Heavenly Hellions, Hellish Angels, Human Bodies
Story By: Maeleana
Disclaimer: Again I do not own any majorly noticeable Characters.
Chapter 6: One Happy Family?
It had been decided that Natasha, or rather Lucifer, and WuFei would stay the night since by the time explanations were done it was near eleven o'clock. Lailah saw them settled comfortably in two of the many rooms before everyone retired.
But Duo found that he couldn't sleep. He and Heero were lying in bed, but he couldn't sleep. Heero stirred a bit as Duo got up.
"Don't worry Heero, I'm just gonna get some water. I'll be back." Duo kissed Heero's cheek in reassurance before pulling on a robe, after all it wouldn't do for his mother to see him running around in his birthday suit.
He wandered downstairs heading to the kitchen, Maybe some warm milk or something will help me sleep. God knows physical activity didn't. He smiled as he walked through the living room, then stopped having noticed the kitchen light on and hushed voices coming from within. Duo tried to make himself as small and unnoticeable as possible so he could find out what was going on.
"How long were you going to wait to tell me? Were you planning to wait until after he had come to his full powers???" an irate Lucifer demanded as quietly as he could while shouting.
Duo chanced peeking in, there stood his mother, head bowed, wings and shoulders trembling, under the fierce glare of Lucifer. Duo used every last ounce of self-control to keep from rushing in and decking the Devil.
Her voice broken with dry sobs, Lailah answered, "I'm sorry Lucifer, but I couldn't tell you."
"I suppose you rushed over and told Michael right away. You could tell him you were having a child but not me....I wouldn't be surprised if he thought Abbadon was his, but then he wouldn't soil his image in such a way would he." Lucifer spat, arms crossed angrily.
Duo froze. He was Abbadon. That was part of the explanations they had gotten that night. But why was Lucifer so angry about who his mother had told about him?
His attention returned to the events in the kitchen as Lailah emitted a heart-wrenching sob, "I'm so sorry I didn't tell you, but I didn't tell Michael. The only other person who knows is Raphael. I'm so sorry Lu."
Lucifer's expression softened as he sighed and uncrossed his arms and pulled the crying Lailah into his arms, "No, I'm sorry dear heart. I shouldn't have been cross with you. I know how you feel and I tried to use that against you." He kissed the top of her head.
Duo was both moved, that Lucifer could show such love, and annoyed, that he was displaying it toward his mother.
"You should let Abbadon know everything soon...it may help him make his decision..." Lucifer gave her another hug before pulling back.
Lailah laughed lightly as Lucifer wiped her eyes for her, "He fainted when he found out I am his mother....how will he react when he finds out that are you his father?"
"That may......I'm what?!?" Lucifer gaped then turned his attention to the doorway when a thud was heard.
Duo was sitting on the floor in the doorway, staring.
Heero was pulling on his shirt when someone spoke up from the door.
"So, Nekin, where's Abbadon?"
"He probably fell asleep in front of the TV. And don't call me that Trowa." He turned to face his friend.
"Why? It's your true name." Trowa said as if it was an important fact.
Heero tried to read what his stoic friend was feeling, always a difficult task, "Do you want to be called Nectaire?"
Trowa just shrugged so Heero continued, "Duo and I talked it over last night. We decided that we've lived this long as who we are. Becoming Angels, Fallen or otherwise, won't change that. He's spent his life being Duo Maxwell, knowing that he was born Jesse Barringham, and originally created Abbadon doesn't change that."
Trowa's gaze intensified, "What about you and I? I've been nameless most of my life, before taking up a dead man's name. And you were given another dead man's name."
"You have been Trowa Barton to those who matter the most. Just as I have been Heero Yuy. Our friends know us as these people. None of them knew or remember the original men who bore our names." Heero walked to Trowa. "I know what's really bothering you. Duo and I are discussing it."
Trowa looked at Heero with mild shock.
"I suppose you two are going to just stare at each other until Maxwell comes up and interrupts? Well Lucifer said to let you know breakfast is ready." WuFei remarked as he walked by.
A surreal scene greeted them in the kitchen: Duo, laughing, sat at the table, wings out; Lailah was finishing cooking, brandishing the spatula at Lucifer; Lucifer himself was stealing the just finished pieces of French toast from the griddle.
All three stopped when they noticed the rest of their group had arrived. Duo and Lucifer both smirked identical smirks. Lailah resumed cooking, a faint blush gracing her features.
They had all just seated themselves and Lailah started serving when they heard a voice calling from the living room "Lailah? I can smell food cooking so I will presume that it is you cooking." The voice became louder as the person neared the kitchen.
Lucifer smirked from his spot next to Lailah, placing a hand on her arm to keep her from going to greet this new visitor, as the door opened.
"Lailah, Michael is quite perturbed and....What in the name of the Heavenly Halls is going on here?"
"Why, we're having breakfast Raphael. Would you care to join us?" Lucifer spoke expressing pure innocence, with an underlining of something more.
Lailah half-glared at Lucifer, "Please ignore him Raphael. Did you need to speak to me in private?"
"If we talk in private no one will see us for days and you know it." Raphael stated after composing himself, throwing in an insinuation of his own to set Lucifer off balance. "As for why I am here....Michael is on his way....as soon as he finishes his morning work."
Lucifer had excused himself from remaining to meet with Michael stating he had some important matters to take care of. Now, as he stood looking into Hell's infirmary, he was wondering if he should have stayed. It might have been the less painful of the two options.
"Sir?" His lead healer was trying to get his attention.
Lucifer turned to the former protégé of Raphael, "So how bad is he?"
A crash drew their attention back to the patient in question, "Someone or something has tampered with his mind and it's caused all the feelings he's kept suppressed and in check, to come flooding to the surface. I don't know if there is anything to be done for him short of overloading his brain and starting from scratch with him."
Lucifer turned an icy stare at his healer, "You do realize that would bring not only Lailah but Gabriel storming down here to cause us great physical harm." Sighing he looked back at Quatre Winner as the young blond threw a chair across the room and ranted. "Do we have any other options?"
The healer cringed as the chair burst into flames, "We could release him into Raphael's care...."
"We can't keep him here long, he's coming fully into his powers. At this rate he's likely to destroy us." Lucifer lightly smiled as his healer swallowed in dread.
The Prince of Darkness and Lord of Hell found himself at an interesting crossroad. Would he send Hadriel up to Raphael who could likely heal his mind? or did he risk Gabriel's wrath and keep the boy in Hell and try to heal him? Perhaps he should bring this up at the Club meeting tonight....
The seven of them sat in the living room in silence, the tension between them tangible. On the couch were WuFei, Duo, Heero and Trowa. Across from them on the sofa were Michael and Raphael, Lailah was seated in the recliner between the two groups.
"You have already chosen." Raphael addressed WuFei, who merely nodded.
Michael clenched his teeth to keep his temper in check, "Are you certain about that decision? After all I could understand if you were coerced by Lucifer into choosing."
"I chose how I felt would be best." WuFei frowned having the feeling he should know the Archangel from somewhere.
Raphael only nodded turning his attention to Duo next, "I presume that Lailah has told you your entire heritage?" At Duo's nod he continued, "Does it help you choose?"
"You would think it would, but it doesn't. I mean it's like asking a little kid which parent he wants to live with after they've divorced." Duo explained with a negligent shrug.
Michael lost his patience at that point, "What in the world are you talking about Raphael?"
"It's not important Michael." Raphael resumed sipping his tea.
Trowa couldn't help be feel a twinge of sadness and guilt while watching Raphael. Appearance aside it was like watching Quatre before the relapse. The Archangel of Healing was calm, composed, dignified, and always polite.
"Have any of the rest of you chosen yet?" Michael looked directly at Duo while asking that.
The shrug he received annoyed him. "That depends." Duo began.
"May we ask on what?" Raphael queried, giving Michael a chance to calm himself.
Duo tilted his head, "On why you want us. I mean if we choose to go to Heaven what will we do? Will we get to finish living out these lives? Will we physically die? What?"
Raphael couldn't help himself, he started to laugh. Between the questions and the innocent expression it was blaringly obvious whose child Duo was.
"Raphael what is so darned funny?" Michael's patience was wearing thin.
Raphael stopped laughing but regarded his brother with amusement dancing in his eyes, "Does young Mr. Maxwell remind you of anyone Michael?"
Michael frowned not comprehending Raphael's meaning then suddenly, eyes widening, glanced at Lailah, then looked back at Raphael, "You cannot be serious."
Ignoring Michael, Raphael answered Duo's question, "If you so choose to return to Heaven you will be given time enough to settle any earthly matters you would need to tend to. You will be allowed to keep your mortal form for as long as you are scheduled to live. As for what you would do in Heaven you could resume your previous duties if you so desire, or you could take up new duties."
"And what were our previous duties?" Heero was intrigued.
"You, Heero, as Nekin were one of the interrogators of the deceased. Which meant you questioned those who had died and were seeking entry into Heaven. Trowa, Nectaire was known as the seducer of souls. His main duties included persuading the living to follow the righteous path. Even if it doesn't matter much at this point WuFei, Azza, your angel form, was one of the Angels of Justice." Raphael regarded each of them in turn as he spoke.
Duo suddenly snickered, "Those descriptions sound about right."
Raphael looked to Lailah, who nodded and spoke, "Duo.....Abbadon is an Angel of Death known as the Destroyer."
The four former pilots, now reincarnated Angels, blinked. WuFei, Heero and Trowa turned to stare at their comrade and friend.
Duo blinked again, "Holy shit, are you serious??"
Michael frowned, Raphael choked on his tea, and Lailah sighed, "I'm quite serious and please don't use that language. Especially in front of the Archangels."
Heero was the first to respond, "So all those times he claimed to be Shinigami he wasn't lying?"
Raphael choked again, his eyes dancing with laughter.
Lailah sighed, "Not exactly. As one of the Angels of Death, Abbadon serves under Gabriel. Azza served under Michael, as did Nekin. Nectaire served under Uriel. So Abbadon wasn't the Angel of Death, but one of the Angels of Death."
Silence dominated the room for a few minutes before Trowa cleared his throat and asked hesitantly, ".......And Quatre?"
The three elder angels exchanged looks and held a silent debate over who would reveal that information. Raphael finally set his cup down and spoke, "Hadriel was one of the Angels of Punishment. His duties included seeing that those who did wrong were suitably sentenced and ensuring that they did not escape their just punishment."
WuFei spoke softly after another stretching silence, "I can't quite see Winner doing something like that."
"Then you haven't seen him recently. " The distress was evident in Trowa's voice.
Lailah turned to Raphael, "That is something you may wish to discuss with Lucifer. I'm afraid Hadriel isn't completely well."
"That's the polite way of saying that he's lapsed into complete insanity." Heero's monotone delivery caused several people to flinch.
Author's note: And thus ends this chapter...I think I'm doing ok with this story, I'm no where near Rose Argent's level but I'm still working on it.
