Ezra sat on the side of the bed, staring down at Tom's bruised face. They had just eaten a late dinner together after a day of doing nothing but lying in bed watching films. Relaxing for an entire day was new to Ezra. He got a little restless after the third film, though he enjoyed being close to Tom, especially while he needed the company.

The nightmares affected him more than usual. Ezra assumed it was due to him waking up with reality not as perfect as he would have liked it. Gerry attacking him had brought tension into his home. He was unsettled, awake and asleep.

The sun set an hour ago, and Ezra was ready to seek out Othrowan.

Tom had gotten over his nightmares and slept peacefully now. With a belly full of food, the pain medication wiped him out. Ezra felt comfortable enough to leave him for a while, hoping he didn't wake up when he was gone.

He stroked the side of his face, thinking of how beautiful Tom was, especially when he slept. His brown hair always fell in the right places, his blue eyes were always so welcoming and happy. His cheeks were always flushed a little pink. Now sleeping, he still looked happy, and still radiated his serene energy that Ezra enjoyed being around so much.

He stood by the window and closed his eyes, picturing the fountain in Wileshire village. He saw the golden statue of the poor girl who was crushed, the girl whose parents were murdered. But at the last moment, Othrowan's face came to mind and Ezra landed in the library, in the middle of the choir practice.

The angels who stood in a circle all gasped and stepped back as if he rippled the air. Ezra clenched his hands to fists to force any awkwardness from showing on his face. "Ezrakhell!" one angel said, shocked. "Is there a problem you need help with? Do you need assistance with souls?"

Ezra recognised her voice. He had once known her very well when he was an angel. They were the same age and had been good friends before his world was torn apart. He remembered one summers day when they had been allowed to take some time away from their duties. They had gone to the hills to the highest point in a tree, just to watch the sky, and to feel the sun on their faces. He remembered smelling the warmth in the air, and hoping they could have more days like that in the future.

"No," he said deeply, staring hard until she looked away, then turning to the oldest angel in the room. "I need to speak with Othrowan."

Othrowan watched him in return with a smile as if he had been expecting a visit.

"Of course, Ezrakhell. This way." He led him through the door and into the main part of the library where Ezra had spent many hours with Tom. He stared at the table where they had confessed their feelings. Ezra had been so anxious to trust him. But he couldn't deny how much he liked him too.

He had been so relieved and scared when Tom was honest. But most of all, stunned that someone had finally seen him.

"How is Thomas O'Connell?" Othrowan asked.

"Fine." Ezra crossed his arms, hating the way Othrowan curiously studied his demon mark. "Why were you there?"

"I was passing."

"Why?"

"I wanted to see how you were doing, now that you work at the Glass Horns Pub."

"Bullshit."

Othrowan raised a brow. "Why would I have a reason to lie?"

"Why would you care what I'm doing?"

"Because you're including yourself in a human community. You're living among them, you're working for one, and you're giving your heart to one."

"Don't pretend like you know me. You lost that right." Ezra struggled to look at him. Had he been spying on him?

Othrowan's smile faded. "I did what I had to do."

"You ruined my life to save your reputation."

"The angels reputation. Humans were losing trust in us, surely you can understand that even a little."

"So, you destroy the life of one of your own because you were too afraid of admitting that you didn't know what really happened."

"I haven't destroyed your life."

Ezra scoffed and crossed his arms to hide his tight fists. "Whatever you're up to, stay away from Tom."

"I saved him."

"Right, and what were you doing there again?"

Othrowan stared emotionless for a while. "I was following Gerry Hound."

"Why?"

"He was drunk and disorderly. I needed to make sure he didn't cause trouble. I knew that if he went to the pub, he would cause trouble, and that's the last thing you needed."

"So you waited until he beat the shit out of Tom to do something?" Ezra shook his head, stepping back when his anger started rising. "You're lying. What are you up to?"

"Angel duties, which don't concern you anymore," Othrowan said quietly. "Ezrakhell, I'm glad you have returned, but be careful."

"Is that a threat?" he asked.

"No, it's a warning." Othrowan bowed his head and turned to leave, but Ezra wasn't done with him yet.

"What do you mean?"

"Get some sleep, Ezrakhell."

"Hey!" He grabbed the sleeve of Othrowan's robe, staring down at him. His height, nor his presence intimidated him. "Are the rumours true about another angel being punished for something they didn't do?"

Othrowan gently removed Ezra's hand from his arm. "I am done talking to you. The hour is late, go and rest."

"I'm not done yet!" Ezra yelled, standing in front of him. "Are the rumours true?"

"Is that why you have returned to Wileshire? Because of these rumours?"

"Yes."

Othrowan smiled. "You cannot undo the past. I know you're still hurting from what happened, but it had to be done, for the sake of the peace. Someone had to be held accountable, and I'm sorry that was you and not who really committed those murders."

"Even after all this time, you never found out who did it?"

"If I had, you wouldn't still be a demon." Othrowan patted Ezra's shoulder. "I'm sorry, but life is unfair."

"No, you have made this unfair."

"And what about those poor women who were murdered? They haven't got their justice either."

Ezra tensed when he had an overwhelming urge to hit him. "If you had even bothered to try and find the murderer, they would have gotten their justice, and I wouldn't have lived the last one hundred years in pain."

"And you wouldn't have met Thomas O'Connell."

Ezra sighed, knowing that no matter how long they talked about the past, or how many insincere apologies Othrowan gave him, nothing would bring him closure. "Even after all this time, you can't just turn me back? All the humans who didn't trust you are dead. This is way beyond unfair."

"I'm sorry, Ezrakhell."

When Othrowan left, Ezra returned to Tom's bedroom.

The room was dark, silent and still. Tom still slept in the same position Ezra left him in. His soft sleeping face was all Ezra needed to calm down. He took off his shoes and slipped into bed beside him. The movement pulled Tom from a deep sleep. Though he didn't wake completely.

He turned and buried his face into Ezra's chest. The bruises on his face woke him up. Tom sucked in a sharp breath, quickly lifting his head.

Ezra didn't say anything. He gently turned Tom around and hugged him from behind, so he knew he was safe, and could fall asleep in his arms.

"Where did you go?" Tom whispered sleepily.

"To see Othrowan."

Tom slightly turned his head. "Are you okay?"

"I am now." Ezra kissed his temple, something he never thought he would do to a human.

Lying in bed, hugging a human was something he never thought he would do. Kissing Tom was something he never thought he would do. He had thought about it from the moment Tom showed slight interest in him, but it was simply a distant fantasy.

The first time he had seen Tom behind the bar, and the way Tom had treated him like he was any other customer would never be forgotten.

He would never forget the tension in the library, and the way he struggled to supress how badly he wanted to kiss him. He would never forget the feeling of Tom's lips against his, and how he had lost himself in the feeling of another.

The worst part about falling victim to his feelings was that a heartfelt goodbye was stewing in his future. Tom would grow old much quicker than him, and losing him, even after not knowing each other for longer than a few months, would destroy him.

Ezra scrunched his eyes shut and held Tom tighter. He had committed to the sorrow the moment they kissed. Still, now that he had him, it made losing him even more terrifying.

Tom moved against his chest. Ezra pulled his mind to the present, and focused on the feel of their bodies moulded together. One day he would say goodbye, but that wasn't now. Tom was young, and bright, and full of optimism and hope. Ezra had to cherish it all while he was lucky enough to have it.