21. Gabriel

Gabe woke inside a blanket of warmth and darkness, his body resting mostly on top of Az's. For a moment he was disoriented—he didn't know what had woken him or how he was all wrapped up in blankets that somehow weren't touching him. Then he realized it was Az's wings that were wrapped around him, and he marveled again at the beauty of his demon.

He snuggled down again, hearing Az murmur sleepily, but then he heard a soft buzz and realized it must have been his phone that woke him. He pressed a kiss to Az's chest and gently rolled away, and Az's wings unfolded from around them both, Az now grumpily mumbling.

"Shhh. You stay here—I'll be right back," Gabe whispered. The bathroom and his phone were both calling for him, but he didn't want Az getting up too. He had more plans for his sexy lust demon. He also wondered what kind of plans Az might have, because the tail and horns and wings were pretty damn cool and sexy as hell.

Gabe rolled out of bed, threw on his boxers out of habit (a nosy family had taught him to always be dressed), and marveled again at the fact that he thought someone was sexy. Yes, he had thought his previous partners were sexy once the sex had started, but he didn't remember it being so all consuming. It was like he went from not wanting sex at all to craving it. He guessed loving the person made all the difference. He also had a moment of clarity to realize that he had enjoyed sex with his two previous partners, but he had never been fully comfortable with them; he hadn't trusted them like he trusted Az.

He picked up his phone on the way to the bathroom and was slightly alarmed to see he had thirty-two notifications.

When he realized most of them were from Michael, he did an eye roll.

Boring, Bothersome Brother:Where are you?

Boring, Bothersome Brother:I'm very concerned about the lust demon.

Boring, Bothersome Brother:He's an Infernal King of Hell.

Boring, Bothersome Brother:He shouldn't be here.

Boring, Bothersome Brother:He needs to go back.

Boring, Bothersome Brother:Why aren't you answering?

Boring, Bothersome Brother:I stopped by but you weren't home.

Boring, Bothersome Brother:I think we need to talk.

Boring, Bothersome Brother:Where are you?

Boring, Bothersome Brother:I stopped by again, but I didn't use my key. It sounds like you're… occupied.

Boring, Bothersome Brother:Hopefully this means he'll be going back.

Boring, Bothersome Brother:Text me.

Boring, Bothersome Brother: Is he gone yet?

Boring, Bothersome Brother:Hello?

Boring, Bothersome Brother:Helloooooo

He saw that Grams and Ser had also texted, but he guessed Michael had contacted them and sent them into a panic. He didn't even bother to check their messages, expecting more of the same.

He finished up in the bathroom, brooding over his meddling family. He didn't want to deal with them all right now, but he knew they'd harass him until he did, so he opened up the group chat with everyone, including Grams, and composed a message as he walked toward the kitchen for some water and snacks. He had plans to stay in bed all day, and he wasn't going to let his family ruin those plans.

Gabe:Az isn't gone, and if I have my way he won't be gone for quite awhile. He's kind and sweet and funny and I'm keeping him. Stop worrying and let me have a weekend of peace. I don't ask for much, but I'm asking for this. We'll talk at Sunday dinner.

Gabe hit send and set his phone on the counter, looking up. He stopped dead in his tracks then, because there was someone sitting at his kitchen table.

He was unsure exactly who, or what, was sitting there. The creature was stone gray with pitch black, feathered wings and long, dark hair. He was beautiful and perfect in an unreal way, and that plus his wings made Gabe think of an angel, yet the coloring was all wrong.

"Who are you?" he asked, suspicion tingeing his voice. He wasn't concerned, exactly, but he wasn't pleased either.

"I am Kushiel, the Rigid One of God, Angel of Punishment," he intoned, his voice and face serious.

It kind of pissed Gabe off, to be honest. He really wished, once again, that he could quirk one eyebrow, because if ever a one eyebrow quirk was needed, this was the time.

Instead, he settled on a snort.

"Yeah, well, I've met plenty of angels, Rigid One of God, and plenty of demons, too, so save your titles and tell me what the hell you're doing in MY kitchen." Gabe must have raised his voice, because he heard stirring from the other room.

Great; Az had heard. As much as he could use Az's support right now, the last thing he needed was some kind of divine battle in his kitchen. He didn't think that would be covered under homeowner's insurance. Plus, he really didn't think he'd need help with this one. This wasn't his first go ‘round with angels, after all. Kushiel's coloring was also wrong for an angel, and maybe it was foolish to think that it might give him the upper hand, but he had the thought anyway. The more blindingly bright they were, the more Gabe usually worried, and this guy was gray. He wasn't even sure how he could be an angel.

Az strode into the kitchen at that moment, and he was stark naked. Gabe went to block him from Kushiel's view, which he knew was totally stupid, but he couldn't help it.

Az sort of stumbled as Gabe blocked his path, then he looked up and noticed Kushiel. Instead of the fury or indignation or outright warfare Gabe expected, however, he saw Az's face split into a wide grin.

"Brother!" he yelled out, starting to walk toward Kushiel before noticing that Gabe was blocking the way. He arched one eyebrow at Gabe (dammit), and Gabe looked down at Az's rather lovely dick hanging for all to see before glancing back up.

Az's face softened, he smiled down at Gabe, and he leaned in to kiss him. By the time he lifted his head up, Gabe noticed Az had pants on.

Gabe glowered a bit. "If you can magic pants on that fast, you'd think you could magic our clothes off that easily too," he grumped.

Az full out belly laughed at that. "Yes, I could," he replied, "but seeing you strip and seeing your face when I strip is much more fun."

Az then looked toward Kushiel, and Gabe followed his glance. The angel (maybe—Gabe still wasn't convinced) had a slightly odd look on his face, but he didn't look hostile. It was more like he was confused.

Az strode over, grabbed a chair, and sat down across from Kushiel, a genuine smile on his face. Gabe also noticed the horns, wings, and tail were gone. He kind of missed them, but he figured this was another good sign. Surely he'd be in his full demonic form if he was threatened.

"It's amazing how many afterlifers I've run into while topside!" Az joked. "What brings you here, Kushiel?" He seemed to take a closer look at Kushiel's face then, noticing the serious expression that had overtaken the befuddled one.

Az absently reached his hand back towards Gabe, and Gabe grabbed onto it. Az then pulled Gabe over to him and onto his lap. Gabe gave a little oomph as he landed, but he got himself comfy and glared at Kushiel.

"Yes, what brings you into my home uninvited and unsummoned?" Gabe repeated.

Kushiel smirked a bit at that. "I'm an angel. I don't get summoned," he retorted.

Gabe rolled his eyes, wishing again for the one eyebrow raise. "You haven't met Grams," he snorted. "Perhaps you can't be summoned, but you can certainly be called forth to duty, and you haven't been."

Kushiel's eyes widened at the phrasing, and Gabe raised both his eyebrows. That's right, sketchy angel guy, Gabe thought, I know a thing or two about angels.

Az spoke from behind him, and Gabe leaned back into him as he heard a bit of caution enter his voice. "Yes, Kushiel, what are you doing here in Gabe's kitchen?"

"How do you know each other?" Gabe interrupted. He couldn't help the question; in his experience, angels and demons did not mix with another.

"Ah," Az replied, wrapping his arms around Gabe. Gabe had a moment to wonder about the physics of it all, because his kitchen chairs were not really big enough for both of them, but he let that thought go as Az started to explain.

"Kushiel is one of the very few angels, perhaps even the only one, now that I think about it, to be able to go upstairs as well as to the underworld. He is the Angel of Punishment, and although he spends most of his time in Limbo, he occasionally pops into the underworld to check on some soul who might be redeemed. It is rare, but redemption does happen," Az finished.

The gray color and black wings made sense, then. Kushiel was an angel, but it looked like he was somewhat fallen. Gabe also found it highly interesting that Kushiel himself had not answered the question, and he made no move to agree or disagree with Az's statement. Gabe wondered if there was something hidden there.

"We have known each other for centuries. Nay, even longer," Az noted. "I consider him a friend. Hopefully I am not mistaken in that consideration," he added.

Kushiel searched Az's face before looking back at Gabe. He placed his hands on the table, palms face down and flattened. It seemed like a gesture of some sort, but Gabe wasn't sure what it meant.

"It seems I am often in the way of misplaced souls as of late," Kushiel announced, and there was some meaning to his words that Gabe simply could not suss out.

Az's arms tightened, however, and he answered, "Gabe is not a misplaced soul. He is exactly where he needs to be, alive and topside."

Kushiel looked down at his hands before looking back up at Az. "I was not talking about your human, Az," Kushiel said softly. "I was talking about you."