by Arithkenshin
Disclaimer: Stop rubbing it in, I don't own them, just playing.
Treize withdrew his hand from Heero's brow, his own furrowing in thought. He felt strange, his body was reacting to something. And he didn't like the troublesome feelings in the back of his mind that were giving him reasons for it.
Forcing himself to his feet, he looked down at Heero's face, the expression pinched even in slumber. An unnatural sleep was going to have to do. Treize wasn't exactly sure what had happened, but he had a sneaking suspicion that Duo would.
Treize wasn't too sure how long he stood there, regaining the strength he needed and making sure he healed. Thoughts were running around in his head, making him dizzy. His gut churned. Heat spread through his body. The seed pumped into him was sapping at his strength, before returning it tenfold.
Sky blue eyes blazed in partial recognition at what was happening to him. A smile spread over his face as the door opened.
The voice chuckled dryly before greeting him. "Ahhh Mal'akh.I should have known."
Trowa vanished from the room. Standing on the balcony railing overlooking the sheer drop of the cliff, he smiled. It had been so long since he had flown, so long since he had felt the full might of he wind. A feral gleam entered his eyes briefly. Wings or no wings. wind was his element. Human or Fallen, the element fit, the meld was perfect.
The green-eyed man simply stepped off the balcony. Instead of plummeting to the ground below, he practically floated. Not slowly. Fast enough to make his adrenaline rush, and his cape to billow around him. Fast enough to make his hair leave its usual style and reveal the piercing green depths of his eyes.
Wind and air hurried around him, caressing him and lending him a cushion upon which to fall. The ground neared and he crouched down into the landing. For a few seconds he stayed there; poised, letting the sensation pump through his veins.
Free. He was free at last.
Trowa rose to his feet, limbs moving liquidly. Everything about him was languid, calm. calculating. It gave him an edge, and he used it to his advantage.
He reached out to touch that part of his power that he would need to access Earth's whereabouts. Hiding it as best he could, Trowa located what he was looking for and set off on his way. Long legs carried him far, black pants clinging to him as if painted on; his shirt joined his cloak and danced in the wind.
His whole countenance portrayed his mood. Dangerous.
Dangerous and hunting. It was no wonder that people got out of his way.
It didn't take him long to locate what he was looking for. To him at least, it shone like a beacon. There were dampening effects visible, though, and he took a moment to wonder just who could be dampening the power for Earth.
He frowned as he stopped in front of the large temple. It was the one he had visited but days before. Why was the power pulling him there? Never having been one for waiting, he pushed open the door, meaning to find out the answers himself.
Trowa crossed through the room, noting the seats, the dais, the books. It really didn't look like what one would expect the inside of a temple to look like, but then, he wasn't really sure what he was expecting.
His eyes scanned the room, coming to rest on a door. The power he could sense was coming from behind it. He headed in its direction.
The door opened with a wave of his hand, revealing that the room beyond had two occupants. He frowned as he took in the body lying unconscious on the floor. As he raised his eyes though, he smiled. It was always nice to see a familiar face, even one attached to a naked body.
A dry chuckle escaped his throat before he spoke. "Ahhh Mal'akh.I should have known."
Treize inclined his head with respect. "Trowa. or is it a different name this time?"
The silvery laugh that escaped Trowa's throat spoke of his familiarity with the other man. "I'll always be Trowa in one way or another, that is something you should know by now." Raising an eyebrow he continued. "What happened?"
Treize shook his head, raising a hand to brush his hair out of his eyes. "I haven't the faintest idea."
Trowa looked passed the ginger-haired man to the unconscious form on the floor and frowned. Only a faint shimmer of earth's power remained around the form. Realisation hit him and he spoke his thoughts out loud.
"You have no idea who that is, do you?"
A slight frown of frustration crossed Treize's face. "Well evidentally, he isn't the simple human being I mistook him for. I can feel that quite obviously at the moment."
Trowa looked closer at the demon, whose face was flushed. Recognition dawned in green eyes and he shook his head, his voice incredulous. "You've been sleeping with him?"
Treize shrugged, a slight blush crossing his cheeks despite his words. "Sleeping with him, sex. needed release. however you wish to define it. The answer would be yes."
"Damn, Mal'akh. What's earth's human name?"
"Hiro.oh shit." Sky blue eyes closed as Treize realised his mistake. "They called him Heero. It never occurred to me."
Trowa sighed in exasperation and pushed past Treize to kneel on the ground. He held out one hand over Heero's head, feeling for what it was he wanted to find. Sighing with relief, he hefted the chocolate- haired man in his arms and motioned to Treize to get dressed.
"He sent me to watch over Milliardo, there was never any talk of Hiro. He should have kept me informed, perhaps I would have had Hiro's name in my mind then. It isn't much different in pronunciation, but."
"You were otherwise occupied." Trowa finished Treize's sentence for him. He began to exit the building, heading for Blight. "Duo is irritated enough. We can figure things out once we get there."
Raphael was the last one into the room. His sauntering gait spoke volumes about his actual desire to be there.
"So, Michael." Raphael's voice was a slow drawl, dripping with bored sarcasm. "Have another dream?" The dry chuckle that emerged from his throat was cut off.
"Actually, Raphael, I called this meeting." Uriel's black eyes flashed as if daring his brother to gainsay him. "I .felt something."
Raphael blinked cat-green eyes. If Uriel felt something. "What did you feel?"
"If you had been here when you were supposed to, brother dear, you would know!" The gold light flared around Gabriel, who seemed to be bristling at something.
A summoned ball of storm in his hand, Raphael opened his mouth to make a comeback, but was interrupted before he could.
"Dissention amongst our ranks seems inadvisable at this time." Raguel voice was low, but as always his quiet words carried a weight that could not be ignored.
Raphael blinked. "Meaning exactly what?"
Raguel shrugged. "Put it down to instinctive reflexes on my behalf. One coincidence is one thing. Many coincidences in a short span of time depict a scheme." The pale angel spread water-like wings, stretching them. "If that doesn't suit you, accept it simply as one of my idiosyncrasies."
"Ahhh, but Raggy, where would we be without your idiosyncrasies?" Raphael laughed, tossing his storm ball up and down in his hand.
A clod of earth fell over Raphael's hand, obliterating his toy. Sea green eyes flashed angrily as he bridled his quick temper.
Uriel stood with his hands on his hips, black wings spread, eyes flashing. "Enough Raphael. Act your age!"
Raphael had to fight to keep his powers under control and pushed the light threatening to spill from him down. He cocked his head to one side, an insolent grin slipping across his face. "Sure Uriel, I'll act ageless as soon as you take out the stick that's stuck up your arse."
Tolerance was not one of Uriel's virtues and Raphael laughed as he danced out of the way of an earth-strike.
Light slammed the two arguing brothers back into opposite walls as Michael yelled: "ENOUGH!"
Silence decked the room.
Raphael fought to bite back the laughter in his throat. His brothers could be so dull, but he realised they were serious about this. So he tried hard to pay attention. The fact that Michael's face looked like a thunder cloud was extra incentive.
"As we were discussing before Raphael stumbled in, Uriel felt something. a counterpoint to what should be."
Raphael snorted. "That isn't possible."
Zerrachiel stretched and cleared his throat. "Actually Raphael, it's not impossible. Highly Improbable, but not impossible."
Another snort escaped Raphael's throat. "It's not possible. He couldn't have felt a counterpoint to himself. Agares is dead."
Everyone fell silent as a slight tremor ran through the room.
Trowa arrived at the base of the cliff and frowned briefly. He flexed his back muscles, fueling a tiny bit of power to begin regrowing his wings. he missed them. His glance wandered over to Treize, a thoughtful look on his face.
"Put your hand on my shoulder."
Treize raised an eyebrow, but did as he was told. "Can I ask why?" He was a little nervous, considering that Trowa was coiling, as if to jump.
A cold grin crossed Trowa's face. "It's my first day awake, you need to be touching me for my powers to work properly." He shrugged. "Or you can wait down here another day and I can fly you up tomorrow, without touching me."
Treize sighed. "No, that's fine. I'll survive it somehow."
Trowa smiled. Uncoiling his power, he jumped, letting the wind lift him as he did so. A howl escaped it as it revelled in the return of one of its masters. As he reached the balcony, it let him go.
He landed once more in a crouch, the figure still clutched in his arms, not losing balance for a second. It was graceful, almost beautiful. It was completely ruined by Treize stumbling to a stop next to him.
A brief glare was all Trowa spared for the demon, before heading into the house muttering under his breath. "Way to ruin my entrance."
Quatre stood in the lounge room, leaned against the door frame, arms crossed. "Put him on the couch. Duo's working on a containment room at the moment."
"Containment room?" Trowa was a little curious. "Is his waking room not ready?"
"He isn't ready to be woken yet, Trowa. It isn't his time." Quatre sighed running his fingers through his hair. His glance fell on the demon who had accompanied Trowa and a slight frown crossed his features. "Mal'akh? Oh."
Trowa could see realisation hit Quatre and he chuckled. A glare was directed his way for his efforts.
The blond pinched the bridge of his nose briefly before letting his gaze rest on the demon in the room. "I hope you realise that Duo is probably going to kill you, Treize."
Treize shrugged. "Perhaps he will. I was on the look out for Millardo. He never informed me that Earth was anywhere near my position. I'm a demon, Quatre, not a psychic."
"Point in fact, point in fact old friend. It doesn't change the fact that you should be able to add 2 and 2 together." Duo swept into the room, shadows following him - their irritation a reflection of their master's mood.
Treize's eyes blazed momentarily. "I'm your courier, Duo. You know as well as I do that my skills do not extend to mind reading or situation analysis. I'm a manipulator. It's my ability and we both know it. Do not blame me for your lack of information."
Duo's eyes flashed in response. For a split second an undercurrent of red bled through his entire countenance. The anger rippled off him in waves and the shadows thrashed restlessly. "Stand aside, Mal'akh. I have less tolerance than usual today. Do not get in my way. I'll deal with you later."
Trowa suppressed a chuckle as Treize was held at bay by impatient shadows. Quatre seemed to be as easily amused. Duo walked to the large lounge and went to kneel next to Heero.
The long-haired Fallen stumbled to his knees as a tremor shook the house. The man on the lounge groaned in his unconscious state, a visible aura pulsing around him. Raw power flowed off the man in red- brown waves.
Duo's face had blanched, and his voice was full of fury when he spoke.
"Who the fuck just spoke his real name?"
As the one to cause the silence, albeit inadvertently, Raphael also chose to break it. "Well, I guess that answers that question."
Michael had obviously had enough. "You imbecile!"
Raphael grunted as he was flung against the far wall once again. He felt like a fool. He hadn't thought it possible that the name of power would have that effect. And he also knew that it wouldn't have had that effect had the owner of the name, in truth, been dead like he was supposed to be.
He pushed himself up, green eyes flashing, a storm crackling around him. Anger dripped from his voice when he spoke. "Call me what you will, brother. But now at least we know we somehow fucked up."
Michael glared at him and continued as if Raphael hadn't spoken. "Coincidences are one thing. This exceeds that now."
Gabriel sealed his wings away, drawing attention to himself. "What?" He didn't wait for an answer on his question. "I need to go. outside. Something isn't. right." A frown creased his golden face.
Raphael snorted. "If you go outside looking like a gold ingot, Gabriel, someone's going to notice." The wind angel turned on his heel and head towards the door. "I'm done here. Do what you want."
The last thing the angel of wind heard as he left the room was Gabriel, apparently fast on his heels. "I'm going to get the Prince. It's time we talked to our people."
A cold smile spread across Raphael's face as he spread his wings and dived from the balcony.
Quatre's eyes were closed as he tried to centre himself. He was feeling, sending out tentacles of himself to find what they were seeking. The fact that he could feel the anger flowing from Duo wasn't helping him.
"Duo, damn it. I'm trying to concentrate. Control it better!"
Duo glared at his lover, eyes flashing dangerously. But he clamped down on his powers anyway, not saying a word.
A few moments later Quatre opened his eys. The blood filled orbs drained back to turquoise before he spoke. "They. they know earth is alive. But it appears only earth." His breath was coming in short gasps. It was enough for Duo to push his annoyance aside and come to stand next to the blonde and share some strength.
A grateful smile crossed Quatre's features, before an evil grin spread over his face. "But you realise that didn't cost me half the strength it should have, to feel through their `stronghold'."
Duo smiled back. "Not even a third. How bad are they?"
And Quatre laughed. It wasn't a pretty laugh. Any mortal within hearing distance would have been frozen by the sound. The shadows danced to the music, their tendrils coursing electrically. His voice was full of suppressed mirth when he spoke.
"They're not only complacent.they're practically stagnant."
Duo grinned at his partner. "Stagnant is a good word. fortuitous as well."
"Fortuitous?" Treize's brow creased. "Large word for you, Duo."
"You're lucky I am currently pretending you aren't here Mal'akh. I'd stop pushing right now if I were you."
Trowa interrupted before the argument could spiral. "Fortuitous. Explain, Duo."
Duo sighed, keeping an eyes on the unconscious figure on the couch. "He needs to stay unconcscious. Or at least he needs to stay away from me. Because he isn't ready in any way shape or form to be woken."
The green-eyed man raised an eyebrow. "Not ready?"
Quatre butted in. "Think on it, Trowa. Fire, Air, Water, Earth. The order is already stuffed as it is. Water isn't coming over any time soon. Now we have Earth in our midst, something having released part of him sooner than it should have. He shouldn't even be here."
The blond glanced at the figure and frowned.
"We have to keep him away from Duo. Otherwise the Waking is fucked."
Trowa flicked his hair out of his eyes impatiently. "What happened?"
"I don't know!" Quatre snapped. "He's gotten a feed from somewhere and. I just don't know!"
Duo's shoulders slumped suddenly. He looked a little. bewildered. "He's absorbed power somehow, and he couldn't recognise it, couldn't deal with it, and somehow needed to channel it."
Violet eyes narrowed, focusing on Treize. All traces of confusion were gone. "So Mal'akh. Explain to me why you were fucking Earth."
The angry retort died on Trreize's tongue as they heard a loud thud coming from the front entrance.
"We'll deal with this later." Duo's tone brooked no argument as he headed out of the room to the front door.
They entered the foyer only to be greeted by Hilde's comment.
"Quatre, open the door."
Duo glanced at his durmanis. A smile spread over his face. "Ahhhh." was all he said as he watched his partner approach the door. The look of expectation was something Quatre couldn't quite suppress.
The door opened to reveal a cougar. Not your average cat though, it stood at twice the size. Slowly its sleek muscles transformed themselves through various stages. It was almost as if the body rolled out from itself. The movement was somehow dangerous, and power crackled around the form like a tight hugging skin.
Slowly the form in front of them began to take shape. And each person in the room stood with a look of appreciation on their faces.
Rippling with power, the form slowly took human shape. One last form appeared briefly. Wings spread to either side, their feathers momentarily shining with a golden light.
The light died down and icy blue eyes regarded each of them. She inclined her head to Quatre. "Master." Her voice held a tinge of rebellion in it when she uttered that word. Her head was held high, a flat cascade of blond hair reaching to her knees.
"Dorothy." Quatre inclined his head, satisfaction reflected in his eyes.
Duo smiled. She was a handful, but she was good and she had been sent to gather some very important information.
His partner's durmanis had returned.
Close window to return to Author's Index