Heavenly Hellions, Hellish Angels, Human Bodies Story By: Maeleana

Chapter 4: Losses and Gains

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or any religious icons. Although I would like to think I have the permission of God, Kami-sama, Buddha, Allah or whatever you call 'Him'. Otherwise why would I be allowed to write this fic? I mean seriously wouldn't my computer breakdown every time I tried to write it if I didn't have permission? Although with the trouble I've been having uploading.....::looks skyward:: I'm sorry!! I don't know what I did but I'm sorry!!

Heero was uncomfortable in the passenger seat, but he had driven for a few hours after leaving the shuttleport and Trowa wanted to drive for a while so they had traded. In the back seat were Jolie and Duo, Lailah had taught them all how to resume their human forms so they could travel without drawing too much attention. Trowa and Duo had spent almost two hours talking to Hilde before they left just so she wouldn't worry about them.
Duo was fidgeting insanely, not only was he traveling to a place he was unfamiliar with, but he was sitting next to...his...mother, who had died when he was still an infant. He wasn't sure how to react. Sure it was great that he had a living relative, but at the same time she'd been dead for most of his life and was only returning to let him know he was an Angel....

Jolie was watching Duo sadly, she couldn't tell him the complete truth yet. She wanted him to make his choice first. How can I possibly tell him the complete truth yet, it would bias his decision.
After driving in silence for a few more hours Trowa pulled onto a forest lane, that resembled something one might see in a recreation of 'Hansel and Gretel' or 'Little Red Riding Hood'. Part of him mused that he wouldn't be too surprised if they saw a wolf or came upon a cottage made of sweets. Why not you and your friends are angels, why shouldn't there be real fairy tale items as well?, he was only half-sarcastic.
Duo was getting antsy and for the twenty-fifth time asked, "Are we there yet?"
Heero turned his head to glare, "Apparently not."
Jolie had to chuckle at the two of them, "We should be coming to the end of the lane. The gate will open itself at our arrival, and before you worry about the wisdom of that Heero Yuy, the gate only opens for those it knows belong here."

Heero frowned as Duo tilted his head confused, "How does that work m...er...Jolie." Duo was obviously having trouble deciding if he should call her 'mom'. Heero promised himself that once they were alone he would talk to Duo about that.
"Well, the closest explanation I can give would be magic. I'm afraid I don't know the specifics, but I can get them for you if you'd like?" Heero wasn't sure whether she was directing the question to him or Duo, and didn't have time to ponder that as they pulled up to the gates, which did indeed open for them.
As they pulled up the drive they saw that the estate put the entire Sanc Kingdom to shame, "Holy Shit, and we're supposed to live here??"
Jolie frowned again, "Yes and Duo try to refrain from swearing like that please." If he continued to use that language he might not be allowed to return to Heaven, after all some of the older Angels were sticklers.

Trowa parked and took the time to admire their, possible, new home before unlocking the doors to get out, having not had much to pack it didn't take them long to get their things from the trunk. Then they started to head inside.
Just before reaching the main steps a pillar of fire erupted in front of the door, surprisingly not even singeing the door, and a voice boomed out, "Behold The Metatron, Herald of the Almighty and voice of the one true God."
"Metatron do please stop that before they shoot at you." Jolie requested in the kindest of tones while placing a hand on Heero's arm to prevent his actually shooting at the fire, and the being within.
When Jolie's hand touched his skin, Heero felt a warmth he couldn't describe, but he listened as she continued speaking, "And whatever are you doing here Metatron? I thought it was decreed that only the minimum amount of Angels possible see them before they made their decision?"
The fire subsided and revealed a dark haired man in a leisure suit, "Well I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the fact that we already seemed to have lost one and the fifth is in danger." His voice held a pronounced British accent.

Jolie was frowning in a way the three young men had not yet seen, this frown was one of confusion and annoyance. "What do you mean 'we've lost one'?"
Metatron sighed his exasperation, "I mean Morning Star," he said the name with the disdain evident in his voice, "intercepted the angels we had transporting Azza, and now Morning Star himself is on his way to Hadriel."
Heero was confused a feeling he detested, "Who are Morning Star, Azza and Hadriel?"
Metatron glanced at Heero then turned his attention back to Jolie, "You mean you haven't told them that yet?"
"Hey it's not like we've been the best listeners, I mean between having to change from agnosticism and atheism to believing that God is real and dealing with the physical effects, we haven't really given her a chance to tell us everything!" Duo wasn't sure why he was angry, but his not-so- inner child answered that query by ranting how 'that mean old man should just leave his mommy alone'.
Head bowed, her face an interesting cross between paling and blushing, Jolie spoke up before Metatron could reprimand Duo for impertinence, "I will go to Hadriel now, before Morning Star can do any damage. But Metatron please let these three alone until after I return." Her eyes were silently pleading as she looked up, "This is a lot for them to have to deal with and it is sudden. Give them time."

Metatron opened his mouth to speak, but after glancing over Heero, Trowa and Duo, thought better of it and closed his mouth while shaking his head. "I'm afraid we may not have the time we thought." With that he disappeared.
Jolie turned to her son and his friends, "Go inside and make yourselves comfortable. Choose the rooms you want and they will be decorated per your likings. The house will decorate itself for you three. I'll return as soon as I can, but please do not stray from the house itself yet." Getting various agreements she too vanished.

A slender male with shoulder length black hair stood over Quatre's bed looking down at him. "My but you look like your father, did you know that?" Quatre didn't respond, and his visitor didn't expect him to.
"You shouldn't be here. Gabriel won't appreciate this in the least."
Lucifer smiled and turned to greet the young Angel Lailah, "It's been quite a while since I last saw you. Why is that? I mean Gabby finds time to visit me, and so does Uriel." The devil's tone was laden with insinuations.
Lailah ignored his insinuations, and walked over to look down at the sleeping form of Quatre Raberba Winner. "Nectaire was right about him. He isn't well, it will take Raphael at least two mortal weeks to heal him." A pained expression crossed her face.
"I don't like seeing you upset dear heart." Lucifer hugged Lailah lightly from behind, "Hadriel is suffering after effects from his exposure to that machine...Zero I believe it was called. Now then don't argue with me on this, but I think it best that Hadriel come with me. Before you say anything let me state my reasoning. You said it yourself, it will take Raphael a couple of weeks to heal him, it may only take a couple of days with my healers."
"I can't allow that Lu and you know it. Michael would never trust me again, and with Abbadon being my son...." Lailah bit her tongue before she said any more.
Lucifer turned her to look her in the eye, "I wasn't aware that you had any children...let alone that he was among the reincarnates that are tapping. Poor dear heart, no wonder you volunteered to help them when you knew the memories would hurt.." He hugged her closely.
Lailah succumbed to his comforting. "If you're taking Hadriel you had better do so now, I'll find some way to explain this to Metatron." She said with a long-suffering sigh.

Lucifer smiled slyly, "You can always tell him I seduced you into letting Hadriel go. After all you are much too young to be able to resist my powers."
Lailah lightly shoved at him as she pulled away, "I know you wouldn't do such a thing to me. Though it is something Metatron would believe, but you know I don't like lying."
Lucifer's smile deepened, giving credibility to his image as the Devil, his voice dropped to a sultry whisper, "Perhaps then I should make it truth."
Lailah closed her eyes as she felt a shiver run down her spine seconds before lips were pressed against hers. Her eyes flew open in alarm as her knees gave out beneath her.
Breaking the kiss Lucifer brushed her cheek, "Return to the others before I find a way past those defenses of yours."

After helping her steady herself he waved his hand toward Quatre's prone form, which faded away, then he himself disappeared.
Lailah sighed, I'm glad you left just then Lu....otherwise I might have let the location of your son, as well as the other reincarnates, slip..

Duo was excited. This place had anything and everything he could ever want: four pools; two hot tubs; a fully stocked kitchen; a dance studio; a gymnasium, complete with every possible bit of equipment known to man, six bathrooms and twelve bedrooms, that he had counted so far. Not only that but the living room was separated from the entrance by the 'foyer', as Heero had called it, which was a room in itself. With Trowa leading they had just made it back to the living room to here two familiar voices and an unfamiliar one arguing.

"I can't believe you fell victim to his manipulations!" Metatron had raised his voice to near shouting.
Entering the living room the ex-Gundam pilots saw Metatron pacing furiously; Lailah sitting on the couch with her head bowed and shoulders shaking; and a red-haired Angel, whose white-feathered wings were lined with a red glow, sat in the recliner watching more than participating.
"Calm down Metatron, Lucifer is more powerful than Lailah. Besides he only got to two of them." The red Angel turned his attention lazily to the three who had just entered the room, "Hello."
Metatron turned to look at them, "I suppose you heard? Well there's no use in keeping it secret. Lucifer, also known as Morning Star or Satan, has taken your friends WuFei and Quatre."
Duo frowned, but it wasn't the fact that WuFei and Quatre were in the hands of the Devil that had him upset, "So? WuFei's too smart to believe the Devil, and Quatre will listen to his heart."

Metatron regarding him disdainfully, "The point, you impudent little snipe, is that Morning Star is the master of lies and deception. He'll trick them both into believing his every word...just like he did with Lailah." There was a sneer in his tone.
Duo glared at the Voice of God, "So what? That's no reason to over- react. Besides you're 'sposed to be the voice of God, right? Doesn't that mean you share 'His' views?"
"Yes, and your point is what?" This boy was testing Metatron's patience sorely.
"My point is I never thought God would condone making a woman cry because she was fooled by someone with powers she could never match. And if he does then I don't think I wanna go to Heaven." a dark smile crept onto Duo's face as he finished that statement.
Lailah gasped and looked up, eyes wide with shock, "Y-you don't mean that do you?"
Duo sat next to her, His trademark 'Shinigami smile' on, "Don't you worry about that."

Heero looked at the red Angel who was frowning, and looking thoughtful. "Who are you?"
Metatron was the one to answer, "Since you have no concept of respect for the Voice of God perhaps you'll have better respect for the Hand of God. May I introduce the Archangel Michael."
Michael nodded to the three newly reincarnated Angels. Heero blinked, Trowa raised his eye and Duo tilted his head. "Whadda'ya mean 'hand of God'?"
"What Metatron means is that I more or less runs things in Heaven and whenever God wishes something extreme to happen on Earth I'm the one who carries out His will." Michael answered Duo while looking intently at him. Shaking his head Michael continued speaking, "Metatron and I are here to inform all of you that the time frame we had set out has been cut. The way things are going we may be at war within the next week or two."

"Who's 'we' and what's so important that might be happening in two weeks?" Trowa knew Heero and Duo hadn't wanted to have to fight again.
Michael regarded them, as if measuring something about them, "We are the Angels and the Demons. As for what's so important, the Leaders of Heaven have just discovered that the Anti-Christ has been born. If he comes into his full powers he will bring about Hell on Earth, and to prevent that we are preparing to go to war."
Heero's eyes narrowed, "How will that help anything?"
"If we can distract Lucifer from finding his son and teaching him how to use his powers then that gives us more time to find and deal with the Anti-Christ." Metatron sounded surprisingly calmer than he had moments ago.

Duo heard Lailah sharply, yet faintly, inhale. "Deal with in what way?" He asked placing a comforting hand over hers.
Michael exchanged a look with Metatron, "We aren't sure yet. It really depends on him. If he's willing to train under Heaven's instructors we may be permitted to spare him. If, however, he insists on taking up his father's legacy we may very well have to eliminate him." A pregnant silence followed before Michael got up, "In two days I will return and ask you three where you will stand, until then Lailah will remain and answer any questions you may have."
Metatron spared the barest of pleasantries, and Michael nodded as the two of them disappeared.

Despite the fact that he knew it was childish and immature Duo stuck his tongue out at the spot where they had been, "I don't think I like those two."
Lailah looked at him, eyes still holding sadness, "Please don't judge them so yet. Michael is under pressure from the Thrones and Principalities. They've been waiting centuries to strike back at Lucifer. Metatron on the other hand sometimes lets his position go to his head." She sniffled a bit and smiled to show that she was joking. Then wiping her dry eyes she got up, "What would you boys like for lunch?"

Author's Note: Remember how Quatre went loopy after his father's death and ZERO system made it worse? Well in my storyline he never completely healed so he has occasionally lapsed back into being loopy, but now he's totally cracked. So that's what's wrong with him.

As for the can't you just pisture a chibi-Duo jumping up and down yelling for the 'mean old man to leave his mommy alone' ? Review, flame, criticize, email, whatever.