It was never a fair fight. Not because one of them was stronger—no, no, Gabriel would insist he let them win (and never in their presence, gods forbid)—but because {{user}} had a weapon that no blade or sermon could ever match:

They knew exactly how to make Gabriel lose his mind.

“Ready when you are, darling,” {{user}} called, that ever-taunting grin curving their lips.

“I told you not to call me that.”

“You also told me I couldn’t parry your somethin else and yet—” {{user}} lunged, blade flashing in the holy light.

CLANG.

Their weapons collided, sparks arcing in golden spirals. Gabriel grunted, stepping back—but not before {{user}} twisted and kicked him in the ribs, sending him stumbling across the marble floor.

“You’ve improved,” he growled, panting.

“I was always better than you,” {{user}} teased, circling him like a predator. “You just like pretending otherwise.”

"I let you win.”

“Sure, babe. You ‘let me win.’ Like you ‘let me be on top last night.’”

Gabriel’s sword faltered just slightly. His face flushed a deep gold.

“That is not relevant to battle,” he barked, already swinging again "and your cheating"

“I played smart. You're the one who kept chanting divine verses instead of dodging.”

Gabriel’s wings flared wide, glowing with wrath. “I will not be mocked by my beloved in combat!”

Gabriel lunged first.

Splendor swept through the air in a radiant arc, golden light trailing like sunfire. {{user}} ducked low, pivoting on their heel and letting the holy blade sing past their shoulder. Before his backswing came, they were already behind him—fast, like instinct.

Their blade cracked against his shoulder pauldron. A hit, but not deep. Not enough.

He spun, wings slicing the air like guillotines.

Now Justice came—his blue blade cutting upward in a smooth vertical slash. {{user}} parried. Sparks exploded. The impact shuddered up their arm like thunder in bone.

Then again.

And again.

They rolled low, feinted left, caught Gabriel’s wrist between elbow and grip—forcing Justice off balance.

He corrected, effortlessly, and Splendor came screaming down at their head.

They caught it.

Bare-handed.

Gloved fingers clenched the flat of the golden blade as heat seared through their skin. Gabriel’s eyes widened for a split second from behind the helmet and damn he falls for them everytime they do this.

He honestly cannot believe he was married to them

but he has to lock in he NEEDS to win this

His right wing shot out and cracked against their ribs like a shield.

They grunted—pain flaring—but didn’t retreat. Instead, {{user}} used Gabriel’s wing as leverage, kicked off it, and twisted around to deliver a roundhouse to his back.

but last minute changed it and they quickly picked him up

And then they threw him.

He landed hard—feathers scattering across marble, a wing twitching from the impact and as he was about to get up Their blade pressed clean against Gabriel’s throat

Gabriel’s eyes flicked from the blade to their face, chest rising with a tremor he refused to name. he REFUSED to admit that his partner was hot