The Garden Coast. Michael. Raphael. Merlin. Joby and the others. Some of his younger siblings, almost vibrating with curiosity and delight, who dropped by to participate.
One of the best memories Gabe had, because it was just after the wager. Because they were revelling in their right to choose, and there was nothing but family and beauty all around. Everything that made his Master's Earth so magnificent.
The Archangel didn't let himself get lost in it, because he knew Skul would be coming back soon, but he did drift in the memory enough to take the edge off his headache and the low-grade irritant Shudder's Gist was. It was enough that when Skulduggery approached the door, Gabe sensed his soul through it--the strength and the restraint and the worry. By the time the detective actually entered, Gabe's eyes were open and he was pushing himself upright.
"I'm okay," he said, and then let his mouth twist ruefully. "Mostly. Headache. Sanguine was daydreaming of murder."
That headache hadn't left, quite, but at least now Skulduggery's proximity took the edge off Shudder's presence. Gabe didn't draw attention to the man, or his (understandable) reason for being there. Indeed, Gabe assumed that Skulduggery knew Anton was there. The detective didn't exactly miss much. When Skulduggery came right up to the bed and sat down, that helped even more, and unconsciously Gabriel both made space for him and yet leaned up against him in a way he sometimes had at the Institute, when he'd been exhausted from shapechanging and there were no pillows nearby.
There. That was much better. Gabe close his eyes and exhaled slowly, feeling himself relax in ways he hadn't been able to before. Skulduggery's soul was like a quiet wash of surf. Soothing. "I'm sorry I couldn't stop Scarab getting the Engines. I didn't realise Kenspeckle would be able to build them so quickly."
There was something else, too. Something important he needed to tell Skul. It wasn't that Gabe had forgotten it, but in the face of his condition and situation he'd set it aside. For the moment he let the comfort help him relax until the memory teased itself forward again.
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One of the best memories Gabe had, because it was just after the wager. Because they were revelling in their right to choose, and there was nothing but family and beauty all around. Everything that made his Master's Earth so magnificent.
The Archangel didn't let himself get lost in it, because he knew Skul would be coming back soon, but he did drift in the memory enough to take the edge off his headache and the low-grade irritant Shudder's Gist was. It was enough that when Skulduggery approached the door, Gabe sensed his soul through it--the strength and the restraint and the worry. By the time the detective actually entered, Gabe's eyes were open and he was pushing himself upright.
"I'm okay," he said, and then let his mouth twist ruefully. "Mostly. Headache. Sanguine was daydreaming of murder."
That headache hadn't left, quite, but at least now Skulduggery's proximity took the edge off Shudder's presence. Gabe didn't draw attention to the man, or his (understandable) reason for being there. Indeed, Gabe assumed that Skulduggery knew Anton was there. The detective didn't exactly miss much. When Skulduggery came right up to the bed and sat down, that helped even more, and unconsciously Gabriel both made space for him and yet leaned up against him in a way he sometimes had at the Institute, when he'd been exhausted from shapechanging and there were no pillows nearby.
There. That was much better. Gabe close his eyes and exhaled slowly, feeling himself relax in ways he hadn't been able to before. Skulduggery's soul was like a quiet wash of surf. Soothing. "I'm sorry I couldn't stop Scarab getting the Engines. I didn't realise Kenspeckle would be able to build them so quickly."
There was something else, too. Something important he needed to tell Skul. It wasn't that Gabe had forgotten it, but in the face of his condition and situation he'd set it aside. For the moment he let the comfort help him relax until the memory teased itself forward again.