A/N: Hello, my dear readers! Now, about the way Danny speaks. He's been around for 114 years. He has an odd way of speaking (it's normal) and I like it that way, so don't try to tell me otherwise! And just a quick word. My computer is acting very childish and doesn't let me use line breaks the first time. So if there are no line breaks then please notify me and I'll correct it! Thank you! Now a word from our emo goth girl that looks lovely in a crumpled mourning dress!
Sam: The authoress does not own the characters like me. She has neither the time nor the money.
Author: Right-o! And now back to the story! I would also like to thank my beta readers: Timmy-chan, Kenny-chan, and Emily for helping me with this chapter! You guys rock!
Angelus Tactus
Danny's face was etched with worry and warmth as he stroked the girl's hair. He had sighed in relief when he found out that her soul was still very much in her body and that she was breathing evenly. But then he fretted over where to put her. His eyes finally settled on the couch and he laid her very gently there, before he drew up a chair to sit next to her and watched her sleep.
His hands smoothed out some of the wrinkles in her dress unconsciously as he gazed at her fondly. It was only two hours and he had grown very attached to the distressed girl. She slept serenely, her chest heaving in and out without a care in the world. He smiled, waiting until she woke up. In his mind, he was thinking of ways to tell her what he was and how to convince her believe in his ludicrous story.
His eyes drifted to her stomach where her hands were. In them was the music box, still clutched in her fingers as tightly as ever. And no matter what he did, he could not wrench it out of her hands.
He looked at the designs carefully. It was a cream-colored box, made of what seemed like marble to him. Carvings of flowers, particularly of lilies-of-the-valley, and angels with large, feathery white wings decorated the box. None of the figures were painted, he observed, but he could envision the colors of the box clearly in his head as if he could see them in front of his face.
"Such an odd music box you have in your possession," he whispered. His hands covered hers as he ran his fingers over the carvings much like Sam had done a few moments ago. "What was that beautiful melody? The tune was exquisite."
Danny watched as her lips moved, murmuring something quietly. Her eyes fluttered open. His body tensed and his hands flew off the music box.
"This is bad," he chided himself, "I have no clue how to turn into a human!" He shut his eyes, picturing in his mind what he guessed a human boy looked like.
Blue rings formed around his waist but they disappeared just as quickly as if they were never there.
"Bugger," Danny cursed as he scrutinized her with hesitant eyes. He had no idea how she was going to take this.
Her amethyst eyes searched his blue ones. They flitted to his otherworldly glow and wings, and she broke out into a grin.
"I'm here," she muttered, "I can finally be with Grandma! I'm in heaven! And you must be the angel that took me here!" She laughed with pure elation that Danny couldn't help but smile and laugh along with her.
"Not quite," Danny finally broke through her moment of joy, a grin plastered on his face. "You are still very much alive."
Her smile quickly faded into a frown. Sam took in her full surroundings and she knew in her heart, no matter how much she tried to persuade herself otherwise, that she was still breathing and still just as lonely.
"I'm not dead yet?" she asked, talking more to herself than to the angel. Tears streamed down her eyes as her chest ached with misery. A choked sob shook her whole body. "I'm still all alone then…"
The music box dropped out of her hands at last and landed on the floor, dejected and looking as though it was weeping along with her.
At the same time, Danny's chest tightened and his whole body seemed to go aflame. He grabbed at the air, collapsing to the ground. He knew, at once, what he was experiencing: Samantha's pain. He could feel every horrible emotion, every anguished tear she felt, only ten times over.
"Miss Samantha," he gasped. His hands hit something as they frantically tried to grab onto her. The lovely music box; his salvation. Danny pushed open the lid and instantly a sweet melody filled the air. Its dulcet tones flowed into his ears and his chest felt as if it was released from the wretchedness. He sat up, chest heaving for the freedom of constraint.
Danny hurried to the girl and sat next to her.
"Miss Samantha," he whispered as she cried without restraint. He did not wrap his arms around her in an embrace but merely gave her words of reassurance. "You are not at all alone. You have me. I will stay with you to the end."
"You will?" she inquired bitterly. "Why? It's not like anybody else has. Leave me alone. They all do. They all don't care."
"I will stay," Danny replied with a firm yet soothing tone. Right then and there, he knew he was in this to help this solitary girl. "I am here to bring you a happy ending. I am here to end your suffering. I will help you come out of this darkness with your biggest smile. Now, Miss Samantha. Will you smile for me?"
Sam looked up at this boy with amazement in her eyes. She had wished for someone to say those words to her. And for some reason, this stranger had come and said those exact words without even a blink. Such determination and care were in those blue eyes that she couldn't help but give him a small smile.
"That's my girl," he beamed at her, "Now, let's get you changed and we'll think about what to do with your well-being."
Danny got up, laying the music box gently down on the coffee table. He closed the lid with a little 'pat' of satisfaction.
"Thank you," he said under his breath to it. The container seemed as if it was glowing with pride at his words.
"Sam," she spoke for the first time (although very silently), without malice or despair. Her voice sounded raw. She winced when her throat burned.
"W-What?" Danny almost tripped on the coffee table, startled by her speaking.
"My name is Sam," she spoke again, more meekly than before. His face relaxed and he grinned back.
"My name is Danny!" he replied, "And I am your guardian angel!" At the pure delight of hearing her speak to him, blue rings formed around his waist and traveled up and down his body. His eyes clouded over and he shut them softly as a warm blue light bathed over him, shielding his form from Sam.
His robes and wings disappeared and in their place were a white t-shirt and jeans along with a mundane body, pale and timid. His new body dropped to the ground with a light tap from his new shoes. Only his earring remained, dangling and reflecting off light.
"Ah!" Danny yelped when his new legs doubled over and he fell head over heels, "Ow."
And she laughed. Her bell-like laughter rang through his ears. He watched her with an expression of both amazement and cheerfulness before laughing along with her.
"Danny, right?" Sam asked, sitting in her kitchen and eating a bowl of salad. He nodded, standing up and trying to walk with wobbling or collapsing. As of now, he was not as successful as he wanted to believe.
"I was not aware that this 'walking' would be so... heavy," he took a step forward, barely keeping his balance, "It is as if my legs are weighted with lead."
"Let me help you there," Sam got up and grabbed his arm, steadying him along her shoulder and leading him to a chair. "You'll probably get used to it in a few days."
She sat down across from him, staring him full in the eye.
"Want some?" she offered him a bowl of salad, "You probably haven't eaten anything yet." He looked at the bowl with disgust but masked it with pleasantry.
"No, thank you," Danny pushed it away gingerly. "I cannot eat anything that was once alive. Do you have milk by any chance?"
"Er...," Sam rummaged in her refrigerator for the said item. "Yeah." She handed him the carton and a mug.
"Thank you," he beamed at her, before pouring the white substance in the mug and downing it in one sitting.
"Okay, now I want answers," Sam demanded as she watched him drink the entire carton, "Who are you? Why can I see you? What was that thing over my shoulder when I was about to... that." She made a vague gesture. Her lip twitched as if she was about to weep again but her eyes remained impassive and strong.
"I am Danny, as I have already told you," he began with the look of greatest magnitude, "And I am a guardian angel from Heaven. You can see me because I am in human form."
He ended, leaning back on his chair, giving her a pleased smile.
"That is not fair," she complained, her mouth pursed in annoyance, "You didn't answer my questions."
"I did," he shot back, defensively, "Just not in the way you wanted me to."
"What about my last question?" Sam stuck a forkful of salad into her mouth. "What was that thing? And why could I see it?"
"That was not part of your last question," he mumbled, hands crossed over his chest like a sullen child. She growled at him, glaring daggers. "Fine, fine! I will answer! No need for anger!"
"Well?" Sam asked, her eyes full of anticipation.
"That-," Danny began, with a long shuddering breath. He hesitated in telling her the truth. "-was a demon."
"What?" Sam felt like balking, "You can't honestly think I will believe-" He raised an eyebrow and pointed at himself. "Oh."
Suddenly, she felt the urge to vomit out the contents in her stomach. Such a vile creature was near her, commanding her, and she listened to it. Her head was swimming with repulsion and blatant horror.
"There, there," Danny consoled her, "You had no control. You didn't know." He laid a warm hand on her back, his eyes alighted with understanding.
"Why are you here?" she asked after taking several long, deep breaths to calm herself, "Why are you helping me?"
"Because I care," Danny evaded the real answer he knew she was searching for and patted her softly. "It has been a very long and tiring day. Why don't you get some sleep?"
She grabbed onto his shirt tightly when he got up. Danny looked at her with mild surprise. In her eyes, he could see that something inside her was broken, both mentally and spiritually.
"Will you stay?" Sam gave his shirt a slight tug. He gave her a kindly smile and took her hand.
"Certainly," he nodded, "I will stay. Now go to sleep." His hands glowed a gentle blue as he pressed them lightly over her eyes. She slumped in her seat and fell into his arms. He whispered in her ear quietly. "Good night, Sam."
A nightmare. A horrible nightmare. Sam tried to convince herself of that. Something was shaking her shoulder, trying to wake her.
"When I open my eyes, I will see Grandma telling me 'good morning'," she murmured. She opened her eyes and met warm azure ones, smiling oddly down at her.
"Good morning, Miss Samantha!" Danny chirped.
"Aaahhh!" Sam squealed, "Who are you?" She backed all the way to the headboard of her bed, clutching her sheets. She hoped the words she dreaded wouldn't pass out of his lips.
"I'm your guardian angel," he gave her a puzzled look, "I was here yesterday."
And just like that, all the emotions and memories came back to her.
"Oh," she mumbled, grimly. She bit her lip and pulled away the covers of her bed. Beside him was a plate of fresh fruit, a bowl of cereal, and a glass of soy milk on a tray.
"Here, eat something," Danny pushed the food in her direction. "You have school in half an hour."
"I'm not hungry," Sam pushed the tray back to him firmly. A growling in her stomach told otherwise but she refused to look at him another second. She headed toward the bathroom with full intent on locking herself in.
"Stop," Danny captured her wrist, looking at her with pleading eyes. He motioned toward the cereal and fruit. "Please. You have to eat something." Sam glared at him, her patience finally snapped.
"Leave me alone!" she screamed, her hands balled into tight fists, "You are not my mother! You can't tell me what to do! No one can. Not my mother... not my father..." Her tone got quieter and quieter as she trailed off, fresh tears pouring down her face.
"Miss Samantha," he reached out to placate her but she slapped him away. Her eyes were cold and steely, devoid of any warm emotion. Around her was an aura of defiance.
"I don't need your help," she spoke with the utmost indifference. She turned on her heels and continued on her way to her confinement. The bathroom door shut with a slam as Danny winced. He sat on her bed praying that she wasn't getting herself into trouble in her own bathroom. At every little noise, he flinched and drummed his fingers on her sheets. Finally, the door slammed back open.
Sam came out wearing a black off-shoulder top that clung to her every curve on her slim frame and a plum-colored skirt that reached only mid-thigh showing creamy white legs. Her hair was in a mid-ponytail clipped with a purple spider pin and her makeup reeked oh so delicately of gothic darkness. She laced her long black combat boots as she hopped out to the front door.
Danny trailed behind her, his eyes widening and his jaw nearly dropping to the floor. It was then that Danny fully knew that Sam could be defined as 'very, very beautiful'.
"Miss Samantha?" Danny whispered, his cheeks stained a glowing crimson. "I don't think you should wear that to school."
"Shut it," she hissed, "I'll do what I want to." She stood herself upright, daring him to protest more.
Danny sighed in exasperation after he mentally controlled himself from staring at her.
"So be it," he pulled out a blue backpack from seemingly out of nowhere, his expression resolute. "If you decide to remain so stubborn, then I will just have to attend school with you to keep you safe."
Sam did not expect this.
"What?" She screeched in protest, "No way! You are not going to ruin my school life!"
"Well, I don't see why not," Danny closed his eyes, concentrating intensely on his angelic figure and ignoring her screams and rants. White wings flowed out from his back, surrounding them in a flurry of white feathers. He offered his hand. "Now come. We're going to be late."
Sam was so stunned by the appearance of his wings that she did not notice him tugging her arm and carrying her off the ground and into the sky. She watched his calm yet warm face with a feeling of guilt in her stomach.
The ride was peaceful and soothed her in a way that she could not put into words. She sat in his arms, thinking about what she had done this morning. She was so mean and cold to him when he had saved her life and offered her a hand in her despair.
"Miss Samantha?" Danny jostled her a bit, shaking her out of her revere, "Miss Samantha? We're here." Sam blinked, confused.
"Huh?" she looked around and saw that everyone in the school yard was looking at them and whispering to one other. Sam blushed hotly. She was still in Danny's arms but thankfully his wings were gone.
"Let go of me!" Sam jumped out of his arms. She stomped her way up the steps, trying to block out all the whispering. Her fists clenched and unclenched themselves as she couldn't help but overhear one of them.
"Did you see, Star?" a Latino girl whispered to a girl with pearly blonde hair, "Who is that hottie? He is so cute! Total boyfriend material! And why was he carrying that gothic freak?"
"I don't know, Paulina," Star whispered back, before squealing, "Look! He's coming to us, right now!"
"Oh!" the Latino girl Paulina, whispered back, fumbling her around her bag, "My makeup! Is it okay? My hair-"
Danny ran past them, totally ignoring them and headed for Sam instead.
"Miss Samantha!" Danny ran to her, "You forgot your backpack!"
"Thanks," she mumbled, snatching it up and jumping up the steps to the school doors. She stopped, watching people staring at them, waiting for a reaction, and then at Danny, who looked at her hopefully, waiting at the bottom of the stairs. She sighed. "Hey, want to walk with me?"
Danny grinned lopsidedly.
"Definitely," he ran up the steps. His foot caught on the last one though. "Whoa!" His arms propelled themselves in an attempt to stop him from falling but to no avail.
CRASH!
"Owie," he rubbed his head, drawing himself up like a child. "That hurt."
Sam's lips twitched into a smile.
"Come on, you big klutz," she turned and walked inside with him following her like an obedient puppy.
A/N: Yay! Another chapter done! And yes, I took the milk thing from Wish by Clamp so do not sue me! Please be sure to tune in for another chapter of Of Angels and Reaper Boys! Coming soon to your neighborhood!