The Great Gift Of The World

by Verminoussy

Summary:

Gabriel thought he would die, he did not.
it was like he was reborn, a simple man instead of a warrior.
relearning how to live as both avian and man

Chapter 1: If it all went away tomorrow

Blood dripped from valor, first the blood of kings, now the blood of angels. Is the blood of every angel worth the blood of the last vestiges of humanity? A voice spoke out amid the bloodstains. 

“Why did thou only regret thine actions after mutilating me?”

I turned, and saw a mote of light from the king’s broken body. 

My legs are growing weak.

“I was a fool to only realize the folly of heaven now. This is the most I can atone before I die.”

“Before thou die?”

“I’ve lost my light, that is lethal to an angel.”

 

“Art thou the first to lose thy light?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“How do thou know this too is not a mistruth?”

 

It felt wrong to be optimistic in a moment like this, how could he speak this to me while he stood above his own mutilated face. the mote was forming limbs as it moved.

“Come.”

So I did, watching as with each step the shining silhouette I followed grew larger and more defined.

“Wait here.”

The soul disappears upstairs.

I should not even be here, why is he trusting me to not tear down his home? 

“So, if this is lethal-“

Much louder steps come down the steps than I heard go up it, he’s dressed in a loose robe now.

“How long do thou have to live?”

 

“Until tomorrow morning.”

…

“Why haven't you killed me yet?”

 

“That seems a bit harsh a punishment for an empty threat.”

 

“I killed you, I killed Sisyphus.”

 

“Dead men tend to not hold conversation, has Sisyphus reformed in the same way I have?”

 

“Yes… it’s a miracle you reformed, but the intent was still there.”

 

“Is the intent still with thou?”

 

“No, I doubt it was ever truly my own to begin with.”

 

“Well, back to the topic at hand, I was intending to have a peaceful discussion about allowing the city of lust to maintain its autonomy not too long ago. But it seems that discussion is no longer necessary if I am not mistaken.”

 

“Youre not, I’m the last living angel.”

 

“Well, would thou like some tea?”

 

“What?!”

 

“Well I do not have to worry about mine city being torn to shreds, so I can afford some hospitality.”

 

-------

 

“This is the first time I’ve ever consumed anything.”

 

“Well, hopefully I will make a good first impression.”

 

He did not, the scone was hard to swallow, no matter how he masticated it. 

Humans, they had liquid in their mouths didn't they? Perhaps the tea would assist his coughing fit.

Last few hours alive and I’m making a fool of myself.

“What will thou do if this is not thy end?”

 

“…”

“How are you adjusting to your new body?”

 

“Well in some ways it is an improvement, in some it is worse, overall I am doing well, but thou art avoiding mine question.”

…

“I never thought I would do something like that… so I never considered what after would entail.”

 

“Thou expected to serve heaven until the end of time? Why such a sudden change?”

 

“It was pointless to let humanity die over something as fickle as sin, anything with a sharp mind will wander to places not meant to be seen.”

 

Minos nodded.

“What was life like in heaven?”

 

“It was…strict.”

 

Gabriel did not speak much beyond that for several moments, Minos cleaned up.

“If these are truly thy final hours, what would thou like to do?”

 

“Angels never needed to bathe, but it always looked so relaxing.”

-------

 

I try and try to dig into my head that this is private, that nobody will see what lies under my armor but myself.

I felt it’s weight on my back more, steam in the room forcing me out. The bodysuit remains.

 

It’s sewn to my body, angels never sweat so why would it ever need to be removed? Any stains on asbestos fabric can be cleaned with fire- 

Now or never, it hurt. Seams ripping scars along my forearms, back, thighs… crotch.

I stood dripping blood onto linoleum, waiting until the wounds closed, and my halo dimmed even colder. Before stepping into the water.

 

Gabriel let himself float. If this is how I die, having served heaven until it turned rotten, turning against them at the final moment to save humanity.

Now, the king, having forgiven me, bestows a quiet luxury before I pass…

Has it been an hour? Or many? A sharp feeling welled up, I see my halo is nearly gone. A hurried towel around my waist, clambering downstairs for… something? My body needs something, but I ate earlier didn't I?

A few scones and some tea isn’t much…

“What art thou doing?!”

“I… I don’t know, something feels wrong in my organs.”

 

The contrast of cold from the hot bath stung more than it should have.

The internal pang, It was hunger, at least this time- wait, yes I have saliva now? The food I am given tastes more vivid. I didn't clock until after that I ate meat for the first time.

 

Everything was sharper than it should have been, until it wasn’t. An odd weight numbed me- oh I was a fool to be optimistic, yes this is death.

“I think *yawn* I’m dying sooner than expected.”

Why did he laugh… Why do my eyes feel so heavy?

I close my eyes and accept the oncoming dark.

Chapter 2: Marrow to market

Summary:

tw: he frew up, and had a seizure
lesson of the day, do not give birds chocolate, has Minecraft taught you nothing?

Notes:

it took him a wee bit for his body to fully form into its "mortal state"
but then again it did happen overnight lol

I am in fact not dead.

 

I am also tucked under covers, like how humans are when they wake in the morning.

“Did I fall asleep?”

Nobody was there to answer me, only a bedside clock that showed the time. 11:47 AM

GOOD LORD

I scramble out of bed, I’m not decent in the slightest, still only wrapped in a towel, which I accidentally threw off while scrambling out of bed. 

Lo and behold, the suspiciously convenient pair of undergarments, shorts and a long shirt. Once dressed I should probably leave this room… and do what? Eat maybe, I think I feel hungry.

“Minos?… Minos!?”

 

“Hm? Hath thou finally woken?”

He comes around the bend of a corridor.

 

“Yes… can I have something to eat, please?”

That feels so weird to ask.

 

“Oh, verily. My cabinet and fridge are open for thy whims.”

 

It’s hard to believe, but why would he say that if it wasn’t true. I opened a door to reveal nothing short of a cornucopia.

 

“I may have… a few preserves.”

A few is an understatement, if there was a gluttony layer he would be in its pits for the sin of an obscene amount of jam.

 

“Uhhhhhhh…”

 

“Having difficulty deciding?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Just go to the dining room and I shall bring thou something.”

 

A moment of rummaging later and he brings out a platter of cooked thin meat, various fruits, and a chocolate drizzle coated pastry. It is so much better than the scones, or maybe my taste buds are just more sensitive? Everything tastes better.

 

Minos returns after getting a small snack for himself.

“How is it- ah I see.”

He sees an empty plate, that’s what he sees. 

“t’was good I suppose?”

 

“Yes, thank you.”

 

“Out of curiosity, what was thine favorite part?”

 

“the coating on the pastry… is that chocolate?”

 

“Yes, I assume thou had never had that decadent of a sweet before, no?”

“I have plenty more if thine sweet tooth persists.”

 

“My what?”

 

“Oh, that’s just a saying to refer to someone's craving for sweets.”

 

“Ah, I… will gladly partake.”

 

—---

 

Things were well, for an hour or so. Until some horrible sick feeling overtook my body. I've had to use the restroom 5 times, each time worse than the last. Do I call for help? Maybe I just gorged myself too much, a flavor too good to be true. My hands are shaking… that’s not a sign of overindulge is it?

“Minos?”

No response. 

Don’t bother him.

The pain radiating through my core will not leave.

“MINOS?!”

He comes prancing downstairs, only to see me curled up on a couch.

“What’s wrong?”

 

“I think I ate too much…”

 

He chuckled lightly.

“Oh, I should not hath let thou have free reign over mine pantry before thou even learned thine own limits. How much did thou eat?”

 

“One of those large chocolate bars.”

 

“That’s all?”

 

“Yes?”

 

I swallowed bile building on the back of my throat, now is not the time to throw up, not on his nice furniture, and not with him right in front of me. The force punched out this awful shrill noise. 

Minos’ concern visibly doubled, my hands went numb- everything went dark.

back to my senses, toppled on the floor, soaked and foul.

Minos is running about, I think he’s calling someone.

“Whats- what are you doing?”

He lifts my head slightly.

“I am so sorry I did not know thou-“

I shake, then my consciousness slips.

When I’m up again, I’m somewhere different. I see in the dstancei two doctors arguing… maybe, I can’t tell through the sounds of machinery hooked up to me. They both have name tags with labels below. One is a doctor, the other is a veterinarian.

My helmet is still on, but there’s a tube down my throat. When I move my head it feels like I’m choking on something, the doctor rushes over to guide it out. Minos is ushered in.

 

“I am sorry, I should have known…”

 

“Known what?”

 

“That thou art partially avian in creed.”

 

“I thought you did? Humans usually don’t usually have wings.“

 

“I can see that, but I did not think it would extend to thine digestion.”

 

“…huh?”

 

“Many things wich are fine for humans are toxic to birds.”

 

“Was it the chocolate?”

 

“Indeed, but there’s plenty more to keep note of.”

I now realize he is in fact holding an entire stack of papers.

“I wonder, when thou were told that losing thy light would be deadly, If it t’was a half truth. Because caring for a hybrid being such as thyself is… complicated.”

Notes:

vet notes be like
patient name: Gabriel
breed: ??????????
sex: f (identifies as male)

the paperwork has gotta be so annoying

Chapter 3: Cultured regret

Summary:

now presenting, emotional conflicted Gabriel (he doesn't realize he's been masking this whole time)
and a little bit of hornyness.

Notes:

fun fact the stuff about step-down units was inspired by my bro absolutely wrecking my step-dad in hair-hockey after getting appendicitis

Why does he care about me? Why is he sitting by my bedside? He knows I’m going to be nothing but a hassle, reading and researching how my existence will be harder than a human's in so many ways… and from what he describes even just getting used to being “human” would be hard for me.

It used to be simple, follow orders, don’t die, that’s it. There’s something upsetting about knowing my body needs care just to stay alive.

 

“Why do you care?”

 

“It is basic kindness to care for someone who is vulnerable.”

 

So many unsaid questions sit at the back of my syrinx, he sits closer to me. Minos rests a hand on my back, it feels better than I’d like to admit.

 

“How long have you been here, waiting for me?”

 

“Days, I found mine new body… is like thy light, I do not need sleep, nor sustenance."

 

“Hm?”

 

“I lost track of time, yet found myself not tired, nor hungry.”

 

“That must be nice.”

I move closer to him, he’s the closest thing to comfortable I can find in this sterile place. He reads further, pauses then moves his hand off my back.

 

“Hm? Why did you- it was nice.”

 

“I shouldn’t.”

 

What should have been a groan came out as a squawk.

A few days later and I was back… home? Do I have a home anymore? 

At least I felt more comfortable around Minos, and I learned hospital step-down units can have some entertaining amenities.

I also learned I suck at air hockey.

“Do thou think that perhaps tomorrow we should find thou some actual clothes besides baggy t-shirts and hospital gowns?”

 

“Sure? What’s wrong with t-shirts?”

 

“Nothing particularly, but… it seems it would be nice to have options.”

 

I’m a bit of an idiot aren't I? People don’t just sit inside all day, and when they go outside they aren’t wearing the closest things to rags.

Do you think a king wants to be seen beside an angel in tatters?

 

“Well, is there anything you want me to do?”

 

“I have nothing planned, do whatever thou would usually do thine alone time.”

 

“I… never had any time to myself.”

 

“None?”

 

Why is he so still?

 

“Do thou wish to do anything? I have plenty of books, films-“

 

“Minos, can you just tell me to do something. I don’t know what to do with myself.”

 

“I am not going to make thou perform further subservience, it would be a cruel existence for thou to free thyself only to end up as a servant once again.”

 

“I didn’t do that to free myself, I did it to save humanity.”

 

“Well, thou deserve to be given the space to learn thine own wants. Treat this house as thine own.”

 

He sounded pained momentarily before leaving.

 

I find myself now wandering the halls, there is a room with art supplies and a record player in the corner. Drawers hold various yarns and paints, canvases in cabinets.

I could maybe paint?

While looking around for brushes I saw a sheet of tool fabric with stains all over it, so I put it under a blank canvas.

Everything looks ready, I put a record on.

 

Hours passed, I think at least. Time has only been measured in how many times I swapped out records, but it’s been long enough for Minos to look for me. I heard him wandering around before eventually stumbling upon me.

“Hath thou eaten lunch?”

 

“No.”

 

“Have thou been here all day?”

 

“Uhhhhhh.”

 

“Well, what have thou been painting?”

I turned it around, only a simple flower field dotted with songbirds. It’s rough, not realistic in the slightest, the colors don’t smoothly blend. Yet-

“It is pleasant, I don’t know how else to describe it, perhaps peaceful.”

 

“I’m not a painter.”

 

“But did thou at least have fun?”

 

“Yeah-“

 

“Well it is not as if perfection is expected of thou.”

“Anyway, art thou hungry?”

 

——————-

 

“Where did some of your pans go?”

 

“Oh- they had teflon in them. Cooking with them may poison thou.”

“That reminds me, I have 2 copies on the little booklet I was given, it’s just a mix of bird care and what doctors have figured out about thine anatomy… so far.”

 

“Oh, that would be nice… did they ever take off my helmet?”

 

“No, I insisted they do not unless it was only absolutely necessary.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

———

It’s been, fine .

Days have been the same, dawdle around and do nothing or get absorbed in some random activity and accidentally spend all day doing that.

The few times we went out and did something felt wrong. Too much staring, loud, I felt like I didn’t belong.

I’ll admit, the days I get focused on a painting, and I’m actually proud of what I make, those are good days.

I still feel so stilted around Minos, like there’s something wrong with me he can’t understand.

 

In truth, I feel alone.

I always have, but I feel a cure for this lonesomeness is just an arms length away.

Every time I reach out, it moves further.

 

Minos is lounging on his bed, reading. It’s been an uneventful day, near when I’d go to sleep. I walk over and sit beside him, he’s as friendly as usual.

“Oh? What brings thou to mine room?”

How do I even say what I’m feeling? If I did, would he be as distant as he always is?

 

I swear it’s like he’s intentionally hiding a part of himself.

“Gabriel?”

Without speaking, nor thinking, I rest my head on his shoulder, grabbing him in an embrace.

 

He freezes.

“Art thou- is something wrong?”

 

“I don’t know.”

 

He sighs.

“Perhaps it is mine… Sinful mind, but this closeness holds a connotation I fear thou art unaware of.”

Reading pages and pages of novels, scenes of love and… a twining of affection and sensuality. Is that what I crave?

I run my hands across his back.

“If I’m so unaware, teach me.”

He jolts, spine rigid.

 

“This feels wrong... that I have wanted for something like this.”

 

“But is it worse to curse me to solitude?”

 

His breath goes still as his hand reaches to touch my back between my wings. A touch turns into a caress, the feeling which emerges is as sweet as honey.

My shirt is still in the way, I strip it off and Minos staggers.

I catch my breath.

“Please, I need this.”

 

His hand runs through feathers, as if he is preening my back and wings. It’s perfect, every word he ever spoke to me now comforting and rich. Finally now I can appreciate the ridges and strength of his form as

I’m- im grinding against him. When did I start doing that?

His other hand stays by his side, I guide it towards- he pulls away. 

“I will not be going that far. I should have held back in the first place.”

Some rotten feeling wells in my core-

Did I hurt him?…

“Did you just do this for my sake?”

 

“No, but thou feel too innocent to-“

 

“Innocent? I have been around since the dawn of humanity, I have spilled blood across nearly every age of history, I have seen the thousands of horrors humanity is capable of. Just because I am new to mortality and I act differently because I am comfortable for once in my entire life does not mean I am a child.”

 

The husk may have no face, but I know he’s avoiding my gaze. I am doing the same.

 

“I am sorry- it just feels as if I am stripping thee of autonomy, to not give thou the chance to learn thy own body’s whims before entangling with another.”

 

“Last time I checked masturbating is pretty fucking hard with claws and scaly hands.”

 

Minos winced at my tone.

 

“I… did not consider that.”

In the middle of me brewing a retort in my mind, Minos got up and opened a drawer, grabbed a key, pulled a case out from under his bed, and unlocked it.

“I can find the manuals for most of these if necessary, but they are quite intuitive.”

 

“Hm?”

I lean over to see it’s a box of sex toys, most with minute proportions and in light pastel colors.

“Oh- and of course do not attempt anything larger than a few inches without preparing thyself, that’s what the smaller plugs and such are for.”

 

“What?”

 

“I stand by mine earlier statement, I am simply giving thou the tools to circumvent thy difficult anatomy.

 

Do I feel snubbed? Yes. Do I feel a little better? Yes.

Minos closes the box and hands me the key, I place both on a bedside table. 

“Can I at least stay with you tonight?”

 

“I thought thou were-“

 

“Oh I've been thoroughly blue-balls’ed. Though would it still be called that if I don’t have any?”

 

“I am not exactly sure, but yes thou can stay. Perhaps I will sleep as well.”

 

“You don’t mind if I jumble up the blankets do you?”

 

“Art thou going to make a nest?”

 

“Yes.”

Notes:

andddd who knows how long it will take for the next chapter to come out

Chapter 4: So Polluted and Vile

Summary:

rotten, its the only way he can describe how he feels.

Notes:

Gabriel refuses to have any sort of self-love

Waking up next to Minos felt… good

terrible

It felt like I was wanted.

I shouldn’t be here, 

not in his bed 

not in his home 

not alive.

I rustle.

“Did thou sleep well?”

“Yes.”

Some lecherous hunger is biting, he looks so uncomfortable.

“Was it wrong… to make that offering?”

My eyes glance to the suitcase as he speaks.

“You did the right thing.”

I take the offering and lock myself in my quarters, there's no intent to use it on my mind, instead I simply slouch on the mess of blankets atop my bed.

I'm a sinful beast. So blinded by lust I find it fit to hump someone who was just trying to care for me. I refuse to admit how my gluttony and sloth has changed my proportions.

I should starve.

Who would mourn if I was gone? The only person who knows me is Minos, and I've done nothing but inconvenience him.

I need to go do something, I need to get my mind off this, I need to get properly dressed, I need to shower.

Or I could sit and watch cartoon reruns until I forget about my problems, which one is easier?

 

No, I’m going to shower, get dressed and go outside on my own for once.

This sucks, it does. Everyone is staring at me- I’m not being paranoid, seriously, I stick out like I’m coated in neon signs.

All those signs say “look at this weird freak!” “Turns out fallen angels are half bird half man homonculi!” “In the span of a month this one has gone all round and frail!”

 

What am I even doing here? There are shops, but I don’t have money. Do I talk to someone? What do I say?

“Gabriel? That’s your name yes”

…

“Do you have time to answer a few questions?”

 

“Who are you?!”

 

I whip around to see a man dressed in a pair of khaki pants and a woolly button-up.

“I’m just a reporter, sorry if I scared you.”

 

“What are you reporting on?”

 

“Well the archangel who threatened our city now peacefully living with the undead king is something the public is undoubtedly going to be curious about, may I record our conversation?”

He pulls out his phone.

 

“Sure.”

 

Basic questions, why did I turn against heaven, why am I living with Minos, blah blah blah-

He seems to grow slightly more concerned with each answer I give.

 

“So would you say you’re happier with your living situation now?”

 

That’s something I haven’t thought to consider for a while now.

“Kind of, it’s complicated. I recognize that my living conditions are far superior, but getting used to this new life has been hard. I feel so aimless. I took the presence of other angels for granted, even if some of them were horrible people. There were some that didn’t deserve to die.”

 

Why am I saying this- I’m on the verge of tears.

“I didn’t think, and people that could have been reformed were slaughtered. I’m the last of my kind and that notion haunts me. I could have prevented it.”

“I think Minos assumes I simply have the mind of  a man placed into a chimera body, but that’s not true, it’s never been true. My mind is different, I can’t pinpoint how. There's just this intangible silence, a wall of loneliness only thinning when I force myself to act more human . Because that’s what I’ve been doing all my life, angels had to be propper, they had to be human. But none of us were by nature.”

“I want to act differently, but being whipped for daring to sing in birdsong sticks with you, even hundreds of years later.”

 

I’m crying, great I’m crying in front of a reporter.

“I’m sorry I shouldn’t have-“

 

“No- just… you're fine, give me a moment.”

 

My wings wrap around my body, I choose not to force them back.

“Well… what were you planning to do here?”

 

“I don’t know, I was just trying to clear my head.”

 

I’m going home.

———

For once in my life, I’m trying to free the avian half of my voice. My syrinx is tuned for sounds like these yet I can only muster quiet squeaks. 

Why am I so scared?

I persist, I know it’s only a matter of time. Each noise less rough than the last, until after an hour I hear a solid and clear chirp.

Notes:

let my mans have his vocal stims.

Chapter 5: Twisted Tongues

Summary:

Minos catches him making bird noises and for like half a second Gabriel's paranoid ass was actually scared bro would be mad at him

It’s natural now, whenever Minos leaves me home alone birdsong fills the house. Days feel so much lighter with chittered melodies flowing in the air.

Some days I’ll find myself fluttering to sturdy shelves to perch. One of these times, Minos came home without me knowing.

“Gabriel?” 

I freeze. 

“I did not know thy avian voice could be that beautiful.”

 

“I… thank you?”

 

Minos cocked his head.

 

“Sorry, I'm not used to people hearing it.”

Minos doesn't say anything further until he is in the middle of unpacking groceries.

“How long ago did thou speak to a journalist?”

 

“A week ago.”

 

I feel like a fool perched up on the shelf-top, but leaving the safety of a higher vantage point sounds much worse.

He comes back to the living room, he sees me shuffle away.

“I- I am not mad at thou?! I simply wanted to talk about… well a lot in truth.”

“Thou can stay up there if so desired.”

 

He’s sits on the couch. I should come down to his level, there's no way to do that which isn’t awkward. A small wing flap brings me to the floor without a hint of grace.

“I’m sorry if what I said made you sound like a bad person, I didn't mean it.”

 

“No- if anything hearing that only made me realize how distant I was being.”

Minos looks away

“I am sorry, please-“

He stutters, then goes silent. 

 

“I appreciate the sentiment Minos, you're not the problem here.”

 

“Thou art not either.”

 

“Stop lying to make me feel better, I’m a burden aren't I?”

 

“No!- Gabriel if I did not care about thou I simply would have hired a servant to care for thee.”

 

The idiot that I am, I never thought about that.

 

“About thine tirade earlier-”

 

“I was going to get to that…do you promise you won’t judge me if I act differently? ”

 

“Of course, it would be cruel to expect placid normalcy of thou.”

 

Him simply saying he will not judge me is not an instant cure, but it’s a start.

Didn't he say my avian voice was ‘beautiful’?

 

“Is that all you wanted to talk about?”

 

“No, I am simply struggling to find my words.”

Notes:

I left the rest of their convo unknown mhmhmhm infer whatever you want

Chapter 6: Fractured Minds

Summary:

Gabriel goon sesh- featuring a bit of past guilt

Notes:

that cut convo from last chapter? yeah minos was admitting some wild shit

Prying my eyes open the next morning, it was only a conversation, but nothing felt the same.

“This feels wrong, that I have wanted for something like this.”

Remember that? How are you surprised?

At least I feel less weird for having bird instincts now.

By comparison.

I've been thinking about that suitcase under my bed for a while now, not doing much beyond considering it, then deciding I'm not in the mood.

It felt so odd doing this by myself, is that normal?

Maybe I just have to get in the right headspace.

 

The vibrator on its lowest setting, thrumming softly as I try and get my mind to work. The bird brain refuses to behave, wandering this way and that.

Perhaps I could find something?

There's a tablet Minos leaves in the living room, you remember the password right?

 

A short sneak downstairs grants me internet access… which I usually only use with pure intent.

 

Uhhhh… where do I go?

This is Minos’ tablet so probably the search history.

 

I was right.

 

How am I only partially fazed at seeing this? Maybe he’s just not my type?

Nothing against chubby dudes with… hey are those the same chest scars I have?

Weird.

But this seems like a kind of hub so it’s a good place to start, especially with the convenient categories.

I don’t even question why I click on the one for older men.

This is definitely better, still nothing particular catching my eye. I scroll more waitisthatminos-

What?

No,no,no it’s just some guy who looks a lot like his human form-

 

Nope.

 

“The king of lust isn’t just a title~”

Video description: I’ll occasionally record myself just for fun, but this one is too good not to post. So enjoy~

 

It’s him, alone in his bedroom. It’s back when he was human… and much smaller, almost cute compared to his massive bed. A smile bordering between nervous and playful- and a massive dildo slicked with lube to the point of dripping.

 

He pins and grinds his length up against it like some perverse masturbatory frottage. I pause the video, and scrabble to grab the biggest dildo available and try to orient myself and the tablet so I can watch with both hands busy.

I end up with it propped up against a pillow as I crane my neck to watch, turning up the volume as loud as it will go. 

When he falls to his back on  the sheets and plunges the silicone inside, I do the same-

“AAH!- ahhh~”

That feels… well it hurts but it feels good.

 

Oh god he’s moaning and stroking himself- and I’m holding one leg up as I white-knuckle grip the silicone base that’s halfway inside me and fuck myself until I’m moaning louder than him. Orgasm hits like a punch in the gut. 

At least while coming down I get to watch Minos stroke his sweat slicked dick.

Bless his stamina because I’m grabbing the vibrator for a gentler round two and he’s still going.

By the time he’s busted and left a line of white on the sheets, I’m a panting, sweaty mess.

Still coming down… and the video ends.

This is the moment where I realize just what I’ve done.

I mean he did post it online so it’s not like it’s weird to watch.

 

Yes but I don’t think he was expecting someone close to him to see it.

 

… that was when he was human.

Remember last time you saw him like that? Remember why he’s not like that anymore?

 

Last time I saw that sweet smile in person, I stabbed a sword through it.

His visage was mutilated and his white hair was dyed red with his own blood.

 

Did he lose consciousness or did he feel it all?

 

…

* knock knock*

 

“Gabriel? Do thou have any clue where mine tablet is?”

 

“Uhhhh, I have it.”

Shit shit shit why did I tell him-

 

“Ah, art thou still using it or-“

 

“No you can have it back.”

 

I close out the tab, ignoring the little warning that popped up in the corner and creaked the door open enough to hand it to him.

“Don’t come in, I'm not decent.”

I shouldn’t have said that.

Notes:

??????? they are both so terminally awkward

Chapter 7: We Drink of the Wine

Summary:

and then they fuck :p
minos trying to not creep Gabriel out while also being intensely horny for him challenge... succeeded? Gabriel is still very new to the idea of having sex so he's unintentionally very malleable.
will this become a problem? maybe, or maybe not

Notes:

ima be so fr... I have plans ahead for this and idk if they are any good

also why do I write dialogue like this

It’s become commonplace for us to eat meals together, which I usually love, but this time there's been just silence.

 

“So I may hath been a tad nosey, but to be fair it is my tablet.”

 

“I’m sorry, for what I did to your body… only to-“

 

“Oh I hold absolutely zero grudge- I actually prefer this body.”

 

“But you can’t grow hair anymore?”

 

”I found I look plenty fine without it, and going from not even 5 feet tall and scrawny to nothing short of a model is a blessing.”

 

“So… why are you bringing up, uh, what I watched?”

 

“Ahem…”

His cheekbones went warmer in hue.

Is that him blushing?

“Well I found it slightly flattering, and in truth I only checked the history to confirm my suspicions, as I could hear the audio though the wall, over thy- I should stop talking.”

 

“Wait, so you're not mad, you're just trying to flirt?”

 

“Eh- yes. I should not be doing that, I must admit.”

 

More silence only punctuated by an unnecessarily audible swallow of spit.

 

“Talking about appearances, be honest Minos- do I look worse?”

 

He nearly spat out his drink.

“Ah well that’s a matter of personal taste, it is not as if thou look unwell, simply less muscular and over all chubbier.”

 

“I know, I don’t know why I changed so quickly.”

 

“Or perhaps thy light acted like steroids? If it can remove thy bodily functions then it surely can enforce a muscular build.”

 

“Yeah… wait, you dodged the original question!”

 

“No I did not. Appearance being a matter of personal taste is a perfectly reasonable response”

 

“Well here, by your taste, would you say I look worse?”

 

“No, but I don’t think I should elaborate beyond that.”

 

“You can be crass with me Minos.”

 

He nearly slams his cup into the table.

“ugh- I like fatter men, so seeing thine body changing over such a short period of time has been… unreasonably arousing. In truth, there's a small deviant part of my mind that hopes it doesn't stop here.”

 

“Oh.”

 

“I should not have said that.”

 

“No, no I just thought adipose was a sign of gluttony.”

 

“Gluttony is only sinful if it deprives others or harms thyself. There's no harm in being a little well fed.” Minos stifles a slight laugh.

 

“Are you just saying that so I’ll stuff myself more?”

 

“…maybe~”

 

“Why are you so fucking awkward?”

Minos gives a glance of something verging on genuine hurt.

 

“Because I do not wish to make thou uncomfortable, but I also want to not hide the truth.”

 

“Fine, I have to be the blunt one then. You want to fuck tonight or no?”

 

Like a deer in headlights, the only movement is a slow turn to face me fully.

“…yes”

 

When I finally get up I see he’s unreasonably hard, and slowly giving up on trying to hide it.

Outside, the skyline grows a darker shade of magenta. I wait, giddy as a fledgling playing hide and seek, as I squirm myself under Minos’ covers while he’s out of his room.

There's no reason to be playing this stupid little game, especially now that it’s been a good few minutes and I can hear him wandering around the halls trying to find me.

I shall stick to the bit anyway, he’ll find me eventually.

Now's the perfect time to get undressed, all except a lacey pair of undies Minos so happened to have lying around.in his drawers.

He finally opens the door.

“Ah, so that is where thou hath been hiding.”

 

“In plain sight~”

 

He froze when he saw the pile of clothes by the side of the bed.

“Thou art serious about this I see. I must ask, any specific tastes thou hast learned in experimentation?”

 

“I like when it hurts.”

“-well, I’m not fully sure. But you can always smack me to find out.”

 

“Art thou joking?”

 

“No.”

 

I throw off the blankets and yank him into bed when he gets close.

“Exited are we? I hath not even gotten undressed yet.”

 

“Oh please it’s only a robe.”

 

“That it is.”

 

With that he takes it off, revealing chiseled abs, broad shoulders, taut, muscular thighs and a massive bulge in his boxers.

 

Chest to chest, he trails his hand from my back to the base of my wings, I sigh a moan, leaning into the touch. Splayed fingers running through secondaries. I’m rutting against his thigh again. He doesn’t stop me, instead grabbing my thigh and guiding me to rut on his crotch.

 

Minos’ breath hitches as he wraps his legs around my hips as he grinds more earnestly. His hands wander to the base of my spine, where he finds a small feathery tail.

“Hm?”

His hands stop.

 

“What?”

 

“I did not know thou possess tail feathers, art they merely vestigial?”

 

“No, they’re cut at birth- but that’s not important right now.”

 

He huffs a small laugh as he slips a finger into my underwear. I guide his hand to slip it off completely before he needs to ask. I reach for his boxers, but they’re hard to get off, his bulge was massive and I had to pull the waistband just to wiggle his-

2?

He has 2 dicks?

Boxers around his knees, I stare at him dumbfounded.

“Is that normal?”

 

“No, it’s another gift of this new form.”

 

He pauses for a moment, mainly to strip himself completely.

“I thou aren’t exactly human standard either.”

 

I spread my legs and wrap my arms around his bed frame.

“No~ but I bet you can learn your way around me.”

 

The odd triad-split between my legs had puffed up with arousal, letting slick leak out. Remembering my earlier statement, I turn my hips to expose my backside.

“Well, let’s see if I do like pain.”

 

His hand firmly grabs my ass.

“Art thou sure?”

 

“Worst case scenario I don’t, and we don’t do that again.”

 

His shoulders tense, a loud smack rings out- but I can barely process it over the red hot pain boiling into a needy want in my core.

“Aah- hha~ again.”

 

Another and I feel like even the smallest touch to my crotch would make me come.

“Hhha- fuck me- PLEASE-“

 

He nudges my hips back down and grips my hips, I can feel his hands shaking.

 

“Doth thou truly want it to hurt?”

 

“Yes.”

 

One of his lengths spears through my insides, hurting  before all else, I grip onto the bed frame as it melds over into pleasure. I’m given no break as he digs his fingers into my thighs and thrusts. Somewhere in the hellish pit inside me is clenching over every ridge of his length, every noise that escapes me is some high pitched chitter.

My back arches, I scream. 

My mind is vacant as I feel Minos slow his pace, my voice refuses to speak. 

“Do thou wish to be done?”

 

I can only manage a warble, so I simply nod. He pulls out, still hard staring at the slick coating my thighs.

“May I at least finish what I started?”

He grabs my legs and pushed them together, trapping his two lengths between them.

I googled slightly as I ran my fingers through my folds and began to stroke him with what strength I had. His thrusts pushing the fat made me just now realize how pudgy my legs had grown yet he held them like treasure. Minos must’ve felt how I had begun to clench my thighs without his help seeing as his hand began to grope at my stomach as a panting growl escaped his throat.

“G-good boy~”

I stroke him more urgently, fingering over his slits as they began to drool precum over my stomach. He moved into a slicker area of my thighs, grinding against my crotch, relighting the fire which I thought had burned out. But as that thought comes, so does he. Sticky white coating my chest and helm.

 

He comes down panting, I sit up as he lightly caresses my back. The feeling is warm all the same, yet dulled and softer.

 

“We should clean ourselves.”

 

“Might as well do it together.”

 

“Hm~ thou art full of wonderful ideas.”

Notes:

they totally had a round 2 in the shower.

also Gabriel is not gonna forget Minos basically saying "get fatter"

Chapter 8: Won't have it any better than this

Summary:

sex time numero dos, slight time skip of like a week or two from the last chapter, something goes horribly wrong, but Gabriel doesn't know that yet.

Notes:

warning: accidental drugging? (also dubious consent by proxy of being high)
also minos you are doing a terrible job at hiding your feeding kink.

“Eat up.”

 

“Minos I think you made more than usual.”

 

“Nonsense, I have a recipe, I know what I am doing.”

 

“Are you sure? It tastes different.”

 

“Perhaps I was a little heavy handed with the butter- hm perhaps.”

 

He sits beside me, petting my back when he gets close.

 

“This meal doesn't reheat very well does it? Nay.”

 

“Oh- I wasn’t saying I was full, I just- might take a little longer… I've been a little slow lately.”

 

“Perhaps thou art just tuckered out from being more active.”

 

“Oh what are you gonna tuck me into bed?”

 

“If thou art not opposed then absolutely yes.”

 

As he talks I eat another shrimp, then without warning he stands up behind me, takes the fork in my hand and feeds me the next bite.

 

“Hm? Okay?…”

 

“Well thou art taking thy sweet time and I have not much to do with myself.”

 

…

 

“Can I be honest with thou Gabriel?”

 

“Yes? About what?”

 

He drops the fork with a sigh.

 

“For the longest time I’ve found myself aroused by abnormal things . I've tried to feign normalcy, but these oddities have a way of working their ways into my actions. I feel as if these urges have only gotten worse as of recent…”

 

He grabs my stomach, pulling up my shirt to grope at it.

 

“If I act uncouth, I am sorry. I hope thou have it within thyself to enjoy it.”

 

He guides the last bite to my helm, I don’t even think before eating it.

 

“Hm, good- now would thou like dessert?”

 

“Sure.”

—---------------------

Sickly sweet honey sits at the back of my palette. I lay in Minos' bed as he massages my stomach.

“Full, aren't thou?”

 

“yeah…”

 

I would have thrown up not too long ago if it wasn't for his ministrations. 

I came on the verge of falling asleep, only to hear a zipper sound.

“Not tonight…”

Oh of course, lustful old man~

 

“Oh, please I’ll be gentle.”

 

Minos is slowly removing his clothes, one of his serpents nudging at my thighs.

“Please, my stomach hurts.”

 

“Would a bath help?”

 

“Yeah.”

Is that just an excuse to get me naked? Probably yes.

But in all honesty sex doesn’t sound like a bad idea right now, just not in the mood currently.

 

But that can be fixed.

 

Fullness is a comfort when floating in suds, my stomach feeling cold as it pokes up above the warm water. Lust is beginning to brew in my mind as Minos gropes at my thighs and back.

 

“Feeling better?”

 

“Mmmh, yesss.”

 

I swivel to my knees and move to give Minos room to step in the tub. He does so before grabbing my glutes and slowly sliding his dicks between my thighs.

“Thou know I’ve never finished in thou before, yes?”

 

“You plan to make amends to that?”

 

“Absolutely.”

 

His thrusts pick up pace, the wet slap of our thighs being punctuated by water being splashed about. I bask in the feeling before he stops.

 

“Wish to take this to the bed?”

 

“Y-yes.”

 

“Wonderful, and no need to dry off, thou will be plenty wet anyway.”

On my back, legs spread as wide as they will go. Minos had gradually gone from only a few fingers to now his whole hand pumping into me, I writhe on the edge of orgasm.

Just as I think I’m about to tip over, he pulls it out. The moment I catch my breath is the moment he shoved a knotted dildo in me. Minos doesn't move it, simply letting me grow used to the stretch as he strokes himself. He's growing desperate enough to thrust into his own hands. 

Being denied on the very edge of release starts to gnaw at me, so I attempt to coax Minos into fucking me. I squeeze around the dildo to try and move it, as my stomach bulges from the struggle. I grope at my fat and arch my back.

Minos goes still, what was once a small moan became a growl, intense and hungry.

He pulls out the toy and grabs my thighs in an iron grip.

Both dicks pierce my insides and my vision goes blank.

A mix between a shriek and a moan bursts from my lungs, black ichor splats against my chest as Minos’ growling melds over into barked moans.

 

The serpents on his arms bite into my flesh.

 

The pain subsides fast as I fall head first into bliss. The stretch doesn’t hurt anymore, yet I don’t miss the pain. 

Everything becomes perfect.

A bed is a cloud, a hand gripping my back is simply a loving caress, orgasm does not crash into me, leaving me over sensitive and raw, it simply happens… and stays.

I feel something warm fill the deepest pits inside me, it’s the best thing I’ve ever experienced.

 

Minos held my hips as he panted, still not pulling out.

“Thou seem less overwhelmed than usual, perhaps a second round is in order?”

 

“Absolutely.”

 

“Thine demeanor is odd, what's gotten into thee?“

 

“I don’t know… well technically you- heh.”

I drape my arms over him and pull him into an embrace. My own words echoing in my head.

Thousands of years of living, and the zenith is found here, in Minos’ bedroom.

Nuzzling my helm into his neck, chirping quietly.

Is this what it’s like being in a womb? Surrounded by comfort and love.

 

Minos begins to fuck me again, I use one hand to hold his head in place as I lift my helm just enough to lick his neck. He backs away, observing my face, reaching for my helmet.

I nod, and he takes it off. Before I can speak, tendrils wrap around my head and trail down my throat. 

Of course my first kiss should be a strange one.

I feel my airway get blocked as one of the tendrils expands, pumping something sweet and rich down my throat. Some perfect amalgam of blackberry wine and pudding.

Minos holds me even tighter, he comes inside me once again as he slumps over on top of me.

 

After he pulls out and cleans himself the lust subsides. I’m still in perfect, wonderful comfort. 

 

sleep finds me under the warm trickle of a shower.

Notes:

no Minos' ability to do some weird fucked up mouth to mouth ttottaaalyyy wasn't inspired by those little weird salamander alien mfs from scavengers reign.
also the goop Gabriel is fed is probably chock full of fats and sugars.

Chapter 9: We will not find our place

Summary:

fallout from last chapter, Gabriel realizes what happened

Notes:

Minos' venom might just be diet heroin.

I wake up and everything sucks, my stomach feels bloated, my head hurts, it feels like I got a cactus shoved between my legs. 

“Minos?”

 

I’m already standing up and walking out the room when I meet him by the door.

 

“What art thou in such a rush for?”

I nearly didn’t notice the wood tray he was carrying, stocked with a hardy breakfast.

“Minos, I can’t eat right now I feel like shit.”

 

“Perhaps that that unwell feeling simply needs some food-“

 

“I highly doubt it- also did you intentionally bite me last night? Because I think it’s why I felt so odd . I mean last night was fucking amazing but still-“

 

“Bit thou?!”

 

“Your little arm snakes.”

 

He tilts his head and puts the tray down on a shelf.

“Thou were in a sort of stupor last night, I thought it was simply from lust.”

 

“I don’t think that was the case.”

 

He asks me to describe what I felt, with each sentence he seemed to grow evermore concerned.

 

“…We probably should avoid doing that again.“

His hand reached for the side of my face… and touched feathers.

 

How could I forget I took off my helmet…

WAIT ITS BEEN OFF FOR HOURS NOW?!

 

I slap his hand away on instinct, then I dash for the nightstand where my helmet lay.

 

“Hm!? What has thou so panicked? It is only us two in this room.”

 

I was too late, even with it on now I feel as if I were stripped in front of a crowd.

 

“I hath already seen thy face, I find no point in-“

 

“SHUT UP!”

“WHAT THE FUCK DID TOU INJECT ME WITH? WHAT DID YOU PUT DOWN MY THROAT?!”

 

“I… I’m not sure, I’m not sure of what came over me in truth.”

 

“What did you fucking inject yourself with venom too?”

 

“Please Gabriel, I know thou art upset due to exposing thy face, but please don’t take it out on me.”

 

I stayed huddled beside the bed.

I'm still naked.

 

“Could I do anything to help thou?”

 

I grab a blanket off his bed and wrap it around my wait.

“I’m going back to sleep, in my room.”

Notes:

this fic was meant to be cute and fluffy... I have a habit of fucking things over don't I?

Chapter 10: Will Mourn

Summary:

sisyphus moment :p
he may or may not have some history with minos...

Notes:

there will be more sisyphus content I promise I love that man.
little ******* for dialogue that is unheard

That was a lie, I couldn’t sleep. At least I had been given a phone not too long ago, so I could sit there and watch videos until I didn’t feel much of anything anymore.

Did I overreact?

 

I mean, I feel a little better now. I check the time, 4:38 pm. I should get up and do something, talk to Minos maybe.

When’s the last time I painted?

 

Trudging down steps, he sees me.

“Art thou well?”

 

“Yes… sorry about yelling at you.”

 

“I am not mad, I understand thou were unwell at the moment.”

 

“Still, I want to know… what did you put down my throat?”

 

“Hmhmhm… ah that, sorry that was a spur of the moment decision. Worry not, it shouldn’t be toxic.”

 

“It… tasted good?”

 

“Well that’s good to know, I probably have more in me.”

 

His phone rang.

“I’m sorry giveth me a moment.”

 

He walked into an adjacent room.

“Hello?”

 

“**********”

 

“Yes, I could probably come soon, tomorrow perhaps?”

 

“***********”

 

“Bring Gabriel? I shall ask him. What? Ah yes I-“

He pokes his head back into the room.

“Gabriel, would thou be willing to visit Sisyphus tomorrow?”

 

“Does he hate me for-“

 

“Ah, no,no he’s understood for a while now that thou were acting under duress, and he’s not even one to hold grudges in the first place.”

 

“Sure, why not.”

 

“He would like to speak with thou, a small preemptive greeting.”

 

Minos handed me the phone.

“-don’t say anything too concerning, I wish not to need to explain something and end up tripping over mine words.”

 

“Okay… hello Sisyphus.”

 

{How has this past month or so been?}

 

“Well, I adapted to being mortal faster than I thought.”

 

{well that’s good, has anything of note happened?}

 

“A reporter tried to talk to me while I was having a shit day, ended up crying.”

 

{oh, I saw that report, yes. Are things going better between you and Minos?}

 

“Absolutely! In a lot of ways…”

 

{does he pamper you?}

 

“Hee hee- why wouldn't he?”

“I will say, I don’t know if I could handle having to work to fend for myself.”

 

I start to pace for no reason other than not knowing what to do with my legs.

 

{really? How so? You were a staunch, strict warrior for thousands of years.}

 

“Well it was simpler in a way, just a set of rules, and no actual decisions. I've found I’m not too fond of thinking, half the time I still don’t know what to do with myself.”

 

{haven’t found a hobby that interests you?}

 

“I… kind of? Finding a hobby just hasn’t crossed my mind.”

 

{sounds boring.}

 

“Hey, I've been living as a normal person for only a month and change, don’t expect me to have everything figured out just yet.”

Minos plops down in a chair in the corner of my vision.

“Well, I don’t have much else to say, do you?”

 

{nope.}

 

“I guess I’ll hand the phone back to Minos then.”

 

———-

 

“Is this necessary?”

 

“Last time thou were responsible for dressing thyself, thou did a horrible job.”

 

He laces a corset about my waist, layering over with light silk.

 

“In truth, thou look quite fair.”

 

———

 

Sisyphus towers over everyone else in the room… and he’s fatter than I remember? I only saw him in battle armour in the past to be fair.

 

“You look different than I remember.”

No I didn’t say that, Sisyphus did.

 

“That is a shared sentiment.”

 

“How so?”

 

“…well did your body type change when you came back?”

 

“No?”

 

“Ah, well perhaps it’s because you were always wearing armour.”

 

“Is that the same with you?”

 

“No, I have actually changed.”

Minos audibly cleared his throat.

 

“You have?”

Sisyphus kneels down to look me right in the cross of my helm.

 

“Yes, I think losing my light caused my body to become… softer?”

 

“…interesting.”

 

———-

 

Sisyphus’ cooking is quite different from Minos’. Less sweet and fatty, more complex and hardy. I bet if I ate like this consistently, I’d come to miss Minos’ cooking.

Nonetheless I finished my plate and still had room for more.

“Not to be greedy, but would you mind if I grabbed another serving?”

 

“Not at all, I take a compliment from you wanting more- though I must ask, do you regularly cook yourself meals big enough for two servings?”

 

“Oh, I can’t cook.”

 

“Hm, okay.”

 

In the other room I hear the 2 souls have a conversation.

“You never taught him how to cook?”

 

“It hath not been that long since he just figured out he needed to eat, giveth us some time please.”

 

“Oh? What have you been teaching him then? He has to be self-sufficient some day.”

 

I’m not even really getting seconds anymore, I’m just eavesdropping. 

Minos went silent.

 

“Minos, I know what you’re doing, this is fucking sick-“

 

“Oh please he’s lived a hard life, is it such a sin to let him have a break?”

 

“Do you think I invited you here because I actually wanted to see you? No I was doing a damned wellness check- do you think I’m unaware of you having relations with him?!”

 

“…”

 

“You moved on fast.”

 

“Thou say that as if we were anything in the first place.”

 

There's only silence from the other room, I dare not to move.

A loud clatter and thump, a gasp of pain, Minos is rushing into the other room and dragging me by the arm.

“We art leaving, that brute cannot be trusted.”

 

I am dragged out the door before much else can be protested.

Notes:

minooossss minoooss time for the consequences of your actions.

Chapter 11: It consumes

Summary:

the opioid snake venom is not a one time thing, and some offscreen conflict

Notes:

so Gabriel is a little suspicious of Minos but also that level of hedonism is hard to leave

“Minos, what did he mean by all that?”

I’m half curled up on the couch.

I know more than I should… I don’t know what will happen if I say that out loud.

 

“I think he would rather I simply make thou live on thy own… perhaps he’s jealous.”

 

That’s all?

That’s all.

 

Really I didn't even like visiting him that much, basically everything thats happened recently felt drab… nothing felt like anything compared to-

That night, the venom, the sweet, sweet venom.

 

“Alright.”

 

“That's all thou have to respond with, art thou upset?”

 

“Yes- but no, it's complicated.”

 

“Just yesterday thou were fine, perhaps just wait for it to wash over?”

 

“What if it never does?”

I trace my finger along one of the serpents on his arm.

“What art thou suggesting?”

 

“Maybe there's something that will make me feel better.”

 

I try to pull minos close, he doesn't move.

‘Gabriel, if thou want this then so be it but I have one thing to ask of thee in return.”

 

“What is it? I'll do anything.”

 

He wrapped a serpent about my throat.

“Do not tell anybody about this, ever.”

 

The serpent bit down on my neck, Minos moved me to sit in his lap. Worry washed away, nothing bad happened these past few days.

He unties the corset and strips me.

This isn't the perfect I remember, but it's still good…

 

—----- 

I wake up next morning with a sickly full stomach, and I'm in Minos' bed. He isn't there, there is banging and shouting downstairs.

 

I cover my ears and pretend I don't hear anything-

My helm is off again. I feel less bad about it, that joy is still lingering. Black ooze coats the corners of my mouth. 

I'll put it on before I feel bad again.

 

There's a door slam, a muffled angry scream, loud steps up the stairs.

Minos came to my side, he didn't seem angry, his hands rake down my back. He moves me to sit in his lap.

My limbs are limp.

“Shhhhh all will be well soon.”

He rocks me back and forth in his lap, grinding against his—-

“Tis’ such a shame even a ‘dry’ bite still has venom in it, because I have found the sensation itself to be deeply satisfying.”

His hands trail up and down my thighs, gripping down and digging his nails in. what little pain makes it through the haze makes me moan.

“Hm, lovely isn't it? Sadly I have to leave soon, errands and such.”

I just nodded into the crook of his neck.

“When I leave, do not answer the door for anybody.”

Notes:

opiates are a birds best friend.

Chapter 12: We escape an existence in vain

Summary:

Gabriel tweaking from withdrawals

Notes:

Gabriel wants to revolt but his reward centers in his brain are genuinely mush.

2 weeks, i’ve been good, and then i've been numb. Every time I fall asleep I wake up full and sedated. I don't really feel like doing much of anything, because I'm not hurting, so I'm fine.

I walk downstairs.

I can't see my feet on the steps past my stomach.

“Minos?”

He's not here today.

I'm not hungry.

There's no lust in my body.

What do I do now?

 

The numb is going away.

First slow, then fast. My legs hurt, my stomach hurts- I want to throw up- my… in between my legs hurts-

I'm pathetic… I let myself come to this, I begged for it because I hurt, I thought I could handle pain, I could handle strife.

Was Sisyphus right? What has he done to me?

You did this to yourself. You did this to yourself. You did this to yourself. You did this to yourself. You did this to yourself. You did this to yourself. You did this to yourself. You did this to yourself. You did this to yourself. You did this to yourself. You did this to yourself. You did this to yourself. You did this to yourself-

I throw a vase across the room, it shatters on the wall.

Minos is going to hate me for that. He’ll leave me at the side of an old road to starve.

 

Starve? Are you joking?

If who I was 3 months ago saw who I am now, what would he say? 

Minos says I'm beautiful despite it.

 

Despite the hard lump in my stomach-

 

No…

 

It can't be, can it?

What would minos do if he found out?

He doesn't seem like a father does he?

He treats me like a child…

 

Could I… is there any device in the house that still has Sisyphus’ number?

 

Of course, blocked contacts are easy to find.

I type the contact in on my phone, I hear keys rattling at the door.

Minos comes in to see me just staring into the open cabinet.

 

“Shouldnt have left thou alone for so long, thou must be starving.”

“No, just bored.”

 

“Thou sound upset.”

 

Do I go back to the numb?

 

“Im just starting to get a little restless.”

 

“Doth thou need-”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Allow me to put away these purchases before doing so.”

 

After 15 minutes he finds me curled up on the couch.

 

“Art thou still upset at the argument from a while ago?”

 

“Im scared.”

I'm not sure of what anymore.

 

“I got some paperwork done and hired guards, thou should not fear him anymore.”

I'm not scared of him.

 

“Okay.”

 

Minos huffs a small laugh before trailing his finger underneath my shirt.

“Why every time you… we have to have sex?”

 

“Think of it as a little payment.”

 

All I think of is the swell in my stomach, how when in coitous my whole insides are filled to the point of delicious pain… and how something vulnerable inside could be killed.

I take off my helm, offering my mouth.

He grabs my head, I think a tear falls down my cheek.

Notes:

bro broke up with mans and then got a restraining order even tho he's the problem.
also Minos is just not gonna mention the vase lol

Chapter 13: Conditioned to thrive in the slaughter

Summary:

kind, then horrible. because in truth he doesn't control with fear, he controls with love.

Notes:

idk if this is like a filler chapter? dunno

I wake to the sound of a distant record player.

“How hath thou slept?”

‘Well”

There's an indent on Minos' bed where I sleep now.

“Would thou like to relax a little longer? I have plenty enough energy to paper thou~”

 

That sounds nice.

a warmed cushion around my once stiff neck, a hot cup of tea, back massage.

“Thine presence brings such joy, art thou aware of this?”

 

“Maybe, but I like hearing it anyway.”

 

“Hm- like treasure thou art.”

 

Soft tendril kisses travel up my back to the base of my neck, I chirp slightly.

“Awhhh, it hath been a while since thou made a sound of that manner~”

“Adorable, truly”

 

—---------

 

“A week has passed since thou ate real food.”

 

Yet I've only been getting fatter.

Helmet off, I’m sitting in minos’ lap, before me a grand table stacked with homemade sweet pastries and chicken alfredo.

At least I think that's chicken.

Another bite of sweet and cream coats my tongue.

“Perhaps some wine to pair?”

 

“Im… im sick of the taste of wine.”

I love the taste of wine.

 

“I hath never given thou any?” 

 

“Communion wine.”

 

“Mustve been plain then.”

 

“No, it was good, I just don't want to drink right now.”

 

“4 months being mortal and say, hath thou ever tasted drunkenness?”

 

“No… but I don't want to right now.”

 

He shoves another bite into my face. I feel ill.

I gag and he laughs, I can feel his erection nudging against my back.

“Dificult today aren't thou? My little songbird.”

 

“Minos, I can't eat anymore.”

 

“Would thou want to be filled the rest of the way with ichor?”

He leans forward, pushing my stomach into the counter.

 

“...rest of the way? I already am.”

 

“So, not even a little bit more, for me?”

He’s rutting against my back as a hand sneaks under my stomach and grabs my thigh.

Another little delicacy right in front of my face, I take the bite. Bile travels up my throat, Minos sees me shake and he holds my mouth shut as it fills with foul sour. 

“Swallow.”

It hurts, but I do it.

“What a wonderful way to cap off all thy struggle, a deserved reward at the end.”

 

“The end?”

 

“Well, man and bird do not live forever. I doubt thy end will be soon, but compared to the rest of thy life I fear tis will only be a second.”

 

Notes:

minos saying that as if blud isn't actively shortening his lifespan

Chapter 14: Or were the flames

Summary:

Gabriel has another moment to himself.
Minos is going to regret leaving him home alone more often.

Notes:

warning: bro is implied to use actual heroin at the beginning of the chapter.
also he frew up

A few blood drops trail from my wrist, fresh needle-bites, I feel better than I have in a while. But I'm alone.  A paint set in front of me… I haven't done this in a long time.

I cant think, ive been dull for over half the time i’ve been ‘alive’

I just grab a tube of black paint, layering red, blues, and teal. My mind is hollow.

 

I dont know what im making, it looks dirty.

I need only one more detail… i think?
Silver paint making the bars of a cage.

 

I haven't come far from my first painting, I haven't made many.

I choose to look at it one more time, going upstairs. My first one is in the kitchen.

Still as bright and free as ever.

 

…

 

I take it off the wall, and put it in my room, I hang up the new painting where it once stood.

I find an old tote bag, pack my belongings and I call Sisyphus.

 

{who is this?}

 

“Gabriel.”

 

{GABRIEL?! What is it?}

 

“I don't have much time, meet me at the central park fountain.”

 

{wha- okay.}

 

I open a second story window, and hope the fall is short enough not to break something. I felt something strange in my leg, it didn't hurt. I started walking, then running.

Running, for only a few seconds and not much longer. Slinking away in cold alleys, I run out of energy so fast. I hear conversations, happy and carefree. How long ago did I…

I walk like a zombie for an hour.

 

What am I doing?

Minos will find me and sisyphus wont be there.

What will I say? What will he do to me? I have nobody else to go to.

What if I go back? Minos loves me, he cares for me.

 

My legs start to hurt, then it only gets worse. I'm heading north, I shouldn't be too far right?

I peek out the alley… I'm only halfway there.

 

Every step sends a shock of pain, especially my left leg. That one is agony.

Did the fall break both of them?

…and will I die in this alley?

I feel hot, I feel cold, I feel like I'm going to vomit.

I do, in a cold dark alley, I might fall in it. I carry on, pain builds evermore.

I'm going to die here. 

I'm leaning some of my weight against walls, limping. 

 

I call Sisyphus again.

 

{Gabriel? Are you close?}

 

“Wait a little longer…”

Ragged heavy breathing, I can barely speak.

“Go east of the fountain, search the alleys if I don't come soon.”

{what’s wrong?}

 

“I feel like I'm dying.”

 

{what?!}

 

“I don't know… maybe I am, maybe I broke both my legs… I can't see my feet when I walk, so maybe they're at all wrong angles.”

 

The call ends, I fall to my knees. My hands are shaking, I hear loud steps approaching, they're rushing.

Minos sent someone, someone to hurt me for trying to escape, and I'm helpless to do anything.

 

But instead I see a beacon of sun.

“Sisyphus?”

 

“Gabriel?”

 

He pushes through litter to find me, a hoodie-clad figure bowed on my knees. When I look at his face, I see abject horror.

“What did he do to you?”

 

“I don't want to talk, just take me somewhere safe.”

 

“Do you want me to pick you up? Or do you want help walking?”

 

“I can't walk anymore, I think I broke something, and it hurts too much.”

 

He reaches out to hold me, pain splits through my body when his hands touch me. I shrieked. Sisyphus gasps and backs away.

“Did I touch something I shouldn't have?”

 

“No,no,no,no you're fine, I don't know why it hurts.”

 

Sisyphus nodded and kneeled to the ground, holding his arms out.

“Then come over when you're ready.”

I shuffled over, moving felt terrible but eventually I found a comfortable-ish position in his arms.

Every step he takes makes agony ricochet through my body. He sees me wince and walks slower… until sirens are heard in the distance.

“Did he? Did he call the fucking cops on me? ”

 

“Probably.”

 

“I'm sorry- I have to run.”

 

I hold tight to his arm as impact shocks scream across my nerves. I think my claws dig into him as I try not to shriek again.

 

—----- 

I'm in the desert, nearing his home, still in his arms, still hurting. I want to scream and run, but where would I go? 

“What are you going to do to me?”

 

“What???”

 

“Now what?”

 

“I.. I don't know, you called for help, so I answered.”

 

“Do you want me to stay with you?”

 

“Do you have anywhere else to go?”

 

“No.”

 

“Well, it's your decision.”

Notes:

valid question, cause like minos had to deal with the shock of now taking care of a weird bird man, sisyphus now has to deal with a horrifically ill bird man experiencing opioid withdrawals after being on it basically 24/7 for like a month or two.

oh also another fic playlist bc fuck it https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaNIUjiaQ2aWB92EJTPJ_D_ZSmEY6BSRO&si=Wlmvwmx73jMqViRf

Chapter 15: Cursed

Summary:

Gabriel lives with sisyphus I guess until further notice
a little revelation, the 2 learn something with changes their perspective of the other

Notes:

hopefully this whole vulnerable angel under the care of a prime soul works the second time around

My own room, once again. Sisyphus leaning at the doorway back to me as I unpack.

“What did you bring?”

 

“Just some changes of clothes, the little booklet where all my allergies are written, and… I don’t know why but I brought this painting I made.”

 

“Hm?”

He turns slightly to see.

“I can see why, I could see how it could be comforting.”

 

I put what few actually stomach-covering outfits I have in the drawer.

 

“I don’t want to be nosy but, do you know why you're so pain sensitive right now?”

 

“It’s hard to explain, but it has to do with this.”

I walk over to him and pull back my sleeve, showing all the little dots on my wrist.

 

“Are those needle marks?!”

 

“Some are, most are snake bites from Minos.”

 

“He has venom? Does it… feel good?”

 

“Yes, well at first but then it came to just needing it to not feel horrible.”

 

“The worst of it should hopefully wash over soon.”

 

“You really think so?”

 

“That’s how a lot of drugs work, the worst withdrawal comes first.”

He looks away with a slight huff as he says this.

 

“I just hope it’s over soon, I don’t know what new ‘normal’ there will be, but it has to be better than this.”

 

“Yeah, and hey if you feel like you want to break shit to get it all out, have at.“

 

“Thanks.”

 

———-

 

I can’t sleep, of course I can’t sleep. 

Did I lock the door?

I hear noise downstairs.

What more can I lose if I take a look?

 

The oak-wood halls are near silent beyond the occasional distant floor creak. every time I hear it, it’s somewhere different. I turn a corner-

I’m met with Sisyphus brandishing a MG light machine gun.

“HOLY SHIT- I nearly shot you!”

 

Why did I just freeze?

“What are you doing?”

 

“What does it look like I'm doing?”

 

“Being paranoid.”

 

“Do you know how easily Minos holds a grudge? Once he knows you're missing, I’m the first person he’s going to go to.”

 

“You think he’s going to break in?!”

 

There's a knock at the door, and then another, more firm. Sisyphus rushes over, gesturing for me to follow from a distance.

 

“Who is it?”

 

“Oh Sisyphus, who else would be brave enough to visit thou so late at night?”

 

“Last time we were face to face you punched me in the tit.”

 

Sisyphus glances over to me, motioning for me to get out of the line of sight in case the door were to open.

 

“Ah yes, about that I've been wanting to make amends.”

 

“It’s too late for that.”

 

“Oh please, what did I ever do to thou?”

 

“Stop playing dumb, you know what you've done to me.”

I peek from behind the couch, Sisyphus’ expression is unreadable.

 

“Thou could have left any time, any misfortune was thy own fault.”

 

“...”

 

Silence, then the door violently rattles, Sisyphus fires a shot.

“AGH- THOU BRUTISH-“

 

“GET THE FUCK OFF MY PORCH.”

 

The telltale sound of heeled steps and limo wheels speeding off echo out.

I come back to Sisyphus’ side when I know it’s safe.

“What happened between you two?”

 

“Well, I knew what he was doing with you because I experienced it firsthand… Well- ok, not nearly as bad.”

 

“How so?”

 

“He never drugged me, but he got real good at sweet-talking me into ignoring my health. Iva always had a bit of an ego, I guess encouragement was my poison … I was slowly killing myself with every vice I could justify, and his voice in my ear saying I’m too strong to really be hurt by it. I knew in the back of my mind what I was doing… it took the solemness of when war threatened greed and lust layers, for me to realize what became of me.”

 

“At least you can get better now.”

 

“Heh… actually now that I am an undead soul, my body will never change. Minos always wanted me to postpone bottom surgery, and I didn't mind it too much, because I always had hundreds of more years… and now-”

 

“I'm sorry…”

 

“It’s not your fault- at least I got my tubes tied years ago.”

 

“Who knows if a soul can even get pregnant. I mean, an angel can.”

 

‘Yea- WAIT WHAT?!”

Notes:

gregnant

Chapter 16: The guiding light

Summary:

Sisyphus and Gabriel being chill homies, just guys being dudes.

Notes:

literally direct continuation of last chapter

“I THOUGHT YOU WERE JUST FAT?!”

 

“Rude. Well, okay I'm still a little unsure if I actually am pregnant.”

 

He squints at me.

“If you are, do you have any idea of how far along you could be?”

 

“I started feeling different about 3 months ago.”

 

He sighs.

“If you are that far along, there are ways to check just by touch.”

Sisphus asks me to pull up my shirt to lie on my back, ending off each instruction with a reminder that I don't have to do this.

 

“Im fine.”

 

“I know, i just dont want to seem like im commanding you to do anything, that's the last thing you need right-”

His hand feels right above my crotch.

“jeez.”

 

“Well that's a great thing to hear.”

 

“You can't have been pregnant for more than 4 months right?”

 

“No, why?”

 

“Either pregnancy goes faster for you, or you got potential triplets or… well more than one.”

 

His hand trails up slightly, it feels good for a second, I wince. Sisyphus pulls his hand away immediately.

 

“Unless you shoved a rock up there, that's probably a baby, or multiple.”

 

I laugh a little as I pull down my shirt.

“I don't remember putting anything up there that didn't come out later.”

 

He laughed too… awkwardly.

 

—--------------------

 

“I'm guessing Minos taught you nothing about cooking?”

 

“Yep.”

 

“Its a life skill a lot of people think they don't need, you especially need it seeing as your allergic to so much.”

 

He walked me through the steps of making an omelet. I messed it up and scrambled it instead.

 

“shit.”

 

“it will probably still taste good, alsoI feel like it's ironic that the first thing you cook is eggs.”

 

“Yeah… also I remember Minos making an omelette- don't you use milk?”

 

“I don't keep milk around the house that often, I can't drink it.”

 

“Even I know there's meds for that.”

 

“God forbid a man prefer the taste of oat milk.”

 

I do a little ‘stop yapping’ motion with my hand before taking my fucked up tomato and pepper filled scrambled eggs to the table.

 

“You're right, this is good.”

 

—----------------------------------------

 

Helping Sisyphus with random chores around the house has been oddly calming. Now I'm helping out a little bit as he's making dinner.

 

“You think you’ll want to wait til’ you get used to having kids before you live on your own?”

 

“Definitley.”

 

It's not been too long, yet my stomach seems to have started growing much faster. I didn't want to admit that just simple actions made me tired, at least I've been able to sleep better.

At least pumpkin bisque and chicken sounds so good before I konk out.

 

I have to scuttle away from the table to throw up.

“Jeez, is it that bad?”

 

“No, no, just morning sickness.”

 

“Ah, fucking misnomer of a name aint it?”

 

“Well, ‘whenever it feels like sickness’ doesn't roll off the tongue as easy.”

 

“You still-?”

 

“Oh I'm still eating dinner after I'm done because it smells too good not to.”

 

It's good to know that food that isn't clogging my arteries still tastes good.

 

Later, I go to sleep, feeling happy for the first time in a long while.

Notes:

you know bro gotta be cozy as fuck in that bed

Chapter 17: Where could we hide

Summary:

uh oh! looks like that sleep won't be so sound after all

Notes:

smarmy little fucker

There’s a creak of wood, I squint my eyes open. It's a snake- 

I dodge away right before it bites. 

It's Minos, he's reaching a serpent through the window. I slam the window shut, the serpent writhes in pain and I hear a muffled shout below. I press down on the window and hear flesh split, the serpent lurches around and rears to bite me once again. I grab it by the head, snatch up a letter opener and slice its head off. Minos screams. The limp body of the serpent is dragged out.

 

I hear a low laugh.

“Gabriellll, I know thou hide within these walls. Life was so easy for thou, why would anyone leave being treated like a prince? Only to find solace with a false king, rotten and fetid as he is.”

 

I hear a barrage of gunshots from Sisyphus’ bedroom window.

When I finally peek out my window, Minos is gone and there’s bullet holes in the garden.

 

Moments pass and I hear a soft knock at the door, I put my helm back on and open it.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“Luckily, yes.”

I hold up the still bleeding snake head like a trophy.

“But I need more secure windows.”

 

He looks at it, mouth agape.

“Yeah… you want me to work on that now?”

 

“Sure, it’s not like I’ll be able to go to sleep after that.”

 

———-

 

I can hear Sisyphus blessing his own habit of bulk-buying supplies for even small projects.

 

“People always call it hoarding, I call it being prepared.”

 

“You really think you’ll ever need 5 bottles of wood glue?”

 

“Oh you’ll rue the day I will.”

He’s giggling far too much for a guy who nearly got his home broken into.

 

“Why do you even have like 30 sheets of bullet proof glass?”

 

“I had an idea that I realized wouldn't work only after I bought the glass.”

 

“Prey tell, what was this idea?”

 

“Tactical greenhouse.”

 

“I’m sorry what?”

 

“Gotta keep my tomatoes safe.”

 

“You’re insufferable.”

 

“You seem to be suffering me just fine.”

 

And now I’m laughing.

———

 

Helping with installing l the windows was surprisingly fun, maybe I’m just sleep deprived, or maybe Sisyphus is fun to be around.

 

“Well, this is an unusual life skill- I’m sureeee I’ll need it.”

 

“Just like my dumb glue collection, you might find use for skills like these.”

 

“When?”

 

“Installing normal windows when you inevitably break one.”

 

“Inevitably?”

 

“A good life means breaking a window or two.”

 

Next window Sisyphus lets me throw a chair through it, after all it’s going to get replaced anyway.

 

“Next time I get to do that.”

 

“Yeah, and you're grabbing the chairs in the morning.”

Notes:

chair through the window for the silly
and no sisyphus never collected them, they lawn decoration now.

Chapter 18: The lost of progress

Summary:

small time skip- Gabriel is so very pregnant

oh also linking playlist again bc I added more to it.
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaNIUjiaQ2aWB92EJTPJ_D_ZSmEY6BSRO&si=oDRfSYrR4yFGL2iW

Notes:

CW: uhh mentions of stillborns / discussing a fucked up possibility

if I had a quarter for every time I've written fan fiction where a character was temporarily wheelchair bound I would have 50 cents, which isn't that much but its weird that it happened twice.

A gentle knock at the door.

“Hey Gabriel, you feeling okay?”

 

“I can't get up.”

 

“Are your legs okay?”

 

“I can move them, but I think I'm too heavy to stand up right now.”

 

“Should I come in?”

 

“The doors locked.”

 

“Permission to use the master key a.k.a lock picking?”

I would laugh if I had the energy.

“Go ahead.”

Sisyphus holds an icepack on my overheated back, I'm bare beyond a thin blanket wrapped around my waist.

 

“Have you felt any movement in there?”

He gestures at my engorged stomach.

 

“No…”

 

“Look, I don't want to worry you, but with how much you were drugged in your early pregnancy… I don't know if the kids will turn out okay.”

 

“You're saying they could just be stillborn?!”

 

“It's a possibility, or perhaps they could turn out deformed.”

 

“They could just be in eggs, that's why they're not moving.”

 

“...I didn't think about that.”

“I have a cloaca you dumbass, I don't think any animals with a cloaca give live birth now do they?”

 

“I think some reptiles and snakes do.”

 

I think we both connected some dots in our minds.

 

“So, it's still unknown how well they're doing?”

My voice shakes at the end.

 

“Schrodinger's Nephilim apparently.”

his small laugh wavers.

 

“Thats comforting.”

 

“Sorry- I”

 

“It's fine.”

 

—------------

 

I should feel mortified over having to be carried to the bathroom but I'm just annoyed.

Why Sisyphus decided to talk through the bathroom door instead of waiting until I'm done to have a conversation, I'll never know.

 

“Where does one acquire a wheelchair anyway?”

 

“Hospital? I don't know,”

 

“Talking about those, I should probably take you to one.”

 

“Ehhh, yeah?”

 

“...what's with the warrynes?”

 

“I doubt they're going to be as fortified as this place.”

The rare soft rain tapping against fortified glass sounds so different from normal.

 

“Shit your right, do you want to risk it… here?”

 

“Would you put it past Minos to bribe any outsiders?”

 

“...”

I trust you.

 

—------

 

Well, I can maneuver myself in and out of the chair decently fine.

Not much we can do to pass the hours, with us knowing my time can come so soon.

 

Board games are still fun even when I basically can't walk, twister is off the table though.

But was it really ever on the table? Pregnant or not, Sisyphus would surely crush me.

 

“Would being a military leader make you better or worse at connect 4?”

 

Sisyphus sighs and buries his head in his hands, I think he can hear my smirk.

“Ughhhhh, yeah, yeah, I know I suck at this.”

 

“I didnt say anythingggg~”

 

“Beat me one more time and I'm breaking the stair lift.”

“Do that and you'll be finding bird shit on your best rug.”

 

—-------

I've been in a wheelchair for what, only 3 days? Of course when I'm preoccupied I'm going to forget I am and end up reading in the middle of the kitchen.

You read while in a seat? Well I'm already in one.

 

Sisyphus finds me to be very much so in his way.

 

“Are you just casually reading a recipe book?’

 

“The hell do you think?”

 

“No.”

 

I turn the book around to show him a red wine braised steak recipe.

“You have like most of the ingredients for this except the wine, maybe could you get some? I mean it seems like something we’d both like.”

 

He makes a noise of drawing in air through clenched teeth.

“I… do not like keeping alcohol around the house.”

 

“Fair.”

I know why Minos' sly comments stopped being subtle after a while. I won't say anything though.

 

“Maybe… maybe sometime, I'll just pour out the rest.”

 

“Yeah that sounds nice.”

Notes:

yeahhhh, Sisyphus' old habit... I think I know who encouraged it enough to make it a problem.

where did they acquire the wheelchair? there's a lot of places u can buy one Sisyphus probably just paid someone to go get it for him so he can stay guarding Gabriel

Chapter 19: Burn for the treasure

Summary:

no ifs and or buts, this is the giving birth chapter
Gabriel is your cloaca prepared? I hope so.

Notes:

birdnant

“SISYPHUS!”

 

He comes barrelling down the hall, I hear him nearly slam against the door.

 

“I CANT-”

 

“JUST BREAK DOWN THE DOOR I NEED HELP NOW!’

 

So he did.

“Are you hurt?-”

 

I'm lying in a pool of sweat as my chest heaves. I'm completely bare, but that's the least of our worries.

 

“Oh god okay- try and slow your breathing please.”

 

I grab onto his hand and try to steady myself, my lower body painfully constricting of its own accord. I push, I feel something begin to come out only for it to slip back in the moment my muscles give out.

 

“Help- I cant-”

 

I guide his hand to my stomach, he’s shaking. 

 

“Press down when I push.”

 

He nods, I push and his hand presses down with it. I feel something smooth slip out, there's still so much more. Sisyphus rests his other hand on my back, I nodded at him. A slight caress between my wings made some of the pain subside into something more pleasant. The next push is easier, I think I'm looser. 

Another comes out. Then, my legs are shaking as I feel multiple eggs clumped at a tight impasse. 

I push, pain rockets through my body.

“Oh, god, oh god- give me something to bite down onto- and close your eyes.”

 

He squints his eyes shut, turns his head the other way, rummages through his pocket and hands me his wallet. Beak and teeth clamp down onto the leather. He promptly returns to attempting to comfort me.

I push as hard as I can, my insides feel like they're ripping open, I scream. 

Hand press further into my stomach and run across my back.

The next egg comes easy, feeling almost good by comparison. 

Each breath I take makes the trail of eggs push back inside me, hard shells nudge against something that makes my talons curl.

I think I just moaned. I push a little bit, the hand on my stomach feels so good.

 

“Do I keep doing what im-”

 

“YES! DON'T FUCKING STOP.”

 

The breath I took from saying that made the eggs pull back in. I push- hard enough to where I feel like a vein is going to pop. The feeling of them rubbing against my insides- bliss grabs me by the neck and slams me into the gates of heaven, some horrible delighted screech escapes me.

 

When I come down Sisyphus' eyes are still shut tight, and I'm empty. With what little energy I have, I put my helm back on.

 

“You can open your eyes.”

 

“Well, how are you feeling?”

 

“…Tired.”

 

“Makes sense.”

Notes:

Sisyphus knows fully well bro came... he's just gonna treat it like just helping a homie out.

Chapter 20: find our way

Summary:

right after giving bird-th
and then also teensy time-skip
sisyphus is gonna app his sun-head off next chapter ong

Notes:

now rememberrr, these eggs are not for eating

I've been huddled close to my eggs for hours now. Bent over them, pressed lightly between my stomach and my thighs 9 in total. each the size of my fist. The bedding has been stripped bare and replaced.

Those stains will never wash out. 

Sisyphus is frantically researching everything he can about bird husbandry, he hasn't left my side though, which I'm happy about.

“You holding up over there?”

 

“Yeah, I actually feel pretty good right now.”

 

“Thats nice.”

 

“Learned anything interesting?”

 

“You had the right idea insisting not to wash them, and it's not incredibly urgent we get an incubator.”

 

“Hm, I guess I'll stay here for now.”

 

“Heh, yeah you're doing a pretty good job right now. Also after maybe a few days we can shine a light into them to check how they're growing.”

 

“Can we check them now?”

 

“I don't think there will be much going on these first few days, but sure.”

 

He turns off the light and hands me a flashlight, I look and see tiny, red veins and a little red dot in the center. I let Sisyphus take a look too.

“Hm, I guess they developed inside you longer than what is expected.”

 

“They were probably safer in there.”

 

“Yeah, but I think if they stayed in you any longer you would have popped.”

 

I laugh a little, and it hurts down there.

 

“How long can you stay by my side?”

 

“As long as you need me to.”

—---------

 

In there, in that little box. Warm and growing. I only really leave my room to shower and use the bathroom, I just can't bear to leave them alone.

 

I check them daily, the veins and little dots have gotten bigger, some bigger than others. 

That should be fine right?

 

I'm just anxious, okay…

Maybe I just need to talk to someone about it, but Sisyphus is busy cooking.

I'll find something else for now.

 

After all, some stuff has been moved up to my room, most notably a basic weight set.

I've been sedentary for how long now?

 

“ 35… 36…37…”

 

Ow my arms ow my arms ow my arms.

This is good for me, right?

Doing squats while holding these is a good idea, probably.

 

“10… 11-”

Sisyphus knocks on the door and I drop 15 pounds right on my talons.

“AGH FUCK-”

 

“Did I startle you?”

 

“Yeah… and I dropped a weight on my foot.”

 

I hobble over and open the door. He's holding a plate of steak and broccolini.

 

“How bad is it?”

 

I check for wounds… nothing except it will probably bruise.

 

“Eh, I've had worse. Now unhand my dinner I'm hungry.”

 

“Worked up an appetite huh? Good on ya.”

 

Before I dig in I notice a new smell.

“Wait did you make the-”

 

‘Yes I did, you better enjoy it because I'm not making it again for a while. The only place you can get really good wine is in places I really don't want to be in.”

 

“Thank you, you didn't have to do that.”

 

“Oh please, it was a little test of my own will.”

 

It's good, even if both of us being seated at this little table is a tad awkward.

 

“You know, even with all these locks and reinforced windows, I'm still nervous for your safety.”

 

I can only manage a deadpan stare through my helmet.

 

“No shit, and it's not just mine you should worry about.”

 

“I meant theirs too, I was just saving this until you weren't actively debilitated from pregnancy.”

 

“What?”

 

“I need to teach you how to use a gun.”

 

The more he explains the more holes I see in the idea.

 

“I already have a home range i use in the yard”

 

“Im not letting my eggs out of my sight.”

 

“We can set up security cameras.”

 

“Wh- when was an option?!”

 

“...I may or may not have only realized it as an option now.”

 

“That desperate to get me to be as much of a freak for guns as you?”

 

“Youll never be as down bad as me.”

 

“I take that as a challenge.”

 

“If that’s what it takes to convince you, sure.”

Notes:

bro is so exited to yap about guns that his gonna go supernova

Chapter 21: we will not find heaven

Summary:

Sisyphus teaching Gabriel how to use guns.
and then something else...

Notes:

chat y'all might not be ready for this one

Sisyphus watches the cameras for my sanity while he talks me through loading a revolver.

I just got the lay of the land with a beretta something or other just 30 minutes ago.

I think it had 92 in the name, whatever all these numbers mean.

 

“You sure about going straight to that one?”

he has to yell due to the earplugs under my helmet and the headphones somehow clamping onto his sun-head.

 

“Using a sword probably takes a lot more arm strength than a gun.”

 

“Ehhhh, depends on a lot of factors. Not to mention you've lost a lot of your strength.”

 

Sisyphus pauses and glances over.

“Oh wait shit you're trying to use the unica?”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Ah fuck, well half the things I said don’t apply to that one.”

 

He backpedals, re-explains, and ends up going on a tangent.

“It’s really revolutionary- first revolver to fire from the bottom of the cylinder- and even the most modern guns still use that.”

And still more yammering with occasional actual useful information sprinkled in.

The entire time he’s saying this, he's holding a machine gun in his lap, simply running his finger across the muzzle.

 

“Mmmhmm”

I nod hard enough to rattle my helm.

 

“Were you listening to any of that?”

 

“I processed the parts on how to use it.”

 

“Rude.”

 

I cock it back, aim and fire.

The gun nearly jumps out of my hands.

 

“You sure you don't want to try a different one?”

 

“Nah, I'll just try harder.”

 

“I appreciate the attitude."

—------------------------------

In my bedside drawer it goes alongside a box of ammo, sealed away in a newly built compartment so no odd metal chemicals escape. 

I clean my hands so thoroughly that any more and they would bleed.

Time to check the eggs again.

Lights out and flashlight beaming.

 

The red dot is bigger on the first 6 i check, and there's more veins.

The next 2 have a heartbeat now! I almost get too focused on staring at it that I nearly forget to check the last one.

 

The last one… the veins seem to have ‘fallen’ and the center is just a black dot.

Please no… 

I look closer.

It looks just as big as the ones with a heartbeat, but there is none.

It's just black in the middle, it's rotten, it's dead.

One out of nine.

 

no, no, no, no, no no, no, no, no, no no, no, no, no, no no, no, no, no, no.

 

Please.

You can do your best, but you're helpless if they rot from the inside.

 

I can see the light of Sisyphus encroaching from the dark, he probably heard my sobbing.

 

“Is one of them…”

 

“Yes.”

 

He asks to take a look, coming down on his knees.

His expression looked pained.

 

“I'm sorry, you did your best… I'm guessing you already know this one is not gonna make it.”

 

I nod, not daring to speak lest I break out in tears.

 

“We can't keep this one in there, it’s rotting might hurt the others.”

 

I nod again, tears threatening the corners of my eyes.

I hear Sisyphus breathe as if he is about to speak, but he simply kneels closer by my side so I can have a shoulder to cry on, clutching the dead egg to my chest as if that will do anything.

 

We end up burying it in the yard, there's no name on the simple tombstone, after all none of them have names yet.

Notes:

does this count as a miscarriage, or a stillbirth?

Chapter 22: is the cancer

Summary:

babies get names!
and nothing bad happens (lies)

Notes:

Sisyphus' past alcoholism gets brought up in more detail... bet minos used to like his beer-belly. eugh

I should never have left them, I need to keep constant watch so everything is perfect. It's hard to name them when they're hard to tell apart, I can't risk marking them in any way.

 

I don't even know the sex of any of them yet.

 

Well, just find names that work either way. I mean, I was named Gabriel and they just cut off my chest and called it a day. 

 

It doesn't matter if the name doesn't match, they'll never fit in anyway.

 

I spend an hour looking over every small difference, a freckle here, slightly different curve there. I can tell each of them apart quite easily now.

 

I call Sisyphus over.

 

“You want to help me name them?”

He looks bewildered.

 

“Oh, yeah.”

 

“If you don’t want to, that's fine.”

 

“I just didn’t expect such an honor.”

 

He sits by my side as I explain the differences I found inside and out, his brow furrows slightly when I tell him how some are developing slower than others.

 

“The biggest one, does max sound like a good name?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

We go through, trading ideas back and forth.

 

The biggest egg is Max.

The egg with the most freckles is Caleb.

The egg with no freckles is Aspen.

The smallest egg is Chris.

The most round egg is Isaac.

The most oblong egg is Sammy.

The darkest egg is Jordan.

Lastly, the lightest egg is Phoebe.

The one who never made it is posthumously named Lilac, so at least there will be a name on the grave.

 

I check each one after naming them, I dont see any dead black dots, and all of them have beating hearts now.

“Do you want me to stay here, or do you want some time alone?”

 

“Stay with me.”

 

We sit there, looking out of the window.

I wish I was safe enough to be able to open them without fooling with a military grade padlock first.

 

My hand finds his and I hold onto it. Sisyphus glances over, but he doesn't pull away.

—-----------------------------

I wake up in an embrace.

My sleepy mind recalling how a hand hold turned into a hug, and then into falling asleep in his arms as he closes the window once more.

There's a knock at the door, I get up and Sisyphus wakes up too.

 

The knocking becomes a slamming.

 

We rush downstairs only to find… nothing.

 

There's a knock at a window upstairs.

My phone vibrates with an emergency message

UNKNOWN FIGURE DETECTED ON CAMERA 5

I rush upstairs and Sisyphus follows only after grabbing a rifle.

The room is empty, but there's a carving on the window.

One singular eye.

Sisyphus freezes when he sees the marking.

 

…

 

“Remember when Minos had more of a military force?”

 

That eye, its iris a square.

That was its insignia.

 

I check the cameras, rolling back the video. My horrible suspicions came true. 

He had climbed up to my window with ease

Breathed onto the window and drew a heart in the condensation, then dragged his serpent’s teeth to create the insignia.

In his other hand was an item I can not identify.

 

How easily could he have broken in? Is he just toying with me? Could he have hurt-

 

When’s the last time you checked the eggs?

 

9 hours ago.

 

Before Sisyphus can say much of anything I turn off the lights and grab the flashlight.

 

“Want me to guard your back?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Max is bigger now, I think I see a more defined body and even eyes.

Phoebe is trailing behind.

Isaac and Sammy's hearts have stopped…

The little dot in the center has gone darker. 

My breathing hitches as I frantically check the rest.

Jordan, Caleb and Chris are doing as well as Max.

Aspen is the farthest behind, but still alive.

 

“Are they okay?”

His voice is monotone.

 

He just hears me holding back sobs.

“Issac… and Sammy. They died.”

 

I look behind me, and Sisyphus is just staring out the window, not moving. 

The window is open.

“Sisyphu-”

A gunshot rings out.

I startle to the point of nearly crushing Isaac.

“WHAT THE FUCK?!”

 

“I shot him.”

 

“Minos?”

 

“He was hiding in the treelines.”

 

I put the eggs back and look out the window, he’s still on the ground. 

He slowly stands up, and then he rushes. More gunshots ring out, I grab my revolver and start taking potshots. They sail through leaving bloody splatters, but he's only getting closer.

 

I get a good shot on his leg and I see his step waver for a second. Minos retreats, dashing faster than my aim can keep up.

 

After minutes of silence Sisyphus closes the window, my ears are ringing.

 

“I'm sorry I didn't respond to you.”

 

“It's okay, you were just trying to protect the ones who are still with us.”

 

We spend hours cleaning, making sure there's not a hint of lead residue left in the room. The whole time I think every small noise is something that needs to be shot. My mind screams that even a creak of a vent is a reason to open fire.

Once all is cleaned we check again, Isaac and Sammy are starting to rot to black on the inside.

 

“Why? Why is this happening, is there something we're missing?!”

 

“I don't think so… sometimes you can do everything in your power, and things can still turn out wrong.”

 

“I feel like this is my fault, Minos didn't force the venom upon me at first. The first dose was an accident. I asked for more, and I poisoned them.”

 

“You can't blame yourself for that, you were in a shit situation, you didn't even know you were pregnant until you had a dependency.”

 

“Remember after we ‘met’ and you visited Minos and had an argument?”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“I heard it happen, I was upstairs, it was the night after I had basically begged Minos to drug me. I was being a fucking brat, I found something good and I wanted to hold onto it.

… Is it bad that when I heard you get hurt, I didn't feel anything?”

 

…

Sisyphus rolls the crown of his wristwatch around, still staring out of the open window.

 

“My drinking habit didn't start out bad, but Minos always had encouragement. He never told me to drink, but he praised me for my strength and diligence. Even when I was sloppy and incomprehensible. I was too drunk to know the consequences of what I was doing to my body and mind, and being sober hurt. A good man would have stepped in, all Minos did was offer me a drink and a night of debauchery.

You were vulnerable, you had no support, don't hate yourself for things you did out of desperation.”

 

“So just live with the consequences and hope you can deal with the pain?... I have horrible thoughts about going back. With everything that's going on now, it feels like climbing a mountain knowing falling won't even hurt that bad.”

 

Sisyphus sighs and bows his head.

“I think like that too sometimes, but seeing how far you've come, and not looking down it’s what you have to do to survive. 

Being at that rock bottom is barely even living.”

 

I look back at the incubator, knowing 2 of the lives in there had quietly went out

“Is it even safe to go outside to bury them?”

Notes:

you know its getting bad when Sisyphus is starting to dissociate

Chapter 23: Our sons and daughters

Summary:

this shit is so sad I'm sorry chat.

Notes:

cw: dying due to severe deformity

Next morning there are 4 more graves in the garden. 

Caleb and Jordan died just as quietly as Issac and Sammy.

 

“Why didn't the guns kill him?”

I'm too tired to even weep.

 

“I think us undead souls are far too strong to be killed by a few gunshots.”

 

I stood there not wanting to process what he’s saying. 

The dried blood in the woods isn't a liar. 

If my children hatch, they're sure to die by his hands.

 

Sisyphus is watching the cameras, he’s dead silent.

“I shouldn't have fucking disbanded the military so quickly. 

At this point I'm more of a figurehead.”

 

A dirty trowel is still in my hand.

“Maybe my old blades could still be of use. Heavenly steel might do some good.”

 

“Where are they?”

 

“Minos put them up at a memorial, right in front of his home.”

 

“Memorial? He’s still here.”

 

“For the end of the ‘silent war against heaven’ ”

 

“The one he didn't lose a single damned soldier in? The theatrical little shit.”

Sisyphus coughs out a furious laugh.

 

—--------

 

Back in my room, a whole cork-board had been brought in for planning.

We agreed Minos would expect Sisyphus to come looking for them, but not me.

We figured out a decent disguise, winter is encroaching on the lust layer, so a puffer jacket and scarf isn’t suspicious in the slightest for a supposed nerdy photographer.

 

Sisyphus is cleaning out my revolver in his room while I’m about to zip up the puffer jacket… then I hear a faint chirp.

And another.

I drop everything and open the incubator, my ears are not deceiving me. I chirp back.

I see one egg start to shake, Max.

 

“Gabriel-”

 

“Theyre chirping.”

 

He drops everything and kneels down beside me.

“Im going to lift my helmet, don't look at my face.’

Sisyphus puts his hand up to the side of his head.

 

I see Max’s little beak poke out of its shell, Aspen is starting to shake as well. Max's head pokes from the shell. Featherless, with 6 big eyes, their beak looks more like a human mouth at the edges. Little hands grasp, their skin lilac in tone. 

Aspen is poking out of their shell too, more vocal and almost panicked sounding.

Max is crawling out, coated with amniotic fluid.

 

Phoebe seems to be struggling, their shell is cracked but they're too weak to open it. Max is dawdling around and Aspen is just about to be out of his shell, Phoebe is still pecking.

I waver, but eventually the beaks break through… 

Phoebe’s head looks different, they have 2 beaks, only 5 eyes, they chirp more quietly but with two voices. Small wing flaps show an odd bend in their spine.

 

I hold my hand out, and Aspen crawls on, I bring them close to my face, and their beak taps one of mine.

I put them back with their siblings.

Chris still hasn't moved.

 

Phoebe shakes, I realize how their limbs are all backwards. I hear Sisyphus gasp slightly.

“Do you think they will survive?”

His voice is barely a whisper.

 

I can’t answer, I can't think about that possibility when my children are looking at me with their little, barely-opened eyes.

Max is chirping at me, it sounds almost distressed.

 

 

In the next hour or so Sisyphus rushes around trying to make a little next box, and make the closest approximation of baby-bird feed he can. The whole time I'm watching Phoebe start to slow down. 

 

Their chirps are getting quieter, I think they're struggling to breathe… I dont think theyre meant to have 2 beaks. Sisyphus comes back to my side, still in a hurry.

“Are they hungry?” 

 

“Not yet… and don't go, something is wrong with Phoebe. They aren't breathing.”

 

Sisyphus freezes, watching with near dead eyes as I let Phoebe crawl onto my hands and sing them to sleep.

 

It hurts knowing their deformed body will never survive, and it pains me more that their dual-voiced song would die out so soon. At least they got to see the world before they passed.

 

“Gabriel? “

 

“Shhh, I know they're not going to make it. I just want their last moments to be peaceful.”

 

“May I see them?”

 

I nod and he kneels at my side, reaching his hand out to stroke their head. His breathing is shaky.

His eyes stare straight ahead. 

I see a tear roll down his cheeks. I don't blame him, it's a horrible thing to witness.

Notes:

...

Chapter 24: A murderer's hands

Summary:

its time to get those damned swords

Notes:

oh also for once in a lifetime pov swap

Max and Aspen look so serene sleeping, I constantly have to lean in close to make sure they're still breathing. It's been a few days, any and all plans have we’re postponed until I was sure they were stable… Chris still hasn't hatched.

 

But now, now they are growing feathers in their heads and wings they are eating, they can chirp and trot around, and any fear of Minos has boiled into rage.

 

Sisyphus stands at the door, I nod at him and grab my jacket no more needs to be said.

 

A private chauffeur drops me off at the entrance to Lust, I’m on my own from here.

 

That grandiose skyline is just as I remember it, now dotted with snow through the smog of the distant industrial quarters. The further into the city I tread the more I see glowing signs of my own visage claiming I’m missing, that I've been kidnapped.

 

The helmet rattling in my camera bag might give me away…

Or perhaps my discordination from having a wig and scarf cover all but two eyes.

As if your eyes themselves won’t give you away as an angel.

 

But no, I am not seen, nor heard, nor do I pass any other soul.
The light crunch of snow on concrete, I realize how much less tired I am compared to when I took this path in reverse.

In a way, I'm taking this path for the same reason.

The swords are unguarded beyond a row of railed pillars to prevent cars from crashing into it. When I take justice and splendor in hand, I look up. 

His home always looked like an isolated spire didn't it?

 

--------------------

 

The kids have been going through the food fast, good news probably.

Bad news is I have to cook eggs, corn and whatever I could find as a decent substitute for birdfeed while Gabriel is out and about and potentially in danger.

Not to mention I have to use some double boiler method because all my pans probably have garlic residue on them.

I hear a scrape against a window and i nearly punch a wall-

None of the cameras detected-

WAIT WHY ARE SOME OF THE CAMERAS OUT?!

My hands twitch to the machine gun on my back.

I glance and another camera shuts off

The nursery is a bad place to be in against an opponent like Minos, the only ways to enter are the window and from the stairs.

That glass scratch- it was downstairs, I intentionally made the windows slightly weaker down there to force any intruder through the choke point of the stairway and past the kitchen.

 

I set the pan heat on high and keep my head on a swivel.

 

Another scrape of glass to my left.

There's 2 rooms there, if I go into one it leaves an opening for the other.

 

The house shakes, he's trying to punch a damned hole in the wall?

 

The front door is kicked open, but Minos dashes off, just leaving it there.

Hes fucking with me, making entrances hoping i’ll focus on those instead of where he is.

Another fucking hole in the wall, I see it, its a pointles diversion with how small they are.

 

Cowardly blue wisp strafing between useless holes, he flits by a window I realize hes holding a bow and-

An arrow finds itself in my flesh.

The moment I wince is the moment he dashes through the front door.

The boiling water filled wok on the stove is bashed directly into his head.

Minos is sent flying into the wall, burns searing and cracking his strange flesh. I open fire but it barely deters him.

That beautiful cold steel is knocked right out of my hands as I'm tackled, I keep my footing but he’s latched on and- his fist sails through my face as if it's not there.

His slight surprise gives me the opportunity to slam him against the stove, catching his pristine button-up on fire and burning through his back.

He screams, and I feel a sharp pang in the arm holding him down. I power through it, punching his head into the heating element.

The pain in my arm is subsiding… the pain from the arrow is being forgotten.

 

I look too late at the serpent clamping down on my arm, my mind is going quiet.

For the first time in a long while I feel at peace, and then everything goes dark.

Notes:

uh ohh

Chapter 25: Covered in the blood, The blood of the lamb

Summary:

Gabriel is back... just in time?

Notes:

tw- call that a late abortion

My heart is pounding out of my chest, dashing for the busted down door. I had already shedded my disguise, yet I had omitted my helm.

No time for that.

Inside, the scene is mortifying.

Sisyphus, his face slumped over on a red hot stove, a black splotch on his arm where venom was injected. 

I hear a wailing upstairs and every other thought vanishes.

Half-flying up the steps I see my worst nightmare.

 

Minos is holding Max, the incubator is a crushed mass of metal and plastic, there is blood leaking out.

I pull out my revolver, but before I fire he tightens his grip around Max’s head in warning.

 

“How quickly they hath grown, Max, that’s what this one’s name is, yes?”

 

“How-“

 

“Oh, hush hush, thou art not the only one capable of setting up cameras.”

 

Minos walks up to me, my eyes dart across  every wound on his body.

 

“Oh and how perfect that when we meet again thou are without that lifeless helm. Did thou want this, was this just some fun little game of cat and mouse?”

Minos’ grip twists around my child’s head, ready to snap.

“Prithee, tell me thou missed me, it would be so wonderful to hear.”

 

My syrinx is closed, my hands grip iron handles.

 

“Thou truly think thy pose any threat?”

He steps closer, I back away.

 

“hm, perhaps thou can read me better than I thought… I have no time to be a father.”

 

Max’s head is twisted off.

I lunge, stabbing Justice into his pectoral and slashing valor through his serpent’s neck.

Pulling the sword from him splits a massive swath of translucent flesh.

He staggers, surprised by the size of the wound, yet he regains composure and aims a strike to my face.

I dodge but even him grazing my head makes me nearly topple. When I regain footing another strike finds itself in my gut. I stay standing, but I don’t have time to react before another strike hits.

Stars dot my vision and I fall to my knees. 

 

A pointed-toe shoe plants itself on my chest, pinning me to the ground.

“It is unfortunate really, that thou were too naive to realize thy own nature.”

Minos bends down and backhands me.

“A miserable, weak, chimera. Made for aesthetic and given power through holy means… but when that light is gone, all that remains is a weak, malformed animal.”

He slaps me again.

“Thou made me into a god, I thought it just to repay thou with splendor until thine short life went away.”

Minos bends in close and his hand wraps around my neck, smearing it with the blood of my own child.

I ram my claws into the wound in his chest, my teeth find his neck.

His grip tightens, I can feel my throat tighten up.

He tries to pull me away, but my grip on his neck is too strong. I dig my hands into his insides and grab ahold of his shaking heart.

Minos gets desperate, grabbing me by the shoulders and pushing with all his might.

My back slams into the ground. I hear something snap, but my grip never falters, a large chunk of his neck is still in my mouth, and his heart is in my hand.

He falls to his knees, clutching his chest and throat, black ooze waterfalls out of his neck.

 

I drag myself to Aspen, still in the nest. I listen as Minos' body falls apart. When I glance back there's only a black puddle on the ground.

 

After everything that’s happened, we’re safe now.

Notes:

I promised not all of em would die ok? we got Aspen.

Chapter 26: The Great Gift Of The World

Summary:

final chapter...
a simple end.
they have a whole life ahead of them now.

Notes:

this one hella short ima be fr

It took 20 minutes to drag Sisyphus to the living room couch, I resumed what he was cooking in the meantime.

 

The nest box sits on the kitchen table, Aspen chirps for food. 

“Don’t worry, I’m almost done.”

My voice is weak and my throat is still tight.

I put the nest next to Sisyphus when I went to finish Aspen’s meal.

 

I lift my helm when I feed them, I chirp when they chirp. After feeding Aspen starts to waddle out of the nest. I watch with tears welling up at the corners of my eyes.

For once it’s not just sorrow.

As I move my hand, they follow, I draw it away to let them chase, squeaking as they stumble a little with each step. When they catch up I scoop them up in two hands and hold them close. 

Sisyphus starts to move.

“Gabriel?”

His voice is slurred and dull. His eyes are half lidded. 

“I’m okay, we don’t need to worry anymore.”

 

He smiles, I know his mind is vacant and painless, I know hours from now he’s going to miss this moment.

Do I tell him what happened now? 

No, no I’ll wait until he’s in his own mind.

 

“Mmm, Gabriel can-“

He holds out his hand, and I lace my fingers with his. As I stay there Aspen falls asleep in my lap.

 

—----

 

Watching him come down from a high like that twists my stomach, serenity melding into a vacancy, into pain slowly building as the sun begins to set. 

I had already told him of what happened, I've never seen a harrowing expression cross a peaceful face so quickly.

When he went upstairs, I heard nothing from him.

I can hear him trying to control his breathing when he comes back.

“We can bury them when Aspen falls asleep.”

Sisyphus nods with a slight sniffle.

“Are you okay?”

 

“Still not quite right…  Would have been better if his venom just hurt.”

 

“Im here if you need to cry.”

 

“I…”

He sighs and leans on me, I think I feel a small tear hit my shoulder.

 

When the 2 graves are dug, I take a silent vow that I will never dig another grave.

Notes:

don't mind me already working on part 2 that break was a lie
the titular "great gift of the world" is Aspen lol

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of angels is birds and that poses many logistical issues