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Uriel approached Micheal’s glass desk with furrowed brows. “And that's you?”
“It's…all of us,” Micheal clarified, separating their steepling fingers.
“Ah,” Uriel mouthed, tilting their chin up. Then Michael motioned to themselves, speaking in a mild tone. “Led by me.”
Uriel hummed in reproof, their piercing gaze unwavering.
“I am duty officer,” Micheal mentioned with a slight nod and a faint smirk.
Uriel squinted, their frown indurating. Micheal wasn't wrong, necessarily. Heaven always had a Supreme Archangel, but, due to Gabriel's asinine blasphemy and conumacy, he was promptly demoted. In a fit, he made the rash decision to travel down to earth, and reside in Aziraphale's bookshop.
At least, that's what the archangel's believed, anyway.
“What makes you so special, Micheal?” Uriel inquired, drawing their hands behind their back. “We are all God’s creations,” Uriel began, their shoes echoing throughout the airy office building as they paced. Micheal sighed deeply, their hand shrouding their forehead.
“We have witnessed the destruction and rebirth of creatures great and small, and we were all gifted a fragment of God’s limitless power.”
Uriel stepped in front of Michael once more, their expression frigid.
“Choosing you wouldn't change anything. The Second Coming will occur no matter whom or what is in charge.”
Micheal inspired, sitting back in their rolling chair. It had almost seemed like Uriel's words had reached Micheal, until the angel opened their mouth again.
“I should've been the Chief of Heaven's Forces, you know.”
It was Uriel's turn to groan exasperatedly, their shoulders slumping. Here goes Micheal parroting the same sob story for the one hundred thousandth time. Uriel wishes they were exaggerating. They shook their head, resuming their stride.
“I was the one who thwarted Satan during the Great War, and I am often acknowledged as the ‘Prince of Angel's’ in human divinity, so in theory, I should be the leader,” Micheal chattered, watching Uriel's calculated movements.
Uriel cocked their head the side. “And yet you're not, Micheal. I wonder why that is?” Their tone was satirical.
“I wonder the same thing!” Michael exclaimed, hands to their chest. Uriel rolled their eyes.
“I've been nothing but faithful to God's will before the beginning, and I've achieved a lot more than Gabriel ever has as Supreme Archangel.” Uriel directed a pointed look that Micheal ignored.
“There is absolutely no reason as to why I haven't been promoted yet,” Micheal grumbled, maneuvering their hands as they spoke.
“I couldn't agree more, Supreme Archangel Michael.”
Uriel sneered, carefully grasping Michael's hand and bringing it to their lips, pressing a kiss to their knuckles.
“Tell me, your reverence, what exactly do you purpose will happen if you were to obtain your desired title?” Uriel’s lips curled in amusement, their eyes like vulchers.
“Well, I…” Michael trailed off, captured by Uriel's abrupt gesture and observatory look. Their heart was racing and their hand tingled. They hadn't expected this from Uriel, unsure of how to react.
Michael attempted to lull themselves out of their trance, scrambling their mind for a response. “I’d continue my responsibility as duty officer, and will make preparation for the Second Coming.”
“Right. And how do you plan to do that exactly?”
“I-uh,” Michael stammered, eyes leaving Uriel's before clearing their throat. “That will be determined with careful consideration.”
Uriel scoffed through their nose, releasing Micheal’s fingers with the a hint of a smug smile.
“Ridicule me if you'd like, Uriel, but I know that I'm capable of restoring Heaven with the justice it deserves.” Uriel’s expression shifted, mouth flatlined as they leaned forward.
“You're only concerned about yourself, Micheal. You want attention, not justice,” They uttered. “There's no such thing as justice in Heaven. There never was, and never will be.”
Uriel stood tall, hands clutched at their sides. “You are no leader. And there’ll be an absence of a Supreme Archangel until the situation with Gabriel is sorted. Until then, you and I will remain in our given roles, whether you like it, or not.”
Their voice boomed, causing Michael to flinch and inspect Uriel wearily. Satisfaction glinted in the angel’s eye.
“I'll be watching you, Michael.” They declared, and with a turn on their heel, they marched down the palatal area that was Michael’s office.
Micheal regarded Uriel and eased in their chair, fingers idly stroking the spot that still buzzed from the other angel’s lips.