Chapter 3…I begin with an apology for my delay in posting. Several days attacked me at once, then suddenly a fortnight had passed without my having written anything. But here it is; chapter three. This is something of a chapter to describe aspects of background so the plot makes sense; please bear with me. Oh dear, I am being long-winded again, so, to the disclaimer…
Disclaimer: I do not own the Gundam Pilots or any of the other characters mentioned in this fic.
Duo glowered sullenly at the events unfolding before him on the glassy surface of a stagnant pool by which he lay, his chin resting on his fists whilst, with his tail, he absently turned a large wheel of obsidian upon which a teenage boy was bound, his eyes closed in concentration. A low growl reverberated in the devil's throat as he shifted his position uncomfortably, flexing his fatigued tail.
'Y'know something, Wufei?' he sighed. 'Those guys up there have no idea. They think we enjoy working down here, but it's exhausting, not to mention depressing hearing everyone's story. Why're you down here again?'
'Rape' the dark-haired teenager replied tersely without opening his eyes.
Oh, of course,' Duo rolled his eyes as he remembered, 'like Ixion'.
'Indeed, my dear servant; just like Ixion who tried to rape the goddess Juno and suffered eternally after for it' a soft voice interjected from nearby. Duo sat bolt upright, turning to watch the approach of a patch of shadow darker than the rest. A faint moan escaped his lips as, just as ever, he was awestruck by the magnificence of his Master, Lucifer.
The fallen Angel emerged from his accompanying darkness as if shrugging off a simple travelling cloak, but he himself was far from simple. Platinum tresses framed his perfect features; his high cheekbones and piercing grey eyes. There was nothing of harshness or cruelty in that intense gaze however; millennia of torment and regret, perhaps, if one sought to look that deeply, but no bitterness. His form seemed to trap the dusky light of the cavern rather than reflect it, as did other Angels, affording him a dark radiance which he carried with majesty. He towered over Duo, a forbidding figure, but his smile was warm. 'Of course, 'twas the wind that turned the wheel of Ixion according to the legends.'
'Hn, typical' Duo huffed, abandoning his task for the time being, then smirking slightly as Wufei struggled to suppress his annoyance at being left upside-down.
'My dear Duo' Lucifer breathed affectionately, though not failing to cast a similarly amused glance in the direction of the stranded teenager, 'will you never be happy with your lot?' With a gesture, he bid the young devil stand and beckoned him to himself. Willingly, Duo got to his feet, clasping his Master's hands as he raised his eyes to meet the Fallen One's searching grey orbs.
For a long while the dark Angel simply held his gaze before raising one delicately arched eyebrow, chuckling softly. 'You are in love' he stated with a slight smile 'and with an Angel. My marvellous young one, you are almost as bad as I'. Duo began to stutter some form of apology before he noticed the wicked approval in Lucifer's eyes.
'Master?'
'I may have a remedy to this situation of yours. It would also free you from your position here; Wufei's punishment is to turn until the one he wronged finds new love.' Duo regarded him in silent perplexity.
'I won't be here for eternity then?' Wufei asked passively during the lull in their conversation.
'Most certainly not; all here must endure only until they have repented for their wrongs. Those dear mortals above us assume that the space we have is infinite. They simply cannot comprehend the magnitude of that concept, especially given our confinement to this limited space below them. And hence another disparity between this and the fate of Ixion, for he was to be punished for all time.' Duo grimaced as he sensed the imminence of another speech about ancient poetry. It held no interest for him, yet his Master seemed captivated by it.
'Why?' he muttered under his breath.
'You must learn to read Latin, my precious Duo, then you too may appreciate the captivating imagery of the ancient poets.' The fallen Angel's tone took on a harder edge.' And you must learn to watch your tongue. Never forget whom you address.' He allowed the young devil to drop to his knees in apology before him, before spinning away, leaving his servant bewildered. 'My proposal' he reminded him flagrantly, enjoying the braided devil's confusion. 'You are to find the boy Wufei wronged and bring him to the mortal your Angel has taken such a liking to. They are perfectly matched in their beliefs; both are grim fatalists.' Lucifer flashed a wicked grin at Duo. 'They are not so far apart for now. Lead them to each other; neither shall be able to resist your charms.' He had been gesticulating wildly throughout his dialogue, but now he froze, fixing Duo once more with his intense gaze as he awaited his servant's response.
'Quatre would be devastated' Duo whispered uncertainly.
'Without a doubt, but he would also be enchanted by the love shared by the two mortals. You forget, Duo, I have experience of such things.' A glimmer of pain flashed across the fallen one's features as grim recollections of his own past came to him. Duo missed the expression, deeply considering the implications of Lucifer's statement. He knew his Master's story, and though he revered him, even adored him, he feared this Prince of Darkness, could not understand why he had defied one who, by all accounts, had loved him so completely. And now Quatre was in the same position; would the same thing happen to him? Duo could not bear to think of the Angel changing so, dared not even try to envision in Quatre's blue eyes the ages of torment he saw each time he met his Master's gaze. And that Quatre might become so cruel…
'Why are you helping me?' he asked, unable to hide the suspicion in his voice. Lucifer glanced at him sharply.
'Because I can' he answered tersely, alarming Duo with his sudden change of tone. 'Because it would be a fine prank to play on He who has forsaken me, and, Duo, because I am not as terrible as you believe. And do not worry so about your Angel, he will never become like me; I have my arrogance to blame for that. Of course I admit it, don't look so incredulous, it is a common enough speculation.' Duo's already pale skin whitened as he realised the dark Angel had heard his thoughts. 'But I did not 'defy' my Lord as you so guilelessly believe. There was no betrayal on my part; I did what I felt I had to do. You may be right to fear me, my servant, but you must find better grounds for your mistrust.' Lucifer's expression was cold as he turned away a final time, summoning the shadows to him as he strode from sight.
'It is imperative that we talk, Quatre.' From his position under a tall oak where he awaited the arrival of his devilish friend, the introspective Angel rose quickly to his feet, recognising the voice behind him. He turned to greet the other, an Angel like himself, but taller with wings of all the blues, greens and golds of a peacock's feathers. Silver curls cascaded around his boyish face and his expression was warm, though concerned, as he extended his hand to Quatre. 'You are treading a dangerous path, my friend, and one that has been traversed before to no good end.' His silver eyes were beseeching as he tried to make the younger Angel understand. 'I would be happiest if you would return with me now, but I know you will not. Promise me you will end this, Quatre, after today.'
'I cannot make that promise, Michael.' Quatre's voice was pained as he tried to think of some way to reassure his friend.
'Then promise me that you will be careful.' Michael plead, desperately. 'I cannot remain much longer.'
'That, I can promise.' Quatre replied emphatically, embracing the taller Angel, touched by his concern, but quite bewildered as to the reason for his friend's outburst. Michael regarded him gratefully as he faded.
'I will be looking out for you, little brother.'
'Michael?' inquired an incredulous voice as Duo materialised from the shadows of a nearby sycamore. 'I thought Gabriel did all that stuff.' Quatre started visibly, having quite forgotten his original purpose in the clearing. After taking a moment to clear his thoughts, however, he became conscious of the braided devil's question.
'He used to, but our Lord felt that he was getting too much publicity' he began to explain, distractedly, 'and so He asked him to share the job.' The devil raised an eyebrow, waiting for Quatre to continue. 'After that, Gabriel had quite a tantrum; he has been sulking for a few decades now, leaving Michael to carry out all his duties.' A slow grin spread across Duo's face, then, completely losing his composure, he dissolved into laughter.
'This is just too much' he cackled. 'Imagine, old Gabe in a strop.' Duo had very little sympathy for the derisive Archangel who had ever treated him and his kind with utmost contempt and more than a little disdain. The devil's mirth quickly banished his friend's anxieties and the Angel looked on with amusement.
'Duo, really' Quatre chided him lightly, barely able to contain his own smile. As well-meaning as Gabriel was, he did possess a degree of self-righteousness that could make a saint cringe; Quatre finally allowed himself to succumb to his companion's contagious grinning then, as he recalled an occasion when it actually had. :Dear Peter: he mused, considering the kindly gateman.
'Seriously though, Q' Duo said, sobering his tone, 'he's that far up himself…' he paused. 'We're not the bad guys, y'know; we're just doing our job. We're not that different from you in that respect.' He stared into the Angel's eyes seeking some sign of understanding.
'But, Lucifer' Quatre began, confused.
'Do you know why Lucifer fell, Quatre?' Duo interjected, his voice suddenly harsh. 'Do you know why he got kicked out of heaven? Because he had the nerve, the sheer audacity to fall in love.' The devil's eyes blazed as he finished the statement, watching the weight of his words settle on his friend. Quatre stood stunned, his eyes wide and unseeing. All he had ever heard was that Lucifer had been a traitor to God, that he had not been truly devoted in his worship. He had never been told the actual nature of the fallen one's 'crime'. Silently, he considered himself; was he then also evil?
Duo's expression softened as he saw how shaken the Angel was.
'Hey, Q, don't worry; you're too nice a guy for that. Just, be careful, like Michael said. Don't get too attached to this Trowa guy you've met…' he stopped, realising he had said too much. Quatre regarded him in puzzlement; how had Duo known about Trowa? He decided to let it pass for the moment, he had too much else to think about and the young devil simply did not understand the implication of it all.
'He wishes me to stop seeing you also' Quatre whispered flatly. Duo's eyes widened; somehow that had not even occurred to him. He no longer considered himself any different to his Angelic counterpart. 'Duo, I have to think this over' The Angel explained, raising a hand as if to caress the devil's face before drawing it back sharply, a look of consternation in his eyes as he faded from sight.
Duo stared at the now empty space before him in dismay, feeling a warm trickle run down his cheeks. With the back of his hand, he wiped away the moisture, regarding the unfamiliar salty trail with confusion.
'Tears?'
Hmm, please forgive any incoherence in this chapter; I threw it all together in one night. Still, I believe I am getting somewhere. Anyhaps… although I understand Lionheart's comment on reviewers, it is a habit of mine to always express my gratitude. Still, I can see that this would become tedious for any readers, so now I shall thank all who have reviewed thus far and any who do so in the future, and leave it at that. A happy compromise, ne? Until next time. -Rose