Azrael

Part One

                  That was five years ago. Azrael, now 14, finds herself walking to City Hall with Gunner at her side. He fledged about a year and a half after her. Their relationship was rocky at first, Gunner's jealousy tore them apart. But it healed over time and they walk to City Hall together every day now. Well, them and Valkyrie, the black cat that has decided she is Azrael's Reaping Buddy.

"Why haven't I gotten an animal yet?" Gunner asks Azrael. He smiles and waves at a few girls who squeal when they realize they caught his eye. He is dressed in his signature V-neeck and jeans.

Azrael rolls her eyes. She is dressed similarly to him but she has added a black button up over her green shirt. She looks at him and raises an eyebrow. "Reapers aren't assigned animals for their jobs, Gunner. You know that."

Gunner motions to Valkyrie who was laying on Azrael's shoulders as if she didn't have a care in the world. And Azrael guessed she didn't... Valkyrie was already dead. "Well, you have Valkyrie."

Azrael reaches up and scratches behind the cat's ear, causing her to purr. "Valkyrie wasn't given to me, Gunner. She showed up one day during one of my reapings and never left." Azrael glanced at Gunner, "You know that." Azrael smiled as she thought about all the good Valkyrie has done for her over the last few years that that they have been together. "Although, now that you mention it, it would be nice if all Reapers had a Reaper companion. Valkyrie has helped me out a lot. Especially with the younger souls that I cross over." Azrael smiles as Valkyrie nuzzles her face into her own.

"I'm gonna bring it up at the next Reaper meeting." Gunner nods his head, matter of factly.

Azrael stares at him before breaking out into laughter as they walk up the steps to the old castle that was known as the Reaper HQ building. "Yeah. Good luck bringing that up to Dad. You know how he feels about me having Valkyrie around." Valkyrie makes an annoyed mew sound, her head still smushed into Azrael's.

"I can still try." Gunner shrugs. They get in line to wait for the tablets that contain their lists of souls for the day. As they wait, Gunner attempts to come up with reasons that might convince their father- and the rest of the High Council- to allow Reapers to have animals as Reaper companions.

"You know it won't work unless there are other Reapers brave enough to stand up to the Council right?" Azrael asks him.

"Well what about you?" Gunner says. "You stood up to them and told them that Valkyrie is here to stay. Why can't you back me up?"

Azrael blinks at him. 'Well... he has a point.'

It is their turn to to pick up their assignments so Azrael is spared having to answer him. She lets Gunner go first.'He could use a head start,' she thinks to herself.

"Twenty-three?!" Gunner cries out. "Are you guys crazy?" He yells at the man handing out their tablets for the day.

"Take it or call in sick, kid." The short, angry looking old man shrugs.

"We can call in sick?" Gunner asks, head tilting to the side.

Azrael's eyes shoot from the man standing behind the counter to her idiot brother. Valkyrie mews in disappointment. Fighting back the urge to facepalm or laugh- or both- at the two men before her, Azrael speaks up. "Gunner, Honey... we don't get sick, buddy. We're immortal."

"So?" Gunner asks her.

"So... how would we be able to call in sick if we can't get sick?" She asks him. At this point Valkyrie's tail has started swaying and Azrael is willing to bet everything that the cat's eyes are narrowed at her brother.