Hello and welcome! For this particular fandom this is only my second fanfic and I usually stick with oneshots, but then I had an idea that I just couldn't pass up. This entire fic is going to be one big love note to another famous story of star-crossed lovers, and if you've heard that story you should be able to recognize it by the end of this short chapter. I promise future installments will be less stuffy too, it just felt right for the set-up.

Canonically speaking I get the feeling the White City would just say NO and throw Abaddon out without bothering to cleave to their 'word,' but that doesn't exactly make a good story so bear with me here. Naturally, this takes place before the games proper. I promise there will be Horsemen.

Prologue

Abaddon came before the lawgivers of Heaven with a mask of determination set upon his brow, and before he spoke they knew this would be a trying session.

"Comrades!" he began, calling out with a booming voice. "I gather you here today to speak of a subject which has brought joy and sorrow in equal measure to our White City."

"Joy and sorrow have never been our concern," one said from above, but Abaddon ignored them.

"Long have I contented myself with solitude and the easy camaraderie between comrades-in-arms, but no longer. I wish to wed Uriel, lieutenant-general of the Hellguard, and humbly as your leave to do so."

The reaction was immediate, and expected.

"Humbly indeed! You know well and good our answer."

"Uriel is my right hand," Abaddon said. "She would inherit the leadership of the Hellguard upon my death, and it is not a crime to love one so close in rank to yourself."

"Unless it was you who gave that rank in the first place," he was reminded. "If she had come into her post through the death of her predecessor there would be no concern, but you were the one who promoted her."

"And I would again! Even if I knew then what she would become to me. She is far and away the best of the Hellguard," Abaddon argued, "and it would have been foolish and unlawful to withhold from her the position she deserves because of my feelings."

"It certainly would have," another angel agreed. "Just as it would be unlawful to pursue her now, in defiance of our laws."

"Am I not the greatest warrior this realm has ever known?!" Abaddon cried. "Have I not served the law faithfully, and—"

He was interrupted. "Enough!" A red-haired angel shook his head. "A creature of duty you are, and a creature of duty you shall remain. The law is clear, Abaddon, and the day we break it for you will be the day you return with a jewel from the crown of the Dark Prince in your hand."

Below them, Abaddon grinned.