(Â ofproseandmusing. )
Valentina had noticed them staring not long after theyâd entered the coffee shop, but they hadnât paid it too much mind, knowing that, at best, Thea wasnât entirely⌠normal. But then, neither were they: they were a former angel passing as human.Â
Still, theyâd known Thea was Azraelâs favorite toy, long before theyâd cared about humans at all. Back then, they hadnât cared to understand what Azraelâs choices did to Thea, hadnât cared at all about Thea, really, but their opinion had changed wholly in the last few years; Elena and everything that had followed her had changed them. There was something in them that wanted to protect Thea from Azrael, if they could. They knew the angel too well after all, and no longer did they discount Thea as a presence not worth thinking much about.
Thea mattered.
A soft smile crossed lips at Theaâs reply, gentle, which was oddly contrasted to the demeanor they normally showed. âNo harm done, Thea. Are you okay?â They were asking about so much more than just how they were doing, though they wasnât sure Thea would catch it. âYou seem tired.â
Valentina. There was an immediate sense of relief that washed over her as she met the gentle smile directed her way, her shoulders dropped along with the last fragments of a semblance of guard. Azrael shifted, but she discounted their movements, no longer dedicating any attention to their kaleidoscopic moods, ever-changing like summer storms. Thea, instead, focused on Val, on the cadence of their voice, the concern and warmth they regarded her with: her cheeks were already pink with embarrassment, and she hoped that they didnât think her attention untoward. With so much strife around her, she clung to what shores of comfort she could.
Poor thing. How long has it been since anyone has treated you as anything more than a pawn to be conquered?
She shook her head at that, hoping, as if, she could physically shake off Azraelâs influence, before realizing that sheâd nonverbally answered the question Val had directed towards her; eyes widening, she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, before hurriedly clarifying. âI mean, yes-- Iâm alright. Just a little tired, yeah, maybe,â she admitted. âI canât sleep very well these days.â She murmured the admission into her coffee, flashes of eyes and thorns and menaced towns burned into the backs of her eyelids.
âThatâs probably enough about me,â she continued, coughing in embarrassment and frowning at herself. âHow about you? How are you? Iâd love- like- to hear about how youâre doing, if you care to tell,â she asked.















