Title: Aroma Therapy
Author: Claire T.
Posted: 04-23-2003
Email:
Rating: PG13
Category: Humour
Content:
Summary: The FG discuss smell…what?
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Distribution: Ask first
Notes: This has no real setting, just put it where ever you want it.
Feedback: It’s better than Jude Law in a speedo…

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“Do I have a smell?” Cordelia questioned as picked up one of Wesley’s egg rolls.

“You do realize there is no right answer to that question?” Gunn questioned as he pulled his food away from her.

“There are a few.” Fred quirked from her spot on the counter. Cordelia and Wesley shared a couch while Gunn just leaned against the counter.

“There are a few what?” Angel questioned as he came up from the training room.

“Right answers about whether Cordelia has a smell.” Fred replied as she poked around her empty carton. She cast a sidelong glance at Gunn’s food and he pulled the carton’s away.

“Don’t even think about it.” He said quickly, when he noticed her look.

“I wasn’t thinking about a thing.” Fred said innocently.

“People! Let’s stay on topic here. Do I have a smell?” Cordelia questioned as Wesley stole one of her General Tso’s chickens.

“Roses and vanilla. Yes, that I believe is it.” Wesley said sincerely as he stole a piece of broccoli or as Cordelia chose to call it ‘Ridding her of the nasty task of eating a tree.’

Angel noticed the way Cordelia’s face brightened at Wesley’s words and frowned. Cordelia smelt exactly like, “The sun.” he said quickly as he placed himself between the two.

“Really?” Cordelia said blissfully and Angel brightened considerably. “You think I smell like roses and vanilla?”

Angel’s grin was replaced by a frown, as Wesley sat up straighter, clearly pleased that his words had been noticed.

“Yes, I do.” He replied as he purposefully leaned over Angel to spear another piece of broccoli.

Cordelia bit her bottom lip, as if trying to think of something to say in return.

“Well you smell like tea and the air after a nice soft rain, and vanilla sometimes too. It’s very huggable and comforting.” She returned cheerfully.

Wesley blushed a deep crimson color.

“I don’t smell tea or rain or whatever.” Angel muttered dryly.

“What was that?” Cordelia questioned.

“Nothing.”

“Why thank you Cordelia. I didn’t even know you,”

“I mean if you weren’t such a horrible kisser, I’d date you.”

“you smelled me.” Wesley finished with a frown.

The smile that had reappeared on Angel’s face quickly disappeared as he replayed her words. “What do you mean if he wasn’t such a horrible kisser?”

Cordelia shrugged as Wesley handed her another egg roll. “It means, if he was a good kisser I’d give him a chance. The first time was like: Ugghh!”

“Thank you, Cordelia, for that amazing recap.” Wesley said derisively.

“Anytime, Wes.” Cordelia joked. “The second time was better, but I didn’t even realize it was him until after the kiss…that didn’t sound to great did it?”

“You smell Wesley?” Angel questioned.

“It’s sort of unavoidable isn’t it? Smell is the sense you can’t control. I mean if you close off your nostrils…you die. Like smelling a fart. I don’t go around trying to smell farts, but it I do smell them. So I hug Wesley and take a sniff. He was a nice smell. Whatever.”

Wesley looked at both Gunn and Angel. “Did you hear that? I have a nice smell.”

“What do I smell like?” Gunn questioned quickly, ignoring Angel’s glare.

Cordelia didn’t seem to need to think about it. “Like sweat,”

Fred and Wesley and held back snickers as Gunn’s expression changed into one of deep concern. “Sweat?”

“Yeah. The good kind. The kind you don’t mind hugging. You smell like sweat and man and just plain natural. Its very ‘I can protect you’. I like it.”

Gunn smirked broadly. “Did you hear that? I smell like a man.”

“Hopefully so.” Fred mused silently as she cast another glance at his cartons of food.

Wesley’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t say anything.

“What do I smell like?” Angel questioned before Fred got any ideas.

Cordelia bit her lip, in deep thought as she recalled his smell.

“Well?”

“I’m thinking. I’m thinking.”

Angel fidgeted nervously as Cordelia seemed to take the next few forever’s to speak.

“I know. You smell like a man too, but like hard working and strong and vibrant. You smell like a lot of things. Warm and cold at once. It’s very creepy in this comforting way. You smell like age at a stand still. Like if I were to ever smell you anywhere else other than with a hug. I could get a memory or something. It’s very nice.”

Before Angel could say anything, Wesley cut in.

“Do I not smell like a man?”

“Huh?” Cordelia said dumbfounded.

“Well for Gunn and Angel there was all this man talk. I got tea, and rain and vanilla. Do I not smell like a man?”

Cordelia laughed it off easily. “Wes, of course you smell like a man. Just because I didn’t use the words doesn’t mean I didn’t think it. Plus sometimes your vanilla smell is the best. Of course that goes for you guys too.”

Gunn mumbled something about ‘obviously it goes for him too.’ And pushed a carton towards Fred.

“Finally!” the Texan squealed as she took the carton.

“I think I faired the best in this.” Angel said proudly, causing everyone to look at him. “What?”

Cordelia rolled her eyes and stood up quickly. “Come on Fred. Let’s get away from the testosterone war over here. I’ll tell you about all the other smells I remember…there was this one time when Giles, he was my high-school librarian, but so much more. Well he wore a lot of tweed and drank more tea than Wesley has managed to drink in the three years we’ve been in L.A….”

Cordelia’s voice trailed down the stairs as she and Fred disappeared.

The guys looked down and cast glances at each other.

“I still say I faired the best.” Angel said as he stood back up.

“Ha! She did not say you had a good sweat smell.”

“Which would disappoint me gravely if I cared. I’m datable to her.”

“Except for one thing.”

“What?”

“You can’t kiss.”

“Why Gunn I wasn’t aware you’d been experimenting on me in my sleep. I dare say, I much better when I’m awake. Plus I have three more years of experience than I did when I first kissed her.”

“And how many years did you have then, Wes? None? Was Cordy your first kiss?”

“That Angel is a ridiculous statement that I will not answer.” Wesley said as he headed to the office.

Gunn and Angel watched after him. “Five bucks says it wasn’t his first kiss.” Gunn said surely.

“You didn’t see him before in Sunnydale Gunn. I did. You may as well pay me now.”

“Come on, bro! You expect me to believe that he didn’t do anything weird while he was a teen. There had to be some girl that just ran up to him on the play yard and went smacheroo!”

The sound of Wesley clearing his throat reached them and both looked up quickly. “My first kiss was in third grade with someone who for privacy reasons I shall not release their name, who like me gravely. I unfortunately had no feelings for her.” Wesley looked down for a second, then back up before heading back into his office.

“ ‘For privacy reasons’? Is he scared we’re going to look her up or something?”

***

Angel watched as Wesley helped Cordelia with her coat, before calling him over.

“What is it Angel?” Wesley questioned.

“Is there something between you and Cordelia?”

Wesley looked taken aback at the question, but quickly answered. “Nothing. We’re just friends.”

“Good.” Angel said with a nod.

“Yeah.” Wesley said as he turned away slowly and headed back to Cordelia.

Angel listened as Cordelia told Wesley to wait in the car.

“Cordelia.”

“Angel.”

“So,”

“I just wanted to tell you that, I like your smell. It’s not really important, but I figured you’d like to know. I do like your smell. It’s very…smelly.”

“Thanks…I think.”

Cordelia headed back to the door, picking up her discarded purse and pushing the door open she cast a glance behind her. “You think I smell like the sun, do you?”

She didn’t wait for a reply. “Thanks.”

End.