Angels of the Fallen

Hello, I'm an idiot.

~~

I usually don't like priest for this reason exactly. What the Hell is up with all the God damn titles. "Most Holy Reverend"? Seriously?? You might as well call me Most holy Reverend of the Arch-Angel coven, enemy of the unholy servants! Like what the actual Hell?

The man sitting across me looked frightened and I knew that it was because I was impulsively giving him the most throat slitting glare I could muster.

It's probably better that he is scared of me, priest usually tend to hate us once they realize that we aren't as holy as my faction would leave the church to believe. Oh, what I would give to be as blissfully ignorant as the man facing me.

I sigh as I try to scrape the glare off of my face. I glance at my phone again. 'I don't have time for this,' I think.

"Father Austin, the reason for my sudden visit, in nature, is one of urgency. I'm sorry to be blunt but I won't have the time to explain all of the things I am required to explain to you if you interrupt me. So, if you can restrain yourself, please leave all questions till the end,"

He reacts by straightening his back and slightly opening his mouth, then quickly shuts it. I smirk 'Good Boy,'

"Now, since the Vatican has tried very hard to keep our existence a secret I doubt you honestly know anything about what my faction of the church does. However, since I was unable to meet you at our scheduled time-"

I glance up from my phone to see that my comment made the priest visually fidget in his seat. I snicker and ask myself 'Why is it so fun to tease this man?'

  "-I will keep this brief. A member of your parish has come into contact with a... well "member of the fallen"," I say with air quotes.

"Wait so like a demon?" He quickly shuts his mouth and I swear can see the mental slap he just administered to himself.

'Does this guy not know how to follow directions or is he just dumb?' I muse to myself as I rub my face, and try to suppress yet another glare.

"Yes 'like a demon'. It may help if I tell you everything from the beginning because it's obvious that you are not going to be able to disconnect your overflowing brain from your ever flapping gobstoppers," Ya I know a little harsh, but it seemed to work because his straight as a board back relaxes just a little.

I sigh, "Look, about one week ago was the annual Steubenville Conference here in New York. As as you are well aware more then 300 parishes group together in celebration of their faith and to jam out to a few Jesus tunes," He chuckles and nods in understanding, "Usually a member of the Angel, my faction, will attend in order to scope out local parishes. However, we don't really want to be to conspicuous so we usually dress as priest or nuns-,"

Before I could continue I was cut of by yet another question."Wait I went to those Conferences as a kid! Are you telling me that some of the nuns and priest there are actually like I don't know "exorcists" in disguise!?"

At this point I have completely given up reprimanding him for his persistent questions. I answer simply, "Do you really think that nuns have the money and time to just throw away a week end and dedicate it to screaming Jesus music at the top of their lungs?" He opened his mouth to protest but shut it quickly, visually confirming that I was right.

I continued, "And besides it's not like we are staring people down trying to determine who is possessed like starving hawks in need of a meal. It's not a strategy, we don't seek them out because it's simply not necessary. The funny thing about people who have come in contact with the fallen is that their souls are desperately crying for help. They may look like the most faith filled person in the room with the wildest smile imaginable but who said a demon can't act. All of them were in fact angels once upon a time were they not? Anyway, us Angels are trained to see the biggest flaw in their act,"

"What's their flaw?" He asks with pure fascination written all over his face.

"Their eyes, they look disingenuous. Every part of their body is screaming "happy and faithful", but the eyes are lifeless and cold,"

"Oh, so like yours," His eyes widen in pure horror of what he just said, "Oh, my goodness I am so sorry I didn't even realize I said that until it flew out of my mouth- Geez I am so stupid- I really didn't mean that at all- Your eyes are beautiful I would never-,"

Unable to hold it in any longer, I burst out laughing. I laugh so hard my stomach actually hurts and there are a few tears streaming down my face by the time I'm done. The man sitting across from me starts to chuckle, but obviously doesn't get what's so funny.

I try to calm my self down by taking a deep breath and say, "Wow you really hit the nail on the head didn't you?"

I take another deep breath wipe off the tears and continue without acknowledging the blank stare of confusion, "Unfortunately a girl from your parish is definitely being held by a member of the fallen. I will need to visit her home in order to determine the source and cause of her current predicament. The reason that I am meeting with you today is the simple fact that in case of an emergency you are our contact and you will be providing help,"

His eyebrows go up at the last comment. Sensing another question I say inwardly 'It's getting almost to easy to read this guy,'

"Ok so first off, you say 'our' as if there are going to be more than one of you and second why would you need my help?"

I sigh and glance at my phone for the time '1:45' I then move my view to the open window and can see in my minds eye that the sun going down in less then 5 hours 'I don't have time for this shit,'

I rub my eyes and prepare to explain "We will be doing a two person approach, so yes there will be another person present with me. And the hope is that we won't need your help. I have been doing this for quite a while and I know what I'm doing, it's very unlikely that you will ever see me again to be honest,"

At that last comment the man across from me shrinks in his chair and his face dampens with something resembling disappoint . I look at him curiously. 'Now why would that make you sad?' I asked myself. It's then that I decide to enact my revenge against my interrogator and have a little fun in the process.

"Wow I didn't know that my presence had such an effect on you Father," I say with a hint of fake innocents and a small smirk. I stand up slowly, lean over ,and put my hands on his desk. I lean in closer to him and say, "I think your going to miss me. What is it you like about me? Do you think that I look particularly beautiful in your, rather adorable, baby blue eyes?"

As a side note I must add that purpose of my teasing/flirting was that he might let loose and fire back an insult or make a sarcastic comment in return.

However, what I received instead was completely unexpected. Instead of an outcry of riotous indignation, to which any normal priest would reply with, a small blush coupled with a tightly wound figure was now standing up straight against the back of his chair.

'Wait a second. What's going o-' realization suddenly hit me like a slap in the face.

'Oh,'

Overcome with embarrassment, I stand up and mutter a rushed apology as I gather my things. I start moving toward the door when suddenly I feel a hand on my shoulder.

"Please, I know this is awkward but if you need any help or really anything at all please don't hesitate to contact me," 

I couldn't even gather the courage to look back at him and instead nodded my head and promptly exited the office. As soon as I walk out the door I make my way down the street around the church and arrive at a coffee shop as if on autopilot. The whole walk, with a slight redness to my face, I silently chant 'Idiot, Idiot, Idiot! Why, must I ask, are you such a complete idiot!?'