Part of Gabriel regretted the fact that Sanguine was so injured, not because Sanguine didn't deserve it, but because Gabe didn't like causing undue harm--no matter the target. It wasn't worthy of him, or anyone, to hurt someone more than was absolutely necessary--let alone to want it.
There wasn't really the time or necessity to dwell on it, however, and the Archangel went to help Valkyrie instead--slowly. Slowly, but at least comfort was something he could do, no matter how he felt himself. In fact, it made him feel better, to be able to focus on someone else, and Guild's daughter was so easy to want to comfort. He couldn't carry her to the car, but he could hold her and the teddy-bear she refused to put down (the teddy-bear which made his eyes brighten to such a degree that the pain-lines almost vanished entirely).
By the time Valkyrie and Gabriel arrived back at the stadium it was abuzz with more than just the post-game happiness (or depression). Most of the patrons weren't aware of it, but some on a specific side, at a specific set of elevators and corridors leading to the exit and further into the stadium both, found that the exits were cordoned off by order of an Inspector.
In the few moments after they had exited the taxi, and Guild's wife was once more hugging her daughter, fussing for a need to distract, Gabriel put a hand on Val's shoulder. Ostensibly it was to help him get up, which wasn't a lie, but there was another reason for it too. "He's okay, Val," said the Archangel quietly, squeezing her shoulder. "He's too good a Teleporter to not get away." He smiled. "Besides, he told me so. He dropped his phone in the ocean."
He didn't require a response, and there wasn't really time for one, because Miss Guild, having calmed down quite a bit, came to ask if they could see Daddy yet.
"You're going to have to help me," Gabriel said to Miss Guild, quite seriously but with a gentle, encouraging smile that took the edge of urgency off his words. He grimaced, a tad exaggerated but heart-felt. "I've been a bit silly and strained myself. Can I borrow you and your friend there's shoulder?"
Yes, of course he could, Teddy would help hold him up and so would Mummy. So it was that Gabriel was leaning on both, giving them an easy distraction, while they approached the blockade and Valkyrie told the guards to let them through because they were expected. The security guards glanced at one another.
"Well, see," one said uncomfortably, "we already let someone from the Garda through, and the Inspector fellow came out to tear us a new one ..."
"He's a bit scary," the other muttered with a shiver. "Him and that Detective bloke."
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There wasn't really the time or necessity to dwell on it, however, and the Archangel went to help Valkyrie instead--slowly. Slowly, but at least comfort was something he could do, no matter how he felt himself. In fact, it made him feel better, to be able to focus on someone else, and Guild's daughter was so easy to want to comfort. He couldn't carry her to the car, but he could hold her and the teddy-bear she refused to put down (the teddy-bear which made his eyes brighten to such a degree that the pain-lines almost vanished entirely).
By the time Valkyrie and Gabriel arrived back at the stadium it was abuzz with more than just the post-game happiness (or depression). Most of the patrons weren't aware of it, but some on a specific side, at a specific set of elevators and corridors leading to the exit and further into the stadium both, found that the exits were cordoned off by order of an Inspector.
In the few moments after they had exited the taxi, and Guild's wife was once more hugging her daughter, fussing for a need to distract, Gabriel put a hand on Val's shoulder. Ostensibly it was to help him get up, which wasn't a lie, but there was another reason for it too. "He's okay, Val," said the Archangel quietly, squeezing her shoulder. "He's too good a Teleporter to not get away." He smiled. "Besides, he told me so. He dropped his phone in the ocean."
He didn't require a response, and there wasn't really time for one, because Miss Guild, having calmed down quite a bit, came to ask if they could see Daddy yet.
"You're going to have to help me," Gabriel said to Miss Guild, quite seriously but with a gentle, encouraging smile that took the edge of urgency off his words. He grimaced, a tad exaggerated but heart-felt. "I've been a bit silly and strained myself. Can I borrow you and your friend there's shoulder?"
Yes, of course he could, Teddy would help hold him up and so would Mummy. So it was that Gabriel was leaning on both, giving them an easy distraction, while they approached the blockade and Valkyrie told the guards to let them through because they were expected. The security guards glanced at one another.
"Well, see," one said uncomfortably, "we already let someone from the Garda through, and the Inspector fellow came out to tear us a new one ..."
"He's a bit scary," the other muttered with a shiver. "Him and that Detective bloke."