Birthday fic!

In honour of the ever-adorable dawnie1970's birthday, I have written 500 words of Angel/Wesley future!fluff. It's unrelated to my Angel/Wesley hurt/comfort series - unless you'd like to personally postulate it as fitting into that timeline somehow. Happy Birthday, Dawnie, I hope you like it!



Learning Lachesis

“I honestly can’t tell whether you’re mocking me, or planning to burn this place down for the insurance money. Did you really need to use all seventy three candles?” Wesley was ensconced in his favourite armchair, eyeing the wax-dotted confection with a mixture of trepidation and pleasure. One could hardly see the cake for the candles.

Setting down the tray with an exaggerated flourish, Angel draped himself around the back of Wes’ chair, chin resting on his shoulder. “I’m not mocking you, I’m being accurate. I thought you liked accuracy? And punctuality, and diligence, and discipline, and disciplining me, like you did with the-”

Momentarily lost in the image, Wesley snapped out of it in time to gently thwap Angel on the side of his head. “I think I liked not having everyone at the party know exactly how old I am. A man at my age has some hope that people will have lost count.”

“Well, once it’s lit, all the little flames should just kind of coalesce together into one big elderly bonfire, so that should keep it pretty vague.”

“Elderly? I’ll show you elderly, you bloody tricentarian!” Turning to press his lips on Angel’s, Wesley reflected on how good it was that the guests weren’t scheduled to arrive for another hour.

*****

It was also good that Angel could joke about it. There was a time – years and years, actually – when he couldn’t stomach the idea of Wesley aging. Wouldn’t even entertain the thought. Grey hairs were a trick of the light, crow’s feet just the result of too much squinting over the ever-present books. Birthdays a bitter reminder of the downside to loving a human - not something to be celebrated.

But time changed Angel, even if it didn’t change his face or his strong stride, and he had learned to be grateful, mostly. There were still days when he feared each square on the calendar, and still nights when he stared at the growing fragility of the body beside him and shuddered, but mostly – mostly Angel had learned to be happy.

Like he was now, curled around Wes on the rug, both of them sated and stubbornly procrastinating against the need to wash up and make ready to play host. He kissed the soft skin behind Wes’ ear, and slipped an arm beneath his head to cushion it. “Mmmm. Seems like we still got it.”

“Indeed. I’m actually so relaxed I’m willing to overlook the plethora of candles.” Angel’s hand came to rest on Wesley’s abdomen, and he toyed with the long cool fingers.

“Thank you.” The words were sincere, perhaps a little too much so.

“I wasn’t honestly upset, Angel. I would have thought I proved that just a moment ago when I put your –”
“No, Wes. I mean - Thank you. For getting old. With me.”

“You’re welcome. It’s been a good few decades, hasn’t it?” Turning, Wesley rested his forehead against Angel’s and smiled. “Ready to try for a few more?”

*****

Author's note: In Greek mythology, Lachesis is the one of the Three Fates charged with measuring out the lifespan of every mortal being.