Chapter Text
“Jack, sunshine, you can’t just pluck them straight out like that.”
The blonde ducks his head at Gabriel’s frown, mistaking it for actual anger, “I…I’m sorry…”
Gabriel sighs, sliding down to sit by his mate, carefully weaves his hands through unkempt feathers. It’s okay, he reminds himself. Jack has never actually taken care of his wings before. Only a few times being taught wouldn’t get that habit, of carelessly yanking feathers out, easily. Jack needs patience and care, and that’s exactly what Gabriel is going to give him.
Watching Jack’s features soften as he carefully eases the loose plumage out, his little smiles when Gabriel smooths big hands along black down, shy thank you kisses on his cheeks…All of that is worth all the time in this world, and Gabriel couldn’t be any happier giving his mate the love Jack needs.
“You ok?”
“Yeah…” Gabriel answers to the muffled voice at his neck, ashen hand stroking down the shiny obsidian wing. Not a feather is out of place, impeccable and healthy. His breath hitches when Jack cups the base of his bones.
“I try my best to take care of them after…after you’re gone.” The solder’s voice is quiet against his neck, his body wrapping around Gabriel’s impossibly tight, “I remember how much you loved them, how much you wanted to take care of them. I couldn’t stand abusing them as I did. They are for me to remember you by, after all.”
There isn’t a thing he could say now without getting choked up. Gabriel can no longer cry, but he wishes he still could, and he buries his face into the beautiful feathers, chuckling out his emotions into the beautiful wings that he thought he would never see again.
“Something on your mind?”
Gabriel responds with a non-committed hum, drawing Jack closer on his chest. Here, lying in their nest, he finds it so difficult to have a strong grasp on any particular thought. Everything drifts by lazily, the sense of time is muddled in with every contented breath. Gabriel finds it difficult to be bothered, even when this certain musing isn’t one of the happier thoughts. The warmth from Jack’s skin makes sure of that.
“I always thought I couldn’t save you.”
Jack’s muscles stiffen, effectively chasing away whatever haziness Gabriel has. Despite his protests, Jack props up on his elbows, separating their chests and looking at Gabriel with those too-blue eyes of his. There was a swirl of sadness in there, that tugs at Gabriel’s heartstrings in a faded familiarity that he doesn’t want to remember.
“Oh Gabe…” Jack whispers, a hand coming up to caress his mate’s cheek, a slanted half-smile stretches his scarred lips that Gabriel can’t help but kisses, “I couldn’t be saved back then anyway.”
A quizzical eyebrow shoots up, but a rough, calloused thumb rests on Gabriel’s lips as his mate continues, “I was blind. Admittedly, in a way, I was too greedy. Salvation means nothing if I cannot accept it myself. And…there was no redemption, because I never did anything wrong. I was chasing after the wrong ideals at the time, too stupid to realise the one thing, the only thing, that I’ve ever needed was right there all along.”
Silence embraces them, their faces inches away and soft breaths mingle together. Jack needn’t elaborate. Gabriel huffs, pulling his mate close once more, “Like I said before. Dense and stubborn.”
Jack’s laughter rings clear and free of guilt. And that is the only thing Gabriel ever needs.