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Gabriel had long since had a very specific idea of V1 stained in his mind. It was hard not to, when the thing had traumatized him in Gluttony and given him an end of life crisis in Heresy. He could still remember blood- his blood- running down the nonabsorptive parts of its machinery, trickling down in rivulets until it finally landed on the blue plating. He could still remember staring into its optic and wondering if he would live or die, but knowing truly and well that, for once, it was not in his hands.
But here he was. Letting it sleep on him.
No, not even just sleep on him. V1’s arms hung around Gabriel’s neck, and it wasn’t even with an intention to strangle him. No; this was peaceful, and perhaps even romantic. While that idea alone left him abashed, the fact that he was not pushing it away was much more effective at breaking down any idea of superiority he may have still possessed.
And even worse, he had his wings around it and his arms on its back, holding it against him like a small cocoon, the soft blue of his wings reflecting off of its matte metal ever so beautifully.
Gabriel could hardly breathe, not even knowing if he had ever been within such close proximity of another living being. He had certainly not ever let someone nestle against him and sleep. He was a celibate, after all. And that didn’t even apply to sexual contexts, no: Gabriel had literally sworn off of romance itself in favor of Heaven. So, naturally, this was more heresy. Add it to the pile.
But this came with advantages, he told himself. And he was somewhat right: this close, he could see every little feature of its machinery. Gabriel had absolutely no idea how this would actually help during their battles, but it made him feel like he achieved something, so he rolled with it.
His hand trailed from its back to its wing pack, feeling along every groove where the metal changed latitude. These wings were mimicry of that of the angels. A desperate attempt at divinity. Blasphemy in it of itself. And yet Gabriel found them strangely flattering. No, not just flattering. Beautiful. Intricate. Fascinating.
He traced along the thin yellow blades, seeing the faint outline of its prized weaponry. He wondered if V1 could even feel in these areas, or if they were just pure energy without any sensory devices. He wondered if he could even grab the weapons, or if V1 somehow made it so that only it could access its arsenal.
His other hand caught a wire and twirled it subconsciously as he pondered. This, apparently, spurred the machine to immediately awaken. Within moments, its heel was under his chin and the railcannon was in his face. Damn it all.
But it realized just as quickly that he was not a threat. It was Gabriel, after all. He guessed that he had accidentally triggered some deeply programmed instinct and kicked it on.
Whatever the case, V1 settled again, and powered off once more. What it did during these times, he was not sure, but Gabriel could only guess it was some sort of file maintenance. He knew a pathetic amount about machinery, though, so he had no clue realistically.
But whatever the case, he heeded the warning he was given.
Hands out of the machinery. Got it.
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