The comedic Tragedy of Asmodeus and Raphael

Prologue

Charles shuffled along the sidewalk to the park bench where he met Denny every Friday. It had become like that ever since the pair retired, they both never did much but had always faithfully stuck to the weekly meetings. They never talked about much, but it was always having to do with reminiscing about the past. It was mostly about the adventures they went on. The "Unstoppable Trio" of Denny, Mary and Charlie.

The reminiscing would always eventually turn into Dennis talking about how much he misses Mary and Charles would always offer words of comfort. He would also offer some of the roasted sunflower seeds he brought for the birds. They were delicious for everyone.

This meeting, though, would be a little different.

Charles approached the designated meeting place ten minutes early, like always, only to find that Dennis was already there. Which was odd, he always arrived after Charles. Nevertheless, Charles took his seat next to Dennis and pulled out the little bag of sunflower seeds he always carried with him.

"I'm getting old." Dennis started.

"Aren't we all." Charles responded, gently tossing a handful of seeds to the sidewalk.

They sat in silence once more, Charles tried to make it comfortable by humming an old song. But, they could both feel that Dennis had more to say.

"I know that tune." Dennis muttered.

"Yes, but I can't place it." Charles said.

"Hum it some more. It's on the top of my head."

"Of course."

Charles spent the next minute or so continuing humming the tune until Dennis perked up.

"I know this!" He shouted to the best of his abilities.

"Oh, really?" Charles responded.

"Yes! It was- It was the song the orchestra played as the Titanic sank!"

"Oh. Yes, I guess it was."

"In all my days, that damned boat ride will forever be the best experience my soul has ever had."

"It was quite fun." Charles said with a fond look on his face. They barely talked about their time on the Titanic. It was so far back, Dennis was only fifteen years of age. But, his mother insisted he go to America to make a better life than she could ever provide him.

"I still don't know how we made it to a lifeboat. I remember fainting like a little girly when the water touched my foot. I'm even more fooled by the fact that I slept all the way to New York."

"Our luck shined on us that day. And besides, it was cold. I was about to faint, myself." Charles leaned back after throwing one last handful of seeds and the two shared a hearty laugh.

"Jesus, that was long ago. Before we met Mary. Before you got drafted. Before we even knew what a hamburger was. I've got to tell you, old gob, hamburgers are my favourite part of America." Dennis chuckled again before sending the pair into a comfortable silence. They sat like that for some time before Dennis piped up again.

"I'm going to die soon."

"Oh?"

"Yes, I can feel it. I've been on this Earth for too long."

"You're as spry as ever, old friend. Why must you leave now?"

"I'm one-hundred and three years old, Charlie, I've seen this world grow and grow. Everything has shifted around me while for the last thirty years I've been sitting like a stone. I've seen people age and people die. Everyone is gone. My time has come and I welcome it."

"You've still got me." Charles said.

"I do. But, I've also got Mary and my mother who has been expecting me for some time now." Dennis looked upwards, then back to Charles who had a very forlorn look on his face.

"You can't go, I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you, too."

The two sat a while more until Dennis broke the silence yet again.

"I know your secret."

"Which one?"

"The one that gives me confidence that the next time I see you will be when you come home to your own Mother after fighting one last war."

"Which one?"

"The Final One."

"When did you learn?"

"The Titanic, when I saw you have that 'conversation' with the gentleman in red. He was a devil, wasn't he? You gave your life to save as many people as possible and he gave his life to sink the ship."

"He gave nothing." Charles spat out.

"Oh. I guess that settles it." Dennis gave a shrug.

"You weren't supposed to know, by the way. But, I guess it's too late now." Charles started to get up and leave, knees shaking from his arthritis. He was stopped by Dennis' hand on his shoulder.

"One last thing, so that my soul may rest easy. I saw you. I saw you on the ship fighting until the last second for as many people as possible to survive. I saw you cry for all the frozen bodies in the cold sea. I saw you scream in rage at the gentleman in red. I saw you make a dangerous decision. The decision to save me. The last thing I saw on that boat was the glorious wings of an Angel, my last wish is to see them one more time."

Charles paused, frozen in place. He thought and thought and thought about the consequences but needed to honor the last wish of his dying friend.

With a thought, The Angel released his wings.

Charles stood to his full height, extending his wings to their complete span so that Dennis could get one last, good look at them. Dennis looked content, like a huge goal had been fulfilled.

"May I ask one last question before we take our leave?" Dennis softly said.

"Of course, old friend." Charles replied.

"What is your name?"

"You know my name."

"Not that name, the one I can use to find you when you join me in Heaven."

"Oh." Charles stood, thinking some more. His wings gently fluttered as a breeze swished through them. He made up his mind. Dennis would pass in his sleep tonight and it was only the right thing to honor one last wish. He would miss him, of course, and that only made this final departure more bitter. He gave a great flap of his four wings and hovered in the air, speaking his final words to his best friend.

"I am the Cherub Opheliel, my time with you has been great and your passing will be mourned. We may not meet again for a while but know you will have a place in my Mother's home. Goodbye, Denny." Charles gave a wave as he flapped off towards the woods, where his home was. Dennis waved to him and said his own last corporeal words.

"Goodbye, Charlie."