Azrael didn't remember how she managed to make it back to her little room at the inn. There was yelling and screams around her, then a rush out into the bright streets of Asra. Now she sat on the small bed with a cup of lukewarm tea watching Raden clean off splattered blood that had stained his clothing.

"You'd be better off just buying new clothing," Azrael pointed out. Raden looked through the mirror at Azrael. Her eyes were quite red and puffy and her hands shook as she held the cup. Raden turned around and walked over.

He knelt in front of Azrael and lifted her chin gently. Azrael had a few tears fall and Raden wiped them away. "I think right now making sure you're going to be okay is more important than my bloody clothing."

"I know I don't like when my clothes get all dirty..."

"Azrael," Raden spoke softly, "Did he hurt you?"

Azrael sat there trying to look anywhere but Raden's eyes. If she did, then she would start crying again and she didn't want him to see her like that. "Other than my wrist, no."

Raden dropped his gaze to see nasty purple bruises around each of her wrists. Anger washed through Raden again and he stood quickly heading for the door.

"Where are you going?"

"To kill that bastard," Raden answered.

"Raden please don't leave me," Azrael cried out. Raden paused at the doorway and turned around. Azrael was standing now. She had blood on her dress from where he had picked her up off the floor. "Please stay."

Raden let out a sigh before walking back towards Azrael. He placed a hand on either side of her face running his hands partially through her hair. "I shouldn't have left you in the first place."

Azrael didn't argue with him but wrapped her arms around his torso. At first, Raden was taken aback at the sudden display of affection, but he slowly wrapped his arms around her. He placed a hand carefully on the side of her head as she laid her head on his chest and he pulled her close. Azrael immediately felt comfort and melted in Raden's arms. He could feel her let her guard down, and from that moment Raden made a vow to himself that he would do everything in his power to protect Azrael.

~~~*~~~

Word had spread through Asra that an angel had beat the shit out of some troublemaker in town. The story of course would change and soon enough no one really knew the true story, but that wasn't important. Many were praising the angel who took matters into his own hands and put the man in his place. Others stated that the guards should've been notified and the troublemaker be turned over. Raden couldn't care less what everyone was saying. He only cared that no other bastards set their grimy hands-on Azrael.

A few days had passed since the incident. Azrael hadn't left the room for much except to bathe. Raden would go out occasionally to buy food so they weren't stuck eating the food from the inn. By day four Azrael was starting to act like her old self again, Raden noticed the change but knew she could be a ticking bomb waiting to explode.

Raden was speaking with the innkeeper in the lobby when Azrael came down the steps. She eyed Raden nervously as she walked over. "Good morning."

"Morning miss. How are you feeling today?" the innkeeper gave a pleasant smile.

Azrael returned the smile. "I'm feeling a lot better today." She turned to Raden. "I thought about going to get some things for the festival would you like to come with me?"

"Uh... yeah," Raden answered a bit uneasy. He wasn't much for seeing cities or going "shopping". Truth be told he had only ever known fighting and war.

Azrael gave a wider smile and grabbed Raden by the hand. Raden gave one last glimpse to the innkeeper before following Azrael out into town. Azrael carried on through the crowd with Raden close behind her. She didn't say much but seemed in her own little world.

Many were tossing glances and whispering as they passed Raden. He would roll his eyes and carry on with his day. This is mostly why he stayed away from human populations. He was seen as more of an attraction than a living begins, but then again how many times in your life would see a celestial?

"So what exactly is this festival?" Raden asked as they entered a small shop.

Azrael ran her fingers over a few dresses before moving on to another section. "Festival of the Gods. A kind of party for the entire weekend."

"What Gods?"

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"I'm not sure. I guess we'll see when everything is set up," Azrael said. She pulled out a deep purple dress and held it up to herself and turned to Raden. "What do you think of this one?"

Tell her she looks beautiful. "It's okay." You, dumb ass. Raden rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Listen I don't think I'm the person to ask about your clothing choices."

Azrael's smile softened and she dropped the dress into her arms. "From the very short time I've been with you, I have found you to be a very very blunt and forward person. Therefore, I will trust your choices."

Raden stood there a bit dumbfounded. No one had ever said they trusted him. Sure it was for something a bit contrived but still. "Alright."

Azrael would walk around for a few minutes, pull out a dress here or there, and then carry on. Raden watched her closely. He noticed the smallest changes in her facial expressions. Her nose would scrunch ever so slightly if something wasn't to her liking or a shadow of a smile only told through her eyes if something appeased her. Raden thought back to when Azrael was going through her books and remembered the same facial expressions.

About twenty minutes later Azrael came back to Raden with five dresses. "Okay, so I know there are a few here but which one sticks out to you the most?"

Raden raised an eyebrow at Azrael. This was a bit out of his comfort zone, but here he was a legend among celestials picking out a dress for a girl he barely knew. "Why all the bright colors?" He was gesturing more towards two in particular that were cherry red and the other that was sunflower yellow.

"I happen to enjoy bright colors. Not everything or everyone has to be all dark and brooding," Azrael shot back as she elbowed Raden playfully in the side. She then picked up the two dresses and laid them to the side. This left three dresses.

Raden over each one then turned to Azrael. "Lavender."

"Why lavender?"

"I remember waking up to the smell of lavender when I first met you. It seems to fit you well," Raden answered matter of fact. He watched Azrael place the other dresses where they were originally and head off to pay for the lavender dress. Raden still couldn't wrap his mind around why she would want his input on this though.

They soon left the store and carried on with their day. Around noon Raden's stomach began to growl with hunger and he made a motion for lunch. Azrael happily agreed and they went to find a place to eat. Azrael made sure to steer clear of the tavern she had made the mistake of entering just a few days ago. Instead, they made their way to the café that Azrael had eaten at before. The waiter came by and they ordered their lunches pretty quickly.

Raden watched Azrael as she looked around as people passed by. He could see the sadness that was just hidden below the surface. "Are you okay?"

Azrael turned her attention and put a smile back on her face. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"No reason," Raden muttered. He didn't want to push her and have a scene on his hands in public. Instead, he thought it best to change the subject completely. "So where have you been staying all these weeks and what happened to your house?"

"Oh, well after what happened in Líadain I decided it would be best to leave. So I started the fire in case of any unwanted followers. I stayed in a few small villages the first week but I thought I could keep a better cover if I came to a larger city. So here I am! I've been staying in that inn for the past few weeks and helping out where I can," Azrael explained. She kept the part about the news reaching her about the incident to herself. No need to have Raden more on edge than he normally is. She jumped out of her thoughts and focused on Raden again as she asked, "Where have you been? I know I was quite rude when we went our separate ways."

Raden remembered that day clearly.

"I went back to my post for a time. There was some greatly needed information that was handed to me while I was there." You should tell her. He mentally shook his head. Azrael would be far more freaked out now than she was in Líadain. "After I left, I spent my time searching for you."

Azrael paused. She looked like she was about to cry again and Raden grew worried that he had said something wrong. "You went looking for me?" Tears began to form.

The waiter came by with their food. Azrael quickly hid her face away and Raden shot the waiter a nasty glare. The waiter rushed off without another word and Raden turned his attention back to Azrael who was now wiping away a few tears.

"Would you like to leave and go somewhere private?"

Azrael shook her head. "I'm fine. Just… why did you come looking for me? I wasn't the kindest to you as we left."

Raden smirked and leaned forward. "You think that outburst would've scared me off? I've dealt with some of the nastiest beings out there ten times over. I couldn't just let you go that easily."

Yeah. It's not like a demon lord is after her or anything… Raden thought.

Azrael gave a small laugh and that made Raden's heart jump a bit. He shook the odd feeling and started eating. Their conversation fell off of that topic and slowly turned to the weekend ahead. Raden didn't have much to say about it but found himself lost in Azrael's excitement. She wasn't good at hiding her excitement, but Raden found something refreshing in her bubbly personality. Azrael continued on and-on-and Raden found himself laughing and smiling. It was odd and felt abnormal at first, but soon enough, he felt comfortable.

"So what will you wear," Azrael caught Raden off guard. His smile faltered and he sat back in his chair.

"Is what I have on not fit for this festival?"

"You don't want to dress up? What if there is something for your master?" Azrael was curious. Raden shook his head and smiled.

"I can promise you that there isn't going to be any celebration for my master," Raden chuckled. He watched Azrael tilt her head and carry on.

"Well, then I'll celebrate them." Azrael shrugged and finished off her lunch. She stood and fixed her dress. "You finished eating?" Raden nodded. Azrael reached out a hand for Raden and he gently took it.

"Where exactly are you dragging me to," Raden half laughed.

Azrael giggled as she walked with purpose. "Well if I'm going to celebrate a God then we need to get you more appropriate clothing."

Raden rolled his eyes but he wasn't annoyed. Something in him was in the works and his heart grew warmer as he followed Azrael through the busy streets of Asra.