An Angel's Grace

[Talathiel]

((Closed for a_libertine and myself))

Light scalded her eyes as she blinked them open. It flared and singed and hurt. Asphalt and stones pinched at the tender flesh of her knees. There was a faint tickle at her shoulder blades, the knowledge of something missing. She was disoriented, lost, new to the world. A noise blared, blasting harshly in the air around her and Alariel's attention snapped into place, shocking her into an alert state. Asphalt under her knees, vehicles hurtling past her, towards her... This wasn't right. The harsh noise blared at her again, the horn of the vehicle that was still on course, rolling down the road towards her at high speed. Headlights flared in her face, bright and unpleasant to her already strained eyes even in the afternoon sunlight, and suddenly the reality of the situation hit her. Initial gut reaction failed her, wings that were missing, abilities that were gone. This wasn't right! Finally, however, the young woman moved, pushing herself unsteadily to her feet and stumbling to the nearest foot path, watching pedestrians part around her as if she were nothing more than a rodent or a leper. She felt the draught of air as the car sped by, barely missing her, driver leaning out the window to shout profanities at her as he passed. Her bare feet failed her, scuffing against the uneven footpath and sending her stumbling into the solid wall of the closest building, finally something to keep her upright until she had a chance to recover. Her sharp movements had stretched and tugged at the skin of her chest and she felt it bite and burn. Raising a slender hand, Alariel traced soft fingertips over the lightweight fabric of her white dress. Even through the fabric she could feel it, a deep gash on her skin, still painful and bloody.

She remembered. How could she remember?! Surely there was some clause, some law forbidding those who Fell as she had from remembering anything from their lives Above, about their history. But she remembered. She remembered the venomous sting of betrayal, the flaring, intense pain as her Brother sliced at her previously unmarked skin with the forbidden Demonblade. She'd felt it leave her, her Grace. Under her fingers, the gash flared as if she'd poured salt on her own wounds and she removed them quickly, like she'd touched something hot. Her Grace, her lifeblood. It was gone. She'd spent two hundred years as one of the Lord's divine children, a child of Heaven, an 'Angel' as Earth dwellers called them. Now what was she?

Sucking in a deep breath, the air foreign and impure upon her lips and tongue, she forced herself to move, hands supporting her against the wall as she moved towards the glass of the window of an electronics store. The young woman that she saw in her reflection was both familiar and foreign. She had not used this form in many years. The brunette hair that cascaded over her shoulders, slightly matted now after her ordeal, the bright blue eyes that currently spoke of confusion, fear and pain, the slender form, perhaps 5'7" at most, scratched and bruised. She was Human. Mortal. Stuck. To her own eyes she seemed out of place among the city-dwellers. The white fabric of the dress she wore, slung gracefully and loosely over her shoulders and pouring over her form like water was torn here and there, lightly blood-stained at her chest thanks to the gash that still pained her, stood stark against the demure business suits of many of the people who passed her. Even to her own eyes, she did not fit in.

Now slightly recovered, at least enough that she was sure she could stand one her own two feet without further injury, Alariel turned, eyes searching the surrounding area. Buildings towered over her, the air smelled of exhaust fumes and industry. People bustled about talking to what appeared, to her, to be thin air. Every person that she made eye contact with seemed to assess her, confused for a moment before they glanced away and continued. Lifting her hands slightly she looked at them, searching for some explanation. Against the dreary city, her skin seemed to glow, nothing bright or extravagant, but certainly different. It was the one tiny trace of her Grace that remained, would it fade, eventually? It was hardly noticeable, the sort of thing that made one look twice but decide there was nothing unusual about the slightly disheveled but still strangely pretty girl. Some women had a natural sort of glow to their features, did they not? Or was that just a saying?

She'd watched humans, of course, she knew about their kind, but she certainly didn't know how to be one. She didn't know where she was. She didn't know what she was meant to do. Uncertainly Alariel stepped towards a slightly older gentleman, a timid "Excuse me.." all that she could manage in her attempt to seek help or answers. His upper lip wrinkled slightly, his eyes searing into her and making her back off just a little. With distaste, the gentleman turned away from her, continuing on his way as if she had not existed. Had her language choice been wrong? Had he not understood her? Around her, she was sure she heard what they called English being spoken. A frown creased her brow. She did not understand this place. She did not belong here. It was grey and dreary, loud, it smelled and tasted wrong and the people that pushed by her on the street seemed to have little interest in helping her or answering her simply questions. More so in keeping away from her, it seemed. In her naivety she did not realise that the small blood stain at her chest, the scratches and bruises on her arms and the rips in her dress did little to encourage assistance from those used to the crisp lines of upper-class life. She was beneath them and not worth their time. Elbows and bags hit her at varying velocities and she backed off from the crowd again; wrapping her arms around her abdomen, a clear sign of her discomfort. This was not right.

 

[a_libertine]

Barry Hansen was walking from the recruiters office for the Air Force and headed to what passed for home. A shanty apartment that even the rats had abandoned.

Life in Detroit, Michigan sucked. His parents had no money and he had no options to escape the city other than the military and of the branches only two appealed, the Air Force and Coast Guard. Of the two the Air Force seemed to have the best training that would relate to the civilian world once he got out.

Signing the contract, he had six months left before his enlistment would begin. There was only one more opportunity to get out of it if he so desired, which he lacked at the moment. He knew that Detroit was a dead end; there was no where to go but down from where he was.

As close as he was to the bottom, Barry understood that there were still depths that he could fall into. That drugs, booze, and a dissolute were always wide open if one merely had the courage, or perhaps lack of it, to dive in head first. The siren's call of oblivious living called. His parents succumbed to it when he was a youngster, and he had always sworn not to do so himself. That pledge was getting harder to keep every year. Now at almost 20 he felt weary, and knew he was too young to feel that way.

It was then that he saw the raven haired woman in a torn nearly sheer white dress stumble back into an alley, her arms crossed in front of her defensively. His first instinct was to get away, to leave the woman to her situation and let bygones be bygones. But something about her tugged at his mind and emotions.

Unsure as to why, when he passed the alley, Barry stopped and chided himself. How could he expect the help of others, if he himself refused to help. Chagrined, he traced his steps back to the alley and entered it. He felt that tug about the woman again and against his own wishes he turned toward the alley. His feet drug along the concrete for a few feet, then picked up speed.

He saw her huddled in a door, abject fear plastered across her face. He could see the blood stain on her dress and he walked up to her alarmed. The closer he got the more alarmed he was. Her dress was tattered, and grimy. But freshly so, like it was a clean white gown that morning, and all hell broke out on her. Her skin was scuffed and bruised, but most alarmingly, she was bleeding slightly from her side.

"Hey lady, are you okay?" Damn that was a dumb assed question, to quote Pulp Fiction, she was a long fucking way from okay.

"Never mind, that was stupid." He stepped closer to her and extended a hand, palm up, "Come on, let's get you to a doctor."

 

[Talathiel]

Given the way that she’d been all but ignored by those who had passed her on the street, ignoring her, the last thing Alariel had expected was to be followed as she backed off into the alley. The doorway that she had found some semblance of shelter in was strangely comforting, perhaps because it seemed to be a solid structure- the only solid thing currently in her life, apparently. Cities had never really been her forte in the few short stints she’d had on Earth and now she had no choice but to live in one, it seemed. Her attention snapped towards the young man that had seemingly followed her into the alleyway as he spoke and she took a moment to consider him. Was this a trick? She could not help but flinch slightly when he approached, her recent traumas weighing greatly on her mind. It couldn’t happen again. She couldn’t endure anything like that again; the burning, the pain, the loss. Regardless, she straightened up slightly, blinking up at him slightly blankly as he spoke.

Her recent trials had been more than enough to shake her confidence. If she could not trust one of her Brothers, how could she trust a stranger? Had she given herself too much credit when it came to her ability to read people? Ordinarily, instinct served her well and she knew who to trust and who to be wary of. She could ‘see the good in people’ as some had put it. But she had been wrong about her Brother, and the results had been catastrophic. She was not sure she was ready to trust anyone again, especially a human she knew nothing about. And yet, there was something about the young man who had asked after her well-being. Something that made Alariel believe that she could trust him, to a certain extent. Initial reaction was to nod her head, but then she realized that she was in fact, not okay. A human may have lied, but Alariel had spent two hundred years as a pure being and thus knew little of this concept. "I.. I am not sure where I am." she replied carefully. Perhaps he would provide her with the answers that others seemed incapable of giving her. "I should not be here."

What alarmed her further, however, was the use of the word ‘doctor’. Cautiously, she eyed his outstretched hand, lifting one of her own slightly though she hesitated before she could place it into his. "A doctor?" She seemed puzzled by this concept for a moment, another gentle frown creasing her brow. Doctors were healers of sorts. Why did she need one of those? Alariel had never before had to deal with a doctor. Injuries, when sustained, healed quickly and naturally – it was one of the gifts that Grace provided. But then, she was no longer one who enjoyed such gifts was she? She was human. And more than that, she was an injured human. This would not heal on its own, not so easy as she was used to. Alariel glanced down, fixing her blue eyes on the bloodstain on her dress for a moment before they found the young man's own eyes again. "Oh.." She paused for a moment, quite wary of the idea that she might need to visit a doctor. To be honest, the thought scared her, just a little, for she had no idea what to expect. "It… I have never visited a doctor. Can we not just… heal it without visiting one?" Confusion gripped her again. "What does one do about a wound here?" If she had have been a human from birth, she would have realized how stupid she must have seemed, like perhaps she was mentally handicapped or something, but there was a sincerity in her words and her eyes that made it quite clear that she was not faking or unstable.

 

[a_libertine]

Barry stood his hand outstretched and watched the emotions roll across perhaps the loveliest woman he had ever seen. He watched as fear, confusion, and helplessness roiled and boiled, contorting her features. She was as expressive facially as he had ever seen. Perhaps child like would be the best way to describe it.

Her arm twitched and paused halfway to his hand before pausing. "It… I have never visited a doctor. Can we not just… heal it without visiting one? What does one do about a wound here?"

He did not see any head wound to account for why she could not remember where she was, or why she was here. But then he knew that he had no medical experience. The fear that she had been severely injured resurfaced in his mind. One doesn't lose their memories for nothing, do they? Even in comic books it took trauma for someone to forget everything.

Barry felt alarm growing inside him, and drew a deep breath to suppress it the best he could.

Nodding comfortingly he said softly, "Maybe we could do with out going to the hospital, but I am worried about your amnesia. I might be able to clean your wound, but I would not be able to do anything about your memory loss."

He curled his fingers beckoning her hand, "Please," he half whispered, "let me take you to the doctor; let me help."

He looked left and right then up toward the sky. He knew that this was nearly the worst neighborhood in the country for a woman to be alone after dark. He knew that he would be more likely to win the lottery tonight than she would be able to make it to dawn with out being raped, or worse. It seemed like she had a bad enough day as it was, no reason to make it a hellish day for the rest of her life. Then again maybe already has been.

Thought of the mega millions brought the same sense of desperation and hope he felt every Tuesday and Friday. Maybe this time the ticket in his pocket would be the answer to the prayers and hope. Most likely not, he knew.

He saw her continued hesitancy, and said, "We need to get you to the doctor, once he examines you, we will try and figure out the rest."

 

[Talathiel]

Amnesia? Memory loss? If only she had been so lucky. A completely clean slate would have been far easier to endure than the constant reminders. "I have not lost my memories." Alariel realized, just after she had spoken, that perhaps she had spoken too quickly. She was a girl on a city street in some city on Earth and she had no idea where she was. What better explanation was there for a human? They didn’t believe enough to accept what had really happened. "I remember everything that I should not and I.. forget the things I should remember." She had not intended to sound so cryptic. She frowned for a moment then tried to explain herself again. "I mean, I remember what happened, I just do not know where to go from here. I am not used to being in a place like this." No matter how she tried, she knew that her attempts to dispel the suspicion that she had forgotten everything were failing miserably.

The sincerity of his next words, almost a whisper, and the way his fingers curled to beckon her hand, tugged at something inside of her and she bit her bottom lip gently, trying to decide what she was to do here. She could not deny that she needed help. Perhaps this doctor would be able to tell her present company that she was not mad or suffering from amnesia. When she said she didn’t know where she was, she meant it with every fibre of her being. There would be no signs of amnesia, surely. She just hoped that this was not going to simply fuel the fears that she was not completely sane. Bar the scratches, the bruises and the wound, she was in perfect health, or so she believed. There would be little that this doctor would be able to tell him.

For a moment, she thought of telling him exactly what had happened, but on further consideration she came to the conclusion that it was, perhaps, not the time. Would he believe her? Probably not. Most had a hard enough time believing when an angel appeared to them after some act of great selflessness and character. Being told she’d been an angel who had Fallen at the hands of one of her own Brothers after his betrayal right now, while he so clearly worried about her, would certainly serve little purpose other than alarming him further. Between the blood and the amnesia he seemed to think she had, there was no telling how he would take such a revelation. Perhaps he would think she was insane.

She was shaken from her thoughts when he spoke again, once more stating the need for a doctor. She relented, noting the worry and urgency in his tone and the bite and sting of her wound. Finally, Alariel extended her hand the rest of the way, until it had come to gently lay in his still outstretched hand. "Okay. I trust you." Perhaps this was a strange thing for her to say to someone she had just met, but Alariel and common human social norms were still becoming acquainted. Her filter was not set as most humans’ were and she would have to learn when to keep things to herself and when to speak on her feelings. Fortunately, she was a fast learner.

The warmth of his hand against her cool skin was enough of a comfort to draw her out of the doorway she’d sought shelter in and she tried for a smile, however small it might have been. It would not do to appear ungrateful. Even the mere offer of help had been more than others had provided. "Thank you." Ordinarily, a selfless deed such as this would have warranted some form of reward, nothing tangible but enough to help ease his own burdens, such as a boost of good luck or an aid to good health, but without her Grace, the best she could muster was a useless word. "I am not sure where to go." She admitted, an almost sheepish look upon her pretty features. That would not have helped her previous attempts at denying memory loss.

 

[a_libertine]

It was the damndest thing Barry had ever experienced. As her hand settled into his, a sense of calm and peace that he had never felt before settled over him. Gone in that one gentle touch was all the fear, all the dread, all the hopelessness, and all the loneliness. It was as if her hand brushed through his heart and soul, wiping away all of the negative, leaving nothing but peace and calm.

His normally tight and pensive face, relaxed, filling in some of the gaunt of his cheeks, loosening the worry lines that were already forming on his young features.

Grace and peace he had once heard a preacher talk about. How the grace of G*d gave a person a peace of heart that was unparalleled in the world, for it was other worldly; it was the divine spark that could not be recreated. At the time Barry thought it a bunch of crap, a small price one had to pay for a meal and a dry place to sleep if not warm.

He hadn't been back to the mission since then, religious training wasn't something that he had a flair for, or even a penchant toward, but at the time...

"THAT'S IT!" Barry roared in glee. "I know where we can go to get you looked at!"

Thinking of the mission reminded him that a Doctor was on call there for emergencies, and at least to Barry's thinking this qualified. "There is a homeless mission, called, 'My Brother's Keeper' that is not too far from here. I seem to recall a Doctor donated time there on an emergency basis."

He looked down at their hands clasped together, and paused a moment. Her skin seemed to almost glow. Thinking it might be a trick of the light he studied it a moment or two and decided no light was possibly shining on her hand, and if it were, would not his own hand glow similarly?

A small part of him knew that he should be alarmed, that he should confront her about it. But the sense of peace that he found in her touch was too precious. Asking might cause her to let go of him, and that invariably had to lead back to the normal feelings of despair.

His eyes flowed up slowly to hers and for a moment Barry thought he could almost hear her voice whisper 'It is okay' in his mind. Shaking his head slightly, Barry said, "If the Doctor there thinks you are okay, and don't need to go to the hospital..."

Barry paused, unsure of how to go from there. Eventually he settled on, "If they don't have room," hope crept in his voice as he continued with, "or if you want, you can come stay with me for the night. It is a one room shanty, but warm and dry."

 

[Talathiel]

Perhaps having her Grace torn out so forcibly hadn’t stripped her of everything she’d once possessed. The thought crept over her as Alariel noticed that way he seemed to relax, the apprehension and fear that she’d seen on his features evaporating. Was that her doing? She liked to think so, if only to know that some small part of who she once was still existed and that she might still be of help to some people. He was a handsome young man, to be sure, but as those lines that despair and hopelessness had etched upon his features began to fade, this became somewhat more obvious.

Slightly shocked by his sudden outburst, Alariel flinched a little, but was able to relax when it became clear that it was a sense of achievement and delight that had driven such an action and not annoyance or anger. She laughed lightly, shaking her head slightly in amusement as she listened to his suggestion.

Thanks to the years she’d spent as one of the Lord’s children, the suggestion of going to a mission in order to visit a doctor, a place of religion and belief, was reassuring. Perhaps that would provide her with the chance to tell someone of her ordeal and be believed. She dared not set her hopes too high, however. These were still humans who would certainly think her mad should she speak of such things. She would have to play it by ear. ”That sounds perfect. I have nothing to fear from such a place. It may even be a comfort." She replied softly, a hint of relief in her words. She felt more comfortable somewhere close to her old realm than alone on some dingy city street. "It is as if you know me already."

Alariel could not help but notice the way that his eyes seemed to linger on their now clasped hands and wondered what he was thinking. She feared that he had noticed the faint glow that radiated from her skin, quite noticeable against his own hand, and panic clawed at her insides. She thought briefly of removing her hand from his so as to pass it off as a trick of the light, but did not do so. His hand provided her with a comfort that she was not ready to lose just yet. She thought again of giving him some sort of explanation, but decided against that. She was not even sure that he had noticed. She wanted to tell him it was okay, that she was nothing to fear, but knew that would sound strange, and thus she bit her tongue.

She waited, curious as to what he was going to say. Would he tell her that they would part ways following her being cleared by this doctor? Some part of her hoped not, given that, not only had he been the first person she’d found to offer her some form of assistance, but she felt safe with him. It wasn’t something she could explain. Maybe she hadn’t been completely abandoned here, maybe someone had watched out for her and made sure she’d ended up somewhere that she might be able to survive, even with the minimal knowledge she possessed. A small, genuine smile brightened her features slightly. "You would let a stranger share your home?" For a moment, she remained silent, but eventually added "I would not wish to intrude on your time and space any more than I already have. But if you would have me, I think I would like to spend my night with you. You were, after all, the one who reached out and potentially saved me. I know how dangerous hu- people can be." She was lucky to have checked her words before she found herself in some odd situation. The slip was small, hopefully small enough that it would go unnoticed. "At least it would provide an opportunity for me to find some way to thank you." She wasn't sure what the norm was, but she did know that a simple 'thank you' would not cut it. He had done more for her already that he knew.

 

[a_libertine]

Barry turned toward the street holding her hand still. He was pretty sure it was his hand that was getting clammy and not hers as they walked toward the mission. He glanced at her and noticed the smooth fluid movements. It was like watching a ballerina walk on air.

As the left the alley and turned onto the street to head toward the mission the wind picked up some, seemingly trying to impede their progress. The wind plastered the dress against her body and he could see her supple, yet compact, curves. His mouth went dry, as he struggled to keep his emotions in check, which seemed harder than normal.

Something about her, or her touch, was sweeping away his normal reserves bringing his emotions much closer to the surface. He could not help thinking how he wanted so desperately to know her and not get lucky with a guess about the mission.

"You don't have to thank me, or repay me, or nothing," Barry said. "I guess, I just want to make sure you are okay, and get you back where you belong, wherever that is."

He glanced at her again, and then realized he didn't even know her name, "Barry. Uh, my name is Barry."

 

[Talathiel]

Alariel allowed him to lead her out of the alleyway, moving with him easily. She didn't notice clammy hands or nerves, just the radiating, comforting warmth of his touch. It was strange, how easily he managed to calm her, and without the Grace of an angel. She remained close to him, tucked in by his side as they moved, or as much so as she thought appropriate. The last thing she wanted was to become separated from him in such an unfamiliar place. She cast her glance around her for a moment, feeling safe enough now that she had someone beside her to truly take in her surroundings. The buildings stretched and towered over her, varying shades of grey, she thought, and the streets were crowded with people and dirt. Surely there would have been nicer places to Fall. And yet... Her pretty blue eyes wandered over to her companion and saviour once again. Somehow, it didn't seem so scary or oppressive.

It was only when she felt the ripped and dirty fabric of her dress flatten and tug against her skin that she realised how the wind had picked up. Quickly, she glanced down, trying to right the wild folds as they outlined her body's dips and curves. In its current state, all ripped and tattered she feared she would no longer be considered decently attired if the wind kept up. She was aware of the need human beings seemed to posses for covering up one's body. It would not do for her to break the rules so easily. But it seemed that nature had it's own ideas and, although she tried, it was not easy to right the soft folds of the dress. In the end, she resigned herself to the fact that she would not win and the battle with the thin fabric ended, her hand resting lightly over her abdomen as they walked. She could feel the material tugging at her wound, a constant whispering reminder of what had happened, but she did not allow herself to dwell.

His voice provided a welcome distraction and her attention returned to rest solely on him again. Gently, the girl shook her head. "Nonsense. You have done more for me already than you could possibly know." He may not have thought it necessary, but Alariel knew better. Maybe the last of her Grace would allow her to do something for him. She wasn't sure. A tiny stab of pain, emotional rather than physical though it was hard to tell the difference, shot through her as he spoke of wanting to get her back where she belonged. "I do not think that will be possible." She mumbled gently. Nothing short of a miracle would return her. She'd need her Grace returned, and she knew better than to assume that was going to happen. "I suppose that.. This is where I belong now. Wherever this is." The looming grey that had unsettled her so when she had first found herself here would have to become her home, she had little choice. Right now, though, with her hand still clasped gently within his, she didn't need to worry.

Her eyes widened slightly as her companion introduced himself and her stomach dropped slightly. Oh! She had been so rude not to at least introduce herself to him, something she was quick to rectify now. "It is a pleasure, Barry. It is nice to know the name of someone so kind. I am Alariel." Again she spoke the truth without hesitation or consideration. She did not realise that, among humans, her name was uncommon and strange, and lying was not her natural instinct. Even had she been the sort to lie and deceive, she was not entirely sure she would have. He deserved the truth, and there was some part of her that cried out, compelling her to get to know him if he would allow it, and to allow him to get to know her, the real Alariel and not someone she had designed as a mask. She knew, however, that she needed to choose her words and thruths carefully, lest she choose one that would see that she lost him as he labelled her insane.

 

[a_libertine]

"Alariel," he whispered. It sounded as if he were wrapping his mind around it, forcing his mouth to accommodate the sounds.

"Alariel," he whispered again, this time his mouth and tongue formed the syllables easily, naturally.

"Alariel," one last time he whispered, as close to a caress as a name can be uttered.

The warmth radiating up his arm from his hand brought him back to the here and now, and his face flushed pink, "Uh, sorry, it is a very beautiful name. I really like it a lot." He did not say out loud the finishing thought, "kind of how much I like you."

He tried so very hard to not stare at her. She was without a doubt beautiful and he could scarcely believe it was his hand wrapped around hers. Even if she did glow. He glanced down again, and didn't see the glow, but they were in the full glare of the sun as they walked down the street toward the mission.

As they got closer Barry looked from her to the door a half block away and said, "Some of the, uh the guys are some what, well uncouth, please try to ignore them."

 

[Talathiel]

When her name passed his lips for the first time Alariel realised how strange it truly must have seemed to him. It didn't sound quite as it should have. Perhaps it was harder for a human to wrap their tongue around. The second time, he got it right and it brought a smile to her features, bathed her in a strange familiarity. The third, however, was different, something more. She was certain that it had made a gentle tickle skitter over her skin. She knew there was a light blush burning at her cheeks. She decided right then that she enjoyed hearing him say her name almost as much as he appeared to enjoy saying it. Trying to will away the fading remnants of her blush she shook her head a little, smiling, as he rushed to apologize. "There is no need to apologize. I like hearing you say my name, Barry. Somehow, it sounds different.. nicer."

In a moment of silence that followed, Alariel's good nature got the better of her and she felt a wave of guilt crash over her. Barry had offered her help, a friendly face, a place to stay, and she had repaid this kindness by keeping facts to herself. She was not deceitful or manipulative by nature, far from it, and it felt wrong to her, biting back the truth of her situation, especially when she looked at him. She bit her bottom lip gently, deep in thought and guilt as her eyes seemed stuck on him. She would have to find a moment to tell him, and suffer the consequences of such honesty. She wasn’t sure how long she cold remain riddled with guilt.

For a moment following his warning, a little frown wrinkled Alariel's brow as she tried to comprehend what he could mean by 'uncouth'. She'd seen all sorts in her time, though she'd been spared the duty of having dealings with them. In the end, the frown faded away again and she decided that she probably did not want to know. And with her dress in such a state, she could only imagine it would be worse than it may otherwise have been. Her hand gave his own a gentle squeeze. "Just do not leave me while they are near. Please?" She was not sure she was ready to deal with vulgarities and men lacking manners right now. It had not been her intention to appear to be so clingy and possessive, and initially she had not realised this was how she may have sounded, but now it became all too clear to her and the blush that had faded minutes before returned to her cheeks with force, causing her to glance away from him in an effort to hide it. "I just.. feel safe. With you."

That door was drawing closer with each step they took and Alariel felt a faint sign of panic bubble within her, causing her to doubt her decision to allow him to lead her here for the first time since her hand had met his own. What if this doctor found something.. different about her? What if he noticed the glow and panicked? It was harmless, but unnatural in the human world and humans did have a tendency to think the worst in such situations. She wasn't even sure what he would do to her. The fact that she would have to provide an explanation for that rather deep wound had not even entered her mind. Maybe this had not been such a good idea. "I do not.." Her words trailed off as she sent a cautious glance in the direction of the door they appeared to be heading towards. That gaze turned up to Barry again and she took a breath. He wouldn't lead her into anything that might have seen her harmed, of that she was sure, but there were things that he did not know and that could change the circumstances. But she had to trust him. She did trust him. "Never mind."

 

[a_libertine]

Barry could feel Alariel's sudden hesitancy and felt her step slow just slightly. He turned to her and looked at her curiously. His free hand reached and covered the hand he was already holding.

"What is it Alariel?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

He saw her eyes glance toward the door, a fearful glint in them and then back to him. It then dawned on him, that perhaps he had scared her with his warning about 'uncouth men'.

He wondered what brought her to the dire straights that he found her in, and then nodded slowly. "It is okay, I will stay with you the whole time, I will not ever leave your side, if you don't want me to."

He saw her nod ever so slightly and then turned back toward the mission and began walking to the door.

Arriving, he opened the door for her, and then followed her in. They were met almost immediately by a tall skinny man who looked at the two of them a moment, his eyes apparently taking it all in a glance.

Eventually his eyes settled on Barry and he said, "Barry, right? Hansen? Yes, Barry Hansen, isn't it? I have not seen you in a while. How are you, and who is your friend?"

Barry stood woodenly next to Alariel, and replied, "Uh, Hi, Brother Mark, her name is Alariel, and I think she needs to see the Doc, if he is here, or can come in."

Mark's dark brown eyes flicked to her bloody gash in her dress and nodded. "What happened? Never mind, yes, he is here." Mark glanced at Barry, "Go grab some food, I will bring her to the dining hall after Dr Potter looks at her."

Both Alariel and Barry tensed up, and Mark did not fail to notice it. He nodded, and said, "Come on Barry, you can stay with her, if that is what she wants."

 

[Talathiel]

Though she felt bad at having alarmed him yet again, Alariel could not help but feel a little thrill within her as his other hand came to rest almost protectively upon her own. The concern that shone through in his voice when he questioned her sudden hesitation was oddly touching. "Nothing. I am fine." She replied quickly, hoping to stem the concern that had been so clear within his voice and eyes. Alarming him had not been her intention. The least she could do was believe him when he swore to stay with her and nodded, following his lead once again. She tried to smile as Barry introduced her to the tall man that had greeted them at the door but was not entirely sure that it was convincing. Perhaps it would just take her a little time to get used to everything. The man seemed to know Barry, which did not surprise her given his knowledge of this place, and that alone was enough to help calm her nerves.

Her fingers subconsciously lifted to fiddle with the material of the dress where her blood stained it, as this new man questioned what had happened to her. Uncertainly, she glanced at Barry, then back towards Mark, unsure of what explanation she could possibly give for what had occurred to leave her in such a state. To her relief, it seemed that she did not need to give one, as the man continued. The traces of panic she’d felt outside double, tripled perhaps, when she realized the implications of Brother Mark’s suggestion that Barry find himself some food and wait for her visit with this doctor to draw to a close. That would mean leaving her in the hands of a complete stranger, which he had previously promised not to do. She felt him tense next to her at the suggestion, however, and knew that he wasn’t going to let that happen.

Their mutual discomfort at the very idea did not go unnoticed, much to her relief. "It is." She nodded her head in confirmation, relaxing slightly in the knowledge that they were not going to be forced to part ways here. Though it would have seemed strange to others, given the short time that she had known him, Barry had earned her respect and trust. With a nod, Brother Mark seemed to accept this and turned to lead them to the doctor. A simple knock on the door, a respect for privacy Alariel supposed, and it was swung open, the man she assumed to be Doctor Potter smiling at them slightly. "Come on in."

With a small nod, Alariel did as directed, stepping in to the little area set aside for Doctor Potter to do his work, her hand still gently grasping Barry’s, though she finally released it, albeit slightly reluctantly, when directed towards one of the chairs. She could feel the doctor’s eyes sweep over her as she moved, assessing her form in an effort to pick what might have caused them to seek him out. They quickly found the bloodstain and the gash and for a moment he locked eyes with Alariel, who looked away. She was tempted to tell him she was okay, but knew that she would not be believed and she doubted Barry would let her get away with it.

Stepping closer to Alariel, the man took one of her arms gently, taking a moment to look at the scratches and bruises that littered her skin. "Can you tell me what happened?" He asked, releasing his gentle hold on her forearm and fixing his gaze on Alariel’s own eyes again. She glanced away, not really wanting to answer the question, though she knew some from of explanation would be needed before they would move on. After a moment, she drew a deep breath, lifting her gaze once again. "I was… attacked. Betrayed." She shifted uncomfortably in the chair before continuing, aware that this was not all the detail that was needed. Such an answer left questions, and minds to think up over-the-top scenarios. "One of my Brothers saw fit to turn a blade on members of his family." With any luck, this explanation would suffice. She did not know how to further explain what had happened in terms that a human would understand and accept.

 

[a_libertine]

Barry stood leaning against the door as the Doc questioned Alariel, the shock of her answer made his face contort in shock. Doc Potter looked at her closely trying to gauge her answer, and looked into her eyes. Either seeing what he wanted, or not seeing it, Doc Potter stood and began an examination of the wound site, through the dress.

Each second that she was away from him, Barry sensed his old familiar companions of fear and dread come creeping back into his mind and heart. Was it a fantasy that he would be able to stand by her, be able to protect her from the shit streets that he lived on.

Probably he guessed. The reality of the situation is he had to bring her to a homeless shelter to get her looked at by some hack that probably no longer had a medical license look at her.

After a moment Doctor Potter said, "It would be easier if you would remove your dress so I can clean the wound and suture it."

Barry's face was filled with shock, he hadn't considered that possibility when he promised to not leave her side. But now that the situation had come up, his mind filled with all manner of scenarios that he had not thought of before. Some of which were of course intensely personal and thus embarrassing.

Barry saw her eyes nervously flit nervously from the Doc to him and back and Barry said, "I can close my eyes if you like." He saw her nod a little and Barry turned to the side and shut his eyes tight. A couple of minutes later he heard her gasp and his eyes flew open involuntarily as his head snapped to see what was going on.

The view of her body was blocked by the Doctor's body, but he could see that she was naked from the waist up, her sheer white dress pulled down around her waist. The lines of her body that he could see were beautiful, as if she were carved by Michelangelo himself and set to life.

It was the most flesh he had ever seen of a woman and his body reacted naturally to that and he felt his loins stirring, getting hard with each second that he looked at her. Alariel's head turned toward Barry and their eyes met.

He was captivated, as her blue eyes held his, his shame at getting caught, the lust of what he saw, and all the confusion of his emotions roiled and boiled in his eyes. As tears welled up in them, the fear of failing her becoming more real each moment.

 

[Talathiel]

The way the doctor held her gaze after she'd given her basic explanation of what had happened, was slightly disconcerting for Alariel. She wasn't entirely sure what he was searching for, maybe he could sense that there were details that she'd left out, or perhaps he was looking for signs of mental instability due to the trauma of what had happened. Alariel was stronger than that. It had been traumatic, yes, and it would weigh on her mind for some time but she would not allow herself to fall to pieces as a result. That would be helping Naraziel's attempts to destroy her succeed. She held eye contact with him, as difficult as it seemed, purely in an attempt to reassure him that she wasn't going to melt into an emotional mess at any moment. "I am fine, save for the physical injuries."

Some part of her knew that she was going to have to undress to some extent during this visit, but when the doctor pointed that out she felt her cheeks burn. Her attention flicked nervously between Barry and the doctor. While she knew that there was no shame in a human body, her natural modesty got the better of her. She gave a small nod as Barry offered to avert his gaze, part of her wishing the doctor would do the same. Hesitantly, she pushed the dress over her shoulders and down to settle around her waist. She tried to maintain some cover with her arms, but eventually lowered them again, glancing away due to her embarrassment.

Her head nodded slightly as he mumbled something about numbing the area. This all seemed so complicated and Alariel suddenly realized how much she missed her natural ability to heal such injuries. She flinched noticeably as he moved closer to her wound, a reflex reaction, and could not help but gasp as a result of the sting of the needle. Her gaze turned to Barry and she noticed that he had returned his attention to her. The fact that her top half was bared became glaringly obvious again, but she did not glare or scold him. If she had have imagined this situation previously, she would have expected to be irritated or angered when she caught his eyes cast towards her. Oddly, however, she felt nothing like that, just a twist of what she thought might be anxiety. It did not upset her, did not seem to bother her much at all, rather made her think of the way he’d whispered her name before they’d arrived at the mission, a whisper that had sounded so tender. Perhaps the only person she really had a problem with baring herself to in such a way was the doctor who was currently so uncomfortably close.

Seeing the tears that began to well in Barry’s eyes almost broke her heart and she wanted desperately to be able to say or do something to comfort him. She felt guilt flood over her now. She had no right to put him through all of this. It was like toying with his emotions, unintentional though it may have been. The moment she’d seen the tears begin to well she had decided that she owed him some deeper explanation of all this. The truth. But that was a conversation to be had later, once they were no longer in the presence of someone else, even if it meant he thought her insane and cast her away. For now, she tried for a small smile and a simple "It is okay." She felt the doctor move away slightly and turned her gaze back to him quizzically, taking a few moments to realise that her upper half was still bared. "All done." He confirmed, watching Alariel in a manner she was not comfortable with as she readjusted her dress, covering herself once more, much to her relief. "Thank you."

Without giving it too much thought, she moved out of the chair, quickly returning to Barry's side and taking his hand gently within both of her own, almost hoping that the simple gesture would be enough to help calm his emotions. His touch quickly helped ease some of her own discomfort. She was not sure if this doctor was finished with her, or if there was something more that needed to be done, but she could not deny that she was feeling slightly uncomfortable in his presence, perhaps due only to the fact that she had so recently been half naked before his eyes, close enough that he was able to see every line and curve and flaw. "Is that all?"

 

[a_libertine]

That sense of peace came back to Barry as Alariel took his hand in both of hers and stood very close to him. The back of his wrist rested against the small swell of her abdomen, that small area just above the spot where the abdomen plunges toward ones crotch.

Doctor Potter said, "Here is some ibuprofen in case the pain becomes distracting." Taking the small white envelope, Barry put it in his pocket and opened the door and followed Alariel through the door, not letting go of her hand.

The smell of the warm food wafted to their noses, his stomach growled at the delicious aromas and he paused a moment glancing at her. He could see the marginal distress and said, "We can leave, I make a pretty mean soup myself."

They left the mission and began walking along the alley ways and streets not saying much, each in their own world. For his part, Barry tried to process how they would stay in his small apartment together. As they arrived at the run down building he slid the door open for her and then followed her through.

Up two flights of graffiti covered stairway they arrived at the door that opened to his one room apartment. To the left a twin sized mattress lay on the floor with old sheets procured at a shelter at some point. "The uh," Barry started, "well, the toilet is communal, meaning everyone on the floor shares it."

 

[Talathiel]

Alariel put little thought into the placement of his hand as she took it, though she could feel it resting lightly against her. Perhaps it should have made her uncomfortable, but the reality was that she did not think as another girl might have and took some strange comfort from knowing he was so close. Not quite able to look the doctor in the eyes for long she flashed him a little smile and a quick nod as he handed the small envelope to Barry and then glanced away once again. She’d never used drugs for the relief of pain, she’d not needed to. Some part of her wanted to turn down the offer, claim that she didn’t need it, but she was quickly reminded of how different things were now, how she didn’t know what to expect. She mumbled another small "Thank you." as she stepped through the door Barry held open from her, happy to be out of the room and no longer under Doctor Potter’s gaze. The smell of food did not go unnoticed Alariel. It had been a long time since she’d last eaten and she became acutely away of the emptiness of her stomach, though there was still some discomfort lingering over her, which it seemed she had failed to hide from Barry. With a gentle nod, she followed him out of the mission allowing him to guide her though the streets as she tried to decide what the best option was for her concerning the things that she still needed to tell him.

As they reached his apartment building she pulled herself from her thoughts, taking the time to make note of where they were. The run-down building and the graffiti littered staircases would possibly have worried others, but Alariel had no reason to find discomfort in it, not when she had so little to compare it to these days. Besides, she had someone she trusted to be with, so this was the least of her worries. Her eyes swept over his little apartment, returning to Barry as he spoke. She could sense that he was slightly worried about it, especially the toilet facilities and she smiled in a manner that she hoped would be comforting. "I believe I can handle that." She wasn’t concerned with how small his apartment was, all that mattered was that he had been kind enough to open it to her too, when he knew so little about her. She would sleep on the floor if it came to that. She had no right to demand anything, nor did she want to do so. With that thought, she felt her stomach drop away, guilt taking it’s place again. She couldn’t stay here without telling him the truth of her situation. That wouldn’t be fair. She drew in a deep breath, trying to calm her sudden nerves.

Leaning up onto her tiptoes for a moment she placed a small kiss against Barry’s cheek, giving his hand a light squeeze as she pulled away again. "Thank you. For everything. You could have left me in that alley way. You have no idea how much I appreciate you stopping and… looking after me." Her eyes fell away to the floor after a moment as she realized what she was about to say. It was a few moments before she was able to lift her gaze to his own again, her expression a combination of uncertainty and sincerity. "After such kindness, you deserve to know the truth, so there is something that I need to tell you and you will surely think I am mad." Again, the young woman lapsed into silence, feeling her heart thundering in her chest and apprehension and doubt tearing at her viciously. It was almost enough to make her rethink this confession, but she knew she could not go back now. Her mind reeled, trying to find the right words to express what she needed to. When she spoke again, her voice was soft and cautions. "Do you believe in Angels?"It seemed an out of place question, of that she was aware, but if he did not believe in the very existence of her kind, what hope did she have of making him believe what she intended to tell him? Her face was a mask of seriousness now, clarifying that this was not a joke but something that she genuinely wanted to know. Regardless of his answer, she knew she had to tell him, she would just have to find some way that she could prove her claims if he was one who had chosen not to place his faith in the existence of the divine.

 

[a_libertine]

Barry was never so thankful that a woman was staring at the floor instead of him as he was when Alariel kissed his cheek. A flush started from that spot and spread across his face and down his neck slightly. Thoughts of holding her through the night filled his mind, and warmed his heart. For a moment he did not know if he would be able to restrain himself from wrapping his hands around her and holding her.

"Do you believe in Angels?" she asked.

For a moment he thought it was a damned foolish question, but said nothing. Instead he stroked the back of her hand with his thumb a moment while he considered the question and the situation they were in. Slowly he nodded, "I guess so."

He led her over to the mattress and sat on it, pulling her down next to him. "The world is such a crappy place that I have to believe there is a purpose behind it, to think otherwise would make the suffering pointless."

Turning toward her, he swallowed the lump in his throat and said, "You don't have to explain anything to me, Alariel. I, uhm, I am happy to help you."

His hand was still in hers, he was reluctant to let go of her. Something about the touch anchored him, kept the feeling of drifting away at bay. Her hand in his kept the negative emotions in check, keeping him sane despite feeling like the world was slipping away from him at the moment.

 

[Talathiel]

Alariel exhaled a breath that she had not been aware that she was holding as Barry said that he supposed he did believe in Angels. It was enough that she allowed herself to think that this might not turn out as badly as she feared. As Barry lowered himself onto the mattress, she moved to sit beside him, nodding as he spoke again and ignoring the whispering urge to settle in close against his side. She’d known how negative things could be for humans for years, and though her natural instinct had been to help, there was little she could have done without repercussions. The cruel fact was that, now she was beyond reach of said repercussions, there was very little she could do to help.

Doubt seemed to choke her for a moment when Barry turned to her and tried convincing her that she owed him no explanation. "I- I know, but I feel like I need to tell you this, just in case you would wish me gone." There was a stab of fear at the very idea that he may kick her out because he thought her insane or found what she had to say disgusting, but she tried her best to ignore it. She did not wish to be anywhere else, but she knew that she had to give him the option. "And I.. want you to know. I do not wish to hide things from you."

Making a face, she tried to piece together a coherent sentence. In the end, she settled on "When you found me, in that alley way, I told you that I did not belong here. I did not mean in that alley or in this city. I meant.. here. Generally. Uhmm-" This was just ridiculous. Her mind and her mouth seemed to be disconnected from each other, trying to form explanations that didn’t match up or make sense. It did not help that, despite herself, she was terrified. The only thing that seemed to be helping her through was the feel of his hand, still holding her own, and the knowledge that this was something she needed to do. "I was not born here as you were. I was born an Angel of the Lord." Alariel frowned yet again, swallowing the lump of emotion that had begun to form within her throat. "You heard the explanation I gave for this -" carefully, she pushed her dress away from her wound enough that a small part of it could be seen, releasing the fabric again after a moment. "I did not mean a brother of flesh and blood, but a brother of… spirit, I suppose. He was a fellow Angel, someone I trusted. When he attacked me, he ripped away my Grace and I Fell." She stopped there, half expecting him to laugh or recoil in disgust or fear of her apparent insanity.

"I know how this makes me appear, but I assure you my mind is not damaged. I understand if you would rather I left, but-" her words stopped suddenly as she realised that she was unsure of how to express what she was thinking and feeling without causing him further discomfort. She wanted to stay with him, wanted to feel him next to her, his hand in hers. She couldn't remember feeling such a pull towards anyone before, in all 200 of her years. In an effort to provide him with some sort of proof, she lifted her free hand again, holding it before him, relieved that the faint glow that danced across her skin still seemed to be visible. "This is all that remains of my Grace. And all I have to show you that I am not..." she stopped, trying to remember that slang word that she'd heard used for being insane. "nuts?" she finished not sure she'd chosen the right word.

 

[a_libertine]

Barry looked at her a moment, part of him wanted to scream "Yeah you're nuts. Of the million and a half men within 100 miles of where we are sitting, you are with me, and not someone else."

Instead he reached up with his free hand and cupped her face gently. It was as if he completed a circuit of some sort when his hand touched her skin, and the feelings of calm and peace that he had felt were magnified greatly.

As were the burgeoning passions he felt for her.

He could feel the truth of what she said. He didn't know, or understand, how he knew, but every fiber of him believed what she said. Nodding slowly he looked straight into her eyes, "The uh, the only thing I don't understand is how he made you fall. Didn't Jesus say 'no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand?' "

"Or doesn't that apply to Angel's and why did he attack you?"

Barry was on a roll the questions bubbled up and out faster than he could control them. "Why me? Why would you want to stay here," his hand waved a moment across the shanty small apartment, "when you could be somewhere, anywhere else?"

Right after he said it, he stopped, shock and horror plastered across his face, "Oh Alariel!" he cried out.

 

[Talathiel]

He believed her. Alariel was shocked, flabbergasted. She’d prepared herself for the worst, hadn’t even considered that it would be so easy for him to accept. Slowly, her anxiety melted away, helped along by the way his hand found her cheek and she leaned into his touch slightly, enjoying the warmth that it seemed to send pulsing through her.

The way he stared into her eyes made her stomach twist nervously, like he could see everything she was thinking or feeling, all the things that she’d never really felt before and didn’t completely understand. Especially when it came to the way he made her feel. She had no time to worry about that, however, not when the questions started flowing. She had come this far, told him the truth of her situation, and she owed it to him to fill in what details she could.

"Ordinarily that would be true. I have heard of an Angel losing their Grace by choice, or as punishment for disobeying or rebelling, but it is a painful process and I cannot imagine why one would choose to put themselves through it. And to have your Grace forcibly removed by another is quite unheard of." She fell into silence for a moment, considering her words. "I am not even sure that it is possible save for the circumstances that brought me here. Angels are difficult to destroy, but there is a blade that has the power to kill. It is forbidden, of course, but somehow Naraziel found it. And used it. I suppose that I am lucky. I am here with you rather than dead. This was a mere graze compared to the damage he could have done."

He had so many questions, she wasn’t even sure she could answer them all, at least not to the extent that she would have liked. When she took the time to consider why she had been attacked as she had, she realized that it was not a question that she could answer with any certainty. "As for why, I am not sure. I was tasked with healing and soothing the emotions of both Human and Angel alike. I often worked with Michael and the Army of Heaven, helping those who could not, or would not, tend to themselves. Perhaps he intends to seed unrest among Michael’s forces, or even to increase the violence and tension among those humans I had once protected. I am not sure. But emotions can be dangerous when left unchecked, and self-control can be hard to find, no matter what sort of being you are."

Again she felt her cheeks flush slightly when he questioned why she would have wanted to stay where they were right now. Why would she not? He was here, not somewhere else and so she it was here that she wanted to stay, as long as he would have her. She just hadn’t figured out how to express what she felt. Her filter may have worked differently to other girls, but when it came to intimate feelings, she was not well-versed. The colour faded as quickly as it had appeared, however, as she saw the horror that crept over his features. Her stomach rose and she could not keep the concern from her eyes. Had she done or said something that he found objectionable? "Are you alright? Have I done something?"

 

[a_libertine]

Barry fought for control of his emotions as fear and concern clouded her azure eyes. Those expressive eyes made all the more vibrant by the black locks that framed her face so perfectly.

His own fear and doubts raged at him all the more so seemingly because Alariel did not pull away from his hands as he touched her, but quite the opposite, her head leaned into his hand, filling his heart with a hope he had never known.

With that hope was a fear he could not explain aloud, though he knew it instinctively. It was a fear, the certain dread of losing hope.

That hope was personified in the perfect form that was Alariel.

"No," he whispered around a lump the size of his heart. His eyes came up and looked into hers. The look he saw he could only describe as loving concern.

"That was a lie," he choked out hesitantly. "You came into my life, a-"

He leaned his head forward until it rested on her forehead flush. He could feel the heat of her body soaking into him. "I- I uh, we, uh," he stammered.

After a moment he said, "The thought that, that you won't always be around frightens me so badly, that I can barely keep from peeing on myself."

 

[Talathiel]

Alariel panicked momentarily when he hesitated, biting her bottom lip as she fought against the lingering doubts she held. Her expression was slightly blank for a moment as she carefully turned his words, his fear, over and over in her mind. After a moment, she finally spoke again, shaking her head slightly and closing her eyes briefly, with a little sigh. "Why would I not be around?" She seemed genuinely confused by this prospect. "I do not intend to go anywhere, Barry. Not while you are happy to have me here with you. I am human now. Nothing short of a miracle will see me regain what I lost. I have no reason to leave."

She paused, her expression set thoughtfully. Originally, she had thought that, if she somehow found a way that she could embrace the gift that was her Grace yet again she would do so in a heart beat, her life as an Angel was all she knew. But now she was not so sure. It seemed that the thought of being out of his life was more distressing than never regaining the life that she'd lost. "I do not know that I would return to Heaven if I had the choice to retake my Grace. I-"She hesitated again, that difficulty in expressing her thoughts choking her again. This time, however, she tried to swallow that down. Wasn't it about time she learned to express these things? "I think I would choose to stay."

Gently, Alariel moved slightly, lifting her forehead away from his gently so that she could look at him again, wanting to ensure that he could see the sincerity of her words written in her eyes. "I promise you, I will be here for as long as you would have me. I do not.. understand it, but when I am with you I feel things that I have never felt before. I feel like I am meant to be here." No matter how she tried, she couldn't find the right words and felt as though she was just making herself sound foolish. Running purely on instinct rather than experience she leaned forward, brushing her lips against his in a small, tentative kiss. The small action made her cheeks burn yet again and she laughed awkwardly after she pulled back, covering the rising guilt and insecurity. She feared that she should have considered the action rather than allowing instinct to run away with her. "I.. I apologize. That was inappropriate."

 

[a_libertine]

A fire of desire unlike any Barry had experienced before exploded from his lips through out his body. His temperature must have gone up 100 degrees as the microsecond kiss that would last an eternity in his mind and dreams started and stopped.

Her lips were so soft that Barry could not have said of anything softer that he had felt.

"I.. I apologize. That was inappropriate."

He looked in her eyes and to his astonishment whispered, "The only thing inappropriate is that it ended so soon."

Turning his head ever so slightly, me leaned into Alariel and kissed her again. This time, he held the kiss until their puckered lips parted, and he slipped his tongue out between his lips to lick her bottom lip carefully.

His body reacted to the kiss predictably, his breath became shallow and fast, his heart hammered and his penis hardened, almost painfully so. Barry gently pressed her onto the mattress, his tongue pressing into her mouth as their bodies molded together.

 

[Talathiel]

A small smile tugged at Alariel’s lips as she heard his whisper, relief that she’d not done something stupid and anticipation of feeling his lips against her own once again flooding over her. It was not long before his lips captured her own again and she sunk into the kiss. Her tongue flicked out cautiously, experimentally, as his traced over her lower lip, meeting it for the briefest of moments before retreating. She quickly overcame her insecurities, however, and her tongue slipped against his once more, deepening the kiss ever so slightly.

Her own body reacted in ways that she had not expected, her heart thundered in her chest, short, shallow breaths replaced her even breathing and it seemed that a warmth erupted from her very core. Gently, she squeezed her thighs together, a futile attempt at quelling the warmth and need that seemed to have ignited within her most private of parts. Surely it was a sin, everything she felt for him in that moment, as he pressed her gently down onto the mattress. She moved easily, putting up no resistance, careful not to break their kiss. Allowing herself to follow her instincts freely, Alariel let her tongue dance and flick across his as it pressed into her mouth, reveling in the simple gesture of a kiss. How could something so good be sinful?

One of her hands snaked up to lightly rest at the back of Barry’s neck, as if keeping him close and after a further few moments she pulled back, just slightly, enough that he could hear her whisper. "I have never-" Her words trailing off into nothing, though she knew he would understand. It was hardly surprising that she had no experience with things such as this, given what she had been for the first two hundred years of her life. This in itself was already far beyond that which she had experienced. Unwilling to dwell or allow her reservations to hold her back, Alariel quickly pressed up into another kiss, lips parting easily and tongue tip tracing the curve of his lower lip gently. The hand that had rested at his neck moved, fingertips trailing lightly over his skin until they stopped again, tangling gently in the material of his shirt at his chest.

Some small part of her mind, what remained of her Angelic heritage she supposed, screamed at her, warning her that this would lead her to nothing but trouble, that crossing this line would ensure that she’d never get back what she lost, but she just didn’t care. Even in the short time she’d spent with Barry it had become clear that, while life as an Angel of the Lord had many perks, there was so much missing. Though she had never been lacking in company, what she had lacked was something deeper than the love of kin; the special affection held for just one person, the companionship, the intimate embrace of another. If this one moment with Barry was going to completely ruin her chances of returning to her former life, taint her with sin, so be it. It was like she’d been made to fit against him perfectly, and she wasn't going to give that up.