Dina places a hand on her shoulder. “Why don’t we head to my dorm room? We can talk more freely there and rest a little.”
We leave the classroom, grateful to get away from the weird vibes left over from Professor Uriel. He’s a teacher, for fuck’s sake. He has a responsibility to his students, but with Hayliel, it seems he’s more than ready to shirk them.
Pushing the back doors open, we step out into the fading sunlight. It dips below the tree line as twilight approaches. The fountain bubbles, just like it always does, but it no longer soothes me. Now, I can’t seem to erase the image of those two wounded angels resting against a spout of muddled pink water. Like something from a nightmare. At least it runs clear again now.
One of the Fallen statues is broken, cleaved in two with deep claw marks etched across the usually unblemished surface. The depth of their infiltration is astonishing, but with no one here in a position to defend us, I suppose it could have been worse.
Instead of entering the front door, Dina motions for us to follow her around the left side and fly up to her balcony. No issues with me. I’ve dealt with enough shit today that I’ll gladly avoid any extra interactions with angels outside of our little group.
Hayliel though … She looks almost scared. Raph senses it too, and we both stop to talk to her.
“What is it, sunshine?”
She looks down at her feet, kicking an errant stone. “I’m kind of nervous about taking my wings out again. What if someonesees? What if they’ve faded back to gray? Or what if …” She turns away from us, searching the distance for something, or maybe nothing at all. “What if I can’t control whatever flash of light killed those demons and I end up hurting one of you?”
Turning to the others, I say, “Dina, Ezekiel, why don’t you head up? We’ll be there in a moment.” I don’t bother waiting for a reply — though I fully expect one from the Fallen house leader, who for some reason hasn’t left yet — and instead stand directly behind Hayliel.
I don’t say anything. Neither does she. And when Raph approaches, we only stare off into the distance with her.
After what seems like ages, but is probably only a few minutes, I whisper, “Everything is a bit scary, isn’t it?”
“But you aren’t alone, sunshine. You’re never alone. Not with us.”
She leans back into me, letting her head fall onto my chest while reaching out to grip Raph’s hand. Still she says nothing.
I bask in the feel of her warm body pressed to mine, regardless of the circumstances that got us here. “If you aren’t ready, that’s alright. We’ll be your wings, your feet, your arms. Whatever you need of us.”
“Whenever you need it,” Raph echoes.
“Thank you,” she whispers, wiping a tear away.
Another beat passes before Raph and I move, shifting to stand on either side of her and letting our wings out.
Raphael takes her arm, instructing her to wrap them around our necks. “Hold on tight, baby.”
With a few flaps of our wings, we’re in the air. It’s not like we have very far to go, but I shift my hold from her waist to her thigh so she’s a little steadier between us.
When we land on the balcony, a thickly wedged boot props the door open, and Ezekiel and Dina are talking quietly.
Hayliel squeezes my hand, offering a quiet thanks before she moves toward Dina.
“Here.” She tosses a handful of clothes at her. “I had Zeke use his key and grabbed you some clothes.”
“You’re a genius, babe. And these better not be skimpy, or I swear—”
Dina laughs, then fakes a pain in her chest. “You wound me!”
Hayliel’s laugh echoes from the bathroom, and as if her happiness is somehow connected to all of us, a smile spreads across our faces. Even Ezekiel’s, I notice, though when he catches me looking at him, it fades right back into a scowl.
Dina moves to the bed, propping herself up against the pillows while Raph and I grab a chair. There’s a third chair, but Mr. Guild Intern must not enjoy comfort because he doesn’t take it. Instead, he leans against the hard surface of the wall, his ever-present scowl plastered on his face.
When Hayliel emerges, looking much more comfortable than before, she curls up on the bed with Dina and lets out a long sigh.
No one talks, but the silence isn’t awkward. There’s too much that needs to be said, too many things to discuss that it’s almost overwhelming.
Raphael finally breaks it, sitting forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “Anyone find it weird that both Principal Cael and Professor Uriel wanted to speak with Hayliel alone? What was it they wanted to say without us there?”
“It was pretty standard with the principal, at least from my experience. He wanted to see my wings for himself, just like he did on my first day when Professor Uriel brought me in for the supposed “prank.” Both times he felt one of my feathers too, but other than seeming fascinated, he hasn’t really said much.”
