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]

"Of course." Why would an angel lie about forgiveness? Is it not one of the most important things to give freely and honestly?

[beautifulanimal]

He's used to humans. Humans lie about forgiveness all the time. He just wants to make sure, but he trusts Seere so stupidly much that he believes him. With a relieved sigh, he rests their foreheads together.

"I swear I didn't know. I didn't know I was doing it to you."

[the_baking_vampire]

"It's alright." He's not angry about that, or even irritated. It's just part of being a guardian. Mostly, it was his worry that made things more difficult. "Are you feeling better?"

[beautifulanimal]

John just shakes his head. "No, but I won't hurt you anymore, so you don't have to worry. You can go back to heaven and relax. I got this."

[the_baking_vampire]

"I don't want to go back there right now." He's been mocked quite frequently for the state of his wings. He just wants a quiet place to rest and recover.

[beautifulanimal]

"Okay... what can I do to make it better?"

Small smile.

"Need some help sleeping?"

Shhh. He's just trying to make him laugh. He feels so bad about this.

[the_baking_vampire]

"That would be welcome." There's no awkwardness. He still doesn't get the innuendo behind it, so he simply heads for the bedroom. But then he stops and changes direction. That's not his bed. He should probably sleep on the couch.

[beautifulanimal]

Did he just...? No. No way. He probably took it literally, John tells himself. Not that he minds helping him if that's what he needs. He owes the guy.

He stops to stuff the meat into the fridge, even if it means pulling out two shelves to fit it in there, and then goes after Seere.

When he sees him on the couch, he shakes his head.

"Come on. The bed will be more comfortable."

[the_baking_vampire]

"Are you certain?" Still, he pushes himself back to his feet once more. He has to admit, the couch doesn't leave much room for wings, so he heads for the bedroom once more.

[beautifulanimal]

"You'll always be welcome in my bed."

he leads him into the bedroom and sits down on the edge.

"What do you need? I don't have wings to wrap around you."

[the_baking_vampire]

"Just knowing that you're here and safe is enough." Seere gets into the bed, not bothering with the blankets. He just nestles himself inside his not-quite-so fluffy feathers and closes his eyes.

Like John, he's not human, so his version of a nap is a little different. He'll be out for three days, unless one of those alarm bells in his head goes off.

[beautifulanimal]

John hesitates for a while. At first, he tells himself that the guy needs his privacy. He goes back to the kitchen to process all that meat and freeze it because he's still not keen on giving into the urge to devour it all. He cleans up after his experiments and packs it away, there's no point in continuing if it means he'll hurt Seere every time he does that.

That night, he tries to sleep on the couch, but after hours of tossing and turning, he sneaks into the bedroom and ccareeefully peels away wings so he can sneak between them. He knows how peaceful it is in that cocoon and it's too tempting. Once snuggled up against him, he doesn't want to leave. He'll sleep with him until Seere decides to wake up.

[the_baking_vampire]

Three days is just a cat nap for Seere. Angels have been known to sleep for decades between assignments. Still, he knows he can't sleep for too long, so he eventually cracks his eyes open again, gradually becoming aware of his surroundings.

And the warm body pressed against his own.

That makes him smile softly and he wraps his arm around John's waist, taking the opportunity to nuzzle him gently. John is so sweet when he's like this. So beautiful.

[beautifulanimal]

He's still sleeping, but responds to the arm around him anyway. His leg hooks around Seere's and he snuggles closer, hiding his face against the angel's neck. It's a good, safe place to be.

[the_baking_vampire]

Seere's quite happy to let John be. After a meal, the best thing is sleep, so he can sleep as long as he wants. Seere will keep him safe and warm and make sure his nightmares stay away.

[beautifulanimal]

It doesn't take long before he blinks awake. The first thing he does is look to see if Seere's sleeping. If he is, he'll just go back to sleep. That's what he has been doing for the past couple of days. When he finds him awake, he smiles.

"Hey."

[the_baking_vampire]

"Good morning," he replies with a smile. He's definitely feeling more rested. Some of his missing feathers have even started growing back in.

[beautifulanimal]

"Are you feeling better? What do you need?"

He strokes Seere's one wing and look at him like he's trying to read how he feels. He still feels responsible.

[the_baking_vampire]

That touch makes Seere shiver and he flushes a little. Oh my.

"Angel wings are sensitive..."

[beautifulanimal]

"Sensitive how? DidIhurtyouagain?"

He pulls his hand to him and wonders if he actually touched him a lot harder than intended.

[the_baking_vampire]

"No, you didn't hurt me." Seere flushes a little more, wondering how to explain. "It's... considered intimate."

[beautifulanimal]

"Intimate as in... Oh! Oh God! I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to cross that line. Please don't be mad. I would never insult you like that, I swear!"

[the_baking_vampire]

"Why would I be mad?" He's honestly confused by that. It was a simple mistake. "Or insulted, for that matter?""

[beautifulanimal]

"Because it's intimate and private, and someone like me doesn't have the right to touch someone like you like that. I'd understand if you were upset. I know I crossed a line just by getting in bed with you."

[the_baking_vampire]

"John," Seere says, wanting to interrupt his rant. He kisses the brunet on the forehead, sweet and tender, and he gives him a soft smile. "Do not worry so. If I were to let someone touch my wings, I would prefer it to be you."