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"Duo's Salvation "Written By: Jewel of Hell Disclaimer: Don't own nothin' but these words Rating: NC 17 Warnings: Gratuitous violence, abuse, torture, language, yaoi, lemon, angels, demons, bigotry, hypocrisy, blasphemy, heresy, sacrilege, and general religion-bashing. THIS IS NOT A STORY FOR THE CLOSE-MINDED. Pairings: 1x2, others Summary: When the Prince of Hell is captured and taken to Heaven, it is up to the Prince of Heaven to save him. But what if he believes Duo is already being saved? "Duo's Salvation "
The Forest of Mists "Wake up, Duo." Startled out of a deep sleep, it took Duo several moments to orient himself. He blinked barely-focused eyes at Heero, not quite able to process coherent thought. It was still pitch dark outside. "Whaa . . . umm . . . Heer . . ." "Shh," the sound washed over his ear. "Not a word, Duo." He couldn't seem to rally himself. Apparently it didn't matter much as warm arms slid beneath him and lifted him out of bed. Duo immediately dozed right off, his sense of urgency losing against the total safety he felt in Heero's arms. He drifted peacefully, distantly aware of motion. ". . . didn't follow you?" he heard. That wasn't Heero's voice. "No. I never saw them. I just felt them coming." That was. "How did they find you?" "I don't know. Help me with him." More jostling. Duo willed himself to stay out of it. He didn't feel like waking up yet. Heero would take care of him. Warmth wrapped around him again. Everything swayed. It felt a little strange. But it was soothing, somehow. He fell back into deep slumber. "Good morning, Duo." Blink. He didn't recognize that voice. Levering open sticky eyelids, Duo stared somewhat blearily up into a pair of aqua eyes. He didn't recognize the face, either. "Who are you?" he asked, not really alarmed. The cheerful face grinned. "My name is Quatre." "Hmm," Duo said, eyes falling shut. "You're not human, are you?" "Nope," came the reply, "but neither are you." Duo yawned. "What are we doing in the middle of a fucking forest?" he asked. "Don't you remember leaving last night?" Oh. Yes. He did vaguely recall Heero carrying him somewhere. Hearing Trowa's voice. "So you're the owner of that cabin, huh?" "Yes. I only have it because it's nice to have a place to meet Trowa. Both of us like wandering." Duo slowly sat up. "Where are Heero and Trowa?" "They went hunting," Quatre replied. At this point, Duo finally realized why he was so warm. He was snuggled against a living body. An enormous creature with five serpentine heads. All five of which were gazing down at him, blinking sleepily. Unable to help it, Duo giggled. "Never seen a hydra before. You don't look very mean at all, do you?" Quatre giggled, too. "They don't look like it, but they move quickly. He really seems to like you. Normally they're pretty standoffish with strangers." Duo rose to his feet, stretching. All five heads followed his movements, looking more alert now. A bit more interested. Smiling, Duo reached out a hand. The scaly necks stretched, all five heads snuffling at him. He laughed. "Cute. How long are they with us?" "Only until we leave the Forest of Mists." Finally awake enough to feel curious, Duo looked at Quatre. "You're not an elf like Trowa. Mind my asking what you are?" "Certainly not," Quatre said. "I'm a gryphon." So saying, he transformed. Half eagle, half lion, Quatre was a lovely uniform gold. Aqua eyes gleaming over his cruelly hooked beak, he wasn't a whole lot bigger in this form. And he attracted the hydra's attention. Big black eyes studied him curiously, making Duo grin. "You're cute. And so are you, Quatre." Shifting back, Quatre laughed. "Why, thank you." He looked up. "Ah! There you are. Did you bring back something tasty?" Heero and Trowa strode into the camp, both holding fat hares. The angel's eyes immediately sought Duo, and something soft entered them. The hydra looked at the newcomers, seeming quite interested in the hares. "Go hunting for yourself, silly snake," Trowa ordered, slapping a scaled flank. The hydra gave him an offended look from all five heads and disappeared into the forest. Like Quatre had said, it moved surprisingly fast. Quatre took the hares. "I'll make us some breakfast." Heero moved to Duo's side. "How are your wings?" "Fine," Duo replied. "Umm, I don't really remember why we . . . left." The angel snorted. "I couldn't wake you." He sobered at once. "I sensed Oraia." Duo stiffened, slivers of ice stinging up his spine. ". . . oh." Heero touched his face, gently caressing his cheek. "It's all right, Duo. I promised I would protect you, and I will." Closing his eyes and nodding, Duo moved forward until he was pressed against Heero's chest. His guardian angel's arms immediately went around him, and Duo was glad. He may rather face Oraia than Heero's rejection, but that didn't mean he would face her again if he could help it. Heaving a sigh, he let Heero's nearness and strength comfort him. "Heero didn't tell us why he's taking you to a dragon's den," Quatre said abruptly. Duo held his peace, waiting to hear Heero's response. For a moment the angel said nothing. "As long as Duo can't fly, he's vulnerable," Heero said at length. "I suppose since you two are helping me protect him, you deserve to know the truth. Duo is the Prince of Hell, and the King of Heaven had him kidnaped. He's been the prisoner of Oraia, Bright Lady of Heaven. I freed him from her hold and brought him to Candora so he could heal." Quatre cocked his head to the side, eyes bright and curious. "Why didn't you just return him to Hell?" Heero shook his head. "I can't do that. If I do, what will keep Heaven and Hell from entering into another all-out war with each other? As an angel, it's my duty to protect humanity from that at all costs." It was Trowa who responded first. "I understand your dilemma. And I understand if you do not answer this question. I know you are the Prince of Heaven, Heero. Why did you rescue Duo? I would have thought an angel would believe in Oraia, even if her methods could be seen as cruel." Duo, who'd rather been wondering that himself, looked up at Heero to find cobalt eyes pensive. "I had to," Heero said. "I didn't really think about it. It was just something I had to do." Trowa didn't react a great deal to that, he just nodded and got a thoughtful look on his face. "I can guarantee you this," Quatre spoke up after a slight pause. "People here on Candora will agree - it's about time you did something." Duo bit his lip, trying not to smile. That would be rude, and he didn't want to do anything to make Heero change his mind about letting him stay with him. Heero, however, seemed to take that comment very seriously. His eyes darkened. "I know what Oraia did was wrong," he said after a moment. "But most angels believe in her. However much things have changed, we did believe our mission was a righteous one. I believed that. But Oraia went way too far. And any angels who could agree with what she did are just as in the wrong as her." "She tortured me," Duo told the elf and gryphon. Just thinking about it made his blood go cold and his body tremble. "She broke both my wings." Quatre made a funny little hissing sound, and Trowa's eyes widened. "I see," the elf said. "I understand why you felt you had to get him out of there, Heero. In that case, I will do everything I can to help you. Both of you. Quatre and I will take you ourselves to the dragons." Heero nodded, and Duo settled against him with a soft sigh. He didn't know why he was comfortable leaving his fate in Heero's hands. Probably because he'd already saved his life. His guardian angel would take care of him.
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