[centre]// - R e i s a n 
[I have lived one thousand lies.] [/centre]

Reisan watched as the small, copper haired woman ran on ahead, probably with the intent of provoking him into scurrying after her. With a short laugh, Reisan contented himself with walking, intending to show Sierra a level of trust in the fact that she could not run from him. Unconscious to the fact a large smile curved his mouth wickedly; Reisan pushed his hands into the pockets at his pants, exposing a narrow strip of heavily scarred but tanned abdomen as he walked with single-minded purpose.

Fluffy clouds danced and whirled slowly across the sky above, partially blocking the sun from shining down for but a moment, dappling the ground in shadow. Peering up at the sky, Reisan sighed. Memories of soaring high above, carried by his large silver tainted black wings, delicate feathers caressing the winds plagued his mind. Reisan felt as though his heart was being squeezed when he remembered his old life. The life that he could never go back to, all because this being so often referred to as “God” kicked him out of heaven. Scrubbing a calloused hand over his features, Reisan slipped his hands into his pockets and continued after Sierra, lost in deep thoughts of complete desolation.

A brightly coloured, cheerful looking shop came into Reisan’s view, musing to himself, he thought dryly; // If I wasn’t so messed up, or if I were human, I would bring Sierra here every morning just to see her smile. // Shaking his head, the Fallen’s shoulders slumped forward as he entered the store, gaze settling on Sierra as she ordered her meal.

Strange, dark emotions flittered through Reisan as he noticed the boy behind the counter gazed at Sierra with an expression that said exactly what he’d like to do with her. Rage blinded his senses; even as Sierra turned and spoke to him before walking over to a worn booth, settling down to await her meal. The beast stirred within its cage, snarling with menace. What right did this human think he had to look at Sierra like that...? // She isn’t yours, Reisan; she could never be with someone like you. Broken. Scarred. Disgraced...// The words floated through Reisan’s mind, breaking through the red haze that covered his eyes and had fire licking scant millimetres beneath his skin. 

Licking his lips, Reisan looked up at the menu board, settling on something called a ‘cappuccino’ as a drink and a plate of some food called ‘pancakes with ice-cream and syrup’, deciding they would be the most energy filled substances to get him through the day, even though his millennia old body required no sustenance to survive, Reisan had no idea how to sit down and share a meal with another. In five long strides, Reisan found himself standing in front of the booth Sierra was seated at. He stretched out his form, yawning as he did so, cracking his knuckles before he seated himself on the bench opposite the female.

Reisan was overcome with the sudden urge to tell her this was the first meal he had shared with another. And also the first he had eaten in over 800 years. “Uh, Sierra, I… Tis’ a first for me.” The confession rushed out of him before he could think, his accent thick. “I do not need to eat or drink, doing so is an unnecessary choice, but I am able to take in sustenance as it suits me. I’ve never shared a meal with another, nor have I consumed food for over 800 years.” Running a hand through his hair, Reisan had no idea why he felt obligated to share that information with Sierra.

Behind the window to his left, clouds ambled across the sky slowly, the sun trying with vain to break through for long periods, instead settling for breaks in the clouds to dapple the world with its warming rays. The Fallen unconsciously rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, crossing his arms on the table, tracing one of the raised ugly scars marring the flesh of his right arm; the action calming him. 

Footsteps neared their table as the boy from behind the counter came towards them, plates of food balanced on his arms and their drinks held within each of his hands. With haste, the boy placed their meals on the table before scurrying off, out of sight. Heady scents filled the air, making Reisan’s mouth water as he inhaled. Glancing over at Sierra, he noticed she had unrolled a knife and fork from a napkin and started to eat. Mimicking her actions, Reisan did the same, cutting into a pale, flat disk shaped dough that appeared to be a pancake, swirling it in some syrup before placing it in his mouth.

Flavour exploded on Reisan’s pallet, chewing slowly, the fallen closed his eyes, exhaled and groaned softly. The pancake was light and fluffy, the syrup sickly sweet and lightly flavoured with an assortment of fruits, none of which Reisan had tasted before. Glancing at Sierra with an expression mixed with surprise, wonder and sadness. Never before had someone cared enough to show him things like this. It was expected that Reisan was the emotionally blank, uncaring angel who carried out justice. No-one had asked if he was ok, cared enough to show him kindness. That was until this tiny slip of a woman. Although the probably hated him and believed him to be her captor, Reisan had experienced more of the world with this single woman than he had with any of his brothers or on his own. 

Blinking slowly, Reisan was all but purring with the deliciousness of the food he was eating. Swallowing a mouthful, Reisan set his knife and fork down, reaching out slowly to touch Sierra’s forearm softly so she looked at him. “Thank you, Sierra, for sharing this meal with me.” With a swallow, Reisan breathed slowly. In. Out. Before removing his hand and settling them in his lap, hunching slightly as he looked out the window at the world beyond. A pair of lovers were kissing on a bench, an elderly couple were laughing and smiling, swinging their entwined hands back and forth between them, children laughed and ran about in the park under the tender, yet watchful gazes of their mothers. It seemed that everyone bar Reisan was entitled to happiness. Everyone but him had found it and yet happiness was something he had never known. Each smile never touched his eyes nor his heart.

Materialising himself a dark grey hoodie, Reisan refused to meet Sierra’s gaze. Too scared by what she might see in his eyes, written all over his tired and weary face. “Sierra, I… I’m sorry for what has happened to you. My brothers will do anything to get their hands on you. I’ve tried to keep you safe, but it is clear you are unhappy under my care. You may go, do as you please, but go far from here, tell no-one your name and be careful. I-I’m too broken. Too scarred, too insensitive, I don’t know how to act with people. Please, please forgive me.” The confession rushed out of Reisan, gaze moving to the plate of pancakes before him.

With a sigh, Reisan met her gaze for but a glimpse, pulling the hoodie over his head before striding from the small shop, shutting the door behind him with the sound of a tinkling bell. Shoving his hands into the pockets of his hoodie, Reisan headed towards the beach, guided by the soft sound of waves lapping at the beach and the ever present smell of salt water. With each of his footsteps, the land beneath Reisan’s feet faded from earth to sand as he made his way to the rockier part of the beach, perching himself upon a large, flat rock which jutted above the sand. Gazing out over the water, he watched as the sun lowered itself below the horizon. Waves crashed upon rock, sending water spraying into the air. The world moved on, grew old, changed, evolved, lived, died. That is, everything except for one oversized, emotionally unstable Fallen Angel, who had no place on earth, nor in the heavens.