Category: Darksiders I & II
Rating: M
Couples: Azrael/Abaddon
Warnings: AU, Disturbing Imagery
Chapter: 14
Copyright: Characters & places © By Appropriate Copyright-holder, Plot & OC´s © by me
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"How go his lessons?" Abaddon had come over again, lounging on the garden-couch as he and Azrael watched Zeruch climb around in the trees of the scholar's home-mansion.
"He is catching up nicely." Said scholar nipped at his drink while going through several documents that had been brought from the Argent Spire. "He quite enjoys reading books now."
"Let me guess, you give him science-books?" The General chuckled, his own glass already half-empty.
"Fiction, actually." Azrael tried to whack his guest with a scroll playfully. "He is roughly five, Abaddon, and only learned to properly read during the last few months."
"Speaking of learning..." Abaddon snatched the scroll away when it got dangerously close. "I was considering enrolling Zeruch into the Special Classes."
"What..." The rune-winged male actually looked up from his documents now. "Abaddon, he has no wings, what makes you think he'd be suited for those!?"
"Just a hunch." Dropping the scroll back with the others, the warrior shrugged lightly. He had been consistently testing the boy ever after that first time he allowed him to join the beginner's classes – and made sure he had a sword he could actually wield – and the child had been amazing.
"Abaddon..." Setting aside the paperwork, Azrael rounded on him like Zeruch would on a plate of unguarded cookies. "There are no hunches on such a thing... or at least you wouldn't suggest enrolling him on a 'hunch'." Eyes narrowed, he looked from the boy to his friend. "You tested him already, didn't you? You gave a five-year old a sword, didn't you? Is that why you suggested so often you could watch him?"
Backing off a bit at the tone of voice, Abaddon raised his hands. "Now let's be reasonable here, Azrael..."
"Says the one who makes a five-year old swing around a blade." The only thing that kept the scholar from raising the volume of his speech was the presence of his ward not a couple meters from him. "What were you thinking!?"
"I wanted to cheer him up a bit." Abaddon was now pressed against the armrest of the couch. "But he is talented, Azrael, he'd really benefit from those lessons!"
"Oh no." Runed wings spread behind him, the mystic shook his head. "He has had entirely enough stress already. There is no sane reason to add more by enrolling him into that program. I know those 'special classes'..."
"They are not that bad." The General countered. "A bit stressful, I grant you that, but they start slow."
"No, Abaddon." Azrael stated with finality. "If he wishes to become a warrior, he will enrol at the normal age of fifteen, no earlier."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"Nonsense, Nathaniel." Abaddon passed through the White City with the other warrior beside him. "He'll need to get used to other kids again at some point. And Azrael agreed we best do it before we enrol him in normal classes."
"Well, if Lord Azrael thinks it's alright." Nathaniel kept one eye on his flitting daughter, only to recoil somewhat at the glare his superior and friend gave him. "What?"
"'If Lord Azrael thinks it's alright'?" The General countered with a light growl. "Excuse me?"
"Hey, you might be a powerful warrior and great general, but this is your first kid – so to speak." The other chuckled. "Telling a scholar to enrol a child early in warrior's training? Seriously?"
Abaddon made a face at that, but chuckled right along after a while. "You saw Zeruch, how could I pass up the opportunity!?"
"I am surprised he did not skin you for that." For a moment the bald warrior had to bank away, retrieving his wayward child. "Azrael is the epitome of 'non-warrior'." He added upon his return.
"Don't I know it." The General of the Hellguard lazily flapped his wings. "His face when I made the suggestion..."
"Speaking of which..." Nathaniel looked at the other with a faint grin as the young girl started performing loop-the-loops around the adults. "Considering you two are raising a child together now, what about...?"
"I am not going to marry him!" Abaddon exclaimed. "Creator, why does everyone want us to marry!?"
"I could list a couple reasons if my daughter was not in earshot." Came the answer. "Maybe when she is with Zeruch?"
"Oh, shut up."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"Well, and then there was that time with that one Old One..."
"What did I tell you two hours ago?" Abaddon glared at the male sitting beside him. They were sitting in Azrael's living-room, looking outside to where the two children were playing somewhat.
"I am just pointing out why everyone thinks you and Azrael should tie the knot." Nathaniel countered, leaning forward and prodding his friend in the chest. "You nearly cleaved that Old One in half for flirting with Azrael."
"Of course I did!" Said friend slapped the prodding hand away. "I cannot just let everyone flirt with Azrael while he is on a diplomatic mission!"
"She lost her arm." The darker-skinned angel reminded him. "Azrael had to regenerate it."
"I told her to leave him alone but she didn't." The General defended himself. "It's not my fault."
"You overreacted."
"Did not."