Fallen Angels 5: Lords of Deception by Auburnimp

Heat Rating: Fire

Content Warnings: GLBT-homoerotica, Happy for Now Ending

Michael and Gabriel make some discoveries.

Michael was still distraught when he and Gabriel returned to the Heavenly plane. He had been so blind, so easily manipulated by both Heaven in the form of Metatron and seemingly by the denizens of the Pit also. He strode towards his quarters, intending to lock himself away for a while and to think without interruption or influence. Unfortunately for this plan, Gabriel had other ideas.

"It's no use hiding away and brooding, Michael," he said as he tried to keep up with his tall lover. "We don't have the time for that. I need to find out if Sandalphon actually met with Samael and we need to make some decisions on what we should do if Metatron decides to go to war with Lucifer."

Michael stopped to stare down at his tiny love. "If it hadn't been for my stupidity we wouldn't have to make any decisions at all."

Gabriel placed both hands on his hips and stamped his foot. "Don't be ridiculous, of course we would. The only difference would be that our brothers would have been amongst the Fallen from the start."

Michael stared down at the pretty Water Archangel a frown on his face. "Why did they leave Heaven, Gabriel? Was it something that I said or did?"

Gabriel stood on tiptoe and pulled Michael's head down for a kiss. "Stoopid," he said endearingly. "Metatron pretending he was in charge was why they left. Uriel built Hades to be closer to Beliel without breaking his word to you. And RaphaelÖ"

"Raphael should have gone with them. I know that much, I know what Samael's pain and anger made him do."

Gabriel glanced around. The long colonnaded walk was empty but he still raised his fingers to Michael's lips. "Not here. Let's get to our quarters first."

Michael nodded and took one of Gabriel's hands in his as they continued on their way. He wasn't convinced that he'd done the right thing by his brothers, even with Gabriel's soothing words and the fact that Raphael and Uriel were still speaking to him at all. His tiny lover was brighter than he was, though, and had probably worked out their next moves already.

They reached the quarters they shared, an airy space open to a lovely garden with a tinkling fountain at its centre. There was a bed and some billowing silk dividers hanging from the lofty ceiling, a dresser and closet for their clothes and that was it. They ate and sat in the garden.

Gabriel led him to the bed rather than the garden and Michael sat down on the edge of it and drew Gabriel close until the smaller angel was resting against Michael's inner thigh.

Michael gazed at his lover, wanting to talk about their problems but also wanting to make love to the adorable Water Archangel.

Gabriel smiled back at him. "Later," he promised. "I want you to think about something first."

Michael sighed mournfully. The last thing he wanted to do right now was to think. It was thinking that had got them into this mess in the first place. But he knew Gabriel well enough to know there was no point in trying to start anything until his lover had said what he wanted to say. "I'm listening."

Gabriel's smile widened. "Consider this. If Uriel and Raphael had gone with the Fallen ten millennia ago we would never have discovered the lies that we've been told. We would have believed them all to be demons and would have fought them without question. Although the way it happened was more painful for our brothers, it was for the best in the long run."

Michael thought about that for a few minutes. "So you think I did the right thing when I persuaded them to stay?"

Gabriel nodded. "Yes. I'll go further than that. I believe none of us had any real choice in our actions at that time."