Saint Michael the Archangel | Dt. Michael Angel (who_is_like_god) wrote in nevermore_logs, @ 2012-10-30 19:45:00 |
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Entry tags: | michael, victor brannigan |
WHO: Michael and Victor Brannigan
WHAT: Partners
WHEN: During the storm
WHERE: The streets of NYC
It was their day off, but neither Victor nor Michael were surprised when they were called in to help with the storm relief. It wasn't really their department, but when a hurricane was going on, all the bets were off. They were needed to save lives, and so they would.
They had spent hours shooing people who refused to stay inside away from public areas and rescuing people who had gotten trapped in the flood waters. One man had had to be rescued from the roof of his car and another couple had been stuck in a flooding basement when debris and water had made it impossible to get their door open. They worked as a cohesive pair and it worked well that they both trusted each other.
When they finally got a moment to breathe, Michael and Victor leaned against the inside wall of an evacuated building, their wet-water clothes dripping pools onto the floor. "It's days like this I wish I hadn't quit smoking," Victor said, his gruff voice echoing off the walls eerily.
Michael nodded and said nothing. He was watching the wind whip the trees just outside.
Victor leaned his head back against the wall and he heaved a heavy breath. "I'm glad you're back, man. I was pretty worried I was going to have to investigate another death of someone I-" Victor sighed and shook his head. "Just thank you for not dying."
With a glance over at his partner, Michael understood the gravity behind that statement. Victor had been married once, way back before Michael had returned to New York. He had been married to a woman in Vice and when she was murdered on the job, Victor had investigated her death even though he wasn't allowed to be involved officially. He hadn't even been a detective at the time. Michael knew he didn't have the emotions available to understand something like that. So he was glad he wasn't still buried under the ground for many reasons, one of them being the pain Victor had been spared. He knew Victor cared about him. He cared about Victor. He wouldn't want to cause the man pain.
"You're welcome," Michael finally said, unwilling to admit he had died.
Victor wrapped his arms around himself, apparently finally feeling the cold without adrenaline to push him. Michael noticed and very subtly he used his angelic essence to send warmth towards his partner. "I assume I didn't miss much?" Michael asked, trying to keep Victor distracted.
"Not much," Victor assured him, relaxing a little. "Too bad no hot dog carts will be out and about. I could use about four of them."
"You should go home," Michael said firmly. They had been at this for nearly ten hours. "You'll exhaust yourself."
Victor gave Michael a dismissive wave. "I'm doing just fine. This is the worst storm I have ever seen. No way I am not going to be out to help people."
That right there was why Michael respected Victor so much. It was why he stayed in the force. He was the patron of police officers and men like Victor who gave so much to help people made him feel he was in the right place. Still, it was his job to look after them too. "Well Im not going home until you are." Michael wasn't actually feeling weary at all, but Victor didn't know he had angelic reserves, and it would make him consider someone else instead of disregarding himself.
"Tricky. Soon then. Another couple of hours." Victor leaned off the wall and he stared outside. Michael could tell the man was tired. Victor usually talked a lot more, which was good since Michael didn't say much at all.
"Another couple of hours," Michael agreed. "Victor?"
"Hmm?" Victor tore his eyes away from the storm outside and he turned to his partner. "What is it, Michael?"
Michel suddenly felt a little strange and overwhelmed. He wasn't good at expressing what little emotions he did have. Things always came out awkwardly. "I suppose I would like very much to thank you."
Victor cracked a smile and he patted Michael on the shoulder. "You're not accepting an award, man. Spit it out."
Michael chuckled and continued. "My family told me how concerned you were and how determined you were to find me. I appreciate it."
"But you were just with your brother, right?"
Michael wasn't sure if the strange tone of Victor's voice was because he didn't believe the cover story, or because he didn't know how to take Michael's gratefulness. He didn't know how obvious his pain was or how very much it was written all over his face. "Right," Michael affirmed.
"Well you're welcome," Victor said, smiling again. "Just don't disappear on me again. I'll get cross."
"I will try my best," Michael assured him.
"Should we go save more lives?"
Michael smiled and he nodded. "I think that would be an appropriate course of action."
He was unaware of the Look Victor gave him as they walked out the door. The look which was clearly caused by Victor's inkling that Michael wasn't all he admitted to being. Victor was a patient man, however. He would wait for Michael to tell him, if he needed to know.