Heavenly Hellions, Hellish Angels, Human Bodies

Story By: Maeleana

Disclaimer: ...Mmhmm.

Author's Note:I hope no one gets lost by the POV changes.

Chapter 11: Showdown


Lucifer closed his eyes, bracing himself for the impact...but it never came.

Opening his eyes he saw why.

Duo was in shock. One moment he was hearing the voice of his Angel side in his mind saying they shouldn't let Lucifer get hurt, after all that was their father, and he was a decent guy. The next he was in front of Lucifer, Quatre was flat on his back.

He didn't remember moving, he didn't remember absorbing Quatre's attack like it was water, and he certainly didn't remember launching a counter-attack, but apparently he had done all those things.

Heero didn't know what to think. The only thing he knew was that Duo was different, he was no longer the Duo that Heero knew...and loved.

Apart from the obvious physical differences: his hair now being sable, his eyes illuminated in a deep burgundy, and his wings unfurled in gleaming ebony; Heero felt something unfamiliar in Duo's presence.

Glancing to Trowa showed that his Fallen lover noticed the same things.

Quatre frowned as he got up. He would have to see that Duo paid for that attack...but he couldn't hurt Duo. Lailah wouldn't like that in the least. She loved her son and had already died for him. Well at any rate that's what she had told him.

Duo shouldn't have interfered. That was the main point.

Still frowning Quatre brushed himself off and faced the self-proclaimed Shinigami, "Now why did you do that Duo? You really shouldn't have interfered."

"I'm not gonna let you hurt him." Duo heard a voice that was but wasn't his coming from his mouth.

Quatre's frown deepened, something was wrong with Duo, "But Duo he's the Devil, and he hurt your mother. Don't you think he should pay for hurting her?"

"You try hurting him again and I may end up killing you." Duo felt his eyes narrow and a sneer form on his face.

"If you insist on protecting him rather than taking your mother's defense then I suppose we'll have to fight each other. I won't go easy on you Duo, and I'm afraid this will end our friendship." A vague look of pleading crossed Quatre's face.

Duo took stance, his eyes narrowing, his features contorting into a dangerous glare, "Our friendship ended when you took it upon yourself to kidnap my mother and attack my father."

Before his words could register in anyone's mind Duo hurtled toward Quatre.

Those who were unfamiliar with the style of both combatants were quickly starting to lose track of the fight.

The former Gundam pilots, the Archangels, Lucifer and Metatron seemed to have no problem following the every move that was made.

The fighting continued until both had to stop for a breath. The two of them looked like they had been up against a pack of wolves, their clothing was torn where they had managed to strike each other, burns, cuts and scrapes were liberally scattered across their bodies, and both were taking heaving breathes.

"Why don't you give up and return my mother." Duo said wiping some blood from his chin.

"Because she's safe where she is, and I intend to make sure she remains safe and happy." Quatre responded, a cough disrupting his breathing.

Angel and Demon alike watched with bated breath to see who would make the next move and what that move would be.

With the tense air no one seemed to have noticed that one of the Archangels had disappeared until he reappeared and spoke.

Raphael knew the risk he was taking with what he was about to say and do, "Quatre, stop it right now."

Slowly everyone turned their attention toward the Healer.

"I don't want to have to hurt you again Raphael, so please stay out of this." Quatre frowned, the Healer was supposed to be really smart, so why didn't he realize what had to be done?

Raphael slowly walked toward the stand-off, his voice was austere, "Duo stand down. Quatre you said you were doing this for the sake of someone who could not fight for themselves, did you stop to think that that being did not fight because she does not like fighting? How do you think she would react to know that you were hurting people she cares about?"

"You don't understand..." Quatre began before he was cut off.

"No. You do not understand," Heaven's Healer stated harshly. "What you are doing is hurting her more than anything anyone here has ever done."

The Archangel was being utterly rude and presumptuous; he would have to be dealt with...

"I'm sorry you feel that way Raphael. I suppose that means you are taking the side of those who have truly hurt her." Quatre's head tilted to one side in contemplation.

As he raised his hand to send an energy attack, Raphael lifted his own hand to halt the movement of those who were coming to his aid.

WuFei felt his knees weaken. Quatre wasn't just unstable, he was completely unhinged. WuFei didn't think anyone could do what Quatre had just done. But before his very eyes Quatre unleashed a powerful energy blast striking the Archangel with a blinding force that knocked him seven feet away and rendered him unable to move.

A stifling silence followed the attack lasting all of five heartbeats before a scream, that only the heartless could ignore, rented through Purgatory.


Author's Note:

The next chapter will be the ending, then I'll have an Epilogue chapter, and explanation chapter, then this story will be finished.

Austere means stern, I just think austere sounds cooler.