I swear this is the Real chapter okay I messed up but I still love this fic and its reader's thank you for being so patient with me! !
this feels much longer than it is but that's because its mostly dialog and plot instead of ACTION
but ohhhhhhh, boy, the next chapter. We got some action. Some angst. Some more action but of a different variety. And we got murder. To those that have been asking for Horseman kisses... Eyyyyyyyyyyyyy
(don't get your hopes too high though friends we're not quite into romantic territory)
but anyways! ! I'm still doing the birthday special so if you've got a request, hit this birthday havin frick tf up. I've got some things In The Works but I welcome more.
Thank you again! !
War catches you, rather unnecessarily, when you follow him back down to base level. He made a face when you refused his offer to just float down, but you do have some sense of pride (and there's a very small part of yourself that still wants to prove yourself strong enough to keep up with the Apocalyptic Horsemen).
The Watcher is saying something as War carefully sets you down, but you don't really pay it any mind because War's hand are still on my hips holy fuck. He rests them just above your scarred waist, hesitating.
To do what? You can, of course, immediately picture quite a few options, but you're certain War isn't even on the same chapter, let alone page.
He doesn't seem to notice the effect that has on your mental facilities, only asking, "Did I injure you?"
Ah. You make a face and brush his hands off to lift up your shirt. He'd be even worse if you tried to "hide" them. Really, you just want to ignore the many minor (and occasionally major) injuries you've received. Humans heal fast anyway. Apex predators and all that.
Your abdomen is covered in bruises in various stages of healing. A few newer ones could be from War, but there's really no way to know.
"I don't think so? Not like I can get much worse anyway." You hum, fixing your shirt again.
War looks... Weirded out. Not quite upset or worried, like you're sure he's feeling, but just weirded out by your strangely squishy human body. Considering his brother did shove him off a cliff that one time, you understand the confusion. He's accustomed to much sturdier creatures.
"Are we done here?" Shadow drawls, leaning against you, one skinny arm resting on your shoulder. Rather dramatically, if you're honest. Thankfully its pretty light, and your halberd has no problem supporting the both of you.
War only narrows his eyes in reply, while you confirm, "We are. Unless you want to reminisce about the fond memories we've made here." You make a vague motion to the skewed abyssal spider. You're too tired to put any heat in your words, but you figure it's the bitchy thought that counts.
"Ah, yes, I do love being the third wheel." It sounds so convincingly blasé about the whole ordeal you almost believe its not just trying to get a rise out of you.
"If anything I'm the third wheel, considering you're chained to War while I'm chained to... The Council?" You wiggle a bit, making the links clank. It's almost a comforting sound at this point. A constant background noise.
The Watcher pauses, its eyes narrowing. "I'd suggest making sure you're flame retardant before trying anything."
What the fuck does that mean... Wait.
Oh, no.
You nearly double over in attempt to hold back your laughter, shaking the Watcher off in the process. God dammit, Watcher.
War seems to take your sudden lack of composure as a symptom of your injuries, moving to wrap one arm around your waist. "What did you-"
You interrupt before War starts throwing around an accusation, telling the Watcher, "I could say the same!"
It recoils a bit, clearly not having expected its own joke to be thrown back. It glances at War almost contemplatively, admitting, "You do make a fair point."
I can't believe we're even having this conversation. You lean into War for support, still trying to smother the laughter bubbling out. Can War even do that? You wonder. You suppose you could ask him, but god knows that's not a question you want to voice aloud.
That's not even a question you want in your head, now that you think of it.
Great.
It takes you a minute to pull yourself together enough to tell Shadow to get back in the gauntlet and ask War to let go of your waist. His eyes narrow, but he does release you.
"So." You start, carefully moving over the debris caused by War's dramatic finisher (tm).
"So." War mimics dryly.
You resist the urge to roll your eyes. "We're almost done now."
"What's left after Straga?" He says 'Straga' with such venom you become abruptly aware that you're best friends with a Horseman of the Apocalypse. A very angry Horseman, at that.
You have to wonder what he'll do that all that anger after Straga is dead. After the Destroyer is dead.
"There's... More people involved with your death than Straga. He's was the one who killed you, but he's not nearly clever enough to be the one who... Well, I can't really word it any better than "tricked you". There were several people involved in breaking the last Seal, and while some of them deserve mercy..." Your chain heats up a bit, but you keep it vague enough to get away with this.
"I will kill everyone involved in this." He says matter-of-fact.
You sigh. "We'll see. But nonetheless, we do have work to do in order to kill the ones I want dead, and you have to deal with Uriel and that mess." That mess being the Nex Sacrementum.
Just picturing War getting stabbed makes your chest hurt at this point, but you know it's unavoidable. Unless you can convince her not to go through with it, and you really doubt that'll happen. The only way to make her see the truth is to wait it out.
"Are you in pain?" War asks, yanking you out if your planning.
You blink dumbly, "What?"
"You looked pained." He moves as if to pick you up again, and you just barely swerve out of his reach. The movement makes you back hurt, but you carefully keep that off your face.
"Stop it! I'm fine. I was just thinking." You snip, crossing your arms over your chest.
War looks dubious at best, but he doesn't try to pick you up again until you reach the spot he has to swing across.
And of course he's uses that as an excuse to not put you back down again. You narrow your eyes at his less than clever plan, and he answers with a smug grin. "Why are you so... Like this?" You huff.
"Perhaps I simply enjoy holding you."
...
Oh.
Oh, goodness.
War is awfully amused by your reaction, while you struggle to get around your shock. Are you blushing? You feel like you might be blushing. Oh god. He did that purposefully. He knew exactly what he was doing when he said that, you know it without a shadow of a doubt.
But that really doesn't help you regain function.
You've recovered somewhat by the time you make it to Samael again, helped along by the glances Vulgrim sends your way as if he knows. That sobered you up real quick, if only so you can prove the merchant demon wrong.
Samael is just as voracious as ever for the hearts, stomping over to meet you half way.
It doesn't play out like you remember, but that's to be expected given the changes you've made. War still tosses the heart over to him, allowing the Great demon Prince to eat off the floor, but there's no talk of betrayal. That's good, at least.
He does, however, still feel the need to be a dick. "Did it amuse you? Keeping me waiting? With my powers restored," lightening cracks around his eyes, "I am like unto a God!"
Weird phrasing, you note. It's almost like he's trying a little too hard to be intimidating. It's working, but nevertheless.
"I could suck the marrow from your bones before you drew another breath!"
Because nephilim breathe so often. You roll your eyes, drawing Samael's attention from the stoic Horseman to yourself. "I could..." He repeats, "but I too have a code by which I do business."
Well.
That's nice.
You shift closer to War, using the much studier Horseman as a shield even as they begin moving towards the newly opened portal. How dramatic must he be?
Samael must know how uncomfortable you are being the center of attention, but he continues speaking to you as if War isn't here. "Besides, say what you will about Balance and your ridiculous Law..."
Mercifully, its still War that he decides to get up close with as he declares, "I recognize a quest for revenge when I see one. And revenge, I respect!"
You suppress your snarky commentary out of self preservation.
"As for the details of my 'resignation'..." He once again glances your way, silently reminding you of your first act as Advisor. "I do not approve of the company my master keeps."
"Why did you challenge the Destroyer, Samael?" War says.
"See your journey to its end, Horseman, and you will understand soon enough." He motions towards the portal, a clear dismissal if you've ever seen one.
War meets your eyes, and you very abruptly become aware of the fact that while he certainly does not trust Samael, he trusts his Advisor. So does the Watcher, apparently, because it doesn't throw its usual fit about entering strange portals when you flash a smile. "Come on."
The portal has the same feel about it as Vulgrim's, although you feel much less safe in this one. You land (or appear? It feels like a landing) seconds before War, knees cracking painfully on the stone.
You hiss curses as War glances around, presumably trying to get a feel for the place. "There's... Someone here." He says.
You raise your eyebrows. "I'm assume your weird nephilim senses are telling you that?"
His lips twitch. "It's the magic. It's not demonic in nature."
"No, it's quite the opposite." You reply, holding a hand out. "There's a bridge we need to cross, and then we meet said magic person."
"And you cannot cross it by yourself?" He asks, though not accusingly. He's made it clear he doesn't have a problem carrying you places. And you will admit its nice, but you're not exactly a damsel in distress.
"My human legs can only run so fast." You say theatrically, slumping against the Horseman.
The noise he makes isn't exactly a laugh, but you'll take what you can get.
War finds it a little more difficult than usual to open the doors (and you bite your lip to keep from smiling, but you're sure he noticed anyway), but the bridge itself is easy enough to cross. You distract yourself by going over what you remember of the talk with Azrael.
War almost doesn't put you back down, but a glare has him gently placing you on the floor with a scowl that could melt wrought iron.
How cute.
"War." Your lips twist up into a grin and his scowl drops into a more neutral expression.
You're compelled to say something mushy now that you've got his attention, but instead you settle for doing your job. "Please be nice. I know you won't trust him, but his... Intentions were good."
His eyes narrow, "Who's?"
You make a vague motion towards the door.
War throws the doors open with his usual... War-ness, stopping short when he sees the angel. You almost do the same, because goodness knows how hard it is to sort through all your emotions at the moment, but there's work to be done, dammit.
You, for what feels like the first time ever, lead the way. War follows closely behind, footsteps keeping in time with your much lighter ones.
"Azrael!" You yell.
The angel startles at the sound of your voice, and you wonder how he didn't hear the doors being busted open. It's not like War is known for subtlety. Azrael spots War first, which is understandable, and then glances at you and... Stops.
You know how this is supposed to play out, and you expected Azrael to be a little more than off-put, but he looks downright shook. And that's saying something, considering you're not nearly as attuned to his facial expressions as you are War's. And he's pretty damn high up there. Hard to make out minute changes.
"Azrael." War says when the silence drags on. You shift, grabbing Fate off your back and leaning against it. You should've rested. Dammit. You feel rather than see War scrutinizing you.
"Heaven help me... A human... The seventh seal was not broken." Azrael sounds even more confused and guarded than you expected him to be.
"What have you to fear from me, Angel of Death?" War asks.
Azrael seems confused. "If you are not here to kill me, then perhaps... You will help me?"
Ever the honorable one, War simply replies, "You've given me no reason to do either."
You glance over at him sharply, "War."
"But I will listen." The Horseman amends, likely just to appease you.
"Thank you... The Gate must be shut. The Tower must be cut off from the Well! It is from the Well that the Destroyer draws his power." He explains all in a rush, as if he expects War to lose his patience or something. Maybe he does? Goodness knows War's fellow Horsemen aren't the most patient.
"The Well of Souls?" War clarifies.
"Millions of souls, yes... enslaved, twisted. A corrupt power to fuel the Destroyer's armies," Azrael does the same thing Death does, talking with his hands (and in his case, wings). Interesting.
"You are Steward of the Underworld. Watcher of the Well. Not a single soul flows back into this world without you knowing. Unless, gatekeeper, you opened the way."
I said be nice and within the first five minutes he's throwing around accusations, fucking hell, War. You roll your eyes.
"The Destroyer sent his mightiest Chosen against me. I fared no better than you did, Horseman, against Straga."
"Straga!" Again, you have to wonder how he manages to pack such disdain into a single word. Truly impressive. "You will take me to him?"
"You have my word." Azrael nods.
War must know Azrael a little bit, because he doesn't look to you for confirmation before responding, "Then tell me what I must do, Angel of Death."
"Please, you must find some way to draw power to this chamber."
"To free him!" You add, "It involves a lot of puzzles."
War looks pained by the word "puzzles" but he's nothing if not stubborn. He glances over at the doorway to the first of the puzzles, and then back at you. "Are you well enough to accompany me?"
"Yeah. I got a gun, I'll be fine." You click your claws against said gun, "Let's finish this."
War grants you an honest smile, "Together."