Salvation [Luke Hemmings A.U.]

II - Heart of Gold

Note: There are a few uses of gender neutral pronouns like "zir" and "zirself". I just thought I'd clarify that it is intentional, and maybe even let some people know of these gender neutral terms as they're not as widespread! :-)

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Luke:

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"Luke, what are you seeing?"

I am snapped out of my vision, causing me to jump in fright, suddenly aware of my surroundings again. Sighing, I place my head in my hands, hearing Isaac's soft chortling in amusement.

"You startled me." I tell him matter-of-factly, glancing up at my friend.

Isaac watches me intently, a trace of a smile on his lips. "You were having a vision; were you not?"

I nod, leaning back in the chair at my desk. "It is Margaret again." I huff, annoyed with the troublemaker I was appointed to watch over since her birth.

Why could I not still be watching Edgar? He was a delightful human to protect -- except for the few years he spent in a place called "Vietnam", fighting against other mortals. That was particularly stressful.

Isaac smiles sympathetically, understanding my source of anxiety. "Is she still drinking a considerable amount of alcohol?"

To this, I shake my head, appreciative of this silver-lining.

Whenever Margaret drinks that intoxicating substance, she manages to throw herself in harm's way. I have had to be woken up by visions in my sleeping hours on multiple occasions to save her from automobiles, predators, and other threats. Other guardians I am acquainted with have not always been so fortunate to save their persons in such urgent situations.

"Well, what could be troubling you now?" Isaac seats himself at my desk, his dark features contorted into curiosity.

"She has been spending an extensive amount of time with people whose guardian angels have obviously given up on them." I shake my head.

"They are that foul of company?" Isaac's dark eyes widen in surprise.

It is not often when angels abandon their appointed humans, but there's only so much you can protect earthlings from. When mistakes turn into lifestyles, it is only a matter of time until angels resign from their "hellion" and are reassigned to a newborn to protect.

I nod solemnly in response, "Illegal substances, intoxication on a regular basis, trespassing, peer pressure... I cannot wrap my mind around her loyalty to such horrible influences."

My dark-complexioned companion leans on my desk, mouth half-open as he finds the words to say. "Perhaps your Margaret is simply lost." Isaac shrugs, looking just as helpless to offer me condolences, as I feel helpless towards the protecting I am supposed to be doing.

"I simply hope that she changes her lifestyle soon; all of these outings in the evening are certainly not helping with my stress." I tell him, rubbing my tired eyes. I cannot protect her from everything; and one day, this will be painfully obvious if she wakes up in a hospital, or not at all.

Isaac's features display a mixture of sympathy and pity. He got off lucky when assigned to his person; whom is some timid pottery crafter in the Netherlands, who is petrified of his own shadow.

I lean back in my chair, exhausted from all of the sleepless nights I have endured in the past few weeks. The amount of trips I have had to make to Earth to watch over her is incredibly preposterous; and to my dismay, the human's world is certainly taking a toll on my body.