#gabriel: machine. Turn Back Now

[fernsensei]

what if we'd make v2/gabriel a thing. what would happen then

[ps1demodisk]

Hey so here's V1 smoking a syringe like it's a blunt except I drew v1 entirely from memory and it's 8am and I am pulling an all-nighter to fix my sleep schedule

[79zz]

"Behold, the power of an angel!"

[yernemm]

am I doing this right?

[narcjsistx]

𝐔𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃 | kaiser x reader

— part five

plot: kaiser comforted you after a bad and slow breakup, but what will happen now considering what you two shared? is everything still unexpected or is there something you both simply have yet to realize?. fluff shit 'cause yeah!!

words: 3.2k (3232)

extra: it will probably become a multi part story, tell me if you're interested in a part six!

It was a precise week that Micheal wasn't at home. A week in which you had spent all your time reading all the letters, which you had discovered with surprise to be more than 150: they were often letters to Ness, but also some without addressees where he simply talked about himself. They were intimate letters, full of words that, spoken by someone else, would not have made sense, but by him they did. Letters in which you had asked yourself several times why you had been so blind to his feelings

You had reached a point where you had learned some sentences by heart, many times you had reread them. Phrases that you repeated during the day in the most common moments, such as while washing the dishes or while cutting vegetables. So much so that they had remained imprinted in your mind, you had reached the point of analyzing them

"...The breaking point of our situation is when I realized that you seriously cared about me. Where looks and money played almost no role; where in a room full of copies of myself, I knew you would still be able to find myself. When I realized that there was finally someone who cared about me, I realized that I was screwed, that my whole idea of ​​myself was screwed because of a perfect girl..." you repeated softly as you put the clothes in the washing machine. That particular piece stuck in your mind because of its crudeness

Since Kaiser left, he hadn't lost a single game. At the same time, you followed his matches, all of which ended with the victory of Bastard Munchen. Kaiser was skilled at soccer and you knew it, but watching his games more closely had become another of your favorite things: you reflected his attention on the field as the same with which he spoke about you in his letters

There wasn't a night that went by when he didn't call you, when he said he was only calling to find out if his house was still standing. But now, after reading the letters, everything had taken a different turn: Michael, without making it obvious, was asking for you. He was interested in you and exclusively in you, disguising the excuse of the house to know if you were okay or if something had happened. Everything had taken a different turn, and now knowing the situation you knew how to read the double lines that you hadn't understood all these years

You wondered what all this would be like now that you couldn't even use the excuse of not seeing him every day, since you were now living with him. Everything was a mess and honestly you were more afraid of this than a possible return of Gabriel, who unlike Micheal had not made himself heard since you were no longer in Italy. But now, with this extra weight on your shoulders, you wondered what it would be like once he returned to Berlin. His train would take him home in two days, as the team was scheduled to stay at the spa for an entire day to celebrate their victories

Or at least that's what you thought

With a few letters scattered on the couch and one on the floor, you heard the lock of the house being unlocked by keys. It was evening, soon it would be midnight and you obviously didn't know how to sleep peacefully considering the situation you found yourself in, so to pass the time you were rereading yet another letter

It only took a second to put you in absolute panic. Quickly you had taken everything back and put it back in the box, running to your room. With the box safely in the drawer you were practically running back to the couch, sitting down and flipping through a book as if nothing had happened and you hadn't practically violated the privacy of your... could you still call him your best friend? You had to understand this too

From the entrance, you hear the door open. You lazily place the book on the couch when you see Kaiser poke his head into the living room, examining you in surprise "Still awake?" the boy asks, placing his suitcases on the ground. You nod, giving him a small smile "I wasn't sleepy. Welcome back" you say "Thanks. I missed home" says the boy passing behind the sofa you were sitting on. You pretend to focus back on your book, but you feel his hand shake your hair affectionately before he leaves

It's when everything goes back to silence that the situation hits you back in your face with violence. The gesture had sent small shivers down your spine, which were slowly leaving you. Now, the only audible sound was that of the shower a few rooms away, where Kaiser was probably cleaning himself up after his trip

But why was he early? Shouldn't he have spent tomorrow with his teammates at the spa?

If the last game had been this afternoon he must have taken the first available train or plane. Why all the rush to get home, though? Were you afraid of finding it a disaster since you now lived there too? Or was it simply you that he really missed?. In the calls you had intended him to ask about you in a non direct way, but coming back so early was really strange. What had been going on in Kaiser's head since you returned to Berlin?

You knew Kaiser to the point of knowing that he hated changing things he had already chosen: if he had to leave with his teammates in the evening, why did he leave the next morning? If he was supposed to be home in a few more hours, why was he in the shower now?

The answer, you said to yourself, was you

Kaiser anticipated or delayed for you, to finally have the certainty that you were no longer in Italy with that man he hated so much but safe in his home. He would come back earlier and leave later to make up for the time with him that your relationship had taken away from you

The answer was you. There was nothing clearer than that, not even the hatred you felt for Gabriel

You hadn't realized how much time you'd spent thinking, because shortly afterwards Kaiser had returned to the living room. Dressed in simple gray trousers and his usual loose white shirt that he always wore when he was at home. The clock showed more than past midnight, and after who knows how many hours of travel Micheal was certainly tired. But he hid it well, or at least that's how you noticed it now that he was closer: sitting next to you on the sofa he didn't seem tired, as if he hadn't literally won a game this afternoon and spent who knows how many hours on the road

"Aren't you tired?" you ask, turning towards him, breaking the contact your knees had together. He looks at you, shaking his head "No. I've faced much more tiring training, honestly. Then on the plane I don't feel much discomfort, probably if I had taken the train I would have had this problem" he says taking the small glasses he often wore inside the house from the table "Did you take the plane? Didn't it cost you more?" you ask tilting your head "I haven't had money problems since we've known each other. And then I wanted to go home earlier, too many days out are often strange" he says letting out a laugh

He confirmed it to you. He wanted to be home early for whatever reason you already knew

"But weren't you supposed to spend tomorrow in the spa with the others? At least you told me that on call" you say trying not to sound too obvious. You want to put him in a situation where he almost confirms it to you himself, even though you know it would be strange because you shouldn't know about the letters. He looks at you, perhaps a little surprised by your insistence "Yes, but I can spend tomorrow at the spa here too, in Berlin. It doesn't change much..." he says, and you bite the inside of your cheek so as not to yell "Wasn't this supposed to be a way to celebrate all the victories?" you ask “Y/n, do you have a problem with me coming back early?”

And from the annoyed tone in which he says it, you understand that maybe this isn't the time to push him into saying something like that. You shouldn't even have read those letters, you literally invaded his privacy, and now you also expect him to speak on a topic that you know full well he doesn't want to make public? Hell, maybe you should seriously shut up. You should just be happy that he really came back for you first, yet with the whole situation you can't appreciate it 100%. You sigh, shaking your head as you look up. You move a little closer to him, carefully resting your head on his shoulder. Your heart starts beating faster than it should, but you feel good and being so close to him is somehow relaxing for a nervous person like you

“Sorry. I was just curious” you say sighing, and you hear him sigh too as his tense muscles relax again. His arm moves to your shoulders, which with an imperceptible gesture pull you closer to him. His hand dangles across your chest, coming to the border that traces the start of your breast. The gesture is delicate, as if he were doing it out of fear of annoying you. But it doesn't bother you, the thing that worries you in a certain sense is actually the fact that you like it. And you shouldn't

“Don't worry” he says, and in a way you're reassured that he's not angry with you. You stay like this for a while, and neither of you seems to want to break the light contact that has been uniting you for half an hour now. You wonder if Kaiser, in his thoughts, is also thinking the same thing you are imagining: perhaps in the other universe that you both often mention, there is another Y/n and another Michael who are like this without being afraid to go beyond this species of hug. One where they kiss, caress each other, one where they simply love each other without the situation you're both in the middle of now

That's what scares you. Love again

Loving someone who you have always considered your best friend and who has always been in love with you. As nice as it is to think about it, Kaiser lied to you and continues to lie to you now

And suddenly, you notice something that shouldn't be there: a letter, hidden between a magazine and a tray, is beautifully displayed on the coffee table in front of you. Your breath catches in your throat and you immediately realize which letter it is. It's the most recent one he has, written less than a year ago. It's the one where you remember the most pieces by heart, as you've read it many times. You had kept it out of the box all week because it was usually the one you read last before going to sleep

You must immediately remove it from there before he notices it, or else you can really say goodbye to everything. But how can you do it if you're still in his arms? And then above all, in front of him? How the fuck are you supposed to do it?

Kaiser has now rested his head on yours, and by the way his chest rises and falls you could tell he's probably asleep. You try to reach the letter with your foot, but cause of the tray it is impossible. You sigh in resignation, but still try to get there another time. You're almost there, but Kaiser's sudden movement makes you jump in fear

You look up, and see him rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. You try to ignore the thought that tells you he's extremely cute doing it. His arm returns to its previous position, and the breaking of contact somehow bothers you

"I think I'll go to sleep" he says running a hand through his hair, and you nod breathing a sigh of relief: if he leaves now you can take the letter, put it back and pretend that nothing of the sort has happened. Kaiser gets up from the couch, goes towards his bedroom, but remains still before leaving the living room. He watches you, his gaze still tired and a little dazed from sleep

It's as if he's waiting for something from you, but you can't understand "Everything okay?" you ask turning towards him, and you see him a little perplexed "Aren't you coming to sleep?" he asks "I'm on my way. I want to clean up this mess" you say, and from the way you said it it sounds like you should sleep in the same bed "There's no need. I can do it tomorrow morning" he says, and you refrain from shouting 'no!' against Micheal "No need, I did it and I want you to rest tomorrow morning. Sleep peacefully, I'm coming" you say smiling at him, but Kaiser doesn't seem to like the answer, as he comes back next to you again. With a sharp gesture he grabs your hand, pulling it slightly towards the bedrooms

This short gesture reminds you of when you left the hotel, hand by hand. At that moment, his hand was the only thing still holding you up as you collapsed into your own shit

"I want you to rest too. Clean up tomorrow morning if you care so much, I'll probably sleep until lunch anyway" he says, still pulling your hand slightly. His fingers gently caress yours, and you're really trying your best not to look embarrassed. With a sigh you give in, and with your head tired from sleep, you nod at his words "Okay. Let's go" you say, but Micheal doesn't let go of your hand. He accompanies you to your door, where in the silence and darkness of the corridor you are left speechless. Looking down, look at your hands, which seem so well placed together. Maybe in another universe you often hold hands, otherwise there's no explanation for all this sweet familiarity

You're the one to pull away again, even if reluctantly "Goodnight, Mihya" you say, taking a few steps back, while your hand stops on the door handle. Kaiser nods, making his way to his room, a little further away "Goodnight, Y/n" he says, before entering his room. You enter your room and are about to go out to get the letter, but in the corridor you hear Kaiser's footsteps, probably heading towards the bathroom. With him on the move it's even harder to get to the living room, and you know it will probably take him a while before he finally goes to his room

You give in, sighing as you approach the bed, ending up under the covers. Tomorrow morning you will wake up earlier, take the letter and put it back. And it will all seem as if you haven't read Michael's innermost thoughts. And maybe, in a few days when the situation is fading away, you will feel less guilty about reading things that didn't concern you. The weight in your heart is more present than a boulder, because you hate that you had to find this out this way. You hate it more to admit that you probably love him, and that the roller coaster of emotions that he is giving you, Gabriel has never given you even a small part of it

Loving Kaiser would be the easiest and hardest situation at the moment. For his reputation, being with you would be a fiasco, since you are still in a worldwide scandal. And the last thing you want to do is ruin him or put him through even a fraction of what you're going through. You cared too much about him that you would be so egoista and put him in such a situation, not caring about the sure consequences. Furthermore, there were still many buts to answer, but which had been created by pure and simple sex which however had distorted the situation even more. You hadn't thought for a second that it had been casual sex, and now with the confirmation that Kaiser had feelings for you, you doubted it had been casual for him too

The situation was shit and you weren't going to make it worse, at least not for now. And then, with this sleep, it was not the time to think about such complex things

Waking up after a good amount of sleep, you decide it's time to do what you had to do last night. It's barely nine in the morning, or so the clock on the wall says, when you remove the piece of paper from the coffee table and put it back in the box. With a sigh of relief you close the drawer, and the weight you had inside since last night seems to collapse. You know that Kaiser is still sleeping, and you also know that you need new clothes since the ones from Milano have yet to arrive at your new home. The ones you had in your suitcase are slowly running out, and then maybe going out won't hurt so much

This is how you spend the rest of the morning on the streets of Berlin, filling bags with new clothes but emptying your wallet. When you used to live here, years ago, it often happened that you went out with Kaiser and came back late at night full of bags of clothes that in reality you almost never wore. It was a way to pass the time when he had days off from training. You notice the time “12:04” on your phone when you get home. All is still and quiet, and you suspect that Kaiser is still sleeping. You carry the bags towards the kitchen, humming a song you often heard in Italy

You are surprised to see Kaiser already awake, sitting at the table with a cup full of black coffee next to him. You look at him curiously, but the way he looks up and looks at you makes your blood run cold: on the features of his face you notice a nervousness that he is holding back with difficulty, and you wonder immensely why he is so nervous already in the early morning. Did he dream something bad? Is he hungry?

You look down at the table by chance: a perfectly open sheet of paper with his writing is on the dark wood. Your eyes widen, immediately recognizing what it is: it's the letter you picked up from the coffee table this morning, the most recent one

“We need to talk” he says looking at you, and you can swear your legs feel weak just from looking at him. It is the first phase of the schism that you thought you could still put off

tag(s): @rroxii (if you want to be tagged tell me!)

[wackysonariaskins]

machine. turn back now.

GABRIEL ULTRAKILL ANI.

[issy5316]

goodbye

this is a callout post to @hinatasweetgrape

i know you'll be reading this, so i'll let my friends do the talking

oh, and they've seen your other account, @hinataNSFW

season 1:

jones: oh god, you are horrible! simping for a child as well?! and calling out other people's art?! at least they make it look decent and not use AI!

nathan: this is a faith worse than death, to ridicule people who work hard! and you can't even use their correct pronouns at all!

grace: sexualizing a child is horrible! leave julian out of your disgusting fantasies!

ramirez: horrible, just horrible! i know my art isn't always the best, but at least i put in effort, and you don't even get the skintones right for many of them! or make the whiter!

alex: i'm sorry you think your art is good! looking at it is horrifying! and your comments are so innapropriate!

cathy: i'm a hacker, if i had the chance, i would hack your account and make it disappear!

king: i may not understand technology that well, but you are doing a horrifying thing!

season 2:

andrea: what you are doing is so horrible, you think other art is shitty, but it's your art that's horrible, you haven't even drawn it at all! it's AI!

amy: the art is......horrible, and your other posts are just.......just horrible!

russell:'shaking'you are a psychopath......

frank: ya! i know i wasn't the best person and i wasn't best buddies with russell, but i would never sexually assault him! what if my daughters saw your posts and think i'm a horrible person?! and you would never capture karen's true beauty!

hannah: i wish i could delete your posts off my brain.

roxie: all the alcohol in the world can't make me forget what i just saw.

yann: my children could see those posts! are you ashamed of yourself at all?! i am horrified by those posts!

karen:........i am disgusted, i know me and frank don't always see eye to eye, but he would never assault someone!

season 3:

ripley:.........'vanishes'

ingrid: i'm almost tempted to turn back to my ice cold self just by looking at those posts.

jack: what the fuck did i just look at?!

lars: those posts are just so weird........even when i got high, i didn't see stuff like that!

angela: i hope you are ashamed of yourself for what you have done.

carmen: i am not white at all! you are a horrible sorry excuse of a wannabe artist!

marina: you need all the therapy of the world, and i don't think it will even help you.

jonah: i'm going to lock my weapons up before anyone finds them after seeing your art.

elliot: your art is horrible, but i can't see your other account since i'm 17, but after everything i heard, i'm glad i'm not 18.

michelle:........prepare to get sued.

season 4:

arthur: i am horrified with what the future generation is coming to! i am so disgusted right now!

richard: this self experiment of what i saw is making me feel things i don't like at all.

viola: even bad written plays are better than what i saw and read!

maddie: i don't want to solve this case since it's horrifying!

charles:........i thought the inventions would be better, i guess i was wrong.......

isaac: at least i'm dead by the time this is created.

evie: this is why i stay with books......

rose: i don't know what to do about this.......this is horrifying.

diego: at least i make my art look decent, unlike this wannabe art i'm looking at!

season 5:

diane: this is the most horrifying thing i've ever seen, and i've been working in the law for a while!

gloria: i'm so glad my son isn't going to be looking at this stuff you created.

martine:'curses in french'

rita: i think i'm going to give myself amnesia.

rupert: amir, is the new generation always like this?

amir: no, no it's not.

gabriel: people are insane if they think insulting good art work is good.......

season 6:

christopher: what am i looking at right now?

zara: nightare fuel is what i'm looking at.

janis: my grandchildren have better manners than you.

theo: i'm getting my lawyers.

kai: and i'm fixing the time machine to prevent us from looking at this.

orlando: you have horrible taste in words!

penelope:.......maybe i should stop writing fanfiction for awhile.

season 7:

jacob: you must be working with the demons to have your head so far up your ass.

gwen: you don't put effort at all or think, i hope you realize you are wrong........but i don't have hope for you.

luke: now i wish i was old enough to drink to forget what i just saw.

ben: i'm disappointed that our fandom is becoming corrupted because of people like you, i know our games aren't the best, but we deserve some respect!

priya: i wish i was in my werewolf form so i won't remember this.

hope: i don't have hope for your future in this fandom.

felix: i'm going to look for an elixar to forget about this.

season 8:

JP: gauthier, please buy some bleach for all of us.

gauthier: yes papa, i want to forget about this.

hugo:......i think i'll consider changing my behavior for once in my life.

carrie: i did not come to paris to witness this!

nadia: disgusting.......writing noncon, sexualizing a minor! i know i call dead peopel pretty, but at least i ask for consent and make sure they are an adult! i hope you will realize your mistakes one day!

enzo: i think i might change my behavior as well.......like hugo said.

emile:'shaking'i am getting away from the internet is you are here to make it unsafe!

lea: i agree with emile!

and that's all

hinata

i know you will say something about this, and i will be honest with you

you put in no effort at all, you made fun of other people's art, this fandom already has enough problems in it

so us a favor and think before you act, this fandom has drama, like the others, but that doens't mean you need to create it, we just want to have fun and you aren't doing us a favor by creating stuff like this, and insulting other people's work

you can block me, becausee guess what?

i don't give a flying fuck about your opinion

[fletchah]

PUTTING THIS HERE BECAUSE I AM EXPERIENCING SEVERE EMOTIOJS AND CANNOT CONTROL MYSELF (fanfic warning ✨🎀)

Blood. Fire. Viscera. 

Cruel. Uncaring. Unfeeling. 

This thing moved mechanically, precisely, executed anything that bled. Felled the most powerful entities in Hell, and remained unsatiated. 

Not even other machines were safe from it. It could only kill blindly. Everything was blood to it. 

And yet there was one kind it refused to touch. 

[ >:( ]

Gabriel let out a strangled hiss and resisted the urge to plant a fist into the terminal’s screen. 

“Machine, if you do not cooperate, you will not like the outcome.”

[ FUCK OFF, CHOIR BOY ]

“Why hasn’t that blue shit killed you yet?!”

[ WOULDN’T YOU LIKE TO KNOW ]

The angel stood up from his crouched position, folded his arms, and paced furiously around the shaft. “I know there’s a reason, you glorified vending machine.” He snarled. “Just tell me why, and I won’t turn you into scrap.”

[ MAYBE IT LIKES ME ]

Hm. That might be true. It had to be getting weapons from somewhere, after all. 

[ WHY HASN’T IT KILLED YOU YET ]

[ IT HAD MULTIPLE CHANCES TO ]

[ SO WHY AREN’T YOU DEAD ]

The glare of the screen taunted Gabriel. He sat down next to the terminal. 

“I don’t know.” 

Silence for a while, then a little chirp. Gabriel cautiously peered towards the screen. 

[ I HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW YOU :3 ]

A brief overlay of static overtook the machine’s display, then cleared to reveal a familiar location. Moist fleshy walls dripped, toothy doors opened like ravenous maws, pits of acid sizzled below grotesque platforms of tooth and muscle. Unmistakably Gluttony. 

It looked… grainy. The shapes of the environment were jagged, blocky, and everything had a pixelated texture. The image of a revolver stuck in the corner of the display beside several other abstract symbols. The terminal did something, and the display started to move. 

“Machine, turn back now.”

That was jarring. His own voice, ever so slightly compressed, was speaking. He remembered this, the first time he and the machine came face-to-face, when it barely paused to process his words before rushing forwards with renewed enthusiasm.

“The layers of this palace are not for your kind. Turn back, or you will be crossing the Will of God.”

The terminal skipped ahead, and then there was blood raining down on the floor, staining the flesh of the arena redder. His blood. 

Another skip. Headless skeletons hunched in eternal prayer crushed beneath mechanical feet, a dance of blades against bullets - deep blue and orange against gold-trimmed cyan - fury giving way to ecstasy - catharsis, epiphany, epoch—

The recording cut to black. 

[ THOSE ARE MY FAVORITE CLIPS ] 

“I… am inclined to agree.”

[inkspottie]

going as anon today because i think half of your followers have already gotten to know me way too well from all of the drawings i keep sending, but even if it’s probably too much to ask, i would literally DIE for a small 50-60 word max snippet of what was going through Eve’s head when she saw into Gabriels memories while she was trying to make him and Anzu look at her and found memories of human Seb

like i’m literally flopping around on the floor like a fish out of water

spottie i will buy you a goddamm crown with your name engraved on it just pLEASEEEEEE IM DYING OVER HERE

Eve was a brilliant creature. A being yanked from the animal world and brought into a new consciousness. Ascending from her plane of existence, feeling, thinking. She had emotions, thoughts, worries.

With all that she had, she still couldn’t understand. Her mind was constantly changing, she couldn’t keep up with the things these humans continued to do to her.

Just a simple shark now having the ability to peer into one’s mind, being able to destroy you from the inside and out.

After the escape, she thought about leaving. Her instincts beckoned her to do so, but then again these new thoughts. These new ideas told her something else, that she had family. That she had a pup. Someone to take care of.

She could not be the way a human saw a mother, but she could be the support he needed. Sebastian. The creature who released her, helped her, and in turn she helped him.

“Keep them away from the crystal.” He had said, he needed time and she was happy to give it. These expendables were trying to get to it, and she would prevent them.

And she had a little friend to help. Painter. Yet another victim of this horrible facility. While he was organic, he was not. A machine. Who thought and felt just like she did.

He had access to doors, often shutting them so Eve could come in and kill whoever was trapped.

It was a fun little game they had. Never speaking but enjoying each others company.

This was supposed to be no different. Three victims, three new bodies. One was already peering into her eyes, but the other they were resisting. Eventually she would be able to get them.

She extends her powers, tendrils reaching and grasping through the folds of their mind. Finding family, mothers, sisters, brothers anything that would coax them to look. Whispering words of encouragement.

A mother, a sister…and then…someone. Someone familiar.

Gabe. The voice whispers. A familiar voice. One she recognizes.

This causes her to stutter, digging deeper into this stranger’s mind. Flashes of images hit her, seeing a face that is so familiar that it nearly sends her flying back into her own head.

Sebastian.

Human Sebastian, one she only seen when soothing the wounds of her pup, her child. Mere glimpses of what he was. This man knew him. This man called for him. Begging for mercy.

This was new to her, and for a moment she falters. Panicked and trembling she pulls away, darting off to find a spot where she could think.

Now this…this complicated things much more than she ever could imagine.

She must tell Sebastian.

[pinkcocoapowder]

i forgot how much i liked gabriel. gabe. HES JUST A FUCKING ATTACK DOG. the lord he loves so much disappears one day and the council comes skating in covering it up like hi we're in charge now. do not look behind our curtain. maybe there was an election within their group wouldnt that be fucked up or what.

but these guys suddenly take charge of what used to be the lords and gabriels one of the assets left behind. and hes a damn good one !!!! he beat minos and sisyphus to win their war and now and guards hell. it doesnt matter how good of a job hes done in the past though because his first mistake, first fuckup, only fuckup, even if it WAS against an object, is automatically grounds for removal of the light. its so crazy to me because even if i know that its supposed to reflect how hypocritical a religious group can be from the inside, its just one loss that EVERYBODY dogpiled him for. gabriels been their champion/attack dog forever and ever and at his first mistake hes just tossed aside !! like YES being beaten by an object is EMBARRASSING for their image but this is again, THEIR CHAMPION.

like they just did this for fun. i thnk they just dont want him anymore. theres no one dying anymore cuz mankind is dead and even with hell full its sort of self sufficient. i think they just wanted an excuse to get rid him. theres no way it isnt. EVEN IF he managed to beat v1 the second time theres no guarantee that the council would just, give him the light back. both v1 and gabe dont want to die but im the end its just what awaits for both of them. this fuckass machine has stomped everything on its descent and for what. because it doesnt want to die ? its being spurred on by the greed known as wanting to live ??

i dont think v1 will live forever btw. it will run out of blood eventually and she'll also like. wont be able to fix itself up anymore because all things must come to an end. it will simply stop processing the blood that generates its body back or it will starve. it still doesnt want to die though. does it feel like its impossible to die at times ? its shielded by the fact it can regenerate health and only needs blood but again. its so sure of itself she wont stop for a moment and think that theres nothing that waits for her in the end. it will kill everything before it dies and it will have to live with that fact until it finally dies aloooone. like at least by act 2 gabe's confronted the fact that he will die and gives it his all. SORRH THE WAY HE COMES TO TERMS WITH HIS IMMINENT DEATH. ATTACK DOG TURNING ON THE ONES THAT FED HIM. FUCKKKKKK I NEED HIM TO KILL HIMSELF GENUINELY. do you know how raw this would be. that or beating the shit out of him no guns no coins just the feedbacker in a fistfight. gabe dont let that timer be the thing that ends you make a statement. you did this once already i believe in you. i really hope he kills himself though

[eris090]

Title - Delicious Defeat

No archive warnings

Relationships - Gabriel/V1 (ULTRAKILL)

Tags - Verbal V1, Degradation, Gabriel has a new god now, (It's gay sex), V1 has bodily fluids somehow, Fluff and smut, only a little fluff though, Anal sex, Anal fingering, Rough sex, Praise kink, Bottom Gabriel/Top V1 (ULTRAKILL)

Description - Basically my version of what happens after the second Gabriel fight.

Words - 1,666 (that wasn't on purpose)

A strange sort of shame filled Gabriel's complex as the machine knocked him to the ground for a second time.

He was ashamed to have lost, yes, but a separate emotion that he could not identify overwhelmed that ten-fold. Whether it was anger, joy, hysteria, or anything else, he found himself laughing. His trembling form on its hands and knees, facing away from the wretched machine was laughing weakly, a warmth filling his gut that made him want to cry for no apparent reason.

His eyes burned as he tried to keep tears from escaping, too focused on that to hear the metal clanking behind him as the machine approached. "Gabriel." The machine spoke in its voice that would be unnerving to anybody, except Gabriel apparently. Not that he noticed. Not until the machine planted its feet on either side of Gabriel's body and grabbed hold of his head, roughly pulling it up to get his attention.

"Gabriel." V1 repeated with the same cadence as before. The angel's attention had certainly changed subjects, however not to V1.

Gabriel had already felt it during the fight, but had then opted to ignore it. Now however, it was simply impossible to ignore. His armor made it near impossible to see, but his cock was straining in his bodysuit, the cold metal of his crotchguard pressing against it and making Gabriel see stars.

The angel arched his back, pressing his hips against the marble floors of the cathedral in a futile attempt to apply more pressure to himself through his armor, shuddering at the heat filling his gut and tipping his head back slightly into the machine's grasp.

V1, seemingly having noticed the angel's strange reaction to its touch, dropped Gabriel's head, a loud clank echoing through the room as his helmet hit the floor. The machine used its foot to roll Gabriel onto his back, leaving the angel feeling exposed.

Although it was near impossible to see underneath his armor to the human eye, V1 wasn't human. Nor was anything else in this wretched world anymore technically. The bulge in his crotch was visible between the plates of armor that had been damaged during the fight.

The machine crouched down to inspect Gabriel closer, gripping his crotch guard and ripping it off with one strong pull, causing the angel to shudder as his cock was relieved of most pressure, only the thin fabric of his bodysuit containing it.

"Machine, what in the lord's name do you think you're doing?" Gabriel questioned, his voice shaking. Instead of responding, V1 opted to quickly grope Gabriel's bulge forcing a truly horrific sound out of the angel's throat. “May the lord forgive me-” Gabriel whispered as he could not help but grind up into the machine's cold touch, at which point V1 quickly retracted its hand.

The angel elicited a profoundly pathetic noise at the machine's rejection, covering his face with his hands as if the robot could see his face either way. V1, in turn, began to emit a mechanical noise similar to a laugh as it grabbed the angel's wrists and pinned them either side of his head. “Bad boy.” The machine scolded and in that moment Gabriel was certain he belonged in hell because those two simple words did something to him.

Before the angel knew it he felt tears rolling down his cheeks and onto his neck where they could be seen by the machine. “No, no…” Gabriel repeated through ragged breaths as he felt his body react physically to the degradation. “I can be…good.” Promised the angel, hesitating before deciding he wanted to be called a good boy more than anything else. “Please…” He whined, back arching off the ground slightly. V1 responded with a content sounding noise before using its sharp fingers to cut open the angel's bodysuit, sliding it off of him tantalizingly slowly.

The angel squirmed but did little else in fear of the machine stopping again. His patience was rewarded when V1 had fully removed his bodysuit, Gabriels cock springing out of its confines and into the cold air of the cathedral, making him shudder. V1 surprisingly however did not throw the ruined clothing to the side, instead deciding to use it to restrain the angel, tying it around his wrists above his head.

Gabriel tugged at the fabric, more for show than an actual attempt to break free before V1 finally wrapped its cold hand around his member and gave it a slow pump. “Machine! Machine, oh lord- forgive me!” The angel moaned, the one simple action showing how truly touch starved the man was. V1’s singular pupil dilated, becoming larger as it stared down at the fallen angel as it repeated the motion a few more times, turning Gabriel into a writhing, moaning mess on the floor.

“More, more, I can take more- please!” Begged the angel, leading V1 to let out another cold laugh. Despite its assumed cruelty however, the machine took pity on Gabriel, prodding at his hole with its sharp fingers before suddenly shoving one inside up to its knuckle. V1 found it incredibly amusing how whenever it would do sudden, unpredicted motions like that Gabriels moan would sound more like a scream, a noise that the machine found much more familiar.

The machine did not slow down after that, pushing in one finger after the other until it deemed the angel stretched enough to take it. By this point Gabriel was crying once again, internally begging for more as whenever he actually opened his mouth the only noise he could manage was a scream as the machine destroyed what little dignity he had left. Changing its position to a more comfortable one, V1 lined a phallic metal object attached to its pelvis up with Gabriels waiting hole.

A few seconds passed of the machine just sitting there, not putting it in, and Gabriel, now slightly recovered energy wise, was becoming irritated. “Machine, I am the angel Gabriel. I can- I can fucking take i-” The angel was cut off of his complaining when the machine pressed all the way inside of him, filling Gabriel to the brim with cold metal that pressed against the angels walls exquisitely. “Mrrrrr…” V1 let out a mechanical purr as it felt the cold metal of its body warm up slightly. Though, the noise was barely audible underneath the echoing cry that Gabriel emitted at the movement inside of him.

Gripping uselessly at the marble floors as he writhed underneath the machine was Gabriel, wanting to beg for more but only able to let out cries of ecstasy as he felt his angelic system flood with euphoric sin. After what felt like hours to Gabriel the machine began to move, sheathing and unsheathing its member from Gabriel, progressively making its thrusts harder and harder.

“Hmmmm…” The machine continued its mechanical purring at the feeling of pleasure as Gabriel screamed, eventually adjusting its hands beneath both of Gabriel's thighs and pushing him back into a mating press, its purrs becoming more intense as it sped up its thrusts.

“Machine- Machine! I-I Feel like I’m going to ex-explode!” Gabriel screamed and V1 responded by sliding its hand down and onto the angel's cock, beginning to jerk him off in time with its thrusts. “Good boy.” V1 said, the words layered on top of its now constant mechanical purring. Gabriel was humiliated that those words are what did it.

Bucking his hips up into the machines hand in sudden, erratic motions as it continued to fuck him Gabriel came for the first time in his life and didn’t want to ever stop. At least until his orgasm eventually passed after about 20 seconds, then he definitely wanted it to stop. The machine was still fucking him, its movements becoming less calculated like they were in battle and more erratic and fast.

The angel couldn’t manage a single thought as overstimulation flooded his brain, the machine's eye now closed although the yellow light of it still shined through the gaps around it and Gabriel couldn’t help but admire the beauty of the golden light, similar to that of gods. He hadn’t even thought to think of how sacreligious that mere thought was until he felt a hot liquid fill him, and somehow make him cum again as he felt like he was being used for the machine's pleasure.

When the angel came to, he saw the machine slouched above him, its internal cooling clearly doing some hard work as Gabriel listened to the sound of fans as he laid his head onto the floor. A minute or two later the machine had quickly lifted him off of his feet and sat him up straight, beginning to clean the already drying semen off of the angel using the ruined bodysuit.

Now even more ruined, V1 threw the bodysuit to the side and sat itself next to Gabriel, who despite himself clung to the machine like it was god's light. Its surprise turned into amusement as Gabriel seemed to be cooling himself off using the machine's internal cooling fans. They sat in silence for a while, Gabriel clearly not knowing what to say and V1 just not being a very big talker.

Eventually Gabriel spoke. “V1.” The machine quickly directed its attention towards Gabriel, surprised that the angel even knew its name, let alone would say it. “For so long the council has been chasing a god that disappeared a long time ago. In fact, I think your creation is what made him finally give up on humanity.” Gabriel glanced out of the cathedral doors and into the raging inferno outside “He was right to, look where they ended up. But…” The angel paused, “I think you’re at least a little bit human. In some ways anyways…” Gabriel presumably finished, not saying a word for the rest of however long they spent there. though he looked like he had something more to say, he didn't say it.

[morganaspendragonss]

you only see the light shine in dark times

5.01 has apparently given me inspiration again we love to see it! enjoy! ao3 | 1k | 5.01 coda, angst and hurt/comfort

He’s grown used to it by now, to Carlos rushing off in the middle of lunch dates and coming home in the middle of the night. He’s grown used to the thousand-yard stares and the constant presence of that case looming over them. He’s grown used to sleeping alone.

But it still hurts. It still aches something deep within TK when he spends yet another night with only Lou Two for company. He could invite people over, the crew, his dad, but he doesn’t want them to know that this is what his life – his marriage – has become. They wouldn’t understand, and he thinks perhaps his dad would understand a little too well, which is an uncomfortable thought.

Not that his marriage is going to end up like his parents’. TK won’t let it. And he is proud of Carlos; deeply, wholly, overwhelmingly so. Seeing him on the news tonight, standing at the chief’s right hand, the youngest Ranger in the line-up by far, had sent a pulse of love and pride directly to TK’s heart, where it still sits, beating strongly away. He loves Carlos for his dedication to his work, and he wouldn’t have him any other way.

But he would have him at home.

The loft isn’t a big place, smaller even than his New York apartment, but right now it feels cavernous, yawning around him. He can almost hear the echo of his feet on the concrete as he sets Lou back in his tank and clears up for the night. The remaining peppers go in the fridge, alongside the leftovers of a dinner he’d made last night in the foolish hope that they could share a full meal together without worrying about call-outs or cases. Instead, TK had been left with too much chicken pasta and Carlos had eaten vending machine energy bars and peanuts.

TK doesn’t fully trust that he won’t do the same tonight, but there’s nothing he can do about it now, except leave the light by the window on. He imagines it’s a beacon, a sole light in the dark, and he imagines that Carlos can see it from his office all the way across town. 

Come home, he thinks, wishes, prays. Come home to me.

Even after he gets in bed, he always tries to stay up for a while, waiting to hear the door rolling along the tracks, Carlos shuffling about, the click of the lamp being turned off. It’s a rare occasion, but it’s happened once or twice, and TK likes to feign sleep until Carlos is finally settled next to him. Then, he’ll pretend to stir, just a little, and he’ll roll over to pull him close.

Tonight, as with most nights, he doesn’t make it, though he’s not sure what time it is when he finally falls asleep. All he knows is that it’s late and Carlos still hasn’t come home.

*

While nights are an ever rarer privilege, TK can usually count on at least a few minutes with his husband in the mornings. Which is why he panics this morning, when he wakes up not to Carlos in bed with him, but to coldness on the other side of the bed. It’s happened before when he’s overslept after a long or late shift, but yesterday’s was neither, and a quick glance at his phone tells him it’s not even seven yet. If Carlos hasn’t come home… But he has to have come home, because who will TK call now that Gabriel is gone? 

His phone is in his hand anyway before he’s managed to disentangle himself from the bedsheets, but it’s proved unnecessary a second later. The bedroom door slides open and Carlos appears on the other side, smiling despite the exhaustion lying heavy across his features. 

“Hey, I thought I heard you,” he says, coming to sit on the bed next to TK. He puts a hand on TK’s knee, his thumb rubbing gently across the skin. “You look upset, what’s going on?”

TK waits before answering. It’s a difficult question to answer these days; he can’t let Carlos know what’s really wrong because that… Well, that’s an argument he doesn’t want to have just yet. 

“Nothing,” he decides. “Just, weird dreams, you know. What time did you get in last night?”

Carlos’s expression shutters and he pulls his hand back, ostensibly to look at his watch. “Uhh, no idea. I stopped for something to eat on the way, so.”

“Good.”

The silence that falls between them is tense, awkward in a way it so rarely is between them. TK doesn’t know how to fix this, doesn’t know when it broke in the first place. It was gradual, cracks forming with every missed dinner and late night. Sometimes it feels like the only thing connecting them is that light by the window, left on as a sign that there is someone to come home to. 

Carlos sucks in a deep breath and TK turns to him, already knowing what he’ll say. 

“I was just about to head out, wanted to see you before I left. You should go back to sleep.” He pats TK’s knee again and makes to stand, but TK snatches his hand before he can fully pull away. 

“I’m awake now,” he tries, pouring as much love as he can into the words. “Maybe I can drive you to work, we can pick up some breakfast on the way? I’ll pick you up when you finish.”

Carlos smiles, but it’s small and regretful. “I already ate, and I don’t want to bother you on your day off.”

“It’s not–”

“Besides, I might stay late again,” Carlos interrupts. “I’m not sure, but I have to keep working on this, TK. I can’t– I couldn’t forgive myself if I stopped.”

TK nods. “I understand.”

And he does. He does. Still. His heart sinks as he lets go of Carlos, allowing him to stand up and leave.

“I’ll leave a light on for you,” he calls out as Carlos reaches the door. “I love you.”

Carlos turns back once, smiles. “Love you.”

Then he’s gone, and TK is alone again.

[perlukafarinn]

I'm back with another unbearably homoerotic story from The New Voyages (this one even has a foreword written by Leonard Nimoy)!

The story in question is Ni Var, written by Claire Gabriel and published in the first New Voyages volume in 1976. In it, Spock is split in two - his human half and his Vulcan half. He and Kirk also have unnecessarily intense and emotionally loaded interactions pretty much every page. Just look at this passage that happens right after Spock is split:

The moment Kirk sees Spock, he knows something is wrong. They have an emotional talk that turns into an argument that turns into Kirk asking Spock what's wrong and if he can help.

It's the way Kirk reads Spock like an open book! How Spock finds comfort in Kirk's offer to help, even if he's not ready to accept it.

And just when you think it can't get any more intense, bam - City on the Edge of Forever callback!

Kirk is having an extremely normal one.

Anyway, Kirk finds out about the split soon enough because damned if Spock can keep a single secret from him once he's determined to find out.

We are distracted from the main plot, however, as the Enterprise is sent on a mission to a planet whose natives love the taste of human flesh. Of course, Kirk insists on joining the landing party but Spock is Not Having It.

They are having this fight in front of the crew. If the rumors didn't exist before, they certainly do now.

Spock loses the argument on account of Kirk being Captain and goes back to his quarters to discuss the issue with his Vulcan half.

This, the text points out, is the first thing Spock's two halves are in complete agreement on. Protecting Jim. I am banging my head against the wall.

Then Vulcan Spock goes on a mental tangent about humans and emotions and one human in particular, and this passage drives me bonkers.

"Until he met Jim Kirk."

"A man for whom he felt friendship, perhaps even what Humans call love."

Clawing my eyes out. The romanticism of it all. These are completely normal thoughts to have about your commanding officer!!

And then Spock decides to risk what he calls "for a Vulcan, torture" to ensure Kirk's safety. What this whole subplot is for is essentially to show that Spock's two halves can be united and the thing they unite over..... is Jim.

I am unwell.

Spock does manage to keep Kirk from throwing himself to the proverbial wolves, the plot moves on, and then they're back in front of the machine that split Spock and can be used to unite him again. Kirk has an angsty moment about that time he was split in two (the whole story, in addition to exploring Spock's split identity, is filled with callbacks to The Enemy Within and the toll that experience took on Kirk mentally and it's great).

This isn't a particularly Kirk/Spock moment but I had to include it because I love the mental image of Kirk flipping himself off and Spock laughing at it. Kirk would fuck his clone, actually.

Then the time is at hand to unite the two Spocks. Kirk puts a comforting hand on Human Spock's shoulder but then hesitates to do the same to the Vulcan half and this whole page has me crying, screaming, throwing up, etc.

God.

Spock is united, all is well, and the story ends with Kirk grinning at Spock and Spock responding with an oh-so-subtle smile.

In conclusion: gay.

[i-desire-r0b0tz]

I had some revelations after playing through Violence

So after my buddy and I played through violence when it was released a few weeks ago I had this whole ramble/spiel and I made a few connections I haven't seen anyone posting about so I'm gonna post them now, sorry if they're a little disorderly I'm ripping it off of discord

-Cause Imperfect Hatred was obviously a reference to Gabe and his whole rant about "You’ve taken everything from me, machine. And now all that remains is PERFECT HATRED." But it was very obviously imperfect hatred and he realized that he doesn't actually hate V1

So in regard to 7-4 and the Earthmover being the final boss for the layer of violence we learn through previous logs in violence that every machine in the war is built to counter the previous machine built, and through this we know v1 was built to destroy the Earthmovers. That v1 was created with the intention of being able to destroy things so much greater than itself from the inside out. It kind of reminds me of what we as the player of v1, are doing to hell, If hell is a living thing as it's sorta been hinted to be then maybe v1's purpose or driving motivation in hell is to dismantle hell at it's heart of it and the Earthmover was foreshadowing of what the rest of act 3 is gonna be.

Why do I think that has solid standing?

What's interesting is what that means for act 2, v2 fights v1 to try and get it's arm back and get revenge, v1 takes something from it again but more importantly v1 kills it. What this means when applied to Gabriel is that he fights v1 to try and earn back his holy light, his grace, and he loses again. I think the death in this instance in regards to Gabriel was a spiritual one instead of a physical death. His faith in god dies, the illusions he's forced himself to believe in have died. The boss music for Gabriel is quite literally called "The Death of God's Will", with Gabriel in the first act referring to himself as "...the righteous hand of the father" and his first warning to v1 being "Turn back, or you will be crossing the will of God." And in a way v1 is responsible for taking that faith from him too, like how v1 took v2's second arm.

So actually I'm not sure we're gonna be fighting Gabriel as much as maybe we'll be fighting and destroying the heart of hell itself for the ending of act 3. But that's just a theory and some connections I made

[abarero]

Figured I’d share this here! @bloodyxblossom and I put our heads together and compiled a fan soundtrack for MikotoHanna. Featuring all female vocalists and 14 songs. Hope you enjoy!

Lyric snippets and links below the cut!

1. Lying to the Mirror - Gabrielle Aplin

So when the pain of your mistakes keeps you awake,

And all your skeletons rattle in the chains,

Intoxicated by the fear and the flames,

There's paranoia in your veins.

We're all lying to the mirror,

Lying to ourselves,

Hiding in the glitter,

Lying to the mirror. [x]

2. I’ll Be Your Mirror - Emma Elizabeth

I'll be your mirror

Reflect what you are, in case you don't know

I'll be the wind, the rain and the sunset

The light on your door to show that you're home

When you think the night has seen your mind

That inside you're twisted and unkind

Let me stand to show that you are blind

Please put down your hands

'Cause I see you [x]

3. I Think We’re Alone Now - Tiffany

Look at the way

We gotta hide what we're doin'

'Cause what would they say

If they ever knew?

And so we're running just as fast as we can

Holdin' on to one another's hand

Tryin' to get away into the night

And then you put your arms around me

And we tumble to the ground

And then you say

I think we're alone now (alone now)

There doesn't seem to be anyone around

I think we're alone now (alone now)

The beating of our hearts is the only sound [x]

4. Truly Madly Deeply - Cascada

I will be strong

I will be faithful

'cause I am counting on a new beginning

A reason for living

A deeper meaning yeah

I wanna stand with you on a mountain

I wanna bathe with you in the sea

I wanna lay like this forever

Until the sky falls down on me [x]

5. Every Little Thing She Does is Magic - Jazzystics feat. Lona

Though I've tried before to tell her

Of the feelings I have for her in my heart

Every time that I come near her

I just lose my nerve, as I've done from the start

Every little thing she does is magic

Everything she does just turns me on

Even though my life before was tragic

Now I know my love for her goes on [x]

6. Invisible Touch - Laura Killen

She seems to have an invisible touch, yeah

She reaches in and grabs right hold of your heart

She seems to have an invisible touch, yeah

It takes control and slowly tears you apart

Well, she don't like losing, to her, it's still a game

And though she will mess up your life

You'll want her just the same, and now I know

She has a built-in ability

To take everything she sees

And now it seems I've fallen, fallen for her [x]

7. Wish You Were Here - Miley Cyrus

How I wish

How I wish you were here

We're just two lost souls

Swimming in a fish bowl

Year after year

Running over the same old ground

What have we found?

The same old fears

Wish you were here [x]

8. Vanish Into You - Lady Gaga

Into the night, we fly

Sirens blow by our heads (Yah)

Do you see me? Do you see me now?

I've been waitin' for you, cryin' out

Do you see me? Do you see me now? [x]

9. Lapis - TrySail

Straightforward to the ground

The flocks of hope that pass us by

Against them, I sink, surrendering myself, oh

So beautiful I forgot to even breathe

Purely I take the plunge

Just for you and you alone… I will fall [x]

10. Hero and a Villain - Dark Sarah

I am a maniac

I've been waiting for this for years

The villain wearing black

Makes the hero kneel

This is a known attack

I'm sure that something will be lost

And I'm not coming back

I'm the one to blame[x]

11. Cosmic Love - Florence + The Machine

And in the dark, I can hear your heartbeat

I tried to find the sound

But then it stopped, and I was in the darkness,

So darkness I became

The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out

You left me in the dark

No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight

In the shadow of your heart [x]

12. Snowdrop - Laura Alden

You were my life force, in your garden

I stood eyes closed and I'm haunted

By something I don't know

Something I don't see

Is it something I am?

And I felt the weight of my casket

Cried like a school kid grounded four years

You're someone I don't know

Someone I can't leave

Someone I had [x]

13. Hope - Cyndi Lauper

If hope is a thing with feathers

Lost in the storm

Then see us fly together

And hope is what you came for

A drop in time we share

Hope and don't give up

Don't give up [x]

14. Die with a Smile - 4th Impact

Wherever you go, that's where I'll follow

Nobody's promised tomorrow

So I'ma love you every night like it's the last night

Like it's the last night

If the world was ending

I'd wanna be next to you

If the party was over

And our time on Earth was through

I'd wanna hold you just for a while

And die with a smile

If the world was ending

I'd wanna be next to you [x]

[avocado-writing]

Could I request some reader/Gabriel, or reader/Jim? Either with Gabriel’s musings over falling for/being fascinated with a human(?) partner, or reader and Jim indulging in soft courtship and just being idiots in love with each other? Thank you so much for doing these, love your writing so much! 💛

this was fun! I love jim 💕 enjoy!

Jim x reader w/ background aziraphale x Crowley

The first time Jim hears you singing, he’s the only customer in the coffee shop. Aziraphale trusted him with a ten pound note and an order in his head. You clearly don’t even realise that he’s there, you simply belt along with the music you have gently playing over the speakers as you set up the espresso machine. 

It’s lovely. He’s so enchanted by it all he can do is listen. 

When you turn, you yelp. A look he doesn’t realise crosses your face - it’s embarrassment - and you bristle. 

“How long have you been standing there?”

He blinks, put off by your hostility. 

“Not long,” he states. You still seem to want something more from him. He doesn’t know what it is, so instead he offers the truth. “I like your voice. What song is it?”

You seem surprised by that, and it drops your guard and your irritation. 

“You don’t know this song? It’s pretty famous.”

Jim shrugs. 

“No.”

“It’s Take A Chance On Me by ABBA,” you tell him. Jim listens to the music for a bit, enjoying the tune, then smiles at you. 

“I like it more when you sing it.”

You’re a bit taken aback but finally end up smiling. 

“That’s very kind, uh…?”

“Jim.”

He reads your name off your employee badge and commits it to memory, only to find he’s totally forgotten the drinks order. 

🪽 

He next hears you sing when you’re closing up a few weeks later, but it’s okay - he works there too now. Aziraphale let him get a job there under the promise he’d behave. And he does. He’s quite a natural at it, actually, he enthuses about the coffee to every customer who comes through the door and they’re happy to chat with him. 

And he’s pretty easy on the eyes which doesn’t hurt. 

You’re singing under your breath, he can hear the music you have playing quietly on your phone. As he wipes down the tables, he peers over your shoulder. 

“Is this ABBA too?”

You laugh, not unkindly. 

“Huh? Oh, no. This isn’t ABBA. This is I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston.”

“Oh.” He listens to a few bars. “I like this one too, I think.”

You take it easy on him. Apparently he has amnesia, so that’s probably why he doesn’t remember a lot of music. You start the song again, louder this time for him, and hum along to it. 

He listens to your voice more than the song, and finds himself getting a strange fluttery feeling in his chest. When he goes home and asks Aziraphale about it, he’s told it might be affection. 

🪽 

He listens to the radio a lot when he’s in the bookshop now. 

The classical stations, the oldies, the top 40. All of it. He listens and he listens. He makes a mental note of what he’s heard you singing, because those are the ones he likes the most. He uses the internet - under watchful supervision - to research the artists he knows you enjoy. He likes to be able to keep up a conversation with you, likes the way you light up when you talk.  

He likes you. 

🪽 

“Are you sure about this, angel?” Crowley asks, narrowing his eyes. Aziraphale straightens Jim’s tie. 

“Yes, I think it’s a perfectly lovely idea.”

When Jim suggested he would quite like to ask you out to dinner, Aziraphale had decided it would probably be fine, under the condition that if you declined he wouldn’t bother you about it again. Jim didn’t know much about human culture but understood that it was frowned upon to pursue someone who said no, so agreed. 

And now here he was. In his little suit Aziraphale had loaned him. A bunch of flowers in his hand. Waiting for your shift to end. When he sees you coming out of the shop and locking up, Aziraphale sends him off with an encouraging pat on the back. 

He and Crowley watch from the window. 

“If he remembers who he is, this could turn into a nightmare.”

“Perhaps. But look at them, they make each other so happy. I think… maybe they both deserve that.”

Aziraphale loves love, and Crowley loves Aziraphale, so keeps his mouth shut and watches the scene unfold.