OTA

[whispersoflove]

Coby wasn't home, and hadn't left a note for him, so Anael was walking through the streets of London to get to Alcuin's home, enjoying the chill in the air, the way his breath fogged on the way out, the ebb and flow of love in the hearts around him. Hands in his jacket pockets, he paid no mind to the odd looks he occasionally received for wearing nothing but a denim jacket over a t-shirt in this weather.

It began as an itch in his back, a barely there scratch where his wings would be. He did not think much of it, only shifting his shoulders the way he normally did when the urge to let them out came over him. But then the itch burrowed deeper, and increasingly hotter, until it was more of a burn than anything else, and his lungs were alive with it.

He'd hurried into a side street with little foot traffic and leaned against a wall there, his breathing short and heavy. He tried to cloak himself, but he couldn't keep a hold on the miracle through the pain he was so unused to, and he collapsed to his knees as he heard words in a rough language that scraped against every fiber of his being, a language of Hell. His wings wouldn't come out and he folded to his side on the wet ground, seeing shadows on the other side of the street. They were all saying the words, out loud and right into his mind, and one of them came forward, a pair of boots stopping right in front of him. They pulled his t-shirt collar down and drew a symbol between his collarbones, their fingers red with - blood? The symbol felt like it was searing into his flesh. Anael cried out, physically as much as spiritually, praying out to God with all of his being.

The words ceased suddenly, pain abating slightly, and the dark figures dispersed as someone ran over to him.

Comments

[akatawitch]

When he hid against her neck like that, Sunny's hand reflexively started rubbing up and down his back. Anael had always been someone she went to when she needed comfort and strength and right now--well, God it really was like realizing your parents were just people.

She couldn't tell him everything would be okay, but there was something true she could tell him. "I'm with you. You won't be alone."

[whispersoflove]

Anael shut his eyes tight as her words rocked through him and the back of his eyes itched the beginning of tears. No. Not yet. He held on to her a little more tightly for a few seconds, then leaned back, his hands on her shoulders. "Your friendship is such a precious gift, Sunny," he told her quietly, a hand moving to cup her cheek.

[akatawitch]

Sunny blushed deeply and looked down at her feet. "I try."

[whispersoflove]

Anael leaned back in to press a kiss to her other cheek, taking this last moment of physical comfort and then shoving away everything he would not let himself feel for now. "I will call," he told her after taking a step back, his hands falling reluctantly away from her.

Then he turned, cloaking himself from human eyes and letting his wings out all at once. He did not know whether her magic would allow her to see, but whether he had disappeared to her eyes or she could now see him soar up into the air with powerful flaps of his wings, he had to go before he could no longer hold his emotions at bay. They were battering at his meager defenses; he was not used to not letting himself feel. The sooner he reached Coby's, the better.

[akatawitch]

Sunny did not watch. The shadow of an old memory made it too painful to try. But when he had gone, she immediately texted both Felix and Faizel.

When you have time, need to talk about bindings, angels, and demons.