Angel chooses to take that protestation with a grain of salt, shifting his weight against the desk once more. Not always him, maybe, but he knows first-hand how easy it can be to turn a blind eye to what you're capable of, to deny it and hope that that will be enough to keep it from being true.

It never is. Something in the way Alex protests hits him close to home, but it's one more thing he files away for later.

"If you ever want to tell me more, I'm here." He pauses, just for a beat. "Maybe I'll tell you some of my own background. Help put things in perspective."