Category: Darksiders I & II
Rating: M
Couples: Azrael/Abaddon
Warnings: AU, Disturbing Imagery
Chapter: 12
Copyright: Characters & places © By Appropriate Copyright-holder, Plot & OC´s © by me
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The child was inconsolable for days after that. Azrael explained it away by telling those that asked that the missives from the outposts had returned: no one knew anything of a family missing a child. The others expressed their grief at the poor boy having lost everything and pried no further.
At the end of the week, Abaddon visited again. "How is he?" They watched the boy sit in the garden, hugging a bird-plushie he had gotten a few weeks ago from Nathaniel.
"Devastated." Azrael's lips were a thin line. "And I am unsure how to cheer him up."
"I might have something?" The General gently smiled, which was a strange expression on his face for sure. "Or at least it'll give him a temporary boost?"
"Oh?" The scholar looked at him.
"The Ortho's." The warrior headed outside to the boy. "You know how those beasts can get."
"I know how they get when they see my wings." The scholar made a face. For some reason, the massive creatures the Hellguard used in combat did not at all like the glowing runes the mystic had on several of his primary-feathers. "As you well know."
"I can take him if you will let me?" Abaddon chuckled lightly. "So they don't attack your feathers again."
"Well, for once I do not have a better idea." Azrael sighed softly. "Do watch over him though."
"Of course." The armoured male headed out into the garden, sitting down beside Zeruch. "How are you?" He gently pushed the hair away from the puffy face.
"I wants to go home." Zeruch sniffled. "I wants my siblings." His voice was a mere sad squeak when he looked up at the General.
"Well, that sadly won't happen." Abaddon slung an arm around the tiny form. "I'm sorry."
The boy sniffed again. "Azrael told me I could stays with him."
"That's nice." The adult male patted his head gently. "You feeling up to heading out with me?"
"The barracks?" The child rubbed his eyes.
"Something near it, at least." The warrior got up, offering his hand.
"Kay..."
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"There we are." Abaddon touched down near the barracks.
"Why's Azrael not coming?" Zeruch asked when he was set down gently on the ground. With one hand he held onto the General while the other clutched his toy.
"Because I am introducing you to someone who's... a touch iffy about him." The angel chuckled, leading him to a series of low buildings opposite of the barracks. "They don't like his wings."
"But they's pretty." The nephilim obediently followed him. "Why duns they like them?"
"The shiny." Abaddon snorted, opening a door. "Zeruch, let me introduce you to the steeds of the Hellguard."
The boy's blue eyes widened when he saw where the elder had lead him. Massive, griffin-like creatures stood in pens, some of them looking up as the doors opened.
"Heyyel!" Abaddon called out, heading inside.
"My lord." A male angel touched down in front of them, bowing lightly. "What can I assist you with?"
"Perhaps you heard... the last developments of Azrael's ward?" The General gestured down to the boy clinging to him. "I thought he might be cheered up with some Ortho's."
"Ah, of course." Heyyel smiled down at the child. "Would you like that?"
"They's big..." Zeruch scooted behind Abaddon.
"But really friendly." The Ortho-caretaker assured him, holding out his hand. "I think you'd like Mertha, she loves kids."
Shyly, the boy scooted forward again, much to the two adults amusement and stepped up to Heyyel. Both his hands firmly held his birdie.
"This way." Unlike most of the other angels in the city, Heyyel wore neither armour or robes, but pants and a tunic. He opened a pen near the end of the building, ushering in the child. "This is Mertha."
The female Ortho in the pen was smaller than the others, having dark-grey spots on her feathers. She screeched lightly, causing Zeruch to jump back towards Abaddon who was in the pen-opening. The warrior chuckled lightly, patting his head.
Realising she had scared her little visitor, the Ortho was much more hesitant to approach.
"Why don't you pet her?" The boy looked up with wide eyes at the suggestion, but reached out with a shivering hand. The other seemed to use his plushie to hide behind. He giggled a bit when feeling the soft feathers under his hand as Mertha pushed her head against it.
"Well, this seems to be working..." Abaddon chuckled softly, leaning against the wall. He gestured Heyyel away as Zeruch petted the Ortho with fervor.