Leap of Faith
Title: Leap of Faith
Author: hopenight
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Winn
Word Count:
Warnings: language, student/teacher relationship
Prompt: Will is Finn’s guardian angel, but once Finn learns the truth he begins to fall for his savior. For dark_dreymer in the Winn Prompt Meme!!
Summary: Finn is a former angel. Will is supposed to look out for him. They still manage to stumble into love.
“Only thing to do is jump over the moon.” -Maureen Johnson ‘RENT’
(2007: Deus Apartments, The Angelic Realm)
Will Schuester sat back in his favorite chair reading over the file of his first charge. Recently promoted from the Choir of Souls, Will was determined to try to uphold the office of guardian angel with dignity and pride. He stood suddenly, placing the folder on the coffee table and stretching his wings before heading into the kitchen to grab some hot chocolate.
Standing a little over six-feet of lean muscle, Will was a picture of the lovely innocence of an angel. He had curly, short brown hair that was constantly mussed. He had brown eyes that were very striking in their inner light of kindness and a gentle soul. He wasn’t what people would say be traditionally handsome. However, he had a smile that lit up a room (sometimes literally) and a beautiful singing voice, which made him quite popular in the Choir of Souls.
So he never understood the reasons for him being promoted to a guardian angel. It was an honor, sure. And he got to go back to Earth (which rocked) in order to watch over the person in his care. He knew that it was some random happenstance, instead of the ineffable plan, that placed him with the charge of Finn Hudson.
He spared a glance toward the file again before pouring himself the sweet drink. Finn was one of the special cases: a new soul. Sometimes souls flicker through the cycles of life over and over again. If you said that a person was an old soul, chances are that it’s truer than a quaint saying. However, there are cases of angels being chosen to be born as a human. Finn apparently was one of those cases.
A few of the older angels remembered Finn before he was chosen. He, like Will, was in the Choir of Souls with a piercing, true voice it made him an insanely popular soloist. Some of the best songs were sung by Finn when he was an angel.
Will took a sip of the hot drink from his favorite white, sturdy mug as he went back to his seat opening the file. Clipped on the top corner of the white manila envelope was a picture of a boy, no older than sixteen or seventeen with an easy smile, short brown hair, and very kind eyes. Will sipped as his eyes scanned the problems plaguing Finn’s life.
It seemed like everything was going well for him: popular, captain of the football team, head cheerleader girlfriend, nothing bad anyone had to say about him. It was the perfect life, the all American dream. Then, according to the file, there was going to be a roadblock. His girlfriend would get pregnant by his best friend but Finn will be led to believe that the child is his.
Will sighed sadly at the upcoming situation Finn will find himself in. He would go into himself more every day, hiding from the world until he was just a husk of a human being. And it was up to Will to pull the former angel out of his funk. This was going to be very difficult.
The angel spared a glance at the picture, the sheer innocence of the smile and the brightness of the eyes. His heart clenched in an uncomfortable way.
He just had to be the responsible adult figure in the kid’s life.
Will smiled.
He didn’t mind a challenge so much.
“Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth unseen, both when we sleep and when we wake.”-John Milton
(2009: Music/Choir Room, Earth)
Finn smiled as he walked into the music room after class. It was one of those days where he felt like he was on top of the world. Given the kind of shit that he had went through lately, it was a good feeling to have. It was the type of feeling and type where Finn felt like he could look at Quinn and Puck and not feel sick to his stomach.
“Hey Mr. Schue,” called Finn out in a greeting as he peered around the choir room. He had a question about their newest routine, so he got there early to ask the Mr. Schue. He cast a glance around the room, seeing absolutely no one. Weird, Mr. Schue was usually the first one in the room.
“Mr. Schue?” asked Finn tentatively. He really didn’t want to be the first person in the room. He blinked as he heard a strange rustling in the office of the music room. Figuring that was where the teacher was, Finn popped his head into the open doorway.
“Mr. Sch-,” began the athlete pausing as his eyes went wide, “Holy shit.”
Mr. Schue jumped turning around with a guilty look on his face. Finn could only stare at the pair of large, snow-white wings that arched gracefully from the teachers back. He could almost swear that there were tendrils of light surrounding Mr. Schue’s head.
“Finn,” said Mr. Schue gently, “It’s…er…not what it looks like?”
“Is it a costume?” asked Finn as he took a step closer, “Because that’s a really intense costume, Mr. Schue.”
Finn reached a tentative hand to see if the wings were real, when they fluttered away from his fingers on their own. He pulled his hand back.
“Holy shit,” repeated the student again, “You’re an…angel?”
Mr. Schue gave Finn a nervous smile before nodding, “Yes?”
“Oh my…I think I need to sit down,” said Finn as the room spun just a little. Finding out that angels are real and that his teacher apparently was one can do that to a guy.
Mr. Schue’s eyes went wide as he grabbed a chair and ushered Finn into it. Finn let out the briefest of shudders as a couple of feathers, softer than anything he ever felt, brushed his cheek unintentionally. Finn took a shaky breath picking at a hole in his jeans.
“So you’re an angel…”
“Yeah,” said Mr. Schue nervously. His wings were folded behind him as he anxiously peered out of the office to see if any other members showed up. He turned looking at Finn with wide, earnest gray-green eyes. It could have been the light that seemed to shine around Mr. Schue or how the wings shaded his face just right, but Finn’s heart beat so much faster.
“Look Finn,” began Mr. Schue wringing his hands, “Can we talk about this after practice?”
“Sure,” said Finn, “But I would really like some answers Mr. Schue.”
“And you’ll get them,” promised the teacher, “I have to…erm…put my wings away.”
“Oh! Yeah,” said Finn suddenly as he stood leaving the office and entering the choir room.
That was something that he wasn’t expecting.
“One does grow to be young or old. One is born young or old.” -Unknown
Will was nervous all throughout glee practice. He tried to hide it, but every time he would meet Finn’s eyes he stumbled over his words. When it became obvious that he wasn’t going to get anything done today, he ended the practice early.
Finn pretended to stick around to ask a question. Once the last student left the room, Finn walked over to Will with determined eyes.
“So?”
“I’m an angel.”
“Obviously,” said Finn with a nod, “But why are you in Lima?”
“I’m a guardian angel, Finn. I came here to watch my charge. It was a special case and they needed someone here.”
“Who’s your charge?”
Will debated internally whether or not to tell Finn the truth.
“You’re my charge, Finn. I was sent to watch over you.”
“Me?” asked Finn with wide eyes, “But what’s so special about me.”
“You’re what the higher ups call a new soul. You were angel before you were Finn.”
Finn sat down heavily on a chair with a puzzled, “But I don’t remember…”
“I would be surprised if you did remember,” answered Will honestly, “I was sent to help you through Quinn’s pregnancy and Puck’s betrayal. To not lose yourself. I just wanted to see you happy Finn.”
Finn looked up and met his eyes. Chocolate brown eyes stared intensely into his and for the briefest moment, Will could feel Finn’s latent Grace stir the air.
“Does that mean Coach Sylvester is a demon?” asked Finn seriously.
Will threw his head back and laughed. Unnoticed to the angel, Finn flushed at the sound.
“We cannot pass our guardian angel’s bounds, resigned or sullen, he will hear our sighs.” -John Keble
(a couple weeks later, 2009)
Finn was in love…with his guardian angel.
He really didn’t mean for it to happen, honest. It was just one of those stupid things that seemed to happen to him. After the revelation, he and Mr. Schue just seemed to grow closer. Finn had a million questions about angels.
After a couple days, the topics changed to how Finn was dealing with his Mom’s new relationship to their shared experiences to other topics.
“But I don’t understand, Mr. Schue,” said Finn puzzled during their newest talk, “You were married and stuff. I met your parents when they came to the Acafellas performance. You did die right?”
“I did,” said Will with a nod, “When I was twenty-three. Drunk driver,” the angel paused before continuing speaking, “When I came back to do my duty, the higher ups made sure that I would blend in. When I died I had a wife, a job, a life…I just got it all back like I never died. My tombstone isn’t in the cemetery anymore. It was like I had a second chance. And look how that turned out.”
“Don’t do that to yourself Mr. Schue,” said Finn as tentatively patted his teacher/angel on the hand, “You’re an awesome person, angel…whatever. People should just see that more.”
Mr. Schue glanced at Finn from under his eyelashes. The gray-green gaze seemed to glow under the fluorescent lighting. Finn’s heart sped up at the sight.
“Thanks Finn,” said Mr. Schue with a smile.
Finn stared at the man who had watched over him, protected him, helped him through the tough times. His heart sped up suddenly and he was certain.
He was in love with his guardian angel.
Checking to see if the blinds were closed in the office, Finn leaned forward and pressed his lips softly to Mr. Schue’s.
Angel in a past life or not, Finn was fairly certain that he was going to hell.
“Dancing through life, skimming the surface, gliding where turf is cool. Life is fraught-less when you’re thoughtless. Those who don’t try, never look foolish.” -Fiyero ‘Wicked’
So Will was pretty certain that he was screwed. Like majorly, totally, utterly, no doubt about it screwed.
He was in love with Finn.
Which was wrong on several mortal levels (ethical and legal levels), while it wasn’t normal for an angel to fall in love with their charge, it had happened in the past (while unpunished it was frowned upon).
It just wasn’t right.
But it felt right with Finn’s lips pressed against his and the almost deathly silence of the school. Will could feel his Grace stir in the deepest recesses of his soul. It was burning and so intoxicating that Will wanted it to continue.
It couldn’t though.
He pulled away.
Finn looked down at his hands guilt clear on his face.
“Shit, Mr. Schue,” began Finn standing suddenly, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean…I just…”
He looked down shame burning in his cheeks.
“Finn…I…,” Will tried to talk but the words seemed to be stuck in his throat, “It’s not right, Finn.”
“I know. I can just leave…”
“No!” said Will suddenly. Finn’s eyes went wide.
The angel looked down at his hands his face burning.
“You like me too,” said Finn with a small smile.
“Yes,” whispered Will softly.
“I don’t see what’s wrong,” said Finn slowly.
“I’m your teacher! Your guardian angel! I don’t know if this is right.”
“Well then we do to it together. We can keep it a secret. I mean I was an angel once, right? So that means that you won’t get in so much trouble with your bosses. And I’ll be eighteen in like three months. Look…I really like Mr. Schue. More than I should but these last couple of weeks had made me so happy that I feel light, good. I don’t want to lose that feeling.”
Finn looked so serious that Will’s heart sped up. The teacher slowly moved toward Finn and kissed him. His Grace sang and his wings unfurled, cocooning them from the world. Just for awhile, they could pretend that it was just the two of them hidden in soft, pure white wings.