Uriel

Uriel felt no regret for the blood spilled by his hands but there were times when he remembered what it had been like not to be a killer. In those moments he'd wonder what paths his life could have taken had he not chosen to do the things that made him what he was. Of course, there was no changing that now; the beast was a part of him and there was no getting rid of it or its insidious needs.

Too close to the edge to deal with anyone; friend or foe, Uriel returned to the bunker. Like a glutton at a feast, the beast had gorged itself and now his gut twisted with hunger despite the bloated feeling of having eaten too much. Everything felt small as if his skin were stretched too tight after consuming so much power, and the bullet in his shoulder was nothing to trails of fire splitting down his back as the beast sought a way out of its prison.

He needed new clothes and a shower.

And sleep. He needed sleep.

But he'd have to settle for two out of the three.

He almost made it to his room and was just about to turn the handle when the door across from his creaked open. Uriel stilled, waiting for what would come next.

"You lied."

The simple words spoken in soft Spanish were a stab to the gut and Uriel closed his eyes letting his head fall forward as they struck home. he was so bloody tired that his soul felt sucked dry from containing the beast for so long. All he wanted to do was lie down and forget, but he had never run from a fight and wouldn't start now. So instead, he turned and looked his opponent in the eye; mahogany brown to match olive skin made a shade paler from lack of sunlight. The five-year-old's fierce look of disappointment was somewhat nullified by her small stature and messy hot pink ponytail striped with yellow. But with both hands on her hips, she held an intelligence that went beyond her years, the little girl was not to be ignored.

"You promised you would take me out for my birthday." She reminded him unfazed by the blood splattered across his clothes and crusted in his hair. "That was two days ago."

"Nina-"

"No!" She stomped her foot sending her hair bouncing loose from its tie. "Don't 'Nina' me! You promised."

"We'll go tomorrow," Uriel told her, scrubbing at his unshaven face as a different kind of exhaustion washed over him and sent a cascade of dark flakes drifting to the hardwood floor.

"Why? what's wrong with today?"

There to many reasons she wouldn't understand so he gave her the simplest one. "I can't stay long."

"You can't leave! you just got back," she exclaimed; tears begin to gather in her eyes. "Can't it wait for just this once? You're never around anymore."

"I'm here now." He said offering her his hand in supplication, but she only scowled at it.

"You're just here to sleep and then you'll be gone again."

"I'll be back in the morning."

"No, you won't!" She shouted, brushing away the tears spilling over, just as furious with them as she was with him. "you're too busy saving the world. Why didn't you just let me die? It would have been better than being locked up all the time!"

Nina spun around before she even finished so she missed the flinch her words caused but even if she hadn't, she still would have slammed her door shut and swore never to speak to him again.