Twenty-Six
Gabriel
It had been two days since the demon realm visit, and I was starting to feel a little aimless.
For years, I'd had a goal, a mission, and everything I'd done had led to it.
But now that it was over, I had nothing to do.
My dream job was out of my reach unless I decided to go back to school, and even then I'd have to work hard for years before I ended up with a class of kids.
What else could I do? I wasn't a songwriter, so there was no making music of my own. I had no interest in performing for a crowd either.
Was I being too choosy?
"Hey," Xin said as they peeked into the kitchen, and I smiled. Since I'd reminded them it was too cold to go outside in the sheer top they wore, they'd pulled on my jacket over it, and there was something sexy about seeing them wearing my stuff, even if it was a little small on them.
"Hey. Was Gray a good boy?" Xin had taken Gray out for a walk, somehow sensing I needed a few minutes to myself.
"The very best," they agreed with a grin, their light brown eyes roaming over my face. "You okay?"
I nodded, but they kept watching me for another moment before nodding slowly.
"I need to grab something from my place. I'll be back in five," they said, and I blinked.
I couldn't remember the last time they'd gone back to their place. Usually, they just magicked up whatever they needed, so this must be something they couldn't.
"Okay," I said, realizing they were waiting for my response, and they smiled.
Instead of leaving, they walked up to me, dipped their head, and pressed their lips to mine.
I kissed them back instantly, my arms sliding around their waist as I closed the distance between us.
No one had ever held me the way they did, like I was something delicate and precious. It didn't make me feel weak, though. It made me feel treasured, which was an unfamiliar feeling to say the least.
When our lips parted, I wanted to kiss them again, but they brushed their lips over my forehead before stepping back.
"I'll be back before you know it."
True to their words, they were back in five minutes, though they didn't seem to have anything with them. Hadn't they gone to get something from their place?
"Gabriel, can we talk?" they asked, and I blinked, my stomach flipping. Those words never led to anything good.
As if sensing my unease, Xin came closer, their fingers soft as they trailed over the side of my face, their nails scraping over my trimmed beard.
"It's nothing bad, I promise. I wanted to talk about your career in music."
"Oh," I mumbled, still confused but no longer worried.
I followed him to the couch, gasping when they pulled my legs into their lap so I sat sideways leaning against the armrest.
Their eyes twinkled as I caught my balance, and I rolled my eyes at them.
"If you didn't have to go back to school, would you want to be a music teacher?"
"Of course," I said, not needing to think about it. "But there's no way that's possible, is it?"
"You're going to have to stop underestimating my powers one of these days," Xin said with a small smile, their fingers massaging my feet like an expert. Was there anything they didn't know?
"How would that work? Fake graduation certificate?"
That wouldn't work though, would it? Would I be a good teacher without the knowledge I would gain from those classes?
"A little more than that. I can use magic to give you the knowledge you would've earned in those classes. I can even magic up some internship data for you or get you a placement, whichever you prefer."
I didn't mind the internship part because I would love to shadow an actual teacher or learn in an environment where my mistakes could be corrected. The 'going back to school' part had been my biggest hurdle, and now Xin had made it disappear just like that.
"But wouldn't that be cheating? What about the kids who are working hard at school for the same job? It would be unfair to them."
Xin stared at me for a moment, then sighed, albeit fondly.
"Your kindness is one of the things I love about you, but Gabriel…
" Xin paused, then tugged my legs, using some combination of strength and magic to get me into their lap.
My eyes widened at the position I found myself in, but Xin wrapped an arm around my waist, holding me in place as they tilted my chin up with the other hand so they could look at my face.
"Sometimes, it's okay to be selfish. It's okay to want things. "
I knew Xin was right. I knew. But I hadn't put myself first in years, and I wasn't sure I could do it now.
Xin's face softened, as if they could read my thoughts from my face.
"If you can't accept it on your behalf, how about you let me be selfish and do what's best for my mate?"
"You know being selfish means doing something for yourself, right?" I teased, and Xin chuckled.
"What makes you think my happiness doesn't depend entirely on yours?"
That shut me up, and Xin pressed their lips to mine softly, then moved them to my forehead. A warm tingle spread from the spot they kissed, seeping deeper into my brain.
For one terrifying moment, my mind and all my senses went completely blank, but then I was back in Xin's lap, their arm around me, soft brown eyes watching my face.
I didn't feel any different, but I was sure they had done something.
I thought about music and teaching, and suddenly I was remembering random things I didn't recall learning.
Stuff about classroom techniques and child psychology, the history of music, all topics I imagined were covered in a music education class.
"You... I..." I mumbled as I gazed up at Xin. Then I leaned up and slammed my lips to theirs, pouring all the overwhelming love I felt for them into it. I must've done some real saintly things in my previous life to end up with a person like them.
Xin
Gabriel chose to do the internship, since it would involve being in a classroom and interacting with kids, and I promised to find him a position as soon as possible.
There was something else I needed to tell him about, the envelope that was burning a hole in my jacket pocket. It had taken Reece more than two days to get it, and then he'd had it delivered to my house since I hadn't told him Gabriel's address.
"There's something else," I murmured after we'd sat there for a while. Gray had returned from his water trip, his chin soaking wet, and clambered onto the couch, his head now resting on Gabriel's legs.
"What is it?" Gabriel asked, curious, and I pulled the envelope out of my pocket and handed it to him.
His brows furrowed as he took it, and I clasped his hand before he could open it and pull out the letter inside.
I hadn't read it, but he would recognize the handwriting, and I needed to warn him beforehand.
"It's a letter. From your brother."
Gabriel froze, eyes searching mine as if he was worried it was a prank. I squeezed his hand, then released it, and I realized it was shaking as he tried to pull the letter out and almost dropped it.
"Hey," I murmured, squeezing his waist. "It's okay. Breathe."
Gabriel nodded rapidly, then took a few deliberate breaths, deep inhales and exhales. When he stopped, his hands were steadier, and he slowly pulled out the letter, opening and angling it so we could both see it.
Hey Gabe,
I was told you know all about the afterlife now, and that your partner is a demon?! Good going, little bro!
I'm in Otherworld. I figured I would wait here for you, which sounds kinda morbid now that I think of it.
Honestly, I just didn't want to face Mom and Dad without you.
The idea of telling them I left you all alone terrified me.
But now that I know you're safe and happy, that you have someone... I'm so damned relieved.
I don't know much about your life, but I hope you're a music teacher now. I bet all the kids adore you.
I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you. I promised I would take care of you, and then I left you so soon. I know it wasn't my fault—though maybe things would be better if I had figured out what Patrick was up to sooner—but I'm still sorry I left.
I miss you every day, but I hope you don't. I hope you have a happy, fulfilling life.
Is Gray still around? Animal souls go straight to Afterworld, so I have no idea if he's still alive. If he is, he would be an old man by now, wouldn't he?
I don't know if you'll get to reply to this letter, but I'm glad I get to send it to you. Don't worry about me, okay?
I get to visit the human world to collect all kinds of souls, and though I'm not allowed to visit you, it's still a lot of fun.
When you make it here—which I hope won't be for a very long time—I'll show you around, and introduce you to some friends of mine... and my mate. She's awesome, and she used to be a singer. A really popular one. I won't tell you her name (gotta have some mystery) but you'll love her.
Take care, and be safe!
Love,
Kev.
[PS: This is for your mate. You might be a big strong demon, but I'll still kick your ass if you don't treat my brother right. Remember that.]
The postscript made me smile, but the tremble in my mate's body wiped it off my face.
I tightened my hold on his waist, and he turned, pressing his face into the crook of my neck as silent tears trickled between our skin.
The letter crumpled in his hand, and he sat up quickly, almost frantic as he tried to flatten it again.
"Hey, it's okay," I murmured, using magic to remove the creases. "See?"
Gabriel carefully placed the letter on the coffee table, then met my gaze as more tears slipped down his cheeks. He wiped at them, a futile effort since more tears took their place, and gave a choked laugh.
"I don't know why I'm crying."
Happiness. Relief. Exhaustion. It could be any or all of them. But Gabriel didn't need an answer, he just needed to be held while he dealt with them.
I wrapped both arms around him and pulled him into my body. He came willingly, his head resting against my shoulder as his palm slid under my shirt to press against my chest, against the tattoo I'd added in his honor.
Rubbing his back, I hummed softly, cradling him close so he could relax and let go.
Gabriel had spent so many years on his own, never asking for help, never depending on anyone.
The fact that he was letting me do it now showed how much he'd grown in the last few weeks, how much he'd opened up to me.
I wanted to be worthy of that trust. I wanted him to know that I would never leave him.
"May I move in with you?" I asked after we'd been quiet for almost half an hour.
Gabriel pulled back to meet my gaze, something shining in his. "You want to move in with me?"
I nodded quickly, knowing this wasn't how humans usually did things. But I wasn't human, and Gabriel knew that.
"Yes," he said finally, his lips spreading in a wide, delighted smile. "You should move in. Though only if you walk Gray every day," he added with a laugh, and I grinned.
"Deal."
We sealed it with a kiss, and then Gabriel carried the letter from Kevin into his room, determined to write a reply when I told him I'd make sure it got to his brother. I couldn't facilitate their meeting, but I could do this. And when the day came for them to meet, I'd make sure that happened too.