Category: Darksiders I & II
Rating: M
Couples: Azrael/War, Strife/Caim
Warnings: AU, Yaoi, Lemon, Mpreg
Chapter: 16
Copyright: Characters & places © By Appropriate Copyright-holder, Plot & OC´s © by me and Food-for-mind
Author's Note: Sequel to Angel of War
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Death had not spoken when they returned to the fortress. Upon arrival he left the two of them to march off to his own chambers. War briefly visited Strife – who was being watched by one of the Fallen's healers – before climbing up the stairs to his and Azrael's tower. He found the scholar in bed, their two daughters securely wrapped in the angelic male's wings.
Stopping at the foot-end of the bed, the Rider briefly stared at his family. The two girls were asleep, as far as he could tell, but Azrael was still awake, looking up at him in sadness. Sighing once, figuring that talking to his lover could wait until it would not wake up his children, he joined them on bed after a bit or rearranging.
Azrael and Grace were flanking him now, their long wings hanging down from the bed, while Gabriel was curled up on his chest. With that, the small family fell asleep.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Strife remained unconscious for several days, making the air thick with apprehension. Death threw himself into finding the ones responsible for the attack, while telling War it be best he remain at home. The demons in question had proven to be mercenaries and as such, whoever had bought their loyalty for this would need to watch the Horsemen to know whether they succeeded. For now, it was best to have them assume that War was grieving and the girls dead, rather than risk another strike.
The Red Rider was not happy about this, but acquiesced at his youngest daughter's pleas to stay with her.
What Death found after summoning one of the slain demons, was worse than merely mercenaries having found their home: the demon did not know who they were, but their sell-sword company had been bought by an angel.
The Nephilim Firstborn was furious. He had allowed Azrael to tell his relatives where the Horsemen made their residence, and now the angels had repaid them by invading!?
"Death!" Laylah and Rahab were more than a little perturbed at the Rider marching into their outpost and looking like the only reason he had not slaughtered half of their guards being by virtue of the Horsemen being allowed free access to most of said outpost. "What in Creation do you think you are doing!?" Though they were sincerely doubting they had ever implied he could just march into their apartment like that.
"Who did you tell where our fortress was located?" He counter-demanded, snarling a bit behind his mask.
"Only a select few, most of whom we call sibling. Why?" The female angel answered, while her husband seemed to contemplate going for his weapons by the way the Nephilim looked.
"Then I would suggest you find out who among your siblings hired demons to attack us." The Nephilim Firstborn stated sharply, giving the two in front of him the rare benefit of the doubt that they were uninvolved in this mess. "Because some angel hired demons to kill your grandchildren." And nearly killed my brother, he added mentally.
"They… what?" Laylah nearly snarled at the news. "Rest assured that our siblings would never do such a thing, and we will look into that."
"You better." He watched her rise with the eternal grace of her people. "And you better save him for me."
"Now that, Horseman, I cannot promise." She countered, gesturing briefly at her husband, who marched out of the room and loudly summoned several angels outside by name. "Those are my grandchildren after all. I'll want word with that angel myself. I do not take kindly to those who threaten my kin."
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"You knew." It was no question, rather a statement of fact.
"For quite a while, yes." Azrael was braiding Gabriel's hair, only briefly looking over his shoulder at his mate. "But he asked me not to tell you."
"And yet you did." War was watching them, Grace sitting curled up on the bed of her parents with a book.
"After what Death said, how could I not?" The scholar answered softly, reaching for the ribbon his child offered him. "Strife did not deserve this."
"Indeed." The youngest Rider deflated slightly, sitting down on the bed beside his eldest.