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After a difficult day, just another one of many, Michael finally closed the file she had been working on for weeks. She huffed as she leaned back to rest against the back of her chair, she really needed a break... just one night away from heaven, that's all she wanted. She stretched, her whole body hurting, she definitely wasn't meant to sit for that long. One last look around to make sure no one was there, of course there was no one, and she slipped away.
She knew she shouldn't but she opted for Earth, more precisely Mont Saint Michel. Using the elevator wasn't an option as it was now under surveillance, she decided to fly. It wasn't her first time there. There was a small area at the back of the island, below the ramparts, that looked like a small rocky beach. She landed there gracefully, access on foot was impossible. It was nighttime and the full moon was all that lit up the surroundings, so as was her usual practice when she came here she still took a look around to make sure she was alone before taking off her clothes, all of them.
What she didn't know was that this time, unlike other times, she had been spotted and followed. Followed by a demon she knew all too well and who loved to spend her free time annoying her. Normally Michael probably would have been able to spot an intruder but out of fatigue she paid no attention.
Dagon discreetly skirted the abbey until she found herself behind the rampart that overlooked the shore. Without really having a plan in place, she was just planning to climb over the wall and improvise but was stopped in her tracks, she wasn't ready for what she saw. The archangel, naked and from behind, in the water, illuminated by the rays of the moon which were reflected on the surface of the sea and on her large white wings, it stopped her in her tracks, completely hypnotized. As she moved her hand she dropped a small pebble which rolled down before falling into the water. Michael had heard it and had quickly turned around. This little noise would surely have gone unnoticed if it was daytime with lots of people but not in the middle of the night when she was supposed to be alone. She looked around but saw nothing.
" Is there anyone ? " she asked even if she felt that there was someone nearby. " Just get out of your hiding place, I know you're here. "
Dagon, who was seated behind a small low wall, hidden, straightened her head, which gently hit the wall behind her. She huffed with a small smile on her lips, of course she had been spotted, what was she hoping for ? She stood up and slowly came out of her hiding place to climb over the low wall and then slid a few meters further down onto the small beach.
" You, " muttered Michael when she saw her.
" Hello, pretty, having fun ? "
It was then that Michael realized. " You're a pervert ! " she said, folding her arms and wings around herself to hide.
" I'm not. "
" Spying on me while I'm bathing, what do you call that ?? What are you doing here ? "
" Observation, honey, I saw something shiny I was attracted. And I just watch you swim in what I helped create... well if you can call it swimming. "
" I don't allow you, " Michael said indignantly.
" It's okay if you don't know everything. Until today I didn't know there were things you couldn't do, but after seeing you swim... "
" I know how to swim ! I don't need you, go away. "
" I could show you what swimming is really like, " said the demon as she approached the water.
" No, " Michael said as she stepped back and approached the shore to try to grab her clothes, but Dagon was faster than her. " ...my clothes, " she huffed.
" My clothes, what ? "
Michael rolled her eyes. " That's childish behavior. "
" My clothes, what ? " repeated Dagon. " Come on, angel, be polite. "
" My clothes, please, " replied Michael, not hiding her annoyance at the situation.
The redhead smiled at her. " Come and get them. "
Michael frowned, of course she should have expected Dagon not to respect her word. " Why are you here ? " she asked again.
" I came for the work, temptations, torments, you know the drill, but the view made me stay. "
" You could at least respect my privacy, " complained Michael.
" Hey, who swims naked of their own free will ?? "
" You weren't supposed to see ! "
Dagon leaned forward and squinted, not without checking her surroundings once more. " Were you... expecting someone else ? "
" What ? What do you mean someone else ? "
" Well, someone ? " Dagon caught herself.
" Of course not ! If I come here it's to be alone. "
" You seemed surprised to see me, but you still seemed to be waiting for someone. "
" What are you implying ? "
" A secret lover ? For example, " proposed Dagon, shrugging her shoulders.
Michael seemed offended by this idea. " I am an angel ! How dare you ? "
" What ? This wouldn't be the first time an angel has had fun with a human. "
" I don't... A human ? You think I would do that kind of thing with... a human ? "
" Or another angel maybe ? Oh wait, don't tell me, it's a demon ? "
" Can you hear yourself talking ? "
" You're blushing, does that mean I'm right ? "
" I'm not blushing ! " defended the angel, who, despite the cold water, could feel her face heating up.
" Come on, I can at least know if I have a rival or not, " Dagon said more quickly than expected. She immediately wanted to slap herself when she realized.
" ...what ? Rival ? What do you mean ? " the angel was still looking at her over her folded wing. She seemed to be thinking about something. " Is it... jealousy, Dagon ? "
" What ? No it's not ! "
Michael let out what sounded like a laugh, it wasn't mockery it was more like surprise.
" Yes ! Yes it is ! "
" It's not ! " Dagon pointed at her. " Don't make me come and kick your ass in the water. That's my domain, I remind you. "
" I can escape you easily, " informed the brunette.
" By flying around naked as a worm ? I would like to see that. "
" I could, " affirmed Michael, " and come back later to kill you for what you saw. "
" Oh, what I'll see will kill me long before that, " Dagon teased further.
The angel narrowed her eyes. " You want to try your luck ? " she asked.
It sounded like a challenge... and Dagon couldn't resist a challenge.
" I'll try my luck, " she said as she let her long coat slide to the ground, revealing her own wings, before she started to sink into the water.
Michael immediately lost her mocking expression, firstly because her reaction surprised her but above all because...
" What... you have four wings...? "
Dagon stopped as she was waist deep in the water, confused by the question.
" Uh, yeah ? Didn't you know ? "
" No. Why do I have two and you... ? "
" I was a Dominion, " said Dagon, simply.
" I am an Archangel, " said the brunette who seemed to have completely forgotten their situation.
" Yes I have four but Michael... they are smaller. "
" But you have more ! "
" Yours are literally huge ! "
" Only two... "
Dagon loved their relationship that would seem to make almost no sense from an outside perspective. One moment they would threaten each other and the next moment she would stop everything just to reassure her about something. Despite the strangeness she wouldn't have changed it for anything in the world.
" Aw, look who's jealous now, it's almost cute. I'll kick your ass, another time. "
" Who's jealous now ? Does that mean you were really jealous ? " asked the angel. " And there will be no other time. "
" You... " Dagon growled, spotted a second time. " Damn it. There will be. "
Michael folded her wings a little but still hid her chest with her hands.
" Am I the one who embarrasses you ? Since when did angels learn to be modest ? "
The brunette didn't answer right away because she realized that it was Dagon's presence that made her so modest. Because what if she didn't like her body...? What the hell was she thinking... it was ridiculous.
" Since demons are such perverts, " she replied, folding her wings a little more, trying to appear less embarrassed.
" That is admiration, Michael, " specified the redhead, rolling her eyes and before Michael could answer, Dagon held out a hand to her. " But you really should come out, the water is too cold, even for you. "
" You worried about me now ? I am very well. "
" Me who believed the angels never lie, and I'm always worry about my favorite Archangel, " said Dagon, moving her hand, prompting her to take it. " Come on, I promise I'm not watching, " she added, turning her head.
Michael quickly gave up, she knew Dagon was too stubborn to go, so she took her hand to let herself be guided out of the water.
" If you turn around, I'll take your eyes off you, " she warns.
" Yes ma'am, " Dagon replied but Michael could clearly hear the smile in her voice.
" I'm not joking. "
" But I expect nothing less from you. "
Dagon let go of her hand, even though she would have preferred not to and Michael wasted no time in grabbing her things and starting to get dressed.
" So, Mont Saint Michel, huh ? Another tribute to the great champion of God ? " Dagon said as she looked at the large building in front of her that towered over her.
" Guess, and before you ask, no I didn't demand anything. "
" No, you're not proud enough for that. "
" Keep your comments. "
" What about statues ? Do you know how many statues of you there are ? " asked Dagon, tilting her head to the side.
" Turn around ! "
" Yes yes, sorry. So do you know ? "
" No, I don't know, " replied Michael.
From her place she had a direct view of the demon's back and her four wings. They were beautiful, large, but not as large as her own indeed, dark brown and covered in auburn spiral patterns. She wasted time observing her.
" Are you finished ? "
" Yes, " said Michael, making the redhead turn around and see her do up the last button of her blouse.
" Hmm, I think I preferred the other outfit. "
" Of course you do. If you're so desperate you should go to a human brothel. "
The demon raised her eyebrows, surprised by these words even if she had the impression that the angel was anything but serious.
" Nah, I have my preferences, " she said.
Dagon looked at her large white wings again and saw that one of the damaged feathers had come loose but was still stuck between the other feathers. She reached out reflexively to remove it but Michael took a steps back.
" What are you doing ? "
" Nothing, you just have a loose feather. "
" You can't do that. "
" Why not ? It's already detached, you won't have any use for it anymore. "
" It's inti... private, you should know, you can't touch an angel's wings like that. "
" Oh come on, it's just me, we know each other. "
" Is that your argument ? "
" Yes ? " replied Dagon, as Michael shook her head no. " Alright, I propose a game to you, if I win, I can keep the feather. "
" What makes you think I'll accept... Why do it ? "
" Memory, " said the duke, simply. " Deal or not ? "
" I don't want to play your games, " the angel informed her.
" I give you three pieces of information, you have to find which one is true, " Dagon continued as if she hadn't heard anything.
" This is stupid. "
" Hey, we pass the time as we can in hell. So, I've already gone around the earth while swimming. It was I who drowned Narcissus. I already desecrated a grave. So ? Two lies, one truth. "
The angel rolled her eyes. " The second is true. "
" It's a myth, Michael. "
" It doesn't matter. I told you I didn't want to play. "
" Because you lost. Okay I'm nice so I'll give you another chance. "
" ...adorable. "
" I can understand all languages, even dead languages. I have never taken care of a child. I have a weakness for Picasso's works. "
Despite the fact that Michael said twice that she didn't want to participate, it was rather tempting. She got caught up in the game.
" The second again ? " she proposed.
" Still not. Amazing to see an area in which you don't excel. "
" Skip it... " said Michael. " And what do you mean you've ever taken care of a child ? "
" Adam, just a few hours but it's the same, " said Dagon, leaving Michael to imagine the situation in her head. " Alright, last attempt. I already tasted the human flesh. I find you very beautiful. I have always been afraid of thunderstorms. "
Michael missed a beat when she heard it. She knew that Dagon had never eaten human flesh even though she had drown hundreds and she also knew she was absolutely not afraid of thunderstorms or storms in general.
" You're ridiculous, " blowed the brunette.
" You're beautiful. "
" Stop it ! "
" What ? You like truths, don't you ? "
" You're a demon, you lie, "
" Oh, am I lying now ? " said Dagon falsely offended.
" Yes. "
" Very well then, you are the ugliest angel I have ever seen. "
Michael just looked at her, not knowing what to say.
" So verdict ? "
" Shut up and take that damn feather, " exclaimed Michael, grabbing one of her feather and handing it to her. Meanwhile, the damaged feather fell to the ground.
" You give me a healthy one ? What an honor. "
" Just... take it. "
" Thank you, my lady, " said the duke, taking the feather which was at least fifty centimeters long. " This will look great on my office wall. "
" You have something of me, now I need something of you, " said Michael.
" Do you want a feather ? A pin ? Or something else ? "
" A feather for a feather sounds the most fair. "
" Well, in that case one last part then. I am a great musician. I have no tattoos. I would love to see you here again at the next full moon. "
Michael had to admit that Dagon's determination was strong.
" What if I don't come ? "
" I would be there in any case, " affirmed Dagon.
" ...you have a tattoo ? " asked Michael, quite curious.
" Come and I'll show you. "
Dagon opened her own wing to run her hand along her feathers and choose one that looked good to her. She handed it to her and Michael took it gently. Their fingers brushed again, both aware that it was no accident.
" There, I'll leave you alone now, " the redhead informed her, looking her in the eyes before taking a few steps back and turning around to leave. Only a few seconds before she was interrupted.
" Dagon, " Michael called her.
" Hmm ? " the duke mumbled as she turned around.
Michael stared at the ground, twirling the dark feather between her fingers before looking up with a more peaceful look than before.
" You have no rival. "
She flew away after that, a little too nervous to hear an answer. She could well wait a month to find out where this would all lead them. Dagon watched her fly away, a satisfied smile on her lips, until she disappeared completely. In her hand she still held the big white feather. This feather would not just hang on her wall, but be stored in a chest and it would cut the hand of anyone who tried to touch it.