Title: Winged
Pairings: St. Berry, Hummelberry, Klaine.
Rating: M
Current word count: +80,000
Status: In Progress
Disclaimer: The characters in this work of fiction are not mine, they belong to Fox and Ryan Murphy, however the plotline is my own work.
Synopsis: In the world of Jesse St. James things are never quite as they seem and the rules of morality are faint and blurry. When he gets given an Angel, a beautiful, unearthly creature, by his parents, he thinks nothing of it. Until suddenly he finds himself falling for her and his world and everything he has ever known is turned on its head.
Warnings: Dark themes.
xxx
"Please recite your full name and identity number."
"Jesse Jonathan St. James. 341284."
"Thank you."
He sat back in the hard metal chair to survey the room around him more thoroughly. He expected this, had known it was coming ever since they had taken Rachel away for questioning. They had come early that morning, which he had been grateful for at the time. He had thought he would be able to slip away from Rachel while she slept and perhaps pass his absence off as something other than what it was. However, when he tried to extract himself from her grasp in bed she just held on tighter and stirred when he forced her away. She had cried when she'd awoken, begged him to stay, trembling with fear a she watched him go with huge, frightened eyes.
So far his treatment had been adequate. The officials hadn't been easy on him but he was reasonably comfortable and had been respected mostly. The man who sat across from his was unfamiliar, his gaze cool and calculated, but he had yet to speak an angry word or raise his voice.
"So, Mr St. James."
Jesse looked up, meeting his gaze steadily. It was just like acting, just like what he's been training for all of these years and he prided himself on being an excellent actor so this shouldn't be that hard.
"How long have you had your Angel… Rachel isn't it?"
"I've had her a few months," he shrugged nonchalantly. "Since the beginning of summer."
"And you were aware of her being from the outside from the beginning?"
"Yes."
"Did you ever discuss it?"
Jesse met his gaze straight on as he shook his head. "I asked her a few times but she was pretty reluctant and I could think of a lot better things to do with her than ask her questions." He smirked.
The man cracked the smallest of smiles before saying. "And your parents knew of this?"
"Of what?"
"That she was from the outside."
"I guess so," Jesse shrugged again. "I mean, it's pretty obvious."
"Has your Angel ever tried to contact the outside world?"
"Of course not." He shook his head, scoffing in derision. "How would she do that?"
The man levelled him a glance across the table and said, smoothly. "I'm the one asking the questions here Mr St. James."
"No, sure… go on." Jesse rocked back on two legs of his chair for a moment and then drew his leg up to cross it over his other leg, resting the ankle on his knee and watching the man across from him.
"About the necklace that your Angel had when she was here, what can you tell me about it?"
Jesse shrugged. "It's an antique, family heirloom." He shot the guy a look across the table and said, his voice lowering a little. "My family's pretty old, as I'm sure you know. We have a lot of history."
"Yes, so I understand." For the first time the man looked a little uncomfortable, shifting in his seat and Jesse added, casually.
"Listen, is this going to take much longer? I have places to be and I'm sure that if you want to know anything else about my family you can contact my father in his offices in Area 1."
The man looked even more uncomfortable, shifting awkwardly. "Yes, of course." He shuffled the paper in front of him and looked over at Jesse, saying.
"Well, you seem to have everything under control. We'd appreciate it if you kept an eye on your Angel though, just in case."
"Sure," Jesse stood and the man followed him, holding his hand out for Jesse to shake.
"And don't forget Mr St. James," The man fixed him with a hard gaze, squeezing his hand a little tighter before letting go. "We will be coming by again soon for your Angel."
Jesse felt his stomach twist with panic and tried to keep his expression neutral, just nodding slightly.
"Thank you for your assistance Mr St. James, you've been very helpful."
Jesse could only nod again as he was escorted from the room and to another sleek black car that took him swiftly home, cutting through any traffic easily and arriving very soon at the familiar iron gates.
"Thank you." Jesse nodded curtly towards the men in the car as he clambered out, neither of whom replied, only watching him with unreadable expressions.
They watched him until he was inside, Jesse pausing by the shut door to listen to the engine rev and the gravel crunch as they drove away.
"Jesse!"
Turning, he just managed to catch Rachel in his arms as she hurtled towards him, holding her in his arms and pulling her into his chest to kiss the crown of her head softly. He could feel her shoulders shaking as she exhaled a few, slightly tearful breaths and he pulled away to look at her. Cupping her cheek gently, he pulled her face up to look at her, running his thumb gently over her cheeks, catching the tears.
"Shh now," he murmured, gazing at her. "No need to cry."
"I was so worried about you," she clung to him again, burying her face in his chest and huddling there, still shaking. "I was so worried about what they would do… what would happen."
"I'm fine," he ran a hand soothingly through her hair. "Don't worry about it now. I promise I'm okay, come on." Pulling her along with him, he led her back to the den that she had emerged from and sat slowly on the couch, pulling her into his arms and kissing her forehead as she snuggled into him again, curling her legs up beneath her.
Kurt poked his head around the door and Jesse said, softly.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Could you bring us some breakfast? Anything really will do, I'm famished and I expect she hasn't eaten."
"No," Kurt shook his head as Rachel raised a tear stained face up to watch them. "She wouldn't. I'll get you guys some eggs."
"Thanks Kurt," Jesse smiled as the boy turned back to the kitchen and turned back to Rachel, looking at her intently. "Okay now?"
"I think so," she sniffled softly and burrowed into his side again, rubbing her cheek against him softly. "I was just scared."
"I know honey, I know. But you don't have to be scared any more. I'm here now." He kissed her forehead softly again. "And I promise I won't let anything bad happen to you."
Xxx
Rachel could tell something was wrong.
Jesse had been acting strange, secretive phone calls and random trips out of the house that he didn't tell her about. Whenever she'd tried to ask him what was going on, he had brushed her off, assuring her that everything was fine and not to worry, not that she could help it.
She was sat on the lawn again, reading quietly. She had a small cardigan draped around her shoulders, the setting sun giving the air an unusual chill, but was still wearing one of her favourite summer dresses, her legs tucked up beneath her as she poured over her book.
"Hey there."
She jolted when Kurt spoke, looking up to see him stood above her, smiling a little. He sat beside her as she relaxed once again and managed to smile in return.
"What are you reading?" He peered over her shoulder to look and wrinkled his nose when he read the title. "A bird anthology? Really?"
"It's very interesting." Rachel protested lightly, slipping in the leather bookmark Jesse had got for her and reaching over to scoop up the kitten which was playing in the grass before it wandered too far. Depositing of grey fluff gently in her lap she stroked it, tickling its ears with her finger as the creature purred loudly.
"I'll bet," Kurt didn't sound convinced but he let it go. "It's getting colder," he noted, glancing at the cardigan she had on.
Rachel's brows creased a little. "I don't like it."
"No well," he shrugged a little. "There's not much you can do. Autumn's on its way, it's halfway through August already, Jesse will be going off to college soon."
"Oh yeah," Rachel paused in her ministrations to her cat, which yowled in protest and licked at her hand until she continued. "I don't want things to change," she confessed softly and Kurt sighed heavily.
"Yeah, this summer has been a good one. But… things have to change Rachel. You never know, things could get better."
"I don't think so," Rachel sent a long look at the house, sighing softly.
"Are you okay?" Kurt asked, after a moment's silence. "You seem… distracted."
Rachel hesitated for a second, looking down at the kitten in her hands before murmuring. "It's Jesse. He's… being secretive. There's something going on."
"What do you mean?" Kurt frowned in concern.
"He's been making secret calls, sudden meetings. Like now, he said he was going to the club to play tennis but…" she bit her lip softly. "He left his tennis racket behind."
Kurt's brows narrowed further in confusion. "That is strange. Well, maybe he just forgot?"
"I don't think so," Rachel shook her head and then looked up at Kurt from under her lashes, asking quietly. "Kurt… do you think there's someone else?"
"What do you mean?" Kurt frowned again.
"I mean… another girl. Someone prettier, someone cleverer, someone… human."
"No! No, Rachel." Kurt stared at her, aghast. "Do you not see the way he looks at you? The way he feels is so obvious it's like being hit by a truck." Rachel's brows creased in concern at the analogy but Kurt shook his head, dismissing it. "Look, it's not another girl, I promise." When she still didn't look convinced he sighed and stood, saying. "Why don't you just ask him? I'm sure he'll be honest with you."
Xxx
That night, as Rachel and Jesse lay in bed together, she managed to dredge up the courage to turn and look at him, propping herself up with one elbow to ask, softly, through the darkness.
"Jesse? Are you still awake?"
"Mmm?" He turned to look at her, his eyes slitting open into two tiny half moons, staring at her in confusion. "What's wrong?"
"I just… I wanted to ask you something." She bit her bottom lip softly and he looked at her for a long moment before saying, a little dryly.
"Couldn't it wait until morning?"
"No," she sounded distressed and he blinked at her again for a moment before saying.
"Sounds serious." Sitting up, he reached for the lamp, switching it on swiftly. They both cringed at the brightness, their eyes creasing shut for a moment before opening again and Jesse sat up, leaning back against the headboard to look at her.
"What's wrong?"
She sat up slowly beside him, clasping her hands tightly in her lap once she'd done so, staring down at them. "I need to ask you something."
"Of course," his brows creased in concern. "You can ask me anything Rachel."
"What's going on?" She asked softly. "What's happening? All of these strange meetings and phone calls, I just need to know what… what's going on…" She trailed off a little, watching him anxiously.
He rubbed his forehead with the palm of his hand, shaking his head. "It's nothing Rachel, honestly. You don't have to worry about it."
She watched him for a long moment before saying, her voice low. "Is it… a girl?"
"A girl?" He stared at her in surprise, his brows creasing together as he tried to understand what she was saying. "What do you mean?"
"You know," she shifted, uncomfortable with having to explain this to him. "A girlfriend."
"You're asking if I have a girlfriend?" He gaped at her in astonishment and she hurried to answer.
"It's okay if you do, I mean I can't really argue so…"
"Hey," he cut through her, pulling her into his arms and placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "There's no girl in my life but you. You are the most important person to me and I promise you I don't have a girlfriend."
"Really?" The band that seemed to have been constricted around her chest for the past few days weakened and fell away and she slumped into him, hugging him closer.
"Where did you get such a silly idea from?" He smiled down at her affectionately, kissing the crown of her head and she shrugged into him, heat rising to her face at his incredulous tone.
"I just thought you might want someone different… someone more… human."
He sighed heavily, his hot breath running over her head and said, softly after a moment. "You are the most compassionate person I've ever met, isn't humanity supposed to be compassionate? You must be the most human person I know. And anyway," his hands ghosted down to her sides to tickle softly and she giggled a little, smiling in spite of herself. "Why would I want some other girl when I have the most beautiful girl in the world right here in my hands?"
She smiled a little at his flattery and nodded into his chest.
"Are you sure?" She whispered after a second's silent embrace. "If you ever decided that you wanted something else… something more. You'll have to have a wife one day, children, a family… you couldn't do that with me."
"Couldn't I?" He reached down to touch her abdomen softly. "Can you have children? I mean… is it possible? Will they be… like you or like me?"
"I don't know," she shrugged a little. "I think I can… have children I mean. I don't think that they'd be like me… it's not genetic is it? It's a mutation, completely random. If they'd figured out how to do it, they would be making Angels all over the place and selling them."
"You're so smart," he smiled down at her. "I mean… would you like to have children? I don't think it's done often."
"I don't know," she gazed thoughtfully down at her abdomen. "Maybe, if things were different. But now, they'd be yours wouldn't they? People would expect you to give them up for adoption or to an orphanage and I don't think I could do that. But… if things ever changed then… yes. I would like to have your children."
"Our children." he corrected her softly, smiling and ran his hand over her exposed stomach again before shaking his head. "We don't have to worry about that now, you're young."
"But you're still going to be expected to marry, to have a real family, a legitimate one. Then what? Will I… stay?"
"I don't know," he confessed. "I really don't know. I would never let you go though, you're mine and I won't part with you, no matter what. But… let's not worry okay? We'll cross that road if we come to it."
"When we come to it." She shook her head and burrowed back into his chest again, sighing heavily and murmuring. "I never want this summer to end."
He placed a kiss to the crown of her head again and she heard him whisper. "Me neither."
Xxx
"What do you mean, you haven't worked anything out yet?" Jesse's breath was harsh, his nostrils flaring like an angry bull as he stared at Quinn's cool, collected expression from across the desk.
"There's a plan being created as we speak, but I haven't finalised the details yet."
"You've had weeks!" Jesse stood quickly, slamming his fists on the desk in front of him. "I can't wait much longer Quinn, they're going to come back for her and God knows what they'll do."
"Your emotions are blinding you." Quinn's jaw tightened a little and her eyes fixed on his fists until he sat slowly and removed his hands from her desk. "You're just not impartial enough to consider this rationally."
"Damn right I'm not impartial!" He glowered at her. "If I was impartial, would I be here? Would I have come to you if I was impartial?"
"Of course not." Quinn's voice slipped a little, betraying her annoyance for a moment before she became business like again and reached into a drawer for a file. "These are the plans for one of the security towers on the Area barriers."
She let a roll of paper unravel on the desk, Jesse catching the other end to hold it down, staring down at the plans. He squinted at them, unable to make out the mess of blue and black lines across the page. A sharp banging interrupted him and he startled up to look over at Quinn for reassurance. His stomach dropped when he noticed her stunned expression as a plethora of bangs followed the first set, along with a voice calling out.
"This is the OIA! Open up!"
Jesse flinched as if burn, staring at Quinn across the desk.
"Shit." The word slipped from between her lips softly but when Jesse opened him mouth to demand what they should do she shoved her hand over his mouth, keeping him quiet. Reaching out, she gathered a few files up, along with the plans on the table. Shoving them in a black rucksack that she had pulled from beneath the table, she slung it onto her back and rummaged in a draw in her desk, from which she brought out a box of matches.
"Wait," he reached for her, hissing. "What are you doing?"
"I can't leave all this hanging around." She pulled her arm from his grip irritably and lit the first match, slinging it into a draw of files, which lit immediately, the paper curling darkly in the corners as the first spread, catching the wood of the desk after a few moments.
Quinn pushed him away from the desk and towards the wall behind it. Holding her hand up to silence him before he could speak, she closed her eyes for a moment, in deep thought. He shifted from foot to foot nervously beside her. Behind him the fire was catching further, the wood crackling and snapping, the heat nipping at his back like an angry serpent, hissing ominously.
There was a huge bang from upstairs, the door obviously being forced open and Quinn's eyes snapped open, reaching for the wall and pressing her palm down on one of the bricks that made up the wall. Beside his feet, a flag stone suddenly fell away, swinging down on hinges. He gaped at it for a moment before Quinn shoved him forward, urging him down into the pitch dark passage below them. He stepped towards the drop, sliding in and crying out softly when he landed jarringly, his feet immediately soaking wet. Quinn landed smoothly below them and the flag stone swung immediately shut, sealing them in and shutting out the light from the fire above raging through the office above them.
He went to ask her where they were, what was going on, but she just pushed him forward urgently.
"Go! Quickly!"
"Quinn," he stumbled forward through the sludge, wrinkling his nose as he caught the smell. "I don't understand, are we in a sewer?"
"Yes." She pushed him forward again, roughly shoving him from behind. "Go! Hurry up St. James, that whole thing is about the blow!"
"What?" He fumbled his way through the pitch black tunnel, wincing as he scraped his hand against the walls.
Finally, after what seemed hours but he knew was really minutes, of blind fumbling, they came to a junction, the darkness relieved by a grate overhead letting in light from the street above.
"Up there," Quinn indicated to him, "give me a leg up."
Reaching down, he laced him hands together and she steadied her foot into them, reaching up to push away the grate overhead, struggling through it before reaching a hand down to him, helping to haul him out with her. After a moment of struggling and muttered curses, he fought his way up to the road beside her, standing on shaky legs as she shoved the grate back in place. As she straightened herself up beside him, a sudden, deafening bang came from ahead of them, a flash of light and then a cloud of dust as the ground rumbled angrily beneath them, Jesse having to reach out to steady himself on Quinn.
"Was that…?" His voice was low.
"The house? Yeah it was." Quinn stared at the lingering dust in the air a few streets away for a long moment before turning back to him, her eyes set.
"That's what you meant? When you said it was going to blow?" He gaped at her and she returned his gaze with an unruffled expression.
"Yes."
"Why?" He looked back at where the house had stood and then back to her again, incredulous. "Why did you do that? What about the others?"
Quinn shot him a look that made him take a step back, away from her. "Do you really think," her voice was dangerously low, "that I would have done that with them in there? They're out gathering supplies and trying to track down information. And I had to blow up the house. Do you know what's in there? The amount of files that could get people killed?" She took a step towards him, her lips twisted in an ugly snarl. "There are people everywhere St. James, people right up to the top of the system who are working with us and they would be exposed and killed if I'd let the house keep standing." She shook her head, disgusted. "I'm no coward St. James, I protect my own."
There was a beat of silence once she'd finished, her words seeming to hang as heavily in the air around them as the dust from the rubble.
"I'm sorry," when he spoke, his words were soft. "I shouldn't have presumed like that."
"No," Quinn seemed almost uncomfortable, hitching the bag further up her shoulder and saying. "At least I have everything we need, in here." She patted the side of the bag and Jesse looked at it curiously.
"You have everything we need?"
She rolled her eyes at him. "We may live on the other side of the law St. James, but that doesn't mean we're completely out of touch. We have hard drives and USB sticks, I keep them all backed up and in here."
"That's… that's actually a really good idea." He conceded finally and she nodded, a small smile hovering at the edge of her lips.
"Gee, thanks."
Turning to look up and down the street, choosing to ignore her comment, his eyes fixed on a car a little further down the road.
"Do you know where you're going now?" He turned back to her again.
"As far away from here as possible." She was looking down the street. "There'll be a bus soon."
"Are you kidding?" He scoffed at her words. "They're crawling with cameras nowadays. They'll catch you immediately. Look, that's my car down there, come back with me and you can figure it out from there, okay?"
"I don't accept charity St. James." She eyed him warily and he shook his head quickly.
"It's not charity. You're helping me and you'll be no good to me dead or arrested. Think of it as me looking out for my own interests."
She watched him for a moment, barely moving, her eyes flickering over him as if assessing him before she finally responded. "I guess that'd be okay."
"Okay." He agreed and they made their way down towards his car, Jesse resisting the urge to open her door for her, sensing that it would not be taken well.
Only once they had been driving for a good half an hour in silence, did Quinn finally say, her voice unusually soft.
"It wouldn't matter, you know."
"What?" He looked over at her, blinking in surprise. "What wouldn't matter?"
"If they caught me on camera." She smiled a little sadly, her gaze trained out of the window. "I don't exist."
"What do you mean?" He glanced over at her curiously.
"I don't exist. I died when I was eight… or so they think. They wouldn't be able to track me."
"What… happened?"
"My parents died when I was eight." Her tone was so matter of fact, so simple that it took a moment for her words to sink in and by the time they had she was speaking again. "It was a car crash. I ran away from the scene before the police found it. I was just a kid, I don't know why I did it but a group of rebels found me and took me in. I was presumed dead and since then I haven't existed."
"I'm sor-" He began, but she cut through him immediately.
"Don't tell me you're sorry. That event made me what I am today and I'd much rather be who I am than one of you brainwashed clones who just follow the system." Her comment was biting, but he kept his mouth shut and didn't say anything, driving silently until they rounded the corner to his house, the large iron gates rising ahead of them.
"This is where you live?" Quinn raised an eyebrow at him as the gates swung open.
"Yep," his response was short, expecting one of her usual jibes, but she remained quiet as he drove them into the driveway, pulling up next to the door.
As they climbed out Blaine came hurrying up, wiping his hands on a dirty cloth, which he pushed back into his overall pocket.
"Do you want me to park that for you sir?" He spoke to Jesse but his eyes wandered back to Quinn, creasing a little in confusion.
"Yeah, thanks Blaine," Jesse tossed him the keys, which he caught easily and said, as he made his way inside. "And tell Kurt to come out of the garage and make me and my guest a drink. I don't pay him to gossip with you all day."
Kurt hurried out of the garage, his face pale and his brows creased and Jesse paused at the front door to say, raising an eyebrow.
"Or… y'know… whatever it is you two do in there."
Stepping into the house, he couldn't help but hold the door open for Quinn, watching as she shot him a look but no real comment. Turning to shut the door, he looked again to see her step slowly into the big entrance hall, running her hand over one of the mahogany banisters before turning to say, smirking a little.
"Nice pad you got here."
"Thanks," he smiled and then caught sight of movement over her shoulder. Stepping forward he smiled when he saw Rachel stood uncertainly in the doorway to the den, peering out at them, her lower lip caught between her teeth.
"Rachel!" He smiled at her, moving closer to her to run an affectionate hand over her cheek, pausing to kiss her forehead before pushing her forward lightly, moving her closer to Quinn. "This is Quinn. Quinn, this is Rachel."
"Good to meet you." He could see the spark of interest in Quinn's eyes, a slight smile on her lips as she held out her hand.
Rachel took it hesitantly, shaking it slowly as she responded. "H-Hello."
"Quinn and I are going to be in the library Rachel," he looked down at her, saying a little sternly. "Don't come in, do you understand?"
"O-Of course," she hurried to answer, shifting a little from foot to foot.
"I knew you would," he smiled at her, relaxing and leaning down to press a soft kiss to her lips before pulling away and saying. "We'll see you at dinner."
Standing, he showed Quinn through to the library, shutting the door firmly on a confused and worried Angel.
xxx
*peers out from under a stack of paper and text books*
Yes hello, I am alive! As anticipated school and exams buried me, I barely had time to sleep let alone get on my laptop. But they're all done now and I have time to update for you guys. I missed you all a lot! The conversation between Jesse and Rachel about pregnancy and babies was prompted by the lovely michemistic asking me whether they would be able to have children. Now you know Michie :)
Also, I happen to have finished a little WingedAU!Quinn centric ficlet for you guys, to apologise for my absence. Is there any interest in reading that?
Thank you so much to those who reviewed the last chapter: St. berry lover for life, JAMES-EAI, Ravenna . solo . 408, downwivluv, Vanessa and ilikescreamobutimnotemo.
Please leave me a comment below for a faster update and my own vulnerable self esteem! :)
Love,
Ray
xxx