Otabek, in his Phoenix form with the plumage the color of sunset flew during the day, with Yura on his back. The journey to the south by conventional methods could take a month on horseback. But allied with the most powerful shapeshifter of the Kingdom, Otabek told Yura he could get him there in two weeks.
Yura's father had many names: the White Tiger of the South, the Pirate, Loki the Rogue. Yura's grandfather told him that before his parents met, his father was an infamous womanizer hunted by demon and mage females alike. But ever since he met Yura's mother, that name perished. According to Celestino and Mari, the final sword was last seen in the South. Loki had his troupe of followers fleets. He was not a self proclaimed king or anything, but not even the capital dared to touch him. For years there were little contact between Loki and the demons. Yura knew little about his real father, other than that he took the Halflings that belonged to neither the world of mages nor the demons under his wings. Halflings like himself.
They landed by a lake without a visible edge. The wind from early September with a hint of coolness swayed the cattail in ripples.
"This is it...the nearest sacred lake we are going to come cross for a while...You ready?" Otabek watched Yura removed the string of dark beads from his wrist, prevented him from changing to the white tiger spontaneously. When the powers of a shapeshifter awaken at first, they could be unstable or become stuck in their halfway form.
Yura nodded as he took a deep breath, he avoided Otabek's gaze as he recalled waking up after being stuck in his halfway form in the Otabek's arms in the middle of a lake.
"Here, for reference," with a snapping sound, Otabek changed into a white tiger with forest green eyes.
Yura's marvelled at the Universal before him. He closed his eyes and searched deep within himself. He clasped his forehead from the throbbing headache, which was a normal part for the shapeshifter's awakening. He pushed past the reins of time within his mind. Those colourful threads were familiar, within his grasp. He was trained by the Nikiforov family as a mage to become the master of time, many called him a prodigy, but becoming a shapeshifter felt foreign. His eyes opened like slits to let enough light through to see Otabek before him in his own form, beautiful, fierce, majestic.
Beads of perspiration rolled of his forehead from concentration. Beka, I'll make you proud. He dug deeper inside himself, opened up a part that he never knew. Suddenly, searing pain erupted from all of the pores of his body. Change was painful. This was the reason when demons' powers were about to awaken during their teenage years they journeyed toward the sacred lakes. The water dulled that pain. Yura felt safe, because Otabek was right there next to him. I must master the transformation, he bit his lip, because that was the fastest way to prove to Loki who he was. He didn't have any time to waste, he was already labeled a traitor by the kingdom, he was walking down a path of no return. He had responsibilities. As the head of the organization his mother started, inspired by the father he never knew. He could not afford to show weakness. He was their symbol, their golden beacon of hope. Beka, don't take your eyes off me...
That's when he felt every atom of his body shift, rearrange and became unstable, as if the wind was any stronger he could be scattered into pieces. Then he heard the snapping sound resembling a striking whip cracking down.
He no longer had hands, instead, he gazed down at the white fur of his own paws decorated with black stripes. His heart leapt with joy. He ran towards the water's edge, pushing past the cattails making rustling sounds and he caught at his own reflection in the turquoise water. Otabek followed him.
He saw two white tigers side by side, reflected by the crystalline water, one slightly larger than the other. I did it...
Otabek nuzzled his neck.
Yura was glad he couldn't blush in this form, he closed his eyes and edged closer.
Then to his surprise Otabek licked his face with affection. His tiger heart raced and thumped against his muscular chest. He wasn't sure what that meant, in the shapeshifter world.
Then he turned to tackle the larger tiger next to him playfully. Otabek was taken by surprise as he took one step back and charged at him. They wrestled in their tiger form until Yura was ready to surrender being pinned onto the ground with his paws in the air and his belly exposed.
"Fine, you win," changing back to his human form was much easier. He laughed as Otabek also changed back, and rolled over and laid next to him on the grass, still out of breaths.
"You do learn fast, Yura," Otabek wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead.
"Of course I do," Yura smirked.
"They are safe?" Victor had no doubt in his mind, since the rescue of the Order's supporters by the demons.
Yuuri grinned and nodded, "Mari and Minako are busy expanding the illusion of the demon village. Looks like we will need more houses, the members of the Order are providing the means..."
Victor smiled back. The last time they met they had to pretend to be enemies, "you got better with your sword." Pride was swelling inside him.
"You taught me well," Yuuri's hand by reflex landed around the hilt of the sword, "though I still could not beat the best swordsman in this Kingdom."
"There must be someone who could beat me Yuuri," Victor blushed and scratched his head.
"You are being humble," Yuuri pulled him close, and he paused, "Show me, I want to see your powers up close," he could feel Yuuri's comforting warmth next to him. He felt home.
Victor nodded. He opened his palm. This moment reminded him of the time when Yuuri first transformed into his beautiful demon form before him and watching his wings unfold. It was his turn. He showed Yuuri his everything.
There is always a choice...he recited Yakov's words within his mind about the magic he inherited from his mother who came from the skies. Starfire, infused it with hatred and it burns, with the opposite of hatred it heals...
Yuuri's grin widened as lightning connected from the sky to Victor's palms illuminating his silver hair.
Then Victor focused on the power in its rawest form, and grasped around it in his mind's eye. The white flame the colour of starts on his hand shrunk in size and flickered. He pictured that image of Yuuri when they first met, when Yuuri put his hand into the fire to show him that the villagers couldn't have touched him. His warm brown eyes filled with mischief, and his smile made Victor dizzy. That was the moment that changed everything.
Yuuri unfurled his fingers and reached towards it with curiosity without thinking, his lips parted slightly from amazement.
"Yuuri, wait -" Victor begun, because Yuuri was putting his hand into fire again.
Suddenly as Yuuri's fingertip skimmed by the flame the colour of starlight, he recoiled from the electric feeling that coursed through his body, similar to when his bare skin touched Victor's, his eyes widened.
"Why did you do that?" Victor frowned, silly demon, he thought.
"Curiosity...You were thinking of me, when your fire didn't burn the prisoners, weren't you?" Yuuri whispered, his crimson eyes glistened. For that briefest moment where Yuuri was connected to Victor's Starfire, he caught a glimpse of his own image that Victor conjured of when they first met.
Victor nodded, as he raised the flame on his palm higher, as thick clouds begun to gathered around them, "I always think of you."
Yuuri's lips curled up, his hands grabbed the front of Victor's grey cape, his breaths hot on Victor's lips, "Victor...make it rain." He leaned into an almost kiss and closed his eyes. With his hand he tugged on the strings that held Victor's cape together with a slow motion and watched it flutter to the ground. As he pulled at Victor's tunic, revealing a sliver of Victor's pale skin.
Around them the mid afternoon sun hid behind the darkening clouds. They choose a dry spot on top of a mountain, where the field of grass from midsummer was knee high and turning yellow from the lack of rain. They didn't want to risk ruining the farmers' crops elsewhere.
"Anything for you," Victor flashed a smile meant only for him as he uncurled his fingers and released the flame flickering like a fallen star that got lost on earth. He conjured the image of a raging storm with his mind. His Starfire flew higher and higher until it was zigzagging through the clouds and expanded into flashes of lightning followed by tumultuous thunder. They stood together in a clearing next to a forest birch and aspen.
Large raindrops begun to fall, one right on Yuuri's nose as he blinked, as he laughed. Those drops coalesced, warm from the summer clouds, and connected the sky and the earth.
Yuuri gazed at Victor with pride, as he learnt to control his magic within seven days, a task that took the ordinary years.
Victor couldn't master it before because there was no one to teach him. A wave of gratitude washed over him as he thought of Rochelle, who introduced him to Yakov, the an angel in exile.
Victor leaned down, cupped Yuuri's face with both hands and their lips met.
Victor wasn't coming home tonight, Rochelle opened the window of their room containing the bed they never shared and watched the dark clouds gathering over the capital. I hope it rains...for Victor and Yuuri's sake.
From the outsider's view, Victor and Rochelle were blissful newlyweds, that walked the courtyards hand in hand. She put on her best smile, he finest clothes and even Victor's father was convinced that their happiness was for real.
She wished sometimes she could turn off her powers that could see the angels, as every time she glanced outside she could catch glimpses of the Fallen stalking the innocent. They weaved themselves in and out of their bodies, taking over their minds for longer and longer periods of time. She wished Victor was here, so they could have a duel to distract herself from the recent events. Her stiff dress hung heavy on her body. She fumbled through the laces on the bodice and stepped out of it as a wave of relief washed over her.
She opened her closet and pulled out her fighting gear. She pulled on the form fitting pants the same colour as the earth, and her forest green overcoat. She buckled her favorite weathered leather belt that had a place for her faithful sword over her armour as thunder rumbled in the distance. She missed the North, where wingbeats of angels could be heard on top of the snow covered mountains.
She missed her friend Sara, who risked her life as an angel to steal the swords angels used to punish their own. I wonder if she was alright...she had known Sara since they were children. Rochelle's father gave up trying to keep her from running away from the castle a long time ago. She was a tomboy at heart, Sara was the opposite. Sara used to giggle as she spoke of marrying the prince of a distant land while Rochelle rolled her eyes. Sara then made fun of her back by saying 'the only man you would consider marrying is the one who could defeat you in a sword fight'. She missed Sara, even when she rambled on about her overprotective twin brother following her like a shadow.
Rochelle's lips curled up a little as she broke into a sad smile from the irony that she was arranged to marry Victor. Was Fate mocking me? Perhaps. She proposed the tournament where knights from all of the kingdom fought each other for the honour of challenging her for her hand in marriage. She knew nothing would come of it because her skill was unparalleled. She knew there would not be a winner before it begun, because she didn't want to be married. Her training, her lithe form took years of training, blood, sweat, and tears. That tournament though did bring her kingdom prosperity, and some knights sworn allegiance to her father.
After she married Victor, she challenged him to a duel that took much longer than she anticipated. She remembered his soft smile as he lowered his sword and called for truce. She knew, though similar in skills, he had more stamina, and that if they kept on going he would have won. But instead of defeating her, he called it a tie with grace.
In theory, Victor was everything she ever wanted. Both of them knew beforehand, given who they were, the son of the most prominent mage family and the princess of the Northern Kingdom, their future wasn't up to them. The one question that she had been suppressing and avoided with desperation flashed through her mind. Could she learn to love Victor if she tried?
The answer was the one she was afraid of.
She shook those forbidden thoughts out of her mind. She sworn to stand by him, as his friend. She sworn to wait for the person who only had eyes for her. She supported him full heartedly, she wanted him to be happy with Yuuri. She didn't want to admit it, but that was the bravest thing she had ever done.
Then wingbeats interrupted her thoughts followed by tapping on the closed wooden doors leading to the balcony. Her pulses accelerated, I hope it's Sara. She pulled onto the metal rings with elaborate engraving on it and a pair of violet eyes the same shade as her childhood friend's caught hers by surprise, "Michele..."
"Hi, Rochelle," he folded his wings behind his back, he wore the same simple white shifts that the angels wore, laced with golden embroidery around the edges.
She took a step back as large raindrops splattered onto the white stone lining the sill of the balcony, "come in."
With soundless steps he followed her.
"Is Sara alright?" Her voice anxious, as Sara stole the Sacred Sword from the elders. Thousand of questions flashed through her mind, of the reason Sara didn't come today.
"They didn't even notice," Michele shook his head, "the Elders wanted nothing to do with the war, with the mages and demons, those ignorant fools..." He observed the relief washing over Rochelle from her body language, "Sara's laying low these days, just in case."
"I'm glad," Rochelle's lips curled up. She heard Sara ramble about her brother, of how he always 'rescued' her when the other angels picked on her when they were children, even when she didn't need him to. This was the second time she met him in person. The resemblance between him and her best friend was uncanny. They had the same olive complexion, violet eyes and even his expression reminded her of Sara, "what brought you here today Michele?"
She sat by the window and watched the storm outside. The white walls of the castle was coated with an enchantment that the rain would not dampen the inside despite the window being wide open. She propped her elbow on the windowsill, her eyes distant.
"Sara was worried about you...she sent me," Michele ruffled the feathers on his wings, before he sat on the chair across from her.
"I am alright," she lied, avoiding his gaze.
"Where did Victor go?" a few stray feathers zigzagged through the air and landed onto the intricate carpet on the ground weaved in violet and gold with the print of the Nikiforov family crest of the white wolf at the center.
Rochelle shrugged, "he's...been through a lot over the past few weeks..." Lightning flashed through the darkening sky, illuminating her profile, there was a glimmer in her golden eyes.
Michele's violet gaze hardened, "Sara told me to 'kick his ass' if he mistreated or ignored you," his brows narrowed, "...he has someone else, doesn't he?"
Rochelle forced a laugh, a wave of warmth washed over her thoughts of her best friend followed by surprise. Am I...that transparent? She turned away from him, eyes locked on the lightning in the distance.
She didn't see any point of lying to him, she nodded, "it's...complicated Michele." Warmth twirled around her eyes before she realized it. I knew from the beginning that Victor loved his demon prince, and that this marriage was only by name, and that I only...wanted to be with someone who only had the eyes for me...and that Victor and I promised to set each other free after the end of the war...but why...why does it hurt so much...
Rochelle gripped the place where her heart was as she stood up and opened the double doors of her balcony and walked straight into the storm. She couldn't stand other people seeing her cry, so the rain was her perfect escape. She closed her eyes and welcomed those cold drops falling from the sky.
She finally admitted to herself: She fell in love with Victor.
How could she not? He was the perfect knight, he could defeat her in a fight, but he didn't in her honour. He promised her that he'd never touch her or do anything that she didn't want to do, and that he would set her free after the war is over. Victor would sacrifice everything to restore peace.
It was ridiculous, irrational, a thought that she would never act upon.
"You are crying..." Michele saw right through her.
Rochelle shook her head, "I am not...you are wrong, it was...all just rain..."
Suddenly the wet splashes on her cheeks stopped as she turned towards the angel before her, wings spread wide, shielding her from the rain. She could hear the splattering sound against his feathers.
She looked up, his face gentle.
"Rochelle...Sara sent me here to take care of you. She knew you spent your whole life looking out for others...you are noble, unselfish, Sara said you need someone to look out for you too..." distant lightning reflected in his violet eyes, "she told me that you used to go to the battlefields afterwards and you sang to the demons their song before they were gone...so they'd not be alone when they died. Sorry, I am rambling...but tell me what I can do to make you happy..."
Rochelle sniffled once, "I'm sorry, this is so stupid, and embarrassing..."
Michele shook his head.
"I...could use a good sparring session with sword right now," Rochelle wiped her face with a handkerchief.
"Okay, my sister told me about your skills," Michele's wings were still over her head, protecting her, creating a small world where only the two of them belonged, "but I know a thing or two myself."
Rochelle stepped inside and picked up her sword, she felt alive again from its comforting grip and familiar weight.
Michele took a few steps across the room, without thinking he grasped the handle of the sword Sara stole from the Elders, the same one with the onyx at the handle, the same one that was used to cut off the wings of angels that rebelled. Rochelle wondered if it was stained with Yakov's blood when he was exiled for his research in poison once upon a time.
Then white light erupted from the blade, outshining the dim glow of the dying day as soon as Michele touched it. Runes on the naked parts of the metal moved as the sword awoken at the hands of its destined Master.
Rochelle's jaw dropped as they stared at each other in disbelief. One from the Skies stained with Angel's blood...Rochelle recited the prophecy within her mind.
And Michele was its Master.
Maybe Fate was screwing with me...if I loved Victor any less, if Sara didn't happen to notice, Michele wouldn't be here...Victor, I am still glad that we met. I would never tell you how I feel. This is my selfish secret...I want you to be happy. Rochelle clenched her fist, tight.
Their wet hair mangled together, silver on black as their kisses deepened.
Victor's rain was different.
Warmer, gentler, each drop that touched Yuuri sent a small electric wave of pleasure through him.
Victor snaked his arm through his dark tunic and pulled Yuuri's body flush to his own as explored Yuuri's mouth with his tongue. Never breaking their kiss, Yuuri moaned as Victor slid hand down from his lower back.
Victor felt Yuuri inhale sharply as air was stole from his lungs. He lifted Yuuri's shirt from both sides, breaking their kiss for the briefest moment to pull it over his head. His lips moved down, to the sensitive spot on Yuuri's throat, his nipples, then he sank onto one knee.
Yuuri shivered in response as Victor's lips slid around him, he ran his hand through Victor's silver locks. The soft rain continued around them, quenching the thirst of the grass field below. They knew being close like this was the same as playing with fire. They didn't give a damn.
"Victor..." between panting, "slow down, or else I will...The waves of pleasure was so intense that, Yuuri struggled with his words.
Victor gazed up at him from his knees and licked his lips.
Yuuri stroke his face and planted both hands on Victor's shoulders and pinned him to the ground. The soft knee high grass broke their fall. With trembling hands, Victor's buttons came undone, Yuuri ran his hands over Victor's muscular chest next to the wild beats of his heart. Yuuri straddled him with his legs, their bare skin pressing together. He could feel Victor's react to their closeness against his stomach.
Victor found himself on his back, he clasped his lips with one of his hands to keep himself from screaming while Yuuri's tongue explored his body, in some of the most forbidden places. He grasped a handful of grass with his other hand as he arched his back,"Fuck...Yuuri..."
Yuuri kissed his inner thigh and flashed a mischievous smile.
Yuuri propped himself up with his arms as he watched Victor come undone before him, his crimson eyes bright.
"Yuuri," Victor nibbled on his ear, "do you want to or do you want me to -"
Yuuri pulled back, "you."
Victor nodded as he begun with his fingers.
Yuuri clawed at his shoulders as Victor found his spot.
Victor was his first and only. The only one he knew.
Night begun to fall, thick clouds still blanketed the sky. Yuuri lowered himself onto Victor's two fingers, a bit faster this time, as if the world was ending and that they were fighting for time.
The didn't know how much time passed.
"Victor, I am ready," Yuuri whispered between kisses.
"Are you sure? We haven't...done this for some time," Victor ran his spare hand down the outline of Yuuri's face, drenched by his rain, "it'd be like...our first time." They weren't sure when they started switching places, nor they cared, "tell me if I am hurting you...and I'll stop."
Yuuri's lips locked around Victor's chest, as he left his mark, his vermillion eyes met Victor's blue-green irises as he leaned closer until their lips were once again millimetres apart, "I don't care if it hurts, it'll make me remember you when you are gone tomorrow."
"Yuuri..." Victor closed the distance between them and bit Yuuri's bottom lip, "some day, I won't have to leave."
Yuuri repositioned himself on his knees and lowered himself onto Victor, whose pupils dilated with pleasure. Yuuri clawed the back of his shoulders as his hips rocked back and forth.
Victor gave him complete control. At this moment he forgot who he was, and that their love was so wrong that the earth and the sky protested.
Yuuri sped up and straddled Victor with his legs as he surrendered handing the control back to Victor. The last of the daylight illuminated the blush on his face, as he made little noises from the sweet rapture that drove Victor wild.
They melted into each other, under the cover of Victor's rain. With one final thrust Yuuri felt the new warmness as Victor let go.
He did too shortly thereafter onto Victor's sculpted chest. Yuuri blushed as he tried to wipe the mess he made on Victor with his hand before the rain washed it away. But then Victor grabbed his hand and licked it from his fingers, making him gasp a little.
Every hair stood on Yuuri's body from the sensation of Victor's tongue. He fingered at his own Firestone, hung from the chain around Victor's neck and smiled, "what if...someday we could live in a faraway place, with just you and I. Away from the capital, away from everything." Yuuri laid next to him on the grass and rested his head on Victor's chest.
Victor ran his fingers through Yuuri's hair, "I believe that day will come Yuuri...because I believe in you."
Yuuri closed his eyes, around them the raindrops were softly falling, "I believe in us."
They almost fell asleep, naked and tangled in each other, just us when they first met. Except back then Victor had long hair and that their skin didn't burn.
The raindrops were slowing down, with one longing sigh Yuuri propped himself up, knowing when the rain stopped their skin would burn again. Their clothes laid rumpled in a forgotten pile next to them.
With this palm he connected his demon powers and started a fire with the touch of his fingers.
They let go of the concept of time, the clouds parted revealing a full moon and millions of stars, since they were far away from the city. Yuuri found sticks to prop their clothes on to dry. The forest filled with the sounds of life, crickets and frogs chirped, some close, others distant.
Victor loved the way Yuuri's eyes lit up when he was searching for something, both of them still half naked while waiting for their clothes to dry, Yuuri's eyes was transfixed on the small green spots of light beginning to flicker in the forest around them.
Yuuri reached out toward the nearest firefly that landed on his finger.
A smile crept up on Victor's face, of course, Yuuri was once upon a time the boy loved by demons. He remembered the goblins the ferocious, gentle creatures alike that bowed at Yuuri's feet. How could someone look like that? Victor wondered. So at peace, in this ugly world where the renegade angels feasted on death and decay. How could someone be so...untainted by the darkness.
Then the realization came.
He remembered the words of his father's letter about the master of the third sword, 'to be wielded by a demon untainted by hate.'
The beautiful answer stood right before his eyes.
Author's Notes:
You know those side characters that you love but know from the beginning that they are going to end up being the friend at the end? For instance: Ari from pilot's love song, and Izana from Knights of Sidonia, and I am guessing Rem too though I haven't finished Re:Zero.
I wanted a character like those to find happiness, hence I wrote Rochelle's arc. I also wanted to write about letting go of things that weren't meant to be. I think we have all been there at some point in real life. When one door closes, another window opens...
Let me know if you enjoyed this chapter! I appreciate every comment.
xoxo
Antares
Re: reviews:
Cuckooo: Mila doesn't need to help Chris activate it, she could not leave his side, that is all. The Order is huge, with their network of nobles that didn't believe in the war so they didn't know Victor. Also Victor could not openly rebel against the Capital at this point, because Lilith could easily take the young mages training under their family hostage. He is waiting for them to return to their families in September before he could act. Thanks so much for your support, as always!
MissMJS: I love Chris, he is my favourite character in this story, next to Yuuri. Thanks! Hope you enjoy this one.
Empress Tatiana: here you go, hope you enjoyed it! And thank you!
