Spoiler Alert!
It goes without saying that I don't own rights to either YuGiOh! or the animated series "Gargoyles".
. . . .
FORECAST: Under 18 and hard shippers, here is your warning!
Halloween 2021 FanFic Yu-Gi-Oh! X Gargoyles
When a Gargoyle Falls
Chapter 16:
Holy Water (Zayde Wolf)
"Stop starting at her like it's her fault!" Cerulean darkened as they locked upon first the pair of gargoyles gawking at her then upon the elder. "There was a bright flash of white and then we were falling. Yugi, you both came to our rescue at the exact same time, why aren't you defending her?!"
Self preservation kicked into each who was met with her gaze. The displays they had seen so far of Anzu's temper paled into comparison to what they now were witnessing. She had even roared at them when they came a bit too close for her liking, the sound that she had made to catch their attention back in the park erupting from between her jaws as the tail behind her lashed in agitation. Not even Yugi was capable of nearing the pair without earning a snap of her fangs.
"This is way beyond what I'm capable of doing." Valentine paced around the pair, ensuring that the others were kept at a distance in case whatever had changed them was transferable while keeping herself just out of reach from the peach hued gargoyle who was using her body to shield Atem as if she expected them to attack. "The spell I cast was temporary, where the original was only enough to change appearances and would only last until sunrise…" Mauve eyes widened as she looked to the gargoyle who was Anzu, finding her gaze to be watching her every movement as she walked. Her instincts were telling her to be weary of the young female, the shine in her cerulean eyes warning her to not one near her or the young man beside her. "Gods above save me. We have to find out just how much of the spell has changed her from human to beast."
Atem was the first to pick up on the suddenly tense air coming off the rose hued female. "What is it?"
"I hope I'm wrong about this but it's best to know now." The clan watched with wide eyes and dropped jaws as Valentine snaked around Anzu to throw an arm around the man's shoulders, causing him to become a stiff board. The clan then quickly moved to catch the female as she was sent flying with an ear splitting roar from the female gargoyle whose eyes now burned brightly with rage as she crouched down on all fours between the tan man and the clan as he sat upright. "Well, that answers that question." Valentine rose to stand, holding her hands up in a non-defensive manner as the peach hued gargoyle stalked forward. "Easy, Anzu, I won't do it again."
They were speechless as the claws upon the sandstone ground lengthened, a growl of warning rising up her throat while pacing in front of their leader. Atem gave himself a mental shake and took a deep breath. "Anzu." His soft call of her name might as well have been shouted as she appeared behind him, a soft purr sounding from deep within her throat as he raised a hand to cup her cheek, the twin infernos within her eyes dulling down until their natural cerulean had returned. "Come back to me, Anzu." All animosity left her gaze the longer he spoke to her in a hushed tone until she had risen from the crouched position to stand normally. Then and only then did his hand fall from her cheek, partially because now she was taller than himself, but a soft exhale filled him when her fingers laced with his when they brushed as she helped him to stand and kept a tight hold upon his hand.
"That was really weird…" her other hand rose to comb through her chocolate hair, "it was like I was in a fog then I found myself facing someone with a malicious smile and holding a ball of energy." Like a crumbling brick wall understanding crashed down upon all of them in turn as she blinked for several seconds then tilted her head. "Okay, so we're back to the staring? Come on, guys, enough's enough!"
Valentine's hand rose, asking for silence when they all broke out into indistinct chattering, and sighed heavily when it finally fell after a full minute. "Whatever spell they were hit with has swapped their forms; Anzu, you've become a full fledge gargoyle but the things you're seeing and feeling are too overwhelming for you so we'll have to keep an extra close eye on you for a while. Meanwhile, Atem, you are now as fragile and naïve as a newborn human infant." Her wings extended while looking to each of the clan members in turn. "Until I can figure out a way to break or reverse it, they have to stay in the palace."
"Only one problem with that plan," Solomon pointed to the sky. "The sunrise is upon us."
They had watched with wide eyes as each of the gargoyles one by one turned to stone. Amethyst peeked out from the curtain's part to spot them within the courtyard as the growing sunlight outshone any star he had seen within the night sky. "I have never seen the sun…" he whispered, gaze upon his extended fingers that were touching the warm golden rays. "How can I possibly describe it?" Sympathy filled him when the sounds of muffled whimpers came from the bed of pillows. He had gotten the hang of walking without a tail or pair of wings to help keep his balance but still crossed the space with slow steps until he tripped upon the carpet to land face first upon the pillows. He straightened with huff and twisted until he was facing the top of the mound that would lead downwards to where she was hiding. "Anzu?"
"I've had sunburns before but this is a whole new level."
Her muffled cry tore at his heart as he began to shift the pillows until her curled form was viewable. Sure enough, patches of her peach hued skin was an angry red in the same spots where the very same sunlight that had enchanted him only resulted in burning her. A faint hissing sound filled the air when his fingers gingerly touched her inflamed skin, but she didn't snap or lash out. Perhaps the stone slumber of the gargoyle's was not a curse but a blessing; their nocturnal skin would be so vulnerable to the sun's rays that their outer stone shell was more of a protective barrier. That didn't explain how she was not turned to a statue like the rest though. That was going to be one of the first things he brought up to Valentine once the sun set. "Anzu, will you come out? The curtains have been closed so the sun will not reach you here." Relief filled him as she maneuvered from the core of the mountain until her head rested within his lap though the rest of her remained buried. Close enough. His fingers that once had fluidly combed through her chocolate locks only snagged within knots upon knots that seemed to have formed as if by magic.
"Struggling?" She giggled, lifting her head slightly to follow his fingers as they fought with another. "There's a hairbrush on the night stand behind you." It was snatched by his hand and in no time at all, he was expertly working out each kink and knot he came across, earning the occasional hum from the gargoyle. Cerulean that had slid closed in bliss cracked open when his motions slowed then ceased all together as the soft clink of the brush sounded from its home on the bedside table. "I have to ask," Anzu sighed, shifting so that her head could move to be supported by her open palm so their gazes could meet. "Ever since we met you've always used your claws to comb through my hair even though it's so short." It was hard to tell but for a second, less than a heartbeat, she could have sworn that his tanned cheeks tinted pink.
What was this heat trying to rise in his face? He cleared his throat, moving to lie back against the pillows so that his gaze rose to the canopy above, his hand that had rested upon the pillows drifting as if of its own will back to her chocolate tresses where it fondly gathered a few to gently hold. The heat he had been trying to fight off came back full force as one of her hands rose to his own head of hair. He meant to deter her, move away, do something that would prevent the gargoyle from reaching his ebony tresses, but all fight left him as her claws gently met his scalp then rose to the tips with a drawn out motion.
The flesh of her bottom lip was caught between sharpened teeth but she ignored the flare of pain as his eyes drifted closed and a deep baritone hum came from within his throat, the tail still buried wagging slightly as he unconsciously shifted closer for her to reach better. Her other hand rose to join the other as his being visibly relaxed with each stroke of her hand. "You haven't answered my question," she whispered, keeping her voice low near a whisper as she nuzzled his hair briefly to fill her nose with his sandalwood and cinnamon scent, "and it seems you like it when I reciprocate."
Words failed him as the fine hairs across his body rose in response to the faint brushes of her claws against his sensitive scalp. No female had been allowed to touch his mane for it was reserved solely for the intended or chosen mate. It was one of the few ways that their kind could convey feelings and earn the other's affections without hinderance of horns or features that would impede other acts. This was too much…he was losing all sense of direction with each stroke of her hands… "Anzu," he gasped, eyes clenching shut farther when the very tips of her claws experimentally began to trace circles upon his scalp.
A flash of hurt appeared within her gaze as she removed her hands fully. "I just thought…" her head hung, the wings upon her back drooping slightly as he sat up.
"I never asked for you to cease or move away."
She barely had time to meet his gaze when his own hands had found themselves back within her hair, his fingernails lightly tracing the very same patterns her own claws had been upon his own scalp, and cerulean rolled backwards as foreign thrills slipped down her spine. Incoherent words and letters sprung from between her lips as she writhed beneath his ministrations, unbeknownst to her the darkening amethyst gaze that was watching her closely. The bob of his Adam's Apple gave away his attempt to swallow the lump in his throat but he could not tear his sight away from the peach hued female who wore an expression of bliss upon her features. "It…it feels so good…" she gasped breathlessly.
"You inquired as to why my claws find themselves within your locks," he whispered, bringing his head down until their foreheads met as his fingers stilled, earning a soft sound of her disappointment, "what if I told you that such a motion as this," Atem couldn't help himself but tease her by making the pads of his fingers brush against her scalp that earned a catch of her breath, "is supposed to be reserved for one who holds affections for another?"
It was as if his words was a waking alarm, causing her to bolt upright with wide eyes and cling to the bed of pillows as she nearly tumbled off the plush mountain. Was he playing a joke on her or did he just covertly just confess that he had feelings for her?! "A-Atem?!"
"You once inquired or made the false statement that I may not 'like' you," he said slowly, his hand rising to cup her chin. "But I never stated such a thing. You came your own assumption without asking me."
"But- You- I-"
He flinched as the air filled with the sound of tearing cloth that was followed by a telltale thump as she disappeared from sight. "Anzu? Are you alright?"
The peach hued gargoyle was too flooded by questions to hear his call. She'd been hit by the realization of her internal feelings for violet skinned clan leader, thanks to all of the world hopping and seeing the other various forms of himself mistakenly coming to her aid or affection, but what he'd said just now caused the heart in her chest to convulse. It was hammering as if it were trying to burst forth from her chest! Sadness replaced the elation within her veins as she shuffled away from the bed to curl into a ball in the farthest corner of the room when she saw the mess of shredded pillows now scattered about the room. Her claws had effortlessly and completely destroyed the them yet she'd had the audacity to use the very same claws to take advantage of his human form and perform a sacred motion that was supposed to be only for those who were meant to be together. "I annihilated those pillows!" Her gaze fell to the claws at the ends of her fingers. "Even when under Valentine's spell these were barely enough to satisfy a scratch but now…"
Atem was across the room the second the whimper had left her lips, his arms wrapping around her tightly as she attempted to move away from him. "They were only pillows. It was an accident-"
"But they touched you!" Cerulean met amethyst. "My gosh, what would have happened if I'd slipped or put too much pressure?! I could have killed you!"
"That is enough, Anzu!" His hand slowly pet the the top of her head as it came to rest upon his shoulder in shock from his shout, his whispered apology falling on deaf ears as tears began to spill down her cheeks. "The form you are in may be borrowed but the heart within is still your own. Just as it took me time to learn to walk, you too shall regain full control over your being." What he longed to confess in hopes of comforting her was that he too often felt the same when he realized his own actions towards her. There had been so many times he'd acted without thinking only to realize that he very much could have inflicted great harm upon her after what had occurred upon the rooftop of the old theatre. However he was calmed the longer time passed and the fear never came to pass. "I am sorry for shouting when your ears are so sensitive."
Her head slowly shook, snuggling farther into his hold as her being released it pent up tension the longer his scent filled her nose. "Atem?"
"Hm?"
"Not to change the subject," a loud grumbling filled the air as her face heated, "but I'm hungry."
A much quieter one, this time coming from his own midsection, sounded as he pulled away so that their gazes could meet. "As am I. Shall we hunt?"
Her hand met his cheek in a light pat. "We are in the twenty-first century. Hunting is more of a sport for some people." With a bit of wiggling and grunts, she successfully held up the small little rectangle that he recognized as her cellular device from her pants pocket. Anzu's expression fell though when she found it to be low on battery. "Aw, man, I knew I should have put it on the charger yesterday." She offered it to him all the same with a smile. "My claws won't let me use the touch screen buuuuuut," her smile grew as he regarded the electronic with hesitancy, "I know of a certain someone who could."
. . . .
It took some time and a lot of patience, but soon she had him navigating the now plugged in device enough that they were capable of accepting several orders from various drones. Atem had offered to venture outside so as to save her from stepping out of the room but she had insisted on tagging along and he couldn't help but be thoroughly entertained by the sight of the makeshift blanket cloak that she donned so as to follow. Even he had to admit that if any were to catch sight of them most would simply dismiss their appearances; he looked like a normal human, minus the extravagant jewelry, while she looked to be playing a monk or some other individual that would require such long outerwear. She always followed behind him a few inches away in case she needed to make a break for the shadows if the wind decided it wanted to play with the blanket she clung to but still close enough to walk him through how to accept each package that came.
"This era is quite interesting." he commented, accepting the last to arrive and turned to find the tail behind her swishing. Amethyst followed the trail between her own and the warm box he was holding as they began walking back towards the room, his lips rising into a smirk when he spotted the motion of her throat moving. "Why, Anzu, if I did not know any better I would think you are drooling."
She shook her head, snapping herself out of the revere the delicious scents from the box were casting on her. "Stop teasing and let's hurry back already! I'm starving!" Cerulean narrowed when he wiggled the box in his hand as if taunting her. With a pounce, she made to snatch the box from him but blinked in surprise as he appeared beside one of the nearby pillars within the shadows. "Class is in session and here's the lesson for today." A flick of her tail knocked him off balance as she arched to block his attempt of a dodge, proudly raising the box high in the air as she managed to swipe it as he crashed against her that landed them both on the ground. "Never stand between a girl and her food!"
"And here is one that you should learn from the ancient times." He wrapped an arm around her, pinning both arms and wings against her sides, as the box was swiped back. His amethyst eyes twinkled with mischief as she gaped up at him. "Never proclaim yourself victor before the battle has concluded."
Against any other opponent he probably would have won, but Anzu was a dancer. Her flexibility was beyond what any normal person's would be and showed it to be true as she kicked off the ground until her back arched in the air so that she was suspended for a moment while taking him with her that nearly caused his head to fall back and meet the sandstone if not for her quick pivot that caused him to land on his left side as she snatched the box and stared down at him with a self satisfied smile as she righted. "Thank you for the lesson, oh wise one, but if you don't mind I'd like to eat my food while it's hot."
Rarely, if ever, he'd ever been bested on the fields of battle or when training with the other clan members. To find himself on the ground as she stood over him was filling him with something that he'd never encountered before and next thing he knew his being was pressing against hers, amethyst locked upon cerulean that blinked in confusion; each of his hands had pinned her wrists to the pillar, one knee on either side of her own, the box fallen somewhere forgotten as the feeling within his blood grew. No female had ever caught him surprise as much as she has but it was the way she met challenges without flinching that had caused a stir within him. Every single member of the opposite gender that he encountered, training or otherwise, would avert their gazes and submit to his will without hesitation or objection.
Anzu Mazaki was not like them. She was feisty, courageous, stood up for what she believed in even if it wasn't the common opinion, and followed her heart no matter where it led. One in a million? No, far more special. It had taken several hundred years, over a thousand to be exact, for him to encounter someone like her…someone that made his heart beat for a reason besides his own life. The smallest little things that she did often left him speechless or watching her in awe just so he wouldn't miss anything special; a smile, the twinkle in her eyes, the sound of her laugh, even the near ghost-like trails of her fingers across his skin. He wanted to treasure them all.
Anzu was taller than he was but thanks to his surprise attack she'd been caught with bent knees that brought her down to his level, earning herself the locked stare down of the century as he stared into her eyes as if he was seeing her very core. Panic rose within her chest as something entered his gaze that caused heat to pool within her stomach the longer they remained in this position and trembled as his head bent slightly, their noses brushing. What could possibly be going on in his head? "Atem?"
No answer.
Whatever dream or world he was in, she had to find a way to snap him out of it before she lost feeling in her legs and hands. Her long ago proclamation of getting her revenge upon him came screaming back at her when gravity seemed to pull his head down farther. "I warned you earlier to watch your back," she whispered, the movement of her lips drawing his gaze downward but it didn't appear as though he figured out what she had said judging from him coming closer still. "You asked for it." The flush of her body met his as she arched her back, eliciting a sharp gasp from the tanned young man as their chests brushed, and ever so carefully nibbled the pulse point in his neck.
It was as if he was waking from a dream as his eyes widened, quickly releasing her and taking a step backwards as she caught herself before crashing to the ground. The lingering heat and scent of warm apricots that had filled his nose wasn't as strong as it had been when he was a gargoyle but it had been enough to pull him farther into whatever mental standby place that was. His hand rose to ebony hair as he attempted to calm the racing of his heart. What had come over him just now? "Anzu, I-" The words of apology that he meant to voice lodged within his throat as his gaze fell upon her once more. Her fair cheeks were dusted with a rosy hue, hooded eyes watching him closely as she rose to stand, and dare he even call the shadow in her eyes longing?
"Let's head back." She deftly swiped the fallen box that was beside him, her gaze not breaking away from his own even when she invaded his personal space in order to retrieve it, their breaths wafting the other's face for the second she lingered there, then she waved the box like a flag. "And I declare myself victor." A smirk raised her lips as a sound came from behind, casting a glance over her shoulder as a bright pink tongue peeked out from between her lips and earned a shake of his head as he followed.
. . . .
The food was consumed within minutes of them returning to the room; Chinese, classic American, even the multitude of burritos had disappeared. For reasons he couldn't explain, even after consuming all that food, Atem found that he couldn't join her in blissful slumber. Not that he was complaining or anything. It gave him the chance to carefully go over their situation while keeping watch as she slept.
They had nearly reached the palace when a violet orb of magical energy had collided with them that not only rendered him human but she a full fledged gargoyle. Valentine had been inside the walls and had been alongside Yugi in rushing to their rescue but could they simply rule out that she wasn't responsible? She was the only one among them that knew sorcery. There was that looming threat of the one who cursed them: Bakura. He had somehow survived the passage of time, just as the rose hued gargoyle female had, but what did it mean?
A soft whimper from the slumbering figure beside him was quieted as his hand met the top of her head, gently petting it for several seconds until it appeared that she fell farther into peaceful sleep. His gaze that had been locked on the nearby window drifted to rest upon the slumbering female as she curled herself farther into his being.
To think that they had met all those nights ago was still unbelievable. He was an ancient being that was cursed to their kind's stone slumber during the daytime for a thousand years by the very same person they had once called friend while she was a human girl who was only of twenty-two years into her life yet she had endeared suffering at the hands of fate by means of her deceased parents and that individual Kokurano Toei. So young but her strength was clear for all to see when she stood fast in her beliefs in the face of opposition. At Kaiba's behest, she took a job as one of the entertainment dancers and she had departed from the festivities earlier than the rest. Fate must have led her by the hand to the palace courtyard, it was the only explanation, how else would she have found herself attracting their attention? The costume she had worn was what Anzu had called a cheap knockoff but it had been enough to engage the clan's curiosity…including his own that went so far as to drive him forward to call out to her that early October night.
He had not meant to frighten her, only meant to survey or identify if she truly was one of their kind, which he had quickly miscommunicated both that resulted in her nearly falling to her death. Even now Atem couldn't help but grimace as he looked back over his actions. He'd been so cold to her at first and yet she didn't hold it against him. She had even met his distrust head on with the proclamation that she was worthy enough to earn it and that she would.
And she did.
Now it was hard for him to form the thought of how their lives would be if he hadn't rushed to rescue her that night or discovered her inching towards death's door. Such dark and dire thoughts would only bring about bad luck so he quickly dismissed them before they could fully form within his head. What mattered was that he had done those things, that they had met in the first place, that his heart that had long since been lacked emotion was now spilling over like a great golden chalice failing to contain too much wine.
What many would call a surprised squeak slipped from between tanned lips as a pair of arms suddenly entrapped him against her being. As a gargoyle, she was larger that he so it was easy to find himself completely and utterly at her mercy as both her legs came upwards to force his to bend. One of her legs found itself rising to rest upon his hip while the other nestled between his bent knees, her tail coiling around his waist as if it too were trying to bring him as close as possible while her left arm wrapped around his head and the right around his shoulders. It wasn't uncomfortable by any means, if anything it was enjoyable, but the rising heat in his face was growing by the second thanks to the twin mounds that made the surrounding pillows seem like hard rocks in comparison.
He should wake her up.
It was the right thing to do.
Even he couldn't predict what her reaction would be if she were to wake and find them in this position.
"…Hush now, love, tis time to rest…" she sighed softly, nuzzling his forehead, lips brushing against his tanned skin, "…within my arms, thy worries and woes cannot touch…" The tips of her fingers found his scalp again but this time their motions were sluggish and slow.
His body, muscle by muscle, relaxed as she softly sang in his ear, the lids of his eyes slowly drifting closed as the lullaby she sung seeped into his being. Their clan was raised to think of each member as brother or sister, there was no need to know or find whom one's parental parents were if everyone was family. In this moment though, with her lullaby surrounding him made him wonder if this was what it truly felt like to be within the arms of someone who cared for you in a different way.
"…til dawn's golden kiss upon your head…upon the clouds of midnight stardust shall you rest… "
Farther and farther he sunk into the vision of clouds that she painted with her song until his head fully rested upon her chest. A small smile lifted her lips as she placed one last kiss on his nose then allowed herself to join him within dreamland. Had she been awake the whole time? No, she'd only awoken when the pressure within the air had become too much to bear and had found it to be coming from Atem. She'd wanted to do something to ease his mind and the lullaby her father once sang seems to have been just what the gargoyle turned man needed. "Sleep well," she murmured, "my love."
. . . .
"Are you sure you traced her cell to the right location, Duke?" A man with platinum white hair looked up at the skyscraper in front of them with doubt.
"Technology doesn't lie. Let's go." The man with blazing emerald eyes took the stairs leading upwards to the entrance two at a time, stuffing his hands within the pockets of his leather jacket as his companion hurried to follow. "Ryuo, something is going on and I'm going to find out what. She's been too secretive and cryptic lately."
The security guards at the doors watched them closely as they entered, both immediately recognizing the decorated officer though he was not in uniform, and was quick to authorize farther entrance for him. They did, however, closely monitor the pair from a distance to ensure neither would overstep the set boundaries. One of them, a man with a pointed haircut that looked sharp enough to be used as a weapon, was waiting for them in the elevator by the time they reached it. "Gentlemen, if you would follow me please."
Emerald and toffee narrowed but they complied all the same and the elevator came to a stop upon one of the most highly secured levels that would only be allowed to press or the tycoon's own sibling. "Thanks for the lift, Rolan." Duke gave a curt nod in passing as they departed from the elevator and stepped out into a waiting room that looked to be straight out of a sci-fi movie.
"Bloody 'ell, everything is either metal or white. Hasn't he ever heard of the color wheel?" Ryuo's lip curled as they crossed the room to stand in its center. Despite the mid-season jackets they wore, their skins were crawling as if there was a cold breeze against their skins. "You feel that?"
A hand drifted downwards to rest against the bulge that was a concealed firearm. "You bet I do. Something's not right."
Call it stupidity or gut instinct, he preferred the second, he carefully tested the nearby door and found it unlocked. It was as if they were stepping into an entirely different world than the room they'd just come from.
Metal and white was replaced by sandstone and earthy toned wall paintings. Was this even the same building? Duke was quick in pulling his companion around the corner as the door slammed closed behind them and found it locked. Looks like the only direction they could go now was forward. Each step they took down the beige hallway filled them both more with the feeling that they shouldn't be there until they stepped out into a courtyard where a magnificent fountain filled the air with flowing water. That wasn't was caught their attention though.
"Great Scott, do you think Kaiba had these made?" Ryuo, with wide eyes, made to approach them when he was pulled back before he could step out of the shadow they were in.
"Those statues look too detailed," Duke whispered, releasing his hold only when the man that insisted on tagging along who'd promised to not hinder him gave a nod of understanding, and fixed his gaze upon the statues. "Something tells me they are more than what we think." He bristled as Ryuo began walking down one of the passageways. "Where do you think you're going?" His brows furrowed when no answer came and hurried to follow as that annoying gut feeling warned him to not let the platinum haired man out of his sight.
Easier said than done.
He somehow found himself at a fork with his friend nowhere in sight. "Damnit, Ryuo," he grumbled, a hand rising to adjust his headband. "How is it that the guy still manages to get himself lost when he's a grown ass man?" Alarm filled him as lack of a certain object's weight on his hip caused ice to slip down his spine. The gun he carried was missing from its holster.
. . . .
Sleepy cerulean cracked open, a wide suppressed yawn splitting her jaws wide open as a pair of familiar scents tickled her nose. Was that… Nah, there's no way they'd be here. She snuggled back within the comfortable embrace that she'd found herself in when she caught sight of something she'd never thought was possible. Atem was sleeping as soundly within her hold, the heavy shadows that had been forming under his eyes as the day drug on appearing to vanish before her very eyes as his breath wafted against her skin. All the times she had seen him slumber as a statue he always wore an expression of deep thought, worry, borderline anguish. That wasn't the present case. Each plane of his countenance was smooth and wrinkle free, leaving her to swoon in the full glow of his handsome features. As a gargoyle he was an impressive male specimen but the human heart within her chest almost couldn't take how attractive he was currently. The sharp eyes had remained unchanged, the tanned skin that was soft to her touch, callouses upon the pads of each finger were still there. Should she remove the golden decorations that he still wore? Anzu dismissed the thought as soon as it formed. They were as much a part of him as her dancing was to her. He would probably be more comfortable but she couldn't bring herself to wake him when he was sleeping so deeply.
A glance at the clock revealed that her nap had lasted nearly two hours but there was still a lot more until sundown when the others would awaken. What could she do to pass the time? She blinked as she spotted the fully charged cell light up with a notification. Maybe a few games would help. Her arm carefully lifted from his sleeping form to pick up the device and brought it close enough so that her other hand could reach as she struggled to open one of the apps. "Curse these claws," she breathed, then grinned while using her nose to open the camera application before she decided against it. "When in doubt, use the nose." Her finger quickly lowered both the volume and screen brightness so as to not wake the man. A telltale flick of her finger, a flash of the screen, and a quick press of the heart icon that would save the photo within her favorites caused her lips to rise into an adoring smile. Sorry, Atem, couldn't resist, she mentally whispered, moving the phone up to her nose once more to open the original game she'd had in mind.
. . . .
His hand lashed out to grab onto the passing figure. "And where do you think you're going?" Duke growled, tightening his hold upon the platinum haired companion he now regretted bringing along. "You are supposed to stay with me, not get yourself lost, you moron." He'd found him sneaking around near one of the rooms that he could only assume was a strange open air public bath. "Hurry up and put some clothes on so we can get out of here."
"You said you had a search warrant."
"I never said I didn't," he shrugged, "but sometimes you gotta tweak the system a bit."
Toffee eyes rolled as he quickly donned the discarded clothing, carefully watching the officer who was gazing about room with mild interest. "It's written all over your face, Duke, you're just as curious as I am to this place.
"Yeah but you don't see me stripping and making myself at home."
A violent tremor shook the ground as they exited the space, making both cling to the doorway as what could only be described as a wraith sped towards them from the rising mist of the water. Emerald widened as Ryuo took a stance, arm extended as if he could halt what was surely a figment of imagination, and gapes as it writhed then disappeared back into the water as a sphere of energy exploded from somewhere he couldn't see.
"W-what the hell was that?!"
"No time to waste, we must go!" Ryuo's stare left the office little room to object as the entrance started to crumble and they quickly departed. What Duke didn't realize as they found their way back to the elevator was that his companion was grinning as the moisture clinging to his hair quickly dried from their muted sprinting and was just about to step aboard the mechanical contraption when he froze. There, almost too weak for him to catch, was the presence of the one he was hunting. "Ah," he whispered, glancing over his shoulder as the doors slid closed, "so this is where you've been hiding." A malicious grin lifted his lips, toffee flashing onyx as the ends of his hair threatened to rise.
"What the hell were you thinking?!" Duke's hands grabbed onto Ryuo's shoulders, pinning him to the metal wall, shaking him slightly. "We were looking for Anzu or did you forget? Why did I find you in that boathouse and what was that thing that came after us?!" A quick frisk and his left hand searched his friend's clothing. "Where's my gun?"
"Perhaps you dropped it? How the bloody hell would I know!" The platinum haired man shook his head, quickly withdrawing his alternate self so as not to gain the officer's unwanted suspicion. "I-I was just curious how it would feel is all! It's been so long since I'd taken one in a tub that size, you wouldn't believe how tiny the ones in Europe are-"
He was a damn cop, he wouldn't simply drop or lose it by mistake, but it felt as if he was being led in a giant circle. "Forget it," he huffed, releasing him to lean backwards against the wall. "You probably meant well but seriously, man, not the time to let your curiosity get the best of you."
"I'm so sorry, chap, honestly I meant no harm."
Duke's emerald locked on the metal surface that was so polished that it reflected their images. Something was off about his companion but until he knew what it was probably best that he acted ignorant. "I'm starvin'. Why don't we check out that burger joint that she likes?" He would have to come back later for it when security wasn't as tight.
. . . .
Amethyst eyes had opened the second the shrill scream had pierced the air, quickly rising to his feet as Anzu fumbled slightly from his sudden motions then hurried to follow him as he fled the room. No questions were asked as she put the device away within a pocket and fell into step beside him as they sprinted through the hallways. The fine hairs across both their beings were standing on edge as they took each turn in unison, even though he was human he was much faster than her and soon pulled ahead. She nearly crashed into him as he came to a screeching halt in front of a collapsed entrance. He looked hesitant to go any farther, if the rocks hadn't stopped him, and she lightly tapped his arm to gain his attention as she stepped up to the pile of rubble. With her clenched fist and a swipe of her tail, a hole was made through the seemingly impenetrable wall and earned an unsure smile from the brunette. "You have no idea how weird it is to be able to do-"
The rest of her sentence was lost as a screaming wraith dressed in a tattered cloak tackled her to the ground, it's skeleton fingers wrapped so tightly around her throat that it made her see stars.
"In the name of Goddess of the Spring, tell me why you have shown yourself to us in this form?" Atem retracted a step when its head snapped in his direction. This was no ordinary wraith. The priestess of the High Court had been a young woman by the name of Ishizu, her two siblings Marik an Odion, were other member alongside her. All three had disappeared without a trace once the pharaoh had been replaced by the prince but now he was certain that the trio had met a truly terrible end if the sister was now a revenant of the spring. "Lady Ishizu, release her this instant! It was I who placed her within your spring!"
"Twas not she who defiled me! He who ended mine life was here!" She wailed, slowly releasing her hold so that the gargoyle beneath gasped for breath and color began returning to her face. The wraith, or the protective spirit of the spring, would occasionally show herself as a beautiful woman with long black hair, elegant and enchanting features, voice like crystal, but this form was rumored to be what she would appear if the rules of the spring were vandalized. "His power covers you both! The one who defiled me has touched you both!" The ethereal creature writhed as she rose up into the air, her fingers tearing at the cloak covering her and causing more tears. "Heed my words, King of Gargoyles, the yonder spring flows no more! He who has betrayed your clan is stronger than how you knew him! The face his wears is not his own!" Cracks began appearing across her form as she locked gazes with the peach hued gargoyle. "You whom I have healed, rely nor embrace the one you call brother! Do not allow him to steal from you the gift of the goddess!"
He was quick to snatch and enclose Anzu within his arms as the wraith exploded in a flurry of transparent particles, it's dying scream echoing hauntingly in the air as they clung to each other from shock. For the spring to become so defiled that its natural purification abilities failed to prevent it was alarming to say the least. "It is as I feared."
She flinched as his clenched fist met the sandstone beneath their feet, the skin of his knuckles splitting and crimson droplets began to bead.
"But the fact that he was here and I was not aware is inexcusable." he growled, rising to stand as amethyst was overruled by crimson that nearly frightened her as his voice lowered to bass with anger. "The one who betrayed us and cursed us to slumber for a thousand years was here under my own nose and what was I doing?! I was sleeping unaware like a fool! I should have felt him near, my instinct would have-"
"Atem, stop!" Anzu's hands latched onto his shoulders and pinned them to the nearby wall as he made to throw another punch. "You're going to break your hand if you keep that up!" She increased her hold when his pupils became slits. His body was quivering as he attempted to break her hold, nearly throwing every ounce of his weight against her, but she was a gargoyle now. Her strength was greater. "You were exhausted and the body you're in right now needed the rest! Don't ridicule it for it's shortcomings!"
"You have had your whole life to come to terms with being a human, Anzu, but I am a gargoyle! I was not born to be weak or fragile-" His words caught in his throat, realization of what had nearly come out of his own mouth causing his anger to suddenly become forgotten as her eyes widened. The damage was done though and words cannot be taken back once they've been heard.
With a shake of her head she released him and took a step back, her expression full of hurt and disappointment. "No one ever wants to be born weak but that's how we all start. Strength isn't given, it's developed over one's lifespan."
His hand extended. "Anzu-"
"Going after him now will only put your life in danger so why don't you go find some safe hiding place and stay there until night fall? That form is, as you said, weak and fragile." She turned away, cerulean glittering with unshed tears as she cast a glance at him from over her shoulder as the wings upon her back enclosed around her as if they were attempting to comfort her with a hug. "I have a friend who is blind but she's one of the greatest tailors in the world; she didn't let her lack of sight get in the way of her pursuing her passion." Her arms rose to wrap around herself from within the strange cocoon her wings had created. "I woke up when I thought I smelled my friends nearby but it couldn't have been true. It was me who noticed and didn't say anything, Atem, I am the gargoyle here and it's my fault that whoever did this got away." The tears spilled as she turned to face him. "Here I've got the strength to move rocks and fly through the air but I couldn't bear to leave your side because I was worried about you! You were so exhausted that you would have collapsed if I hadn't kept you there! Even if I had said something, what could you possibly do to that guy? From what you and everyone else has told me, he is a powerful sorcerer strong enough to kill your predecessor then curse you all to sleep for a thousand years!" She fell to her knees with a sob, her own clenched fist hit the sandstone and left a small crater beside the blood stains of his own fist. "Being human means that we are physically lacking or have shortcomings but we make up for it with our minds and hearts!" If I hadn't been so chicken that night I was supposed to walk home from work, if I hadn't called for them to come pick me up because I thought some creep was following me, they would have never been hit by that drunk driver! They were gone in a flash of headlights, Atem, that's how weak humans we are! We cling to each other in hopes that the combined strength is enough to save ourselves from the world's pain but it never is! Just when we think that we can let our guards down-" Her being bristled as he collected her in his arms, the rest of her sentence lost within a roar.
How could he have been so blind? He tightened his hold as she weakly fought against him, her motions causing them to shift until his back met the nearby wall but even then he kept her within his embrace. There was nothing he could say that would undo what had been done. What started out as anger towards the one who had defiled the sacred spring was now directed at himself. He had to try though. "Anzu, forgive me, I was ignorant and said things that were incorrect." Amethyst saw her tail rise as if preparing to strike and raised his arm so that it wrapped around it instead of meeting its original target that was his side. It was a gargoyle's natural response to being pinned; use their tail to catch the opponent off guard so that escape could be found.
"Let go of me!"
"As the earth needs the sun," he whispered into her ear, "so does the moon to light one's path within the darkness." His hold increased as she gave one last weak struggle before her being surrendered, her scalding hot tears splattering against his skin as she adjusted so that Anzu's head was resting upon his chest. "You have spoken pure truth and I will never be capable of thanking you for the lesson you have taught me this day."
She sniffled as his hand rubbed her back between her wings, his motions slowly easing them to relax and unfurl from around her so that he could fully embrace her. "You learned something from that…that…emotional hurricane just now? I can't believe I yelled and roared at you like that, Atem, I'm so sorry-"
"No, Anzu, I am the one who must apologize." His eyes clenched shut as she inquired to the lesson he had learned. "Those who are born strong bear the obligation to use it to protect the weak. I see now that one's weakness can be defined by the being themselves and mine would be how I hold myself personally responsible for anything that happens to those around me then proceed to hold it too close as a form of self-punishment." Atem's hold slackened enough that she was able to pull away and sit upright so that their gazes could meet. "Though my gargoyle body was strong, honed for battle, I could not face what was inside of me."
Cerulean widened as his finger rose and brushed underneath each eye with a careful stroke. "Are you talking about that weird stiff thing you do whenever Valentine touches you?"
He cleared his throat. "T-that is one of them, yes, but that occurs with every female." The heat he had come to dislike rose within his cheeks as her jaw dropped. "Being leader required most of my time to be committed to political and other important matters in relation to the clan. I did not have the liberty of forming- Mph!"
"That explains so much." She released him from what she realized was a borderline bone breaking hug, cupping his face between her palms so that she could gaze upon him. "Atem, you had the wellbeing of your clan to think about. It's obvious how much you care about them but you were so busy with them that you spared no thought on yourself." Her head tilted to the side as a heavy sigh slipped through his lips.
Amethyst that had slid closed opened to reveal twin shining stars that nearly took her breath away as his expression became similar to how he appeared when sleeping: free. "It is as if I have been doused in the holy waters that were once within Osiris's Spring. Anzu, do you believe in holy water?"
"You mean the stuff that a priest prays over then it has near magical properties?"
"Close," he chuckled, pulling her forward so as to embrace her once more, "it is when one's soul finds the missing piece that would complete it, like a puzzle, and I believe without a doubt that you are that piece, Anzu" His lips pressed against her left temple. "You were right on so many things during that speech of yours and I have learned much that I will not soon forget."
It was her turn to feel the flush of a blush within her face as his lips traveled downward to the space between her eyes. "As if anyone could call my rambling meaningful or insightful-" Cerulean widened as one of her wings twitched, causing her position to suddenly shift upwards and gasped as for the smallest fraction ever to be measured, their lips brushed.
See you next time!
