That was precisely why Gabriel had said what he said. And it was all true; that was the beauty of it. Fletcher had legitimate things to offer far beyond being a mere taxi, and the Archangel was determined to prove--to Fletcher, and to anyone else--that the teen did indeed have those things.
Gabe hadn't been expecting Skul to not follow him up, but the detective's answer was perfect to encourage the Teleporter's self-esteem, and Gabriel beamed as much at that fact as for Fletcher's happiness and choice to stay.
"We'd better get started then," he said, and despite the seriousness of the situation his smile didn't fade much. Instead Gabe guided the pair of them back to the seats and took his, arranging himself carefully and with fewer pain-lines as he angled his wings to fit over the top of the chair.
"Is ... Caelan still an option as a lead?" he asked them both, a furrow in his brow that accompanied the hesitation in speaking of his distaste. "Without Valkyrie? I mean, do you know much about how to contact him, Fletcher?"
~~~
The old man's laugh was long, ringing and filled with delight. "That's the ticket!"
He grinned broadly, immediately creasing his face with the kind of laughter-lines permanently and irrevocably etched upon a person's face. The bartender, looking mildly interested now in this obviously unprecedented occurrence, set two glasses down in front of them. The old man picked his up and toasted Ghastly. "Bottom's up, me laddo."
And then he drained the glass as easily as if it was water, slamming it to the counter and looking expectantly at Ghastly, his good-natured mirth never fading.
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Gabe hadn't been expecting Skul to not follow him up, but the detective's answer was perfect to encourage the Teleporter's self-esteem, and Gabriel beamed as much at that fact as for Fletcher's happiness and choice to stay.
"We'd better get started then," he said, and despite the seriousness of the situation his smile didn't fade much. Instead Gabe guided the pair of them back to the seats and took his, arranging himself carefully and with fewer pain-lines as he angled his wings to fit over the top of the chair.
"Is ... Caelan still an option as a lead?" he asked them both, a furrow in his brow that accompanied the hesitation in speaking of his distaste. "Without Valkyrie? I mean, do you know much about how to contact him, Fletcher?"
~~~
The old man's laugh was long, ringing and filled with delight. "That's the ticket!"
He grinned broadly, immediately creasing his face with the kind of laughter-lines permanently and irrevocably etched upon a person's face. The bartender, looking mildly interested now in this obviously unprecedented occurrence, set two glasses down in front of them. The old man picked his up and toasted Ghastly. "Bottom's up, me laddo."
And then he drained the glass as easily as if it was water, slamming it to the counter and looking expectantly at Ghastly, his good-natured mirth never fading.