Gabriel arched a brow at the other angel. "Good day to you, too, dear," he muttered, only a bit put out by Raphael's bitterness, as he took a seat on the bench next to Raphael. He sighed, a heavy feeling settling between his shoulder blades, as though his wings weighed him down, though they were not now extended.

What was he to say, really? Belial had managed to illicit responses from this mortal form that he did not understand, that made him despise the demon afterward, but despise himself even more. But these thoughts he could hardly bring himself to share with his companion, especially when Raphael was already clearly distraught.

Gabriel blinked up into the sunlight, seeing so much more than the blue sky or the grey clouds that gathered in the distance.

What he said was, "Sometimes it is through our greatest shame that we know true grace."