A/N—Hey guys, another short chapter here. Wanted to get this up now before the hectic work week ahead. I hope everyone's well and to those who celebrate it, Happy Thanksgiving! :)

James came awake with a jolt, sitting up fast as he attempted to get his bearings. He was on the sofa in his living room, a familiar tune coming from the television as credits rolled across the screen. Kendall was there, of course he was there, because wasn't he always?

A hand came down to settle over James' thigh, and that angelic face peered at him in concern. "James? Are you well?"

"Yeah. Sorry, I just...did I fall asleep?"

"You did. I considered transporting you to your bed, but you seemed comfortable sleeping against me so I did not."

James blinked, trying to wake his brain up from the fog of sleep. "I did not 'sleep against' you."

"You did." Kendall frowned. "Am I using words incorrectly again?"

"Forget it," James sighed with a wave of dismissal. His mood was quickly souring. Had he really slept through most of the movie? And slept so well that he was still having trouble waking up completely?

"Do you wish to go to your room now?"

Did he? James didn't know what he wanted anymore. Everything just seemed so hard lately.

"James? Are you—"

"Yes, Kendall, I'm well," he snapped, then immediately regretted it when Kendall's face fell. "I'm sorry. I'm uh...not a morning person. Not that it's morning, but I just woke from a deep sleep and...oh no. Did I snore?"

"I did not hear snoring, no. Though there was moisture leaking from your lips."

"Oh god, I drooled."

"And you hummed."

That was unexpected. "Hummed?"

"Yes, to the melody of the song that was just coming from the television. I believe it was your singing that awoke you. I was trying to listen, because you had just begun to sing very softly, and then you stirred."

He'd done more than stir, he'd practically bolted off the couch. No wonder Kendall had been concerned. "I was singing? I sing in my sleep?"

"You did not last night, nor did you earlier when you napped. Perhaps this time it was because of the music playing."

"Huh."

"I should like to hear more, James."

James finally looked at Kendall, and there he saw nothing but kindness and wonder. No mockery, no judgment, just simple curiosity and appreciation. "Hear more?"

"Yes, of your voice. I want to hear it without any treatment, just the voice given to you by God."

A hot blush stained James' cheeks. "You hear my voice all the time. This is it."

"No, your singing voice. That is what was spoken of in the prophecy. 'A voice of angels.'" Kendall leaned back against the arm of the sofa and smiled. "Sing for me, James."

James had thought that the acting was nerve-wracking and stressful, but this...something about the way Kendall was staring at him with such expectation, such high hopes, terrified him into stage fright. "I...uh, no. Let's just go to bed." Unsteadily, he rose from the couch. Suddenly the wings were calling him and he wanted to be nowhere else. Which was becoming a problem.

He had the thought again that maybe Lucy was right, and there was something in those wings that brainwashed him into submission. When the need for them came on, it was like a hunger for drugs. He needed that fix. Craved it.

And the fact that he was getting hard, that had nothing to do with it at all, because that would be really weird. It was just his body going through withdrawal because he never did get the sex he'd been dying for the night before. And maybe something left over from whatever he'd been dreaming. It was normal to wake up hard.

But you weren't hard when you woke up, buddy. You're not even totally hard now, just about halfway there. It started when you thought of the wings, something about those wings just—

"James?" Kendall had stood up when James did and now stared at him in concern—yet again. "Are—"

"Kendall, I'm fine! Will you stop asking me that?! Jesus!"

Before Kendall could respond, and definitely before James could see the reaction he knew would be coming, he stormed to the bathroom and slammed the door. "Just let me pee in peace!" he yelled. There was no reply. "You'd better not be in here and like...invisible or something!"

"I am here." Kendall's voice came from the other side of the door. "I will wait here unless you need me inside the bathroom."

"No, the bathroom is still off limits! Just...give me a minute!"

Why did he feel like he was losing his mind? Kendall did that to him, one second he was relaxed and at peace, the next he wanted to scream and pull his hair out. Not really, because his hair was half of his identity (the other half being his voice), but the urge was there. Kendall put him off balance and he hated it.

The other side of that was when Kendall made him feel safe and appreciated. Why couldn't it be like that all the time? He'd been fine when he woke up, what set him off this time?

"Sing for me, James."

Yes, that had been it. Kendall wanting him to sing, looking at him in expectation, it threw him off. Made him uncomfortable. Made him nervous.

And what sense did that make? James sang for a living. He'd done it many times in front of other people, in front of crowds even. Yet one person (James used the term loosely) asking him to sing set off stage fright like he'd never known? It was Kendall. Surely Kendall wasn't going to judge him.

"But I expected your singing to please me. To...what is a human word for it? Wow me?"

"I probably just do not understand what is pleasing to the ears of a human."

And there it was. Kendall had judged him. Not intentionally, but James' ego hadn't recovered. What if he did sing for Kendall, without the autotune, and Kendall still wasn't impressed? What if the prophecy was wrong and his voice wasn't all that? What would that mean?

Maybe that they have the wrong guy. Which I tried to tell Kendall. There's no way I could affect the future of Heaven.

Part of him wanted to be that important, though. Wanted it to be true of his singing, that it was that good.

"James?"

He held in the groan that wanted to break free. "Yes, Kendall?" he said tiredly.

"Are you—" Kendall stopped, backtracked. "I do not hear anything. I am concerned."

"What, you're not scanning me in here?"

"No, you asked me not to while you're in that room. May I?"

"Nope. I'm fine, just..." What exactly was he doing? Standing here thinking about things that shouldn't matter? "I'm taking a dump. It's not always a quick thing."

"A dump?"

"Yeah, it's..." What was the correct term? Logan would know. Some big word, James thought, but it escaped him now. "I'm getting rid of waste."

"Waste?"

"Yes, just...don't worry about it. It's normal for humans."

"Okay. I trust you."

"Thank you." James let out a breath, and his nerves with it. He didn't have to sing for Kendall. He had a choice. Nobody could make him. Keeping that in mind, he emptied his bladder, flushed, and washed his hands. Looking at himself in the mirror, he knew that he should go through his usual bedtime procedure of cleanser, moisturizer, wrinkle cream (it never hurt to start early on that), etc., but tonight he just didn't have it in him.

You skipped last night, James. And the night before. You can't skip three nights in a row. You'll end up with zits.

Staring at his face, at the smooth skin he worked so hard to keep, James just couldn't work up the energy to care. All he wanted was his bed and his wings.

They're not yours. Kendall doesn't belong to you.

But he sort of did for the next year, didn't he? Whether James liked it or not, Kendall was his. And though he hated to admit it, there were certain things about that that weren't horrible.

When he opened the bathroom door, he met Kendall's worried expression with a smile. "Let's go to bed."

Kendall nodded, and without asking reached out for James' arm. In less than a second, James was standing over his bed. "Kendall, it was literally like ten steps to the room. I could've walked on my own."

"I wished to be helpful."

"Of course you did."

James started to strip, then realized Kendall wasn't doing the same. "It's bedtime. That means we change clothes again."

"Why?" Kendall frowned.

"To be comfortable." He dragged the shirt over his head, then shoved down his jeans.

"You did not last night."

"I didn't have a choice last night. Someone trapped me in my bed and refused to let me move."

Kendall dropped his gaze, but said, "I was protecting you. You were reckless, putting your life in danger."

"My life was never in danger."

"It is always in danger when around a female. I wish you'd understand that."

"And I wish you'd understand that I know how to take care of myself." James moved to his dresser and opened it, now down to boxers, and then remembered that he preferred to feel the feathers against his bare skin. No need for additional clothing.

"I am here to help."

"Right, right." He spun around to study Kendall, which wasn't easy in the dark. "Do you want something to change into?"

"If it is comfort I need, then my robe is best."

James thought that over. "Actually, no clothing is best." Realizing how that might sound, he cleared his throat and tried again. "I mean, not no clothing, but this right here. Just boxers. It's the most comfortable thing to sleep in."

"I will not be sleeping."

"Still, you'll be lying there with me all night. You should be comfortable, too. Get rid of the clothes."

Kendall snapped his fingers, and all fabric covering him fell to the floor. James averted his eyes. "What did I just say? Not no clothing. The boxers stay on."

"And the boxers are...?"

"What I'm wearing, Kendall. This right here." He tugged at the waistband. Another snap of slim fingers and the boxers reappeared to cover Kendall's privates. "Thank you. Now can we just go to bed?"

"Of course. What can I do to assist with that?"

"You can lie down and stretch out those wings."

"Oh, that sounds wonderful. They have been cramped in this body all day."

James heard more than saw Kendall get comfortable on the bed. When the movement tapered off, he settled on the edge and asked, "Are you ready?"

"I am. Will you need the blanket?"

"Not with the wings, they keep me warm." He wasn't shy about diving into the velvety softness this time, and when the wings wrapped around him, he sighed in contentment. It was so much better with his bare skin against the feathers.

"Are you comfortable, James?"

"Very." Though he had to admit, having Kendall's arms and the feathers around him would be the ultimate. That was too needy, though. He'd "suffer" with just the wings. He closed his eyes, resting his cheek against Kendall's shoulder.

And then Kendall's arms slid around him to hold him close. It made perfect sense that Kendall was an angel, because he'd brought Heaven with him.

"Sleep well, James. What time shall I wake you in the morning?"

"Don't. It's Sunday."

"Ah yes, the day of rest. Will we be attending a religious ceremony of any kind?"

James spluttered out a laugh. "Not even close. I don't do religion, remember? It was in my file."

"It was, but I thought perhaps I had changed something in your heart with my presence."

"Nice try, buddy. This heart is sealed up tight. Nobody gets in."

"Except perhaps Lucy. Or—"

"Can we not do this right now? I'm finally relaxed and not stressed. Can't we just sleep?"

"Forgive me. You know that I am always on guard."

"I do, and I get that it's your job. But I'm safe at the moment. Is there anywhere safer than inside your wings?"

"Not on this Earth."

"Exactly. So just...chill. Which does not have anything to do with temperature. It means to relax."

"Understood."

"When did you stop using contraptions again? You've been talking stiff all day."

"Again, forgive me. It is not...it's not easy to adapt to."

"Well, I guess it's fine when we're alone. But around other people, it'll sound weird. They'll ask questions, Kendall. We don't want that."

"I understand."

"Try again."

After a pause, Kendall said, "I get it."

"Better. You know, your lips tickle my hair when you talk. Your mouth is like right on me."

"Is this a problem? I can give you more space. If you'd rather I stand by the door, I can—"

"No, that's not what I meant." And wasn't it crazy how badly James didn't want Kendall to give him space? "I explained to you that your wings help block out light."

"There is no light here at the moment."

"Still, there will be in the morning. I'd like to sleep in if I can."

"I will keep you shielded from the light as long as you need me to."

"Thanks, I appreciate that."

"Anything you need, James. You have only to ask it and I will provide."

"Can I have sex with a girl tomorrow?"

"Anything but that, I'm afraid."

James chuckled, having predicted that answer. "Doesn't hurt to try. Goodnight, Kendall."

"Goodnight, James."

A soft hum left him when he closed his eyes. He felt Kendall tense for a moment before relaxing again. "What?"

"Pardon?"

"What happened? Why did you tense up?"

"I did not mean to. I thought you were going to sing, so I was waiting for it. But then you did not."

"Oh. Yeah, no. That's not happening. Sorry."

"It is a pity. I would hate to return to Heaven having never heard your true voice. I've wondered about it since the first time I heard the prophecy."

"Well, I'd hate to disappoint you."

"You could not, James. Outside of your reckless behavior and manipulation last night, you have been cooperating with me. It is appreciated."

James thought the same could be said of Kendall. Other than the no sex/no girls rule, Kendall had been trying to work with him. He could've been a complete dick about the whole thing, and James wondered if other angels would have been—angels who had been around longer and knew more about humans and how often they made bad choices. Really, James thought he was probably lucky to have been assigned Kendall.

It made him want to do something nice for the guy. So after reminding himself that no matter what Kendall thought of his singing, the angel wouldn't purposely insult him, James took a breath and started to sing. It was faint at first, nerves getting the better of him, and when Kendall tensed up again he almost chickened out. But then the arms tightened, as if to press him on, and James closed his eyes and let the voice take him over as it sometimes did when he was really feeling it.

Rather than any of the songs Gustavo had written for him, James chose one that he'd loved as a child. He recalled now that it had actually been his father's favorite, a ballad that was unusual for his rocker dad to listen to. Dad had serenaded Mom with it a few times, always making her laugh while at the same time tear up. Singing it took him back to the good times, before they'd stopped loving each other, when his world had been safe and secure. He felt that way now inside Kendall's wings, so he drowned himself in the words and the feeling. The soft cage amplified his voice inside the space to add acoustics, and his voice reverberated off the wall of feathers so that it seemed to breeze around them both.

Kendall said nothing. James was glad he couldn't see whatever expression might be on that flawless face. It emboldened him enough to finish out the song, and when it was done he dropped into silence. He waited. And waited. There was only the sound of his own breathing, and it was starting to freak him out.

"Kendall?"

"James. Something is wrong."

James' heart dropped. Part of him had expected this, but it still hurt to know he wasn't as good as the angels seemed to think. "I tried to tell you it wasn't me."

"My eyes."

"Your...your eyes?" Confused, James lifted his face. In doing so his forehead brushed against Kendall's jaw—his wet jaw. "Kendall, what's wrong? Are you bleeding?" His hands came up to feel Kendall's face.

"I do not know. There is something leaking from my eyes. Is this normal?"

James blinked a couple of times before using a finger to dab moisture from Kendall's cheek. It didn't feel like blood. He took a chance and tasted it, praying he was right about that. "Kendall. Are you crying?"

"Oh. Is that what this is? I thought humans only cried when they were sad or in pain."

"Um...and you're not, right? My singing didn't make you sad?"

"No, it made me...I do not have human words to explain it, James. It is the most beautiful sound I have ever heard. Heaven does not even possess such glory."

James' breath caught. "Are you saying...you're crying because you were touched? My voice was beautiful enough to bring you to tears?" He waited a beat. "Me?"

"'A voice of angels.' Yet the prophecy only hints at the truth, because there is no angel who sings the way you do. I am so honored that you shared that with me. Thank you."

"I...it's...really, Kendall, it's no big deal. It's just singing." Since when did compliments make him so uncomfortable? James usually thrived on compliments, especially about his talent.

"No, James, it is so much more when you do it. It comes from your heart. From your soul. And I knew the moment I arrived that your soul is one of beauty and light."

"I'm uh...I'm not sure that's me. I mean, yeah, I'm beautiful and all but...not the way you think I am. And I'm certainly not made of light."

"You are. I wish you could see that."

This was too much. Thank God he couldn't see Kendall's face, because that was the most intense thing Kendall had said to him yet. He had to break the tension. "Yeah, I'll remind you of that next time you're mad at me for doing something reckless. Do you need me to get you a tissue?" he teased, heart pounding in his chest with the weight of...something. Getting away from Kendall seemed like the best option at the moment.

"A tissue? No, I have no need of that. Those are used for leaking noses, am I correct? I believe I heard that once."

"I meant for your eyes, crybaby. Are you finished sobbing all over me?"

"Ah. I believe so, yes. I quite enjoyed that, James."

"Glad I could entertain you, weirdo. May I sleep now?"

"Of course. I shall refrain from speaking."

"Thanks."

Trying not to show how shaken up he was over Kendall's reaction, James settled down again. He'd been so sure Kendall would be unimpressed. Instead, the heavenly being had been moved to tears. What did that even mean? Was it a reflection of Kendall's sheltered life since becoming an angel, or was James' voice really that amazing? Maybe Kendall was right and he should insist that Gustavo stop using autotune in every song.

He'd think about that tomorrow. For the moment, he was safe and secure, encased in a shelter made of silky feathers and wrapped in arms that radiated soothing warmth into his body. The rest of the world could go fuck itself, because he was done thinking about anyone else tonight.

He felt Kendall's lips against his hair, and peace calmed him into sleep.