I gazed out at the sight in front of me and took a deep breath. I felt almost weighed down by the enormous knowledge I now carried and almost expected it to show. But, only I could protect my big brother by making sure that Tieral never remembered again, so... With that in mind, I nodded, and interrupted the angels who had been surrounding Tieral and mocking him about his wings.

His strange violet wings... Everyone knew that white was the color of the angels with the most power -- a representation of the true light that they held within. The lesser, younger angels had wings tinted with other shades -- gold, silver, pink or even a light green. The darker the wings, the less power an angel had. But that wine-dark shade, with no lightness in the mix at all -- that was unprecedented.

The angels mocking him were very young indeed, and yet, even their wings were lighter. Running around him, they laughed and giggled as they called him strange and flightless. It was just a game for them, but I could tell that each word hit him with enough force to splinter lesser people's souls... It's a terrible thing for an angel to be called flightless.

I stepped up to them, folding around me the pure white wings that showed my seniority. I stood before them endowed with more knowledge and power than any them could even guess at, and they knew it. Glaring at them quietly, I whispered, "Such behavior in God's own messengers. I do think you have better things to do."

All of them paled, and stopped at their tracks. One of them, made bold by his lighter wings, stepped up as if to challenge me. I opened my wings, letting them catch and reflect the sun's rays, before letting my mouth slip into a dissatisfied frown. With a quiet voice, I said, "Child. Do not think to challenge one of the First Generation until you have gained mastery over your own powers. What is your name?"

He stuttered, "Ka-Karial...", before he bowed his head.

I nodded, and waved my hand, motioning for them to go. They all broke into a run, leaving Tieral sitting in the grass, his face turned toward the ground. Sitting down next to him, I smiled. "Don't worry about those kids, Tieral. They don't know any better. Are you all right?"

Tieral made no comment, and just sat there with face turned to the ground. I touched his arm in concern, and added, "Come on, you know me, right? I'm sorry that those idiots were so terrible, but not everyone is like that-" Tieral turned his face toward me suddenly, making me start. He seemed normal enough, except for the pain-filled eyes peeking out from the red curtain of his hair, made darker by the shadows.

"Not everyone? Who else isn't like that? Everyone... it's not my fault! I don't even know why I have these-" Tieral sighed, and turned away. "Look, Eleiru. I know that you've defended me before, but you don't have to pretend to be my friend while no one's around. You're one of the Firsts -- do you really expect me to believe that you would want to hang around a weird freak like me?"

I gazed at him for a moment, and decided to forget every single thing my brother had told me about Tieral. Smiling, I turned Tieral back around to face me, and asked in a laughing voice, "Does it make me a freak to want to hang out with one?" He opened his mouth for a moment, but nothing came out.

Finally, he laughed out loud, and punched my arm. "Definitely!"

I grinned at him, before asking, "So, what are you supposed to be doing, anyway?" No one but angels like those youngsters were allowed to merely do nothing...

Tieral shrugged, and replied, "Who would assign the purple-winged freak to do anything important? I was supposed to keep an eye on some human while his real guardian took care of some trouble."

Gaping at him, I asked in a weak voice, "And... well, what are you doing here, then?"

He grinned, and replied, "It's not like I could do anything to help him anyway, so why should I waste my time?"

I started to reply, but then realized that he was right. No one would have assigned him to anything which was vital. The man without a guardian was probably being watched by another angel, or just didn't need our help.

Looking past Tieral's seemingly unconcerned facade, I saw the hurt that came with not being trusted, not being wanted... How could this happen, here in Heaven of all places? How could it be that a person felt unnecessary, unneeded? Even in my darkest moments, I had always known that someone wanted me. How sad...

Maybe... "Tieral, would you feel happier if you were given more responsibility?"

Tieral gave me a look that was slightly contemptuous, but had a tinge of curiosity within it. After giving me that exasperated stare, he replied, "No. I like being thought of as a degenerate and without any power... Of course I want more responsibility! How do you think it makes me feel, being ignored and given tasks a mere child could do?"

I sighed, and sat down beside him in the grass. After a moment of thought, I said, "I may be a First, but I don't have all that much power. Oh, I have enough to scare off a few kids, but nothing like what my brother wields... Maybe if I ask him, he'll give you something more to do. He, at least, will be able to see past your wings to your real power."

I stood up, and held out my hand. He stared at me for a moment, and then sighed. "Why not? Not like I'm gonna lose anything..." Taking the hand I was offering, he got to his feet, and said with a reckless air, "Checking up on that human would probably be good, right?" I can feel my expression becoming stiff as my instilled sense of responsibility conflicted with my delight that there was finally someone around who wasn't always so _serious_.

Finally, my happiness at making a real friend won out, and I laughed out loud again. He grinned with me, and then opened his wings to fly to the Gate where the watchers were posted. My admonition about unnecessary flying died at my lips as I shook my head with the smile still on my face. What a delinquent...

It felt odd, having a friend. Usually, I was either of too high a rank for any of the young ones to dare come up to me, or I was too young to be allowed in any of the other First's confidences. I was the baby, or I was one of the powerful angels. Either way, there wasn't anyone for me to talk to. But maybe Tieral...

My expression turned more serious as my thoughts went back to what I had promised my new friend. "Some more responsibility, huh? Well, if it'll keep his mind occupied and give him some happiness..." I sighed, and went to hunt down my brother again.

Michael was in conference with a few other angels, who seemed concerned about something. He saw me and waved before he went back to the discussion. Making conciliatory gestures and calming the rather hysterical others down, he gently steered them to another angel who had been waiting beside my brother calmly.

Who... I thought for a moment, and then nodded, remembering. She was one of the Second Generation, and had started to act as my brother's assistant only a few years ago. Anael... I think. I'll have to find out. After all, it would be rude not to know her name, considering the absolute devotion she showed to my brother. She's almost fanatical about it -- but then again, my brother does deserve all of it.

I started as I felt a hand touch my shoulder. Looking up from my musings, I saw my brother's somewhat strained face in front of me. Michael sighed as he turned away from the rather loud crowd, leading both of us to the path that lead to our dwelling. As we walked down the simple road, I asked, "What was that all about?"

Michael shook his head and couldn't keep the exasperation from his voice. "They're the usual crowd from the younglings. You know, whispering about Samael's infiltration of the mortal plane, and about how we should take up arms and rain down fire upon all the sinners."

My contempt must have shown on my face, because my brother smiled gently and added, "Exactly. No one knows what to tell them, except that it is God's will... and the young ones seem to not care too much about that anymore..." Michael closed his eyes, and then let out a deep breath. "Still, it is disturbing, because now they're saying that the Other's powers are starting to reach into Heaven." We both frowned at that, knowing what we knew.

Quietly, I said, "No matter how Tieral was conceived... he isn't Samael's. He's just bored and lonely, because he doesn't have anyone to talk to."

My brother nodded, and then asked, "What do you want to talk to me about?"

I smiled, and shrugged. "I met up with Tieral, and I can feel that we're going to be pretty good friends... Well, about him being bored. It seems that he's not being given very challenging assignments, because of his wings..." I stopped for a moment, and then asked with a quiet voice, "How powerful is he, brother?"

Michael stopped a step behind me, and answered in an equally serious tone, "Far more powerful that those wings suggest... For all that he is only a half-breed, his father had been one who had stood before God... Sariel vested all his power in his son, and that is a considerable amount indeed."

Turning to my brother, I asked, "Can you trust him? Truly?"

Michael gave me a level look, and replied, "Why don't you tell me?"

I closed my eyes, and recalled my conversation with Tieral. "I think he can be trusted. The things happening now may be what causes him to be a danger in the future. He feels isolated and distrusted- and that is a truth. If he did not feel so..."

A very small smile lit my brother's face as he gave me an approving nod. "I trust your judgment, Eleiru. From what you just told me, I see that I haven't given you nearly enough responsibility either... I guess I still think of you as the baby."

I grinned at Michael and mock-lamented, "No... not more work..."

At that, Michael ruffled my hair, laughing out loud. "Well, maybe you still are a kid inside." Then, Michael's gaze turned inward, and he nodded once. "Yes... giving Tieral some responsibility and some status in the community might help him adjust better... I'll have to see what's open, but I think I can get him something interesting. Okay?"

I smiled at that, and then sighed as Michael continued, "Now, I think that you should start to listen in on council meetings. We have been letting you play the child, forgetting that you're grown up now."

"But-"

"No buts. You've been dodging your responsibilities for far too long. Do you think we Firsts like sitting on the council? Still, it makes the lowers happy, and keeps them from trying to change anything violently. A small price to pay for peace."

I shook my head and reply, "You're destroying more of my illusions, you know... Isn't this supposed to be the council which makes all equal, regardless of power or-"

Michael laughed quietly. "Come now, Eleiru. Even you know that it's all a matter of what people believe. Keeping the peace in heaven is something which is vital if we're going to be able to carry out His will, and help the mortals at the same time. For that, the price is endless administrative headaches and really boring councils. If we're lucky, then that's all we'll pay."

His eyes got dark and tired again, making my heart ache for him. If that's the only thing needed to take some of that burden off of my brother, then... "Of course I'll do it, brother. Just tell me what I should say, and..." I shrugged, and added, "I don't know whether I'll do a good job, but I'll try."

Michael smiled, and enfolded me in a hug that had me entangled within his robes. "Thank you, brother. That's all I can ask." I sighed in his embrace, feeling like a little one again. I felt so safe...