Chapter 14: Comfort
The room felt hazy and dark as Michael sat painfully still. He could see Alex staring down at him and a thought of concern and perhaps even fear crossed his mind. Michael knew that those were Gabriel's thoughts as he had no fear of Alex, but he could see the look on the Chosen One's face and understood why Gabriel would.
Something strong and fierce crossed Alex's face. And then he appeared intently determined and spoke something that was indecipherable to Michael. But it was clear by Alex's countenance that there was power behind those words. Again fear spiked through him all of a sudden and he wondered what was happening.
And then, as if a weight was lifted, everything went dark for a moment and even the air seemed lighter. Michael's head felt woozy, but he no longer felt ill and the tightness in his chest disappeared. He felt alone again as his head started to right itself. Gabriel was gone and Alex had something to do with it. Michael was sure of it.
He opened his eyes to find Azrael staring at him with wide alarmed eyes. She was holding his face after she had pulled him close to her, placing his head onto her lap. Her wings were out for some reason, encircling them both. They had been cocooning them as if to shelter them from the wind, or perhaps, even the world. He knew that it was likely a reaction to his condition, and she probably hadn't noticed that they were out at all.
Michael blinked up at her and started to feel his body right itself, slowly going back to normal. It was such a relief as he took a deep breath. He wasn't sure how Gabriel had managed the link to him, but he had a feeling that their connection as siblings had a lot to do with it. Somehow Alex had stopped it and aided Michael. Despite everything, Alex had helped him. Oh, Alex, Michael thought.
"Are you alright?" Azrael asked softly, stroking his face and pushing his hair back in a comforting manner. She had her guard down and was clearly distraught by the whole situation. Uncharacteristically, her face gave away her emotions and he surmised that she probably felt helpless sitting idly by as he had writhed in pain.
Michael didn't move for a moment, blinking up at her. He studied her worried face. When did she get here? he wondered, realizing now that the passage of time eluded him. He began rubbing his tired eyes. "I'm alright. I think," he whispered and then slowly sat up, pulling away from her.
Her wings automatically moved out of the way. He glanced at them and that's when she became aware of their presence. Eyeing them briefly, she felt suddenly embarrassed and made them disappear. "I was worried, Michael." she said quietly, recovering quickly with a schooled passive expression. "You were in pain," she paused. "I don't like when you are in pain."
He knew that she didn't. He didn't like seeing her in pain either. She was on her knees next to him, almost as if she were waiting. Her hand twitched as if to reach out to him, to comfort him. Her energy was contained, but he knew she was ready to spring into action if needed.
Reflecting on what had just occurred, he sat there with his profile to her. That attempt at possession had been a bold act on his brother's part. Evidently, Gabriel was searching for his whereabouts. Or perhaps he wanted to use Michael for a new plan of his? The focus on the Seattle Needle logo had been intent and his brother gleaned exactly where he was at the moment. How was it possible that Gabriel could even attempt possession of Michael? Surely, Gabriel couldn't get any stronger? Michael cringed at the possibility. And yet Gabriel had grown more adept in his abilities.
And so had Alex.
"Gabriel was trying to possess me," he said sternly, and with dismay.
Azrael bristled. She hated all of the possession nonsense. "Damn it. Possessing higher angels? Archangels no less? Disgusting."
"I think Alex helped me. They were in the aerie," he said softly. "I hope he was able to escape after that. By the time I fly there…it would be too late to help him."
"Alex?" Azrael stilled. "He's figured out the tattoos?"
"I'm not sure." Michael turned to look at her. "I only know that he was able to help me. I watched him through Gabriel's eyes."
"It works both ways? Possession?" Azrael seemed surprised.
"I think only because we were once connected, Azrael." Michael pondered on it, pulling his knees up and resting his elbows on them. "I have a feeling that this is just the beginning. For Alex, I mean." He paused, a feeling of pride welling up in his chest. "He appeared so…Alex looked as if he had purpose, as if he had strength. And determination. He stood up to Gabriel in a formidable way."
Azrael didn't move, thinking about Raphael and his plans. Michael was supposed to help end this war, but it wasn't as simple as that and she knew it. But this… this might hasten their plans. The Chosen One was getting stronger.
"Could you feel what Gabriel felt?" she asked quietly, previously wondering the same thing about Raphael when he had possessed Uriel.
"Yes. Anger. And frustration," Michael said softly and turned to her, studying her. She was looking off into the room, concentrating on something. "It is what I often feel. If I can really understand what that means."
She glanced at him. "I think we have been away from Home too long," she said without any emotion, her face empty of expression.
He stared at her and then a small smile played on his lips. He had missed her so, all of these years. And now she was here again. She didn't move, but her expression softened slightly in reaction to him. Sitting on her knees, in her full soldier gear, she looked ready for a fight, body slightly poised like a cat.
It was something he admired in her. But she had said he looked similarly before. So perhaps it was an angelic trait. He slowly got on all fours and moved closer to her, stopping just shy of her body and in one motion, sat on his knees and took her face in both of his strong hands and pulled her into a deep kiss.
Although she hadn't expected his actions, she immediately reacted to his touch, leaning into him as he pulled her against his body. She slipped her arms around his torso and let him continue to run his fingers through her hair and cup the back of her neck, holding her close to him as they kissed slowly but deeply.
He wanted to be near her, close to her, meld with her. Surviving such a trial of mental exhaustion only brought more questions and confusion, and all he wanted was to seek out comfort from her. Comfort from all that was happening in this strange world. Far from Home.
And she felt like Home to him.
Michael felt the pull between them. Whatever that was. He couldn't understand it. He knew that it was different from what he had felt for a certain human female many years ago. That had been a special experience that he had not thought about in a long time. And the connection with Becca was an entirely different matter all together. He wondered if what he felt for Azrael was the same something that Becca had wanted from him. Michael had felt for the human woman and couldn't help how he physically felt when he was with her and the other women. But with Azrael…the connection was distinctive. Something not quite physical. It felt as if his chest might burst upon seeing her, and it lit a fire inside of him. He wasn't sure what it was nor did he comprehend why it happened.
But he knew he wanted to be close to her. Pull her into his arms, hold her, protect her…even though he knew that she didn't need his protection. She was quite capable of taking care of herself. Azrael was powerful and yet comforting. And he needed her.
She kissed him with as much passion as he gave her and ran her fingers across his lower back. It was easy to fall into Michael's embrace and she leaned into his body, wanting to be as close to him as possible. She ran her fingers over his bare torso and wondered how he had so much power over her.
As much as she preferred to be immune to such desires, Azrael found that she had trouble remaining distant from him. It had been torture being away from him for all of those years in the Cradle. She had known that she cared for him eons ago in their home of light, but she never understood why. Even back then, it had bothered her when they were separated or given different tasks. And when she was sent to Earth to carry out His will, she would have rather remained at Michael's side, policing the other lower angels. She would have preferred assisting him whenever she was allowed to, but often she was pulled in a different direction. Often they were given drastically diverse 'Chores.'
Since they had remained on Earth for so many years following Father's disappearance, she was beginning to experience strange things that she had not at Home. Pesky overwhelming things. Things that made no sense. Things such as…emotions. They were often dormant (or easily quashed), but upon seeing Michael, they awoke and frequently colored how she saw him. He stirred something inside of her and it frustrated her for some reason. She couldn't grasp what they were really, but now…now she had him back in her sight, all for herself and she had no desire to bring him to Raphael. Nor did she want to reveal him to anyone else.
But Gabriel knew now where Michael was hiding himself and so did the Chosen One. And soon the small reprieve from the world was going to be long gone. Azrael let out a mutter of frustration against Michael's soft lips. He paused and then pulled away from their kiss, smoothing her hair away from her face and looking down at her. His expression was passive except for the concern behind his blue eyes.
"You are…distracted," he stated quietly. He held onto her still, but he sought her face for any clues to her distant behavior.
She tried to smile, but faltered. "I am…worried."
"About Gabriel?"
"About you," she said. "And the Chosen One." Sighing, she pulled away from him with reluctance. Standing up, Azrael moved across the room with frenetic energy. The gear she wore was starting to irritate her. The Kevlar vest worn mostly for show was not as easy to move in as she would like and the swords that she hated to leave behind often clashed with the weight of the guns she carried.
But these were just distractions. She fiddled with a gun holster as she debated on how much she wanted to delve into. "Your plan for him… has it gone the way you had hoped?"
Still on his knees, Michael didn't move as he studied her without blinking. She knew he was trying to decipher what she was getting at, patient as always. "You know it has not," he said without emotion.
Sighing, she focused on him and mirrored his stillness. "Perhaps it is time to adjust your plan."
"It has already been derailed, Azrael," he said quietly with an undertone of frustration.
She knew she was treading lightly on the sore subject. Unmoving, she studied him. What was she to do? Bring him to New Delphi as Raphael desired? Or help Michael find the Chosen One before Gabriel found him once more?
"What do you know, Azrael?" Michael finally blinked as he gazed at her, his head tilting just slightly.
She paced for a moment, thinking.
He sighed when she didn't respond. Standing up, Michael moved past her and sat on his bed. He felt extremely exhausted all of a sudden as he tried to remain upright, as if all of his energy was drained out of him.
Azrael stood in front of him, hands on her sword hilts. She was still debating as she watched him run his fingers through his tousled hair. Something about that motion reminded her of their time together back Home.
"You know something." Michael's tired voice broke her reverie. "And you don't want to alarm me? Or you have something else planned. Perhaps with Gabriel." It was deadpan and emotionless.
And it caught her off guard.
Azrael blinked, gathering her thoughts. He had never questioned her loyalty in the past, and she had never given him reason to question it. "With Gabriel? No." Azrael said, sternly. "I would never."
He looked up at her, the exhaustion showing clearly on his face. "Then what is it? What is that you fear to tell me?" he said.
Azrael sighed, "I am not afraid to tell you anything. I am debating as to what is the right course of action. For you. For the Chosen One."
He didn't move, weighing her words. The distrust in everyone around him made him wary. She looked genuinely shocked that he would think she was in league with Gabriel, but Azrael was also an actor, capable of deceit if needed.
She fell into a soldiers' stance, hands clasped behind her, despite the cumbersome sword hilts and gun holsters. "You have forgotten that there are other players involved in what once was your plan. And things have changed. Evolved. New Delphi has structure now which was not possible a few years ago."
Michael stood up, his body tense as he loosely mirrored her. "That sigil is for New Delphi. And what of Helena? Did they run you out? Did they discover who you were?"
"No, but your sister did. Uriel found a way to dispose of me."
"Uriel?" Michael felt heated again. "She was in Helena?"
"She was there for some time," Azrael said, not surprised that he didn't know. Uriel was known for her twisted tactics, although Michael never saw his sister in that light. "And she made sure that Queen Evelyn would do away with me."
"Evelyn? She's in league with her? Does she know that Uriel is an angel?" Michael asked, fiercely, fists clenched.
"I do not know."
"And that's why you ended up in New Delphi," he paused, mulling things over. "There are a few hidden in New Delphi, but I'm sure if they've moved on by now."
"There is one that you do not know of, I'm sure of it," Azrael said quietly, carefully.
His gaze was unwavering, as if he could drill a hole through her head with it alone. "Gabriel has a strong hold on New Delphi."
"Actually, no. Not Gabriel." Azrael's lips quirked up into an amused smile.
Michael's head tilted slightly. "Who then?"
Azrael sighed, knowing that their reprieve was officially over.
"I suppose the Chosen One will have to continue to fend for himself," she said, stepping closer to him. "Perhaps it's time for a little trip, Michael."