~~Young~~

Chapter Five

   “As if you cannot call it back to you,” Michael snorted, “save the old mortal’s heart and do not approach him.”

   Gage’s eyes stayed on the curtain for another moment as he conceded to the angel, “that I can do.”

   There was some shuffling as Michael moved the pews around so he could reach his armor, and when Gage looked over his wing he saw the angel struggling to pull his sword from the alter.

   He couldn’t help the smile that curled up on his lip, “what? Can’t call yours back?”

   In lue of an answer Michael simply shot him a glare before heaving the blade from the stone with a mighty show of strength. He could call his back to him as well as Gage could, but if it was stuck it was stuck. It would take just as much mental energy to free it as physical.

   Here’s hoping the priest didn’t know that.

   Gage concentrated for a moment…nope, he didn’t. With a flash of blue flame his hand was firmly gripping its hilt once again.

   “So what is it this time?” Gage drawled as he flipped his blade around in circles. He wasn’t showing off or anything, just bored as he said to Michael earlier, “you know, beside the usual ‘behave’ spiel.”

   With a sigh Michael trounced down the stairs, “this time…this time you should just go home.”

   Gage snorted and with another flash his blade was sent back to hell to wait until the next time he needed it. It wouldn’t be today, Michael and Gage were done for the time being. Neither could actually kill the other, not without the victor having to face the wrath of their respective masters for instigating a war, “You know I cannot do that. I’ve been contracted into stopping a nuisance from continuing to harass a certain mortal. I cannot go back to hell until the job is complete or he decides to end the contract.”

   And Michael was well aware of this, but the way he shook his head suggested this wasn’t like every other time he told him to leave earth, “I know what you’re here for, and it doesn’t matter. Go home Gage, leave this one be.”

   Gage frowned, “why…” he said slowly, then it dawned on him, “this is his doing isn’t it? God’s will and all that shit not just a mortal fucking up?”

   He knew Michael knew exactly who he was after, god is all knowing after all, but he also knew he wouldn’t tell him. He never did.

   The angel pursed his lips, “no,” he said after a moment of thought, “He has not had any influence over the one you seek, but…but He finds their work admirable.”

   “Admirable? Since when did he have a B and E fetish?”

   “Those are mortal crimes, not crimes of the spirit.”

   “I beg to differ,” Gage grumbled and turned to right a pew so he could plop down on it, his wings hanging over the back, his arms spread out to either side, “what is it really Michael? He’s never had a problem with me taking out the ones he himself has deemed unworthy as long as I left the good ones alone.”

   “This one is not unworthy.”

   Again Gage narrowed his eyes, “so then you’re telling me I can’t kill them? That they’re one of the innocent?”

   Michael’s eyes began to wander about the room, meaning that was a no.

   Gage just laughed, “so he’s hoping they’ll straighten themselves out doesn’t he? Save themselves so he can have them when their time here is done,” he leaned forward and clasped his hands between his knees with a grin, “oh this is going to be fun…he doesn’t want me to kill them because they’re still weighted down…but since he can’t intervene like I can…”

   “It is by a slim margin they are weighed,” Michael sliced his hand through the air, “it won’t be much longer until they are fully redeemed and can pass unto heaven.”

   Gage shook his head at Michael in amusement, “unless I get there first.”

   “No!” Michael shouted with more authority then Gage had heard in centuries, “they will save many others in their time if they are left to live!”

   “You’re not helping your case any,” Gage said cynically, “because if I take them now, not only does Lucifer get their soul but the souls of those lost because their life ended. Mmm, yeah, I think I’ll have to pass on the not killing them thing.”

   “Gage listen to me,” Michael stepped up to him so he loomed over Gage, “Leave. This. One. Alone. There are plenty of other mortals more deserving of an eternity in hell then this one.”

   “What?” Gage pulled his head back in mock surprise, “now you’re judging mortals? Tsk, tsk Michael,” Gage shook his head, “that’s your boss’s job, not yours.”

   Called out, Michael shot his eyes to the ceiling as if waiting for a reprimand from the deity in question. When the roof didn’t come crashing in on them Gage had to assume God let that one slide.

   Hefting a heavy breath Gage pushed off the pew to stand eye to eye with the angel, “listen Michael,” he said as he dropped a heavy hand on his shoulder, only to be shrugged off, “just like the battle that ensues every time we meet, your words can’t and won’t change why I’m here. Rest assured I will find this mortal and I will kill them because that’s what I do. Savoir or no savior, they will die.”

   “What if I told you they could save you?” Michael whispered desperately, “they will change their world, you cannot-”

   “Michael, stop,” Gage held up his hand, “I don’t want to be saved. I like my existence just the way it is and you know you can’t stop me short of killing me. And we both know that’s not going to happen so save your breath.”

   With nothing to barter, no prize- or noose- to dangle in front of Gage Michael simply huffed and spun for the alter once more, “this is a mistake Gage. You will suffer for this one.”

   “Your threats don’t scare me, God isn’t into torture and suffering.”

   “No, no you are correct in that,” Michael said softly over his shoulder as if he thought that a great pity. But then his lip curled up slightly and he turned to face Gage once more, “you will cause your own suffering should you continue down this path,” he mused, his eyes distant as he listened to a certain otherworldly voice he had been known to do from time to time.

   Gage wasn’t impressed, “hey Michael, while you got the line open, want don’t you give God a big ‘fuck you’ for me. Tell him I miss the feeling of his face on my fist.”

   “You can tell him yourself,” Michael grinned as he came to again, “said you’ll be seeing him again soon enough.”

   And with that the angel was gone, dissolved into a flash of brilliant white light.

   “Seeing him again,” Gage muttered to himself as he dug around in his pocket for his money clip. He pulled out six or seven hundred dollar bills off the top and placed them on the alter for the damages, “now why in the fuck would I be seeing him again?”