the_baking_vampire | On a wing and a prayer

This isn't the first charge he's ever had as a guardian angel, so it's not exactly as if he's new at his job. He's never broken the rules before or failed in his task. He's always followed strictly to the rules and protected his charges with the utmost care and diligence.

He never thought things would be so much different with John Grimm.

As a boy, he'd lost his parents, and Seere had been tasked to him without any real explanation of why. Sometimes, that's how it goes; an assignment without a reason. It's never bothered him. All he knew was that he needed to protect the boy, and by extension, that usually meant protecting his twin sister, as well, inseparable as they were.

For years, Seere watched him grow, a sad, shy, and reserved child who turned into a handsome young man.

It was difficult when John entered the military. Seere can't fix mental anguish. How does one protect against that sort of thing without keeping a soul from gaining the necessary experiences to benefit from having lived? So, he watches as John struggles through bootcamp, watches as he struggles with the deaths of his friends, with the guilt that comes with it. He wants to help, but there's nothing he can do. He can't protect everyone. Only John.

Seere is wary when John gets selected for the RRTS. It's such a dangerous squad. Protecting him becomes a full-time task, flitting in and out of John's vision, exploiting those fractional blind spots that all humans have to subtly change the trajectory of bullets or nudge him away from a falling object or protect him from an explosion.

During these years, he's grown closer to John. He knows he shouldn't get attached, but John is such a sweet, loyal person, Seere can't help but care for him. He's gentle and protects those around him, gives everything he's got to try to keep his friends safe. He's grown into a man that Seere is proud to watch over, even if it's become dangerous to do so. Angels aren't allowed to love.

Still, his job goes well up until John is in his 26th year -- and he suddenly disappears.

Seere tracks his last signature to the point where it disappeared. It's a portal to Mars. Seere knows this, but he can't go. He can't leave the sphere of influence that Angels have on Earth. He can't travel to Mars with him, can't protect him. For once in his eternal life, Seere is afraid he will fail. He's not afraid of the punishment for it, he's afraid for John.

So, he heads back to Heaven to wait, and never have two days seemed so long for someone with as much patience as he has.

As soon as John's familiar tug reappears on Earth, Seere seeks him out.

He finds him at the hospital, beside the bed of his sister, and he immediately looks the both of them over for injuries. John is perfectly healthy, as far as Seere can tell, but Sam seems as if she has been wounded. Not fatally so, thankfully.

He breathes out a sigh of relief. He is so glad to see his charge is safe.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

beautifulanimal

"So no cuts in the back to slot them through?"

He smiles. He likes that laugh. It's soothing, like everything else about Seere.

"What do you mean by grace?"

From:

the_baking_vampire

"No. No cuts." He smiles.

"Grace is what makes an angel an angel. It's where our power stems from. I haven't got much of it in comparison with an angel like Michael or Gabriel. Their wings are much more impressive."

From:

beautifulanimal

"I think your wings are the most impressive, awe-inspiring thing I have ever seen. And beautiful. Like all of you."

From:

the_baking_vampire

Seere nuzzles at him gratefully. "You haven't seen any other angels, but thank you."

From:

beautifulanimal

He moves his head to press little kisses to his cheek.

"I'm sure I could see every pair of wings in heaven and still prefer yours."

From:

the_baking_vampire

He isn't supposed to have pride, but still, he's a little happy to hear that. Those kisses make him happy, too. His grace is absolutely thrumming with contentedness right now, like an angelic version of purring.

"If you were an angel, yours would be magnificent."

From:

beautifulanimal

"I doubt that."

He continues to press kisses against whatever skin he can reach. He knows he shouldn't do this. He kinda feels like he's taking advantage of him, of his feelings. He doesn't feel the same way. How could he? He's only known Seere for a couple of months even if Seere has always been there. But at the same time, this is the only good feeling he has right now and he finds he wants to cling to it with all his strength. At least he's being honest, he tells himself.

From:

the_baking_vampire

"I don't." Seere dares to give John kisses back whenever he can reach, but he doesn't try to kiss him on the mouth. He won't press for anything like that. It's not necessary. It's enough that Seere's allowed to love him.

He does like all those kisses John leaves, though, purring away.

From:

beautifulanimal

"Will you let me touch you?"

Oh God, it's so wrong. But he's just human and for him it's too easy to link affection and tenderness with something sexual. It's such a typical human response, and he just wants to make him feel good. He just wants to repay what Seere gives him in any way he can.

From:

the_baking_vampire

"John," Seere whispers, almost reverently. "Is that what you really want, or are you asking out of obligation?" He reaches up to stroke his fingers along the brunet's stubble, somehow not minding the roughness. It's so... human.

From:

beautifulanimal

"I want it."

The little hesitation isn't because he's unsure of that. He's sure he wants this, but he's not sure if this is the right thing to do. It's what he needs, but that's rarely the best course of action.

From:

the_baking_vampire

"Then I'm yours."

If John wants this, then that's all that matters. Seere knows nothing about this sort of thing, has no idea what it will be like.

From:

beautifulanimal

"Just tell me what you like and I'll do it. Doesn't matter what it is. I just wanna make you feel good."

From:

the_baking_vampire

"I've never done this before. I don't know what I like," Seere answers honestly. It's not like he has any experience to go off of.

From:

beautifulanimal

"Never? Not even a little handjob?"

From:

the_baking_vampire

He even flushes at something as mundane as that. "Never."

From:

beautifulanimal

Fuck.

He pulls away and moves so he can sit on the edge of the bed.

"I didn't know you were a virgin..."

From:

the_baking_vampire

"Why wouldn't I be?" John's the only person he's ever fallen in love with.

Seere sits up and watches him, trying to figure out what's going through his head.

From:

beautifulanimal

"I just thought- I don't even know. Maybe with other angels? Something. I don't this is right. I'd be taking advantage of how you feel about me and ruining you."

Damn him and his morals.

From:

the_baking_vampire

Seere tugs him back over and holds him close, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. "If you have doubts, then we don't need to do anything. I'm happy just being close to you."

From:

beautifulanimal

"You love me. You've known me for most of my life. I don't even really know anything about you. I can't say I love you back. I need you, I like you, but I don't want to- I feel like it's using how you feel just to make myself feel better, and it's so fucking selfish."

From:

the_baking_vampire

"There's no rush for anything. You don't have to push yourself or do anything you're not sure of. I'm not going anywhere. No matter what happens, I'll always come when you call."