The drive to Sarah's apartment was tense and silent. Gabriel sat rigidly in the passenger seat, his eyes darting around at the unfamiliar sights of Havoc City. The towering skyscrapers, the bustling streets, the cacophony of car horns and sirens - it was all so alien to him, so jarringly different from the celestial realm he once called home.
Sarah glanced at him occasionally, noting the mix of wonder and disdain on his face. "First time in a car?" she asked, trying to break the ice.
Gabriel grunted. "First time being mortal," he retorted. "Everything feels... wrong. Heavy. Limited."
Sarah nodded, unsure how to respond to that. How do you comfort a fallen angel?
As they pulled up to her apartment building, a modest structure in a middle-class neighborhood, Sarah couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment. "It's not much," she said, "but it's home."
Gabriel said nothing as they climbed the stairs to the third floor. Sarah fumbled with her keys, acutely aware of the fallen angel looming behind her. Finally, she pushed the door open.
"Well, this is it," she said, gesturing to the small but tidy living room. "Make yourself comfortable. I'll find you some clothes that might fit."
As Sarah disappeared into her bedroom, Gabriel stood awkwardly in the center of the room, taking in his surroundings. His eyes lingered on family photos, knick-knacks, the little touches that made the apartment uniquely Sarah's. It all seemed so... mortal.
Sarah returned with a stack of clothes. "These were my ex-boyfriend's," she explained. "He was tall, though not quite as tall as you. They should do for now."
Gabriel accepted the clothes with a nod, then began to unbutton his hospital gown right there in the room. A flicker of surprise crossed Sarah's face, quickly replaced by a blush.
"Whoa, there!" she exclaimed, holding up a hand. "Bathroom's through there," she pointed towards a door across the room. "You can change and get cleaned up in private."
Gabriel paused, a hint of annoy in his eyes. "Modesty is a human concept, Sarah. I have nothing to hide."
Sarah's cheeks reddened further. "Well, I do," she retorted, crossing her arms. "Besides, you're still a guest here. We have rules about decency."
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Gabriel shrugged, smirked at the red shade of Sarah’s cheek. "Mortal" he conceded, gathering the clothes and heading towards the bathroom.
As the door clicked shut behind him, Sarah couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity. What did an angel's body look like? Were there any lingering traces of his wings? She shook her head, scolding herself for her intrusive thoughts. She needed to focus on helping Gabriel, not ogling him.
Sarah then sank onto her couch, the events of the past 24 hours finally catching up with her. She had a fallen angel in her apartment. An angry, confused, potentially dangerous fallen angel who seemed to hate humanity. What was she thinking?
The sound of shattering glass jolted her from her thoughts. Sarah rushed to the bathroom, knocking on the door. "Gabriel? Are you okay?"
There was a moment of silence, then Gabriel's voice, tight with frustration. "Fine. Just... these mortal limbs are clumsy."
Sarah bit her lip. "Do you need help?"
"No!" The response was sharp, almost panicked. Then, softer, "No. I can manage."
Several minutes later, Gabriel emerged from the bathroom, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt that were slightly too small for his tall frame. He looked uncomfortable, tugging at the hem of the shirt.
"Better?" Sarah asked.
Gabriel shrugged. "It's... different."
Sarah nodded, then gestured to the couch. "Sit down. We need to talk about how this is going to work."
Gabriel lowered himself onto the couch, his posture stiff and uncomfortable. Sarah took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts.
"Okay, ground rules," she began. "One, no using your... angel powers, or whatever's left of them, in public. Two, if you're going to stay here, you need to at least try to blend in. That means being civil to people, even if you don't like them."
Gabriel's jaw clenched, but he nodded reluctantly.
"Three," Sarah continued, "we need to figure out what's going on with your wings and why I can control them. But we do it carefully, understand? No more rooftop incidents."
"Agreed," Gabriel said, his voice low. "But you must understand, Sarah Dawnson, I cannot remain in this state. I need to find a way back to Heaven, to regain my true form."
Sarah nodded slowly. "I get that. And I'll help you if I can. But in the meantime, you're here, in this world. My world. So we do things my way, okay?"
For a long moment, Gabriel said nothing, his blue eyes boring into Sarah's. Finally, he gave a curt nod. "Very well. Your world, your rules. For now."
Sarah let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. It wasn't much, but it was a start. As she looked at the fallen angel sitting on her couch, Sarah couldn't shake the feeling that her life had irrevocably changed. Whatever came next, she knew it would be unlike anything she had ever experienced before.
"Alright then," she said, forcing a smile. "How about some dinner? I'm guessing angels don't eat much, but you're at least part human now. You must be hungry."
As if on cue, Gabriel's stomach rumbled loudly. He looked down at his midsection, startled by the unfamiliar sensation. "I... yes, I suppose I am," he admitted, a hint of wonder in his voice.
Sarah couldn't help but chuckle as she headed to the kitchen. Teaching a fallen angel about human needs and experiences - this was going to be interesting, to say the least.