hala ✧

᯽ david x angel ᯽ or: "it's okay third times a charm!!!" ᯽ tags: Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Married David/Angel, Angel is GN, Angel uses they/them pronouns, everything that i do is for hala and hala only, not good writing because it's been a hot minute since i wrote for these two T_T

This is for my girl @halscafe (formerly @/daveyisloml). My fellow Scarborough shorty and local celebrity, I am so proud of you for passing for licensing exam!!! You know who else would be proud?? Mr. David Shaw. So here you go!!

If you had told Angel that they would be able to achieve their wildest dreams, they would look at you confused. Why, they already did achieve their dream! They were able to marry the love of their life, the David Shaw. What more could anyone possibly want?

But at the back of their mind, a spot in their heart that was reserved solely for them, they would tell you another desire burned. One that wouldn't go away any time soon.

Their decision into this career path was a simple one – they wanted to continue to work in healthcare, but they had no desire to be a doctor. The work, stress and money didn't seem like it was worth it. Besides, despite what their parents would say otherwise, there was plenty of respectable and necessary medical work that didn't require going to medical school.

So for two years, they studied their asses off. Through sheer determination and with the help of David, they managed to get through their intensive program. Yet even after graduation, there wouldn't be an end to the greed that academia thrives on.

The first time that they failed their licensing exam, a void was formed in their heart. For someone who thrived off of academic validation, it was completely expected to see them shut down after. They don't remember how long they spent in bed ruminating over their failure, just that their sweet David would continue to urge them to eat and drink. Yet with encouragement from him and the rest of their friends, Angel got up and powered through. 

(Charging on forward with no regard for their feelings is what they do best. Luckily, they will forever have David to reel them back in and make them remember that they're not some feather adrift in the wind.)

The second time that they failed, they were angry. Not at David or their friends, who didn't know what to do except to comfort them. (It didn't do much to change the results) Nor at the Board that made them take this stupid exam. All of their anger and frustration imploded it onto themselves, causing them to lash out at everyone around them. Then feel guilty. Then continue this vicious cycle.

For a moment they thought, what is the point of working? They were lucky that with David's Security business, he made more than enough money for him to support them for the rest of their life. And David would be more than happy then to fulfill that role – the joys of having an Alpha for a husband. But yet pride isn't something that they didn't fall for often, but in this case, it had sunk its claws into them.

(There was a quiet and persistent voice in their head that reminded them what happens when you rely on one person for the rest of your life. Bless David's heart, he would never do anything to hurt them, but you never know. That is the true peril of not knowing the future.)

Wallowing in pity did nothing for anyone, so Angel pulled themselves up by their bootstrap. Accepting that if they don't pass for a third time, then it simply wasn't meant to be. But there was a tiny hope that maybe, this time will be different.

"Besides, the third time is always the charm!" a charming white wolf reminded them, overflowing in optimism and confidence for their best friend.

The third time that they took the exam and they opened the results–

"Oh my God, I PASSED!" they screamed, jumping up and down in their living room. The email with their success blaring back at them, a simple line that encompassed years of hard work. Relief flooded their system, the stress they unnecessarily put on themselves melting away. They remembered learning in class that high stress can change a person on the cellular level, yet somehow they felt that damage being reversed.

David pulled them into his chest, tucking their head underneath his chin. With one hand wrapped around their back, the other went to the head, massaging the lingering tension away. Yet his hands were nothing compared to the healing kiss to their forehead.

"I knew you could do it, angel," he whispered into their ear. David's gruff voice filled with pride and adoration, and they could feel every single bit of it poured into them. "I'm so proud of you."

"I'm proud of me too," they replied, kissing his cheek in thanks. It took them a while for them to say that in earnest, but it was hard to ignore the fluttering feeling when they would hear praise from other people and themselves.

The two mates stayed in that embrace for a moment longer than expected, basking in each other's warmth and enjoying this simple moment together. It was moments like this that made them grateful for the mating bond, and Angel often wondered who they would be if they weren't given their soulmate on a silver platter. 

(Who were they kidding? It was going to be him and only him in every lifetime. They were sure that if they weren't lovers, there would be some cataclysmic event that would happen.)

"So…" Angel pulled away from his hug to look David into their eyes. "Does this mean that I get a special award?" they asked, giggling when they heard David sighed. Their mischievous laughter was cut iff when David lifted them over his shoulder, shushing their yelp with a slap on their ass.

"Come on trouble, it's time for you to get your prize." David walked toward the bedroom, and with how tight his grip was around them, Angel was sure that they weren't going to be able to walk tomorrow, or for the next few days.

That wasn't a complaint from them though, there wasn't anywhere else that they wanted to be.

"A heart's a heavy burden"