"What, you think that's showing off?" Gabriel huffed. There was one power he'd left out, one he hadn't been sure he wanted to share, but right at that moment he was filled with the impish and reckless desire to show off properly. Hey, Balthazar had laid a challenge before him, okay.

So, still shading his face from the sun, Gabriel lifted his head and squinted through slitted eyelids at his brother. And after a pause he said bluntly, "You make me friggin' thirsty. Seriously, bro? 'Still waters run deep'? That's the phrase your soul chooses to personify? Sheesh."

Then the light became too much even for that short amount of time and the archangel rested his head down again, rearranging the cloth with a sigh. He could barely see that much, let alone look into Balthazar's eyes to see more, but his point was made. There was showing off--and then there was showing off.