"I'll be okay," Gabe said, more weakly than he wanted to. He hoped that he wouldn't have to make those words a lie, not just for Valkyrie's sake, but for his own and for Skul's as well. He'd never meant to break his promise so many times.
The Archangel submitted to the teen's hands on his arm and shoulders, let her help him to his feet. The resolution in her soul was stabilising; it gave him something to focus on, something that didn't erase the pain but made it easier to think past it. When Valkyrie spoke, he smiled; a genuine smile even though it was faint, a smile that made his eyes glow with pride.
"It does," he said softly, and laid a hand on her cheek. "Proud of you, li'l sister."
No, it didn't make the pain go away. But it dulled the edge, gave him to think through that hope and that determination. He barely looked over at Sanguine. "Billy-Ray, I've had about enough of you," he said. "Now, we've gotta a couple'a ladies to take care of, and you can probably tell I ain't in good shape to be doin' much. So for that reason, I'm gonna tell you that if you're still here by the time Valkyrie's set those ladies free, she gets rights to arrest you without your whinin' about it. Got it?"
He'd have preferred not to have to let Sanguine go at all, but the man, though injured, was desperate. Maybe Valkyrie could take him on. Maybe not. But with hostages? It wasn't worth the risk. Their well-being was more important.
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The Archangel submitted to the teen's hands on his arm and shoulders, let her help him to his feet. The resolution in her soul was stabilising; it gave him something to focus on, something that didn't erase the pain but made it easier to think past it. When Valkyrie spoke, he smiled; a genuine smile even though it was faint, a smile that made his eyes glow with pride.
"It does," he said softly, and laid a hand on her cheek. "Proud of you, li'l sister."
No, it didn't make the pain go away. But it dulled the edge, gave him to think through that hope and that determination. He barely looked over at Sanguine. "Billy-Ray, I've had about enough of you," he said. "Now, we've gotta a couple'a ladies to take care of, and you can probably tell I ain't in good shape to be doin' much. So for that reason, I'm gonna tell you that if you're still here by the time Valkyrie's set those ladies free, she gets rights to arrest you without your whinin' about it. Got it?"
He'd have preferred not to have to let Sanguine go at all, but the man, though injured, was desperate. Maybe Valkyrie could take him on. Maybe not. But with hostages? It wasn't worth the risk. Their well-being was more important.