Voice of an Angel *Archer/Aurora*

[aurora]

Angels even when descending, bring from above,
Echoes of mercy and whispers of love. ~F. J. Crosby



Aurora walked slowly along the edge of the road, staying out of view, being inconspicuous and unobtrusive a habit she started when she was young and something she couldn’t shake now. She carried in her hand a small daisy, its energy of yellow and white had drawn her attention to where it was growing against a dark shabby wall.

The bright lights of the street were not of interest to her, their patterned colors irrelevant to someone who sees the entire world as swirling colors. There was a commotion up the street, she looked up and saw a mass of black energy that was a mob of vampires, 10 or so all out for the evening on the town..

She ducked into the closest door wanting to avoid anything that could put her in the firing line and found herself inside a club. She sighed, and turned, out the glass front of the door she saw the mob and quickly turned, heading into the shadows so that they couldn't see her.

She walked quickly into the far corner and sat in a inconspicuous place. She listened to the people around murmuring in anticipation of something she didn't know, and slid low into her seat. Above the drone of mindless conversations a voice sounded on the microphone, she felt her heart skip a moment at the sweet sound. She looked up to the stage at the far end and saw the purest white energy she had ever seen, through it wove lines of silver and gold. Her jaw fell open in amazement and she felt wetness on her cheeks.

[Archer Michaels]

"Leaves are on the ground, Fall has come, Blue skies turning grey, Like my love...."
Archer began the song that was so well liked and requested by all even though they didnt know the true significance of it. For so long he had tried to watch over the other angels in heaven. They had always depended on him and took for granted that he would always be there. But the war in heaven had left him cold and broken.

I can't go on, And let you lose it all, It's more than I can take, Who'll ease your pain?, Ease your pain...

Tears filled his eyes as he thought of the angels he left to fight the war and the ones he couldn't help here on earth. They fell down his cheeks and dripped from his jaw as he thought of his father and how he missed him but how betrayed he felt by him.


Snow is on the ground, Winters come, You long to hear my voice, But I'm long gone

He closed his eyes as the song ended and when he opened them again he saw the look on the face of a woman that looked as if he was moving her very soul. At least that was a good thing. He was glad it was the end of his set. He needed some air. He needed to weep. "Back in 10" he said with a shaky voice and left the stage. He made his way through the crowd of people who didnt even notice the pain in his eyes. All they cared about was that he entertained them.

The hands patting him were mostly careful not to hit him on the back but some people were just not considerate of the sensitivity of an angels back and he winced sadly several times until he made it to the back door and slipped out. He walked over to the crate he often sat on when he took a break, and sat down. He took a deep shaky breath and let out his tears.

[aurora]

Aurora watched the man sing, the swirling glory of majestic white faded quickly, it changed to a pale greyish blue, dull and no longer swirling. Her smile at the sweetness of his voice quickly fell as the colour changed completely so that every inch of him was now the dull lifeless colour.

When he finished his colour didn't improve, so the sadness was more than just the words of the song but something he felt deep inside himself. Wide eyed she continued to watch him as he walked off stage through the crowd. As those around reached out and touched him, the softer touches to his side or arm were reflected by a flicker of green energy but those that touched his back made it flare an angry red. But still the rest of him was sad and pale.

He left the room through a door and the crowd around turned back to its chatter and bustle of people to get drinks. With a sigh she stood, and followed the man out the door he had disappeared through. She didn't entire know why she followed him, she just knew that he was sad and hurting and she knew exactly how that felt. Pushing through the door she looked around and saw him sitting on a crate.

Shyly she walked up to him, she stood before him, the saddness he felt seemed to wash over her and she took a deep shaking breath. "Hello" she said softly "I couldn't help but notice how sad you are and I wanted to give you this"

She held out the daisy to him with a small smile, she looked into his eyes and saw there just two tiny orbs of the glorious white and silver and gold she had seen earlier, but up close his eyes seemed to glow with an energy that could only be described as a window straight to heaven. She gave a startled squeak and dropped the daisy, tears burning her eyes.

“I am sorry” she stammered taking a step back “I just wanted to see you smile”

She turned and ran, before she could take three steps her physical form was gone and she was a mass of swirling energy. In panic that she had shown her unusual form she ran, with tears burning her eyes she ran to the closest alleyway she ducked down it and hid behind a dumpster, her face in her hands as she cried.

[Archer Michaels]

Archer often released his sorrow in this way but he never expected someone to follow him outside and try to comfort him. He looked up at the girl with a startled expression that immediately softened. He could see the innocence in her. He looked at the daisy then back at her but as he reached for it, she squeaked and dropped it then ran. The fact that she changed forms didn't even register in his mind for he had seen many wondrous things in his lifetime, including light beings.

He followed her with his eyes then reached down and picked up the daisy. She was headed down the alley and he knew it was not safe in this neighborhood. She seemed so innocent. He got up and jogged after her. At first he thought he lost her but then he heard her quiet weeping. He approached slowly until he found her behind the dumpster. "Hello?" he called out softly. He moved behind the dumpster and reached for her hands. Gently he moved them from her face. "Hey now. I didn't mean to make you sad, or to scare you." he kept his tone light and even. "Come on now, it's not safe here for you." he pulled his hands way and tried to get her to look at him. "I like the daisy." he said and held it up. "See?" He smiled as best he could considering he didn't have much to smile about. "Come on, lets get you out of this alley and back indoors where it is safer." he said and reached a hand out for her.

[aurora]

Aurora looked up when she heard a voice call hello but buried her face again quickly as though in hope that if she couldn't see the person behind the voice then they wouldn't see her. When she felt the tugging at her hands she sniffed quickly and looked up.

She shook her head slowly, avoiding looking into his eyes that showed the depth of his beautiful soul, it was something so wondrous she almost couldn't couldn't bare to look at them.

"You didn't scare me, its just your eyes, they are" she didn't want to sound like a flake and say they were beautiful and since she had never seen an angel she didn't realise it was normal, so she added "they are just so different, I wasn't expecting it"

She stood slowly, her legs shaking slightly and she saw the daisy and how where his hand held it his energy was as it had been when he first started singing. She reached out and curled her smaller hand around his. As though in response to their combined touch, the slightly wilted daisy lifted up straight.

She smiled at the daisy then smiled up at him "Please don't be so sad" she whispered

There was a loud crash from further along the alley and she jumped,her hand tightening around his. A fleeting glimpse of panic crossed her face, but she took a deep breath, reassured by the large hand held in hers.

"Shouldn't you get back to singing?" she asked softly as a way to get out of there before her panic showed.

[Archer Michaels]

Archer could tell the girl was different and it wasn’t just her physical form. He wondered if she saw him the way he was seeing her. Something inside him told him he could trust her, being an angel he knew he could trust those feelings. “My eyes are different because I am an angel.” He said softly and cupped her cheek gently with his palm.

He noticed how the flower changed and new life sprang into it. But he knew the when the moment was over, it would wither and die once again. But her smile made it all worth it. Her smile was like the sun shining through thunder clouds. For a moment, he forgot what he was sad about.

"Please don't be so sad" she whispered.

He wanted to explain to her what made him sad. It would be nice to have someone to talk to about the whole situation but he was unsure if it would make her sad as well. Then he thought perhaps he could tell her part of it, just enough to maybe ease some of the tension he felt over the war and his heartbreak. But then there was a loud crash at the other end of the alley. The smell of brimstone wafted into their vicinity.

“Yes, we should go.” He said almost urgently and took her arm in a gentlemanly fashion. “Lets both go and I will sing a song for you.” He guided her back to the back door of the casino and let her in. He quickly followed and closed the door. Demons….he didn't want them finding him any more than he wanted the angels to.

[aurora]

Aurora's jaw fell open at the revelation that he was an angel, but it made sense. It made sense as to why his soul, his aura was the purest most beautiful thing she had ever seen, or had been until he had started singing that song.

She smiled at him, a wide and innocent smile, a smile of adoration. She had never met an angel before, she had never known they walked the earth. She was still smiling when the loud crash made her jump, she turned to look, curious as to what could make such a noise. She spotted the daisy on the ground where it had been dropped, its slightly withered petals turning brown, then black and falling off within seconds. Then the smell reached her nostrils and she crinkled it up distastefully.

She felt him tug at her arm and moved off with him, his urgency seemed to flow through to her and she was grateful when he opened the door and she stepped back inside the casino. As he stepped in behind her she noticed that he locked the door and wondered if maybe the noise in the alleyway was something more than a large dog.

"Thank you" she smiled at him she stood on tip toe and kissed him lightly on the cheek "Thank you for saving me from what ever was out there"

She took her seat, her lips tingling where they had touched his cheek. She wondered if she should slip away while he sung, she wanted to stay, wanted to speak to him again but talking to people never went well, they never understood she was different. But he had seen her flee in her non human form and hadn't laughed at her or ridiculed her. Maybe he was different, he was an angel afterall.

[Archer Michaels]

Archer was happy to get back inside. He didn't know what the demons would do to him, or to this unique soul whom he had found. He was drawn to her. Maybe she reminded him of the spirits in heaven when she was in the form of a light being. All he knew was he didn't want her to leave until he could find out who she was. He was already getting looks from those who expected him on stage. He gave her an apologetic smile and returned to the stage.

He didn't want to sing something that was sad but he really didn't have much to work with. He remembered another song he heard someone else sing. It was popular with most of the artists in the area and had been for decades since it came out in the 1990’s. He walked over and waved the band down to indicate that this was to be an acoustic solo. He sat down on a stool in the middle of the stage, plugged in his guitar and began to play.



When the song was over he smiled at Aurora, he hoped she would stay until he could get a chance to talk to her. “This next one is for my new friend.” He said and stood up. He turned to the band and said softly “Rise Today.” Those standing near enough to hear it cheered at his choice. He turned as the band began with a smile on his face. He felt happy to be singing for her. He wasn't sure why but he liked it.

[aurora]

Aurora watched as he walked away, her thoughts still full of the fact that he was an angel. She watched his broad well muscled back and wondered if it hurt to have his wings gone, and then she had remembered the red through his aura when people had patted him on the back and she knew without asking.

He sat on the stage alone, the band blacked out and the spotlight just on him. He plugged in his guitar and started to play. This time as he sang, the words seem to make his energy glow even more silver and white, ribbons of gold flowed through him almost in time to the music. The words of the song were healing him and soon all the saddness seemed to be gone from him. She felt moisture on her cheeks from tears but didn't brush them away.

She found him fascinating and amazing, not just because he was an angel, but because of his voice and most of all because of his kindness. She smiled as he started the next song, and his dedication to his new friend, her. She watched him, she liked the way when he smiled his eyes glowed, his energy was beautiful as was his voice.

She took a deep breath and watched, she watched him sing, absorbed in ever song as though it were the first time she heard it. She didn't know what she would say to him or why she wanted to say anything at all. She thought of leaving a few times, but she would catch his eye as he sung and found herself rooted to the spot.

As he finished and said his farewells she sat hoping that he would come and talk to her. The crowd pushed around him as he stepped off the stage, she wanted to go to him then but couldn't make herself move through that many people. So she sat and waited, when she saw him look up she looked him in the eyes, she seemed drawn to his gaze. She smiled slowly at him until her shyness took over and she looked away blushing.

[Archer Michaels]

Archer hated the end of his sets, especially when he didn’t see the bouncers approaching the stage for security. He made eye contact with Aurora and smiled before noticing the people approaching him. “No, please…” he put his hands out defensively. “Please don’t touch me…” He wished he could lie and say he had terrible sunburn even if it really did feel like he had 2nd degree burns on his back when his wings were touched. To anyone else, they were just cool tattoos but to an angel they were very sensitive, like freshly drawn tattoos with salt rubbed into them. “Please no!” he backed away as the crowed converged on him and the back patting began. He hissed and ducked but he could not get away.

Archer fell to his knees and began to crawl away. Well meaning fans tried to help him up, their hands grasping at his back and arms. “For God’s sake, don’t touch my back!” he almost wailed but it came out a strangled whisper. Suddenly the bouncers showed up and carved him a path. He shot a pained glance at the woman but scrambled toward the dressing room. As he entered the room he dove for the small shower in the corner. He turned on the cold water and pulled off his shirt before stepping under the soft streams of cold water from the customized showerhead that made the water almost mist out. He sank to his knees as the cool water relieved some of the burning pain. He was filled with sorrow that he didn’t get to see his sweet new friend.

He heard someone in the room behind him and realized he forgot to close the door. “I don’t know who you are but please, dear god, I beg of you…don’t touch my back…” he said though his tears of pain.

[aurora]

Aurora smiled and clapped as Archer's set came to an end, she couldn't believe time had gone so quickly, she has been whisked away into the world of his songs, his voice, the words, the tempo it all seemed unreal, so wonderful, so perfect; he seemed so perfect but then again he was an angel after all.

She tried to walk towards the stage, wanting to speak to him again but the crowd rushed forward blocking her way. She stood on tip toes, and saw them all reaching for him, he looked around and their eyes met briefly and then he was backing away from the people all desperately grabbing for him. He said something to them that she didn't hear over the ongoing applause and bustle of the crowd that seemed to all push forward at him all at once.

He disappeared then, falling on hands and knees as he tried to crawl away. She couldn't see any way to get to him, she wanted to help him as he had helped her. She couldn't see a way through the crowd, she tried to push past some of the people but she couldn't.

Resorting to one last effort to help him she climbed onto a chair and then stood on the table. Looking around the room she soon saw one of the bar staff indicating to a security guard who swung around from where he was talking to some girl and started to walk across the room for her to get down.

"Help him" she yelled, the noise lost to the crowd, when the security guard didn't help she pointed towards the crawling figure of the angel. Finally the guard saw what she was pointing at she saw him curse and talk into a radio. Soon several of the security bouncers where there, pushing people back and making a clear path towards a door at the side of the room.

Aurora got down from the table and slipped to the back of the room. As the crowd was slowly dispersed, she drifted slowly towards the side door. Adept and being inconspicuous, she was able to slip around the shadows at the edge of the room until she was standing by the door, when no one was looking she turned the handle, finding it unlocked she slipped into the dark hallway. She stood in the darkness a moment as her eyes adjusted, then she heard deep voices behind the door, fearing discovery she was relieved when she heard a jingle of keys and the click of the tumblers in the door mechanism falling into the locked position.

She felt her way down the dark hallway until she brushed past a door knob, with no idea which room was his and nothing to loose she turned the knob and found the door open. She knocked softly but there was no answer, she slipped in the door. The shower was running and the room quiet. She looked around the room, not because the room was interesting or unusual but because it was so simple bordering on sparse. There was barely any furniture in the room, no knick-knacks or photos, not even a picture on the wall. Even her simple accommodation had a picture or two, a vase or a broken jug here and there.

She slowly shook her head in disbelief, everything in the room felt sad somehow, it felt like it was the kind of room that felt empty no matter how many people were in it. She learnt early on in her life that the more happy memories or experiences that a person had with or around an inanimate object, the more its energy brightened and glowed. But everything in this room was just dull, like nothing happy had ever happened here.

She was about to slip out again when she heard a familiar voice, his voice, but it sounded shaky and a little strained, it sounded as though he were in pain or crying.

"Its me, Aurora" she called out softly "I was able to sneak in, I can go if you want me to"

[Archer Michaels]

Archer relaxed when he heard her voice. His back was not completely soothed yet but he could not very well just sit in the shower with his pants on like some kind of crazy man. He felt like he needed to explain to her but he felt a little awkward about it. “No don’t leave.” He said as he reached up and turned the water off. “I’m sorry for not coming to your table but my fans got to me…Angelique will be angry when she hears what happened.” His last words were very soft. He didn't envy the men who were supposed to serve as crowd control for him.

“Please, come in.” he grabbed a towel and stepped out of the shower, trying not to let the strain in his face show. He dried only his arms and chest since the water on his back still felt good. “See, I told you, I was an angel…my wings, they are in my back, very sensitive. It can be very erogenous…or painful if one is not careful.” He explained. “Please, I would like you to stay.” He forced a smile.

[aurora]

Aurora hesitated in the doorway, but when he told her not to leave she took a couple of steps into the room before stopping. the shower stopped and he stepped out, she went to avert her eyes but she quickly realised he was still in his pants, which were now soaking wet.

She frowned as he described how his back hurt, but she was fascinated by the thought of his wings being in his back. She could see the red orbs in his silver energy, red being pain she could see that it was definitely in his back that hurt.

"Can I?" she asked as she stepped forward "I mean please may I see "

When he nodded she walked around him and stood behind, she could see how the cool droplets of water were easing the edge of the pain but it wasn't enough. Without realising she reached out and very very gently trailed her finger over his shoulder and down the centre of his back. She watched the way his energy swirled under her fingertip, the sensation of touching his skin, of the swirling energy against her own energy made her break out in goosebumps.

Her hand fell away and she stood, stunned for a moment "I am sorry' she murmured, her face blushing as she bit her lip trying to fight the urge to touch him again.

[Archer Michaels]

Archer felt Aurora’s hesitation. He wished she were not so shy because he knew what she was and he knew what he was and he was certain that he could keep his secret just the same as he could keep hers. He knew he was dripping water all over the floor but he had been in so much pain, he just wanted the cool mist on his violated wings. “They…they know not to let the crowd get to me…Angelique will be cross.” He murmured.

"Can I?" she asked as she stepped forward "I mean please may I see "

He froze for a moment to think about letting her see his wings but he knew somehow that she couldn’t hurt him. He nodded and turned slightly as she walked around him. He flinched slightly when he felt her finger touch him but quickly relaxed as he finger made a trail across his shoulder and down his back. This…This touching was what Angelique told him about. The kind of touching that caused your body to react. He nearly purred with how it could felt to have her touch him that way. He let his head fall back slightly, the tips of his wet hair hanging down to the middle of his back. He didn’t want her to stop. He nearly groaned when she did, “Please, don’t be sorry.” He said softly. “I have never felt such a gentle touch…it’s wonderful.” He breathed.

[aurora]

Aurora smiled, she had liked the way his energy had danced beneath her fingertips as though she was a conductor and he the orchestra. She was glad he had thought it wonderful, she thought he deserved something nice since he had been so nice to her.

She reached out and touched him again, gently her fingertips traced over the lines of the tattoo of his wings. It made her feel amazing to touch him like this, her heart hammered in her chest and she found each breath hard to take because her chest felt tight.

"It is hard to imagine that you are an angel in so many ways" she spoke so quietly she wasn't sure if she was thinking it or saying it outloud "but when i touch you like this" she gently pressed both of her palms against the tattoos.

"While I touch you like this there is no doubt" she took a deep breath and stepped closer, she lowered her head and kissed where she was touching just gently. Her lips trailed across his back and she closed her eyes.

Her hands slid around his waist but then there was a loud bash on the door, she jumped back as though she had been zapped with a cattle prod.

"Sorry" she murmured as the knocking grew more insistant "I didn't mean to do something you didnt want me to but touching you is like touching heaven"