by Arithkenshin
Disclaimer: Stop rubbing it in, I don't own them, just playing.
Notes: Thousand *hugs* and *glomps* to CYT for all her tireless hours of fic-company. It's a tough job, but someone has to be my muse.
~#~ indicates flashback
As the darkness fell, its disquiet was palpable. Something was out of place. The Vestige felt no fear, just a worry and knowledge that something had gone wrong. Though the shadows might bring some naive people fear, they only made him smile. It was his world, his strength, his power.
Walking into the dark building, he smiled at the gathering. It was a good turnout. And something about this particular night was special. It was a night when the beings worshipped by the temple actually needed the power given through benediction.
They didn't have prayers. They didn't even really have a learned hierarchy. Those who felt more of an affinity than others were accepted to lead. It was simply a gathering of people with the same beliefs and needs, fervently trusting in the only thing they thought could help them.
It wasn't an organised religion as such. People who chose to follow the darkness didn't do so for money. They didn't do it for fame, success or any need for strict guidelines. They believed in it because it offered them a pragmatic view of the world, a more tangible one. And last of all they chose it because the illusion which hid the Luminae, had been ripped from their eyes.
The man let his gaze sweep over the gathered mass of people with pride. Slowly but surely, their ranks were swelling. A shrewd smile spread over his face as he ran through his orders in his head. Lost in his thoughts he didn't notice the presence at his side until the man spoke, startling him. "Vestige Treize." Prussian blue eyes gazed at him. They were the only part of the man that exhibited an emotion, satisfaction at having found the Vestige.
Suppressing his own preferred reaction to the man in front of him, Treize smiled in genuine affection. "Wielder Yuy, I did not realise you had returned." The vestige was pleasantly surprised. He hadn't seen his casual lover for over two months.
Quatre headed down the hall shortly after Wufei, not bothering to conceal the rest of the light pouring from his body. Annoying as it was, it seemed to get a little rebellious every time he let it shine for a bit. Besides, it wasn't as if any humans were going to run into him in the house.
Lost in thought as he was, Quatre almost bumped into Wufei. The other man was standing in the middle of the foyer staring at something. Following the black gaze, Quatre laughed under his breath at Hilde having obviously collapsed over her desk. Her breath was coming in short gasps.
Wufei heard the laugh and rounded on Quatre. "She's collapsed and you're laughing?" His voice was incredulous.
Quatre just shrugged. "Leave her, she'll survive." The way he said it, was as if it was a normal occurrence.
Onyx eyes narrowed perceptibly. "What is she, Quatre?"
A genuine look of surprise passed over Quatre's face, before it was followed by a deep tinge of worry. "We seriously fucked up your Waking, didn't we?"
All he got was a scowl for an answer.
Quatre shrugged yet again. "She's a durnamis." At Wufie's blank expression, Quatre continued. "Well of power, Gatherer of strength, Energy fount. She's Duo's in a manner of speaking. Attuned to him, for him to draw from when he needs to. The fact that she is this exhausted means he pulled everything she had in reserve."
His eyes narrowed for a moment, thinking. "If she ever seems weak, tell me. Duo can't afford to be abusing his power usage at this time." His eyes locked onto Wufei's, determination etched in them. "I won't let him."
Wufei simply nodded his acquiescence and turned on his heel once more.
Before either of them could take a step however, a warm flush spread through their bodies. Hilde stirred and Quatre smiled. He could feel his power come alive as if new fields had been sowed.
Wufei was looking a little bewildered, but overall pleased. "What was that?"
"That dear Wufei, was our supporters." With that cryptic answer he headed towards Duo's room. Letting a part of his own awareness snake out, he concluded that Duo's sleep would be more beneficial due to the new flow of power.
Arriving at the door, Quatre glared at the shadows playing at concealing it. Shaking his head as they tightened their grip he summoned another ball of light for them to play with. Opening the door, he motioned Wufei to join him. Once again he glared at the shadows that caressed the other man's body as they walked along. Wufei looked decidedly uncomfortable and eventually the shadows pulled back to sulk.
"They're not used to Duo not. um. giving them attention." Quatre shrugged and walked to sit himself on one of the stones next to the waterfall Duo had created. It was like being near his lover without actually being there. A smile spread across Quatre's face before he turned back to look at Wufei.
"This is our. stronghold. I guess that's what you can call it. It's where we gather our power. This room is more powerfully protected than anywhere else in the house. Except for the Waking room, this is the only other place we can freely speak our real names." Quatre was studying the man he was speaking to. Those onyx eyes were curious, but the awareness he wanted to see wasn't fully there.
Pursing his lips, Quatre thought. Reaching deep inside he took a breath before speaking. When he spoke, everything in the room shivered as the course of power ran through them. "Arioch, I call to thee."
Blood melted over onyx pools, full understanding reflected in their abyss. The eyes blinked and an arrogant smile spread over the lips. "Astaroth."
Quatre inclined his head. "Nice to have you with us. What's taken you so long?"
Arioch put a hand to his head, rubbing it. "Not exactly my choice. This.human. has amazing willpower."
"Define."
"He seeks justice for what was done to his family. His will is amazing. I had only half surfaced and he was fully awake. The allotted time for my re-emergence was completed in struggle." Arioch looked weary as he maintained control on the body that should rightfully have been his. "He fights constantly. This is decidedly annoying!"
"We'll get past it. There are ways."
Arioch's eyes flashed briefly. "There shouldn't have to be ways. Tell Abaddon he needs to choose his events more carefully."
Quatre's eyes flashed in response, his temper quickly fraying. "You know that he had to do that. If your host is not hell bent on killing him and him alone, he cannot perform the necessary steps."
"He annihilated this host's family. It's cause for troublesome interference."
"It was necessary. A traumatic fire is the only thing which can trigger the lock in your host." He took a deep breath and turned back to look at Arioch. "You know how it works."
"This host is difficult. Too independent, too concerned with his precious justice, Astaroth. I can't promise anything like this."
Astaroth's blood filled eyes flashed once more. "Do you have even an inkling of the pain he endured so that I could free you all? So that we could put this plan into action? " Exasperated, he held up a hand. "Wait, never mind that. We wake Zakkiel on the dawn." He saw Arioch's face soften at the mention of Wind's name.
Eyes back to normal, Quatre stood up. He held a hand out to Arioch. "If you need to, strike a deal. I don't care. But make sure he does not interfere with us during the Waking. Until all of us are awake, we can't afford slip-ups."
Almost as an afterthought, Quatre added, "Oh, and you might want to encourage him to let you start growing your wings. I shudder to think what sort of an effect a regrowing would have on a host that isn't completely merged with one of us."
With that Quatre turned around and left Arioch to fend on his own against his uncooperative host.
Heero's eyes narrowed slightly. "I have been. ordered to return." He couldn't quite keep the bitterness out of his voice.
"I see." Treize was looking at him curiously. "Will you stay tonight?" Those words held so much more meaning than most casual observers would have thought.
Heero was loathed to rebut their true meaning. Shaking his head, he spoke. "Sadly, I will leave after the.service... I have only just arrived."
Treize managed to keep the disappointment out of his voice when he answered. His breeding came to the fore, arrogant yet calming. "I understand. Then you have not been to see him, yet?"
A brief look of annoyance passed over Heero's exotic features. "No. Hence I will . be needing some rest tonight." The slight pause made Treize smile. Heero had intended the inference. "I will need energy to resist beating the hell out of him tomorrow."
A low chuckle emerged from the Vestige. "Then will you partake of our gathering tonight and perhaps draw some of that strength for yourself?" His eyes flashed briefly, almost disconcerting Heero with that moment of different colour.
"I will, but perhaps, I will speak with you tomorrow?" He only just managed to restrain the hope from his voice.
The vestige nodded, giving him a regal smile before proceeding on his way.
As usual the gathering loaned Heero strength. He always felt empowered afterwards. This time was different. Somehow he felt strange, filled to the breaking point. It was as if something needed an outlet. He felt overwhelmed to the point of being physically ill.
Sleep was difficult for him. He tossed and turned in a cold sweat, visions he couldn't remember being a part of dancing in his head.
Traiten had once again seen to the occupant of the waking room. The sigils had been drawn that afternoon, giving it the appropriate elemental bindings. He was careful as he stepped around the room, finishing the preparations. Checking everything over once more, he left the room, closing the door behind him.
The figure on the bed began to toss and turn. Nightmares assaulted him as if on cue.
~#~
It was dawn as Trowa made his way along the deserted roadway. The thrum of the vehicle did little to block out the silence surrounding him. He'd had yet another one of those odd feelings, and decided to leave for home earlier than originally intended.
His brow furrowed, as he got closer to the town in which he lived. There was something on the road ahead, blocking the way in. With no way around it, Trowa was forced to get out of the car.
Closing the door, he looked in front of him properly for the first time since stopping. His mouth gaped open as he took in the devastation in front of him. Vaguely his brain registered what he was seeing and he began to walk down the road, hands pushed the pockets of his jeans.
It was ruined, everything. To be honest, ruined wasn't really appropriate terminology. The devastation was a little too complete to simply call it ruined, like a tornado had torn through town.
Wind
He shook his head, not understanding the sudden thought. As always he showed little, if any, sign of emotion. He had never let his feelings get in the way of assessing his current situation. It was too easy to make mistakes like that.
He ignored the mess of houses on his way. The bodies lying in the street, the people screaming and crying may as well have been air for all he paid them attention. His eyes were focused on the mass of rubble that had once been his house. Inside, he prepared himself for the worst.
"Catherine?" He called gently, not recognising his own voice. It wasn't that he thought she would still be alive. It was that appearances had to be upheld. He had to make the effort to at least appear to hope she was alive.
Trowa didn't have to keep up appearances for long. Before long, he had located sister's body. The sight caused even his demeanour to crack that little bit as he took in the sight. Lowering himself to his knees he stretched out a hand to touch the broken body in front of him.
She looked like a rag doll, her green eyes opened to the sky, staring emptily. Shock was etched on her young features. The shoulder bone of her left arm jutted through the skin, revealing that the bone had shattered inside and out. Some falling metal had severed her right thigh, and the wound looked surreal to his eyes. Like something out of a horror movie, the tissue torn, the bone jagged, and blood soaking into the ground.
Her body was still warm and, before he registered his actions, he pulled her into his lap. Unmindful of the blood soaking into his own clothes, he rocked her to his chest. He had been meant to protect her; she had looked up to him. Why the fuck couldn't he cry! It was the only time in his life that he didn't welcome his ability to be indifferent. Right then, Trowa wanted to grieve.
His mind preoccupied, he only vaguely overheard the conversation. Which was surprising really since no one in the street was being quiet, so it must have been shouted.
"That bastard used inferior materials."
"I'll have his hide for this."
"You will? We all will. He's responsible for everything here."
"Duo Maxwell Incorporated my arse." There was an angry snorting noise.
"Duo Maxwell will wish he was never born when I'm finished with him!"
The voices faded, and Trowa closed his eyes, committing that name to memory. Someone would pay.
He will pay
.for taking his only family away from him. Opening his eyes, he cradled his sister's corpse closer, resisting a shudder as her torn flesh contacted his bare arm. Blood dripped sluggishly across his skin. He closed her eyes, so he didn't have to see that dead gaze.
He needed some fresh air.
Air
. and as if on cue the breeze picked up, dancing around him whilst he cradled his sister in his arms and planned revenge.
~#~
Duo's eyes snapped open. Taking a moment to get his bearings, he realised that he was lying in bed with Quatre dozing next to him. He felt oddly replenished. In a swift movement he folded his wings under, sealing them. Quatre stirred as his cover was torn away, but was awake instantly when he saw the light in Duo's eyes.
"It's time, Quatre." Duo stood, still clothed from earlier. "Go and get Wufei, and bring him to the room."
Quatre didn't need to be told twice, but Duo's voice called him back for a moment.
"Can he do it, Quatre?"
Quatre shrugged. "We're about to find out just how stubborn our Wufei is." With a feral grin he exited the room.
Duo sighed as he made his way through the house to the Waking room. He knew Quatre was thriving on the challenge that having Wufei not up to his task would present. But still, Duo hoped that Wufei could do what he needed to. Without Fire, waking Air was going to be damned tricky.
Yet another negligent flick of his wrist allowed him entrance to the room. He could already see that they had timed it better this time. Trowa wasn't yet waking up. Duo began to draw the power he would need for the Waking. He was still debating whether it would be easier or harder than it should be, because Trowa was already using his powers.
Quatre and Wufei arrived shortly after and Duo eyed the black-haired man critically. There was something not quite Arioch about him, and yet, more than there had been the previous day. Quatre busied himself with setting up the shields, leaving Duo the time he needed to talk to Wufei.
"Are you ready, do you know what you need to do?" Duo wasn't quite sure how to phrase it. They didn't have that much time.
Wufei looked a little doubtful but answered. "You need me to hand you a pure flame at precisely the right time."
Duo really looked at him this time. "Stop it, Mr. Chang. This is who you are now, and no matter how much you might not want it, you're fucking stuck with it now." His voice was soft, but held that familiar steely tinge to it.
Wufei glared at him. "This is my body and I will fight for it."
"Fight too much and I shall simply erase your existence. I may have to wait at least 20 years for the next host to be more reasonable. But at least I wont have to put up with this shit." Duo's eyes were narrowed, the red abyss threatened to pull Wufei in. Shadows promised to swallow them all.
The black-haired man blanched and he cocked his head to one side as if listening to something. "Very well. I will try harder."
A sigh escaped Duo's throat. He couldn't wait until Trowa was awake, it would make managing Fire would be so much easier. "If you can't control the flame, this isn't going to work. I will be too heavily concentrated. Quatre will give you the sign and I need you to act immediately. Not in 3 seconds or pre-empting it by that much. Exactly when you are given the sign. Understood?" He needed Wufei to understand that. Without that flame, at the precise moment it was needed, he would not be able to unlock Air.
Wufei simply nodded.
It was going to have to be good enough. Duo turned his attention back to the bed and began the wait again. Quatre's presence soothed him as always, and he drew strength from that as well.
The shimmering began and Duo smiled. He'd missed Zakkiel, and was looking forward to having him back. Waiting for the right moment he merged himself with the awakening consciousness. Finding his way that much easier, he reached out to hold the lock. He could feel Quatre's awareness acknowledge the time had come.
A less well-known consciousness brushed his own and he accepted the proffered flame eagerly. So much smoother this time, the lock clicked easily and Duo withdrew.
Steadying himself, Duo unconsciously leaned himself against Quatre. All three of them watched the figure on the bed stir to consciousness.
One green eye opened, lazily surveying the room. Trowa pushed himself into a sitting position and drew a leg to his chest, eyes not missing a thing. He raised his chin and looked directly at Duo.
Bowing his head in respect, Duo intoned the simple words of welcome. "I welcome thee, Zakkiel."
Trowa smiled slightly, and was about to respond...
...when Wufei crashed to the ground.
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