A/N: Once again I am guilty of using material given to me by my friends. This is based off a role play my friend Elisabeth and I did after taking a Saint Seiya personality test (she got Deathmask, I got Aphrodite). Deathmask is hard to do, so any help I had, even insane help, was embraced and utilized. Yes, I know this one is very late. My schedule has been absolutely chaotic, I had to finish two challenge fics I was given before I got to this one, and to top it all off, I got sick again. The next one will be on time, I promise. It's already been typed up. Anyhow, that's enough of my rambling. Enjoy the super-late update.
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Angelo of Cancer-better known as Deathmask-was one of the few saints who actually looked forward to his birthdays. He'd even gone as far as to nickname June 24th as "Death Day" to show the day belonged to him. Never mind that his birthday was the only day during the year he would not kill anyone. His birthdays were usually spent in the company of his best friend, Aphrodite, and were often the weirdest nights in his life. Yet out of all his birthdays, it was his twenty-second one that stuck out most in his mind...
Deathmask stepped out of his bathroom wearing fresh jeans. He wasn't wearing a shirt as his hair was still dripping from his shower. He smiled to himself-his plan was to get drunk off his ass then let the Pisces saint drag him back to Sanctuary, half passed out and spluttering like a buffoon. Aphrodite owed him that much, since he still hadn't paid him back for a night three years earlier, when he'd gotten so drunk Deathmask had actually had to carry him back to the Sanctuary. Carrying Aphrodite had not been the bad part-the bad part had been dealing with the young men who believed Aphrodite to be a woman. Yup. Aphrodite still owed him a favor.
"Ah, hello, Angelo", Aphrodite greeted him cheerfully as he stepped into Cancer Temple's main hallway.
Deathmask glared at his considerably smaller friend.
"Stop putting makeup on my walls, you cross-dresser!"
"Ok", Aphrodite replied.
"Or my floors-or my ceilings. Leave the faces in my temple alone"
Aphrodite pouted purple-lipsticked lips.
"You're no fun. I was just trying to make your death masks look pretty. Why hang up faces and call yourself "Deathmask" if you don't want to enhance the beauty of your masks?"
Deathmask rolled his eyes.
"They're not supposed to be pretty. They're horrifying and grotesque."
It was Aphrodite's turn to roll his eyes.
"Listen", Deathmask added. "You kill people and put their faces on your walls and you can make them as "pretty" as you want."
"Ew", Aphrodite said, disgust marring his lovely features. "That would look beyond tacky."
Deathmask feigned a hurt look.
"My faces are not "tacky". They're very stylish. Very "new wave" and hip."
Aphrodite snorted and drew a compact from his pocket, probably to check his mascara.
"Whatever you say, Angelo."
Deathmask made to grab the compact out of Aphrodite's hands, but his friend pulled back. The result was the compact flying from both their hands. It went skidding across the floor into the open mouth of one of Deathmask's many faces.
Deathmask laughed uproariously as Aphrodite knelt down and poked two long, thin fingers into the face's mouth, trying to fish out his compact. He was shaking. He finally decided the mirror was not worth it and backed away.
Deathmask, still laughing hysterically, knelt down and pulled the compact from the face's mouth. He plunked it into Aphrodite's delicate-looking hands.
"Yeah, keep laughing, Angelo. How would you like it if I told all the younger saints your real name is Angelo?"
"Bitch", Deathmask muttered, though his laughter stopped at once. "Bastard", he added. "Both apply. But I still get the last laugh. That guy had gingivitis."
Aphrodite dropped the compact on the floor with a squeak and dashed into the bathroom. Deathmask heard the sound of water running.
"I'll be in the kitchen if you need me", he called. He picked up the compact and brought that with him. It made a very satisfying noise when he tossed it into his metal trashcan.
Aphrodite returned a few moments later, his hands looking burned.
"Welcome back", Deathmask said as he rummaged through his kitchen drawers.
"Why do you have to be so creepy?", Aphrodite asked him.
"Excuse me. You have no right to call me creepy. I am not the man with a face so pretty I make super models want to commit suicide because their looks are inferior to mine."
"Well, forgive me for looking like my mother!", Aphrodite huffed, practically throwing his body into one of Deathmask's kitchen chairs.
"Apology accepted", Deathmask said.
He continued to rummage through the kitchen drawers until he found what he was looking for-a large, very sharp kitchen knife. He ran his hand over the surface and then placed the blade on the counter.
"Did you just cut yourself!?", Aphrodite demanded.
"Cut is such a strong word. I like knicked better. I knicked myself."
"You're bleeding too hard for a knick."
Deathmask waved his bloody hand.
"It's fine", he said. "I'm making burgers. Do you want one?"
"Umm...I'll pass", Aphrodite replied.
"Suit yourself", Deathmask said. He worked for a few moments in silence then-
"Did you know if you if you make a clean slice the blood flows more evenly than if you used a hacking motion?"
"Umm...no...", Aphrodite replied in a small voice.
"Oh. Good thing to know, I guess."
Aphrodite gasped.
"Umm...Angelo. No. Never mind..."
Deathmask pushed down on one of the burgers.
"Don't call me Angelo...call me Deathmask...or Master Death...or D-Man. Yes. D-Man..."
"What are those things made of!?", Aphrodite demanded. "It just moaned in pain."
"Umm...beef?", Deathmask replied.
"I tell you, that meat is looking at me..."
Deathmask looked back at his friend and saw confusion etched all over Aphrodite's lovely features.
"So? Maybe it likes you. You are very pretty."
Aphrodite jumped up, knocking his chair over in the process. He was too freaked out to even notice Deathmask had paid him a compliment.
"How can beef think someone is pretty!?"
"Ohh...", Deathmask said slowly. "Did I say beef? I meant human flesh. It's a common mistake."
Aphrodite made a gagging noise in his throat.
"Yeah", Deathmask continued, as though it was the most normal thing in the world. "You know, you kill someone, put their face on your wall, and use their flesh for sustenance..."
He trailed off as Aphrodite clamped his hands over his mouth and darted towards the bathroom.
"Hey! I was just kidding!", Deathmask called after him, laughing hysterically.
Aphrodite stalked out of the bathroom, his face paper-white. He scowled at Deathmask, a look that might have been intimidating if it hadn't been coming from a man who was pale, trembling, and wearing purple lipstick.
Deathmask's grin only grew wider.
"I pulled that same prank on Aiolia when they came back drunk on Milo's birthday in November-of course I didn't let the little lion know it was a joke. I do believe he is still freaked out at me. He runs through here so fast I don't have time to say hi to him. Not that I want to say hi to him."
Aphrodite gave a shaky laugh. He didn't bother to point out that the "little lion" was almost as tall as Deathmask and probably weighed more.
"Well, gee, I wonder why", he replied. "You fooled your own best friend into thinking you eat human flesh. Forget about what the man you hate must think."
"Listen to you. "The man you hate". You say it like Aiolia doesn't hate me back."
"I don't think he does. He's just angry with you because you kicked Lithos. And then she left Sanctuary and you never apologized to her for kicking her!"
Deathmask shrugged his shoulders.
"Why would I apologize to her? She's the one who needed to be put back in her place."
Aphrodite rolled his eyes.
Deathmask stared at his friend.
"You're not going soft on me, are you, Dite?"
"No, it's just-" Aphrodite trailed off as an acrid scent reached his nostrils. "Angelo, I think your meat is burning."
Deathmask raced towards the kitchen, nearly knocking Aphrodite over in the process. He swore loudly and violently at the flames rising from the pan. The meat was scorched beyond recognition. There was no way he could eat it now. He sighed and tossed the charred flesh into his trash can.
"Guess we can head out now", he said.
Aphrodite nodded. They exited Cancer temple and were on their way to Gemini. Aphrodite suddenly realized he'd forgotten his wallet.
Deathmask sighed.
"Let's go get it, then."
They turned around and headed towards Pisces temple.
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"Good God, Aphrodite! You could choke half of Japan with this aromatherapy shit!", Deathmask cried as rose-scented incense hit his nose.
"Good thing we're in Greece", Aphrodite replied, but he none-the-less put out the flames in his various burners. The scent subsided.
"I can breathe! Thank that evil bastard pope-because the day I thank Athena is the day her face adorns my wall-and I will be thanking her for covering up that unsightly spot in the foyer."
Aphrodite didn't laugh. The look on his face was dark.
"You should watch what you say, Angelo", he said in a soft voice. "What if Shura were to hear you? Or any of the younger saints? People are already starting to get suspicious of the Pope."
Deathmask chuckled.
"You worry too much, Aphrodite"
"I don't want you taking me down with you because you can't keep your mouth shut", Aphrodite replied.
Deathmask decided it was time to change the subject. despite his feminine appearance, Aphrodite was actually very strong, and he didn't want to fight with his best friend at the moment. His eyes fell on a box of chocolates on Aphrodite's kitchen table.
"Going on a date?", he asked.
"What?", Aphrodite asked, shoving his wallet in his pocket. "Oh, those. No. Someone gave those to me in town earlier. I think he thought I was a girl."
"Hey, there's a note in here", Deathmask said through a mouth full of chocolate. "Let's see if this works..."
He fished a cellphone out of his pocket.
Aphrodite gave him a questioning look.
"I found this in town a few days ago...", Deathmask explained as he punched in the number. "It's probably been turned off, but it's worth a try...Oh. It's ringing."
"Hello?", a male voice picked up on the other end. Deathmask couldn't stop himself from grinning.
"Hi, uh-Gus...", Deathmask said slowly. "My name's Angelo. I was calling about that...eh, pretty girl you gave those chocolates to..."
Deathmask could practically hear the color draining from the young man's face as he asked if Deathmask was the girl's boyfriend.
"Well, about that", Deathmask continued. "This may disappoint you, but he only dates girls-as much as he looks like a woman, he's not into guys, sorry...Yeah. He. He's a man. With a penis and everything-hello?"
Deathmask hung up the phone.
"I think I heard his brain break", he told Aphrodite. "I should go find him and take his face. I bet I don't have that expression yet."
Aphrodite laughed.
"Want some wine?", he offered.
Deathmask's eyes widened.
"Saying no to alcohol is never an option", he said.
Aphrodite rolled his eyes and disappeared in the kitchen. He returned carrying two glasses of wine and a bottle. He set the bottle on the table and thrust one of the glasses none-too-gently into Deathmask's hands.
Deathmask stared at the crystal glass in fascination.
"You should have been a girl", he muttered as he swallowed the glass of wine in one gulp. "That was good. Got any more?"
Aphrodite handed him the bottle.
"Be careful with that, Angelo. It may taste sweet, but it's really strong..."
Deathmask wasn't paying any mind, though he could already feel the affects of the alcohol on him. Five glasses later had him sputtering like a buffoon.
"Do you think Athena's hot?", he asked.
"WHAT!?", Aphrodite yelped, splashing blood-red wine onto the floor.
Deathmask knew he was drunk and should stop, but found he couldn't. What was that saying again? In vino veritas(1)?
"Well, if she's hot", Deathmask explained "I want to sleep with her. Sleep with her just once...and then kill her...kill her before she wakes up."
Aphrodite wrenched the wine from Deathmask's hands. Deathmask made no attempt to grab it back. He peered at Aphrodite as though seeing his best friend for the first time.
"Hey! You look like a girl!", he cried, breaking into a fit of hysterical laughter.
"Come on", Aphrodite said firmly, practically dragging the inebriated Cancer saint from his chair. "You're too drunk to go anywhere but bed."
Deathmask allowed Aphrodite to pull him to his bedroom. He felt the Pisces saint's small hands shove the center of his back. Deathmask toppled face-first into a soft white comforter.
"It's fucking girlie!", he yelled.
"Goodnight, Angelo", Aphrodite said, closing the door.
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Deathmask wasn't sure if that's when he passed out or not, but he couldn't recall anything else after Aphrodite said goodnight. He laughed.
Aphrodite frowned.
"Did you not hear a word I said? The Sanctuary is under attack. The Bronze saints are here."
"Oh, I heard you. I was just remembering my birthday-last year's birthday."
"Get out of my temple and go guard your palace."
Deathmask smirked.
"What's the matter, Dite? Afraid of a few little boys?"
Aphrodite scoffed.
"Of course not, but you can't stop them if you're in here."
"So, they'll go through my empty temple, meet Aiolia, then die-"
Aphrodite sighed.
Deathmask's smirk only grew wider.
"Oh, wait. No, they won't because say it-go on, say it."
Purple lips curved into a frown.
"Angelo..." Aphrodite's tone was warning.
"Say it", Deathmask repeated.
"Fine. You were right and Aiolia's the traitor you claimed he was all along."
"Damn straight", Deathmask said.
"Which is all the more reason for you to get out of here and go guard your palace. Aiolia pledged allegiance to Athena. He will undoubtedly be helping the Bronze saints."
"Which makes one gold saint and a hoard of children against the rest of us. Trust me. Even with Aiolia's held, they won't make it past Gemini."
"Angelo, get out of here, now."
"One more drink first?", Deathmask asked. The Cancer saint dodged the red rose that went flying at his head.
"Ok, Ok, I'm leaving"
He turned to make the walked back to his temple. He was almost down the stairs when he called back to Aphrodite. "Are you sure we can't have one more drink?"
The bottle of wine came flying out of the entrance way. He caught it easily and took a big gulp from the bottle.
He wasn't worried about the outcome of the fight. Not because he was really as confident as he pretended to be. He knew it wasn't going to be as easy as he told Aphrodite it would be. No. He, Deathmask, wasn't worried because he wasn't afraid of dying. Whatever happened, happened. He was fairly certain he wasn't going to come out of this fight alive.
That suited him just fine.
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(1) In vino veritas is an Italian saying. It means "In wine, there's truth". Anyhow, next story up is Aiolia's. It's been done for months, so it will be up on the 16th. I am almost done with Ikki's, so I am fairly certain that one will be up on time, too. Again I apologize for the delay on this one. Hope it was worth the wait.
