“That’s a nice way of putting it,” was Gabriel’s rather grumbling assessment just before Aziraphale went off. Almost as bad as the ‘feeling sick after eating too much’ thing. Now that was annoying. And the shaving thing. Really? That got to be a pain after the first couple of days. He wasn’t even going to touch the other-physical-functions thing, especially since the only other specifically physical function he enjoyed, he didn’t have any opportunities to indulge in.

At any rate, Gabriel needed a few moments alone himself. He propped one leg up on the table, palms together almost as if in prayer, except that he rested them against his mouth. So then. He had a little brother here with him. A dead little brother? That would indicate afterlife or not. Possibly a construct too, seeing as how they were all human. An angel’s memories could be duplicated more easily than their physical form. And if not either of those then … Well, then Dad was playing with them or wanted them to learn something, probably.

None of it still made sense, but Gabriel got the sense there was a vague sort of shape to it behind the curtains. He just needed to know more. And that would come in time, seeing as how Dad was the most likely culprit.

When Aziraphale returned Gabriel looked up at him almost absently, his eyes intense from looking into the distance he could no longer see. A moment later his focus snapped together and his serious expression rearranged itself effortlessly into a mocking grin. “And here I was beginning to think you were going to abandon me.”