Category: Darksiders I & II
Rating: M
Couples: Azrael/Abaddon
Warnings: AU, Disturbing Imagery
Chapter:27
Copyright: Characters & places © By Appropriate Copyright-holder, Plot & OC´s © by me
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After half an hour, the small family arrived at the pens. "Go on then." Azrael shooed the boy ahead.
Squealing in delight, Zeruch dashed towards the Ortho-pens with Abaddon following. On the way, they met Heyyel, who smiled and welcomed them. "Greetings, visiting the Ortho's again?"
"Yes, it's my birthday today and daddy said I could go to the pens!" The boy told him with a wide grin on his face.
"Oh, congratulations with your birthday then, Zeruch. May the winds forever carry your wings." Kneeling down, the caretaker whispered to the young child. "Mertha's clutch is now grown enough for viewing."
The boy's eyes widened at the news. "Uncle, uncle, uncle. Can we see Mertha and her babies? Please?"
"Of course, Zeruch. Heyyel, if you could lead the way?"
Azrael followed the small group, smiling in amusement at the boys beaming eyes. "Do be careful though. Mothers are very protective of their young."
"I will, daddy." After listening to the instructions, Zeruch carefully entered the pen with Abaddon. Looking up to the visitors, Mertha cooed when she recognised the pair. Three fluffy little orthos peeked from under her wing and chirped a couple times in curiosity.
Azrael waited outside, leaning on the pen-side. Ortho's did not like his glowing wings for some reason.
Zeruch walked slowly towards the mother Ortho. "Hello Mertha, your babies are cute and fluffy." At hearing the soft voice of the boy, Mertha fully relaxed and laid her head between her front legs while still keeping an eye on her chicks. The younglings chirped again and headed towards him. Once they were close enough, he began to pet one of them. "So soft and fluffy." The other chicks chirped even louder and tried to push each other away so they could get the most attention. Giggling, he attempted to pet all of them at the same time.
"Abaddon." Azrael called softly to his friend, careful not to disturb the cluster of children a short distance away.
"Yes?" Abaddon headed closer to Azrael after he was sure that there would be no problems.
"Do you think one of them could be set aside for Zeruch?" Azrael gestured with his head to the small orthos. "He – and you – would certainly like it, no?"
"I can ask Heyyel about it." Abaddon smiled slyly at Azrael, "So, does that mean he can go those classes we talked about?"
"No." The scholar looked flatly at his fellow caretaker. "A child only starts at 15, Abaddon, not 7 or 10 or any age like that."
"You know there are special courses for the younger, talented ones. He can enter them easily enough." Abaddon tried again to convince him. At seeing the expression, he'd just sighed. "Alright, I'll ask Heyyel about the adoption."
Azrael sighed. If the boy wanted to become a warrior, fine, but for Heaven's sake a normal one, not one that is trained 24/7 from the age of 7. "See if he can wrap a bow around it." The mystic chuckled lightly.
The general flatly stared at the First Mystic. "They are bred to be war mounts, not to become some mollycoddled pet." But when he turned away, he chuckled lowly. "However I will see if they have a nice collar for it."
Meanwhile, Zeruch was playing a game of chase with the chicks. Giggling, he ran around with the fluffy chicks hopping behind him.
"I'll just transform the collar." Azrael called after his friend. "A gift must have a bow after all."
Grumbling about soft-hearted scholars, Abaddon went to speak with Hayyel.
There was one particular ortho, which was very fond of the boy. Even when the mother called her chicks for grooming, it still refused to leave Zeruch's side. "Come on, your mommy is calling for you." He picked up the chick to bring it to Mertha, but when he wanted to put it down, the chick used its tiny claws to hold onto the clothing of the little angel. With a huff, he sat down near its mother so she could fuss over her young.
"Got a problem?" Azrael called out to the boy at seeing the chick refusing to let go. "Try petting it."
Heeding his father's advice, Zeruch began to stroke over the chick's head and back. It slowly closed its eyes while purring in delight. After a while the claws relaxed and unhooked from the clothes. Once Mertha noticed this, she plucked it from Zeruch's lap. The chick immediately started making whiny chirping sounds, not amused by being carried away from its playmate.
"Well, I believe it will not be too hard to decide which one of the chicks is the most suitable for the boy." Hayyel looked fondly at the boy waving goodbye at Mertha and her chicks.
"Indeed." Azrael chuckled lightly. "Had fun?" He asked Zeruch when the boy joined them.
Eyes gleaming, Zeruch nodded. "It was fun. I played with them. Did you see how cute they are? They are so poofy and small. How long do they stay so poofy? Mertha was also so nice. One of them didn't even want to let go. And when can we visit them again?" A barrage of words tumbled from his lips, barely giving the adults a chance to answer. It was clear that he enjoyed himself immensely at the pen.
At hearing the last sentence, Abaddon replied. "Very soon again, Zeruch. I even insist you visit more often from henceforth. You need to create a strong bond with your ortho."
"Huh?"
"Well, it is traditional that a gift is given on a birthday..." Azrael leaned down until he was more at eye height with the child. "Something which Abaddon forgets, granted. But what do you think of having your own Ortho?"
Grumbling at first about how he had a gift but somebody didn't approve it, the general looked at the perplexed child.
"Really? I can have one?" Eyes wide open, Zeruch looked from Azrael to Abaddon and back. "Really?
"Yes, really." His uncle answered.
Jumping up and down, Zeruch turned to Heyyel in excitement. "I'm gonna get a baby Ortho!"
Azrael tousled the boy's hair. "It'll have to stay here until it is old enough." And you are, he added mentally.
"'Kay!" Zeruch hugged first Azrael and then Abaddon. "Thank you! It's the bestest present ever. It's the bestest Birthday ever!"
"I guess cake will be overkill then?" The scholar asked innocently, getting back up again. "Well, no problem: more for us, isn't it, Abaddon?
"Indeed Azrael. All the more for us." The warrior kept his face expressionless.
"Nuh, I want some cake too~oo." Zeruch tugged both his caretakers' clothes. "Please, can I have some?"
"Ah, but how will any other birthday be able to top this one if you get a present AND cake?" Azrael lifted the child onto his arms, grinning a bit.
"But, but you told me birthdays need cake." protested the young boy. Tilting his head and brows furrowing, he looked at the slender male.
"But this is your first... Are you sure I was not fibbing?" The scholar headed outside, by now struggling to not laugh at the look on the small face.
"But, but Damiana also told me that birthdays must have cake... And cookies! " The word 'cookies', Zeruch thrust both his hands and wings high up in the air. Thanks to the movement, the boy lost his balance and leaned too far back. Nevertheless, with a quick movement Abaddon managed to stop Zeruch from tumbling out of Azrael's arms.
"Whoa, careful there. Can't have you hit your head, can we?"
Azrael moved his arms to better support the boy. "Of course, I was merely teasing you." He patted Zeruch's head with his wing, also hitting Abaddon.
Shooting the scholar a dirty look, Abaddon mentally swore he would get back at Azrael for this.
With a cheer, Zeruch threw his arms around Azrael's neck. Hugging him tight, Zeruch whispered: "I love you, daddy."
"Love you too." Azrael chuckled, pulling the boy closer while looking at Abaddon with an innocent expression. "Is there a problem, Abaddon? Want all the cake for yourself? I am sure I can convince Damiana to make another just for you." He blinked a few times with a wide smile on his face, resisting the urge to summon an illusion of a halo above his head.
"No need, Azrael." Waving away Azrael's proposition, Abaddon walked calmly beside the two. "Have you already decided what you are going to name your Ortho?"
At hearing the question, the boy leaned a bit away from the mystic; frowning deep in thought and placing a finger against his underlip, Zeruch hummed for a moment. His face suddenly morphed into a happy and pleased expression. "I know! I'll call him Orth!"
"The He is a She."
"Oh, then I'll call her Orth!"
Azrael snorted at that. "Orth it is then." He snorted again at the look on the other man's face. "It is a very nice name."
"It... is" The general decided to let it be. "I'm certain that you can't wait for her flying lessons with you."
Zeruch nodded with excitement. "When Orth and I become big, we are going to fight demons!" Mimicking a sword fight, Zeruch slashed with his arm a few times.
"I am sure you two will make quite a pair." Abaddon grinned at the young boy waving about.
"Certainly, the cutest couple around." Azrael caught Zeruch's hand before the boy could hit him in the face. "Matching outfits would be nice too, I am certain." And matching leashes, if those few minutes have been any indication.
"Huh? Why?" Blue eyes stared at the archangel's.
"Just imagine. You and Orth, both with two big pink ribbons around your necks." The scholar smiled widely. "Or maybe you have it around your waist, what say you?" He turned to the General beside them.
Abaddon made a horrified face at Azrael. "You are cruel, Azrael!"
"NO, I dun wanna!" Zeruch stuck out both his arms to the general. "Uncle! Dun let daddy do that!"
Pucking Zeruch from Azrael's arm. Abaddon whispered in comradery: "Don't fret, we'll look for a nice collar for Orth and flying gear for you. But don't tell Azrael. He will charm it into something frilly. "
"I heard that." The scholar laughed lightly. "Beware I don't bring my magics to YOUR wardrobe, Abaddon!" He wagged his finger at the warrior. "I'd know some things that would make you wish for banishment from the City, just saying."
Zeruch giggled, when the two adults kept on bickering at each other while heading back home.