Here we go again... I do not own Darksiders or Beauty From Pain by Superchick. There, everyone happy? Cause if not I don't care. Kidding! Your opinions slightly matter to me. But only slightly. Chocolate matters more. Chocolate won't let you down or insult you. Point is, chocolate is life.
War
He didn't mean for it to end up like this, really, it just sort of did. He found himself tailing the she demon whenever he could. He found her interesting to watch, especially how she acted with others. With angels, she was feisty and challenging, with demons, bored and barely tolerant, anyone else, sarcastic and cheerful.
She traveled through the realms, never staying in one place for long and never used the same name twice in a row. In the Forge Lands she helped build constructs and went by Maeve. In Shadow's Edge she taunted Samael and was Ruby. She even went to Lostlight and spoke with Nathaniel, which made War question the constant battle between angles and demons, as Clover.
War was almost caught once in the Kingdom of the Dead by Draven the Blademaster as he and Alina, who was going by Scarlett, were sparring at the Gilded Arena. He watched as Alina skillfully dodged Draven's sword strokes and retaliated with her own, using her wings for an extra burst of speed.
The Horseman noticed that Alina held her swords in a reverse grip but could quickly switch to block or parry a blow. Every once in a while, she would twirl one of her blades as if to make sure that she still had something dangerous to protect herself with in her hand.
They circled each other, both crouched, waiting for the opportunity to attack the other. Draven suddenly straightened, looking directly at where War was hiding. Alina, noticing the sudden change in her sparring partner, sheathed her blades and followed his gaze. War sunk deeper into the shadows of the doorway, successfully avoiding their sight.
Alina seemed to ask Draven something but from where War was hiding, he couldn't hear it. The undead warrior just shook his head and put away his own blade. He said something to Alina that made her laugh and War felt a pang in his chest.
What is this? he thought, Jealousy? Impossible…
He watched Draven and Alina leave the arena, their fight done for now. On their way out, Alina glanced up to where War stood, still in the shadows, and smiled. The demon was more perceptive than War thought.
Later
War was back at the realm where they first encountered each other. It was a destroyed world, forgotten by everyone except demons and the Council. Instead of in a high perch as usual, he found her lying in the field below the cliff, hands behind her head, and crimson ribbons in her hair.
War thought her asleep and was about to leave when she spoke up, "That's creepy bro."
"What?" he asked, slightly surprised.
She looked up at him, iridescent eyes shining, "I believe I told you before that stalking someone is considered creepy and rude, or something to that effect anyway."
He growled at her totally right accusation, "I was not stalking you."
She sat up and turned to look at him, "Oh please, I saw you at the arena, there were dead demons at the Black Stone which Samael wasn't too happy about, Ruin left tracks at Lostlight, and Thane saw you at Tri-stone."
War chose to remain silent.
Alina sighed, "I can't stay mad at you, not with that face. You might as well sit with me and watch the stars."
War did as he was told and sat beside her on the grass
The demon stretched back out, returning to her earlier position, "Soooo… why are you following me?"
War thought for a moment before answering, "…I find you interesting."
"Is that still 'cause the Council thing?"
"Partially."
"I already told you what that was about."
"The Council does not simply ignore someone."
"They're making an exception."
"Why?"
"I already told you that too."
"But-"
Alina stood and started walking in circles around War, "Ugh! You are absolutely impossible! And why do I find that actually endearing?!" She fell facedown onto the soft grass, "I'm going to sleep."
War was stunned into silence. This she demon was odd, to say the least.
He opened his mouth to speak but was cut off, "If you ask one more thing about me and that damned Council, I swear I will leave and you'll never be able to find me."
War chuckled which caused Alina to raise her head in surprise, "I was not going to."
She got up and crawled back to her spot beside him, "Then what were you going to ask?"
"What is your fascination with the Kingdom of Man?"
"Hmm, they're… interesting."
"What do you mean?"
"Well… they've come up with some really interesting stuff, they're oblivious to the dangers around them, and their lives are so short yet they can accomplish so much. Plus, I like the music they come up with."
"So I have noticed."
"What, do you have a problem with my singing?" she asked, suddenly angry.
"No."
"Humph, you better not."
Looking over to his smaller companion, War noticed a blade of grass stuck in her hair and reached over to pull it out.
A blush blossomed across Alina's face at the touch and she quickly scooted away, "W-what was that for?"
War twirled the grass between his fingers, "This was in your hair."
She looked away from him, "Oh, thanks."
"Why do you do that?"
"Do what?" she asked, standing up again, never able to sit still for long.
"Run away from my touch."
"I did not run, I scooted."
"What about on top of the building?"
"I flew that time."
"And from the alley?"
"I calmly walked."
"That does not explain why you do it."
"I… don't like being touched."
"What about that demon?" he asked, the sharp edge back in his tone.
"Who? Noir?"
"Yes."
She turned away from War to face a nearby lake, "I may or may not have been slightly drunk and about to gut him."
"Will you gut me?"
She laughed, "I could hardly do so with that armor of yours."
"Good." War said, suddenly behind her. And he hugged her.
"What the hell, War?! Let go!" She said, struggling.
"No."
"Why the fuck not?"
"I do not know."
"…At least let me turn around so I can see your face."
He released her enough so that she could turn around in his arms then squeezed her tightly once more, "I thought you did not like being touched."
"I-it's okay if it's you… I guess. Anyway, what's up with you? I act as if you've never hugged anyone before."
"…I have not."
She looked up at him, appalled, "How could you have never hugged anyone before?"
He just gazed down on her.
"Oh right, you're War. Tough, honorable, un-cuddly War who always has a frown on his face, never laughs, and never shows his emotions besides anger, calm, and more anger. Fine, I'll teach you how to hug someone, but first…" She reached up and flipped his hood off, letting his bangs fall into his face, "Hmm, you're cuter than I first thought."
"And you are bolder."
She giggled uncharacteristically, "I may or may not be slightly drunk again. Draven really knows how to party."
At the mention of the undead warrior's name, War stiffened.
"Oh relax, all we did was drink some booze and mess with the Chancellor. Besides, he's totally not my type." Alina didn't know why she needed to explain herself to War but she felt like she did.
"That was all?"
"That was all. Now back to hugging. The first step is to wrap your arms around someone, which you've seem to have gotten already."
"Yet you have not."
"At least I know how to hug someone and don't need lessons." Still she wrapped her arms around War's neck.
"What is next?" he asked, enjoying the lesson but refusing to show it.
"Next is to hold them tightly and never let them go. You know, unless you have to 'cause if you hug some people for too long it'll just get awkward."
"And next?"
"We let go, part ways, and never speak of this again."
War was taken aback by this, "What?"
"There's a reaction! Now we can add surprise to your repertoire of emotions, coming to a grand total of four."
"There is no next?"
"Well, I never said that, but the next I'm thinking about is more… intimate than I'm used to."
"We are already embracing."
"Why yes, yes we are. Your point being?"
"What is one more step further?" War smashed his lips against Alina's in a bruising but enjoyable kiss.
Oh sure, she thought, he doesn't know how to hug but he's a damn good kisser. Where's the logic in that?
By the time they parted, Alina was breathing heavily, her face beet red, and her lip was bleeding from where War's fangs cut her.
War leaned down and licked the blood away with a swipe of his tongue.
"You're creepy bro." She said, making War chuckle.
Suddenly, Alina stiffened in the rider's arms, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. She pushed away from War and studied the surrounding area, looking for the source of the threatening presence.
"What is wrong?"
"You have to leave."
"What?" he growled.
She looked up at him with a small smile on her face, "Sorry, that sounded bad but you have to go, I'm expecting very sudden and unwelcome company." She lifted off the ground a bit so she could plant a kiss on the Horseman's cheek, "Don't worry, we can continue this later. But for now, go."
Flipping his hood back up, he walked off. Concerned about Alina's sudden change in behavior, he turned back once to see her sitting on the grass, singing.
"The lights go out all around me, One last candle to keep out the night, And then the darkness surrounds me, I know I'm alive but I feel like I've died, And all that's left is to accept that it's over, My dreams ran like sand through the fists that I made, I try to keep warm but I just grow colder, I feel like I'm slipping away."
And for the first time, War was the first to leave.
Omg... what have I done? Stalker War! WHY?! Oh well, on to the next chapter! ...maybe...