Chapter 7 – Stay

Gabriel had only meant to stay for a few nights, but he couldn't bring himself to leave so soon and those few nights quickly turned into two months. Kali wasn't at all bothered by it; in fact, she seemed to enjoy having him there. But the longer he stayed, the stronger Gabriel felt for her and it was starting to frighten him. Not because he was scared of Kali, but because after everything he'd gone through, he was scared of how much he was allowing himself to care again, and he knew only too well where that always led him.

He knew it was time. He had to leave before it was too late, before he let it get to the point where it would hurt too much. He decided not to say goodbye. After all, he never had before. He hated goodbyes. Though they were underground, Gabriel knew it was dark outside as he threw on his cloak and swung his pack over his shoulder. He glanced over the room one last time before backing out and shutting the door silently behind him. He turned around and found himself face to face with Kali, who gave him a look so reminiscent of the one Lucifer had given him on the day he was cast out that Gabriel actually flinched.
"And where do you think you're going?" Kali asked.
"I... I'm... I was just..." Gabriel stammered.
He was normally so good at lying, but for some reason, he couldn't think straight.
"You're leaving, aren't you?" said Kali quietly.
"Yes," mumbled Gabriel.
"But why? And without saying goodbye?"
"Because..." Gabriel could barely look her in the eye, but he forced himself to. "Because I'm afraid of getting too close. Every time I care about someone, something bad happens and someone leaves. So I'm getting out before I start to care too much and ruin something else."
"Loki, I think I can handle just about any misfortune that comes tagging along after you," said Kali.
"I don't doubt that, that's not the problem," said Gabriel. "I just... I can't... I can't allow myself to care so much. Not again. Not after everything that I've destroyed. I can't let myself destroy you too. Damn it, I already care too much, that's just the point! That's why I have to go, because I lo–"
He stopped short, heart racing, but Kali was having none of it.
"And finish that?" she prompted.
Gabriel swallowed hard and stared at her for a moment before continuing, his voice barely a whisper.
"Because I love you."
"That's what I thought," Kali said. "And that's why you have to stay."
Gabriel opened his mouth to speak, but she grabbed the front of his shirt and shut him up with the most passionate kiss he had ever experienced. He was frozen in shock for only a second before he responded hungrily, as though kissing her was the only thing keeping him standing. She slammed him back against the door and they resurfaced for a moment, breathing heavily, before their lips were locked together again. Gabriel fumbled behind him with one hand for the door knob and his fingers met with Kali's as she did the same. The door swung open and they stumbled into the room, slamming it shut behind them. Gabriel dropped his pack and let his cloak fall from his shoulders as Kali began undoing his belt, and neither of them had even fully undressed when they fell onto the bed.

Clothes littered the floor and a tiny beam of sunlight shone through the chink of a window near the ceiling. Gabriel awoke to the sweet smell of Kali's hair. He had one arm around her and her head rested over his heart, an arm sprawled across his bare chest. Gabriel smiled. Maybe it would be worth it to stay. Maybe this time it wouldn't all go wrong, and everything would be alright. Maybe he had actually found someplace on Earth that he could call home.