The Gene Files

[Ehcorn]

For a creature capable of flight, there was nothing more frustrating than walking and knowing the entire time that it wasn't necessary. If he'd wanted, he could've caught a thermal from his garden atop the Capital Building to the neighboring Luminary without any real effort on his part. The real problem would've arisen when it came time to land. That's when the people in all black would arrive and shout about breaking Ward Law and what would happen if he didn’t put his wings away.

Avoiding a standoff with The Ward was ideal — if not to spare himself the indignity of being fined or locked away or having his wings clipped as they threatened, then to ensure he arrived at The Luminary on time. He’d promised Sam he’d be there after dark, and he intended to keep that promise. So he walked, and the more he walked, the more uncomfortable he became. The air was cool and crisp and tasted of fallen leaves, but his choice of suit was constricting and too warm. By the time he made it into the foyer of Sam’s residence, he’d rolled and stuffed his tie in his pocket, unbuttoned the collar of his white dress shirt, then tossed his charcoal-colored coat over his arm.

He didn’t make it far into the building before he came to a stunned stop. There was a kaleidoscope of auras darting around in a room that rivaled anything he’d seen on his home plane. The ceiling extended high enough that he didn’t feel the same itchy uncomfortableness he usually did in mortal dwellings, and the colors they’d decorated with put him at ease, too, because they reminded him of clouds.

Something at the edge of his eye was unsettling about the space, though.

His gaze was drawn to the centerpiece of the room. Without realizing he’d moved any closer to it, Remi reached out with his index finger to part the sheet of liquid red that cascaded from a globe held by an Adonis of a statued man. The fluid was clear and didn’t smell like blood, but did it taste like it? He’d just slid his finger into his mouth when someone clearing their throat caused him to pull it free again with a soft pop.

"Excuse me, sir, but refreshments are available at the coffee shop," said a woman dressed in a badged white blouse and black pencil skirt. Her eyes danced merrily while Remi opened and shut his mouth like a stunned fish before he managed to stumble over an explanation: He'd only wanted to find out what it was made of.

"It’s only water,” she said, biting her lip too late to prevent a giggle from escaping. "It’s a trick of the light, see? Isn't it neat?"

Remi followed her finger to the spots that light shone through, illuminating the liquid trickling over the dark red stone the statue was carved from. He nodded and agreed that it was a neat trick, shifting briefly to smile at her. She followed up with an offer to guide him to the coffee shop or help with anything else he might need, but Remi shook his head and continued studying the water that didn't look a thing like water.

He didn't notice when she wandered off, a disappointed look painted across her face.

[Existentially Odd]

Samuel was running late. He'd been cleaning. When the sun finally filtered out of the sky and he'd awoken, he'd got out of his rumpled bed and bothered to turn on lights in his suite, looking around with a critical eye.

Remi was going to be visiting with him and he wanted to make it a pleasant experience. The bedroom was alright (and really, who was he kidding that the state of that would matter?) since housekeeping always fixed his bed and picked up his clothes. They somehow knew whenever he left and he always came home to a pristine room. Tonight, he'd helped them out by straightening the covers himself and picking up the few bits of discarded clothing, putting them away or in the hamper they needed to be in. Then he'd pulled on underwear, blue jeans, socks, boots and a grey plaid flannelette shirt.

Satisfied with his efforts, he rolled his sleeves to his elbow and did up all the buttons on his shirt except the top few as he regarded his handiwork. He left the bedroom and walked into the main room, where the lounge bled into the dining area he used as a study. His face fell.

His laptop - the one thing Remi would be looking at - was nestled amongst towers of books on the dining table, scrawled-on notebooks wedged in between the stacks, crumpled bits of paper and various items of stationery strewn all across the floor, radiating around the table like a fairy tale character had attempted to leave crumbs to help them find their way back. Or out. The couch cushions - both the decorative and the seat ones - were higglepiggeldy around the room for various reasons (Digital's reasons, usually). He snickered as his gaze fell on the one up against a wall, where Digital had put it in case his handstand had failed and he fell on his head while Sam knelt and held onto him and pumped into his mouth upside down and sucked... yeah. That wouldn't do. None of this mess would.

With a sigh, Sam set to work, righting all the cushions, collecting all the bottles of lube scattered about the place (four? When did he get that many and need to keep opening new ones??) and picking up every bit of detritus off the floor. Housekeeping never touched stuff that looked important and didn't throw away things from his floor, just in case, so the carpet wasn't exactly pristine in here. It had been weeks since it'd been vacuumed, in fact. Still, it all looked much tidier after his mad dash around the place. He'd nudged the book towers into a row like soldiers, away from where his laptop was and stacked all the notebooks in a pile, too. It was still cluttered but arranged.

Clearly, the values of cleanliness that Vomas had managed to instil in him while they were together had begun to fall apart when the relationship did. With a bitter grunt, he shoved that thought aside, took a last look around his suite and walked out to the lift with his room key in his jeans pocket, the red lanyard dangling out of it and down his thigh. When he reached the lobby, he scanned it worriedly. Relief flooded him as he encountered Remi... who appeared to be holding his jacket and staring at the statue water feature in the middle of the space like he was contemplating diving in for a swim. Surely, he wouldn't... ?

Samuel rushed over anyway, a smile forming as he finger-combed his loose hair belatedly. Oops. "Remi!" he called as he approached. "I'm glad you came," he drawled as he came to a stop beside the angel, his grin now at full wattage.

[Ehcorn]

The Sam that presented himself in the foyer was far different than the Sam he’d encountered at the carnival. Last night, he’d been dressed in a suit and had successfully tamed his locks, but tonight, he’d donned something more comfortable and allowed his hair to roam wild on his head. Combined with his exuberant smile and salutation, it made him seem all the more alive. More human.

When they shook hands, he sucked in a short, startled breath of air. He’d never be able to forget Sam’s true nature for long, not when he possessed all the warmth of the not-so-recently deceased. Remi frowned. There had to be a better way to think about Sam. Perhaps he could compare him instead to the statue at their forefront — an Adonis, frozen forever in time. He was quick to acknowledge that the similarities ended at temperature and appearance, though, because no sooner than they’d exchanged their greetings, Sam was off and leading the way to his quarters.

By the time they reached his apartment door, Remi had begun to wonder what sort of things he planned on showing him. Would he have been as eager to lead him to Gene’s records if he didn’t think they had the power to sway him? At the very least, he wouldn't have to wait long to find out. Remi shared a smile with Sam as he passed him on his way through the door, then — repeating his entry to the foyer minutes earlier — he came to an abrupt stop as he took in the space Sam called home.

“You have a lot of things,” he managed. There were obstacles everywhere, from walls to various pieces of equipment and furniture and mountains of books. For most people living in the city, they would’ve considered Sam’s home a veritable mansion, but Remi felt the walls and ceilings simultaneously closing in on him, making him hunker his shoulders until he laid eyes on the next room. It was filled with windows and a glass door that hinted at a balcony and a blessed exit if he needed one. His feet carried him to the spot of their own accord, and the closer he got, the easier it became to breathe. He had one last burst of tension to release in a massive sigh that rocked his body to and fro before he was able to turn and look sidelong at Sam.

“Could we sit outside when we look at his file?” he asked, lifting a hand to curl his fingers against glass that immediately began to fog up.

[Existentially Odd]

"Oh," Sam blinked, looking at the balcony space just beyond the dining table. There was a less substantial glass-topped table out there, with two chairs tucked against it. He'd never had cause to sit out there but supposed it would be fine. Remi's discomfort inside his spacious suite was making him a little nervous, frankly.

"Sure. I'm pretty sure the wifi will still reach us out there," he guessed, having no idea if he was speaking through his hat or not. "Would you like anything to eat or drink? I could have something sent up for you, if you like," he offered, remembering that part of being a good host was making his guest feel comfortable in any way possible.

Not by eyeballing their ass when they walked through your door and headed to your window, but at least he'd got one rule right, he thought philosophically.

[Ehcorn]

Fewer than five heartbeats had passed while Sam considered his request, but to Remi, it felt like he’d held his breath for at least that plus the amount of time it took for the sun to march its way across the horizon. Finally, he answered, and he rewarded the vampire with a smile bright enough to power the entire hotel. He wasn’t positive what wifi was, or how long it needed to be to reach them on the balcony, but Sam had said yes. That’s what mattered most. Coming in at a close second was the offer of food, even if it made him wonder how long he intended them to look through Gene’s files. Did he think he'd grow hungry before they finished?

“As long as it's not cotton candy,” he chuckled, referencing the last time Sam had given him something to eat. “Fruit would be nice. Cheese, too. Oh, and water.”

Remi shifted his coat where it hung in the fold of his elbow, but then moved to place it on the back of Sam’s couch after confirming it belonged there. He didn’t move farther from the door than he had to, however, and as soon as his hands were free, he was back and so close to the glass that he could feel the cold trying to force its way inside.

“Do you miss eating food?” Remi asked the question abruptly, and followed it up with another comment along the same vein, “Er, well. That's if you remember eating food.”

[Existentially Odd]

While Remi spread his coat out, Samuel went to his landline and dialled the kitchens, ordering a cheese and fruit platter for one to be sent to his room, with a pitcher of cold water. Before he hung up, he hesitated and added some crackers, sliced meats and a sweet corn relish dip. He replaced the landline handset and pulled his mobile phone out of his pocket, looking thoughtfully at Remi from where he stood, his ass rested against the kitchen counter.

"I still eat food," he scoffed. "It's just liquid. I usually drink from glasses and you'd be impressed with just how civilised I c'n appear," he smirked, thickening his accent deliberately so that his sarcasm was more obvious. The expression faded as he lowered his gaze to his mobile phone. He opened up a contact he'd called the night before and sent a quick text.

He's here. Room 1515.

He watched for the message to be acknowledged while he addressed the other half of Remi's question. "But no, I don't really remember food," he admitted, tucking his phone back into his jeans pocket and running his fingers through his hair before he folded his arms across his chest, skewing the open collar of his shirt a little. He stared straight at the angel, trying to remember.

"It's been a hundred and seventy years, give or take," he shrugged. "There are varieties and many different flavour profiles achieved with blood these nights, too, but it all does the same thing, no matter who's ingesting it or what it is. It's aimed at sustenance. Keeping a creature going. The rest is just window dressing," he shrugged again and lazily shifted his balance as he toed his boots off, kicking them aside before he straightened off the bench. His hands fell to his hips as he looked the angel over thoughtfully.

"So you're pretty new to the city. Are you single? And do you still like men?" he asked with a sly grin.

[Ehcorn]

Remi wasn’t sure if there’d been a shift in Sam’s demeanor or if standing as he was, cornered against the long glass panels of the suite’s windows, had made him more sensitive to the biting edge of his words and his closed-off body language. He straightened in response, squaring his shoulders and lifting his chin. At the same moment, his smile was replaced by a leeriness that narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips. He was still in that defensive stance when Sam shot off his own questions, each more intrusive than the last.

“What? Why— There’s no reason you need to know that,” he huffed. “I’m here to look at the files you promised. Unless knowing my status and preference will help you find them, then…” Remi trailed off and shrugged, both palms up. He had no interest in entertaining a vampire who was willing to lie to him. If they’d set up a test where he stood next to a human and they’d both offered their wrists, there was no doubt in his mind a vampire would bite an angel before they bit a human. Vretil, his mentor, had told him what effect heavenly blood had on its drinkers, and it went well beyond being flavor preference or window dressings.

After he dropped his hands again, Remi turned and pushed open the door that would grant him egress from the vampire’s smirks and knowing looks.

“I’ll be out here waiting,” he declared, stepping into the cool fall air and onto the balcony.

He shut the door firmly behind him.

[Existentially Odd]

Samuel watched Remi head out to the balcony, his lips skewing thoughtfully and falling victim to some nibbling teeth in the meanwhile. The angel was not here to play. He wasn't flirty, he wasn't soft and he was certainly not interested in being manipulated in any way. He was barely anything like Gene and Sam began to wonder why he was even bothering. The spark of returned interest was absent and his foray towards making a new connection had just been shut down categorically.

He wasn't used to being rejected. It smarted.

His ego aside, he supposed he was interested in closing this loop somehow. In a sense, he felt he owed it to Gene. He definitely owed him some apologies and a little retribution for his past misdeeds. Aaaand no-one knew that better than the man behind the knock that sounded at the door precisely then. Sam's head turned to contemplate it before he strolled in that direction, sensing his reception was likely to be as icy as - or icier than - the phone call he'd endured the night before. Once he'd stopped being hung up on, that was - by using the magic word ('Gene', not 'please'). He opened the door and stood in the opening, his body blocking Remi's view for the time being. And his visitor's.

Dominic held Sam in his disdainful glare like a cat staring at an unknown bug; wary and ready to pounce. The tendons in his neck were pulsing because he was clenching and unclenching his teeth. He was wearing clean blue jeans and brown work boots with a black polo that had thin horizontal blue stripes and the jungle-style A.A.G. logo over the left breast. It fitted him snugly, the sleeves wedged above his enormous biceps as if the bands that hemmed them didn't dare cross. His faded hair was slightly shorter than when they'd last met, sporting less length to style on top. He looked Sam over from head to to, his nostrils flaring as he got back to his eyes, indicating he didn't like what he was seeing.

"Where is he?" he demanded, his deep voice tight with strain.

"He's not the same," Samuel warned, frowning as his fears about his reception came to bear. He started to ask another question beginning with, "Wh-?" but Dominic cut him off.

"I didn't expect him to be."

That gave Sam pause and he frowned, cocking his head curiously. "But-"

Again, Dom cut him off with an impatient sigh. "Are you going to let me in or what?"

"Room service!"

Both men turned to find a Luminary staff member pushing a trolley laden with Sam's order standing in the hallway behind Dom. Her face was bright and smiling, indicating that she was oblivious - though perhaps by choice rather than true ignorance, judging by the way her gaze sidled carefully between the two men facing off in the doorway - to what was going on and just wanted to do her job. Sam made an impatient noise and stepped aside, opening the door to its extremity so that she could enter. "Out on the balcony table, please," he bade softly. "My guest's out there already."

Dom also moved aside so that the trolley could be pushed past him, automatically inspecting its wares until Sam spoke and drew his gaze.

"Look, what's your problem with me?" he demanded bravely.

Dominic sneered at him. "Where do I fucking start?" he challenged.

Samuel looked genuinely startled by the level of aggression he was receiving, clearly confused. "But... I haven't done anything to you," he protested.

Dom snorted. "You reckon?" he smirked.

The expression made Sam stop and think, trying desperately to remember. He'd done nothing to Dom, per se... but Dom was awfully close to Gene at the time. Oh, God. Horror washed through him at the thought Gene might've confided in Dom and told him... things. "Did Gene say anything to you about me?" he asked stiffly.

Dom quirked an eyebrow.

The silence stretched and Sam swallowed, wondering how best to put it. "Did he say-"

Dominic shook his head, his mouth a frown of disapproval. "You're fucking pathetic," he sneered and barged his way into the hotel suite. Sam was too surprised to stop him. He kept walking once he was inside, feeling a little like if he stopped he might collapse. His legs were somewhat jelly-like after standing up to a vampire like that. Also, because of Gene. Remiel, he mentally corrected. At least Sam had managed to give him that amount of information. When he spied him out on the balcony, Dom's panic and anxiety immediately began to fade, his dimples appearing as his smile came out. There was a little awkwardness at the doorway to the balcony as the server returned to her trolley with the cloche lids and began to wheel it out of the suite, but he stood aside when necessary and then he could move freely.

He stepped onto the balcony seeking the angel's gaze, his heart pounding and a look of wonder overtaking his face. "Holy shit, you did it," he whispered, then realised what he said and pressed a hand to his lips. "Oops! I'll have to watch my mouth now, eh?" he giggled, moving close to his old/new friend and opening his arms for a hug. "Remiel, is it? Welcome back!" he laughed, hoping the angel would step into his embrace and allow him to kiss his cheeks reverently.

Sam followed a little more slowly, scowling as he moved to get his laptop and collect an extra chair. There were only two on the balcony, after all, somebody needed to get an extra chair if they were going to all sit. He supposed it was his job, as host of this little shindig. His ears pricked up when they registered what Dominic had said and his sour expression shifted back to a frown of confusion. What in the hell? Dominic actually sounded like this wasn't a surprise to him. What? He hastened out there, juggling his burdens, just as Remi gave his response.

[Ehcorn]

With his forearms resting on the railing that wrapped the balcony, Remi leaned over to look at the ground and the pinpricks of light that moved along it. Wind licked his face and muted the sounds of the city. All the honking, screeching, and roaring faded into the background and Remi felt a bit of the calmness he did when he flew. While his feet were tethered to the ground, it was as good as it got. He sighed. No matter how tempting it was, taking to the sky would have to wait for a while longer.

Whether Sam realized it or not, he needed his help, and Remi couldn’t leave before he tried to remedy the situation that’d landed him there to begin with. He shifted onto one arm to look behind him and at the vampire in question, but was instead greeted by a smiling woman and a cart filled with a dizzying array of food.

“Oh, look at those,” he said, straightening and making his way over to snatch the plumpest of strawberries while the attendant transferred the platter from cart to table. “It’s beautiful.” He held the piece of fruit by its green tuft of leaves, twirling and admiring how it glinted scarlet red the light. It tasted as sweet as it looked. Juice dribbled down his bearded chin, and once he'd wiped it away with the back of his hand, Remi grinned at her. “Delicious, too. You should try one.”

She laughed and waved him off when he grabbed another of the strawberries and held it out. “I appreciate the offer,” she said, already wheeling her cart back inside, “but they’re for you. Please, enjoy.”

Remi didn’t need to be told twice.

Before he could push the strawberry past his open lips, a man stepped outside, shoulders broad enough he’d had to turn at an angle to get through the door. He lowered his hand and opened his mouth again, this time to ask what exactly it was he’d done, but he was silenced when the stranger welcomed him back by name. And it appeared they wanted a hug. He was more of a shake-hands-upon-introductions kind of guy, but his hand was occupied. There was only one thing he could think to do: Remi stepped back and held the strawberry out as an alternative.

“Want one? They’re very good,” he said, smiling brightly.

His offering swayed in the air when Sam emerged, dragging his things along with him. He looked about happy as he had when he’d denied remembering the vampire.

“Is this someone else I’m supposed to know?” Remi asked.

[Existentially Odd]

Samuel merely rolled his eyes and huffed in response to Remi's impertinent question as he worked at placing his chair and laptop on or near the table. Since Dominic was blocking his way and he was loathe to piss the mortal off anymore than he apparently had, that meant that the best he could do was quietly position the chair behind Dom and slink into the closest of the ones that usually lived on the balcony. Then there was the matter of the food platter, which took up most of the table space. Frowning, Sam worked at delicately sliding the tray over until his computer could balance and not topple. Balcony tables were not made for extravagant dinner parties, it seemed.

"You did know me, before your change. We were good friends. You worked for me at my landscaping company for a time, too. I'm Dom. And thanks," he grinned affably, lowering his arms out of their widespread hug mode and accepting the strawberry from Remi's fingers instead. He bit into it and then did a surprised lean forward as the juices of it burst into his mouth and up against his lips unexpectedly. "Juicy, heh," he laughed, his dimples flashing as he blushed at his own reaction and ran his tongue around to snatch up as much as he could. His gaze roved the angel's face in wonder as he chewed. "It's good to see you again, man," he said around a churning mouthful of strawberry pulp.

Sam merely scowled at them from his seat, wanting to suggest they both sit down but intrigued enough by the prospect of Remiel's outright denial of his past heritage when facing off against Dominic to keep his mouth shut. Let Dom bear the brunt of his righteousness for once and see how he handled it (though there was that niggle that Dominic knew a lot more than he was letting on still eating at him. What had he said? I didn't expect him to be? Hrmm).

[Ehcorn]

Remi stared at the big man, expressionless and unmoving except for the steady rise and fall of his chest. He was too stunned to do anything else except breathe. Either Sam had compelled Dom to give support to his story or he was just as delusional as the vampire. One quick look at his aura and Remi nearly groaned aloud; it bounced around happily — elatedly, even — as they looked at one another, and it bore no traces of a vampire's influence.

Dom thought he was Gene.

He was delusional, then. Just like Sam.

Without acknowledging anything had been said to him, he returned his attention to the food tray and sampled anything that appealed: colorful fruits went first, then cheeses (the more blue, the better), and some of the crackers Sam had ordered in addition to his request, though he didn’t touch any meat. When his stomach was appeased, he poured himself a glass of water, and after sucking half the thing down, he finally spoke.

“What exactly is it I’m supposed to have changed from, anyway? It doesn’t work like that. There are angels, there are the fallen, and there are the dark. They are all born the same.” He tried to keep the frustration out of his voice, but some of it had managed to rear its ugly head anyway. “I’m sorry,” he said, extending a second offering to Dom in the form of a sympathetic smile and apology, "but I’m not this friend you speak of.”

Water still in hand, Remi went to stand at the back of Sam’s chair and gestured with his glass to the vampire’s laptop. “You’ll see. Sam has files.”

He leaned closer and peered at the vampire’s computer screen. Although he wasn’t sure how it worked, or how to use one himself, his mentor had given him a rundown of the things he might see people using on the earthly plane. Vretil had been most impressed with the devices used to access a plethora of texts written over the ages. He’d spent more time talking about computers than anything else. If Sam said he'd be able to produce the information he’d claimed would prove his side of the argument, then he would. 

And then Remi would be able to disprove it.

[Existentially Odd]

Dominic was disappointed when Remi didn't acknowledge his comments but the quiet afterward cemented for him that the mind wipe had been complete and it allowed him a moment to mourn. His pleasure at seeing his friend again soon reasserted his equilibrium - though surprise that the changes came with such an obvious personality shift couldn't be denied. He could weather that storm, though. It would just be a matter of reconnecting, he was confident.

Watching Remi eat from the platter persuaded Dom to give it his attention too, so he shuffled past the angel to get to the stuff he wasn't attacking. As Remi began to speak, he put a generous amount of crackers, meat and dip in his mouth, meaning it was full right at the point where he denied he was Gene. Dom shook his head as he chewed faster but Remi wasn't watching. He moved to stand behind Sam. Dom poured himself a glass of water, hoping to wash the food down so he'd be able to rebut.

Samuel had found Remi's proposal intriguing - not that the angel had meant it as a challenge, he supposed. But what had Gene been? None of the things listed, he was quite certain. What did that leave? Dominic looked like he knew and wanted to say more but... his mouth was full? Cretin. Sam wasn't sure the file he had to show Remi supported either of their arguments anymore. He'd already seen the photo and it wasn't like he had amnesia. Looking at details of Gene's life wasn't going to bring his memory back... was it?

With a sigh, he opened Gene's file anyway. The photo was larger on his laptop, situated in the top right corner of the Oligarchy record. Gene's details were listed on the left and underneath, starting with the basics of a full name, date of birth, physical statistics, address, phone numbers and occupation. The file listed quite detailed background information next, followed by an intricate list of all of Gene's significant interactions in the city - including with Sam and Dom. Sam scrolled through it all, saying it out loud as he went, even though it seemed Remi could read (judging by the way he was hovering over his shoulder). When he got to the bottom, he frowned.

"Hey, there are new entries!" he cried in surprise. He had no idea who would have put them in there. Was the Oligarchy still running in some capacity? Looking at the dates, he supposed the new information could've been posted in the early days of its demise; he hadn't exactly been looking at the file back then, since he'd dedicated his life to Vomas. "Well, new to me. Notes that say you left the city after reviving Dominic Kaho, to return to your mama's farm. Then you emptied your bank account and disappeared after a phone call to Dom." Sam turned to frown over his shoulder at the angel, belatedly realising he'd said 'you' instead of Remi but not bothering to correct himself.

He eyed Remi's reaction curiously but that was the moment Dom chose to speak at last and drop a bomb that had Sam hastily swivelling to stare at him with wide eyes.

"That's when Gene called me to say goodbye because his father had offered to change him from a Guardian Angel to a full Angel and he knew he'd lose his memory." He smirked at Sam's reaction, pleased to have his open-mouthed attention, though he looked at Remi now, cheeks dimpling lightly. "You were done with that asshole breaking your heart," he told Remi, pointing at Sam momentarily, "done with your life not working out. You gave your mother all your money and told me how you appreciated our friendship. You wanted to tell me you'd never forget me but you knew you would. You knew you'd be changed by your transformation. You were good with it. I wished you well. I thought I'd never see you again," he laughed, his expression again delighted as his gaze roved Remi's face.

"You... " Sam began weakly, glaring hatefully at Dom but he didn't have the clarity or strength of conviction to finish his sentence. He was too shocked.

Gene hadn't called him to say goodbye.

[Ehcorn]

Enough time passed while they reviewed Gene’s information that Remi’s glass had grown slick with condensation. It nearly slipped from his hand when he lifted the rim to his mouth and drank what remained, giving himself the opportunity to gather his defense. The combination of their expectant looks and the silence that descended upon the balcony was telling. They expected him to say something. But what? What could he say that he hadn’t already?

“There’s no such thing as guardian angels. Whatever that’s supposed to be,” he said, reaching past Sam and his laptop for the water pitcher. He took his time filling his glass, allowing the glug, glugs and clinkity clinks their moment to speak. Careful not to drip anything on Sam, he returned the pitcher to the table and stepped back so he could have both human and vampire in his field of vision. “My father would’ve told me if there were, especially if I had been one.” Not an inkling of doubt made it into his words, but something of it showed up in the crease that appeared between his eyebrows and the tightening of his mouth.

Would his father have really admitted he’d been something less than angel at some point in his life? When would he have had the opportunity? He’d usually been off with his troops, on some mission or another, doing whatever generals did on the battlefront during a war that had seen more casualties in recent memory than ever before. Sometimes, he’d dropped in on his lessons, sending his mentor, Vretil, into nervous tizzies, but he never stayed long enough to talk. When his father had escorted him to the edge of the heavenly plane, they might’ve managed a conversation, but the other angel had remained silent until the very end. He’d taken Remi’s face in both his hands and smiled reassuringly before pulling him into a tight embrace.

Mind Vretil, he’d said, and then he’d gone.

“No one else ever mentioned them either,” Remi added. “The only guardians I’ve heard of are the ones who protect our homes, and they're no different than any other angel.” He huffed a sigh and raked his fingers over the edge of his jaw, scratching at his beard. “But I suppose at this stage, it’s still my word against yours, isn’t it?” A pause, more scratching, some frowning, and then he lit up. “What about me? Is there any record of me? Actual me? Of Remiel?”

[Existentially Odd]

Samuel was astounded by Dominic's story. The sense of betrayal he felt - the guy had said nothing of these details when he'd called him to tell him Gene was back, with no memory of being Gene - was sharp and nasty. It showed that the mortal wasn't nearly as nice as he seemed and that he was an excellent game player. Sam wondered about his motives; why had he turned up if he knew the situation Gene would be in? What did he want?

For his part, Dominic tilted his head and gave Remiel a nonplussed look. "Why would I lie to you? What've I got to gain from that?" he challenged, scoffing at the notion guardian angels weren't real. "I dunno what makes you think I'm creative enough to come up with a lie that good," he chuckled and plopped into the chair on the other side of the table, continuing to pick at the food on the platter.

Obediently, Sam began searching his database upon Remiel's request - he'd already committed to the guardian angel one before the request about his name was voiced, so he went ahead with that first. He saved Gene's profile information on the original tab and opened another.

"I have... over thirrty texts and references to guardian angels in my database, which covers a range of items held at various locations, not always books. Still, that's an unusually high amount, considering the exclusivity of the collection. Most queries don't get past five references. I also have three texts written in Enochian waiting for an expert translator that could hold more-- oh!" he interrupted himself. "And there's also a species reference in the Oligarchy system itself, defining Guardian Angels as the offspring of an angel and a mortal."

Sam looked up at Remi, hovering over him. "They're definitely a thing. They have an ability called 'Bless', which means they can heal a mortal with a single touch - or even just by having a desire to aid the unwell. It sounds like what happened between you and Dominic," he said stiffly, deliberately not looking at the mortal. He turned his gaze back to the screen again and typed in the second query asked of him. His answer was much simpler this time. "And... no. No mention of Remiel or Remi anywhere near these same texts, which often date back thousands of years. You appear be new, just as Dominic tells the story," he said through stiff lips.

"Told ya," Dom smirked and looked pleased with himself as he picked up a wedge of watermelon to eat.

[Ehcorn]

“That’s the thing! I never said I wasn’t new,” Remi shot back. “In fact, I remember telling you that I was, Sam.” He nudged at the vampire’s shoulder and raised his eyebrows, giving a full view of the fervent light that’d taken residence in his eyes. He’d finally landed on something that supported his argument, not Dom’s, and not Sam’s. His. “At the carnival, I said I hadn’t been on this plane long, didn’t I? You have no way of telling how long I’ve been on my home plane for sure. The records you have are earthly ones.” He chuckled to himself, not believing his luck, but the sound faded away along with his smile when he remembered something else that’d happened at the carnival.

When he’d first met Sam, it hadn’t been because he’d sought the vampire out. In a sea of unusual creatures he’d never seen before, something — someone — with Sam had drawn Remi’s attention. He'd been part angel, part human, with an aura that was all silver and gold like his except where it was interrupted by more neutral human tones. If Remi hadn’t had seen a mixed being standing in front of him, he never would’ve believed in its existence. After all, his mentor had never mentioned anything about them. Vretil had only discussed the paths that would lead to an angel falling and becoming corrupted and evil. Did he even know about guardian angels? Could the product of a mortal and an angel exist anywhere except Earth?

Was Vretil like Sam and had access to just one half of the story?

Standing underneath the weight of his wondering became impossible. Remi moved to the last remaining chair and sat down heavily.

“But let’s say you’re right. Guardian angels are real. I used to be one until I chose to forget you and become something more. Why would you want to…” He fumbled and dropped his words and shook his head in frustration before he glanced at Sam. “I— I wouldn't be able to give you the forgiveness you spoke of, because you've done nothing to me. The harm was done to Gene.” Next, he forced himself to look at Dom. Why did it feel like he was getting ready to kick a puppy? “And according to you, we were friends, but that doesn’t change the fact that I don’t know you and can't promise we'd be friends now.”

He took a long, steadying breath and briefly looked to what he could see of the stars as he readied himself for his final questions, “So what purpose does all of this serve? In your minds, what's supposed to come next?” 

[Existentially Odd]

Samuel looked upwards when Remi touched his shoulder, his expression one of surprised enlightenment. He was certainly distracted from his feelings - of triumph, that he was finally getting somewhere - by that look in the angel's eyes. It struck him somewhere low and excitable, captivating him immediately. He nodded because Remi was making a point about the carnival but he wasn't really listening. He was too bewitched by those eyes, a response he hadn't felt in too long stirring inside him once again.

Then Remi plopped down on the chair (closer to him than to Dom... HA!) and the spell faded. Remi's words were encouraging, however. He was finally sounding willing to accept that they weren't lying to him outright. Sam's enthusiasm quickened and he turned to face Remi with a growing smile. He swiped a hand through his hair as Remi started asking pertinent questions, causing the brown strands to fluff and resettle as he scrambled to think of an answer. 'Because I like you' seemed like a lame duck paddling right about then.

Dominic had no such qualms about answering Remi's prompt, however, and he got in first.

"Mainly," he said as he swallowed the last nibble of his third watermelon slice, "I'm here because I need to keep you away from this asshole." He pointed his rind at Samuel, spared him a glare and then placed the rind back on the platter. He shrugged good-naturedly and grinned at Remi. "I want to reconnect with you, of course, and I hope we can be friends again but... big picture first. Stay away from Sam," he announced with an unequivocal nod. "He's bad news."

"Just what the hell is your problem?!" Samuel demanded, spinning and returning the glare he'd received.

"You know what you did!" Dom sneered.

"How would you know?" Sam challenged, feeling flighty and worried.

"Because I picked up the fucking pieces!" the mortal roared. A moment of stunned silence - in which Sam rocked lightly backwards in his chair, his eyes wide - ensued and Dominic took a steadying breath before he continued. "Every damn time.  You toyed with Gene's heart. I know because he told me everything. You went after him when he had a boyfriend, threw him away when you had one and then, when you were feeling fucking sad or completely hopeless about Vomas, you fucking used him! Took him into that feeding room, drank from him, got him all worked up and willing... and then left with your damn boyfriend anyway. How do you think that made him feel, huh?" Dominic demanded, his blue eyes bulging a challenge at Samuel to deny the events took place.

Sam did quite the opposite, narrowing his eyes at Dom. He looked him over, noting the spots of colour high on his cheeks, examining the impassioned timbre in his voice and of his words, connecting dots that had been drawn years ago and had just sat about, waiting their turn. "You had feelings for him," he accused.

Dom rolled his eyes. "Of course I do! We're friends!"

"No. There's more to it," Sam argued, still squinting and analysing Dominic's colour. He got redder when the accusation came, looking incredibly guilty. Sam gasped. "Did you sleep with him?"

Dominic clamped his mouth closed and glowered from Sam to Remi, appeal in his eyes. What could the angel do to help him, though? It wasn't like he'd remember something and be able to defend his honour. He sighed, his gaze sidling mutinously back to Sam's. "Once," he admitted through clenched teeth, a muscle working in his jaw.

"Oh, right," Samuel scoffed, "so your motivation here isn't exactly pristine, is it? You want him back!"

"As a friend!" Dom bristled, coming out of his guilty stupor to defend himself. He sat up straighter in his chair, leaning agitatedly towards Sam. "We work best as friends."

"Is that what Gene said to you? Right before he left town and decided to wipe his memory permanently?" Sam sneered waspishly.

Dominic's nostrils flared and his lips pressed together as the barb hit home. "You were the bigger reason behind it. And because his dad told him he deserved better."

"Yeah. I'm sure."

"Thanks for proving to Remi what a dickhead you really are."

"Yeah, because the guy that came here to protect Gene from me - but also slept with him and wants to get just that liiiittle bit closer to him again - has only altruistic intentions and a 'beautiful heart'," Sam mocked, giving finger quotes to his final two words.

"I could fucken deck you right now," Dominic growled through gritted teeth, his hands becoming fists on the arms of his chair.

Sam grinned widely - enough that his fangs showed beneath the edge of his smiling lips. "I'd love to see you try," he taunted menacingly, also shifting forward in his seat.

The snicker that followed was unattractive and would give Sam ever more to regret, later on.

[Ehcorn]

Before coming to the city, Remi had flown near a mountain that spewed ash and ember — a polite thing volcanoes did before erupting. He’d been able to clear the area before the sky had been blanketed in fire, lava, and rocks that would’ve made his venture to the earthly plane a short one. Dom and Sam had given him no such warning. They’d exploded and he’d done his best to dodge all the debris while he tried to figure out a way to stop the flow of magma. Remi didn’t have much time to work with, though, before he sensed them squaring off to do violence to one another.

Jaw set in determination, he pushed his chair back and stood.

“That’s enough,” he snapped, voice a bullwhip crack in the air. He was relieved when both Dom and Sam stopped huffing and puffing at each other and instead looked at him. He exhaled noisily and shook his head. If this was how they’d behaved with Gene, was it any wonder the poor man had cut himself out of their lives? They were delusional, but not in the way he'd originally thought. Theirs was the attitude of knights preserving a damsel's dignity. They believed they alone had the power to keep him safe from those who might wish him harm.

It was time to set them straight.

“I don’t need either of you to defend or protect me. I’m more than capable of doing that myself,” Remi said, still standing. He’d found it was easier to pass around frowns and scoldings from that position. “If you keep fighting instead of answering my question, then I can fly right now.” He pointed at Dom. “You’d have to go too, though. I couldn’t leave you alone with him in good conscience. I’m sorry, but he could kill you.” Dom might've been more physically imposing than Sam, but vampires possessed an inherent, supernatural strength not unlike an angel's. If Sam meant to hurt Dom, he could manage it easily.

Remi tucked his hands into his pants pockets and looked between the two potential combatants. “So I ask again: What happens now?”

[Existentially Odd]

Samuel's shocked protest of, "I wouldn't kill him!" was mostly lost in amongst Remi's indignation. Offended that he would be assumed a murderer - rather than Remi understanding he'd been implying he'd drink from Dom and prove the mortal's absolute weakness to vampires by leaving him writhing - Sam withered in his seat, stupefied and strangely humiliated.

Dominic blinked at Remi's display of authority, a grin forming as he watched the vampire deflate and pout. Remi's final prompt had Dom beaming and bouncing to his feet, reaching into his back pocket to extract his wallet.

"You know what? You're absolutely right," he enthused, withdrawing a card from his open wallet then tucking it back into his pocket. He stepped closer to Remi and held the card out to him. "You are more than capable of looking after yourself. What happens from here is entirely up to you. Here's my number and address - I work out of my home, basically.  I'd love to get to know you better, hang out, but whatever you're comfortable with is fine by me. Call me," he shrugged, his dimples flashing.

Dom would listen to anything Remi had to say and, once he took the card, Dom would sidle past him with a wish for having a good evening, letting himself out of the suite without even acknowledging Sam as he left. Then Remi would be left with a vampire throwing him furtive looks and shifting uncomfortably on his seat.

"I wouldn't have hurt him," Sam would offer, proving that the greater part of his discomfort came from Remi's unintentional character assassination. "I would've drunk from him. He's a hopeless groupie. It... would've embarrassed him to be vulnerable to me." It was better than murder but the psychological ramifications of his intended actions would've been harsh.

[Ehcorn]

Remi cocked his head. “But… you just admitted you would’ve hurt him. The only difference I can see is that you wanted him to suffer.”

Death was a terrible and permanent thing, but the nature of it meant that if Sam had killed Dom, he wouldn't have been able to hurt him anymore. Forcing the human into a situation where he would’ve lost control of himself was arguably a lesser evil, but it told Remi that the vampire was capable and willing to be cruel. Disappointing, really, though it didn’t deviate far from what his mentor had told him of the species. The fact that Sam was able to hold a conversation with an angel without trying to feed on them would’ve been a surprise to Vretil, though.

Smiling at the thought, Remi turned his attention to the card that Dom had handed him before he’d left with little ceremony. As promised, there was a name, a string of numbers, and beneath that, a combination of numbers and words he supposed was his address. The human had come out for misguided reasons — thinking that he needed to rescue someone that Sam’s records confirmed could’ve done with some saving — but Remi had seen his aura. His intentions had been pure. Yes, he'd call him; it might be nice to spend time with such an affable man.

There was only one problem.

Remi turned the card into his palm and looked at Sam, a frown marring his face.

“I don’t have a phone.”

[Existentially Odd]

Remi's point was well made and only made Samuel feel even more abashed. The more he spoke, the more stark the differences between the angel and Gene became. Sam didn't particularly like them... but he admired them. As embarrassed as he was, he respected Remi for pointing out that his choices weren't gallant. There was also something alluring about his authoritarian attitude; he wasn't often called out on his bullshit.

"Would you like to buy one?" he asked quizzically, looking contritely up at the angel. Were they about to go shopping? It was a welcome distraction from discussing how he might've hurt Dom. "Do you even have any money?"

[Ehcorn]

"Well, I did." He dug one of his hands into the empty depths of his pocket to rub a bit of thin fabric between his thumb and forefinger. "My mentor gave me money the last I saw him, but after I bought food I didn’t need the rest."

He went on to tell Sam about the old, gray-haired man that he’d seen on his way back home after the carnival. He’d had a cardboard sign that said he was hungry and anything would help. "So I gave him what I had left," he finished, chuckling when he recalled how happy the guy had been after he’d confirmed for the nth time that Remi was sure about giving him his whole wallet.

"When Vretil comes back, I’m sure he’ll bring more," Remi said. "I could buy one then."

[Existentially Odd]

Samuel blinked repeatedly at Remi, processing his story.

"But... don't you need to eat regularly? How do you pay when you need more food? And... don't you pay rent? Where was it you live again?" he asked, questions tumbling out of his mouth as they occurred to him.

He recalled something about a tall building or a garden but the details were eluding him in the face of such perplexing information; Remi had given away all his money?

[Ehcorn]

No sooner than Remi opened his mouth to answer one question, Sam was on to the next. All he managed to do for a while was his best fish impression, and it rivaled the one he’d done earlier that night in the hotel’s foyer. The way Sam asked his questions made him feel like he’d done something wrong, just like the woman had when she’d suggested he slake his thirst at a nearby coffee stand instead of the water fountain.

Remi cleared his throat and slid the card Dom had given him into his pocket before he crossed his arms over his chest.

“I live at the top of the tallest building in the city, like I said.” He half-turned to nod towards the nearby Capital Building. “No one was taking care of the plants up there…” Remi trailed off and shrugged. “I don’t pay. Not exactly. I figured I’d help out and they wouldn’t mind if I stayed.” So far, no one had bothered him and the garden had turned into a paradise. Sam’s balcony was nice, but he could’ve used some more greenery. Not once had Remi been able to forget where he was like he could while he was in his rooftop garden.

“And yes, I need to eat,” he said, breathing a short laugh, "but I've never run out of food from one trip before Vretil comes back.” His face fell along with his shoulders and he looked askance at the table that hosted the food platter Sam had ordered for him. “Except this time,” he admitted slowly, looking back at Sam. “That was the first I've eaten since the carnival. So... thanks for that.”

[Existentially Odd]

The more Remi explained, the more questions bloomed in Sam's head. He frowned as he thought through the answers, trying to skin them down to their bones in order to figure out which one was the juiciest. One of these had to be the lodestone upon which the other information relied; if he could figure that out, he might find the shortcut to understanding (sometime before midnight would be good).

Samuel followed Remi's look and spied the Capital. Ah yes, that was it. He had mentioned living in a garden on top of the Capital Building. Squatting was more like it, since Sam now knew he was paying no rent. Perhaps the penthouse wasn't occupied at the moment, so no-one had had cause to travel to its roof to realise there was an itinerant angel in residence? The thought brought the ghost of a smile to his lips.

"You know you're technically breaking the law by staying there, don't you? If you live somewhere without paying for it - especially when they don't know about it - that's called squatting or trespassing. When they find out you're there, you'll be in trouble," he warned in an offhanded manner.

This information wasn't what mattered most but Remi deserved to know where he stood. He used it as a segue to get him to what he'd deemed the pivotal information he did need. "Who's Vretil and how long will it be until he brings you more money? You should be eating more than once a day, surely."

[Ehcorn]

"He’s my mentor?" Remi replied, his expression taking a turn for the uncertain and mildly confused — all creased forehead and puckered lips. Hadn’t he said that already? Was Sam even listening to him? Before he could puff up any further, Remi remembered that things were different on their mutual planes. Perhaps they weren’t afforded the same guidance he had been, with a hand-picked instructor that had become his most trusted friend.

There had to be something that would help Sam understand his relationship with Vretil, though.

"He tutors me in—" Remi uncrossed his arms to tick off items on his fingers as he went, "—Enochain, Demoniac, though I still read it better than I can speak it, and a few human languages, too. Then there's species studies with an emphasis on human relations, horticulture, and…” What was it Vretil always said? Summarize. Condense, clarify, and present. "He’s ah… my guardian, too. He does everything my father can’t, like check in on me every—" Again, he paused, and again, his uncertainty made itself known on his face. Sam probably wanted numbers. Dates. Time frames. None of which Vretil had given him much instruction on.

"I don’t know for sure when he’ll be back.” He reached into his pocket to flick at the edge of the card he’d recently shoved in there while he racked his brain for any helpful clues he could give Sam. "But I know the leaves had just changed colors when I saw him last," he said, smiling as he recalled the brilliant displays of red, orange, and yellow. "It was beautiful."

Almost as soon as his smile had flickered to life, it faded. When the leaves changed, he'd also met the city’s guards for the first time.

"You said I'd be in trouble for living on the roof when ‘they’ found me. Who is ‘they’? The Ward?"

[Existentially Odd]

Samuel's eyes lit up when Remi mentioned he was being tutored in Enochian, immediately sensing an opportunity to advance his library. That would mean more time spent with Remi, too. He wasn't sure that would be a good thing... until the angel smiled, of course. Thinking about the shifting face of Autumn caused his own face to reflect the beauty of it. Sam lifted his eyebrows, momentarily transfixed by Remi's expression until it melted into one of concern.

Blinking, he cleared his throat as he shifted on his seat, organising his wayward thoughts into an answer. "You should sit again, I reckon. Craning to look up at you is- " he trailed off with a laugh, rubbing his neck and grinning meaningfully at the angel. "By 'they' I mean the owners of the building or the penthouse but I guess they could get the Ward involved. It'd more likely go to Jake McCloud or his people to rule on, since it's happened in Central District. I guess they have to catch you, though," he shrugged, his gaze lowering to take in Remi's body thoughtfully.

"You fly up there, I gather?" he enquired, lifting his eyes again until they met Remi's. His hand fell away from his neck to rest on the table by his laptop, realising he should be asking more about Vretil's visits, translating lessons and Remi's lack of understanding about time (and money) but feeling like it could wait.

[Ehcorn]

Remi, dragging his chair out a little farther and stepping around it with every intention of sitting down again to spare Sam's neck, froze when an unfamiliar name was spoken. “McCloud” seemed innocuous enough, but that was just a name, not a man. Until he met him, all he could hope was that he'd be easier to deal with than the organization that’d already written him off as a miscreant.

But like Sam pointed out, that was only if he got caught in the first place.

“Yes, I fly there.” Remi lined himself up with the well-lit Capital Building in the background and mimicked the steep incline of a takeoff with his flattened palm, then leveled out in an easy soar. “I stay above the clouds until I’m near the top, then,” he tilted the tips of his fingers down and at the last second, yanked them up again to imitate the maneuver he’d commit to before he touched his feet to the ground. “If I’m not careful, I’ll run over my plants or…” He held up his other hand to act as the ground and smashed into it. “Splat, I think, is the right word,” he said laughingly as he met and held Sam's gaze.

Like a magnet to metal, though, his eyes were pulled to the vampire's full lips and he wondered if they'd feel as cool as his fingers had. Would they steal the heat from him, too? A breathy, sheepish sounding laugh escaped him when he realized he was still standing above Sam, contemplating what it'd be like to kiss him.

“Sorry,” he mumbled, reaching blindly behind him for his chair. Once he got settled in it, he cleared his throat and continued speaking in an effort to keep his mind where it should be, "But uh... In general, I always try to avoid being seen. The last time I was caught flying, I got a fine." Remi pulled a face. "Whatever that is."

[Existentially Odd]

Samuel silently admired Remi's demonstration of his flying patterns, equally as fascinated with the way his shirt pulled taut across his broad shoulders and around his biceps as with the manoeuvres his elegant hands were describing. He chuckled along with Remi at the notion of him crashing and met his gaze with open admiration.

Because he was looking straight at the angel, Sam noticed where his tawny eyes went and felt a reciprocal thrill shiver through him. He was looking at his mouth. The urge to lick or smile wider was strong but he fought it. A little curious look wasn't enough to act on but it was encouraging nevertheless; at least he'd drawn Remi's gaze. Once. Hyper-aware of the inspection, Sam waited until Remi looked away and was sitting before he licked his lips and ran a hand through his hair, shifting on his own seat in response.

The news that Remi had been caught flying in the city had Sam looking at him with wide eyes, clearly startled. "You were caught and fined? By the Ward?" he queried, receiving an unnecessary affirmative in answer. No wonder Remi had looked confused by the name McCloud but had asked specific questions about the Ward. He'd already run afoul of them. "A fine is something you need to pay as... as compensation? No," he frowned trying to find a word Remi would understand that would accurately describe the nature of a fine.

He ran his hand through his hair again and grabbed his chair by the seat between his legs to shift it - more in agitation than anything but it squared him towards Remi and got him a little closer anyway. His elbow was on the table by his computer now, his other hand moving away from the seat to rub along his denim-clad thigh as he thought about his answer.

"More like retribution. Because it's against the law for any supernatural to reveal the nature of their being to the general populace anywhere in this city so if you were caught flying, that's a big no-no. Anyone could've seen you - obviously they figured the risk was low, though, otherwise you wouldn't have just been given a fine, you'd have been punished more severely. You were lucky. Or smart," he chuckled, his eyes twinkling as he shook his head at Remi - ostensibly, the action was reproving but there was obvious indulgence and admiration in his gaze, too. For such a rigid authoritarian, the angel was delightfully rebellious, too. Sam liked that idea very much.

"Either way, that's something y'all are gonna have to pay for. With no money. When is Vretil due to visit you next? Because fines have a time limit and I'm beginning to think it would be a good idea for you and I to take a trip downstairs to the Ward Headquarters so I can pay this fine for you. I don't want you to get into more trouble just because you don't pay in time. We might as well go buy you a phone while we're at it. And some groceries. Can't have a fine figure like yours wasting away without nourishment," he teased, dropping Remi a wink as he laughed and pointedly raked his gaze down said fine figure.

[Ehcorn]

While Sam explained the purpose of the slip of paper he’d been handed by a scowling man in black, Remi sank deeper into his chair. With a sigh, he propped his elbow onto the armrest and leaned the side of his face into his fist.

It hadn’t been anyone’s fault but his own that he’d been flagged down and scolded by the Ward. His mentor had warned him over and over that if he flew, he needed to take steps to avoid being seen — using the clouds and magnifying his halo to hide himself — but he’d discovered how exhilarating it was to fly between all the skyscrapers in the city, darting past and weaving through them. Staying hidden had taken a backseat to his sheer enjoyment of the moment and he’d been made to pay a price.

Rightfully so.

His expression grew glum when he was reminded that he couldn’t exactly pay that price because of another choice he’d made. He had no money because he’d seen hunger in the homeless man’s eyes and misery in his aura. If he could go back in time, he’d give him his wallet again, but maybe… well, maybe he would’ve kept enough to pay his debt.

Vretil might've been able to help him, but he had no idea when he’d return. Remi sank deeper in the chair and shook his head, readying himself to share that information with Sam, but sat up and dropped his hand when the vampire suggested that he could handle the situation. All the weight lifted from his shoulders and he let loose a long sigh that was interrupted by a laugh at its tail.

"I bet I eat more than you’d think to keep up," he teased back, raising his eyebrow and nabbing an apple off the platter to take a big, crunchy bite from. Remi ate more than he thought he would, which was something of a problem when it came time for meal planning. He finished his first apple and had grabbed a second to work his way through as Sam gathered his things. And when Sam led the way back into his suite, Remi followed. To his surprise, he only felt a crawling sensation between his shoulders (a vast improvement over feeling like the entire place would collapse on his head), but that didn’t mean he wanted to linger any longer than he had to.

Thankfully, they were at the elevators in short order, but when they stepped on, Remi cringed.

The doors closed on them and Remi moved to the farthest corner of the box. There he remained, trapped, with his arms crossed over his chest and what remained of his apple forgotten in his hand. As they descended, he glanced around furtively, searching for every creak and groan that he heard, and tried his best to keep breathing steadily.

"I really don't like these," he said, in case the vampire wasn't aware.

[Existentially Odd]

Samuel had expected Remi to balk or chastise him for the flirt. When he got a laugh and a cheeky look around an apple, he was quietly thrilled and a happy zing rippled through him. Mildly flustered by Remi's playfulness - but chuffed that he agreed to let Sam help him out with his fine - Sam grabbed his laptop and headed inside. He left it in the study nook instead of on the dining table and picked up his wallet and room key before he walked Remi out to the elevator.

Remi's demeanour completely changed once they were enclosed in the moving box and the giddy feelings Sam had been entertaining evaporated in the wake of his sudden concern for the caged angel. He stepped closer, hesitant about crowding but drawn to the tension in Remi's face. "What is it? Are your wings cramped?" he asked in concern, lifting both hands to grip Remi's folded forearm - firmly, so as to distract him from his discomfort. Sam's gaze drifted up over Remi's shoulders, inspecting absolutely nothing he could see but imagining how difficult it would be for wings as large as Remi's to fold into a restricted space like an elevator.

His gaze returned to Remi's eyes in short order, since looking at the blank walls did him no good.

[Ehcorn]

When Sam clamped his hands around his arm, Remi sucked in a startled breath. He could feel Sam’s cool fingers through the thin material of his dress shirt, and focusing on the sensation effectively anchored him to the vampire. Each breath that followed came more easily than the last, because the walls weren’t collapsing on him anymore, crushing his chest and making it impossible to fill his lungs properly.

Eventually, he licked his lips and used some of the air he’d gathered to speak, but the words hung in his throat when he met Sam’s gaze. In the semidarkness on the balcony, Remi hadn’t paid attention to the color of his eyes. Now, underneath the impossibly bright lights in the elevator, he was struck by how much they resembled the sky at twilight. Remi would've continued staring, but his reverie was interrupted when something made a clanking noise, causing him to blink and jerk his head back to eye the inside of the box warily while his heart tried to jump through his chest.

But Sam was still there, wasn’t he?

Remi untucked one of his hands to rest it on top of the vampire’s, using the additional contact to lower the anchor until it dragged sand.

He sighed and shook his head, then gave answering Sam another shot. “No, it’s not my wings,” he admitted. “They’re not… They’re caught between here and there when I hide them.” He chuckled wryly. “I wish it was that, ‘cause that’d make sense. This… This doesn’t make sense. I get in these spaces, and I know there’s air, and I know those doors are going to open again, but it doesn’t feel like it. I feel trapped, like I’m getting crushed. I can’t breathe.”

Remi tightened his fingers around Sam’s briefly and smiled crookedly at him. “It’s easier now, though. Thank you.”

[Existentially Odd]

Remi's heart beating a tattoo of distress was the most prevalent sound, to Sam; the angel's words were almost hard to hear over it. When his hand was covered by warm, worried fingers, Samuel turned his over and arranged it so that their hands were entwined. That way, he could give Remi's a reassuring (he hoped) squeeze. His other hand dropped to Remi's waist, his thumb rubbing and kneading reflexively.

The idea of Remi's wings being trapped in a netherworld between 'here and there' fascinated the vampire but he forced himself to focus on the story about his fear instead. Confined spaces was quite a common one, though not something Sam had experienced himself. It didn't make him any less sympathetic, though.

"Ah, I see. Claustrophobia. Just... I'm trying t- oh! How about 'tell me something you've discovered about yourself that would be interesting for me to know'? This trip won't take long and we can use the stairs when we go back-"

No sooner had the words left Sam's mouth than the elevator slowed and stopped on the fourth floor. So close. A young mortal got on, giving them a curious look and a friendly smile before he turned and pressed the button that would take him to the ground floor. One beyond their destination. He didn't look back at them once he'd hit the button, content to let them do whatever they were doing in the corner while he stared at the lights beside the door.

"Not far to go," Sam whispered to Remi as he focussed his attention back on him. His hand slid from his waist and wound around the angel's back, pulling the front of his body into contact with Remi's. He smiled again as the elevator whirred to life and continued its downward journey to the first floor.

[Ehcorn]

The doors slid shut, but as panic bubbled in Remi’s chest and made his throat tight, Sam brought him close enough that if Vretil had been there, the angel would’ve pulled them apart and scolded Remi for being so careless. Hadn’t he made it clear what vampires were? What they could do? When Sam flashed his fangs, though, it wasn’t to tear open his throat — it was to comfort him with a reminder and a smile. They were almost there. Remi nodded and his smile grew in strength.

It didn’t hurt that the nearby mortal seemed as unconcerned that he was locked in a small metal box as Sam was. His aura radiated a steady calmness that drew Remi’s eye until he looked past it to the flickering numbers above the doorway. 3… 2… 1… and the doors opened again. Uncertain if it was their time to go or if another person would be joining them on the elevator, Remi was frozen until Sam gently urged him to move.

A grin split his face and he burst out of the elevator, dragging Sam past the blinking human and into a gloriously empty hallway. The ceiling rose well above his head and if he wanted, he could reach both arms out and not touch a wall. He could breathe. He inhaled deeply and exhaled, lips flapping like the business end of a whoopee cushion, but before he took in another breath, the weight in his hand registered and he untangled his fingers from Sam’s.

He winced and shook his hand, then rubbed it on the side of his pants. Sam hadn’t stolen any of his blood, but he’d had no qualms about stealing his warmth.

[Existentially Odd]

Samuel was surprised by the sudden burst of enthusiasm that had Remi yanking him out of the elevator but he caught up quickly, smiling at Remi’s obvious relief. It was understandable and he felt vicarious relief on the angel’s behalf. That faded as soon as Remi shook him off, pulled a face and wiped Sam’s touch onto his pants. It sent a clear message; he was still distasteful, on the whole. In times of wild panic, he was tolerable - and useful for things like money - but he oughtn’t let those marginal benefits go to his head.

He was a mildly convenient stranger and a vampire. He didn’t rank far above a slavering dog, in Remi’s opinion.

Gathering his dignity, Sam turned from watching Remi and headed down the hall instead. Passing a set of stairs, they turned right where, a few metres along, the wall around the corner was broken by a large opening. It featured a belly-height counter and a broad view into a large room filled with desks, computers and a hive of activity generated by the numerous folks in their black Security-labelled uniforms. Behind Sam, expansive floor to ceiling windows (The Luminary’s standard on every floor possible) gave a view out to the street and the entry to the building, a long line of chairs was placed in front of them for people to sit on while they waited to be attended to. They were all empty.

Switching into his more confident public persona, Sam took charge of the situation, stepping up to the counter and greeting City Warden Jardine (according to her badge), who stood behind the reception desk. He adopted a pleasant enough smile, though he knew it didn’t reach his eyes; his positive feelings had been left at the top of that elevator ride. Sam stated his business and pulled out his wallet, extracting a credit card efficiently. There was some fussing when it was discovered Remi didn’t have his fine with him (which Sam had expected) but it was resolved pretty easily with some tapping of keys on their computer and Remiel supplying his full name. He couldn’t confirm the date, place or timing of the infringement, which somewhat frustrated the warden, but she let Sam pay the fine anyway.

“Not bad timing,” she remarked casually as she returned to the counter with the printed copy of Sam’s receipt and handed it over to him. “You only had a week left to pay. You folks have a nice evening now,” she bade with a smile.

“Thanks. You too,” Sam replied, his tone too grim to match her pleasantry. He examined the paper as he turned and walked towards the sweeping set of stairs that led down to the lobby (they let out just beyond the hotel reception desk - most people rarely looked at the nondescript entrance, even though it was clearly signed as an approach to the City Ward offices, because they were too taken aback by the statue or they headed straight for the elevator bank). “You got this fine almost two months ago,” he accused Remi as he went, looking at the details listed on the sheet.

It wasn’t his business but he figured he’d earnt the right to snoop since he’d just paid three hundred and sixty dollars for the privilege.

[Ehcorn]

At the corner of Jardine’s desk resided a single potted plant. What time Remi hadn’t spent answering her questions he’d spent eyeing dried brown leaves and waiting for an opportunity to bring her attention to it. He’d thought his chance would be after she’d wished them a nice evening and before they left, but Sam moved on faster than he anticipated. Remi looked after Sam and back to Jardine with widened eyes.

Jardine lifted her eyebrows at him. "Was there something else?"

"Yes. Yes, actually. Your plant? It’s dying. You should water it."

He caught up with Sam just in time to be admonished. Remi huffed. If the vampire restarted his heart, grew a pair of wings, and dyed his hair, he could take over Vretil’s job as his mentor. The angel used that same tone with him, usually when he was frustrated by Remi’s occasional inability to retain some fragment of a lesson. Remi remained in step with the vampire, trying to steal looks at the paper, but a string of passersby on their way up the stairs forced him to fall behind temporarily.

When he was next able to walk abreast of Sam, they’d entered the foyer. He reached over and pulled on Sam’s arm to bring the paper closer to him. What glimpses he caught while they continued walking didn’t tell him much, though.

"She said it got taken care of in time," Remi protested. "What would’ve happened if you hadn’t paid it, anyway? You said I’d get into more trouble but you never said what kind."

[Existentially Odd]

Samuel's mouth twisted and he frowned as Remi grabbed at his arm. He resisted him on principle but when he was challenged verbally, Sam came to a stop and presented the receipt to the angel with an impatient flap and an exasperated sigh. "Here. And yes, she did, but if you hadn't paid it I imagine you'd have accrued another fine. I don't really know all the intricacies of breaking the law," he declared but then paused, realising impatience was raising his voice a little louder than it should've been, considering the delicate nature of the topic.

With a furtive glance around them to ascertain how much attention they'd garnered, Sam cleared his throat, stepped closer to Remi and spoke at a much quieter volume. "I don't know how it goes, exactly," he repeated softly, holding eye contact with Remi in an effort to convey how serious he thought the matter was, "but I imagine, at some point, they'd get sick of your flagrant disobedience, stop fining you and punish you by locking you up for a while. If you think an elevator is a cage, imagine how you'd feel trapped in a real one until they're happy you've learnt your lesson."

Sam's expression was punctuated with raised eyebrows and a stern mouth. He doubted it would get that far - he certainly would do his best to stop Remi facing serious punishment - but he wanted the angel to understand that he couldn't be so flippant about his behaviour in the city. There were authorities who would strenuously object to his civil disobedience and their consequences wouldn't be light. He'd do better to fear the process than to flout it.

[Ehcorn]

Throughout the majority of Sam’s lecture, Remi’s face was scrunched up like he’d taken a bite of a lemon. His thoughts were just as sour. He hadn’t deliberately broken the law. It’d been an accident. He’d told that to the Ward officials, too. And apologized. A lot. Sam had seemed surprised that he hadn’t gotten into more trouble with them, but Remi suspected that if he hadn’t tripped over himself to accept responsibility for messing up, he would’ve been shoved into the cage Sam mentioned before the vampire fell silent and looked at him reproachfully.

Remi sighed and stared at the paper that’d been thrust at him, but he could no more make sense of it than he could a tablet written in ancient Sumerian. That didn’t stop him from using it as an excuse to keep his head down, though. Most everyone he’d encountered that night, from the lady Warden to Sam, had been frustrated by something he’d done or said or hadn’t known, and it was beginning to wear on him.

When enough time had passed that he felt Sam might’ve changed expressions, Remi glanced up at him and hazarded a smile.

"I’ve already learned my lesson. The elevator was enough punishment for me,” he said, carefully folding the paper in half before he offered it back to Sam. "And ah… the fine. Thank you for making sure I didn’t get another one."

[Existentially Odd]

Samuel relented in the face of Remi's contrition, his expression softening into a reflective smile when the angel finally looked up. Sam nodded at the fact that Remi had learnt his lesson, agreeing that the elevator was punishment enough. He took the proffered piece of paper after he was thanked, brushing a finger across Remi's in a gesture that was meant to be part reassurance, part apology for being so harsh.

"You're welcome. Just don't get any more. I'd get into fifteen times the trouble busting you out if they locked you up, I couldn't handle it - knowing you couldn't handle it," he laughed softly, his gaze roving over Remi's beautiful face. "Do you want to go shopping and I'll buy you a phone now?"

[Ehcorn]

Remi didn’t try to argue. If it hadn’t been for Sam, he wasn’t sure he would’ve been standing when the elevator had stopped. He’d cracked, but the vampire had been there to help hold him together. What would happen to him if he was placed in solitary confinement? It wasn’t something he wanted to think about, and thankfully, Sam offered something else for him to focus on.

“Yes,” he agreed, slipping his hand into his pocket to confirm that he still had Dom’s card: The catalyst for his adventure with Sam. He kept his fingers wrapped around it as they made their way through the foyer and stepped out into the cool night air.

((Continued in Accruing Debts))