And
Raph was taken aback by the being that answered the door. For a moment, he foolishly believed that he was in the presence of an actual angel. The man touched the child and he immediately stopped crying, and Raph felt the intense urge to trust him wholly.
But Raph was stubborn.
He snapped himself out of his daze and spoke. "This kid isn't mine," He said, as if it weren't obvious, "I found him somewhere horrible; he needs a good home."
He handed the boy off to the man that accompanied the Not Angel and he expected that to be it. Raph fully expected to turn away and limp back to the abandoned building he had been living out of recently, to lick his wounds in the bitter cold and break into his emergency food hoard. But then he was invited in. His paranoia said no, but every other fiber of his being said yes.
Raph followed the strange man, head on a swivel as he gawked at every available sight within the ornate building. This place was weird...but strangely comforting. He still didn't let his guard down. Raph had been shown this kind of treatment before; it was always temporary. The other shoe always dropped. He would beaten for trusting them, or perhaps they would come for him in the middle of the night while he slept, or maybe-
A nurse touched his shoulder to guide him into his new quarters, and Raph instantly withdrew from her. His wings spread slightly, as they tended to do when he was startled, showing off the fresh wounds and blood covered feathers. He didn't even seem phased by the agony he must be in. Raph was far too familiar with pain and suffering to let the weakness show. But his stiff, slow walk, wheezing breath, and shaking hands betrayed him. He was very vulnerable right now. Blood loss and hunger made fighting these potential foes impossible should they attack. He kept that in mind as he tentatively did as they wanted and entered the room, lest they feel the need to use force.
Raph did
not want to undress here, especially when he already felt weak and exposed. He ignored the nurse when she tried to suggest he bathe and change clothes. He still had no intention of staying here tonight. The wizard had mentioned helping to heal him, and that was all he needed. A little magic fix for his wounds and that was it. Nothing else.
Aielah smiled warmly as his attention went from the child to the man with wings of a dove. The nurses ensured that the child's minor wounds were taken care of. They ensured the child was bathed and tried to gather his name, but reported that they unsuccesful. Aielah made a mental note to find out later. Perhaps now was too early in the process for the child to truly trust them, and who could blame him? From the looks of it both the man and the child had gone through hell, moreso the man whose wounds were great. Aielah could tell the moment his presence touched Raph. When the nurse in charge of Raph came to Aielah, she informed him of the man's many wounds and how he had refused to undress in front of her.
"
Of course. He has been through a lot. I can see it on his body. I will take care of him, you join the others in assuring the child finds restAielah moved elegantly to the room that housed Raph and slipped in without missing a step.
"
You sir are a very brave man. Rescuing a child and bringing him here for sanctuary. I thank you. I am Aielah. Tell me, what is your name and how did you know of this place?"
Raph sat in the uncomfortable side chair provided inside the room. He hadn't wanted to get blood on the bed. His hazel eyes lifted to meet the wizard's when he returned. Raph grunted noncommittally at his praise.
"Raphael," He said when asked his name, then paused, "Just Raph. I thought that Avengers wizard guy lived here. I figured maybe you guys would have connections; that maybe you could get that kid some help."
If only Raph had been so lucky. Perhaps if he had gotten help early enough, he wouldn't be here right now. Instead, he had endured twenty-two long years of horrific abuse, only to escape and live four more in filth and desperation. He had hoped that maybe the kid, despite his appearance, could find a semi-normal, happy life.
"
Raphael. Such a powerful name," Aielah said.
He moved closer to Raph and for the first time he looked into the man's eyes. His beautiful icy white eyes peering deep into the man's captivating hazel orbs. Aielah was silent, as if searching for something deep in the man's mind. Raph was taller than he was, but thankfully he was seated and it helped. Slowly, Aielah reached out and softly touched the side of Raph's face. In an instant, whatever wounds on his face vanished, but Aielah did not lift his hand away and continued to peer into Raph's eyes.
"
Archangel of healing. Your name translates to God has healed. Those are big shoes to fill. If you would remove your garments I will tell you a story and heal the wounds that I can. I hope you can make yourself comfortable as you will be staying the night and a feast is being prepared."
Aielah stepped away from Raph swiftly as his inner emotions tried to fight to surface at the mention of Dr. Strange. Nevertheless, Aielah would be transparent with Raph.
"
The other of whom you speak, the great Doctor Strange, was lost to us in the great battle a year ago. I was chosen to fill the gap for now. Rest assured those who seek refuge will always have a place here, and those who wish for trouble shall also find it."
There was something about the man, as he peered into Raph's eyes, that made him want to trust his words. His subconscious was crying for help, and this wizard, or whatever he was, could offer it. And he was being pretty damn convincing, too.
Raph broke eye contact when Aielah asked him to undress. He was very clearly uncomfortable, even if he tried to hide it. But the wizard had already healed the cuts and bruises on his face, showing that he meant no harm. Raph just hated being vulnerable.
Slowly and hesitantly, he peeled his sweatshirt off and gently pulled it over his wings. Just getting the damn thing on and off was a chore. He could probably do with some zip-ups, but he couldn't be picky with what he stole from donation bins.
Raph gingerly dropped the sweatshirt down on the floor, but stopped there. His torso was, for lack of better words, impressive. He had been genetically designed to be in top physical condition, even after years of barely warding off starvation. His body wouldn't cannibalize itself for sustenance, which was great when food was readily available. When it wasn't, it meant he would quickly starve.
His torso was also battered and bruised, with at least one visible graze from a bullet. The scars and marks left on his skin told a story, and not a very nice one. The one that stuck out in particular was the brand that had been burned into his flesh years ago. Raph was already subconsciously covering it with his hand. He hated the sight of it.
Aielah turned to face Raph. He took in the taller man's build. The sheer strength he must possess to have a body with such toned muscles. Aielah approached and reached out. His hand gently touched Raph's chest. Warmth filled the room as his hand trailed over the wounds and scars until it rested atop Raph's hand.
"
You will never be free until you let go of that which binds you."
Aielah slowly removed Raph's hand from the burn wound and examined it with extreme care.
"
You've been through so much. Your body has battle scars of an aged warrior. When will you allow rest to become your friend?"
Aielah removed his hand from the brand and for a moment felt something begin to form for this man. This man who he didn't know, he couldn't turn away. This man had a story that he wished to hear. There was more there and yet Aielah hesitated to find out what. He moved to the man's back and closed his eyes, his hands moving intricately before pressing in between the two wings. Light engulfed the wings, healing them completely. Aielah removed his hand from Raph's back and moved around him to face him again.
"
Come, a warm bath awaits. Your healing will continue tomorrow. We will try to find the child's parents with the first light of the day; however, if we cannot, we will take him as one of our own. You are welcome to stay as well. It is what Dr. Strange would have done, but for now you need a bath to ease your muscles and bring peace to your mind, if only temporarily."
Raph's heart beat rapidly under Aielah's hand. He was unsure of what to make of all this. His prior experience had taught him that this much kindness would be met with equal cruelty. He felt like he was racking up debt by accepting it.
But at the same time, something deep and instinctual craved more. He wanted kindness and warmth, and he wanted to be able to trust. He just... couldn't.
"I doubt the kid has parents," Raph said softly, "He was probably created in that lab, like I was."
Aielah beckoned him towards the bath, and Raph's feet seemed to follow without his realizing. Had the wizard enchanted him somehow? He had, but Raph didn't know that magic wasn't the culprit here.
He folded his wings in to fit inside the small but comfortable bathroom. The steamy water inside the deep tub drew his attention. Raph had never had a hot bath before. When he lived within the High Order walls, the best he got was a cold shower. Once he'd escaped, he was lucky if he could get the gas station bathroom taps to run long enough to get lukewarm. He was long overdue.
Raph didn't like to think of himself as shy, but he certainly wasn't comfortable with undressing himself around strangers. He'd had too many bad experiences in the past. But the warmth and comfort that emanated off Aielah made him think that, maybe just for now, he was safe.
He didn't meet the other man's eyes as he carefully shucked off the bloodied jeans. He had what looked suspiciously like a knife wound on his upper thigh. On the other, the old, sloppily done brands of a verse in Latin began at his hip and ended at his knee. The way it was done made one think that perhaps the artist had had to fight with his canvas.
Raph stepped into the bath and slowly lowered himself into the warm water. It was much nicer than he could have imagined it would be; like a warm hug that melted away the leftover frost and crusted blood.
Aielah did not enter the bathroom with Raph and instead opted to stand by the doorway with his eyes diverted away as the man fully undressed. Aielah waited until he was submersed in the water to grab the tattered jeans and return to grab the equally tattered shirt. A nurse appeared and handed Aielah a shirt, and jeans.
"These should fit him master," the nurse said taking the garments Aielah held that belonged to Raph.
"
Do not throw those away. See if they can be cleaned. Some items are worth keeping."
The nurse bowed and retreated from the room. Aielah appeared back at the bathroom door and placed the clothes on the sink as he slowly approached Raph. He reached inside of a cabinet on the wall and retrieved shampoo and a brush.
"
How long has justice been in your hand?" Aielah said as he gently sat on the edge of the tub. There was something about this man that Aielah couldn't shake and it bothered him. He dolloped shampoo in his hand and smiled warmly down at Raph. "
Relax, you are safe."
Aielah's hands softly caressed Raph's head, lathering the shampoo and massaging Raph's scalp. He took the brush and ran it through Raph's hair, detanglings it from dried blood.
"
Let all emotions go and free yourself." Aielah began to hum a song that he remembered from his childhood. It would soothe him. Aielah's humming could be heard throughout the Sanctum, even though he hummed gently to Raph.
It was too much. It was too much and Raph didn't know how to handle it. The amount of care he'd been shown in the last twenty minutes was more genuine than anything he'd been shown in his entire life. Maybe it was the overwhelming relief, maybe it was his desperate need for something as simple as human contact, or maybe it was the realization that this kindness did, in fact, exist, and he'd just been completely deprived of it. Whatever it was, it was too much and he couldn't hold it in anymore.
As Aielah worked his hands through Raph's feathery brown hair, getting the knots of dried blood and old dirt out, Raph's eyes began to sting. It wasn't from the shampoo. In mere seconds, his aloof exterior dissolved, and Raph was left sobbing into his hands in a bath of bloody water next to a stranger.
There it was. The emotion that Raph hid flowed and Aielah's gentle hand continued to softly wash Raph's hair until there was no more dried blood or dirt. While the man released his emotion, Aielah placed his right hand on Raph's shoulder.
"
It is alright. When you are done here, there are clothes on the sink. There are towels in the cabinet on the wall and there is food. I can only imagine after all you've gone through tonight alone that you must be hungry. If you wish to talk to me after you've had your fill, come find me."
Aielah stood up and smiled. His hand lifted from Raph's shoulder and he slowly moved towards the doorway of the bathroom.
Raph managed to quell his outburst to a quiet whimper after a minute or so. He watched through teary eyes as Aielah left. Part of him wished he would stay, but he also appreciated the privacy to continue washing.
When he was done, he got out and dried off. Raph dressed in his new clothes, but immediately noticed the lack of wing holes in his new shirt. He didn't mention it, as he planned on fixing it himself. Fortunately, the nurse waiting on him noticed and immediately helped him cut holes in the back and work his wings through. Raph thanked her quietly.
The food offered was much more generous than Raph had imagined. It was hot, for one, fresh, and held actual nutritional value. He hoped he didn't scare the nurse away while he delved into the offering like a starved animal. Raph couldn't remember the last time he'd felt full, but he certainly managed it tonight.
He was so tired by the time he was done, it was all he could do to make it to the bed before passing out. The nurse seemed mildly amused as she pulled the blankets out from under him and tucked him in properly. She collected the many empty bowls and plates he'd left and turned the light off on her way out.
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