There was never a blood hunt. Raffe is elected Messenger, the war is over. Sometimes the right thing isn't what feels right. But they are legendary warriors, willing to make legendary sacrifices. They do not ask. They do not choose.
A collection of scenes from a different ending. There will be more. Raffe/Penryn. Ratings will vary from K+ to M.
He is standing at the front of the formation, his wings white against the dark trees behind him. His gear is gleaming in the afternoon sun, contrasting beautiful with his skin, his hair.
It hurts to look at him. She blinks to fight against the burning sensation in her eyes.
He doesn't look at her the entire time he gives his people orders, nor do any of the other angels pay attention to the small group of humans that have gathered to witness their exodus. There are the representatives of humanity, at least right now, and though Penryn never wanted anything but save her family, she knows that she has to be here. She stopped being just a teenage girl, when she called the people to join her on the Golden Gate Bridge.
When the first groups of angel's spread their wings and take off in perfect formation, Raffe finally turns to her. His face betrays nothing, but he cocks his head, barely noticeable, in the direction of the forest.
She follows him as he walks stiffly into the woods, leading her out of the other's hearing range. Finally, he stops and turns to her.
At first, neither of them says anything, but their gazes are heavy with emotions. Sadness, relief, confusion, and the lost hope that comes with the finality of the situation. He is Messenger. The apocalypse is over. Their journey together has come to an end.
"Guess it's time to say goodbye," Penryn croaks, clearing her throat and wishing her voice didn't shake so damn much. "For real this time."
Raffe steps closer to her, close enough that she feels the heat radiating off of him, but he doesn't touch her. Penryn tries to smile, but it ends up looking like a grimace.
"This is the painful part, but I'm glad you won. You'll be a good Messenger. Especially since you won't order your people to genocide humanity. I hope. And isn't it ironic?" She smiles again, and this time it actually hurts to say the words. "All this time we couldn't be together because of your world's rules, and now that those rules are gone, we can't be together because you won't be here anymore.
He reaches up and cups her face, tilting back her head to press his forehead against hers. "If it wouldn't throw my entire race into anarchy and doom your planet, I'd give it all up and stay with you. I would." He sounds almost desperate, his eyes closed tightly as if he doesn't want her to read the emotions in them.
She closes her eyes and lets their breaths mingle between them, concentrating on the feeling of his forehead against hers. Neither of them knows how much time has passed, when they pull their heads back, though Raffe's hands don't release her face.
"Don't forget me," she says half-jokingly, though there is much truth in her words. He's ancient. Infinite. How long will it take for him to forget that little daughter of man that travelled with him for a few weeks.
A sound issues from Raffe's throat, something between a croak and a strangled sob.
"I will never forget you. I will never stop thinking about you." His eyes roam her face, savoring every detail, the way her hair flutters in the wind, her dark eyes against her pale skin, lips red from biting. It hurts to look at her, she's that beautiful. She is right for him, he knows it. Knows that he has to turn his back on the one thing that ever made him genuinely happy.
"You are the best thing that ever happened to me, Penryn Young." He whispers and then leans down and kisses her. He pulls her against him and holds her close while their lips move against each other, dancing a slow, mournful goodbye. They stand like that for a long time, gripping each other tightly in the dark wood, for the last time feeling like they're the only ones in the world. They both allow themselves to believe it for one minute longer, but reality catches up with them eventually.
Raffe pulls back and their last kiss is over. There are so many things unsaid between them, but neither of them speaks. There's nothing they can say to make this any easier.
Raffe turns and walks away, out of the forest, to the edge of the tree where he'll follow his brothers back home. This legion is the last one to go. It's over.
Penryn stays on her spot and watches him until his dark form has disappeared between the trees. The warmth of his body slowly fades, and there's no way to bring it back. It's over.
Finals are coming, folks, and it's not pretty. I just wrote this down as it popped into my head, to get some creative relief and because I didn't want to keep you waiting. I will of course still continue Black Night, White Light, in fact I've been almost finished with the next chappie for a long time, but well, you know how much I despise editing. Since these will be drabbles and fragments, not so much editing, so it's quite relaxing and fun to just sit and write and post. I hope you enjoyed, please don't be a ghostwriter and review.
-K.