Lower Tadfield Safehouse

Michael grabbed the curled-up Sir Peeg and held him to his chest, not caring about the pin-pricks along his fingers. "You tell that bird of yours to stay away from Sir Peeg," he said, glaring at the aforementioned bird. "And that's the last time I ever let you be the battle owl!"

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Raphael looked hurt, though it was understandable Michael would be upset. "I... I'm so sorry.."

His tiny wings drooped. He was starting to feel like a big screw-up to his older brother.

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Michael sighed, looking at his little brother. "I'm not mad at you. But your owl's gotta learn manners, because Sir Peeg is very small and adorable and while he may be a badass, he's a baby badass."

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"I know. I promise to talk to him." But Raphael still tilted his head, remembering what was said in front of Jarod earlier. "Michael? You're not... not upset anymore are you? About me... I mean, do you think I'm better?"

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Michael looked at Raphael, mimicking the tilt. "Well yes, I think you're fine," he said, "but I don't trust your luck. If that makes any sense."

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Gabriel was on his way back to the library after feeding the cats. He had just reached the library when he heard a very distant scream; oddly, it wasn't at the pitch normal human ears could pick up. He still recognised it, though. Raphael. Turning, he sprinted back to Michael's room, slowing down a little as he sensed that Michael was already there and he couldn't sense any demonic activity nearby.

He burst in through the doorway. "Are you alright? I heard you scream."

Edited Date: Friday, 18 February 2011 04:20 (UTC)

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Raphael was looking rather like a chastised child by that time. In all honesty he wondered if Michael -or Gabriel, for that matter- would ever see him without the shadows of what he had done. He was better, right? It was understandible they'd be wary, but how could he prove himself?

"Michael brought a hedgehog," Raphael said, pointing to the adorable creature. "But Pudge tried to eat him." Here he pointed to the owl. "But I promised to talk to him and make sure he understands that we do not eat family members."

He shifted uncomfortably. "And I was about to go get them their dinner, actually. Do you two need anything?" He moved to the door.

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"He's adorable!" Gabriel was about to ask if he could hold the hedgehog, but Raphael's tone made him pause. He turned back to his brother, pulling him into a light hug.

"You sure you're alright?" he asked softly.

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"His name is Sir Peeg," Michael said helpfully. "And Raph, it would be great if you could find... uh... baby hedgehog food."

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Gabriel looked at Michael. "You have no idea what baby hedgehogs eat, do you?"

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"They eat meat and insects. Close to the same diet at Pudge, actually." Raphael was still edging towards the door. "I'll uhm, see you guys later?"

His cheeks were coloring a little but he smiled gently.

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"But Sir Peeg is a baby!" Michael protested. "Shouldn't he eat milk?"

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"Sir Peeg is a baby, but he's old enough to be able to digest small insects. Otherwise he'd have been too young to be away from his mother."

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Gabriel smiled at Raphael before turning back to Michael. "You drink milk, anyway."

He held out his arms. "May I hold him? I'll be gentle."

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Raphael smiled at the two of them before turning and quietly leaving.

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Michael gently handed over his new pet. "Be careful! He's incredibly awesome, and ridiculously cute."

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Gabriel took the little animal, cradling him gently. "He is," the Messenger smiled, lifting the hedgehog to kiss its nose lightly. "Aww, look at you, you're adorable!"

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Sir Peeg made a happy hedgehog noise. "I think he says the same thing about you."

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Gabriel laughed. "Why, thank you, Sir Peeg. I could say the same about your owner too. Sometimes, anyway." He was cradling the hedgehog again, rubbing its belly, when he paused and looked closely. "You know, I think your Sir Peeg is actually a Dame Peeg."

Edited Date: Saturday, 19 February 2011 05:27 (UTC)

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Michael gasped. This changed so much!

"H-hang on!!!!!!" He sprinted to the bathroom, rummaging through all the bathsoaps, until he came across one with a ribbon on it. He went back to Gabriel and Dame Peeg and gently tied the ribbon around her ickle neck. "There."

Edited Date: Saturday, 19 February 2011 21:09 (UTC)

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Gabriel raised an eyebrow, clearly trying not to laugh again. "Have you been reading too much Beatrix Potter?"

He stroked Dame Peeg's forehead. "You know, I'm sorry to say I think it's illegal to keep wild hedgehogs as pets. I can check for you."

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"Have I been reading what now? And it's only illegal for humans."

Like some stupid human law would separate him from Dame Peeg! The poor girl needed his fatherly love and support.

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Gabriel gave Dame Peeg a last kiss on her forehead and a cuddle before handing her back to Michael. He held out his hand and concentrated; The Big Book of Beatrix Potter appeared in it. He flipped it open to The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and pointed out the illustration to Michael.

"We're not supposed to break their laws, anyway."

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"Dame Peeg is way cuter than that," Michael scoffed. "And anyway, I don't have to listen to human rules. Pretty sure Raph isn't. His menagerie has to be illegal."

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"As far as I know, barn owls are fine in the UK, and rabbits and fish shouldn't pose a problem." Gabriel shut the book and left it on the table; Raphael would probably like it. "Though I have to agree with you that your Dame Peeg is cuter."

He gently tickled the tiny bit of her tummy that was visible. "I suppose you'll be letting her run about the room? You should probably get a cage with a wheel anyway, so she has somewhere to retreat, especially if Pudge decides she looks tasty again. As Raphael said, they're mostly insectivores. I can look for more details on hedgehog care for you."

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Michael shook his head. "Humans are crazy. That makes no sense - why the adorable rolly-polly Dame Peeg is illegal while that menace of a bird isn't." He shot the owl a glare. "I guess because she's too awesome to keep inside. But okay, I'll follow your advice because um..." He gave an embarrassed smile, "I have no idea what I'm doing. But isn't this way better than a hellbeast? Definitely."

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Gabriel laughed at Michael's embarrassed smile; it was endearing. "When do you have an idea of what you're doing? And come on, you can't compare this to a hellbeast. Can I hold her again?"

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"I can compare her to a hellbeast since in theory that's what I was trying to find," Michael explained, holding her out. "For Failchrist who, by the way, is freaking weird."

He paused. "Oh yeah, I guess I left Aziraphael out there too. Oh well, he'll be fine."

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The Messenger stared at him, hand still outstretched towards Dame Peeg. "You left Aziraphael out there with a hellbeast on the loose?"

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"Nope. There aren't any hellbeasts around anyway," Michael replied. "Gaaaaaaaabe should I let Dame Peeg back in the wild?" He looked down at her. He wasn't ready to be a father, and she was too young to be his sidekick.

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"Are you certain?"

Gabriel looked down at the hedgehog too, stroking her head lightly. "As adorable as she is, I think you should."

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Michael nodded. "Will you come with me?"

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