At the last moment, Rose turns her head away, confusing Shredder.
"What's wrong? Are you still worried about your assignment?"
"No, there's something you need to know. About angels. Sit with me."
They sit. Shredder puts his arm around Rose and she leans into him.
"I'll start at the beginning. It was the High Middle Ages in England, and I was 22. My village was one of the more prosperous ones. I lived a relatively peaceful life there with my mother and father, but I wasn't like the other girls growing up. There were just a few girly activities that I enjoyed; mostly I liked roaming the woods, and watching the boys fight, and learning their moves. Despite this, many men asked for my hand. They didn't bother getting to know me, they just took one look at me and decided I was wife material. I'm not sure if any of them even had feelings for me. That doesn't matter though."
She nestles against Shredder more and continues, "One day, some of my would-be suitors ambushed me. I tried to fight them off but they overwhelmed me. One of them said, "If you won't give yourself to us, we'll take you." I tried again to fight them off, but they threw me to the ground and I hit my head on a rock. That is my last human memory."
Rose looks up, to see that Shredder has tears in his eyes. She wipes them away and says, "It gets better. I woke up lying face-down on a bed. I thought perhaps I had been rescued. But the room was shining white, and there were no homes of the sort in the village. I felt the back of my head, and it was whole. It didn't even hurt. I pushed myself up, and that's when I noticed a weight across my back. I looked round, and saw what appeared to be a blanket of feathers. I managed to raise myself into a sitting position, but the blanket remained. I noticed also that I was barefoot and wearing this dress.
"A man who appeared to have wings entered the room then, and I was even more confused. But then he explained everything. He told me that I had died upon hitting my head, and that my attackers had run off, but that my body had been dragged away and eaten by animals. And that I had been chosen to be an angel. He told me that we lacked time, and that he quickly had to teach me to use my wings, and how to fight, in order for me to avenge myself as soon as possible.
"And so my training began apace. I learned quickly, and my trainer was pleased with my progress.
"Eventually, I was ready, and was returned to my village in the middle of the night. There I took on a different appearance. My hair and wings became black, my dress became red, and my eyes were entirely red, rimmed with black, and blood flowed from them. I named myself Thorn.
"One by one, I entered the homes of my attackers. They were confused, but they soon understood as I began to exact my vengeance. I didn't kill them of course; death is a release, not a punishment, but they probably wished for death. The screams of the first drew some of the rest of the village, but I was too skilled, and they had no hope of stopping me.
"When I had finished I was taken back. My trainer heaped praise on me, and told me that I was being promoted to Avenging Angel, and would carry out many similar tasks. I was sent all over the world on assignments, all successfully carried out. Until now."
After a brief pause, Rose continues, "In addition to my training, I was taught what being an angel means. It means life eternal, but without the human need for rest and food. Many normal bodily functions are deactivated."
She looks sad, confusing Shredder, but he suddenly understands, and holds her tightly, causing Rose to forget her sadness. She continues once more, "The most important thing that I learned, is that the first kiss binds two angels together forever. Therefore, great care must be taken. They must be absolutely sure that they are right for each other. After the Bonding, there is no loving another, for all time."
Rose looks up, to see that Shredder is smiling broadly.
"I already couldn't love another. But does it work the same way between angels and humans?"
"It's never been tried before."
"So we'd be pioneers."
Rose smiles.
"Yes, we would."
Shredder gently caresses her cheek, looks deep into her eyes, and softly says, "I love you." Rose's heart quickens. "I love you too." Shredder rises, drawing her with him, takes her in his arms, and lowers his head towards hers.
