"Wake up, sunshines," a voice stirred Steve from his sleep.
"...eh... the fuck?" Steve grumbled. He felt something snuggle deeper into his arm. Then he remembered what had happened the night before. He smiled and looked at the small bundle curled under his arm. He looked at the long scar that covered his face and wished he could take that pain away from Stoph.
"Enough admiring your sleeping beauty. I have a present for you two," the voice interrupted Steve's thoughts again.
"Love..." Stoph moaned into his armpit. And his brow scrunched into a frown.
"No, I'm sorry. But being an angel and all, I can't really date. It's not you it's me," Michael smiled at the boy.
Stoph's brow scrunched tighter.
"Get up!" Michael shouted again.
"Jesus, what's made you so happy? Aren't you usually all calm and collected and all that bullshit," Steve mumbled and snuggled into Stoph's hair, inhaling his scent.
"Yeah, well, I have a present for you and Stoph. Stoph mainly. But whatever... you can be included too, now get UP!" Michael shouted and ripped the covers off the two. Both groaned and tried to snuggle into each other to keep warm.
"Of all the tortures of hell this is by far the worst," Stoph glared at the angel.
"Well someone got his sarcasm back," Michael laughed.
"Just cuz I'm crippled, don't think I can't still beat your ass like I did back in the 1400's," Stoph growled.
"You didn't win that fight. You just killed a third of the population of Europe with a plague. Then I was forced to retreat. I said, FORCED. I would have won if not for Gabriel," Michael reasoned.
"Talking needs to stop now," Steve grumbled.
"Forced my ass. You were scared," Stoph laughed.
"Was not," Michael glared.
"Was too," Stoph retorted.
Steve sat up. "Babe, I love you. And I'm glad you're not crazy anymore. But shut up and go back to sleep," Steve growled. Stoph laughed and curled back up.
"OK," he sighed.
"Not OK," Michael shouted.
"Get up, get up, get up, get up!" Michael jumped on the bed wings flailing. Both men groaned more.
" Alright alright. We're up." Steve sat up and Stoph followed.
"Good! Now I can tell you the good news!" Michael jumped once more before sitting on the bed. Steve rubbed the sleep from his eyes and waited.
"Stoph, we've all been talking upstairs. And due to your recent... acts... we all have seen fit to give you back your wings," Michael said. Suddenly calmer and formal. Stoph was awake at once.
"What?! That's never happened before..." Stoph muttered.
Steve waved a hand in the air. "Remember guys, not an all-powerful super-being here. Put it in plain English for me."
"There's two ways to become a Demon, Steve. One is you're born one of Lucifer's children," Stoph began.
"The other is to have been created as an Angel and to have committed some crime of treason against the light and you fall from heaven. Losing your wings and falling into His world," Michael finished.
"So no Demon has ever gotten his wings back before?" Steve asked still not entirely understanding.
"It's more than just the wings themselves, Steve," Michael explained.
"If Stoph chooses to give up his dark magic. He will be endowed with his Light given powers again and be free from Lucifer's grasp. His soul will no longer belong to him," Michael said excitedly. Steve realized that was the first time he had heard the angel use the Devil's name.
Steve glanced at Stoph to see how he was taking all of this. He expected to see happiness or surprise or... something other than the heavy scowl he wore.
"What?" Steve asked.
"You're leaving out a key factor here, Michael," Stoph sighed. Steve looked toward Michael and his smile was gone as well.
"Yes... I know..." Michael sighed. He turned toward Steve. "Angels are forbidden from being with a human. In any way shape or form. He would have to leave you," Michael explained. Worry creasing the smooth skin.
"Oh..." Steve said. He suddenly felt tired again. "Could you give us a minute, Michael?" Steve asked. The angel nodded and walked into the living room.
"Stoph... I love you and I always will. No matter what happens. I know what a big deal this is... if this is what you want. Then you have to do this. And I'll support you," Steve said.
"I just got you back, I can't lose you again," Stoph sighed, putting his head in his hands.
"You also can't give this up. Being free from Lucifer... being free from dark magic. Being free from-"
"You," Stoph interrupted. "There were reasons I broke the rules in Heaven, Steve. They were stupid. Possessive. I could do nothing I wanted to do. I could hardly think for myself without some higher ranking angel smashing out my thoughts," Stoph scowled.