Gabriel

Gone was the angel who walked barefoot around the Manor library in jeans and T-shirts with a smile for his cats and anyone walking in; the being pacing Lucifer's foyer now was every inch a cold, furious Archangel.

In the Manor chapel, Gabriel had paused long enough to send notes to Michael and Raphael explaining what had happened - they might have sensed it, have already known, but Uriel was their brother too and Gabriel should at least let them know - and another to Mary Hodges, saying he'd be away for a while due to a family emergency and requesting that she keep an eye on the cats. Outside, the rain turned to unseasonable hail.

Gabriel had called his sword and horn to him and hung them on the belt of now ornate robes, his wings unfurling behind him, lit by the glow of his own aura; he normally disliked reminding people of his rank, but his younger brother was in Hell and he wanted to remind any demon trying to stop him that he was not in the mood to be stopped and cross-examined.

And it had not worked. All Gabriel wanted was to find Uriel and Belial, but he had been met by enough politeness and red tape and bureaucracy to put Heaven to shame. Asmodeus had met him at the gates, oozing civility, and agreed to grant him safe passage to at least see his brother, and as they entered each successive circle there had been new border checks and forms and repeated questions and attempts to get him to disarm. By the time Asmodeus had finally shown him into what seemed like Lucifer's foyer and left, the Messenger's already stretched patience had been hanging by a frayed thread.

He strode up and down, wondering desperately where and how Uriel was while trying to avoid any thoughts about Uriel's Fall itself, or any possible changes in his brother. He had failed Uriel, should have been more vigilant, should have made sure Belial stayed away from him, should have tried harder to intercede with their Father on his behalf, and his face was stony as he imagined everything he could have done to keep Belial away.

Gabriel slid a book into place on its shelf, checking to ensure the spines were aligned before moving to the next shelf. He paused by one of the large windows, shifting the weight of the books in his arms as he moved to the window instead. It was late in the afternoon, and the sunlight was gilding the dark brown shelves and furniture and the grounds of the Manor. The Archangel put the books down on a table and lifted the clasp on the window, pushing it open; it resisted a little, as the library windows were so rarely opened. He felt like going around and opening all the windows, throwing them wide to let new air circulate; the library suddenly seemed oddly small.

Gabriel gazed at the horizon for a few moments, enjoying the faint breeze. He knew this feeling. He had never been able to stay in one place for too long, except perhaps Heaven; since the beginning, he'd always been a traveller. He did, however, have a suburban apartment in the UK for when he felt like resting in one place for a while. Gabriel wasn't sure if he would rather go traveling again or stop at his apartment first, but he certainly felt like getting out of the Manor for a while, at least.

  But... Uriel was here too, solely because of him. He couldn't just go off and leave Uriel in the Manor when he was the one who had invited him in the first place; besides, he had missed his brother and had been looking forward to spending time with him. Gabriel absent-mindedly stroked the embossed spine of an early edition of Poe, thinking.

~

  After his shift for the day had ended, Gabriel went down to the first floor and knocked on Uriel's door. "Uriel? May I come in?"

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My family. Michael, Uriel, Raphael and Aziraphael. Technically 'family' is a singular noun, after all.

I was craving waffles, but I wasn't sure if I dared attempt to make them for myself. Thank you, Uriel.

In response to this meme.

Prompt 087 - Food. For divine_tempest . Warning: utter crack.

 

( The two archangels crouching behind the kitchen table held their breath... )