[M] A Reunion of Angels

"Achinoam."

The Power looked up from its post, grip tightening on its sword a little, more than ready to attack if needed. It was a Power, after all. Set to guard the places and objects that the Counsel deemed important.

For thousands of years Achinoam had guarded the gates of the Garden. It had no freedom and no free days. It stood guard and it waited. Waited for someone to come talk to it; someone to attack; someone to tell it it was free.

Nothing came. For thousands of years it stood alone in utter silence, its sword at the ready, its mind alert.

"Your duties are relieved from you for a Century."

And that was it. The voices came, they disappeared. Short and sweet. The usual style of the Counsel. It seemed nothing about them had changed in the millennia that it had been in solitude.

Another Power appeared before it, bowing to it before moving to take Noam's place as it stepped backwards.

This was it. It was free. It could do what it wanted... But what did it want?

To see friends. To socialise and interact.

It wanted to see one particular friend. A friend that it hadn't seen since well before it started guarding the Garden. A friend the Counsel would not be happy with it interacting with.

It concentrated its power, willing itself to find his friend. When it opened its eyes it was not the same creature as it was. It had a much more human form. It had a face and a gender.

He descended through the sky towards where he felt his Brother's presence. He would finally see Belial again.

His silky white hair whipped across his face in the wind, four large wings protruding from his back flapping slightly as he neared the ground. He could already see the black hair of his Brother. Excitement blossomed within him.

"Belial!"

Belial had been out in the courtyard reading in the midday sun, the cool breeze making the perfect setting for a lazy day in the garden.

The Demon sat recline on one of the benches, his eyes focused on the pages in front of him, recent thoughts had spiked his interest in magic and he had been studying the arts that he was not already familiar with.

His gaze shot to the skies as his name was called, the voice had an ancestral tone to it and the sight of those wings and the sense of that holy aura had the Demon quickly on edge, he had no intention of going back to Hell, or worse, being dragged back to Heaven for further damnation.

In an instant Belial was on his feet, his black hair becoming longer, his eyes darkening to the same raven colour as a pair of large wings tore from his back.

They were not elegant and graceful like those of the Angel, they were forged out of bone and flesh, a grotesque replacement for the ones that had been taken from him.

His nails became long and sharp, like talons as his gaze stayed locked on the Angel. They were complete opposites, where there was white and purity, there was darkness and corruption.

Belial's head tilted with recollection as he saw the man's face.
"Achinoam?"

He muttered softly.

"What are you doing here?"

His lips quirked upwards when Belial's stood to defend himself.

Even among friends, his aura was dangerous enough to cause such a reaction. He guessed it came with being a Power; the most dangerous level of Angel in Heaven. It still amused him when people acted like that around him, though.

"Stand down, Brother."

Even after his Fall, he considered the man his Brother. His family, friend and love. Most Angels had become fickle beings with the new rules but Noam would always stand by the traditions of old when everyone loved each other equally whether they were close friend or not.

"I have been given my first Century of leave since they day you Fell."

He landed lightly on the ground, his wings sweeping up dust around his feet.

Belial smiled softly, trust Noam to have not changed at all despite the millennia that had separated the two of them, and the circumstances which led the once great friends to be separated in the first place.

The Demon's appearance returned to normal, his wings disappearing in the wind like smoke as his face softened and nails retracted.

"After everything that has happened you're still going to call me Brother?"

He asked the Angel, once they had been the same, but that had all changed the day that Belial had begun whispering words of rebellion.

"How are you here? They will not be happy to learn that you have come to see me, the Counsel don't even know that I have managed to crawl out, after all this time. Yet you found me."

"I will call you brother now and for millennia more as I did millennia in the past."

Nothing could stop him from calling Belial his Brother. Nothing.

He did not care for what he had done or how he had gone about doing it. The truth that he had hidden from the Counsel was that he was close to joining Belial in the Fall. It took Gabriel's gentle, loving words to keep him in Heaven instead of Following the Demon to the pits.

His lips quirked into a soft smile. "They cling to their hate for you. When I search, I do so without their hatred. Finding friends, no matter how large the area, will always be easier than finding enemies."

He still had a kinship with the Demon. Finding family was second nature to Angel kind. Finding enemies was near impossible; hatred blinded your view of the world.

Belial's face warmed when the man spoke, it was nice to know that despite everything, there were still some who considered him family.

The Demon walked forward steadily until he was standing right in front of the Angel.

He shook his head and gave a soft chuckle, embracing the man tightly, pulling him in against him.

"I missed you Noam, it has been so long."

The Demon still remembered the day he Fell, he was brought in front of the Counsel, glancing to his family silently before he was banished to the pit.

"And I you, Brother. And I you," he murmured softly.

His own arms wrapped around the Demon, hugging him tightly, fingers curling in his black hair. Noam stood taller than Belial.

He was a tall man, muscular; everything about him radiated power, the power of which his Level was named for.

The Power pulled back slightly, ducking his head slightly to press a slow, lingering kiss to the Demon's lips. He had been thinking of kissing those lips since he had last seen him, glancing back at him before he was banished.

He could finally act on his thought.

He looked up at the man as he pulled back, his face stricken with the sadness that he had held within him for so long.

Falling had cost him everything, and now, faced with one of the things that he had lost he was reliving that pain.

His Father, who loved all, no longer loved him and his brothers and sisters were forever cut off from him, most would sooner see him dead than embrace him as Achinoam did.

Belial kissed him back tenderly, his hand reaching up to caress his cheek as a single tear fell from the Demon's dried up eyes.

Demon's couldn't feel such emotions, only hatred, but being close to the Angel allowed him to tap into Achinoam's emotions and feel everything that he had been deprived for so long, happiness and love.

A soft smile curled the Angel's lips as he lifted a hand to wipe away the tear tenderly.

"It seems that I am not as welcome as I hoped if a tear is shed for my presence," he chuckled jokingly.

Make a joke when one cries and the mood is lightened. Tease the Demon for his emotions and he'd get a whack and a roll of his eyes. The same had been so when they were young and still both in the graces of the Counsel.

"This place is very different from what I have seen for the past millennia in service," he murmured, gaze finally drawing away from the Demon to take in his surroundings. "I can see why you like it enough to have clawed your way from those pits."

He leaned into the touch of the Angel's hand, feeling emotion after so long of being an empty and hateful shell of a being was extremely overwhelming.

Belial didn't want the feelings to end, even if he was overcome with sadness, it was better than feeling nothing but anger.

The Demon managed a half hearted scoff, and shoved the Angel slightly, he hadn't been teased for being emotional in millennia, it was rather amusing to hear.

"It wasn't an easy task, as you're well aware, but Earth has more to offer me than the pit, I can imagine that Lucifer will not be happy with me when I return, but this is well worth it."

He explained, his gaze trailing over the lush gardens that surrounded them.

He laughed when he was shoved, one arm sliding around the Demon's shoulders as he looked around.

The place was beautiful. Nothing like what he had seen since his Services had been required. The place he had guarded was much more beautiful. The Garden of Eden left many speechless when it was gazed upon.

This was beautiful, but he didnt feel the intense swell of admiration he had when his gaze landed on the Garden for the first time.

"I am well aware of the trouble it takes to escape such a place. Do remember that before you and the rest of our Brethren were banished there it was used for training purposes to the Power and Seraph." He knew of the troubles and horrors of the pits before they were named Hell.

Lucifer... Another Brother of his that he missed greatly. "How is Lucifer?"

He gave a soft nod, memories that he had long shut away, Achinoam was so determined to become a Power, Belial had always worried for him, it was not an easy path to take.

"Yes, I remember.
Trust me it is even harder now that it is filled with damned souls and demons who in their spite try to drag you back down."

No Demon in hell was pleased to see one of their lords leaving, many had tried to drag him back down but his persistence led to his escape.

Belial gave a heavy sigh and looked up at Noam.
"He still loves Father to no end, and hates everyone else, he'd see every human and Demon alike obliterated from the face of existence."

Lucifer was obsessed with their father and when he created humans Lucifer was enraged that God would dote on these imperfect creations over himself, as such he sort to destroy all of it.

"I would like to see my chances against these Souls and Demons now I am more than I was." The last time he had descended to that pit for training, he had been young. He had been weak and new to the powers of being a Power.

Now he had fought countless battles on the name of the Counsel. He had his fair share of scars from said battles and he was strong. He had to be strong to be trusted enough to guard the one place their Father loved above all else in their realm. He had fought and killed to defend the Garden from Demons and Angels alike that wished damage to the contents.

"As do we all, Brother."

Even he, as free from loathing as he claimed to be, was a little jealous of humans and the attention they got from their Father. His jealousy hadn't quite swelled enough to be named hatred like Lucifer's had, though. And for that he was pleased. Noam didn't like to hate anyone.

He tried to be at peace with all; a trait strange to the Warriors of Heaven.

"Don't go rushing off to the pit, I'd have to go back there and save you."

He teased softly, telling who was strongest between the two of them would be hard to decide, Noam had been trained by the Counsel but Belial had survived the pit and became of the few Lords of Hell, not an easy feet.

"I'm sure, however, I envy them for other reasons, they can have our Father's attention, that is not something I yearn for."

He muttered, people always wanted what they could not have, Belial was no exception to that rule.

"We will see who would save who."

He grinned down at the Demon widely. He was strong, brave and reckless. If needed, he would cut down all that came at him. That thought didn't bother him.

"What do you think Lucifer would do if he was met with me once more?" Would he be regarded with the same pleasantries as Belial had given him? Or would he hate him for what other Angels had done?

Like Belial, he missed Lucifer with all his being. He missed each and ever Angel that had been cast from Heaven.

"Come, Brother. I wish to taste food on my tongue once more. My last meal was the one that we shared before your Fall." He had had no time to do anything for himself while he had been protecting the Garden.

In a blinding flash of light Noam changed, his white robes morphing into a simple pair of jeans and a black skin tight turtleneck jumper.

While in Rome do as the Romans do.

Belial pursed his lips softly, Lucifer had grown cold and hateful, even towards his own kind, he was one of the few that Lucifer kept close.

"I don't think he would be as happy to see you as I am."

He replied, looking up at his brother and offering him a warm smile, seeing Noam again made him realize just how much he had missed him, how alone he had felt all this time.

"They have had you busy since I was banished haven't they?"

He muttered, Belial was foolish enough to assume that life had continued as normal up there after he head left, but if Noam had been assigned for this long then that wasn't the case.

He blinked as the Angel changed, recovering from the bright flash.

"Shall we go into town or would you like me to cook for you?"

Belial took the man's hand, squeezing it softly.

A soft sigh sounded.

"Life as been trouble for you all, hasn't it, Brother?" Hatred seemed to loom close. He could feel very clearly the negative emotion that the Demon bathed in. If Belial was so happy to see him, he worried for how how much hatred would be present in Lucifer.

"All of us that stood by you were put to services. I had yet to move from the Garden since I had been stationed there few short minutes after your fall."

As soon as Belial had been cast out of Heaven, the Counsel had turned on everyone that had been close to the Fallen and made sure to keep them busy.

"I wish to see more of this world that Father adores so." He had only ventured into Earth a handful of times and those times had been back before life had developed so much. There was no such technology when he had been on Earth. "Show it to me, Brother?"

"Life has not been kind to any of us, despite everything we've been through I've tried to take a different path to the one that Lucifer has now taken.

Though it is not easy, there are so many things that have been taken away from me that I fear I will never get back.
There is a hole in my soul and I have nothing to fill it with but hatred and malice."

Achinoam could always see right through Belial, as such the Demon didn't hold back, there was no point, he was one of the few people who could tell when he was lying.

"I'm so sorry Noam, I had hoped that my actions would not have affected you like that, I thought that they would be content with punishing me alone."

Hearing that one of the few people he truly cared for had suffered because of his actions weighed on the Demon.

His gaze looked back up at the man and he gave a gentle nod.
"I'll show you everything you want to see."

"You have nothing to fill it with or you choose to fill it with such emotions?"

He arched a brow down at the Demon. Your species didn't determine how you felt and chose to feel those emotions. That hole that he filled with malice and hatred was his doing; him refusing to let go of said malice and hatred.

The Angel shook his head and tugged on a handful of Belial's hair. "Enough of that. I do not want to hear your apologies."

Belial had done what he wanted to do and for that Achinoam couldn't fault him. Or sit through hearing his apologies. "They did not punish me. I was happy to receive such an honour as protecting Father's sacred Gardens." His lips twitched. "They just gave me a rather...long time for my duties to keep me from following you like they knew I would have."

He had been so close to following Belial when he was cast.

"First, I wish to see a good place to eat. And then we shall go from there, Brother."

Belial reached down and grasped onto Noam's hand, pressing it against his chest, there was no breathing, no heartbeat, the Demon was practically a walking corpse, after all, even Angels had heartbeats and breathed.

"I don't know anymore, I've lived in the pit so long, I don't know if I even have the capability to feel love or happiness."

Mentally Belial was the same person that Achinoam once knew, physically he was completely different, and emotionally he was practically a stranger.

"I would have punished you myself if you had followed me, you're meant to learn from my mistakes, not follow my route blindly."

The Demon shook his head, he would not wish this fate on his worst enemy, let alone someone he cherished.

"I think I know a few good places to eat."
Price and place were not a problem for them, they could go to France, Japan, stay in Italy, the world was open to them.

"The heart is not the soul, Belial. It doesn't mean you lack a soul if your heart doesn't beat."

He paused, twisting his hand to curl his fingers with Belial's, squeezing them gently. "Someone with only part of a soul would not have shed the tear that you did. With time and the right influences your soul can be healed. You can feel love, you just ignore it."

He hoped to be that influence. He wanted to help Belial. To see him as he had once before. To see and feel his emotions once again.

"And I would take each punishment as it came if it meant staying with you, Brother." His loyalties would always be with his family and Belial was family.

"Then take me there, for I fear I shall waste away to nothing if I do not eat. This body needs far more sustenance than I have been receiving." He would need to eat regularly while he was here on Earth. He would need to put forward the effort to remember to eat constantly.

Achinoam was always wise when he wanted to be, strong and he rationalized things so easily, hearing him speak like that, Belial could not help but believe him.

Perhaps there was hope that even a Demon could learn to love again, to feel joy and let go of the hatred that dominated them.

"Being near you is forcing me to feel."

He muttered softly as he wrapped his arms back around the Angel.
"I wouldn't let you Fall, I wont watch you go through what I have gone through.
I watched Lucifer and the others suffer through their decent into the darkness, seeing it happen to you would be too painful."

He nodded, he understood what it was like to suddenly require food, while Achinoam was on Earth he would make sure that he ate properly.

"Alright then."
He took the man's hand and teleported the both of them. There was no need to warn him as he did for the others, the Angel would be very accustomed to that feeling.

The brothers reappeared not far away, in Venice in fact, grasping onto the Angel's hand he led him through the tranquil streets and towards the canals.

"I would apologise as it is common decency to do so, but a fool and a liar I would be for I am not sorry for making you feel."

Hearing that the Demon was feeling again just from being in his presence was good. It bought joy to the Angel. Belial could feel and being with someone from a time when he could feel freely with hatred was bringing him back to that state once more. He was pleased.

His fingers ran idly through Belial's hair as he hugged him in return.

"If I had chosen that path, Brother, you would not have been able to stop me. My will is far too great to be influenced in such a way." If he decided to do something, he did it. Despite Belial's protests he had trained to become a Power and now he was one of the strongest Powers in Heaven. He had a name for himself.

The feeling of teleportation was familiar. He had felt it but an hour earlier as he teleported from Heaven down to Earth.

"I don't want you to apologise, I've wanted to be able to feel something for a long time, though being hit by it so strongly all of a sudden was slightly overwhelming."

Belial would have to be careful with Achinoam around, if his emotions flared like that again he could quite easy break down into tears, not something he really wanted to do in front of certain members of the coven.

There was very little he could do to stop the Angel from doing as he pleased, though he took some comfort in knowing that Noam had gone this long without chasing after him, he just hoped that he would return to Heaven.

"Welcome to Venice."
He muttered as they walked along the waters edge, gondolas passing them slowly, taxiing people through the town.

A soft smile graced his lips, he never would've thought that he would one day being showing Achinoam around the Earth.

"Good. You will not hear an apology from my lips unless I feel the need to."

He didn't apologise needlessly. Nor did he apologise when he didn't mean to. Even when he knew he had done wrong, he wouldn't apologise unless he felt truly repentant for his misdoings.

"You will not be fighting your new found emotions alone, Brother. I will not leave you." He squeezed Belial's hand gently. He wouldn't leave the Demon alone. After so many years of being apart, he wanted to spend as much time as he could with him.

Venice.

His eyes, such a bright gold that they were almost glowing, scanned the area curiously as they walked along the path, his long hair following behind him like a tail.