Stop The World
20


Title: Stop The World Part 20...
Rated: PG-14
Warnings: A.U., mystery!, shounen ai 1x2 of course with background 3x4 and Rx13, slight suggestion of 5xS. Cursing, tons of P.O.V. switching, drama, and sap. Small, small amount of future angst. Inspired by the Eurythmics song 'Peace'



PART 20

Dorothy peeled away from the shadows, bleeding from them into a visible form. She caught the bullet in her palm, softening its path, and dropping it to the floor with a short thud.






There was a new flare of light, golden and powerful. To Quatre, fallen, shivering, and bleeding on the floor, her face was familiar. Thin and angular, with sharp eyes and brows. Her hair was flowing as if caressed by an unseen wind. And Dorothy had wings now.

Zechs' expression was yet again not one often seen upon angels. He was shocked, and as Dorothy spoke, he was afraid.

"You are judged," she declared. The words came easily, considering they were those of a Guardian... Dorothy accepted her rise of status grimly. "And you are fallen."

A sharp arc of light lanced from her palm, and she parried as if it were a sword. The light burned across Zechs, but he didn't scream until he registered the sensation of his wings tearing. As he staggered at the sudden loss of weight, his gun fired into the floor.

The detectives fired their response dutifully. Three shots, two from Wufei and one from Trowa. Zechs straightened at a horrible time, and was thrown back as two bullets embedded themselves in his chest, and one drilled an end into his forehead.

The room was silent as he fell, white gold hair drifting in the air, tangible now. They absorbed to crimson as they touched the floor, and the pool of blood beneath Zechs grew. His body had fallen over the outline of Iria's, removing it, and replacing it... There was a lot of blood, for three wounds. Most seemed to be flowing from his back...

Duo's jaw was hanging open in utter disbelief. He was whipping his gaze from the fallen angel on the floor, to the one glittering just a few feet away; both very real. He mumbled something about never drinking again...

Wufei holstered his gun as he stepped toward Zechs' body. No pulse. Quite a close to this case, he mused. His hands rifled around in his pocket to produce a cellular phone. One button dialed. "This is Chang, I need a squad at the Winner shop. Coroner."

Trowa's soothing voice matched pace with his hand as it brushed through Quatre's hair, whispering of promises, and tea... The blonde had fallen into shock, although his eyes were open and oddly receptive. Duo knelt quickly beside him, reassuring himself that the little guy was alive...

"Aw man, bleeding..." Duo grimaced dramatically, and pushed back Quatre's hair. "You know I've got a weak stomach!!" Quatre blinked in acknowledgment... almost smiling... ... what a weird end... Iria...

Heero was watching Dorothy. An angel. A Guardian to be specific. Here, so they must know their mistake. He was surprised to feel the warmth of Dorothy's hand on his shoulder.

"Your punishment has ended, Fallen. Rise again."

Heero felt an old pulling sensation in his back. A familiar weight made him straighten, and stagger slightly. Wings sprouted new from light, and spread as if stretching behind him. He was elated-- and his gaze sought Duo, beautifully shocked, eyes round. But-- why was his expression falling, his mouth opening to speak and why was he fading?

"Don't--" Duo's words were washed away with the sound of air as Heero rose. A blinding light heralded the angels' departure. I didn't say goodbye--







Treize Kushrenada-Peacecraft had an ache in his back, and his leg had fallen asleep for the tenth time that night. But he didn't notice. All that he could focus on was the limp hand in his. The cool, soft skin that he'd kissed for years.

"I remember when you fell into my arms," he admitted, grimacing as his voice cracked. "I was walking along the street and all of a sudden I was on my back, you were above me, and you looked exactly like I'd dreamed..."

Relena smiled beneath her bandages. Her fingers tightened around Treize's.

"I love you," he whispered, kissing her fingertips.

There was a strange finality in his words. As if something, somewhere, had been set right. Relena kept her smile as she slept. Heero.






"Our sincerest grief for your unjust suffering, angel. Your rank will be resumed immediately, with our deepest apologies."

I was looking into the face of the One that had judged me guilty. He had taken my wings, my place, my life seemingly. In these halls of perfection, they had judged me wrongly. Yet I harbored no disdain or anger. Another one of those pure moments had come upon me. One in a million, here, in heaven. Untouchable were we high above the Earth as it spun on its crooked axis, and took its inhabitants for a dizzying ride.

I remembered walking in chains, and feeling fear. The halls weren't cold on my feet now; they warmed me from the soles up. It was quite a contrast to pinching boots. And cold. But I knew of something warmer. Deeper than the marble could ever go.

I met the Guardian's gaze again, and noted the difference in his expression when he wasn't condemning someone. "You are no longer fallen," the Guardian added in his supremely beautiful voice. I have heard a voice more beautiful....

I have always been fallen, I thought. I smiled...

"The fates are obvious sometimes," I began in the way of thanks. "I...." ...had time to breathe this time, although fates were laughing again. But this time so, because I had acknowledged them as supreme.

"I am fallen." I closed my eyes and fell. The sensation was swift, and very final...






Duo was slumped over the counter, tired from a long day of sales and, well, he was sad. I can't believe he's gone... Damn man was an angel and he never told me... His sigh sounded suspiciously like a sob. "Didn't think my kisses were that bad," he mumbled smally.

Quatre watched Duo from his armchair, settled conspicuously in front of the cashier counter because Duo refused to lug it upstairs, "not even if you had ten holes in your body; I love you Quatre but I also love the muscles in my back far too much to abuse them"... Quatre didn't press. Duo had been almost lifeless since Heero vanished....

Two days ago. Quatre remembered vividly. The angel, Zechs, killed Iria. He set poor Heero up-- made him lose his wings... How horrible... ...and now, Iria's memory could rest... I'll still miss her.

"He'll come back," he tried, angling his neck to watch Duo mope. His braided friend sighed forlornly.

The bells above the door rang violently as someone entered the shop. Duo didn't even look up... He'd seen Trowa pass the window.

A casually dressed, off duty Trowa Barton stepped through the doorway, a shy smile glowing on his face for one small blonde beauty in a chair. Quatre's face lit up, and he moved to stand.

Trowa paused in the doorway, and glanced back in surprise. He held the door open as a customer entered behind him.

From Duo's squashed posture against the counter, he could see the basic shape of yet another customer, visiting to gawk at the crime scene, and perhaps buy something. With a heavy sigh, he sat up and began the usually litany. "Can we help you?"

"There was a 'help wanted' sign, in the window..."





I smiled as Duo hurdled the countertop and crashed into me, knocking the air from my lungs and sending both of us hurtling toward the ground. And as I fell, the world spun crazily, making the ceiling the floor and Duo everything else... the world stopped for me, for a kiss...


NOTE: This will probably be revised; dunno what happened to me when I was writing it. It's so... bland, and messy... I apologize.