#hello michael

16: “You could have gotten yourself killed!” “But.. Ididn’t?”

“You could have gotten yourself killed,” Chael scolded,sitting Merrick down before the angel fell over. His wings werescored with claw marks, as well as his arms from where they had beenprotecting his face.

“But…I didn’t?” Merrick smiled weakly, taking in a deepbreath now that he was in the safety of heaven. “So that counts forsomething, right?”

Chael pulled a bloody feather off of his shoulder, holding it upin front of his face. “Good to know you can take a hit, but whydidn’t you call us?”

“I did. The room was sealed,” he croaked, rubbing blood awayfrom his nose so he could take a clear breath. “I’m okay.”

“You’re a mess.” He crouched in front of him with a smile.“We’ll get you cleaned up.”

“What happened here?” Michael’s voice was enough to turn bothof their heads, the archangel coming over with a frown of concern,his massive wings folded behind him.

“Nothing important,” Chael assured, trying to keep his tonefrom being too dismissive. He stood, placing himself protectively inbetween Merrick and the archangel.

Michael took him by the shoulder, moving Chael to the sidewithout ceremony, a mute challenge in the movement. A challenge Chaeldid not take, no matter how his fingers curled. “Every angel isimportant, Garrison Leader.” Michael turned his back on Chael, andcradled Merrick’s face in his hands. “Especially guardians. Theyare, after all, the ones that guide souls to heaven.”

Merrick felt as if he couldn’t breathe under the archangel’sfingers, pinned by the intensity of his eyes and the presence thatseemed to exude power. “I’m okay,” he whispered at last.

“Who did this to you?” Michael asked soothingly, raking onehand through Merrick’s hair to brush it out of his face. With themotion came a pulse of magic, and when Merrick breathed in again, thepain was gone, the blood dried and his wounds sealed.

“He was accosted by a few demons,” Chael answered for him.