Author's note: I would like to convey my deepest thanks to the people who took time to post a review to my preceding Legion fic, Consonance, and to those who added it to their favourites list. That story was written with utmost care and to know that there are readers out there who like it, really means a lot.

Warning: The following story is set after the events of the film, so spoilers and relevant mentions are included.

Turmoil

Chapter 1

Tranquillity surrounded each plain and corner of the heavenly sphere closest to earth and no worrying sign presaged disruption to the harmonisation of peace.

Michael was appreciatively enjoying the short break of rest that intervened between two shifts. He didn't feel tired, but he was mostly keen to use that chance of free time to submerge into his personal contemplations... These referred to the events that occurred in the world of humans, nearly a year ago when he was assigned to lead and carry out the celestial plan of a massive extermination. The commander in chief had refused to break the bonds with the race he loved and vowed to look after, choosing to remain loyal to the call of his heart and selfless decision to save humankind. The angel's resolve and faith were further strengthened by the firm belief that his purpose also mirrored the Maker's real intent... His true, deepest need.

And in the end, he had not proven wrong.

Perhaps the heaviest consequence of his decision was the unavoidable battle against his fellow general and second in command, Gabriel. A powerful angel who would never back out of a righteous fight. Michael was thinking that there was something else in particular that filled the warrior with the willing urge to open the path to conflict, besides his unshakable trust in Father's volition; His impulsiveness, a distinctive trait of his personality. Not in the sense of indiscretion, but rather a readiness to move to action as fast as possible, without the involvement of composite thoughts and incited by pure, vivid feeling or a desire to bring contentment to their Father, as Michael had openly observed before their duel; " You were always so eager to please Him."

Still, the chief Archangel was aware that behind that tendency, there was no motive of malevolence or egoism and therefore he wouldn't accuse Gabriel of that aspect in his behaviour. He also remembered that during the fight he wondered if the dutiful soldier was anxious, insecure with the groundless notion that Father may had a lesser estimation and liking for him... Michael would never form such thought if he hadn't seen that pained complaint in Gabriel's eyes when the first reappeared in the field of battle, fully healed, in order to discourage the aggressor in his pursuit.

And then, it was the way Gabriel called him; The rebellious son. He was not at all the kind of character that would say something he didn't mean, or just for the sake of quick provocation. The specific delineation reminded him immediately of the prodigal son from the relevant parable which he had studied and reflected a lot upon... Really, had he given the impression that he wanted to desert his family and Gabriel forever? It might looked like that to the strict Archangel because he warned Michael that turning back wouldn't be an available option if he eventually chose the path of doubts. It was also the moment when the leader reckoned the worst possibility, that it might had been his last day as a celestial soldier and governor of the guardian hosts and in the end he would die as a human, the kind he had loved and defended for so long, with all with strength...

But the Maker did not let him perish... He cured his form, clothed his shoulder blades with new wings.

Compassion.

Gabriel was surely not disappointed with this turn of events -Michael heard him mourn for the sacrifice after the conclusion of their duel- but the complaint which overcame him later and prompted his body to charge at the protective angel for a second time, was not indifferent to Michael; Did the fellow warrior feel underprivileged like the obedient, older son of the parable?

And then, how did the dark-clad angel received the sight of him without wings, the most significant physical characteristic of their existence and essential for their battles and general function during their interactions between the two worlds? Was he shocked? Certainly. It wasn't because Michael looked like a human. It was the new image that served as a reminder of the things he had once confided to Gabriel, that he often used to imagine how it would feel living a humane life, experiencing emotions the way this race did, either of happiness or struggle. Although imagination was perceived as a harmless ability, the brunet angel was sometimes worried that this tendency could be a sign that the general was not pleased with his life... Whenever this happened, Michael would calmly and honestly explain that he didn't do this out of discontent or need of change, but incited by an interest in -a clearly theoretical- enquiry.

Perhaps Gabriel was not able to believe these words completely and when he saw him among humans, with the appearance of a human, any cautious suspicion he may held, stirred along with the horrific notion that Michael was fast becoming a potential fallen, enemy of Heaven.

To deepen his understanding on past events was an effort that the angelic governor found beneficial and purging and it did not evoke any sort of resentment towards anyone. Additionally, there were questions that he couldn't answer by himself like what exactly propelled Gabriel not to stop and thrust his heart... How consciously he needed to do that? Michael sensed that the warrior was still too vulnerable to probe the subject; Not that it wasn't painful to him too, but he thought that it could perfectly clear out why Father mentioned that he was disappointed by the way Gabriel handled his given task, especially when the angel had no orders to show mercy. Whatever the answer was, Michael wouldn't press the angel to speak, seeing that he was still hurt and disconcerted, tortured by the memory though he was doing his best to hide it; The result of these feelings was among the reasons Michael didn't want to fight from the outset... He did not fear the dispute, but he had foreseen the agitation it would cause to Gabriel later.

It was not easy for the two angels to restore -and basically to rebuild- the harmony between them, to gather its broken pieces, either together or each on his own in a personal endeavour. But what helped and supported them and never changed, was their love for one another and for their Maker. They resumed attending their duties and working together without problem while humanity continued to be a significant part of their lives, even for Gabriel who-despite his hostile foray in the late scheme- had been a loyal ally for a very long time.

Gazing around for a moment, he realised that maybe he didn't choose this place for his rest circumstantially; It was one of Gabriel's favourite regions, surrounded by verdant hills, large rocks and an open view from which the ridgelines of tall mountains could be seen faintly in the long distance. They were so far that their figure seemed like it had absorbed the colour of the sky; It was solely their subtle outline that divided the shape from the open background.

Silver clouds had assembled and advanced together, hiding the stare of sun from time to time. While he watched their movement and how the wind changed their contours or dissolved their sensitive edges, he heard the rhythmic fluttering of broad wings moving against the resistance of air. When the angel turned towards the direction of the sound, he saw the familiar figure of Gabriel who had taken note of him too and he was ready to land.

The governor greeted him as the armoured warrior came near; The second, suddenly stood and seemed to study the other angel's face for a minute, as if trying to discern some thoughts behind the following silence. Michael didn't feel uncomfortable but he looked away in inner surprise as soon as he heard Gabriel's comment, " Your eyes are glistening and there are moist streaks on your face. What could have caused these tears?"

The soldier was right in his observation, as Michael noticed. He was so immersed in his reflections and the emotions they elicited that he didn't feel his own tears falling.

Receiving the absence of a quick answer as an indication that the Archangel was not willing to share the reasons, Gabriel tried to show him that he did not demand to know. " Unless it was the rain... It rains a lot here."

While Michael was making an effort to follow his coherence, the dark angel headed towards a tree with thick leaves and beckoned his companion to come. Once they were both under the tree, Gabriel lifted his hand and considerately laid the tip of his his index finger on a fresh, broad leaf, causing it to bend slightly...

There, on its flat surface, Michael saw a previously hidden dewdrop shining like a transparent pearl. It eventually slipped from the thin edge of the leaf and met the soft grass.

The leader was impressed with Gabriel's fine manner to humour him. " Right." He responded, completely self-aware of his harmless, obvious lie. " These beads were responsible."

Reassured by the answer, his companion knew that if something serious had occurred, Michael would have told him for sure.

In the meantime, more clouds had covered the sky and a sudden air made the leaves tremble.

" You returned early." Michael pointed out.

" I know. My shift has not ended, I just came to pick up some weapons."

" What happened?"

" A garrison set at the outskirts of our world reported signs of intrusion close to their station. It appears that the dark forces are in a disrespectful mood to draw our attention and cause disturbances... Although it was quiet when I arrived there myself, it would be proper to examine the area more carefully as well as the ones nearby."

Contraventions with the fallen and their unholy subjects was not an unusual phenomenon... Their field of conflict varied between the celestial abodes and the earthly ones and as for the second, it was especially the place where they longed to dominate in order to deliver themselves from the prisons of Hell. Still, the enemies were well-aware of the power of the heavenly host and therefore their boldness was restricted to taunts and clearly cunning attacks. Most of the times, they preferred expressing their hatred and malevolent intentions through causing torment and guileful temptation to whom they considered vulnerable -humans- ignoring the fact that they were not helpless or always weak.

" Whatever sort of offence it may be, I wouldn't want it to expand to any location on earth." The chief prince spoke solemnly. A cold, foreshadowing feeling fidgeted inside his chest. " We had enough cases to resolve recently and it shows that after the events of the extermination scheme, the fallen grew too insolent. For now, a good scouting must be organised to understand the current situation."

In the meantime, the weather had changed dramatically, omening a heavy rainfall. That would be considered as common if there weren't so many violent lightnings and thunders combined with a strangely fierce wind. Gabriel frowned and when he saw his companion getting soaked by the foreign rain, he urgently seized him by the arm and led him under the cover of a huge rock which formed a flat roof as it was consolidated to a hill.

His action was so quick that Michael had no time to protest, even if he wanted to. But when they were under the natural roof, he immediately wondered if Gabriel had spotted anything suspicious around them...

The weather itself did not provide him with any clue, so he turned to the alerted angel... He appeared as though he was measuring a dangerous adversary. The edges of his folded wings were strained, pointing outwards as a sign of fighting concentration.

" Gabriel?"

" This kind of rain brings something ominous... I know the place well and I am sure this weather is not normal."

The surge of wind and water had increased in power. Small parts of hail were falling too, but their colour did not really resemble that of ice...

Michael pondered on the words of the fellow Archangel. Indeed something was wrong and he instinctively looked down at his half wet, bare arms as if expecting that the sight of drops would give him a revealing indication...

He discovered something, but it wasn't about the water.

Tiny pellets of yellow hue were lying on his skin and both angels identified the material. It was sulphur.

Gabriel removed his mantle and extended it to his leader. " You better wipe it off." Although he was stained too, he focused his attention on Michael.

The other angel did not hasten to get rid of it and remained collected; He gathered and rubbed some of the substance between his fingers, studying its texture [1].

Despite his attentive examination, he thought that Gabriel's initial instinct might had not proven wrong after all. " How can rough sulphur can be included within cleansing rain?"

" We need to find out." His general replied and they both ventured out to come face to face with the mysterious challenge.

XxX

[1] According to biblical view, rough sulphur is a mineral that refers to the infernal underworld due to its abundance there. However, when burned, it is considered as an instrument of spiritual cleansing and protection against evil. Based on that, Michael does not hurry to incriminate it.