Disclaimer: I own very little.

019. White

Crawly lay low in the middle of grass, his eyes following the angel intently. Aziraphale was obviously aware of him, but was yet to spot him, and didn't seem to be trying particularly much. This suited Crawly perfectly well. He didn't want to fight today.

The sun wasn't shining very brightly that day, yet the angel seemed to be bathed in bright light. This wasn't too usual an occurrence, but he knew it meant the angel was just about to burst with holy energy. It'd go over... hopefully. If he couldn't stay hidden long enough, all that excess power would be directed at him. And that would not feel good.

Fortunately, like most demons, Crawly was good at lurking. He may not have liked it, but he was good at it. He was good enough at it that not even the angel noticed him.

Thus, he lurked.

Aziraphale spread his wings. He was practically buzzing with energy, longing for some kind of action. Crawly was nowhere to be found. These two facts may or may not have been connected to each other, he concluded. But, whether or not Crawly was hiding purposefully, standing around definitely wouldn't lure the snake out.

Perhaps it was about the time he made a visit to Heaven that didn't involve discorporation.

Not even the greatest warriors can be fighting or training all the time. Thus, even Michael's training session had come to an end. Wiping sweat from his brow, he lowered his sword, halting the movement that had been continuous for the past couple of hours.

"Impressive," Uriel commented from the side of the room, raising an eyebrow. "I could have never imagined you could concentrate on anything for that long."

"Oh, hush, you," Michael muttered, walking closer to his friend. "That's not even funny, you know."

"Why, I happen to think it's hilarious," the darkhaired archangel said. However, there was no true amusement in his voice.

Michael gave his friend a sharp gaze. "Uriel?" he asked. "Is something wrong?" He couldn't help but get worried. Uriel looked very serious and... odd. Yes, his expression was definitely odd. This bothered Michael more than he may have been willing to admit. He was content being friends, and close friends at that, but his love for Uriel had never disappeared. It just loomed just under the surface, often emerging in the form of overly intense worry or concern, as he dared not express it in any other way.

"No, nothing," Uriel said a bit absentmindedly. "It's just that... I've been thinking." One moment seeming a bit distant, the next Uriel was staring at him sharply, bright emerald eyes keeping him captive. "You still love me, don't you?"

This question definitely startled Michael. Still, he decided to answer truthfully. "I never stopped," he confessed quietly. "I've just come to accept the facts."

"And I'm grateful for that." A hand was placed on the warrior's arm. A friend's hand, yes -- and that was exactly what stung so badly within Michael's heart. He couldn't help but imagine that hand caressing his body, touching him in ways a friend never would, brushing his skin oh-so-lightly, just like Uriel himself was light and gentle and so very beautiful.

There was a brief silence during which neither said anything, both settling to lean against the nearest wall -- there was no seating available in the room -- deep in thought. Then, however, a voice broke that silence.

"However," Uriel said, his eyes firmly gazing at something in the distance -- whether there was anything or not, Michael did not know, but he at least saw only the sky behind the window -- "I've been thinking. And perhaps... Perhaps the decisions I've made haven't been the best possible ones."

Michael's heart leapt at those words. Not daring to hope in fear of being disappointed again, he asked simply, "Uriel?"

The other angel still didn't look at him. "Would you do me a favour, Michael?" he asked instead.

"Anything for you," Michael said, and meant it. He would have indeed done anything for his beloved Uriel. "Just tell me what to do."

"Show me," Uriel requested quietly. "Show me how that... 'loving'... works. The angelic kind."

Michael set his hand gently on the other's jaw, turning Uriel's head until he was looking directly into the fascinating emerald eyes. "Are you sure?" he asked softly.

"Yes, I am," Uriel replied. "You claim to love me, after all, and if He has made it possible, I won't abandon it without at least trying it first. I just... I just want to feel what it is like." He seemed a bit hesitant, yet there was a determination in his eyes that showed he was indeed serious about it.

Michael couldn't help it. As he looked at Uriel, the oh-so-beautiful being right there in front of him, saw the mix of hesitation and determination in the emerald eyes, he was drawn to the other by an invincible force. Before he even realized it, he had pressed his lips against Uriel's.

The kiss was soft, hesitant, and brief. As soon as the realization of what he had done dawned on Michael, he drew back, blushing fiercely. "I - I'm sorry," he stammered, extremely embarrassed. "I didn't mean - I shouldn't have -"

"Oh, hush, you," said Uriel, a faint smile on his lips. "I just asked you to do more than just kiss me, did I not?" And, to punctuate this point, he pressed a small, inexperienced kiss on Michael's lips.

Not wanting to scare Uriel off, Michael slowly led their way towards the bedroom, showering Uriel with kisses and light embraces. He could hardly believe this true. Any moment now he would wake up and see that it had been just a dream, a beautiful, painful dream that would never become true.

Then, however, they were in his bedroom, and Uriel was in his bed, and their clothes were on the floor. They were both in their basic androgynous forms, Uriel lying on his back with a half thrilled, half nervous expression on his face. Michael leant over the other angel, gently placing caresses all over the slender form. Oh, how he had waited for this, dreamed of this, hoped and wished and prayed...

And now it was true.

"It may be difficult at first to abandon your body," Michael said softly, placing a tiny kiss on the corner of Uriel's mouth. "Let me show you." And, before Uriel's attentive eyes, Michael slowly faded. There was no other word for it. His corporeal body long since abandoned, he now gave up his angelic form also, a bright light emerging from its former cage of flesh. The light, vaguely man-shaped yet lacking a definite form, slowly slid over Uriel - and into him.

Suddenly Uriel could feel Michael inside himself as the form of light enveloped him - or the other way around; perhaps it was he who was inside Michael, for it was impossible to tell. The very essence of the warrior filled him, their minds and thoughts bound together, and he could feel Michael's love for him even more clearly than before. It was overwhelming, almost frightening, and for a brief, fleeting moment he almost panicked. Then, however, he allowed himself to relax, relishing the feeling of his lover - for what else was Michael to him now? - filling him completely.

Uriel felt slightly disoriented. He also felt more, well, whole than ever before. It was like a piece of him that had been missing had been returned and he was now complete for the first time in his existence. He could feel Michael everywhere, around him, inside him, one with him all at once. Never could he have imagined that something could feel so wonderful.

No more hesitant, he let his own body slide away, finally getting completely absorbed in the light that was Michael. He could feel the other inside his mind, warm and gentle and reassuring, and he let go of his last shields, opening himself completely to the warrior.

He no more had a heart but it was still beating, beating in the same rhythm with that of Michael's, the rush of blood like thunder in his ears. The feeling of being drowned in pure delight filled his senses, and he could no more form any coherent thoughts aside from one. That one he wanted to say aloud.

"I love you, Michael," he said quietly but truthfully, lacking lips and tongue to form the words and not caring. Michael heard him anyway, knew what he was going to say before the words had even left him, and in response Uriel could feel even more love flowing to him from the other archangel.

Then it all became too much to him, and a blast of pleasure shot right through him. He could see only a white, bright light, not sure if it was the light of Michael or something else, the only sound his ears caught being his own lonely voice, repeating Michael's name over and over. Like a bolt of lightning, a wave of incredible warmth crashed through him, leaving him shivering in its wake. A moment later he could feel the same kind of sensations coming from Michael, echoing as well as strengthening his own pleasure, the other's voice calling his name even though there were no lips to utter the word.

Slowly they slid apart as their essences were again closed in their usual cages of flesh, unable to stay within each other anymore. Uriel was surprised to find himself slick with sweat, tired like after hard exercise. Turning his head a bit to look at the other angel who now lay beside him, he found Michael watching him with slightly tired blue eyes, a content smile on his face. Feeling exactly the same way as Michael seemed to do, Uriel reached out a hand, carefully tracing Michael's cheek. This caused another smile to rise on the warrior's face.

Michael, Uriel decided, looked very handsome when he smiled.

"Hello?" Aziraphale called out, peering into the large training room. "Anybody here?"

Some time -- a couple of weeks, actually. Or maybe a month, or more. He wasn't exactly sure -- had passed since he had contemplated going to Heaven just for a visit. Now, he had finally made true of his intention.

Gabriel and Raphael had been happy to see him -- especially since this time Raphael hadn't had to scold him about getting himself discorporated. They had acted a bit strangely when he had asked them about Uriel and Michael, though. Finally he had decided to forgo prying answers from his brother and see for himself what the two were up to.

There was no warning of any kind. He just suddenly heard a voice behind himself, shouting, "Aziraphale! Jump, wings out, beat, turn, strike, beat, wings in, step back!"

Automatically he performed the moves he'd been told to do. As he finally stood in a perfect defensive stance, he grinned at Michael. "I've been training," he said, fairly proud of himself.

"So it seems." Michael smiled. "It's a pity you're no more in my forces. I'd take you over my three best current generals any day. I'd even give the fourth away as a bonus."

Aziraphale flushed. "I'm hardly that good," he muttered. "Besides, I doubt Canael and the others would be glad to hear that," he added then sternly.

"The problem with his generals," another person joined the conversation, "is that he can't make them listen to himself. With you he can always threaten to tell Gabriel if you don't listen. Of course, there might be also some fault in the fact that half of his men are usually asleep by the time he sees it fit to show up."

"Perhaps I'm not on time," Michael shot back, faking a glare at Uriel, "but at least I actually have something to be late for. And even if my generals didn't listen to me, at least I would have people who are supposed to listen to me. You can't say the same, I fear. The only thing you ever do is flying around looking pretty."

"At least I'm good at what I do!" Uriel said quickly in response. And, to Aziraphale's slight surprise, Michael simply grinned.

"That you are," the Prince of Light said. "Lucky me."

Uriel rolled his eyes. "In case you didn't figure it out yet, Aziraphale, Michael has convinced me to become his lover," he told the youngest angel. "However, he is yet to convince me that it's actually worth the trouble."

"Uriel, I'm hurt!" Michael declared. "I thought you loved me!" He gave the other archangel a hurt look.

Uriel, however, simply rolled his eyes towards the ceiling once again. "Feel free to continue thinking so if it makes you feel any better," he said dryly. However, a ghost of a smile played on his lips.

Now, Aziraphale couldn't help but laugh. "You two definitely haven't changed, I see," he said amusedly.

"Our Lord is eternal," Uriel replied with a small shrug. "As his faithful servants we have simply chosen to reflect that fact." After a moment of thinking, he added, "Or at least I have. Michael is simply stuck in his old ways."

"So, you're loyal and I am stubborn, eh?" Michael raised an eyebrow. "Somehow, I fail to see the logic in that statement."

"I thought the logic was clear," Uriel replied calmly. "You were originally one of the seraphim. Aside from your unique view of time, that has given you an allergy for personal changes. Praising Him doesn't require one to change. They -- and, thus, you -- are simply not designed to change." With a raised eyebrow, he added, "I'm fairly surprised you're able to adapt to the changing situation occurring during a battle."

"Were you a cherub, then, if you were not a seraph yourself?" Aziraphale asked curiously. "We've always wondered about that, you know."

"What I was is irrelevant," Uriel said quite calmly. "And what I am now is going to meet Gabriel and Raphael. It's been a while since we were all five gathered together." Looking over his shoulder from the doorway, he asked casually, "Are you coming?"

Michael and Aziraphale glanced at each other, grinned, and followed him.

Next prompt: Colourless