On a wing and a prayer

[the_baking_vampire]

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.

Comments

[the_baking_vampire]

"It seems the wood chipper knew exactly what it was doing." Is that an attempt at humor? Maybe Seere is getting the hang of this modern language thing.

[beautifulanimal]

Watch him crack up laughing like it's the funniest thing he has heard in ages.

"Oh, Seere-" Nope. He can't even. This guy is hilarious. Or maybe John just desperately needs something to laugh about.

[the_baking_vampire]

In either case, it makes Seere so happy to hear John laugh again, and he can't help but nuzzle at him affectionately. He wants to be able to make John happy like this more often.

[beautifulanimal]

There's a moment when John stiffens against him. The nuzzling is too affectionate compared to his expectations, but it feels nice to have someone close. He tentatively strokes their cheeks together.

"You'll be my friend, right?"

[the_baking_vampire]

"Of course I will." Seere's glad John didn't pull away. He'd have felt like a fool, but to have John initiate nuzzling in return is even more than he'd hoped.

He lifts a hand to stroke through John's hair gently and he smiles. "It would be my honor to be your friend."

[beautifulanimal]

"Good." That brings out a more gentle smile in him and he rests his head on Seere's shoulder. "Mind if I nap here?"

[the_baking_vampire]

"You are more than welcome to, so long as you promise me you'll eat something when you wake up next. It's been so long." He massages John's scalp, hoping the touch will help lure him back to sleep.

[beautifulanimal]

Oh, it does. It knocks him out within minutes, but it won't be another marathon sleep. A couple of hours at the most, and the whole time he'll cling like he's scared of being alone.

[the_baking_vampire]

Seere tucks his nose against John's hair once he falls asleep and just closes his eyes, holding him close. He knows things have been hard for him. He wishes he could help more, but since this is all he can do, he'll do it as well as he can.

[beautifulanimal]

A couple of hours later he wakes up again, only this time he's a little more awake and a little more guarded.

"Sorry," he mutters and carefully pulls away so he can get out of bed.

[the_baking_vampire]

Seere tucks his wings back against his body to let John out, and he immediately feels a little colder for the loss. "There's no need to apologize. Will you eat something now?"

That was the deal, after all.

[beautifulanimal]

"I need a shower, first."

It's mostly an excuse to avoid the conversation, but then again he really could use a good scrub and a close encounter with a toothbrush.

[the_baking_vampire]

"Alright. I'll make something while you get clean."

Seere doesn't need a shower. He never gets dirty. So, he gets up and stretches his limbs before heading to the kitchen. He'll make a large omelette. John seems to like those.

[beautifulanimal]

He actually showers this time, and comes out ten minutes later smelling of soap and shampoo and toothpaste, and making mental notes that he really needs to switch to things that aren't loaded with all these fucking fake aromas. They're too strong for him now.

[the_baking_vampire]

"Good morning," Seere greets, figuring that's the most appropriate, despite the time. "Are you finally hungry?"

And then he makes the mistake of looking over. John is stunning when his hair is still wet and sticking all over the place.

[beautifulanimal]

"What?"

He looks at himself, as if double checking to make sure he did in fact remember to put on clothes after his shower. He did, of course, so why is Seere staring like that? Whatdidhedowrong?

"What is it?"

[the_baking_vampire]

"You told me not to call you beautiful anymore," he says to explain why he can't explain, but it snaps him out of his trance. He dishes the omelette out into a bowl with a stack of toast on a plate next to it and he carries them to the table. "Come and eat."

[beautifulanimal]

His cheek flushes and he looks away. He really doesn't know what to say to that. Still not hungry, either, but at least he comes to sit at the little table.

"You really didn't have to cook."

[the_baking_vampire]

"I wanted to. You haven't eaten in nine days, potentially more."

He gestures at the food, silently asking John to at least have a little.

[beautifulanimal]

"Doesn't feel that long."

He gets up again, but only to get himself a glass of water. When he comes back, he picks up his fork and has every intention of eating... but he ends up just staring at it.

[the_baking_vampire]

Frownfrownfrownfrownfrownfrown.

There's a lot of frowning going on over in the corner. If John doesn't eat, Seere's just going to get more worried.

[beautifulanimal]

"I'm trying."

John doesn't look up, but he can FEEL the buzz of that worried frown.

[the_baking_vampire]

"Okay. I'm sorry."

He'll slink back to the kitchen and leave John alone while he eats. He doesn't want to pressure him too much.

[beautifulanimal]

That's for the best. Then he doesn't have to be there to see it when, three minutes later, John runs for the bathroom to be sick. There's nothing in his stomach so he's just dry-heaving, and feeling like his body is trying to turn itself inside out. It's not Seere's fault, though. Not his cooking. He didn't even touch it.

[the_baking_vampire]

Seere shows up soon after to rub John's back carefully, channeling some of his power to help ease the sickness. "Are you ill? I can't sense anything..." He's not sure what's wrong with John.