61 Attention

"Father does not admit it, but I have lived long enough to know," the brunette sighed, "I am sure Michael is concerned, but he never questions father. Raphael…" a frown tugged at his lips, "He has always been hard to read."

"That is because he is an idiot," the blonde spit out with tightness on his face.

"Raphael is a troubled brother, Adam," the kind angel sighed, "He always had a hard time socializing with others, yet craves attention."

"By kicking up trouble?" The young angel frowned.

"I suppose any attention will do for him," Gabriel huffed out a smile, "There was a time when Raphael and Lucifer got along."

"Eve's father?" Blue eyes widened in surprised.

"Mmhmm," the brunette nodded, "They were closer than Lucifer and me at one point. Both were troublemakers that caused father plenty of headaches." 

The kind angel let out a laugh as the memory of those two brothers pranking their siblings by scaring them, drenching them in water, stealing their robes, starting fights between others, and all those childish antics those two had been involved in. At the time, Gabriel could not believe they were children of God. They were shameless, irresponsible, and not fit to be angels. Now, he wished they could return to those times when they were young and not filled with pain. He wished they could be happy once more, smiling and laughing at nothing serious.

'Where did those days go?' Gabriel wondered with a sigh.

"All I am asking, is to not take him seriously," he told the blonde, "He says things during anger that he does not mean."

"He said he would kill Eve since we returned to the skies," Adam's brows dipped into a V, "Are you telling me he would not go through with it, if he had the chance?"

"You do… have a point," the brunette scratched his temple, "He seems to be very angry with her."

"I will stop him if he ever went after her, you know this," the blonde stated and Gabriel nodded.

"I do."

"Let us stop talking about that idiot," the young angel sighed before straightening up, "What is your plan? Don't think I didn't notice your delay," a curl of lips on the blonde.

"Ah," the elder angel let out before he laughed, "I would like to offer father a solution, but it will involve you."

"Okay," the blonde nodded slowly, "What do you have in mind?"

"Your banishment."

It was quiet for awhile in the room, with only the sound of the small fountain in the corner was heard. Adam blinked his blue eyes as he went over what his brother had just said. Banishment, to get exiled from Heaven and never return. How was this going to help? What was his brother thinking?

"Gabriel," the blonde spoke slowly, "How is me getting banished going to help?"

  "I would like to propose to father that Hell would need assistance. If someone from Heaven were to help them as a liaison, then we can work together instead of the constant feud that had ran for millennia." 

He said it so casually and Adam found himself dumbfounded. What… what was his brother thinking? Did he really think this would work? From the calm face and smile, he blinked it in and let out a sigh. Well, if it worked out, doesn't that mean…

Blue eyes widened as he really soaked into the proposition. If it worked and his father agreed… he would be able to see his lover again! His face brightened with the thought as his eyes shined. However, the smile on his face dimmed when he thought about the reunion. Eve would probably ignore him, hate him… maybe kill him. He deserved all that, any of it.

'Are you giving up on me?' He heard her voice from their previous lifetime.

'If you aren't willing to fight for me, then you can leave!' The hurt and anger in her voice was like knives being stabbed into his heart.

'Just forget about me and move on with your life! I don't need you!' She had shouted at him and he did leave, left her to her pain and tears.

Closing his blue eyes, he tried to remember what happened next. Did he really let her go? Did he do as she said? He was sure that in every lifetime, he had loved her deeply even when he died. However, the memories of their past were slowly fading from his mind, like sparks fading into the air. Every time he tried to push his mind to remember, it seemed to erase faster and the desperation he felt clawed at his heart.

"Brother?" The soft voice of the angel before him spoke up with concern.

"When are you prepared to speak with father?" The blonde questioned, ignoring the increase beats of his heart.

"When you are ready," Gabriel gave him a look of guilt… pity? He wasn't sure and he does not want to find out.

Sitting straight with his chin held high, he looked straight into those green eyes and nodded.

"Let us go then."

Getting off the bed, both brothers left the chamber and headed to their father's room. The entire time, Adam was busy thinking of what he would say when he finally saw Eve again. Should he run to her and grab her into a hug? Should he beg for forgiveness on his knees before her? Should he just greet her like strangers? Should he… 

Letting out an annoyed grunt, he frowned running his thumb against the hilt of his gifted sword. He will have to deal with it when it comes. See what Eve would do first, before he does anything. It was only the right thing to do… right?

There was a knock and it took Adam a few blinks to realize they had already arrived. The door being opened by the orange haired warrior, they walked in the open space of their father's. Yet, the blonde could not help but feel stifled and claustrophobic in this room.

"My sons," their father spoke up, "What brings you both to me?"

"Father," they both said and bowed in unison before Gabriel spoke up.

"I was speaking with Adam on the situation with mankind producing much slower than normal, and how both Heaven and Hell are recuperating from the losses," the brunette paused and watched his father, "I know it is taking a toll on your father. Your powers are within all angels and a large amount is being used to heal those who were wounded."

Adam watched as their father leaned back on his hair and rubbed his silver beard. His eyes, always so sharp, but his lips were relaxed as he listened to what Gabriel had to say. Could his father really agree to this? Was he as tired as his brother assumed? Glancing at Michael beside their father, he seemed to be listening intently as well. Were they all more tired than he realized?

'You were too busy thinking of yourself,' his inner voice chided, 'moping and crying.'

Pursing his lips, he forcefully pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind.

"What are you trying to say Gabriel?" God questioned, "Is it to see Morningstar again?"

Adam could see and feel the tensed muscles of the brunette, probably because he also felt the same. So… Lucifer was alive? Didn't Eve tell him that he was dead? That Samael had killed him and she mourned her father's death. Mouth opened and closed with nothing to say, he looked over at the kind angel.

"He is… You know he is alive?" The brunette spoke up with a waver to his voice that borderline worried and surprised.

"He was once my son," his father stated and Adam picked up the sad undertone, "I would know if he truly lived or died."

No one questioned that statement and waited for God to continue, but he said nothing. The kind angel glanced at him and Adam was preparing to speak when Michael spoke up.

"Lucifer is alive," the loyal angel glanced at his father, "Even death do not want him."

"Michael," their father scolded gently as a smile covered his face, "Although he had betrayed us and created a realm that is more than just a prison, he has grit and persistence. That at least is something I am happy to have added in my creation of him."

Adam felt… awkward listening to his father speak of Satan in the way a father would; similar to a parent yearning for his child to return from college. Was that how God felt? Was he waiting for the King of Hell to realize his mistakes and return to his father, his creator? From the look on his father, the blonde could not help but felt it in his bones that he was right.

"Father," Gabriel spoke up standing tall, "I propose we send Adam to Hell."