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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 "
Someone had once said, time healed all things. To someone like Duo, that was meaningless. Time did not exist. Not in the way people measured it. It existed only in the evidence of its own passing, which was no evidence at all. Merely an empty impression of something moving past, always moving forward and leaving all else behind. It never paused to glance back upon those it had crushed in its wake. "Do you think Candora will recover?" The one to whom he spoke blinked, cobalt eyes drawing from their own silent perusal to meet his. Heero studied him for a moment, then he broke into a gentle smile embodying both sadness and peace. "Yes. Like it did before, it will." Duo smiled at the unspoken words that didn't follow. That was what the angel loved about Candora. The resilience. The strength and determination to go on, even after all seemed hopelessly lost. And the abiding love that continued to watch over it still. Moving forward the few steps necessary, he slid between Heero's arms and nestled against him, desiring to feel their warmth. Heero didn't hesitate in embracing him. "They'll be all right," the once-Prince of Hell murmured. "All of them." This time, Heero's smile was genuine. Duo could feel it. "I know." This time, the command to stop could not be ignored. It rained down over the square like balm, soothing and at once overpowering. A voice that was both low and quiet, and enormous enough to send every person gathered to their knees. "Enough." Heero could not believe his eyes. Though before him stood one he had never seen, none could mistake Him. God. The co-creator of all life, the Father of the Universe. How long had he dreamed of this day? Of this moment? God's energy washed over the square like a breaking wave, heat and love and light. There was no judgment on His face. No disappointment. No pain. No grief. Simply enduring, abiding, all-encompassing love. The love that had created these people. This world. This universe. Tears sprang to Heero's eyes. In his arms, the dying Oraia turned her head to see. Every man and woman had stopped, looking completely awestruck, and some began crying. Many threw themselves to the ground, but all recognized him. Even if they did not know why. God turned to them, his expression not changing. "My beloved children," he said softly, His voice resonating down to each person's soul, "you have suffered much this day. Return to your homes. Leave this site of tragedy. I am with you, and I love you all." The weeping humans slowly collected themselves, and left. The fallen dead slowly disappeared, taking the blood staining rock and stone with them. Heero knew they were in a better place now, enveloped in God's love. He turned pleading eyes on Him, desperate to feel it himself. God faced the fallen siren, General, gryphon, elf, dragon, demon, and angels. Heero looked down at Oraia, then back up at God. "Save her," he whispered. Still with that gentle smile on His face, God shook His head. "I cannot, Heero. But do not fear for her. Like all life she is moving on, for though her body is destroyed, her soul will never die. She will return to the arms of life itself, where she will rest and recover from the damage done to her. Eventually she will be born again, stronger and brighter than before. She has suffered greatly for the evils of others, and it is time for her to rest." The tears flowed faster now, and Heero gazed down at her. But to his shock, she was smiling. Gone was the cold, gone was the anger, the superiority, the hard edge that had chilled her. She looked beautiful, soft, and loving as she had when he first met her. Like the marble angel in the church, she looked as an angel should. Her trembling hand raised to cup Heero's cheek. "Sweet child," she murmured. "I can see now. I understand. My father led me astray, just as I led Candora astray. All these millennia, I thought Bryna had done her followers a grave injustice. It was Kysaan, my father." Tears came to her eyes. She looked past Heero now, to where Duo still stood at his shoulder. "Duo . . . you are my own kin. Your mother, my cousin . . ." Duo's shock mirrored Heero's own. Oraia let out a small, choked laugh. "God is right. My soul aches for rest. Heero, weep no more." Her hand fell, and the Unsummoning arrow vanished in a haze of golden light. Like the rest of the fallen, she too disappeared. Duo stared for a long time at the place where Oraia had lain. Then he turned watering eyes on God. "How fair is it that without even doing anything, you erase my hatred for her like it wasn't ever there?" God laughed quietly, a sound that poured down into Duo's core like molten balm, capable of scouring away the hurt, anger, and grief. He held out His arms. "You and Heero have suffered, as well," He said. "You deserve to rest now. Of all my children, you have seen beyond resenment and lies, allowed love to carry you beyond judgment, stigma, and fear. Heero, you took a demon in your arms and loved him, though you had been taught it was wrong. Duo, you trusted an angel with your heart though you had been taught it was foolhardy. I have been away long, and things have changed much in my absence. Evil has sown its seeds and put down deep roots, and you two began the battle against it. But it is yours no longer. Others will take it up in your wake, inspired by your strength, compassion, and courage. But for you two, the fight is over." He smiled. Duo felt the first tears burn his eyes. God looked now to dragon, siren, human, gryphon, and elf. "I leave it to you." The injured immortals were bathed in a warm, golden glow. Wounds and blood vanished like a fading memory of a dream. They began to rouse, looking around in amazement. God looked one last time to Duo and Heero. "When you are ready, come, and I will take you both from this place." He, too faded away. For a long time, nothing was said. Duo slumped down in front of Heero, suddenly unutterably exhausted. Heero embraced him, but his hold wasn't tight. Almost too loose to be the hold of an intimate lover. Eventually, Treize, Zechs, Wufei, Quatre, and Trowa gathered around them. Dragon and gryphon were in human form, and they each had identical expressions of mixed relief and sorrow. Treize was the first to speak. "This world needs you." "You were the first to embrace the truth," Wufei added. Heero shook his head. "There are others who will follow, now that God has returned. And He is right. I'm tired, Wufei. I did not realize how tired until now." Duo said nothing. Wherever Heero went, he would follow. Even if it was into oblivion. "Are you sure we can do this without you?" Quatre asked, head canting slightly to the side. It prompted Trowa to put an around around his shoulders. Now Duo smiled. "If anyone can, the five of you can. We have represented Candora's greatest power, after all." Zechs chuckled. Finally, Heero rose to his feet and pulled Duo up with him. "We're going now," he said quietly. "We won't forget you, and time will not dim the strength of our love for you. All of you." Every eye misted, and one by one the immortals embraced the two divine beings. Whispered words of affection were exchanged, promised to never forget each other and all they had been through and meant to each other. Then it was time to go. Heero pulled Duo close, and now his hold was tight. He said no more, but everything he did not say shone from his amazing eyes. Someone had once said, time healed all things. To someone like Duo, that was meaningless. Time did not exist. Not in the way people measured it. It existed only in the evidence of its own passing, which was no evidence at all. Merely an empty impression of something moving past, always moving forward and leaving all else behind. It never paused to glance back upon those it had crushed in its wake. But it was not time's passing that healed all things. It was the devotion a man found in his wife's smile. It was the sound of laughter a woman heard in her child. It was the love a demon found in the eyes of an angel. Duo smiled. "They'll be all right." When Heero and Duo left Candora, the remaining company went their separate ways. For the time being, they could not stand to linger where the evidence of such tragedy was abundant. Wufei offered to take Quatre and Trowa back to his caves, but both declined. So he flew back with Zechs and Treize. Finally alone and surrounded by walls that had become haven, dragon, human, and siren sat by the lava fountains and watched the tiny fire dragons play in the burning pools. Zechs broke the silence first. "What will you do now?" He looked up at Treize. The human shifted, sighing. "I am still the General. I'm going back to the capitol, and begin dismantling the Way of Light. Whether its teachings are true or not, every man should be free to pursue his own spiritual path." "It will be a long road to success," Wufei warned quietly. Treize merely shrugged. "I know." Quatre followed Trowa when the elf left the capitol, heading north. "Where are you going now?" The elf just shrugged. "I don't know. Somewhere away for awhile." He gave Quatre a sideways glance. "I'm not a leader. I'm a wanderer." Quatre planted himself in Trowa's path, making the elf stop. "Can I come with you?" Piercing green eyes gazed into aqua. "You are always welcome to come with me," he murmured. "You always were." "I know," Quatre mumbled. "But things were different then. I was younger." Trowa smiled. "I was, too." Breaking into a mischievous little grin, Quatre tangled his fingers with Trowa's. "There are a lot of people in the north who will be glad to know what happened here. Maybe we could pay them a visit." Trowa snorted. "Just like you. Always ready to stir up trouble." Leaning up on tiptoes, Quatre planted a kiss on the elf's lips. "That's why you love me." "One reason . . ." came the soft agreement. 500 Years Later "Momma, why are Heaven and Hell separate?" The angel Shaundria looked down at her daughter. "It's a long story, sweetheart. A long, long time ago, two angels had a terrible disagreement. They were twins. The sister believed angels did not have the right to condemn humans-" "They do not!" her daughter interrupted. "-and the brother believed it was the moral duty of angels. The sister could not bear to watch her brother turn his back on any human, so she took many angels with her and left Heaven. They now dwell in the realm we call Hell, though we no longer call them demons. It just seems we cannot see eye to eye, even in the terrible events that have transpired since that time." "You mean when we lost Heero and Duo, the angel Princes?" Shaundria smiled. "Yes, precious. They believed as you do. That Heaven and Hell should not be separate." The little girl's eyes glowed. "They must have been very wise. I will be just like them, Momma. You'll see! I'll reunite Heaven and Hell, just like God wanted!" Shaundria looked down into the girl's pale gray eyes. So much had changed since Heero and Duo had left this plane of existence. The Kings and Queens of both Heaven and Hell were long gone. No one had stepped in to take their places, for all felt it would be wrong. It had been accepted by angels that demons were not demons at all-though only because it had come straight from God's mouth. There was no war, but there was no peace, either. Shaundria looked down into her daughter's eyes and smiled.
"If anyone can do it, Oraia, I'm sure it is you."
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