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From what V1 knew, angels did not need to sleep. Or eat, or drink, or breathe, for that matter. And for whatever reason, it made this moment all the more flattering.
The machine’s optic looked up to the cross above them. It would have been unsettling, as if Gabriel were staring into their soul, but his slow, calm breaths and limp body assured them that he was indeed asleep. But they moved their head enough to the side that he rested more on their shoulder anyways. Eye contact felt very awkward.
V1 couldn’t blame him for being so at rest. While they initially had doubts (how does one sleep in armor? How could that possibly be comfortable?), the machine had become more and more pleasantly resigned as it had continued.
Lust was quiet these days. Even with the Corpse of King Minos now slain, the remaining sinners still hid in the shadows, as if they were afraid the monstrous mass might return. But that led to plenty of empty abodes and places to hide for the two of them, which led to the current situation V1 found themselves in.
The Archangel stirred slightly, but did not wake, and they decided to dim their optic a little more just in case. Gabriel apparently had the ability to dim himself as well, V1 had learned. Even with his wings spread across the both of them like a blanket and the mysterious runes of his halo glowing over the angel’s head, the room was only softly illuminated with the pinks and purples that his wings had melted into and the muted gold of V1’s own light sources.
The hand that had been idly stroking his back moved to the base of his wings and up his covets, taking the wings in their fingers, enjoying the soft feeling of the light. It was strange- each feather was, in its essence, a feather, but they also radiated a bit of warmth. No wonder Gabriel seemed unaffected by Treachery.
V1 felt the deeper, longer feathers, wishing they could give a satisfied sigh as a human might. Their fans imitated one nonetheless. The feeling of each feather between their fingers, pushing against the rest of their hand, was a definite favorite. Gabriel shivered in response, the beaked part of his helmet digging into their shoulder, and V1 let go just as quickly. He could break them all he wanted in combat, but smaller scratches such as these would not be fixed until the entire plate needed to be replaced. How annoying: he could spite them even while resting.
But V1 wouldn’t trade it. These soft, calm moments that they shared- an ever so stark contrast to their passionate battles that danced the line of death- were almost just as Heavenly. Gabriel always spoke of what a savior V1 was to him, but he was a blessing right back. Battles not for survival but for pleasure, quiet moments of peace- something the war machine was never meant to know-, and to be valued… He didn’t ever seem to realize what effect he had on them, but V1 felt it all the same.
Feel. Another thing it shouldn’t have ever known, and yet here he was, giving them all they could ever want to feel and more. He could have all of his sweet ecstasy that he wanted. It would never repay the life he had shown them. It would never repay how he offered it life itself so freely in his blood.
But for now, introspection could wait. He was waking, it seemed, and the thoughts swirling in their head didn’t hold a candle to a moment with their angel.
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