Chapter Text
This isn't your first time visiting a new world.
You find yourself getting immersed in them quite a bit, whether it's through games you play or stories you find online. Today seems to be no exception: You had decided you wanted to experience something new--and hopefully interesting. Thus, you've arrived onto this page; into the world of Magnum Opus.
"My Liege?"
You open your eyes to see the love interest of this particular story bending over to more easily meet your still-adjusting gaze--a handsome brunet who, despite his striking appearance, was not the protagonist of his world. That was your honor, and he would respect that honor with reverence, for that was the kind of character he had been shaped to be.
You blinked a few times, always having to take a moment to acquaint yourself with a new world. It was more difficult with just text alone, so you're provided with a more thorough description of your surroundings...
...Or you would've been, if they were not blocked out by the handsome man's figure, which was doubled in breadth due to his massive, outstretched wings--at least, the ones protruding from his back. There was another pair on either side of his head, significantly smaller in span, and a third set wrapped modestly around the curve of his hips. The downy feathers looked so impossibly soft and fluffy that they were practically begging to be stroked by you.
But that would be inappropriate to do to a character you just met--so you withheld the burning urge and tried to instead focus on his attire. It reminded you of some kind of general; the fanciful epaulettes on either of his shoulders told you he must've held some kind of impressive rank here.
He was clearly an important character, even if he wasn't the protagonist...and now you were the very center of his attention--of his entire world. No matter his daily duties, you knew the truth; the real reason he had been crafted into existence was to please and entertain you.
You felt your cheeks warm in a soft flush at that thought, and they only grew hotter when you realize how long you had remained in silence. And still, the suave angel seemed to stare down at you with a sense of awe like he wasn't anything impressive at all and you were the most astonishing thing of Magnum Opus.
"Our very first human," he chuckled softly, the words seemingly meant more for himself than for you.
First? That made you feel rather special, especially with the way he looked at you with the reverence to suggest as much.
"It's an honor to be in your presence. Give me your hand?"
The gloved hand that had been resting on his chest suddenly reached out, offering to take yours so he could pull you up onto your feet. You supposed it was time the story got started, so you took it without question. He seemed pleased by your quick compliance, beaming down at you with a reward of fondness while you took your (rightful) place next to him.
"I am Michael," he finally told you his name as the two of you began to walk. One of his big wings wrapped around you, but not so close that you could actually feel it--the feathers themselves, that is; You could definitely feel the comforting warmth radiating off them. It put you at ease, as did his calming tone as he went on to deliver more exposition:
"I've been informed that you might want to spend some time with Rafael during your visit. Do you know him?"
Rafael--he had been mentioned in the tags of this story, too, but he hadn't been your main motivation to click onto it.
"I think so," you finally said, having to clear your throat which was dry after not having yet spoken. Michael seemed to take that as a sign of nervousness and his smile widened, clearly trying to comfort you.
"Don't worry," he replied, and with a voice so gentle, you didn't even think it would be possible to, "He doesn't bite."
The two of you then arrived at a sprawling table full of colorful fruit, covered in delicious-looking dew and glistening in the rays of the sun.
"Haa!"
That was, until all the light was blocked out by the wingspan of another sizable character, leaping down from the rooftop of the nearby gazebo.
It was an impressive entrance! The blond angel landed directly in front of Michael, pointing the tip of his rapier towards his face. His grin suggested it was more a playful gesture than a threatening one.
"Brother!"
And what he'd just called him confirmed that assumption to you; they must've been close enough to behave as such.
"Are you ready for another match?"
Michael, however, seemingly wasn't in such a spirited mood. This was a very important day they'd all been anticipating for a long time, after all! He blinked in surprise at Rafael's lack of decorum in front of their world's very first human, looking down the bridge of his nose with a startled expression. And after he'd promised you Rafael didn't bite, too...now he looked foolish...
...
...But it couldn't be helped. Michael's expression softened into something more empathetic--politely waiting for the other to realize his mistake instead of pointing it out with words.
It took another moment for the other to do so as he rambled on excitedly, "Zadkiel told me you have the day off to greet the--"
That was when his eyes met yours, and finally, he lowered his weapon.
"--Oh!"
Yet, he didn't seem at all embarrassed by his lack of tact, because as soon as the rapier vanished into thin air, he instead reached out to pinch and pull at your cheeks.
"Can we touch it?"
He asked much too late, and you half-heartedly tried to turn away out of embarrassment. He was treating you like some kind of cute animal more than a person! Michael couldn't seem but to help speaking up in your defense: "They're here for the world's inauguration, but I have no instructions on how to proceed."
"I can take care of it while you rest, Michael! It's your day off, after all," Rafael beamed at you with similarly awe-filled eyes like Michael watched you with. And while it was hard not to find the angel's enthusiasm charming, Michael was the character you'd intended to spend time with in this story.
"What do you say?" He asked, hands neatly folded behind his back. Rafael glanced over at him and mimicked the position, the both of them waiting patiently for your decision.
"I think...," you started, eyes flickering between each of them even though you had already made up your mind. You just weren't sure how to say it, "...I want to stay by your side."
Your gaze locked onto Michael's amber eyes, silently emphasizing who it was, exactly, that you'd chosen.
"Okay, okay...," He chuckled, lifting one of his hands up to his mouth to try and hide how wide his smile was from Rafael, as though he felt a little guilty about receiving their esteemed guest's attention in his place. But Rafael didn't seem to mind, though his look of glee did dampen a tad.
"We'll join you in a bit," he said to him with a little nod before reaching out for your hand once more.
"Yes, Sir!"
And with that, Michael guided you towards the gazebo that looked out to the beautiful lake surrounding the dreamy area.
He settled with his elbows on the railing, looking out at the gently rippling waters that seemed to stretch on forever and ever. They were so clear and uncontaminated that they reflected the beautiful sky, its stars and sun, resulting in swirls of pretty pinks, warm golds, and serene purples. It painted a sight so tranquil, you felt as though you could get lost in it and never want to leave...especially with someone like Michael next to you.
His wing was hovering around your entire body again as though ready to catch you if you were to fall over the edge. You decided not to tempt fate, even if you were a little curious, and made sure to stand firmly planted, not leaning over the edge but placing your hands on it just for something to do with them. You expected the wood to feel a little prickly as wood structures technically should, but it was sanded to soft perfection.
This world seemed flawless.
Michael started to tell you all about it, his duties as General (confirming the important rank you had assumed), and the training of his troops, ready to protect all of Magnum Opus as soon as it was fully inhabited by humans. He also apologized for Rafael's earlier behavior, excusing it with the fact that he was simply eager to meet someone new. With how calm his presence made you feel, you found it impossible to be even a little upset about it, and reassured him it was no big deal.
He smiled at that, just as he seemed to smile every time you spoke--but after a heart's beat, the expression on his face hardened into something more weary. Something was bothering him, it seemed, and it was the very first time you had seen him looking that way. You found the sight almost wrong, like it was an antithesis to the very character that you'd gotten to know up to this point.
Had you upset him? Was it because of Rafael, or something else? Something you said--something you did? The list was so short--you'd only just arrived, and yet, you still found yourself scrambling to figure out how you could win his approval once more.
However, you didn't have time to land on any particular question to ask because Michael was soon asking you a question:
"...You're not our first human inhabitant: You're from another world entirely...aren't you?"
And the way he looked at you with that sideways glance told you that he saw right through your screen to you. The real you. Somehow, he knew you were a real, live human being. Did that mean he knew he was nothing more than a fictional character, too?
Even if he had an inkling, how were you even supposed to answer a question like that? You'd never read a self-insert story that'd confronted the reader like that!
You could stall all you wanted. You could close the tab, you could turn off your device, you could forget about Michael and never return to this world again...or you could see where this goes...
...and you decided on the latter.
"Yes," you finally replied.
"I see."
With that, he looked away with eyes swimming with dismay, back out at the water. You found yourself doing the same, almost ashamed of your answer for some reason. You didn't like how it felt, disappointing him like you apparently just did. You felt guilty for some reason, even if you didn't know what that precise reason was just yet.
Wasn't this story written for you? So, then why were you suddenly feeling unwelcome inside of it? Stubbornly, it only made you want to try to get that smile to return to Michael's face even faster than ever, and there was one sure way you knew of how to do that!
Using your grip on the gazebo's railing, you pushed away from it, taking a step back and bumping into his large wing, which had him straightening up and looking back at you with a furrowed brow.
"But!"
You had to say something; you had to talk! You were the protagonist, the very reason for his creation--you needed to give him a purpose!
"I came here because I wanted to get to know you and your world...! I might not know much yet, but I'm here to stay--I'm not going to leave!"
The way the angel looked at you was similar to how he had looked down his nose at Rafael's rapier: He seemed taken aback by the declaration, almost like he couldn't believe it--like he must've heard you wrong.
"I told you before, didn't I? I want to stay at your side. Next to you!"
You were just a visitor in a world that wasn't your own. That was true. But it couldn't hurt to stick around for a little longer, right? After all, the tags of the story had caught your interest enough to get you to click onto it and read this far. You might as well commit.
"I see," he repeated two words that you were starting to associate with his displeasure. Was he still bothered by what you had revealed...?
...
...No. A smitten smile and soft flush of red crossed Michael's face, somehow even more tender than ever. What was so different about it from before? The newfound twinkle in his eye, the fact that he was beaming bigger than ever, or the way he stood more proudly with his shoulders back, casting a huge shadow over your entire figure? Whatever it was, it was the exact opposite of unsettling: A warm shudder rushed through you and you could only feel enamored by him.
"Of course..."
He reached out for your hand for a third time, and for a third time, you took his without hesitation. Whether it was the careful way he spoke, his attractive features, or the way he already seemed completely and utterly devoted to your whims, you wanted to trust him implicitly with your fictional counterpart's entire wellbeing.
"...My Liege," Michael murmured, falling to his knee and placing a chaste kiss against the top of your bare hand, "For the duration of your stay, I swear, I will do everything in my power to keep you safe...no matter what."