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Edinburgh was a nice city, Michael had to admit as she wandered the streets. The rainy weather and the time of day meant that there were few people outside and the one that was there didn't seem to notice her presence, which suited her just fine.
Despite this, she hurried to the door that Gabriel had indicated to her. She knocked twice and waited, she really hoped that he had not got the wrong number but someone finally opened the door for her.
" Michael ! " Gabriel greeted her, taking her in his arms.
Since he had discovered hugs years before, she was a frequent victim, she always forgot to step back. And even though it had been a while since they had seen each other, she just couldn't fully appreciate his affection.
" Yes, yes, I'm happy to see you too, " she said, patting his back.
" You're not afraid of boxes anymore ? " he asked in a gently mocking tone while stepping back.
" Shut up, " she said, rolling her eyes and giving him the medium-sized box she was holding. " You're really calling me to bring you your old stuff ? Why did you have so much stuff in heaven ? "
" These are souvenirs from the last four years, " he said as he opened the box before smiling like a child who had just found his favorite toy.
" What's the point, honestly ? "
" It's nice to remember where it came from, and besides, I needed something in it. You don't have any souvenirs ? "
" No, none. "
It didn't take long for him to be joined by a smaller figure.
" Michael, " the former prince greeted her.
" Beelzebub, " Michael greeted her in turn.
" Hmm, " the demoness made a small, awkward gesture with her hand, pointing behind her. " Do you want to come in ? "
" I hadn't planned to stay. "
" Please, Michael, " Gabriel told her. " It's been weeks since we last saw each other. "
Sometimes she got annoyed herself for being so sensitive to her little brother's desires.
" Alright, " she gave in. " But not for long. "
" Nice, we'll wait for you then, " Beelzebub told them as she disappeared into the long corridor behind.
Michael stopped just outside the door. " We ? " she asked. " Isn't it just the two of you ? "
" No, Dagon is here, " Gabriel answered simply.
" Dagon ? " whispered the brunette. " I... uh... I think I really can't stay, " she finally said.
" No, too late, you said yes, " said Gabriel, leaning forward to grab her arm and pull her inside.
" Really ? " huffed the brunette, looking at her brother with a stern look.
" Yes, really, come on, don't be mad, " he said before putting his hands on her shoulders to lead her into the kitchen. " I'll make you something. "
The room was pretty average, but there were only two of them living here, a castle-sized house would have been useless. There were two doors, one of them led to the corridor from which they had come and the other, half-open, opened onto the living room from which several voices were rising, one of which Michael knew well.
She thought very hard don't look, don't look but her body was doing what it wanted. As if her eyes had a will of their own they turned to the doorway and she could see Dagon, her colleague ? her work partner ? She looked... fine according to her. She was in the middle of an exchange with Beelzebub when her own silver-blue eyes turned toward the kitchen. Their exchange of glances had only lasted a second before Michael turned her head. At the moment she found herself a little stupid and not at all discreet, lucky that it was exactly the moment when Gabriel decided to talk to her again.
" Here, drink this, it's good, " he said, handing her a glass filled with a clear red liquid.
" You know I don't drink, " Michael reminded him. " I don't consume anything. "
" Please, " he said with an almost pleading air. " I'm sure you'll love it. I promise it's not alcohol. "
" What is this ? "
" What do you think it is ? Truth serum, " he said very naturally.
Beelzebub gave him a distant look from the living room, thinking that their plan was going to fail. She shook her head at him indicating that he wasn't supposed to confess that part but he only responded with a discreet shrug. Michael, not having seen him, rolled her eyes. Gabriel was so used to talking nonsense all the time or using the wrong terms to describe things that...
" Fine, if you dont want to tell me, " she said.
After taking the glass from his hands and giving a suspicious glance at the orange-red liquid, she dipped her lips in it before taking a sip. She couldn't see behind her Beelzebub making a little victory sign with her fist or Dagon burying her face in her hands.
" You're lucky it's good. "
" I told you so, " he said proudly. " It's punch. "
" Great, no idea what it is. "
" Just fruits. " He put his hands on her shoulders again to push her into the living room. " Come on, come with us. "
" Gabe, no, " she grumbled.
" There, " he said, pushing her to sit across from him on the couch, next to Dagon of course. " Stay with us a little while. "
" Sure. It's not like I have anything to do, " replied Michael, ironically.
" Since you mention it, how's it going up there ? " Gabriel asked her.
She huffed. " Nothing really different, you know how it is.
" It wasn't so bad, " he said, not seeing the two demons roll their eyes. " Isn't it better since I left ? "
" Not particularly, no. Quieter, perhaps. "
" Quieter than it already was ? Now it looks like a real hell, " said Beelzebub.
Michael gave her a look but she couldn't argue with her because well, her words were pretty spot on.
" You say that as if you don't like it. Does that mean you miss me ? " continued Gabriel.
" Of course you do, " Michael blurted out.
She felt a strange sensation but decided to ignore it. It was a random piece of information except she hadn't planned to say it out loud, she wasn't used to expressing her feelings like that. Fatigue was the first thing she thought of.
" I see Raphael from time to time and there's always Uriel but... she avoids me. "
" Jealous that you got the position of Supreme Archangel, " Dagon muttered from her seat.
Michael tilted her head to the side. " I... suppose. "
" I have to ask, out of curiosity, " began Gabriel. " Who is your favorite, Raphael or me ? "
" What ? What kind of question is this, you are both my brothers, I have no preference. "
" No, look, " Beelzebub whispered very discreetly to Gabriel. " Have you ever thought about being in a relationship, Michael ? " she asked her suddenly, really surprising the brunette.
What an idea... Michael thought.
" Why not, " she replied, however.
What the ?!
" Aw now this is interesting. "
This time Michael really frowned, something was clearly wrong with her. She was starting to panic a little, she didn't want to answer.
" Do you have someone in min- ow ! Dagon ! " exclaimed Beelzebub, rubbing her foot under the table.
" Sorry, I slipped, " replied the redhead, leaning over to grab another bottle of beer.
She knew full well where her former boss was going with this and she could feel herself getting even more anxious as she saw a smirk appear on her face. She gave her a discreet no with her head, practically pleading with her eyes.
" What do you think of Dagon ? " Beelzebub then asked.
" And why don't you tell us how your trip was ? " Dagon cut her off with a rush in her voice. " You know, the main reason for this evening. "
" Oh, I will. " The two demons stared at each other intently. " But first I'd like an answer. "
" I... " Michael began but managed to stop herself.
" What do you think of Dagon ? " Beelzebub repeated as Dagon leaned back and sank into the couch, wishing to drown herself in her drink.
" She is... She is competent in her job, which I really appreciate. She knows what she is doing and is smart, fast and efficient. I enjoy working with her, even if she can be annoying when she wants to be. "
" Hey ! " Dagon said indignantly.
" But that's part of her charm. She's also extremely passionate and quite lovely when she talks about the things she loves, like the ocean. " Michael had a little smile as she said that. " I like listening to her."
She didn't see Dagon almost choke on her beer and look at her with a shocked expression.
" And then she's very attractive with her proud demeanor, her shiny auburn hair and her eyes... "
She stopped talking when she realized, her eyes widening and she felt her panic increasing.
No, what did I just say ? The brunette thought. I didn't say that out loud ?
There was a short silence and she didn't dare look at anyone.
" Do you like Dagon ? "
" ... "
Michael ignored Beelzebub's question deliberately even though her body really wanted to answer and looked at her glass suspiciously then looked up at Gabriel who was looking at her with a stupid but proud smile.
" Gabriel, what is this ? " she asked, pointing to her glass.
" Punch. "
" No, what's in it ? " she clarified.
" I told you what it was, " he said.
She really thought what he said was just another one of his misunderstandings or a joke. He wouldn't have deliberately made her drink a truth serum ? Or would he ? Of course he had, that was really the only explanation.
" You didn't... "
" I didn't do anything, you drank it of your own free will, " he said.
" Do you like me ? " Dagon then asked.
Michael gave her a sideways glance. Her voice sounded calm, more than usual but her expression was too neutral for the angel to discern any clue as to what she was thinking. Whether she was offended or outraged, she could not say.
" Okay, I'm leaving, " said Michael, standing up.
What else could she do, in any case she was unmasked. Either she answered yes or she didn't answer and everyone would understand. She just preferred not to make a fool of herself any longer.
Beelzebub turned her gaze to Dagon. " Listen I- "
But Dagon stood up reflexively to follow the brunette into the hallway leading to the exit. She was on her way now, there was no turning back.
Michael felt so stupid, Dagon would probably think of her as a joke now. Their next meetings would be extremely tense, at least for her. All because of those damn feelings, why did they even have them ?! But before she could open the door, she was called out.
" Wait ! "
The angel stopped in her tracks, her hand still tightly gripped on the doorknob, but she didn't turn around.
" What do you want, Dagon ? " She hated how much she had spat out her name.
" Is this true ? " she asked. " Do you really love me ? "
Michael huffed and tried to pull herself together to appear confident, if only for a few minutes. She also realizes that her overwhelming urge to respond had disappeared... obviously once the damage was done. She turned around to face the redhead.
" Alright, you know what ? Go ahead. I'll give you one minute, not one more, to be sorry or disgusted or outraged, whatever. Make fun of me all you want and make every stupid joke you can think of. One minute, Dagon, after that if you dare mention it I'll kill you without any remorse. "
And she waited, for the first laugh, the first joke, something. However, Dagon's silence was far more unsettling. The angel was unaware that she herself was still trying to understand that she felt the same feelings as her.
" What are you wait- "
" I thought you were bored when I talked about oceans, " the redhead said simply, cutting her off.
" What ? " This was not at all the reaction Michael expected.
" You told me it bored you. "
Now Michael was quite destabilized. Dagon seemed really emotional at the moment, she had made some bad assumptions.
" Because... because it's not appropriate during working hours. Not because it's boring, " she said.
" You always hide behind your work, don't you ? And you clearly used the word boring. "
" Alright, that was rude of me, okay ? I just wonder why you keep coming back to it. "
" Well, you're so smart and you know so much. I just wanted to impress you but my area of knowledge is... limited. " It was now Dagon who looked a little embarrassed. "
Michael frowned. " Impress me ? I'm not sure I understand. "
" You still don't understand ? " said Dagon, daring to take her hands. Michael didn't take them off, so she took that as a sign to continue. " I never knew what to tell you, or how. I thought you'd never... that you'd never be interested. That it would never be mutual. "
" Mutual ? "
The redhead smiled nervously while her thumb caressed Michael's fingers. " You are smart but you are clearly blind sometimes. Yet I made many allusions. "
" You spend most of your time making fun. How am I supposed to know when you're serious and when you're not ? "
" Well excuse me angel, I don't know how to flirt properly. "
Flirt.
Michael wanted to ask the question but still hesitated. Then she remembered that their discussion had already gone too far, so a little more or a little less wouldn't change anything.
" Do you love me ? "
" Yes ! Oh my... of course yes. How not to do it ? You are so... you. "
It was brutally honest, Michael couldn't deny it. She wanted to answer but...
" Dagon, maybe you should... " Beelzebub stopped, followed by Gabriel, surprising the two, hands clasped, who quickly separated upon hearing her. She gave them a knowing smile. " Oh, well, don't let me stop you, " she added as she walked away.
" More punch ? " said Gabriel, jokingly.
" You, " said Michael. " I hate you. "
" Ah, I think the effects of the serum have worn off, " he said with a smile.
" Count on me to get my revenge, " she pointed at him.
" I still haven't done anything, " he added, leaving the hallway nonetheless, just in case.
If she thought about it, Michael wasn't even sure she could blame Gabriel. He was right, technically he hadn't done anything.
" And I forbid you to defile the front door ! " Beelzebub shouted at them from the next room. " Get a room if you continue your stuff. "
" Nonsense... " muttered Dagon. " So where were we ? " she said louder, looking at the angel.
" I was leaving. "
" What ? No, " said the redhead, standing in front of the door. " You can't leave now, not after this. Not now that I know you love me too, " she added, proudly.
Michael rolled her eyes, of course now she was going to have to deal with this sentimental demon.
" Can I hear it ? " asked Dagon.
" Don't push your luck. "
" Come on, I said it myself. Just once, we're together now. "
" Are we ? " Michael asked falsely but who could convince this demon in need.
" What do- of course we are ! " Dagon said indignantly.
The brunette let out a small laugh but quickly pulled herself together, she wanted to appear serious. But teasing the demoness seemed like fun enough.
" Alright, alright. " It was really a new situation for her. " We are, " she whispered more to herself, as if she were trying to understand the information herself.
" I prefer. But I still haven't heard anything... "
" Are you really going to sulk about this ? "
" Maybe... I have the right... I thought you loved me... "
" What a drama queen you are, " said Michael, quite amused. " You know I do, I couldn't lie. "
Dagon immediately looked at her with sparkling eyes. " Aw, not used to declarations, are you ? "
" Not really, no. You'll have to get used to it. "
" Oh I will, angel. Sooo, does that mean I can have a kiss ? " dared to ask Dagon.
Michael looked at her for a few seconds and... " No. "
" But, why ? "
" You participated in their plan to make me drink this serum. "
" No, please, Michael. I told them not to do it, " Dagon defended herself.
" Maybe, but you knew it and you didn't tell me, so you'll wait. "
Dagon pouted, she couldn't deny it, of course she knew. However Michael found her too adorable for her own good, maybe a little one would suffice. She leaned forward to kiss the redhead's temple, who immediately raised her head to look at her with big, bright eyes and a hopeful expression.
" Calm down, it's the only one you'll get today, " the brunette warns her. " Your pout won't work this time. "
Dagon has lost her cheerful demeanor. " Pleaaase, you're cruel, " she complained.
" Hey, you should have known what to expect when dating her, " a voice intervenes again from the end of the corridor.
" Get out, Beel ! "
" You're in my house ! "
" Alright then, we- " Dagon stopped as she felt a hand grab her.
" Don't fight about it, " Michael told her.
The two demons exchanged a look.
" Oh but we're not fighting, we've always been like this, " said the redhair.
" Just, let's go, okay ? " said the brunette as she opened the door, she preferred not to try to understand the methods of communication between demons now.
" Where ? "
" How about a hotel ? There must be one nearby. "
Dagon immediately shut her mouth and wasted no time in nodding. To be alone with her angel ? She would be crazy to refuse.
" I thought you had things to do, " Gabriel said and Michael gave him a bored look as she walked out while still holding the redhead's hand.
" Aw, " Beelzebub muttered in the distance. " Look at you. "
Dagon quickly turned back to her friend who gave her a proud thumbs up, to which she responded with a middle finger, making her laugh.
Once outside, the two exchanged a look.
" What an evening, huh ? " said Dagon, squeezing the angel's hand tighter, she was glad to finally be able to do so.
" As you say. "
She went down the few steps that were there, pulling Michael with her.
" I know a great hotel a few miles away. We will be fine there. Maybe then I'll get my kiss. "
" I thought I said no, " said Michael, unable to hold back her smile, following her.
" I'll get it, angel, count on it. "
" I'm curious to see that. "
If she had been told just an hour earlier that she would be walking out of there with a girlfriend, Michael wouldn't have believed it. She decided that maybe she could enjoy a few more hours before returning to heaven.