Darkness at Dawn Part 43
Heero fought to control his fear as he opened his eyes again. The High Council Chamber was easily the most beautiful place in either Realm with its high, gleaming pearl-white ceilings and brilliantly-coloured windows that cast hues on walls and furniture...
And on the Archangel Council. Heero remained in his place as Michael moved to his seat, just to the left of an empty seat, carved of gleaming mahogany and draped with hangings depicting beautiful scenes from back on the Lower Realm. To its right sat another Archangel, watching him with bright blue eyes - Gabriel, the most powerful of them all.
It was Gabriel who spoke up, as Michael assumed his place. "We called you here for a reason, Heero."
Heero dropped to his knees before the assembled angels. "Please. I don't have the will to remain in this state. Please just..."
"Just what?" prompted Uriel, Archangel of Purity.
Heero dropped his face into his chest. "Just make it stop hurting. Make me whole again, I beg you."
Uriel lifted a graceful eyebrow. "Make what stop hurting, young one?"
Heero looked up again - there were tears in his eyes as he faced the Council. "How can you ask me that? Do you think I would lie, as well? To you?"
Dominic, Archangel of Justice, shook his head, stern, steely eyes glinting. "You do not lie. Now answer the question."
Heero refused to let Dominic see how intimidated he was by the Higher Realm's Chief Inquisitor. "I... it's as though all the colours have died."
"What?!" Gabriel asked, surprised by his answer.
Heero clenched his fists at his sides. "It... hurts to see this place - all of our Realm - like this. The light is no longer as bright. The air isn't as sweet... and it feels like dying because this is my home and, as much as I love it..."
"Go on," Uriel prompted.
Heero stared resolutely at the polished marble of the floor. "As much as I revere this place and I love my duty, it's just not the same, anymore," he whispered.
Dominic stood and glared down at Heero's bowed figure, still on his knees before them. "Disgraceful..."
Heero flinched.
Michael was on his feet immediately. "Just because he can feel something you have never been touched by, Dominic, does not make him a disgrace," he growled, stepping closer to Heero almost protectively.
Dominic drew himself to his full height. "As always, Michael, you are too lenient with your Own, your Warriors. Any angel who gives his heart to something other than his Master and Lord..."
"Does not make him a bad person!" Michael yelled.
Heero flinched again.
Gabriel's musical voice ended the argument before it could continue. "You forget, Dominic, that the Master of us all sent him on this mission personally, and spoke to him personally, both in this very hall and down in the Lower Realm, when a troubled angel called to Him for guidance. Is it our place to condemn a soul for following his heart, when our Lord set him on that path?"
Uriel spoke to fill the silence that followed Gabriel's words. "Even so, Gabriel, he is a creature of the Higher Realm, not the Lower. Yet his heart is divided between the two. This cannot be, as you well know."
"That is true," Gabriel said sadly, regarding Heero's bowed head with pity.
Heero finally looked up, his blue eyes glowing with pain. "What must I do?"
Michael opened his mouth to speak, but Gabriel silenced him with a look. The Archangel stood and walked out to Heero's side, reaching down to pull the younger angel to his feet. "Are you truly ready to hear your fate? It may not be to your liking."
Heero looked up into an ageless, androgynously-beautiful face. "My fate is of my own making. I wish to make it known, though - nothing could ever diminish my love for this place and for who and what I represent. But I was given a golden chance, and I took it. I love Duo Maxwell, and I always will."
"Such devotion! And such honour - an admirable combination for which you deserve the highest praise, young one."
Heero felt his heart beating harder in his chest, swelling with love and pride as he heard that Voice. As one, the Archangels stood and bowed to their Master. Gabriel straightened. "My Lord! We did not expect..."
The Great Guardian's grey eyes twinkled merrily as he smiled at his Right Hand. "No, I don't expect you did. It is gratifying to surprise you every now and then, dear Gabriel." He turned to Heero, who had remained on his knees. "And now to you, young Heero. You earned yourself a great name and did me great honour, and for that I will always be grateful."
Heero looked up with shining eyes. "My Lord?"
"You followed my advice, Heero," the Guardian said, wiping a tear from Heero's face with a finger. "I do not blame you for your feelings; in fact, I would have been disappointed, had you not done just as you did."
He turned and walked to the empty place, which was indeed His seat, and gestured for His Archangels to join him. Heero remained standing in front of them all.
The Great Guardian regarded his angel calmly. "I will share a secret with you, young Heero. And that is, you and your Duo have handed me a headache of epic proportions! My Seraphs up in arms that my Archangels interfered with their Council, said Archangels quarrelling amongst themselves on your behalf... Honestly, it would have been ever so much easier, had you and your Duo been slightly less honourable and a little more selfish."
Heero stared openly. The Great Guardian chuckled.
Gabriel's musical tones drew Hero's attention. "Yours is not a fault of a lack of faith, Heero, but more an over-abundance of it. You came back to us - and Duo let you go - where almost any lesser being would have failed us all."
Heero shook his head, his eyes wide. "But how could I? I am an Angel! No matter what it means to me or how much it hurts to let go, I know my place!"
The Great Guardian laughed. "Are you so sure?"
Heero wrapped his arms around his chest, as though his heart hurt. "My Lord, You gave me something too beautiful to put it to words, and You took it away. Please do not mock me. I would never turn my back on You. Not even if it means breaking my heart in two!"
With tears shimmering in his ageless eyes, the Great Guardian stood again and walked over to look down into Heero's eyes. "You misunderstood me, Heero. I would be completely unworthy of the devotion you have shown me if I could mock it. You have done me proud, and given me more joy than most other sons could give their fathers."
Heero was no longer able to hide his trembling. "Please, then, from a son to a father. What is Your will?"
The Archangels fell silent, watching the scene before them. Gabriel smiled, tears glistening in bottomless blue eyes.
The Great Guardian smiled down at his servant. "Do you know what makes a good leader, Heero?"
The angel shook his head, unable to look away.
"The best leader," he continued, "is the one who knows when a good plan needs to be amended and can admit to it. I asked you before if you were sure of where you belong, because my heart tells me it is not here. Now I don't mean I would reject you," he said quickly, as Heero's eyes clouded over with sorrow. "What I mean is that... you belong in a place where you are a whole person, where you are happy."
Heero forgot to breathe.
The Great Guardian said, "Go to him. But never forget what and who you are. We will see each other again, and I know I will be as proud of you then as I am now."
His heart brimming over, Heero did the unthinkable - he threw his arms around the Guardian and hugged him tight.
His Lord's laugh was the last thing Heero heard as a bright light enveloped him.
~*~
Zechs of Sank buried his face in Dorothy's hair, as she lay curled up against his chest. "Dorothy?"
"Hmm?" She nuzzled against him sleepily.
He kissed the crown of her blonde head. "I love you, you know that."
Dorothy opened her eyes and smiled up at him. "And I you."
He rubbed a hand over her bare shoulder and down the soft, silky skin of her arms. "How much?"
She gave him a strange look and pushed herself up into a sitting position. "Why are you asking me this, Epyon?"
His eyes sparkled. "It will be impossible to leave here until the weather breaks, but when it does... I will go back to Sank."
Dorothy nodded. "Of course you will! There is a lot of work to be done to rebuild..."
He clasped her hands in his own. "I want you to come with me, and never to leave my side again. But you have just found your own kind again, and your family..."
She pressed a finger to his lips. "How could I possibly say no?" She replaced her finger with her lips and kissed him sweetly.
Zechs finally broke the kiss, smiling into her eyes. "Me? A lowly human?" he couldn't help asking.
She poked him in the arm, eyes glinting with mirth. "Provoke me, and I shall show you just how low you can go."
He smiled back. "I'll take that as a challenge, my dear."
~*~
It was much later that night when a cloaked figure managed to sneak out of Sandrock and silently make its way through the tall grasses that lined the city causeway. As the city faded away into the darkness the figure threw back its hood - Duo was wide awake, his eyes burning as he walked, not really paying any attention to where he was going. Now when there was no one to see, he had dropped his masks completely, relieved in a way to finally be able to show the hurt he felt inside, the pain that was keeping him awake every night until sheer exhaustion claimed him.
It had been a very difficult evening for him - he'd struggled to put on his happy face for his family and friends. He'd laughed and joked and set them all perfectly at ease, but...
Duo knew he'd managed to fool them all, and it depressed him terribly. Was this going to be the story of his life, from this point on?
If there had been a way to get into the stables and back out again without waking the camp around them, he would have done it, and he would have been long gone by now. Off to find a place where he could heal his soul in private, away from well-meaning pity that was almost as hurtful as Ramar's open hatred, if in another way. Running and hiding again, Maxwell?
The moon slipped out from behind cloud cover and bathed the scene with a surreal glow. Duo stopped walking and allowed himself to collapse to his knees in the grass. He felt so empty inside that it burned, a cold, pitiless fire he had no hope to control.
He stared up into the sky, and then sadly began to talk to the empty night. "They are all trying, Heero. They're making me talk, making me sit with them, making me pretend to live... And you? I hope you have someone there to show so much concern for you, as well. I feel so... guilty. All I want is to get away, to find someplace where everything I see doesn't make me think of you..." His tears fell slowly down his cheeks. "I can't take this place, not anymore. It's a prison to me."
"Sandrock isn't a prison. Your friends stay close to you because they love you."
Duo shivered and closed his eyes, tears tracing down his face. Were the Guardians so cruel that the soft, beloved voice in his head was now whispering to him over the wind, as well? "And I them, but they cannot be... you. They can't make the hurt go away."
Duo shivered. "They can't make you come back to me, Heero."
His eyes opened wide in shock, though, as he felt the air stir behind him, and the voice spoke again, this time at his ear. "What if they don't have to?"
Duo turned slowly, disbelief glowing in his eyes. "Heero..."
The angel could not help himself - with a soft cry, he pulled the long-haired Dawnchild into his arms and held on for dear life.
Duo pushed him back, though, his eyes still wide. "H-heero?" he whispered. His face fell. "This is another dream, and a cruel one at that."
A slight smile graced Heero's face, though his eyes shimmered with tears. "I'm real - as real as you."
Duo's face was pale as he ran his fingers over the Angel's face and up into his hair. Fingers began to shake as the scent of Heero washed over him, and colour finally began touching his cheeks again. "Angel... Hee--Heero!" Duo threw himself into his lover's arms, clinging to him and raining kisses over his face.
Heero hushed the Dawnchild gently, brushing long bangs out of his eyes as he slowly leaned in and pressed their lips together.
Duo melted into Heero's kiss, the icy burning of his heart replaced by a familiar, beloved heat that made his head spin and his heart flutter. Heero's arms were tightly clasped around him, Heero's hands in his hair, Heero's mouth on his, lips sucking gently, tongue dancing as it slipped into the Dawnchild's warm, waiting mouth.
The two collapsed together in a heap, both staring at the other as though looking away would banish the illusion.
Duo found his voice - breathy and strangely husky. "How did... they let you come back?"
Heero nodded, nothing Duo's trembling with trepidation. "He said to me... He said that I belonged here. He said... I deserve to be happy, we both do."
Duo ran a hand down Heero's back. "And your... they didn't make you..."
Heero smiled and shook his head. "No - of course not. I am what I am, and I always will be. But my place is here with you, and I'm never leaving my place again."
Duo's hands trembled as he reached out, betraying his fatigue and general poor state. "I tried, Heero. I tried so hard to believe, to have faith in you, in us..."
"Hush, I know you did," the angel replied softly, catching Duo's hand and pressing it to his cheek. "And I know it wasn't easy. For me, either. In fact..."
Heero gave Duo a good look-over. With all his masks down, it was evident to the Angel that his companion was both bone-tired and on the brink of a complete emotional collapse. His lips set in a stubborn line, he shook his head. "Later, we will talk, but for now..." He stood, easily lifting Duo, as though he weighed less than a child. "Now we're going back to the castle and I'm putting you to bed."
Duo looked up, a glimpse of his old grin showing through-
"To sleep, Duo-love," Heero said with a gentle smile - he couldn't deny that what was on Duo's mind was also in his own. "I don't think you'd be able to stand if I set you down, would you?"
Duo's grin faded. "I'm sorry, angel..."
Heero silenced him with a gentle kiss. "Don't be," he whispered with a smile in his eyes.
~*~
Quatre stalked down the hallway impatiently, people scattering around him with one look at his face.
Concerned as they all were for Duo, the companions knew he had fled the castle the night before, but they let him go, knowing that he needed some space to come to terms with his feelings.
But that was last night. And Duo had yet to make an appearance this morning, as little left of the morning as there was. Quatre reached out with his feelings - he could feel so very little from his cousin, and it worried him. Worried him enough that he was going to break down the door, if necessary, to find out what was the matter with him!
The King found himself staring at a closed door, and he frowned. Steeling himself to yet another shower of false good cheer, Quatre knocked.
He was surprised when a soft voice told him to enter.
His eyes widened in wonder, though, as he opened the door and stepped in - he hadn't known what to make of the feelings coming from behind that door, but now that he could see-
Duo was not alone - a figure sat at his side, cradling his sleeping form tenderly, sparklingly-fresh white wings curled protectively around the two, shivering ever so slightly with each gentle breeze that came in through the open window.
The other figure was dressed entirely in white, and as it turned its head to look at him-
Quatre barely managed not to shout, "Heero!"
The Angel gave him a gentle smile. "It is good to see you again, Quatre. Thanks for looking after him..." he ran a gentle hand through the sleeping Dawnchild's bangs and over the soft skin of his cheek.
Quatre stepped closer, his smile broadening. "Is he... is he okay?" he asked in a low whisper.
Still staring down at his beloved, Heero nodded. "Very tired, though. I daresay he hasn't slept properly since... For a long time. My poor, beautiful Duo. He sleeps now - I've given him a peaceful, safe dream, and I will wake him when he is ready."
Quatre put a hand on the angel's shoulder to get his attention, then carefully - mindful of the wings he could now feel brushing against his skin - leaned forward to give the angel a kiss on the forehead. "I knew you would be back, friend-Heero, and you are very welcome."
Heero clasped the blond's hand. "Once again, thank you."
~*~
Someone was brushing his hair.
Duo smiled in his half-awake state and nuzzled against something warm and solid. Long strokes of the brush, running over his scalp gently enough that they sent delicious shivers up his spine. He felt so warm, so at peace that he was practically purring...
A low chuckle rumbled somewhere nearby. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were related to the Huntress, my love."
Duo blinked his eyes open. Heero was smiling down at him, wings folded around them like a cocoon. "Welcome back, Duo."
Duo reached out, clasping his lover's hands in his own as the brush fell to the floor by the bed. "You really are here. It wasn't just another dream."
Heero gently pulled the Dawnchild to a sitting position and kissed him, revelling in the perfect way they seemed to fit together. The gentle play of lips continued for a long time before the Angel pulled back for air. "I thought... I had to go home, but it wasn't a home to me anymore. It wasn't right being anywhere without you." He placed gentle kisses on Duo's eyelids. "And you needed me, too, it would seem."
Duo snuggled against Heero's chest. "I just... I found myself wishing I had been greedy and kept you here, and that made me feel worse because I know it wouldn't have been right..."
Heero tilted Duo's chin up and placed a finger on his lips. "Enough. No more regrets - it is in the past, and we are together now. Does the past really matter, if you look at it that way?"
Duo kissed the fingertip with a shy smile. "I suppose not. Guardians, I missed you!" He pulled Heero down for another kiss that deepened quickly and left both quivering in each other's arms.
Duo's eyes slid shut as a bright, warm light surged from his Angel - when he opened them again, Heero was leaning over him, sapphire eyes burning brightly in his face. His wings had disappeared again, and he was gloriously nude, chest heaving with the effort of breathing, body already glistening with a fine sheen of sweat.
Duo could feel the solemnity of the moment as strongly as he felt his own rising desire. He drew the angel down to him, lips moving in concert as their bodies came together. Hands touching, mouths tasting, eyes closed as expressions of ecstasy bloomed over two equally flushed faces.
Duo's eyes opened, however, as Heero carefully rolled them over. Now looking down into his lover's eyes, he stammered. "Heero, y-you are... we can't..."
Heero shook his head. "I don't want to worry about what we can't do. This is my choice, and I feel in my heart it is the right one."
Duo's hair spread over them both like a cloak as he leaned down and claimed his lover's lips. His heart bursting with awe and love, Duo surrendered to Heero's wishes.
It was all Heero could do to hold his grip on sanity as Duo claimed him, body shuddering in powerful waves of pleasure at the repeated invasion. He repeated Duo's name like a mantra, clinging to his hair and powerful body, kissing any bit of skin that came within reach.
A hand was wrapped around him, stroking him with a gentle, loving violence as Duo crushed his lips with another kiss. He kissed him back with all his might, crying out his completion as passion and fire reached an unbearable level and he plummeted into violet-tinted heaven, hearing his own name on his lover's lips and feeling the Dawnchild's passion spilling inside of him.
Both spent, they simply held each other, listening to one another's heartbeats calming and the harsh sound of unsteady breathing.
Heero cradled Duo's body as the Dawnchild went limp and boneless, kissing a sweaty forehead. "Always and forever, my Duo."
Duo rolled them to their sides, facing each other, and gave Heero a kiss that was as gentle as the previous had been intense, if just as full of love. "Always and forever."
~*~
There was another knock on the door, and both Heero and Duo ignored it, snuggled closely together.
Knock.
Duo's nose wrinkled in irritation, and he tightened his hold on Heero ever so slightly.
KNOCK!
The Dawnchild cracked an eye open and glared at the door. "We're asleep. Go away."
KNOCK! "By the Guardians! Open the damned door, Duo!"
Heero's eyes opened, and he cocked an eyebrow.
The beginnings of a smile forming on his lips, Duo glanced back at the door. "I said we're asleep, Wufei!"
"Duo..."
The Dawnchild's grin broadened as he reached out and made a vague motion with his hand-
An indignant shriek followed immediately from outside the door, accompanied by peals of uncontrollable laughter. Smiling, Duo pressed a kiss to Heero's lips and stood, throwing his clothing back on.
An amused voice sounded next from outside the door. "Duo-friend, as enticing as this view might be, Wufei will catch a cold if you leave him out here without his clothes," Treize commented, his smirk audible in each word.
Winking at Heero - who was somehow already up and dressed in just a fraction of the time it had taken for Duo - the Dawnchild waved his hand again, and immediately yanked the door open.
Standing on the other side, Wufei - now clothed - at least attempted to glare at his friend, but Treize pushed past his smaller lover and, giving Duo a smile and a nod, walked straight to Heero and pulled the Angel into a tight, brotherly embrace. "By the Guardians, we've missed you."
Heero returned the gesture. "I've missed all of you, too. I'm so sorry..." He could feel Duo's presence behind him, and he leaned into the Dawnchild's comforting warmth.
Treize smiled and shook his head. "No need to apologise, as long as you promise never to do it again."
They were suddenly surrounded by people - Wufei, Quatre, Trowa, Zechs, Dorothy, Une, Lucas, Noin and Abdul crowded close, each wanting to greet the Angel and welcome him back into the fold.
~Good thing we had the presence of mind to put some clothing on, Angel,~ Duo's voice sounded in Heero's mind. The Angel laughed - it was a good thing, indeed.
As greetings died down, Heero felt Duo's arms steal around his waist. He smiled, looking over into Duo's eyes with a feeling of loosing himself there, deaf to the others, trying to speak to him.
"... Heero?" The angel broke off his stare, grinning stupidly as he turned back to Quatre, who had been speaking to him.
He managed to partially wipe his grin. "Yes?"
Trowa and Quatre exchanged knowing glances, and the tall half-breed said, "He asked just how you came back to us."
Heero let his arm settle around Duo's shoulders, amazed at how natural it felt to do so. "That's a long story to tell, Trowa."
Wufei shrugged. "What's the rush? We have a whole night of revels planned to celebrate your return. We can start early, can't we?"
Duo and Heero exchanged looks, and the Angel gave a bashful smile. "You didn't have to..."
Une shook her head. "Oh, stop! We're not doing this because we have to! You are one of us, Heero. We're doing it because we want to."
Duo shot her a grateful smile.
Quatre slipped an arm around each of his sisters. "I think Wufei's idea is fantastic, don't you?" Laughing and nodding their agreement, the others followed behind the siblings, leaving Duo and Heero staring at each other next to the doorway.
His eyes bright, Duo held out an open hand.
Heero took it and, pulling his lover close enough that he could play with his long, beautiful hair, he pressed a gentle kiss to his hand. "After you, my love."
Hand in hand, they walked out to greet the world.
OWARI
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