Silence Part 9
The suits were closing in. His ammunition was spent. Fires burned everywhere. Smoke drifted, obscuring the scene and choking his lungs. Bodies littered the landscape. All dead. All of the people he'd promised to protect, dead and rotting because of him. He stumbled through the sea of bodies. Women and children, his friends and family, his partners, his lovers; all dead.
And now THEY were coming for him. Clouds roiled on the horizon, massive waves of gray, black and blood red. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled.
~Time to diiie, Shinigami,~ howled the wind. ~Time to rejoin the gods and sit at their feet and do their bidding. Put your collar on, Death; your leash is waiting.~
~Sssay goodbye, Shinigami,~ hissed the lightning; ~kiss them farewell. You've had your taste of life and now it's over.~
He straightened, surrendering himself to the call of his masters. "Here I am, you bastards! Take me now!" he screamed. "I'll give you no more death!" His bat-like wings unfolded, he spread his arms wide, face upturned to the lightning that split the air above him. "No more!"
A bolt came toward him. He closed his eyes. The lightning exploded in front of him, its energy curving around him as if meeting a wall. He gasped in surprise.
"He is no longer yours to claim," came a voice from behind him. "Shinigami has accepted my love. He belongs to me!"
He turned to find a figure in white, feathered wings widespread, sword in hand, cobalt eyes blazing.
The figure reached out to him. "Take my hand, sweet Death. Refuse that vile summons. Stand with me and be free forever."
Shinigami took hold of that hand, and the God of Life enfolded him, wings closing protectively about him.
Thunder boomed and lightning split the heavens in a thousand places as the gods roared out their fury, but Death remained free and secure in the arms of Life.
~*~
Duo sat up suddenly, staring into the darkness of his bedroom. "Heero," he whispered. "You're trying to tell me, aren't you? I won't give up, my angel; I won't!"
~*~
Wufei pushed Duo's bedroom door open carefully. "Duo? Are you awake?"
"Yeah," Duo sighed wearily, resting his head on his drawn-up knees.
"Are you okay?" He stepped into the room. He didn't look okay by any stretch of the imagination.
Duo shrugged. "Yeah. Just a dream." His voice shook, belying his words.
Wufei sat on the edge of the bed. "A dream, or a nightmare?"
Duo didn't answer.
"That bad?"
Duo nodded, face hidden in his arms.
Wufei squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. ::Heero, make some magic for him. Please... You always did before. Do it again now, god, Heero, do it now!::
He touched Duo's shoulder and the young man turned to him with a sob, throwing his arms around him. Wufei enfolded him tightly.
"I'm scared, Wufei," he gasped. "I'm scared!"
"Duo, I swear to you he'll get well! We'll all get through this somehow." He rubbed Duo's back, trying to comfort him, as the other man wept wretchedly. ::He can't go on like this! How in hell do I help him?!::
He shifted his position on the bed and Duo grabbed his shoulders with a gasp. "Don't go! I'm sorry! I'll try harder..."
For just a few beats, Wufei caught a glimpse of Duo's old, old fear of being left alone. "Stop that," he murmured gently. "I'm not leaving you; my leg was going to sleep."
"Oh." Duo sniffed, and wiped at his eyes. "God, I'm a pain in the ass..."
"You are not; stop putting yourself down." He pushed Duo down and pulled up the blankets. "You just need to sleep." He stroked the silken tresses, relaxing as Duo's eyes cleared. "I'll be right across the hall," he promised.
"Wufei..."
"Yes, my friend?"
"Sleep here; I don't want to be alone."
"Duo..."
"I don't want to be alone in my nightmares. Please..."
Wufei sighed. "Very well. I will sleep in the recliner."
"Okay... Thank you." Duo touched his hand gently. "Thanks for being here."
"Anytime, Duo." ::Anytime, anywhere, for as long as you need me.::
TBC...
Back to PlaidDragon's Fanfictions Page