dismay, and not a little fear at the sight of a very - annoyed - looking Angel in the doorway.

William quirks his lips. "Mmm. Should've locked the door, I suppose."

Glaring hard at him, Angel comes into the room. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I *was* in the process of giving a blow-job."

"Well I noticed *that*." Angel crosses his arms, his forehead coming down as he glowers at the other vampire - ignoring the mixture of arousal, embarrassment and fear coming from Wesley.

"Well then...Perhaps you'd care to come back later."

Growling quietly Angel just leans against the desk. "No."

"You want to watch then?"

Wesley whimpers, his eyes growing wide at William's suggestion.

Narrowing his eyes at the younger vampire, Angel tries to ignore his reaction to Wesley's whimper - and the sight of him sat in the chair with his hard cock protruding from his slacks. "No, I want you to let my employee get on with his job so that I won't die horribly when I go out to do *my* job." He finishes with a slightly louder growl - one that Wesley hears this time.

Shivering in a mixture of fear and arousal at that feral sound, Wesley bites his lip against the desire to start apologizing. William shrugs. He looks over at Wesley. "I suppose our little tête-à-tête will have to be postponed until after working hours." He reaches up to tuck Wesley's cock away, zipping up his trousers.

Digging his fingers into his arms, Angel fights down his jealousy at the idea of his grandchilde and employee doing anything of the sort.

"Um...quite." Wesley flushes as he starts to rebutton his shirt. "I...um *cough* I won't be long with that translation Angel, I had almost completed it earlier." He raises his head to speak, but is unable to bring himself to meet Angel's eyes.

William gets up and walks to Angel. "I'm sorry I interrupted your employee's working day. I was under the impression that you were going to sleep."

Shaking his head, Angel replies, "I was unable to." His brow is still lowered as he looks back at him, "Have you arranged for your things to be brought here?"

"Yes, I did. They should arrive in a few hours."

Nodding, Angel stands up straight. "Perhaps I could have a word? In the kitchen?"

"Of course. If you could show me the way?"

Leading the way, Angel says over his shoulder. "Let me know when you've finished Wes."

"Certainly." Wesley answers quietly, still extremely flushed. William follows Angel to the kitchen, curious as to what Angel has to say.

Going to the fridge, Angel pulls out a couple of blood bags - one of which he holds up questioningly as he glances at the other man. William raises an eyebrow. "Umm...no thank you. I'll go find my own later."

Frowning, Angel looks unsure, "Ok."

"You always drink from bags?"

"Um, yeah." Angel turns away to empty one of the bags into his usual mug.

"Ah." William refrains from commenting further. He's certain that there must be a bar or club somewhere near. All too easy to find an easy victim for seduction.

Setting the microwave to heat the blood, Angel turns around to lean against the counter, crossing his arms and glaring at the other vampire again. "So...Wesley."

"Yes?"

"Somehow I didn't expect you to attempt to seduce my employees, let alone do so so quickly."

"Why not?"

"They're my employees." Angel replies, as if that is reason enough.

William chuckles. "So I understand you don't want them distracted from their jobs. I won't approach them during working hours again."

Angel grits his teeth, "And outside working hours?"

"Surely you don't control what they do after working hours," William says. He pushes up onto a counter, spreading his legs and resting his hands between his knees.

Keeping his eyes on William's face, Angel refuses to let himself be distracted. "Wesley and Cordelia are very important to me..." He starts just as the microwave beeps. Turning, he grabs his mug and starts to sip at the contents.

"I fail to see the connection."

"I don't want either of them leaving LA because you have...upset them."

"I won't upset them," William says. "Are you sure that's your only objection?"

Taking a large gulp to stop himself sneering 'What do *you* think?' Angel takes a moment to compose himself. "I admit, I have a little trouble with the idea of either of them...with...a vampire. Especially in light of their past experiences, though those experiences were not with other vampires."

"But they are adults, Angel. Free-willed, and working with you, I imagine more aware than most of the nature of vampires." William's look turns speculative, and he cocks his head as he looks at Angel. "Unless I misunderstand things, and you have a more intimate attachment to them."

Looking at him, Angel blinks a few times. "What? No! They're my friends."

"So then there shouldn't be a problem."

'Shit!' Angel thinks to himself, desperately wanting to throw his mug across the room. Instead he says, "Right." his tone completely flat before continuing in a menacing tone "As long as you remember, hurt either of them and I will be extremely...displeased."

William continues to look at Angel. "I can feel that you're upset."

"Upset? Why would I be upset?"

"That's what I don't understand."

Finishing his mug, Angel busies himself with the other blood bag - ignoring the implications that William is hinting at.

William sighs. "I'll leave your employees alone. I'll make some excuse to Wesley...though I think he'll be quite disappointed."

Angel hums quietly sipping from his second mug of blood. "So. How long have you been in LA for?"

"Less than a day. It was relatively simple to get a referral to your agency."

"Ah, right. How long do you intend to stay?"

"Depends on you, I imagine." William looks at Angel.

"Oh?"

"You were the one that invited me to stay."

"Yes but... you must have some plans?"

"Aside from hunting down Kate? No, not really."

Angel casts around for an idea of how to persuade the other vampire to leave Kate alone - coming up blank, he decides to try and warn her away from LA.

William sighs. "But she can wait. I'm here so we can get to know each other. I still wonder why it is that Drusilla was so certain I should stay away from you."

"What exactly did she tell you about her reasons?"

"Only what was in the letter."

Angel nods. "When did you meet up with Penn then? Why didn't he bring you to us?"

"Just a few weeks after I was turned. I showed him the letter and he decided to honor Dru's wishes. Later on.... he said that Dru must have done it because you would have been..." William's voice trails off, thinking that perhaps repeating Penn's words on the subject might not be wise...or at the very least sound egotistical.

"I would have been what? Angry with Drusilla? With him? You?" Angel tries to prompt.

William sighs. "He said you would have been as taken with me as he was." Angel just stares at him, trying to work out the hidden meaning in that, knowing that there must be one; else the other man would not have hesitated in saying it. "Penn said that Drusilla was always jealous of your attention."

"That's true." Angel replies thoughtfully.

William leans back on his hands, legs still spread. "I think it was also partly that Penn wanted me all to himself."

Snorting, Angel agrees. "Probably." Still refusing to be distracted by William's body language, Angel turns to the sink where he washes his mug.

William sighs. "Well I suppose I had best see to dinner then, before the clubs close."

"Um. Yeah." Angel nods, his voice strained. His teeth itch just at the implication of the other vampire feeding on hot, pumping, sticky human blood right from the source. Eyes fluttering closed, he has to bite back a groan as he grips the edge of the sink.

William looks concerned. "You awright?"

"Yeah fine." Nodding and taking a deep breath, Angel turns around giving a weak smile, "Just not looking forward to tonight's mission."

"Mission?"

"Yeah, gotta kill some demon. Wesley knows more about it."

William furrows his brow. "Part of your business, then? Angel Investigations?"

Nodding again, Angel leans back against the counter. "Yeah we 'Help the Hopeless'" He rolls his eyes as he repeats the slogan.

"Do you like your job?" William asks with a smile.

Angel blinks a little before answering, "Well the fighting is kinda cool."

William chuckles at that. "Perhaps if I'm back before you have to leave, I can assist you."

"Oh. Yeah. That could be fun." Angel replies, a little surprised.

"Excellent." William slides off the counter, one smooth effortless motion. "I'll be off then, back as quick as I can."

Angel's breath catches, "Um. Ok."

William glides out of the kitchen. He stops by the office and gives an internal sigh. Best get it over with, he tells himself, and knocks on the door. Wesley looks up at the quiet knock, "Come in."

William opens the door. "Wesley...I'm sorry I caused you embarrassment. I didn't mean to, I honestly thought Angel would be asleep for a while."

Flushing deeply, Wesley drops his eyes. "Ah um. Apology accepted. I...*cough* I... I hope that you and Angel did not argue?"

"A bit. He has some rather strong objections to me being involved with you...or any of his friends, apparently. I don't wish to cause trouble. I hope you'll understand."

"Oh...yes...I...it would of course be inappropriate..." Wesley stutters a little as he speaks.

William steps in, closer, so Wesley can see his eyes clearly. "I am genuinely attracted to you. But he's concerned I might get involved and then leave, and he doesn't want to see you hurt."

Nodding, Wesley blushes deeper. "Of...of course. Um thank you for explaining."

William leans down, letting his lips brush against Wesley's lightly. "Perhaps another time."

Gasping quietly, Wesley nods. "Um yes, perhaps."

William steps back. He is genuinely regretful. Wesley is quite something. "I'd better go then. Leave you to your research."

Again, Wesley nods, looking back down at his notes. "Yes."

William sighs again, softly, and closes the door behind him.