Category: Darksiders I & II

Rating: T

Couples: Azrael/Abaddon, Zeruch(War)/OC

Warnings: AU, Disturbing Imagery

Chapter: 47

Copyright: Characters & places © By Appropriate Copyright-holder, Plot & OC´s © by me

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It was a slaughter. Abaddon overlooked the battlefield while hovering overhead briefly. Even higher than him flew the orthos, bombarding the Nephilim ranks. He couldn't stop himself from frowning at seeing the slightly chubbier one. Orth was being ridden by Naya'il, the only warrior the beast allowed on her back aside from Zeruch. Despite his best attempts, the ortho had stayed both as Zeruch's pet and war-steed.

Beating his wings, he rejoined the fray. In the distance he saw the three Horsemen carve a bloody path through their erstwhile brethren. He spared a quick glance to the side where his child was, hoping that the boy was still safe. He was starting to regret posting him that far away.

He should not have glanced away.

A javelin found the one weak spot in his armour; the wing-opening. The cursed point smashed through his wing-joint, lodging itself in his shoulderblade. Abaddon gasped in agony, fire burning his every nerve. With only one wing, the White City's General plummeted, crashing onto the ground. Grunting from the impact, he dazedly tried to get up, only to find that the arm on his wounded side had gone numb and powerless. He fell to his side, even as Nephilim closed in on him. His wounded wing jerked with pain as he desperately tried to shrug off the pain at least enough to get away to angelic lines.

"Azrael…" Creator, let at least their child survive.

He heard more than saw his saviour swoop in. One moment a Nephilim was poised to smash his head in, the next the female was gone, leaving only the disturbingly close sounds of someone being torn apart.

It actually took him a bit to truly register the ortho that was ripping the Nephilim to shreds. The massive beasts were normally very skittish in close-quarters and usually bolted when surrounded by the mayhem of battle.

Feeling life return enough to his arm to get to his feet at least, he wondered for a few moments how the rider had managed to get the creature to get down into the melee. Only to realize that the rider had had nothing to do with it; the slender form was clinging to its' steed, desperately trying not to get thrown up as the ortho tore through the Nephilim that had gravitated to the downed General.

It was only when the ortho turned to him as their opponents made a wise and wide berth around them that he recognized her. "Orth!?" The 'oversized sphinx' of his son bounded over to him, Naya'il yelping lightly. "What in…?" He could figure that out later. "Naya'il, I require use of your mount." The friend of his son seemed almost happy that she could get of her suddenly highly aggressive steed.

Struggling to get on, he clung to the white fur as the ortho took to the skies again.

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"Uncle!" The Horsemen had returned to the Charred Council, the battle been won. Currently, the angels were taking stock of their casualties and Zeruch had nearly died of fear the moment it was not Abaddon that came to take the list of his casualties, but rather Nathaniel, his uncle's second in command.

He rushed into the central tent of the angelic encampment, stopping dead in his tracks at the sight of Heaven's greatest General downed on his bed, Orth curled around him.

"Uncle?" He hesitantly came closer.

"Not a word." Abaddon tried to get up, only to have the healer attending him push him down again. "I'm fine."

"My Lord, you are not fine." Said healer dryly stated. "Your wing-joint is smashed and the wound tainted by Nephilim magics. You ought to have come to a healer at once."

"I was leading a battle." The downed warrior muttered. "I can't just 'go to a healer' during it."

"You were injured?" The younger warrior fell down at his side. "I told you that you should have let me stay with you! And why the hell is Orth in here?" In answer, the ortho preened quite obviously. "Uncle?"

Abaddon just groaned, burying his face in the pillow. "She saved me."

It took Zeruch a bit, but he burst out in laughter. "I guess dad was right that bonding with an Ortho helps in battle."

"I'll never live this down."