"Hey, Damien," Azrael called out, his voice soft, as he knocked all but a few enclosed against the doorframe to the Commander's bedroom. "Do you have a minute?"

"Hmm?" He looked up from the book he was reading, seeing who it was that called out to him. Realizing it was the Admiral, a faint smile crept onto licked lips as he sat the book down. "Oh, yeah. Sure. What's up?"

"I have to head back to Symphonea to deal with … Admiral business," he sighed as he pressed the entirety of himself against the doorframe.

"Need any help?" the Commander offered, lazily crossing well-toned arms over his abdomen. "I can tag along if need be. Have nothing better to do now that Sovereign and — " his voice trailed " — Saren are out of the way."

Oh, how he wanted to say yes — and for all the wrong reasons — but didn't. Azrael couldn't bring himself to tell the man all the reasons was leaving for a short while despite wanting to. Forcing a smile on his face, the Symphonean said in soft tones, "I appreciate the offer but I don't know how long it'll take for me to complete everything." Sighing a heavy sigh, he pushed himself off the doorframe and continued, "Besides … you have your duties with the Alliance and Council … "

… despite neither one deserving the likes of yourself.

"I understand," Shepard said, nodding. "Well, all I ask is for you to keep in touch while you're back home. Promise?"

"I promise," he said in return, the tone in his voice genuine.

Too bad that was the last conversation Azrael ever had with one Commander Damien Shepard.

Words couldn't describe the sheer amount of guilt the Symphonean felt when finding out the man he was requested to advise by the likes of his beloved friend, David Anderson, had died two years prior. If he were asked to describe the feelings he felt when hearing the heart-wrenching news would be nothing short of guilty, disgusted, and ashamed …

… but not of Commander Shepard, no.

Azrael was ashamed of himself (and for all the wrong reasons). Well, that's what David kept telling him, at least.

There's nothing you could've done about it, he'd tell Azrael … repeatedly. You had your duties and he had his. That's all there is to it. I don't think he'd want you to blame yourself for his death, Admiral.

Azrael generally hated being called Admiral for he found it to be far too formal for his taste. He preferred keeping things relatively casual with a hint of formality. And to think there were only so many people allowed to call him by his title (let alone his full name) without Azrael losing his shit. Lucky for David he was one of them. But, then again, David wasn't particularly keen on being called Captain, so there's that. In fact, he shared the same views Azrael had when it came to formalities and whatnot.

Despite being two completely different beings from two different words and of two different races … they had a lot in common — especially when it came to viewpoints and all-around opinions. Not only that but Azrael didn't see the humans as a species that were "growing too fast" or "a threat to the entirety of mankind" like the vast majority of the races thought on the Citadel.

Were the humans flawed? Yes. Were they naturally curious creatures? Yes. And the same could very much be said about the other species on the Citadel for they, too, were just as flawed and inherently curious as the humans were. The biggest difference between the humans and the rest of the world was the mere fact that the humans didn't need "outside help" to reach the stars like the Asari or the Turians or even the Salarians. They became advanced because of their curious nature. And to think Azrael respected them for that.

Hell … the entirety of Symphonea respected them for that.

Even though the Symphoneans were all deities and specialized in one thing or another (except for maybe a handful of people) they did everything themselves when the universe was first created thanks to Azrael's father. Or … well … one of his fathers. His other father came to be an anomaly but that's for another day. The Symphoneans were the first to come into existence and then came the rest of the galaxy in due time. And to think his people were considered literal gods by the Asari because of their importance to the Prothean race.

Azrael looked at the courtyard of the Citadel in his private office. David would have been there if it had not been for an important meeting with the Council. Ever since becoming the first human Councilor poor David hadn't had much of a break for he had far too much on his plate. Sure most of them had to deal with meetings but he knew damn well what was at stake when joining the Council. Hell, everyone did—even Kaidan Alenko and Ashley Williams.

Not too long after the Commander's death, the two humans became Spectres. It took some convincing to the Council because neither of them were Shepard but lucky for them David was capable of swaying them with the help of Azrael. So that being said Alenko and Williams became the second and third human Spectres in existence.

Still reminiscing on the past and enjoying what little breeze there was from the ventilation system there on the Citadel, Azrael failed to notice the doors to his office opening.

"Everything okay, Admiral?" asked a familiar voice.

"Hmm?" the Symphonean asked, looking over his left shoulder to see who it was that spoke to him: it was David Anderson. "Oh, hey." Looking back out at the Courtyard, he let out a harsh contemplating sigh, "I'm … fine, all things considered."

"Bullshit," David said. Standing beside him, he draped both arms over the railing and looked at his friend with concerned brown eyes and asked — no, he pleaded, "Now tell me … what's wrong?"

"It's nothing," he lied, avoiding eye contact with the human. "Really."

"Admiral," his voice trailed. "Please."

As much as Azrael wanted to avoid the subject at all costs he knew David would pry it out of him sooner or later so he might as well get it done and over with. Letting out a harsh sigh, he looked down at the trees below his office and confessed, "I … might or might not be stuck in the past."

"Again?" David asked, his voice soft, as his brows furrowed.

"Still," Azrael corrected.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, frowning in Azrael's general direction.

"For what?" Azrael whispered in return. "It's not your fault."

"And it's not yours, either," he reassured. Gently, David placed his right hand upon his friend's shoulder and smiled a faint smile as he furrowed brown brows. "You can't save everybody you know, Azrael. Not yet, at least."

"'Not yet,' he says," Azrael rolled cyan blue eyes, shaking his head lightly, while attempting to make a joke out of it.

"Admiral."

Azrael could hear the stern tone in his friend's voice. Oh, how he hated hearing that tone. A lot. But deep down he knew David was right and he damned well knew it, too. Sighing a heavy sigh, the Symphonean dropped his shoulders and dipped his head all but a few short inches, "I'm sorry … "

"It's okay," he told him, patting the other's shoulder. "I'm just trying to lighten the mood."

"I know … " the Symphonean attempted to smile a genuine smile. "I know."

Silence succumbed the room for a few short seconds only for it to feel like an eternity. While there were an infinite number of footsteps coming from the Turians, Asari, Volus, and even the humans roaming around the Citadel there wasn't much talking. If they were, however, they must've been whispering because Azrael sure as shit couldn't hear any of it. But perhaps it's because of his mind being … elsewhere and was far too distracted to notice what all went down in the wide open space.

"Remember when I first introduced you to the Commander?" David asked, finally breaking the silence as he pushed himself off the railing while doing so.

"I do," Azrael nodded a single nod towards David. "You said he could use someone of my so-called 'knowledge'," he said, using air quotes when saying the last word. "But not once did you ever mention — let alone warn me — that I'd fall in love with the man."

"That's exactly why I didn't tell you."

"Tell me … what, exactly?"

"Why I sent you," David answered, smirking mischievously knowing he'd just gotten away with being nothing short of a mastermind.

With cyan blue brows furrowed and tanned lips pursed into a perfect circle, Azrael cocked his head to the side unable to properly comprehend what he'd just heard. For once he didn't know how to react to David's statement. Was he just shitting on him or did he genuinely mean every word he'd said? Standing there for a solid minute or two not saying a single word, the Symphonean worked up the courage to finally spew something out, "So you're telling me that you didn't send me to help him out?"

"Oh no … I did," he admitted. "I just thought the two of you would hit it off and eventually become a thing. You know," David chuckled before continuing, "before he died. Because let's face it … I know your taste in men."

No, he thought to himself while looking at the human with widened eyes and mouth opened partway in shock. He hoped David was joking but knew better than to speculate such a false truth. He couldn't help but to stand there in utter shock — unable to move, talk, or anything — as he bore witness to the other's amusement of the situation at hand. There's no denying that Azrael was nothing short of oblivious and fell short of David's schemes. And to think the human loved every second of it by the shit-eating grin that slowly, but surely, formed on dark brown lips making the situation all the worse on Azrael's behalf. Puckering his lip in dismay, he uttered, "I hate you."

Just when Azrael thought it couldn't get any worse on his behalf it did. Not even a solid minute or two after claiming to hate the man Azrael considered to be a near and dear friend of his a familiar face walked through the doors and into his private office …

… it was Commander Damien Fucking Shepard.

Looking back at the man he had fallen in love with well over two years ago, his heart skipped several beats. He'd completely forgotten how to speak … again. Still. He couldn't even think properly for the only thing his brain would let him do was stand there and admire the man who'd just come back into his life without a warning. Did David know about his whereabouts? That he's alive? Did he know that Damien would stop by Azrael's office? Was he the one who invited him there? The answers were all quite obvious and the Symphonean knew it. In fact, he probably had Damien go to his office just to fuck with Azrael because that's something David would do like the sadist that he was.

Finally coming to his sense, he darted irritated cyan blue eyes over at David and quietly uttered, "I really hate you."

"No, you don't," he chucked in a sing-song tone, lightly patting the other on the back of his shoulder.

With silence filling the air yet again, Shepard made his way toward the two of them and broke it off, "Is … uh … everything alright?"

Not really, Azrael thought to himself. Lucky for Damien, he was able to put up a façade to prevent the other from worrying by smiling a half-hearted smile in his general direction, "Everything's fine. What … brings you here?" And why?

"Funny you should ask," Damien said, the tone in his voice anything but happen. Taking his time, he let out a harsh sigh and answered honestly, "Cerberus brought me back."

"I'm sorry," Azrael stopped dead in his tracks, trying his best not to lose his cool. "They did what?!" His heart pounded with rage and fury against that well-toned chest of his as his nostrils flared and jaws clenched tightly. It took him a good couple of minutes to calm down even the slightest to look over at David to see how he felt about all of it. Much to the Symphonean's surprise, the human's reaction was relatively … calm all things considered causing his gorgeous eyes to widen and yell damn near at the top of his lungs, "And you knew?!"

The look on David's face screamed Oh Dear knowing he was in a heap of trouble with the Admiral. What's worse is that he wholeheartedly understood why he was and wouldn't blame the other for wanting to kill him if he chose to do so. But in an attempt to fend for himself, the Councilman rose both hands up in midair and confessed, "Why I have heard rumors about his resurrection for … a while, yes, I only just found out today that said rumors were, in fact, true. I swear to you, Azrael. I solemnly swear on your last name and nothing else." His heart pounded rapidly against his chest to the point of it reverberating against his eardrums. It wouldn't surprise him if Azrael and Damien, both, heard his heartbeat at that point considering how fast and hard it went. With a hasty breath, David spoke once more, "You've got to believe."

"Azrael?" Damien called out to him. "Azrael." He called out again, slowly making his way to the Symphonean with his hands out in an attempt to place them against the other in an attempt to calm him down, "He's telling the truth. Nobody knew I was alive. I didn't even wake up from the two year coma until about a month or so ago. I promise."

I promise. Those words repeated over and over again in Azrael's head for what felt to be an eternity. Those were the last words he said to Damien before leaving for Symphonea only to not see him again for another two years. Avoiding any, and all, eye contact with either of the two humans, he couldn't help to droop his shoulders and look away from either of them, "I'm sorry, David."

"It's okay," David said, his voice as low as Azrael's. He couldn't help but lower his shoulders and let out a small sigh of relief when hearing the other's apology. Despite accepting his fate prior to Azrael's apology, the human genuinely knew the Symphonean wouldn't kill him unless deemed necessary. The most Azrael would've done was criticize and berate him for knowing such intimate details and not tell him sooner. It didn't stop him from freaking out internally, however.

Unfortunately, David's apology didn't stop Azrael from feeling all of the guilt coming back and hitting him full force in the hug. He knew it wasn't his fault for Damien's death but still couldn't help but to feel like it was because he declined the man's offer. Perhaps he should've just accepted it and none of it would've happened. But he didn't and there's not a damn thing he could do about it. At least Damien's back in his life … right?

Just thinking about it all became overbearing — overwhelming — and sudden. He didn't know how to comprehend any of it and it made him want to just … break down and cry. Or scream, even. He's had far too many things bottled up inside and it's only a matter of time before the glass shattered because of the pressure. Luckily he didn't …

… he couldn't …

… and damn well wouldn't …

… not yet.

It'd grown silent in the room … again. Much to the dismay of all three of them. Clearly, it was getting to one Damien John Shepard so he did the undoing and finally broke the silence, "I was wondering if you'd be interested in joining us."

"Me or … David?" the Symphonean asked, confused as ever.

"You," Damien answered without a second to spare — without hesitation. "I could … use you. Again." Still. "I honestly wouldn't have been able to save everyone, let alone Saren, if it weren't for you."

Dumbfounded, Azrael was at a loss for words when hearing what came out of Damien's mouth. Those kissable lips of his. He hadn't the faintest clue on what to do — on what to say — about the other's offer. Would it be selfish of him to say yes just so he could be around him and prevent the chance of losing him a second time? Probably. Did he care? No, not really.

"I … uh … "

… would love to …

" … yeah. Of course … "

… anything for you.

"Great," Damien smiled a faint warmhearted smile as he nodded in Azrael's general direction. Looking over at David, his smile turned into a slight frown as a sigh of discontent slid past now parted lips, "It's a shame you can't come with us, Captain."

"No, it's not," Azrael blurted out, not thinking twice about what he said. It wasn't until David let out a semi-hearty chuckle that the Symphonean even remotely attempted to say anything in retaliation, "Sorry, not sorry."

Continuing to chuckle, the Councilman shook his head ever-so-slightly while waving a hand in midair, "I see what you did there." Looking back at the Commander he spoke up once more, "I have my duties here on the Citadel whereas you have yours with … them."

"I don't like it any more than you do, Captain," Damien reciprocated.

There weren't too many people — both humans and non-humans, alike — who liked Cerberus (let alone respect them) considering how relatively toxic they came to be. Being a pro-human organization wasn't the problem as much as it was how they went about everything. It gave a lot of the humans — like Shepard and Anderson — who genuinely cared about the lives of non-humans a bad name. It ruined what little bit of human decency and genuinely good reputation they had with not only the Citadel but other non-human races.

"Maybe it would be bad to have you come along," the Commander's voice trailed, disappointed.

"Not necessarily," Azrael said in return, folding well-toned arms across his chest. "The Council are scared of me. I can tell them that I have joined to supervise and make sure that you are who you say you are. I can send back any, and all, information to David on my ship. Everybody wins."

"Ooo," David said, pointing an index finger in Azrael's general direction. "Smart."

"I thought so," he shrugged a single shrug. "So what do you say, Commander? Do you still want me to come along, yes or no? The choice is yours."

"Absolutely."