A/N: In this chapter I tried to portrait Bhunivelze the most accurately I could think about. Given the differences from both versions of LR: FFXIII, I hope it isn't excessively confusing.

Wings of Light

| I |

God

The days went by. Almost a month, in fact. The angel wasn't used to tell time in days, not even months or years. Those were concepts too fleeting for a being who had to witness the course of whole centuries.

But during that month he had hardly done anything but look at the image of that rose-haired young woman of icy eyes. He watched her over and over, his eyes bright and his breath caught. He didn't know who she was, or where she was going, or where she lived. All he knew was he couldn't stop looking at her.

At first he just wanted to observe her, and so satisfy his curiosity –which ended up developing into need– about her. But, obviously, the magic sphere only showed him images that were almost impossible to decipher without the context of words.

Over the past two weeks he had begun to consider the possibility to meet her in person. It was a thought that scared him greatly at first: he would be disobeying the direct orders from God to stay in the Ark. However, the idea had only become more and more urgent.

He felt confused; his until that moment impartial objectivity had turned upside down. He was supposed to watch over all of humanity, not being so obsessed with a single human.

In the end, he made a decision. If his job was to watch over the world and that circumstance wouldn't let him, perhaps he should fix it to move on and leave behind the image of the young woman.

The angel took a deep breath before crossing the threshold to Cosmogenesis, Bhunivelze's realm. It had been a long time since the last time he had been in his master's presence. Whenever he had, it was because God had wanted to. He had never gone there willingly before.

He closed his eyes and went through the gate. He felt how the light enveloped him, and when he opened them again, he found himself in a strange dark place, on a winding path made of huge tiles in the shape of suns and moons, topped by a gigantic golden crest against which the shadowy figure of God, shrouded in darkness as if he were the sun in an eclipse, stood, his two pairs of wings spread and majestic.

The angel walked slowly toward the god. He tried to pretend his usual calm and impassivity, but the truth was he felt nervous. He wondered if Bhunivelze knew, being almighty and omniscient as he was.

He knelt in front of God while folding his wings as the protocol required when bowing to his master.

"Master", the angel murmured, lowering his head in submission.

Why have you come, my servant?, an imperious voice resounded in the depths of his very essence. They weren't words as such, but sensations that formed concepts. Bhunivelze couldn't speak, but like all divine beings, he could communicate concepts directly with the core of all living things, which were translated into coherent sentences in the process.

He bit his lip in his uncertainty. Bhunivelze never moved nor he could see how he looked behind the cloak of darkness that surrounded him, but he felt that God was intrigued by his unexpected visit. And maybe, he was even somewhat annoyed.

"I am sorry to bother you, master. I have come to make you a humble request."

Bhunivelze took a long time to answer. The angel knew that if anything he would've expected him to bring troubling news from Nova Chrysalia, but never a request on his part. He himself was aware of how grave his daring was.

But despite this, he had to. He was willing to beg his master for letting him know that young woman in person.

A request?, God repeated. There was a tinge of irritation in his voice, as the angel had feared. What kind of request?

The angel frowned, not looking up. He couldn't tell him his true motivation, of course. He hadn't admitted it yet to himself, he knew too well it was inconceivable. So he sought a more objective reason that could convince God.

"My job is to watch over humans", he replied warily. "To notice when and how they can endanger the world you protect. But if I don't know how they think and feel, I cannot anticipate the disasters their whims could cause."

Bhunivelze said nothing. The angel guessed he was weighing his words.

"Being my purpose to serve you with the greatest perfection, maybe I could learn more about humanity if I descended to the surface of Nova Chrysalia, master. I could observe firsthand how they think, how they act, how they feel–"

No, Bhunivelze's voice cut him off. The angel winced: the hardness of his tone caught him by surprise. God cannot give his approval to such request.

He took a moment to recover from the shock. He had never before sensed so much annoyance from God. In other circumstances, having gotten such a flat refusal, he would have admitted his answer without a single reply and he would have silently left.

But something inside him rebelled when he took in that answer meant he would never meet the young rose-haired human.

"I beg you to forgive my boldness, master…", the angel said, choosing his words carefully. "Why not? My sole purpose is to take care of the world, and without knowing the true nature of humans, I cannot perform my task with optimal efficiency–"

I understand you reasons, my servant, Bhunivelze spoke sternly, interrupting him again. But God cannot grant you what you demand. You cannot walk among humans. Such circumstance would cause your downfall.

The angel repressed the urge to look up at the dark figure of God. His downfall? He knew humans weren't legit, but he was a divine being, and as such he was above them.

In human nature darkness dwells. It makes them become chaotic, violent and unpredictable. They are dangerous even to themselves. They are chained to the whims of such darkness. We are creatures of pure, radiant, divine light, and as such we cannot walk among them, for that fact would cause us to lose the freedom we cherish.

Bhunivelze paused and the angel squinted dubiously. He knew his master had great reasons to forbidding him to leave, but still…

Your duty is to watch over humans while staying away from them. As if he wanted to settle the question, God spoke with particular severity. You are an angel, a being of pure light, free from all stain, I arranged it thus. You must not expose yourself to the darkness of human hearts. Within the Ark you are safe from their selfish desires. If you want to serve God well, you shall remain pure and radiant, and such gift would be robbed from you if you merge with humans.

The angel pursed his lips. He wanted to reply, but he didn't know how. He had never replied to his master before, and he didn't quite understand why he felt the need to do so.

But then he remembered the blue eyes of the young woman, and something inside him wanted to rebel against God's prohibition.

"But, master–"

Enough. That was a direct order, and in that moment the scar covering his left eye burned like a red-hot iron against his skin. The angel stifled a gasp and ruffled the feathers of his wings briefly before folding them submissively: the reminder that he was a servant of God, and that he wasn't allowed to retort. God has already answered your request. This audience is over. Now return to the Ark and continue your transcendent duties as you are commanded to do.

The angel, who had taken a hand to the scar, couldn't reply. An intense golden light emanated from Bhunivelze's shadowy body, completely blinding him and draining his forces away. He felt as if he were driven by a strong wind.

When he opened his eyes, he was lying on the floor of the Ark, facing the magic sphere, his brand of servitude still giving him painful twinges.

He sat up slowly, using his wings for balance. He moved to the sphere, and reached for it to summon the image of the young woman. He stared at her for a long time, feeling insecure and fascinated at the same time.

He knew humans were dangerous. He had been watching them for centuries. And he knew how dangerous was to challenge the will of his master.

But now, as he spread his fingers cautiously toward the face of the woman, he decided to take the risk.

"I want to find out for myself. I need to know who you are."