Chapter Text
"Dad!" Abel exclaimed, running to Adam. He jumped into his arms, and Adam smiled. "Oh, Dad! It's been so long!" Adam smiled, genuinely smiling. "I know! It's been so long!" He ruffled Abel's hair before putting his shako hat back on. "Last time I saw you, you were just a small kid!"
While the scene unfolded, Peter whispered, "Is it just me, or is Adam extremely scary when he's like that?" Emily covered her mouth, trying to hide her laughter. Sera shot them both a glare, and they immediately switched to a more serious demeanor. The Speaker of God smiled at them; it was a humorous yet sweet scene that unfolded between them. "It truly is not something we would see here every day," she continued in a gentle voice. "But this rare sight is truly worth witnessing."
"Hey! What are you whispering about!?" Adam glared, his tone defensive. "You have a problem or something!?" Abel blinked at the sudden mood change. That was new; he knew his dad as a calm and laid-back guy.
"Calm down, Adam," the Speaker of God said gently. "We are just happy to see you like this," Emily added. "It's not something we're used to."
"Well, there's nothing to get used to," Adam said as he patted Abel on the back. "My boy's getting the special treatment." He looked down at Abel, smirking. "How about a little flight, huh?" Adam flapped his wings eagerly.
Abel didn’t want to refuse. He really didn’t. But telling his dad that he didn’t know how to fly felt extremely embarrassing. Before he could say anything, Emily spoke up for him. "He doesn’t know how to fly yet; we thought we’d teach him as soon as we get the time." Peter nodded in agreement, and Abel put on a nervous stare.
"You don't know how to fly?" Adam asked, both his tone and stare unreadable. Abel blushed, shaking his head. "That is PERFECT!" Adam exclaimed, smiling. Abel made a small 'huh' sound, blinking. "I can teach you how to fly!" He picked Abel up and held him in his arms. "Let's start with the basics." He walked over to the balcony railing. "Firstly, you find the perfect spot." Abel turned to look down, then at Adam. "You're not planning to throw me down, are you?" Adam turned to look at him, smiling. "Nope, not until you know what to do first."
"So you’ll throw him down as soon as you finish lecturing him?" Emily asked with a worried face. Adam nodded and replied, "Exactly that." Peter yelled at him, "Adam!" He held up his hands in mocking surrender, which made Abel drop to the ground. "I was just joking, Blondie! No need to get defensive!"
Adam helped Abel stand up. "Of course I won’t drop you like that," Adam smiled as he patted Abel’s back. "I’ll be like a mother bird with you. I’ll teach you to fly the same way I taught you to walk." He squeezed Abel’s cheeks together and said, "You’ll be perfect."
Abel smiled a little. His dad hadn’t changed even a little; he seemed just like his old self. He always loved both Abel and Caine equally, which is why he took care of them both equally. That’s what Abel adored most about him. He didn’t really make any differences between them. "Thanks, Dad, I love you," he said softly.
Adam’s face was now slightly tearful. He squeezed Abel’s body tightly. "That is the nicest fucking thing anyone has ever said to me." This made Abel blink in surprise. First of all, he had never seen his dad like this. Second of all, wasn’t his dad the first human ever? How could this be the nicest thing anyone had ever said to him? He must have gotten plenty of compliments from people around here.
"What do you mean dad?" Abel asked, which made Adam raise his eyebrow. As soon as he noticed his dad wasn't picking up on the question, he specified. "I thoight you were getting a lot of nice comments about yourself." He smiled nervously. "You know...because you were first human and stuff?"
Adam slightly opened his mouth to say something, but he stopped. He thought about what his son had said and smirked. "Valid point, I should make it a rule around here." Peter walked over to him, his arms crossed. "Or maybe you could behave less like an asshole, and then those compliments would come naturally?" That turned Adam's smirk into a smug grin. "Touché," Adam said with a grin.
He turned to Abel and whispered into his ear, "Don't argue with him unless you have to. I haven't won an argument with him even once." Abel nodded, smiling, and whispered, "I wouldn't even dream of arguing with such an angel." His tone was dreamy, and he looked like some lovestruck fool.
Adam tapped Abel’s head and whispered, "Man up, boy. You're looking like a pathetic lover boy, kiddo." Abel nodded and turned his expression into a more serious one. His father was right; he looked like a pathetic lover boy. He had just come into Heaven, didn’t even know Peter properly, and was already smitten for some reason. He had never felt such strong emotions before, and he didn’t even know how to name them properly.
"So, Abel, tell us your story," the Speaker of God encouraged him. Abel looked around as all the eyes were on him. He let out a nervous chuckle and added, "To be honest, I honestly have no idea how I got here." He thought for a moment, then said, "Everything’s blurry in my head. I can’t remember much."
Peter snapped his fingers. "Got it." All eyes were on him now, and Peter continued. "You might have hit your head." Adam burst into laughter and wiped his tears. Peter shot him a glare and crossed his arms. "What are you laughing at"
Adam put his arm around Peter's shoulder and pulled him closer. "Nice theory, Blondie. Anything else that sounds so absurd?" he asked in a mocking tone. As Adam turned to Abel. "Obviously, he must have fallen from somewhere high, and hitting his head was just a bonus." Abel smirked. "There, solved."
Emily gasped and said with a wide smile, "That actually makes sense!" She flew to Abel. "That might also be the reason why you don’t know how to fly!" She looked around the room and pointed at the others. "Every angel knows how to fly as soon as they come here."
Peter cleared his throat and said, "Sorry to interrupt, but I don’t seem to understand the connection in this case." Adam snorted and rolled his eyes at Peter's comment. "Of course you don’t, you’re blonde."
"Don't stereotype blonde people!" Peter yelled at him.
"Quick question," Abel raised his hand, trying to break the tension. "So far, I've captured everyone's occupation in here."
Abel pointed at the Speaker of God. "The Speaker of God seems to be a messenger of God." She nodded.
Then Abel pointed at Sera. "You seem to be the Guardian of Heaven, watching over law and order here." Sera nodded and said gently, "You're very observant."
After that, he pointed at Peter. "You're watching doors." He turned to Adam. "Then what are you-?" Before he could finish, he was interrupted by Emily.
Emily smiled widely and shook hands with Abel. "What do you think my job is?" Now that made Abel think a little. To be honest, he had no idea. As soon as he didn’t answer, Emily said it for him. "1 point for Emily, 3 for Abel! I am a Seraphim of Joy!"
Now that... made sense, sort of. Abel asked, "So if I get it, your whole point is just bringing joy?" Emily nodded.
Abel smiled, turning to Adam. "Well... boy, since you don't know what my job is as well, let me tell you." Adam flew up high. A ray of light went through the glass he flew up to, creating a silhouette of his body. "I am the Leader of the Army!"
Abel's eyes sparkled and he exclaimed, "That is so cool!" Emily smiled and added, "Your dad really knows how to angle himself to look his best." Adam winked and pointed at them. "Sure, I do."
Peter scoffed, mumbling to himself. "Show off." Adam flew to him and asked, "What was that, pretty boy?" Peter crossed his arms and said with a confident tone, "You heard me."
"Indeed, I did," he said with his usual arrogant tone. "And I am not really happy about it." He took Peter by the shoulder, which made Peter's eyes widen a little and he gasped. "Plus, at least I have something to show off," Adam said with a smug face. Peter immediately backed away, composing himself and trying to hide a bit of his blush.
What Peter was trying to hide, Abel had already noticed. And this made him question: Is there something between his dad and Peter? Maybe he was just overthinking it, or maybe he wasn’t?
What made him snap out of his thoughts was the sudden opening of a door. A new angel walked in. He hadn’t seen that angel yet, but from the attire the angel wore, he could tell it was one of his father's military angels.
"Sir, we finished training." She had a raspy and authoritative voice. The angel bowed to his father. Adam walked over to her and patted her back. "Good job, Danger Tits." Before she could speak further, he dragged her over to Abel. "Abel, this is my lieutenant, Lute. Lute, this is my son, Abel."
Abel smiled and reached out his hand to her. "Nice to meet you, Miss Lute." Lute raised an eyebrow, giving Abel a suspicious glare. "Put that hand away." He blinked, frowning. Adam glared at her. "Come on, that's my boy! Show him some respect, bitch!"
That was harsh. He would never have expected his father to speak to someone this way. Lute said in an apologetic voice, "I am sorry, sir, but I have no time to get to know your son." She looked up at him. "We have an emergency.
Abel put his fingers on his chin and rubbed it for a while. "Emergency, you say?" Lute nodded. He looked at her carefully and said, "I adore that you have such dedication to this work." He smiled, turning to Abel. "Duty’s calling. See you later!" And just like that, he flew away with his lieutenant.
Abel let out a gentle sigh. "That was..." He was looking for the right words. "A pleasant meeting." He frowned.
Emily took Abel's hands, trying to cheer him up. "Maybe it wasn't what you expected, but you'll have eternity to try again!" she said with a happy voice. Abel, in the end, was more horrified. "Sounds terrifying."
Peter smiled at them. As he walked over to them, the Speaker of God spoke. "We will need a small help from one of you." She looked at the trio. "Any of you." Emily raised her hand, smiling. "Can I? Can I?" The Speaker of God nodded.
Sera turned to Peter. "Saint Peter, while we'll be organizing the party for Abel, can you try to teach him how to fly?" Peter nodded and bowed. "It would be a pleasure." Peter smiled as he watched closely; Peter was so elegant and charming. Abel once again stared at him like a lovestruck fool.
"Abel?" Peter asked gently. As soon as he noticed Abel wasn't reacting, just staring, he cleared his throat and said gently once again, "Abel." After Abel ignored him for the second time, Peter yelled at him, "Abel!" As soon as Abel heard that, he fell back and laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry, you were saying?"
Peter let out a gentle, yet desperate sigh, helping him stand up. "Abel, you need to focus." Peter took Abel's hands in his and continued, "You're going to learn how to fly, or at least, you'll try." Abel saluted and said, "Sir, yes sir!"
"Alright then, follow me." Peter spread his wings, flying off, and Abel followed him willingly. As Peter opened the door, Abel yelled, "You have stairs in here!? But you said-!" Peter immediately hushed him and whispered, "There are 1,000 stairs to be exact." Abel blinked. "Why do you have so many stairs if you don't even use them?" Peter flapped his wings, and Abel opened his mouth slightly. "I suddenly feel more motivated than before." Peter smirked. "Good! Then come down so we can start!" He quickly flew down; Abel could hear his melodic laugh, and he sighed. "What an ethereal creature." He slowly walked downstairs.
After 15 minutes, Abel walked downstairs and noticed Peter impatiently moving his leg. "You've got a new record," Peter said calmly. That made Abel smile widely. "Really?" Peter's tone now matched his impatient body language. "Yeah, you were the slowest one yet," Peter said gently. "Oh please, I’m here now. Am I not?" He got closer to Peter, smiling. "Now, let's start?" Peter smiled back. "Sure, let's go."