[Location: Queens, New York]

Thud!

"Make yourself comfortable, while I prepare something 'special' for you." Tom flung the door shut with his leg and guided dazed Gabriel onto the couch with practised ease.

As if done many times over...

Gabriel sat down gently, folding her hands on her lap like a polite guest. "This place… It's very quiet," she said, glancing around the dimly lit apartment. The air smelled of cheap liquor and old smoke. "Do you live here alone, Tom?"

Tom grinned as he tossed his jacket onto a chair. "Yeah, just me. Kinda peaceful, right?"

Gabriel nodded slowly. "Peaceful… yes. But it feels… heavy. Like the air is tired."

He laughed. "You say the weirdest things, you know that?"

She blinked, tilting her head. "Do I?"

"Yeah," he said, pulling two glasses from a small shelf. "You talk like someone outta a storybook."

"I… like stories," Gabriel said softly. "They always have meaning. Even sad ones."

Tom chuckled under his breath as he poured the amber liquid into both glasses. "Well, this one's got a happy ending if you play your cards right." He handed her a glass and sat beside her.

She took it politely, watching the liquid swirl inside. "You really like sharing drinks," she said.

"Sure do," he replied, leaning closer. "It helps people relax. You look tense, angel."

Gabriel frowned slightly, glancing down at her own shoulders as if checking. "Tense? I don't think so. Just… learning."

Tom laughed. "Learning what?"

"Humans," she said. "How they act. How they hide things behind smiles."

His grin faltered for just a moment, then returned. "You're sharp, huh? Must've met a lot of people like me."

"No," she said honestly. "You're my first."

That made him pause. "...First what?"

"My first human friend." She smiled warmly, eyes bright and sincere.

He blinked, then smirked. "That's cute. Alright then, cheers to that." He raised his glass.

Gabriel mirrored him awkwardly, watching how he did it before gently clinking her glass against his. "Cheers," she echoed.

They both drank, though Gabriel only took a small sip. The warmth spread through her again, unfamiliar, but this time it was more intense.

Unknown to Gabriel, a blush started blooming faintly across her cheeks, subtle and soft. She blinked once, twice, feeling the strange heat crawl up her neck. "Ah… my face feels warm," she murmured, touching her cheek with a puzzled look. "Is this normal?"

Tom chuckled, leaning back with his glass. "Yeah, that's normal. Means the drink's working. You're loosening up."

"Loosening… up?" she repeated, trying to understand. "Like… melting?"

He snorted. "Something like that."

Gabriel smiled faintly, seemingly proud to have understood. "Oh. Then that's good, right?"

"Very good," he said, inching closer. "You're really something, you know that?"

Her golden eyes flicked toward him, confused but polite. "Something?"

He grinned. "Yeah. Different. Pure. You talk like you don't belong here."

She tilted her head, thoughtful. "Maybe I don't… But I wanted to see what it's like — to live like humans do. Eat, walk, talk… feel things, and above all else, find him."

Tom raised a brow. "Find who?"

Gabriel blinked, her expression soft but distant, as if her thoughts had drifted somewhere far away. "Someone… important," she said slowly. "He is related to someone who fell… a long time ago."

Tom smirked faintly. "Fell? Like an ex or something?"

She frowned, genuinely confused. "Ex? What's that?"

He laughed. "Never mind. So this guy—what, you looking for your long-lost boyfriend or something?"

"Boy...frind? Oh! Yes, He is a boy, and I'd like him to be my friend," she finished with a soft nod, smiling innocently. "So yes, a boyfriend."

Tom blinked, then burst out laughing. "You really are too much. You got no idea what that means around here, do you?"

Gabriel blinked again, puzzled. "Did I say it wrong?"

He waved a hand, chuckling. "Nah, it's fine. Just… different kind of meaning."

"Oh," she murmured, frowning slightly as if storing that in her mind to look up later. "Humans use the same words for different things. That's… confusing."

"Yeah," Tom said, leaning closer, his voice lowering. "But it keeps things interesting, don't you think?"

Gabriel tilted her head, then smiled gently. "Maybe. But sometimes… it feels like too many meanings make people forget what they really mean."

That hit him harder than he expected.

For the first time, his grin faltered. There was something too calm, too sincere in her tone. Her gaze was warm, yet it carried a depth that made him uneasy.

"Right… sure," he muttered, forcing a chuckle. "Well, whoever he is, hope you find him."

Gabriel nodded. "Thank you, Tom Riddle. That's very kind."

He exhaled through his nose, deciding to steer the conversation elsewhere. "So, Gabriel," he said, flashing a grin, "you ever danced before?"

She blinked. "Dance? I've seen it. In the park earlier. People moved like… they were happy."

He stood up, setting his glass down. "Yeah, like that. It's easy. Here, I'll show you."

He held out a hand. She looked at it curiously before placing hers into his. Her skin was soft—almost too soft.

Tom guided her up, placing a hand lightly on her waist. "Just follow my lead."

Gabriel's brow furrowed slightly. "Is this… necessary?"

He grinned. "It's fun. Relax."

He began to sway gently, pulling her closer. Gabriel tried to mimic him, moving stiffly at first. Then she glanced down at their feet, studying his rhythm like she was solving a puzzle.

After a few moments, she started moving in sync, a small smile forming. "Oh… it feels like music."

"That's the point," he said, smirking.

For a few seconds, it was almost normal—until Gabriel suddenly stopped moving. Her body went still, eyes narrowing faintly.

Tom frowned. "What's wrong?"

She didn't answer. Her expression had changed—still gentle, but… distant. The air around her seemed to shift subtly, as if the faint light in the room dimmed.

"Gabriel?" he asked again, a nervous edge in his voice.

Her golden eyes turned toward him. "Tom… there's something strange here."

He blinked, confused. "What are you talking about?"

She looked around slowly, her pupils dilating slightly. "Your heart," she murmured. "It's beating… too fast."

Tom laughed awkwardly, stepping back. "Yeah, that's what happens when you dance with a beautiful woman."

"No…" she said softly, tilting her head. "Not excitement. Fear."

Tom froze.

Gabriel's innocent smile returned, but it was different now—sad, knowing. "Why are you afraid of me?"

He stiffened. "I'm not—"

Before he could finish, the glass in his hand cracked, the liquid inside rippling as if disturbed by an unseen tremor.

The faint golden shimmer beneath Gabriel's skin pulsed once, lighting up her veins for a brief heartbeat before fading.

Her voice, though still calm, carried a strange weight now. "You were planning to harm me."

Tom's throat went dry. "What—no, I—"

She stepped closer, every movement unhurried, serene. "Humans lie when they're scared. I can see that now."

Her gaze softened again, filled with disappointment rather than anger. "You didn't need to."

The lightbulb above flickered, once… twice… then steadied. The faint hum of divine energy faded as quickly as it came.

Gabriel sighed quietly, lowering her eyes. "I don't like hurting anyone."

Tom swallowed hard, adrenaline kicking in. "You're—crazy," he muttered, backing toward the door.

She tilted her head slightly. "Crazy?"

"Yeah—whatever game this is, I'm done." He reached for the door handle—

—and the metal sizzled under his touch.

He yelped, jerking his hand back, staring at the faint burn mark on his palm. The air smelled faintly of ozone and something impossibly pure.

Gabriel looked at him, guilt written across her face. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to do that. My light—reacts on its own sometimes."

Tom stumbled backwards, terrified now. "What the hell are you?"

Gabriel frowned faintly. "I told you. I'm Gabriel."

Her voice wasn't angry, but the weight of truth in it pressed against the room like a storm ready to break.

Tom stared, pale and shaking, as the faint outline of golden wings shimmered behind her for an instant before vanishing.

Gabriel took a step closer, lowering her head slightly. "Please don't be afraid. I just… wanted to understand humans better."

Tom didn't answer. His back hit the wall, breath shallow.

Gabriel stopped, her eyes softening once more. "I see… I made you uncomfortable."

Her tone was apologetic, almost embarrassed. "I'll go now. Thank you… for teaching me."

She turned toward the window. The faint glow returned around her, illuminating the small room like dawn breaking through clouds.

With that, she stepped forward — and the glass didn't shatter; it simply parted like mist, reforming seamlessly as she passed through.

A faint breeze filled the room, carrying a whisper of light and warmth.

Tom dropped to the couch, staring blankly at where she'd stood seconds ago. His hand trembled as he looked at the faint burn mark again.

Sigh~

"Brother was right, little sister is too naive. Almost fell into this human's trap."

A ghostly voice sounded as if death itself had spoken through the shadows. The air went cold—unnaturally cold.

From the corner of the room, where the light refused to reach, a dark figure slowly materialised.

Tom's breath hitched. The scent of decay mixed with the lingering warmth Gabriel had left behind, and the contrast was suffocating.

A tall man—or something that looked like one—stepped forward. Pale hair that shimmered silver in the dim light, eyes the colour of dying embers, and a black coat that seemed woven from night itself.

Azrael.

The Angel of Death.

His gaze swept the room lazily, then stopped at Tom. A faint, humourless smirk tugged at his lips. "You humans never learn. Always drawn to light like moths… and then burned to ash."

Tom tried to move, to speak, but the words died in his throat. Every breath felt heavier, as if each inhale dragged part of his soul out with it.

Azrael crouched slightly, studying him like one would study a dying insect. "Tell me… what were you going to do, had she not noticed?"

Tom's teeth chattered. "I—I didn't—"

"Lie again," Azrael interrupted softly, "and I'll show you what the inside of silence feels like."

Tom froze, tears pricking the corners of his eyes. "I was just—"

Azrael sighed. "Pathetic."

He straightened, his hand rising lazily. Shadows rippled around his fingers like smoke. "She's lucky she doesn't understand malice yet. I, however, do."

The temperature dropped another few degrees. Frost began to bloom along the window edges.

Tom's scream never left his lips. One heartbeat, he was standing—alive, shaking, breathing. The next, he was still. His eyes were wide open, body frozen in a perfect tableau of terror. A faint black mark, shaped like a feather, burned across his chest.

Azrael lowered his hand, expression calm. "May your soul find peace… though I doubt it."

He turned toward the open window, where faint traces of Gabriel's golden aura lingered in the air. A rare softness flickered in his eyes.

"She's still learning," he murmured. "Still thinks everyone deserves a chance."

He stepped closer to the window, the light brushing against him like it wanted to cleanse him—but couldn't. "But she'll have to grow up fast. This world doesn't forgive innocence."

The faint shimmer of golden dust drifted from the sill, remnants of where Gabriel had passed. Azrael watched it fade.

"…Brother was right," he said quietly. "You shouldn't have sent her here alone."

He exhaled, a mist of cold breath curling into the air. Then his form began to dissolve—dark feathers scattering into nothingness.

As the last trace of him vanished, the room returned to silence.

Only Tom's motionless body remained.

And outside, high above the sleeping city, a streak of soft golden light moved across the night sky—Gabriel, still smiling faintly, still searching.

***

Stone me, I can take it!

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