Chapter Text
Blood dripped from valor, first the blood of kings, now the blood of angels. Is the blood of every angel worth the blood of the last vestiges of humanity? A voice spoke out amid the bloodstains.
“Why did thou only regret thine actions after mutilating me?”
I turned, and saw a mote of light from the king’s broken body.
My legs are growing weak.
“I was a fool to only realize the folly of heaven now. This is the most I can atone before I die.”
“Before thou die?”
“I’ve lost my light, that is lethal to an angel.”
“Art thou the first to lose thy light?”
“Yes.”
“How do thou know this too is not a mistruth?”
It felt wrong to be optimistic in a moment like this, how could he speak this to me while he stood above his own mutilated face. the mote was forming limbs as it moved.
“Come.”
So I did, watching as with each step the shining silhouette I followed grew larger and more defined.
“Wait here.”
The soul disappears upstairs.
I should not even be here, why is he trusting me to not tear down his home?
“So, if this is lethal-“
Much louder steps come down the steps than I heard go up it, he’s dressed in a loose robe now.
“How long do thou have to live?”
“Until tomorrow morning.”
…
“Why haven't you killed me yet?”
“That seems a bit harsh a punishment for an empty threat.”
“I killed you, I killed Sisyphus.”
“Dead men tend to not hold conversation, has Sisyphus reformed in the same way I have?”
“Yes… it’s a miracle you reformed, but the intent was still there.”
“Is the intent still with thou?”
“No, I doubt it was ever truly my own to begin with.”
“Well, back to the topic at hand, I was intending to have a peaceful discussion about allowing the city of lust to maintain its autonomy not too long ago. But it seems that discussion is no longer necessary if I am not mistaken.”
“Youre not, I’m the last living angel.”
“Well, would thou like some tea?”
“What?!”
“Well I do not have to worry about mine city being torn to shreds, so I can afford some hospitality.”
-------
“This is the first time I’ve ever consumed anything.”
“Well, hopefully I will make a good first impression.”
He did not, the scone was hard to swallow, no matter how he masticated it.
Humans, they had liquid in their mouths didn't they? Perhaps the tea would assist his coughing fit.
Last few hours alive and I’m making a fool of myself.
“What will thou do if this is not thy end?”
“…”
“How are you adjusting to your new body?”
“Well in some ways it is an improvement, in some it is worse, overall I am doing well, but thou art avoiding mine question.”
…
“I never thought I would do something like that… so I never considered what after would entail.”
“Thou expected to serve heaven until the end of time? Why such a sudden change?”
“It was pointless to let humanity die over something as fickle as sin, anything with a sharp mind will wander to places not meant to be seen.”
Minos nodded.
“What was life like in heaven?”
“It was…strict.”
Gabriel did not speak much beyond that for several moments, Minos cleaned up.
“If these are truly thy final hours, what would thou like to do?”
“Angels never needed to bathe, but it always looked so relaxing.”
-------
I try and try to dig into my head that this is private, that nobody will see what lies under my armor but myself.
I felt it’s weight on my back more, steam in the room forcing me out. The bodysuit remains.
It’s sewn to my body, angels never sweat so why would it ever need to be removed? Any stains on asbestos fabric can be cleaned with fire-
Now or never, it hurt. Seams ripping scars along my forearms, back, thighs… crotch.
I stood dripping blood onto linoleum, waiting until the wounds closed, and my halo dimmed even colder. Before stepping into the water.
Gabriel let himself float. If this is how I die, having served heaven until it turned rotten, turning against them at the final moment to save humanity.
Now, the king, having forgiven me, bestows a quiet luxury before I pass…
Has it been an hour? Or many? A sharp feeling welled up, I see my halo is nearly gone. A hurried towel around my waist, clambering downstairs for… something? My body needs something, but I ate earlier didn't I?
A few scones and some tea isn’t much…
“What art thou doing?!”
“I… I don’t know, something feels wrong in my organs.”
The contrast of cold from the hot bath stung more than it should have.
The internal pang, It was hunger, at least this time- wait, yes I have saliva now? The food I am given tastes more vivid. I didn't clock until after that I ate meat for the first time.
Everything was sharper than it should have been, until it wasn’t. An odd weight numbed me- oh I was a fool to be optimistic, yes this is death.
“I think *yawn* I’m dying sooner than expected.”
Why did he laugh… Why do my eyes feel so heavy?
I close my eyes and accept the oncoming dark.