A/N: Diablo AU: Ana as Demon Hunter, Kamilah as Archangel Auriel
Birthday gift for Cassie, amaze gay friendo and prime enabler/co-conspirator for most Anilah AUs lmao (namely Diablo and Blade Dance and practically all of them ok) These AU worlds wouldn't have been as extensive without her.
Love u bby 3
"You are a gift, Lady Kamilah! Surely the heavens have sent you to us in our time of need."
Auriel smiled as her patient sprang up in his threadbare cot, flexing his arms and legs which had been charred black from demon fire. His farm had been one of the many to fall to the demon army marching through the outskirts of Loroven, and he had been brought to town – barely breathing – by his children. They had wept over him as he twitched in pain through the night, any hope for their father's survival dying in the darkness. But Auriel – in the guise of a human mage healer – had found them in the morning, in the corner of town where the refugees huddled together, and brought him back to full health with but a fraction of her power. Though she had to draw out the healing process on purpose – past experience had taught her that humans were suspicious creatures. Performing 'miracles' too many times in a row had earned her the ire of religious folk before, and she was thrown out of the very same village she had aided.
It pained her, the necessity of this deliberate show; how many more lives could she have saved while she was taking her time with one patient? But this act would do more good in the long run, and so Auriel performed, even if unwillingly. Sometimes, ignorance really was bliss.
She raised both hands and shook her head when the farmer's son held out a coin pouch. "No. I thank you, but I require no recompense."
"We insist, Lady Kamilah," he said, using his father's honorific for her, and pushed the pouch into her hands. "Our father's life is worth more than what we have, and I only regret that we haven't more coin to give."
'Kamilah' took a breath, and sighed softly. She took the pouch – as light as its owners looked – and opened it. Withdrawing a single silver coin, she pulled at the drawstrings and returned the pouch. "This is all I need."
"But–," he said uncertainly, and Kamilah smiled.
"Do not worry for my wellbeing, child. Your family comes first. You will need coin to feed them, no?"
The young man wavered, turning around to look at his family. He swallowed thickly and nodded. "Thank you."
Kamilah bowed her head in farewell, and rose to her feet. As she stood among the sitting refugees, a voice called out to her.
"Kamilah!"
It was Cirelle, waving at her from the healer's tent set up beside the refugee camp. Kamilah picked her way through the crowd and nodded at the town's healer when she arrived.
"Is there anything you need?"
"Yes. I need to give you this." Cirelle held up the pouch in her hand with a grin. "Those nobles in Caldeum finally coughed up the gold for us. It's not much, but I've to give you this. No, no!" Cirelle added when Kamilah started to argue. "You've taken the least gold among all of us, but you've done the most work around here. You deserve this."
"But…" Kamilah started to say, but then Cirelle looked over her shoulder with great interest. She turned around curiously, and caught sight of the demon hunter marching through the town gates, making a beeline for the mayor. Kamilah could recognise her from a mile away – but not just because she was the only demon hunter in town. The woman bore a tattoo beneath her left eye, and emanated such a dark, menacing aura that few dared approach her. The hunter had arrived in town just the day before, then mysteriously left hours later on some unspoken mission.
"Scary, isn't she?" Cirelle whispered beside her. "I've heard about demon hunters, but I've never expected them to be so…dark. This one looks like she'll cut down demons and humans alike. Passed by her yesterday, and it's almost like I could feel her hatred, you know?"
Kamilah nodded, for she did know. Even from this distance, she could feel that very hatred burning deep within the woman, and she marveled at how the hunter hadn't…suffocated under its grip. Kamilah moved forward unconsciously, with Cirelle following behind her, until they came within hearing range of the mayor and hunter's heated argument.
"They are gathering their forces to the north," the hunter growled. "And they will surely march on your town in a few days. You must send your fighters to eliminate it before they move."
"I will not send good men and women on a suicide mission," the mayor barked back. "There is no guarantee that they will attack us. We are a small town, invaluable and–"
"Do you think they care about your 'value'?" the hunter snarled. "You are humans. That is reason enough for them to kill you."
"No. What you propose is insanity, and we will have no part of this–!" He let out a squeak when the hunter grabbed his collar and yanked him forward. Kamilah could see him tremble as he met the hunter's venomous gaze.
"Then you don't deserve to live," she hissed. "But I won't allow your cowardice to doom the rest of your town." She shoved him back, and the mayor fell to the ground. He didn't even dare to look indignant at the rough handling.
"I will destroy that demon's nest myself," the hunter declared, her voice carrying over to the mayor's guards. She spun around with a sweep of her crimson cloak, stalking towards the gates while the guards looked down in shame. None of them even twitched in the hunter's direction, much less followed her.
Kamilah's gaze remained on the hunter as she approached the gates, and made a decision. She shoved the coin pouch into Cirelle's hands, telling her to 'distribute it among the refugees', and ran for the healer's tent. She picked up her single travel pack and slung it over her shoulder, then sprinted for the gates as Cirelle yelled, 'Kamilah, where are you going–!'
The hunter moved fast – it took Kamilah a while before she caught up.
"Hunter! Please wait a moment!"
She stopped dead in her tracks, whirling around in surprise. Her brows furrowed in a frown as Kamilah slowed into a jog, and reached her.
"You shouldn't be out here," the hunter said. Her voice deep and rough, tone placid – but with half her face hidden beneath the shadows of her hood, the statement might as well be a threat. "It is dangerous."
"So it is. That is why I am offering my aid. I will accompany you to the demon's nest."
Though Kamilah appeared confident – as she was – a hint of grim amusement flickered over the hunter's features. Her eyes roved up and down Kamilah, taking in her simple robes and belt pouches and pack, then said, "No."
"I assure you, I will be of help."
"No, you will not. Though you are capable of healing wounds, you aren't built to sustain them."
Beneath her human mask, Auriel felt the first twinge of indignation in her eons of existence – then amusement. How unexpected; countless insults and mockeries from the very demons of hell hadn't bothered her, yet a flyaway comment by a mortal hunter had bit right into her. Sanctuary had no end of surprises for her, it seemed.
"You will find that I am more than capable of–"
"I will not debate this. Return to town at once." The hunter turned around, sunlight glinting off the burnished metal of her armour and crossbows.
"Hunter–," Kamilah started to say, but the hunter had taken off at a run. Presumably for the demon nest.
Kamilah followed after her at a distance, opting to stay back as the hunter wished, and would only act should her aid be required. She moved under the shadows of the trees lining the wide dirt road, keeping up with the hunter easily thanks to her angelic stamina. It took the better part of an hour, before they reached a tall cliff with a cave entrance surrounded by human corpses and demonic fetishes. From where Kamilah crouched by a tree, she could smell the stink of blood and rotting flesh, and the fetid, acidic tang of demon musk. The putrid air didn't seem to deter the demon hunter, who drew her crossbows and plunged headlong into the cave.
Reaching out with her magic, Kamilah could detect no demons on the surface around the cave and surrounding cliff. So she sat under the shade of the tree, meditating as she waited for the hunter to resurface. If she did resurface.
The sun had nearly set by the time the hunter reappeared. Kamilah perked up, eyes widening when she noticed the hunter's state. She trudged out with a heavy limp, right arm hanging by her side. Her left hand clutched at a spot near her stomach, fingers slick with red. Her singed hood had fallen back from disheveled hair matted with blood and gore.
Kamilah stood quickly and ran forward. She stopped midway when a crossbow snapped up in her direction.
The hunter's eyes widened as she lowered her weapon. "I thought I told you–!" A wet cough cut off the rest of her sentence, and more blood spilled past her bloodstained lips.
Kamilah rushed over to her, holding the hunter by the shoulders. She felt the woman stiffen and wince under her touch, but didn't move away. The hunter's face was scrunched in pain, and she staggered along as Kamilah guided her into the safe cover of the forest. Her hand still gripped her crossbow tightly, knuckles white. She refused to let it go even after Kamilah helped her to sit, and the healer had to pry the weapon from her hand – which the hunter only allowed after she had set protective wards around them.
Guiding the hunter so she lay on the ground, Kamilah assessed the damage. It was much, much worse than any wound she had tended to in the past month – or even seen on dead soldiers. Lacerations, fire and acid burns, tears, slashes, and broken bones. All these would've reduced a human to desperate tears, but the hunter made no sound even as Kamilah plucked bits of claws from her flesh. With this one, Kamilah spared no expense. They were alone, and her patient was in a dire state. She poured her magic into the hunter, angelic energy mending every wound in her body and revitalising her in an instant.
The hunter stared at her, then brought her own hands up in disbelief. "How did you–?"
Kamilah waved a hand over her face, and she fell into a magically-induced sleep. Nothing would wake her until she awoke herself. Satisfied, Kamilah clipped the crossbow onto her belt, then carried the hunter on her back. She teleported to the outskirts of Loroven, then continued on foot towards the town.
She was washing her hands in a small tub when Cirelle patted her shoulder and whispered, "The hunter's looking for you."
"Oh?"
"She's outside the tent."
"I'll be there soon."
Kamilah wiped futilely at the bloodied spots on her tunic, before adjusting the belt around her waist and walking out of the tent. The hunter waited for her with hands clasped behind her back, eyes turning towards her the instant she stepped out. Kamilah looked the hunter over quickly; she appeared well-rested and less morose than the previous day. She had dispensed with the full-armoured gear, and instead wore simple leather armour over her tunic and leggings. Even without the deadly crossbows strapped to her back, she still emanated a distinctly lethal aura that made others give her a wide berth.
The hunter's demeanour didn't concern Kamilah in the slightest, however. "Good morning, hunter. I am glad to see you well," she greeted with a smile, approaching her visitor with ease.
Nodding, the hunter said, "You brought me back here."
"Yes, I did." Kamilah waited patiently as she was scrutinised by eyes reminiscent of the golden desert sands. Until then, she hadn't the chance to truly look upon the hunter's face – she had only ever seen it partially hidden under the shadow of her hood or in the dark of night. Now, as she stood under the bright morning sun, Kamilah saw that the hunter was beautiful. Like a diamond, she mused – hard and able to cut, but with an elegance to captivate any who laid eyes upon it.
"You ignored my warnings to stay in town."
"I–"
"But you have given me aid where no one else would. For that, I thank you."
Kamilah's argument died on her tongue, quietly surprised by the hunter's humility. She watched as the hunter took the coin pouch from her belt and held it out to Kamilah. Judging by the muted clink from within, it was easy to tell the pouch was heavy.
"I do not require gold, hunter. It was merely my duty to–" Again, she was caught off guard by the hunter, who thrust the pouch towards her. When she didn't raise her hands to take it, the hunter let go of the pouch, prompting Kamilah to reach up instinctively and catch it. "Hunter–"
"Good day, healer." She bowed her head, then marched off.
"Hunter! Wait–!"
Kamilah stopped after taking a few steps forward, clutching the pouch to her chest as the hunter strode up the street and turned the corner. She looked down at the weighty coin purse in her hand, and sighed.
The pouch lay untouched at the bottom of her pack for the rest of the week. Kamilah had taken a peek at its contents, and found only gold pieces inside. No silver nor copper. She felt a twinge of guilt at the sight – Kamilah had amassed a small fortune in her years as a human healer, accumulated from the little tips she had accepted from her patients. She didn't need the money, being an angel who needed neither food nor drink to survive, or even sleep. So she spent her money where it was needed most, to aid starving villages, broken families, beggars and lepers and those struggling to survive on the streets. But no matter how hard she tried, her own purse only seemed to grow heavier the longer she traveled through Sanctuary.
This gift from the hunter, she decided, shouldn't go uncompensated.
Kamilah kept her ears pricked for the entirety of the hunter's stay. In the one week she spent in town, the hunter had spoken to messengers, runners and mercenaries, always looking for signs of strife or obvious demon activity. She had her armour and weapons repaired, bought new maps, stocked up on rations, and eventually she was ready to leave town.
So it was when the hunter strode out of the town gates, that she found an unassuming healer dressed in travel gear, waiting for her with a polite smile. She slowed her pace, and came to a stop before Kamilah.
"What are you doing here?"
"I will be joining in your travels, Lady Hunter," Kamilah said simply, taking a pinch of delight in the confusion that flitted past the hunter's features.
But it didn't take long for a reply. "No."
"But I will."
"No, you will not," the hunter said imperiously – though scarcely as threatening as the archangel Imperius, Kamilah thought drily. "My work is dangerous, and I will not waste time looking out for weak stragglers."
"I trust you will not find me weak. I am a healer by trade, but I am trained as a mage as well. I will not require protection."
"No. Return to town. I am not in the mood for arguments."
As the hunter turned around, Kamilah said, "My dear hunter, I do believe you have misunderstood me." She smiled again when the hunter back whipped around, fixing her with a glare. "My intention was never to gain your permission. I have decided to aid you on your travels and further your mission to exterminate demonkind. Even if you refuse my company, I will follow you as I have done before."
The hunter's brows drew together in a deep frown. She clenched her jaw and growled, "I will not protect you each time we run across a demon horde."
"Of course. I will still follow you, nevertheless."
"But why?" the hunter snapped.
"Your cause is noble, and I think you could use some help."
"I don't need your help. I've been on my own for years."
"Yes, I can tell. Your…" Kamilah hesitated before finishing her sentence.
"My–?"
"No, it's nothing. If you've been on your own for so long, surely some company can't be that bad, can it? Besides, what have you got to lose?"
"Oh, I don't know. Let me think." The hunter tilted her head up, looking at the sky in a display of sarcasm. "Maybe, seeing another innocent die in a fight that is not hers. All because she thought it'd be some adventure by following me around?"
"I've told you, I'm a mage. I am not helpless."
"Sure, and I'm the Empress of Caldeum."
"Oh, so you're an empress? Shouldn't you be in the palace, leading your people?"
"No, I–!" the hunter burst out in frustration. "I am not the empress!"
"Then why did you say you were?"
"I–, you–," the hunter stuttered, before swallowing her words and falling silent to preserve her dignity. She glared at Kamilah, breathing deeply. "Fine. But it will be your death contract. I will take no responsibility for you." Without waiting for a response, she spun on her heel, yanking on her cape so it draped over her shoulder.
Kamilah broke out into a bright smile and fell in step with the hunter, keeping up with her brisk pace easily. "May I know your name, hunter?"
Another glare in her direction. The hunter snapped her gaze back to the earthy road ahead and grunted, "Ana."
"Ana, it is good to make your acquaintance. I am Kamilah."
"I know. The 'angel' that Loroven was blessed with," Ana growled and tugged her hood over her head, obviously still simmering from their argument just seconds before.
"Ah, they do tend to go overboard with their praises." Kamilah waited, but no reciprocal banter came. Sensing her companion's reluctance to speak at the moment, she decided to end on a placating note. "I realise I was rather forceful before, Ana. And I apologise. But I am truly thankful that you have accepted my company."
Ana stopped walking so abruptly, that Kamilah took a good handful of paces ahead before following suit. Kamilah turned around curiously, meeting the heavy stare leveled towards her. After a few long seconds, Ana lowered her eyes before shifting her gaze forward again.
As she passed by Kamilah, she said, "Be thankful if you survive."