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.

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From:

beautifulanimal

"I can't promise that. I haven't been happy in so long. I don't even remember what it feels like."

From:

the_baking_vampire

"It's alright. I'm here and I'll try to make you happy as often as I can."

From:

beautifulanimal

"I'm thinking of asking to be put back on active duty. Will you be okay with that?"

From:

the_baking_vampire

"Of course. I'll be right there with you."

From:

beautifulanimal

"You know I don't like my job, right? I don't like killing people. It's just the only thing I'm good at."

From:

the_baking_vampire

"I know." He leans in to nuzzle him once more, trying to assure him that he thinks no ill of him. Seere has seen how much John doesn't like killing.

From:

beautifulanimal

"I might get injured in battle. I won't do it if you don't want me to. I'll figure something out. Get a job at Mcdonald's or something"

From:

the_baking_vampire

"John, I will be there with you, whenever you are in danger. I will protect you."

And he does not doubt that he will follow whatever orders John gives him, as well.

From:

beautifulanimal

"I won't be the one who needs protecting. I'm only going because with my new powers, I can keep the others from dying. At least that'll be something, right"

From:

the_baking_vampire

Seere smiles at him and nods slowly once. "A worthy task of you, indeed."

From:

beautifulanimal

"And if I'm back on the compound, I won't be able to actually talk to you a whole lot..."

From:

the_baking_vampire

"That's alright. It won't be any different than it was before you could see me."

From:

beautifulanimal

"You'd still be welcome to sleep in my bunk."

From:

the_baking_vampire

He smiles a little more broadly. "I would like that. Thank you."

From:

beautifulanimal

"I didn't sleep very well the time you were gone. Not like I slept when you were holding me. That was... nice. Didn't have any bad dreams."

From:

the_baking_vampire

"I'm glad. I was never able to help you with that before." There are definitely benefits to John knowing he's there. Seere can take far more actions to help him now than he could before, and that pleases him.

From:

beautifulanimal

"You know.. I know I've been a mess since I changed, but I don't think I would have handled it nearly as well as I have if you hadn't shown up. I'd still be blowing my brains out in the hope that it would stick."

From:

the_baking_vampire

Seere holds him tightly, protectively. "I'm just glad that you're alive."

From:

beautifulanimal

"I owe you a lot. I know there's thousands of things I don't even realize you've done for me, and for Sam. So I mean it when I say I'll do anything for you. Anything you need or want, I'll always say yes if you ask. I'd want to."

So what if he's not really going into this for the "right" reasons? It's mostly about him feeling lost and scared, and alone, and here there's angel who says he loves him and can make the pain and nightmares go away just by holding him. But does it really matter why?

From:

the_baking_vampire

At least Seere will never take advantage of him, never hurt him.

He shakes his head. "The only thing I want is for you to be happy. I'm the one who is beholden to you. I am yours, and anything I can do for you is a privilege, not a burden.

"And if you ever find it is difficult to be unable to talk to me during the day, I can enlist in the RRTS."

From:

beautifulanimal

"No. No, you shouldn't. You'd be expected to do terrible things. I don't wanna see blood on hands like yours. It's not worth it."

From:

the_baking_vampire

Seere finds John's hand and strokes the back of it lightly, touched by John's concern for him. "One day at a time, as you humans say."

From:

beautifulanimal

"Yeah..." He slips his fingers between Seere's and gives his hand a very very light squeeze. He's scared of breaking fingers. "They might not even let me come back. I failed my last psych and can't take a new one for another two months."

From:

the_baking_vampire

"If things don't go well, you can always try again in two months. I have faith that you'll succeed." He gives John a squeeze in return, a little harder to let John know he won't break. He's stronger than that.

From:

beautifulanimal

"You don't have to stay with me if you don't want to. There's no need to waste all your time on me."

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There's no need to be afraid of me. I would rather bake for you than drink your blood. I'm always looking to make friends, so please contact me if you'd like to get together.

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And sweets in general.