The Above || Completed

37 He Needed Me To Talk

Aeron sat down across from me, looking at me with a mixture of frustration and worry. Those blue eyes didn't betray a thing. He scratched the back of his head, ruffling the brunette bush atop it.
"So we're finally going to talk, huh?" he said.
"Yeah, if you want me to talk so badly, we might as well settle a couple of matters we've left untouched," I said, a little bemused.
"Where should we start?" Aeron asked.
"How about your past? You've already heard all about mine," I suggested.
"But I've already told-"
"Not with Erica. Before her," I clarified.
He paused to rub his temples. "Is this about how I acted up when you ran out of Griffin's office?"
"Yes. If I remember correctly, you said we needed to talk," I said, recalling the aftermath of my panic attack.
He sighed. "You're right."

"Why'd you act up? Has something like that happened to you before?" I enquire just to get him started.
"My mom got sick. It was terminal." Aeron began. "And it was progressive. It spread around her body like a poison."
I felt my cold stare soften. "That's terrible."
His shoulders relaxed a little at my small show of emotion. "Yeah. It was only a matter of time before the illness got to her brain. She went insane."
He was so blunt about it. He didn't want to sugarcoat the experience. It would only place it outside of reality. Outside of its magnitude.
"I can't imagine- what did she do?" I asked.
"One day, she managed to escape her room in the hospital and-" Aeron seemed to choke on the rest of his sentence. "She jumped off the roof of the building."
As much as I wanted to remain numb, I just couldn't. My mother was murdered but his- she killed herself. Murder and suicide. Both unthinkable. Both so different. Both with the same outcome for the victim.

I wrapped my arms tightly around Aeron, cradling his trembling body with my own.
"Dad was devastated," he muttered into my shoulder.
I shook my head. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I made you talk about it."
"It's all right. I trust you," he said, pulling away.
"You sure about that? I mean, I can barely trust myself." I chuckled. "I just found out I'm an angel."
Aeron looked at me and grinned. "My favourite angel."
"I'm not the angel though, right?" I asked. "I'm not on any secret mission."
"Clearly, you aren't. This angel is here to put an end to angelic slavery, an endeavour you only would've associated with Luziel if you'd had your memories this entire time," he reasoned.
"You think God finally caught wind of what's happened?" I asked.
"It makes sense. Now, someone's been sent to sort it out," he said.
"Right." I nod. "Just to make sure, we'll have to give the council false progress reports?"
"Yeah. The council can't find out how close we come to discovering the angel's identity," he explained.
I shrugged. "True."

Then Aeron's expression grew serious. "What are we going to do about your dad?"
He could be out there. Or he could be dead. It could be too late...
I had to grit my teeth to suppress my pain. "I will find him. And Grandpa will help us."
He smirked. "Your determination is truly admirable. And..."
I raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "What?"
"And sexy," he said huskily, his eyes on my lips.
I felt my entire body flush.
"We need to figure out what this whole... thing between us is, Aeron," I said.
He sighed, stretching out his muscular arms. "Well, Devonne, I like you, a lot. The question is do you feel the same?"
"I, uh, of course," I stammered. "But are you willing to make this real?"
A smile pranced about his lips. "Sounds interesting. Let me make a proposal."
"Woah," I blurted. "Not that real."
"Relax." He laughed intoxicatingly. "I say we start out slow and see where it takes us."
I smiled sweetly. "I'd like that. Like a commitment with no promises."
"No long-term promises, anyway," he said.
It was really that simple. A way of saying:
We can take it. Whatever it may be.
How I treasured simplicity.
"How about we head to dinner?" I proposed, standing up.
Aeron followed. "You read my mind."

I needed to take action. I couldn't sit around and drown in my emotions. I couldn't submit to the trauma of my past. If my father was alive, he was out there waiting for me. I couldn't be numb. I needed to pick myself up and keep moving. I had my chance to show weakness. Now, I needed to draw out what strength I could muster beneath it. Aeron took my hand. It felt like fire. Warm, comforting and beautiful.
"See, I just needed you to talk."

^^^

!!Author's Note!!

The ship has sailed, people.
Thoughts?

I hereby dedicate this chapter to who has proven to be a great reader through all her votes and comments. Thank you so much!!

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