Michael is a difficult patient

[cattygabriel]

Date: May 3rd
Place: Michael's room, the lobby, and back to Michael's room
Status: Private (Gabriel, Michael) - Complete
Summary: Gabriel leaves for a short while and returns to check on Michael, only to find him missing.

Ms Hodges had been quite understanding about letting Gabriel have a few days of unpaid leave to take care of Michael; she'd offered to have a doctor look at him, but Gabriel didn't feel like explaining the wings or the sword wounds. He was staying in Michael's room most of the time, returning to his own room only to sleep, feed the cats and shower.

Running a hand through still-damp hair, he pushed open Michael's door and paused, staring at the empty bed.

"Michael?" he called, but was unsurprised when no answer came. Sighing, he stepped out of the room.

I need to find Michael. And he knew that Michael was at the bottom of the stairs leading to the first floor. Taking the steps two at a time, Gabriel ran down. He paused at the sight of Michael sitting on the bottom step, huge golden wings drooping limply.

"Michael, you should be in bed."

Comments

[angelofawesome.livejournal.com]

"I like hugs," michael mumbled, leaning into Gabriel's embrace. "An' I don' need t' go back t' my room. 'm fine."

[cattygabriel]

Part of Gabriel was rejoicing at being able to be with Michael again, to hold his friend and tease him as though nothing was wrong, but he tried to ignore it; he also tried to ignore the fact that once Michael had recovered, Gabriel would have to avoid him again. He held the Warrior a little tighter.

"You're not fine. You're feverish and weak, I'm worried about you, and it will be a lot easier to take care of you if I don't have to go looking for you first."

[angelofawesome.livejournal.com]

"I am fine," Michael protested again, shaking his head a little bit. "Y' can g' back t' 'voidin' me now, kthx."

[cattygabriel]

Gabriel winced. "I don't want to," he said, very quietly. "Michael, I'd hate myself if anything happened to you because of me."

[angelofawesome.livejournal.com]

Michael blinked and looked up at Gabriel with bleary, fevered eyes. "That," he saounded out slowly, "is the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

[cattygabriel]

The carpet was very nice, really. He should have scrutinised it before.

"We should probably get you back to your room."

[angelofawesome.livejournal.com]

Michael's eyes narrowed. "Ohhh no, you think you can somehow - I mean - what? Start over. Explaaaaain."

[cattygabriel]

Gabriel could almost make out the individual threads in the carpet. He rubbed his hands together slowly, tensely, before placing them flat on his knees, posture stiff. "We're not having this discussion."

[angelofawesome.livejournal.com]

"So y' think that... that y' gonna... hurt me, s'mehow? Okay, okay, so..." Michael's eyes narrowed in thought as he tried to puzzle this out. His head was throbbing but he ignored it. "Y' think 'voidin' me will not-hurt me. So... y' think that the fact that I love y' and us bein t'gether will be b'd? Then why don' y' jus' say 'screw you Mich'l' 'n' we can go back t' the way things were, 'cause I've l'ved y' f'rever s' I'm used t' y' not carin' 'bout me, which is like, unr... unrequited l've, which is like a major OMG FALL thing, so if I've been like that for'ver, then..."

There was a sharp pain in his head and he instinctively pinched the bridge of his nose to get it to stop. When it faded finally, he muttered, "S'mething s'mething s'mething, I had a point."

[cattygabriel]

Gabriel turned his head sharply. "I do care, but..." Noting Michael's posture, he placed his hands on either side of the Warrior's head, thumbs lightly massaging his temples as he willed healing power into him. "Better?"

It took a moment for him to understand Michael's words. "How would you know - I mean, of all angels, why -" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "I don't want to tempt you. And I don't think you're in the best state to be having any serious discussions right now."

[angelofawesome.livejournal.com]

Had he been in a better frame of mind, he would have laughed at Gabriel's question. Instead he just grinned and said, "Because... you're you, and I'm me, and that's the way it is and should be, 'n' whether we're together or not, y' need t' be you and I'm gonna be me."

[cattygabriel]

Gabriel's lips curved up very slightly. "You're not making much sense. In fact, you sound like you're trying to sing."

[angelofawesome.livejournal.com]

Michael blinked again. "Huh? Ohhhhhhhh, y' dodgin' the issue 'gain. 'K. Fine. Jus' drop it. But I get t' call y' a moron."

[cattygabriel]

Gabriel flushed, releasing Michael and looking down again. "Go ahead. I just..." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I suppose you can't just forget it."

[angelofawesome.livejournal.com]

Finally sitting up was proving to be nearly impossible, and so he relaxed and fell backwards, laying spread out on the stairs. He closed his eyes. "Point. Point is. That if lovin' y' is a sin, I'd be s' Fallen already. 'n' twisted with jealous rage 'n' stuff. 'm hardier than that, 'n' so are you. We're the Hands of God. S'metimes." He giggled. "Depends on how Father's feelin'."

[cattygabriel]

"I don't trust myself," Gabriel said quietly. He leaned back, supporting himself on his elbows. "Sometimes I wonder if you were right when you questioned my name, back when we were created."

[angelofawesome.livejournal.com]

Michael turned his head and smiled at Gabriel. "Nyah. It fits you. Strong of spirit 'n' all that. I got the muscles, you got the brains." He giggled a bit. "But then 'gain, your name could mean Obliviousness of God." He giggled more. "Paranoid of God! Fall f' love. That doesn't happen, Gab'l, it just doesn't. Moron," he finished fondly.

[cattygabriel]

"Look at Raphael and Hadassah," Gabriel pointed out, biting his lip.

[angelofawesome.livejournal.com]

"Don' remember why Hadassah Fell but I doubt it was 'cause she loved Raph'l," he retorted.

[cattygabriel]

"He was too busy to spend enough time with her. She wasn't very happy about that." He wrapped his arms around himself. "I don't trust myself. I haven't for a long time."

[angelofawesome.livejournal.com]

Michael fondly sighed at Gabriel. "An' yet, here y' are, on a mission from Father, bein' a good little angel. Y' don't trust y'self, right, so y're less likely t' do something really bad. Cautious is good."

[cattygabriel]

"You could have chosen someone not tainted." Gabriel stared ahead resolutely, a deep blush rising to his cheeks. "That shared dream. The kiss. I enjoyed it. I shouldn't have."

He'd never thought Lust was something he needed to worry about.

[angelofawesome.livejournal.com]

Michael may have been weak from bloodloss and demonic tainting, but he still managed a fairly good hysterical laugh.

[cattygabriel]

I cannot believe I admitted that.

Gabriel finally turned to look at him. "I fail to see the humour."

[angelofawesome.livejournal.com]

Michael felt elated. "I think y' need to go talk to Haniel, or Chamuel."