A halo in pieces, Lumiel mused, shattered by boredom.
Wings tucked behind him, he leaned against a clear crystal pillar, finger idly flicking his halo, eyes lazily searching the bleak, golden sky. It's always the same.
A sigh. "The brat is late again."
He chuckled at the thought of the older angel being a brat. He'd call Gabriel that when he finally gets here. Rile him up a bit.
Sighing, he walked over to the edge of the gazebo, six wings fluttering behind him, and leaned against the railing. The view below greeted him, same as always.
Nothing. Just the infinite expanse of clouds and sky. Unchanging. Listless. Suffocating. The vines hanging from the gazebo roof swayed idly in the wind, releasing rainbow coloured petals and fragrance into the air.
Plucking one of the flowers, Lumiel wondered why Raphael had bothered with them. Plants.
They lost their novelty rather quickly. Just like everything else.
Even Gabriel's lectures couldn't make the colours pop again, couldn't make the wind sing in his ears every time he flew.
Lucifer wasn't to be trusted. Lumiel had that much sense, at least. But…
The flower's stem snapped in his grip.
The stillness would destroy him before whatever Lucifer was plotting could.
Frantic wing beats snagged his attention. He turned. An angel approached. Blazing red hair. Blue halo. Four wings. Gabriel. Finally.
Feet tapping the marble floor, he glanced at Lumiel, embarrassment written on his face and the usual apology on the tip of his tongue. Lumiel waved a hand before he could utter a word.
"No. Don't say it. Let me guess. 'Apologies Lumiel, I hadn't meant to keep you waiting, but I simply had to complete the assignment the Almighty gave me.' Am I right?"
Gabriel scratched his neck and smiled. "Actually, it was Michael who kept me busy this time around."
Lumiel shrugged. "It's always one of them, isn't it? I'm starting to feel abandoned."
Gabriel winced, halo dimming. The edge in his voice must have been too accusatory.
Lumiel softened his tone. "Next thing you know, you'll be too busy being God's Messenger. I'll be fighting for crumbs of your attention."
Sure enough, Gabriel chuckled. "And the Virtues say I'm the dramatic one. But surely I haven't gotten that predictable, have I? You'll tire of me next, won't you?" Knowing him, he was probably only half joking.
"Indeed I have, Gabriel. I'm afraid we can no longer be friends." Lumiel couldn't even pretend to keep a straight face.
He laughed when Gabriel shoved him. "If you have it within you to laugh, then I can assume I'm forgiven."
"I'll consider it," Lumiel said as he leaned against one of the crystal pillars. "So, what are we doing this time? A spar? A race across the Holy City? Perhaps we can build a few monuments in our honour?"
Gabriel smiled—a tad too politely. "Those are certainly…uh…choices."
"Yes, fun choices." At least for a while.
"And I wouldn't mind, of course. But we could just appreciate the splendor around us."
Ah, yes, the exact type of boring, sentimental act Gabriel would appreciate. They hadn't done those in a while.
"Of course, we could watch clouds again. Exactly what I need to make eternity thrilling."
"Perhaps you would enjoy it if you actually appreciated Heaven. It's the most beautiful place in creation!" Gabriel huffed.
"Indeed it is. It's also the dullest place I've been to. Even Earth captures his attention more than Heaven ever could!"
"Father is just tending to His newest creation! Humans aren't like us. They're, they're…"
"Dreadfully ignorant, but apparently more exciting than His first batch of lifeforms."
"Lumiel!" Gabriel said, halo flaring with his temper. Lumiel burst out laughing at his scandalised expression.
"I fail to see the humor," Gabriel grumbled. He crossed his arms and leaned against the gazebo railing. His halo dimmed again.
Still laughing, Lumiel plucked one of the flowers growing on a hanging vine. He walked over to Gabriel and, with the golden flare of his Influence, pinned it to Gabriel's chest. The rainbow colours popped against his white robes.
"Colours seem bright again when I'm around you." Lumiel murmured absently.
"What was that? I didn't catch what you said." Gabriel cocked his head to the side.
"I said, 'You may be as boring as the others, but I like being around you.' Did you hear that?" Lumiel said as he stepped back.
"Why?" Gabriel asked. The same question he asked every time he wondered why Lumiel didn't treat him like everyone else did.
Lumiel answered him the same every time. "Because, to me, you're special."
He ruffled the shorter angel's hair. Gabriel grimaced and smacked his hand away, halo flaring back to its usual blue. "Stop doing that. You know I despise being treated like a little brother. I get more than enough from the Virtues."
"I know. That's why I only do it sometimes," Lumiel said and laughed when Gabriel shoved him away again.
"You're insufferable."
"Yes. Insufferably entertaining," Lumiel smirked.
"I disagree strongly—"
A brilliant flare of light cut him off. They both glanced towards the source. It came from the direction of the Holy City.
"The signal towers are flaring. It's time for the Divine Choir."
Lumiel rolled his eyes. "I don't know why Lucifer bothers. The Almighty doesn't even come around for them anymore. The humans keep him too busy, apparently. You'll probably have to represent Him. Again."
Gabriel's brows furrowed. "I know, Lucifer won't take that well—wait. The signal flares!"
Lumiel raised a brow and glanced at them again. His eyes widened. "They're red. The flares are never red."
A pulse of fear shot up his spine.
"Things are about to get a little more exciting. Care to join me?"
Lucifer's words rang like a death toll in his ears. This had to be his doing.
"Lumiel, we need to rush back to the city. Something's...wrong!"
Lumiel gazed into the distance, dazed. For the first time, the ever golden sky was tinged an apocalyptic shade of red.
The glow of his wings brightened. He flinched at what that could mean.