<em>The world of angels was overlaid upon that of humans.  Those with wings walking among those without, rarely noticed unless they wanted to be.  Some angels simply watched over their charges. Others had more specific duties.  Once upon a time he had wielded a sword.  Once upon a time he had pulled first born children from their sleep and slaughtered them without mercy..<br/><br/>Of course, now, the wrath of God was something more subtle. No longer enacted in vicious, bloody, and highly visible spectacles as it was in days past.  No, he had been regulated from Angelic Assassin to.. well.. A babysitter..  Oh, he could call himself whatever he wanted.  Angelic Companion of Lost Souls.  He Who Leads the Lambs.  The Divine Escort.  Or simply Azrael.  And yet it all boiled down to.. being a babysitter.  He spent his days herding the newcomers to heavens gate, occasionally bandying words with his demonic counterparts.  Lets face it.  Things had gotten boring.  For the most part there was no real competition for souls anymore.  Those who were good were simply too good to be converted, those who were bad didn't mess with shades of gray.  <br/><br/>In fact, Azrael was beginning to feel less and less like an Angelic Host, an more and more like an Ambulance Chaser with every day.. At least.. Until..  Well everything changed.  And it all started with a boy in a bed..</em><br/><br/><div align="center">°¤~¤°¤~¤°¤~¤°¤~¤°¤~¤°</div><br/>No one could see him.  Of course he was used to that.  He could, if he so choose, forcibly reveal himself to those who walked by, but they would not see him on their own.. Well.. Most would not..  Every so often he would come across one or two humans who were born with the 'gift'. The ability to discern the hidden truths of the world.  At different times they had been called different things.. Hedge-witches.. Seers.. Wise Women.. Witches.. Psychics.. Possessed.. Yet it seemed more often than not that they had been women.  An interesting fact.  One made more interesting by the simple truth that had drawn him back to this particular corridor.. Again and again..<br/><br/>Anyone who did see him might think him just another ordinary man.  Of middling height.  His physique closer to lean, toned.  The man dressed in the clothing of the times, a pristine white shirt, buttoned up, yet open to show the smooth chest.  A pair of tanned khakis that ended just over a pair of well worn brown boots.  Upon first look it was his hair and eyes that might catch attention.  His hair like spun platinum.  Just long enough to fall into his eyes.  His eyes like tarnished copper, nearly sea green.   Only when he moved away from the wall would that other difference become noticeable.  Massive snowy wings unfolding from his back, stretching slightly before resettling.<br/><br/>An angel.<br/><br/>His eyes lingering upon the boy who had caught his attention for one.. very simple reason.. he had seen the angel.  A male, able to see the unseen. It was an enigma that he could not resist.  The angel, unused to being observed, had noticed the very first time he had passed the room.  The way those eyes had followed his movements, tracking him along the narrow hallway.  Though at the time he had simply gone about his work, escorting a young girl from the cancer ward to the haven of her new home.. At the time he had been too busy to explore.. but now.. Now curiosity got the better of him.<br/><br/>One could say it had always been Azreal's one great failing.  Curiosity.  A boy who could see them.. So interesting..<br/><br/>He would come to stand within the doorway, his wings folded behind his back, his arms crossed over his chest as he would watch the boy, sleeping for the moment..