"Deserter."
It was a simple word that had so many repercussions that came with it.
Zaveriel bows his head, taking a step back from the accusatory glare that's aimed his way, stepping back into someone. Their hands curl lightly over his shoulders, he looks over in surprise, staring at the familiar ring. Zed rubs his thumbs over his shoulders lightly in comfort, glaring over his head at the Messenger. The Virtues close ranks, surrounding their youngest brother, Oren comes to stand before him, blocking the view of him from anyone who desires to gaze upon him. Akriel stands close to his right side, lifting a hand to set upon his head, watching the seen around them carefully. On his left, Constantine stands, his arms crossed loosely over his chest, shaking his head lightly at the Messenger, disdain evident in his eyes. Ephraim stands behind him, next to Zed, his hand pressed against the small of his back.
The Powers stand timidly behind their Commander, eyeing the Messenger carefully, shaking their head softly.
Behind the Messenger, the Principalities appear uncomfortable, shifting in their place, uneasy around them all.
"Gabriel." Beside them, the Healer surges forward, his fingers curled tightly around his staff, as he comes to loom over the Messenger. "How dare you say such a horrid thing to one of my Virtues."
"Oh, shove off Raph!" The Messenger shoves the older archangel harshly in the chest. "He was mine first and he abandoned his brothers!"
"No." The Healer points a finger in the young archangels face. "He was mine first." And forces him to take a step back, when he takes a step forward. "I let you have him." His grip tightens dangerously around his staff. "You are the deserter."
"He left—"
"Following your example!" His older brother points a finger in his face in warning, the Messenger goes cross eyed as he stares at it, his older brother's eyes shining lightly with the first signs of his grace peeking through. "Watch how you speak to me, you little fool, I don't take those who disrespect me, and most certainly those who disrespect my own." The Messenger is forced back another step. "You lost him because of your own stupidity, you continued promising the same thing over and over again and you failed to deliver, how could anyone continue to follow the word of someone whose word means nothing."
"I—"
"You lost two-thirds of your flock because of your failing to put them first."
Michael watched them both carefully, standing before his Powers, his Captain at his side. His arms lay loosely crossed over his chest, waiting only for the moment he's needed to step in, Gabriel has dared to tempt Raphael's temper.
"I—"
"You are an insult to the commanding of a flock. An insult to us Archangels. An insult as a person."
"He—"
"I am ashamed of you."