Chapter 17 Gabriel
Gabriel
The barbecue had been enjoyable, although Gabriel had to admit he would have felt out of place and awkward if Levi hadn’t been there. The demon didn’t leave his side, though, which was comforting. The food was also tasty, although Levi’s cooking was better.
He was just starting to relax when he saw Kushiel, the Rigid One of God, enter the party with a mortal, Cassius, who he had given a message to some time ago.
He remembered the message, simply because it had been odd, telling the man to seek out a gray angel.
(Levi was right, afterlife messages really were difficult to decipher, and Gabriel had even done some translating for that message.)
He hadn’t known who “the gray angel” was at the time, because it seemed like an odd description for any angel. Apparently, it was Kushiel.
And Gabriel could tell that he and the mortal were soulmates.
Kushiel had a soulmate. An angel had a soulmate. Gabriel hadn’t known that was possible. He had given messages, and he had seen pairings, but none had been angels. They had all been demons who had found their soulmates.
Kushiel deserved a soulmate. Of course he did. He was one of the most hard working souls, and his job was not one that Gabriel envied. He deserved all the happiness in the world, but Gabriel couldn’t help the sharp pain he felt somewhere within his chest.
Levi asked him if he wanted to leave, and realizing that the demon did so because he sensed Gabriel’s discomfort made things somehow both better and worse when it came to that ache in his chest.
Of course, before they’d even finished their conversation, Kushiel and Cassius were looking over at them. Gabriel gave a half-hearted wave, and Cassius, who was holding Kushiel’s hand, headed their way, a smile on his face.
“Levi—good to see you! And Gabriel! We had a bit of confusion with your message at first, but as you can see, I found my angel!” Cassius was beaming, and Kushiel softly smiled at him.
“Uh, yes. I see that,” Gabriel said stiffly.
Cassius’s smile was gone in a heartbeat, his mood shifting.
“Do you have a problem with Kushiel?” Cassius snapped.
Gabriel leaned back, surprised at the animosity. He looked over at Levi, but the demon looked just as confused as him.
Cassius wasn’t done. “He may not be an archangel like you, but Kushiel does important work. He’s a shining and bright soul, and if you don’t want to ‘sully’ your perfection by being in his presence, feel free to leave.”
“Uh,” Gabriel muttered, completely confused as to what in heaven was going on.
“Although it appears you’re slumming it with demons, so I’m not sure why a gray angel would be a problem for you,” Cassius finished, a bit of a sneer on his face.
Gabriel had no idea what he was talking about, but he was offended on Levi’s behalf. He stood up straighter, his tone getting ice cold. “I beg your pardon, but I am not ‘slumming it’ with Levi.”
He felt Levi step away a bit, and he looked over to see his demon’s face, which was carefully blank.
“Yes. We’re in a leadership team mandated partnership. This wasn’t Gabriel’s choice,” Levi answered.
Gabriel didn’t think that nearly sufficed for a defense of Levi.
“First of all, it isn’t ‘slumming it’ to be with Levi, and you will kindly refrain from using that phrase in regards to him.
He has been an invaluable asset to my work, and he is better than half the angels I know.
I will not allow you to disparage his name. ”
He heard Levi let out a breath next to him, but he wasn’t done yet.
“Furthermore, I haven’t seen Kushiel in a few millennia, and I have nothing but respect for his work.
Dealing with souls in hell to see if they can find redemption is a job that I don’t think any other angel could accomplish.
I have no idea what I’ve done to offend either of you, and if it’s the fact that the message referred to Kushiel as a gray angel, well, I have no control over what the messages say. I’m merely the messenger.”
Gabriel sniffed haughtily on the last comment, although he could admit to himself that his feelings might have been the slightest bit hurt. He had only ever been cordial and friendly with Kushiel.
As for Levi’s comment… Well, he had thought they were a bit more than just a leadership team partnership.
Kushiel was the one who finally stepped forward, offering a hand. Gabriel took it in his, glad that at least the other angel wasn’t mad at him.
“It’s good to see you, Gabriel,” Kushiel said, shaking hands and then stepping back toward Cassius.
“You as well, Kushiel,” he responded. “You look happy and well. I’m glad.”
Cassius was still looking at him assessingly, but Kushiel took the mortal’s hand, saying, “We’ll catch up after we say hello to everyone.”
With that, he dragged the mortal off with him, the two of them quietly talking.
There was nothing else for it, and Gabriel turned to Levi. He supposed he should apologize again that Levi was stuck with him. Only Levi was grinning at him, and the demon took his hand.
“Ready for some dessert?” Levi asked, like everything was perfectly normal.
“I don’t understand much of what just happened,” Gabriel admitted.
“It’s okay, Buttons. They thought you were judging Kushiel. They didn’t realize you were the one feeling uncomfortable,” Levi assured him.
Gabriel shrugged his shoulders, a very unprofessional thing to do, but then he was at a barbecue, wasn’t he? So he could be unprofessional.
“Were you afraid he’d judge you for wearing jeans?” Levi teased.
“Not really. I was surprised that they were soulmates, and perhaps I didn’t greet them as warmly as I should have because of my surprise,” Gabriel admitted. “I knew demons were finding soulmates, but I didn’t know any angels had.”
Levi was looking at him, and Gabriel added, “I’m very happy for them. Kushiel deserves it more than any angel I know.”
Levi continued to stare for a moment, and Gabriel almost fidgeted, but then Levi leaned up and kissed him. “You’re really a softy deep down, Gabriel. Now let’s go get some dessert.”
They did indeed get quite a bit of dessert. Gabriel thought it probably wasn’t proper manners to eat a third serving, but he couldn’t very well tell Levi no when the demon got it for him, could he?
They had managed to eat a bit of everything and talk to almost everyone, and dusk was falling by the time everyone had eaten their fill.
There were small light bulbs hanging throughout the yard, casting a pretty glow over everything, and there were fireflies dancing in the air.
Gabriel thought it was all rather beautiful.
He stared over at Levi, who was talking to Arioch.
He had managed to find an excuse to escape that conversation, and he was enjoying standing a bit away from everything and watching Levi laugh.
“You’ll have to excuse Cassius. He’s rather protective of me,” Kushiel said.
Gabriel almost startled. He hadn’t realized the angel had come up next to him. He looked over, and Kushiel was smiling, as if he knew he'd surprised the other angel.
“Of course,” Gabriel answered, “although you’re an angel and he’s a mortal, so I would think it would be the other way around.”
“You really don’t feel the way the others do, do you?” Kushiel asked.
Gabriel could only stare at him, confused again.
“I am the gray angel,” he answered, as if that explained everything.
Gabriel still must have looked confused, because Kushiel’s true form flashed for just a moment.
He was, indeed, gray. Gabriel was speechless for a moment.
His first thought was that Kushiel had probably endured quite a bit of pain in visiting hell.
Oddly, his second thought was about Kushiel’s skin tone not matching with white robes.
Gabriel didn’t want to bring up the pain, so he settled on the clothing instead.
“You could wear a gray suit or gray robe for the symmetry when you appear in your angelic form. I think it might actually be very striking.” Gabriel was warming up to the idea.
“Yes. In fact, I think that would probably inspire shock and awe in the mortals. White angels are rather cliched, after all, so you would definitely stand out. Not that you need to stand out for the mortals, of course.”
Kushiel was looking at him, and Gabriel was beginning to wonder if perhaps he had something stuck in his teeth.
He knew he didn’t, but the way he kept getting stared at today was slightly disconcerting.
To his surprise, Kushiel pulled him into a hug, patting his back.
He reached up to pat Kushiel’s back as well, looking around a bit helplessly.
Aside from Levi, people did not embrace him.
Kushiel eventually pulled back, chuckling. “Only you would think about fashion.”
“Well, appearance is a part of my job,” Gabriel defended.
“Some of the angels… Let’s just say they haven’t been kind.”
“Whyever not?” Gabriel asked, but he knew the answer within a second. “Angels are a snotty bunch, and I can’t say I’m surprised. But I know that you cannot judge by appearances.”
“Then why the stiffness when we met? You seemed quick to defend the demon, so I didn’t think it was keeping company with one that made you awkward.”
Gabriel huffed. “Of course not. Levi has been invaluable, and I would never be ashamed to be seen with him.”
“Ahhh.” It was all Kushiel said, and Gabriel felt the need to explain further.
“It is a leadership team partnership, but for once, they seem to have accomplished something halfway decent. Although really, I think that’s because of Levi. He has wonderful ideas, and he’s teaching me all about mortal pleasures so I can deliver messages better.”
“Is he?” Kushiel said, and the angel was smirking at him.
Gabriel cleared his throat, unsure how to respond.
“Why were you uncomfortable, then? You didn’t answer. I won’t be offended if it was because of me,” Kushiel assured him.
Gabriel sighed. Obviously he wasn’t going to get out of answering. “I was just… surprised. I’ve never seen an angel with a soulmate.”
Kushiel looked over at Cassius, his gaze adoring. “Yes. My existence was not easy for a long time, but it all worked out for the best.”
“You are blessed,” Gabriel said, and he couldn’t help it if his gaze made its way over to Levi, still laughing with Arioch.
Kushiel hummed thoughtfully, following his gaze. “Perhaps you, too, will be blessed.”
Gabriel scoffed at the words, then he changed the subject to ask how Kushiel was managing between his angelic duties and his soulmate in the mortal world. They chatted for a bit, and eventually Levi and Cassius made their way over as well.
It was a very pleasant experience. The entire barbecue had been nice, and Gabriel understood the lure of family, friends, and good food. Levi was all smiles, and Gabriel knew the demon had enjoyed himself as well. They both made sure to thank their hosts before they departed.
Perhaps there was a slight ache in Gabriel’s chest as they left, and perhaps he let himself, for a fleeting moment, imagine that Kushiel was correct. He didn’t dwell on it, though, because who could ever imagine that an angel and a demon could be soulmates. It was impossible.
Even if Gabriel wished it wasn’t.