Sixpence

[maderr]

Chapter Ten
Harut and Marut

Harut glared resentfully at his brother as they settled rapidly into the first deconsecrated church they could find, as Rabdos set the wards and seals that would protect them from uninvited guests, as well as covering the windows to block out all light. "You shouldn't have left!" he hissed.

"You shouldn't have hit me," Marut said quietly, without looking at his brother. Instead he looked at Rabdos, "So what do we do now? I don't think Azza will be coming back…" he looked glum.

Rabdos looked grim, "I think we're about at the end of our rope." He sighed, disheveling his hair. "If only things hadn't gone so awry." Wearily he collapsed into a nearby pew.

"You're both pathetic," Harut said scathingly. He looked at Rabdos as if he couldn't stand the sight of him, "You're supposed to be one of the most lethal demons in Hell. Instead you're not much better than Marut or Azza."

Ever so slowly Rabdos lifted his head to regard Harut, gray eyes like frost. "If you don't curb that tongue, you're going to find out just why I'm considered lethal."

"You think I'm scared of you?" Harut taunted jeeringly. "What is it they call you? The Strangler? Not very fearsome if--"

"That's enough!" Marut cut him off. "Harut, stop it. You're getting out of hand. There's no cause for all this fighting."

Harut was derisive, "Well, I've no interest in talking. What we need is action, not words - especially the stuff you're blathering about. I'm not going to hide here in the dark while those thirteen flit about wherever they want. It isn't fair!"

"You're getting out of hand, Harut."

"You're becoming a coward, Marut."

Marut's eyes flashed, as his patience began to finally wear thin. "Taking you out of the Well of Babylon was a bad idea. I think perhaps we should have just stayed there - or at least left you!"

"I wasn't the one to mess up first, was I? It's your fault we wound up in that well to begin with!" Harut attacked his brother more aggressively than ever, and this time Marut didn't just defend himself - he fought back with fervor.

Rabdos watched them, torn between anger and misery. His shoulders sagged, and he turned to Gabriel. "This has to end, doesn't it?"

"Yes. I don't suppose you'll give my Star back now?"

"No. I'll do anything else - but I won't lose the Star."

Gabriel nodded, "Then - if you can - use it to call my brothers. It isn't hard, just--"

"I can manage," Rabdos said softly, closing his eyes and focusing on the Star which began to glow and shimmer on his forehead. When he opened them again, he looked sad. He knelt to cut the ropes binding Gabriel, smiling apologetically before vanishing.

Sighing softly and rubbing at his sore arms, Gabriel grimaced at the fighting brothers and began to uncover the windows. With each new piece of sunlight let into the church, he seemed to grow stronger.

A few second later angels and demons began to appear in the church.

The combating Harut and Marut - oblivious to all but each other - were abruptly halted. Harut found himself pinned roughly to the floor by the hawk-eyed Belial. Marut ceased at a flash of Camael's sword, still on his knees and bleeding profusely from a cut on his forehead.

Lucifer had focused immediately on Gabriel, some silent exchange passing between them. Whatever Gabriel had expressed in that quiet glance, Lucifer disregarded.

Instead he took in the brothers, and his expression was enough to make even his closest demon companions want to take a step back. His enraged gaze landed first on Marut, "I don't care what the Archslaves say or do - you're going to die. Would you prefer I kill you or your brother first? Or perhaps," he said derisively, "I should let you continue to kill each other."

"I don't suppose you'd let me kill one of them?" Camael asked in an almost bored tone completely at odds with his pretty, boyish features.

The angels present stirred restlessly, Azrael finishing one cigarette and immediately starting another. But a look from Gabriel kept them where they stood, a silent command to watch and wait.

Baalbeith sighed from nearby, having followed Lucifer onto the dais where the two angels were held captive, "I really don't think there's cause to hurt this one." He slid his eyes briefly over Marut, ignoring the flicker of confusion on Marut's face.

"I don't much care what you think right now, Baalbeith." Lucifer glanced at him briefly, then returned his attention to the Punished. "And anyone that interferes is going to suffer - that goes for you Archslaves." He ignored Gabriel. "If you lot weren't so soft, none of this would have happened.

"If you would just listen--"

But the Morningstar was done with talking, and moved to attack the kneeling, unresisting Marut.

His hand instead encountered Baalbeith, who had stepped between the Morningstar and Punished.

Lucifer stared at him. "What in the Hell are you doing? If you don't move right now Baalbeith, you can join them in their fate. Since when do you ask for Mercy for anyone or thing?"

Baalbeith was still coughing and gasping from the blow he'd intercepted. He wiped blood from his lips before finally responding, "I told you - violence isn't necessary here. If you want revenge because your lover got his feathers ruffled, then at least make certain of what you're about." His gaze didn't waver despite Lucifer's growing anger.

"It isn't like you to protect anyone 'Beith," Lucifer said, some of his ire cooled. "What are you playing at?"

"I'm not playing at anything," Baalbeith replied.

"Then what are you thinking?"

Baalbeith shook his head, then realized that was a mistake as he wobbled dizzily a moment - Lucifer's blows were never gentle. "Wasn't doing that either."

Lucifer frowned.

"It was something in the eyes," Baalbeith said quietly, as if expecting the Morningstar to understand.

Which, apparently, he did. "You're still going to pay heavily for stepping in my way, once we're back home."

"Of course." Baalbeith bowed his head.

Lucifer turned away - but the interlude with Baalbeith and Marut had obviously been all Gabriel was waiting for. He approached the dais, blocking the Morningstar from Harut. "He is ours to deal with, Luc." Gabriel smiled, unaffected by the demon's glower.

"Only you, Gabe," Lucifer said with a long-suffering sigh, "Would be this nice to men who beat you - and don't think I don't know exactly what these two did to you."

Gabriel quirked a brow at him, "On the contrary. Rabdos did just enough harm to take my Star - all things considered he was nice about it. It was Harut that beat me; his brother had no part in it, except to try to dissuade him. As your secretary said - you should learn all the facts first."

"Does anyone else want to reprimand me?" Lucifer asked darkly.

Silence was his only reply.

Gabriel smiled and stepped closer to him, "Let us take care of Harut and Rabdos--"

"No," Lucifer said flatly. "Rabdos is my jurisdiction. No angel will take care of a demon, and I'm tired of being told what I can and cannot do." He glared at his lover, "Just because you're too nice doesn't mean I have to behave. Revenge will be exacted for your maltreatment."

"Not if I don't say so," Gabriel responded cheerfully. "I'm almost completely healed; Azza has rejoined the Righteous…" he drifted off, and turned his attention to Marut, who had until then been speaking quietly with Baalbeith. "Marut…do you want to return to Heaven?"

For a long moment there was silence. Then Marut smiled and slowly shook his head, "Thank you, Gabriel, but no. All our years in Heaven, no one ever helped me when Harut and I disagreed. But a demon protected me from the Morningstar himself - I think I would prefer just to accept that I am Falling."

A faint ripple of unhappy resignation ran through the Righteous gathered, but no one said anything against the decision.

Lucifer sighed, "Now I can kill the other one?"

"No." Gabriel shifted his attention to Uriel, "Take Harut away - we'll decide his new Punishment this evening."

Uriel nodded, casting a warning look at the Wraths before she took Harut away, followed by Camael.

Azrael stamped out his finished cigarette. "Keep him here," he said to Gabriel, indicating Lucifer. "I want to deal with Rabdos."

"To Hell with that, Death." Lucifer said sharply, only to be cut off by Gabriel's fingers pressed to his lips. He sighed again, torn between anger and affection as he glared at the petite, golden Archangel.

Gabriel nodded to his friend, and Azrael vanished.

Cued by something unspoken, one by one the angels and demons vanished, until only Lucifer and Gabriel were left.

"I was worried sick about you, Gabe." Lucifer finally allowed his voice and face to soften completely. "How in Hell did you get yourself kidnapped?"

"That demon of yours knows what he's about - if Rabdos had had more competent help, I don't doubt he would have taken more Stars than just mine. I was worried sick you'd come in here and start killing people." He smiled, "I'm glad circumstances worked to foil you."

"I will kill them, the minute you stop paying attention."

Gabriel shook his head, laughing softly. "Stop sulking and kiss me, would you please? I didn't like my being kidnapped anymore than you did, and it's long past time you comforted me."

Chuckling, Lucifer pulled the Archangel into his arms and proceeded to kiss him soundly. Tension that hadn't been obvious until it started to vanish drained from them both, as the demon kissed his angel in a church that had been abandoned for years.

Comments

[twilight-angel.livejournal.com]

Who wants to pay attention in class when you update this story?

*squees* Yay!

[rykaine.livejournal.com]

I think you already know my feelings on this one. On the whole, this series is quite possibly the greatest one I've ever read.

[hearts] and props.

[mailechan.livejournal.com]

*love, love, love* I hope that's not the last chapter. I want more! Ruman needs to be cuddled some more! Gabriel needs his star back!

I have to admit that I don't understand Rabdos. I want to learn more about him.

[kiyoshi-chan.livejournal.com]

*puuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*

*melts*

I like how you did that, although I don't really understand the "it's in the eyes" comment... (I suspect a backstory involving Lucifer, Gabriel and some sort of silent exchange/glance exhanging? =D;;;)

LOVE YOU SOOOOOOOOOOO. <3

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Heh, sorry I didn't have eleven up - I'll work on maybe at lunch and def tonight after hours.

And yeah - it's a luc/gabe thing (and I should get to explain it at some point).

*loves ki-chan* Thanks, babe ^_^

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Oh, we're not quite done yet, never fear.

Next chapter ^_~

[maderr.livejournal.com]

I'm not going to start getting phone calls from people complaining that I'm disrupting class am I?

Thankee! ^_^

[kiyoshi-chan.livejournal.com]

Don't apologize! You have no idea how happy I was to see Chapter 10. <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Hee. Nice to know I guessed that right. ;P Backstory, YES! <3

*loves back* Thank you for writing~ <3 <3 <3

[nepenth.livejournal.com]

wai!! more! i need to play catch up. i will definetly comment soon. ::wiggles:: how i want to read it now, but i'm too busy doing work >.< stupid reality. ::snoggles sixpence::