Keiryn wanted to groan. He wanted to argue and yell at the angel standing in front of him because Raz was either thick or just not understanding what he was saying. He had had seven years to think about all of this and he finally had an opportunity and he was being asked to wait? It didn't sit well. But he didn't have any other options. He couldn't cling on to the angel because that would cause his own death, most likely, if he was dropped, and he had no angelic abilities or magic like the other so that was out of the question. There were no other angels around and, as much as he was selfish, he had a heart. One that was buried and hidden, yes, but it was there.
He wouldn't admit it out loud nor would he stop pretending like he didn't know Raz was right, but the angel, unfortunately, was correct. And if not for Raz, then for the children he offered therapy for. They weren't involved in this, and he wasn't going to let them suffer. Not like Alye had done. In a different sense, but they would suffer all the same without their goody-toe shoe guardian angel. He had waited seven years… a night or two couldn't hurt. He could do that. Keiryn could also get his anger out while he waited and that was probably the most tempting option out of the whole ordeal.
Even though his hands clenched into tight fists at his side, he relented, and then pulled out his phone, "Fine. But if you come back and tell me you haven't been able to get me an audience then you're taking me to the gates and I'm barging in," Keiryn would give Raz one attempt but after that, he was doing it his way. It had worked in his favour on Earth, he could get it to work in Heaven. And while he spoke, he was typing in the angel's number and sending him the address to an old, worn-down boxing stadium that doubled as both his apartment, and where he participated and ran those underground betting schemes, "You can find me here when you get back."
Raz watched Keiryn for the few moments of silence between them. In those few moments, every possible scenerio ran through Raz's head. What if Keiryn completely ignored him and went to heaven anyways? what if Keiryn took Raz as a hostage, forced him to bring him to heaven in exchange for his safety, or the safety of the other angels, or his kids. Raz didn't actually think Keiryn would go that far but it was still a possibilty he wasn't entirely willing to brush off, after all the angel seemed desperate to get in. And for good reason too, Raz wouldn't know what moral he'd cross if someone so close to him died, then he was accused of their death.
He glanced up in surprise when Keiryn relented but gave a slight nod, realeasing a soft breath of relief. "Okay. But only if I can't get an audience for you." He nodded again, reassuring himself this would go fine. He'd head back home tonight, find and speak with Urielle, explain the situation, not only about Keiryn but about reopening Alye's case. They'd talk, Urielle knew Raz, he'd listen. Maybe there would be argument but Raz would be ready. He'd convince Urielle at the very least to hear Keiryn out. It would be fine. He blinked distractedly and glanced down at his phone, reading the angel's message. He vaguely recognized the adress. Some of his patients had mentioned it in passing during some of their sessions but Raz had never really given it a second thought. "Alright, the latest I'll be back will most likely be two days from today. I'll update you in case anything does or doesn't happen until I get back." He promsied, sending a thumbs up emoji before putting his phone back in his bag.
Last minute, he puled his journal from his bag and handed it to Keiryn. "In the meantime, maybe you can use this. Its not much, just some notes and research I've done throughout the years on the case. Nothing has really come to much of a definitive point but maybe you can find something I'm missing."
Even though Keiryn was desperate and very morally ambiguous, he wasn't about to let an opportunity like this go to waste. An angel was willing to help him. A chance like that didn't present itself very often, if at all, to people like him. No. People avoided him at all costs, strangers dodged out of his way on the street and just one look at him proved as to why that was a good idea. But he wasn't about to endanger children for the sake of his own gain. He may have been desperate. He may have been far from angelic or 'good' as he should be, but he definitely wasn't what everyone made him out to be. An angel killer. He knew his lines, knew his limits, and there were just as unbreaking as his stubbornness and arrogance.
Two days still seemed like a long time in his mind, but Keiryn wasn't about to demand that Raz find a way to get it sorted tonight for the sake of his ever-decreasing sanity. His luck always ran out far quicker than he always expected, and he wasn't going to waste this. He had given up hope in God a long time ago, but he did send him a small, thankful prayer for this. For putting Raz in his path when he had nearly given up altogether.
And then his thoughts were drawn away from Him and back to the present where Raz was handing him a journal. Keiryn flicked through the pages, noting the work that had been put into each one. How many years had Raz been working on this? It was far more than recent, he could tell that much, "Cheers. I'll uh- I'll give it a look over. If you're not back in two days I'm coming to find you." A half-promise, if only to chew the other angel's ear off for making promises about returning and getting him an audience when he could have just said no to begin with. And Keiryn didn't both with a reply before he was turning his back on Raz and leaving. It was becoming far too busy and far too crowded for his liking.
Raz nodded, hoping Keiryn could make more sense of his scibbled notes and conspiracies he had written at 2 or 3 in the morning when he had been half conscious yet fully confident at that time of night he had been onto something. Anything he thought might have been helpful, no matter how rediculous it seemed later on was written in those journal pages among notes from websites, books, and lessons he remebered from Urielle. He rolled his eyes and waved a dismissive hand. "you're more than welcome to try, angel. I already promised you updates and a time when I'll return regardless of what I'm told." he sighed softly, and shook his head. "Until then." He gather ed the rest of his things, readying to head home himself. He wished he could take a nap or rest for a long while but that would all come soon. Now he needed to pack and head to the abandoned church on the outskirts of the city.
(time skip)
"So let me get this striaght in case I'm losing my sanity in my old age." Urielle said all a bit too calmly. Raz sat across from him in the archives where his mentor frequented most of the time. The archangel, was in fact, not old, or at least looked nothing older than mid forties. The moment Raz had gotten to heaven he had seeked the angel out, hoping to catch him alone. Perhaps alone wasn't the best idea now. Raz had never seen his mentor angry, he just wasn't that type of person to lose their temper to easily, or to lose it all but Raz saw none of that even emotion in his mentor now. the archangel rubbed his temples and took a deep breath. "You met the fallen angel who was sentenced to Earth for Alye's murder. spoke with them for what seemed like less than an hour, and in that time, you decided to come up with a plan to: a) get them back to heaven b) get an audience with the archangels c) somehow convince them open a very sensitive case back up, and finally d) clear his name?" Raz nodded slightly before nodding again to confirm. "So far yes. I know it sounds ludicrus but Urielle, we've been doing research. We both know soemthing is off with Alye's death. Keiryn can help us, or at least offer a new perspective no other angel has bothered to explore." Raz argued, wings fluffing up in defense. He knew how this all sounded, a naive angel trying to defend a convicte dangel murderer. But Keiryn wasn't a murderer. Raz didn't know how he knew that but he couldn't believe someone who spoke about their freid with such love and remorse would murder them.
Keiryn was restless, to say the least. He couldn't remember the last time he hadn't been able to sit down for longer than ten minutes. Actually, that was a lie, he could remember the last time he was just choosing to ignore it because it had been when the Archangels had been debating his fate over his alleged kill of his best friend. That wasn't a time he ever wanted to relieve, along with the moments that had followed afterwards. He still wasn't over it, he didn't think he ever would be, and as much as his emotions came out as anger the majority of the time, the memories always ended in a panic attack. Not exactly what he was looking to experience now.
It was why he was glad that his studio-style apartment was only down the street from the warehouse he frequented. Where the betting and the fighting were almost constant and didn't stop until the sun rose. Keiryn had made a name for himself there over the years. After he had rocked up one evening - the evening he had been cast out of Heaven - with an anger that seemed to be unmatched, people knew him in that world. Better than what he was known for up above. Because he wasn't a killer, and every time he thought about what someone might be saying about him, about what he allegedly did to Alye? Only fighting could dull the roaring in his head.
The fallen angel couldn't help but wonder what Raz may be saying to Urielle. Was he staying true to his word and trying to get him an audience? Was he talking bad about him and wasn't going to come back? He didn't know.
"Razielle, you are a good angel, I'd dare say aspiring to the likes of our very own Alye. IF things go south, you could very well not o nly lose your position but your job, a place in heaven, your own reputation." Urielle stated softly. Raz watch the archangel, trying his best to sense something there, any malice or ill-will towads the situation but all he coulse sense was fear. "Urielle, I know. But what if we're wrong about Keiryn. You even said it yourself that the entire case felt off somehow. What if we're right. And if we are, then the case needs to be opened immediately. This goes beyond myself and as much as I want to protect my kids, I can't stand by when Alye's killer, whether that be angel or other, is out there."
Urielle sighed softly, resting his forhead against his folded hands and took a deep breath. "Razielle, what you ask is near impossible. What will heaven do with a fallen angel here? And if by some chance you both are right and heaven made a mistake by sentencing Keiryn, I have high doubts most archangels would want to admit to that."
"Do you regret it? the decision to kick Keiryn out?" Raz asked, having remembered when Urielle had been asked by the other angels for his input. He had been one of the angels to appose, or at least extend the trial further to gather more information, but in the end he had caved and agreed with everyone else to sentence Keiryn as the angel killer. "I do. More so after I realize what they had done to him. I had already thought the exhile was too much but to cut off his wings… to strip him of his angelic being altogether…He had clearly been distraught over Alye's death, he didn't deserve to suffer any further."
Raz nodded "No he didn't. But we can help him now even if it doesn't compare to before." Raz said almost hopeful. He could see the war in Urielle's eyes. To remain loyal to his fellow angels and be the guidence they seeked in him, but to also remain true to himself and his own judgement was a struggle for him. "Gabriel won't like this." He muttered, strethcing out his wings before standing. Raz straightened and furrowed his brows. "You're going to tell him?" Urielle nodded, "Of course. He's prideful yes but he'll understand, I hope." Raz wasn't so sure in Urielle's partner's ability to put aside his pride and find flaws in heaven's judicial system but Urielle seemed hopefull in him. "Okay, I head back tomorrow, let me know what the decision is before hand." He stood as well and headed towards the entrance of the archives alongside Urielle. "Expect a response by morning, i'm sure Gabriel will have his own opinions very promptly. in the meantime go home and rest." He gently rested a hand against Raz's shoulder and offered a small smile before letting go and heading off to find his partner.
Raz in the meantime headed home, immediately responding to Keiryn the moment he found his phone.
"I think you're in. Urielle seems in favor of the plan. I'm waiting for a response from Gabriel in the morning but I don't think a no from him will change Urielle's mind. I'll be back tomorrow."
Keiryn heard his phone ping with a message even though he was in the middle of a fight. It was always close by, never too far out of reach. Not that he really had anyone to text or talk to, but if it was an emergency. He had really one real friend, and that was the man he was currently fighting against. James had been the first person he had met since being cast out of Heaven, and as a religious man himself, Keiryn had entrusted him with the truth about who he was and where he came from. It made things easier, especially when it came to reliving all those feelings around the time of his exile and punishment.
It was a frequent nightmare the fallen angel had. Reliving that night. When he had found out about his sentence, how he had been dragged away and had his wings cut from him, stripped of his entire being and thrown out as if he was nothing. After all he had done for Heaven to be tossed away like nothing but garbage stung far too deep. And he had ended up on Earth, bloodied and broken and James had taken him in and helped him. Without him, Keiryn didn't know whether or not he would still be alive. Regardless, the moment that the human heard the beep from Keiryn's phone he stopped.
They were both sweaty and a bit bloodied, most definitely bruised, and probably needed a break. James shook out his hands where they were now stained and inclined his head, "Who's texting you at this hour?"
Keiryn waved his own hand in dissmissive response as he moved to grab the device. He was almost relieved to see that the message was from Raz, and he was quick to shoot back a reply, Good. See you then. "I met another angel today," He replied, "He's going to help me with Alye's murder."
James gave the other a sympathetic look, "What if they hurt you again in response? You know that pretty much all of them believe you're the killer, and you have no evidence to disprove that you're not. You've already lost her, why keep trying?"
Raz had jsut enough energy to take a warm shower and preen his wings before he promply collapsed onto his bed, curl up into his blankets and drop his head onto a pillow befor ehe blacked out into sleep. Sleep that all about lasted what seemed only five minutes. He reluctantly awoke to his phone going off with text messages from Urielle and Gabriel, he actually thought about ignoring them and going back to sleep for a few more hours but he knew better than to ignore them. So he wrapped himself up in his blankets and answered everyone. As he had expected, Gabriel was against the idea, even going as far as accusing Raz of endangering Heaven with the mere idea of bringing in the angel killer. Raz smartly decided not to take that too personally and tried to respectfully argue that there was something wrong with the case and that it would be an equal crime to pretend like everything was fine. In the end, Raz and Urielle decided for the meeting. Keiryn would be allowed up to speak with Urielle and then Urielle would carry the message to the rest of the archangels. While Raz wasn't entirely convinced KEiry would appreciate being told to wait yet again for heaven to make up their mind, he figured it was better than nothing and at the very least Keiryn would be in.
He texted keiryn "Get ready, I'll be down in a few hours" before he climbed out of bed and dressed, wishing he could sleep but he promised himself sleep later. Right now he had a fallen angel and a murder to deal with. He dressed and grabbed an empty bag just in case he needed to grab anything else from his apaprtment back on earth before heading back to find Keiryn.
Keiryn looked at his phone again when it chimed once more. He didn't reply this time, he didn't need to, and slipped it into his pocket as he moved to grab his bag from the stool it sat on. He would need to change, get ready, go home. He could tell that the look on his face conveyed more nerves than he wanted to let on. At least it was only him and James, and he trusted him. He was probably the only person who knew who he really was under that bravado and arrogance. Seven years of friendship did that to a person, as much as Keiryn was as stone-cold as he could get the majority of the time, he let up when it came to the human.
"Keiryn," James moved and rested a hand on his shoulders, "I know you want to avenge Alye and clear your name, but is going back to Heaven really a good idea? After everything they put you through, you know it's going to be-"
"Be what?" Keiryn didn't mean to snap, but his words came out sharper than he intended, "Triggering? Obviously. But I'll be fine." The fallen angel shook his head and slung his bag over his shoulder, and not a moment later, James was pulling him into a hug.
"Stay safe. And you better come back, at least to visit, no matter what happens."
Keiryn nodded and bit his lip, "See you soon."
Facing Urielle again was going to be more of a challenge than he had originally thought. The fallen angel moved out of the warehouse and was quick to get back to his apartment. What was he even going to say to the archangel? He didn't really have much evidence other than the fact that he was aware that he was innocent and a couple of trails that had turned up dead and cold when he had looked further into it. Keiryn knew that Hell had something to do with all of this. He had a gut feeling that they were trying to pick off the greatest warriors of Heaven one at a time, and they had started with Alye, and in turn, him. The two of them came as a packaged deal, they had never been separated for longer than they had to be, and someone had known that. Someone had studied and watched them because they knew Keiryn was more demon than he was angel and would be blamed. A two-for-one. And they had got what they wanted alright. But it was nothing more than a hunch and as he entered his place he flung his bag to the side and showered as fast as possible. His hands and knuckles stung but they always did from the fighting.
All the way back to Earth, through the gates, past the guards, and then eventually back at his apartment, Raz' phone continuously alerted him of messages. He was almost sure it was Gabriel, warning him, or more accurately, yelling at him about the whole situation. How it was foolish and naive to trust the fallen angel, that he was putting heaven at jeopardy, not only by bringing Keiryn back in but by daring to challenge heaven's final and what was supposed to be permanent decision. And in a way, maybe he was right. Raz was naive. He wanted to see the best in everyone even in those other lost hope in. Its why he became a therapist. Its why he hadn't outright declined Keiryn. Naive but he wasn't dumb enough to go along everything. He had set boundaries for his own safety and the people he loved. He only hoped this wouldn't cost him everything. He occasionally checked his phone. clearing the stack of messages from Gabriel, answering Urielle, and checking on any updates from Keryn of which there were none.
He took a deep breath once he landed back on earth, the mixture of nervous emotions making him feel sick to his stomach but he managed to make it back to his apartment. He packed a few more things into his spare bag tha the wanted to ake back to heaven, threw on an oversized black jacket (ironically with a graphic of angel wings on the back) and headed out again to find the address Kairyn had given him.
Raz looked down at his phone then back up at what looked like an abandoned building then back down at his phone. Yep, this was it. He stood a bit off to the side, not wanting to be in the way of the patrons that started to slowly trickle in and out. By now it was near dusk, Raz having spend a good majority of the day walking around town, and making a few stops to restock his place in heaven as wel as full on arguing with the Gabriel and Urielle over the phone, who was no longer contempt being ignored over text. Maybe a fight club was a good place to be right now. he coud feel the thrum of adrenaline even from outside. He sucked in a breath and then started following others in, earning him a few curious tilts of the head or even a long look up and down. This was definately not his sort of place to say the least but he could definately see how someone like keiryn would fit right in here. Once inside he lingered by the back of the club, watching as people nearly twice his body and build yelled over the loud music, made bets and size dother apponents up. It was interesting, the atmosphere wasn't negative, sure there were strand of violent emotions Raz could sense, mostly from across the room where he tried to stay away from but over all there was a sense of understanding and respsct for each other and the space they had created for themselves.
Keiryn loved the place where he had ended up at. He loved the atmosphere, loved how easy it was for him to slip into a fight and take his anger out when he needed it. It also helped that he was good when it came to knowing who and who wasn't going to win at a fight meaning that the bets he placed always came back double because he always won. Especially when it came to betting against people who were new. Keiryn had been around long enough to know exactly who and who not to bet on, who would take out their opponent in under five minutes and those that would take far longer. There was more than just fighting and betting going on in that place. There was the main floor where the fights and the rings were, the bar off to the sides. The second floor which could be accessed by a set of stairs on either side had a good overview of the rings below and had private rooms for deals that weren't supposed to be seen by just the general patron of the place. Keiryn knew it all and loved it all and spent most of his time there.
He had arrived not long before Raz had got there, with a bag over his shoulder as he leaned against the bar with the remains of a drink in his hand. The bitterness kept him grounded in reality and from getting too lost in his own head. James hadn't been wrong, the whole ordeal, and going back to Heaven especially so close to the anniversary of Alye's death was triggering and dangerous. Keiryn knew he was going to have to keep at least somewhat of a firm hand on his emotions through the trip. As much as he wanted to get somewhere with the case and bring justice to his best friend, he didn't want to get Raz in trouble. At least not too much trouble that would result in him losing his own place in Heaven. He was an ass, but not that much of an ass to want to be the cause of someone else's downfall, especially someone trying to help him.
The fallen angel sensed the other's arrived moments after Raz walked in. Even though his angelic abilities had been stripped from him, he was still able to sense other angels. Their aura was different, and it also made it easy to spot Raz considering he did not fit in with the vibe of this place at all. He downed his drink, nodded his thanks to the bartender and weaved through the crowed effortlessly until he was standing in front of Raz once again, "You really came back." His words came out maybe a little softer than he intended for them to be. Half of it was surprise that someone really was looking to help him, and the other was gratefulness. Keiryn didn't quite know how to feel about it. His face may have been emotionless but his tone certainly wasn't.
Abrose eventually inched forwards with the push of the crowd, closer to the center of the rings. He blinked rapidly as the arena lights came into full view and another two stories were revealed. Originally Abrose had thought this one a one story warehouse but aprently there were more. In an odd and facinating way it reminded him of heaven. The hierarchy of it anyways, perhaps not the fight ring. He marveled at it all. This was what he imagined the undergrounds of the living world looked like. More ruggad and loose with the rules, adhereing to their own etiquette and a "do what you want" lifestyle. He could see how easily Keiryn could fit into here, more so than heaven. Now that he tried to think about it, he wasn't sure how Keiryn had ever fit in with heaven. Not because Abrose thought himself better and the ideal but just spending a few hours with the fallen angel, he could imagine the strict rules of heaven would be restraining to someone he thought of as untamable. In a way he could see why Alye had been attracted to him as an ally and friend. While kind and careing, she had always came off as someone who wanted to be more, that had the potentially to be more. There had been a fire in her Abrose didn't think many had the chance to see except maybe for Keiryn.
He slowly turned in a circle to get a better look at the place, still slightly awestruck by how different this really was, especially for him. Ignoring the glared and questioning looks, he kept his gaze skywards, trailing people with his gaze as they made their way up to the upper floors, wondering what hid behind the tightly guarded doors. He was so enthralled that he nearly crashed into Keiryn, who was now suddenly in front of him. Abrose hadn't even noticed him, not even his angelic aura until he ahd been close. He gasped in surprise before regaining his balance and peering up at the angel. He gave a slight nod. "I promised I would." He replied, watching or more like senseing Keiryn for a moment. His physical appearance gave nothing away but his emotions were something more impactful. "I'm not like the Archangels." He said softly. The archangels, who promised one hting for the sake of looking good and then immediately flipping the narrative like they had done with Alye's case. While not all archangels were like that, some of the more notable ones seemed to care more about appearances than the truth. Its why Abrose stuck so close to Urielle. He was one of the few Abrose fully trusted and while Gabriel was his partner, Abrose didn't always agree with him. He wanted to be better, someone who could be truly trusted, even when it came to the hard decisions. "We should start heading back. Urielle is waiting for as at the gates." He nodded back towards the entrance and started walking, weaving past the crowd, muttering sorry's and excuse me's. Raz paused as they exited the warehouse, turning back to Keiryn. "This isn't going to be easy. Gabriel already isn't cooporating very well. I expect other Archangels won't either. Tonight you'll only be able to speak to Urielle. He will report back to the rest and then they will determine what next to do. Its not a one day fix." He said, wanting to make absolutely sure Keiryn understood what he had asked was no easy task. Getting him into heaven would probably be the easiest thing now. "Can handle this if they choose against seeking an audience with you?"
Keiryn knew that it wasn't going to be easy. No matter what happened it was going to be a struggle for him to go through those gates and try and make a case to even just Urielle. Besides, he didn't really have a case to make other than that he was innocent and that he thought that Hell was involved with his best friend's death. After all this time fighting to try and find a way back into Heaven, now that he was given the opportunity he didn't know what to make of it or what to do with it. Maybe James had been right and he should have stopped while he was ahead. He had a life here now, in this place, with these people, who respected him and didn't treat him like dirt unlike the angels and the place he had come from. Now he was willingly going back under the very small hope that he might be able to avenge his friend. Keiryn didn't know if it was possible but he was going to give it his best shot, at least.
He followed Raz through the crowd, sticking close to his back and shooting a hard glare to anyone who looked in their direction with even a small expression that indicated that they knew Raz wasn't supposed to be there. He didn't fit in, that was obvious, and it did look strange to have Keiryn, a man who had beat-up knuckles and cuts twenty-four-seven and a glare constantly following him out of the warehouse. But either way, when they made it to the door and into the fresh air, Keiryn sighed softly.
"I know. I'll be fine." He really wasn't going to be fine but he didn't need to say it." Keiryn was a broken angel who had spent the last seven years grieving and mourning over the loss of his best friend. He had been cast out, lost everything and now he was going back to that place that had shunned him and treated him so terribly. Facing that again was going to be the hardest part of this whole ordeal.
Whether it was his hightened empathy, his own self doubt, or a bit of both, Razielle knew that this was far beyond okay, that Keiryn was anything but just fine, how could anyone be fine in this situation. As much as he wanted to help Keiryn, Raz couldn't help but wonder what would happen if the angels decided to against them. Being sentenced to earth would be a mercy. But Raz didn't think such defiance would be tolerated. Especially for the fallen one. Hell then. And if they had decided to strip Keiryn of his angelic being and of his wings, Raz really didn't want to find out what would happen in another sentencing. He didn't want to think about what would happen to someone heaven had already taken everything away from. What more could they possible to do after that?
"We can try and see Alye if you'd like. Usually the guards on night partrols are more leniant if we don't cause trouble. With a word in from Urielle I'm sure they'd let us pass for a night." He suggested, wanting to lighten or at least loosen the tention a bit as they headed to the abandoned church where Raz usually ascended and decended to and back from heaven. He wasn't even sure if he was in any right to suggest something like this he wanted to at least try. Keiryn seemed to genuinely love Alye, or at least he was good at acting like he did. What more could Keiryn do with a dead angel if he was the killer? And if he wasn't, seeing that Alte was back home instead of dead on earth had to offer some form of comfort.
(hey! so sorry for not responding sooner, ive been away on holiday)
Keiryn nearly paused on the spot. Visit Alye? The usually tough man seemed to soften. Concern, worry, sadness, they all flashed across his features in mere seconds. Half of him screamed at him to say yes. An almost instant reaction to the offer that was being placed on the table in front of him. The other half? The other half screamed no. No, because he was too ashamed to visit. Too guilty. How could he face her grave knowing that he hadn't done enough to protect her, to look out for his best friend, his soulmate, in every sense of the word, even if they were only friends.
Keiryn felt every inch of self-doubt that he had tried so hard to fight against for the last few years creep back to the forefront of his mind. He had become good at ignoring all those thoughts and feelings after a while, and had stopped giving in to temptations and desires to redeem himself in some way or another. They came flooding right back in. The fallen angel was silent for a few moments. It didn't matter what they did to him if they decided to sentence him once more to a life on Earth or Hell. It didn't matter what happened to him. Maybe he deserved it, after failing Alye. But this would then be his last chance at seeing her. The final goodbye.
Swallowing, he fell back into step beside Raz, not having noticed until then that he was two paces behind, "I would like that very much." He said softly. His tone sounded strange coming from a man that looked like he did. Acted as he did. Soft wasn't a word that he was ever described as, but it could have been used then.
(No worries!I hope you enjoyed or continue to enjoy your holiday!)
Raz carefully unlocked the doors to the abandoned church. He had been designated groundskeeper of the church, it being his place of travel to and from Heaven and earth as every guardian angel was assigned depending on their locations. He shoved open the doors to the church, blinking against the sunlight filtering in through the holes in the ceiling and the chipped stained glass windown on the still standing walls but eventually adjusted. He dropped the glamor of his wings and gently shook them out, glancing back behind him and pausing in the center of the room. He had barely caught the response, thinking he had misheard but the soft confirmation couldn't have come from anyone but Keiryn. Raz nodded slightly, a pang of guilt hitting hard. It was hard enough getting a fallen angel into heaven without permission, but getting them into a sacred angel cemetary? he wasn't even sure if Urielle would say yes, considering his hesitation to Raz's first request.
"I'll try." He repleid weakly, turning back around so Keiryn couldn't see him flinch. It wasn't a lie, but Raz only had so much say in things before he overstepped his already stretched limit as a simple guardian.
He stepped up the church dais, said a small prayer for luck and safety, and turned back to Keiry, offering both his hands for him to take. "Usually this is painfree, but for a fallen angel I'm not so sure. Whatever you do, don't let go though." He warned, taking a deep breath and readying himself, praying even to Alye for her friend's safe return to heaven, even if she was dead it couldn't hurt to ask for her guadance and protection.
(Thank you! it was alright :) glad to be home)
Keiryn knew that the likelihood of being able to see Alye was low. He was already not supposed to be going back to Heaven and yet he was. He was taking an innocent angel and throwing them into his bullshit when Raz really didn't need to be involved in the first place. He would have been able to figure it all out on his own eventually, even if it had taken him another seven years to do so. But this was one opportunity that he might never get again. Even if everything failed, if he was kicked all the way down to Hell itself because of his actions, he could say that he tried, at least. Tried one last time to avenge the death of his best friend.
At this point, he didn't even know if that would be what she would have wanted. Was he going too far, trying to find her real killer? Avenge her? What would he even do if he found out the truth? Who was behind all of this? He wanted to kill them, that much was true, but then he would become the murderer that Heaven already thought he was. In Alye's name, though, maybe they would be a little more lenient about how he would be treated…
Everything was unsure. He didn't know what to do. But he had Raz helping him. They were strangers, but it was the nicest thing and angel had done for him in a very long time.
The fallen angel followed Raz to the altar. He knew how it worked but refrained from making a snarky comment about it all, "Let's just get it over and done with." His calloused, bloodied hands took Raz's soft ones. Such a different, but then again, they were complete opposites.
Raz watched Keiryn for a few moments, assessing and contemplating. Was this really a good idea? Maybe it was better if he had convinced Urielle to come to earth and speak with the fallen angel instead of have Kei intrude of the peace they had so carefully crafted. He mentally shook himself and gently tightened his grip on Kairyn's hands, reassuring and forcing himself to continue. He figured if he backed out now, he'd have a very slim chance of getting to heaven unharmed anyways.
Taking a deep breath, Raz unfurled his wings completely and bowed his head, starting to mutter in an ancient serif language, allowing him and in tandem, Kieryn, access and safe passage to heaven's gates. as he spoke, a circlet of gold appeared at his brow and he slowly began to float upward. Taking that as a good sign, Abrose added in a grateful thanks to those above for entrance and gently tugged at Kieyn's hands, pulling the other along with him as he slowly began the ascent. This would be the easy part, getting them both off the ground into an ascent. Getting past the guards and the gates of heaven would be easier said than done. Even with Urielle's blessing and permission, Abrose was still nervous about what came after. Would anyone else be willing to listen? Gabriel had already shown his distrust and clear disagreement with bringing Kieryn in, much less about hearing him out. Raz half defletated even at the mere thought of having to explain to the archangel about wanting to let Kieryn into the cemetaries but that would be for later, preferably when said archangle wasn't around at all. He took a deep breath, letting the breeze and the rhythmic flapping of his wings as they made their way up calm him even just a bit.
"How are you doing so far?" Raz called to Kieryn as they breach the layer of clouds separating the physical earth from the heavens. Theat was the easy part, now came the more turbulent part, the part where Kieryn would be harder to hide.
