Return of the Angels
They walked through the halls, towards the office where James would be stationed as the officer in charge of what happens with the prisons. The guards immediately recognized her and nodded her through. They looked at those accompanying her and looked as if they were going to say something, but reframed. Celine entered the room with her friends following behind her and James looked up at the same moment the door opened. He looked at the three behind her, looking as if he knew too, which she didn't doubt, but he was confused on Storm who stood there smiling as if she had every right to be by Celine's side.
He looked back at Celine. "I was just finishing up," she nods at him and he quickly focused back on the work in front of him. Signing the bottom of the sheet, he placed it on a stack and stood from his seat. He towered everyone easily and Storm's smile widened whereas Fiona's and Moonbay's eyes widened. He wasn't used to standing up as he would always be found sitting behind his desk. He looked a little awkward with the two girls staring at him because he was extremely tall.
"Girls," Celine said without having to look behind her. "Staring is rude you know."
"Sorry," they replied, looking away from giant James.
"It shouldn't be me that you apologize to," she said, gently smiling.
"It's okay, Celine, it gets a little bit uncomfortable when I'm not used to standing around other people."
"It's only because you tower everyone like a turret," she says to him. They walked out with the girls tailing behind as James and Celine continue to talk.
"That's precisely why. I have to take the smallest steps so you can keep up with me."
Celine gently laughs. "It's because we're too short, James. There's nothing wrong with you, don't ever think there is."
The girls didn't know why Celine was going down to the prisons today. Obviously they may have gathered that is something to do with whoever was down there. They hadn't visited the prisons like Van and she had been doing lately. James knew why they were going down there; the guards didn't know either but they were trailing behind as they were supposed to be guarding James and not the room he works in. Storm was just a bubbling smiling female that looked as if she was going to skip any time soon. Fiona and Moonbay walked normally, as if they had business to attend to, Celine and James walked the same way but they had business to attend to. The guards business was just protecting James.
Celine looked up at James. He was focusing forward, worry lining his mid-twenties faces. James knew Raven and he was worried about the reunion. That was the reason why she was accompanying him down there. If she was there, Raven was sure to behave. He still didn't get along with Van, although they've been talking when Van visits him. Celine was still unsure on his patterns although she seemed to be the closest person to him, the only one that could even get close to him in the first place. She was slightly worried about what could happen.
She placed a reassuring hand on James' arm. "Don't worry, James, if something happens, just remember I'm right beside you."
He looked down at her and nodded. They went single file down the stairs towards the prisons. The light down below barely stretched when they walked into the open area. Candle flames were dimly lighting the room, barely stretching the darkness away. Jerry was already standing at the opening that led to the cells with a torch lit in his hand. He was looking their way, as if he had expected them any minute. He greeted Celine with a smile and nodded at his brother and the others. He still hadn't forgiven his brother for threatening Celine.
He led the way down the empty cells to the one that had a person within. Jerry rattled the keys, jerking him awake. He delayed waking up by slowly stretching. Celine felt like giving him a big slap round the back of his head, but shook her head instead.
"Don't you have something better to do than treat me like a dog?" he speaks, quite agitated.
"Oh shut up before I punish you, you self-absorbed idiot," Celine said with a smile on her face.
He looks behind and his face appeared in the dim light of Jerry's torch. His violet eyes were sparkling as he looked at her; a small smile graced his lips. "I used to be self-absorbed, remember?" he walked over to the bars, looking down into her amazing eyes.
"Can you kick everyone's ass in the Guardian Force?" she asks, a smirk still toying on her face.
"Yes," he replies with his own smirk.
"You're still self-absorbed in your abilities. Obviously you've forgotten that I've kicked your ass a few times," she says and steps back away from the door as Jerry moved the keys to open it. "Get your ass out of that cell before I change my mind."
The moment the door swung open, Raven stepped out and kicked the door closed behind him. He crossed his arms and smirked at her, as if demanding her to tell him if that was better. She smirked at him and lightly punched his arm, reframing from laughing at him. He still looked self-absorbed as he stood in the dim candle light. Storm had pushed through the crowd by now and was just looking at the two as if she knew what was going on between them. Celine noticed her through the corner of her eyes and instantly knew she was not going to hear the last of it.
"Someone wants to meet you, Raven," Celine suddenly speaks and steps back as James steps up. She stood at his side, leaning against the bars and watched as Raven's features completely changed. He remembered him, he definitely remembered him. She didn't know what had happened between the two but whatever it was, she was glad that she was down here to be support for James.
Raven's hands clenched, Celine immediately noticed the action although the others hadn't. Possibly James knew what Raven had done because his features had hardened as he looked up at James. Maybe she should step in between them, but she knew that would not sort out anything. If they went into a fist fight with each other, then she'll definitely step in. Until then, she'll watch from the sidelines. The others must have noticed the tension in the air as it looked as if they were holding their breath.
"James…" Raven spoke with an emotionless voice.
"Raven…" he responded, guilt in his voice. "What happened between us back then, I didn't mean to…"
"Forget it, James," he said narrowing his eyes. James widened his eyes, knowing that Raven was going to live on hating him.
"Now hold it, Raven…" Celine spoke, intervening. She had watched Raven's hand tighten more into a fist and she knew it was going to get ugly. She placed a hand on his chest and felt some muscles drop. "Listen to him," she advised. "Just hear him out before you dismiss and then attack him."
"Fine…" he said but didn't unclench his fists.
"I tried to help you get out of that path you were walking down on Raven," James begins.
"By trying to get me to go against Prozen?" he interrupted disbelieving.
"Raven," Celine warned calmly.
"Prozen was turning you into a monster," James stated, determined to get him to hear him out. "And since you chose him, it had worked, until Celine came into your life." Raven slightly narrowed his eyes. "You can ask anybody here if you don't believe me. Think on how many people you merciless murdered without a second thought of what Prozen was asking you. You became his puppet, one that had strings attached and he was directing your every movement without having to be question about it."
"I don't need to ask at all," he said narrowing his eyes even more.
"But Raven, you're not seeing the picture…"
"I already know what Prozen has turned me into, James," he lightened his expression and looked down at Celine who still stood between the two. James looked at him surprised. "I know because of Celine. Like you said, I had become a monster until Celine came into my life." Celine smiled warmly at him. "Yeah, I was wrong to still resent you for what happened that day, I was stupid and completely under Prozen's thumb that I thought he was doing all the right things. But I know he's no angel anymore. He's a demon and I'm glad that he's been dealt with."
"Then what are you so upset about?" James asks him and Raven looks up at him.
"I'm still upset about what Celine's done," Celine bit her lip and looked elsewhere. "She shouldn't have gone to sacrifice her life to defeat that demon Rafael." He looked down at her as if scolding her with his eyes. She looked up at him and smiled sheepishly. "Now she knows differently, don't you?"
"If I have the chance to see you ever become worried, I'll take it."
He tapped her nose and she stuck her tongue out at him and stifled her laughter when he raised an eyebrow at her. Everyone was looking at them, minus Storm, as if they had grown a second head. Celine looked as if she didn't care. She looked at her friends with a smile and Raven moved up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He looked comfortable as he did it, and Celine titled her head back to look up at him with her sapphire eyes sparkling with happiness.
"Shall we show him his room?" Storm speaks up, gaining Celine's attention. She nodded and as she moved out of Raven's arms, she grabbed his hand as a replacement and pulled him along after her.